No Boundary Season 1 Episode 24 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Yang Jian confronted Zhan Yan, questioning how long a mortal could withstand Penglai's God of Justice, even with Ju Que's power. Duanmu Cui intervened, telling Yang Jian to step aside and that she would handle her own affairs. Yang Jian questioned if she would recklessly sacrifice her life again, as she did when Gu Chang died, or if she wanted him to seal her memory or kill her with the God Slaying Sword once more.
Duanmu Cui retorted that those actions were not his true intentions and insisted on resolving her own heart knot. She stated that Zhan Yan's actions were because of her, and she could not let him get hurt again. Yang Jian warned her not to make more mistakes, but Duanmu Cui declared she would not cower even if it meant eternal damnation.
Yang Jian then allowed Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan to leave Penglai, acknowledging that Duanmu had already paid a price and had regained all her memories, including those of Gu Chang, making further confinement useless. He believed she would have to choose between Gu Chang and Zhan Yan. Other Penglai officials questioned Yang Jian's decision, reminding him of a prophecy that opening the Abyss would bring calamity to the Three Realms and urging him to bring Duanmu Cui back.
Yang Jian, however, blamed them for tricking Duanmu Cui into descending to the mortal world initially. He refused to force her back, stating that the responsibility for the Three Realms' survival was not hers alone. He agreed to manage the current crisis but imposed three conditions: no interference with Duanmu Cui's future decisions, no retribution against Zhan Yan or Duanmu Cui, and the third condition to be named later. Reluctantly, the other Penglai officials agreed.
Meanwhile, Wengu Weiyu located the Nuo God, killed him, and buried him three zhang and three chi deep. He then unleashed a plague rain across the land to harvest life force. Hong Luan, who had pledged to follow Wengu Weiyu, was concerned about the suffering of innocent people, but Wengu Weiyu stated he had no other option, willing to fall into purgatory for his cause.
He refused Hong Luan's offer to handle the "dirty work" of spreading the plague, asserting his unwavering resolve and ordering the Nuo God's body to be sent to Qifeng City and the area cleaned to avoid Penglai's discovery. Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan returned to the mortal world. Since regaining her memories, Duanmu Cui seemed distant towards Zhan Yan.
She confessed she wasn't the Duanmu he knew, but Zhan Yan insisted she was, promising to follow her wherever she went, even if she didn't want to return to Qifeng City. Duanmu Cui wrestled with her conscience, feeling obligated to atone for the deaths caused by her past actions, yet struggling to let go of Zhan Yan. As they traveled, a poisonous rain fell, causing widespread illness and death among the common people.
They soon arrived at Xuanping Village, finding it eerily quiet. Duanmu Cui, sensing no Demon Clan presence, still found the village suspicious. Zhan Yan, noticing her fatigue from recent soul recovery, suggested they rest there for the night, and Duanmu Cui agreed, deciding they should investigate the peculiar situation and stay together. Zhan Yan graciously offered the bed to Duanmu Cui and slept on the floor. That night, Duanmu Cui dreamt of Gu Chang, crying out his name.
Zhan Yan, who had stayed by her side, comforted her, assuring her he was there and she had nothing to fear. The next morning, Zhan Yan revealed she had held his hand throughout the night while having a nightmare, and then went to prepare breakfast. Duanmu Cui, realizing Zhan Yan likely knew about Gu Chang, decided it was time to share her past.
She thanked him for the wonderful time they had in Qifeng City, acknowledging it as her happiest memory. She then revealed that she was once the leader of the Duanmu tribe and had been betrothed to Gu Chang since childhood. Together, they had fought against the You King's tyranny, leading the Duanmu tribe as the vanguard in many battles against the Demon Clan. All the men of her tribe eventually perished in battle, leaving only a female army.
Her godfather had wanted her and Gu Chang to marry quickly, merging their brigades. However, Duanmu Cui, unwilling to become an appendage or have her brigade lose its name, demanded Gu Chang show his affection. He promised to conquer Chong City as a dowry for her. Zhan Yan, seeing her distress, urged her to stop, but Duanmu Cui insisted on confessing her guilt.
She tearfully recounted how Gu Chang and all the soldiers died in the battle for Chong City, believing it was all her fault for making such a demand. Zhan Yan comforted her, explaining that victory and defeat in battle were not her sole responsibility and promising to stay with her and support her no matter what. Despite his reassurance, Duanmu Cui expressed her inability to forget the bloodshed and the faces of her fallen comrades.
