The Destiny of White Snake Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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> The Destiny of White Snake Recap

As Bai Yaoyao prepared to depart, having agreed to leave after Leng Ning's threat with realgar, Xu Xuan, his heart heavy, stepped before her and said, "I want you. . ." The unexpected declaration startled both Bai Yaoyao and Leng Ning. Xu Xuan quickly clarified that he desired her assistance with a matter, then led her to Zhao's Palace, emphasizing that "things ought to have beginning and end."

Outside, Bai Yaoyao spotted Hong Xin still lingering, lamenting Hong Xin's deep affection for the prince and Zhao Yu's oblivious nature. Xu Xuan playfully teased Bai Yaoyao, remarking that "even a carp understands it, but somehow someone doesn't," hinting at her own lack of understanding of his feelings. When Bai Yaoyao misidentified Zhao Yu as the subject of his comment, Xu Xuan gently poked her forehead, telling her to simply "act according to the hint I give later."

Inside the palace, Zhao Yu was visibly startled by Xu Xuan's sudden appearance, causing a cup to slip from his hand. Xu Xuan explained that Zhao Yu's mother, concerned about his illness, had sent Constable Li to request his treatment. Despite Zhao Yu's initial resistance, Xu Xuan promptly alleviated his condition with a single golden needle, explaining that while the needle could manage his heart disease, a true cure required him to "let go by his own."

Xu Xuan then revealed his true intention: with Bai Yaoyao as a witness, he proposed that Zhao Yu write a pledge to annul his imperial marriage contract with Leng Ning. Zhao Yu angrily refused, blaming Xu Xuan for Leng Ning's disfigurement. Anticipating this, Xu Xuan then pretended he would take Zhao Yu to the Apothecary House for the wedding.

At this, Bai Yaoyao conjured a wedding dress and a pen, and Xu Xuan sarcastically praised Zhao Yu's supposed sincere love for Leng Ning, despite her current state. Infuriated, Zhao Yu quickly wrote the annulment pledge, severing all ties with Leng Ning, and told Xu Xuan and Bai Yaoyao to proceed with their own marriage. After this, Xu Xuan walked along a West Lake bridge, reflecting on Bai Yaoyao's words.

He recalled her mistaking him for Zi Xuan, realizing all their embraces and kisses stemmed from that. As heavy rain poured, he felt the raindrops were like bitter tears. Xu Xuan fully acknowledged he had fallen in love with Bai Yaoyao and had completely lost his heart to her. He then went to Leng Ning, confessing that the imperial marriage contract was merely a lie he told Zhao Yu.

He warned that continuing the pretense would lead to irreparable consequences and urged Leng Ning not to turn the charade into reality. He plainly stated that his feelings for her extended only to that of a senior brother and junior sister. However, Leng Ning refused to cancel the wedding or accept the truth, determined to keep Xu Xuan by her side, even without his love.

Witnessing her stubbornness, Xu Xuan coldly left, making it clear that while he would attend the wedding, the outcome would not be what Leng Ning desired. Leng Ning's bloodlust intensified, plunging her into extreme fear and anxiety.

Taotie appeared, reminding her of his past warnings and previously offering her a calming bell to suppress her demonic nature, now proposing a charade: he would take the blame for the recent animal killings, thereby clearing Leng Ning's name, if she would cooperate in a staged kidnapping. Desperate to maintain her standing for Xu Xuan, Leng Ning agreed. Later, she feigned a trip to the suburbs with her disciple, Qing Feng, to collect herbs.

Qing Feng innocently remarked on Leng Ning's dedication despite her impending wedding, just before Taotie dramatically "kidnapped" Leng Ning. Qi Xiao and Xu Xuan, already prepared with a plan involving Blue Fluorite Fire, immediately decided to confront Taotie. Little Grey, who had been dispatched by Xiao Qing to lure Taotie away, returned with the news of Leng Ning's capture.

Xiao Qing reprimanded Little Grey for the mishap, realizing Qi Xiao must already be in pursuit, and rushed to join the chase. Prior to the confrontation, Bai Yaoyao cautioned Xu Xuan about Leng Ning being a hostage and questioned the efficacy of the Blue Fluorite arrows, fearing for Leng Ning's safety. Qi Xiao dismissed her concerns, asserting that it was their only chance. Qi Xiao and Xu Xuan then combined their efforts, battling Taotie.

