Moonlight Mystique 🌙 (白月梵星) Discussions - Episodes 20 & 21

Moonlight Mystique 🌙 (白月梵星) Episodic Discussions - Episodes 20 & 21

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When you engrave your love into my heart
When my star only falls for you
When the heavens fall
I can still connect with you through the waning moon
When my pain blurs my eyes
Out of the countless stars, I see only you
As you turn into a falling star and crash into my heart

People say foxes love to lie.

Mu Jui.

You lied to me.

https://i.redd.it/2f7bsjsmndde1.gif

I'm a bit emotional writing this. Here we go...

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Quick disclaimer and minor correction. I've been spelling Cang Shan (Cheng Tao)'s name with a "Z" instead of a "C". My Drama List has it listed wrong. I will now spell it the same way the subtitles do - with the "C".

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Key Concepts:

  • Weak Water Stone: A treasure from The Fox Clan that can help Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) absorb the power of the contemplations without, exploding. Further referred to as The Stone.
  • The Emotion Tree: A Tree tied to the well-being and general existence of The Fox Clan. Further referred to as "The Tree"
  • The Dagger: A dagger Bai Shuo (Bai Lu)'s sister gave her when they were kids. Further referred to as "The dagger".
  • The Outlander King's Sword: The first king of The Outlanders found four pieces of a super-cool-divine meteorite in the Eastern Sea - no, not that Eastern Sea. He used these pieces to forge a sword. He used the sword to create Outlander City and give The Outlanders some extra buffs - vitality and such. Every ten years The King needs to pull the sword out and temper (fancy word for feed) it with their blood. The sword will be further referenced as The Sword. (super cool and original, I know).
  • The Tiger Clan: Another demon clan.

Episode 20

I usually make my GIFs before I start writing, but for this discussion, my little heart just needed to write down my thoughts first.

We start at Cold Spring Palace Chen Ye (Liang Xue Feng) thanks his master, Zhen Yu (Huan Dong) for saving him back in the city. The two become suspicious of Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen).

https://i.redd.it/gfeelt4tndde1.gif

Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen) pitches up in Bai Shuo (Bai Lu)'s chambers. The worst part of this was that I thought it was going to be Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng), and when I didn't recognise the arm and it panned up to Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen), I was like "go away already.

https://i.redd.it/t31hj4jvndde1.gif

This scene cuts from one setting to another and back. First, we have Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) and Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen). Their scene is placed in juxtaposition to the imagery of Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) ruminating over her unrequited love for Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen).

I can't control my heart because it doesn't hurt enough.
It should hurt to my bones;
Hurt so much that I fear;
Hurt so much that whenever I think of the torture, I no longer dare to waver.

As Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen) receives the news that his childhood fiance (that sounds great) and BFF Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) has fallen for an "evil demon lord", Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) makes a heartbreaking decision. Her plan? Kill Bai Shuo (Bai Lu). This will save Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen) from Zhen Yu (Huan Dong)'s wrath while simultaneously making him hate her enough for her to give up on him completely.

https://i.redd.it/on6gqg5yndde1.gif

Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) makes a decision I think we all saw coming - he's tired of people sacrificing themselves for him, and it is his turn to take responsibility for those he holds dear. He asks Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) to help him sacrifice himself. Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) needs to remove The Stone and help Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) bury his last bit of spiritual power underneath The Tree.

https://i.redd.it/p9jcbc44odde1.gif

Cut to a quick scene with the Lanling sect. The sect leader is as ominous as ever.

... .. ...

Cut to Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin)'s first goodbye to Tian Hou (Zhang Xin). I'm struggling immensely with this paragraph. You see, I record clips when I watch these episodes. I use them to make GIFs but also to remind me of all the scenes I want to include.... watching this again is very difficult.

Instead of summarising the content of this farewell. Why don't you guys share some quotes or thoughts that you have about this scene?

https://i.redd.it/ql4bdpn8odde1.gif

I will, however, mention the heart-wrenchingly adorable plushie that Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) makes out of his tail hairs and gives to Tian Hou (Zhang Xin). If anyone here is an artist who creates things to sell on ETSY, I'm 100% down to buy a replica of this btw.

Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) has a vision about what is about to happen and starts running to The Tree.

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) removes The Stone from Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) and gives him some extra spiritual power so that he can say goodbye to anyone he wants to see one last time before he leaves.

Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) corners Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) and as she is about to kill her, she sees the dagger. Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) recognises the dagger from her recent visions and ends up not killing Bai Shuo (Bai Lu). Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) finds a hidden strength as she is about to give up. She thinks of how her sister used to help her up when they were kids. The Outlander King's Sword materialises at the last minute and she swings at Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa). Enter Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen), who ends up taking the blow for Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa). Also, a strange green symbol glows on his forehead, but Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) is the only one who sees it. Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) joins the party and catches his falling love.

Cut to Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin)'s second (and last) goodbye to Tian Hou (Zhang Xin). I'm not making this up. Every time I get to these scenes I have a mini breakdown. Tell me what you thought because I'm trying to hold in a future blubbering mess.

https://i.redd.it/teijdgpbodde1.gif

Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) saves everyone. <3

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) gives Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) The Stone and she absorbs the next contemplation - love. This scene was beautiful, but that's what we've come to expect from the contemplation scenes anyway.

