Legend of Awakening Episode 46 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
Lu Ping reflected on his master, Guo Youdao’s, true intentions for establishing Zhaifeng Institute and teaching martial arts: to protect the innocent and ensure people could live better lives, not to be consumed by hatred or personal vendettas. He deeply regretted his own delayed realization, acknowledging that it tragically led to Qin Sang sacrificing her life for him. His uncle, Guo Wushu, also expressed remorse for his own late understanding.
Guo Wushu then resolved to inherit Zhaifeng Institute, providing a haven for like-minded individuals, and advised Lu Ping to proceed to Jin City to assist Yan Xifan. Before Lu Ping's departure, Li Yaotian, the Master of Big Dipper, presented him with a "secret weapon" for the perilous journey. The disciples of the Fifth College eagerly volunteered to accompany Lu Ping, citing Qin Sang's previous wishes and their desire to join the fight.
Lu Ping playfully accused the Master of openly interfering in political matters, an uncharacteristic move. Feigning innocence, Li Yaotian claimed the disciples were acting independently. However, he then formally proposed forming an elite group of Big Dipper disciples, to be named "Dark Walkers." These Dark Walkers would operate in the shadows with noble intentions, fighting evil and upholding justice, allowing Big Dipper to rescue ordinary people from danger without direct political involvement.
Lu Ping praised the name and accepted their aid. With his new companions, he set off for Jin City. Upon their arrival, Lu Ping's group discovered a grim situation. Yan Xifan's forces had been fighting for over ten days, but Jin City remained unconquered, and Shanhai Gang's ally, the Xidan army, threatened further invasion. Yan Xifan reported that Yan Jin's army of Force Eaters was exceptionally powerful, resisting even Wuyou Valley's medicine.
Emperor Zhai Rong, frustrated, reminded Yan Xifan of the stark realities of war. Meanwhile, outside Jin City, the Dan Young Prince, identified as Liu Yange, held numerous citizens hostage, demanding Emperor Zhai Rong's personal surrender, believing the Emperor's reputation for protecting his people would force his hand. Yan Xifan, lamenting his struggle against the Force Eaters and wishing for Lu Ping's help, prepared his troops to save the hostages.
As the Young Prince threatened executions, Lu Ping dramatically appeared with his Fifth College companions. Recognizing Lu Ping, a Shanhai Gang member expressed disbelief at his return and newfound power. Lu Ping declared that his conflict with Shanhai Gang had nothing to do with the Emperor or the citizens, then seized the Young Prince. He offered to exchange the prince for the innocent civilians.
Yan Jin, recognizing that Liu Song still needed the prince as a political puppet, permitted the release of the hostages. As the grateful citizens thanked them, Lu Ping delivered a message through Yan Jin to Liu Song, vowing to thwart his ambition of controlling both Jianghu and the imperial court. After ensuring the rescued citizens were registered and settled, Ling Ziyan optimistically told Lu Ping that Yan Xifan was informing the Emperor and that he would be welcomed.
However, as they approached, Yan Xifan, commanding the Victorious Dragon Troop, ordered his archers to prepare to fire, declaring that the camp had no place for a criminal who had attempted to assassinate the Emperor. Ling Ziyan tried to reason with him, highlighting Lu Ping's value as a reinforcement. Wen Rui, upon learning of Qin Sang's death and burial in Big Dipper, violently attempted to attack Lu Ping in his grief but was restrained.
Yan Xifan sternly warned Lu Ping and his group to leave immediately or be killed. Lu Ping, without argument, instructed his companions to leave behind their medicine, acknowledging their unwelcome status before departing. Emperor Zhai Rong later questioned Yan Xifan about Lu Ping's visit. Yan Xifan asserted that he fully understood the city's defenses and did not need help from a "rebel."
The Emperor suspected Yan Xifan feared he would order Lu Ping's death, but Yan Xifan denied it, claiming he prioritized caution due to Lu Ping's unpredictable nature, which could jeopardize their mission. Though the Emperor expressed his deep reluctance to resort to peace talks if the city could not be taken, mourning the potential loss of the political landscape his predecessor had established, Yan Xifan vowed to reclaim Jin City, his family's ancestral land, at any cost.
He rallied his troops, explaining the extreme danger but appealing to their sense of duty and brotherhood, ensuring no families would be left without support. All soldiers confirmed their unwavering commitment to recapturing Jin City. Ling Ziyan, in a moment of emotional resolve, pledged to live and die with Yan Xifan. Meanwhile, Lu Ping's companions expressed frustration over Yan Xifan's "stubbornness" and ingratitude.
Lu Ping, however, defended Yan Xifan, acknowledging the difficulty of overcoming the hatred for his father's death, a tragedy in which he admitted he had played a part. He stated that the truth of past events was complex and difficult to discern. Realizing that the Victorious Dragon Troop refused their cooperation and that the common people were innocent, Lu Ping declared that they would now resolve the situation using "Jianghu" methods.
