The Swords 2 Episode 15: Mountains and Rivers Will Eventually Part Ways

Chen Pingan stands, forehead bloodied, pointing accusingly at Cui Chan. The older man, calm by the well, receives a surge of golden energy as he prepares for a demonstration. Soon, Li Baoping joins Chen Pingan, their hands linked, as mystical forces are unleashed. A golden-armored warrior appears only to be swiftly dispatched by Li Baoping's ethereal sword, a stark display of power. Cui Chan watches, a small jade ornament in hand, contemplating Chen Pingan's unexpected role as his 'satisfied' disciple.

A majestic scroll unfurls in the sky, crackling with lightning and golden light. Chen Pingan lies injured, but Li Baoping watches, eyes wide as the scroll envelops her in a protective, glowing barrier. Cui Chan observes, a pleased look on his face, as the young girl kneels, worried by the cracking ground. Her relief is palpable when she sees Chen Pingan and Cui Chan within the glow, running to hug Chen Pingan with touching tenderness, a quiet moment amidst the magic.

Chen Pingan, still injured and rubbing his forehead where a jade mark glows, confronts a stern Cui Chan. The older man insists he rise, counting down with an impatient 'two, two.' With bloodied arms, Chen Pingan struggles but ultimately stands, his determination etched onto his fierce expression. He lunges with his wooden sword, only to find Cui Chan's form dissipating into smoke. The test was an illusion, designed to push Chen Pingan to his limits, a playful yet harsh lesson.

In a candlelit room, Cui Chan reveals his identity: he is the master of Qi Jingchun, and the 'other' Cui Chan was his first disciple. He explains how this disciple indirectly caused Qi Jingchun's demise, his spirit now fractured into good and evil. Chen Pingan listens, frustrated by the weighty revelations, and demands they discuss matters of true import. With Chen Pingan's reluctant consent, Cui Chan conjures a glowing orb that transforms their surroundings into a cosmic tableau, setting the stage for their grand philosophical exchange.

Within the vastness of the cosmic scene, Cui Chan unpacks his philosophy. He acknowledges the hatred for figures like Jia Yi Nu Gui and Wei Bo, yet insists that 'hateful people often have a pitiful side.' He questions how to define 'good' or 'evil' laws when human morality is so varied and unpredictable. He speaks of the Legalists' pragmatic approach, drawing a 'lowest line' of morality, and concludes that even the sage's simple rules become outdated over time, his words manifesting as golden characters in the starry sky.

Chen Pingan, determined, argues for finding new methods when old ones fail, like a new medicine for a changing ailment. Cui Chan warns of medicine's side effects, questioning the wisdom of unchecked freedom and recalling his past defeat in a 'three-sided debate' with Li Sheng. He describes how Li Sheng championed ritual while he advocated for 'laws of the world,' both vying for influence over two dynasties. Ultimately, Cui Chan asserts that true stability for the common people comes from a single, governing principle of order, symbolized by a magnificent, ethereal pagoda.

Chen Pingan confidently declares he will stick to his own beliefs, then shrewdly accuses Cui Chan of simply wanting to take him as a disciple. Cui Chan's response is a sharp step on Chen Pingan's foot, followed by a direct question: will he follow Qi Jingchun's arrangement and become a disciple? Chen Pingan acknowledges, yet maintains his fierce loyalty to his current master, refusing the formal title. Later, Cui Chan is seen buying simple, inexpensive books for Chen Pingan, explaining that true wisdom is often found in accessible texts, not complex ones.

A boy with animal ears, a new companion, complains about missing shopping, met by Li Baoping's playful sarcasm. Later, Chen Pingan is seen fishing, a metaphor for accumulating merits, as a new female companion watches him, a somber contrast. She recounts her past, sealed cultivation, and deep hatred for the Dazhi Empress and Prince, expressing disdain for Chen Pingan's apparent servitude. Chen Pingan, however, turns fierce, challenging her arrogance and throwing her to the ground, asserting his master's importance with a glowing jade mark on his forehead.

Cui Chan, riding playfully on Chen Pingan's back, advises him to live fully and not fear mistakes. He gives Li Baoping a stern warning to cherish Chen Pingan, lest he become 'another Qi Jingchun,' and offers a piece of jade from his own hair as a symbolic blessing. Reflecting on his past teachings, Cui Chan admits his fear of holding Chen Pingan back, allowing his student to find his own path. As Cui Chan departs, Chen Pingan and Li Baoping walk hand-in-hand through bustling streets, beginning their new journey, observing the world with newfound purpose.