Whispers of Fate Episode 34 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
In the Fallen Petal Garden, Gui Mudan confronted Tang Lici, expecting him to be enraged about A Shui. Instead, Tang Lici questioned Gui Mudan about A Shui's relationship with Fang Zhou, deducing that A Shui must be Fang Zhou's sister due to the intense hatred he perceived in her eyes, a hatred he had only seen previously in Liu Yan. Gui Mudan confirmed that A Shui was indeed Fang Zhou's sister.
Though Gui Mudan anticipated Tang Lici's fury, Tang Lici merely smiled, explaining that his current emotional state—a complex mix of joy at discovering Fang Zhou had family, anger that she was being used, sorrow that they could not be reunited, and happiness that it was A Shui—was beyond what any of Gui Mudan's collected masks could portray. He called it a feeling of "peace of mind," an emotion a person devoid of true feelings, like Gui Mudan, could not grasp.
Gui Mudan acknowledged this profound insight, realizing he needed time to process. A Shui confessed her conflicted heart to Gui Mudan, feeling both love and hate for Tang Lici and fearing her own reluctance to let him go as his impending death drew near. She also expressed a poignant understanding of Gui Mudan's own fate, acknowledging that he, like Tang Lici, would be superseded by the Artificer.
A Shui reflected on Gui Mudan's existence, noting his curiosity but absence of genuine feeling. She suggested that he, a puppet, had only now begun to discover a sense of self, just before his demise, allowing him to finally experience the human feeling of regret. Despite her emotional turmoil, she found herself compelled to bring Tang Lici his meals. Meanwhile, concern for Tang Lici mounted outside the Fallen Petal Garden.
Shen Langhun and Chi Yun were already on their way to rescue him. An elder, Shao Yanping, instructed A Shui to remain behind and investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding Tang Lici's injury. Elsewhere, Shao Yanping visited Princess Zhong Chunji, subtly questioning her about Tang Lici's wound. Chunji claimed Liu Yan controlled her and she unknowingly used the needle to stab Tang Lici. Shao Yanping, sensing her deception, urged her to admit her mistake, but Chunji vehemently insisted she was blameless.
She argued that only she understood the immense burdens Tang Lici carried, believing he was used by everyone and lacked true protection. She implored Shao Yanping to keep her secret. Despite his disappointment, Shao Yanping reminded her of the importance of being a good person. Later, a royal guard suggested silencing anyone who might tarnish the Princess's reputation, including Shao Yanping. Chunji reacted fiercely, warning the guard that she would execute him if he dared harm her master.
In her solitude, A Shui recalled the tragic revelation from her dying father: she was not an orphan but had an older brother, Fang Zhou, the master of All-Seeing Tower. After a long and arduous journey to the capital, she eventually encountered Fang Zhou, who recognized her by a distinctive ankle bell she wore.
Their reunion was filled with joy, but Fang Zhou, amidst a critical situation, urged her to stay nearby for two weeks and then seek him at the Tower. He forebodingly added that if he wasn't there, she should find Tang Lici and his companions, identifying her as his sister. A Shui's world shattered when, instead of reunion, she received news of Fang Zhou's death.
As the time for the Artificer's revival drew near, Gui Mudan asked Tang Lici about any final wishes. Tang Lici revealed his deduction that Tuolong, a creature dependent on the Celestial Realm's energy, could still exert power in Shenzhou because Gui Mudan had been continuously feeding the Bronze Tree with "Dark Decimator" crystals, formed from the Ape-Ghoul Nine-Heart Pill. Gui Mudan confirmed this, stating that the crystals, combined with Tang Lici's physical body, were now sufficient for the Artificer's resurrection.
Tang Lici then challenged Gui Mudan, asking who would ultimately survive: himself, Gui Mudan, or the Artificer. Gui Mudan stated it would be a fusion of himself and the Artificer, with Tang Lici's consciousness erased. Tang Lici countered that the Artificer would likely deem Gui Mudan, a mere puppet devoid of genuine emotion and memories, useless, leading to his destruction. Gui Mudan conceded this possibility.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang Lici proposed an alliance: if Gui Mudan wished to preserve his body and Tang Lici his consciousness, they should unite. Gui Mudan suggested using a "Falling Sky Stone" within the Bronze Tree to rewind time to the world's genesis and eliminate the Artificer before its birth. Tang Lici, feigning agreement, questioned why Gui Mudan hadn't attempted this alone. Gui Mudan cited the Celestial Realm's tight security, asserting that their combined efforts would guarantee success.
With a warning against treachery, Gui Mudan then used the stone to send Tang Lici back in time, to the Celestial Realm, specifically before Ye Mo's departure. Tang Lici found himself in the Celestial Realm, his power of the Rebirth Record fully restored, but his Bone-Purging Bracelet missing. He observed the Divine Maiden, venerated as the mother of the Holy Child destined to end the Five Declines, and realized that Ye Mo had not yet been born.
He speculated that the Divine Maiden's absence from historical records might mean she vanished or was erased after Ye Mo's birth. Intervening when a Garuda Clan chief attempted to pilfer a tribute, Tang Lici, posing as a Celestial Official, compelled the chief to confess that people were aging and dying due to the Five Declines, and he stole the tribute to survive until the Holy Child's arrival.
Tang Lici ordered the chief to hand over the "Golden Pill" (the tribute) and then research ancient texts. Through a secret communication, the chief reported that the Dragon Clan's Divine Maiden would die from spiritual exhaustion after giving birth to the Holy Child. Tang Lici grimly understood that the birth of a Holy Child necessitated the mother's demise. Disguised, Tang Lici delivered the "missing tribute" to the Divine Maiden.
Sensing his hidden emotions, she dismissed her protectors and allowed him to stay. She shared her solace in viewing the stars from her confinement and offered him a swaddling cloth she had sewn for her unborn child, calling him "child."
Tang Lici, feeling a strange familiarity despite his initial denial of being a child, revealed what he believed to be her future: her child, whom he thought was Ye Mo, would become a devil, bring chaos to Shenzhou, and cause her death and oblivion. He declared his intention to destroy the fetus. However, the Divine Maiden corrected him, stating that Ye Mo had left the Celestial Realm years ago. She revealed her unborn child's name was Agibanel Tonga.
A wave of realization washed over Tang Lici: Agibanel Tonga was "his" own name, and the Divine Maiden, his intended victim, was his mother. Overwhelmed, he learned that his mother's child, the new Holy Child, was destined to leave the tower at birth, never to know his mother or her love, which she hoped would sustain him amidst decay.
She entrusted him with the Bone-Purging Bracelet, nourished by a dragon pearl, asking him to deliver it to her son if he ever met him. Suddenly, an alarm blared, and guards accused Tang Lici of assaulting the Divine Maiden. She urged him to flee. Tang Lici tried to take her, but she was immobilized. With no other option, he ascended into the sky, ready to confront Gui Mudan for his deception.
