Blood River Episode 7 Recap
> Blood River Recap
The Spider Shadow members knelt before Su Muyu, pleading with him to wield the Dormant Dragon Sword and accept the title of Patriarch. Su Muyu, after a moment, told them to rise and solemnly promised that once the current troubles were resolved, he would lead them all back home with honor and freedom. Meanwhile, Xie Qianji returned to the Xie family, bringing Xie Fanhua’s body.
He reported to Xie Ba, the head of the Xie family, that Xie Fanhua had been killed by the Su family during the attempt to seize the Dormant Dragon Sword. He also noted that Senior Jinke, who was meant to meet Fanhua, was ambushed and left without a trace. Xie Ba mourned Xie Fanhua, recalling his poor health, but his grief quickly turned to fury upon learning of Xie Buxie's disappearance. He declared that in Blood River, "missing" meant desertion.
He ordered men to search for Xie Buxie and demanded Xie Qidao appear in Jiuxiao City to atone for his disciple’s actions, dismissing Xie Qianji’s explanation that Xie Qidao had previously refused to see him. Xie Ba then punished Xie Qianji by ordering him to kneel for three days. At the Mu family, Mu Qingyang brought back Mu Bai’s body. Mu Zizhe, the family head, was saddened but maintained his composure, encouraging his people.
Mu Qingyang revealed that Su Zhe of the Su family was responsible for Mu Bai's death, describing the distinct wounds caused by Su Zhe’s gold ring. Mu Zizhe expressed surprise that the Su family would deploy Su Zhe, whom he believed was aligned with the Patriarch. Mu Qingyang clarified that Su Zhe had initially been sent to kill the Medicine King Valley physician, but unexpectedly turned on the Mu family.
Just then, a Death Coffin arrived, sparking alarm among the Mu family members who warned that it contained a madman and was guarded by the Soul Reapers' Hall. Mu Zizhe calmed them, explaining he had requested the coffin from the Soul Reapers' Hall as a sign of their support for the Mu family. At the Su family, the head, Su Jinhui, commented on Su Changhe's knack for creating widespread chaos.
Su Changhe, still bearing wounds from Mu Zizhe, claimed responsibility for Xie Fanhua's death, suggesting the Xie family secretly welcomed it. However, he was visibly shaken upon learning that Mu Bai was also dead, and even more so when Su Jinhui informed him that Su Zhe was the killer. Su Changhe realized this meant open warfare with the Mu family.
Su Jinhui, seeing the escalating conflict, decided to fully embrace the challenge, aiming to make the Su family the sole dominant power in Blood River. Su Changhe pledged his unwavering loyalty. Later, Su Jinhui learned that Su Zhe had not engaged Su Muyu but had instead returned to the Spider's Nest with Su Muyu and the physician, leaving them to wonder if Su Muyu had managed to win Su Zhe over.
Meanwhile, Xie Qidao's disciple reported that Xie Buxie had returned briefly, leaving behind a representation of his eighth sword move, but stated it wasn't the "true" eighth move and that he needed more years of travel to find the answer before he would return. Xie Qidao was furious, realizing that remaining outside Blood River for over ten days would lead to a kill writ from the Soul Reapers' Hall.
A letter from Xie Ba then arrived, declaring Xie Buxie’s departure a capital offense. However, Xie Ba offered a deal: if Xie Qidao would come to Jiuxiao City and assist the Xie family, they would intercede with the Soul Reapers' Hall for a pardon. Xie Qidao saw through Xie Ba's manipulative scheme. Separately, Tang Lianyue continued to diligently care for the injured Mu Yumo.
Mu Yumo acknowledged his thoughtful care but warned him that her wounds would eventually heal, and she intended to seek out the Patriarch to avenge Second Master Tang. Tang Lianyue countered that she should prioritize settling her debts before seeking revenge. Back at the Spider's Nest, Su Zhe confronted Su Muyu about the Spider Shadow's calls for Su Muyu to become Patriarch. Su Zhe expressed strong disapproval, especially considering Bai Hehuai's affection for Su Muyu.
He worried that if Su Muyu became Patriarch, he would lose his autonomy, and his daughter would ultimately be hurt. Su Muyu dismissed his concerns as a jest. Su Zhe then pressed Su Muyu about Mu Bai's death, knowing he himself hadn’t delivered the killing blow to Mu Bai after he fled.
