The Legend of Taotie Episode 29 Recap
> The Legend of Taotie Recap
The Taoist, now holding the rare flower mushrooms, leapt into the river. Chang Qing focused intently on the water, fearing for the Taoist’s safety. Zhu Chengbi reassured him, saying there was nothing to worry about—the Taoist wouldn’t catch any monster and would likely just pull out a small fish to pass off as one. Not long after, the Taoist emerged from the water, holding a three-inch-long little red fish. Chang Qing immediately realized Zhu Chengbi’s prediction was correct.
Even Ji Hairu, the innkeeper, couldn’t believe that the small fish was the infamous fish demon responsible for harming so many. The Taoist claimed that the fish had the ability to transform and that they were fortunate to catch it before it fully matured; otherwise, it would have caused even more havoc. With no way to disprove the Taoist’s claim, Ji Hairu played along.
She rewarded him with some money and asked him to spread the word that the fish demon had been eliminated. The Taoist eagerly agreed, delighted with the reward. Finally, Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing got to taste the fish soup. Zhu Chengbi asked Chang Qing how he found it. Though Chang Qing wasn’t a connoisseur of fine food, he remarked that the soup still carried a faint fishy taste.
Ji Hairu’s face fell, and she explained nervously that the inn’s business had been slow, so her cooking skills might have grown a little rusty. The original plan was to leave after having the fish soup, but Zhu Chengbi decided to stay the night. Chang Qing, hearing it was just for one night, didn’t object. Late at night, unable to sleep, Chang Qing opened the window.
He gazed at the moonlit river, its surface rippling under the gentle breeze, and was overcome with emotion. Thinking about his limited time left, he wondered if this might be where he and Zhu Chengbi would part ways. Meanwhile, there was a knock at Ji Hairu’s door. It was the county magistrate, who had come to discuss shutting down the inn.
The magistrate had long coveted Ji Hairu’s beauty, and with the recent rumors about a fish demon, he believed closing the inn and sealing off Yaoguang Sea would be the best solution. However, Ji Hairu wasn’t intimidated. She reminded him of the despicable things he had done in the past, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his mother’s death. Did he not feel any shame? The magistrate, rebuffed, left Ji Hairu’s room in disgrace.
As he walked down the hallway, he saw the Taoist from earlier holding a pile of silver notes and talking to himself. The Taoist lamented his regrets, saying he wished these silver notes could save his wife. But as he spoke, he suddenly collapsed and died. The magistrate, witnessing this, shouted, “A monster is here! ” The other guests, hearing his cries, rushed out of their rooms. When they saw the Taoist’s lifeless body, everyone grew uneasy.
The magistrate, seemingly possessed by fear, ran out, declaring he had to leave immediately. But when he reached the riverside, all the boats had disappeared. Without a boat, escape was impossible. He returned to his room, muttering, “I didn’t harm my mother. ”The man who had earlier disguised himself as a woodsman explained that the magistrate, in his quest for power, had driven his own mother to her death. It seemed his conscience was tormenting him. Chang Qing was puzzled.
How could a mere woodsman know so much about the magistrate’s dark past? Moreover, he was unnervingly calm after witnessing the Taoist’s death, showing no concern for his goods or for his own safety. Instead, he speculated on the identity of the killer, which struck Chang Qing as absurd. By now, Chang Qing suspected that the woodsman was actually an agent of Langya King. Confronted, the man admitted it and stopped hiding his identity.
Later that night, there was another knock on Ji Hairu’s door. This time, it was Liu Zhongxian, who spoke to her with deep affection, recalling their past. He confessed that he had fallen for her at first sight and fondly remembered the days when they drank wine and recited poetry together with her sister, discussing life’s purpose and ideals. He had hoped they would be together forever, but Ji Hairu had been forced into an arranged marriage.
She had been waiting at Yaoguang Sea ever since. Now reunited, the two disregarded societal norms and rekindled their old romance. That same night, Chang Qing experienced a sudden bout of shortness of breath. He clutched his chest, groaning in pain. Zhu Chengbi rushed to his side and used her magic to stabilize him. Seeing the totem on his chest fade in color, Zhu Chengbi knew that Chang Qing’s time was running out.
At dawn, Liu Zhongxian woke in Ji Hairu’s room. After a night of intimacy, he marveled at how her beauty had only grown over the years. However, he noticed she was wearing her late sister Ji Hairong’s clothes. At that moment, his expression darkened. Back then, Liu Zhongxian had not only shown affection to Ji Hairu but had also secretly been involved with her sister, Ji Hairong. The exact circumstances of Ji Hairong’s drowning remained a mystery to this day.
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