The Moon Brightens for You Episode 3 Recap
> The Moon Brightens for You Recap
In a secret chamber, Lin Fang discovered the first part of the "Secrets of making puppets" and mused about needing the heart warming pearl to create a unique doll. Nearby, Zhan Qinghong’s cries for help echoed through a stone wall, alerting Lin Fang to her peril. He seized the opportunity to manipulate Feng Bufei, who was also seeking the pearl.
Lin Fang subtly informed Feng Bufei that Zhan Qinghong possessed the pearl and was being pursued, prompting Feng Bufei to rush to her location. When Feng Bufei arrived, he found Zhan Qinghong captured by a White Tiger Clan bandit. Zhan Qinghong, quick-witted, provoked Feng Bufei and the bandit against each other. She claimed she was about to give the heart warming pearl to Feng Bufei when the bandit intervened, while the bandit insisted she had swallowed it.
Convinced the bandit was lying, Feng Bufei, infuriated by being called "Feng Laosan," easily killed the White Tiger Clan leader. Zhan Qinghong then offered to reveal the pearl's location if untied, deliberately misleading Feng Bufei. She tried to escape, showcasing impressive light-body skills that Feng Bufei acknowledged, though he was unfamiliar with her purported sect, the Huzhou Jiashan Clan.
As Feng Bufei relentlessly pursued her, taunting her about his age and fondness for dolls, General Xiahou Ying arrived and confronted Feng Bufei about his crimes. Zhan Qinghong watched the duel between the two masters with excitement, calling it a display of "real master" skills. During the intense fight, the internal energy from the combatants caused a stone wall to rupture, sending Zhan Qinghong tumbling into Lin Fang's secret chamber.
She discovered the heart warming pearl there and then helped Lin Fang, who had been immobilized. Lin Fang jokingly called himself the "doll Feng Bufei wants to make" and praised Zhan Qinghong's knack for turning misfortune into good fortune. As Feng Bufei, outmatched, fled, Zhan Qinghong found the "Wuji cryptic" amongst other partial martial arts manuals. She quickly took it, intending to give it to Wen You.
General Xiahou Ying found the dead bandit bore the mark of the "Reverting Yin palm," the same technique that had injured Wen's guards. Lin Fang inquired if Feng Bufei was the one who had wounded him years ago, but Xiahou Ying clarified that the previous attacker's martial arts and inner power were far superior to Feng Bufei's crude style. Nonetheless, the reappearance of the Reverting Yin palm offered a new lead.
Lin Fang instructed Xiahou Ying to investigate discreetly to avoid alerting their true enemies and to prioritize the safety of the upcoming Wulin assembly. They also noticed figures from Xiyan (Western Flame) and stressed the importance of secrecy regarding their presence. Meanwhile, Wen You, despite still recovering, bravely fought off more White Tiger Clan members, as his sister, Wen Rou, ensured other hostages remained hidden. Wen You and Zhan Qinghong reunited, both relieved and reassuring each other of their well-being.
Lin Fang arrived, and Zhan Qinghong introduced him, but realized she didn't know Wen You's full name. Wen You introduced himself, and then General Xiahou Ying arrived. Wen You expressed his gratitude and introduced himself as the son of Wen Qiao, the Prince's official. Xiahou Ying recognized Wen Qiao and commended Wen You's composure. Zhan Qinghong was surprised by Wen You's prominent family background.
Xiahou Ying then revealed his own history, identifying himself as Zhan Qinghong's martial uncle and the man who had loved her mother, Su Qianhong, only to be supplanted by her father, Zhan Podi. He also recounted how, after leaving his sect, he was saved from an ambush by Lin Fang's father, Lin Xiaotian. The atmosphere became awkward until an apparently dead bandit suddenly attacked Wen Rou. Xiahou Ying swiftly intervened, saving her and leaving Wen Rou visibly impressed.
Xiahou Ying then directed his soldiers to apprehend the remaining bandits, ensure all hostages were safe, and send everyone home, specifically instructing that Lin Fang be taken to Gu Fort. Lin Fang departed with General Xiahou Ying, while Zhan Qinghong chose to accompany Wen You and Wen Rou down the mountain.
