Legend of Awakening Episode 39 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
Chu Min, brought before Liu Song by Lin Tianyi, was once a prodigious talent whose cultivation had fallen from five forces to three after she mistakenly believed Liu Song was dead, suffering a heart demon. She reminisced about their shared favorite, Shi Dong Chun wine, from their time in Big Dipper, and spoke of how Guo Youdao sent her to Tianzhao to avoid painful memories, leading to nineteen years of self-induced drunkenness.
She hoped to dream of Big Dipper and asked Liu Song if he, too, wished to return to their past. She even completed the words he had left unsaid before she went down the mountain, pleading with him to go back to the past with her. However, Liu Song, consumed by thoughts of revenge, urged her to stay with him in Shanhai Gang to witness Zhai's downfall, promising her a life free from hardship.
Realizing that Guo Youdao was right and that too much time had passed for them to ever return to what they once were, Chu Min, having been drunk for nineteen years, decided it was time to awaken. She then stabbed Liu Song with her silver hairpin. Immediately, Chu Min went to the prison cells, where Mo Lin was attempting to confess his true feelings to Su Tang, believing he was about to die.
Chu Min interrupted him, telling them they wouldn't die so soon. She handed them the Thousand Pine Ruler and instructed them to steal a carriage and wait for her outside, promising to rescue Lu Ping herself. After freeing Lu Ping, Chu Min apologized, admitting that she and Guo Youdao had been unwilling and afraid to uncover the truth about past events, which had led to their current predicament.
Mo Lin then alerted them that their location had been discovered, but Chu Min remained behind, telling Lu Ping to go to Wuyou Valley, where he would find the truth he sought. She then whipped the horses away, sending Lu Ping, Su Tang, and Mo Lin on their way, while she stayed to confront the pursuing Shanhai Gang agents, including Lin Tianyi and the later-arriving Yan Jin.
Lin Tianyi arrived, vowing to kill Chu Min for her attempt on Liu Song's life. He was surprised that Chu Min had regained her five forces, as he had believed she had fallen from four to three after leaving Big Dipper. Chu Min explained that her cultivation had returned to its peak because Liu Song was now "dead" in her heart, freeing her from her heart demon, and she needed no help to deal with them.
Despite Lu Ping's attempts to return and help her, Mo Lin restrained him, assuring him that he had left trail markers for Chu Min to follow once she escaped. As they drove away, Shanhai Gang agents continued their pursuit until Yan Xifan and Ling Ziyan arrived, creating a diversion. Ling Ziyan reaffirmed her commitment to Yan Xifan, stating she would stand by him in both the imperial court and the martial world, not remaining a sheltered lady.
Meanwhile, though Chu Min fought valiantly at peak strength, Liu Song briefly controlled her with his Force of Essence, allowing two Shanhai Gang emissaries to ambush and capture her. Mo Lin explained to Lu Ping that Yan Xifan had joined the imperial court and pledged loyalty to the Emperor solely to command troops to rescue Lu Ping. He chose to provide cover outside Shanhai Gang, fearing that Lu Ping might resent him if they met directly.
Mo Lin urged Lu Ping not to blame Yan Xifan, emphasizing his righteous actions, and conveyed that Yan Xifan would leave the decision to meet to Lu Ping. Meanwhile, Ling Ziyan asked Yan Xifan if he still intended to meet Lu Ping and if Lu Ping would agree to return to Kaifeng. Yan Xifan believed it was better to confront their issues now than become estranged later, asserting that Lu Ping's ultimate path was his own to decide.
A subordinate then reported that the troop sent to track the Dan country's envoy group had gone silent, indicating trouble. Yan Xifan instructed General Wen to secure their current location while he and Ling Ziyan investigated. They discovered the Victorious Dragon Troop and the Dan country's envoy group members dead, all with similar wounds, indicating a single perpetrator. The envoy group's cargo box was empty, leaving Yan Xifan to wonder what had been transported. A five-forces Force Eater suddenly attacked.
Yan Xifan fought and strangled him to death, noting the instability of his power. Ling Ziyan recognized him as the leader of the Fengling Gang, questioning how he had achieved five forces so quickly after previously only possessing three. Yan Xifan deduced that Shanhai Gang's true goal was not merely to capture Lu Ping, but to create an army of such Force Eaters to aid Dan in conquering Shuo.
