And the Winner Is Love Episode 45 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Chong Xuezhi and Xia Qingmei engaged in a fierce duel. Although Xia Qingmei had already mastered the ninth move of the Nine Moves of Lotus God, Chong Xuezhi, in a desperate moment, comprehended the secrets of the final three moves of the Nine Moves of Lotus God, achieving the highest level of "Lotus Wing." Earlier, during the fight, Chong Xuezhi had provoked Xia Qingmei, questioning if his fragile ego and lust for power were more important than Lin Fengzi.
She explained that his mind was unstable and erratic because he had attained the ninth move through external power without learning the Hibiscus Heart Sutra, making his practice messy and full of flaws. She further revealed that she had intentionally drawn out his attacks to observe and identify weaknesses, a lesson she learned after her own defeat by Xue Lie's Warriors in Black. Xia Qingmei, defeated, offered himself to Chong Xuezhi, asking her to end his life.
However, Chong Xuezhi refused to kill him, urging him to abandon his obsessions and choose to either continue down his current path or join her and others in fighting Lord Lu, Xue Lie. Xia Qingmei, having recovered his senses, expressed deep remorse to Lin Zongxing, admitting his mistake in believing the Nine Moves of Lotus God made him invincible and forgetting the fundamental principles of martial arts and his master's teachings.
He wished to atone with his life, but his love for Lin Fengzi prevented him. The Shangqing Sect leader intervened, attributing much of the blame to Lord Lu, Xue Lie, and suggesting that Xia Qingmei should be spared from death if he truly repented, instead dedicating his life to reflection. Lin Zongxing, agreeing, forgave Xia Qingmei and tasked him with making amends.
Xia Qingmei then revealed that Lord Lu had ordered Yuwen Muyuan to produce "Black Fire," which he suspected would be used against martial artists. Realizing Xue Lie's duplicity, Lin Zongxing decided to convert Sword Manor into a refuge for all sects opposing Lord Lu, advocating for unity against the tyrant. Xia Qingmei further informed them that the captured Hall of Flames disciples were taken to Huashan Sect by Feng Mo.
Chong Xuezhi immediately decided to lead Zhu Sha and Che Qu to Huashan Sect for the rescue mission. Lin Zongxing was tasked with rallying the anti-Lord Lu alliance, while Xia Qingmei was dispatched to Xiangzhou to retrieve Lin Fengzi, with plans for all to reconvene at Sword Manor. As Xia Qingmei was descending the mountain to meet Lin Fengzi, he encountered a group of Warriors in Black, dispatched by Lord Lu to eliminate Chong Xuezhi.
These warriors, believing Xia Qingmei had failed to defeat the Shangqing Sect leader, taunted him, questioning his strength and his ambition to lead the martial arts world. Enraged by their provocations, Xia Qingmei's eyes turned red, and his mind, already unstable, succumbed to a berserk fury. He unleashed the Nine Moves of Lotus God, brutally killing all the Warriors in Black before they could even offer resistance, leaving distinctive nine-petal lotus marks on their necks.
Later, Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou discovered the gruesome scene. Chong Xuezhi, recalling Lin Fengzi's previous warnings about Xia Qingmei's emotional instability and frequent outbursts due to his training, concluded that his rapid mastery of the Nine Moves of Lotus God without proper cultivation of the Hibiscus Heart Sutra meant he had likely relied on external forces and fallen "crazy."
Despite Zhu Sha's objections about sharing Hall of Flames' martial arts, Chong Xuezhi, emphasizing the importance of saving lives and fearing Xia Qingmei might suffer a similar fate to her own father, proposed taking him to Moon Valley for treatment by the Herbal Medicine Master and teaching him the Hibiscus Heart Sutra to help him overcome his inner demons. However, they decided to prioritize rescuing the trapped Hall of Flames disciples first before confronting Xia Qingmei.
Following Lord Lu's orders, Yuwen Muyuan arrived at Huashan Sect, where the trapped Hall of Flames disciples were being held. The disciples, aware of his betrayal, confronted him, asking if he was still their Chief Guardian or now merely Lord Lu's guardian.
Yuwen Muyuan defended his actions, claiming that Lord Lu could help him revitalize Hall of Flames and reclaim their home, and that he had come to take them home so they would no longer be controlled or forced to hide. Just as he insisted on taking them back, Chong Xuezhi, Zhu Sha, and Che Qu arrived. Chong Xuezhi, her emotions complex, drew her sword, declaring that Yuwen Muyuan had no right to take her disciples.
She fiercely accused him of betraying Hall of Flames, siding with Xue Lie, ruthlessly killing innocents, and ruining the sect's reputation for his selfish desires, vowing to settle scores. Yuwen Muyuan, however, effortlessly grabbed her wrist, reminding her that he had taught her every move and understood her too well to be harmed by her. From his hiding spot, Shangguan Tou threw a stone, striking Yuwen Muyuan and forcing him to release Chong Xuezhi.
Yuwen Muyuan then taunted Chong Xuezhi about finding a "new guardian star." With resolve, Chong Xuezhi publicly denounced Yuwen Muyuan for his treachery and violation of Hall of Flames' rules, declaring him expelled from the sect and cutting ties with him. Other Hall of Flames disciples followed suit, tearing parts of their robes. Yuwen Muyuan, heartbroken and tearful, asked Chong Xuezhi to kill him.
