Tiger and Crane Episode 11 Recap
> Tiger and Crane Recap
After an intense search of Zhang's room, Qi Xiaoxuan, Hu Zi, and Zhao Xintong found no trace of the Soul Devouring Herb, noting that Zhang had thoroughly cleaned the place. Despite Hu Zi's desire to immediately apprehend Zhang, Qi Xiaoxuan urged caution. They did, however, discover two tufts of horse mane, which Qi Xiaoxuan confirmed belonged to a Horse Demon. At Tiangang Hall, Zilu, the Chief Commander, and Jiang Xici, the First Master, discussed the grave situation.
Jiang Xici revealed that this particular Horse Demon, a Demon Elder, had previously escaped a Royal Sorcerer and now mysteriously reappeared in the capital. The recent emergence of a Demon Lord and numerous sorcerers found with their spirit essences drained added to the complexity, making it clear this was no simple matter. Although Hu Zi vehemently insisted Zhang was the culprit, citing past encounters where the demon appeared in a full mane, he admitted never seeing Zhang's true face.
Zhao Xintong, however, confirmed the scent of Fragrant Soul Herb, which was present in Zhang's room, was also detectable on the Horse Demon she fought. Jiang Xici noted Zhang's meticulous nature and his use of Soul Devouring Herb for healing, but no such herb was found in Zhang's room. Hu Zi argued the mane was sufficient evidence.
Zhi Xie, the senior in charge of Yanluo Hall, initially defended Zhang's forty years of loyal service at the Demon Burning Pagoda, but conceded that if Zhang truly was the Horse Demon, Yanluo Hall would not tolerate it. Qi Xiaoxuan requested the Demon Burning Pagoda be sealed, and Zhi Xie entrusted the investigation to Tiangang Hall. Later, at the Demon Burning Pagoda, Zilu and Jiang Xici confronted Zhang.
Zhang, aware of their suspicions regarding the missing sorcerers, confidently denied the accusations, finding it preposterous to be called a demon after decades of service. He dismissed the two tufts of horse mane as insufficient proof. Zhao Xintong pressed him about the Fragrant Soul Herb scent, suggesting he used it to mask his demonic aura.
Zhang retorted that he used Fragrant Soul Herb daily to remove the lingering stench of demons he dealt with at the pagoda, a practice known by many. He then turned the tables, accusing Qi Xiaoxuan and Hu Zi of framing him by planting the mane in his residence, questioning their authority to search his home without proper orders. To prove his innocence, Zhang offered to undergo any investigation but refused to admit to false accusations.
He even challenged them to find any Horse Demon hair on his body. Wang Yuqian then proposed a legendary flame test, explaining that any demon exposed to it would burn with a green flame, while non-demons would not affect its color. Zhang bravely extended his hand into the flame, and it remained unchanged. Convinced by the test, Zilu ordered Qi Xiaoxuan and Hu Zi arrested for failing to catch the real culprit and for falsely accusing Zhang.
He apologized to Zhang, promising a full explanation for the day's events. Left alone, Zhang smirked, revealing to himself that no one knew the water spirit's bone could alter the legendary flame's color. In jail, a frustrated Hu Zi argued with Qi Xiaoxuan about Zhang's obvious guilt. Qi Xiaoxuan's grandmother and Jiang Xici visited them. Grandma informed them that Zilu would hold them accountable tomorrow.
Hu Zi pleaded with Jiang Xici to release them, certain they could expose Zhang, but Jiang Xici reminded them Zhang had cleared his name publicly and promised to plead for a lighter sentence for them. Meanwhile, Mu Dan received news of Qi Xiaoxuan's imprisonment and his unhealed wounds. She immediately dispatched all the kites in the capital to search for any clue, no matter how small, related to the Horse Demon.
Zhang, meanwhile, mused about "cutting the grass to root out the problem." Wang Yuqian, as part of a new plan, deliberately got drunk at the Sorcerer's Inn, loudly proclaiming Zhang was the murderer and that the Soul Devouring Herb was the evidence.
Mu Dan found Wang Yuqian and gave him detailed records of Zhang's daily whereabouts, asking him to cross-reference them with the times sorcerers went missing, hoping it would provide the undeniable proof needed to save Qi Xiaoxuan and Hu Zi. As Wang Yuqian headed towards Tiangang Hall with the records, Zhang ambushed him. Zhang confessed to being the Horse Demon, mocking Wang Yuqian's legendary flame test and his recent provocation with the Soul Devouring Herb.
