Whispers of Fate Episode 26 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
After Tang Lici's encouraging words, Zhong Chunji finally regained her appetite. The next day, her uncle, Jiang Jianzhu, who usually criticized her harshly, suddenly arrived with several disciples. He had them pack Tang Lici's belongings and told Zhong Chunji to return to the grand hall to resume her position as hall master. Jiang even forced his disciples to apologize to Zhong Chunji for spreading rumors about her. Zhong Chunji was suspicious of her uncle's sudden change in attitude.
Soon after, her foster father, Shao Sword Master, arrived. He told Zhong Chunji that Tang Lici had discovered a mysterious tattoo on her back. Tang Lici's letter, which Shao then gave to Zhong Chunji, revealed that Tang Lici had been seeking the lost Princess Langya for the Empress and believed Zhong Chunji to be that princess, with the tattoo as proof.
Zhong Chunji then recalled Liu Yan’s words when she was trapped in Peony Tower: "If you survive four days, I will send you a great gift, one that will make you valuable." It became clear that this gift was the revelation of her true identity. Shortly after, Royal Father-in-Law Tang and General Yuchi arrived from the palace. Royal Father-in-Law Tang formally requested Zhong Chunji accompany him to the Empress’s residence for identity verification.
With Shao Sword Master's assent, Zhong Chunji, surrounded by palace maids and attendants, stepped onto a red carpet and entered a grand eight-bearer sedan chair, her dark days seemingly behind her. After being rescued by Puzhu, Xi Fangtao returned to the now-deserted Peony Tower. There, she encountered Fang Pingzhai, the master of the Towers of the Fallen.
Fang Pingzhai, having waited for someone from the Unfettered Guild, openly admitted he was looking for Liu Yan and sought to "seize a key Guild figure" to draw Liu Yan's attention. Xi Fangtao, not knowing Liu Yan's precise whereabouts, engaged in a verbal spar with Fang Pingzhai. She questioned his intentions, reminding him that traitors of the Towers of the Fallen do not survive and implying that the Unfettered Guild might be just as unforgiving.
Eventually, to secure her release, Xi Fangtao proposed a deal: if Fang Pingzhai allowed her to leave, she would arrange a meeting between him and Liu Yan the following night. Fang Pingzhai, impressed by her cunning, agreed and asked her to relay his anticipation. Later, Xi Fangtao reported to Liu Yan, fabricating a story about being wounded and trapped in a cliff cavern after fighting Puzhu, claiming Puzhu had "slipped away."
Liu Yan, seeing through her lies, confronted her directly, saying, "You are lying." Xi Fangtao, feigning innocence, then conveyed Fang Pingzhai’s request for a meeting. Liu Yan was surprised, noting that Fang Pingzhai had betrayed the Unfettered Guild by giving their map to the Zhongyuan Sword League and should be hiding from him, not seeking him out. Tang Lici, accompanied by A Shui and Xuexianzi, finally arrived to meet the divine physician, known as Shui Duopo.
Upon seeing her, Xuexianzi immediately hid, remarking that getting Shui Duopo's help would not be easy. Shui Duopo, a young woman despite Xuexianzi's claims of her being an "old crone," emerged and demanded Xuexianzi hand over "Xuefu," whom Xuexianzi refused to relinquish. When Tang Lici introduced himself, Shui Duopo probed if he was the infamous "Yique Yinyang," a claim Tang Lici denied.
Shui Duopo then took Tang Lici's pulse, instantly discerning his extraordinary constitution and severe internal injuries, which she declared should have killed him long ago. Curious, she examined A Shui, recognizing her unusual complexion and the wounds on her wrist, confirming that A Shui was Tang Lici's "medicine-person." Shui Duopo explained that Tang Lici's injuries were incurable by conventional medicine but could be managed using "Rainbow Ore" from Mount Baojing, which would serve as a catalyst for A Shui's treatment.
However, she warned that Mount Baojing was treacherous, with many who sought the ore never returning. She refused to elaborate further unless Xuexianzi gave her Xuefu. Later, Shui Duopo took Tang Lici aside. She confirmed her curiosity about his unique body and probed his origins.
Tang Lici revealed he was from the "Celestial Realm," an ancient land that once attempted to ascend to godhood through secret arts but was shattered and lost in the void, with the Kingdom of Gumo built on its ruins. Shui Duopo, however, was only interested in the mysterious "heart crystal" within him. Tang Lici confessed it was Fang Zhou’s heart crystal and that he intended to revive him. Shui Duopo declared this impossible.
She then explained that Tang Lici’s act of keeping the heart crystal and nourishing it with his essence was the cause of his severe injuries, including his newly white hair. She warned that relying on A Shui’s blood as a "medicine-person" was a temporary solution that would lead to him draining A Shui completely. After almost four years, the heart crystal had fused with his own heart channels, and now, only one of them could live.
