A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Episode 9 Recap
> A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Recap
The following morning, Sang Qi's room was found empty and her luggage gone. Yan He Xing, seeing her departure, remarked that his new female disciple was nothing special, but Yan Yunzhi confidently asserted that she would return, having "suffered" enough to know. He then directed Yan Yan to begin his training. Meanwhile, Sang Qi arrived back at her family home, where her father initially chided her for leaving.
She claimed she had left a note and explained she had gone to Lingwu Mountain to learn martial arts for self-defense, distinct from the Sang family's military and spear techniques. Her father recognized Yan He Xing, who he said had "mooched off so much wine" from him, but admitted Yan He Xing was formidable enough to exchange "over a hundred moves" with him. He warned Sang Qi to report if Yan He Xing bullied her.
Lian Pian attempted to voice Sang Qi's recent hardships, but Sang Qi quickly interjected, painting a picture of an overly comfortable life on the mountain, claiming Yan Yunzhi massaged her shoulders and Yan Yan ran errands for her. Just then, Zhuo Wenyuan arrived. He immediately cast doubt on Sang Qi's fabricated tales, especially the part about Yan Yunzhi serving her.
Sang Qi quickly explained she had returned to gather personal necessities, asserting that Yan Yan was unsuitable for retrieving "women's items." Zhuo Wenyuan revealed he had initially come to bid farewell before a trip to the south but had decided to accompany her to Lingwu Mountain instead. Sang Qi, however, insisted he stay behind with her father.
Later, Sang Qi explained to Lian Pian that despite her initial reluctance to endure hardships, she was now determined to learn true martial arts from Yan He Xing, having witnessed his impressive skill first-hand when he seized her in just a few moves, exposing a significant gap in her own abilities. She resolved that if Yan He Xing intentionally made things difficult, she would find a way to get back at him.
That night, Sang Qi and Lian Pian secretly set off for Lingwu Mountain, burdened with heavy luggage. Sang Qi explained that she could not bear for her father to discover she had failed to become a disciple and was instead reduced to a servant. As they ascended the dark, quiet mountain, Lian Pian grew exhausted. Sang Qi suggested a rest, and it was then that Zhuo Wenyuan and his attendant, Jing Mu, appeared.
Zhuo Wenyuan stated he had been following them out of concern for Sang Qi's safety while traveling alone at night, though his real worry was Yan Yunzhi. He offered to carry her items, but Sang Qi refused, urging him to return home. She confided in Lian Pian that she feared Zhuo Wenyuan would see her serving as a servant and report it to her father, potentially leading to chaos and disrupting her chance to learn martial arts.
Zhuo Wenyuan, however, insisted on staying. Upon their arrival at Lingwu Mountain's residence, Yan Yan rushed out, lamenting that his current routine was "asking for his life" rather than actual training, and embraced Zhuo Wenyuan as if clinging to a lifeline. Yan He Xing immediately ordered Sang Qi to begin her duties, shattering her earlier pretense of a comfortable life.
Sang Qi tried to explain to Zhuo Wenyuan that her situation was merely a "small accident," claiming Yan He Xing only accepted one disciple and had made her duel Yan Yan, implying it was a test of her sincerity. Yan Yunzhi then confronted Sang Qi, expressing his displeasure about her bringing Zhuo Wenyuan to Lingwu Mountain, reminding her that Yan He Xing had already made an exception by allowing her and Yan Yan to stay.
Sang Qi tried to explain that Zhuo Wenyuan would not be staying long, but Yan He Xing called her away for work. Left alone, Yan Yunzhi and Zhuo Wenyuan engaged in a tense exchange, with Yan Yunzhi subtly prodding Zhuo Wenyuan to leave and suggesting he was wasting his holiday.
Zhuo Wenyuan retorted by hinting that Yan Yunzhi had "tricked" Sang Qi into coming to the mountain and expressed his firm intent to stay, their seemingly polite words belying a sharp rivalry. Zhuo Wenyuan openly declared his intention to remain on the mountain, offering to be Sang Qi's "errand boy" as she served Yan He Xing. Sang Qi was surprised by this.
Yan Yunzhi, seeing Sang Qi burdened with tasks, advised her that her constant effort would only spoil Yan He Xing and lead to more frequent demands, preventing her from learning martial arts. Sang Qi acknowledged this dilemma, but lacked a solution. Yan Yunzhi then revealed Yan He Xing's two main weaknesses: fine wine and delicious food. He suggested that by mastering his appetite, Sang Qi could gain control over him.
To appease Yan He Xing, Zhuo Wenyuan presented a rare "Tumixiang liquor" from Xijing. Yan He Xing, pleased with the wine, grudgingly allowed Zhuo Wenyuan to stay, though he reiterated he was not accepting any new disciples. Zhuo Wenyuan clarified that his sole purpose for staying was to care for Sang Qi, not to learn martial arts. Taking Yan Yunzhi's advice, Sang Qi volunteered to prepare a meal. Both Yan Yunzhi and Zhuo Wenyuan immediately offered to assist.
