Blood River Episode 34 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Tang Lianyue confronted Tang Linghuang, attempting to stop his former senior from causing further harm. However, Mu Yumo urgently warned Tang Lianyue not to touch Tang Linghuang, but her words came too late. Recognizing the danger, Mu Qingyang and Mu Xuewei quickly pulled Mu Yumo away, urging a retreat as their opponents were too formidable.
Night Crow appeared, mockingly telling Tang Lianyue that having been struck by Tang Linghuang's Poison Palm, even as the Xuanwu Guardian, he would be unable to continue fighting. She advised retreat and to plan their next move later. Night Crow then spoke to her own subordinate, praising Tang Lianyue's extraordinary intelligence. She revealed that Tang Lianyue had seen through their disguise and understood their true target was the Prince of Langya.
Had Tang Lianyue used his signature hidden weapons and killed someone, the evidence would have implicated the Prince of Langya. Night Crow then instructed her own men to let everyone else leave the area, promising to notify them of a new meeting spot. Meanwhile, Su Muyu met with the Prince of Langya, who assured him their meeting was private and untraced.
Su Muyu lauded the Prince's renowned martial arts and intellect, recalling his past reputation as the "Elegant Gentleman" with unparalleled wisdom and cunning. He noted that the Prince had only fully trusted him after Su Muyu risked his life in a previous duel. The Prince confessed that in Tianqi, he had to tread carefully, like "walking on thin ice," and could not afford mistakes.
Su Muyu observed that the Prince seemed to be in his weakest position yet, with many of his trusted allies gone or unavailable due to various circumstances, from the war in Nanjue to Sikong Changfeng's return to the martial world, leaving only Tang Lianyue by his side. Su Muyu deduced that while some events were coincidental, others were intentionally orchestrated by the Prince to appear weak and lure his enemies into making a move.
The Prince confirmed this, stating he needed his enemies to strike first. He admitted that even when they did, he would still be vulnerable, unable to protect himself, thus requiring Su Muyu's assistance. Su Muyu then realized that Blood River's arrival in Tianqi was merely the final piece in the Prince of Langya's elaborate scheme. The Prince, however, claimed he didn't plan that far ahead, merely "following the flow," but reaffirmed his commitment to a prior promise.
Separately, the First Prince, Xiao Yong, discussed his plans with his uncle. He explained that all the officials struck by the puppet poison held military power, giving him leverage to control them. Xiao Yong's uncle warned him that once he made this choice, there would be no turning back. Xiao Yong replied that he never looked back because all he saw was unbearable, a sentiment stemming from his difficult childhood. A flashback showed a young Xiao Yong with his mother.
His mother, despite being neglected by the Emperor, busied herself with embroidery, making gifts for the Emperor, Xiao Yong's uncle, and grandfather, hoping to gain the Emperor's favor. Her maid, Diancui, urged Xiao Yong to plead with the Emperor on his mother's behalf, as the Emperor spent all his time with another consort, Consort Xuan. Xiao Yong's mother quickly silenced Diancui, telling Xiao Yong to focus on his studies and make her proud.
News then arrived that Xiao Yong's maternal grandfather, Lord Dian, was in trouble due to issues with the Ministry of Revenue's accounts, enraging the Emperor. Later, Xiao Yong's mother lamented that the Emperor merely forced her father to retire, dismissing it as the mercy shown to "a lone stray dog." Xiao Yong's uncle assured him that he was joining the military to forge a new path for their family and become Xiao Yong's new support.
In the present, Xiao Yong reflected that his uncle was the only relative he could truly trust and rely on. Haoyue reported that the Xuanwu Guardian and members of Blood River had gone to Doom Abyss. Xiao Yong was furious, stating Su Changhe had already agreed to an alliance, yet Blood River was still obstructing their plans.
He ordered Haoyue to find Su Changhe, declaring that if Su Changhe continued his retreat, their alliance would be broken, and every Blood River member in Tianqi City would be eradicated. Another subordinate offered to go, citing his connection to Blood River through family roots. Xiao Yong agreed, adding that if necessary, they should locate and eliminate Su Muyu and his men without notifying Su Changhe.
At the Prince of Langya's residence, a subordinate informed Su Muyu that they had uncovered the secret of the drugged puppets but were forced to retreat due to the overwhelming strength of their opponents. Mu Yumo and Tang Lianyue had returned to report to the Prince. Su Muyu suggested leaving Tianqi City, but Mu Xuewei questioned if he intended to give up. Su Muyu explained that he didn't want Blood River to become a pawn in political power struggles.
He proposed that the others leave with Bai Hehuai while he waited for news from Su Changhe, after which they would all return to Blood River together. Mu Xuewei, however, saw through his intentions, recognizing his pattern of sending others to safety while he dealt with the aftermath alone. Bai Hehuai affirmed that she could not leave because the chaos in Tianqi, caused by the drugged puppets, originated from an outcast of the Medicine King Valley.
As the most senior living member, she felt a responsibility to stay. Mu Xuewei countered that with the Patriarch, Su Changhe, in reclusive retreat and Su Muyu gravely injured, their current strength offered little help in the ongoing conflict. Just then, Su Zhe appeared, asking who had wounded Bai Hehuai. Bai Hehuai informed him that Su Muyu had already avenged her, to which Su Zhe gave a nod of approval.
