Blood River Episode 24 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Bai Hehuai felt the poisonous blood that had infected Jian Wudi now coursing through her own veins, a dangerous inflammation. She quickly asked Su Muyu to retrieve a jade vial from her waist and take a pill. Su Muyu, who had believed the poison was neutralized, was informed by Bai Hehuai that the drugged-puppet poison was far from ordinary and not easily cured.
Recognizing the severity, Bai Hehuai instructed Su Zhe to immediately send a message back to Nan'an, telling Zhaoyan to release a specific carrier pigeon. She explained that only Xin Baicao, her grand-nephew, could save her, and the pigeon would fly directly to him in Medicine King Valley. Su Muyu immediately took Bai Hehuai into his arms, resolving to rush to Nan'an.
Before losing consciousness, Bai Hehuai made a solemn request to Su Muyu: if Xin Baicao did not arrive in time and she began to transform into a drugged puppet, he was to kill her with his sword before she became unrecognizable. Su Changhe, however, firmly interjected, declaring that Su Muyu could not and would not hear such a request, confident that Xin Baicao would come.
Bai Hehuai, fearing the worst, insisted and commanded Su Zhe not to intervene if Su Muyu had to fulfill her plea. Meanwhile, Li Hanyi directly confronted the First Prince, Xiao Yong. She found his composed demeanor, as he sat seemingly in control of everything, deeply irritating. She expressed her disdain for the people of Tianqi City and their rigid rules, stating that neither Tianqi, the imperial family, nor even the emperor were worth anything in her eyes.
Xiao Yong, enraged, attempted to strike her but was easily knocked down. Li Hanyi then quickly disarmed his guards. Seeing his efforts futile, Xiao Yong tried to de-escalate, suggesting that the matter had no connection to Xueyue City and that Li Hanyi should not interfere. However, Li Hanyi retorted that if she encountered an issue, she was involved. Chancellor Xie arrived, hoping to mediate. He reminded Xiao Yong that seizing Wushuang City would not be beneficial for him.
When Xiao Yong boasted about the Flying Tiger General and his army ready to flatten Sihuai City, Chancellor Xie countered that with him and City Lord Li defending, no army could pass their position. Li Hanyi then corrected him, proudly asserting that her three-chi sword alone was enough to hold any number of troops at bay. Recognizing his defeat, Xiao Yong reluctantly stated he would remember the day's events.
After Li Hanyi and Chancellor Xie left the confrontation, Li Hanyi jokingly suggested she should have simply killed Xiao Yong, but Chancellor Xie reminded her of the complications it would cause for her mother. Li Hanyi dismissed his concern, claiming she could have done it quietly, as Xiao Yong seemed like a villain who deserved it. Chancellor Xie teased her about her fierce nature, comparing her to one of the "four great fiends."
He then asked if she had truly intended to kill Xiao Yong, to which she replied she only meant to scare him, as she wasn't foolish enough to bring trouble upon herself. With the sword challenge canceled, Li Hanyi decided to return to Xueyue City. Chancellor Xie tried to persuade her to explore other places, leading to playful banter about their respective seniorities and a friendly challenge involving wine and a duel.
As they continued their journey, they caught sight of Su Muyu's carriage speeding past. Observing the urgency, Chancellor Xie deduced that Su Muyu and Su Changhe, whom he recognized, must be in significant trouble to not even pause to acknowledge two sword deities. Back at the He-Yu Clinic in Nan'an City, Su Changhe explained to Zhaoyan that Bai Hehuai had been poisoned and needed Xin Baicao. Zhaoyan confirmed she had released the carrier pigeon as instructed.
Soon after, Xin Baicao arrived at the clinic. After some confusion about who "Yu" in He-Yu Clinic was, Su Muyu introduced himself as the "Yu" who, along with Bai Hehuai, had established the clinic with the help of Su Zhe. Su Changhe then revealed his identity as the Patriarch of Blood River, and Bai Hehuai introduced Su Zhe as her long-lost father.
