Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West Episode 2

Brotherly sacrifice

Lu LingFeng has been gone two days and there is a manhunt to find him. Su has been fast tracked on case and is passing fliers with bribes through ghost market to find him. There is a protest at the temple mural because of the deaths. It is far from peaceful. They have sharp farm tools ready to take it off the wall. Su talks them down and pretends to be friend of the artist. The artist trails after them and everyone stops, thinking he is wanting to say thank you for soothing the violent mob and keeping things calm. Not only is that not the reason, when they do finally speak, the artist hold him in contempt. He sees XiJun and asks about the picture she drew. He wants her to be his disciple and learn to paint from him directly. She likes the idea but is more concerned about finding Lu at the moment. After a conversation with Su, the artist finally does say thank you. It is an acknowledgement of sorts but not truly gratitude. Su senses something off about him and tells constable to follow him. Su visits the general’s wife following Lu’s notes and asks her all the same questions. She is annoyed at the repeat visit and that it wasn’t Lu. Su also notices the black horse with braided tail. She does not accompany him and goes off to pout. 😝The princes puts her guards on notice that if there are any more attempts to deface the mural she commissioned that the perpetrators be killed. She is being unhinged because of Lu…or maybe just more unhinged….she is rather amoral in her judgment and actions. A ‘the end justifies the means’ type of ruler. Through trial and error with beggar youths, Su finds chicken Fei. Once again he has shown up just in time to save Lu. He lied to Lu about his friend and said he was already home and almost healed. When Fei went out for chicken, he forgot the knockout incense. He finds Su, but the return to find Lu gone. Lu discovered the body of his friend. He removed the bamboo body cast and carried his friend home. He is past curfew and too weak to yell his name and why late. He is almost shot but the guard commander finally recognized him. Lu collapses in lead generals arms feeling a failure to his comrades for not protecting his friend. It is a heart wrenching scene surpassed only by the deathblow scene the night before. 💔😭This is the willing sacrifice of brothers in arms and leaving no one behind.😢 Su has learned from the children that there is a market for livers and that’s why people are getting killed. Lu is going to have a tough time with this case. It is going to be very personal for him.

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