Fearing the immense guilt Lu Ping would feel if he learned this, Yan Xifan decided not to meet him and instead resolved to return to Kaifeng immediately due to the grave implications for Shuo's fate. Still, Lu Ping and his companions did not wait for Yan Xifan, assuming he had been delayed by something. Given Lu Ping's severe injuries, Mo Lin suggested they proceed to Wuyou Valley, mentioning that he had already given Yan Xifan a map.
Back in Shanhai Gang, Liu Song confronted Chu Min, who was now his captive, noting her ferocity when using the Force of Essence. She realized that her "escape" with the Thousand Pine Ruler and Lu Ping had all been part of Liu Song's elaborate plan. Liu Song confirmed this, stating that he would obtain Lu Ping's awakening power and ensure that restlessness followed Lu Ping wherever he went.
Approaching Wuyou Valley, Lu Ping suddenly requested the carriage stop, opting to walk the rest of the way. Along the path, he became quiet and withdrawn, concerning Su Tang and Mo Lin, who worried he was still brooding over past events.
A spectral voice, an implanted thought from Liu Song, taunted Lu Ping, claiming that his parents' decline and his own misfortunes were due to him, and that Guo Youdao and Chu Min had hidden the truth to protect Yan Qiuci, making Lu Ping and Liu Song "the same." Su Tang tried to reassure Lu Ping, believing that once his Soul Confinement was broken, everything would pass.
But Liu Song's voice persisted, questioning if it could truly be over and reiterating that Guo Youdao and Chu Min had knowingly deceived him. Lu Ping's eyes turned red, and his temper flared as his sixth Soul Confinement lock appeared to be breaking. Suddenly, Mo Buliu appeared, stabilizing Lu Ping and urging him to live, not to be consumed by hatred.
Mo Buliu revealed that Lu Ping's parents had saved his life, incurring a debt that Mo Buliu promised to repay. He recounted how Lu Ping's parents brought a dying infant—Lu Ping—to Wuyou Valley. Mo Buliu explained that the power of six forces was too much for a mortal body; Lu Ping gained a force each month, and reaching six forces would cause his veins to burst, leading to death.
The Soul Confinement locks were applied to suppress his six forces and preserve his life, a process for which his parents sacrificed half their cultivation. Mo Lin interjected that Lu Ping wouldn't have survived without breaking the previous locks. Mo Buliu warned that with five locks already broken, the last was extremely fragile, and any severe emotional or physical shock could cause his power to overrun, shattering the final lock and leading to his inevitable death.
He emphasized that the overwhelming power of the awakening was an unsolvable force. However, with the last lock intact, Lu Ping's life was safe, and for his parents' sake, Wuyou Valley would protect him. He left the decision of life or death to Lu Ping. Su Tang later asked Mo Lin if his father disliked Lu Ping and was deliberately refusing to treat him.
Mo Lin admitted his father was generally reclusive but would not abandon someone in need, finding his current behavior unusual. Mo Lin then confronted Mo Buliu, accusing him of lying, noting that his father typically researched difficult ailments rather than outright refusing to treat them. Mo Lin pleaded with him to help Lu Ping, questioning if his refusal stemmed from fear of Shanhai Gang.
He voiced his contempt for his father's reclusiveness, explaining it was why he chose to become an assassin, striving to be a hero unlike his "cowardly" father. Mo Buliu retorted that he didn't care for such matters and warned Mo Lin and Lu Ping to stay in Wuyou Valley and avoid trouble with Shanhai Gang, threatening to abandon Lu Ping if he got into further danger.
Later, Mo Lin privately expressed his frustration that his father's unwillingness to help Lu Ping made it impossible to reveal Qin Sang's cold toxin to Lu Ping, fearing Lu Ping would impulsively rush out of the valley and get hurt, leading Su Tang to "beat him to death." When Su Tang found him, she suggested writing to Qin Sang to comfort Lu Ping.
Mo Lin stopped her, deflecting her questions about what he was hiding by reminding her of her promise to marry him once Lu Ping was rescued. Su Tang, flustered, said she would respond after Lu Ping's locks were removed.
