Blood River Episode 8 Recap
> Blood River Recap
Su Ze challenged Su Muyu, declaring his intent to determine the strongest swordsman of the Su generation. Su Muyu observed that while Su Ze used daggers, he looked forward to the moment Su Ze might draw a sword. In a nearby room, Su Changhe and Su Jinhui wagered on the outcome, with Su Changhe confidently predicting Su Muyu would win in just one move.
Su Muyu further evaluated Su Ze's technique, noting that his "Sword Art of Soul Destruction" possessed a sinister aura but lacked true dominance, which, Su Muyu explained, stems from contempt rather than mere ferocity or ruthlessness. As predicted, Su Muyu defeated Su Ze in a single swift move. Following the duel, Su Muyu solemnly presented the Dormant Dragon Sword to Su Jinhui, the head of the Su family.
He conveyed that he, Uncle Zhe, Su Changhe, the Patriarch, and others would henceforth depart from Blood River. Su Jinhui, a shrewd man, knew the Patriarch would not yield the sword so easily and sensed a deeper condition. Su Muyu confirmed that the Patriarch's true condition was to grant freedom of choice to all Blood River members who wished to leave.
Su Jinhui understood this was effectively a move to dismantle Blood River, realizing that accepting the sword under these terms would leave him with a fragmented organization, vulnerable to the other two families. Despite the risks and the covetous eyes of the other families, Su Jinhui, empowered by the prospect of wielding the Dormant Dragon Sword and its immense authority, felt confident he could control Blood River.
Just as Su Jinhui prepared to take the sword, the Death Coffin materialized, and from it emerged Mu Ciling of the Mu family. Mu Ciling, a former disciple of the previous Mu family head, had secretly cultivated the Hell Palm after stealing its manual from the Patriarch, a deed that had led to his confinement in the black coffin after Mu Zizhe exposed him.
His appearance caused a stir, as his Hell Palm, now emanating a red aura, indicated a formidable power, potentially surpassing that of the three family heads. Su Ze, angered by Mu Ciling's disrespect on Su family grounds, attempted to intervene but was effortlessly defeated in one move. Recognizing Mu Ciling's overwhelming strength, Su Jinhui was forced to step forward and engage him in battle.
Su Muyu, aware that Su Jinhui was no match for Mu Ciling alone, considered forming an alliance with Su Changhe. However, Su Changhe was wary, suspecting Su Muyu merely sought to use him to defeat the enemy without intending to uphold their previous agreement. As they deliberated, Su Jinhui and Mu Ciling fiercely exchanged blows. Su Changhe found the fight entertaining and asked Su Muyu if he intended to join.
Su Muyu decided against it, explaining that if he were to assist Su Jinhui, a victory achieved with help would diminish Su Jinhui's authority over the Three Families, even with the Dormant Dragon Sword. A solo victory, however, would at least deter the Mu family from further defiance. The battle between Su Jinhui and Mu Ciling reached its climax, with both unleashing their most potent techniques. It became clear that Su Jinhui was losing.
At this critical juncture, Xie Qidao suddenly appeared. Undeterred, Mu Ciling brazenly seized the Dormant Dragon Sword in front of everyone. Su Jinhui watched helplessly as the sword was taken, recognizing that he had lost his best chance to become the Patriarch. He decided to withdraw the Su family from the conflict. Xie Qidao immediately pursued Mu Ciling to reclaim the Dormant Dragon Sword.
Meanwhile, Bai Hehuai, who had been watching from a teahouse, seized the opportunity and snatched the sword for herself. Realizing she couldn't contend with both Xie Qidao and Mu Ciling, she swiftly deployed a poison array, "Death in Thirty Feet," around herself, keeping them at bay. Although unable to breach the toxic mist, Xie Qidao and Mu Ciling waited patiently for the array to dissipate.
With no one arriving to assist her and her array weakening, Bai Hehuai threw the sword away and escaped. Suddenly, members of the 12 Spider Shadow appeared. Chen the Dragon quickly caught the sword, but just as he attempted to leave, Mu Zizhe emerged, not only challenging for the Dormant Dragon Sword but also fatally striking Chen the Dragon with an Aqua Heartpiercer. Witnessing his brother's death, Su Muyu was filled with rage.
Mu Ciling then captured another Spider Shadow member, Yin the Tiger, and threatened Su Muyu to exchange the sword for his brother's life. To save his comrade, Su Muyu relinquished the sword to Mu Ciling. Mu Ciling then handed the Dormant Dragon Sword to Mu Zizhe, who, now holding the sword, intended to lead his clan back to their sect. However, Xie Qidao and the Xie family arrived, intent on seizing the sword for themselves.
Su Zhe, observing from the shadows, continued to watch the unfolding events. Elsewhere, the Water Official located the Patriarch, who still possessed the "true" Dormant Dragon Sword. The Patriarch understood that regardless of Blood River's transformation, the Water Official sought his life. He expressed a desire to retreat to "Homeland," a legendary sanctuary of Blood River where one could live a peaceful life.
The Water Official dismissed this, insisting that Homeland was merely a lie, and firmly intended to kill the Patriarch. The Patriarch was forced to act, displaying his mastery. Upon witnessing the Patriarch's formidable techniques, the Water Official realized he could not defeat him and departed, acknowledging that the Patriarch's poison, "The Snow Falls on a Plum Blossom," had been neutralized, restoring his full power.
The Patriarch asserted that Blood River was merely a weapon in the hands of a master, not something they controlled, a reality he had spent thirty years trying to change, believing that though he failed, someone else eventually would.
