Whispers of Fate Episode 38 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
One late night, Xi Fangtao attempted to visit Chi Yun in prison with a food box but was turned away, though the box was taken inside. The next morning, Chi Yun escaped from prison. Tang Lici, who had just drawn his own blood and was praying for Chi Yun to survive until an antidote was ready, was enraged upon learning of Chi Yun's escape and Xi Fangtao's visit the previous night.
While searching Chi Yun's cell, Tang Lici found a note mentioning "Thirteen Niang's crisis." He deduced that Xi Fangtao had deliberately used the food delivery to provoke Chi Yun, causing his illness to relapse and facilitating his escape as part of her hidden agenda. When Xi Fangtao approached Tang Lici, feigning concern, he angrily pushed her, though without concrete evidence, he merely glared at her before rushing off to find Chi Yun.
Meanwhile, Shao Yanping (also referred to as Shao Jianzhu) was rushing to deliver Tang Lici's prescription to a divine doctor (Liuyan in one account, simply a "divine doctor" in another). On his way, he was intercepted by Gui Mudan, an opponent he was no match for. Zhong Chunji, who had been following her master, immediately intervened when Shao Yanping was wounded. Xi Fangtao then appeared, revealing that she and Gui Mudan had orchestrated this entire scheme to locate Liuyan.
She also exposed Zhong Chunji's identity as a fake princess in front of Shao Yanping. Shao Yanping, severely injured by Gui Mudan and realizing escape was impossible, resolved that Zhong Chunji must survive to inform Tang Lici that Gui Mudan was still alive. Gui Mudan, witnessing the deep bond between master and disciple, intended to kill Zhong Chunji.
Xi Fangtao, in a disturbing act, quickly offered to handle it, approaching Zhong Chunji and handing her a sword, urging her to kill Shao Yanping herself. Zhong Chunji firmly refused. To spare her the torment, Shao Yanping decisively took the sword and committed suicide in front of her. Zhong Chunji tearfully embraced her master's body, devastated by the loss of the most important person in her life.
Xi Fangtao, witnessing the tragic scene, experienced a moment of empathy, reflecting on her own past suffering and falling into similar traps. Earlier, Zhong Chunji and Shao Yanping had shared a quiet moment, reminiscing about their childhood, with Shao Yanping expressing guilt over a past critical vote and Zhong Chunji feeling guilty about a secret she hesitated to confess.
Chi Yun's escape was instigated by a note Xi Fangtao had hidden in the food box, falsely informing him that his Fire Cloud Stockade (Huoyun Zhai) was in trouble and needed immediate rescue. As the chief, Chi Yun immediately set off. Although pursued, his initial clarity allowed him to evade his pursuers. He soon encountered his clansmen, who were inexplicably heading in his direction, carrying a distress letter supposedly from Chi Yun.
Chi Yun realized he had neither sent nor received any such letters, confirming he was ensnared in a trap. Due to the effects of "evil pills" (or his illness relapse), his consciousness began to fluctuate, causing him to lose recognition of his own clansmen. At this critical moment, a masked woman, referred to as Bai Suche in one account and Thirteen Niang in another, arrived.
She administered a pill (referred to as Tang Lici's medicine or a "Forget-Worry Pill") to Chi Yun. He immediately regained a measure of clarity, his manic state receding. He found the masked woman familiar, felt an inexplicable happiness when she spoke, and instinctively followed her guidance, even accepting her claim to be Tang Lici's subordinate sent to bring him back to the Sword Society.
When she advised him not to drink alcohol, he promptly asked for tea instead, surprising his clansmen with his sudden change in temperament. Though he didn't recognize her, he felt a deep connection and even envisioned marrying her, moving Thirteen Niang to tears with his unspoken affection, hinting at a past connection.
Later, when Chi Yun, in a muddled state, returned to Fire Cloud Stockade and a subordinate inadvertently mentioned "Thirteen Niang," his condition worsened, leading him to angrily attempt to kill the subordinate, before the masked woman intervened again. Soon after, Chi Yun's condition deteriorated severely again.
Tang Lici, having sensed Shao Yanping's misfortune and Chi Yun's poisoned relapse through a psychic vision, realized Chi Yun had already killed subordinates and was about to harm the masked woman, Thirteen Niang, who was prepared to die. Tang Lici arrived just in time, witnessing his brother, whom he regarded as family, in a completely deranged state, attacking his companions.
He remembered Shui Duopo's warning that if Chi Yun's sanity worsened, he should be given a quick death to prevent him from becoming a monster. Tang Lici understood that Chi Yun would be utterly devastated if he regained consciousness and realized he had killed his own clansmen. Chi Yun's malevolence had intensified, and his remaining sliver of consciousness could no longer control his actions.
He agonizingly pleaded with Tang Lici to kill him and end his suffering, and despite Tang Lici's desperate calls, Chi Yun could not recognize him. With no other option, and enduring immense pain, Tang Lici used magic to forcibly control Chi Yun before personally plunging his sword into him. In his final moments, Chi Yun found peace, admitting he had waited for Tang Lici for a long time, "from day to night, from night to day."
The two brothers embraced, Tang Lici weeping and apologizing profusely as memories of their time together flooded his mind. Chi Yun, with his characteristic playfulness, responded, "Forgive me in the next life." Later, Xi Fangtao successfully located Liuyan's residence. Hong Guniang immediately offered to sacrifice her life to protect Liuyan. Liuyan emerged, tenderly wiping Hong Guniang's injured lips, his gaze filled with affection. To safeguard Hong Guniang, Liuyan resolutely chose to accompany Xi Fangtao to meet Gui Mudan, despite the perilous unknown that lay ahead.
