I Am Nobody Episode 16 Recap
> I Am Nobody Recap
The 100th Martial Arts Contest Final Round is about to begin. On the stage, Zhang Chulan is meditating while the audience chants "Shameless!" at him. Meanwhile, backstage, Zhang Lingyu's senior, Rong Shan, speaks with him, noting that their other eight seniors have left Mount Longhu, leaving only the two of them to stay with their Master.
Rong Shan stresses that Lingyu must defeat Zhang Chulan, stating that if the "Shameless" fella wins, it would be a disgrace to the Celestial Taoist Mansion. Lingyu confidently assures Rong Shan he will give it his all. The day before the final round, Bao tells Zhang Chulan he must win. Zhang Chulan observes that he's never seen her so worried before. Bao confesses she doesn't know what to do and feels like she has nowhere to go or return to.
Zhang Chulan understands, acknowledging that he also has no place to go back to. He then asks Bao if she remembers the Old Farmer Technique he taught her. She says she remembers but struggles to practice it correctly. Zhang Chulan instructs her to try again and calm her mind. Zhang Chulan then appears to enter a state of deep concentration or a vision.
He finds himself back at Mount Longhu, seeing his Grandpa, who tells him Mount Longhu is his roots and where he started. Grandpa notes how much Zhang Chulan has grown and apologizes for the hardships he's faced in his absence, asking if he hates him. Zhang Chulan replies he doesn't, which relieves Grandpa. Grandpa calls himself a disappointment for hiding his whole life and forcing Zhang Chulan to do the same.
He now tells Zhang Chulan he doesn't need to hide anymore, urging him to be brave, do what he wants, live the life he chooses, and walk his path boldly, promising not to stop him. Grandpa says he will stay and watch Zhang Chulan win the contest, clean up the mess the old geezers left behind, and become a truly powerful Outsider. Zhang Chulan, visibly moved, repeats his resolve: "I must win, and I will definitely win."
The match begins with Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan entering the arena. The audience cheers for Lingyu, chanting "Go, Lingyu! Defeat Shameless!" . Lingyu confronts Zhang Chulan, stating that only one of them can walk out standing today. As the fight starts, Zhang Chulan uses Qi's Form, and Lingyu responds with techniques including part of the Gold Light Mantra.
Lingyu is impressed by Zhang Chulan's ability to block his technique in just a month and notes how different his movements are compared to his previous clumsiness, recognizing his talent. He challenges Zhang Chulan to show his improved Lightning Technique. Both Zhang Chulan and Lingyu utilize Palm Lightning, identified by Lingyu as a technique of the Yang Five Lightning.
Lingyu remarks on Zhang Chulan's rapid improvement, understanding why Master holds him in high regard, and expresses his preference for the straightforward Yang Five Lightning. A voice provides commentary explaining the Five Lightning Proper Method, describing it as relating to the Five Elements and the body's Qi flows, associating pure Yang with the heart and lungs (Yang Lightning) and pure Yin with the kidneys and liver (Yin Lightning).
It notes that those who have lost their virginity will have their Yin Qi develop first, leading to Yin Lightning, also called Water Viscera Lightning. The voice observes Lingyu's struggle to fully embrace his Yin Lightning nature, always defaulting to Yang techniques like Palm Lightning in public, despite his yearning for Yang's uprightness. Zhang Chulan experiences the effects of Lingyu's Impure Water (Water Viscera Lightning), finding it sticky, repressive, dangerous yet curious.
A voice (likely Lingyu's Master) urges Lingyu to accept who he is, even if it feels difficult to display his true nature in public. Zhang Chulan questions what this substance is, and a voice explains it's Yin Lightning Water Viscera, capable of sucking bones, draining marrow, burning the heart, and destroying intelligence, which can only be countered by much higher cultivation or Zhang Chulan's own Yang Lightning.
Zhang Chulan stands up after taking the hit, admitting that as he becomes stronger, he can feel Lingyu's power more acutely. He reflects that before coming to Mount Longhu, he never expected to reach the final or face Lingyu again, acknowledging the strength of opponents like Lingyu, Zhuge Qing, and Daoist Master Wang Ye, who are all pushing their limits. He states that while he cannot stop them from getting stronger, he will strive to approach their level of dedication.
He recalls someone telling him that his true opponent is not others, but himself, surpassing his own limits. Lingyu observes that Zhang Chulan is very different today, only revealing his true self when pushed to the brink. Zhang Chulan announces he will use a newly invented move, which is unstable and lasts for only five minutes. Lingyu accepts the challenge, confident five minutes is enough time for him to win.
