The Untamed Episode 41 Recap
> The Untamed Recap
Wei Wuxian, connected to Nie Mingjue's consciousness through empathy, relived the tumultuous history between Nie Mingjue and the man once known as Meng Yao. Many years ago, before he became the revered Chief Cultivator, Meng Yao, Jin Guangshan’s illegitimate son, journeyed from Yunmeng to Lanling with a memento, hoping to be acknowledged by his father.
However, Jin Guangshan, known for his numerous illegitimate children, refused to recognize the son of a courtesan and cruelly kicked him down the steps of Jinlintai. Later, as a disciple in the Nie clan, Meng Yao was openly mocked for this humiliation, with others ridiculing him as the "son of a whore" and questioning why he didn't seek his powerful father's help. Despite the scorn, Meng Yao worked tirelessly, catching the attention of Nie Mingjue.
Overhearing the malicious gossip, Nie Mingjue angrily reprimanded his disciples, reminding them they joined the clan to eliminate evil, not to backbite. He then appointed Meng Yao as his vice general, encouraging him to stand tall and perform so perfectly as to silence his detractors. Later, a Nie clan captain discovered Meng Yao seemingly talking to someone while guarding the prisoner Xue Yang.
Meng Yao denied it, but the captain, calling him a "son of a whore," was subsequently killed by him. Meng Yao then attempted to frame Xue Yang by using a Wen clan sword. However, Nie Mingjue witnessed the act and saw through the deceit. He realized Meng Yao had deliberately feigned a weak, bullied demeanor from the start to gain sympathy and climb the ranks.
Confronting him, Nie Mingjue asked if he had pretended to be vulnerable when they first met. Unable to tolerate such cunning, Nie Mingjue expelled Meng Yao from the Nie clan. Years later, during the Sunshot Campaign, Nie Mingjue was captured and brought to Nevernight, where he found Meng Yao acting as Wen Ruohan’s ruthless and trusted aide. Meng Yao provoked the captive Nie Mingjue, mocking his predicament and taunting him with his own saber, Baxia.
He brought up the painful memory of Nie Mingjue's father, who died of rage after his own blade was broken by Wen Ruohan, leading a furious Nie Mingjue to believe Meng Yao had truly become Wen Ruohan’s "jackal." Overwhelmed with anger, Nie Mingjue was struck unconscious by Meng Yao.
He awoke in Lan Xichen’s arms and immediately tried to attack Meng Yao, but Lan Xichen intervened, revealing that Meng Yao had secretly been a spy, providing crucial intelligence like tactical maps of the Wen clan. Meng Yao knelt, tearfully explaining he had to act cruelly to gain Wen Ruohan's trust, expressing deep regret for hurting Nie Mingjue and insulting his deceased father. Though still skeptical, Nie Mingjue ultimately spared him out of consideration for Lan Xichen's pleas.
Shortly after, Nie Mingjue, Lan Xichen, and Meng Yao became sworn brothers. Following his successful assassination of Wen Ruohan, Meng Yao was honored as Jin Guangyao, rising to immense prestige. Despite his new status, he maintained an air of deference towards Nie Mingjue, often playing the Cleansing Music for him.
Nie Huaisang expressed his concern to Jin Guangyao, noting that Nie Mingjue's temper was worsening due to his saber's spirit and that the daily music seemed to be the only thing preventing a full qi deviation. One day, after asking Lan Xichen to review a guest list to get him out of the room, Jin Guangyao was confronted by Nie Mingjue about Xue Yang.
Nie Mingjue insisted that Xue Yang be executed for his crimes, but Jin Guangyao defended his decision to only imprison him, citing a lack of evidence after a key witness recanted and stating he was following the orders of his father, who wanted Xue Yang alive for a shard of Yin Iron he possessed. The argument escalated, with Nie Mingjue accusing Jin Guangyao of being driven by ambition.
Jin Guangyao countered by highlighting their different backgrounds; unlike the noble Nie Mingjue, his own precarious position in the Jin clan forced him to be calculating to survive. He chillingly asked why his past actions were incessantly revisited, while Nie Mingjue, who had taken far more lives, was never questioned. Nie Mingjue declared he never killed for personal gain.
Jin Guangyao then challenged Nie Mingjue’s judgment, arguing that great achievements require sacrifice and killing one to save a hundred is a greater merit than a fault. Enraged, Nie Mingjue demanded why Jin Guangyao wouldn't sacrifice himself. Jin Guangyao coldly replied, "Of course, I'm different." Furious, Nie Mingjue cursed him as the "son of a whore." Following the heated exchange, Jin Guangyao calmly stated it was time for the Cleansing Music.
He then revealed his ultimate betrayal: the music he had been playing daily was a version of Lan Xichen’s tune he had subtly altered into a malevolent melody designed to induce qi deviation. Overwhelmed by shock and fury, Nie Mingjue lost control, his eyes bleeding as he descended into madness. He swung Baxia wildly, trying to attack Jin Guangyao. Nie Huaisang rushed in, but Jin Guangyao embraced him, feigning despair and holding him back, claiming Nie Mingjue was beyond reason.
Admitting that with only "half the power of the Stygian Tiger Amulet" he couldn't control him, Jin Guangyao ordered him killed. Xue Yang delivered the fatal blow, decapitating Nie Mingjue, whose eyes remained wide open in a final, horrified stare. Afterward, Jin Guangyao looked at the severed head and commanded it to "move," intending to turn it into a puppet. The paper-man Wei Wuxian, jolted from the empathy, found himself in Nie Mingjue’s secret chamber.
Jin Guangyao, who had been waiting, immediately attacked. The paper-man deftly dodged but was quickly outmatched. Spotting his spiritual sword, Suibian, in the chamber, the paper-man scrambled onto its hilt. Miraculously, the long-sealed sword burst from its sheath and engaged Jin Guangyao's blade. Seizing the opportunity, the paper-man slipped out of the chamber and flew back to Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji, who had been playing Cleansing Music for Wei Wuxian's body, watched as he awoke.
Wei Wuxian immediately relayed everything he had witnessed, including the location of Nie Mingjue's head and the discovery of Jin Guangyao's wife, Qin Su, who had been dragged into the secret chamber. They raced to Fragrance Hall to confront Jin Guangyao. Jin clan disciples tried to bar their way, but Lan Wangji forced them aside. Jin Ling appeared, questioning why they were barging into his uncle's bedroom. Jin Guangyao then arrived, feigning politeness.
Wei Wuxian taunted him, saying that if he had been any later, they would have missed the "good stuff" in his hidden chamber. Lan Xichen then directly requested that Jin Guangyao open the treasure vault. When Jin Guangyao hesitated, Lan Xichen sternly repeated, "Open it." Su She then appeared, defending Jin Guangyao and accusing the Lan clan of disrespecting etiquette. Wei Wuxian retorted, reminding Su She of his defection from the Lan clan and his pathetic imitation of Lan Wangji, questioning his standing to lecture anyone on propriety.
