Legend of Awakening Episode 25 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
Lu Ping voluntarily accompanied Qin Qi but entrusted Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan with the crucial task of rescuing his sister, Su Tang. He emphasized that he could only focus on saving himself once Su Tang was safe. Ling Ziyan, feeling like family after their shared experiences, insisted on joining Qin Sang, proclaiming that Lu Ping shouldn't exclude her if he considered her a friend.
Lu Ping agreed, acknowledging that more people meant more assurance, and solemnly entrusted Su Tang's life to them. Meanwhile, Xu Weifeng's plan to intercept Lu Ping and prevent Qin Qi from bringing him to E'zhou for execution had failed. Yan Xifan, acting loyal to the Shanhai Gang leader, sarcastically questioned how Xu Weifeng would explain this failure, reminding him that it was Xu who proposed the mountain path ambush. The Shanhai Gang leader was displeased and summoned Xu Weifeng.
Yan Xifan then suggested to the leader that Xu Weifeng was useless and knew too many secrets, advocating for his elimination. Desperate, Xu Weifeng pleaded for another chance, offering to secretly retrieve Lu Ping, who was scheduled for execution the next day, since the Shanhai Gang leader wanted him alive.
He argued that he was the only one who could do so undetected, as other options were either absent or too conspicuous (Zhou Shan Zhu had not returned, and Yan Xifan was too noticeable). The leader, left with no other choice, gave Xu Weifeng until 1 AM at the ferry. In prison, Lu Ping mockingly asked Qin Qi when his execution was scheduled.
Qin Qi confirmed it would be at noon the next day, as an explanation to Tan and to honor General Xu Tianbing. Qin Qi, reflecting on how he had repeatedly sacrificed Lu Ping, expressed guilt and wondered if Lu Ping hated him. Lu Ping calmly replied that there was no reason to hate.
He understood that both of them had their own purposes: Qin Qi fought for the Qin family and Shuo, while Lu Ping acted for a clear conscience and for the people he cared about. He stated that even if given another chance, they would both make the same choices. Qin Qi, recognizing Lu Ping's exceptional character, lamented that it was too late to recruit him.
He apologized to Lu Ping, promising to repay him in the next life, and told him to prepare for tomorrow. Outside Xu Weifeng's Breeze Mansion, Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan observed the heavily guarded residence, fearing Su Tang might have already been moved. Just as Xu Weifeng returned, Mo Lin, who had been tirelessly watching the mansion for two days, ushered them to safety.
Mo Lin assured them that Su Tang was still inside, despite Xu Weifeng's trick of spreading various spices to mask her scent. He explained that extra guards had been posted since their last encounter, making a direct infiltration difficult. However, he deduced that Xu Weifeng would surely leave the mansion to act on Lu Ping's execution day, providing their only window of opportunity to enter.
Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan were touched by Mo Lin's unwavering dedication, as he hadn't slept or eaten properly, but he insisted he would risk his life for Su Tang, his master. Inside, Xu Weifeng visited Su Tang, using silver needles to temporarily seal her body odor, believing this would prevent anyone from finding her. Su Tang questioned her brother's fate. Xu Weifeng, feeling manipulated by Shanhai Gang, admitted his miscalculation, realizing he had become their tool.
Driven by his ambition to achieve his goals, he planned to secure Lu Ping first, knowing how vital Lu Ping was to the Shanhai Gang, thus compelling them to assist him willingly. Su Tang, defiant, warned him not to harm her brother. After Xu Weifeng left, she deliberately broke a bowl and used a shard to cut herself, hoping the smell of her blood, which could not be sealed, would lead Mo Lin to her.
Meanwhile, Xu Weifeng, using his father, Minister Xu's, official authority, forced the prison guards to release Lu Ping into his custody, claiming it was necessary to prevent a dispute between the two countries. Appearing before Lu Ping, Xu Weifeng falsely claimed he was there to save him from Qin Qi's execution. As Xu Weifeng left the mansion with Lu Ping, Qin Sang, Ling Ziyan, and Mo Lin sprang into action.
Ling Ziyan distracted the guards, allowing Qin Sang and Mo Lin to enter the mansion. Mo Lin, guided by the scent of Su Tang's blood, quickly located a secret room in Xu Weifeng's study, where he found the unconscious Su Tang. Qin Sang immediately attended to her, stopping the bleeding. Simultaneously, Xu Weifeng presented Lu Ping to the Shanhai Gang leader, Yan Jin, demanding the gang's full alliance with Tan to eliminate Shuo in exchange for Lu Ping.
