Tiger and Crane Episode 7 Recap
> Tiger and Crane Recap
During their return to the Sorcerer's Inn, Hu Zi and his companions encountered Da Changqiang, who was being bullied by the Jinhua sisters trio: Shui Xian, Bai He, and Chu Ju. Despite Da Changqiang's large stature, the three sisters, who introduced themselves as busking triplets from Jinhua Village, had him thoroughly defeated. They accused Da Changqiang of stealing their business by outdoing their street performances.
Qi Xiaoxuan intervened, and his cool and handsome demeanor immediately captivated the sisters, diffusing the situation. Qi Xiaoxuan then invited all aspiring Royal Sorcerer Exam candidates, including the sisters and Da Changqiang, to stay at the Sorcerer's Inn free of charge. Wang Yuqian, who had already joined Qi Xiaoxuan's group due to previous assistance, reaffirmed his commitment to them, offering his unique "brick-slamming" healing skills.
Shortly after, Cheng Jinian, the son of Elder Council Chairman Cheng Shu, arrived at the Sorcerer's Inn in a high-profile and noisy manner, loudly proclaiming his qualification for the Royal Sorcerer Exam. He cemented a poor impression on Hu Zi by discarding a banana peel in public. Shan Cha, a sorcerer who served as the receptionist, greeted the new arrivals and offered them pastries she had personally made.
Cheng Jinian took an immediate interest in Shan Cha and, with malicious intent, accused her of stealing his family heirloom jade pendant, which he had planted in her bag. Xiao Yunzi, a sorcerer from Qianyu State, stepped forward to defend Shan Cha, advising Cheng Jinian to be more forgiving. Cheng Jinian, however, arrogantly offered to drop the accusation only if Shan Cha would "offer herself" to him. As the argument escalated, Qi Xiaoxuan and his group arrived.
Shan Cha tearfully explained how Cheng Jinian had framed her. Hu Zi then presented what he claimed was an ancient, lie-detecting artifact called the Hujia Ruanruan Gourd. When tested, the gourd consistently pointed at Cheng Jinian as the liar. Though Cheng Jinian dismissed it as a trick, Qi Xiaoxuan warned him that falsely accusing someone was a serious offense punishable by disqualification from the Royal Sorcerer Exam and imprisonment if brought before Tiangang Hall.
Fearing the consequences, especially if his own father, the Elder Council Chairman, found out, Cheng Jinian reluctantly backed down, though he refused to apologize to Shan Cha and threatened Hu Zi before leaving. Shan Cha expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the group for saving her. Later, Hu Zi revealed to his companions that the Hujia Ruanruan Gourd was merely a childhood trick he had mastered, capable of pointing wherever he willed it.
Soon after, Qi Yanran, Commander of the Black Camp and Qi Xiaoxuan's older sister, arrived to take Qi Xiaoxuan and Hu Zi away to Tiangang Hall, stating that she had previously informed Qi Xiaoxuan of her intention to have Hu Zi's situation confirmed by their father. Hu Zi openly criticized Qi Yanran's harsh treatment of her brother, prompting her to threaten him with her Lightning Blade.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xintong attempted to follow them into Tiangang Hall to testify on their behalf, but she was stopped by Wu Lidan, a Royal Sorcerer. Wu Lidan cruelly reminded Zhao Xintong of her family's past disgrace, asserting that her Zhao Sect had been removed from Tiangang Hall and that she had no right to enter.
Enraged, Zhao Xintong nearly resorted to violence, but Wang Yuqian intervened, reminding her to control her temper and not jeopardize her mission to restore her family's honor. Inside Tiangang Hall, Chief Commander Qi Zilu sternly interrogated Qi Xiaoxuan for his failure to timely deliver the Red Pearl, which resulted in the destruction of Qingquan Village. Qi Xiaoxuan accepted full responsibility for the incident.
Hu Zi, feeling remorseful for his role in the delay, interrupted, admitting that he had swallowed the Red Pearl, which caused the critical time lag. The Chief Commander argued that Qi Xiaoxuan, as a Royal Sorcerer, should have prioritized the Red Pearl by extracting it immediately, even through force. Hu Zi vehemently countered, questioning the Chief Commander's priorities and accusing the Tiangang Hall elders of being self-serving and ineffective.