Xin Baicao, after humorously feigning a quick departure, confirmed Bai Hehuai was suffering from Night Crow's drugged-puppet poison, noting Night Crow's advanced mastery of the craft. He explained that while the Heart-Reviving Pill and acupuncture had killed the poisonous worms, residual toxins remained. If not removed, these would cause Bai Hehuai to become an uncontrollable drugged puppet after death. To fully cleanse the poison, Xin Baicao outlined a procedure involving thirteen silver needles and a medicinal bath.
He explained that Bai Hehuai would need to be minimally clothed to facilitate the flow of "zhenqi" during the process, and someone with strong internal energy would need to assist. Su Muyu volunteered, but Su Changhe comically offered his own assistance, much to Bai Hehuai's fury. Su Zhe, as Bai Hehuai's father, was asked to choose, and his decision favored Su Muyu.
While Bai Hehuai's detoxification proceeded, Su Changhe pondered aloud to Su Zhe if settling down in Nan'an City might be a good idea, as it seemed to offer a simpler life. Su Zhe, however, reminded him of his responsibility as the Patriarch of Blood River. He explained that not everyone in Blood River, many of whom had never experienced power, shared their desire for a peaceful existence.
Their ambition meant that simply disbanding the group would lead to their demise on other battlefields. Su Changhe admitted he had overlooked that aspect, acknowledging his unique burden as the Patriarch. As Xin Baicao administered the final needle, a painful process Bai Hehuai endured with Su Muyu's assistance, Bai Hehuai finally declared she was tired and drifted into a deep sleep, completely cured.
Afterward, as everyone felt hungry, the group enthusiastically suggested going to Fushou Restaurant for a grand feast, openly stating their preference over Su Muyu's infamous cooking. Su Muyu, though dejected, agreed to treat everyone to a feast of thirteen fine dishes and Luobai liquor. At the restaurant, Xin Baicao continued to tease Su Muyu about his culinary skills, prompting Bai Hehuai to offer him an osmanthus cake Su Muyu had prepared with matcha powder.
Xin Baicao tasted it, made a face, and unceremoniously spat it out, drawing laughter from the others and leading him to remark on how even his "mischievous" senior, Bai Hehuai, had "fallen so low." Seeing Su Muyu disheartened by the criticism, Bai Hehuai encouraged him to start with simple dishes, drawing a parallel to a legendary swordsman who mastered his art through simple, repetitive practice.
She envisioned a future where he could become a renowned chef, perhaps running a "Blood River Palace" restaurant. Later, Su Changhe excused himself, claiming he needed to buy pastries from Jinyue Pastry because Fushou Restaurant's were only average. Outside, he met with a subordinate who reported on the movements of Blood River traitors after they left Wushuang City. Some had gone to Tianqi City with the First Prince, a logical destination for him.
Others, however, had gone to Shuzhong, a region where only the Tang Clan held significant sway. The subordinate further mentioned that Tang Lianyue had vanished after returning to the Tang Clan, and even Baixiao Hall had no recent information on their internal affairs. Su Changhe deduced that the First Prince must have an informant within the Tang Clan, making the situation increasingly complex and intriguing. He then instructed his subordinates to join him at Jinyue Pastry for some osmanthus cake.
Meanwhile, Mu Xuewei was caught by Night Crow, who teased her about constantly thinking of Su Muyu, noticing her flushed ears. Mu Xuewei admitted her affection for Su Muyu, describing him as a cold yet warm moon within Blood River, distinct from everyone else. She confessed that she had once believed herself to be his best match, and her initial desire to kill Bai Hehuai in Jiuxiao City was not solely for their mission but also out of personal feelings.
However, upon seeing Su Muyu in Tianqi City after meeting Bai Hehuai, Mu Xuewei realized he had changed, becoming more "lively." Watching them from a distance, she felt a quiet happiness for them. Night Crow teasingly concluded that Mu Xuewei was simply lamenting her unrequited love, to which Mu Xuewei jokingly responded with a swat.