Suddenly, a black Aura of death attacked Zhan Yan, causing him to collapse. Yang Jian appeared, revealing that they were near Chong City, ten li to the east. He explained that a thousand years ago, Duanmu Cui's army had camped there before conquering Chong City. The countless casualties of that battle had created immense resentment, forming the Aura of death, which was then suppressed by the Nuo God.
Now, these Aura of death were spreading, threatening disaster for the Three Realms. Yang Jian suspected Wengu Weiyu was behind their release. Duanmu Cui, confused by Wengu Weiyu's actions, learned from Yang Jian that Wengu Weiyu believed she had died by Yang Jian's hand, prompting him to abandon his divinity, inherited the You Clan throne, and wage war against Penglai and the mortal world.
Zhan Yan's current unconscious state was due to being afflicted by these Aura of death, which were intrinsically linked to Duanmu Cui. Yang Jian warned her that her love for a mortal, defiance of heavenly rules, and continued entanglement with Zhan Yan would lead to widespread suffering and ultimately Zhan Yan's demise. He elaborated that as deities, they were once generals who shed much blood, creating these resentful auras that ensnared both them and their loved ones.
He reiterated that Zhan Yan, a mortal, would not survive such entanglement, despite having been destined for a long life. Yang Jian further revealed that Zhan Yan had used the ancient divine weapon Ju Que's power to reach Penglai, a feat that required sacrificing his own lifespan. He warned that if Ju Que were to break, Zhan Yan would surely die. Duanmu Cui was devastated by this information.
With a heavy heart, she silently apologized to Zhan Yan, recognizing the blessing he had been in her life, but concluding they were not meant to be. She resolved to set him free. Using her own immortal blood, she repaired the damaged Ju Que before returning Zhan Yan to Qifeng Prefecture and then vanishing. Three days later, Zhan Yan awoke at Qifeng Prefecture, learning from Jiang Wenqing that he had been unconscious.
Realizing he was no longer in Xuanping and that Duanmu Cui was gone, he feared she had gone alone to open the Abyss. He frantically searched the city, asking everyone if they had seen her. Duanmu Cui, cloaked in invisibility, watched his desperate search, her heart aching. Driven by determination to make her stay, Zhan Yan urgently requested Jiang Wenqing and Madam Jiang to prepare a betrothal letter and gifts, declaring his intention to marry Duanmu Cui.
Jiang Wenqing, moved by his sincerity, promptly agreed. Zhan Yan then went to the God of Matchmaking Temple, where he hung a lantern on the marriage tree, recalling a previous conversation about deities having no home or someone to light a lamp for them. He then spoke aloud, professing his love and offering Duanmu Cui a home, promising to wait for her every night.
Defying the notion that deities have no marriage lines and cannot grow old together, he vowed at the temple that he, Zhan Yan, would marry no one but Duanmu Cui in this life, and for the rest of his life, she would be his only one. Tears streamed down Duanmu Cui's face as she listened, but Yang Jian's grim warning echoed in her mind.
She then revealed herself to Zhan Yan and, to his shock, tore up the betrothal letter he presented. Yang Jian received an update that the Aura of death had become severe and the Demon Clan had reached Qifeng City, with the city being their next target. Panic spread as people fell ill from the mysterious plague. Jiang Wenqing and Zhan Yan were overwhelmed by the widespread illness, trying to manage the sick and directing them to Wengu Medical Hall.
Jiang Wenqing expressed his frustration at being unable to control the disease or find its source, suspecting the Demon Clan was responsible. He wished Duanmu Cui were there to help, but Zhan Yan, looking frail, declared that Qifeng City should no longer rely on Penglai deities, as they were unreliable, and must depend on themselves. Wengu Weiyu arrived at Duanmu Thatched Cottage, reaffirming his vow to save Duanmu Cui.
His subordinate, Hong Luan, confirmed that they had successfully collected enough life force, and that Duanmu Cui could soon be saved. Wengu Weiyu, aware that Penglai would relentlessly pursue him, declared Qifeng City their final bargaining chip. He handed Hong Luan a city sealing formation.
Hong Luan then asked Wengu Weiyu if he would grieve if she were to die in Qifeng City, to which he tersely replied, "You asked too many questions," before Hong Luan reiterated her unwavering loyalty and commitment to help him in whatever he decided.
