Bloody Romance Episode 16 Recap
> Bloody Romance Recap
On the ninth day since Wan Mei entered Ling City, the plague had worsened, leading to the city's gates being closed, allowing entry but no exit. That evening, Yue Ying and Chang An arrived, disguised as surgeons sent by Governor Wang from Zizhou, and were granted entry. Inside, the city was desolate, with wanted posters of Wan Mei, depicting her with a disfigured face, plastered everywhere.
Chang An, distraught, began tearing them down, demanding to know from Yue Ying why Wan Mei had changed so drastically. Yue Ying coldly retorted, reminding him that if he had protected her at Zhai Xing Tower, she would not be in this state. She also advised him to look for Wan Mei in Wei Village, where the plague first erupted, as aimless searching would be futile.
Elsewhere, Wan Mei, suffering from the plague and worried about the old woman who had taken her in, collapsed with a high fever in a deserted ancestral hall. Xiaoxia, concerned for her, ventured into the market to steal some steamed buns. When caught, he cleverly feigned having the plague by spitting a little blood, scaring off the vendor and escaping punishment.
Upon returning, Xiaoxia gave Wan Mei a bun and shared his own story, revealing he was an orphan whose sister had helped him escape an abusive brother-in-law. He then showed Wan Mei the wanted poster. Recalling an earlier mission assigned by His Highness, which mentioned her usefulness due to her current situation, Wan Mei realized with chilling clarity that she was indeed the source of the spreading plague.
Just then, her horror was confirmed as Xiaoxia coughed up blood, already infected by the disease. Wan Mei was heartbroken. As Wan Mei grieved over Xiaoxia, Yue Ying and Chang An arrived at the ancestral hall. Seeing Wan Mei's scarred face, Chang An was overcome with sorrow and knelt, calling out her name, "Master Mei." Wan Mei's heart sank. She turned, her eyes filled with tears, her throat unable to form words, struggling against Chang An's embrace.
Filled with rage and despair, she lashed out, destroying objects around her, desperately trying to drive Chang An away. As Chang An helplessly stepped outside, he immediately pressed his sword to Yue Ying's throat, demanding to know what she had done to Wan Mei. Yue Ying confessed that she had injected Wan Mei with witchcraft and had accidentally lost the antidote.
She stated that the only thing she could do now was to restore Wan Mei's voice, which she promised would recover within fourteen to sixteen hours. She also revealed that His Highness believed that success sometimes requires a "withering of the bone," implying a great cost for achievements. On the tenth day of Wan Mei's stay in Ling City, half of the citizens had contracted the plague. Governor He Ba ordered a complete lockdown, stopping all food and water supplies.
Wan Mei, desperate to save Xiaoxia, rushed into an empty clinic, searching frantically for medicine, but found nothing effective. Chang An followed, reminding her that it was futile, and urged her to return to Xiaoxia. By this time, her voice had recovered. She realized the witchcraft within her was similar to the one Yue Qingya had spread years ago, leading her to believe that Lan Ruo might possess the antidote. Chang An questioned where it might be hidden.
Wan Mei suggested they could compel Lan Ruo, Yue Qingya's foster son, to provide it, as he might be desperate given the city's plight. Yue Ying had stated earlier that His Highness had instructed her to kill Lan Ruo if the plan changed, but she had expressed doubt, feeling destined to fail her missions. Chang An volunteered to seek the antidote from Lan Ruo.
He stated that a sick man would be more convincing than mere words, and the more severe his illness, the more likely Lan Ruo's heart would be softened. To that end, he deliberately cut Wan Mei's hand and licked her infected blood, allowing himself to contract the plague. Yue Ying then helped him circulate the poison throughout his body using his inner strength. Before Chang An departed, Yue Ying offered them a few moments for a private conversation.
Chang An admitted he might not return alive and had something to say. Wan Mei angrily challenged him, asking what he could possibly say to earn her forgiveness. She recounted the brutal tortures she endured in prison: not the scar on her face, nor the silver needles, nor even the daily breaking and resetting of her legs, but Chang An's betrayal. She revealed that what she hated most was him, the one who had promised never to abandon her.
Every day, as sunlight crept towards her prison cell, she had hoped he would appear to rescue her from the endless torment before the light touched her, but he never did. Chang An could only offer a sorrowful apology. Wan Mei declared there was nothing left to say between them. She told him to leave, stating that if he succeeded in obtaining the antidote and saving Xiaoxia, she would consider herself indebted to him and would repay the favor.
As Chang An left, he implored Yue Ying to take good care of Wan Mei, and if he didn't return, to ensure Wan Mei lived a peaceful, free life, as it was what they owed her. On the eleventh day, as Ling City became a ghost town, Lan Ruo led his Bloody Lotus Cult followers in prayer at Bloody Lotus Pond. Chang An, feigning collapse from the plague, drew attention.
Lan Ruo quickly dismissed his followers and began to treat Chang An, during which he hypnotized him and extracted his true name, Xie Huan, and Wan Mei's name. Realizing his cover was blown, Chang An admitted his purpose and pleaded for the antidote. Lan Ruo revealed that the antidote he possessed was only a semi-finished product. To complete it, they needed someone who had ingested the "witchcraft" and miraculously survived for over seven days.
The blood of such a person would then become the antidote. Lan Ruo explained that while Yue Qingya had left this witchcraft, it was dangerous, as people typically died within a day, and he had never encountered anyone who could survive for more than seven. Chang An, however, asserted that Wan Mei had extraordinary vitality and would endure. Lan Ruo further warned that this "witchcraft" would cause immense pain and accelerate the toxicity, making survival highly unlikely.
Despite this grim warning, Chang An took the witchcraft and returned to Wan Mei. Meanwhile, Governor He Ba's forces had located Wan Mei's dwelling and were engaging Yue Ying in a fierce battle. Yue Ying urged Wan Mei to flee, explaining that she was the target and her departure might save Xiaoxia. But Wan Mei refused, determined to stay and await the antidote for Xiaoxia, declaring she would not abandon her.
Yue Ying then confronted He Ba's men, stating her intention was only to protect those inside and not to harm them, but she would not hesitate to retaliate if they advanced further. Chang An finally reached Wan Mei, confirming there was no ready antidote. He explained Lan Ruo's terms: Wan Mei would have to consume the "witchcraft," endure agonizing pain, and survive for seven days for her blood to become the cure. Wan Mei, undeterred, declared she had already faced death once and was willing to endure more if it meant a chance for salvation.
