Tiger and Crane Episode 3 Recap
> Tiger and Crane Recap
Eldest Master instructs Hu Zi in spirit essence cultivation, specifically the Induct-type mental method, explaining that spirit essence has four types: Feel, Induct, Dissolve, and Release. He advises Hu Zi to adopt the Induct-type method, believing it is more suitable for him than the Release-type Qi Xiaoxuan taught, given Hu Zi's difficulty in controlling magic tools and weapons.
Eldest Master guides Hu Zi to meditate, open his body's pores and seven orifices to draw in spiritual energy, and focus on gathering specks of light in darkness. During this, Eldest Master observes Hu Zi's spirit essence is a rare golden color, far surpassing Qi Xiaoxuan's blue or ordinary white.
He hypothesizes it might be a combination of demonic energy and the Red Pearl within him, noting that even a small part of this powerful essence, if unleashed, would be formidable. Hu Zi, however, struggles with the meditation, complaining about feeling tired and constipated while Eldest Master and Qi Xiaoxuan rest. He expresses frustration, feeling it is unfair to practice alone for just one day.
Qi Xiaoxuan retorts that mastering the mental method requires patience and mind-heart unity, not just time. He also dismisses Hu Zi's complaints, implying Eldest Master may have misjudged him. Despite Hu Zi's reluctance, Qi Xiaoxuan declares that the Red Pearl's presence in Hu Zi makes it his concern. He states that if Hu Zi wins the upcoming arena battle, Yi Mei Fairy will help remove the pearl, but if he loses, Qi Xiaoxuan will retrieve it by any means necessary.
Hu Zi, determined, promises to win the fight. Meanwhile, with no news from Qi Xiaoxuan, his sister Qi Yanran expresses her growing concerns to their father, Qi Zilu. She complains that the crack in the Red Pearl Formation is expanding and might not last much longer, fearing its failure could lead to the Underworld Sea breaching its levee.
Qi Yanran views entrusting this critical mission to Qi Xiaoxuan, especially as his first assignment, as reckless, despite her father's reassurance that the formation will hold if the Red Pearl is replaced within five days and that Xiaoxuan will take the task seriously. She openly complains about her grandmother's favoritism towards Qi Xiaoxuan, who just became a battalion commander and needs an opportunity to prove himself.
Qi Zilu advises her not to act on impulse, instead encouraging her to channel her fighting spirit into the Royal Sorcerer's Exam combat arena, scheduled a month later, where she and Qi Xiaoxuan can fairly compete for the commander-in-chief position. Qi Yanran confidently declares her determination to win. Hu Zi, upon arriving at the Babao Town Battle Arena, expresses confusion about its underground location and secretive nature.
He learns from others that the arena operates illegally, being a private fighting den established without permission from Tiangang Hall, an offense punishable by caning and imprisonment under Fulong Law. Its underground setting is a necessity to evade detection. The arena is overseen by Yi Mei Fairy, a revered grandmaster from the Peak Valley battle whom even the emperor dares not arrest.
Many participants are bounty sorcerers seeking to win powerful magic tools from Yi Mei, hoping to make their fortune by killing demons. Hu Zi finds some of their motivations to be solely about money and fame. Xing Zhi, the judge, welcomes everyone and reiterates the simple rules: combatants can use any method—sorcery, magic tools, or bare fists—and victory is achieved by knocking an opponent out of the ring or forcing them to beg for mercy.
The first combatants step onto the arena: Yu Jizi, a sorcerer from Qianyu State, and Zhu Weng, a sorcerer from Fulong State, who wields a flame sword. Spectators note that Qianyu sorcerers are skilled in manipulation magic and predict a difficult battle for Zhu Weng. As the fight begins, Zhu Weng's fire is extinguished, leading him to surrender, thus giving Yu Jizi the first victory.
Hu Zi finds Zhu Weng's quick surrender unmanly, though a commentator explains that the defeat was certain once his primary magic tool was broken. Next, a formidable sorcerer from Julun State named Chang Daqiang challenges Yu Jizi. Chang Daqiang, a physically imposing figure, announces his intention to win a powerful magic tool for the Royal Sorcerer's Exam. Yu Jizi, with a similar goal, invites Chang Daqiang to fight.
Despite Chang Daqiang's strength, Yu Jizi appears to have a secret strategy, leaving Chang Daqiang at a disadvantage. Hu Zi, observing the struggle, boasts he will handle the situation. Unable to watch Chang Daqiang suffer further, Hu Zi intervenes, stopping Yu Jizi and telling Chang Daqiang to rest. He introduces himself simply as "Hu Zi of Nine Bend Mountain" and challenges Yu Jizi, criticizing him for his lack of martial ethics.
During their intense fight, Yu Jizi's magic tools relentlessly pursue Hu Zi across the arena. In a sudden move, Hu Zi reveals a toy magnet, purchased from a stall at the town gate, which astonishingly neutralizes all of Yu Jizi's flying weapons, rendering them useless scrap metal. Yu Jizi, furious at this "dirty trick," uses a final, desperate attack. Although a small knife from Yu Jizi manages to wound Hu Zi, it seems to deplete Yu Jizi's spirit essence.
