The Legend of White Snake Episode 21 Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
Xu Xian's condition weighed heavily on Bai Suzhen, who, despite her own weakened state, prepared a special medicine with her heart's blood to help him regain his vitality, as his body contained her demon core. Xiao Qing, witnessing her sister's sacrifice, questioned why Suzhen was still so devoted to Xu Xian, whom she called a "heartbreaker" for having forgotten her.
Suzhen explained that she could not deliver the medicine herself, as her presence caused Xu Xian immense headaches as he struggled to remember her. Xiao Qing reluctantly agreed to take the medicine for the last time, making Suzhen promise to no longer use her precious blood essence. Meanwhile, Jin Ruyi and Xu Xian were engaged in a playful game of riddles.
As they guessed, Xu Xian had a sudden, painful memory of solving riddles with someone else, triggering a severe headache. Xiao Qing arrived at this moment, witnessing their lighthearted interaction. Angered by what she saw, she scorned Jin Ruyi for seeking credit and criticized Xu Xian for being "aloof" towards Suzhen but "zealous" with Jin Ruyi. As she left, she saw Suzhen standing outside, realizing her sister had overheard everything.
Later that night, Xu Xian wandered into the courtyard and encountered Suzhen holding a lantern. His attempts to recall her identity brought on a splitting headache. Xu Jiaorong, seeing Xu Xian's distress, reprimanded Suzhen for upsetting him and urged Jin Ruyi to take Xu Xian back inside. Xu Xian resisted, desperate to uncover Suzhen's identity, but his pain intensified, forcing Li Gongfu to carry him back.
Suzhen, heartbroken by Xu Xian's suffering, recognized the powerful effects of the Mesmerize Powder and resolved to avoid him to prevent further pain. Xiao Qing protested, arguing that if Suzhen continued to avoid Xu Xian, he would only remember Jin Ruyi, and all their troubles would be blamed on Suzhen. Jiaorong expressed her confusion to Li Gongfu about Xu Xian's failure to recognize Suzhen.
Li Gongfu insisted that despite his memory loss, they remained husband and wife and would surely reconcile. However, Jiaorong was also worried about Jin Ruyi, who had diligently cared for Xu Xian during his illness, feeling that they could not "disappoint" her. Li Gongfu firmly reminded Jiaorong that it was Suzhen, not Jin Ruyi, who had saved Xu Xian. Yet, Jiaorong remained deeply affected by what she perceived as Jin Ruyi's genuine "desperation and sadness" for Xu Xian.
Jin Ruyi then confronted Suzhen, urging her not to "stimulate" Xu Xian, claiming it worsened his condition. Following this, Jiaorong formally requested Suzhen to temporarily keep her distance from Xu Xian, citing his recurring headaches. Suzhen, with a heavy heart, agreed.
Li Gongfu tried to persuade Jin Ruyi to return to her own home to protect her reputation, but Jin Ruyi adamantly refused, declaring her unwavering commitment to care for Xu Xian without needing marriage or a title, even vowing to remain unmarried for life. Jiaorong, deeply moved by Jin Ruyi's words, now saw her as "considerate" rather than "unruly and wayward" and acknowledged that Jin Ruyi admitted she "went astray" but was grateful for Jiaorong's "kindness."
Suzhen confided in Xiao Qing, saying she cared less about gossip and more about Xu Xian's well-being. She believed that despite Jin Ruyi's unscrupulous methods, her affection for Xu Xian was genuine, and she would not harm him if Suzhen were to leave. Xiao Qing, however, argued that Suzhen was sacrificing too much and questioned if this was truly what Xu Xian desired, urging her to consider things from "his shoes."
Adding to Xu Xian's distress, he experienced a vivid nightmare, screaming in terror about a snake. Jin Ruyi, capitalising on this, prepared a "snake bone soup" for him, claiming it would "calm him" after being scared by a snake. Xu Xian promptly vomited upon seeing it. Observing all this from hiding, Suzhen's heart was shattered. She decided to write a divorce paper.
Reflecting on Jingsong's words, she acknowledged that humans and demons were not meant to be together and her current suffering was her "own fault," but she felt deep regret for having "troubled" Xu Xian and Jingsong. She concluded that despite their deep love, their "fate was shallow," and it was better for them to be "separate and live happily respectively."
