Whispers of Fate Episode 9 Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
Shen Langhun located Liu Yan. Despite Tang Lici's prior warning to avoid confrontation and not let vengeance cloud his judgment, the sight of Liu Yan's face brought back painful memories of his lover's death. Overwhelmed by grief, Shen Langhun struck Liu Yan with his sword, piercing his heart. However, Liu Yan, who had cultivated the powerful Rebirth Record, survived the attack, leaving Shen Langhun severely wounded.
Back at their base, Tang Lici noticed Shen Langhun's injuries and the tell-tale peach petals on his clothes. He questioned Shen Langhun, who confirmed he had encountered Liu Yan. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tang Lici deduced Liu Yan's hiding place from the unique petals. Tang Lici soon confronted Liu Yan, who was still consumed by a four-year-old grudge.
Liu Yan accused Tang Lici of being cold-hearted, stating he had no doubt Tang Lici was a "heartless monster" after witnessing Fang Zhou's death. Tang Lici attempted to explain that the events were not as they seemed, but Liu Yan dismissed it as a lie, vowing to kill him again, just as he claimed to have "slit his throat" years ago.
Tang Lici retorted that Liu Yan had failed to kill him then and now only dared face him within an illusion, showing less courage than before. Liu Yan questioned why Tang Lici, a "wandering ghost" and "ungrateful monster," had returned, hinting that Tang Lici sought the other half of the Rebirth Record out of fear of dying again.
Tang Lici observed that Liu Yan's continued "pathetic" state suggested he was merely "framing" Tang Lici because he couldn't bring himself to commit the act, or had finally acknowledged his own powerlessness. Liu Yan fired back, calling Tang Lici the "biggest hypocrite" for playing the "righteous hero" and boasting that he had only delayed Tang Lici's death to prolong his suffering.
Liu Yan passionately declared that Tang Lici only destroyed things and that the All-Seeing Tower, where Fang Zhou had saved Tang Lici and Liu Yan had healed him, should never have offered him sanctuary. Tang Lici then countered that Liu Yan's true regret was the "wretched thing" he had become in his relentless pursuit of revenge.
Tang Lici probed deeper, highlighting Liu Yan's internal conflict: despite his outward conviction, his heart was "shamefully uncertain," constantly testing Tang Lici, fearing that his belief was a "delusion," a "false excuse" he had fabricated to justify killing. This psychological attack deeply unsettled Liu Yan, who vehemently denied Tang Lici's words, calling him a "hypocritical liar" whom he envied for living so peacefully after destroying Fang Zhou and the All-Seeing Tower.
During their intense confrontation, Tang Lici's mind drifted to a memory of Fang Zhou, who had once gifted him the Inner Peace lute and urged him to steadfastly follow the path of goodness, acknowledging its inherent difficulty. Tang Lici observed that Liu Yan's inability to fully commit to either good or evil meant he was destined to accomplish nothing.
Enraged, Liu Yan unleashed a series of powerful techniques, including "Raging Thunder," "Shattered Jades," "Heaven and Earth Quake, Emotions End," and "White Dragon's Dance," aiming to ignite Tang Lici's "seven emotions burn" as atonement for Fang Zhou. As the illusion began to break, a woman from Windflow Palace appeared, revealing her purpose was to aggravate Tang Lici's old abdominal injury, claiming it was the only wound he could not heal.
She confirmed that the surrounding floral mists contained an agent to trigger this old injury, and her blood was the catalyst to activate it. Meanwhile, in Sword King City, various ship owners converged, eager to partner with Myriad Vault, which was rumored to be seeking vessels for a massive transport of valuables. Chi Yun and A Shui meticulously registered the applicants and collected their ledgers.
Despite initial reservations from some merchants about revealing their financial records, Chi Yun's promises of lucrative returns eventually swayed them. However, Yu Furen, Commander of the Citadel and a key figure under Yu Qifeng, arrived with officials. He invoked a city decree prohibiting unauthorized private trade during the Blessing Festival and demanded the immediate return of all ledgers. Yu Furen, after having Chi Yun's disguise exposed, confiscated the entire collection.
A disheartened Chi Yun was, however, quickly re-energized by A Shui. She astutely pointed out that Yu Furen’s aggressive actions inadvertently confirmed the ledgers contained incriminating evidence related to the Sword King. She also suggested that with Chi Yun’s legendary skills as the "Sky Drifter," retrieving the stolen chest would be feasible. Inspired, Chi Yun left to trail Yu Furen.
Yu Furen, instead of heading to the Citadel, went to report to a mysterious "Madam," later revealed to be the Fox Immortal from Windflow Palace. She expressed a desire for Tang Lici to suffer a prolonged and isolated death rather than a quick end. The Madam instructed Yu Furen to deliver a specially cultivated "gu insect" to Yu Qifeng, intended for Tang Lici.
Yu Furen, growing suspicious, questioned the Madam about his master's (the Sword King's) connection to Myriad Vault and why Puzhu had not arrested Tang Lici if he was truly a villain. The Madam swiftly shut down his inquiries, demanding unwavering obedience. As Yu Furen departed, Chi Yun covertly followed him. Chi Yun eventually located a storage area but was intercepted by a veiled woman in white.
After a brief skirmish, Chi Yun tore off her veil, revealing his long-lost fiancée, Bai Suche. Overjoyed and abandoning his mission, Chi Yun confronted Bai Suche, asking why she had vanished for three years and why she was now involved with Yu Qifeng, suspecting she had been manipulated. Bai Suche coldly rebuffed him, declaring their marriage contract void and announcing herself as Sword King Yu Qifeng's concubine. She then attacked him, poisoning him and stating he would die there.
Fortunately, Chi Yun, the "Sky Drifter," managed to escape the trap. Later, after being given a mysterious medicine by A Shui that helped neutralize the gu insect poison and soothe his old injuries from the earlier confrontation, Tang Lici was visited by a distraught Chi Yun. Chi Yun recounted his painful encounter with Bai Suche and his fury over her betrayal.
Tang Lici, in turn, sharply reprimanded Chi Yun for his possessive attitude, reminding him that Bai Suche was a free individual who had the right to choose her own path, regardless of their past betrothal. He criticized Chi Yun for clinging to outdated traditions rather than respecting her autonomy. Feeling betrayed and unappreciated by Tang Lici's harsh words and his denial of their friendship, Chi Yun angrily declared their partnership over and stormed off.
Observing the exchange, A Shui understood Tang Lici's true intentions. She realized that Bai Suche’s suspicious reappearance in Sword King City after a year of absence hinted at her connection to Liu Yan's faction, the Windflow Palace. A Shui surmised that Tang Lici, despite his own recent and severe injuries, had deliberately provoked Chi Yun to protect him from a deeper entanglement and potential harm.
Tang Lici confirmed her suspicions, explaining that Chi Yun's "pure" nature made him susceptible to clouded judgment when emotionally invested. If Chi Yun knew Bai Suche's true allegiance, he would recklessly abandon everything to save her, thus falling into a trap. Tang Lici believed it was better for Chi Yun to be consumed by anger now than to suffer manipulation or despair later.
A Shui, however, expressed concern for Tang Lici, noting his disturbed state since his encounter with Liu Yan and warning that such emotional distraction could lead to his defeat. Tang Lici, with unyielding determination, responded that while Liu Yan might experience a victory, Tang Lici himself would "never lose."
