No Boundary Season 1 Episode 1 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
On a desolate, gloomy night, numerous pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from a forest. A black cat then padded out of the woods and into the city. A night watchman patrolled the streets, ensuring no one was around before secretly taking out a strand of woman’s hair. As he inhaled its scent, a red cloth suddenly enveloped him, constricting him to death and incinerating his body.
Qifeng Prefecture received a report that books at the Baiwen Bookshop had been inexplicably destroyed. Chief Constable Zhan Yan, accompanied by his subordinates Zhang Long and Zhao Wu, went to investigate. Upon analyzing the crime scene, Zhan Yan concluded that a black cat was responsible. The bookshop owner recalled an incident days prior: "I was drying some fish at my backyard a while ago, and a cat bit on them.
The most frustrating thing was that it only took one bite of each fish. And I finally caught it in the act on the third day. It was a big black cat. I threw some rocks at it and crippled its leg. It ran away with a limp. Was. . . Was it trying to get back at me? Is the cat a demon?" Zhan Yan reassured him, stating that while animals understand gratitude, they also understand revenge.
He promised that if the cat had an owner, he would ensure full compensation for the damages. Zhan Yan successfully tracked the black cat to a place called Xihualiu. As he stood on the solitary Duanmu Bridge at the entrance, Zhao Wu arrived, urgently warning him not to cross. " We can't enter Xihualiu. Without an invitation from the master, no one can cross the Duanmu Bridge."
Zhao Wu reminded Zhan Yan that Lord Jiang had instructed them to avoid Xihualiu entirely, but Zhan Yan insisted that anyone who destroyed property must compensate for it, regardless of their background. At that moment, Zhang Long reported another murder in Liujia Village, stating that the victim’s death was identical to the previous two cases, which included a night watchman Ma Bo and a scholar Fan Xu. Additionally, two daughters from a village family had gone missing within three days.
Zhan Yan, leaving instructions for a notice to be posted at Xihualiu regarding compensation for the black cat's damage, immediately headed to the new crime scene with his team. Upon arrival, they discovered Liu San furtively stashing silver and attempting to slip away. Zhang Long and Zhao Wu apprehended him, and Zhan Yan confronted him, deducing he had a dagger and accusing him of murder.
Liu San confessed only to stealing money from the deceased, Liu Ermazi, explaining that Liu Ermazi had recently won money gambling and boasted about visiting Cui Yu, the most famous courtesan at Baihua Pavilion. Liu San maintained his innocence in the murder, claiming he only took advantage of the chaos to steal money. Zhan Yan allowed him to return home, promising a decision after further investigation.
Reflecting on the cases, Zhan Yan realized a common thread: all three victims had an interest in Cui Yu. He decided to revisit Baihua Pavilion. Unknown to him, Duanmu Cui had already arrived there, confronting Cui Yu. Duanmu accused Cui Yu of killing innocent people to preserve her beauty. Their intense battle was interrupted by Zhan Yan's arrival. Cui Yu escaped, taking her maid, Hong Luan, with her.
As Duanmu Cui attempted to pursue Cui Yu out a window, Zhan Yan, misunderstanding her intent, reached out to grab her, accidentally tearing her waist sash. They both tumbled from the building, landing in an unintended embrace. After their chaotic fall, Zhan Yan noticed Duanmu Cui’s unique earring and questioned her presence in Liujia Village that day. Duanmu Cui readily admitted it.
Zhan Yan then attempted to apprehend her, stating that she was connected to the missing person and murder cases in Liujia Village. Duanmu Cui used a magical force to push him back, realizing that he was none other than Zhan Yan from Qifeng Prefecture. She introduced herself as Duanmu Cui of Xihualiu. Zhan Yan, recalling the bookshop incident, asked if she owned a black cat and mentioned the need for compensation for the property it had destroyed.
Noticing peach petals, Duanmu Cui decided to track Cui Yu and led Zhan Yan along. Duanmu Cui quickly located Cui Yu, who was attempting to kill Hong Luan. Duanmu intervened, saving Hong Luan. She then learned that Hong Luan was a Peach Blossom Demon, and, like Cui Yu, belonged to the Youzu (demon) Clan. Hong Luan, disapproving of Cui Yu's murderous acts but too weak to stop her, had sought assistance from Xihualiu.
