The Legend of White Snake Episode 27 Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
The gambling addict, Lame San, reappeared, and Xiao Qing, having won a large sum of gold from him, demanded to know the origin of the rabbit-shaped longevity lock he had pawned. Under duress, Lame San confessed that he had stolen the lock from a Puppet Troupe. Without delay, Xiao Qing rushed to the Puppet Troupe, where the manager informed her that the longevity lock belonged to the young son of a wealthy Zhang family from Suzhou.
Thirteen years prior, the Zhang family had been visiting Lin'an when the troupe was performing. The young master was particularly enchanted by the puppets, even trying to give his longevity lock to one of the wooden figures. Xiao Qing was overjoyed by this discovery and eagerly saw the manager off. However, upon turning, she was confronted by Fahai, consumed by his inner demon.
This time, Fahai abandoned his usual calm demeanor, wielding the Zijin Bowl with the clear intention of capturing Xiao Qing. Unprepared for such a powerful assault, Xiao Qing's spiritual essence was wounded, and her demon core was damaged. Just as Fahai's inner demon, controlling Fahai's physical body, was about to capture her with the Zijin Bowl, Fahai's true primordial spirit rushed out and saved Xiao Qing, whisking her away to safety.
Back home, Bai Suzhen tended to Xiao Qing's injuries, explaining that she had transferred some of her own cultivation to help heal Xiao Qing's damaged demon core and allow her to recover using the moon's essence. Despite Suzhen having lost her own demon core, she insisted on helping her sister. Reassured by their reconciliation, Xiao Qing excitedly shared her plans to accompany Zhang Yutang to Suzhou to meet his family, after which she intended for him to propose marriage.
Suzhen, however, was filled with worry. She reminded Xiao Qing that as snake demons, even in human form, they could not become intimately involved with mortals, as it would bring harm to Zhang Yutang. Xiao Qing grew indignant, questioning why Suzhen and Xu Xian could be together while she could not. Suzhen tried to explain her five hundred years of greater cultivation made her situation different, but Xiao Qing retorted that being "less cultivated" didn't mean she didn't deserve love.
She angrily recalled how she had always stood by Suzhen against Fahai, even risking her life, and accused her sister of now lecturing her with "two standards." Meanwhile, Fahai's true primordial spirit, ethereal and suffering, knew he could only trust Xu Xian. He telepathically summoned Xu Xian to meet him at Fengyu Pavilion.
Xu Xian arrived as requested, and Fahai's spirit revealed that his physical body was possessed by his inner demon, who was using the Zijin Bowl and his staff to commit evil. The benevolent Fahai's spirit was forced to hide, even relying on minor demons for protection. Xu Xian devised a daring plan: to use acupuncture needles to induce a temporary "false death" in Fahai's physical body for two hours, thus expelling the inner demon.
Once separated, they could trap the inner demon and allow Fahai's primordial spirit to rejoin his body, ultimately destroying the demon. Fahai expressed deep concern over the risk to Xu Xian, a mortal. Using the Zijin Bowl, Fahai's inner demon tracked Xiao Qing and Zhang Yutang's search for Yutang's family. Perceiving Xiao Qing's involvement as a means to win Yutang's affection, the inner demon resolved to disrupt Xiao Qing's plans and temperament.
He used the Zijin Bowl to locate Yutang's family in Suzhou before they could, then went ahead to manipulate Madam Zhang and slander Xiao Qing, planting seeds of doubt and disdain in Madam Zhang's mind. Xiao Qing and Yutang arrived in Suzhou, spending days fruitlessly searching for his relatives. Unexpectedly, Yutang's birth mother, Madam Zhang, found them. What seemed like a twist of fate was actually the inner demon's manipulation.
The inner demon had met Madam Zhang first, using Yutang's identity as a means to gain the Zhang family's trust, and then slandered Xiao Qing. The Zhang family was wealthy and devout Buddhists. Madam Zhang naturally saw the inner demon, who helped her find her son, as an honored guest, while openly dismissing the boisterous Xiao Qing. Upon meeting, Madam Zhang immediately showed her contempt for Xiao Qing.
