No Boundary Season 1 Episode 19 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Wen Gu inadvertently revealed to the imposter Hong Luan, who was actually Yue Long Men in disguise, that Duanmu Cui had feigned her loss of powers to ensnare the culprit. She explained that Duanmu Cui had successfully apprehended the mole, Jiang Mo, and was safe. Meanwhile, Jiang Mo confessed his misdeeds to Jiang Wenqing, addressing him as "Father," and admitted that the Elder of Ninth Hell, Yue Long Men, was his mastermind.
Jiang Mo revealed that Yue Long Men had told him that by killing Jiang Wenqing, his divinity would be restored. Duanmu Cui interjected, clarifying that even if Jiang Mo killed Jiang Wenqing, his divinity would not be restored unless he was re-deified. Jiang Mo then added that Yue Long Men's ultimate goal was the Penglai Drawing. Suddenly, Yue Long Men appeared in Qifeng Prefecture, attempting to eliminate Jiang Mo to prevent his secrets from being exposed.
Jiang Mo, desperate to protect Jiang Wenqing, shielded him from the attack and sacrificed his own life. Before his death, Jiang Mo transferred his memories from a thousand years ago to Jiang Wenqing. These ancient memories of Jiang Yi, Jiang Wenqing's previous life, then awakened within him. Jiang Mo's memories revealed that a millennium ago, Jiang Wenqing was Jiang Yi, the human prime minister who led humanity against the Ghost Clan.
Duanmu Cui and Yang Jian were his godchildren and trusted generals. During a fierce battle with the Ghost King, Duanmu Cui was gravely wounded and near death. To save her, Jiang Yi sacrificed his own divinity to Duanmu Cui during the apotheosis ceremony, condemning himself to mortal life and a thousand years of reincarnation. Jiang Mo expressed his belief that Jiang Yi, not Duanmu Cui, should have been the leader of Penglai.
He recalled how Jiang Yi had taken him in during a rainy night, given him the surname Jiang, and urged him to embody the spirit of a tiger, not just a cat, and to strive for greatness. Jiang Mo cherished the memory of Jiang Yi telling him, in his dying moments, that they might meet again in the next life. Overwhelmed by these resurfacing memories, Jiang Wenqing recognized Jiang Mo and was heartbroken.
Jiang Mo, with his last breath, reassured him that cats have nine lives and he would eventually revive through diligent cultivation. Duanmu Cui acknowledged Jiang Mo's innocent heart, despite his recent actions. Jiang Wenqing, now with Jiang Yi's memories, addressed Duanmu Cui as his goddaughter. He explained that Jiang Mo had sacrificed his last life, and through his memories, Jiang Wenqing understood that Jiang Mo, facing his own imminent end, had been manipulated by Yue Long Men.
He then revealed Yue Long Men's true objective: to obtain the Penglai Drawing, which serves as both the key to Penglai and the seal of the Ninth Hell. By destroying it, Yue Long Men intended to free the imprisoned Ghost Clan, allowing them to traverse freely between Penglai and the mortal realm. With Jiang Mo's case resolved, the strained atmosphere between Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan softened.
Recalling their past sweetness, though their hearts were connected and they couldn't let go, neither took the next step. Shangguan Ce found the Qifeng Prefecture in a peculiar state after the Black Cat case, with Lord Jiang in isolation and Madam Jiang not cooking. Duanmu Cui arrived at the Qifeng Prefecture to discuss the case details, where Shangguan Ce subtly encouraged Zhan Yan to speak with her.
Duanmu Cui requested a list of victims from Jiang Mo's case, intending to provide compensation. Zhan Yan informed her that Jiang Wenqing had already sent condolence funds. He expressed sadness over Jiang Wenqing's despair and, with a hint of jealousy, remarked on Jiang Mo's obedience compared to himself and Shangguan Ce. Duanmu Cui playfully accused him of being jealous. As they talked, they shared a sweet osmanthus-flavored drink, a detail Zhan Yan remembered as her favorite.
They bought sugar figurines, teasing each other. Duanmu Cui mentioned missing Baihua Pavilion's vegetarian dumplings, but declined Zhan Yan's offer to get them for her. Later, Zhan Yan walked Duanmu Cui back to Duanmu Residence, bidding her farewell with a lingering gaze. Back at the Qifeng Prefecture, Madam Jiang noticed Jiang Wenqing's profound change and his revived ambition.
She encouraged him to pursue his lofty goals now that their sons, Zhan Yan and Shangguan Ce, were grown, referencing Jiang Mo's advice to be a tiger, not just a cat. Jiang Wenqing, despite his doubts about starting anew, decided to visit Duanmu Residence. There, Yang Jian was playfully grooming his Qilin, reminiscing about combing Duanmu Cui's hair when she was a child.