He revealed that the water spirit's bone was how he manipulated the flame's color, calling Wang Yuqian and others foolish for not noticing. Wang Yuqian, unfazed, retorted that the records would expose Zhang's movements and connect him to the missing sorcerers. He threatened to expose Zhang's crimes to Tiangang Hall. Enraged, Zhang moved to kill Wang Yuqian, but Zhao Xintong, Hu Zi, and Qi Xiaoxuan suddenly appeared. Wang Yuqian loudly declared Zhang was the murderer.
Zhang realized he had been lured into a trap. With no escape, he transformed into his true Horse Demon form. Zilu and Jiang Xici arrived with guards. Hu Zi revealed that the Horse Demon's mane found earlier in the pagoda was indeed Zhang's, and Zilu then revealed that Qi Xiaoxuan, using his ability to see essence, had found an empty bottle containing residual essence, further implicating Zhang. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, the Horse Demon fled, with Qi Xiaoxuan giving chase.
Mu Dan, witnessing Qi Xiaoxuan's pursuit of the Horse Demon, felt a deep sense of unease and followed them. She found Qi Xiaoxuan struggling against the powerful Demon Elder. The Horse Demon, upon seeing Mu Dan, questioned why a fellow demon would protect a human. Mu Dan responded that good and evil exist in both humans and demons, and despite their different paths, she was committed to protecting Qi Xiaoxuan today.
The Horse Demon then boasted that its immense power came from the refined essence of the sorcerers it had previously captured. Mu Dan quickly created a beautiful barrier of swirling flower petals to distract the Horse Demon and urged Qi Xiaoxuan to escape, apologizing for having lied to him. Qi Xiaoxuan, however, refused her help, telling her to stay out of it, and charged back into the fight.
Qi Xiaoxuan managed to stab the Horse Demon, but the cunning demon feigned death and launched a sneak attack from behind. In a critical moment, Mu Dan intercepted the fatal blow, shielding Qi Xiaoxuan. As she lay dying in the ruined temple, she told Qi Xiaoxuan that this was her first time being so close to him, and she had never intended him any harm.
Qi Xiaoxuan, grappling with the revelation of her true nature, asked himself if he truly understood demons. After Mu Dan's death, her devoted servant fiercely defended her against another person at Wanchun Pavillion who called Mu Dan a "flower demon" and an evil being. The servant insisted Mu Dan was a "good demon" who had never harmed anyone and had used her earnings to help the poor.
Qi Xiaoxuan, who witnessed the exchange, was given a hairpin by the servant, which Mu Dan had left for him. Holding it, Qi Xiaoxuan recalled a memory from years ago when he had unknowingly saved a flower, realizing it was Mu Dan. Meanwhile, at Tiangang Hall, Chief Commander Zilu received an alarming report: all demons imprisoned in the Demon Burning Pagoda had mysteriously vanished, yet their shackles remained intact, indicating no forced escape.
He lamented that the century-long reputation of the Three Main Halls was now in jeopardy. An elder, Chairman Liu, pointed out that Qi Xiaoxuan's capture and killing of the Horse Demon had inadvertently eliminated their last lead to the missing demons. Zhi Xie, taking full responsibility for the escape from Yanluo Hall, volunteered for imprisonment and transferred his authority to Zilu, believing it would facilitate the investigation.
Zilu, in a private conversation with Qi Xiaoxuan, also noted that Zhi Xie had submitted his resignation years prior, suggesting the Council of Elders had only kept him in his position to appease the public with his heroic reputation. Chairman Liu proposed sealing the capital under the pretext of preparing for the Royal Sorcerer Exam to prevent public panic and suggested delaying the report to Di City, hoping they could recapture the demons and make amends.
Zilu agreed but emphasized the need for absolute secrecy. He expressed suspicion of an inside traitor within the sorcerer ranks due to the intact shackles and pledged to initiate a private investigation, cautioning Qi Xiaoxuan to be vigilant. Later, Qi Xiaoxuan informed Hu Zi and Zhao Xintong that the Horse Demon case was solved and their names cleared, urging them to focus on preparing for the Royal Sorcerer Exam.
He vaguely mentioned another urgent case that required him to leave, and despite their protests, he left them to their studies. Back at the Sorcerer's Inn, Cheng Jinian and his companions publicly mocked Qi Xiaoxuan and Mu Dan, calling Mu Dan a "flower demon" and questioning Qi Xiaoxuan's involvement with her.
Hu Zi fiercely defended Mu Dan, asserting that she was far better than Cheng Jinian, whom he called a "rabid dog," and proclaimed that not all demons were inherently evil, almost escalating into a fight.
