Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 24 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
A mysterious figure, referred to as the Lord Witch Doctor, massacred the Fire Crane Tribe. Although one person's life was initially spared as promised to someone else, the Lord Witch Doctor ultimately boasted of their power and stated that Duan Yu would never defeat them in this life or any other.
When Shaoyi arrived at the Fire Crane Tribe, having dressed up intending to propose to Xiaowu and bring her back to Changqing, he discovered the horrific scene and Xiaowu dead among the casualties. Shaoyi was devastated and expressed his sorrow for arriving too late. Duan Yu suspected the Sacred Blood Sect was responsible, having followed them to steal the Meridian Gate.
Shaoyi, enraged, declared the Duan family and the Sacred Blood Sect were sworn enemies and vowed revenge for Xiaowu, but Duan Yu stopped him, explaining their disadvantage and that rushing in would be suicidal. Shaoyi spoke of love and revenge, citing Xiaowu's words about lovers and enemies and his own identity as her "slave." Duan Yu apologized, acknowledging his potential role in the tragedy, and ordered strict vigilance against the Sacred Blood Sect.
Discussing the Four Treasures, Duan Yu noted they held two, the Sacred Blood Sect had taken the Meridian Gate, and asked Gu Qingqiao if she had a clue about the fourth. Gu Qingqiao wasn't sure but suggested Master Kongkong at Shangqing Temple might know, as he was the one who had informed her she was the Star of Rebellion and instructed her to gather the Four Treasures. They decided to split up to return to Changqing.
In Changqing, Duan Yu's elder brother visited Magistrate Du to propose marriage between Duan Yu and Ruoyun. He presented his mother's Dragon and Phoenix Pendants, explaining the Phoenix Pendant was meant for Duan Yu's wife and offering it as a token. Magistrate Du expressed concern about Duan Yu's feelings for Gu Qingqiao but agreed to the union, recognizing the strategic importance of the alliance between the Duan and Du families for stability in Changqing and deterring external threats.
Duan Yu's brother emphasized the importance of the marriage as decided by parents and matchmakers, highlighting the Duan family's traditions. Gu Qingqiao, disguised as a male Wuyi Guard, entered Changqing. Duan Yu met her, and Shaoyi helped settle her, though not without teasing Duan Yu about the complicated relationships and warning him to prioritize important matters over personal affections, likening him to a scumbag. Duan Yu acknowledged the arranged marriage was proceeding.
Planning to visit Shangqing Temple the next day, Gu Qingqiao considered enhancing her male disguise. Duan Yu advised against anything too conspicuous, focusing on finding Master Kongkong to learn about the Sword Spirit, hoping he knew how to awaken it. At Shangqing Temple, they inquired about Master Kongkong, but the priest stated no monk by that name had ever resided there, even after checking the guest registry. Gu Qingqiao insisted she had met him there.
She then asked the priest about the Sword Spirit. The priest had heard of the concept of a spirit in a sword needing to be awakened and related a story of a wooden fish gaining spiritual energy through chanting, suggesting a similar principle might apply but offering no specific method for swords.
Before leaving, Gu Qingqiao asked the priest to relay a message if he ever saw Master Kongkong: "The Chosen Girl's life is at stake, please tell us what to do." The priest replied cryptically about fate being a circle with the end being the beginning and consequences for causes. Gu Qingqiao was disappointed but found a sense of relief and expressed her determination to fight against fate, turning old sayings into personal mottoes about persevering despite hardship.
Meanwhile, Ruoyun discussed the proposed marriage with her maid, feeling conflicted and unhappy despite it being her long-held wish. She knew Duan Yu did not love her and that his heart belonged to Gu Qingqiao. She lamented Gu Qingqiao's tragic circumstances but felt the timing of the proposal would make Duan Yu resent her.
The maid reassured her that Gu Qingqiao, being a fugitive, was unlikely to return, and Ruoyun, with the blessing of parents and matchmakers, was the rightful choice. Ruoyun, however, still felt unhappy, beginning to understand what Gu Qingqiao meant about listening to one's inner voice. Shaoyi visited Ruoyun and warned her that the marriage was a political alliance between their families, making both her and Duan Yu sacrifices.
Ruoyun accepted this, seeing it as beneficial for both families, unlike Gu Qingqiao who disregarded such arrangements. Gu Qingqiao, wanting to see her father, visited the Qingfeng Restaurant. She found it had been renamed and was now owned by Manager Yang. She was told the restaurant had been sold cheaply to Manager Yang, who was supported by Magistrate Du, after her troubles began. While Duan Yu couldn't openly intervene, he had privately ensured Gu Xingwu was looked after.
Seeing her father selling pancakes to make a living, Gu Qingqiao was overcome with guilt for the ruin she felt she had brought upon her family. She desperately asked Xing Si to kill her, believing her death would make everything right again and free everyone involved, including Duan Yu and Ruoyun. Xing Si reacted with shock and dark humor, dismissing the idea of murder and suicide as a solution, criticizing her sudden embrace of bleakness.
