The Legend of White Snake Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
Xu Xian, trapped by the inner demon within him, urged Bai Suzhen not to worry about him, insisting his actions were voluntary. Bai Suzhen, however, was overcome with hatred, having witnessed the cruelty of the mortal world. For her, without Xu Xian, great righteousness and even her immortal path were meaningless.
Now demonized and fully determined, she declared that she would bring him home, no matter the cost, vowing to kill anyone—be it human or god—who stood in her way, finding satisfaction in her destructive path. Meanwhile, Xiao Qing, leveraging her semi-divine form, infiltrated the Dragon King's palace. As she prepared to steal the "draw water" badge, Ao Guang discovered her.
Stunned by her striking resemblance to Lotus (Furong), he was overwhelmed with regret and a longing for her presence, holding onto her, unwilling to let go. For a brief moment, Xiao Qing felt the warmth of family, but quickly remembered Bai Suzhen, who was struggling far away. Pushing past Ao Guang, she declared this would be her last visit, then injured him and seized the draw water badge.
Back at Jinshan Temple, Fahai confronted Bai Suzhen, accusing her of aiding a demon rather than helping Xu Xian. Unyielding, Bai Suzhen asserted that regardless of whether Xu Xian was human, demon, or monster, he was her husband and the father of their unborn child. Just as Fahai struck her, Xiao Qing arrived, brandishing the draw water badge and announcing its power to flood Jinshan Temple.
Bai Suzhen then threatened Fahai, stating that if he insisted on killing Xu Xian, she would use the badge to draw water from the East Sea, inundating Qiantang and flooding Jinshan. She declared that the lives of millions of people rested on his decision, demanding to know if he would release Xu Xian.
She proclaimed that she cared nothing for great righteousness or sacrifice, only for Xu Xian's life, criticizing Fahai and others as cowardly, selfish, and shameless for failing to defeat the inner demon themselves and instead demanding Xu Xian's sacrifice. Bai Suzhen swore that if Xu Xian died, she would ensure the entire world perished with him. Xiao Qing wholeheartedly supported her sister, expressing a desire to act as true demons.
Fahai interjected, explaining that Xu Xian, though possessed, was innocent, and he would bear all the sins himself, willing to die in atonement once the demon was removed. Bai Suzhen then unleashed the East Sea's waters into Qiantang, causing widespread floods and displacement, and found satisfaction in the chaos. News of Bai Suzhen's actions reached the Heavenly Court. Ao Guang led his troops there to beg for punishment upon learning of the events.
The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, infuriated by such a rebellious act, immediately commanded the God of Fire to lead the Thunder God, Lightning Goddess, and one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to unleash a heavenly tribulation, to eliminate all demons in the mortal realm. The Queen Mother also urged Ao Guang to return to his palace and find a way to prevent further displacement of people.
Fahai, in response to the escalating floods, ordered all monks to guide the panicked citizens into the Sutras Depositary, chanting mantras to protect their lives. As the Thunder God and Lightning Goddess descended, the lightning struck the Buddha's cauldron containing Xu Xian, severely injuring him, eradicating the inner demon within him, and removing all sins from Bai Suzhen, whose mind had been clouded by the demon.
Bai Suzhen, believing herself to be the target of the heavenly wrath, flew to Xu Xian and embraced him tightly, regretting that her pursuit of love had ruined his life. Xu Xian, however, reassured her, declaring that marrying her was the greatest blessing of his life, and he would never regret loving her, even if it meant a hundred deaths. Bai Suzhen echoed his sentiment, vowing to be with him in life and death, for all eternity.
Suddenly, she experienced intense pain and announced she was in labor. The child, the Wenqu Xing, was born amidst the thunderous tribulation, breaking the knot and embodying a great saint eager to protect his mother. Witnessing the birth, the heavenly soldiers realized that the immortal embryo of Wenqu Xingjun, meant to assist the emperor and serve the nation, had chosen to be reborn as Bai Suzhen's son in response to the tribulation.
