Twelve Legends Episode 23 Recap
> Twelve Legends Recap
Under interrogation for stealing chickens, Bai A'Jiu confessed to acting alone and revealed she is a young Nine-tailed Fox, born with nine tails because both her parents were Nine-tailed Foxes. Lian Xuan was skeptical of her age, but Jin Xingjian confirmed A'Jiu's identity. A'Jiu sincerely apologized to Ye Li Na, promising to never steal again and to work to repay the stolen chickens.
Ye Ming spoke on A'Jiu's behalf, and Ye Li Na, expressing she didn't mind a few chickens, agreed to forgive A'Jiu but warned her against future thievery. Lian Xuan, frustrated that he was the only one appearing harsh, was pulled away by Xiao Qing under the pretense of seeking medicine for a supposed head injury. Jin Xingjian kindly offered A'Jiu food from the mansion since A'Jiu had none.
Left alone with Jin Xingjian, their conversation quickly turned to Yu Shao Bai. Ye Ming firmly told him that if Yu Shao Bai genuinely needed the Nine-tailed Fox's essence to prolong his life, she would assist him, having already made her decision. Jin Xingjian assured her he would support her regardless of her choice. Back at home, Lu Jin Zhi reiterated his request for A'Jiu to stop stealing chickens, which she agreed to.
Outside, Ye Ming listened to their conversation, bittersweetly recalling her happy past with Jin Xingjian, a stark contrast to her current predicament with Yu Shao Bai. She then fell into deep thought, realizing that since she had agreed to obtain the Nine-tailed Fox's inner elixir for Yu Shao Bai, A'Jiu was now in danger. When Lu Jin Zhi momentarily left A'Jiu, Ye Ming seized the chance to magically put him to sleep.
She warned A'Jiu about the dangers of being a Nine-tailed Fox with her true form now exposed and a loved one as a vulnerability. She advised A'Jiu to take Lu Jin Zhi and flee immediately, as she couldn't bring herself to harm her. A grateful A'Jiu began packing, planning to convince Lu Jin Zhi they needed to move. Soon after, Jin Xingjian confronted Ye Ming, asking why she released A'Jiu and what she planned for Yu Shao Bai.
Ye Ming, resolute, stated that if Yu Shao Bai's life was ending, she would die alongside him, believing it was the only way to prevent further harm and find peace from her past mistakes. Jin Xingjian, after observing Ye Ming's actions, revealed Yu Shao Bai's deception. He explained that although he had indeed sealed Yu Shao Bai, breaking the seal wouldn't immediately destroy him.
Instead, Yu Shao Bai was using the Nine-tailed Fox's essence to enhance his own power, and his ultimate goal remained the half of the Night Pearl within Ye Ming. Jin Xingjian clarified that Yu Shao Bai's current weakened state made him unable to withstand the Night Pearl's full power, risking a powerful backlash, hence his desperate pursuit of the Nine-tailed Fox's essence.
Ye Ming, struggling to believe Jin Xingjian's words, rushed home to confront Yu Shao Bai, but found him absent. Guessing he was in the back mountain, she went there, encountering One-Eyed General who tried to deter her by mentioning the feeding bats. Meanwhile, at his lair, Yu Shao Bai was about to feed on human blood when he sensed Ye Ming's approach.
He instructed One-Eyed General to divert her, allowing Jin Xingjian and Lian Xuan to launch their assault on the Bat Cave. Ye Ming, noticing a flurry of bats, returned to find Jin Xingjian about to strike Yu Shao Bai. She intervened, and Jin Xingjian demanded the seals. Yu Shao Bai, pressured by Ye Ming’s presence, reluctantly admitted to taking the seals, claiming it was to protect his Blood Bat clan from Jin Xingjian's potential extermination.
An enraged Lian Xuan then exposed the truth: Yu Shao Bai and Ye Ming's lives were linked. Despite Jin Xingjian's desperate attempts to stop him, Lian Xuan attacked Yu Shao Bai, causing Ye Ming to experience the same agonizing pain. Witnessing this undeniable proof of their intertwined fate, Jin Xingjian forcibly dragged a furious Lian Xuan away. After the confrontation, Ye Ming finally understood Jin Xingjian's reluctance to kill Yu Shao Bai.