Zhuo Wenyuan quickly led Sang Qi into the kitchen, pulling her away from Yan Yunzhi, while Yan Yunzhi followed, a hint of jealousy on his face, claiming he was there to supervise and prevent any kitchen mishaps. Sang Qi, recognizing their inexperience, sarcastically asked if they had ever set foot in a kitchen.
Despite their lack of practical skills, both men insisted on helping with tasks like chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients, with Zhuo Wenyuan even suggesting catching a chicken for roasted chicken and Yan Yunzhi proposing sugar lotus root. Lian Pian attempted to defend their good intentions, but Sang Qi, exasperated by their incompetence, deemed them "troublemakers" and instructed Lian Pian to escort them out of the kitchen.
At dinner, Yan He Xing enthusiastically praised Sang Qi's cooking, finding the dishes tender, flavorful, rich, and aromatic. Capitalizing on his satisfaction, Sang Qi proposed a deal: she would prepare all of his daily meals if he would excuse her from chores and teach her martial arts. Yan He Xing, admitting he had been waiting for her to make such an offer, readily agreed and formally accepted her as his disciple, dismissing traditional rituals.
Yan Yan excitedly welcomed Sang Qi as his martial sister. Yan He Xing then confessed that he had intended to take Sang Qi as a disciple all along, making her do chores merely to test her sincerity. He promised to personally teach her the "Yan Sword Technique" starting the next day, and also requested wild mushroom soup for her next meal. The following day, Yan He Xing demonstrated the Yan Sword Technique.
Sang Qi memorized the movements but struggled to grasp the "essence." Yan He Xing, busy with Yan Yan, told her to practice the form until she understood what she didn't know, and then to ask him. As Sang Qi practiced, Yan Yunzhi approached. She sought his guidance, explaining that the sword technique was abstract and difficult to comprehend, citing "Clear Mist Dividing Water" as an example. Yan Yunzhi took her hand, guiding her through the intricate movements, bringing them close.
Later, Yan Yunzhi approached Zhuo Wenyuan, initiating a discussion about Zhuo Wenyuan's departure. Zhuo Wenyuan, however, revealed he would be staying indefinitely, claiming he and Yan He Xing had formed a good bond. Yan Yunzhi warned him not to disrupt Sang Qi's training, but Zhuo Wenyuan brushed it off, stating he had his own plans, which included accompanying Sang Qi to pick wild mushrooms.
Jing Mu reminded Zhuo Wenyuan about his urgent trip to the south, but Zhuo Wenyuan dismissed the concern, assuring him it would not interfere. Zhuo Wenyuan then found a secluded cave, which triggered a flood of memories. He recalled meeting Sang Qi in a similar cave during their childhood, a time when he felt like a "downtrodden boy" no one wanted.
He remembered Sang Qi comforting him and promising to "save" him if no one else would, sealing it with a pinky promise. Believing a heavy rain was imminent, Zhuo Wenyuan instructed Jing Mu to subtly lure Sang Qi to the cave that evening, ensuring Yan Yan, Lian Pian, and any of the Yan family were unaware. Jing Mu expressed concern about the rain, but Zhuo Wenyuan chillingly replied he wouldn't have chosen that location if it wasn't going to rain.
Meanwhile, Sang Qi had made remarkable progress in learning the sword technique. She credited Yan Yunzhi for her rapid improvement. Yan Yunzhi then confessed that he had initially wanted to teach her directly but realized she needed to choose to seek him out and determine for herself who should teach her.
He also subtly revealed his motive was to ensure she could defend herself against the "men in black" who had attacked her, and so his "silly nephew," Yan Yan, would not have to constantly protect her covertly. Sang Qi, realizing Yan Yunzhi had been secretly protecting her, pressed him for details.
Yan Yunzhi's attendant, Bai Shi, then accidentally let slip that Yan Yunzhi had cured her poison, braved a rainy night to find an imperial physician for her, and even manipulated her entrance exam results for the Imperial College. Just then, Jing Mu approached Sang Qi, claiming Zhuo Wenyuan had discovered a vast field of wild mushrooms behind the mountain and wanted her to see them before the impending rain. Sang Qi agreed, despite her urgency to speak with Yan Yunzhi.
Upon arriving at the cave, Sang Qi asked about the mushrooms, seeing none. Zhuo Wenyuan remarked on the darkening sky and the coming rain, suggesting they hide in the cave and reminisce about their childhood. Sang Qi, however, was reluctant to relive such a "bad experience." Zhuo Wenyuan insisted the original incident was not "unfortunate" for him. As the heavy rain began to fall and the cave started to collapse, Yan Yunzhi suddenly appeared, pulling Sang Qi into his embrace as they tumbled into the crumbling cave.
