Whispers of Fate Episode 8 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
Puzhu confronted Tang Lici, accusing him of being connected to the deaths of the Dyed-Green Sect. Tang Lici countered by suggesting Puzhu and the Sword League were being manipulated by the Ape-Ghoul Nine-Heart Pills. He revealed the real Shen Langhun, wounded by Yu Qifeng’s West Wind Severs Wildfire, as proof of the scheme. Tang Lici explained that Yu Qifeng had an impostor pose as Shen Langhun for Puzhu to capture.
Once Puzhu gave chase, the real Shen Langhun confronted Yu Qifeng, deliberately allowing himself to be injured to obtain evidence. This tactic not only framed the real Shen Langhun but also inadvertently created an undeniable alibi for him. Realizing he had been tricked, Puzhu agreed to meet Tang Lici at the Lake Pavilion the following day. During a discussion with his companions, Tang Lici elaborated on his plan, calling Puzhu the "cat" and Shen Langhun the "mouse."
He stressed that his aim was not to clear his or Shen Langhun's name but to shift Puzhu’s suspicion towards Yu Qifeng. Tang Lici anticipated that the upcoming public trial at Jade Terrace would be a trap set by Yu Qifeng, and he intended to seize the initiative.
Separately, an unseen "Hong Guniang" expressed frustration to her "Lord" about relying on the "fool" Yu Qifeng to deal with Tang Lici, wondering why their more powerful "East and West Palace Lords" weren't deployed. Her superior replied that their faction had more critical matters in the Citadel of Swordsman and was indifferent to Yu Qifeng's fate. Tang Lici recruited Xue Xianzi, a lay disciple known for his love of food, to aid his plan.
Chi Yun showered Xue Xianzi with praise, recounting his legendary deeds at Tiandu Peak and Maoya Peak. Xue Xianzi confirmed that Yu Qifeng's West Wind Severs Wildfire contained "heavy evil energy," a deviation from the righteous Eight Winds Flame Phoenix Manual. He warned Tang Lici that an alliance between Yu Qifeng and Tang Lici's mortal enemy could put him in great peril.
Tang Lici offered Xue Xianzi 10,000 taels to assist him at a crucial moment before they left the Citadel of Swordsman, an offer Xue Xianzi accepted. To further his plan, Tang Lici tasked Chi Yun, A Shui, and Zhong Chunji with spreading a strategic rumor. In a bustling market, they loudly discussed that Myriad Vault, a royal procurement company, was seeking qualified shipping partners to transport treasures, specifying the docks as the contact point.
This ploy successfully attracted a merchant who had previously worked with Sword King Yu, and he eagerly rushed off to prepare his account books. Yu Qifeng, hearing the market rumors and further provoked by children's taunts about his diminished might, reluctantly agreed to rent the Jade Terrace for 30,000 taels of gold to host a banquet.
He intended to use this event to publicly accuse Shen Langhun, unaware he was falling into Tang Lici’s larger scheme to expose his connection to the Unfettered Guild. At their meeting in the Lake Pavilion, Puzhu confronted Tang Lici about his methods, accusing him of mercilessly sacrificing innocents for his objectives and demanding he leave the Citadel of Swordsman. Tang Lici argued that Puzhu and Sword Master Shao's "honest means" had failed to locate the Unfettered Guild's mastermind.
During their argument, Puzhu seized Tang Lici's wrist and took his pulse, discovering his broken meridians and terminal condition. Realizing Tang Lici was fighting not just for a righteous cause but also for his own survival, Puzhu listened as Tang Lici proposed a wager: he would deliver a list of all Ape-Ghoul Nine-Heart Pill users in the city and undeniable evidence of Yu Qifeng's involvement, all without harming a single innocent person.
In return, Puzhu had to cooperate and refrain from interfering with other matters in the Citadel of Swordsman. Should Tang Lici fail or harm innocents, he would submit to the Sword League's judgment. Later that night, at a lantern festival, Tang Lici healed a sick man who had been rejected by a street doctor, effortlessly curing him with three needles and astonishing the crowd. Zhong Chunji commented on his kindness and good looks, prompting Chi Yun to call her shallow.
From a distance, a masked zither player, whom Tang Lici recognized as Liu Yan by her distinctive fingers, observed the scene and wondered what it would feel like to kill his "new friends." As their eyes met, they communicated telepathically; Tang Lici silently questioned why she wanted to kill him, while Liu Yan glared back, challenging him to fight back.
Later, Liu Yan observed Tang Lici advising a hairpin vendor on how to use a sharp hairpin to fatally stab an assailant, finding his advice "interesting." She thought about a "Rebirth Record," dismissing Tang Lici's methods as "disgusting, but of some use," before mentally exclaiming, "Go to hell!" In a separate location, Yu Qifeng tried to meet his "Lord" but was turned away.
The Lord mused that while people believe themselves to be rational, their most significant decisions are driven by raw emotions like jealousy and anger, leading to a desire for "blood for blood." He was then shown in a memory, instructing a woman named "Hui" to promise to flee if she ever encountered Liu Yan, assuring her that he had a plan for her revenge that did not involve rash action.
