Parallel World Episode 14 Recap
> Parallel World Recap
After a joint discussion between Fei Tang and Ding Liu, they unanimously decided to head to the market. They couldn't afford to return from the pass empty-handed. Ye Liuxi looked at Chang Dong, and when he expressed his intention to go along, she finally smiled. Chang Dong then began to work on repairing the vehicle, with Gao Shen assisting in fixing the tires. Fei Tang suggested that Lao Qian could help, but Ye Liuxi rejected the idea, fearing their involvement might not be trustworthy.
When the vehicle was almost ready for the road, three maps were handed over. Although Shu Tiao didn't know many characters, the drawings were detailed enough. Chang Dong carefully compared the maps and planned the route. Since the roads between markets were desolate and dangerous after dark due to the presence of exotic creatures, Ye Liuxi suggested they find a place to stay before sunset, with the Red Flower Tree Nightclub being their first choice.
After discussing these matters, Ye Liuxi urged everyone to pack their things and prepare for loading. She instructed Fei Tang to move everything from the underground chamber. Since A He and the others had been ungrateful, they needed to face some hardship and learn the meaning of self-sufficiency. Fei Tang was clearly reluctant but secretly sought help from Chang Dong. Chang Dong hinted that they might lose some things in the rush of the journey. This made Fei Tang realize the situation, and before leaving, he handed two bags of rice to A He.
Finally, the vehicle left the deserted village. However, beyond the village lay an endless desert, with occasional sand dunes but no clear directions. Not to mention any red flower trees or other vegetation. Just when everyone was starting to lose patience, they suddenly saw an aurora in the sky ahead, and at the end of it, they faintly spotted a red light. As they approached, they discovered it was indeed a red flower tree, and an old beggar stood in front of it. He had a rooster hanging from his waist, and the rice he scattered didn't fall to the ground; it all went into the rooster's mouth.
Ye Liuxi had heard that someone would come to collect the tree at sunset and lead guests to the nightclub, so they guessed he was the person responsible for collecting the tree. The old beggar introduced himself as Li Jin'ao and claimed to be a performer of shadow puppets in the market. He led everyone to follow the aurora and soon saw people waiting to receive them.
Although the Red Flower Tree Nightclub wasn't very large, it was bustling. The guest rooms were packed tightly, with several dozen in total. The central part of the circular area was both a dining room and an activity area. Chang Dong had Ye Liuxi wear a mask, concerned that she might encounter her enemies from inside the pass. Once they arrived, they walked directly into the inn.
Behind the front desk sat a middle-aged woman with plain features and a cold tone. She warned them not to move around recklessly after eleven o'clock; otherwise, they would be responsible for any consequences. Chang Dong chose a large room on the second floor. After all, it was safer for everyone to stay together. Even if there weren't enough beds, they could sleep on the floor, and nobody would be too particular about it.
After settling their luggage, the five of them went downstairs to order noodles. They overheard Li Jin'ao trying to please the woman at the front desk, hoping she would let him perform more shadow puppet shows. The woman seemed annoyed and indicated that letting people like Li Jin'ao stay for free was already quite generous, so she wouldn't pay him extra to perform.
However, actions spoke louder than words, and Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi exchanged glances. They asked Li Jin'ao to perform, and the first act was "Calling Spirits." Li Jin'ao had prepared minimal props. As he played the clay flute, a group of fireflies resembling ghosts appeared behind the curtain. Gradually, they transformed into two people, the Grand General and his wife.
Ye Liuxi realized that Li Jin'ao was no ordinary person. She instructed Ding Liu to order more dishes and some wine, planning to get him drunk and extract some information. Li Jin'ao enjoyed himself immensely and became quite tipsy, readily sharing that his family had been a generation of shadow puppeteers from inside the pass. They had controlled the puppet troupe for generations. Besides, Li Jin'ao revealed the true story behind the Grand General's banishment of the puppeteers and exotic creatures. It was entirely different from the stories they had heard before.
As it turned out, the Grand General missed his wife and unexpectedly discovered that the figure behind the curtain was composed of shadow puppets created by Little Bite. He became furious and later found out that Little Bite and the puppeteers' extraordinary skills originated from a mysterious desert area. Fearing that the puppeteers might possess more formidable skills that could undermine his rule, he banished the puppeteers, their extended families, the exotic creatures, and even the Feathered Guards responsible for escorting them, all into that magical space. This gave rise to the legend of "Exiling Demons and Puppets to the Jade Gate."
Everyone also wanted to inquire about the origin of the puppet troupe, but Li Jin'ao refused to reveal any more information. He was completely drunk and was escorted back to his room by Chang Dong. While he was inebriated, they went to take baths, leaving Fei Tang in the room, keeping an eye on their belongings. During this time, Chang Dong kept feeling a shadow lurking, but Gao Shen remained oblivious. Surprisingly, when Ye Liuxi finished her bath and headed back, she was shocked to find that Chang Dong was quietly following her with a mysterious smile on his face.
Related Posts