Mo Lin then instructed Mo Chuangu, a subordinate, to gather as many herbs for cold toxin as possible, hoping to buy time for Qin Sang until Lu Ping's situation was resolved, after which Lu Ping's power could surely help find a cure. He sternly warned Mo Chuangu not to speak of this to anyone, especially his father, threatening to silence him permanently.
Mo Lin then mused about his "unruly brothers," Lu Ping and Yan Xifan, wondering what they would do without him. The Emperor, infuriated by Liu Song's scheme to create Force Eaters, declared that Lu Ping must be brought before him and kept out of Shanhai Gang's control. General Wen calmly suggested that the discovery of Shanhai Gang's secret was an opportunity, and Lu Ping, a six-forces awakening, could be used against them.
The Emperor agreed, issuing an imperial decree to Wen Rui and Yan Xifan to retrieve Lu Ping. General Wen informed Yan Xifan that the Fengling Gang leader had died, despite their best efforts. Ling Ziyan consoled Yan Xifan, recognizing his valiant attempt and highlighting the dire consequences for Shuo if Shanhai Gang succeeded in creating Force Eaters for Dan's invasion.
She suggested enlisting Lu Ping's help, but Yan Xifan refused, wishing for Lu Ping to finally live a peaceful life in Wuyou Valley. However, General Wen delivered the Emperor's direct order: Yan Xifan must go to Wuyou Valley and bring Lu Ping back to Kaifeng. Yan Xifan questioned the Emperor's decision, wondering why he needed Lu Ping when he had the Victorious Dragon Troop.
General Wen explained that soldiers obey orders without question, then revealed that the Emperor was aware of Lu Ping's reluctance to serve. He then used Wuji Manor as leverage, threatening Yan Xifan with the execution of his entire family for deceiving the Emperor, while feigning mercy for Yan Xifan's talent. Yan Xifan realized the Emperor was holding his family hostage.
General Wen urged him to consider the Victorious Dragon Troop, their comrades in rescuing Lu Ping, who would be slaughtered by Force Eaters on the battlefield if they did nothing. Yan Xifan reluctantly accepted the imperial edict. As Yan Xifan prepared to leave, General Wen called Ling Ziyan aside, delivering a second, secret imperial decree specifically for her.
Yan Xifan confessed to Ling Ziyan that he had to go to Wuyou Valley, explaining that Mo Lin had given him a map. He reiterated the danger of Liu Song creating an army of six-forces Force Eaters, stating he hoped to bring Lu Ping back to Kaifeng and then persuade the Emperor. Ling Ziyan questioned if he would defy the Emperor for Lu Ping, given Lu Ping's deep-seated hatred for the Emperor.
Yan Xifan expressed his desire for a "win-win solution." Ling Ziyan then read her secret decree: Lu Ping must not fall into Shanhai Gang's hands and must be brought back. If he resisted, he must be eliminated. If Yan Xifan was unable to carry out such an act against Lu Ping, she was to "assist" him, or Yan Xifan's life would be forfeit.
Knowing the deep bond between Yan Xifan and Lu Ping, Ling Ziyan resolved to find a way to resolve the situation smoothly, vowing not to let Yan Xifan commit the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Mo Buliu led Lu Ping to a vibrant flower field, telling him to earn his keep by tending to the flowers.
Lu Ping gazed at the blossoms, recalling a childhood memory of a flower field in his hometown and a promise he had made to Qin Sang about returning to plant flowers after breaking his Soul Confinement, and wishing for Su Tang to be by their side. Su Tang, observing his pensive mood, asked if he had remembered something. She offered him some sweet candy she had "borrowed" from Mo Buliu.
Lu Ping then remarked that the simple life he had dreamt of as a child, with Su Tang and flowers, was now before him. He declared that he had "figured it out": rather than being used by Liu Song, it was better to keep the locks. He decided that staying in the isolated Wuyou Valley, bringing peace to everyone and allowing him to live a few more days, was a desirable outcome, as he had never known such tranquility. Su Tang then asked him, "Brother, what about older sister Qin? Won't you look for her?"
