Legend of Awakening Episode 5 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
The Mo's Carefree Weed, an invaluable treasure that grows only once in a century and is worth thousands of gold, brought great joy to Guo Youdao. Realizing its significance and Mo Lin's connection, Zhao Xifan sought out Mo Lin to apologize for past events. He found Mo Lin on the street, trying to exchange various gadgets for a piece of bread. Zhao Xifan offered to treat him to a good meal at Ruyu Restaurant.
After eating, Zhao Xifan revealed Mo Lin's true identity, explaining that the Mo family of Carefree Valley is renowned for its herbal medicine and that Mo Buliu, the current chief, has a son about Mo Lin's age. He noted that due to their unique bloodline, Mo family members are often born without the soul of Strength. Mo Lin admitted that Mo Buliu was his father and that he, indeed, lacked the soul of Strength.
However, he declared his ambition to become the world's best assassin, vowing to eliminate all villains, rather than being confined to the valley as a physician like his father. Zhao Xifan appealed to Mo Lin's sense of righteousness, asking him to return to Zhaifeng Institute to treat Lu Ping, who was severely injured. Mo Lin flatly refused, wishing no involvement with Lu Ping. Suddenly, Su Tang intervened, attacking Mo Lin with her formidable soul of Strength.
Impressed by her power, Mo Lin proposed a condition for treating Lu Ping: Su Tang must become his disciple and join him in his assassin endeavors. Zhao Xifan immediately rejected this, stating that Zhaifeng Institute did not force anyone and that they would find another healer. Mo Lin was surprised by their swift departure. Meanwhile, Guo Youdao traveled to Chan State to borrow the martial arts tower for the upcoming State Exam.
The head of the martial arts academy in Chan State initially refused, discrediting Zhaifeng Institute as an informal establishment and Guo Youdao for attempting to use the tower, which was sponsored by the Wei family for the crucial State Exam and the Soul Combat Convention, without payment. However, Wei Tianqi, the academy's top disciple, appeared and intervened, citing the long-standing friendship between their academies and suggesting that sharing the tower for practice would foster camaraderie. The headmaster then reluctantly agreed.
Back at Zhaifeng Institute, Lu Ping was bound as Mo Lin prepared to treat him. Mo Lin expressed concern about the bindings, claiming he was only helping for his potential disciple's sake, but demanded a "good prospect" in return. Without hesitation, Su Tang promised to do whatever Mo Lin wished if he saved Lu Ping. Mo Lin declared he would ensure she willingly became his disciple one day.
Zhao Xifan clarified that Lu Ping's injury was a result of Zhaifeng's actions, hence their intervention, but once Lu Ping recovered, they would be even. Su Tang urged Lu Ping to accept Mo Lin’s treatment. Mo Lin then began his diagnosis, marveling at Lu Ping's "extraordinary" pulse. He revealed that Lu Ping possessed the rare "Awakener" bloodline, "born with the unity of six souls" through "eight extraordinary meridians."
However, someone had forcefully imposed a confinement within him, sealing his meridians and suppressing his soul power. Lu Ping, impatient, demanded to know if there was a cure. Mo Lin admitted his medical knowledge was "only average" and needed time to devise a plan, hinting it was better than Lu Ping's previous method of "getting himself killed" by suffocation.
Mo Lin observed Lu Ping, deducing that his soul power was roused by intense pain and "sneaked out at the verge of death." To fully rouse his meridians, Mo Lin concluded, they needed to "amplify his pain by a thousandfold." Su Tang was horrified, but Lu Ping unflinchingly declared that he was "willing to die as many times as needed" if it meant regaining his soul power.
Mo Lin prepared a "bed of nails" to seal Lu Ping's "seven extraordinary meridians," leaving only the Chong Meridian open. Su Tang offered Lu Ping candy, but he reassured her that having "crawled out of hell," this pain would not kill him. Zhao Xifan gently led Su Tang away, sparing her from witnessing Lu Ping's agony.
