Blood River Episode 2 Recap
> Blood River Recap
After an intense confrontation, Su Changhe and Su Muyu reached a stalemate and paused their fight to discuss their plans. Su Changhe revealed that his earlier words were merely a ploy for Su Zhe, who was hiding outside the courtyard. He promised Su Muyu that if he obtained the Dormant Dragon Sword, Su Changhe would clear the path for him to control Blood River.
However, Su Muyu, feeling a deep sense of gratitude towards the Patriarch for raising him, could not bring himself to betray him. Their views on the Blood River organization were fundamentally different. Su Muyu saw it as his true home, while Su Changhe regarded it merely as a place for exchanging favors. " Only you truly believe that Blood River is your home," Su Changhe remarked to Su Muyu, adding, "I can never make myself believe so.
To me, this organization is merely a place to trade favors. He gives us shelter, and we kill for him. The talk of family is but hollow words." Seeing that Su Muyu remained unswayed, Su Changhe decided to push him further by exposing Mu Bai, who had been secretly listening. Mu Bai, revealed to have been alerted by Su Changhe himself, declared, "Su Changhe, just you wait!" before leaving.
With the immediate danger averted, Su Changhe prepared to depart, but not before reminding Su Muyu of their pact made four years prior. According to that agreement, Su Muyu was to stay by the Patriarch's side, seize the Dormant Dragon Sword, and become the new leader of Blood River, while Su Changhe would remain in the Su family and inherit the position of its head.
Meanwhile, Bai Hehuai and the Patriarch traveled in a large carriage that moved with surprising speed and stability. When Bai Hehuai commented on its unusual smoothness, the Patriarch explained that the Third Master Ban of the Ban family, who crafted it, had mysteriously died within ten days of its completion. Bai Hehuai jokingly wondered if curing the Patriarch would lead to her own "illness and death," but the Patriarch assured her, "You are a miracle physician."
In another carriage, Su Changhe and Su Zhe reflected on past events, including a conversation about the current Blood River upheaval and the possibility of them having to truly "draw blades" against each other. Their thoughts drifted back fifteen years, to a time when a young Su Changhe, designated as "No. 63," lay gravely injured. He believed it was the end for him, telling a young Su Muyu, known as "No. 17," "I owed you a hand.
Now I'm repaying it with my life. It seems you got the better deal." Su Muyu had appeared, having run off after overhearing a mission, to take Su Changhe home. " A home is where family waits. Your younger brother is still there. So am I," he told a skeptical Su Changhe.
Their bond was evident in their past interactions; Su Muyu once lightheartedly remarked to Su Changhe, "You always turn up in time anyway, so a little mess doesn't matter." Their bond was truly tested during the trial at the Wailing Abyss, where groups of ten trainees faced a deadly challenge: only one survivor per group. Su Muyu (No. 17) and Su Changhe (No. 63) were deliberately placed in the same group by Muqiu, the chief instructor.
Mu Zizhe of the Mu family confronted Muqiu, accusing him of trying to make an enemy of the Su family by defying the unwritten rule of separating strong fighters. Muqiu, however, revealed his cruel intent: "Let them grow close and see each other as brothers. Then set them to slaughter each other." Inside the Wailing Abyss, Su Muyu told Su Changhe to stay close.
Recognizing their superior swordsmanship, the other trainees quickly united, planning to eliminate the two strongest first before fighting amongst themselves. Faced with the "Eightfold Trap Formation," Su Changhe declared he would be the bait. Su Muyu offered to go in his place, but Su Changhe, calling him a "madman," insisted on his plan. As Su Changhe prepared to sacrifice himself, Su Muyu tried to pull him back, crying, "Those who are strong enough have the right to be naive!"
He insisted that Su Changhe’s earlier act as a Lamp Child had already repaid any debt. Su Changhe, however, argued that Blood River's rules dictated only one survivor, and if Su Muyu didn't accept his sacrifice, both would die. Su Muyu, convinced there was another way, declared he would speak to the family heads, believing they wouldn't want to lose such promising talents. Su Changhe dismissed his belief as naive.
In a desperate move, Su Changhe attempted to push himself further into danger, but Su Muyu held on, ultimately choosing his own path. The Patriarch, still recuperating, was plagued by nightmares, visions of the 832 people he had killed, his sword broken in his dreams. Bai Hehuai reassured him that nightmares were normal when weakened by evil qi. The Patriarch, however, confessed his fear that without a working sword, he could not defend himself even in a dream.
He urgently requested Su Muyu's presence, dismissing Mao the Rabbit's concern that Su Muyu might betray him. Meanwhile, Su Changhe, discussing his plans with Su Zhe, stated that the Patriarch must die. He had arranged for Su Muyu to encounter "old acquaintances" to delay him. Bai Hehuai proposed using the Soul-Swap Technique from Medicine King Valley to understand the Patriarch's poison without dying.
The Patriarch, aware of the technique's dangers—that it could reveal thoughts and even control the weak-willed—expressed his concern that his life would be entirely in Bai Hehuai's hands. Bai Hehuai assured him her only intention was to cure the poison, and the Patriarch, despite the risks, agreed to try. Su Changhe, confident in his overall scheme, stated his plan to have the Patriarch die, but first ensure the young physician was eliminated, despite the protection of the Twelve Zodiacs.
He revealed that he had sent a message to Tang Lianyue, a famed Tang Clan disciple and Xuanwu Guardian of Tianqi City, whose Second Master had been killed by the Patriarch. Su Changhe was certain Tang Lianyue would seek vengeance. Soon after, Tang Lianyue arrived. Mao the Rabbit quickly ordered the Patriarch's escort to safety, staying behind to confront the Xuanwu Guardian.
Tang Lianyue, wielding Dragon Beard Needles, stated he sought the Patriarch, not Mao the Rabbit, and had come not as a guardian but as a Tang Clan disciple to settle the score for his Second Master. Mao the Rabbit tried to stall, questioning his source, but Tang Lianyue saw through her delay tactics. He launched an attack, showcasing his masterful hidden weapon skills.
Mao the Rabbit countered with her own techniques, the Fiery Paper Butterflies and Netherworld Spiders, revealing her identity as the Spider Woman of the Mu family. She even used Thunder Orbs from the Lei family, acquired through past flirtations. As Su Muyu continued his pursuit, he was intercepted in a dense forest by Mu Yinzhen of the Mu family.
Mu Yinzhen accused Su Muyu of betraying Blood River and attempting to rebel, stating he was there on his family's orders to rescue the Patriarch. Su Muyu, unimpressed, defeated Mu Yinzhen without resorting to his full Eighteen-Sword Array, deeming him unworthy. Mu Yinzhen died in disbelief, having thought he had blocked the final strike. Su Muyu then calmly told some nearby children, likely caught in the crossfire, to hide, predicting a prolonged conflict.
Back with Tang Lianyue, Mao the Rabbit believed her trickery and bewitching spell had incapacitated him. Tang Lianyue, however, acknowledged the Mu family's skills in trickery and confessed he shouldn't have shown mercy earlier, implying he saw through her act. Mao the Rabbit, seemingly confused by his awareness, challenged him to reveal his famous "three hidden weapons." Tang Lianyue, no longer playing along, declared, "No need to have heard of them. You are about to see them," before unleashing his first signature hidden weapon, the "Cries of 1,000 Birds," completely turning the tables on Mao the Rabbit.
