Tiger and Crane Episode 24 Recap
> Tiger and Crane Recap
Zhao Xintong was appointed the new Chief Commanding Master of Fulong State, a decision met with well-deserved approval from her companions. On a rare occasion, Zhao Xintong, Hu Zi, Qi Xiaoxuan, and Wang Yuqian sat together, enjoying the serene landscape and discussing their aspirations for a peaceful future, free from conflict between humans and demons. Hu Zi dreamed of opening a restaurant to attract unique individuals from all over the world and offer all kinds of delicacies.
Wang Yuqian, tired of his royal upbringing, wished to become a ranger and travel the world, inviting his friends to join him. Qi Xiaoxuan, concerned with his family's Curse of Twin Primordial Spirits, hoped to quickly break it to free future generations from suffering. Zhao Xintong, in a more contemplative mood, desired to become a tree, reminiscent of a hibiscus tree from her childhood that held her fondest memories.
Their conversation, filled with laughter and shared dreams, marked their first truly relaxed moment since the chaos that engulfed Fulong Capital. Meanwhile, at the Collection Pavilion, Jiang Xici meticulously searched through ancient texts. She remarked that if records on activating the Phurba existed, they would likely have been discovered by Yi Mei and Zhi Xie, who colluded previously.
While searching, Jiang Xici stumbled upon a painting titled "The Beginning of the World," which depicted scenes on its front and detailed the founding history of Qianyu State on its back. Wang Yuqian had heard legends of Qianyu State being established with eternal divine power five hundred years ago but was unsure of their truth.
Xiao Yunzi elaborated, confirming the legend that five hundred years ago, the founding emperor of Qianyu State built the nation with the assistance of Qiling God, a deity rumored to possess boundless power capable of turning stone into gold and trash into treasure. Consequently, for five centuries, the people of Qianyu State worshipped only Qiling God. If Qiling God indeed existed, the eternal divine power should still reside within Qianyu State.
Despite the possibility of it being merely an ancient tale, Zhao Xintong proposed they investigate in Qianyu State. She reasoned that Fulong State currently offered no other sufficiently powerful demons to reactivate the Phurba, and with the Legendary Sea crisis imminent and Qi Xiaoxuan's condition worsening, seeking divine power was their last resort. As Qi Xiaoxuan's spirit essences were rapidly dissipating, his companions unanimously agreed he should remain at the inn to rest, despite his desire to join them.
Hu Zi, Zhao Xintong, and Xiao Yunzi, accompanied by Wang Yuqian, set off for Qianyu State. During their journey, they heard a local ballad reflecting the Fulong people's philosophy of finding contentment anywhere, even if they couldn't reach the fabled Qianyu State. Upon arriving at Mount Buyu, Wang Yuqian explained its name, which means "silence," derived from the practice of traveling merchants who remained quiet to conserve energy and gain an advantage in the market.
He described Qianyu State as a rich land, abundant in minerals, where gold-built temples and jade paths adorned the prosperous capital, a depiction that revitalized Hu Zi, making him forget his weariness. However, as they neared the border, they found the bridge connecting the two states inexplicably severed and the border outpost deserted, a situation Wang Yuqian found unusual as the bridge had been intact during his last visit.
Using his flying sword, Wang Yuqian ferried them across the chasm, an act that remarkably helped him overcome his long-standing fear of heights. They noted that the bridge appeared intentionally cut, though no signs of a struggle were present. Coincidentally, at the same time, Cheng Shu was being exiled to the frontier.
His son, Cheng Jinian, hastily met him, receiving a solemn instruction to faithfully serve as the Royal Sorcerer, as this was the only hope for the Cheng family to regain its standing. Cheng Jinian vowed to bring his father back. Upon reaching the gates of Qianyu City, Wang Yuqian's group, along with other Julun people, found themselves barred from entry. The Qianyu State guards, mistaking Wang Yuqian for an imposter prince, arrested them all.