Gu Qingqiao dismissed her past beliefs about protection as worthless. Duan Yu asked Ruoyun to meet to discuss their marriage. Ruoyun stated she didn't want to hear about parental decisions, knowing he had another engagement. Duan Yu confirmed his engagement but mentioned his brother claimed it was no longer valid. He urged Ruoyun to understand his true feelings. Ruoyun confronted him, asking if he intended to reject the marriage and if Gu Qingqiao had returned and influenced him.
Duan Yu proposed using his reputation for being a "jinx" to break the engagement, protecting Ruoyun's name. Ruoyun became angry, accusing him of selfishness and prioritizing personal desires over the interests of their families, which would cause strife between the Duan and Du families and between him and his brother. She pressed him about Gu Qingqiao's return. Duan Yu maintained that Gu Qingqiao was innocent and the matter was between them.
Ruoyun declared that if Gu Qingqiao had any conscience, she wouldn't return to Changqing to cause trouble and wouldn't appear there again. She claimed to have seen Gu Qingqiao with Xing Si. Duan Yu warned Ruoyun not to harm Gu Qingqiao. Xing Si and Shaoyi discovered Gu Qingqiao was missing after she insisted on returning alone. Worried, they decided to search for her themselves rather than alarming Duan Yu. Separately, Gu Qingqiao found herself captured.
She questioned her captors, demanding to know who they were. Suddenly, Ruoyun appeared. Gu Qingqiao recognized Ruoyun and accused her of kidnapping her. Ruoyun denied it, suggesting the people following Gu Qingqiao earlier might have been sheriff's officers, and stated she had simply wanted to speak with her. Gu Qingqiao explained she didn't run because she had nowhere to go and had deliberately left Xing Si to protect him. Ruoyun wanted to discuss the marriage.
Gu Qingqiao told Ruoyun not to worry about competing with her, as she and Duan Yu would have a long time together, while she herself would eventually leave. She advised Ruoyun to marry someone who truly loved her, like Xing Si, rather than marrying Duan Yu if he didn't love her, which would lead to a miserable life, possibly even involving concubines. Ruoyun admitted she loved Duan Yu but wasn't willing to give up.
Gu Qingqiao stressed that marrying without love would lead to suffering. When Ruoyun asked if Gu Qingqiao would accept being a concubine, Gu Qingqiao dismissed the idea, stating she wasn't qualified for any such position, implying her own precarious status. She reiterated her decision not to compete but acknowledged she couldn't control Duan Yu's actions. As they spoke, more people arrived and confronted them. Xing Si and Shaoyi arrived, fought the guards, and successfully rescued both Gu Qingqiao and Ruoyun.
Gu Xingwu waited all night at the former Qingfeng Restaurant, hoping Gu Qingqiao would visit him in the dark. His attendant, Dongxi, tried to persuade him that he might have mistaken someone else or that she wouldn't return given the danger, urging him to rest. Gu Xingwu insisted on going to the south of the city where he set up his pancake stall, confident he would recognize Gu Qingqiao if she came looking for him.
Duan Yu learned Gu Xingwu was selling pancakes there and took Gu Qingqiao, accompanied by Xing Si, to see him. An ambush had been set at the stall, clearly intended to draw out Gu Qingqiao. Officials began harassing and assaulting Gu Xingwu. Duan Yu prevented Gu Qingqiao from rushing forward but intervened himself, fighting off the attackers who were bullying her father. Despite Duan Yu's efforts, the officials managed to apprehend Gu Qingqiao. Gu Qingqiao was taken to prison.
Duan Yu attempted to visit but was told by the warden that Magistrate Du had personally decreed Gu Qingqiao's crime a capital offense, forbidding any leniency or visitation. Duan Yu suspected a deliberate plot by Magistrate Du, possibly in agreement with his brother, to ensure Gu Qingqiao's death. Shaoyi considered trying to force a public retrial by beating the drum to seek justice, but Duan Yu worried this could backfire, solidifying the death sentence rather than forcing a fair hearing.
Magistrate Du arrived at the prison to question Gu Qingqiao personally. After dismissing the guards, he immediately demanded to know the location of the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, questioning how she knew about it. Gu Qingqiao, recognizing his high rank, acknowledged he must have an important reason for visiting. Magistrate Du offered her freedom if she surrendered the sword. Gu Qingqiao refused, stating the sword was hidden securely and would remain inaccessible if she died.
Magistrate Du then threatened to harm Gu Xingwu if she did not comply, which Gu Qingqiao denounced as despicable. She demanded to know Magistrate Du's true identity and his reason for wanting the Black Wood Human-shaped Sword, but Magistrate Du warned her his patience was limited.