After the treatment, Zhao Xifan informed Su Tang that Lu Ping had fallen asleep, but it would require "a few times" more to determine its effectiveness. Su Tang confided in Zhao Xifan that she couldn't reveal their past but assured him they were not bad people. Zhao Xifan promised that as long as they remained in Zhaifeng Institute, he would "do his best to protect" them, keep them safe, and help "fulfill their wishes."
Su Tang reflected that under different circumstances, Zhao Xifan and Lu Ping might have become friends. Following this, Zhao Xifan rallied the other Zhaifeng disciples, leading them in rigorous training, determined to prove their strength in the State Exam and "surpass Beidou Chamber." Meanwhile, Mr. Wei was deeply agitated by the disappearance of Situ Luo. He conferred with Wei Ming, concluding that Situ Luo must be dead, as her tracks had vanished.
He suspected the "mysterious martial artist" Qin Sang was seeking was responsible and worried about the lord's wrath. Later, Wei Tianqi informed his father of his plan to set traps within the martial arts tower during the State Exam, seeking revenge on the Zhaifeng disciples who had embarrassed him in front of Qin Sang.
Mr. Wei approved, viewing the exam as a "perfect camouflage" to deal with the mysterious martial artist, whom he believed to be hidden "among the disciples" of Zhaifeng Institute, and thus provide an answer to their lord. Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan, discussing their strategy, prepared to infiltrate the Chan State Academy. Ling Ziyan questioned the propriety of Qin Sang, an aristocrat, engaging in such "sneaking around."
Qin Sang explained that since "whenever Lu Ping shows up, the men of Shanhai Lou always appear," they needed to follow him into the tower to get "closer to revealing the truth." Ling Ziyan wondered if Qin Sang would again be "fooled by Lu Ping," to which Qin Sang vowed she "won't be fooled by him thrice." The Zhaifeng Institute disciples, including a belated Lu Ping who had overslept, arrived at Chan State Academy.
Zhao Xifan greeted the headmaster, explaining Guo Youdao's absence due to other commitments. Wei Tianqi mocked Guo Youdao’s frugality, suggesting he skipped the trip to save money. Zhao Xifan retorted that Zhaifeng's matters were his responsibility. The headmaster assigned them to a "shabby annex," causing the disciples to feel belittled. Zhao Xifan calmly instructed some to clean the rooms while he led others to scout the martial arts tower. Lu Ping was nowhere to be found.
As Lu Ping wandered near the tower, Wei Tianqi confronted him, questioning his presence and threatening to "teach him some manners." Lu Ping calmly cited the imperial law allowing examinees to familiarize themselves with the venue. Wei Tianqi then mocked Zhaifeng's simple attire and threw money at Lu Ping, who refused it. Wei Tianqi, restrained by his subordinate, vowed to teach Lu Ping a lesson during the exam the following day.
Later, Su Tang found Lu Ping, asking if he was alone and if he had been followed. Lu Ping casually dismissed it as "just a fool who won't stop until she gets what she is after." Mo Lin then appeared, complaining that Su Tang hadn't called him. Su Tang explained that she needed him for another "treatment tonight." That night, Su Tang questioned the efficacy of Mo Lin's treatment, threatening him if Lu Ping was harmed.
Mo Lin, asserting his skill, reaffirmed Lu Ping's success. Su Tang asked about the duration of Lu Ping's recovered soul power. Mo Lin informed her it was "the same as it used to be," lasting "before a joss stick burns out," emphasizing that as an "assassin, not a deity," Lu Ping would have to "fend for himself" for the exam. Su Tang pledged to protect Lu Ping.
However, Lu Ping rejected Zhao Xifan's offer to collaborate against Wei Tianqi, stating their "debts are cleared" and he would not be "grateful." He dismissed their relationship as merely "using each other" and suggested they "go our own ways" after the exam. Zhao Xifan accepted, agreeing to "act as we please." Su Tang called Lu Ping "ungrateful."
