Legend of Awakening Episode 7 Recap
> Legend of Awakening Recap
As Guo Youdao led Mr. Wei's men to the back of the mountain, Wei Tianqi, Mr. Wei's son, had already prepared an ambush, mistakenly thinking he was targeting Lu Ping and the others. However, the ambush nearly injured his own father. During the chaos, Wei Tianqi inadvertently blurted out that he had used poison in the tower.
Guo Youdao seized this opportunity, subtly confirming he had heard the confession to Mr. Wei and then demanded a "hush money" payment, effectively blackmailing Mr. Wei to secure Zhaifeng Institute's escape. Unable to risk public exposure of his son's crime, Mr. Wei had no choice but to agree, leaving empty-handed. With the Wei family departed, Mo Lin celebrated their newfound freedom. Su Tang, always loyal to Lu Ping, asked if they would return to Zhaifeng Institute.
Lu Ping, having publicly declared his departure, found returning embarrassing and instead decided they should head to Ruyu Restaurant to await someone. Meanwhile, Zhao Xifan expressed his confusion to Guo Youdao, unable to understand why his Master protected Lu Ping while outwardly appearing to be a villain. Guo Youdao simply found Zhao Xifan's personality "interesting" and instructed him to follow him to Ruyu Restaurant.
At Ruyu Restaurant, Lu Ping reflected on Guo Youdao's earlier words: that severing ties with Zhaifeng Institute was necessary to protect them from trouble. He then prepared a lavish spread of food and expensive Shi Dongchun wine. Lu Ping openly acknowledged Guo Youdao's hidden capabilities, attributing their escape from Chan State to Guo Youdao's "tricks," specifically, writing a letter that attracted Qin Qi's intervention.
Guo Youdao denied this, but Lu Ping insisted that as long as they were still in the "gambling game," they had a chance to win. Mo Lin, having seemingly staged a playful fight with Guo Youdao, then asked Su Tang about their next move since they were disqualified from the Soul Combat Convention. Su Tang affirmed her unwavering commitment to Lu Ping, stating she would follow him wherever he went.
Mo Lin joked about her leaving Lu Ping to become his disciple, but Su Tang expressed her belief in Mo Lin's potential, hoping he would become the top assassin. Guo Youdao then revealed his master plan: the important person he visited annually in Kaifeng was Chu Min, an instructor at Tianzhao Academy. Since the Zhaifeng Institute's tower was destroyed and they lost their qualification for the Soul Combat Convention, their only option was to become Chu Min's disciples.
This would allow them to compete under Tianzhao Academy's name, a chance for Zhaifeng to "surpass that of Beidou" and bring honor. Lu Ping and Su Tang readily agreed, with Mo Lin reluctantly conceding for the sake of his "future disciple." However, Zhao Xifan was the sole dissenter, respectfully declining the offer. He felt unworthy due to his injured legs, believing he could not contribute to the convention and had not atoned for his past sins.
Guo Youdao tried to persuade him, reminding him that Zhaifeng Institute faced ruin after offending the Wei family if they didn't succeed. Zhao Xifan, however, insisted he had surrendered his senior disciple badge, believing it should go to a more suitable person. Lu Ping then returned the badge to Zhao Xifan, emphasizing that Zhao Xifan was essential to his own journey and suggesting they face their pasts together rather than running away.
To further encourage him, Lu Ping presented a meticulously crafted wheelchair, an altered version of a Ruyu Restaurant chair. Zhao Xifan tried it and found it surprisingly comfortable. With renewed hope, everyone cheered for their prospects of "surpassing Beidou." Meanwhile, a heavily injured Situ Luo, having been severely wounded by Zhaifeng's people, returned to Shanhai Gang.
She reported to the Lord that Lu Ping, the Awakener who had escaped from the Shanhai Gang three years prior, was alive and planned to participate in the Soul Combat Convention in Kaifeng. The Lord, however, seemed unconcerned, stating that Lu Ping would not escape again and that dying within Shanhai Gang was his destiny.
The Lord then ordered Situ Luo to be taken away for punishment, while also instructing the head of the Wind Department to proceed with their plans in Kaifeng, emphasizing the need for discretion to avoid alerting the enemy. In the imperial court in Kaifeng, Emperor Zhao discussed the upcoming triennial Soul Combat Convention. Wen Gecheng proposed widely recruiting talents from various martial arts academies and the common folk.
