Tiger and Crane Episode 17 Recap
> Tiger and Crane Recap
Eunuch Liu arrived at the Three Main Halls, where an elder had already been waiting for Chief Commander Qi Zilu for some time. A subordinate informed them that Qi Zilu was on his way back from investigating a case in the prison and would arrive shortly. Upon Qi Zilu's arrival, Eunuch Liu presented an imperial decree. The edict stated that the recent demon escapes and sorcerers going berserk in the capital were due to Tiangang Hall's dereliction of duty.
Therefore, Qi Zilu was ordered to lead two camps of Tiangang Hall sorcerers to Di City to protect His Majesty, leaving two camps behind to guard the capital. The investigation into the demons was to be handed over to Disha Hall, and Qi Zilu was to depart immediately without delay.
Qi Zilu attempted to refuse, explaining that Di City already had the elite sorcerer army and military forces of Fulong State to protect the Emperor, so His Majesty's safety was assured. He argued that the capital was currently in dire need of manpower, and dispatching all the elites would make it difficult to defend against demons if the situation escalated.
Eunuch Liu accused him of disobeying the imperial edict, reminding him of the Three Main Halls' elevated status and suggesting that transferring the sorcerers out of the capital would also offer an explanation to the public regarding the rampaging sorcerers. Qi Zilu reiterated his concern about the capital's safety due to Di City's distance, fearing a major disaster if support couldn't reach them.
Eunuch Liu firmly stated that both cities belonged to His Majesty and if Qi Zilu couldn't fulfill his duty to protect the Emperor, other troops could be chosen, implying that Tiangang Hall could be destroyed. Faced with this threat, Qi Zilu reluctantly complied with the decree. Grandma Jiang Xici mused that a massive thunderstorm seemed to be brewing in Fulong State, though she couldn't pinpoint its cause. Her grandson, Qi Xiaoxuan, inquired about any progress with Zhi Xie.
Jiang Xici admitted there was no direct evidence to implicate him, leading Qi Xiaoxuan to suggest investigating Yi Mei instead. Later, Hu Zi expressed his deep unease to Zhao Xintong, revealing his worry that the capital's anomalies might be connected to his mother, a tiger demon. He had read in the "Collection of Demons across Ten Thousand Years" that Nine-tailed Tiger Demons were bloodthirsty and cruel, bringing endless disasters.
He wondered if his mother had escaped from the Demon Burning Pagoda. Zhao Xintong reassured him, reminding him that his mother was gentle and kind, unwilling to harm even an ant, completely unlike the book's description. She urged him to trust his own heart and not be swayed by external opinions. Jiang Xici then ordered all Disha Hall sorcerers to launch a full-scale search for Yi Mei.
She also instructed her Second Master to contact civilian sorcerers across Fulong State to gather intelligence on Yi Mei and report any clues. To Qi Xiaoxuan, she emphasized that with two Royal Sorcerer camps transferred, the capital was vulnerable. She tasked him with gathering the city's sorcerer army for round-the-clock patrols to ensure the safety of the populace. Qi Xiaoxuan promised to do his utmost.
Meanwhile, the First Master recalled that the master had previously split spirit essence with Yi Mei. By holding their breath and concentrating, they could locate each other. Using this ability, the First Master found Yi Mei and questioned why she was opposing Fulong State and its countless citizens. Yi Mei claimed to have difficulties but refused to reveal them.
She then returned the spirit essence to the First Master, ending their friendship, stating that their next meeting would be a fight to the death. However, Qi Yanran, the Commander-in-Chief, confronted Jiang Xici, accusing her of nepotism for openly entrusting the capital's defense to Qi Xiaoxuan, despite Qi Yanran being the one responsible. Jiang Xici retorted by questioning the integrity of Qi Yanran's rise to power, declaring she would never trust someone so immoral.
Qi Yanran asserted that Jiang Xici's oppression only strengthened her and hinted that pushing her too far might lead to regrettable actions from which Jiang Xici would suffer. Jiang Xici firmly vowed that as long as she lived, she would prevent Qi Yanran from harming Qi Xiaoxuan, to which Qi Yanran reminded her that she was also her granddaughter. Yi Mei then sought out Qi Yanran, even though she was a wanted person.
She proposed a deal, which Qi Yanran initially rejected, citing Yi Mei's collusion with demons and her own position as a Royal Sorcerer Commander-in-Chief. Yi Mei countered by revealing her knowledge of Qi Yanran's unscrupulous methods to gain her position and the true circumstances behind Qi Xiaoxuan's actions during the finals.
She claimed to be the creator of the Qi family's Spirit Locking Ritual and offered to "save" Qi Xiaoxuan by permanently changing the "Qian" within him to "Yan," making the spirits irreversible. Yi Mei asserted that this "spirit-switching secret art" was unique to her and irreversible. She highlighted how Jiang Xici had always underestimated Qi Yanran, limiting her achievements and status.
As part of the deal, Yi Mei demanded that Qi Yanran constantly report Jiang Xici's plans and movements, in exchange for Yi Mei clearing the path for Qi Yanran to solidify her command, including killing Jiang Xici. Yi Mei pressed Qi Yanran for a decision. Subsequently, Qi Yanran tried to enlist Wu Lidan, informing him that she had made a deal with Yi Mei.
Wu Lidan, while admitting he wasn't a "gentleman hero," stated he had principles and wouldn't engage in actions that violated the core tenets of a Royal Sorcerer. Qi Yanran attempted to persuade him by reminding him of his past defeat and slow career progression, promising him prestige within the Royal Sorcerers if he helped. Wu Lidan asked for the specifics of the deal.
