The Legend of White Snake Episode 14 Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
Xu Xian hurried to the Jin Mansion, intending only to fulfill his duty as an elder brother. However, Jin Ruyi perceived his visit as a sign of his deep affection for her. Her momentary joy was quickly shattered when Xu Xian extended an invitation to his upcoming wedding with Bai Suzhen. Enraged, Ruyi lashed out, impulsively introducing Wang Daoling, a toad demon who was constantly by her side, as the man she intended to marry.
She hoped to provoke regret in Xu Xian, but only received his sincere blessings, which, to her surprise, delighted Daoling. To avoid further complications and gossip, Xu Xian announced his decision to resign from all duties at Jishi Clinic and return the account books, signaling a complete severance of ties. His resolute words brought tears to Ruyi's eyes. As Xu Xian departed, Ruyi's composure crumbled.
She turned on Wang Daoling, verbally abusing him and retracting all the prior affection she had shown. Daoling, despite her harsh words, remained utterly devoted to Ruyi, collecting his wounded pride and continuing to serve her with unwavering loyalty. The wedding day arrived, with Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen adorned in magnificent red attire, Bai Suzhen, for once, shedding her customary white robes for a vibrant, beautiful red.
Yet, this auspicious occasion was observed with sorrow by two individuals: Ruyi, hidden in the bustling crowd, and Jing Song, who had silently waited for a century. Both shed tears into their wine, lamenting the melancholy night. Later, in their bridal chamber, as the door gently closed, Bai Suzhen found herself blushing under Xu Xian's intense gaze. Her hairpins swayed, brushing softly against her delicate skin. Xu Xian, captivated, stood motionless, lost in a dream-like state.
He confessed his fear that if he looked away, she might vanish, and that this beautiful reality might simply be a dream from which he would soon awaken. Bai Suzhen, with a gentle smile, leaned in and softly kissed his cheek, asking if he was awake now. Emboldened, Xu Xian cradled her face, drawing her into a deep, heartfelt kiss, etching their love into her very soul.
He revealed how many times he had dreamed of marrying her, and how she was even more radiant than in his dreams, to which she playfully called him a flatterer. Meanwhile, Fahai returned to Jinshan Temple, seeking guidance from his master. He was troubled by Bai Suzhen's sacrifice, having given her thousand-year demon core to Xu Xian to counteract the demon poison.
He questioned if a demon without a demon core remained a demon, and if a mortal imbued with one could still be considered human. His master, experiencing the natural cycle of illness, dismissed his own discomfort and instead used metaphors of "a flower in a mirror" and "a moon in water," advising Fahai that the distinction between demon and human must be made with the heart. The realities of human life soon presented challenges.
With Xu Xian having lost his employment, their financial situation became precarious. He began a daily search for new work. Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, unfamiliar with the struggles of mortal existence, accustomed to conjuring money and necessities with magic, soon realized the true value of money and the hardships of daily life after indulging in some extravagant purchases. Bai Suzhen, however, found a subtle sweetness in this simpler, more challenging life, appreciating true love even amidst poverty.
Bai Suzhen, in her inexperience, had instructed Xiao Qing to chop up their old table for firewood and ordered an expensive new one, costing hundreds of taels. Xu Xian's sister, Xu Jiaorong, was dismayed at the lavish spending and the loss of their old belongings. Xu Xian, however, patiently explained Bai Suzhen's upbringing and her unfamiliarity with their humble life.
He presented Jiaorong with a bracelet Bai Suzhen had bought, a gesture that softened Jiaorong’s heart as she fondly recalled her own early days as a newlywed. Bai Suzhen instructed Xiao Qing on the principles of human finances, emphasizing that they must now abide by mortal rules and not spend money from unknown sources.
Xu Xian, trying to conceal his true difficulties, presented Bai Suzhen with a portion of his "monthly salary," claiming that Jishi Clinic had changed its payment schedule and he had to work an extra shift due to a sick colleague. He encouraged her and Xiao Qing to go out and enjoy themselves. However, Bai Suzhen soon realized he had left in a hurry without his supper.
When she and Xiao Qing went to Jishi Clinic to deliver a meal, Jin Ruyi confronted them, gloating that Xu Xian had been "swept out the door" and no longer had any connection to the clinic. Bai Suzhen, distressed, understood that Xu Xian's predicament was largely due to her. She was saddened that he felt compelled to hide his troubles from her and wondered where he truly was.
Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing discovered Xu Xian applying for jobs at other clinics. They covertly followed and overheard a clinic owner explain that all of Lin'an City's medical establishments had been instructed to reject Xu Xian. The reason was a rumor, spread by Jishi Clinic, that Xu Xian had betrayed Jin Ruyi, an "orphan girl" running the clinic, after receiving Master Jin's mentorship.
Hiring Xu Xian, they said, would be seen as bullying Ruyi and would draw condemnation from their peers. Xiao Qing was furious at Ruyi's malicious tactics and wanted to retaliate, but Bai Suzhen restrained her, explaining that Xu Xian would not wish for Ruyi to be harmed due to their long history. Unbeknownst to them, Chairman Zheng of the Physicians' Association was orchestrating this plot.
He confided that while Xu Xian was a skilled physician, his proud and unyielding nature made him difficult to control. Zheng admitted to influencing all the clinics in Lin'an to reject Xu Xian, intending to crush his spirit and wear down his resolve. His plan was to eventually offer Xu Xian a position when he was desperate, thus making him eternally grateful and a compliant tool for the Association.
Xiao Qing attempted to use a subtle magical prank on Chairman Zheng, but Bai Suzhen quickly stopped her, emphasizing the importance of not misusing their powers. Later, Bai Suzhen tried to cheer Xu Xian up by taking a stroll through Lin'an. She spotted a beautiful hairpin but refrained from buying it, mindful of their financial constraints. Xu Xian, noticing her longing, pretended to have forgotten his wallet and subtly returned to purchase the hairpin for her, spending nearly five taels.
Bai Suzhen was deeply touched by his sacrifice, telling Xiao Qing that such a heartfelt gesture was far more precious than any material value. Xiao Qing, not yet understanding the nuances of human love, found their romantic gestures nauseating and preferred her freedom. Determined to help Xu Xian, Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing retrieved valuable antiques from beneath West Lake, intending to pawn them. Meanwhile, Xu Xian faced another job rejection.
Outside the clinic, he encountered Jin Ruyi, who mockingly highlighted his misfortune, implying his marriage to Bai Suzhen was the cause. Xu Xian, though aware of Ruyi's resentment, wished her well, stating that only by releasing hatred could she find peace. He reaffirmed his love for Bai Suzhen, proclaiming that being with her was his greatest fortune, and he would gladly embrace a life of poverty for it.
Ruyi retorted with a sarcastic jab, suggesting he was now a "kept man," living off his wife's family heirlooms, and that Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing were at the pawnshop selling her dowry. Stung by the humiliation, Xu Xian rushed to the pawnshop. At the pawnshop, Xu Xian confronted Bai Suzhen, demanding she redeem the items.
Bai Suzhen, hurt by his insistence, tried to explain that her money was for their shared needs, and that as husband and wife, their possessions were one. Xu Xian, however, was adamant, expressing his shame at making her suffer and his refusal to rely on her family's wealth. He insisted on them redeeming the items. Feeling his rejection deeply, Bai Suzhen retreated to West Lake, on the verge of throwing the hairpin he had given her into the water.
However, the sight of an elderly, devoted couple on a boat halted her. Xu Xian, having followed her, apologized for his hasty temper, assuring her he never intended to draw a line between them and was only worried about her sacrifice. Bai Suzhen, in turn, confessed that her anger was directed at herself for causing him hardship. They joined the elderly couple on their boat, admiring their enduring love.
The old couple, witnessing the young pair's tender argument, wisely commented that "laughter and anger are all true emotions" in a marriage, much like the West Lake itself, beautiful in both sunshine and rain. As the sky cleared, so too did Bai Suzhen's heart, their love rekindled amidst the scenic beauty. Later, determined to earn money without resorting to pawning or illicit means, Xiao Qing, with Big Drum and her other demon followers, decided to perform street art.
As their performance reached its climax, Jin Ruyi, accompanied by Wang Daoling (whom she was still treating poorly), appeared and vehemently denounced Xiao Qing and her troupe as fraudsters. She claimed Xiao Qing was the sister of Bai Suzhen, who had caused deaths at Jishi Clinic, and that they were now impoverished and resorting to trickery. The incensed crowd surged forward, demanding their alms back. Just as chaos erupted, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian arrived, intervening to restore order.
