Till the End of the Moon Episode 11 Recap
> Till the End of the Moon Recap
In a tense confrontation, Tantai Jin observed General Ye Qingyu, noting his changed demeanor from a once majestic general to a haggard man. Ye Qingyu retorted with threats to kill or capture Tantai Jin for Sheng Kingdom's glory. Tantai Jin countered, questioning if such an act would lead to promotion or merely fuel Emperor Sheng's paranoia, making Ye Qingyu a threat to the throne.
Dismissing the future, Ye Qingyu declared that killing Tantai Jin would be a service to the world. Tantai Jin then reminded Ye Qingyu of Emperor Sheng's suspicious nature, a trait they both intimately understood from Tantai Jin's time as a hostage. He warned that the Ye family was already "on the brink of destruction." Ye Qingyu, however, maintained his family's unwavering loyalty to Sheng.
Tantai Jin shifted his argument to the plight of the common people, asserting that if the Ye family continued to accept Emperor Sheng's rule, allowing an "incapable emperor as he wishes," the people would "only suffer more," much like Tantai Jin himself felt powerless when he was married into the Ye family. Tantai Jin praised Ye Qingyu's military prowess at Jia Pass, recognizing his leadership and care for his soldiers.
He called Ye Qingyu a "benevolent sword," which, if wielded by a tyrant, "wreaks havoc on people," but in the right hands, "brings peace to the land." He pressed Ye Qingyu to choose between his personal reputation and the well-being of the populace. Ye Qingyu recalled his lifelong aspiration for a unified and peaceful realm. At that moment, a deputy general brought grim news: the court reiterated its order to execute the entire Ye family should Jia Pass fall.
This starkly underlined Tantai Jin's warnings about Emperor Sheng's cruelty. Ye Qingyu then remembered his father's final words, entrusting him with the family jade and instructing him to "not yield. Die for honor if need be," while also wishing he could have lived a simple life. Ye Qingyu affirmed his commitment to bearing the responsibilities of his family and the nation. As Jing's army advanced to the city gates, Ye Qingyu was torn.
He reflected on Tantai Jin's words about sacrificing one's reputation for the lives of thousands and the widespread suffering under Emperor Sheng. Ultimately, driven by his desire for peace and Tantai Jin's vision of a unified land, Ye Qingyu made his decision. He ordered the city gates opened, surrendering Jia Pass to Jing. He tearfully apologized to his father, stating he was "failing him only to save the people."
Upon entering Jia Pass, Tantai Jin observed Ye Qingyu's humble residence, noting that Emperor Sheng's cruel and paranoid nature would surely lead him to "root out" the Ye family. He revealed that he had already sent his people to Shengdu to escort Ye Qingyu's family to Jing. Ye Qingyu expressed gratitude, acknowledging Tantai Jin's past grievances against his family but admiring his act of "repaying with goodwill."
Tantai Jin clarified that his intention was not charity, but to prevent Ye Qingyu's "talent wasted nor your life at risk." Ye Qingyu pledged his unwavering loyalty, promising to go through fire and water for him, an offer Tantai Jin accepted as a "great honor." When Ye Qingyu inquired about his elder sister, Ye Xiwu, Tantai Jin initially feigned ignorance, then revealed she had "left months ago."
Ye Qingyu, apologizing for her "willful" nature, offered to bear any punishment on her behalf, but Tantai Jin dismissed him, claiming weariness. Alone, Tantai Jin pondered Ye Xiwu's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Ye Xiwu had entrusted Yue Fuya to an elderly couple, the Yues, who were childless. For the child's safety, Ye Xiwu renamed her "Yue Ya," a name inspired by the crescent shape of her eyes when she smiled, and instructed her to keep her original name, Yue Fuya, a secret.
She also gave Yue Ya a letter of recommendation, advising her to seek out the Hengyang Sect on Mount Changze if she ever wished to learn magic. Ye Xiwu bid her farewell, expressing a hope to meet again someday. In Shengdu, Emperor Sheng erupted in rage upon learning of Jia Pass's fall and the Ye family's disappearance. He ordered a cavalry unit to hunt them down, declaring that even in death, they must be "buried at my feet."
Prince Xiao Lin urged his father to immediately send troops to reclaim the lost territory. However, Emperor Sheng's paranoia led him to accuse Xiao Lin of defending the Ye family and secretly harboring ambitions for the throne, even questioning if Xiao Lin had been aware of Ye Qingyu's betrayal. Xiao Lin refuted the accusations, explaining that Tantai Jin's effective governance made war ill-advised and suggested a period of strategic consolidation. Unconvinced, Emperor Sheng continued to suspect Xiao Lin's motives.
