Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 20 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
Lu Zizheng expressed his regret for his brother's actions and offered to atone, suggesting they first uncover the truth. Ruan Shiqiong dismissed his plea, stating truthfully that he had never regretted killing Man Tianxing. He then told Lu Zizheng that Xiling could no longer shelter him and ordered him to leave and never return. Lu Zizheng reacted emotionally, asking if he was being expelled, but Ruan Shiqiong insisted this was his final act of tolerance.
Accepting his fate, Lu Zizheng declared he had long wanted to leave the place. As he turned to go, he called out to Gu Qingqiao, asking her to wait. He confronted her, recounting how he had traveled far and been injured for her, and questioned what she was doing when others threatened him. He then demanded to know what he truly was to her.
Gu Qingqiao called him her best friend, but he sharply rejected this, stating he was neither her friend, fellow disciple, nor family, but merely the last lifeline she grabbed when she was falling. Now that things were smooth, he felt useless. He told her that he wasn't the Lu Zizheng she perceived and advised her to take care. When she asked where he was going, he responded it was none of her concern.
Ruan Shiqiong found no unusual signs on Gu Qingqiao and believed the blood spots on Guan Mu might have been coincidental, stating he hadn't found commonalities between the two deaths or seen this invisible martial art before. Gu Qingqiao felt something was wrong, asking Ruan Shiqiong if he didn't find the events of the previous night too coincidental. She pointed out Man Tianxing's sudden death while they were occupied with Guan Mu, suggesting it was a diversion.
They wondered about the motive and if it was targeting Xiling. Gu Qingqiao agreed, noting they had focused on the method of killing but overlooked the motive. Ruan Shiqiong mentioned Xiling's peaceful nature, making enemies unlikely. They considered if it was a personal vendetta targeting someone specific.
Gu Qingqiao initially dismissed this but then thought of Song Qi, quickly ruling him out due to his lost martial arts abilities, believing he couldn't control skilled fighters like Guan Mu and Man Tianxing. They concluded the culprit might still be in the inn, observing them. They decided to ask the innkeeper for the guest list. However, the waiter informed them only the Manager had access to the list and he was currently out, despite searching for him.
Gu Qingqiao confided in Ruan Shiqiong that she still felt something was amiss. She mentioned her brother Lu Zizheng's letter, which claimed Man Tianxing attacked first, and while his brother was extreme, he wouldn't kill innocents unless forced. She noted that both Guan Mu and Man Tianxing had suddenly acted abnormally, as if they were controlled. Ruan Shiqiong confirmed Lu Zizheng was no longer a Xiling disciple and was possibly safer now.
Realizing the danger, Ruan Shiqiong declared they shouldn't stay and should return to Xiling immediately. As Lu Huahua turned to leave, he discovered the inn Manager was dead too. Gu Qingqiao had a sudden realization, pointing out how the names of the deceased – Mu, Ren, Xing, and Qing – sounded like a pun for "Black Wood Human-shaped Sword."
She theorized the killer's true objective was the sword, and if they didn't surrender it, the killing would continue, potentially targeting her next. Suddenly, Gu Qingqiao turned her sword on Ruan Shiqiong, crying out that she couldn't control herself and begging for help. Ruan Shiqiong refused to leave her. Lu Huahua arrived, witnessed the fight, and asked what was happening, but Gu Qingqiao, still out of control, attacked him, forcing him to dodge.
Lu Huahua called for help, suspecting she might be poisoned. Ruan Shiqiong realized she was being controlled. He opened a window and discovered Lord Shen of Herbal King Valley was the culprit. Shen You admitted to using sorcery, controlling people's meridians with "puppet strings." He confirmed he had controlled both Guan Mu and Man Tianxing.
Since they had discovered him, he demanded the location of the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, threatening to kill Gu Qingqiao otherwise, saying if killing her wasn't enough, he would kill more Xiling disciples. Gu Qingqiao, still partially aware, told Shen You that only the Grand Steward knew where the sword was. Ruan Shiqiong attempted to cut the puppet strings binding Gu Qingqiao, but she, under Shen You's control, stabbed him. Shen You then took Gu Qingqiao away.
Master Bao Quancai and Fu Rong arrived. Ruan Shiqiong, injured but alive, urged Master Bao to pursue Gu Qingqiao. Master Bao went after Shen You and Gu Qingqiao, confronting Shen You and declaring he was there to avenge Guan Mu and Man Tianxing. Master Bao bravely tried to protect Gu Qingqiao, stating he would not let Shen You kill another Xiling disciple, but Shen You killed him.
Shen You again demanded the sword from Gu Qingqiao, threatening her with the same fate as Master Bao if she didn't comply. Gu Qingqiao, thinking quickly, lied to Shen You, telling him the sword's location was only known by Ruan Shiqiong, and that she had just killed him, so no one in the world knew its whereabouts. Shen You was enraged, calling her an idiot for tricking him and preparing to kill her.
