Sweet Tai Chi Episode 3 Recap
> Sweet Tai Chi Recap
The Tai Chi system faced an urgent situation in the fifth match of the challenge competition, having already lost four consecutive rounds and fearing the abolition of their department. Just as the referee urged them to present their next competitor, Yang Ningxue, a successor of Yang's Tai Chi, and Chen Bing, a successor of Chen's Tai Chi, who had just transferred to the Tai Chi system that morning, stepped forward.
Chen Bing introduced himself and Yang Ningxue, confirming their eligibility to participate by presenting their transfer documents. Chen Bing then took to the challenge arena. He quickly showcased his prowess, effortlessly defeating his boxing Department opponent with just a few moves, bringing a much-needed victory to the Tai Chi system. Feng Piaopiao noticed that Chen Bing's techniques closely resembled those taught by her grandfather.
She recorded the match and immediately called her grandfather, asking why Chen Bing's moves were so similar to hers. Her grandfather sternly warned her that Chen Bing was a successor of Chen's Tai Chi, and she should never reveal her own martial arts in front of them, claiming her skills were inferior. Feng Piaopiao agreed to avoid them but also inquired when they would meet others, hinting at a broader objective.
Puzzled by the vast difference in skill between Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue and the other Tai Chi students, Feng Piaopiao wondered aloud why their fellow Tai Chi students weren't as skilled. Wei Chu, who had been following her, explained that Chen and Yang were direct inheritors of the mainstream Tai Chi lineages, Chen and Yang.
He elaborated that traditional martial arts like Tai Chi follow a "passed inside, not outside" principle, meaning only direct lineage members could truly grasp its essence. He argued that this narrow tradition inevitably led to its decline and that "breaking sectarian views" was imperative for Tai Chi to truly flourish.
Feng Piaopiao was impressed by his knowledge, but Wei Chu, in his typical sarcastic manner, implied she was ignorant of her own limited abilities, leading to a playful argument about his unpleasant demeanor and her past use of chili water on him. Wei Chu visited Bai Haiyang in the hospital. Bai Haiyang, still recovering, was relieved to hear from Wei Chu that the Tai Chi system had won the fifth match and asked how. Wei Chu simply replied, "By strength."
He then reassured Bai Haiyang that the Student Union was actively investigating his poisoning incident and, as the Student President, he would ensure justice was served. Bai Haiyang expressed his trust in Wei Chu. Later, Wei Chu discussed his views with his grandmother, Wei Min. She noted that he still cared deeply about the Tai Chi system and had not given up on his idea of breaking down sectarian barriers.
Wei Min, however, argued that the essence of Chinese martial arts lay in its traditions and that abandoning its roots would make it meaningless, so she would not support his radical ideas. Wei Chu countered that it was precisely these ancient traditions that led to Tai Chi's gradual decline.
Wei Min then attributed Tai Chi's weakening to the Eight Qimen, reminding Wei Chu of a traumatic incident two years prior when he, Bai Haiyang, Yang Ningxue, and Chen Bing, all successors of Tai Chi, were kidnapped by Fangji, the leader of Eight Qimen, and Wei Chu sustained his injuries during that event.
While the Eight Qimen had since disappeared and Fangji had committed suicide, Wei Min remained apprehensive, fearing Wei Chu would repeat her own past regrets, hinting at a betrayal by Senior Feng Bingxing. Despite her concerns, Wei Chu remained steadfast in his determination, expressing his readiness for the challenges ahead. After the challenge match, Tan Lin, the boxing Department captain, approached Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue.
He first praised their skill, then expressed his confusion about why such powerful individuals would join a small department like Tai Chi. He then revealed that a few days prior, a female martial artist using Tai Chi techniques strikingly similar to the essence of Chen and Yang family styles had defeated seven members of the boxing Department. He emphasized that Chen and Yang Tai Chi were traditionally taught only within the family, implying a betrayal or a rogue practitioner.
Tan Lin suggested this mysterious female expert must be a student at their college but hidden in another department, and proposed they "cooperate" in finding her. Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue were immediately suspicious of Tan Lin's motives but agreed that if such a master existed, they must find her to protect Tai Chi's tradition.
Tan Lin later provided them with a filtered list of over a hundred female students whose physical characteristics matched the description of the mysterious Tai Chi practitioner, challenging them to narrow down the search. He implied that finding this person was a matter of Tai Chi's integrity, even suggesting that one of the four prominent Tai Chi families might have leaked their secrets, aiming to sow discord. Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue took the list, agreeing to search separately.
Guided by Tan Lin's manipulative information, Yang Ningxue and Chen Bing began their zealous search for the supposed rogue female Tai Chi master. This led Chen Bing to the Liubo College swimming pool, where he caused a disturbance by challenging a female student, which then led to an altercation with the Liubo College students and staff.
Yang Ningxue arrived to confront Chen Bing about his methods, asserting that he was merely using the search as an excuse to ogle women, though Chen Bing defended his actions as a method to observe muscle dynamics for identifying Tai Chi practitioners. The situation escalated until Wei Chu, as the Student President, intervened to de-escalate the conflict.
He calmly told Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue that Tan Lin's story about a "mysterious female Tai Chi master" was a ploy by the boxing Department to create division and embarrass the Tai Chi system, warning them that their unchecked actions would turn the entire school against their department. Wei Chu stressed that their priority should be the revitalization of the Tai Chi system.
To atone for their misbehavior and to appease Zhan Xin of Liubo College, Wei Chu instructed Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue to clean the entire swimming pool for a day. Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao, Feng Piaopiao’s friend, visited Bai Haiyang in the hospital. She confessed that she was the one who rushed him to the hospital after he collapsed in the cafeteria.
With clear affection, she introduced herself as Xiao Xiao, a freshman from the department of painting and calligraphy, and presented him with a homemade chicken soup, elaborating on the ingredients and the effort she put into secretly making it after dormitory lights-out. Despite her attempts to feed him, Bai Haiyang politely insisted on doing it himself, though he appreciated her gesture.
Later, Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue were on their way to clean the swimming pool, as instructed by Wei Chu. Chen Bing, pausing to admire art in the department of painting and calligraphy, noticed a painting with brushstrokes that clearly exhibited Tai Chi principles, "Yin and Yang live together," "With softness." He deduced that the artist must practice Tai Chi.
Upon seeing the artist's surname "Feng" on the painting, he suggested they investigate, but Yang Ningxue reminded him of their punishment and they continued to the swimming pool. The "Lady Shang Xiang" and "Shang Xiang Gentleman" elections were ongoing. Xiao Xiao informed Feng Piaopiao that she was in second place, just twenty votes behind Jin Rou.
Xiao Xiao also expressed her bewilderment at Wei Chu consistently holding the top spot for "Shang Xiang Gentleman" despite having been on a year-long leave of absence, noting his enduring popularity. Feng Piaopiao, however, seemed exasperated by the mention of Wei Chu. Upon learning that Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue were now investigating Feng Piaopiao, Wei Chu hurried to the department of painting and calligraphy.
He gained permission from Teacher Kong to audit a class, impressing the teacher with his apparent studiousness. He then strategically swapped seats to sit next to Feng Piaopiao, telling her they needed to clear her name as Chen Bing and Yang Ningxue were on their way to question her. He explained that to eliminate their suspicion, she needed to appear utterly weak and harmless.
Wei Chu devised a plan: after class, amidst the crowd, he would intentionally trip her, promising to ensure she wouldn't get hurt, so she could convincingly feign fragility. Unbeknownst to them, Jin Rou and Ai Jia were also observing Feng Piaopiao, seemingly plotting something.
