The Legend of White Snake Episode 33 Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
Having already committed to sacrificing himself, Xu Xian requested Fahai to send his spirit into Bai Suzhen's dream, declaring that he would rather die with her than ever leave her alone again. Fahai warned him of the immense danger; if Xu Xian became trapped in the dream, his physical body would perish, just like Suzhen's. Despite the grave warning, Xu Xian remained resolute, urging Fahai to proceed.
Fahai provided him with prayer beads that would allow him to perceive the outside world and serve as a means to recall him in an emergency. Upon entering Suzhen's dream, Xu Xian found himself in a picturesque landscape reminiscent of Mount Emei, the Broken Bridge, and West Lake, recognizing it as Suzhen's ideal world. He was momentarily entranced by the serene scene where Suzhen, dressed in plain white, lovingly held an infant and smiled at an illusory Xu Xian.
When the real Xu Xian approached, she appeared hesitant, seeing in him the suspicion and blame she had once faced, unlike the ever-loving dream figure. She was unwilling to abandon her blissful illusion. Xu Xian tried to convince her that everything in her dream was false, including their child, as they had not yet conceived. The dream version of Xu Xian also intervened, claiming the real Xu Xian was an imposter, further confusing Suzhen.
Feeling her doubt, the real Xu Xian pleaded with her, acknowledging his past mistakes that led to her distrust. He warned her that remaining in the illusion would lead to her demise. Suzhen, conflicted, told him to leave, unwilling to abandon her dream husband and child. However, when Xu Xian declared that he would stay and die with her for eternity, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face, hinting at a change of heart.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qing, consumed by sorrow and anger, drank heavily in the forest. She lamented the injustice of the world, where her sister, Suzhen, had suffered despite countless good deeds, and her own sacrifices had led to a wretched fate. Believing the heavens were blind, Xiao Qing resolved to slaughter all of humanity to protect her sister, embracing her demonic nature.
As her resentment surged, dark clouds gathered over Lin'an City, and a monstrous green python began abducting people, plunging the city into chaos. Taking advantage of the unrest, the inner demon manipulated Ruyi, twisting her words to incite the populace. Ruyi spread rumors that a thousand-year-old snake demon resided in Nuwa Temple, preying on the innocent during the New Moon to fuel its demonization.
Driven by desperation to save their missing loved ones, the citizens, misled by Ruyi, formed an angry mob and stormed toward Nuwa Temple, unaware they were walking into the inner demon's trap. In Nuwa Temple, where Xu Xian's spirit was being guarded, Fahai and the four gods observed the escalating demonic energy in Lin'an. They realized a powerful being was transforming into a demon on this New Moon night, fearing it would turn Lin'an into a living hell.
Upon realizing the severity of the situation, one of the gods urged Fahai to intervene in the city, assuring him they would manage the situation at the temple. Fahai heeded the call, first casting a powerful Dharma Barrier with his artifacts to protect Xu Xian and the four gods, strictly instructing them not to leave its bounds. He then departed to confront the chaos engulfing Lin'an. Shortly after Fahai left, Ruyi led the frantic citizens to the Nuwa Temple.
The inner demon, seizing the moment, offered Ruyi the power to manipulate weather, akin to Suzhen, if she would sacrifice the lives of the trapped citizens to create a "Wanling Elixir," transforming her into a demon. Blinded by ambition, Ruyi embraced the offer, using her own life essence to empower the inner demon. She then trapped the citizens inside the temple. The inner demon then set the temple ablaze from outside with a "Nine-Flavor True Fire."
The raging inferno and thick smoke intensified the demonic aura within the barrier, causing the citizens to succumb to madness, turning on each other. The four gods, shielded by Fahai's barrier, were alarmed by the deteriorating situation. The surging demonic energy and the plight of the deranged citizens compelled them to recall Xu Xian from Suzhen's dream. Upon his return, Xu Xian was heartbroken to learn that Suzhen had refused to leave the illusion, blaming himself for her pain.
Witnessing the suffering of the citizens, now possessed by demonic energy, Xu Xian, despite the gods' protests about the risk to Suzhen's primordial spirit and his own safety, insisted on lowering the barrier to save them. He declared that if fate decreed that he and Suzhen could not overcome this trial, he would accept it without complaint.
