Legend of Awakening Episode 42 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
Lu Ping engaged in a fierce battle with Yan Qiuci. Just as Yan Qiuci’s blade was about to strike Lu Ping, he hesitated, recalling his son Yan Xifan’s earnest plea to spare Lu Ping. This pause gave Lu Ping an opportunity to counterattack. Yan Qiuci warned Lu Ping that he was heading down a wrong path, one that would lead him to become like Liu Song and ultimately end up in hell.
Lu Ping, however, defiantly declared that he had returned from hell and would not allow anyone to stand in his way, determined to uncover how many more "devils" existed in the world. Despite Yan Qiuci's continued pleas for him to cease, Lu Ping remained resolute and departed. Soon after Lu Ping left, Yan Jin of Shanhai Gang appeared, remarking on the "good show" as his Master had anticipated.
He then delivered a chilling message to Yan Qiuci: Wuji Manor's time was over. Inside Wuji Manor, Shanhai Gang spies, having infiltrated earlier, successfully instigated various Jianghu martial artists against the manor. The agitated crowd demanded Yan Qiuci's presence, accusing Wuji Manor of numerous misdeeds and vowing to avenge Master Leng and eliminate evil. A Wuji Manor disciple identified them as Shanhai Gang spies, who then openly chanted their slogans, sparking a violent conflict that left the manor severely damaged.
The injured Yan Qiuci was powerless to stop Yan Jin and could only attempt to heal himself. Yan Xifan arrived at Wuji Manor to find his father, Yan Qiuci, gravely wounded. He immediately identified the Thousand Pine Ruler as the weapon and attributed Lu Ping's actions to temporary madness following Mo Lin’s death. Yan Xifan questioned why his usually sensible father had confronted Lu Ping alone.
Yan Qiuci explained that in the affairs of Jianghu, there were only winners and losers, and he blamed no one for his defeat. He further stated that he chose to face Lu Ping himself to spare Yan Xifan the heavy burden of responsibility. Yan Xifan, blaming his own hesitation and lack of foresight, offered to help his father back to heal.
However, Yan Qiuci refused, stating he had an important question: if Yan Xifan still believed he had made mistakes or looked down on him. Yan Xifan reassured his father that the past was behind them, and what mattered now was Wuji Manor's decade-long protection of Jin City. He affirmed that Yan Qiuci would always be his respected father and that he now understood what he needed to do.
Relieved, Yan Qiuci entrusted the "Sword of Yan" to his son, urging him to act swiftly as "time and tide wait for no one." He expressed his confidence that Yan Xifan, as his son, would surpass him. With his last breaths, Yan Qiuci asked Yan Xifan to help him stand, declaring that he would not die a coward, but with the dignity of a tiger that remains standing even in death.
Yan Xifan returned to the devastated Wuji Manor, where a subordinate informed him that Shanhai Gang spies had incited the Jianghu to heavily damage the manor before fleeing. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Yan Xifan dismissed everyone, stating that as the Younger Master, he couldn't afford to cry, lest the manor truly collapse.
He confided in Ling Ziyan, recalling how he once resented his father's frequent absences, but his mother had taught him that his father's lifelong wish was for Wuji Manor to prosper, and as long as the manor stood, their home remained. Now, he felt he had no home, but Ling Ziyan reassured him that as long as they were alive, their home persisted. Meanwhile, in Shanhai Gang, Liu Song was in jubilant spirits.
He raised three toasts while drinking with Chu Min, who remained his captive. He toasted to his Eldest Brother's avenged death, the rebuilding of the Dan Kingdom, and the "society which never disappointed me," noting how easily a small spark could ignite a great fire. Chu Min, however, accused him of using his brother's revenge as a mere pretext for his own selfish ambitions.
She revealed his true intentions: to destroy Wuji Manor, kill Yan Qiuci, scatter Jianghu, leave Jin City undefended for an invasion, and plunge all of Shuo into chaos. Liu Song casually asserted that Lu Ping was the one who killed Yan Qiuci. Chu Min vehemently denied this, stating that only a six-force practitioner could defeat the martial arts alliance leader.
She condemned Liu Song for exploiting his brother's death and Lu Ping's lineage, manipulating Lu Ping into becoming a tool of hatred, and dragging him to hell. Liu Song simply countered that a true leader sharpens his blades, and Lu Ping, fueled by genuine hatred, was now his sharpest weapon, prepared by Yan Qiuci for his true target: the Emperor of Shuo. Chu Min despairingly asked what else he planned to do.
Soon after, Ling Ziyan suddenly returned to Qin Residence, informing Qin Sang of the recent events, including Mo Lin's death and Lu Ping's actions. Qin Sang, furious at Ling Ziyan's impulsive decision to involve the Victorious Dragon Troop at Wuyou Valley, which led to Mo Lin’s death and an irreparable rift between Lu Ping and Yan Xifan, questioned who Lu Ping could trust now.
Ling Ziyan offered herself for military punishment, then urged Qin Sang to swiftly inform the Emperor about Wuji Manor's fall, explaining that Lu Ping, having killed Yan Qiuci, was now on a path of no return. Qin Sang, realizing Ling Ziyan had come to her first instead of the Emperor, understood it was to protect Lu Ping. Ling Ziyan confirmed that if the Emperor knew, Lu Ping would have no chance of survival.
