Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 16 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
Gu Qingqiao clarified the incident with Ruan Shiqiong, explaining that there was no physical contact between them, separated by a great distance, and the situation was merely a misunderstanding intended to save him. Ruan Shiqiong offered to explain to others, but Gu Qingqiao insisted he shouldn't, fearing it would worsen the gossip. Instead, she planned to visibly distance herself from him, assuming that as time passed and new rumors emerged, people would forget.
Observing him closely, Gu Qingqiao noted a strange detail: Ruan Shiqiong had no heartbeat. He responded that this was because he was the greatest martial artist in the world. Later, Man Tianxing attempted to bring Ruan Shiqiong lunch but was politely declined, as he said he had already eaten and was heading to see a Senior. Dejected, Man Tianxing confessed her feelings of inadequacy to Gu Qingqiao.
She expressed her sadness that Ruan Shiqiong seemed heartless towards others, unable to remember their names or faces, yet appeared to remember Gu Qingqiao. Man Tianxing felt ordinary and weak, doubting Ruan Shiqiong could ever remember someone like her, and believed Gu Qingqiao was special to him. Gu Qingqiao shared a story about a friend who, similar to Man Tianxing, sacrificed everything to please someone she admired greatly.
This friend eventually realized her efforts only moved herself, not the other person, and she lost parts of herself in the process. Gu Qingqiao emphasized that Man Tianxing was already a good person and should focus on loving herself first. Man Tianxing suspected the friend was Gu Qingqiao herself, which Gu Qingqiao denied. Man Tianxing further inquired if this friend now loved herself, to which Gu Qingqiao replied she was still in the process of trying.
Regarding the person the friend liked, Gu Qingqiao revealed they never truly had a chance to be together before their connection faded into the past. Late one night, Gu Qingqiao discovered Lu Zizheng in the kitchen, bleeding profusely. She was distressed, asking why he hadn't told her he was injured and why he had been so impulsive in a fight.
Lu Zizheng dismissively asked what telling her would accomplish, as she couldn't fight or heal him, asserting that her focus should remain on finding the sword. Gu Qingqiao tearfully apologized for not noticing his injury and feeling like a burden. Lu Zizheng, in his usual blunt manner, told her he was willing to bear the burden, that he would remember everything she did, and harshly told her not to cry as she looked ugly, calling her a "trouble."
He assured her his "worthless life" wouldn't be taken easily and shrugged off concern about his injury, claiming an "exceptional physique." Sometime after, Ruan Shiqiong found Gu Qingqiao preoccupied and asked if she was thinking about someone from the past. Gu Qingqiao mentioned seeing a heart pattern she didn't understand. Ruan Shiqiong explained it symbolized love and playfully critiqued the drawing's shape.
He then explained the meaning of the cloud imagery in the pattern, linking it to his name which meant 'sky' and the desire for freedom in his presence. Gu Qingqiao thanked him, saying she liked it, and Ruan Shiqiong gently encouraged her, telling her she was doing well now and needed to move forward from the past.
Shaoyi, hiding, was found by Wu, who praised his ability to conceal himself, even from the witch doctor, a skill he'd honed since childhood dealing with Mr. Qi and Ruo Yi. Wu affectionately called him "my slave," prompting Shaoyi to wonder how long he could remain her slave. Wu said she would ask the witch doctor not to let him leave, and Shaoyi promised not to go without her permission.
As Wu prepared to leave, worried about being discovered, Shaoyi suggested she come with him. Wu questioned this, asking how a master could follow a slave. Shaoyi countered by suggesting he become the master and she the slave, a proposition Wu disagreed with. Just then, Duan Yu arrived, requesting a favor from Shaoyi. Duan Yu needed to acquire the sacred object of the Fire Crane Tribe without Mr. Qi's knowledge, using Shaoyi's name to do so.
Shaoyi connected this to Duan Yu's earlier decision to stay. Duan Yu explained his suspicion that the sacred object was somehow related to Gu Qingqiao, though it was just a suspicion. Observing Shaoyi's affection for Wu, Duan Yu pointed out the significant disparity in their status. Shaoyi retorted that Duan Yu and Gu Qingqiao faced similar differences, implying that if Duan Yu could pursue such a relationship, he could too.
Duan Yu advised him that if he had made up his mind, he must persevere until the end. Having taken on the role of Grand Steward, Gu Qingqiao discovered she had inadvertently depleted Xiling's funds, leading to a severe financial deficit. Faced with bills for essentials like lamp oil and realizing the extent of the problem (-10 then -100), she confessed to a fellow disciple, fearing Master Wang Tianshan would expel her.