At that very moment, in her dream, Suzhen discovered a crucial inconsistency: it was the Dragon Boat Festival, yet the moon was full, an anomaly that shattered the illusion. She realized that the ever-blooming flowers, the unchanging full moon, and even the "Xu Xian" and child in her dream were all fabrications of her own desires, manifestations of the inner demon.
The inner demon, attempting to keep her, reminded her of Xu Xian's past betrayals and the societal prejudices against their union, claiming only the dream offered true, eternal happiness. However, Suzhen, now fully aware, rejected the false paradise. She acknowledged her own weakness and fear had given the inner demon power, but affirmed that the real Xu Xian had risked his life for her.
She declared that true happiness lay in the real world, with its laughter, tears, joy, and sorrow, and that she would face any hardship with Xu Xian. Moved by Xu Xian's heartfelt cries from outside the barrier—his regrets, his pleas, and his vow to join her in death—Suzhen broke free from the illusion, returned to reality, and regained 80% of her magical powers.
With her restored strength, Suzhen joined forces with the four gods to extinguish the fire and rescue the remaining citizens from the temple. The inner demon, thwarted, escaped, vowing to make Suzhen suffer the pain of betrayal from those she had protected, challenging her pure heart. Anxious about Xiao Qing's whereabouts and Fahai's warning about a demonizing entity, Suzhen, accompanied by the four gods, set off to find her sister.
Xu Xian remained at the temple to tend to the rescued citizens, who were expected to awaken with no memory of the events. They soon found Xiao Qing engaged in a fierce battle with Fahai in the forest. Xiao Qing, driven by despair, relentlessly attacked Fahai, rising each time she fell, seemingly having lost the will to live until Suzhen's arrival. Suzhen pleaded with Fahai to spare Xiao Qing, expressing her gratitude for her own salvation.
Fahai, surprised by Suzhen's restored powers, reaffirmed his intent to eradicate Xiao Qing's demonic essence to allow her to become a goddess after a thousand years of cultivation. Xiao Qing, however, was furious to see the four gods, demanding to know why they were present. Suzhen tried to reason with her, suggesting they had their own reasons for their actions, but Xiao Qing's anger flared further upon realizing that even Suzhen knew their secrets while she remained in the dark.
One of the gods then stepped forward to reveal the truth: five hundred years ago, Ao Guang, the East Sea Dragon King, fell in love with a snake demon named Jade Lotus, who then became pregnant with his child. Fearing the heavenly wrath over a union between a god and a demon, Ao Guang callously ordered Jade Lotus to abandon the dragon fetus and even sent assassins to eliminate her.
Jade Lotus, using an invisibility spell, escaped and, despite immense pain and despair, gave birth to Xiao Qing. For years, she lived in hiding, evading both celestial surveillance and Ao Guang's relentless pursuit, until she was finally captured. Despite facing the severest heavenly punishment—the annihilation of her body and soul—Jade Lotus refused to betray Ao Guang's identity, choosing to endure suffering for her love and child.
Ao Guang, touched by her sacrifice, covertly sent the four gods to watch over Xiao Qing until she could protect herself, at which point they were to return to the Dragon King's palace. Hearing the full story, Xiao Qing was devastated, feeling her mother's sacrifice for a selfish father was utterly in vain.
Suzhen recounted her own experience of seeking ten drops of dragon blood from Ao Guang for Xiao Qing's marriage, only to be cruelly refused, further highlighting his callousness. The four gods, who had grown to love Xiao Qing over centuries, renounced their divine status, declaring they would rather be demons and stand with her against Fahai. Fahai, however, remained unmoved, insistent on purging Xiao Qing's demon blood for her eventual ascension to godhood.
He saw her defiance as unreasonable, as it offered a path to a better future. Xiao Qing vehemently refused, choosing to retain her mother's bloodline even if it meant death. With no one willing to yield, Fahai raised his Zijin Bowl to capture Xiao Qing, prompting Suzhen to immediately call upon the four gods for assistance.