To dispel his father's doubts, Xiao Lin volunteered to lead the army to reclaim Jia Pass himself. Emperor Sheng reluctantly assented, but before Xiao Lin departed, he made one plea: that Emperor Sheng spare Ye Bingshang's life, emphasizing that despite her family origins, she was now his wife. Emperor Sheng, acknowledging Xiao Lin's loyalty, agreed. On the streets of Shengdu, Ye Bingshang faced the fury of the populace.
Angered by the Ye family's perceived treason, citizens publicly humiliated her, calling her a "spy" and a "traitor," and demanding she "get out of our country." Xiao Lin arrived just in time to protect her, apologizing for her suffering and vowing it would not happen again. He expressed his deep concern about leaving her in Shengdu amidst such public hostility, revealing his imminent departure for war.
Feeling utterly abandoned and vulnerable, Ye Bingshang pleaded with Xiao Lin to take her with him. She confessed she had "no family to rely upon" and would rather face death on the battlefield by his side than remain alone in Shengdu. Despite the inherent dangers of war for someone of her delicate nature, Xiao Lin, unable to leave his beloved, agreed to protect her and bring her along.
Upon learning that Xiao Lin was personally leading the army, Pang Yizhi, a scholar and cultivator, informed him that he would join him. Though a cultivator, Pang Yizhi stated that his loyalty transcended worldly affairs, considering their shared journey a form of "cultivation," and upholding the principle of the Xiaoyao Sect to meddle in worldly affairs. Meanwhile, Tantai Jin received news of Xiao Lin's deployment, seeing it as proof of Emperor Sheng's fury over Ye Qingyu's surrender.
Reflecting on his past as a hostage under Xiao Lin's "care," Tantai Jin acknowledged a debt but declared his intent to be ungrateful. Observing his current demon forces were insufficient for a swift victory, Tantai Jin ordered Pian Ran to find more powerful demons, specifically directing her to the Mohe River, rumored to be an "ominous" place. Despite her initial protests that all known demons were already under his command, Pian Ran complied.
She soon discovered a ten-thousand-year-old demon slumbering deep beneath the Mohe River. Tantai Jin promptly commanded all sorcerers to gather there. Whispers among the common folk confirmed Jing's army was "garrisoned along the Mohe River" and was treating people well. Ye Xiwu, overhearing this, discreetly sought out her brother, Ye Qingyu, in the Jing camp. Though aware of his surrender, she believed he "had his own reasons." Noticing sorcerers in the camp, Ye Xiwu questioned her brother about their purpose.
Ye Qingyu revealed Tantai Jin's plan to awaken an ancient demon from the Mohe River, with Pian Ran's assistance, and incorporate it into his army. He confirmed the "ritual" would commence "at the next sunrise." Ye Xiwu realized Pian Ran was now serving Tantai Jin and feared that his success would trigger "a calamity." She resolved to thwart his plan.
Concurrently, a scout informed Xiao Lin and Pang Yizhi that Jing's army had arrived at the Mohe River but remained unusually still. Xiao Lin suspected a trap. When his men confirmed Tantai Jin's intention to awaken an "ancient demon" through a ritual, Xiao Lin declared they "can't sit back and do nothing" and must "break his formation." Pang Yizhi agreed, emphasizing the need for a stealthy and swift infiltration rather than a full military engagement.
Ye Bingshang, observing Xiao Lin's hurried departure, questioned his solitary journey, but he left without answering. At sunrise, Pian Ran and the sorcerers, following Tantai Jin's command, parted the waters of the Mohe River. Tantai Jin led his forces into its depths, where they discovered the colossal, dormant serpent. A sorcerer noted the serpent's lack of demonic energy but its pervasive "grudge," predicting it would eventually transform into a "demonic serpent."
Tantai Jin dismissed a nearby "clam's shell" and ordered the ritual to awaken the creature. Before the ritual could fully proceed, Ye Xiwu dramatically interrupted with her magic. Tantai Jin ordered her capture, but his men were immediately intercepted by the newly arrived Xiao Lin and Pang Yizhi. Tantai Jin greeted Xiao Lin, remarking on their long separation.
Xiao Lin demanded Tantai Jin cease his "outrageous and unforgivable" actions, but Tantai Jin scoffed at the notion of "heavenly principles," asserting his right to utilize all his resources. He then provocatively admitted to summoning the "blood ravens" that disrupted Xiao Lin's wedding, explaining that he sought revenge on those who wronged him, and they "just so happened" to be gathered there. He acknowledged "owing" Xiao Lin for ruining his special day.