Shui Duopo urged him to remove the heart crystal if he wished to survive, stating there was no other way. Tang Lici requested time to consider this grave choice. Back in his room, Tang Lici gazed at Fang Zhou's small statue, an internal monologue playing out in his mind.
He acknowledged having once deceived Fang Zhou and pondered the forgotten details of his past—his name, his parents, his martial arts—questioning if his very nature was killing and if their sacrifices merely perfected him. He admitted to a long-held weariness of life, where sacrificing himself for Fang Zhou would have been an easy choice. However, having found new connections, the prospect of living had become desirable.
Shen Langhun, sensing Tang Lici’s somber mood and recalling the divine physician’s diagnosis, entered the room. He observed that Tang Lici was unusually quiet, to which Tang Lici admitted that Shen Langhun’s keen perception frightened him. Tang Lici asked Shen Langhun if he ever thought about death. Shen Langhun replied that he often did, but he chose to live on so as not to face his beloved Hui empty-handed.
Tang Lici then expressed his belief that one should "try every way to live on," for "while alive, there is much to do; if dead, nothing remains." Shen Langhun highlighted the different motivations for risking one's life, from duty and faith for figures like Puzhu, Lord Cheng, and Shao Sword Master, to love and loyalty for Chi Yun and himself. He pointed out that Tang Lici was different.
Shen Langhun noted Tang Lici’s change, particularly his reduced wariness towards A Shui. Tang Lici explained he had initially suspected A Shui of being a spy for Liu Yan. Shen Langhun dismissed the explanation, asserting that Tang Lici never truly expressed his feelings and that A Shui, with her sincere heart, lived more authentically and happily than he did, finding joy in helping others even if it meant self-sacrifice.
Tang Lici responded that while A Shui might be willing to sacrifice herself, he was not willing to let her. Shen Langhun reminded Tang Lici of their pact regarding Liu Yan, and Tang Lici promised to fulfill it. The following morning, A Shui rushed to Tang Lici's room, reporting that Shi was missing.
Chi Yun suggested Shi might have gone to Mount Baojing to find the Rainbow Ore, remembering Shui Duopo's earlier mention of its properties for helping Tang Lici's condition. Knowing the mountain's perils, Tang Lici immediately told Chi Yun to remain behind and Shen Langhun to search nearby, while he himself would go to Mount Baojing to find Shi, promising to bring him back.
Upon reaching Mount Baojing, Tang Lici searched for Shi, observing the mountain’s deceptively calm appearance but noting an "odd" wind. He soon spotted Shi. At that moment, Liu Yan appeared, expressing surprise at their quick reunion and observing Tang Lici's nervousness. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the treacherous mountain paths, Fang Pingzhai, also searching for Liu Yan, mused on the challenges of finding the sly Tang Lici who was protected by Shen Langhun and Chi Yun.
Not far, Xi Fangtao, who had also made her way to Mount Baojing, encountered Shen Langhun. She claimed to be admiring the mountain's beauty, but Shen Langhun, seeing through her pretense, declared his intent to "sever one of Liu Yan's arms" by killing her, then attacked her with the "Sonic Execution, Godsbane Ghostwail." Liu Yan directly confronted Tang Lici, admitting he had waited for him, knowing Tang Lici would come for Shi.
He threatened Shi's life, demanding to know the location of Fang Zhou's body. Tang Lici refused, explaining Fang Zhou's body was concealed by a special formation and offering to prove it if Liu Yan returned to the All-Seeing Tower. Liu Yan rejected this, demanding Tang Lici accompany him immediately, and coldly asked if Shi's life was more important than Fang Zhou’s. As Shi cried out "Master!" , Liu Yan further taunted Tang Lici, deeming him "unfit to be anyone's master."
Seeing Shi in grave danger, Tang Lici courageously leaped to save him, pulling him from Liu Yan's grasp. Amidst their struggle, Tang Lici warned Liu Yan that the mountain's strange astral winds would cause them both to fall into the abyss and be "smashed to pieces." Liu Yan, however, remained defiant, claiming he feared neither the abyss nor death.
As they continued to grapple, Tang Lici attempted to use his red sash to send Liu Yan to safety, pleading that they would both die otherwise. But Liu Yan, unwavering in his obsession, refused, vowing to follow Tang Lici until Fang Zhou was found and accusing Tang Lici of trying to deceive him again. They both plunged into the swirling abyss.
Tang Lici later regained consciousness in the deep valley, realizing the true reason why those who previously sought the ore on Mount Baojing had vanished. Liu Yan also awoke nearby, mocking Tang Lici for his predicament and suggesting he was desperate because he couldn’t obtain the other half of the Rebirth Record from him. Liu Yan then declared, "Too bad. You ran into me again. Once you run into me, you can't leave."
