Who Rules The World Episode 16 Recap
> Who Rules The World Recap
Hei Fengxi was invited to play a game of Go with Old Taiyin. As the game began, Hei Fengxi experienced vivid illusions, seeing multiple versions of himself. He understood that his greatest enemy was his own inner demons, but recognized that these figures, no matter how similar, were merely pawns. He then witnessed a painful childhood memory: sneaking out of the palace playfully, only to return and find his mother had died.
This event had haunted him, making him blame himself and believe his mother might have lived if he hadn't left. However, drawing on his long struggle, Hei Fengxi confronted the illusion, asserting that he had lived with his pain for too long and that only by shedding his burdens could he move forward; self-blame was useless, and facing it head-on was the only way. Old Taiyin praised Hei Fengxi's strong character and announced the final trial.
He explained that life is like a game of chess, and the board represents the "three thousand strands of worry." Hei Fengxi's task was to sever these strands to win the game. However, Hei Fengxi struggled, unwilling to cut his emotional ties. Witnessing his anguish, Bai Fengxi promptly destroyed the chessboard. Hei Fengxi acknowledged that Bai Fengxi's mind was unburdened, making her immune to the game's illusions.
She affectionately wiped sweat from his brow, though she expressed mild annoyance when Hei Fengxi implied her carefree nature meant she only knew how to enjoy herself. Hei Fengxi confirmed that they had passed this challenge. With the trial complete, Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi finally met Old Taiyin in person.
Old Taiyin remarked on their unusual behavior, noting that while everyone else in the martial arts world coveted the Sacred Jade Moon manual, they were both deferring to each other. Hei Fengxi explained that he had entered Mount Wu because of Bai Fengxi; acquiring the manual would be good, but not obtaining it would also be acceptable.
Bai Fengxi stated that her sole purpose in coming to Mount Wu was to rescue her master and martial sister, not to covet secret manuals. She playfully added that if Hei Fengxi mastered an unparalleled martial art from it, she would simply force him to teach her, reasoning that he wouldn't want to live without a worthy opponent.
Impressed, Old Taiyin decided to pass on the Sacred Jade Moon technique to them, despite having never fully mastered its highest realm himself, curious to see how far they could take it. He was amazed by their profound comprehension as they began to practice. During cultivation, Hei Fengxi's inner force became chaotic, putting him at risk of qi deviation. Bai Fengxi immediately used the Jade Moon chant to stabilize him.
To act quickly, she reversed her meridians to accelerate the process, a dangerous move since forming a large circle of vital energy typically required much more time and a gradual approach. Old Taiyin warned her against such a rash decision, but Bai Fengxi insisted that some things mattered more than right or wrong. Hei Fengxi, observing her sacrifice, reflected on the nature of letting go.
He realized that while some things in life must be discarded to gain others, certain bonds could never be severed. Despite believing himself free of desires and attachments, he found that Bai Fengxi was the one person he could never let go of. He decided that keeping one "strand of worry" among the three thousand, letting it bind him forever, was a choice he would make.
After Bai Fengxi successfully stabilized Hei Fengxi's inner force, Old Taiyin instructed her to press four fatal acupoints—Baihui, Shenting, Yamen, and Fengchi—to fully restore Hei Fengxi's consciousness, emphasizing that his life now depended on her precision. With their combined effort, they successfully mastered the Sacred Jade Moon. Old Taiyin finally understood that the technique truly required a communion of hearts, mutual sacrifice, and steadfast devotion through life and death to be achieved.
Meanwhile, Yu Wuyuan, observing from the Yangui Array, realized it was a perilous trap. He deduced that the mountain array's malfunction meant someone had successfully passed the trials. He ordered the Soultaker Sect members to gather outside Mount Wu, revealing himself as their Young Master. Anticipating that martial arts practitioners would descend through this area, Yu Wuyuan instructed his forces to set an ambush to discover who had obtained the Sacred Jade Moon.
After Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi completed their trials, Old Taiyin, sensing his impending demise, entrusted Hei Fengxi with the Great Map of Dadong, hoping it would be used for righteous purposes. To Bai Fengxi, he gifted a Sacred Jade Moon flower, which he had cultivated himself. This rare flower bloomed only once every few decades, detaching from its branch like a ripe melon and sustaining itself with inner force, promising eternal bloom.
Old Taiyin advised her to cherish it, as it might provide unexpected vitality in a life-or-death situation. Old Taiyin's attendant then escorted Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi out of Mount Wu. Once they were at a safe distance, Mount Wu dramatically collapsed in an earthquake; the mountain itself was Old Taiyin's chosen tomb, and his attendant intended to remain there to guard it. Yu Wuyuan confronted the attendant, demanding to know who had obtained the Sacred Jade Moon.