The disciple suggested they abandon the sect and find the sword in the forbidden area together. Later, while attempting to explore the forbidden area, Gu Qingqiao was intercepted by First Senior Brother, who had suspected her actions. He accused her of trying to steal treasure from the forbidden area to cover the sect's debts, arguing that according to the rules, she should be expelled.
Gu Qingqiao denied theft, explaining that the money vanished quickly due to her allowing excessive use of resources like lamp oil and good food for the disciples, admitting her lack of foresight as Grand Steward. She revealed her true intention: to investigate the hot spring within the forbidden area. She proposed opening it to the public as a bathing center to generate income for the sect, citing a book written by the founder that mentioned a spring in the area.
Ruan Shiqiong confirmed he had seen her reading the book. However, Master Wang Tianshan appeared, having been informed, and flatly rejected the idea, calling it "ridiculous" and beneath the dignity of a prestigious sect. He forbade any commercial activity and suggested pawning ancient formulas instead. Undeterred, Gu Qingqiao gathered her senior siblings and other disciples to present her plan.
She displayed the founder's book as evidence of the hot spring and referenced the Grand Steward's manual to assert her right to plan and manage Xiling's land, including the forbidden area. She appealed for their collective support. First Senior Brother immediately sided with Master Wang Tianshan and refused to help persuade him. However, others, including Ruan Shiqiong, voiced their support. Ruan Shiqiong surprised Gu Qingqiao by agreeing without hesitation, stating his trust in her decisions for Xiling's benefit.
With Ruan Shiqiong's backing, many disciples rallied behind Gu Qingqiao. Only Master Wang Tianshan and First Senior Brother remained opposed. Someone suggested asking Junior Bai (Lu Zizheng) to persuade Master, as Master favored him, but Gu Qingqiao was skeptical due to Lu Zizheng's rebellious nature. First Senior Sister offered to try and convince First Senior Brother.
The next day, to everyone's surprise, Master Wang Tianshan announced his approval of the hot spring development plan, even urging First Senior Brother to be flexible. First Senior Brother voiced strong opposition, fearing the sect would be mocked, but Master Wang Tianshan declared he would bear any blame and appointed Gu Qingqiao to lead the project, ordering all disciples to cooperate.
First Senior Brother continued to object, but Lu Zizheng (Junior Bai) stepped forward, urging Master to begin the project as soon as possible, suggesting they start the next day. Master Wang Tianshan agreed with Lu Zizheng, and the project was set in motion for the following day. Work began to transform the forbidden area.
Gu Qingqiao outlined plans for an entrance leading to the natural hot spring, with three specialty pools featuring unique medicinal formulas based on Master's prescriptions for essential medicine bags. She assigned tasks, including Senior Guan to create the medicine bags and Senior Fu Rong to oversee construction and landscaping, setting a tight three-day deadline. As disciples worked diligently, Gu Qingqiao thanked Lu Zizheng, acknowledging his role in persuading Master.
Lu Zizheng retorted by asking why she wasn't helping with the labor, questioning why he should support the plan. He explained that their primary goal was to find the sword, and maintaining their "disciple persona" was just part of the mission until they located it. He declared he was going back to sleep, dismissing the labor. They playfully argued, Gu Qingqiao threatening to end their association, and he daring her to find a knife.
The team brainstormed names for the bathing center, settling on "Penglai Fairy Pool Bathing Center," which they felt sounded impressive. They also planned peripheral businesses like a medicine picking garden and health lectures. While discussing ideas, Gu Qingqiao sampled the proposed "Xiling's Special Drink," which was actually a medicine for fire poison. Another senior stopped her, remarking on how she had changed from being uninterested in anything to being curious about everything, suggesting it was perhaps a good thing.
Another senior inquired if she had informed Master Wang Tianshan about the development. Gu Qingqiao confirmed she had gotten his approval but didn't know his current location, speculating he might be overseas searching for an elixir, expressing a desire for him to return for the opening. On the day of the grand opening, Ruan Shiqiong unexpectedly arrived at the bathing center, surprising Gu Qingqiao. He warmly welcomed the attendees.
Gu Qingqiao announced that everyone present for the opening would receive a complimentary essential medicine bag. The crowd cheered. First Senior Brother observed the successful opening, conceding that she had done a good job. As everyone celebrated, Ruan Shiqiong was asked to join a group photo. Gu Qingqiao declared she had a way to take a photo despite the lack of cameras.
