No Boundary Season 1 Episode 28 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
The celebration of Gu Chang's recent victory, where he successfully eliminated Fei Zhong, the guard of Anyi City, was marred by a tense confrontation. During the feast, General Gao Bo Jian provoked General Duanmu Cui, implying her femininity was a weakness, which she quickly countered by criticizing his lack of education. Gu Chang intervened, attempting to de-escalate, but Gao Bo Jian continued his sarcastic remarks, attributing Gu Chang's victory to "luck."
Gu Chang's soldiers defended their general, asserting that Gu Chang's meticulous preparation, not mere chance, secured their triumph. Duanmu Cui then directly accused Gao Bo Jian of his past arrogance and poor defense, which led to the devastating loss of Mianchi and countless casualties in her Duanmu Brigade. Gao Bo Jian retaliated with a veiled insult about Duanmu Cui being "General Gu Chang's future wife."
Furious, Duanmu Cui stormed out of the feast and sought solace in Mr Yue's tent, mourning her fallen comrades. Speaking to the spirits of soldiers like Jin Yan, Yu Lang, and Duanmu Heng, she recounted their tragic deaths and blamed Gao Bo Jian's past greed for their demise, as he pursued a small Demon Clan squad instead of reinforcing her brigade.
With her father's Duanmu Tribe and mother's Yushan Tribe greatly diminished, she reaffirmed her vow to protect the few remaining survivors. Gu Chang followed, admonishing Duanmu Cui for behaving childishly despite being a leading general. Duanmu Cui, however, stood her ground, reminding him of the young lives lost due to Gao Bo Jian's incompetence and sorrowfully noting that Yu Du was the last male remaining in the Duanmu Brigade. She expressed regret for failing to bring all her soldiers home.
After she dismissed him, Gu Chang was consoled by Ruo Nan. He revealed that his deep-seated hatred for the Demon Clan, who had massacred his people and humiliated his mother and sister, would only subside when every demon was eradicated, ensuring peace for the human race. The next morning, as the Duanmu Brigade’s female soldiers trained, Gao Bo Jian’s subordinate, Cheng Qi, appeared and openly mocked them.
He disparaged their efforts, suggesting General Duanmu Cui should marry Gu Chang so their camps could merge and the women could be relegated to domestic tasks. He further insulted them, calling them "pathetic women and orphans" and implying the brigade would have "no descendants" if Yu Du died. A Mi immediately confronted him. Later, Cheng Qi approached A Mi alone, attempting to charm her by suggesting she follow him, as the Duanmu Brigade women were "weak and powerless."
A Mi feigned interest and lured him into a secluded area. There, the women of Duanmu Brigade ambushed and beat Cheng Qi. A Mi delivered a stern warning: if he ever disrespected women again, she would ensure he could "never be a man," threatening him with General Duanmu's intervention. Unbeknownst to Cheng Qi, a Demon Clan member, Chi Nü, witnessed his public humiliation and saw an opportunity.
She later approached the enraged Cheng Qi, who was venting his frustrations about Duanmu Cui and Gao Bo Jian. Chi Nü, posing as an admirer, subtly manipulated him, offering an allegiance to demonstrate his worth and implying his current superiors were blind to his talents. Soon after, Cheng Qi and his subordinates were seen bullying a new recruit, Wen Gu, for being a stable boy and disrespecting his work.
Wen Gu bravely defended the importance of all army roles, calling Cheng Qi's arrogance a "major taboo." Duanmu Cui arrived and quickly intervened, rebuking Cheng Qi for abusing new recruits and creating divisions between the camps. Asserting her authority, she punished him by docking a month's salary and ordering him to perform a horse stance for one hour at the training ground as a public spectacle. As Cheng Qi was dragged away, his hatred for Duanmu Cui intensified.
Gao Bo Jian further chastised Cheng Qi for his foolishness. Sensing Cheng Qi's deep resentment towards both Duanmu Cui and his own general, Chi Nü finalized her plan to use him to betray the human race. Meanwhile, Jiang Wenqing, realizing that history was repeating itself with Gu Chang's victory and the Demon Clan Crown Prince's takeover of Anyi, disguised himself and infiltrated the human army's recruitment station.
He observed Cheng Qi, aware of his impending betrayal during the Chong City War. During a staged Demon Clan raid on the recruitment area, Jiang Wenqing courageously protected an old man, impressing General Yang Jian and Mr Yue, who then took him in as a service recruit. This strategic move allowed Jiang Wenqing to embed himself within the human camp, ready to alter the timeline.
