Legend of Awakening Episode 2 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
As the villagers of Chuanyun Fort celebrated, members of the Shanhai Gang appeared, drawn by the presence of a Shanhai Badge. During the ensuing battle, they quickly realized that the bride was not Madam Jin, their intended target. Qin Sang, who had been actively seeking the Shanhai Gang, confronted them directly. Zhao Xifan, impressed by Qin Sang's "Sun Streamer Swordplay," stepped in to help, but they were no match for the Shanhai Gang's forces.
Lu Ping, hidden in the shadows, trembled as old memories of Shanhai Gang resurfaced, struggling with whether to intervene. Ultimately, seeing them overpowered, Lu Ping, donning a black outfit and mask, entered the fray. He lured a Shanhai Gang member away, revealing himself as a "monster" created by the gang—an Awakener with the rare unity of six souls. The Shanhai Gang member recognized him as the person their master had sought for three years.
Lu Ping vowed he would not be captured again. Qin Sang then pursued Lu Ping, but he managed to evade her. His soul power waning, Lu Ping needed to return to the fort for silver. Meanwhile, Madam Jin, mistaking Zhao Xifan for Guo Youdao, praised Zhao Xifan while disparaging Guo Youdao. A junior disciple reported that Su Tang had subdued the bandits, but the valuables remained, making Zhao Xifan suspect the "God of Bandits" would return.
When Zhao Xifan confronted Lu Ping, Su Tang intervened and knocked him unconscious. Lu Ping reassured Su Tang, telling her that "outsiders are easy to tackle, it's our people that's troublesome," and advised her to be gentler next time. After regaining consciousness, Zhao Xifan discovered a turtle drawn on his face by the "God of Bandits." Back at Zhaifeng Institute, he angrily confronted Lu Ping for his negligence during watch duty.
Lu Ping, however, flippantly dismissed the accusation, claiming he got hungry and assumed they were at the wedding, and instead blamed Zhao Xifan for losing to the "God of Bandits" due to his own pride, even suggesting he should learn to be a "cowardly turtle." Infuriated, Zhao Xifan stormed off, calling Lu Ping "hopeless."
Su Tang later expressed pity for Zhao Xifan, but Lu Ping teased her about being in love, then mused that Zhao Xifan could be a good match for her after he eventually left Zhaifeng Institute. Meanwhile, Qin Sang, left hanging from a tree by Lu Ping, cried out for help. Her cries attracted the Chuanyun Fort bandits, who recognized her as the "pretty little thing" who had previously stood in for Madam Jin.
They dragged her down, eager to exact revenge. Just then, Wei Tianqi, the first disciple of Chan State's martial arts academy, arrived, attempting a heroic rescue and introducing himself. However, the bandits quickly overwhelmed and beat him. Fortunately, Ling Ziyan and Wei Tianqi's servants soon arrived, rescuing both Qin Sang and Wei Tianqi.
Wei Tianqi, quickly recovering his composure, apologized for his servants' tardiness and then hospitably invited Qin Sang to his residence in Chan State to recover, promising meticulous care. Qin Sang, recognizing his family, accepted the invitation. Ling Ziyan suggested returning to Kaifeng to report to her brother, the General, but Qin Sang refused, stating she could handle such "trivialities" herself and was determined to personally capture and "skin" the Shanhai Gang rascal who had humiliated her.
Su Tang firmly objected to Lu Ping's idea of leaving Zhaifeng Institute alone, but he distracted her with osmanthus candy to hide his worsening injuries. Meanwhile, Zhao Xifan, plagued by a nagging suspicion, wondered how Lu Ping knew about the turtle drawn on his face if he had left earlier. He briefly considered if Lu Ping was the "God of Bandits" but dismissed the thought, rationalizing that Lu Ping seemed too weak to walk straight.
Lu Ping retreated to his room, where he collapsed from his severe injuries and chronic pain, tormented by nightmares of Shanhai Gang. He awoke to find Su Tang tenderly bandaging his wounds, her body trembling with fear. Overwhelmed by guilt, Lu Ping apologized for involving her in his fugitive life, calling himself a "monster" and suggesting she stay at Zhaifeng Institute, asserting that Guo Youdao, though gruff, was kind, and Zhao Xifan was not a bad person.
However, Su Tang adamantly refused to leave, reminding him that he had rescued her from Shanhai Gang and she would remain by his side forever. Guo Youdao, who had been eavesdropping outside the room, burst in, accusing Lu Ping of bringing trouble from Shanhai Gang and threatening to expel him. Lu Ping retaliated, claiming Guo Youdao's exorbitant fees had prevented him from buying Zhaifeng Institute years ago.
To defuse the escalating argument, Su Tang produced gold bars she had "taken on the way out" from Chuanyun Fort. Guo Youdao's mood instantly brightened, and he playfully urged Lu Ping to pay off his debts and leave sooner. Lu Ping then explained to Su Tang that three years ago, a black-clad figure known as "Dao" had rescued them from Shanhai Gang and created a crack in his Soul Confinement, allowing him to "steal" soul power.
Since then, Lu Ping had been impersonating "Dao" to draw out the real one, believing that Wen Gecheng, a highly skilled martial artist now weakened and pursued by Shanhai Gang, was likely that person. Lu Ping was convinced Wen Gecheng could fully unlock his Soul Confinement, thus freeing him. He recalled seeing a distinctive mark on Wen Gecheng's carriage that he had also noticed on Qin Sang's sword, realizing Qin Sang could lead him to Wen Gecheng.
Lamenting that he had tied her to a tree, leaving her whereabouts unknown, Lu Ping, now determined to gain more soul power, deliberately chained himself underwater, enduring agonizing suffocation to "steal" more. When Lu Ping spent too long submerged, Zhao Xifan, despite his earlier anger, jumped in to save him, scolding him for his recklessness before leaving in frustration.
Later, Zhao Xifan questioned Guo Youdao about Lu Ping's mysterious past, but Guo Youdao evaded the questions, instead offering Zhao Xifan wine and reminding him of his responsibilities as senior disciple, alluding to his own past regrets. Guo Youdao then announced he was temporarily closing Zhaifeng Institute and traveling to Kaifeng to visit an old friend, entrusting Zhao Xifan with the care of the disciples, especially Lu Ping.
Since Lu Ping's soul power would be depleted for another half-month after this intense training, he bribed Su Tang with the promise of copious amounts of osmanthus candy to "fish for information" from Zhao Xifan about Qin Sang. Su Tang cleverly engaged Zhao Xifan in sword practice, inquiring about the mysterious "Jia Ruyu." Zhao Xifan, recognizing the "Sun Streamer Swordplay," deduced that she was Ms. Qin, a revelation that deepened Su Tang's concern about their increasingly complicated situation.
Meanwhile, at Wei Tianqi's residence, Qin Sang remained steadfast in her search for the masked man, whom she suspected was a Shanhai Gang mole in Chan State, vowing not to leave until he was apprehended. Ling Ziyan worried that their indiscriminate searching would alert their target. Wei Tianqi, eager to impress Qin Sang, suggested posting "talent recruitment notices" throughout Chan State to attract skilled trackers, promising to find the person. Qin Sang initially dismissed his idea as reckless.
Later that night, while in her room, Qin Sang detected an intruder. The lights were extinguished, and a man named Mo Lin announced he was there in response to a "talent recruitment notice."