Yu Shao Bai confirmed that their shared Night Pearl linked their lives and admitted he stole Jin Xingjian's seals when he was unsealed, fearing being re-sealed and enduring endless torture, which he called "a fate worse than death." He claimed he only sought the Nine-tailed Fox's essence to survive and prevent Ye Ming from dying with him.
However, Ye Ming, recalling Jin Xingjian's earlier warnings about Yu Shao Bai's true desire for her Night Pearl, reaffirmed her refusal to let him take A'Jiu's essence. Despite Yu Shao Bai's pleas and reminders of her promise, Ye Ming vowed to stay by his side, "even if they turned to ash," and Yu Shao Bai promised not to disappoint her. Meanwhile, Jin Xingjian and Lian Xuan discussed the events.
Lian Xuan remained furious that Jin Xingjian hadn't killed Yu Shao Bai, despite knowing their lives were linked. Lian Xuan confessed his own desire to eliminate Yu Shao Bai, calling him an "old demon." They realized they had recovered six seals, plus Jin Xingjian's, totaling seven, with the last seal – the one Ye Ming used to break the original seal – still with Yu Shao Bai.
Jin Xingjian predicted Yu Shao Bai would undoubtedly seek the Nine-tailed Fox's essence to enhance his power before attempting to seize Ye Ming’s Night Pearl. He clarified to Lian Xuan that their priority was to find and protect the Nine-tailed Fox, as Ye Ming would never condone harming her. He emphasized that Yu Shao Bai wouldn't easily give up.
A'Jiu, deciding they couldn't stay on the mountain forever, convinced Lu Jin Zhi to move with her, claiming they'd "make lots of money" and explaining that she was "being targeted" due to her chicken-stealing. As they journeyed, they encountered soldiers conducting recruitment. To protect A'Jiu, Lu Jin Zhi quickly claimed she was his younger sister and too young to join, an assertion the soldiers accepted.
He then lied to A'Jiu, telling her that being a soldier was a job that would earn them a lot of money, promising to return for her after making enough so she would never starve again. A'Jiu, believing him, watched him leave. However, a weeping elderly woman revealed the grim truth: "Soldier recruitment" meant being sent to the front lines as cannon fodder, with little chance of survival.
Horrified, A'Jiu transformed between her human and fox forms to secretly follow the marching soldiers. She witnessed Divisional Commander Qi gather the conscripts, trying to inspire them, but when they demanded to go home, he fired a warning shot, threatening immediate execution for any deserters, thus forcing them into submission. Later, Yu Shao Bai attempted to covertly visit A'Jiu to take her essence, but Ye Ming, awakened, caught him in the act.
Ye Ming confronted him about his lies, asking if he truly needed the essence to survive or merely to enhance his power. Yu Shao Bai confessed that he wouldn't die without it, but he sought greater power to protect himself from Jin Xingjian's oppression and to ensure their shared happiness. Heartbroken by his repeated deceptions, Ye Ming reaffirmed her refusal to let him take A'Jiu's essence.
To persuade him to abandon the idea, she promised instead to stay by his side "even if they turned to ash." When he questioned if she would truly not disappoint him, she affirmed her commitment. Meanwhile, Ye Ming found A'Jiu still secretly following the conscripted soldiers. Ye Ming reassured A'Jiu that she wouldn't take her essence but urged her to leave the dangerous area. A'Jiu, however, was determined to rescue Lu Jin Zhi, refusing to abandon him.
Ye Ming cautioned her about the deadly power of guns and advised her to accept the human world's harsh realities, trusting in Lu Jin Zhi's strength. A'Jiu feigned agreement, only to slip away in the dead of night. On the battlefield, Divisional Commander Qi ordered Lu Jin Zhi and the other conscripts to charge a heavily fortified mountain as a diversion, aiming to draw enemy fire for thirty minutes until artillery support arrived. He threatened death for anyone who retreated.
Trapped between the relentless enemy bombardment ahead and Commander Qi's armed guards behind, Lu Jin Zhi and his comrades were forced into a desperate charge. Spotting Lu Jin Zhi in peril, A'Jiu, now invisible, rushed forward to shield him from the incoming bullets.
