The Untamed Episode 38 Recap
> The Untamed Recap
Wei Wuxian proposed using Empathy to delve into the blind girl's memories, a method immediately deemed dangerous by others, who warned he might become lost. Despite their concerns, Wei Wuxian insisted, citing time constraints and the need to rejoin Lan Wangji. He instructed Jin Ling to supervise and use his Jiang clan silver bell as a signal to recall him, explaining its mind-settling properties. Jin Ling reluctantly agreed, bickering with Lan Jingyi before Wei Wuxian urged them to begin.
Wei Wuxian’s spiritual cognition merged with the girl's, transporting him into her memories from ten years prior. He saw the girl, A-Qing, as a spirited youth who feigned blindness and helplessness, resorting to pickpocketing to survive. She would feign innocence and gratitude to elicit sympathy and alms from strangers. One day, after stealing a moneybag, she bumped into Xiao Xingchen, who was also blind. When the victim confronted A-Qing, Xiao Xingchen intervened, believing she was a truly vulnerable blind girl.
He advised A-Qing against stealing, then gave her the stolen money, telling her to use it wisely and not steal again. Realizing Xiao Xingchen was genuinely blind, A-Qing decided to follow him, arguing it would be beneficial for them to look after each other. She claimed to be an orphan and threatened to resume stealing if he didn't take her along. Xiao Xingchen, seeing through her trickery but taking pity on her, agreed to let her accompany him.
A-Qing feigned a sprained foot to make Xiao Xingchen stop walking. While resting, Xiao Xingchen sensed a scent of blood and discovered a severely injured man, Xue Yang, lying nearby. Despite Xue Yang's rude awakening and initial lack of gratitude, Xiao Xingchen diligently treated his wounds. Xiao Xingchen expressed his philosophy of helping those in need without asking too many questions, expecting Xue Yang to leave once recovered.
Xue Yang, realizing Xiao Xingchen was truly blind and didn't recognize him, gradually relaxed. He then attempted to test A-Qing's blindness by tossing candy to her, but A-Qing, while falling for the trick initially, grew suspicious of Xue Yang due to his strange behavior, like carrying candy despite his grave injuries, and his evasiveness about his identity.
A-Qing grew increasingly suspicious of Xue Yang, noting his secretive nature and his immediate correction of her use of "hunting" to "night-hunting," a term she realized only cultivators would know. She tried to warn Xiao Xingchen, telling him that Xue Yang was furtive and hiding something, and that he could not be a good person. However, Xiao Xingchen dismissed her concerns, believing Xue Yang would leave once recovered.
Xue Yang, claiming to be doing chores or helping with "night-hunts," subtly manipulated Xiao Xingchen. He would "guide" Xiao Xingchen, who relied on his sword, Frostwork, to sense resentful energy. Xiao Xingchen believed he was eradicating puppets and evil spirits, but A-Qing, who often secretly followed them, observed that the people Xiao Xingchen was unknowingly killing were living villagers, not puppets. She also noticed Xue Yang's limp, which he used as an excuse for not helping with physical tasks.
Three years passed. One evening, A-Qing encountered a white-robed, sword-wielding cultivator looking for a blind companion. After A-Qing tested him with questions about Xiao Xingchen's appearance and sword, confirming his friendship, she led Song Lan back to the coffin home. As they approached, A-Qing pointed out Xue Yang to Song Lan, who was entering the house, causing Song Lan to freeze in shock and anger.
A-Qing then witnessed Xue Yang and Xiao Xingchen playing a game with sticks to decide who would buy groceries. Xue Yang tricked the blind Xiao Xingchen into losing, then departed. Filled with rage, Song Lan confronted Xue Yang as he exited. Song Lan angrily demanded to know Xue Yang's intentions for approaching Xiao Xingchen.
Xue Yang, far from surprised, calmly smiled and revealed his elaborate deception: that Xiao Xingchen, in his blindness, had been killing living people whose tongues Xue Yang had cut out, making them indistinguishable from puppets to Frostwork. He coldly added that Xiao Xingchen believed he was doing good by "slaying evil" for free. Song Lan furiously cursed Xue Yang, calling him an animal. Xue Yang scoffed, claiming Song Lan's curses were unimaginative and weak.
He then retorted, asking how Song Lan had the standing to condemn him, pointing out that Xiao Xingchen's blindness was a result of giving his eyes to Song Lan. Xue Yang then cruelly reminded Song Lan of his words to Xiao Xingchen after the slaughter of the Baixue Pavilion, implying Song Lan had blamed Xiao Xingchen and declared they would never meet again.
Xue Yang stated that Song Lan’s anger had been conveniently directed at Xiao Xingchen, precisely as Xue Yang desired. He questioned why Song Lan was now seeking Xiao Xingchen again after pushing him away. As Song Lan reeled in shock and emotional distress, Xue Yang took advantage of the moment, releasing a poisonous mist. Song Lan collapsed, screaming in agony. Xue Yang then callously stabbed Song Lan through the mouth with his sword, severing his tongue.
Just then, Xiao Xingchen, guided by Frostwork which sensed the commotion, rushed out. Believing the thrashing Song Lan to be a puppet, he mercilessly impaled his friend through the chest with his sword. Song Lan looked back in disbelief and despair, desperately crawling forward, attempting to offer his sword, Fuxue, to Xiao Xingchen so he could recognize him, but he failed to reach him.
Xue Yang then casually pulled the oblivious Xiao Xingchen back into the house, chatting about making dinner and the groceries, while the terrified A-Qing, hidden behind a haystack, watched the horrific scene unfold. As Wei Wuxian's spiritual cognition delved into A-Qing's memories, his face contorted in anger and sorrow. Jin Ling and the others, worried he might not awaken from the deep Empathy, frantically shook the silver bell beside his ear. Wei Wuxian gasped, regaining consciousness, his head spinning.
Looking at Xiao Xingchen’s corpse in the coffin, he pieced together the horrifying aftermath: after harming Song Lan, Xue Yang must have also been responsible for the deaths of Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing, and the shattered spirit in the Spirit-trapping Pouch belonged to Xiao Xingchen. He realized A-Qing's current blind and mute state was also a result of Xue Yang's cruelty. Wei Wuxian vowed that Xue Yang must die. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji was fiercely battling Xue Yang.
Lan Wangji managed to seize Frostwork and the Spirit-trapping Pouch from Xue Yang. Enraged, Xue Yang vanished into the dense fog. Seeing Lan Wangji unable to locate Xue Yang, Wei Wuxian intentionally provoked him by verbally exposing all of his heinous acts: how he repaid Xiao Xingchen’s kindness with betrayal, turning living people into puppets, deceiving Xiao Xingchen, disfiguring Song Lan, and even harming a young girl like A-Qing, all to force Xue Yang to reveal himself. Wen Ning was also securing Song Lan, and Wei Wuxian noted that the nails in Song Lan's head were different from Wen Ning's, implying Song Lan could be restored.