This suggestion was met with fierce opposition from Xia Bojian, the Headmaster of Tianzhao Academy, who insisted that military generals should only be selected from prominent families. Qin Qi, having just returned, strongly advocated for Wen Gecheng's approach, highlighting successful generals from non-prominent backgrounds and emphasizing the importance of uniting the people's "ambitious and fighting spirit" to ensure the kingdom's prosperity. Impressed by Qin Qi's words, the Emperor entrusted him and Wen Gecheng with organizing the convention.
Later, Qin Qi, seeing Wen Gecheng's old injury flare up, ensured he received medical attention. He reiterated his commitment to Wen Gecheng, explaining that supporting him was vital for attracting future talents to Shuo Kingdom, a principle instilled by the Qin family. Qin Qi then returned home with Wen Gecheng, where he found his sister Qin Sang practicing the forbidden "Sun Streamer Swordplay" with Ling Ziyan. Enraged, Qin Qi prepared to punish them according to family rules.
Wen Gecheng intervened, suggesting a compromise: if Qin Sang and Ling Ziyan passed the Soul Combat Convention trials, their punishment would be waived. Qin Sang eagerly accepted the challenge. Afterward, Qin Sang privately sought Wen Gecheng's knowledge about a "Soul Confinement" chain that could bind soul power, hinting that she learned about it from "a young bandit." She quickly dismissed her unusual concern for "that rogue" (Lu Ping), vowing to focus on her training for the convention.
Back in Chan State, Mr. Wei received a letter from the Shanhai Gang's Lord, ordering him to stop tracking Lu Ping and remain in Chan State, with a stern warning against future failures. Wei Tianqi, unaware of the new orders, expressed his desire to go to Kaifeng to participate in the convention and gain fame to prove himself worthy of Qin Sang.
Mr. Wei, constrained by the Lord's directives, allowed him to go but ordered his most skilled bodyguard, Wei Ying, to protect Wei Tianqi and, more importantly, to ensure he did not cause any further trouble for Lu Ping. Meanwhile, Qin Sang, having returned home, also visited Tianzhao Academy. The convention organized by her family had caused dissatisfaction among many aristocratic students, as it prevented them from directly entering officialdom. Qin Sang's proud and aloof demeanor further offended these high-minded students.
She declined an offer to form a team for the convention from fellow student Luo Ting, stating she valued martial arts over status and that talented common folk would prove their worth. Meanwhile, Lu Ping, Su Tang, Mo Lin, and Zhao Xifan made their way to Kaifeng on foot. Mo Lin complained about the long journey, questioning why Guo Youdao hadn't hired a carriage with the "hush money" he extorted.
Guo Youdao claimed the money was used to compensate the Chan State Academy for the destroyed tower. Upon arrival in Kaifeng, Lu Ping, using the golden token he took from Qin Sang, led them to the most luxurious inn. Zhao Xifan initially protested against using someone else's name to "deceive" for lodging, calling it a breach of principle.
Lu Ping retorted that "good people will not only die, but they will die earlier," and challenged Zhao Xifan to discuss principles once he could walk on his own. Guo Youdao eventually convinced Zhao Xifan to enter the lavish inn, where Zhao Xifan resolved to recover quickly to keep up with Lu Ping's rising power.
Lu Ping, who revealed that breaking one of his Soul Confinement chains in the tower had freed his soul power from its time limit, believed he was ready for the convention, with Guo Youdao adding that now Kaifeng City itself would be his next teacher. Drawn by the aroma of "the most famous congee in Kaifeng City," Mo Lin led the group to Yuyangji Congee Store. Lu Ping, with his keen senses, quickly identified the ingredients of the crab congee.
Zhao Xifan again admonished them for indulging in rich food, but Lu Ping reminded him that martial artists "aren't monks" and that his cultivation of Pivot required good food for perception. Lu Ping also noted the unpleasant smell of alcohol emanating from a woman nearby, ruining the congee's taste. Just then, Wei Tianqi and his bodyguards entered the congee shop.
Arrogantly demanding a private seat and bragging about his family's status, Wei Tianqi scoffed at Lu Ping and his companions being referred to as "honorable guests" by the owner. Ignoring his bodyguard Wei Hu's warning about keeping a low profile, Wei Tianqi declared he would take a private seat no matter what and ordered his men to throw Lu Ping's group out, initiating a confrontation.
