The Legend of Shen Li Episode 1 Recap, Plot

> The Legend of Shen Li
> The Legend of Shen Li Recap

In ancient times, one evening amid thunder and lightning, Shen Li, the Jade Azure King of the Heavenly Realm, defied the Spirit Lord to escape an arranged marriage. Numerous heavenly guards attempted to forcibly bring her back. Outnumbered and outmatched, Shen Li had no choice but to punch a hole in the sky and fly out. Seeing that Shen Li was about to be overwhelmed, Mo Fang came up with a plan.

He injured himself to safely send Shen Li out. The pursuing guards from the Heavenly Realm didn’t see the truth and believed Mo Fang had struck Shen Li down. They assumed her descent into the mortal realm meant certain doom. In the mortal realm, in Qingsheng City, the Heavenly guards traced Shen Li’s landing.

Wounded and powerless, Shen Li, a phoenix, found herself worse off than a chicken, and was soon picked up by a crude farmer who mistook her for a mountain chicken with its tail feathers burned off, and tried to sell her. Late at night, Xing Yun was painting in his study when he suddenly heard a loud boom from the sky. Thunder on a clear night — clearly something strange. He shook his head and went back to painting.

The next morning, while out and about, Xing Yun happened upon Shen Li in a bamboo basket at the marketplace. He spent a few silver coins to buy her and brought her home. Having descended to the mortal realm, Shen Li lost all her spiritual power. Though she was a phoenix, people mistook her for a mountain chicken. Bought by Xing Yun and taken home, she was first forced to bathe in a pond, then force-fed.

Seeing that the pastries Xing Yun made weren’t bad, Shen Li reluctantly ate a large plate of them. With nothing to do, she watched Xing Yun quietly painting. Just as she thought he looked quite handsome, she suddenly heard him say he was heading out to "sell himself" (actually selling ginseng). Whatever shred of fondness she had instantly shattered. Xing Yun called Shen Li “Cluck Cluck” and, before leaving, reminded her to watch the house.

Shen Li was about to make her escape when a "little thief" broke in. Curious, she wanted to see what was going on, but was discovered by the Snail Girl, who caught her and prepared to cook her in soup. Poor Shen Li, tied hand and foot, was about to meet her end — when Xing Yun returned! Her life was saved at the last moment.

Shen Li sat quietly to the side as she heard Xing Yun tell the Snail Girl not to come again and even gave her a rag as a parting gift. Furious, the Snail Girl left. Shen Li immediately concluded that Xing Yun was utterly unromantic and dreadfully dull. Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best. Seeing no reason to stay, Shen Li prepared to run away again. But no matter how she tried, she still couldn’t fly.

Just then, Xing Yun came over carrying a tray of freshly prepared food. He somehow knew exactly where the escaping Shen Li was and called her to come eat. Her stomach growling, Shen Li couldn’t resist the temptation of delicious food and ended up sitting down to eat with gusto. After eating and drinking her fill in the small courtyard, Shen Li stayed with Xing Yun to watch the sunrise and sunset. That night, she actually fell asleep peacefully.

Who knows how much time passed — Xing Yun put down his brush and stepped out of the courtyard. Seeing Shen Li sleeping soundly under the moonlight, he was moved by how pure and simple she was. The moonlight was shining directly into her eyes, so to keep her from being disturbed, Xing Yun casually picked up a stone and gently tapped it nearby, allowing the moonlight to be blocked by a shimmering glow.

Badly injured once more, Shen Li tried to escape again. But this time, her luck had run out. Mistaken for a strange pheasant, she was hunted far and wide and nearly ended up in someone’s cooking pot again. Shen Li barely escaped the clutches of evil, only to be drenched in a sudden downpour. Soaked through and utterly dejected, she thought of the forced marriage awaiting her in the Heavenly Realm and fell into deep despair.

Just then, Xing Yun appeared, holding an umbrella and walking slowly toward her. Half the umbrella tilted to cover Shen Li’s head. She looked up to see this handsome scholar once again carrying her home.

Episode 2 Recap

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