The Eternal Love 3 Episode 25 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Amidst the soothing melody of a zither, Mo Lian Cheng found himself reliving memories from the Xuanling Continent. He recalled a day when, as Young Master Lian Cheng, he encountered a gravely injured woman on a mountain. Her physical wounds began to heal under his care, but her internal injuries, which seemed to be caused by Mo Yi Feng, persisted.
Initially, she was hostile, threatening to kill him, but Young Master Lian Cheng urged her to be patient, assuring her that once cured, she could exact her revenge. He taught her a healing song called "Love's Reflection" in a place with ample spiritual power to expedite her recovery, even suggesting she learn it for future self-treatment. Eventually, she revealed her name: Qu Xiang Tan.
In the present, Mo Lian Cheng was startled when Her Majesty emerged from behind a screen, realizing with a shock that she was Qu Xiang Tan. Meanwhile, Qu Tan Er, confined to the royal study, pondered the connections between Dongyue and the Xuanling Continent. She deduced that if Dongyue was established by Mo Yi Feng from the Xuanling Continent, then the current royal Qu family must be related to the Xuanling Continent's Qu Clan.
Considering Her Majesty's surname, Qu, Qu Tan Er concluded Her Majesty was Qu Xiang Tan. Mo Lian Cheng, remembering how he died by Qu Xiang Tan's sword in the past to prevent a conflict between his dear friend Mo Yi Feng and his beloved Qu Xiang Tan, was pulled back to the present. He couldn't bear to see his closest friend and the woman he loved turn against each other, so he willingly sacrificed himself.
Qu Xiang Tan, now in the present, tearfully questioned whether it was more painful to die by a loved one's hand or to kill a loved one. Mo Lian Cheng pulled his hand away from her, a sudden realization dawning on him: if she was Qu Xiang Tan, then Qu Tan Er's marriage to him must have a deeper meaning, as Mo Yi Feng would not have arranged it without cause.
He politely excused himself, but Qu Xiang Tan implored him to save her again, just as he had before. Qu Tan Er, convinced Her Majesty was Qu Xiang Tan, frantically searched the royal study for information, specifically Her Majesty's personal name, though her attendant, Jing Xin, warned her that such a detail would not be recorded. Realizing Official Qu was Her Majesty's only living relative, Qu Tan Er decided to seek him out.
However, a servant informed her that Her Majesty and Mo Lian Cheng were in the imperial gardens, playing the zither. She rushed there, only to witness Mo Lian Cheng embracing Qu Xiang Tan. Mo Lian Cheng immediately followed, trying to explain that he was only healing her. Qu Xiang Tan let him go but made sure to schedule another meeting for the following day to continue her treatment.
Feeling heartbroken, Qu Tan Er lamented that she had always believed her fate with Mo Lian Cheng was destined, only to find Qu Xiang Tan appearing and their connection intrinsically linked to her. Mo Lian Cheng quickly reassured Qu Tan Er that she was the only one he loved. He admitted he was still trying to understand Qu Xiang Tan's situation, believing that solving this mystery might be the key to their return to their original world.
Overwhelmed, Qu Tan Er confessed she was tired, missed Yu Er, and yearned to go home. The next day, Mo Lian Cheng met Qu Xiang Tan, who was dressed in more casual attire. He asked about the origin of her illness and her presence in Dongyue. She recounted how, after a fierce battle with Mo Yi Feng and the Demon Lord, she had been gravely wounded but managed to seal the Demon Lord.
Xiao Zhen later found and saved her, bringing her to Dongyue. She explained that she survived only because of the Soul-guarding Bead and the Soul-parting Flute, and needed a suitable altar for the bead, which was the Altar of Souls. This drove her to ascend the throne, acquiring the power and resources to build it, all to stay alive and await his return.
She revealed that her injuries were exacerbated by strong emotions, trapping her in a cycle of pain, where living meant thinking of him, and thinking of him meant enduring agony. Mo Lian Cheng promised to cure her, but she preferred to remain ill if curing her meant he would leave. Mo Lian Cheng clarified that he was not the former Eighth Young Master, and he didn't know what had happened to him or why he himself now inhabited his body.
Qu Xiang Tan then pressed him, asking if his feelings for her in the Xuanling Continent were genuine. He responded that those were Young Master Lian Cheng's true feelings, but he was Mo Lian Cheng now. He reminded her of his promise and affirmed he would return the next day to continue her treatment.
Upon Mo Lian Cheng's return, Qu Tan Er greeted him warmly with a table full of his favorite dishes, including braised carp and steamed shrimp, along with homemade desserts. She playfully asked about his meeting with Qu Xiang Tan. He teased her, claiming they had "revisited everything they did before," even implying night visits to her bedchamber.
This sent Qu Tan Er into a fit of jealous rage, but Mo Lian Cheng quickly calmed her, confessing he enjoyed seeing her jealous and that he was merely joking. He reiterated his belief that his complicated emotional entanglement with Qu Xiang Tan might hold the key to their return to their original world.
Qu Tan Er agreed he must honor his promise to treat her, but Mo Lian Cheng warned her the final stage of healing was the most difficult, involving seven days and nights alone together, unclothed, for the "pure chi of Yang" to mix with her. Qu Tan Er, exasperated, mockingly suggested accompanying him, but he insisted she must not act recklessly.
Later that evening, Qu Xiang Tan listened to Xiao Zhen play the Soul-parting Flute, remarking on how the melody brought back painful memories of her and Young Master Lian Cheng. Despite the pain, she admitted the music was essential for her to sleep. She recalled teaching Xiao Zhen the song and passing him the flute when she had no one else. As Xiao Zhen left, she requested he leave the Soul-parting Flute behind for her to use the next day.
Xiao Zhen, in his thoughts, acknowledged that while the flute held memories of Qu Xiang Tan and Young Master Lian Cheng, it also held memories between himself and Her Majesty. The next day, Mo Lian Cheng began healing Qu Xiang Tan with his zither. Xiao Zhen brought Qu Tan Er a booklist from Her Majesty, asking her to study it diligently. Qu Tan Er observed the healing process, noting their "normal social distance between a doctor and his patient."
When Qu Xiang Tan began playing the Soul-parting Flute, Qu Tan Er was visibly surprised, accidentally blurting out the name of the flute to Xiao Zhen, who then questioned her knowledge of it. Qu Tan Er quickly explained that her father had mentioned it when she was a child. Mo Lian Cheng, seeing Qu Tan Er leave, deliberately broke a zither string and excused himself. He caught up with Qu Tan Er, reflecting on their interaction.
He explained that only the chief of the Qu Clan in the Xuanling Continent could play the Soul-parting Flute, and since Qu Tan Er had an innate ability to play it, it meant she was a descendant of that clan from their original world. He clarified that Qu Xiang Tan was from a parallel universe, and the Young Master Lian Cheng who loved her was from that parallel world, not him.
Though theoretically, he and Her Majesty were unrelated, he admitted that he had experienced everything the parallel world's Young Master Lian Cheng did. Therefore, he couldn't completely disassociate himself from her situation. He expressed hope that the Soul-guarding Bead had not brought them here due to this complicated entanglement. Meanwhile, Qu Xiang Tan, having learned that Qu Tan Er recognized the Soul-parting Flute, was deeply suspicious.
She confirmed with Xiao Zhen that Official Qu Jiang Lin knew nothing about the flute, solidifying her belief that Qu Tan Er's background was mysterious. She ordered Xiao Zhen to investigate Qu Tan Er's true identity immediately.
