Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 22 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
Gu Qingqiao told Duan Yu there were only two paths for their future: either she would gather the Four Treasures and disappear, or fail to find them and die. In either scenario, she would disappear. She urged him to forget her, return to Changqing, and live happily with Ruoyun. Duan Yu refused, stating he would never leave her and wouldn't let her die, giving her the Nine-turn melodious bell as a symbol of his vow.
They shared a tender moment, reflecting on their initial meeting and acknowledging their deep feelings, despite the potential pain it brought. Ruan Shiqiong prepared fish soup for Master Zhang Sifeng. He told his Master that his sense of taste had returned, indicating the curse placed upon him by the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, which rendered him without taste or feeling, was broken.
Ruan Shiqiong attributed this to the power of the sword seeker and suggested that pulling out the sword could strengthen Xiling, which was currently vulnerable. Master Zhang Sifeng announced he planned to celebrate his birthday and asked Gu Qingqiao to go down the mountain to purchase supplies. Xing Si and Duan Yu offered to accompany her. Gu Qingqiao agreed, noting that with wanted posters of her everywhere, more people meant greater safety.
In Qingshui Town, after finishing their shopping, they encountered individuals attempting a scam by feigning injury. Duan Yu quickly pulled Gu Qingqiao into a nearby inn to evade them. Inside, they shared a moment of connection, watching fireworks and resolving the recent tension between them, reaffirming their bond. Back at Xiling, Master Zhang Sifeng was found to be ill and had fallen unconscious.
A disciple mentioned a prescription requiring Ice Grass from the mountain top, which the Master had shown him. Ruan Shiqiong decided to brave the dangerous winter conditions to find it. Gu Qingqiao and several other disciples insisted on accompanying him. Duan Yu provided protective gear for everyone, stating he could assist as he had experience in snowy regions. During their search on the mountain, a severe snowstorm began. Duan Yu slipped and fell down a slope.
Gu Qingqiao held onto him precariously until Ruan Shiqiong managed to pull them both back up. They found shelter from the storm in a mountain cave. Inside the cave, Gu Qingqiao produced hot herbal soup she had brought. They were all damp from the snow. Gu Qingqiao decided to dry her wet shoes by the fire. When Duan Yu watched, Ruan Shiqiong reminded him to be respectful.
Gu Qingqiao called Ruan Shiqiong traditional, and soon he and Duan Yu also took off their shoes to dry, admitting it was much warmer. That night, Ruan Shiqiong and Duan Yu positioned themselves at the cave entrance to shield Gu Qingqiao from the wind so she could rest comfortably. The next morning, Gu Qingqiao discovered both of them had caught colds. As they prepared to leave the cave, Gu Qingqiao slipped onto the ice.
She used her sword to stop her slide and instructed Duan Yu not to approach as the ice wouldn't support their combined weight. As she slowly moved across the ice, she saw the Ice Grass below the surface. She broke through the ice, fell into the cold water, and retrieved the herb before being helped out and taken back to Xiling. Master Zhang Sifeng had been unconscious for two days.
Upon Gu Qingqiao's return with the Ice Grass, a disciple quickly prepared the medicine and gave it to him. Master Zhang Sifeng woke up and commended the disciple for his handling of things while he was ill, stating he felt reassured about Xiling's future with him. Ruan Shiqiong recounted Gu Qingqiao's bravery and near-fatal effort to get the Ice Grass.
Zhang Sifeng revealed that Ruan Shiqiong had transferred his internal energy to save Gu Qingqiao from the cold, drawing the chill into himself, and that only with Duan Yu's timely help in expelling the energy was Ruan Shiqiong saved from death. Ruan Shiqiong acknowledged his debt to Duan Yu but felt his life was ultimately meant to be sacrificed for Gu Qingqiao anyway. Master Zhang Sifeng instructed Ruan Shiqiong to drink the herbal soup.
He explained that Ice Grass is the necessary catalyst to pull out the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword and possesses a spiritual nature visible only to the sword seeker. Since Gu Qingqiao found it, it was a sign of fate. He revealed that years ago, he could not save Shan Yao because there was no sword seeker and thus no Ice Grass, making it impossible to use the sword's power.
Ruan Shiqiong realized they had wrongly blamed their Master for Shan Yao's fate. Ruan Shiqiong resolved to pull out the sword as soon as possible, explaining to his Master that Gu Qingqiao had limited time left, and pulling the sword would grant her more time to gather the Four Treasures. Zhang Sifeng asked if Gu Qingqiao knew that Ruan Shiqiong's power came from the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword and that pulling it would result in his death.
Ruan Shiqiong said he had not told her. Gu Qingqiao, who had arrived to bring food, overheard this conversation. Gu Qingqiao later visited the tombs of deceased disciples, speaking to them as if they were present. She expressed that she could not allow Ruan Shiqiong to die for her, remarking that she had already died once before. Ruan Shiqiong met Duan Yu at the martial arts arena.
Duan Yu questioned why Ruan Shiqiong had agreed to let Gu Qingqiao pull the sword. Ruan Shiqiong explained his inherent destiny as the guardian of the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, tasked with waiting for the arrival of the sword seeker, who is Gu Qingqiao. He recounted that fifteen years prior, he had sacrificed his heart to the sword to gain immense power to protect the Xiling Sect, becoming the strongest martial artist but losing the ability to feel any emotion.