Duanmu then sent a message to High Immortal Wengu, informing him of her delay due to a "sheriff" and reassuring him she would return soon. Zhan Yan watched, marveling at her "paper crane messenger" magic, which Duanmu dismissed as mere "deceptive tricks." As they continued their pursuit, they stopped at a food stall. Duanmu, hungry, ordered Chenliu tofu sticks while Zhan Yan lectured her about not allowing her to investigate alone.
She playfully teased him, and he ultimately paid for her meal, demonstrating his commitment to accompanying her. Duanmu then activated a tracking charm, a "treasure of Penglai," on Cui Yu, which displayed her location on a map. Following the map, Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan arrived at the Zhang Residence. There, they overheard Cui Yu confessing to her lover, Mr Zhang, that she could no longer "take people's life essence to make him immortal."
When Duanmu Cui confronted Cui Yu, Mr Zhang witnessed Cui Yu's true form and immediately distanced himself, proclaiming her a "monster." Realizing Mr Zhang’s affection was insincere, a heartbroken Cui Yu tragically blinded him and then killed them both, declaring that in the afterlife, at least she would not be alone. Zhan Yan blamed Duanmu Cui for preventing him from saving Mr Zhang, leading to a heated disagreement.
Duanmu Cui defended her actions, citing Cui Yu’s disregard for human life and Xihualiu’s mission to punish evil. Despite their differing views, Duanmu Cui decided to accompany Zhan Yan to Qifeng Prefecture to resolve the matter. Meanwhile, in Penglai, Duanmu Cui's godbrother, the God of Justice Yang Jian, confronted other Star Lords, chastising them for their laziness that led them to trick Duanmu Cui into descending to the mortal realm.
He noted that his previous beatings of them now seemed too light, given their injuries from the escaped demons. Yang Jian worriedly spoke of the Heavenly Maiden's prophecy: if Duanmu were to recall her past before becoming a god, it would bring chaos to Penglai, the mortal world, and the Ninth Hell. He had spent a thousand years meticulously guarding Duanmu's chest of love debts, fearing the heartbreak she would endure if it were broken.
Despite the other Star Lords' reassurances that High Immortal Wengu was with her, Yang Jian continued to fret about his naive and gullible sister. Yang Jian then visited High Immortal Wengu at Xihualiu, entrusting him with Duanmu Cui's care. He instructed Wengu to closely monitor her physical condition and immediately report any abnormalities, especially concerning her "love debt chest."
Yang Jian also stressed the importance of preventing any romantic entanglements for Duanmu, fearing further heartbreak, and provided Wengu with gifts for her. Back at Qifeng Prefecture, Duanmu Cui used her magic to strike the drum of injustice without touching it, playfully demonstrating her powers before Zhan Yan, who noted her actions meant a court trial. Zhan Yan then introduced Duanmu Cui to his godfather, Magistrate Jiang Wenqing, and the official registrar Shangguan Ce.
Duanmu Cui remarked that Jiang Wenqing looked familiar, prompting Zhan Yan to correct her address. Zhan Yan reported on the murder cases, explaining that Cui Yu was a centuries-old "chinv" (a type of demon), according to Duanmu Cui. Duanmu Cui declared her mission as divinely ordained to capture these Youzu (demon clan) who have escaped the Ninth Hell due to its ancient seal loosening.
Jiang Wenqing acknowledged that the Imperial Astronomer had indeed reported a divine notice from Penglai, and requested Duanmu Cui’s cooperation. Duanmu Cui, asserting their distinct roles, stated that Qifeng Prefecture enforced human law while Xihualiu handled demons, emphasizing that she wouldn't tolerate delays from Zhan Yan. Jiang Wenqing, realizing her celestial status, acknowledged her as a High Immortal. However, Zhan Yan declared that Duanmu Cui, being involved in multiple cases, could not leave until all investigations were complete. Duanmu Cui, realizing she had been "tricked into coming here," was displeased but reluctantly agreed to stay, stating she would "take this as far as he wanted to go."
