Fighter of the Destiny Episode 12 Recap, Plot

> Fighter of the Destiny
> Fighter of the Destiny Recap

Chen Changsheng, his life force waning, found himself in a dire situation. He visited the Little Black Dragon, Zhusha, apologizing that he might not be able to fulfill his promise to free her as he felt his death approaching. Zhusha, however, urged him not to give up, reminding him that there was still hope.

Chen Changsheng admitted that his forced activation of star power had drastically shortened his lifespan, and if his marrow cleansing failed today, he might not live to see the next sunrise. Zhusha scolded him for his recklessness, pointing out the immense difficulty of marrow cleansing and calling his desire for immediate success a dream. Chen Changsheng conceded he was dreaming, but then asked if she too wasn't dreaming of escape.

He added that his dreaming here was a way to make amends to her. Zhusha, in turn, told him to proceed with the cleansing without further talk. His first attempt at marrow cleansing proved insufficient. Zhusha checked on him, noting that he hadn't been burned to death by the starlight, which she considered a decent start, encouraging him to try harder next time. Meanwhile, Prince Chenliu and Xu Weixin were discussing the upcoming Green Vine Banquet.

Prince Chenliu revealed that the Lishan Sword Sect intended to propose for Qiu Shanjun at the banquet. Xu Weixin confirmed he had been informed by letter, stating that Qiu Shanjun was a talented individual and that he, as a parent, naturally wished for his daughter, Xu Yourong, to have a good marriage with him. The Prince then brought up Xu Yourong's existing engagement.

Xu Weixin quickly dismissed it as a misunderstanding, assuring the Prince that the Xu family would not recognize it and that Chen Changsheng himself had previously expressed an intention to break it off. The Prince advised Xu Weixin not to be overly forceful, reminding him that both Qiu Shanjun and Xu Yourong were like his own children and he did not wish to see them harmed. Xu Weixin promised to handle the matter appropriately.

Alone, Xu Weixin's thoughts turned sinister; he was determined that Chen Changsheng would not appear alive at the Green Vine Banquet and resolved to personally ensure his elimination. At Saintess Peak, Bai Luoheng visited Xu Yourong. Luoheng complimented Yourong's serene abode and directly questioned her about the Lishan Sword Sect's impending proposal.

Luoheng pressed Xu Yourong to break off her engagement with Chen Changsheng if she didn't care for it, wanting to prevent her master from making more enemies in the capital. Xu Yourong responded that she had her own plans and would not allow Chen Changsheng to be bullied. Luoheng retorted that her master had her to protect him and did not need anyone else's help; she simply didn't want everyone to hate him.

Xu Yourong stated she couldn't promise anything but assured Luoheng she would not harm Chen Changsheng and would protect him if necessary. Luoheng then asked what would happen if the Lishan Sword Sect discovered the engagement. Xu Yourong promised to consider it, telling Luoheng to return. Luoheng, on her way out, firmly declared that she would not permit anyone to bully her master, nor would she forgive those who attempted to do so.

Earlier, at a marketplace, Bai Luoheng found herself in a dispute with disciples from the Lishan Sword Sect over pre-ordered goods, accusing them of arrogance and bullying. Qijian of Lishan Sword Sect intervened, inquiring about her grievances. Luoheng expressed her complete dissatisfaction with their sect. Qijian proposed they meet separately to discuss it, which Luoheng accepted after revealing her name. Xu Weixin's operatives successfully lured Chen Changsheng to a secluded street.

There, an assassin disguised as a crying little girl offered him poisoned candy. Chen Changsheng, recognizing the seventeen potent poisons within the candy, collapsed. The assassin reported her success to Xu Weixin, who praised her strategy. Believing Chen Changsheng to be dead, Xu Weixin's subordinates threw his body into a deep well under Beixin Bridge, and Xu Weixin ordered no guards, confident that someone who couldn't even achieve marrow cleansing would surely die from the fall.

Deep within the well, Chen Changsheng regained consciousness, finding Zhusha by his side. She scoffed at his clumsiness for falling into such a deep well, reiterating that he was fortunate for her timely intervention. Once again, Chen Changsheng apologized, believing he would not live to fulfill his promise to free her, as he felt close to death. Zhusha sarcastically agreed, calling him weak and saying she should never have relied on him.

