Bloody Romance Episode 24 Recap
> Bloody Romance Recap
Wan Mei arrived at Ting Zhu House, and although Yue Ying was reluctant, she allowed Wan Mei to enter. The Gentleman was already waiting, acknowledging his disrespectful behavior from the previous night. He admitted he was conscious and knew what he was doing, then straightforwardly asked Wan Mei if it was so difficult for her to be his woman.
Wan Mei stood her ground, stating that he would have many women throughout his life, and despite her humble origins, she did not wish to be merely one of them. The Gentleman pressed further, asking if she thought he only treated her as a toy and if she still wouldn't trust him even if he was serious.
Wan Mei responded that she only believed in mutual support in times of hardship and that only a couple of equal social standing could truly be together forever. As they spoke, a barrage of arrows suddenly rained down from outside. The Gentleman quickly shielded Wan Mei. It was the Imperial Army attacking the city. Meanwhile, Ruan Niang confronted Chang An, urging him to turn against Gui Hua City.
Chang An refused, declaring he had no choice and that she would have to kill him first. As they debated, Cha Luo and Xing Feng arrived. Ruan Niang, powerful and imposing, declared she was acting on Preceptor Yue's orders to flatten Gui Hua City. Cha Luo retorted defiantly, "In your dream!" Despite Ruan Niang's superior numbers, Liu Guang arrived just in time, releasing gu worms to disrupt the Imperial Army, allowing Cha Luo and Xing Feng to hastily retreat.
The Gentleman was hit by an arrow while protecting Wan Mei. Biting down, Wan Mei pulled the broken arrow out. The Gentleman recognized it as a "White-feathered Black Arrow," the distinctive weapon of the Imperial Army. He deduced that Preceptor Yue, Yue Qing Ya, had acted with surprising audacity, underestimating him. He noted the urgency, needing to restore his internal balance immediately. Meanwhile, Cha Luo and her group found themselves surrounded.
Ruan Niang gloated that no one else was left alive and offered a reward for Cha Luo's capture. Cha Luo rallied her remaining forces, reminding them that Gui Hua City at least offered them a place to live, even if undesirable. Ruan Niang then revealed her trump card: Repeating Crossbows, threatening them to surrender or face certain death. Amidst the chaotic battle, Xing Feng seized Cha Luo and made a quick escape.
Cha Luo chastised Xing Feng for taking matters into his own hands, but he explained that the gu worm in her body had begun to bite back, putting her life in danger. Cha Luo cried out, proclaiming her fearlessness of death and her refusal to flee. Xing Feng reminded her that she said the same thing when Cha Ru tried to kill her and reiterated that he would never abandon her.
Cha Luo then asked him to return with her, and he pledged to follow her wherever she went, as her shadow. After his recovery, the Gentleman, accompanied by Wan Mei and Yue Ying, arrived at the main battlefield, ordering everyone to retreat to Bi An Palace. He declared that defending Bi An Palace was defending Gui Hua City, asserting his identity as Li Si Yuan, King Ning.
He admitted the gossip of him being a nominal owner but declared that as long as he was the owner, he would live and die with the city. He promised to restore Gui Hua City to its former glory within three months. Inspired by his words, Yue Ying and Wan Mei led everyone in kneeling, pledging their willingness to fight alongside him. The Gentleman, Yue Ying, Wan Mei, and Chang An then discussed their strategy.
The Gentleman, acknowledging his own weakened internal energy, asked for suggestions. Yue Ying proposed using poison to buy them two more hours. They concluded that Preceptor Yue's actions were unauthorized, and the only solution was to obtain a royal edict from the King. The Gentleman suggested Yue Ying accompany Wan Mei, noting Yue Ying's mastery of poison would give them a chance to break through the Imperial Army.
Yue Ying initially refused, citing her loyalty, but the Gentleman urged her not to let loyalty cloud her judgment. Chang An then volunteered to stay and protect the Gentleman, vowing to risk his life for the Gentleman's safety. The Gentleman accepted, reassuring them he wouldn't easily perish. As Yue Ying and Wan Mei prepared to leave, Cha Luo reappeared.
Yue Ying sarcastically questioned her return, to which Cha Luo retorted that as the Lady of Gui Hua City, she would not abandon it. She then instructed Yue Ying and Wan Mei to hurry to the Palace, while she and Xing Feng would hold their ground. Back in Bi An Palace, the Gentleman observed that the Iron Plow Wood door could hold for about four hours.
He then spoke to Chang An, noting that Chang An wanted Wan Mei to go to the Palace so she wouldn't die there. The Gentleman confronted Chang An about his past with Ruan Niang, asking why Wan Mei had fallen into the lake at Zhai Xing Tower and hated him so deeply. Chang An attributed it to his failure to protect her.
The Gentleman then revealed his long-standing knowledge of Ruan Niang's true identity as Xie Ying, the daughter of Xie Ting Yun, and Chang An's former young mistress. He questioned why Chang An wouldn't side with her, given her family's kindness to him. Chang An responded that only Cha Luo deserved to die, having eliminated the Xie family. The Gentleman then ironically asked if he should trust Chang An with his life.
He then ordered Chang An to command all the remaining forces, and guard the entrance, instructing him to keep his weakening condition a secret. Meanwhile, Cha Luo and Xing Feng, having returned to the main fight, were swiftly captured by Ruan Niang. Ruan Niang taunted Cha Luo about her notorious heartlessness and how Xing Feng was her weakness, threatening to mutilate Xing Feng's face.
Cha Luo angrily demanded Ruan Niang's true identity, and Ruan Niang revealed her real name: Xie Ying. Cha Luo remembered killing Xie Ying's father, Xie Ting Yun, and cruelly mocked her, saying even avenging him wouldn't bring him peace. Xie Ying then threatened Xing Feng's life, demanding to know the location of the Xie family's Wordless Edict. Cha Luo claimed she took nothing from the Xie family but her mother's dressing case.
Just then, Xing Feng, by reversing his blood flow, broke free of his sealed acupoints. He explained that mastering the ability to break free from sealed acupoints by enduring pain was a fundamental training for Gui Hua City's shadows. He then escaped with Cha Luo. As the siege continued, Ruan Niang proposed a deal to Chang An: if they handed over the Gentleman, she would spare everyone else. The Gentleman, hearing this, gave Chang An his implicit consent to negotiate.
Ruan Niang pressed, noting the Gentleman was injured and that this was a good deal to exchange his life for the lives of everyone else. Chang An agreed to the terms, but added a condition: he would remain with the Gentleman. Concurrently, Wan Mei, disguised as a dancer, entered the royal palace for a performance. The King was displeased with the available dancers, many having been executed or fled.
Wan Mei then presented herself as a dancer with an exceptional performance. The King, observing her strong physique, suspected she was skilled in martial arts. Wan Mei confessed she was not a dancer, but rather from Gui Hua City and served King Ning. She stated her purpose was to beg for a royal edict to save Gui Hua City from danger.
The King, surprised, as he believed King Ning was simply recuperating in Gui Hua City, was shown the "White-feathered Black Arrow" that Wan Mei had taken from the Gentleman's shoulder. Recognizing it as an Imperial Army weapon, the King immediately called for Eunuch Yu. Eunuch Yu admitted that Preceptor Yue had transferred the Imperial Army using his token, without the King's knowledge.
Wan Mei seized the opportunity, warning the King that if Preceptor Yue could command the Imperial Army against Gui Hua City without permission today, he might plot a rebellion with border soldiers tomorrow. She emphasized King Ning's lack of ambition and that Gui Hua City was a grant from the late emperor, imploring the King to save the city.