Qi Yanran revealed her part: providing information to Yi Mei, who would then kill the First Master, Jiang Xici. Wu Lidan was appalled, calling it an act that would make him a "thousand-year sinner" of the Three Main Halls and questioning how Qi Yanran could contemplate such an unfilial act against her own grandmother. He declared that he had clearly underestimated her. Separately, Hu Zi and Zhao Xintong were trying to fish, with Wang Yuqian nearby.
Zhao Xintong playfully teased Hu Zi about his lack of fishing skill. As they got closer, she abruptly complained about his smell, asking how long it had been since his last shower and calling him dirty. She told him to stay away. Hu Zi, taking her words to heart, went to their bamboo house to bathe, hoping that Zhao Xintong would no longer find him smelly.
After the Tiangang Hall sorcerer army's transfer, incidents of attacks on citizens in the capital decreased. However, the Royal Sorcerers' reputation had plummeted, causing many people to avoid them like demons, fearing to leave their homes. To alleviate public anxiety, Jiang Xici ordered Royal Sorcerers to patrol in plain clothes.
Meanwhile, Manzhu Shahua reported to Jiang Xici her findings from inspecting the sorcerers' corpses: their primordial spirits had dispersed during the attacks, confirming they were merely walking corpses possessed by wicked spirits. This pointed to the forbidden skill of controlling wicked spirits, which was supposed to be sealed in Fulong State. Jiang Xici questioned Manzhu Shahua if anyone had accessed the Collection Pavilion's secret room, as only the Chiefs of the Three Main Halls had such authority.
Manzhu Shahua denied it, but Jiang Xici mused that a Chief could potentially access the forbidden skills. Although Manzhu Shahua instantly suspected Jiang Xici was hinting at Zhi Xie and vouched for him, Jiang Xici insisted they check for themselves. They found the seals intact. However, Manzhu Shahua recalled seeing someone resembling Zhi Xie touching a forbidden book on the day of the Royal Sorcerer Exam finals.
She later went to the prison to question Zhi Xie directly about his whereabouts that day. Zhi Xie vehemently denied having been at the Collection Pavilion, stating he was in prison, which seemed to put Manzhu Shahua's doubts to rest. She apologized for her rudeness and reminded him to guard the Collection Pavilion diligently now that the Chief Commander was gone. The streets of the capital remained quiet and deserted due to the public's fear of Royal Sorcerers.
Hu Zi, Zhao Xintong, and Wang Yuqian decided to seek clues at the bustling Ghost Market. There, they encountered an individual dressed as a Royal Sorcerer who was robbing people but not harming them. The trio apprehended the robber, who admitted to impersonating a "deranged sorcerer" to exploit the Royal Sorcerer's notorious reputation for financial gain.
Discovering Red Pearl powder hidden under the robber's bracelet, Hu Zi decided against returning the stolen money, opting instead to distribute it among the impoverished citizens of the slums. At Yanluo Hall, Manzhu Shahua continued her duties, where she uncovered a disturbing discrepancy: the actual number of captured demons was several times higher than recorded, and the count of sorcerers whose spirit essences had been drained also far exceeded official records.
Pondering the whereabouts of the excess demons and the purpose of the drained essences, Manzhu Shahua realized Yanluo Hall harbored deep secrets. As she resolved to inform Jiang Xici, Zhi Xie suddenly appeared and attacked her, forcibly draining her spirit essences. Later, at their lodging, a deranged sorcerer attempted to strangle Hu Zi. Wang Yuqian intervened, subduing the sorcerer by hitting him twice with a brick. The sorcerer immediately quieted down and began walking directly towards Yanluo Hall.
Puzzled by his behavior, the trio followed him. Inside Yanluo Hall, they discovered a hidden mechanism leading to an underground area. Wang Yuqian left a distinctive mark on the mechanism for a potential future rescue. As they descended, they heard eerie chanting: "Sacrificing souls, it will never end." They found Zhi Xie performing a ritual, surrounded by what appeared to be controlled, seemingly joyous figures.
Hu Zi recognized a golden accessory on Zhi Xie, realizing he was the black-robed man who had taken his mother years ago. As they tried to retreat, Zhi Xie sensed their presence and revealed himself. Meanwhile, Qi Xiaoxuan received a report from his informant guarding Yanluo Hall that three individuals—Hu Zi, Zhao Xintong, and Wang Yuqian—had secretly entered. Qi Xiaoxuan immediately led a search, but they found nothing inside the main hall.
However, he soon discovered Wang Yuqian's mark on the hidden mechanism. Following the mark, Qi Xiaoxuan entered the underground secret area. He confronted Zhi Xie, who acknowledged Qi Xiaoxuan's sharp intellect. Zhi Xie cynically stated that the Three Main Halls had devolved; its elders, once heroic demon slayers, were now bureaucrats obsessed with power and status.
He claimed that this human flaw had persisted for sixty years, describing the so-called "prestige" of the era as an empty illusion built on the corruption of human hearts and the expansion of desires. When Qi Xiaoxuan demanded to know why Zhi Xie had done all this, Zhi Xie countered by questioning why demons were fated to be slaughtered and stripped of dignity by sorcerers who measured their achievements by the number of demons killed.
He argued that just as humans possess both good and evil, so too do demons. Qi Xiaoxuan then retorted that this moral complexity did not justify Zhi Xie's actions of killing people and sorcerers.
