Whispers of Fate Episode 28 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
Zhong Chunji returned to the Sword Assembly, where everyone was delighted. Despite her newly revealed status as a princess, she remained the same, treating the Sword Assembly like her home. Overhearing their cheerful gathering, Tang Lici was reminded of the life he once had at Zhou Di Tower, a painful memory given that he now carried Fang Zhou's heart crystal and faced Liu Yan's constant hostility.
Elsewhere, Zhong Chunji's newfound nobility caused Gu Xitan to feel inadequate, but his Senior Brother encouraged him not to belittle himself. He reminded Gu Xitan that while Zhong Chunji was now a princess, she was also the respected Heroine Zhong of the Sword Assembly, and true affection should not be swayed by status. Enlightened, Gu Xitan went to greet Zhong Chunji.
Later, as members of the Sword Assembly gathered for a meal prepared by A'Shui, their lively banter included teasing Tang Lici's absence and marveling at a unique chicken named Xuefu, much to Shui Duopo's annoyance, who also expressed frustration at finding Treasure Mirror Mountain deserted. Puzhu, whose true identity is Chai Zongxun, the former Crown Prince, was haunted by the memories of his past.
He recalled the chaos instigated by his father's misplaced trust in Yi Que Yang, which led to widespread suffering. He blamed himself for being unable to prevent the tragedy and for choosing to cultivate in Tianjing Pavilion during his country's darkest hour, feeling responsible for countless lost lives. He believed he was the most despicable person alive and that no amount of hidden truth would erase his pain.
At the Sword Assembly, a talkative hill myna, released by the Fengliudian, attempted to incite discord by revealing people's traits but was swiftly driven away by Tang Lici. Tang Lici then visited Puzhu, whose leg injury, healed by Shui Duopo, was on the mend. Sensing Puzhu had truly let go of his past, Tang Lici contrasted this with his own history, which remained entwined with Zhou Di Tower.
Puzhu cautioned Tang Lici about the self-destructive nature of his obsession, but Tang Lici admitted he clung to it to avoid becoming a "wandering ghost." Puzhu announced his decision to leave the Sword Assembly and continue his efforts to dismantle the Fengliudian. Tang Lici wished him well, then, sensing an approaching threat, urged Puzhu to depart quickly.
Fang Pingzhai, also known as Xi Jin, sent a letter to Puzhu, inviting him to the Thirteen Towers to conspire for the restoration of their former dynasty. The letter threatened to expose Puzhu's identity as the former Crown Prince if he refused. Tang Lici intercepted this message, recognizing it as a deceptive plot from the Thirteen Towers to entangle Puzhu in rebellion. He resolved to confront Fang Pingzhai himself and made his way to the desolate Thirteen Towers.
Fang Pingzhai, feigning surprise at Tang Lici's unexpected arrival, expressed jealousy over Tang Lici's concern for Puzhu. Fang Pingzhai harshly criticized Puzhu's spiritual cultivation as a cowardly evasion, asserting that Puzhu "lacked the courage to face his checkered past." He accused Puzhu (Chai Zongxun) of allowing rebels to sack the city and abandoning the country to a young and inexperienced Fang Pingzhai.
Fang Pingzhai proudly recounted how he had salvaged the national treasury to establish the Thirteen Towers and train an army of "death warriors," now believing he had a clear path to reclaim their former glory. Tang Lici dismissed Fang Pingzhai as a mere "remnant of the previous dynasty" and demanded to know the true mastermind behind his actions, specifically inquiring if Gui Mudan was involved.
Fang Pingzhai offered to reveal Gui Mudan's whereabouts if Tang Lici taught him the Rebirth Tome. He then unveiled "Inverted Dreams," a divine artifact created by Ingenious Transformation of Heaven and Earth, capable of traveling through time, which required the Rebirth Tome to activate. Fang Pingzhai commanded Tang Lici to activate the artifact to alter history, threatening to expose Puzhu's identity, which would undoubtedly destabilize the current emperor and his alliance with the Central Plains Sword Assembly.
Just as Tang Lici refused Fang Pingzhai's demands, Puzhu arrived. Addressing Fang Pingzhai by his given name, Xi Jin, Puzhu declared his willingness to enter "Inverted Dreams" and fight alongside him and their father, embracing his responsibility. He viewed this as his personal "karmic obstacle" and the "sins of the Chai family," hoping the artifact would allow him to "rewrite history," take responsibility, and protect the innocent from war.
Tang Lici, understanding Puzhu's resolve to address his own karma, agreed to activate the artifact, setting the destination to "the year of the Battle of Tiandu Peak." All three then entered Inverted Dreams. Inside "Inverted Dreams," Puzhu, reliving his role as Crown Prince Chai Zongxun, was pressured by his generals to lead the defense against the rebel army, reminding him of the comatose Emperor and the distant State Preceptor (Yi Que Yang) at Tiandu Peak.