Mo Lin reiterated his offer to Su Tang, but she ignored him, threatening to throw him out of her room if he didn't leave. Outside, Mo Lin muttered about making Su Tang "cry and beg" to be his disciple, admiring her "outstanding soul of Strength" but admitting he might have "poisoned her to death" otherwise. Lu Ping then appeared to Mo Lin, who, fearing betrayal, accused him of "getting rid of me."
Lu Ping playfully called him "Assassin Boy," then "Mr. Assassin, Mr. Hero," implying Mo Lin needed his cooperation regarding Su Tang. The next day, the State Exam officially began. The headmaster announced the rules: the martial arts tower had seven levels, each unlocking the next. The goal was to retrieve the Tianying Stone from the top level and exit safely before sunset to qualify for the Soul Combat Convention. Chan State Academy, as the host, entered first.
As the Zhaifeng disciples prepared to enter, Zhao Xifan reminded them to focus on retrieving the Tianying Stone and avoid trouble. Wei Tianqi, however, blocked them at the bottom level, declaring his intent to "teach you rascals of Zhaifeng Institute a lesson." Zhao Xifan urged Lu Ping and Su Tang to proceed, offering to cover their retreat, reminding Lu Ping of his limited soul power. Lu Ping, still rejecting gratitude, pushed forward with Su Tang.
Other Zhaifeng disciples wanted to help, but were informed that internal tower matters could not be interfered with from outside. The guards were dismissed, leaving the tower unsupervised. Mo Lin, watching from outside, reaffirmed his determination to make Su Tang his disciple. Lu Ping and Su Tang ascended the tower.
As soon as they entered the first array, they were unexpectedly knocked unconscious, but fortunately, Mo Lin had already given them an antidote that made them invulnerable to all poisons, so they quickly recovered. Su Tang asked about Wei Tianqi and the current level's "rock maze," which tested the "soul of Strength." Lu Ping joked about Su Tang having "slept through too many classes" and suggested Wei Tianqi would be lost. They hurried through the maze.
Unexpectedly, Wei Tianqi and his men were waiting. Wei Tianqi, scoffing at those who relied on "brute force," ordered his men to attack, aiming to cause them "accidents." But Mo Lin suddenly appeared, revealing his prior preparation: he had given Lu Ping and Su Tang "Mo family's Soul Revival Powder," which was "poisonous" but also "protected them from all poison." Wei Tianqi's attack backfired, injuring his hand, and he accused them of cheating.
Su Tang retorted that he was the "shameless one" and then told Lu Ping to "head upstairs first" while she stayed to "tackle them." Lu Ping proceeded to the next level, noticing "some sort of gadget under the floor" that required "the soul of Energy to enhance his lightness skills" to cross. As he prepared to use his soul power, Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan appeared. Qin Sang called him a "thief" and vowed he "can't get away today."
Lu Ping, relieved it was not a more dangerous foe, joked about her being "too clingy" to find a good husband. As they argued, the "floor gadget" activated, sending both Lu Ping and Qin Sang plummeting into a hidden trap. Inside the pit, Qin Sang accused Lu Ping of being "frivolous" and dragging her down. She demanded to know why he, despite being "highly skilled," always "acts as if he can't do a thing" in front of others.
Lu Ping teased that his handsomeness combined with skills might make her "fall for" him, then urged her to find an exit. Qin Sang insisted that catching him was all that mattered. Lu Ping reiterated his denial of being from "Shanhai Lou," pointing out that only Wei Tianqi had "set traps to hurt people." He then turned her own logic against her, asking if she was his "accomplice" since she constantly appeared around him.
He questioned why, as a member of an "aristocratic clan," she would forgo "a luxurious life" to "have a hard time here" pursuing Shanhai Lou. As they spoke, two walls covered in "iron spikes" began to compress towards them.
