Legend of Awakening Episode 30 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
Chu Min awoke to find Liu Song beside her. He had prepared her favorite crab congee from a shop in Kaifeng, a taste of home she often missed when living far away. Chu Min, however, was in no mood for his gestures. She sternly asked what truly happened nineteen years ago, demanding to know what could have made him, who once respected her senior brother so much, act this way.
Liu Song brushed off her questions about the past, stating his only purpose for returning was to retrieve his Thousand Pine Ruler, which he believed rightfully belonged to him after being left in Big Dipper. Chu Min agreed to help him find the Thousand Pine Ruler, but only if he promised not to harm any of the Big Dipper disciples. Liu Song accepted her condition, despite one of his men suggesting they kill disciples until someone revealed the weapon's location.
Chu Min warned that if even one person was harmed, Big Dipper would never yield, even if it meant their complete annihilation. She then disclosed that Guo Wushu had rebuilt Qisha Institute after the events of that year, sealing the Thousand Pine Ruler in a secret chamber. Any forceful entry would trigger traps, destroying the weapon. To prevent this, Chu Min insisted on meeting with Guo Wushu and Yan Qiuci. Liu Song hesitated but eventually agreed.
Guo Wushu was brought before Liu Song, along with Yan Qiuci. Liu Song expressed interest in Guo Wushu's mechanical prowess and demanded the blueprint for Qisha Institute. Guo Wushu flatly refused, vowing never to give it to an "evil man" who invaded Big Dipper. Chu Min and Yan Qiuci subtly urged him to comply, emphasizing that the lives of everyone in Big Dipper were now in Shanhai Tower's hands.
Guo Wushu claimed he had destroyed the original blueprint years ago to prevent theft. Taking their cue, Yan Qiuci suggested Guo Wushu could simply draw a new one, thereby buying precious time due to the complexity of the institute's mechanisms. Liu Song agreed to wait until the next day, provided Chu Min remained with him. Meanwhile, in the dome, Yan Xifan, whose soul of Essence had partially recovered after being cleansed in Shanhai Tower, discussed escape with fellow disciples.
A disciple warned against hasty action, fearing it would endanger Big Dipper and the martial arts world, given that Yan Qiuci and Guo Wushu were captive. However, Yan Xifan's father, Yan Qiuci, urged him to quickly find a way down the mountain to save the Emperor. Unbeknownst to them, two other disciples, Zimu and Jin Qi, had already entered through a hole previously made by Lu Ping, intending to swap clothes with Yan Xifan.
When a Shanhai Tower guard, Lin Tianyi, suddenly appeared, Yan Xifan quickly used his soul of Essence to subdue her. With Zimu and Jin Qi staying behind to act as decoys, Yan Xifan successfully escaped. Ling Ziyan, however, decided not to accompany them further.
She reasoned that her presence by Yan Xifan's side would only temporarily mask Lin Tianyi's confusion from the Broken Marks, and her staying behind would better cover for Zimu and Jin Qi, buying more time for Yan Xifan to find Lu Ping. She trusted Yan Xifan would return to rescue her. Yan Xifan, along with Huo Ying and Tang Xiaomei, rendezvoused with surviving Victorious Dragon Troop members, including General Wen Rui, in the forest.
General Wen reported that the camp had been attacked, and there was no news of Lu Ping or the Emperor. Yan Xifan deduced that Lu Ping and the Emperor must be hiding in a place even the Shanhai Tower would hesitate to attack, leading him to E'zhou. Upon reaching the border of Tan, General Wen informed Yan Xifan that the Victorious Dragon Troop could not enter the city.
He warned about the nightly curfew, after which they could no longer offer assistance. Yan Xifan confidently promised to retrieve both Lu Ping and the Emperor. To locate Lu Ping in the crowded city, Huo Ying, a master of information gathering, was tasked with subtly spreading messages. In E'zhou, Lu Ping's group had been staying at an inn when they learned that people were inquiring about three men and one woman.
Just as they realized they needed to move, Lu Ping heard a familiar chant: "Valiant Zhaifeng, surpassing Big Dipper!" Recognizing it as Yan Xifan's signal, Lu Ping hurried out, meeting his senior brother. They quickly updated each other on their respective situations, with Lu Ping reassuring Yan Xifan that the Emperor was safe and Minister Xu had agreed to help them escape the city before curfew. Their reunion was cut short by the appearance of a severely wounded Mo Lin.
He revealed a shocking truth: Xu Weifeng was alive and had allied with Zhou Youlong. Meanwhile, Minister Xu Yanling was preparing to help the Emperor and Lu Ping escape, though he harbored some lingering doubt. His son, Xu Weifeng, suddenly appeared, demanding his father kill Zhai Rong (the Emperor) as the only way for Xu Weifeng to survive.
When a messenger arrived to report Qin Qi's arrival, Xu Weifeng ruthlessly killed him without hesitation, confirming Minister Xu's fears that his son was not himself. In a struggle that ensued, Xu Weifeng accidentally killed Minister Xu. Qin Qi arrived at that moment, confronting Xu Weifeng about his parricide, but Xu Weifeng quickly fled. Zhai Rong was quickly surrounded by Zhou Youlong and Shanhai Tower.
Mo Lin bravely intervened, creating a smoke explosion to cover Qin Sang's escape with Zhai Rong. Cornered and seeing no other way out, Xu Weifeng found Su Tang, believing her to be his last hope. He seized her, threatening Lu Ping that he would release Su Tang only if Lu Ping killed Zhai Rong. Yan Xifan called Xu Weifeng crazy, but Lu Ping, with a calculated calm, agreed to the exchange.
He stated that ten emperors were no match for one Su Tang. He presented Zhai Rong to Xu Weifeng. Just as Xu Weifeng, expecting Lu Ping to prioritize the Emperor, made his choice to abandon Su Tang for the Emperor, Su Tang swiftly used Xu Weifeng's own dagger to stab him. It became clear that Lu Ping had anticipated this outcome, even using the Emperor's life as part of his strategy.
Witnessing this, Qin Qi's already severe injuries worsened, and he vomited a mouthful of poisonous blood in anger. Locked away, Yan Qiuci and Guo Wushu had been discussing Chu Min's plan. Guo Wushu deduced that Chu Min intended to use his written instructions to trap Liu Song in Qisha Institute's secret chamber, hoping her plan would be flawless. Chu Min, guiding Liu Song through Qisha Institute, eventually brought him to the Thousand Pine Ruler.
Liu Song, seeing the weapon, recognized the trap: taking it would seal the stone door and release molten iron, killing whoever was inside. He accused Chu Min of being a poor liar after nineteen years, but he also wondered how far she would go to fight him. Chu Min defiantly grabbed the Thousand Pine Ruler, declaring her willingness to die fighting the Shanhai Tower. Elsewhere, Mo Lin examined Qin Qi, whose internal injuries from the poison were now critical.
He confirmed there was no cure, as Qin Qi had exacerbated his condition by exerting himself to save the Emperor. With his last breaths, Qin Qi, despite his long-standing dislike for Lu Ping, entrusted him with a token given by Minister Xu Yanling, as well as the safety of Qin Sang and the Emperor.
