No Boundary Season 1 Episode 31 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Duanmu Cui looked at the sugar man given to her by Zhan Yan, and memories of her childhood resurfaced. Her mother, Madam Yushan, had always told her to train diligently, emphasizing that as the heir of the Yushan and Duanmu Tribes, she could not indulge in play or pleasures. Recalling her mother's stern words, Duanmu Cui momentarily set aside the sugar man to focus on her duties, only to find herself picking it up again.
Just then, A Mi entered, advising Duanmu Cui not to be solely fixated on warfare but to appreciate the beauty and delicious foods the human world had to offer, as her fallen comrades could no longer. A Mi returned the Ju Que sword to Zhan Yan, who then inquired about joining Duanmu Brigade. A Mi informed him that the brigade strictly comprised descendants of the Yushan and Duanmu Tribes and never recruited outsiders.
Undeterred, Zhan Yan looked at a doll Duanmu Cui had given him and vowed to help Duanmu Cui recall their bond and bring her back from the Abyss. Meanwhile, in Qifeng City, the Aura of death worsened, engulfing people's emotions and amplifying their anger and fear. The human race and the Demon Clan clashed violently in the streets, resulting in bloodshed. Shangguan Ce, Zhang Long, and Zhao Wu also fell victim to the Aura of death's insidious influence.
Shangguan Ce, overwhelmed, attempted to take his own life but was saved by He Xue. He Xue then helped Zhang Long and Zhao Wu regain their senses and informed Shangguan Ce about the pervasive Aura of death. Shangguan Ce immediately warned the citizens of Qifeng City about the mind-affecting presence, urging them to stay indoors and cover their mouths and noses if they ventured outside.
The insidious force also began affecting people's memories, causing inhabitants of the mortal world to struggle with recalling names and events related to Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan. Hong Luan awoke in Duanmu Brigade, touched by the kindness and warmth of the female soldiers. She decided to stay, accompanying Wengu, who took her to pay respects at Yi Luo's tomb.
Wengu comforted a grieving Hong Luan, who found solace in the brigade's egalitarian environment, where women were respected, a stark contrast to the oppressive rule of the Demon Clan. Wengu revealed that his own human mother meant he had mixed blood, making him weaker and often bullied within the Demon Clan, with the late king wishing him to become an abuser himself. He and Hong Luan lamented the conflict and wished for peace and stability.
Angered by the capture of Cheng Qi and the reinforced human defenses, the crown prince of the Demon Clan ordered the mountain demon to dispatch assassins to eliminate Jiang Yi, the human prime minister, hoping to derail the human race's plans to attack Anyi City. Jiang Wenqing, observing the unfolding events, realized that history, which had previously seen Duanmu Cui suffer heavy losses in the battle for Anyi, was now potentially changing due to Zhan Yan's intervention.
Gu Chang was appointed as the new commander for the Anyi City campaign, a decision that infuriated Duanmu Cui, especially when Gu Chang disparagingly remarked that Duanmu Brigade, being composed solely of female soldiers, lacked combat effectiveness. Zhan Yan quietly followed Duanmu Cui outside the camp, offering comfort and support. He gently reminded her that she didn't have to carry every burden alone and acknowledged her many victories, including avenging Yu Du's death.
Initially resistant, Duanmu Cui eventually engaged him in a horse race, where Zhan Yan introduced her to the concept of horse-shoeing. During their ride, Zhan Yan spotted clothing of the Demon Clan hanging on a tree and noticed unfamiliar military boot prints heading towards the main camp. He quickly deduced an impending attack on Prime Minister Jiang Yi, and they raced back to intercept the assassins. In the ensuing skirmish, Duanmu Cui sustained an injury.
Her blood dropped onto Ju Que, and she had a moment of realization, recalling mending the sword with her own blood. Witnessing the growing closeness between Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan, Gu Chang confronted Duanmu Cui. He implied Zhan Yan might still be connected to the spy incident, fueled by rumors that Zhan Yan's presence in Duanmu Brigade was driven by his admiration for her.
He reminded Duanmu Cui of their engagement and the strategic importance of their impending marriage for strengthening their combined forces. Duanmu Cui, acknowledging the military necessity of their union, did not contest his point, causing Gu Chang to leave. Wengu discovered that Duanmu Cui's wound was caused by a demon's poison and attempted to treat her with demon healing arts. Yang Jian, misunderstanding Wengu's actions, accused him of trying to harm Duanmu Cui and had him imprisoned.
Simultaneously, in the divine realm, Yang Jian consulted a Seven Stars Lamp, which indicated that Duanmu Cui's life-fire was still burning, confirming her survival within the Abyss. However, the deities noted that people in the mortal world were increasingly forgetting Duanmu Cui and Zhan Yan, even struggling to recall their names, a troubling sign that their connection to reality was weakening. With Duanmu Cui's condition worsening, Zhan Yan, aided by Hong Luan, risked rescuing Wengu from the dungeon.
Wengu successfully treated Duanmu Cui, who, during her recovery, experienced a dream-like vision of Xihualiu and Zhan Yan. Witnessing Wengu's effective treatment, Yang Jian's perception of him began to soften. Zhan Yan remained by Duanmu Cui's side, concerned for her safety. He revealed a startling truth: they were both from a thousand years in the future, and she was currently trapped in the Abyss, a manifestation of her clinging to the past.
Zhan Yan explained he was there to guide her back to reality, warning that prolonged immersion in the Abyss could sever their ties to their true timeline forever, where even now, their existence was fading from memory. Duanmu Cui, though skeptical, was deeply unsettled by his claims. Seeking clarification, Duanmu Cui confronted Yang Jian about the Abyss. Yang Jian confirmed it was a legendary parallel world, a place where one might encounter past events or deceased individuals.
He explained that only descendants of the Heavenly Maiden possessed the power to open the Abyss. When Duanmu Cui pressed further, asking if they were currently in the Abyss, Yang Jian dismissed her questions as fantastical delusions, attributing her thoughts to her injury and speculative notions about her mother's lineage. Later, Wengu was unfairly targeted and assaulted by General Gao Bo Jian's soldiers due to his demon heritage.
Duanmu Cui intervened, reprimanding Gao Bo Jian for allowing his men to bully a defenseless individual and questioning his qualities as a leader. When Gao Bo Jian dismissed Wengu as "just a demon," Duanmu Cui firmly declared Wengu to be a member of Duanmu Brigade and warned that any further harassment would be considered a direct challenge to her. Wengu later expressed his gratitude, questioning why Duanmu Cui, a human general, would defend a demon like him. Duanmu Cui, in turn, asked why Wengu would risk his identity to save her. They both recognized their shared belief in justice and compassion, solidifying their mutual trust and respect.