However, Ruan Shiqiong reappeared, revealing he was not dead, and killed Shen You, stating he would personally send Shen You to hell for killing Xiling disciples. Gu Qingqiao recovered and showed Ruan Shiqiong the puppet strings she found on Shen You, concluding he used them to control his victims. They questioned why the puppet strings were a weapon of Herbal King Valley, as they had only heard of them in the martial arts world.
They suspected there was someone else behind Shen You. Ruan Shiqiong suggested they consult Song Qi, hoping he could identify the strings' origin and help find the real mastermind. They went to Song Qi. Ruan Shiqiong explained Shen You was the murderer and wanted the sword, showing him the puppet strings. Song Qi asked Gu Qingqiao to leave so he could speak with Ruan Shiqiong privately.
Outside, Gu Qingqiao noticed a second grave beside Shan Yao's, marked "Grave of late husband, Song Qi," and realized Song Qi had faked his death. She also observed that the string of a paper kite near the graves felt wrong. Inside, Song Qi revealed his resentment, asking Ruan Shiqiong how someone with his limited talent became the world's No.1, demanding to know if his power came from the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword. Ruan Shiqiong admitted it did.
Song Qi bitterly revealed his anger that Master had used the sword for Ruan Shiqiong but not to save Shan Yao, criticizing Xiling's motto. He confessed he had used the puppet strings to repair his own meridians, gaining power to seek revenge on Ruan Shiqiong. Ruan Shiqiong confronted him, asking why he had hurt innocent Xiling disciples when his grievance was with him. Gu Qingqiao, having realized the truth, banged on the door.
Song Qi, realizing Gu Qingqiao was important to Ruan Shiqiong, saw her as a weakness and attacked Ruan Shiqiong, binding him with puppet strings. Gu Qingqiao broke in and threatened to burn the place, including Shan Yao's portraits and belongings, if he didn't release Ruan Shiqiong. Song Qi dared her to try. Ruan Shiqiong pleaded with Song Qi to stop making mistakes.
When Song Qi refused to release him, stating Ruan Shiqiong couldn't escape the strings, Gu Qingqiao declared she would burn them, igniting the area near Shan Yao's portrait to save Ruan Shiqiong. The place caught fire. As Ruan Shiqiong and Gu Qingqiao escaped, Song Qi, consumed by the flames, accused Ruan Shiqiong of being responsible for his and Shan Yao's deaths, stating he was coming for Shan Yao.
Ruan Shiqiong called out to Song Qi and Shan Yao, saying they would always be family, telling Song Qi to leave, though Song Qi was already perishing. Ruan Shiqiong then told Gu Qingqiao it was over and they should go home, mentioning they would take Master Bao and the others back. Returning to Xiling with the bodies of Master Bao and Man Tianxing, they were met by Duan Yu and Xing Si.
Gu Qingqiao assumed they were there to capture her. Ruan Shiqiong stepped forward, claiming she was just a Xiling disciple named Qing who didn't know Duan Yu, and stated they were taking her back to the sect. Duan Yu introduced himself and said he was looking for Gu Qingqiao. Gu Qingqiao confirmed to Ruan Shiqiong that she was the person Duan Yu sought, promising to explain later, but publicly denied knowing Duan Yu.
Duan Yu tried to explain, but Gu Qingqiao refused to give him a chance, stating they needed to return to the mountain. To force the issue, Xing Si deliberately injured Duan Yu's arm, then pointed out his injury and asked for help, appealing to Xiling's medical reputation and their shared origin from Changqing. Ruan Shiqiong consulted Gu Qingqiao, who decided to allow them to follow back to Xiling for treatment.
Once at Xiling, Fu Rong was assigned to treat Duan Yu. Xing Si expressed his frustration at Gu Qingqiao's coldness, pointing out how badly Duan Yu was injured for her sake. Duan Yu, however, felt he had hurt her too deeply. Ruan Shiqiong reiterated to Xing Si that Gu Qingqiao was his disciple Qing, and warned that if they harbored other intentions, Xiling would not tolerate them. Xing Si confirmed he understood.
Duan Yu still intended to find an opportunity to explain everything to Gu Qingqiao himself. Master Wang Tianshan was distraught upon seeing the bodies of his disciples, particularly Master Bao, demanding to know who was responsible for their deaths. Ruan Shiqiong explained the situation, including Shen You being the killer seeking the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword.
The disciples also discussed how Lu Zizheng (referred to as Bai) had killed Man Tianxing while she was controlled, acknowledging he had no choice but was reckless afterward, which led to Ruan Shiqiong expelling him. Lu Huahua mourned Lu Zizheng's departure. They held a funeral for the deceased disciples. Amidst the ceremony, Gu Qingqiao reflected somberly, feeling that perhaps Xiling was where her journey would reach its end.
