Legend of Awakening Episode 12 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
As Lu Ping and Qin Sang walked, an ambush struck from the shadows, with Lu Ping quickly using a bundle in his hand to block an incoming projectile meant for Qin Sang. Wei Tianqi and his guards emerged, but Lu Ping’s display of power intimidated them, forcing them to retreat in disarray. Qin Sang noticed a Zhaifeng Hall uniform, identical to those worn by Zhao Xifan and his peers, peeking from Lu Ping’s scattered belongings.
Realizing his true feelings, she took him to a vantage point overlooking Wansui Mountain checkpoint, where Zhao Xifan and his teammates were competing in the Soul Combat Convention. Lu Ping, however, refused to look in that direction, asserting that he only attended the convention to meet Wen Gecheng, who was waiting at Xinghua Restaurant to help him unseal his confinement. Qin Sang chastised him, calling him a coward for abandoning his friends and refusing to admit his worry.
She scorned him for breaking their agreement to compete fairly and abandoning his friends. Just then, Wei Tianqi confronted them, fuming that his guard had almost hit Qin Sang with a projectile intended for Lu Ping, and was outraged at Lu Ping for holding Qin Sang’s hand. He promised severe retaliation before leaving. Qin Sang, seeing Lu Ping's continued reluctance, pressed him about the uniform, questioning why he kept it if he truly didn’t care about his friends.
She then urged him to use his soul of Sound to listen to his friends’ predicament, warning that Luo Ting and his companions were two-soul masters, and Zhao Xifan's group was struggling. She explained that while the soul of Sound has its limits, the voice of one's heart always rings clear. Shortly after, Ling Ziyan sent a distress signal, confirming Zhao Xifan was in desperate straits and couldn't hold on much longer.
Qin Sang warned Lu Ping that he would regret abandoning his friends. Meanwhile, Wei Tianqi, still humiliated, decided he needed to restore his pride in front of Qin Sang. He found Lu Ping's token on the ground, recalling Lu Ping's plan to meet Wen Gecheng. Wei Tianqi hatched a scheme to exploit Wen Gecheng, the chief invigilator of the convention, to get reinstated and win the championship, believing he could bribe Wen Gecheng.
His guards cautioned him against approaching such a powerful official, but Wei Tianqi dismissed their concerns, confidently heading towards Xinghua Restaurant. At the Wansui Mountain checkpoint, Luo Ting mercilessly taunted Zhao Xifan, who was already crippled, and ordered his subordinates, Qiao Ying and Shi Zhongtian, to kill Su Tang and Mo Lin. Zhao Xifan, ever loyal, offered himself in Lu Ping's place, declaring he would die but never surrender. Ling Ziyan, witnessing the brutal scene, raced to inform Qin Sang.
Just as Luo Ting was about to deliver a killing blow, Lu Ping arrived. With a few swift moves, he dispatched Qiao Ying and Shi Zhongtian, rescuing Su Tang and Mo Lin. However, Luo Ting immediately seized Zhao Xifan, demanding Lu Ping light the quitting fireworks. Lu Ping complied, tossing the fireworks to Luo Ting. Luo Ting, confident of victory, lit them without a second thought, only to realize in shock that he had ignited his "own" team's fireworks.
Mo Lin joyfully explained that Luo Ting’s brutal beating had inadvertently triggered Zhao Xifan's soul of Essence, allowing him to master the "Essence controlled by the heart" technique – a legendary illusion capable of temporarily controlling consciousness and altering memories. As a jubilant Zhaifeng team, led by Lu Ping, marched out, proudly carrying their banner, Mo Lin gleefully kicked the defeated Luo Ting. After their triumphant return, Lu Ping decided he still needed to visit Wen Gecheng.
He rushed to Xinghua Restaurant, only to find it sealed off by the Victorious Dragon Troop and the Wei family's guards lying dead outside. He overheard the Victorious Dragon Troop discussing an attack on a government official, confirming his fears that Wen Gecheng was the target. Lu Ping, wanting to investigate, was stopped by Qin Sang, who warned that his presence would only worsen Qin Qi's existing suspicions about him.