The Dan Young Prince, still shaken by his encounter with Lu Ping, regretted not having him and Chu Min killed earlier. Yan Jin, anticipating the potential threat of Lu Ping and Yan Xifan uniting, ordered a rearrangement of the Force Eater defenses to prevent Lu Ping from infiltrating Jin City. Situ Luo confirmed that Lu Ping and Yan Xifan had a public quarrel, resulting in Lu Ping being expelled from the military camp without seeing Emperor Zhai Rong.
While the Young Prince celebrated the internal conflict, Yan Jin remained cautious, recognizing Lu Ping's unpredictable nature and speculating that he might target the forage camp. To counter this, Yan Jin dispatched Lin Tianyi and the Young Prince to defend the northern flank against Yan Xifan, while he personally took charge of the forage camp. Lu Ping and his group arrived at the forage camp, finding it eerily empty. Su Tang wondered if Jin City had become a ghost town.
Lu Ping, sensing deception, quickly discerned that the camp was an illusion created by Yan Jin using the soul of Essence. As a mysterious Qin melody filled the air, Force Eaters suddenly appeared, surrounding them. Lu Ping's group used their specialized medicine powder to temporarily weaken the Force Eaters' abilities, allowing them to escape. However, Yan Jin, controlling the Force Eaters with his Qin music, relentlessly pursued them, vowing that they would not leave alive.
Simultaneously, Yan Xifan's forces attempted to bypass the northern valley to enter Jin City. His subordinates questioned the strategy, but Yan Xifan insisted it was their only option and told them to wait for a signal. Lin Tianyi, who had anticipated this move, along with the Dan Young Prince and a Shanhai Gang practitioner, ambushed them.
Lin Tianyi taunted Yan Xifan, revealing that they had seen through his feigned quarrel with Lu Ping, correctly deducing that Yan Xifan's northern detour was a diversion to buy Lu Ping time to burn the forage camp. Yan Xifan maintained that if Lu Ping succeeded, the Dan army would be forced to retreat.
The Shanhai Gang practitioner, who years ago killed Yan Xifan's friend in this very valley while Yan Xifan watched in horror, cruelly reminded him of the traumatic event. However, the current Yan Xifan was no longer the paralyzed youth; he vowed that while he couldn't save his brother then, he would succeed now.
As the Victorious Dragon Troop and Force Eaters clashed, Ling Ziyan, concerned for Yan Xifan, instructed Wen Rui to hold their position and rushed to join Yan Xifan as he confronted his nemesis, the Shanhai Gang practitioner, in a duel that took them away from the main battle. Pursued relentlessly by the Force Eaters, Lu Ping and his companions took refuge in a mansion.
The disciples noted that the Force Eaters, despite their advanced powers, were like "tails" constantly tracking them. They also realized their limited supply of medicine powder, which could only temporarily impede the Force Eaters. Wei Tianqi and Jin Qi contributed to the discussion, pointing out that all Force Eaters shared an identical heartbeat and acted like emotionless puppets.
Lu Ping deduced that Shanhai Gang controlled these Force Eaters using the soul of Essence, ensuring they fought to the death, with Yan Jin being the puppeteer. Su Tang recalled hearing a strange Qin melody when the Force Eaters first appeared, but it was now inaudible. Lu Ping explained that Yan Jin was using his soul power to transmit the Qin music directly into the Force Eaters' minds, making it imperceptible to others.
Realizing that Yan Jin's location was the real forage camp, but lacking the ability to hear his music, Lu Ping decided to use his own soul of Essence to read the Force Eaters' minds and pinpoint Yan Jin's exact whereabouts. Successfully, he located Yan Jin. Lu Ping then revealed his plan: killing Yan Jin was their only way to stop the Force Eaters, but it was a dangerous endeavor with them surrounded.
He intended to use his soul of Sound to disrupt Yan Jin's Qin music and then create another noise to draw all the Force Eaters to their current location. He asked his Fifth College companions to hold them off for one hour. During this time, he and Su Tang would infiltrate the real forage camp to find and kill Yan Jin, thereby neutralizing the leaderless Force Eaters.
Su Tang, expressing doubts about her ability to move undetected, pointed out that her footsteps would alert the Force Eaters. Lu Ping clarified that she could utilize her mastery of the soul of Energy, taught by Guo Wushu, to move silently, evading both Yan Jin and the Force Eaters' keen hearing.
Wei Tianqi, worried about the danger of Lu Ping's plan for Su Tang, expressed his readiness to face death for Qin Sang's sake, inspired by her belief that he could become a true man. Lu Ping assured them it was not easy to die and gave Wei Tianqi a signal flare, promising they would come to his aid if ignited.
To Su Tang, Lu Ping handed over their last remaining medicine powder, emphasizing that this was their make-or-break moment, urging her to focus on survival above all else. As planned, the Force Eaters, alerted by the commotion Lu Ping created, converged on the mansion. Seizing the moment, Lu Ping generated a powerful burst of sound, directly interfering with Yan Jin's controlling Qin music.