As a gesture, Tantai Jin offered Xiao Lin a chance to retreat with his life, reminding him of past kindness. Xiao Lin, questioning if Tantai Jin was "scared," refused to yield. Tantai Jin then revealed that he had secretly "learned people skills from you since I was a kid," to which Xiao Lin retorted that he "didn't do a good job." Tantai Jin conceded their profound differences but pointed out a striking similarity: both were despised by their own brothers.
He mused that without these "unwanted people," they "could be brothers," but fate had instead destined them "to be enemies." Xiao Lin agreed, declaring, "This is why I have to stop you today." Seeing his attempts at persuasion fail, Tantai Jin ordered his men to "Kill them all" and urged his sorcerers to continue the ritual. Ye Xiwu, realizing Tantai Jin had been "stalling for time," understood they had been tricked.
As the ritual intensified, Pang Yizhi explained that the serpent had been in a "Bo're Life" dream for "ten thousand years," perpetually reliving its past "joy and sorrow," making it trapped. He observed an ominous change in its eyes, signifying the "fine line between becoming a demon and a god," and realized that forcibly awakening it had triggered a fated "trial," the outcome of which remained uncertain.
Ye Xiwu noticed Tantai Jin's unsettling behavior, fearing the demon was influencing him and luring him into choosing an evil path, potentially initiating the "calamity setting in 500 years." She urgently asked Pang Yizhi how to stop the demon from becoming evil, and he replied there was "only one way: Enter the serpent's dream and wake it up." Without hesitation, Ye Xiwu declared, "Let me try," and plunged into the dreamscape.
Pang Yizhi was taken aback by her haste, as he hadn't finished explaining the grave dangers: once inside, invaders would "lose their memories" and could transform into anything, from "small animals" to "an everyday tool," facing "grave danger." Tantai Jin followed Ye Xiwu into the dream. Xiao Lin, seeing Tantai Jin enter, vowed, "I'll stop Tantai Jin," and entered as well.
Ye Bingshang, who had been secretly trailing Xiao Lin, also accidentally fell into the Mohe River and was drawn into the dreamscape. Outside the dream, Pian Ran and the sorcerers observed the chaotic influx, realizing that "too many people" entering was causing the "illusion to collapse." Pian Ran advised her subordinate not to follow, arguing that Tantai Jin's destiny was his own and they shouldn't risk their lives.
She decided they would "sit this one out" and cheered on Ye Xiwu, Xiao Lin, and Pang Yizhi, urging them to defeat Tantai Jin. From within the unfolding dreamscape, a voice echoed, enunciating the essence of "Bo're Life": "Never born, never died. . . Now I let all of you go through the cycle of birth, death, love, and hate. Come into my dream. And be enlightened. This is what the Bo're Life is all about."
Inside the Bo're Life dreamscape, Sang Jiu, the Princess of the Clam Tribe of the Mohe River, witnessed a fierce battle between gods and devils. She watched, captivated, as Ming Ye, the God of War of the Shangqing Realm, valiantly fought the demon army. Inspired by his awe-inspiring power, Sang Jiu longed to cultivate diligently and "attain godhood one day" to join him in battle, to "fight the Devil's Army and protect our lands."
Her brother found her outside, scolding her for sneaking out during such dangerous times. Their father explained that Ming Ye, originally a "serpent inhabiting the East Sea," had undergone "years and years of hard cultivation" to become the God of War and was "dedicated himself to fight the Devil's Army," bringing pride to all "Water Tribe" creatures. Her brother teased Sang Jiu about her laziness compared to Ming Ye, prompting Sang Jiu to promise to meditate.
The father and son then discussed Sang Jiu's apparent crush on Ming Ye, with the father musing about a potential marriage proposal if Sang Jiu ever achieved godhood. However, her brother cautioned that with the "Devil God's arrival" and the "future of Four Continents and Three Realms unclear," it was safer for Sang Jiu to remain within the protective confines of the Mohe River.
Meanwhile, within his own domain, Ming Ye received a grim report: "more than half the Four Continents and Three Realms have been occupied" by the Devil God in less than three months. He solemnly recalled his promise to Tian Hao, the former God of War, to defend the Eastern Continent, declaring, "The Mohe River will not be lost." Tian Huan, Tian Hao's daughter who harbored deep affection for Ming Ye, approached him.
She reminded him that her father had entrusted both the Eastern Continent and her to his care, expressing her fear of what would become of her "if something happens to you." Ming Ye thanked Tian Huan for tending to his wounds and excused himself for a walk.