She urged him to return to camp, promising to handle the situation. Back at the camp, Lu Ping blamed himself for Wen Gecheng’s severe injuries, believing his missed appointment was the cause. Su Tang questioned his connection to the Shanhai Gang. Lu Ping, no longer able to keep the secret, revealed that Wen Gecheng had saved him and Su Tang from the Shanhai Gang three years ago, though they were separated later.
He had adopted the persona of the "God of Bandits" to search for Wen Gecheng. His friends assured him that his choice to stay with them was destiny's way of telling him he made the right decision. Lu Ping, however, remained resolute, declaring that he was tired of being hunted and would retaliate fiercely if the Shanhai Gang ever threatened him or his friends again.
He then agreed that staying in the heavily guarded Wansui Mountain was indeed the safest option for now. Meanwhile, at court, Minister Xia seized the opportunity to denounce Qin Qi, arguing that Wen Gecheng’s ambush proved the Soul Combat Convention was illegitimate and that allowing martial artists into government would cause chaos. He urged the Emperor to abolish the convention. Qin Qi countered that the attack itself demonstrated how certain powerful factions feared the merit-based selection system.
He asserted that abandoning the convention would be a sign of weakness against lawless elements, promising with his life to ensure its successful completion and prevent further disruption. The Emperor sided with Qin Qi, ordering the convention to proceed and a thorough investigation into the Xinghua Restaurant incident.
Qin Qi later visited the injured Wen Gecheng, who, to protect Lu Ping, fabricated a story about drinking at Xinghua Restaurant when Wei Tianqi arrived, followed by a sudden attack by Shanhai Gang assassins. He claimed to have fainted and only just woken up. Qin Sang, eavesdropping, was discovered. She feigned concern for Wen Gecheng, but Qin Qi, still suspicious, tried to take her home.
Wen Gecheng, however, intervened, fabricating an excuse about showing Qin Sang a unique crystal calcedony for her Kuiying Sword, allowing her to stay. Alone with Qin Sang, Wen Gecheng admitted there was no calcedony. He confessed that he had lied to Qin Qi because he feared deepening his suspicions about Lu Ping if the general knew of their planned meeting.
He revealed that on the day of the ambush, as he waited for Lu Ping, Wei Tianqi had appeared with Lu Ping's token. Fearing exposure, Wen Gecheng was about to leave when the Shanhai Gang attacked. During the fight, he wounded a Shanhai Gang "Walker" in the left shoulder with a special Bone-piercing Needle, a weapon designed to inflict a deep, continuously bleeding wound if forcefully removed.
Wen Gecheng, trusting Qin Sang implicitly, warned her that the Shanhai Gang had infiltrated Kaifeng and instructed her to tell Lu Ping to leave immediately, promising to find another way to unseal his confinement. Qin Sang relayed Wen Gecheng's warning to Lu Ping and the Zhaifeng group. Lu Ping, however, refused to abandon his teammates, stating that once he decided to fight for Zhaifeng, he wouldn't run.
He then offered everyone wine, saying he was tired of living in fear and paradoxically felt more at peace with the enemy directly in front of him. They all drank until only Lu Ping remained sober. As he secretly slipped away, Su Tang followed, having grown suspicious herself. She reasoned that few people knew about his meeting with Wen Gecheng.
Since Zhao Xifan and Mo Lin were always with her, and Qin Sang was an enemy of the Shanhai Gang, only one person remained. They discovered Guo Youdao being confronted by Mr. Wei, who accused him of conspiring with Lu Ping, claiming his son Wei Tianqi was injured after meeting Lu Ping and that Lu Ping's badge was used to enter Xinghua Restaurant. Guo Youdao vehemently denied involvement.
Su Tang intervened by loudly threatening to report the Wei family to the Victorious Dragon Troop, who were investigating a recent murder in Kaifeng, successfully scaring them off. Lu Ping then subtly tested Guo Youdao by reaching for his left side. Guo Youdao instinctively protected his left shoulder, sparking further suspicion in Lu Ping and Su Tang, who recalled Wen Gecheng's description of the Bone-piercing Needle.
Reluctant to suspect their master but unable to ignore the evidence, Lu Ping decided their best course of action was to win the Soul Combat Convention, thereby securing their safety by remaining within the heavily guarded Wansui Mountain. Meanwhile, Ling Ziyan privately urged Qin Sang to intentionally lose to Lu Ping in the upcoming finals, given his difficult circumstances.