She angrily threw his gifts back, calling him a "coward afraid of death" and telling him to leave. Stung by her words, Chen Changsheng resolved anew, declaring he would succeed in marrow cleansing. Zhusha then agreed to protect him as he attempted the process again, guiding him to sit in a meditative pose. As Chen Changsheng underwent the perilous marrow cleansing, Zhusha watched anxiously, urging him to persevere, even threatening to devour him if he failed.

She observed the positive effect of her dragon blood on him. After a period, Chen Changsheng again became unconscious. He awoke to Zhusha's presence, thanking her. She disparaged his effort but emphasized that with her dragon blood aiding him, failure was unacceptable, and if he couldn't succeed now, he might as well die. Chen Changsheng vowed that if he survived this, his next attempt would surely succeed. Zhusha's unusual activity during Chen Changsheng's cleansing quickly alerted The Empress.

To conceal Chen Changsheng, Zhusha momentarily froze him. When The Empress arrived, Zhusha strategically formed dragon scales as if attempting to cut her chains and escape, drawing The Empress's wrath. The Empress destroyed the newly formed scales, foiling Zhusha's supposed escape and unknowingly allowing Chen Changsheng to continue his critical process.

Zhusha, having sacrificed nineteen years of accumulated dragon scales, silently urged Chen Changsheng to survive, reminding him of his promise to free her, a promise she had now gambled her own freedom on. Chen Changsheng's marrow cleansing was ultimately successful. He felt a surge of strength and realized his lifeline had extended, indicating his fate had changed. Zhusha explained that the starlight first strengthened his skin, then converted into true essence to reinforce his meridians.

She was surprised that he had immediately reached the Contemplation Realm after cleansing. Chen Changsheng was ecstatic, grateful for Zhusha's sacrifice and vowing to keep his promise to free her. Realizing he had been meditating for an entire night, Chen Changsheng rushed to attend the Green Vine Banquet.

Meanwhile, outside the Green Vine Banquet, Nanke relentlessly pursued Qiu Shanjun, taunting him about his infatuation with Xu Yourong, whom she called a "dead phoenix," and asserting that he would eventually be hers. Qiu Shanjun warned her to stop, but Nanke dared him to strike her, vowing to haunt him in every lifetime. Qiu Shanjun, having wearily shaken off Nanke's entanglement on his journey, finally arrived at the banquet. The Green Vine Banquet commenced, with various academies making their entrance.

The National Academy arrived with just Bai Luoheng and Xuanyuan Po, drawing mocking comments about their small numbers. Tang Thirty-Six, having overslept, made a belated entrance. Inside, discussions buzzed about the impending marriage proposal from the Lishan Sword Sect to the Xu family, a union favored by The Empress. Gou Hanshi of Lishan Sword Sect formally proposed on behalf of Qiu Shanjun to Xu Yourong, daughter of Divine General Xu Weixin.

Prince Chenliu then began the traditional "three questions" for the engagement: asking Heaven and Earth, asking the Emperor (who granted permission with a jade ruyi), and asking the teachers (Lishan Sect Leader approved). Xu Weixin expressed his trust in Qiu Shanjun to care for his daughter. Finally, the Prince asked, "Does anyone object?" Bai Luoheng, unable to contain her indignation, immediately voiced her objection.

When challenged, she declared that Prince Chenliu himself had asked for objections, and she was objecting because Xu Yourong already had a match: her master, Chen Changsheng, with whom she had a marriage contract. Qijian dismissed her claims, doubting Xu Yourong would ever acknowledge Chen Changsheng, especially one who hadn't succeeded in marrow cleansing. Luoheng retorted that she had yet to question Xu Yourong's worthiness of her master.

Tang Thirty-Six, having recently joined the National Academy, interjected, stating his absolute belief in Chen Changsheng, whom he called a "true monster," and would believe anything about him. Gou Hanshi appealed to the Lishan Sword Sect's esteemed reputation, accusing Luoheng of disrespect. Luoheng, however, challenged their assertion of power, stating that being a powerful sect did not grant them the right to bully others. Prince Chenliu intervened, proposing to first verify the marriage contract before allowing any challenges.

