No Boundary Season 1 Episode 32 (Ending) Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Duanmu Cui approached Jiang Yi, her godfather, about leading an attack on Anyi City. Jiang Yi, having received intelligence about a large reinforcement of elite soldiers from Chong City arriving at Anyi, expressed concern. He also reminded her that the Duanmu Brigade consisted mostly of women and lacked sufficient military engineers, stating that the matter required careful deliberation and refusing her request.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wenqing, disguised as a common soldier, appeared before Jiang Yi while delivering the new soldier roster from Mr Yue's Camp. After a brief conversation where Jiang Yi noted his familiarity and offered him a desk job, Jiang Wenqing, alone, mused on Jiang Yi's ambition, warning him to detect problems swiftly, lest he, Jiang Wenqing, would show no mercy, regardless of Jiang Yi's past identity.
Elsewhere, the crown prince of the Demon Clan raged at his subordinates for failing to assassinate Jiang Yi. Reminded by a subordinate of Wengu, the human soldier who saved Duanmu Cui, the crown prince recalled the "half-blood" and recognized him as his long-lost brother, Tai Ao, whom he considered useless. He then vowed to see how many people Tai Ao could save. In the Human camp, Hong Luan tended to Wengu’s wounds.
She expressed indignation at the continued bullying he faced even after leaving Gao Bo Jian's camp. Wengu explained that his mother, horrified by the Demon King's brutality, forbade him from learning killing spells, only teaching him healing arts, a decision he now deeply appreciated. Hong Luan understood his sentiments. They both resolved to become stronger, acknowledging that as military doctors, they needed to be self-sufficient to avoid burdening General Duanmu Cui and to prevent her from being questioned or criticized.
Zhan Yan intervened when he saw soldiers from Gao Bo Jian's camp mocking and provoking Wengu during archery practice. He challenged the three bullies, skillfully defeating them in a fight. Duanmu Cui observed this and offered Zhan Yan the position of vice-general of the Duanmu Brigade if he could enhance the army's combat effectiveness and secure victory in the war. Inspired, Zhan Yan dedicated himself to researching ways to improve military strength and weapon design.
He developed many advanced weapons for the Duanmu Brigade, including the Shocking Thunder, which could destroy metals from afar, and redesigned the female soldiers' armor for better protection. He also gifted Duanmu Cui a pistol. Their collaborative efforts fostered a growing understanding and rapport between them, slowly opening Duanmu Cui's heart. Duanmu Cui presented Zhan Yan's improved weaponry and battle formations to Jiang Yi, once again requesting to lead the charge against Anyi City.
Gao Bo Jian and Gu Chang voiced strong skepticism about these unconventional weapons, deeming the plan too risky. A heated debate ensued among the generals, but Jiang Yi ultimately decided to meet Zhan Yan in person before making a final decision. During their meeting, Zhan Yan commented on Jiang Yi’s strong resemblance to his adoptive father, Jiang Wenqing.
Jiang Yi confided his true concern: not the fear of battle failure itself, but the possibility that a defeat would erode Duanmu Cui's hard-earned prestige, undoing years of effort. Later, Yang Jian delivered the war token to Duanmu Cui, confirming Jiang Yi’s approval for her to lead the Anyi campaign. Duanmu Cui, however, felt a sense of trepidation. Zhan Yan reassured her, promising to stand by her side through any challenge they might face.
Upon hearing that Duanmu Cui had been granted command of the Anyi attack, Gao Bo Jian was furious. In a fit of rage, he secretly ordered his men to set fire to the Duanmu Brigade's armory, hoping to undermine her. Fortunately, Zhan Yan had anticipated such a move and instructed the new weapons to be hidden, replacing them with dry grass and stones covered with white cloth. The arson attempt failed to destroy the vital equipment.
Zhan Yan captured the culprit, and Duanmu Cui immediately ordered military punishment. Gao Bo Jian, playing the victim, then complained to Jiang Yi, accusing Duanmu Cui of torturing his man without proper authority. Jiang Yi went to the Duanmu Brigade with Gao Bo Jian, where Duanmu Cui admitted to punishing the arsonist who had endangered their war effort.
