Sweet Tai Chi Episode 22 Recap
> Sweet Tai Chi Recap
Wei Chu and Piaopiao were playing chess when Piaopiao asked Wei Chu to check her pulse, feeling generally weak and tired lately. Wei Chu, examining her, playfully told her she had a weak pulse, deficiency of qi and blood, arrhythmia, and endocrine imbalance, signs of a serious illness. Piaopiao scoffed at his teasing, insisting it couldn't be true.
Wei Chu then gently took her hand and turned her to face him, telling her not to be angry, as he would be heartbroken if she harmed herself. He pointed out her heavy dark circles and reiterated his earlier concerns were not to scare her, warning that her condition would worsen if she continued to overthink. He told her she needed to focus on her training and prepare for the Martial Arts Congress, cautioning her not to act alone.
When he then returned to the chess game, Piaopiao, still annoyed by his teasing, swept the chess pieces off the board. Wei Chu and Bai Haiyang reported to the principal about the Tai Chi Pavilion incident, confirming it was the work of Eight Qimen. Tan Lin, the door owner, was present but claimed to know nothing about the attack. The principal, dismayed, then sought police assistance.
The police arrested several individuals, who confirmed they were Eight Qimen disciples but claimed personal revenge, not official sect involvement. Later, when Tan Lin could not be found (having been secretly imprisoned by Fang Zhaotian), the principal decided to expel him. Wei Chu intervened, urging the principal not to make a hasty decision, suggesting the matter was more complicated and required further investigation. The principal, trusting Wei Chu, agreed.
Meanwhile, Tan Lin invited Fang Zhaotian for tea, secretly adding a potent substance to the "Duyun Maojian" tea he offered. However, Fang Zhaotian, an expert himself, detected the poison. He confronted Tan Lin, then had him imprisoned, dismissing Tan Lin's protests that the disciples of Eight Qimen would not tolerate such an act, as half the sect members were loyal to Fang Zhaotian.
Fang Zhaotian then gathered the disciples and falsely announced that Tan Lin had fallen ill with an infectious disease, thus appointing himself as the acting door owner. Although the disciples expressed doubt, none dared to challenge Fang Zhaotian due to his superior martial arts skills. Wei Chu's grandmother visited him and Piaopiao, expressing concern about the Tai Chi Pavilion being damaged. Wei Chu assured her they would protect themselves.
She then offered Piaopiao guidance, advising her that the essence of Tai Chi lies in acting spontaneously and maintaining a calm mindset. Wei Chu noticed Piaopiao's intense training and prepared her a special honeysuckle tea mixed with lemonade and honey to balance the natural astringency. Piaopiao found it delicious, playfully naming it "Ignore People Brand Honeysuckle Tea," and gratefully thanked Wei Chu, calling him "really good." One day, while Bai Haiyang was getting a drink, Fang Zhaotian approached Xiao Xiao.
He told her he wasn't trying to hurt her before, but was also deceived. He then claimed to have uncovered the true killer of her grandfather, Fangji: Tan Lin’s father. He twisted the narrative, suggesting that Fangji had truly wanted Xiao Xiao to succeed him, and Tan Lin’s father had secretly harbored ill intentions towards her. Fang Zhaotian revealed he had overthrown Tan Lin and offered Xiao Xiao the leadership of Eight Qimen.
He handed her a packet of powder, instructing her to put it in Piaopiao’s tea, guaranteeing Eight Qimen's victory in the upcoming Martial Arts Congress, which would cement their position as the top sect, fulfilling Fangji's supposed dying wish. Xiao Xiao took the packet, deep in thought. When Bai Haiyang returned, he noticed her troubled expression, but she dismissed it as feeling cold. That evening, Xiao Xiao met Piaopiao and offered her a cup of milk tea.
After drinking it, Piaopiao immediately felt unwell and collapsed. Fang Zhaotian emerged, confident that Xiao Xiao had fallen for his scheme, and mocked her, calling her as foolish as her grandfather. However, Xiao Xiao calmly retorted that it was yet to be seen who the truly foolish one was. At that moment, Wei Chu, Bai Haiyang, Chen Bing, and Yang Ningxue appeared, revealing that Fang Zhaotian had walked into a trap.