Zhan Qinghong gave Wen You the Wuji cryptic she found, and they shared a moment as she playfully etched the character "You" from his name onto his palm, a tender interaction that Wen Rou observed with knowing discretion. Back at Wen Manor, Wen You and Wen Rou were reunited with their parents.
Their father, Wen Qiao, a traditional scholar, was stern; he disapproved of his son's involvement in the martial arts world and his daughter's public activities, lamenting their unconventional paths. That night, Wen You found himself sleepless, his mind filled with thoughts of Zhan Qinghong, experiencing the stirrings of first love. At Gu Fort, Lin Fang proposed hosting a pre-Wulin assembly banquet to Gu Yan and Lord Gu, intending to foster goodwill among the martial arts community.
He also expressed a desire to see Zhan Qinghong again, suggesting inviting her as the Zhan family were old acquaintances. Lord Gu agreed, and Lin Fang penned the invitation. Xiao Lan delivered the invitation to Zhan Qinghong, who wondered about Lin Fang's motives, given his sickly disposition and lack of martial arts skill. Xiao Lan playfully suggested Lin Fang was pursuing Zhan Qinghong and tried to tag along to meet him.
Later, at the bustling Gu Fort, clan leaders and martial artists gathered. Zhan Qinghong arrived with Xiao Lan and was greeted by Gu Yan. She paid her respects to Lord Gu, who praised her composure and asked if her father, Zhan Podi, had also come, noting their long separation. Zhan Qinghong informed him she had come alone.
As the banquet commenced, Lord Gu spoke of the future of Wulin resting on young talents like Zhan Qinghong, Su Batian, and his son Gu Yan. Suddenly, Su Batian, a formidable warrior known as "Yuji warriors" from Liaodong, publicly shamed Zhan Qinghong, calling her father, Zhan Podi, a treacherous deserter who abandoned the Wulin director on the battlefield. Enraged, Zhan Qinghong defiantly challenged Su Batian to a duel, demanding an apology for her family if she won.
Su Batian scornfully dismissed her, but she lunged into combat. Zhan Qinghong, skilled in light-body techniques, was outmatched by Su Batian's power. As she faltered, Lin Fang appeared and cautioned her. When Su Batian seized an opportunity to attack, Zhan Qinghong was injured protecting Lin Fang. Gu Yan quickly intervened to halt the fight.
Seizing the moment, Lin Fang feigned drunkenness and had himself and Zhan Qinghong escorted to the backyard for treatment, telling her he only pretended to be drunk to get them out safely. Meanwhile, Gu Yue met with Feng Bufei, urging him to avoid causing trouble before the Wulin assembly. He provided Feng Bufei with a new identity and instructed him to assist Gu Yan in winning the leadership position.
Feng Bufei complained about his stolen treasures but ultimately agreed, as he knew Gu Yue possessed the coveted Seven Star Sword Manual. In the backyard, Xiao Lan complained about the bitter medicine and chided Zhan Qinghong for being injured in a specific spot where her golden soft armor had a hole. She blamed Zhan Qinghong's childhood mischief for burning the hole in the armor, provoking Zhan Qinghong to jokingly threaten sending Xiao Lan to Su Batian for axe practice.
Zhan Qinghong, noting Lin Fang's earlier need to feign drunkenness, speculated that despite his appearance, he led an unhappy life, likely because he was living under someone else's roof. Xiao Lan, moved by this, vowed to treat Lin Fang better. Later, Lin Fang visited Zhan Qinghong, bringing more medicine. Zhan Qinghong, watched by Xiao Lan, told him she had already taken the medicine provided by Lord Gu. She praised its cooling and numbing effects.
Lin Fang was taken aback, revealing that the medicine was for external application. Xiao Lan quickly excused herself. Lin Fang, seeing Zhan Qinghong's energetic state, was relieved her injury wasn't serious. Zhan Qinghong then confronted Lin Fang, asserting that his carefree facade was a pretense and that he was secretly unhappy.
Lin Fang playfully deflected her insights, reminding her of an earlier incident where she had "peeked over the wall and peeped at a handsome man," which she promptly told him not to mention again, noting it was the second time he had covered her mouth.
