No Boundary Season 1 Episode 15 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Zhan Yan had reverted to his former work-focused, stern self, causing considerable worry for Madam Jiang. She expressed concern that he seemed to have forgotten the Double Seventh Festival, urging him to spend time with Sect Leader Duanmu Cui instead of neglecting her. Zhan Yan, however, was adamant that solving cases was his top priority. Madam Jiang also learned from Shangguan Ce that Zhan Yan had been avoiding Duanmu Cui, leading her to discuss the strained relationship with Lord Jiang.
Lord Jiang, who was suffering from a persistent cough due to a cold, believed Zhan Yan had hidden reasons for his behavior, while Madam Jiang worried about the inherent difficulties of a deity-mortal love and the potential for them to be hurt. A black cat observed Lord Jiang with a sorrowful gaze. During his patrol on the Double Seventh Festival, Zhan Yan found himself unconsciously purchasing many items, remembering Duanmu Cui's preferences, from combs representing yearning to fans.
However, Wengu intercepted him, cautioning against his continued devotion. Wengu highlighted the difficulties of a deity-mortal relationship and reminded Zhan Yan of Duanmu Cui's past and the 'love debt' she carries, stressing that she could not afford to be hurt again. Wengu offered to deliver Zhan Yan's purchases to Duanmu Cui, advising Zhan Yan not to go himself.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Cui, intending to cook a meal for Zhan Yan on the Double Seventh Festival as a gesture of her affection, struggled significantly with her culinary attempts, much to the exasperation of Xiao Qing Hua, who served as her taste-tester. She explained to Wengu that she aspired to be a good wife and mother who could cook, but found the task challenging despite her fire-controlling abilities, often confusing salt and sugar.
Wengu, who had brought her some gifts of his own choosing that she liked, then offered to teach her simpler cooking methods, leading to her first successful dish. Duanmu Cui soon learned from Zhao Wu and Zhang Long that Zhan Yan was purposefully avoiding her in Qifeng Prefecture, not out on patrol as she was initially led to believe. Undeterred, she brought the freshly cooked meal to the prefecture.
After persistently making her presence known outside his office, she finally confronted Zhan Yan. Seeing the injuries on her hands from cooking, Zhan Yan felt a pang of heartache as he ate the food. Unbeknownst to him, Wengu had discreetly placed pollen in the food, designed to induce hallucinations. As Zhan Yan ate, he was afflicted by a terrifying vision of Duanmu Cui being slain by Heavenly Soldiers.
Wengu later revealed to an aide that he had indeed placed pollen in Zhan Yan's food to induce such visions. He admitted his intention was for Duanmu Cui to witness the painful outcome of her deep affection, believing that the greater her hope, the greater her eventual disappointment. Despite claiming he would never hurt Duanmu Cui, his aide pointed out that his actions were, in fact, causing her pain.
Wengu, having earlier thrown Zhan Yan's actual purchases into the river, had effectively sabotaged their relationship. Influenced by the illusion and Wengu’s earlier warnings, Zhan Yan decided to break up with Duanmu Cui. He told her he was exhausted by the constant troubles she brought, claiming his feelings were merely a momentary infatuation. He stated his wish to return to their former lives, free and unconstrained, asserting that deities could not have fated romances.
Duanmu Cui refused to believe him, desperately kissing him to prove his love, but Zhan Yan remained unresponsive, confirming their separation. Heartbroken, Duanmu Cui confided in Hong Luan, who suggested Zhan Yan might have hidden reasons for his actions. Trusting in Zhan Yan, Duanmu Cui decided to secretly investigate. Using her invisibility, Duanmu Cui entered Zhan Yan's room and saw him holding a doll she had given him.
Zhan Yan, noticing a fallen strand of her hair, realized she was present. He then deliberately gave the doll to Shangguan Ce, explaining that he sought a gentle, mortal wife with whom he could build a peaceful family and avoid endless conflicts with the Demon Clan.
He stated that his feelings for Duanmu Cui were primarily gratitude for her help to Qifeng Prefecture, not romantic love, and that a marriage to a deity would only cause his foster parents constant worry. Enraged, Duanmu Cui revealed herself, declared she would no longer pester him, and left in sorrow. Once she was gone, Zhan Yan retrieved the doll from Shangguan Ce. Drowning her sorrows in alcohol, Duanmu Cui was approached by Wengu.
Mistaking him for Zhan Yan, she tearfully questioned why he no longer loved her, promising to change whatever displeased him and offering him anything he desired. She proudly declared herself the most beautiful and capable High Immortal of Penglai, only wanting his love. Wengu, maintaining his deception, reiterated that deities could not have fated romances and that their paths were destined to diverge. Duanmu Cui, in her grief, rejected his words and told Wengu to leave her alone.
She made her way to the God of Matchmaking Temple, removing a matchmaker's mole from the statue's face and complaining to the God of Matchmaking about deities being unable to form fated unions. She demanded a red thread, insistent on proving divine beings could have marriage threads, but the thread broke in her hands.
The God of Matchmaking revealed that even he could not tie his own thread of marriage, explaining that immortals and mortals could not grow old together due to their vastly different lifespans. Overwhelmed by this harsh truth, Duanmu Cui collapsed in tears on the street. Zhan Yan, hidden in the shadows, had been following her. He yearned to catch her as she fell, but Wengu was quicker, cradling her.
Zhan Yan later went to Duanmu Residence to watch over the unconscious Duanmu Cui, but left discreetly before she awoke. Resolved to end her relationship with Zhan Yan, Duanmu Cui threw all the dolls representing their shared memories into the river. Hong Luan comforted her, but Duanmu Cui soon regretted her impulsive action, wishing to retrieve the dolls, which were now lost to the current.
As Wengu stayed by her side, Zhan Yan, hidden from view, silently collected every doll she had discarded, following her at a distance. Meanwhile, the black cat met with the Demon Clan elder. The elder agreed to help the black cat retrieve the Penglai Drawing fragments from Duanmu Cui, but explained that Wengu, an "useless son of the Dragon Clan," was an obstacle.
The elder then directed the black cat to retrieve a specific cursed item, hidden beneath the first tree northeast of the forest. This curse, once used by the late king to control untamed demons, would strip Wengu of his powers and force him to reveal his true form. The elder planned that once Wengu's true identity as a demon was exposed, rumors of Xihualiu harboring demons would spread, making Duanmu Cui a target. The black cat understood the gravity of the incantation, realizing it would lead to Wengu's death, but assured the elder of his unwavering commitment to the plan.