Seizing this precise moment, Hu Zi, whose own spirit essence Qi Xiaoxuan had noted was depleted, unleashes a powerful punch, knocking Yu Jizi out. Eldest Master observes from afar that Hu Zi has successfully mastered the Induct-type mental method. The judge declares Hu Zi the victor and asks if any other challenger wishes to compete. Just as Hu Zi's victory is about to be finalized, Zhao Xintong steps onto the stage, stopping the judge's announcement.
Recognizing Qi Xiaoxuan and Hu Zi, she inquires about their presence, assuming they are there to obtain the Red Pearl from Yi Mei Fairy, a task that, according to Yi Mei's rules, requires winning the arena battle. Qi Xiaoxuan confirms that the situation has changed, as Hu Zi now carries a demonic aura requiring a magic tool for suppression, making their need for a win critical. He urges Zhao Xintong to withdraw due to the Red Pearl's urgency.
However, Zhao Xintong refuses, explaining that her own silver spear was broken during a fight with a Blood-devouring Demon, and she needs Yi Mei Fairy to fix it, emphasizing its profound importance. Hu Zi, exasperated, questions her priority, feeling it is heartless given his critical state, but Zhao Xintong remains resolute, leading him to accept her challenge. With no other option, Hu Zi agrees to fight Zhao Xintong.
During their intense close-quarters combat, Hu Zi attempts to force her to yield, but she fiercely resists. Hu Zi's actions accidentally cause Zhao Xintong's hair tie to break and her hair to fall loose, revealing her identity. Hu Zi is stunned, exclaiming that she is a woman and noting her delicate features. The crowd immediately recognizes her as Zhao Xintong, the esteemed daughter of the Zhao family.
Overwhelmed with humiliation at having her disguise exposed in public, Zhao Xintong quickly exits the arena. The judge then officially declares Hu Zi the winner, instructing him to go to Sikong Pavilion the next morning at 9-11 AM to claim his magic tool. Filled with remorse for publicly exposing Zhao Xintong's identity, Hu Zi desperately seeks to apologize. He tries to convince Qi Xiaoxuan to accompany him to the Zhao Mansion, citing that Zhao Xintong had fought alongside them before.
Qi Xiaoxuan, however, prioritizes retrieving the Red Pearl and warns Hu Zi against causing further trouble, explaining that the traditional Zhao family, especially its Sect Leader Zhao Haotian, would not tolerate such a humiliation to his daughter. Despite Qi Xiaoxuan's initial refusal, Hu Zi resorts to secretly taking Qi Xiaoxuan's token, forcing Qi Xiaoxuan to eventually agree to accompany him.
Reluctantly, Qi Xiaoxuan helps Hu Zi choose new, more presentable clothes, explaining that their paths will diverge once the Red Pearl is retrieved. Hu Zi, aiming to make a good impression, insists on the new attire.
Upon their arrival at the Zhao Mansion, they are received by Zhao Haotian, the Sect Leader, who recognizes Qi Xiaoxuan and reminisces about their families' past connections, including his own time serving in Tiangang Hall a decade ago, a period when the Zhao Sect was as renowned as the Qi Sect before its subsequent decline after his departure. Zhao Haotian inquires about Qi Xiaoxuan's father and the purpose of their visit.
Qi Xiaoxuan explains his mission to replace the broken Red Pearl at Fulong Bay. When Hu Zi attempts to explain their connection to Zhao Xintong through Ruyun Village, Zhao Xintong appears and immediately denies ever leaving the mansion or knowing them, presenting a recently completed painting as evidence of her continuous presence at home. Her maid corroborates her story. Zhao Haotian accepts his daughter's claims, leading Hu Zi and Qi Xiaoxuan to apologize for their "mistake."
Hu Zi is bewildered by Zhao Xintong's denial, but Qi Xiaoxuan subtly hints that she has "unspeakable reasons" and that Hu Zi almost exposed her. After their initial encounter, Zhao Xintong and her maid express relief that her father did not suspect her disguise, acknowledging that Hu Zi and Qi Xiaoxuan did not expose her lie.
Hu Zi, however, still driven by guilt, is invited by Zhao Xintong's maid to a private room to offer a heartfelt apology, assuring her he never intended to humiliate her and would not have fought her so aggressively if he had known she was a woman. Zhao Xintong, though initially defensive, eventually listens as Hu Zi, to make amends, offers to forfeit his right to receive the magic tool from Yi Mei Fairy, effectively giving her the winning opportunity.
Qi Xiaoxuan strongly opposes this, emphasizing the critical urgency of the Red Pearl situation and the demonic aura within Hu Zi that even Yi Mei Fairy could not suppress. Zhao Xintong then reveals the true reason for her determination: the broken silver spear is actually the "Ci" (female) part of the renowned Ci Xiong Double Spear, a cherished relic from her mother, distinct from her father's "Xiong" (male) spear.
She has been secretly engaging in activities like bounty hunting and needs to repair it before her father discovers its damaged state and her secret endeavors. Hu Zi promises to keep her secret and insists on his offer, arguing that a two-day journey to Fulong Capital will allow enough time for the Red Pearl issue to be resolved by its many experts, making a slight delay for her spear's repair acceptable.
Despite Qi Xiaoxuan's concerns about breaking Yi Mei Fairy's rules, Hu Zi confidently states they will explain the situation to her at Sikong Pavilion the next morning. He compliments her appearance in her female attire, and the plan is settled.