During a military council to discuss reconnaissance missions, Gao Bo Jian volunteered his camp, but the Prime Minister deemed them unsuitable. Duanmu Cui then offered her brigade, but Gao Bo Jian dismissively argued that their distinctive female presence would make them easily detected. Yu Du, the last surviving male of the Duanmu Brigade, then volunteered himself, emphasizing his exceptional archery and eyesight, arguing he was the best choice to go alone, as his sisters were needed for battle preparation.
Despite Duanmu Cui's initial resistance to sending him into danger, Yu Du insisted, fueled by his distrust of Gao Bo Jian’s camp given past betrayals and his desire to prove his brigade's strength. With Mr Yue's endorsement, Yu Du's request was approved. Before his departure, the female soldiers of Duanmu Brigade lovingly prepared him with clothes, an amulet, and a dagger. Duanmu Cui, with a heavy heart, could only tell him, "Come back alive."
Tragically, shortly after setting out, Yu Du was quickly captured by Demon Clan soldiers. Concurrently, Zhan Yan, disguised as a Demon Clan soldier, sought information. He interrogated a Demon Clan soldier, confirming the human race's position in the east and the Demon Clan's hold on Anyi, the last defense before Chong City. He learned that Duanmu Cui, known as "the only female general" and "a feisty one," was famous even among the demons.
Crucially, he discovered that the Chong City War had not yet occurred, sparking hope that he could find Duanmu Cui and prevent the catastrophe. Later, while traveling with other Demon Clan soldiers who were escorting captives, Zhan Yan overheard them discussing Duanmu Cui. They mockingly claimed she was a "reincarnated devil" who survived being buried alive for three days by "devouring her poor mother" in the tomb.
This horrifying revelation caused Zhan Yan immense pain, as he understood the profound trauma behind Duanmu Cui's fear of darkness. He decided to intervene. Zhan Yan bribed one of the Demon Clan soldiers to allow him to join the escort. As the group moved, he seized an opportunity to rescue Yu Du from the Demon Clan guards. Yu Du, surprised but grateful, revealed to Zhan Yan that there was a mole in the human camp who had betrayed his location.
This conversation further deepened Zhan Yan's understanding of the immense burden Duanmu Cui carried in the Western Qi army. In Qifeng City, the unexpected influx of numerous Demon Clan members terrified the populace. Lord Shangguan Ce, the magistrate, found himself at a loss on how to manage the situation, as the nomadic demons were untraceable. As he deliberated with his aide, news arrived of more demons sighted on Zhuque Street, causing panic. Shangguan Ce decided to investigate personally.
Meanwhile, a beautiful Demon Clan woman named He Xue, accompanied by her subordinates, walked through Zhuque Street. Noticing the fear she caused among the humans, she instructed her companions to finish their errands quickly to avoid further distress. Suddenly, Shangguan Ce's carriage lost control and careened towards a child. In a swift, heroic act, He Xue saved the child from being struck. Shangguan Ce was instantly captivated by her beauty and kindness.
Upon learning her name, He Xue, his aide quickly cautioned him, reminding him that despite her actions, she was still a demon. Back in her tent, Duanmu Cui confessed to A Mi that she had dreamt again of the man whose face she could never clearly see. A Mi inquired if it was Gu Chang, but Duanmu Cui denied it, confirming she only dreamed of fighting alongside him.
When A Mi pressed about her feelings for Gu Chang, Duanmu Cui responded that in "such chaos," love was not important. She explained that marrying Gu Chang was the best choice for both herself and the Duanmu Brigade, and that was "sufficient." A Mi expressed her sympathy for Duanmu Cui. Duanmu Cui reiterated that having A Mi and Yu Du, who were like family, was enough, and she "didn't wish for anything else."
However, she remained deeply worried about Yu Du's reconnaissance mission. Moments later, a soldier burst in with the grim news: Yu Du had been captured by the Demon Clan. Duanmu Cui, horrified, immediately rose to act. Duanmu Cui later dreamt again of being trapped in a coffin. Just as panic set in, a pair of hands reached in and saved her. She awoke, having once again dreamt of the faceless man. It was Zhan Yan, who, having learned of her childhood trauma of being buried alive with her mother, was determined to protect her from that fear.