Taotie mocked their increased prowess but Qi Xiao, driven by his master's legacy, declared Taotie's demise. Taotie, in turn, taunted them about burning Leng Ning alive, but Leng Ning, maintaining her charade, dramatically urged Qi Xiao to disregard her safety and kill the demon. During this, Bai Yaoyao recalled Hong Xin's urgent confession: she had witnessed Leng Ning, not Taotie, killing the animals and revealed Leng Ning to be the true murderer.

As the Blue Fluorite Fire was unleashed, Xu Xuan expressed doubt about whether it could truly kill Taotie, but Qi Xiao proudly claimed victory, seeing it as revenge for his master. Taotie, however, defiantly declared, "Death is only a beginning," and vowed revenge. Bai Yaoyao rushed forward to intervene, arguing that the situation was too complicated and felt like a setup, begging them not to kill him.

Qi Xiao, angered, refused to let Taotie escape after so much planning, especially when it was time for his master's revenge. Leng Ning then cunningly turned the suspicion on Bai Yaoyao, questioning why she would want to free Taotie and implying ulterior motives. Xu Xuan, siding with Qi Xiao, also questioned Bai Yaoyao's insistence on stopping their long-planned scheme. As Taotie appeared to be consumed by the blue flames, Bai Yaoyao, unable to explain further, remained silent.

After Taotie's apparent demise, Qi Xiao explained to Xu Xuan how he discovered his master's hidden clue: the words "Blue Fluorite" carved on an elixir furnace, revealing a method to defeat Taotie, despite his master having been possessed. Xiao Qing then questioned why she and Bai Yaoyao were kept in the dark about such an important plan.

Xu Xuan explained that he wanted to protect Bai Yaoyao from the danger, and deemed Xiao Qing too "stupid and silly" to be entrusted with the secret, fearing she might accidentally leak the information and ruin their plans. Qi Xiao further teased Xiao Qing, suggesting she should be grateful she wasn't captured, as the Blue Fluorite Fire harms demons, and she "might become a burnt green snake already," unlike Leng Ning, who, being human, was unharmed.

Xiao Qing, enraged, lunged at Qi Xiao. Despite her "kidnapping" being a pretense, Leng Ning was indeed affected by the Blue Fluorite Fire, feeling immense pain as her demonic nature was scorched. Alone, she resolved to suppress her demon qualities with the help of the calming bell, hoping to live peacefully with Xu Xuan and keep her secret buried forever. She believed that with Bai Yaoyao leaving, everything would conclude with her marriage.

Later, Xu Xuan visited Leng Ning, feigning concern for her well-being. Leng Ning assured him she was fine. Xu Xuan then presented a redesigned wedding gown, a gesture Leng Ning immediately sensed was not intended for her. He told her that with the wedding day fast approaching, there were things he had to confess that very night, despite her attempts to postpone the conversation until after the ceremony.

Xiao Qing, straightforward by nature, learned of Bai Yaoyao's impending departure and expressed her sympathy for her kindness. Bai Yaoyao, who had waited a thousand years for Xu Xuan, felt that merely seeing him was enough. Although Xiao Qing didn't fully grasp Bai Yaoyao's profound feelings, she still tried her best to bring Bai Yaoyao and Xu Xuan together. That night, Xu Xuan arranged to meet Bai Yaoyao at West Lake.

Xiao Qing, somehow privy to this information, specifically advised Bai Yaoyao to wear less clothing for the evening, an instruction Bai Yaoyao, puzzled, did not take seriously or respond to. Unable to prevent Taotie's apparent death, Bai Yaoyao went to West Lake to reflect. She recalled Hong Xin's confession about witnessing Leng Ning killing animals, and realized that Leng Ning's demonic transformation had begun when Bai Yaoyao used her spiritual marble to cure her.