She emphasized that Yan Xifan, she, and Qin Sang all hoped Lu Ping could still turn back, and that only Qin Sang could prevent Lu Ping from being pushed to a desperate end by the Emperor. Qin Sang, recognizing the gravity of the situation, declared she would seek an audience with the Emperor the next morning. In Qin Residence, Qin Sang, still suffering from the cold poison, found a package containing a Two Form Flower, left by Lu Ping.
An accompanying note explained that the flower would protect her meridians, eliminate the cold toxin, and save her life if crushed and consumed with warm water, followed by two days of martial arts practice. Qin Sang wondered if Lu Ping had delivered it, but then, with a wry, self-deprecating tone, scoffed at the idea, saying she didn't need him to come back and annoy her, hastening her death. She searched outside but found no sign of him.
At court, the Emperor informed Qin Sang of a new threat: Liu Yange, a descendant of the Dan Royal Family, had obtained a commander's seal, secured the Dan Emperor's support, and colluded with Xidan, making a border war inevitable. He noted that Jin City was now vulnerable without Wuji Manor's support. Qin Sang took responsibility for Liu Song acquiring the seal and volunteered to join the Victorious Dragon Troop to reinforce the border.
The Emperor announced his intention to personally lead the expedition and invited Qin Sang to accompany him for awarding the soldiers the following day, suggesting she might find her answer regarding Lu Ping then. Qin Sang, though denying she was there for Lu Ping and claiming concern for the Emperor's safety, accepted the invitation. Later, after considering her options, Qin Sang decided to take the Two Form Flower, hoping to recover quickly and stop Lu Ping from further straying.
She expressed her wish that Lu Ping would not continue down the wrong path. Qin Sang also spoke to Ling Ziyan, whom she addressed as Wen Rui, about her worries regarding Lu Ping and asked for help in strengthening the Dragon Troop's guard to prevent any harm to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Lu Ping returned to Zhaifeng Institute in Chenqiao Town to mourn his master, Guo Youdao. Madam Jin, who regularly visited the tomb, encountered Lu Ping there.
She expressed concern for his safety, having heard he was captured, and informed him that Victorious Dragon Troop soldiers were in Chenqiao Town, inquiring about him, which Lu Ping understood as Qin Sang's continued concern. Madam Jin also complained about not having peace since Guo Youdao's death, prompting Lu Ping to ask for privacy to speak with his master.
Alone at the tomb, Lu Ping bitterly addressed Guo Youdao, saying he now understood why the master never finished his account book: Guo Youdao knew the truth but kept it from him. He questioned if this was for protection or a lack of trust. Lu Ping poured out his resentment, feeling like a disloyal son for not avenging his parents and an ominous awakened one whose power brought only conflict, endangering friends and family.
He wondered if he was even worth Guo Youdao's sacrifice, concluding that "it doesn't matter" anymore, as everything felt the same to him. In a drunken haze, Lu Ping saw fleeting visions of his parents, who called him "Ping’er" before disappearing. His vision shifted to a dream of his childhood in Shanhai Gang, where he cried out to his parents, questioning why they gave him six-force power and left him alone, wishing he could just be an ordinary person.
A voice, echoing warnings from both Yan Qiuci and Guo Youdao, reminded him that he was "bound to be somebody," not ordinary, and that he was going down the wrong path from which he couldn't turn back. The voice urged him to "go forward and don't look back." Still lost and confused, Lu Ping desperately asked what lay ahead and what he should do.
In his mind, he heard Guo Youdao admit to not being a good master, with some answers unknown and others he "dared not to think deeper." Lu Ping retorted that his master's protection hadn't accounted for Liu Song's schemes or the Emperor's apprehension, and since "they will not let me go," he had to face it.
He also recalled Mo Buliu's warning about his weakened sixth lock, which could shatter if his force power became too active, leading to his death. Defiantly, Lu Ping stated he no longer needed Mo Buliu's help to stabilize the lock. If his awakened talent only brought conflict, he would choose to live freely and be his "own master."
He then went to the back mountain of Zhaifeng Institute and locked himself in the center of the lake, intending to forcefully unlock the last remaining chain of his awakened talent, which Mo Buliu had managed to stabilize. He rode away, determined. After burying his father, Yan Xifan stood by the grave, reflecting on his failure to protect Wuji Manor and the Yan Family, and vowed to follow a single path from now on.
An old retainer, Uncle Wei, expressed sadness that no one came to mourn Yan Qiuci, lamenting the opportunism of Jianghu figures who now disrespected Yan Xifan. Yan Xifan calmly dismissed this, stating that all good things must end. He then asked Uncle Wei for a final favor as his Young Master: to distribute the remaining funds among the manor's staff, including himself, and allow everyone to return to their homes.
He declared that "from now on, there will be no Wuji Manor." Despite Uncle Wei's protest that the Yan Family was the foremost family in Jianghu, Yan Xifan asserted that one could not serve both the court and Jianghu, and his family's legacy, however great, was smaller than the country. He proclaimed that with war imminent, his path lay not in Jianghu but on the battlefield.
As a descendant of the Yan Family and a citizen of Shuo, he would protect not just Wuji Manor but all the country's people. He resolved to be the hero the world needed, telling himself that "Zhao Xifan can show mercy, Yan Xifan can't," and vowed to his father to prove that "Zhao Xifan can do something that Yan Xifan can't." Immediately, Yan Xifan, now acting as an imperial general, reported to a military camp at a vulnerable city wall.
He found the general concerned about the gathered Dan Army, supported by Xidan, and the reduced defenses after Wuji Manor's fall, fearing their ability to hold the city. Yan Xifan arrived as the Emperor's newly appointed military official, ready to support the Victorious Dragon Troop.