His brother, Fang Pingzhai (as the Sixth Prince), presented a meticulously researched plan: he would lead 5,000 elite troops in a night raid to burn rebel supplies, promising a swift victory with minimal casualties. Puzhu, impressed, approved the strategy, mobilized city defenses, opened the imperial treasury, and disseminated news of the Emperor's supposed recovery to demoralize rebels and rally loyalist forces. Observing these events from outside the artifact, Tang Lici commended Puzhu's talent for governance.
Meanwhile, Swordmaster Shao revealed that during the historical turmoil, Yi Que Yang was at Tiandu Peak, allegedly praying for the Emperor after a vision of a "divine dragon." This led to his ambush by martial heroes, preventing him from aiding the besieged capital. Curiously, no prayer rituals were found at the scene; instead, his attendants reported that he simply gazed at the sky, seemingly "waiting for someone" or the dragon.
Back in the dream, Fang Pingzhai's forces achieved initial success, forcing rebels to retreat, and he then set out for Tiandu Peak to retrieve Yi Que Yang. However, Fang Pingzhai warned Puzhu that despite their efforts, history was destined to repeat a cycle of conflict and national collapse, and only retrieving the State Preceptor could change the outcome.
He claimed "Inverted Dreams" would last for four hours, which he believed equated to four months in their reality, after which Yi Que Yang would return and restore the country. Observing this, Tang Lici realized Fang Pingzhai's miscalculation: four hours in the dream was only half a month in reality. He also deduced that Yi Que Yang's "divine dragon" sighting was actually a vision of Tang Lici himself, then battling a divine dragon and preparing to escape the Celestial Realm.
Realizing he could alter history, Tang Lici consciously entered "Inverted Dreams." He found his consciousness inexplicably trapped within Yi Que Yang's body during the epic battle at Tiandu Peak against seven martial arts masters, including Fang Zhou. Tang Lici's inner voice desperately tried to stop Yi Que Yang's brutal attacks, but Yi Que Yang's physical form unleashed devastating power, injuring the masters. As Yi Que Yang prepared a killing blow, Tang Lici's mental plea, "Fang Zhou, stop!"
, caused a momentary hesitation. The allied masters seized this critical pause, delivering a combined assault that defeated Yi Que Yang, who plummeted into the sea. Underwater, Yi Que Yang (still imbued with Tang Lici's lingering consciousness) realized he was not truly dead, and he briefly perceived Gui Mudan, who cryptically declared, "as long as you're alive, I haven't lost."
Upon returning to reality, Fang Pingzhai was utterly distraught by the failure to alter history, cursing Gui Mudan for deceiving him. Tang Lici told him to "wake up," emphasizing that "Inverted Dreams" was merely an illusion of the past and that he could not change it. In despair, Fang Pingzhai smashed the artifact. Puzhu thanked Tang Lici for his help, acknowledging the immense energy Tang Lici expended, and promised to remember his kindness.
Tang Lici replied that he too had been seeking answers. When a confused Fang Pingzhai asked how he had entered the dream, Tang Lici explained that for him, it was not a dream but a "trap" in which he was the "prey." Tang Lici privately reflected on the encounter, realizing that the figure he saw at the bottom of the sea was Gui Mudan, a contingency left by Yi Que Yang.
He connected Gui Mudan's cryptic words, "as long as you're alive, I haven't lost," with Yi Que Yang's potential survival and method of extending his life to orchestrate a resurrection. He deduced that Yi Que Yang had been subtly manipulating him, fostering a sense of similarity between them, all to ultimately claim Tang Lici's unique "Celestial Body" for his own resurrection.
Later, Tang Lici informed Swordmaster Shao that Yi Que Yang was not dead, a revelation that shocked Swordmaster Shao given the severe injuries Yi Que Yang sustained from the combined attack of seven masters. Tang Lici clarified that due to their shared constitution, Yi Que Yang was in a state of being "not dead, nor alive," as he required a physical body for full resurrection.
While Tang Lici implied he had a plan, he withheld specific details, telling Swordmaster Shao that answers would come later. Swordmaster Shao accepted this, but urged Tang Lici to one day shed his burdens and be his true self. Tang Lici resolved to "live for himself" for one day before facing his destiny.
Elsewhere, A'Shui brought rice cakes to Shui Duopo, who, while enjoying them, took A'Shui's pulse, intrigued by her "medicine man" physique and curious about how she had survived for so long. Tang Lici was also seen carving a wooden puppet, pondering that he now understood Fang Zhou's past belief that everyone has a right to live, and realizing that Fang Zhou had likely known all along about Tang Lici's critical role in Yi Que Yang's potential resurrection.
