No Boundary Season 1 Episode 18 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Jiang Mo spoke to his father, stating that Xihualiu's trouble would soon escalate, leading to Penglai punishing someone. He was determined to retrieve his father's divinity from Duanmu Cui when the time came. Meanwhile, at Qifeng Prefecture, Lord Jiang attempted to calm a group of agitated citizens. They had come to complain about incidents related to Xihualiu. One man's brother had been wounded by Wengu after visiting Duanmu Residence, developing the same poisoning symptoms as others from Wengu Medical Hall.
Another citizen reported that their younger brother, who hadn't been to Duanmu Residence, was scratched by a young boy the previous night and was now poisoned, claiming the boy was a demon from Xihualiu. Lord Jiang and his subordinates, Zhang Long and Zhao Wu, suspected the young boy might be Jiang Mo. Lord Jiang then ordered Zhang Long and Zhao Wu to find Jiang Mo and bring him back for clarification.
In the Ninth Hell, Hong Luan, attempting to steal an antidote for Wengu from Elder Yue Long Men's room, fell into his trap and was captured. The Elder then announced to his demon followers that he had spent a thousand years working for the Demon Clan, yet some still conspired against him by seeking help from the Dragon Clan.
He publicly accused Hong Luan, a demon envoy, of betraying him and the Ninth Hell, declaring he would make an example of her. He mocked her, saying she would witness Wengu's horrible death from the poison. Duanmu Cui was then brought forward for public punishment. The Elder, mockingly welcoming "Immortal Duanmu" to the Ninth Hell, gloated. Duanmu Cui retorted, correcting his misuse of an idiom and telling him to stop pretending to be polite.
The Elder gloated that she would soon perish. As the crowd chanted for their execution, Zhan Yan, who had infiltrated the Ninth Hell disguised as a demon, seized the opportunity to secretly unlock Hong Luan and Duanmu Cui's chains. Duanmu Cui then declared she was there to break them out, not to flee.
Hong Luan revealed that Wengu was poisoned by the Elder through an evil curse, and the antidote was hidden in his room, marked with a peach blossom petal. Duanmu Cui decided to stay and rescue Hong Luan while Zhan Yan went to retrieve the antidote. Duanmu Cui questioned the Elder about how Wengu was poisoned, and the Elder alluded to a mole in Duanmu Residence, but denied it was Hong Luan, suggesting many wanted Duanmu Cui dead.
Detecting an intruder in his secret chamber, the Elder ordered Duanmu Cui and Hong Luan killed. Unbeknownst to them, Zhan Yan was meticulously navigating the secret chamber, observing changes in dust thickness and footprints to avoid traps. He successfully retrieved the antidote. As Duanmu Cui and Hong Luan fought the demons, the Elder revealed that Hong Luan was still bound by his Heart Devouring Curse, and he recaptured her.
The "Hong Luan" who then joined Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan to escape the Ninth Hell was actually Elder Yue Long Men in disguise, gloating that he could finally leave the Ninth Hell thanks to Duanmu Cui's presence. Meanwhile, other demons reported to Penglai about the disturbance in the Ninth Hell. Duanmu Cui's actions, including using true fire to raid the Ninth Hell, caused a stir in the Heavenly Realm.
Yang Jian, however, downplayed her breaking into the Ninth Hell, calling her "mischievous since childhood" and claiming she merely "helped discover a hidden danger in advance" due to the barrier's lax security. Back at Xihualiu, Wengu gradually recovered after taking the antidote. Duanmu Cui tried to persuade Wengu to forgive Hong Luan, noting that Hong Luan had kept many secrets out of desperation due to a Heart Devouring Curse.
Yang Jian, who had joined them, observed that Duanmu Cui's personality had softened, as she now advocated for Hong Luan despite her previous strict stance against betrayal. The Elder, still disguised as Hong Luan, subtly hinted at Duanmu Cui's injury during their escape from Ninth Hell, prompting Wengu to check on her. Discovering her wound, Wengu expressed deep concern, insisting Duanmu Cui should always bring him along for future dangerous endeavors.
Suddenly, Heavenly Soldiers arrived, sent to apprehend Wengu and "Hong Luan" for harbouring demons. Duanmu Cui resolutely stepped forward to protect them, despite her power being restricted by her mortal form. Yang Jian arrived and advised her to yield, explaining her weakened state. Duanmu Cui refused, asserting her unwavering commitment to protect those she cared for. Yang Jian suggested she simply return with him and offer an explanation, but Duanmu Cui still refused to move.
