Blood River Episode 13 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Su Muyu issued a stark warning to Yi Bu, stating that if the Shadow Sect pushed Blood River to a point where it could no longer exist in the jianghu, Blood River would make Tianqi City its first stronghold and would not hesitate to completely eradicate the Shadow Sect from the world. Zhuo Qing expressed surprise at Su Muyu's perceptiveness, noting his sharp mind, courage, and high martial arts skill.
He revealed to Yi Bu that despite using the Breath-Concealing Art to fully hide his aura, Su Muyu still detected his presence upon entering. Zhuo Qing remarked that Su Muyu, though young, already surpassed the previous Su family head in skill. Yi Bu, angered by this assessment, violently shattered a stool nearby with his internal energy.
Zhuo Qing advised Yi Bu that Blood River was proving difficult to control, and if the Shadow Sect couldn't manage them, their Highness would be disappointed, urging Yi Bu to demonstrate greater capability. Su Muyu observed the Wanjuan Tower, noting it was the most heavily guarded place in the residence, and realized he needed a plan to divert the experts before entering. He then met with Su Zhe, who had just arrived.
Su Muyu informed Su Zhe that the Prince of Langya was never a target for Blood River, given his significant status as the first of the Xiao imperial line in three generations, and he would not accept the mission to kill him.
Instead, Su Muyu proposed pretending to negotiate with the Shadow Sect, find a way to cripple them to draw away their forces, and then infiltrate Wanjuan Tower to destroy all records pertaining to Blood River, allowing them to rebuild freely in the jianghu.
Su Zhe suggested an alternative: since Yi Bu seemed afraid and wanted to use them to kill the Prince of Langya, they could turn the tables and use the Prince of Langya's power to eliminate the Shadow Sect.
Su Muyu expressed his weariness, having hoped the previous battle at Jiuxiao City would be the end of their troubles, but Su Zhe calmly reminded him that conflict is inherent wherever people and jianghu exist, especially with a brother who relishes a good fight. Su Zhe added that he had already informed Su Changhe about the situation in Tianqi, and he would arrive once prepared. He suggested they wait, noting the Shadow Sect would be on edge.
Su Zhe then offered to show Su Muyu some "fun spots" in Tianqi, teasing him about his visits to serious places like Thousand-Gold Tower and the academy, before suggesting the Pleasure House district. Meanwhile, Bai Hehuai, who seemed initially confrontational upon seeing Su Changhe, quickly changed her demeanor when he asked if she was looking for Su Muyu, inviting her to join him.
Su Zhe led Su Muyu to the Pleasure House, much to Su Muyu's discomfort, who explicitly stated he wanted to leave this kind of establishment. The Pleasure House owner offered Su Muyu any pleasure without charge, to which Su Muyu reiterated his wish to leave. Su Zhe, however, insisted they stay and enjoy the music. The owner, seeing Su Muyu's umbrella, took it, noting that weapons were not allowed inside.
Inside, Su Muyu, looking reserved, met Tu Wan, who introduced himself. Su Muyu simply gave his name. Tu Wan recognized him as Su Muyu, the "Umbrella Ghost," but Su Muyu clarified that today he was simply Su Muyu, present only to listen to the music being played by Miss Wan'er.
Tu Wan, observing Su Muyu's calm and seemingly friendly demeanor, mused that the rumored terrifying assassin might not be as fearsome as stories claimed, or perhaps he only transformed into a demon when he drew his blade. He decided to listen to the music and find an opportunity to slip away. Separately, the Pleasure House owner complimented Su Zhe on bringing such a handsome and brave young man, whose presence captivated her girls.
Su Zhe explained that Su Muyu was a junior he was testing to see if he was a reliable man for his recently found daughter, who seemed to have taken a liking to him. Su Zhe, who had watched Su Muyu grow up, vouched for his reliability in most aspects but admitted he knew little about his romantic side.
The owner joked about her previous prediction of Su Zhe's demise, to which he responded that he was still alive and now even had a daughter, whose fate he believed Su Muyu could change. The owner, after witnessing Su Muyu's disinterest in anything beyond the music at the Pleasure House, conceded he seemed to have passed the test, but she still judged him as likely to be cold-hearted for life.
Yi Bu, the head of the Shadow Sect, met with the Three Officials. Earth Official reported that their negotiations with Su Muyu had failed, but they had encountered Su Changhe at Yellow Springs Pawnshop and believed he would be a more suitable partner. Earth Official explained that Su Changhe was driven by profit, which was why he became Patriarch, but the one person who could sway him emotionally, Su Muyu, had already arrived in Tianqi.