Inside the makeshift prison, Xiao Yunzi, a Qianyu native, expressed his disdain for the Julun people, recalling their status as Qianyu's slaves a century ago and asserting that the two nations could never truly be friendly, despite Hu Zi's attempt to bridge the divide. Soon, the Imperial Preceptor arrived, recognizing Wang Yuqian as the true prince and ordering their release.
Wang Yuqian, showing his compassionate nature, then insisted that all the imprisoned Julun people be set free, stating that Qianyu State never unjustly detains innocents. Back at the Fulong Bay Inn, Jiang Xici continued her exhaustive research, poring over ancient texts while Qi Xiaoxuan diligently worked to stabilize his mind. Jiang Xici informed him of her findings on Dianfeng Valley, a place teeming with formidable demons, emphasizing the need for early preparation.
She observed Qi Xiaoxuan's significant improvement, noting his body had become lighter and he could now perform moves previously impossible. Jiang Xici proposed a new combat strategy: once Qi Xiaoxuan fully adapted to his transformed body, he would combine his unique abilities with Mo Guzi's Thousand Thread technique, believing this synergy would create an unprecedented offensive mechanism. Led by the Imperial Preceptor, Wang Yuqian and his friends were escorted to meet the King of Qianyu State.
The King's stern demeanor unnerved both Hu Zi and Zhao Xintong. After the Imperial Preceptor left, Wang Yuqian humbly apologized to his father for his long absence. Surprisingly, the King, who usually urged his son to stay, instructed him to entertain his friends for a few days and then leave, explicitly telling him not to concern himself with Qianyu State's affairs, a stark contrast to his usual expectations.
During dinner, Zhao Xintong expressed her gratitude for the Red Pearls Qianyu State had previously provided, which had helped them in an urgent situation. She then explained their purpose: to seek reinforcements for the escalating Legendary Sea crisis and to inquire about borrowing the eternal divine power to reactivate the Phurba for their journey to Dianfeng Valley.
The King expressed his willingness to help but regretfully stated that Qianyu State, still reeling from recent demon attacks and focused on reconstruction, was unable to spare any troops. When the eternal divine power was mentioned, the King dismissed it as a mere legend, asserting that it did not exist, a fact he claimed to have taught Wang Yuqian since childhood.
He explained that while Qianyu State revered Qiling God as a spiritual belief, no one had ever truly seen the deity. Zhao Xintong tried to explain their reliance on the "Beginning of the World" painting for their belief, but the King, appearing weary, ended the discussion. After dinner, Wang Yuqian confessed his father's displeasure with him and his own disinterest in inheriting the throne, despite Zhao Xintong's attempts to remind him of his royal destiny.
Later, a strange, bloody scent led the group to a palace guard's chamber, where they discovered he had been killed. The Imperial Preceptor arrived, confirming that demons had infiltrated the palace multiple times recently, stealing jewels, gold, and silver ornaments, and even killing a maid named Lan. Wang Yuqian went to investigate the scene alone, finding an unidentifiable object.
A palace maid revealed that Lan had been delivering precious balsam, the last of a tribute, when she was attacked and the balsam stolen. She also recounted how concubines had been battling for rare balsams to win the King's favor, leading to widespread thefts now linked to this demon. Realizing the concubines were in danger, Wang Yuqian proposed using his extremely valuable Yuning Incense, which mimicked the scent of a phoenix in courtship, to lure the demon out.
The incense attracted a small red bird, which they followed to the demon's lair. However, the demon proved invisible, making it difficult to capture despite Hu Zi's efforts to grab it. After consulting ancient texts, Xiao Yunzi identified the demon as a "balsam thief" (Qiezhi), known for its love of rouge, fragrances, and hoarding women's treasures, as well as its enjoyment of song and dance, and its ability to turn invisible.
Since the demon was arrogant and always succeeded in its thefts, Zhao Xintong devised a new strategy: they would hold a grand song and dance feast in the imperial garden, ostensibly to celebrate the recovery of the stolen treasures, thus tempting the proud balsam thief to reveal itself.