The Heavenly Soldiers then urged Yang Jian to use the Pangu Banner given to him by Lord Lao. Yang Jian, apologizing, used the Pangu Banner, injuring Duanmu Cui, who fell from the sky. Zhan Yan caught her mid-air. He confronted Yang Jian, declaring Qifeng's jurisdiction over mortal affairs and questioning why Penglai interfered, especially since it was mortals who petitioned them. He pointed out that Yang Jian's hesitation to descend showed the limits of his power in the mortal realm.
Duanmu Cui then requested three days to find the true culprit, but Yang Jian was suspicious she might use the time to free the demons. Subsequently, Zhan Yan discussed a plan with Duanmu Cui and Yang Jian. As part of this ruse, Yang Jian publicly announced that the "black cat injuring people" case would be handed over to Qifeng Prefecture.
He also declared that all Xihualiu demons would be sealed in Duanmu Residence and, to reassure the public, Duanmu Cui's magic would be sealed, making her as vulnerable as a mortal. Later, in a conversation with Jiang Mo, the disguised Elder (as Hong Luan) incited him further, reminding him that his master's suffering was due to Duanmu Cui taking his divinity. That night, Lord Jiang dreamed of Blackie (Jiang Mo) turning human.
The next day, as Duanmu Cui walked through Zhuque Street, an angry mob, fueled by rumors, accosted her, throwing objects and yelling "You are a demon! Get out of Qifeng City!" Zhan Yan intervened, dispersing the crowd and promising justice for the Xihualiu case. After the crowd left, Jiang Mo appeared before Duanmu Cui, accusing her of not recognizing him due to her supposed power loss.
He fiercely claimed that a thousand years ago, she stole his master's divinity, which led to his master's suffering through the cycle of reincarnation. Jiang Mo then claimed his master was his "daddy." Duanmu Cui, realizing he was referring to Jiang Yi, her godfather, was met with Jiang Mo's fierce assertion that she was unworthy of calling him godfather, as he belonged only to Jiang Mo.
He recounted how Jiang Yi saved him as a stray cat, named him Blackie, and taught him magic to become human. He bitterly accused Duanmu Cui of turning his master into a mortal who had forgotten him and endured a thousand years of reincarnation, vowing to kill her to reclaim his master's divinity. Duanmu Cui then revealed her supposed power loss was a ruse to expose him. Zhan Yan emerged from hiding.
He had previously asked Yang Jian how mortals could directly petition Penglai, learning it required a cultivated priest or a magic-wielding demon. This led Zhan Yan to deduce that a demon was inciting the public, a theory further supported by the poisoned victims all having been scratched by a feral cat, leading him to suspect Blackie. Duanmu Cui confirmed her plan to lure Jiang Mo out.
Jiang Mo, still enraged, complained about Duanmu Cui turning him into a tiger toy and erasing the "king" mark from his forehead, stating that only his father truly understood him. Duanmu Cui then trapped Jiang Mo in a cage forged by Lord Lao, but Jiang Mo, in a burst of power, broke free and transformed into a giant cat. He stormed into Qifeng Prefecture, causing chaos. Lord Jiang immediately recognized him as Blackie, the black cat.
Jiang Mo transformed back into his human form, tearfully addressing Lord Jiang as "Daddy." He reminded Lord Jiang of their past, how he was Jiang Yi, his master who had taken him in as a stray, named him Blackie, and taught him magic to become human. Duanmu Cui then clarified that Jiang Yi was also her godfather.
Jiang Mo revealed that a thousand years ago, during the Chong City battle, Duanmu Cui was gravely injured, and Jiang Yi, to save her, willingly gave her his divinity, condemning himself to mortal life and a thousand years of reincarnation, losing his memories in the process. Lord Jiang, deeply disappointed by Jiang Mo's actions, accused him of committing heinous crimes. Jiang Mo, realizing his wrongs, knelt and begged for forgiveness.
Lord Jiang, burdened by the belief that he was responsible for Jiang Mo's actions, declared he would resign as magistrate to atone for his "son's" transgressions. Duanmu Cui intervened, stating that Jiang Mo must bear the consequences of his own actions. She proposed taking Jiang Mo back to Xihualiu to give an explanation to Penglai. Jiang Mo, still distraught but remorseful, agreed to go and face the responsibility himself.
