Whirlwind Girl Episode 1 Recap
> Whirlwind Girl Recap
The 23rd An Yang Yuan Wu Dao DoJo's semi-competition was underway, with Qi Bai Cao from Song Bai DoJo facing the defending champion, Fang Ting Yi of Xian Wu DoJo. Before the match began, a personal conflict surfaced as Fang Ting Yi confronted Qi Bai Cao about a strawberry hair tie, claiming it as her own despite Qi Bai Cao stating that Senior Chu Yuan had given it to her.
Fang Ting Yi appeared visibly angered, and as the match started, she dominated Qi Bai Cao with powerful, precise moves. Qi Bai Cao, struggling to retaliate, observed that Fang Ting Yi effortlessly anticipated her barely mastered attack stances, feeling the vast difference between a "genius and a nobody."
Despite Qi Bai Cao's known endurance, a commentator noted that while Fang Ting Yi might be a "flower that blooms within a greenhouse," Qi Bai Cao was "persistent grass which has survived wind and rain." Fang Ting Yi then declared her intention to fight "very seriously." Although Qi Bai Cao believed she still had strength within her, she ultimately lost the match.
One month prior, Qi Bai Cao dedicated herself to working various jobs, earning money for her ailing master, Qu Xiang Nan. Her friend, Fan Xiaoying, urged her to watch the Yuan Wu Dao Youth Competition finals, but Qi Bai Cao prioritized her master's medical expenses, even as Fan Xiaoying pointed out that Qu Xiang Nan had his own daughter and wasn't Qi Bai Cao's biological father.
Meanwhile, the entire city of An Yang was captivated by the finals being held in Seoul, where China's Fang Ting Hao competed against Korea's two-time champion, Min Sheng Hao. Fang Ting Hao emerged victorious, defeating Min Sheng Hao by K. O. , bringing pride to An Yang, which had not seen a champion in ten years. During the award ceremony, the celebration was interrupted by Jin Min Zhu, daughter of Yuan Wu Dao Union President Jin Yi Shan.
She publicly accused Fang Ting Hao of doping, drawing a direct comparison to the scandal involving Qu Xiang Nan a decade earlier, when he was found using anabolic steroids, leading to the loss of his title and an injury to Jin Yi Shan's ligament. Fang Ting Hao vehemently rejected the accusation, stating that he would not accept a championship title tainted by such disrespect to a competitor's dignity and the spirit of Yuan Wu Dao.
The crowd rallied in support of Fang Ting Hao, reigniting public resentment against Qu Xiang Nan, whom many blamed for An Yang's previous humiliation. Outside, Qu Xiang Nan's daughter, Qu Guang Ya, faced insults from a hostile crowd who blamed her father for the city's shame.
Xiu Da intervened to defend her, and Qi Bai Cao stepped forward, proudly identifying herself as a member of Quan Sheng DoJo, demanding an apology for the insults directed at Guang Ya and the dojo. The mob retorted with scorn, labeling Quan Sheng as a place for "scums and losers." Under pressure, Qu Guang Ya was forced to apologize, lamenting being "the daughter of a loser," before fleeing.
Qi Bai Cao attempted to offer Qu Guang Ya money from Qu Xiang Nan, but Guang Ya refused, reaffirming that she had severed all ties with her father, holding him responsible for her mother's death. She advised Qi Bai Cao to abandon Qu Xiang Nan, claiming that as long as she stayed with him, she would never become a true Yuan Wu Dao disciple.
However, Qi Bai Cao steadfastly declared her loyalty, stating that her Master was more important than becoming a disciple. Later, an angry mob attacked Qu Xiang Nan as he cleaned up broken glass at his dojo. Qi Bai Cao courageously shielded him and helped with the cleanup, dismissing the mob's cruel words. She then cooked a meal for him, though it turned out to be excessively salty.
Days later, an official announcement cleared Fang Ting Hao of all doping allegations, confirming his victory as legitimate. Jin Yi Shan publicly apologized to Fang Ting Hao and presented him with his well-deserved championship medal. The 23rd An Yang Yuan Wu Dao DoJo Challenge Match opening ceremony was soon approaching.
Hall Master Zheng of Quan Sheng DoJo instructed his few remaining students to be prepared, emphasizing their role in representing the dojo despite their small numbers compared to larger institutions like Xian Wu and Song Bai. He tasked Qi Bai Cao, who had never participated in a competition, with carrying heavy props, offering her a chance to "gain experience" but denying her a dojo uniform.
At the ceremony, Qi Bai Cao met Fan Xiaoying, who expressed excitement and hope for Qi Bai Cao's future participation. Together, they witnessed Ruo Bai from Song Bai DoJo execute a spectacular spinning back kick during a recruitment demonstration, captivating the audience.
Hall Master Zheng attempted to persuade Qi Bai Cao to join the competition under his tutelage, promising her the opportunity to compete for the first time and bring glory to her deceased parents, if she listed him as her master. Qi Bai Cao refused, steadfast in her loyalty to Qu Xiang Nan, and condemned the idea of achieving success through "cheating and creating illusions for self-satisfaction."
She warned Hall Master Zheng that using fake, glued wooden boards for his demonstration would bring true shame to Quan Sheng. Despite her warning, during his performance, Hall Master Zheng was exposed by a reporter who presented a video of Qi Bai Cao's earlier argument with him, where she had voiced her opposition to the deceit. The crowd reacted with outrage, chanting "Quan Sheng is cheating!"
Furious, Hall Master Zheng confronted Qi Bai Cao, blaming her for the reporter's recording and her failure to defend him, accusing her of being a "bane" to Quan Sheng, just like her master. He ordered her to leave the dojo immediately. Qi Bai Cao stood firm, asserting her innocence and maintaining that using fake boards was fundamentally wrong, regardless of its exposure. She offered to work harder for Quan Sheng and even to appeal to the reporters for forgiveness.
Qu Xiang Nan, having overheard the confrontation, feigned agreement with Hall Master Zheng, instructing Qi Bai Cao to leave for her own good, hoping she would find a new master and learn true skills elsewhere. However, Qi Bai Cao refused to go, declaring Qu Xiang Nan her "only family" and vowing never to abandon him.
As rain began to fall heavily, Qi Bai Cao knelt outside Quan Sheng DoJo, steadfastly refusing to move, while Qu Xiang Nan watched her from a window, his heart heavy. Eventually, Fan Xiaoying arrived to lead Qi Bai Cao away.