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) and Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) watch a memory that Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) left for them.

In the future,
promise me,
on my behalf,
do not fear anyone
or anything.
Continue to fight endlessly against fate.

Also, I'm not sure if the translation is correct, but Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) says "bullshit". Which was funny because it's like that moment when you're sobbing and all of a sudden you just have to laugh because Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) is just being Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) again. And then you keep crying because Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) is being Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) for the last time...

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Episode 21

Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) can't remember why the dagger looked so familiar.

Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) struggles with some sword training.

https://i.redd.it/fovse97zpdde1.gif

Tian Hou (Zhang Xin) gives everyone (including us) a pep talk about Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) and it fails dramatically because I'm still sobbing. Seriously though Tian Hou (Zhang Xin)'s response to Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin)'s death did comfort me a little. His last thoughts - the ones about Tian Hou (Zhang Xin) living well - are being embodied by Tian Hou (Zhang Xin).

Enter cutie Cang Shan (Cheng Tao)-

Sidenote: Even saying the word cutie feels like it's too much right now, I'm feeling very solemn.

Anyway. Enter cutie Cang Shan (Cheng Tao) who only wants to make Tian Hou (Zhang Xin) smile. We see a very endearing flashback to the last time Cang Shan (Cheng Tao) saw Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) - Mu Jiu (Cheng Hong Xin) asking Cang Shan (Cheng Tao) to take care of Tian Hou (Zhang Xin). The bittersweet goodbye that Cang Shan (Cheng Tao) didn't have the opportunity to properly savour.

https://i.redd.it/xj8e87t0qdde1.gif

We see a very cute Chang Mei (Dai Si). She has three beautiful foxes (again, ETSY, hit me up). Chang Mei (Dai Si) does a very good job of grieving without giving rise to more resentment. I don't know guys. If I was in her shoes I might still be wishing that it was me and not him. She doesn't have anyone left. Literally. But he had his whole life ahead of him... I'm starting to tear up again. Let's move along quickly.

https://preview.redd.it/tfncbr3mpdde1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=730e5d38eabbc1419da6bcc19b10e0c0a2282110

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) shares his backstory with Bai Shuo (Bai Lu).

Lore:

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) was part of the Baize clan. His grandfather was chief of the clan and he had a loving younger brother called Qi Feng. One day, the Tiger Clan appeared and demanded that the clan hand over a boy with purple eyes. That boy ends up being Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng)'s brother. But just between us, I have a feeling that good ol' Yeye pulled a switcheroo and that our demon boy Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) was actually the one with the purple eyes. Yeye hands over dear dìdì Qi Feng and the Tiger Clan still kills everyone. Grandpa saves the day Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) and tells him that he is extra special and needs to live on well.

Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) introduces Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) to his ancestors and they have a really sweet moment where they promise to love and protect each other. (Also, these guys and their amazing hugs, I just can't).

https://i.redd.it/jz6r61f2qdde1.gif

Back at Cold Spring Palace Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) is forced to drink the "heart-devouring pill" by her ever-loving master Zhen Yu (Huan Dong). This is his way of "testing" Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa)'s loyalty.

What is the "heart-devouring pill"? Well,

Once you start taking this pill, you can't stop it. If you stop taking it halfway, the pain will come every day. A month after you stop you'll succumb to the poison and die. - Zhen Yu (Huan Dong) (he's a chill guy)

Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) is in excruciating pain and refuses to ask for help. Her fairy friend runs to Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen) to ask for help. Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen) is not very excited to help Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) since he only recently found out that it was Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa)'s "calculation" that caused him to end up the way he is now - all demon and stuff. But you can see his heart soften a bit once Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa)'s fairy friend reveals everything Fu Ling (Dai Lu Wa) has done for Chong Zhao aka Steamed-Bun-Boy (Chang Hua Sen).

https://i.redd.it/cvopil94qdde1.gif

Chen Ye (Liang Xue Feng) and Zhen Yu (Huan Dong) are up to something and Chen Ye (Liang Xue Feng) wants to visit our lovely Mr. Demon-man Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng).

Now, I've left the best for last.

The Kiss

The kiss is not at the end of the episode, but it was so good that I had to leave the one happy thing separate from the heartache that is the rest of these two episodes. Fan Yue (Ao Rui Peng) teaches Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) some swordplay and when she says "Thank you", he says:

How will you thank me?

Ugh, so good just. No words, only unintelligible sounds.

https://i.redd.it/c7umpfpbqdde1.gif

Bai Shuo (Bai Lu) gives her man a cute peck and, after he PULLS HER IN, he says:

Not enough

I'm dead. I'm just dead

https://i.redd.it/nt6yttz8qdde1.gif

https://i.redd.it/ktti1fsdqdde1.gif

Anyway, who's ready for the next contemplation death?

Oh, I forgot to say. Bai Shuo (Bai Lu has spiritual power now but she doesn't have that magic rebound-shield-thing anymore.)

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