He highlighted Qi Xiaoxuan's bravery in defending Ruyun Village and Babao Town against demons while the elders sat idly by. Qi Yanran seized the opportunity to fan the flames, exposing Hu Zi's demonic tail and declaring him a demon, thus accusing Qi Xiaoxuan of protecting a monster and delaying the Red Pearl delivery due to it. Chief Commander Qi Zilu immediately ordered the use of Demon Chains to subdue Hu Zi.
However, Yi Mei Fairy appeared, revealing that the Phurba had been planted in Hu Zi's body by her to suppress his demonic tail, asserting that Hu Zi was not a demon but an ordinary person whose demonic energy was being gradually dissipated. She assured them that with the Phurba's suppression, the demonic tail posed no threat. Chief Commander Qi Zilu, though initially wary, allowed Hu Zi to remain under the Phurba's influence.
However, he expressed continued suspicion regarding why Hu Zi uniquely possessed the demonic tail and suggested he be detained and strictly supervised for safety. Qi Xiaoxuan then summoned Eldest Master, who emerged as the Zi Jin Wolf Brush, a sentient ancestral artifact. Eldest Master further corroborated Hu Zi's heroism in battling the blood demon and Black Wind in Babao Town, confirming they even defeated a Demon Lord.
This testimony convinced Chief Commander Qi Zilu to allow Hu Zi to participate in the upcoming Royal Sorcerer Exam, with the understanding that he would be dealt with if any issues arose. However, Qi Yanran insisted that Qi Xiaoxuan's misconduct regarding the Red Pearl could not be overlooked. She had a history of accusing Xiaoxuan to their father, leading to punishments since childhood, fueling her desire to see him fail.
Chief Commander Qi Zilu agreed, sentencing Qi Xiaoxuan to thirty lashes and three days of imprisonment. Qi Xiaoxuan accepted his punishment, though Zhao Xintong protested the perceived injustice. Later, Hu Zi secretly infiltrated the prison to rescue Qi Xiaoxuan, but Qi Xiaoxuan refused, explaining that escaping prison was a capital crime and he would not let Hu Zi risk his life further.
Qi Xiaoxuan used Eldest Master to forcibly remove Hu Zi from the prison, with Eldest Master comically complaining about his "old back." Meanwhile, a commander from the White Camp arrived with new intelligence, reporting that several more sorcerers had gone missing in the capital, leaving no trace. Eldest Master later explained to Hu Zi that Qi Xiaoxuan was highly favored within the Qi Sect, with First Master Jiang Xici herself passing on the Zi Jin Wolf Brush to Xiaoxuan.
This favoritism fueled Qi Yanran's jealousy, leading her to constantly plot against Xiaoxuan, hoping he would make mistakes that would disqualify him from the upcoming Royal Sorcerer Competition for the Tiangang Hall branch commander position. Eventually, Qi Xiaoxuan's mother confronted Chief Commander Qi Zilu, accusing him of excessive harshness towards their son due to his fear of the Yanluo Hall and the Elder Council. The Chief Commander, pressured by his wife, reluctantly agreed to release Qi Xiaoxuan.
After his release, Qi Xiaoxuan was seen with his Grandma, who was healing him. Qi Xiaoxuan shared his concerns about the increasing number of missing sorcerers in the capital, and his suspicion of a larger conspiracy given the recent appearance of Black Wind in Babao Town. He requested that Disha Hall also join the investigation. His Grandma, who is also First Master Jiang Xici, agreed, revealing that Disha Hall was already secretly investigating the disappearances.
She urged him to uncover the truth quickly, warning that if he couldn't resolve the case and prove himself, his relationship with his father would become even more strained. Later, First Master Jiang Xici and the Second Master of Disha Hall discussed the cunning methods of the perpetrators behind the disappearances, acknowledging the urgency as the Royal Sorcerer Exam approached.
