Thousand Years For You Episode 25 Recap
> Thousand Years For You Recap
Lu Yan harbored a dragon pattern on his body, a mark his father had branded on him to remind him of humanity's plight and the ongoing struggle against the Spirit Clan. At present, he believed he was the sole possessor of such a mark, which made Chieftain Yu's recent remarks about the dragon pattern unsettling. Despite this growing unease, Lu Yan's immediate priority remained the search for the Dust-proof Bead. He resolved to thoroughly investigate the dragon pattern mystery later.
Meanwhile, Gu Beixi arrived at the City God Temple, desperately calling out for Bai Shiqi. Finding no trace of her, he noticed bullet marks on a table and a discarded gun. As he picked up the weapon, he sensed movement and discovered a frightened child hiding in a pile of straw.
Gu Beixi, putting away the gun, reassured the child, who tearfully recounted how monsters had killed many people and taken a "white-clothed, long-haired sister" – the one who had carried the gun and tried to shoot the monsters but missed. Gu Beixi’s heart sank, his eyes welling with tears. Later, his subordinates found him in a drunken stupor, still calling for Shiqi and regretting his delay.
They informed him that Miss Bai was gone and that Chieftain Yu and her group had gone to Lingdong and hadn't been heard from for days, possibly in danger. Hearing this, Gu Beixi immediately set off to find Dengdeng. The next morning, Dengdeng woke to find that Paralyzed Yu, Lv Er, and Dahai had vanished. She searched their room and found a note from Paralyzed Yu stating, "Lv Er and I have things to do. Don't worry."
Suddenly, the door to her room was shut, and thick smoke poured in from an unseen fire outside. Lu Yan swiftly cast a spell, breaking open the door and leading Dengdeng out. The arsonist, however, had already fled. Lu Yan suspected someone was attempting to silence them. Just then, Dahai returned, explaining that he had been assigned to guard Sun Xiucai but had fallen into a deep sleep.
When he awoke, he discovered that villagers had taken Sun Xiucai, intending to execute him. Dengdeng, Lu Yan, and Dahai rushed to intervene as villagers attempted to kill Sun Xiucai. Dengdeng confronted them about their unlawful actions. A village elder retorted that it was their Baile Village's private matter and demanded they leave. The elder accused Sun Xiucai of being a "sinner" who had offended the "Cliff Man" and threatened to expose village secrets, thereby jeopardizing everyone.
The elder explained that the "Cliff Man" was a mountain deity, the guardian spirit of Baile Village, who blessed them with prosperity and health, and anyone opposing him was an enemy. Undeterred, Lu Yan easily overpowered the villagers, and they rescued Sun Xiucai. Back at their lodging, Lu Yan skillfully removed two bronze nails from the back of Sun Xiucai's skull, which had caused his memory loss. With his sanity restored, Sun Xiucai recounted his story.
Baile Village was once an ordinary place where he was born and raised until he left to become a scholar. Upon his return, he found the village strangely altered; everyone was expressionless, and many childhood friends had disappeared, said to have become "Cliff Men" living a "deity's life." No one could clearly explain what a "Cliff Man" was. He later learned that the missing villagers had vanished while fishing in Liu Creek.
Driven by curiosity, Sun Xiucai ventured to Liu Creek by boat and entered a karst cave. He could not recall the specifics but remembered a terrifying experience. Glowworms, he said, had guided him out. He had attempted to reveal the truth to the villagers, but they silenced him, fearing he would bring disaster by exposing the Cliff Man's secrets, leading to the bronze nails being hammered into his head.
When Lu Yan showed Sun Xiucai a drawing of the dragon pattern, he trembled and confirmed he had seen it in the cave, which he described as "hell." Following Sun Xiucai's directions, the group arrived at the supposed cave entrance but found nothing resembling one. Lu Yan explained that it was a "Cloaking," a Spirit Clan spell that shifts time and space, making the entrance appear different and preventing anyone from finding their way back.
They entered the hidden passage, which was dark and eerie. Emerging from the passage, they found themselves in a bustling ancient city, its inhabitants clad in clothing from the Ancient Shu period. Lu Yan recognized it as a replica of Ancient Shu's capital. On a stone tablet, a historical account described a general who "fought a hundred and eliminated countless enemies," prompting Xin to remark that the story seemed to be about Lu Yan.
Dengdeng suggested they split up to search more efficiently. She and Dahai would head east, while Lu Yan and Xin would go west. Asserting that no one could take her man from her, she agreed when Lu Yan reminded her to use the hairpin to call him if there was danger. While exploring the west, Lu Yan and Xin saw citizens worshiping a statue of "General Lu Yan," with Xin noting that it bore no resemblance to Lu Yan himself.
Meanwhile, in the east, Dengdeng and Dahai came across a wedding celebration, where Dahai spotted a familiar mark left by Paralyzed Yu, reading "South of the City." Following the clue, Dengdeng and Dahai located the entrance to an underground palace. Suddenly, aggressive Ghost Vines sprang from the ground, but Lu Yan arrived in time to fend them off. From within the palace, Wei Du emerged with his guards.
He was visibly overjoyed, greeting Lu Yan as "General" and expressing his relief that he had finally returned. Wei Du led them to a grand general's mansion within the city, meticulously crafted to replicate Lu Yan's personal residence from his adulthood. Inside, Wei Du's subordinate reacted angrily to Dahai's jest about Lu Yan being Dengdeng's "concubine," sternly reminding them of Lu Yan's royal status as a prince, much to Lu Yan's mild amusement.
Alone with Wei Du, Lu Yan explained that Yun Xi's energy core had saved him, and he had spent three millennia to resurrect her spirit, which now resided in Dengdeng. He also revealed that he and Dengdeng were married, a revelation Wei Du received with a feigned composure that belied his true thoughts. At the welcoming banquet, Dengdeng candidly questioned Wei Du about his apparent immortality, noting he seemed to be an ordinary man.
Wei Du explained that after Lu Yan's departure and the fall of Shu, he and his surviving men were captured by the Spirit Clan, who used them to test elixirs. The survivors became immortal and eventually escaped, finding refuge in the legendary underground palace. A powerful spirit-hunter among them created a magical barrier at the entrance, sealing them off from the outside world.
They built this city, living peacefully and prosperously, realizing the ideal city-state that he and Lu Yan had once dreamed of. Dengdeng probed further, inquiring about the Ghost Vines. Wei Du stated that the Spirit Clan had planted them during an attempted invasion but abandoned them after Zhu Rong's demise. He affirmed that their guards prevented both people from entering and the vines from harming anyone.
Dengdeng then asked if Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er had entered the palace, which Wei Du denied. Dengdeng, however, highlighted inconsistencies, pointing out that the nearby Baile Village had Shu totems, suggesting its residents frequently entered and exited this hidden city. Wei Du dismissed this. Lu Yan shifted the conversation to the Dust-proof Bead, explaining it was vital for Dengdeng's health.
Wei Du claimed it had been missing since Shu's fall and offered a city doctor, but Lu Yan insisted only the bead would suffice. Feigning dizziness from the wine, Dengdeng decided to retire. Wei Du assured Lu Yan that his men would see to her, and Dahai and Xin accompanied her. After they left, Wei Du expressed his profound longing for Lu Yan and their days of camaraderie in the army, vehemently blaming the Spirit Clan for Shu's destruction. As he spoke, Lu Yan suddenly sensed a telepathic signal of a "headache" from Dengdeng's hairpin, and his expression grew concerned.