Xiao Xiao explained that she had deduced Fang Zhaotian was Fangji’s killer after realizing the powder he gave her was identical to the one used to poison her grandfather. As the group prepared to confront Fang Zhaotian, Wei Chu stopped them, stating he didn't wish to outnumber him. Instead, he challenged Fang Zhaotian to settle their conflict on the challenge arena at the upcoming Martial Arts Congress. Fang Zhaotian accepted.
Back at Wei Chu's place, Wei Chu announced that Xiao Xiao would join the Tai Chi team as the fifth member, to fight Eight Qimen together. Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue vehemently opposed, reminding everyone of Xiao Xiao's past affiliation with Eight Qimen, her role in attempting to dismantle Tai Chi, and her previous attacks on Wei Chu and Bai Haiyang.
Wei Chu explained that Xiao Xiao's combat abilities had largely recovered, and her prior animosity was based on a misunderstanding that had since been resolved. He emphasized that Xiao Xiao had studied Tai Chi before and possessed considerable skill. He also stated his desire to break down sectarian barriers, asserting that inclusiveness and broad-mindedness were fundamental principles of Tai Chi. Piaopiao publicly supported Xiao Xiao, revealing that Xiao Xiao had helped expose Fang Zhaotian's plot against her.
Xiao Xiao then sincerely apologized for her past mistakes, the pain she caused, and the deceptions she perpetrated, acknowledging her previous misunderstanding of Wei Chu and the Tai Chi team. She humbly requested an opportunity to join them, expressing her profound regret and her fervent wish to personally defeat Fang Zhaotian in the Martial Arts Congress to avenge her grandfather.
Piaopiao, as captain, accepted her, and after a moment of reflection, the rest of the team, including Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue, welcomed her. Wei Chu then acknowledged Piaopiao's support, saying it gave him courage. Wei Chu sought his grandmother's support for the new Tai Chi team, which now included Xiao Xiao. However, Wei's grandmother vehemently opposed the idea, citing the traditional rule that Tai Chi should not be taught outside the sect.
She argued that having a member of Eight Qimen, especially Xiao Xiao, on the Tai Chi team would bring disgrace upon them and violate their ancestors' rules. Wei Chu countered that such rigid adherence to tradition had led to Tai Chi's decline, and that embracing an open mindset was essential for its future. Piaopiao and Wei Chu both pledged to uphold Tai Chi's reputation. After much persuasion, Wei's grandmother eventually relented, entrusting the future of Tai Chi to them.
During their training, Bai Haiyang described Fang Zhaotian's unique fighting style, a brutal blend of Thai boxing and Malay boxing meant for "do-or-die" combat, warning Piaopiao to familiarize herself with it. The team members took turns sparring with Piaopiao to help her adapt to this aggressive style. Grandpa Feng also appeared, offering Piaopiao further guidance, emphasizing that true Tai Chi mastery comes from understanding its "intent" and embracing "emptiness of body and mind," rather than merely memorizing moves.
He cautioned that without this deeper understanding, she would not be able to defeat Fang Zhaotian. On the day of the 88th National Martial Arts Congress, the announcer revealed a new rule: the championship team would earn a spot at the World Martial Arts Congress, which would require a year of overseas training and competition.
Piaopiao was introduced as the captain of the Tai Chi team, with Bai Haiyang, Xiao Xiao, Chen Bing, and Yang Ningxue as team members, and Wei Chu as the substitute. The Eight Qimen team, led by Fang Zhaotian, also made their entrance. Piaopiao was visibly nervous before the competition. The team rallied around her, with Xiao Xiao giving her a lucky charm, Yang Ningxue offering her lucky hairpin, and Wei Chu holding her hand to "transfer energy."
As the elimination rounds began, Piaopiao confided in Wei Chu, revealing her inner conflict. Winning the championship meant going abroad for a year, an experience she now dreaded because it would separate her from him. She expressed her reluctance to leave him alone and questioned if not winning would allow her to stay by his side. Wei Chu noticed Piaopiao's training had become lackadaisical, with her spending more time playing than practicing.
He urged her to take her training seriously, reminding her that knowing the moves was not enough; she needed proficiency, especially against opponents who had trained for decades. He stressed the importance of this tournament for breaking sectarian views. Piaopiao argued she was "balancing work and rest" and "adjusting her state." Frustrated by her continued procrastination and casual attitude, Wei Chu told her he needed them to "separate for a while" to help her regain her focus on the competition.