Zhang Chulan injects Palm Lightning into himself to stimulate his meridians, initiating Rapid Lightning. While experiencing the Impure Water's wet, heavy, sticky, dissolving sensation, Zhang Chulan remembers his Grandpa's explanation of the Yin Five Lightning's nature.
He recalls Grandpa explaining the Five Viscera corresponding to stems and branches, using the Journey to the West characters as an analogy: the Heart and Lung Yang Qi (corresponding to Shen) being the "Heart Ape" (Sun Wukong), striving for "understanding emptiness" (Wukong), needing experiences to strengthen willpower. The Kidney and Liver Yin Qi (corresponding to Hai) being like a "pig soaked in water" (Zhu Bajie), controlling desires, needing to observe "precepts" (Bajie) to become "aware" (Wuneng).
Grandpa noted the two forces (Wukong and Bajie) oppose each other but one must prevail, and warned Zhang Chulan never to disturb the "pig" (Kidney Water) or his cultivation would be ruined. Zhang Chulan now understands this opposing force is the Yin Five Lightning, the "Lightning of the Water Kidneys."
Commentary from another observer (possibly a senior figure investigating Zhang Chulan) suggests Zhang Chulan's perceived cowardly, despicable, and shameless persona is a deliberate disguise to avoid being seen as a threat, causing people to forget he's the inheritor of Qi Fluid Origin. He is described as knowing what he wants and what to give up, possessing forbearance, steadfastness, and even ruthlessness.
The observer recalls investigating Zhang Chulan, noting the company (Nadutong) marked him as a 'non-Outsider' for twelve years after his grandfather's death. During this time, Zhang Chulan gave up his grandfather's methods, hid as an ordinary person, never revealing his true power or fighting back against mistreatment, noting the likely inefficiency of any secret cultivation during this long period. Zhang Chulan's peers are thus facing an opponent with a decade-long gap in his outwardly apparent cultivation.
Back in the fight, Zhang Chulan utilizes techniques associated with Yin Lightning, including Water Viscera, Caecilian Lightning, and Little White Worm, recognizing them as the opposing force hidden within his body. Lingyu senses this, asking if Zhang Chulan feels the two forces resisting each other, noting that whoever resists first will lose. Zhang Chulan, seemingly reaching the limit of his Rapid Lightning, acknowledges he's at his limit. Lingyu offers to make his next move, suggesting Zhang Chulan make a move.
Zhang Chulan accepts and uses the Little White Long Worm, explaining its remote-controlled nature (though slowest when controlled) and its true form as a tracking lightning technique that locks onto targets. He declares his ambition is to "turn over the heavens." Lingyu is deeply impressed, calling Zhang Chulan incredible and unpredictable for using Yang Lightning in the style of Yin Lightning and acknowledging his superior talent.
Lingyu states that if Zhang Chulan were to lose, it would be solely due to a difference in cultivation level. Lingyu praises Zhang Chulan's performance as amazing and practically perfect, then resolves to defeat this "perfect" version of him by fully embracing his own Yin Five Lightning, mobilizing all the Yin Qi in his body for the first time.
However, upon doing so, Lingyu immediately suffers a backlash, falling to the ground and questioning if it's punishment for his past reluctance to accept his Yin nature. Zhang Chulan, surprised, asks if this means he won. Lingyu struggles to stand but, after hesitation, admits defeat. Zhang Chulan is announced as the winner. Bao is seen reacting, seemingly relieved. The audience chants for a play-off. Later, Lingyu is speaking with his Master.
Lingyu apologizes for his loss, feeling he failed his Master's expectations by losing in such a ridiculous manner, getting his qi flow wrong, disgracing the sect, and wasting years of training and the help of his peers. His Master reveals that he put Waylay Powder, also known as Immortal Pill, in Lingyu's breakfast. This substance blocks the flow of qi, but the dose given was small, only taking effect when Lingyu exerted all his strength, which caused his backlash.
Lingyu responds with a sigh of relief, saying, "So that's how it is." His Master is disappointed by his calm reaction, expecting him to react with terror, unease, confusion, despair, and angry questioning, like someone who felt betrayed, calling Lingyu not just upright but foolishly honest. Lingyu asks his Master why he didn't simply tell him to lose to Zhang Chulan, as he would have agreed without hesitation.
His Master replies that would have been asking too much of him and suggests the reasons are not urgent to explain, as practitioners have patience. Master then tells Lingyu that his character makes it too difficult for him to cultivate Yin Lightning to its peak realm. He gives Lingyu an instruction for the final day of the contest: if he is forced to make a decision, he must make the opposite decision of what he would normally decide.