Yutang tried to defend Xiao Qing, emphasizing her importance to him and that she had encouraged him to seek his family. However, Madam Zhang made veiled insults, comparing fine tea to common tea, clearly implying Xiao Qing's "coarseness." When Yutang explained that Xiao Qing's sister ran a clinic, Madam Zhang mockingly labeled Xiao Qing a "servant girl." Yutang affirmed that Xiao Qing was the most important person in his life and he wouldn't separate from her.
Fahai's inner demon intervened, claiming Madam Zhang was Yutang's most important person and, after "observing Xiao Qing's countenance," advised Yutang to stay away from her. Enraged, Xiao Qing cursed the inner demon, further upsetting Madam Zhang, who warned her against disrespecting "Master Fahai," the Zhang family's benefactor, and violating their family rules. Xiao Qing, hurt and angered by the indirect insults, declared she would leave, which only deepened Madam Zhang's displeasure.
Yutang tried to follow Xiao Qing, but family servants pulled him away, claiming Madam Zhang was feeling unwell, leaving Xiao Qing to make a tearful departure alone. Xiao Qing had never been so wronged. Xiao Qing returned to Baohe Clinic in Lin'an, visibly distraught.
Bai Suzhen, sensing her sorrow, gently suggested she post a hiring notice for a new assistant, subtly hinting that Yutang would likely stay in Suzhou and that it might be a blessing for Xiao Qing to move on. Xiao Qing agreed but deliberately made the hiring process exceedingly difficult, rejecting every applicant for days, unwilling to let new people into the old house. Then, Zhang Yutang returned to Lin'an.
Seeing the hiring notice, he decided to re-apply for his old position. During the herb identification test, he skillfully named various herbs, including Anemarrhena and Yu Zhu, surprising Xiao Qing. Though Xiao Qing initially tried to dismiss him, claiming he was fired, Yutang stood firm. He passionately confessed his love, apologizing for not following her in Suzhou and vowing that he cared not for wealth or hardship, only for their life together.
He proclaimed he didn't want to be the "Zhang family childe" but merely "Zhang Yutang, the assistant by her side," promising to protect and care for her always. Deeply moved, Xiao Qing's tears flowed as she recounted her mother's disappearance after a game of hide-and-seek and asked Yutang never to leave her. They reconciled and decided to go out to celebrate.
As Xiao Qing stepped away briefly, Fahai's inner demon appeared to Zhang Yutang, lecturing him about "licking honey on the blade" – transient sweetness leading to disaster. He criticized Yutang for abandoning filial piety for a mere woman. Yutang defiantly retorted that as a Buddhist, Fahai had no right to interfere with his marriage. He declared he would marry no one but Xiao Qing and would disown his family if they tried to separate them.
Xiao Qing, overhearing Yutang's passionate declaration, was filled with joy. That night, from the rooftop, Xiao Qing discussed her future with Suzhen. Suzhen, though pained, again urged Xiao Qing to reconsider her relationship with Yutang. Unmoved, Xiao Qing challenged Suzhen to leave Xu Xian first if she truly believed in her advice. Unable to persuade her sister, Suzhen then sought out Zhang Yutang.
Yutang swore that no matter how headstrong Xiao Qing was, he would cherish her as the apple of his eye and begged for Suzhen's blessing. Suzhen didn't doubt his sincerity but stated there were "reasons she couldn't explain" and urged him to forget Xiao Qing and return to his parents in Suzhou. Suddenly, Yutang experienced a wave of discomfort (the love poison). Xiao Qing, seeing his distress, angrily accused Suzhen of hurting him and declared they were leaving.
Xiao Qing knelt before Suzhen, bidding her farewell with three bows – one for their encounter, one for their friendship, and one for their parting – and stating she would seek her out "a hundred years later." Suzhen, shocked, tried to stop her, but Xiao Qing used a spell to freeze her in place. With tears in her eyes, Xiao Qing warned Suzhen, "Sister, you've lost your demon core, and your Hundred-day Disaster is approaching. Take care of yourself."
Overwhelmed with pain, Suzhen wept as Xiao Qing left with Yutang. Xiao Qing and Yutang went to drink, but despite her outward resolve, Xiao Qing was tormented by worry for her sister, who faced the Hundred-day Disaster alone with weakened magic.
However, hearing Yutang call her name in his drunken state, she ultimately decided to stay with him, reasoning that Suzhen had Xu Xian and others to care for her, but Yutang had only her, and she would accompany him through this life.