Wen Gu then announced the capture of the Ghost Clan and Jiang Wenqing's desire to meet Yang Jian. Upon their reunion, Yang Jian eagerly greeted Jiang Wenqing as "Godfather" and "Star Lord," but Jiang Wenqing humbly stated he was merely the mortal Jiang Wenqing. Yang Jian remarked on Jiang Wenqing's striking resemblance to Jiang Yi. Duanmu Cui, though recognizing the familiarity, said she had no memory of him before her ascension.
They shared a brief, familiar bickering exchange, a testament to their deep past connection. Jiang Wenqing further elaborated on Yue Long Men's nefarious plot, emphasizing that collecting the Penglai Drawing fragments was crucial to prevent the Ghost Clan from being unleashed. Duanmu Cui realized she possessed only one fragment of the drawing. As Yang Jian, Duanmu Cui, and Jiang Wenqing discussed this, Yue Long Men, disguised as Hong Luan, was eavesdropping.
Duanmu Cui realized the Penglai Drawing fragment disguised as Madam Jiang's hairpin, which she had obtained from the Mirror Spirit, was missing from her Qiankun bag. Yang Jian suspected the imposter Hong Luan might have taken it when Duanmu Cui's magic was weakened. Duanmu Cui, rummaging through her messy Qiankun bag, recalled a silkworm cocoon she had kept from the Silkworm Phantom case. Injecting it with her divine power, she discovered it was another fragment of the Penglai Drawing.
She also learned that the fragments possessed a mutual sensing ability, allowing them to lead to each other. Meanwhile, the real Hong Luan was imprisoned in a Ninth Hell dungeon. Overhearing the guards, she realized that Yue Long Men had indeed assumed her identity and was now roaming the mortal realm. Fearing for Wen Gu's safety, Hong Luan resolved to escape the Ninth Hell.
Yue Long Men had taunted her earlier, blaming her for failing to secure the Silkworm Phantom fragment, and declared his intention to gather the Penglai Drawing himself while impersonating her, leaving her to rot in the dungeon. Zhan Yan, having learned of Duanmu Cui's impending departure, spent the night outside Duanmu Residence, hoping to say goodbye. Wen Gu found him there, noting the morning dew on him. Zhan Yan claimed he was on patrol.
Zhan Yan offered to help her pack, but after he struggled to differentiate left from right, Duanmu Cui decided to pack her own belongings. She then showed him the newly discovered cocoon fragment, which she called the "greatest magic tool," asking him to identify the location it depicted. Zhan Yan recognized the houses, rivers, scenery, and clothing as Wenshui County, located in the northernmost part of Qifeng City. Duanmu Cui asked about the distance and coldness, contemplating packing more clothes.
Zhan Yan explained that while it would take a mortal two days and nights by horse, her magical abilities would get her there in a jiffy. Duanmu Cui then informed him that she was indeed heading to Wenshui County, leaving her Qilin to guard the residence. She revealed her plan: to gather all the Penglai Drawing fragments, reseal the Ninth Hell, and then return to Penglai, after which they would likely never meet again.
Zhan Yan, concerned, asked about the dangers, but Duanmu Cui confidently dismissed them, asserting her divine abilities. He then gave her heartfelt advice, urging her to eat moderately and dress warmly, prioritizing health over appearance. Duanmu Cui, however, reminded him that as a deity in Penglai, she would no longer be susceptible to mortal ailments. Zhan Yan conceded, admitting he would miss her playful mockery. He lamented his inability to send her messages in Penglai.
Duanmu Cui teased him for wanting to use the Qifeng Prefecture's official channels for personal communication, calling him a "bad influence." After Duanmu Cui had left her abode to see Zhan Yan off, Yue Long Men, still disguised as Hong Luan, seized the opportunity to enter Duanmu's room. He then left, having taken the cocoon fragment from Duanmu Cui's Qiankun bag, and was confronted by Wen Gu.
The imposter Hong Luan claimed he was leaving Duanmu Residence to atone for his past mistakes through solitary cultivation, rejecting Wen Gu's concern about the Heart Devouring Curse and her implied offer of a place to stay and resolution. He stated that Yue Long Men would not dare act recklessly after the turmoil in Ninth Hell.
Later, Shangguan Ce rushed to Zhan Yan, urging him to stop Duanmu Cui from leaving, reminding him of the vast difference in life spans between mortals and deities. Zhan Yan, however, steadfastly believed that if Duanmu Cui wanted to stay, she would, and he could not selfishly force a deity to remain in the mortal realm.
Shangguan Ce retorted that women do not always explicitly state their true desires and warned him that if he hesitated any longer, he would lose her forever, sealing their separation between Penglai and the human world.
