Blood River Episode 22 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Song Yanhui, the Lord of Wushuang City, sternly warned Lu Yuzhai and the head of Tianxia House, who was also present, that if they continued their underhanded dealings within Wushuang City's borders, he would not be able to protect them. As Haoyue made to confront Song Yanhui, Lu Yuzhai quickly pulled him back, admonishing him not to disrespect their master.
Song Yanhui stated that he was fully aware of the secret transactions the head of Tianxia House had made with his "foolish disciple," Lu Yuzhai. He hadn't intervened because he considered the matter too trivial to cause a commotion. Song Yanhui then lectured Lu Yuzhai, telling him he knew he was useless in martial arts and, though he could contribute to the city in other ways, he should not waste his limited intelligence on greed.
Lu Yuzhai recalled how Song Yanhui had saved his life during a flood that wiped out his village, and how Song Yanhui took him in despite his lack of martial talent. Song Yanhui reminded Lu Yuzhai that his life was saved, and he must repay that debt by serving Wushuang City. He then instructed Lu Yuzhai to care for their junior brother, Zhai Wushuang, and to faithfully assist and swear loyalty to him when he eventually became the City Lord.
Lu Yuzhai was momentarily stunned, perceiving Song Yanhui's words as a final testament. He agreed to wholeheartedly assist his junior brother, but secretly, he yearned for a more powerful patron and resented the idea of serving the young Zhai Wushuang, whom he considered useless. He also harbored contempt for Haoyue, viewing him as equally worthless.
Haoyue, however, spoke with authority to the head of Tianxia House, asserting that people like them must rely on the strong and act from the shadows, warning that Tianxia House would have no need for those who failed to grasp this principle. Separately, Haoyue privately fumed at Song Yanhui, declaring that he wouldn't consider him a backer and would instead wait for the day Song Yanhui and Wushuang City fell together.
Song Yanhui then announced that the city gates would be opened to welcome heroes from all lands to witness the upcoming sword duel. He instructed that all visitors be registered and warned that swords showed no mercy, so life or death would be their own responsibility. Lu Yuzhai found this unprecedented for Wushuang City and inappropriate. Song Yanhui firmly stated that many wished for Wushuang City's downfall, but he would not let that happen.
Meanwhile, Zhai Wushuang found Song Yanhui's behavior peculiar, especially when his master bought him candied haw. Song Yanhui reflected that despite being only thirty, he felt more like the older generation compared to people like Baili Dongjun, lacking their pride and drive. He admitted to Zhai Wushuang that he had been too harsh on him and wanted him to enjoy himself.
He encouraged Zhai Wushuang to train hard in swordsmanship after he was gone, but also to travel and see the world, a regret Song Yanhui held for himself. Zhai Wushuang, sensing his master's somber tone, tearfully begged him not to die and to buy him more candied haw. Song Yanhui affectionately promised to do so, adding that Lu Yuzhai would also buy him treats. Elsewhere, Su Zhe and Bai Hehuai were out enjoying the city.
Bai Hehuai, finding everything uninteresting, even the osmanthus cakes, perked up when she overheard talk of the challenge to Wushuang City, thinking of Su Muyu. Her interest was piqued at the mention of Zhuo Yue'an challenging Wushuang City, and she expressed a desire to go there.
Su Zhe attempted to dissuade her by claiming Wushuang City was far, but a nearby waiter quickly corrected him, revealing it was only a half-month journey by carriage or seven days by riding hard and changing horses, with an option of a ship to Luoyang, a mere hundred li from Wushuang City. Concurrently, agents from Baixiao Hall, having no new leads on Tang Lianyue, sought information about him.
They informed their superior that Blood River's Spider Woman, Mu Yumo, was actively hiring agents to find Tang Lianyue, who had gone missing after entering the Tang Clan. Their agents in Shuzhong had been largely exposed. They decided to give Mu Yumo the top-secret information about the Xuanwu Guardian free of charge, hoping to observe her actions and gain new intelligence.
However, when Mu Yumo actually received the "top secret" information, she discovered it contained no new leads on Tang Lianyue, infuriating her to the point of angrily dismissing the Baixiao Hall agent. Zhuo Yue'an was present at a gambling den (Tianxia House), observing people placing bets on the upcoming duel between himself and Song Yanhui. From an upper floor, Haoyue watched him.
