Thousand Years For You Episode 13 Recap
> Thousand Years For You Recap
Lu Yan took Yun Xi to a bustling restaurant, inviting her to experience human cuisine. There, Yun Xi tasted glutinous rice cakes for the very first time. Earlier, she had pondered the profound concept of love between men and women, where individuals might sacrifice their lives for another, a feeling Lu Yan admitted he hadn't experienced. He had deflected her curiosity about trying it by suggesting they eat.
Yun Xi was surprised to learn that humans would spend so much effort preparing simple grains, but Lu Yan explained that food wasn't just for sustenance; it was about eating well to find happiness. He even helped her with the unfamiliar chopsticks, feeding her a hot glutinous rice cake, which she found surprisingly delicious and unlike raw grain.
This experience opened her eyes to the many flavors of the human world, a stark contrast to the Spirit Clan's disregard for culinary pleasure. Lu Yan shared his belief that the Spirit Clan should not be consumed solely by violence. He saw Jiuzhou as a vibrant land, much of its beauty tragically obscured by endless wars.
Yun Xi explained that the Spirit Clan perceived Jiuzhou's vastness as a facade, masking scarce and dwindling resources, forcing them into a cycle of seizing food for survival. However, Lu Yan was confident that the Spirit Clan could learn the human wisdom of continuous food production. They both agreed to dedicate themselves to achieving peaceful coexistence between their peoples.
Lu Yan then asked Yun Xi to call him by his given name, and she reciprocated, marking the beginning of their friendship. Yun Xi even playfully fed Lu Yan a glutinous rice cake, a gesture of their newfound camaraderie. As night fell and a light rain began, a runaway carriage careened through the street, threatening to crash into a mother and child. Without hesitation, Yun Xi instinctively used her energy to push the carriage away, saving them.
However, a man who witnessed her use of energy immediately cried out, recognizing a Spirit Clan member. Soon, an angry crowd, inflamed by the man's grief over his son being killed by the Spirit Clan, began chasing Yun Xi and Lu Yan. Lu Yan quickly pulled Yun Xi into an alley, explaining that his identity as a general would only complicate matters further, and he refused to use his authority to suppress the people.
Despite the danger, Yun Xi felt an unexpected thrill from being chased, apologizing for causing trouble. She mused about a world where energy could be used for healing rather than harm, a sentiment Lu Yan echoed, noting that the nature of a weapon lies with its user, and hoping a truce was imminent. Later, standing on a mountain cliff, Yun Xi felt a profound connection to her distant home.
She pointed to a dim star, revealing it to be her birthplace. She conjured an image of her home in the night sky, a barren wasteland since her birth. Her father had once spoken of a time when it was as beautiful and abundant as Jiuzhou. But as resources dwindled, selfishness festered, leading to devastating tribal wars. Their energy exhausted, many died, while others became emaciated.
It was the sun that had guided them to Jiuzhou, where they discovered new life. Yun Xi expressed remorse for the suffering her people had inflicted on humanity. Lu Yan reassured her, promising his help in teaching the Spirit Clan sustainable ways, so that peace could one day prevail. Lu Yan then blindfolded Yun Xi and led her to a secluded courtyard he had created, filled with an array of flowers and plants.
He explained that he created it after seeing the barrenness of her homeland, hoping to offer her a different, more vibrant experience. Yun Xi was touched by his thoughtfulness, asking how he knew her preferences. Lu Yan envisioned a peaceful future for them there, watching sunrises and sunsets, enjoying nature, and living a carefree life. He offered her another freshly made glutinous rice cake. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Yun Xi embraced Lu Yan, feeling his heart race alongside hers.
She wondered if this strange sensation was the "love" he had described earlier, expressing her desire to live in the courtyard and learn to make glutinous rice cakes once lasting peace was achieved. Their tender moment was interrupted by Wei Du, Lu Yan's subordinate, who reported that Zhu Rong had mobilized another Spirit Clan army, advancing towards Bei Du. Wei Du, openly disgruntled by Lu Yan's close relationship with Yun Xi, accused her of controlling him with her energy.
He recounted the many human soldiers lost to the Spirit Clan and the wounds Lu Yan himself bore, questioning his general's kindness towards a Spirit Clan member and even suggesting Yun Xi was a spy. Lu Yan firmly rebuked him, asserting his trust in Yun Xi and dismissing the idea of using a person as a hostage, which he considered a treacherous act. He believed Yun Xi could be the key to peace.
Though chastised, Wei Du remained unconvinced, fearing Lu Yan was being deceived. Yun Xi realized the urgency of stopping the war. She knew that returning alone would put her in danger from Zhu Rong. When Lu Yan offered to accompany her to show sincerity, she declined, worried it would lead to misunderstandings among his people and endanger him.
Before leaving, she gave Lu Yan a hairpin crafted from ancient sacred wood, explaining that it would allow them to sense each other's safety across vast distances, as it resonated with her energy. Then, for Lu Yan's protection, she deliberately knocked him unconscious, intending to face the Spirit Clan alone. Lu Yan awoke to the news that Zhu Rong's army was only a day away from Bei Du.
He ordered his troops to prepare for battle but to hold their positions. His subordinates, including Wei Du, questioned his seemingly reckless decision to wait, suspecting he was still hoping for news from Yun Xi, who hadn't sent any message since her departure. However, Lu Yan knew better. Sensing the hairpin's abnormal activity, he realized Yun Xi was in grave danger and deduced that the Spirit Clan's paused advance was connected to her.
Leading his forces, Lu Yan ambushed the Spirit Clan, overhearing them discuss Yun Xi's perceived betrayal and their chief's new plan for power, which no longer required the Saintess. They were instructed to poison her with a "blood toxin." Lu Yan fought through the ranks and rescued Yun Xi, who was trapped in a coffin. As they fled, pursued by the Spirit Clan, Wei Du was captured and held hostage.
The Spirit Clan offered to spare Lu Yan's life if he surrendered Yun Xi. Lu Yan defiantly refused, declaring that Yun Xi would never align with the tyrannical Zhu Rong. Wei Du and the remaining soldiers, facing certain death, echoed their general's resolve, choosing death over surrender. Yun Xi, wounded and weakened by the blood toxin, attempted to reason with her former kin, offering forgiveness if they released the humans.
However, the Spirit Clan, aware of her compromised energy, intensified their attack. Lu Yan, in a desperate attempt to protect his people, ordered an attack, but was tragically struck in the chest by an arrow. In the ensuing chaos, Yun Xi frantically tried to use her energy to heal Lu Yan. Just then, Wei Du, regaining consciousness, saw his general gravely wounded and, consumed by grief and fury, blamed Yun Xi for the disaster.
He attacked her, crying out that all Spirit Clan members deserved to die. Yun Xi managed to deflect his blow and, cradling Lu Yan's lifeless body, used her remaining energy to escape to a desolate, snow-laden bamboo forest. There, as she desperately pleaded for him to awaken, a profound realization dawned upon her. Recalling Lu Yan's lessons on human emotions and how he had made her feel truly alive, Yun Xi decided to extract her Energy Core.
With a final, sorrowful gaze, she expressed her wish for him to live, to carry her spirit, to explore Jiuzhou, and to ultimately witness the day of peace between humans and the Spirit Clan. As she spoke, she pulled out the hairpin, preparing for the ultimate sacrifice.
