The tenth episode of the Web Series premiered on July 3, 2019.
Synopsis[]
As they investigate the massacred Yueyang Chang Clan, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and Jiang Cheng encounter the culprit, Xue Yang, atop the roof. Xue Yang greets them nonchalantly, but just then, Xiao Xingchen arrives.
Xiao Xingchen claims that he has been pursuing Xue Yang since he left Qishan for half a month, during which time many cultivators have been murdered. They fight, but Xue Yang is caught after Song Lan arrives to aid his close friend Xiao Xingchen.
Once Xue Yang is restrained, Lan Wangji tries to discern the location of the Yin Metal on him. Wei Wuxian searches Xue Yang, to no avail. Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan assist in searching the entire Yueyang Chang Clan residence, but ultimately, no one can find where Xue Yang hid his fragment of Yin Metal.
Nie Huaisang returns with Meng Yao and a retinue of cultivators from the Qinghe Nie Clan. They apprehend Xue Yang and promise Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan that he will be taken to Nie Mingjue for trial.
Despite learning of the Yin Metal, Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan depart, not wishing to involve themselves in political matters. As they leave, Wei Wuxian briefly speaks Xiao Xingchen, who was once a disciple of Baoshan Sanren just like Wei Wuxian's mother. This makes Xiao Xingchen Wei Wuxian's shishu, or cultivation uncle. Xue Yang calls out to Xiao Xingchen, warning him never to forget him.
In the Impure Realm, residence of the Qinghe Nie Clan, Nie Mingjue is irate upon learning of Xue Yang's crimes. Although he favors execution, Meng Yao points out that Xue Yang knows too much to be executed just yet. Wei Wuxian wonders why Jin Guangshan wants nothing to do with his intelligent son.
On Nie Mingjue's orders, Meng Yao requests that the chief general of the Qinghe Nie Clan assign guards to Xue Yang's cell, but the general insults him as the son of a prostitute.
Meanwhile, Nie Mingjue discusses how all four pieces of Yin Metal have now appeared, and that the Qishan Wen Clan has two. He asks Lan Wangji to return to the Cloud Recesses with the one piece they have while they interrogate Xue Yang for the fourth piece.
At night, Wei Wuxian becomes lost in the unfamiliar Impure Realm. He notices the Qinghe Nie Clan general insulting and spitting on Meng Yao again, and Meng Yao shows him the way back.
The next day, Wen Chao attacks the Impure Realm, accompanied by Wen Zhuliu. During the melee, shouts ring out that Xue Yang has escaped. Nie Mingjue rushes to the scene, only to shout in horror at the sight of Meng Yao driving a saber into the heart of the bullying general.
Panicked, Meng Yao protests that it wasn't him as Nie Mingjue advances. Suddenly, he leaps in front of Nie Mingjue, causing Wen Zhuliu to stab Meng Yao in the chest rather than kill Nie Mingjue. Wen Chao then injures Nie Mingjue.
Wen Chao taunts that his brother has gone to burn the Cloud Recesses, and despite his injured state, Meng Yao immediately worries about Lan Xichen. Wen Chao states that the Qishan Wen Clan will not annihilate Qinghe Nie Clan at this time, so long as Nie Huaisang is sent to the Qishan Wen Clan's planned indoctrination of all juniors.
After the Wens depart, Nie Mingjue commands Meng Yao to follow him. Meng Yao desperately recounts the general's bullying and pleads that he only killed the general after the general freed Xue Yang to spite him. Nie Mingjue does not believe him, and with a vow that he has no regrets about serving Chifeng-Zun in this life, Meng Yao bares his neck for execution.
Nie Mingjue raises Baxia, but cannot bring himself to proceed with the execution. He places Baxia away, declaring that since Meng Yao saved his life, he will also spare him. As punishment, Meng Yao is banished from the Impure Realm.[1]
Characters[]
In order of appearance:
- Wei Wuxian
- Lan Wangji
- Jiang Cheng
- Xue Yang
- Xiao Xingchen
- Song Lan
- Meng Yao
- Nie Huaisang
- Baoshan Sanren (mentioned)
- Cangse Sanren (mentioned)
- Nie Mingjue
- Jin Guangshan (mentioned)
- Xue Chonghai (mentioned)
- Lan Yi (mentioned)
- Wen Chao
- Wen Zhuliu
- Wen Xu (mentioned)
- Lan Xichen (mentioned)
Events[]
- Massacre of the Yueyang Chang Clan
Locations[]
- Yueyang
- Qishan (mentioned)
- Impure Realm
- Cloud Recesses (mentioned)
Cultivation Abilities[]
Cultivation Tools[]
Divergence from the Novel[]
There are many divergences from the novel in Episode 10. Regarding Xue Yang, the character wears a brace over a little finger in the Web Series, while in the novel, he was missing one little finger entirely.[2]
Additionally, Xiao Xingchen mentions that Xue Yang had massacred many small clans including the Yueyang Chang Clan; in the novel, Xue Yang targeted only the Yueyang Chang Clan to both obtain his revenge and to test his reforged version of the Yin Tiger Tally.[3]
Wei Wuxian never met Xiao Xingchen, as he died one year before Xiao Xingchen joined the cultivation world.[3]
In the novel, Nie Mingjue's insistence on Xue Yang's execution is the means of his falling out with Jin Guangyao, who fears losing his position in the Lanling Jin Clan if he opposes his father, who desires to protect Xue Yang. In the Web Series, however, Nie Mingjue listens to Meng Yao's reasoning, as the Qishan Wen Clan is Xue Yang's protector instead of the Lanling Jin Clan.[4]
In the novel, Meng Yao's murder of a bullying commander occurred under significantly different circumstances. The murder occurred during the Sunshot Campaign, and the victim was from the Lanling Jin Clan, not the Qinghe Nie Clan. Nie Mingjue insists that Meng Yao turn himself in, but Meng Yao insists that Jin Guangshan will not show mercy. Ultimately, Meng Yao feigns suicide by stabbing himself before freezing Nie Mingjue with qi and fleeing. Nie Mingjue's trust in Meng Yao is permanently broken as a result.[5]
References[]
- ↑ Web Series, Episode 10
- ↑ Novel, Chapter 41
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Novel, Chapter 30
- ↑ Novel, Chapter 49
- ↑ Novel, Chapter 48