Su Muyu revealed that Su Changhe was the true mastermind, having secretly allied with Mu Qingyang to kill Mu Bai and frame Su Zhe, thereby escalating the chaos in Blood River. Su Muyu explained that Su Changhe believed the greatest gains emerged from the greatest chaos, and his plan was reaching its climax as he sought the Dormant Dragon Sword.
Su Muyu, however, felt that things were far from as simple as Su Changhe envisioned, hinting at his own underlying strategy. At the Patriarch’s location, his poison was miraculously almost gone. Su Zhe entered, and the Patriarch initially suspected he had been sent by Su Jinhui to assassinate him. Su Zhe, recalling his past loyalty, expressed his sadness at the accusation. He revealed that Bai Hehuai, his daughter, insisted on curing the Patriarch since she had taken payment.
The Patriarch understood that the physician was from the Wen family of Medicine King Valley and realized that his predicament had inadvertently led to Su Zhe's reunion with his daughter. Bai Hehuai confirmed the poison, identified as "Snow Falling Plum Blossom," was largely cleared but cautioned the Patriarch against using his inner force for several days to avoid a relapse.
The Patriarch then deduced that Bai Hehuai had used the Soul-Swap Technique to delve into his memories, both to find her father and to find a cure for his poison. Bai Hehuai confirmed his insight, adding that the only way to cure the poison was a "life for life" exchange, requiring a person with superb inner force to absorb the toxins into themselves via the Zhiyang acupoint.
The Patriarch was deeply saddened to realize that Mu Kewen, whom his subordinate referred to as Uncle Luo, had sacrificed his life for him. He recalled his youthful friendship with Mu Kewen, reflecting on how one became the revered Patriarch and the other a lowly gatekeeper.
Su Muyu saw Mu Kewen off for the last time, and Mu Kewen conveyed a message to Su Muyu, sharing that Su Muyu and Su Changhe reminded him of his own youth with the Patriarch, whose real name was Mu Mingce. Mu Kewen expressed his hope that Su Muyu and Su Changhe would not suffer the same tragic fate as he and Mu Mingce.
After Mu Kewen's sacrifice, he refused to meet the Patriarch again, declaring that all past entanglements between them were now resolved, and that the Spider's Nest should be given to the Medicine King Valley. He felt a profound sense of liberation, no longer bound by his identity as Mu Kewen, a member of Blood River, or the guardian of the Spider's Nest, finding new joy in life.
Su Zhe, realizing the depth of his daughter's sacrifice (even if Mu Kewen ultimately took her place), decided it was time to leave Blood River with her. Acknowledging this as an act of betrayal, he asked the Patriarch to write to the Soul Reapers' Hall, not for mercy, but to officially list him for pursuit, indicating his resolute departure.
The Patriarch rebuked him, reminding him of a previous opportunity he'd been given to leave, a choice that could not be regretted. As tensions rose and the Patriarch prepared to act, Su Muyu and Bai Hehuai intervened. Su Muyu requested to speak with the Patriarch first, hoping to prevent a confrontation where Su Zhe would need to "collect his body."
The Patriarch, seeing Su Muyu's unwavering loyalty, decided to finally address the poison he had secretly administered to Su Muyu years ago, the Life-Death Contract. He had believed Su Muyu's protection stemmed from this binding curse. To his astonishment, Su Muyu revealed he had already cured himself years ago when mastering the Eighteen-Sword Array, which unexpectedly purged the poison.
Su Muyu explained that his continued protection of the Patriarch was born from gratitude for saving him and his brother at Wailing Abyss, and from the oath he took as a Kui, guided by the principles of "loyalty and duty" instilled by his father, Sword God Zhuo Yuluo. He reiterated his father’s teaching that "honor bonds and keep your word" were fundamental, and forgetting either meant losing the right to wield a sword.
Moved by Su Muyu’s profound sense of loyalty and duty, the Patriarch acknowledged his own advanced age and limited remaining years, despite being cured. He then asked Su Muyu whom he believed should inherit the Dormant Dragon Sword as the next leader. Su Muyu specified that some costs were unacceptable, particularly that Su Changhe must not die. With this weighty discussion concluded, Su Muyu ventured alone to the Su family residence.
As he approached Qinghe Street, Su Ze intercepted him, challenging him to a duel to determine the strongest swordsman of their generation in the Su family. Su Muyu stated his purpose was to see Su Jinhui. Su Ze halted him and insisted on fighting, eager to test Su Muyu's sword. Other Su family members watched from the living room, most of them betting on how quickly Su Ze would be defeated.