Yan Jin agreed, handing over a Shanhai Token as a promise. Lu Ping, however, warned Xu Weifeng not to trust Shanhai Gang, emphasizing that to them, anyone rendered useless would be discarded. Yan Jin, smug, reminded Lu Ping that no one ever escaped Shanhai Gang. But Lu Ping only laughed. He swiftly subdued Xu Weifeng, while Yan Xifan, who had been secretly standing behind Yan Jin, drew his blade and held it to the leader’s neck.
The brothers, working in perfect sync, had turned the tables. Qin Qi then arrived with the Longjie Army, revealing that this was all part of an elaborate plan. In a flashback to his conversation with Lu Ping in prison, Lu Ping had proposed staging his execution to expose those who sought to disrupt peace between Shuo and Tan. Qin Qi had agreed, returning Lu Ping's weapons for the scheme.
They had orchestrated this entrapment to capture Xu Weifeng and Yan Jin. Qin Qi then confronted Xu Weifeng, accusing him of colluding with Shanhai Gang and instigating conflict, and arrested him in front of his father, Minister Xu, who had arrived on the scene. Minister Xu expressed profound disappointment in his son's fall. Xu Weifeng tried to use Su Tang as leverage against Lu Ping, but at that precise moment, Mo Lin, Qin Sang, and Su Tang appeared.
Qin Sang then relayed a message from Xu Weifeng's maid, Bao Niang, urging him to repent and expressing the people’s wish for peace, not war. Lu Ping confronted Xu Weifeng, explaining that his ambition to help the people had gone astray the moment he partnered with Shanhai Gang. Still unrepentant and believing his "ending war with war" philosophy was for the country's good, Xu Weifeng declared he would not surrender, then tragically leaped into the river, ending his life.
In the aftermath, Qin Qi informed Qin Sang that Yan Xifan, having been subjected to the Method of Xi Sui at Shanhai Gang and forcibly breaking through his Soul of Essence, was recovering from its backlash and was being cared for at an inn by the best physicians. Qin Sang still worried about Lu Ping, but Qin Qi, softening his stance, reminded her that peace talks were paramount but assured her that she would see Lu Ping again.
Lu Ping and Ling Ziyan were diligently caring for Yan Xifan. Lu Ping, with a knowing grin, teased Ling Ziyan and Yan Xifan about their budding affections. Yan Xifan, now awake, admitted that he and Lu Ping had orchestrated the entire "play" since their encounter at the post station.
Lu Ping had used his Soul of Sound to awaken Yan Xifan from the Soul of Essence's control, instructing him to feign continued allegiance to Shanhai Gang to help expose Xu Weifeng and the gang from within. Ling Ziyan, now caring for Yan Xifan, also performed a traditional ritual of crossing a fire pot and using peach branches to ward off evil, wishing him a life of peace, joy, and freedom from hardship and evil.
Peace talks between Tan and Shuo resumed. Minister Xu offered his apologies to the Tan Emperor, Qin Qi, and Minister Xia, taking full responsibility for his son's actions and acknowledging his rebellious son's irreparable sins. Qin Qi praised Minister Xu for his integrity in prioritizing the country's welfare over family. He agreed to promptly withdraw the Longjie Army, release war prisoners, and allow the city gates to open for refugees.
Qin Qi then met with Lu Ping, expressing surprise that despite his great contributions, Lu Ping only requested the city gates to be opened for the people and asked for nothing for himself, declining offers of position or wealth. Lu Ping stated he was content being free and well-fed, finding joy in seeing the city's residents return to peaceful lives after being saved from Shanhai Gang's schemes.
Qin Qi suggested Lu Ping attend the upcoming city celebrations to witness the happiness of the people he protected. Lu Ping agreed but requested Qin Sang's company, claiming he would be lonely otherwise. Qin Qi initially refused, citing Qin Sang's status as a noble lady. Lu Ping countered by using his merits as leverage, offering to trade his achievements for Qin Sang's company. Qin Qi reluctantly relented, unaware that Qin Sang had been listening and was ready to join Lu Ping all along.