However, Che Qu pleaded for his life, and Chong Xuezhi ultimately spared him, urging him to reflect on his choices. She warned him that if he continued down his destructive path, she would kill him without hesitation should they meet again. She also instructed him to convey to Xue Lie that Feng Mo was dead, and the new chief of Huashan Sect would no longer follow his commands.
After his confrontation with Chong Xuezhi, Yuwen Muyuan reported back to Lord Lu. He admitted his failure to retrieve the Hall of Flames disciples, informing Lord Lu that they had been taken by Chong Xuezhi and that the new Huashan Sect chief now pledged allegiance to her. Yuwen Muyuan also revealed that Chong Xuezhi had achieved the ninth move of the Nine Moves of Lotus God.
Lord Lu, enraged by Chong Xuezhi's persistent interference, deduced that Xia Qingmei must have engaged in a duel with her on Yunlai Mountain and that his fate was now uncertain. Despite these setbacks, Lord Lu reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to make Yuwen Muyuan the new leader of Hall of Flames and reopen the sect, regardless of the absence of its disciples or Xia Qingmei's survival.
He reminded Yuwen Muyuan that Xia Qingmei possessed something belonging to him, which Yuwen Muyuan eagerly volunteered to retrieve. Lord Lu accepted, asking Yuwen Muyuan to accompany him on this mission in two days. Meanwhile, Xia Qingmei returned home to Lin Fengzi, who was immensely relieved and expressed her deep worry for him.
Overcome with guilt, Xia Qingmei profusely apologized for his past actions, confessing that his relentless pursuit of fame had led to the deaths of innocent people, and his selfish desires had caused him to betray his sect and neglect the person he loved most. He vowed to make amends and dedicate himself to caring for her. Lin Fengzi, forgiving him without hesitation, was simply overjoyed that he had finally come to his senses.
Xia Qingmei then shared that Lin Zongxing had also forgiven him, and they resolved to depart for Sword Manor. Lin Fengzi promptly began packing their belongings. Before Xia Qingmei and Lin Fengzi could depart, Lord Lu arrived at their home, accompanied by Yuwen Muyuan. Lord Lu mockingly questioned their packed bags, accusing them of trying to sever ties with him.
Xia Qingmei, seeking only to protect Lin Fengzi, reiterated his desire to abandon the pursuit of ultimate power and asked to be allowed to leave. Lord Lu agreed, but only if Xia Qingmei surrendered the manual of the Nine Moves of Lotus God. Xia Qingmei refused, unwilling to make another mistake by handing over such dangerous knowledge to someone like Lord Lu.
Lord Lu then instructed Yuwen Muyuan to retrieve the manual, warning him only to provoke Xia Qingmei, as his mental state was fragile. Yuwen Muyuan attempted to reason with Xia Qingmei, claiming the manual belonged to Hall of Flames and that giving it to him was not the same as giving it to Lord Lu. However, an increasingly agitated Xia Qingmei saw no distinction. In the ensuing struggle, Xia Qingmei, losing control, accidentally struck Lin Fengzi, who collapsed critically wounded.
Believing he had killed his beloved wife, Xia Qingmei fell into despair and, in a fit of anguish, slit his own throat, taking his own life. Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou soon arrived at the tragic scene. Discovering Xia Qingmei already dead, Shangguan Tou confirmed that Lin Fengzi still had a faint breath, but her condition was dire.
Acting quickly, Chong Xuezhi decided they should split up: Shangguan Tou would rush Lin Fengzi to Moon Valley for treatment by the Herbal Medicine Master, while Chong Xuezhi would proceed to Sword Manor to inform Lin Zongxing.
At Moon Valley, the Herbal Medicine Master initially feared he could not save Lin Fengzi's unborn child due to her severe internal injuries, but ultimately both mother and baby were declared safe, thanks to someone having channeled vital energy to her earlier, which had been crucial in sustaining her. Chong Xuezhi arrived at Sword Manor and delivered the grim news of Xia Qingmei's death and Lin Fengzi's critical condition to Lin Zongxing.
He was devastated, lamenting Xia Qingmei's fate and expressing deep concern for his daughter, wondering how she would cope with the tragedy upon awakening. Chong Xuezhi confided her suspicion that Xue Lie had deliberately used external forces to accelerate Xia Qingmei's mastery of the Nine Moves of Lotus God, knowing it would destabilize him, all to get his hands on the manual.
Believing the manual was now with Xue Lie, Chong Xuezhi vowed to retrieve it, as it belonged to Hall of Flames and could not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. She insisted on going to Xiangzhou alone to confront Xue Lie, leaving Lin Zongxing to continue rallying allies and care for Lin Fengzi once she recovered. Meanwhile, back at Lord Lu's Mansion, Yuwen Muyuan presented the retrieved Nine Moves manual to Lord Lu.
Lord Lu, pleased, dismissed the earlier departure of minor sect leaders from the Sects Alliance meeting, claiming they were insignificant and had only humiliated him. Upon hearing of Xia Qingmei and Lin Fengzi's deaths, Lord Lu callously declared it their just consequence for opposing him.
He reaffirmed his promise to Yuwen Muyuan, officially declaring him the new leader of Hall of Flames and pledging to lift the sect's seal on the fifth of next month, a date he proclaimed as auspicious for the grand Sects Alliance ceremony. Lord Lu confidently asserted that no one could thwart his plans.