She believed that Xu Xian forgetting her was preferable to him remembering her and then fearing her as a snake demon. She took only her hairpin as she prepared to leave. A doctor informed Jiaorong that even if Xu Xian recovered, he would likely suffer from lingering health issues, including difficulty walking. Jiaorong was overwhelmed with despair. Outside, Suzhen, holding the divorce paper, approached Jiaorong.
Jiaorong, initially too distraught to talk, was persuaded by Suzhen, who assured her it would only take a moment. Suzhen presented the divorce paper to Jiaorong, explaining that their "destiny was over," and forcing the relationship would only bring unhappiness to everyone. Jiaorong initially misconstrued Suzhen's actions as anger over being "neglected" during Xu Xian's illness. However, she then mistakenly assumed Suzhen was abandoning Xu Xian after overhearing the doctor's grim prognosis.
Convinced that Suzhen, a "noble lady," was unwilling to endure hardship, Jiaorong, her expression cold, accepted the divorce paper on Xu Xian's behalf, addressing Suzhen as "Miss Bai" in a stark shift of demeanor. Li Gongfu later confronted Jiaorong, expressing his dismay at her agreement to the divorce and reminding her of Xu Xian's feelings for Suzhen, warning her of future regret. Jiaorong defended her decision, stating Suzhen's "determination to leave."
Suzhen went to Xu Xian's bedside to bid him a silent farewell, recalling their wedding vows to be together for "life after life." She now wished that in any future lives, she would only watch and protect him from afar, to spare him the kind of suffering he had endured in this life. Li Gongfu attempted to persuade Suzhen to wait until Xu Xian awoke, but Suzhen, feeling like a "stranger" to him, remained resolute in her decision.
Jiaorong offered Suzhen some money for her journey, which Suzhen initially declined but eventually accepted. Suzhen and Xiao Qing then gathered their belongings and departed from the Xu residence. Jin Ruyi then knelt before Jiaorong, stating that with Suzhen gone, Xu Xian would be left without care. She proposed marriage as a "good luck charm" to aid his recovery, vowing to care for him for "life after life," even if he remained bedridden.
Jiaorong, deeply moved by Jin Ruyi's apparent devotion, accepted her request. Li Gongfu tried to intervene, but his efforts were in vain. Jin Ruyi then administered an antidote she had prepared to Xu Xian, who quickly regained consciousness. Xu Xian, upon waking, discovered the divorce paper and was devastated. He also experienced fragmented memories, including images of "egrets" and "orioles," which he instinctively associated with Suzhen.
He told Jiaorong that he only felt sibling affection for Jin Ruyi and was already married. Jiaorong informed him that he and Suzhen were now divorced. Meanwhile, Xiao Qing, enraged by Jin Ruyi's manipulative tactics, including framing Suzhen with Buddhist beads, and her self-serving claims of credit, stormed into the Xu residence with a sword to confront Jin Ruyi. Jin Ruyi hid behind Xu Xian, who instinctively protected her, much to Xiao Qing's disgust.
Upon learning of Xu Xian and Jin Ruyi's impending marriage, Xiao Qing branded Xu Xian a "heartbreaker" and attempted to strike him with her sword. Fahai swiftly intervened, binding Xiao Qing. He rebuked her for her unruly behavior despite possessing "half-god blood," warning that such actions would harm her spiritual cultivation. Xiao Qing argued that she was merely defending her sister and seeking "freedom" through "revenge," preferring to remain a snake if she couldn't settle scores.
Fahai then led her to the scripture library, where he trapped her with a powerful restriction and ordered her to transcribe ten Buddhist scriptures until she learned self-restraint and could control her temper. Suzhen returned to her "Bai Mansion," standing lost in thought in a pavilion amidst the rain, a place she once shared with Xu Xian. Driven by lingering memories, Xu Xian eventually found her there.
He pleaded with her to explain their past—how they met, became acquainted, and fell in love—and to reveal the secrets behind his fragmented memories. Suzhen gently told him that since he had forgotten, there was no point in revisiting it, as others' accounts could never replace his own memories. She advised him to let go rather than "add to his troubles." Xu Xian asked if forgetting the past meant they could not have a future.
Suzhen replied that without a past, there could be no future for them. She declared their "fate was over," urging them to part ways as strangers and take care of themselves. She quickly turned and departed, fearing that another glance into his clear eyes would make her fall for him once more.