The gambling den owner explained that fewer people were betting on Song Yanhui because the former City Lord, Liu Yunqi, had been defeated by Zhuo Yue'an, and Song Yanhui's reputation wasn't significantly higher. Furthermore, the public favored the narrative of an unknown swordsman from a forgotten sect rising to challenge Wushuang City's elites, envisioning a perfect ending where Zhuo Yue'an triumphed over Song Yanhui.
Though uninterested in the other bets, Zhuo Yue'an, finding the crowd too eager for drama, decided to place a wager of three liang of silver—on himself. The crowd reacted with surprise, finding his confidence arrogant. Haoyue, observing the scene, realized Zhuo Yue'an had been aware of his presence and had recognized him.
As night fell, Su Muyu was at a food stall and noted that Sihuai City, known as a "city that never sleeps" due to the first City Lord's historical autonomy under Emperor Tianwu, was more lively than ever. Soon, cries of murder erupted. A man warned Su Muyu that hundreds of Sword Bearers from Wushuang City were indiscriminately killing people while searching for Zhuo Yue'an.
Elsewhere in the city, Zhuo Yue'an realized this was a tactic to tarnish Song Yanhui's name, deducing that traitors within Wushuang City were manipulating the situation to seize the City Lord's position. Su Changhe arrived to meet him, claiming he was merely there to "watch the commotion," which surprised Zhuo Yue'an and highlighted the hidden complexities. Meanwhile, Bai Hehuai and Su Zhe entered Sihuai City.
Bai Hehuai immediately detected a strange, faint floral scent in the air, recognizing it as Blossom Ash poison. She explained that its mild toxicity caused ordinary people to faint and martial artists to lose their inner force, becoming as helpless as cripples. She deduced that the poison, which would take years to prepare for an entire city, had been deployed only recently, indicating a long-planned coup targeting Sihuai City to exert control over Wushuang City.
Bai Hehuai quickly instructed Su Zhe to find a way to contact Su Muyu and advised a passing carriage driver to take a pill she offered and leave the city or hide. Amidst the chaos, Xie Xuan arrived in Sihuai City. Sensing the Blossom Ash poison, he calmly lit a candle and began consulting a book, seeking an antidote before the flame burned out. He dismissed the poison as a "petty trick."
Back in Wushuang City, Song Yanhui confronted Lu Yuzhai, who had received carrier pigeons. Lu Yuzhai confirmed that Sihuai City was sealed and denied involvement in the poisoning, which Song Yanhui already believed, knowing Lu Yuzhai wasn't that audacious.
Lu Yuzhai reported two urgent messages: one about someone using Wushuang City's name to hunt Zhuo Yue'an, clearly to smear Song Yanhui and the city, and another about a strange poison in Sihuai City that caused ordinary people to faint and martial artists to lose their inner force. Song Yanhui identified the poison as Blossom Ash. He requested Jian Shanyue, but Lu Yuzhai informed him of Jian Shanyue's retirement.
Song Yanhui then revealed that the true head of Lunwu Hall was Jian Wudi, who had been in seclusion in Sihuai City for years, implying Lunwu Hall's involvement. Realizing he needed to act, Song Yanhui decided to go to Sihuai City himself. He then turned his attention to Lu Yuzhai, confronting him about his connections to Tianxia House, realizing they had ulterior motives despite Lu Yuzhai's perceived loyalty. Lu Yuzhai, feeling a pang of guilt, vowed to confront Lord Haoyue.
Song Yanhui, despite Lu Yuzhai's ambition and flaws, told him that he didn't cast him out because he wasn't a monster, while reflecting that Wushuang City, though not as lofty or isolated as some, still held the enduring spirit of its ancestors, even if it was no longer peerless. Elsewhere, Su Muyu discussed the events with Su Changhe, wondering if they were spontaneous or meticulously planned.
Su Muyu revealed that the papers he found in Wanjuan Tower were swapped, but their contents were genuine, suggesting he was being used. However, he declared that he would still follow his path and make those who attempted to exploit him pay a price. Su Changhe agreed, suggesting they use this opportunity to uncover the hidden mastermind. Just then, Bai Hehuai arrived, warning Su Changhe that prolonged exposure to the spreading poison would render them vulnerable.
She released her powerful Five Poisons, a supreme strain only cultivated by direct heirs of the Wen clan, which she described as even more potent than those of the Five Poisons Sect or Wen Hujiu's renowned centipedes. She then used them to set up a defensive formation.