Su Muyu then requested Su Zhe to take Bai Hehuai and leave Tianqi, intending for him and Su Changhe to resolve the city's issues. Su Zhe flatly rejected this, pointing out Su Muyu's severely weakened state. He warned that if Su Muyu didn't rest and recuperate under his daughter's care for several months, he would suffer permanent internal damage, similar to his own past injuries that made him vulnerable to powerful foes.
Su Zhe reiterated that he didn't want Su Muyu to end up riddled with holes like him, especially since he intended to entrust his daughter to him in the future. Su Muyu insisted on having his own plans, but Su Zhe angrily dismissed this, saying Su Muyu's plans always led to risking his life, which would inevitably leave his daughter a widow. Despite his frustration, Su Zhe acknowledged Su Muyu's unwavering nature and decided to help.
Su Muyu protested, aware that Su Zhe's secret art, the Divine-Demon Nirvana Art, though modified to prevent death, would cause severe backlash when transferring internal energy. Su Zhe assured him he wouldn't die, as he needed to live to care for his daughter. He then forced Su Muyu to accept his "zhenqi", explaining that otherwise, he himself would die from exhaustion.
During the transfer, Su Zhe painted a picture of a peaceful life for Su Muyu outside the martial world: returning to Nan'an City, becoming a humble medical apprentice for his daughter, helping her sell, crush, and brew herbs, and making her famously terrible noodles, which she would complain about but still eat, leading him to buy her osmanthus cakes the next morning.
Su Muyu humorously wondered if he would make terrible noodles his entire life but admitted the life sounded appealing. However, he then asked about the fate of the Blood River disciples, fearing they would perish unnoticed if abandoned. Su Zhe acknowledged Su Muyu's sense of responsibility, reminiscing about his own past as the former Kui of Blood River's main family, destined to be the Patriarch.
He admitted that he once yearned for fame and to be the world's number one martial artist, but then he found love. After that, he only desired to travel the world with his beloved, finding the entire Blood River organization and the pursuit of ultimate power insignificant compared to gazing at the stars with her. Outside, Bai Hehuai, watching from a distance, recognized the technique Su Zhe was using and understood the immense sacrifice he was making for Su Muyu.
The Prince of Langya teased Mu Yumo about her affection for Tang Lianyue. In a surprising turn, she declared she no longer liked him, finding him not bold enough. She then playfully flirted with the Prince, stating she now preferred a brave hero like him, which left him flustered. The Prince then praised Tang Lianyue as a deeply reliable man who would only commit to a woman when he was absolutely certain he could give her a lifetime of happiness.
However, his reflective tone concerned Mu Yumo, who noted he sounded as if he were settling his final affairs. The Prince conceded that perhaps he was. Shifting back to business, he ordered them to find and protect all the poisoned sons of high officials before the upcoming Grand Assembly, fearing a greater crisis was being orchestrated by the First Prince.
At the imperial court, Li Hanyi reported on the recent unrest in Tianqi, including an assassin attack at the Flying Tiger General's Residence. She observed that the martial artists involved seemed to be acquaintances of the Prince of Langya. In response, the Emperor ordered Dian Ye to conduct a citywide manhunt for the assassins, granting him command of the Flying Tiger Army's elite troops.
Later, Li Hanyi met with the Prince of Langya, commenting on his reflective mood and comparing him to Sikong Changfeng. When she asked if he regretted his past decisions, the Prince responded with a metaphor: if a swordsman challenged a master, knowing failure meant never wielding a sword again, would he regret it? Li Hanyi answered no, and the Prince affirmed that was his answer too.
He likened life to a "Peach Blossom Coin used for divination," with only one side facing up. He chose a serene life and its duties over the freedom of the martial world, just as she sought peerless swordsmanship, and one must accept the consequences of their choice. Elsewhere, Su Changhe emerged from his reclusive training, having perfected his Hell Palm technique to the ninth level. He boasted that the vast world now felt like it fit within his palm.
He was immediately confronted by Xiao Yong's men. Su Changhe’s subordinate clarified that Su Changhe had sustained an internal injury from a previous clash with the Prince of Langya, necessitating his retreat. One of Xiao Yong's men, an elder named Zhuo Qing, acknowledged Su Changhe's mastery. Su Changhe recognized him from the Shadow Sect and noted his new allegiance to the First Prince.
Zhuo Qing defended their choice, stating that with the First Prince's ascension, Blood River could replace the Inner Security Division and operate in the open. He then revealed that the version of the Hell Palm possessed by other factions was incomplete to prevent its practitioners from suffering a powerful backlash, whereas Blood River's original version was far more powerful but also more dangerous.
Su Changhe, however, was furious about what had happened during his retreat: Blood River members almost died, the head of the Su family was gravely injured, and He-Yu Clinic was nearly razed. He accused Xiao Yong and his faction of "messing around." Xiao Yong retorted that it was Blood River's interference that caused these problems. Simmering with rage, Su Changhe challenged Zhuo Qing, asking if he could stop him from killing the First Prince with a single palm strike.
Zhuo Qing gravely responded that while in the past he could, the current Su Changhe had a "50% chance" of succeeding. Su Changhe declared his desire to "give it a try."
