The Untamed Episode 18 Recap
> The Untamed Recap
Wei Wuxian reassured Wen Qing about the risky plan to restore Jiang Cheng's golden core, explaining that he knew Jiang Cheng's ambitious nature; cultivation was his life, and being reduced to a mediocre person would ruin him. He reiterated that he had a fifty percent chance of success, which Wen Qing gratefully accepted as a sign of hope. Shortly after, while out hunting, Wei Wuxian was startled to discover Song Lan, whose eyes had been brutally damaged.
Wei Wuxian brought the injured man back to the supervisory office, where Wen Qing and Wen Ning diligently tended to him. Once Song Lan had recovered enough, he recounted his harrowing experience. Song Lan explained that after parting ways with Wei Wuxian, he and Xiao Xingchen had journeyed together. Several months prior, he returned to his home at Baixue Pavilion to celebrate his master's birthday. However, upon arrival, he found the entire pavilion massacred, with his master among the dead.
As Song Lan reeled from the horrific sight, Xue Yang ambushed him from the roof, throwing poisonous powder into his eyes and blinding him. Xue Yang gloated that he had slaughtered the Baixue Pavilion and tortured Song Lan's master for over ten days, all as a cruel "gift" for Xiao Xingchen. Listening to Song Lan's chilling account, Wei Wuxian and the others were horrified.
Song Lan vaguely recalled that in his dazed state, Xiao Xingchen had found him and promised to take him to his own master, the legendary immortal Baoshan Sanren, who could heal his eyes. Xiao Xingchen brought him as far as Yiling, after which Song Lan remembered nothing until Wei Wuxian found him. Inspired by this story, Wei Wuxian realized he had a way to help Jiang Cheng and rushed to tell him and Jiang Yanli that he could be saved.
Wei Wuxian found Jiang Cheng still despondent, wishing for death as he believed he couldn't seek revenge. Wei Wuxian reminded him that having undergone a soul-calming ceremony as a child, he couldn't become a fierce ghost. He then told a stunned Jiang Cheng that there was a way to get his golden core back. Wei Wuxian revealed that his mother, Cangse Sanren, was a disciple of Baoshan Sanren.
While he didn't remember much of his childhood, he recalled a woman's voice repeatedly telling him about a specific mountain where he could seek help in desperate times. Jiang Cheng, finally energized, was told to eat and recover his strength. Wei Wuxian laid out strict instructions for the journey: Jiang Cheng must go to the mountain blindfolded and never remove the blindfold to look at the scenery or people's faces. He must obey all commands given to him.
Most importantly, if asked his identity, he was to state he was "Wei Ying, the son of Cangse Sanren," but could otherwise tell the truth about his injuries and the attack on Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian stressed that the plan must remain a secret from Jiang Yanli, and Jiang Cheng agreed to all terms.
Later, Wei Wuxian informed Wen Qing that Song Lan's eyes were healing well and that he had asked Song Lan to escort Jiang Yanli to the Lanling Jin Clan. He then requested a powerful tranquilizing powder from Wen Qing, one that would induce a day-long sleep. Wen Qing, though complying, expressed her concern about what would happen if Jiang Cheng ever discovered the truth. Wei Wuxian was resolute, declaring there was no "what if," as Jiang Cheng would never know.
When Wen Qing pressed him, asking if he could hide it forever, Wei Wuxian countered that if Wen Ning had been in the same situation, she would have made the same choice. Wei Wuxian then went to Jiang Yanli, who had saved him a bowl of Lotus Root and Rib Soup. The taste brought back a flood of memories for Wei Wuxian of his childhood at Lotus Pier.
He recalled being terrified of Jiang Cheng's puppies and hiding in a tree, and how Jiang Yanli had found him, comforted him, and carried him back. He remembered Jiang Cheng, after being gently scolded by his sister, tearfully apologizing. Jiang Yanli had then brought them both the same soup, and the three of them became inseparable. Moved, Wei Wuxian listened as Jiang Yanli declared that the three of them must always stay together.
As they talked, the tranquilizing powder Wei Wuxian had discreetly placed in an incense burner took effect, and Jiang Yanli gently drifted off to sleep. As Jiang Yanli slept, Wei Wuxian entrusted her to Song Lan, emphasizing that she must reach the Lanling Jin Clan safely and not return. Song Lan promised to protect her with his life. He briefly considered asking Wei Wuxian to relay a message to Xiao Xingchen but decided against it, bidding farewell.
As Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng prepared to depart, Wen Qing asked him one last time if he had truly thought everything through. Wei Wuxian reaffirmed his unwavering resolve. Meanwhile, the massacre of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan ignited outrage across the cultivation world, becoming the final catalyst for the Sunshot Campaign, a widespread rebellion against the Wen Clan. Wei Wuxian led Jiang Cheng up a mountain, reassuring him that this was Baoshan Sanren's residence.
He explained that he would wait in a nearby town and reiterated the crucial rules: Jiang Cheng must proceed alone, never remove his blindfold, and never give in to curiosity. He reminded Jiang Cheng to insist that he was Wei Ying, son of Cangse Sanren, if asked his identity. Blindfolded, Jiang Cheng began to walk the path alone. After some time, a woman's voice stopped him, asking his identity and purpose.
Following Wei Wuxian's instructions, Jiang Cheng identified himself as Wei Ying. The woman initially told him to leave, as his mother had already left the sect. Desperate, Jiang Cheng pleaded again, recounting the destruction of Lotus Pier, the murder of his adoptive parents, and how his golden core was melted by Wen Zhuliu. After confirming details about his parents and how he knew of this place, the woman relented, stating it was all fated. She instructed him to rise, take hold of a silk ribbon, and follow her, strictly forbidding him from opening his eyes.
