Blood River Episode 16 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Water Official and his men attempted to break into the Tianqi City dungeon. Facing the formidable Crow, Water Official's forces were quickly overwhelmed. Crow mocked their underestimation of the Dipper Array, stating that even powerful figures like Baili Dongjun and Ye Dingzhi had been held back by it years ago. Before Crow could finish speaking, Su Muyu, channeling his father Zhuo Yuluo's Spring Rain Sword Aura, burst out of the dungeon, driving back all the guards.
Crow was astonished to see that Su Muyu's Drunken Dream Bone poison had been neutralized, though Water Official's betrayal made it somewhat understandable. Water Official declared his intention to hold off Crow and his men, urging Su Muyu to proceed to more critical tasks outside without worry. Su Muyu thanked them, and Water Official expressed honor in witnessing such changes. Seeing the commotion from the dungeon, Su Changhe realized his partner had successfully broken free.
He announced to his allies that their true objective was not to confront the Shadow Sect but to destroy the Wanjuan Tower. Mu Ciling, expressing his willingness to carve a path, stepped forward. This revelation made Yi Bo understand the full scope of the elaborate scheme, realizing that the entire grand plan was orchestrated to dismantle the Wanjuan Tower.
Meanwhile, Mu Zizhe confronted Yi Bo, regretting that they hadn't eliminated "those two mad youths" years ago, as they had now grown immensely powerful. Mu Zizhe declared his intention to rectify those past mistakes himself. Yi Bo, in turn, lamented how all the blame for the current predicaments was being placed on him. Elsewhere, the Chancellor, Qi Guoshi, awoke from a long slumber and immediately sought out Sir Zhuo Qing at the Imperial Mausoleum, proposing a game of weiqi.
Qi Guoshi explained that he had dreamed of Sir Zhuo Qing and decided to seek him out for a game, making it seem as though the worldly conflicts were irrelevant to them. Sir Zhuo Qing, guarded by the Imperial Guards and the Five Great Eunuchs, remarked on Qi Guoshi's timing. He expressed that if he were not under Mr. Li's tutelage, he would have fought Qi Guoshi to the death that day.
Qi Guoshi retorted that Mr. Li simply enjoyed bullying Sir Zhuo Qing, and playing weiqi with him would be a better choice. Su Muyu encountered Xie Zaiye, an archer from the Shadow Sect, who was impressed by Su Muyu's ability to block his arrows despite his unstable zhenqi. Xie Zaiye launched his ancestral "Seven Stars" technique, boasting that it had killed five warlords.
Su Muyu noticed the escalating power of each arrow, knowing his sword would break if he blocked another. Su Muyu surprised Xie Zaiye by utilizing the Sword of Taiji, the world's slowest sword art. He pointed out that Xie Zaiye's technique was also depleting his stamina. As Xie Zaiye prepared his final, lethal arrow, Su Changhe arrived, shielding Su Muyu from the blow. Xie Biyou, Mu Fusheng, and Su Ziyan, three elders, appeared before Su Muyu and Su Changhe.
When the two Blood River leaders expressed surprise at their surnames, the elders explained that some ancestors of the Blood River Three Families had left for the martial world, while others remained in Tianqi City, and they were descendants of the latter. Su Muyu clarified that he and Su Changhe were Nameless, bearing no lineage of the Three Families.
Hearing this, Su Ziyan concluded that Blood River was now controlled by outsiders and criticized them for going against the Shadow Sect. Su Muyu retorted that the old must give way to the new, and that Blood River and Shadow Sect had long ceased to protect the world, becoming pawns in power struggles.
He declared his intention to not only destroy the Wanjuan Tower but also to sever all ties between Blood River and Shadow Sect, stating he alone was enough for the task. Su Muyu then initiated his signature Eighteen-Sword Array. Meanwhile, Su Zhe and the Prince of Langya ended their staged battle, confirming that all Shadow Sect members had retreated after their "den" was destroyed.
They recognized their fight was a mere act to draw attention, and the true outcome of the conflict lay with the two brothers fighting in Tianqi City. Mu Ciling confronted Mu Zizhe, who wielded the Mu family's Celestial Ninefold Zither. Mu Ciling, recognizing the zither he had long sought, stated that Mu Zizhe had been cast aside by the changing tides of Blood River.
Mu Zizhe, calling Mu Ciling a traitor for siding with the Su family, attacked with Puppet Razor Strings, attempting to force Mu Ciling to use his Hell Palm. Mu Ciling refused, stating the Hell Palm was unnecessary for an eccentric who dared not fight head-on. Mu Zizhe then accused Mu Ciling of single-handedly weakening the Mu family by not adhering to their master's teachings.
Mu Ciling responded that he lived only for himself, returning blows and killing those who sought to kill him, asserting that if others tried to suppress him, he would stand up with his own strength. He then unleashed his Dance of 1,000 Butterflies, defeating Mu Zizhe without using Hell Palm.
As Mu Zizhe lay defeated, he finally understood their master's decades-old question about why they lived, recalling his own answer of living for the Mu family's glory and Mu Ciling's answer of living for himself, believing that a family thrives when its individuals thrive. Mu Zizhe, unwilling to admit he was wrong, ultimately took his own life.
Mu Ciling, saddened by his brother's demise, concluded that their master's words, the Blood River, and even killing, were meaningless; only his own existence held true meaning. Mu Yumo felt that her part in the events was drawing to a close. She instructed Bai Hehuai, her companion, to meet with the others at the inn, while she herself left to attend to personal matters. Bai Hehuai urged her to be careful.
Back at the Wanjuan Tower, after Su Muyu's fierce display, Xie Biyou acknowledged that without their combined strength, Su Muyu would have perished. Su Muyu then told the three elders they were free to leave, stating he no longer wished to be an assassin, nor did the members of Blood River. He promised that with the Shadow Sect's demise, no one would pursue them.
Xie Biyou, impressed, admitted that Yi Bo was not a worthy leader and that with the Prince of Langya's Four Guardians of Tianqi now dominating Tianqi City, the Shadow Sect's influence had waned. The elders agreed that it was time to find a new path and wished Su Muyu success in bringing forth a new Blood River, though Su Muyu mused that while Blood River was already new, its image in people's hearts remained unchanged.
Su Changhe observed Su Muyu's battered state, remarking that if they had fought together, Su Muyu wouldn't have been so hurt. Su Muyu replied that a joint fight would have been to the death, explaining that he spared the elders because some things, unlike the Wanjuan Tower which needed to be destroyed, could not be completely erased. He then told Su Changhe that the opponent reserved for him was arriving, and that he was free to fight without holding back.
Su Changhe agreed, but before Su Muyu left, he made an exasperated comment about feeling like an errand boy while Su Muyu was the true patriarch. Su Muyu then entered the Wanjuan Tower alone, leaving Su Changhe behind to face the newcomer with a resigned expression.