When the attendant refused to answer, Yu Wuyuan cruelly used the Heart Destroyer Palm on him, confirming the attendant's suspicion that Yu Wuyuan was a descendant of the ancient Qiongqi. Yu Wuyuan declared that the Qiongqi, ancient beasts sent to purify the mortal realm, were meant to cleanse this turbulent world, fulfilling his ancestors' wishes. The attendant accused him of deviating from the right path before succumbing to his injuries. Yu Wuyuan then encountered Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi.
To ascertain who among them had acquired the Sacred Jade Moon, he informed them of a struggle at the foot of the mountain. Concerned for her master, Bai Fengxi rushed down the mountain with Hei Fengxi. Below, the Soultaker Sect was attacking Bai Jiande's group, but Bai Fengxi and Hei Fengxi worked together, combining their strength to repel the attackers. Observing from a hidden vantage point, Yu Wuyuan understood what had happened.
With the immediate danger passed, Hei Fengxi announced his departure due to personal matters, stating that Bai Fengxi would accompany him. Bai Fengxi, however, humorously questioned his assumption, but ultimately agreed to head to Yongzhou with Hei Fengxi and her injured master, as it was the closest place for treatment. Hei Fengxi promised to arrange accommodations for everyone.
Back in Yongzhou, Zhong Li and his subordinates were in a panic as the court meeting was about to begin, and Feng Lanxi had not yet returned. They feared the Yong King's wrath over his absence. At the meeting, the Yong King was indeed furious about Feng Lanxi's tardiness, suspecting he was exploiting his achievements in securing military horses. Feng Ju tried to speak in Feng Lanxi's defense, but other officials suggested Feng Lanxi might be taking undue credit.
Just then, Feng Lanxi arrived, presenting the Great Map of Dadong to his father, explaining his delay was due to obtaining this valuable item. Feng Ju questioned the map's authenticity, so the Yong King asked Minister Qin, who had seen the original, to verify it. Minister Qin confirmed it was indeed the genuine Great Map of Dadong, personally drawn by Old Taiyin.
When questioned about his connection to Old Taiyin, Feng Lanxi claimed that it was Old Taiyin who had saved him after he fell into the water years ago, curing his long-standing illness and teaching him martial arts, but had forbidden him from revealing their association. He explained that Old Taiyin had sent for him, sensing his own end was near, and asked Feng Lanxi to retrieve the map from Mount Wu for the Yong King.
Overjoyed by this immense contribution to Yongzhou, the Yong King immediately planned a lavish reward for Feng Lanxi. Just then, an Imperial Envoy from the Imperial City arrived. The Yong King quickly ordered Yuan Lu to conceal the map. This envoy's arrival was orchestrated by Feng Lanxi, who had enlisted his distant relative, Feng Qiwu, working in the Ministry of Rites in the Imperial City, to help him make a preemptive move.
The envoy announced he was sent by the Emperor himself with memorial gifts for the upcoming 40th birthday memorial of Princess Yige, Feng Lanxi's late mother, signaling support for Feng Lanxi. He inquired about Feng Lanxi, whom the Emperor missed, and Feng Lanxi formally greeted him. The envoy praised Feng Lanxi's regal appearance and resemblance to the Emperor, attributing it to Princess Yige's care from above. Feng Lanxi humbly acknowledged his father's love and the Emperor's benevolence, expressing Yongzhou's gratitude.
The envoy then expressed his wish to visit Princess Yige's temple. The Yong King, who had never bothered to properly entomb Feng Lanxi's mother in the royal mausoleum, panicked. Feng Lanxi quickly intervened, suggesting that since the actual memorial was three days away, the envoy should rest first, and he would personally lead the ceremony then. He also advised his father to arrange a proper altar before the memorial.
The Yong King instructed the Minister of Rites to prepare for the two-hour ceremony. Later, Queen Baili feigned illness to avoid attending the memorial. Her maid hinted at her poor health, but the Yong King, seeing through her pretense, reprimanded the maid and firmly stated that as the Queen of Yongzhou, Baili, being virtuous and understanding, would certainly not miss such a crucial event, even if she were truly unwell, lest it bring shame upon Yongzhou before the Imperial Envoy.
Baili, cornered, had no choice but to agree to attend. Feng Lanxi visited his mother's memorial tablet. He admitted using her birthday to subtly challenge Queen Baili, acknowledging that his mother likely wouldn't approve, as she had always taught him not to harbor ill will towards others. He reflected on the many actions, both right and wrong, he had taken since her passing, wondering if she would be proud or disappointed. He concluded that after her death, he felt like a rootless wanderer, but he refused to drift aimlessly and was determined to fight for his destiny.