To de-escalate the situation, Jiang Yi penalized the Duanmu Brigade by confiscating a month's military pay, urging everyone to take a step back with the war imminent. Zhan Yan, however, openly challenged this decision, asserting that military justice should be fair and impartial, not based on arbitrary power. He argued that forcing Duanmu Cui to accept a fabricated charge and penalizing the entire brigade would demoralize the troops.
Enraged by Zhan Yan’s insubordination, Jiang Yi ordered him to be punished under military law. Jiang Yi instructed Duanmu Cui to personally administer Zhan Yan's flogging. As the whips fell, Wengu, unable to bear Zhan Yan's pain, stepped forward and took a strike for him. Then, all the female soldiers of the Duanmu Brigade, followed by Duanmu Cui herself, bravely offered to endure the remaining punishment in Zhan Yan's stead.
Witnessing this overwhelming display of loyalty, Gao Bo Jian had no choice but to relent, and Jiang Yi declared the matter closed. Afterward, Duanmu Cui gently tended to Zhan Yan’s wounds, apologizing for her actions. Zhan Yan, understanding that she had whipped him herself to protect him, comforted her. He explained that Jiang Yi, as commander, had to consider the morale of all camps, and despite Gao Bo Jian's maliciousness, he remained a general of the Human race.
Duanmu Cui acknowledged her impulsiveness in killing Gao Bo Jian’s man. Later, Gu Chang confronted Duanmu Cui, scolding her for her impulsive handling of Gao Bo Jian's subordinate and questioning her judgment with the war approaching. He reminded her of Gao Bo Jian's vengeful nature and the precarious alliance of tribes against the Demon Clan. Duanmu Cui, weary of his arguments, pleaded exhaustion and refused to discuss their impending marriage, declaring her decision to postpone it.
Duanmu Cui was consumed by grief, remembering her fallen comrades. A Mi tried to comfort her by showing her a light-colored dress, a collective gift from her departed friends. A Mi reminded Duanmu Cui how she used to love such dresses before war hardened her, and how her comrades longed for the day she could shed her armor, be her true self, and live for herself, not just as General Duanmu.
Zhan Yan arrived, seeing the white dress in her hand, and recalled seeing her in a white dress. Duanmu Cui, however, put the dress away, stating that battle armor was more fitting for a general. Zhan Yan gently challenged her, urging her to embrace her true self, reminding her that everyone, including him, wished for her happiness, not just for her to be a strong general.
He further encouraged her not to be bound by the arranged marriage to Gu Chang if it was not her wish. Duanmu Cui found solace in his words, realizing she could be both a general and her true self, and that her comrades would want her to be happy. Alone, Zhan Yan observed the spreading ethereal glow in the Abyss, realizing that those who didn't belong were being erased, just as Yang Jian had predicted.
He worried about Qifeng City's fate and sensed his time was running out. He resolved to help Duanmu Cui recall her memories quickly so they could find an antidote, escape the Abyss, and cleanse Qifeng City of its lingering aura of death, warning that otherwise, both the Abyss and Qifeng, and their own lives, faced grave danger. In a dream-like state, Duanmu Cui wandered through a desolate landscape, hearing faint calls of "General!"
A shadowy figure, identifying itself as Duanmu Cui's past regrets and unfulfilled desires, appeared before her. It claimed to have rectified all her past grievances – her tribe was loyal, her soldiers devoted, she held high status, and even Gu Chang had returned for their union. The figure questioned why she still felt dissatisfied and why the Pool of Abyss was surging if she was content.
It warned her against waking up, tempting her to remain in this perfected illusion, implying that all she cherished would vanish if she left for "one person" (Zhan Yan). Duanmu Cui rejected its enticing words. The entity reiterated that waking up would turn everything into a fleeting illusion, insisting that the figure was a part of her, ever-present in her heart, and urging her to never awaken.