Luoheng presented the contract, which Prince Chenliu verified as genuine, noting its meticulous details, the Xu family crest, and Grand Preceptor Xu's signature, and that only the groom could break it. Faced with this, Prince Chenliu asked Xu Weixin for his decision. Xu Weixin vehemently declared that his family would never recognize such a ridiculous contract.

Luoheng again criticized the family's conduct, pointing out that none of the three primary parties were even present for the proposal, and reminding everyone that the Green Vine Banquet was for talent competition, not matchmaking. The situation escalated into challenges. Gou Hanshi of Lishan Sword Sect challenged the National Academy. Prince Chenliu agreed to two rounds of combat, stating that winning just one would be enough to prove the National Academy's worth.

Qijian of Lishan Sword Sect challenged Bai Luoheng, who accepted. However, Mo Yu intervened, reminding Luoheng that The Empress had forbidden her from participating in any competition due to the risks it posed to her and her standing with the White Emperor, and requested she step down. When someone mocked the National Academy for having no one else, Tang Thirty-Six declared his decision to leave the Heavenly Dao Academy and join the National Academy.

His Heavenly Dao senior angrily tried to dissuade him, but Tang Thirty-Six firmly stated his loyalty to his friends and his refusal to tolerate bullying, confirming his defection. Zhuang Huanyu of Heavenly Dao Academy then challenged Tang Thirty-Six, who readily accepted, but after a few rounds, Tang Thirty-Six was defeated. With Xuanyuan Po injured and Tang Thirty-Six defeated, Chen Changsheng arrived, surprising Xu Weixin, who had believed him dead.

Gou Hanshi, noting Xuanyuan Po's injury, proposed a verbal combat instead of physical, to prevent further harm. Chen Changsheng agreed. In a unique demonstration of "verbal combat," Chen Changsheng verbally articulated intricate martial arts techniques and Daoist principles, while Bai Luoheng physically demonstrated the moves against Qijian. Chen Changsheng's profound knowledge and articulation guided Luoheng through a series of fierce and fluid movements, overwhelming Qijian and securing victory for the National Academy.

Gou Hanshi, though defeated, was deeply impressed by Chen Changsheng's brilliance, while Xu Weixin's mood soured further. Chen Changsheng's success brought the National Academy back into the public eye, even earning respect from the Pope for Shang Xingzhou's disciple. As the banquet continued, Xu Yourong's Wind-Seeking Crane arrived, delivering her final decision: she publicly rejected Qiu Shanjun's proposal and acknowledged her marriage contract with Chen Changsheng.

Xu Yourong's blunt rejection deeply wounded Qiu Shanjun, who had just managed to escape Nanke's persistent harassment on his journey to the banquet. The revelation that Xu Yourong acknowledged her engagement to Chen Changsheng, rather than pursuing the Great Dao with him, was a devastating blow. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol, Qiu Shanjun fell into a drunken stupor. Seizing the opportunity, Nanke implanted a demonic seed within him, forever altering his righteous and principled nature.

From that moment, he would become a ruthless schemer. Even as he tried to hide it, a gleeful satisfaction would surface whenever he considered that Xu Yourong could only truly unite with him. The Empress was greatly displeased by Xu Yourong's public rejection of Qiu Shanjun, as it impacted not only personal feelings but also the prestige of the Lishan Sword Sect.

Despite knowing the consequences, Xu Yourong accepted her punishment, enduring one hundred lashes from the Soul-Refining Whip without complaint. Chen Changsheng, while not overly thrilled by Xu Yourong's letter, understood that her decision was primarily driven by her pursuit of the Great Dao and her desire to reject Qiu Shanjun, rather than romantic affection for him. Nevertheless, he was happy to finally be able to do something meaningful for her.

As the Green Vine Banquet concluded, the new Qingyun List was announced, showcasing rising talents. Xuanyuan Po ranked 148th for the National Academy, Tang Thirty-Six 32nd, and Bai Luoheng an impressive 2nd. Xu Yourong from Nanxi Temple claimed the top spot. Curiously, despite all other National Academy members making the list, Chen Changsheng's name was notably absent.

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