Unwilling to act rashly, they decided to report to the Jade Emperor for further instructions. Ao Guang then accused Bai Suzhen of misusing the draw water badge, causing misery in Lin'an, and ordered her arrest to face heavenly punishment. Xiao Qing intervened, shouting that if anyone were to be killed, it should be her, offering her life to him, much like Nezha. Before further conflict could erupt, Guanyin descended, drawing away the floodwaters and saving countless lives.
Guanyin then questioned Bai Suzhen on what she had learned from her mortal journey. Bai Suzhen confessed that greed, obsession, and ignorance clouded judgment, and only through genuine understanding and atonement for sins could one achieve clarity. She admitted her great error in falling into a demonic state due to love and accepted her punishment. Guanyin also pointed out Fahai's stubbornness and prejudice in his pursuit of eliminating demons, which had also led to suffering.
Fahai, ashamed, accepted his fault and punishment. Xu Xian, still devoted, declared that he was the one who swallowed the demon core first, and if Bai Suzhen was unforgivable, he would atone for their sins with her for all lifetimes. Moved by their profound love, Ao Guang realized that it was not Xiao Qing but his own selfishness and cowardice—his unwillingness to sacrifice everything for Lotus (Furong)—that had truly torn them apart. He, too, willingly accepted heavenly punishment.
Guanyin, pleased by Ao Guang's repentance, noted his past contributions to governing the East Sea, hinting at leniency from the Heavenly Court. Fahai, having relinquished his obsession and eradicated the root of his inner demon, was deemed to have balanced his merits and demerits. However, Bai Suzhen's act of flooding Jinshan, causing immense suffering, necessitated severe punishment. Guanyin decreed that Bai Suzhen would be eternally confined within the Leifeng Pagoda, to recite sutras and practice abstinence.
She would not see the light of day again until the Leifeng Pagoda collapsed and the West Lake dried up. As Bai Suzhen was led away, she entrusted Shilin to Xu Xian, expressing her love for their child and her inability to watch him grow, asking Xu Xian to tell Shilin of her love when he was old enough.
She also entrusted Xu Xian and Shilin to Xu Xian's sister, Jiaorong (Shilin's aunt), vowing to repay her kindness in the next life. Xiao Qing, refusing Ao Guang's offer to return to the Dragon King's palace, explained that her own impulsive actions on the New Moon Night were partly to blame for Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian's separation and the subsequent calamities. She resolved to follow Guanyin in cultivation, vowing to return only when the Leifeng Pagoda fell.
Xu Xian, for his part, chose to wander the world, practicing medicine to atone for Bai Suzhen's sins, vowing never to return home until her transgressions were cleansed. Shilin grew up under the loving care of his aunt Jiaorong and uncle Gongfu, developing a close bond with his cousin Bilian.
Bilian eventually revealed the truth to Shilin: his mother was not confined in the Heavenly Court but in the Leifeng Pagoda, only to be freed when it collapsed and the West Lake dried up. Shilin, recalling the tale of the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains, initially vowed to dig down the pagoda and scoop out the lake himself.
However, upon learning the full truth of his mother's confinement and his father's unwavering devotion and wanderings to atone for sins, Shilin was inspired. He vowed to study diligently and achieve scholarly success, promising to dedicate his life to assisting the emperor, establishing a prosperous era, and bringing peace to the world. He resolved to perform good deeds to earn the compassion of the heavens, hoping to reunite his family.
Fahai, observing Shilin's pure heart despite his mixed blood, realized that such innocence could become a powerful force for good, finally achieving enlightenment himself. Decades passed, and Shilin's unwavering hard work bore fruit: he achieved great merit by eliminating epidemics in Yuezhou and achieved the highest honor in the imperial examination, becoming the top scholar. He knelt before his aunt and uncle, thanking them for their upbringing.
Then, at the Leifeng Pagoda, he requested the Emperor to, with his "true dragon body," pray to the heavens for his family's reunion. In response to his sincere piety and the Emperor's intercession, a green dragon soared through the sky, drinking half of the West Lake's water. The Leifeng Pagoda then began to crumble, its layers falling and shattering into dust.
With the pagoda toppled and the West Lake's water diminished, Bai Suzhen emerged, finally seeing the sun after decades of confinement. Rushing back from miles away, Xu Xian met her at the Broken Bridge of the West Lake, and after decades of separation, their family was finally reunited.
