Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 17 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
The spa center opened and immediately earned five hundred taels. The disciples were overjoyed, dreaming of regular meat meals and new clothes. Gu Qingqiao assured them their financial worries were over with the spa running. Lu Zizheng asked if the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword had been found in the forbidden area. Gu Qingqiao confirmed it hadn't, despite a thorough search including underwater.
Lu Zizheng told her to stop worrying about the spa center now that the forbidden area was ruled out, expressing concern that she might "die before achieving success," noting three petals of her flower had already turned dark, indicating a time limit. He mentioned only Tianshan Residence at Tianwang Mountain and Ruan Shiqiong's dome remained unchecked. He found Tianshan Residence easier to investigate, but Ruan Shiqiong's high martial arts made a direct confrontation undesirable.
Lu Zizheng planned to go to Tianshan Residence himself, urging Gu Qingqiao to be careful. Soon after, patrons at the spa center developed severe itching and hair loss. Although the Xiling disciples tried to treat the symptoms, the patients showed little improvement, leading them to suspect poisoning. Just then, Shen You, the Lord of the Herbal King Valley, arrived and began offering treatments that miraculously cured the spa's afflicted customers.
Witnessing this, the disciples realized the spa's problems were linked to the Herbal King Valley. Shen You began to provoke the Xiling Sect, boasting about his skills. Gu Qingqiao confronted him, insulting his appearance. Shen You grabbed her arm, but Lu Zizheng quickly intervened, hitting him. As others moved to attack Shen You, Lu Zizheng asked Gu Qingqiao why she hadn't broken free.
She explained that she had lost all strength, making Lu Zizheng fear she might have been poisoned as well. To uncover the nature of the poison, they devised a plan using a "honey trap." They dressed up a senior disciple, Fu Rong, to approach Shen You at the Xiling Sect gate, pretending to seek treatment.
Fu Rong skillfully flattered Shen You, who, eager to impress, revealed that the spa customers were suffering from a poison called "Lovesickness," a specialty of the Herbal King Valley, describing its symptoms of intense itching and blisters. He offered the antidote in exchange for favors. When Shen You became too forward, Fu Rong revealed the trap. The Xiling disciples then beat Shen You and threw him into the pool, causing him to be poisoned by his own "Lovesickness."
Meanwhile, Shaoyi attempted to purchase the Fire Crane Tribe's sacred object from the Witch Doctor, offering a large sum of money. The Witch Doctor refused, stating the sacred object was invaluable and not for sale, dismissing Shaoyi's companion, who referred to it merely as a "thing." The Witch Doctor was angered by this disrespect towards their sacred relic and asked them to leave. Suddenly, members of the Moon Wolf Tribe attacked the Fire Crane Tribe.
The Fire Crane tribe members gathered, praying to the sacred object for protection and silencing Duan Yu and Shaoyi. Duan Yu, however, hid and shot arrows to drive off the attackers. Afterward, Duan Yu spoke with the Witch Doctor, acknowledging the tribe's belief that the sacred object protected them from the Moon Wolf Tribe through prayer.
He proposed that if he could guarantee the Fire Crane Tribe's safety by himself, the sacred object would lose its purpose for them and could be given to him. The Witch Doctor agreed to this condition, stating that if Duan Yu could single-handedly ensure the Moon Wolf Tribe would never again threaten the Fire Crane Tribe, he would believe the sacred object should belong to such a strong individual.
Shaoyi expressed deep concern about Duan Yu's plan to go to the Moon Wolf Tribe, suggesting alternative methods, but Duan Yu was resolute. He explained that the sacred object was called Meridian Gate, one of the Four Treasures, and he needed to obtain it for Qiao (Gu Qingqiao). Wu, overhearing, asked Shaoyi why Duan Yu was so determined to get the sacred object.
Shaoyi told her it was for his loved one, adding that he now understood such sacrifice since meeting Wu. Wu asked if he would be sad if Duan Yu died, to which Shaoyi replied he would be sadder than if he himself died. Wu reassured him that Duan Yu would be safe. Duan Yu set out with a cart of wine, encountering the Moon Wolf Tribe.
He offered them the wine hoping they would introduce him to their chief, but Wu had followed him and was captured by the Moon Wolf tribesmen. To protect Wu, Duan Yu was forced to kill the tribesmen, abandoning his initial plan and asking Wu to assist him. Gu Qingqiao invited Ruan Shiqiong for drinks under the pretense of celebrating his recovery of taste and resolving Xiling's economic troubles.
This was a distraction for Lu Zizheng to search Ruan Shiqiong's dome for the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword. During their conversation, Ruan Shiqiong mentioned that his Senior Brother's Tianshan Residence had been entered by an intruder, noting his medicine had been moved. He added that he had prepared by placing poison powder in his room. Hearing this, Gu Qingqiao feigned needing to use the latrine to warn Lu Zizheng.
In the dome, Lu Zizheng found a sword and was about to draw it when Gu Qingqiao arrived, but it was too late. Both were exposed to a powder on the sword. They quickly realized it was fragrant powder, not poison, and that Ruan Shiqiong had known they were searching for the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword all along.
Meanwhile, Shen You was distraught that his "Immortal Not Saving You" poison had been stolen and accused the Xiling Sect of taking it. Gu Qingqiao, mistakenly believing Lu Zizheng had stolen it to use against Ruan Shiqiong, rushed to prevent Ruan Shiqiong from drinking his tea. Ruan Shiqiong directly addressed her true purpose – searching for the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword. Lu Zizheng emerged to protect Gu Qingqiao but was outmatched by Ruan Shiqiong.
Gu Qingqiao offered Ruan Shiqiong a deal: she would reveal why she needed the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword if he would let Lu Zizheng go. Ruan Shiqiong agreed. Gu Qingqiao confessed that she sought the sword to save her mother, Dongfang Qiushuang. Ruan Shiqiong agreed to help her find the sword.
To formalize this, Gu Qingqiao drafted an agreement stating that Ruan Shiqiong would help her obtain the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, protect her, and that the sword would belong to her, with the agreement valid forever and Gu Qingqiao (referred to by her nickname, Qing) having the final interpretation rights. Ruan Shiqiong signed it with a fingerprint.
He then explained that the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword is located in the Jiuqing Secret Cave, which can only be opened by his master, Zhang Sifeng, the head of the Xiling Sect.