He proposed capturing Su Muyu to gain leverage over Su Changhe, compelling him to cooperate both emotionally and for profit, and then using Blood River's full strength to assassinate the Prince of Langya. Yi Bu approved the revised plan to capture Su Muyu and imprison him in Shadow Prison that very night, without waiting for his response. He dismissed the need to inform the First Prince, sensing the First Prince's growing disdain for the Shadow Sect.
Yi Bu emphasized that capturing Su Muyu was their chance to prove the Shadow Sect's enduring strength and ability to defend Tianqi City, despite their past decline. While Tu Wan, heavily intoxicated, attempted to convince Su Muyu to join him at a gambling house, the Three Officials launched an ambush. Tu Wan instinctively intervened, blocking a few attacks. Su Muyu explained that the attackers were after him, but his primary weapon had been taken by Su Zhe, leaving him disadvantaged.
Tu Wan, undeterred, offered his short dagger, which Su Muyu accepted, noting the irony of using a dagger like Su Changhe. Meanwhile, Su Zhe, realizing the women accompanying him were assassins sent by Zi, quickly disarmed and dispatched them. Su Zhe declined their advances, stating he was past the age for such "honey traps."
As the fight intensified, Tu Wan, realizing he was a liability, quietly retreated, but not before warning Su Muyu about Earth Official's "Immortal Brush" and its qi-guided attacks. Su Muyu, despite being outnumbered and outmatched by the three formidable opponents, recalled his father's sword manual. Closing his eyes, he comprehended a secret sword art, which he then used to strike Earth Official with a powerful "finger-sword," injuring him.
Earth Official, recognizing the technique, warned that it was self-damaging, to which Su Muyu calmly stated he had nine fingers left, more than enough to defeat three opponents. Just then, Bai Hehuai arrived, initially furious about Su Muyu being at the Pleasure House. However, upon seeing his injury and hearing Tu Wan's explanation that Su Muyu was merely there to listen to music, she softened.
She handed him a bottle of medicine for his injured finger and urged him to concentrate on the fight. Tu Wan noticed Bai Hehuai's unwavering confidence in Su Muyu, as she calmly declared that once Su Muyu wielded his sword, the outcome was predetermined. Soon after, Su Changhe arrived. Despite his presence, Water Official managed to subdue Su Muyu, who had been poisoned with "Drunken Dream Bone," leaving him unable to use his martial arts.
Water Official then presented the captured Su Muyu to Su Changhe, explicitly stating that if he wanted to save Su Muyu, he must comply with the Shadow Sect's demands. Upon learning of Su Changhe's arrival, Yi Bu grew anxious. Zhuo Qing reported to the First Prince about the clash at the Pleasure House, detailing how the Shadow Sect's Three Officials battled Su Muyu, resulting in Earth Official's death by Su Muyu's hand.
He confirmed that Su Muyu had been poisoned with Drunken Dream Bone and captured by the Shadow Sect before Su Changhe's arrival. Zhuo Qing acknowledged the Shadow Sect's unexpected victory but reminded the First Prince that their purpose was merely to serve as a whetstone for Blood River, to be discarded once Blood River became a sharper tool.
He expressed puzzlement over the Three Officials' sudden change in strategy, as their strength was comparable to Blood River's family heads, yet they had previously seemed unwilling to engage in direct conflict. Water Official reported Earth Official's death to Yi Bu, noting the difficulty of capturing Su Muyu alive. Heaven Official remained silent, expressing his grief and resentment over Yi Bu's casual "pity" for their fallen comrade. Water Official then revealed that Su Changhe had entered Tianqi City.
In the Shadow Prison, Water Official visited Su Muyu, who, despite being poisoned with Drunken Dream Bone, could still speak, albeit with difficulty. Water Official explained that the prison was empty because the Shadow Sect's purpose as Tianqi's guardians had diminished with the Prince of Langya's rise to power, who often transferred prisoners.
Su Muyu recognized the poison as "Drunken Dream Bone," and when asked about Water Official's other identity, Water Official revealed his true name: Su Henshui, and stated his desire to live for himself, not as a puppet in a temple or a blade in another's hand. Crow of the Shadow Sect appeared before Su Changhe, who immediately demanded to know Su Muyu's whereabouts.
Su Changhe, filled with fierce loyalty, declared Su Muyu his best friend and vowed to fight the Shadow Sect to the end if any harm came to him, even if it meant losing his position as Patriarch. Crow calmly stated that Su Muyu was currently a guest at their sect, perfectly fine. However, he clarified that Su Muyu's status as a guest, host, or prisoner depended entirely on Su Changhe's "sincerity."
Su Changhe, dismissing this as a disingenuous test, retorted that danger was inherent in their line of work. Impressed, Crow then revealed the Shadow Sect's demand: Su Changhe must assassinate the Prince of Langya. When Su Changhe questioned the impossibility of such a task, Crow taunted him, saying he would present the most difficult target to kill, giving him time to consider his response while subtly threatening him.