Feeling responsible and fearing for Xu Xuan's safety, Bai Yaoyao resolved to help Leng Ning. As she made this decision, she found Xu Xuan waiting for her. They sat in a small pavilion, where Xu Xuan mused about the brevity of human life compared to that of cultivators. Bai Yaoyao responded that her life had been spent waiting for another reunion, only to face yet another parting.

Xu Xuan admitted he disliked waiting but confessed that he "did waste some time these days" and had "missed out love and a person." When he asked if she was truly leaving, Bai Yaoyao explained that as a deity, she could not cling to the mortal world, and given "what's happening right now," she could not remain in the Apothecary House.

Xu Xuan, determined, told her that "parting is the beginning of another meeting," but lamented that he had found her "too late." He then opened up about his past, revealing that his fear of darkness stemmed from the night his parents died, leaving him and his sister alone. He noted that in her presence, his fear of darkness disappeared. He then earnestly asked her, "Who are you actually looking for through me?"

Reminded of Purple Xuan, tears streamed down Bai Yaoyao's face, and as if in response, thunder rumbled and rain began to fall. Xu Xuan, touched, wondered if her tears could transform into the rain over West Lake. Bai Yaoyao stated unequivocally that "In my heart, there is only one person. It has never changed." These words, however, brought a touch of bitterness to Xu Xuan's heart, though he did not reveal it.

As night deepened, they walked to the Broken Bridge, which was beautifully illuminated. Xu Xuan revealed he had asked Xiao Qing to arrange the lights as a farewell gesture, expressing his hope that no matter where Bai Yaoyao went, someone would always light her way, just like that moment. Bai Yaoyao acknowledged his effort and asked why he hadn't expressed these feelings earlier, to which he replied she "always left. . . when I wished to say it."

He asked if her tears meant she was unwilling to leave. Xu Xuan then told her to remember the lights on the bridge, inviting her to meet him there whenever she was happy or sad. He promised to always hold an an umbrella for her on rainy days and wipe away her tears. Through her tears, Bai Yaoyao questioned how he could make such promises when "after tomorrow, everything will change" due to his impending marriage.

Xu Xuan, however, firmly assured her that his "promise I have for you. . . will never change." Unbeknownst to Xu Xuan and Qi Xiao, Taotie was not killed; he had faked his death, and from his supposed burial site, strange demonic vines began to sprout.

The Demon Emperor and Taotie watched this development, with the Demon Emperor hinting that the "show has just begun" and that "hates and dislikes, not getting what is wanted, and separation with the beloved" are the three sufferings that will turn a person terribly bad. Bai Yaoyao, still deeply concerned for Leng Ning, visited her that night, telling her about Hong Xin's confession. She urged Leng Ning to understand that blaming Taotie was only a temporary cover.

Leng Ning, however, coldly rejected Bai Yaoyao's warning, mocking Hong Xin's credibility and accusing Bai Yaoyao of trying to sabotage her wedding. Bai Yaoyao responded that Leng Ning's demon qualities were caused by her spiritual marble, and that she felt responsible, wanting to help suppress them, but warned Leng Ning that if she harbored selfish thoughts, she could not succeed.

Leng Ning bitterly retorted that she was happy before Bai Yaoyao entered her life and ordered Bai Yaoyao to stay away. Bai Yaoyao countered that killing animals today could lead to killing humans tomorrow, and for Xu Xuan's and Leng Ning's sake, she was determined to "do it"—remove the demon qualities. With that, Bai Yaoyao left. Alone in her wedding dress, Leng Ning vowed to slowly reclaim the life she believed was rightfully hers.

The next day, the Apothecary House was adorned with joyous decorations for the wedding. Xu Xuan and Leng Ning, dressed in their wedding attire, greeted their numerous guests. Bai Yaoyao appeared silently in the wedding hall, her eyes brimming with tears that fell unnoticed to the ground. She reflected on Xu Xuan's recent promises and her thousand years of waiting, realizing that it was all "too late." Believing her hopes to be a "hollow dream," she made a firm decision.

Without hesitation, Bai Yaoyao turned and, with slow but resolute steps, walked out of the Apothecary House, uttering a silent goodbye, accepting that "everything was too late" after "a thousand years. . . to have finally found you."

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