Love a Lifetime Episode 16 Recap
> Love a Lifetime Recap
Lin Ruohan met Ms. Jin Ye, who introduced her to the surviving Nalan family members, led by Jing Yuan. Jing Yuan apologized to Lin Ruohan. Ms. Jin Ye recounted how Rong Jingfeng and the Ling Sect had massacred their family while attempting to steal the Chihua Pill. Their family head died protecting the children, and Lin Ruohan had fled with them, leaving Ms. Jin Ye to raise the remaining descendants.
Near death, Ms. Jin Ye expressed profound gratitude at seeing Lin Ruohan again before she passed away. She entrusted the Nalan descendants to Lin Ruohan, pleading for vengeance for their family. After Ms. Jin Ye’s death, Lin Ruohan vowed to care for them. However, the survivors declared their purpose was not merely to live, but to reclaim their lost treasure and uphold justice.
Rong Hua found the food at Lingxu Pavilion too bland and decided to gather honeycomb from the back mountain to add to her dishes. Cai, feigning concern, offered to send escorts with Rong Hua, but Rong Hua politely declined, wanting to keep her culinary efforts a "surprise" for everyone. Later, Cai and a group of disciples ambushed Rong Hua in the mountains. Cai revealed her deep-seated hatred for Rong Jingfeng, explaining Lingxu Pavilion's enmity with Dragon Howl City.
She accused Rong Hua of enchanting Lin Jing and admitted to placing the white cloth in Rong Hua's room as a warning. Outnumbered, Rong Hua cleverly threw a beehive, unleashing a swarm of bees that allowed her to escape. Following the failed assassination, Cai and her co-conspirators were brought before Lin Jing in the main hall. Lin Jing, expressing his profound disappointment in Cai, who had been raised by his mother, ordered their execution.
Rong Hua intervened, arguing that they did not deserve death and should not be consumed by hatred. To resolve the conflict, she challenged Cai to a martial arts duel, asserting that if she won, Cai and the others must sincerely accept her. Lin Jing was exasperated, reminding Rong Hua that Cai’s martial arts, personally taught by Lin Ruohan, were among the best in the jianghu. Despite Lin Jing's protests, Rong Hua charmingly cajoled him into helping her win.
Unwilling to see her lose face, Lin Jing compiled a unique combat strategy specifically tailored to Cai's fighting style, drawing from Lingxu Pavilion's extensive collection of martial arts manuals. Lin Jing then sought out Lu Yizhou in the Grand Hall, explaining his decision to marry Rong Hua and resolve the generational animosity between Lingxu Pavilion and Dragon Howl City.
Lu Yizhou, who had no memory of his own parents and understood the Nalan family's suffering caused by greed, pledged his unwavering support to Lin Jing and Lin Ruohan. He granted them the authority to decide the future of Lingxu Pavilion and the Nalan family, including the retrieval of the Chihua Pill. Meanwhile, Rong Hua began practicing her new moves and also attempted to cultivate Chihua Pill seeds in Lingxu Pavilion’s warmer climate, but with limited success.
She confessed to Lin Jing that while she had memorized the techniques, her internal energy remained insufficient for true mastery. Lin Jing tried to boost her confidence by intentionally losing several practice bouts when Cai was secretly observing. This tactic made Cai suspicious, causing her to wonder if Rong Hua possessed hidden strength or if Lin Jing was merely feigning weakness. After leaving Dragon Howl City, Rong Su arrived in Jiangnan to visit the Mei family.
Mei Ying, initially expecting Rong Hua, was visibly disappointed to see Rong Su. Observing the Mei family's diminished state, Rong Su subtly instigated Mei Ying to seek revenge against the Tang Sect and the Xiao family. Rong Su then asked Mei Ying to lead her to Lingxu Pavilion to visit Rong Hua. Mei Ying, wary of Rong Su's past ruthlessness, feared she might harm Rong Hua to consolidate her power as City Lord.
Rong Su dismissed his concerns, explaining that her father, the City Lord, sent her to check on Rong Hua, who was an outsider in Lingxu Pavilion, and to subtly display Dragon Howl City's influence. She reminded Mei Ying that she had kept his secret about receiving a martial arts manual from Rong Hua and implied that assisting her now would benefit the Mei family in the future. Mei Ying hesitated, but Rong Su left, confident that he would eventually comply.
Her subordinate questioned this confidence, to which Rong Su replied that Mei Ying, being shrewd, knew it was more advantageous to gain a favor by assisting her, especially since he secretly cared for Rong Hua and wished to be near her. Rong Su also hinted that her visit was not solely to check on Rong Hua but also to investigate Lingxu Pavilion and its master, Lin Jing, whom she deemed to be a complex man.
On the day of the duel, the disciples gathered to watch. Lin Jing attempted to announce rules for a controlled match, but Cai, determined to fight fiercely, declared she would give her all. Rong Hua, asserting her role as a guest, humbly offered Cai three unresisted moves as a gesture of deference. Cai lunged with an enraged attack, but Rong Hua deftly evaded her blade without a scratch.
Once the three moves were completed, Rong Hua shifted to offense, striking back with unexpected force. Cai, unable to withstand the sudden surge of internal energy, stumbled backward and was disarmed as her sword was sent flying, which Lin Jing quickly caught. The onlookers, including Cai and Lu Yizhou, were stunned by Rong Hua's rapid improvement.
Rong Hua, composed and resolute, declared that she came to Lingxu Pavilion to unite with Lin Jing and would treat everyone as family, committing herself to mending the deep-seated grievances between the two families and atoning for Dragon Howl City's past misdeeds. Deeply moved, Lin Jing, however, sensed an anomaly in Rong Hua's sudden power. He escorted her away, but she soon collapsed, vomiting blood.
Later, in Pleasant Home for Hua, Lu Yizhou discovered a Shunxi Pill in Rong Hua's dresser. He explained to a distressed Lin Jing that the Shunxi Pill, when taken by someone with a martial arts foundation, dramatically increases their power for a short period. However, the effects are highly dangerous: mild cases lead to unconsciousness and vomiting blood, while severe cases cause meridians to rupture, resulting in death.
Rong Hua confessed to Lin Jing that she took the pill before the competition. In a flashback, her aunt confronts her for taking the pill, which is meant for death squads on suicide missions. Rong Hua explains she only brought it as a precaution for her journey.
