Bloody Romance Episode 35 Recap
> Bloody Romance Recap
Despite Ruan Niang's ultimate sacrifice and the pleas of his loyal soldiers, Chang An was resolute in his decision to return and rescue Wan Mei. He had previously promised Wan Mei that her shadow would not abandon her in times of trouble. Before departing from Mount Feng Ming, Chang An apologized to his ancestors and the people, acknowledging his departure as a deviation from his royal duties, but asserting it was necessary to fulfill a personal commitment.
He then issued a final, difficult order to his troops, emphasizing its crucial importance for the future of their empire. Meanwhile, Cha Luo interrogated Wan Xiang, claiming she couldn't sleep due to a lingering question. She probed why Wan Xiang, who had been rivals with Wan Mei since their arrival and lost the supreme killer position to her, seemed to lack the expected hatred, especially after kneeling to intercede for Wan Mei in Bi An Palace.
When Wan Xiang hesitated, Cha Luo produced a bone, questioning if it belonged to Cha Wu. Wan Xiang denied Cha Wu was her mother, stating she wouldn't have killed her if that were the case. However, Cha Luo revealed her knowledge of Wan Xiang's earlier lie about Cha Wu sacrificing herself for her daughter, even pointing out old marks on the bone from a mission seven years ago in Jin Ling.
Cha Luo then dared Wan Xiang to break the bone to prove her detachment. Wan Xiang's hesitation spurred Cha Luo's scorn, leading Wan Xiang to defiantly proclaim she had done nothing wrong, even if Cha Wu was her mother. Cha Luo, furious at the perceived deception, mocked Wan Xiang's lack of support from others. Just then, Wan Mei intervened, exposing the bone as merely an arm bone and accusing Cha Luo of lying.
Wan Mei defended Wan Xiang's search for her mother and Cha Wu's sacrifice as natural human instincts. She firmly reminded Cha Luo that Gui Hua City operated under long-standing rules that even the current ruler could not unilaterally override. In a dramatic gesture, Wan Mei shattered her sword and formally challenged Cha Luo, the 13th ruler. On his journey back to Gui Hua City, Chang An was intercepted by Gongzi.
Gongzi, noting Chang An's transformation from a shadow to King Chu, sarcastically asked if the blood-written letter was a ruse to draw him away and attack his forces. Chang An confirmed Wan Mei's predicament, explaining Cha Luo's imperial mandate over Gui Hua City and the implications of his intervention.
Gongzi asserted that Chang An's love for Wan Mei made him predictable and was the cause of her current troubles, admitting he had waited to kill Chang An while he was still conflicted. After a fierce battle where neither gained an advantage, Chang An reminded Gongzi of their previous inconclusive fight two years ago in Bi An Palace and proposed a strategic alliance.
He suggested Gongzi dismiss his troops and return to claim victory over the Jiang City rebels, which would allow Chang An to proceed to Gui Hua City. Gongzi, acknowledging Jiang City's precarious position near the Liang army, suggested they instead form an alliance to trap and destroy the Liang forces, revealing he had already made preparations. Chang An questioned Gongzi's reliability, highlighting that his military power was only valuable in times of conflict.
Gongzi, however, argued that in a potential future peace between Liang and Jin, he would be Chang An's most crucial ally. To earn Chang An's trust, Gongzi swore his sincerity on Wan Mei's life. Wan Mei, recognizing her martial inferiority to Cha Luo even without her blood worm, decided a direct confrontation would be futile. She sought a potent, fast-acting poison that would rapidly spread through the bloodstream.
She revealed her audacious plan: she would ingest the poison herself before the duel, then during the fight, inflict a wound on Cha Luo, using her own poisoned blood to fatally infect her. Despite objections and pleas for an alternative, Wan Mei was resolute, believing this was the only viable path.
She expressed a sense of fatalism, stating she should have died three years ago and had already lived "an extra thousand days" beyond her expected lifespan, feeling no regret about her decision. Cha Luo summoned Xing Feng, admiring his new shoes and asking who made them. She then presented him with a "gift," which turned out to be the severed hand of Liu Yun, the city's most skilled craftswoman, who had made the shoes for him.
Xing Feng was horrified, finding her act excessively cruel. Cha Luo, however, asserted her absolute dominion, declaring herself the sole rule and god of Gui Hua City, capable of disposing of anyone who defied her. She argued that merely dismembering Liu Yun was a mercy compared to killing her, as Liu Yun was still alive. Xing Feng retorted that Liu Yun, now handless, wished for death, and questioned her crime since she hadn't even left the city.
Cha Luo chillingly replied that Liu Yun was guilty of desiring something that didn't belong to her, contrasting her defiance with Liu Guang, another of Xing Feng's friends, who had known better than to offer him gifts due to Cha Luo's unpredictable nature. Xing Feng reminded Cha Luo of the women's contributions to building Gui Hua City, but Cha Luo, preempting his accusations of cruelty, challenged him to intercede for Liu Yun, implying his own affections for the woman.
That night, as Wan Mei ate noodles, lost in thoughts of Chang An, he suddenly appeared and embraced her. Overcome with emotion, Wan Mei tearfully recounted the events since his departure: Cha Luo's swift takeover of Gui Hua City and her attempts to kill Wan Mei, which were thwarted by the intercession of other girls who remembered Chang An's past efforts to risk his life to get the edict from His Majesty to save the city.
She lamented that many of these girls were now dead, filling the Death Pond at a rate the worms couldn't digest, making the water turn darker. She described Cha Luo's cruel act of forcing Wan Xiang to retrieve and crush her own mother's bones. Unable to bear it any longer, Wan Mei had challenged Cha Luo as the supreme killer.
Chang An, concerned for her safety, warned her of the slim chances of victory, though Wan Mei pointed out Cha Luo's weakened state due to the blood worm. Chang An refused to let her risk her life, suggesting they escape and he would return with his army to conquer the city.
Wan Mei, however, insisted that the other girls could not wait and that as a "poor girl in this chaotic world," she could not abandon those who had stood by her and watch them die. Chang An reaffirmed he had not returned to watch her die, but Wan Mei, resolute and stubborn, declared she would rather die than flee and leave them behind.
Wan Mei, observing Chang An's exhaustion from his days-long journey, gave him a sleeping draught, instructing him to rest while she would wake him at daybreak. Later, believing him to be deeply asleep, she tearfully apologized for her deception, feeling he had already sacrificed too much for her. She confided in her attendant that she had drugged Chang An to ensure he wouldn't interfere with her plan to confront Cha Luo using the poison.
Wan Mei then instructed the attendant to take Chang An away from Gui Hua City after her battle, as he would remain unconscious for at least two days. She asked the attendant to deliver a final message to Chang An upon his awakening: that their reunion, however brief, was enough for her, and her only wish for his future was a peaceful life.
Unbeknownst to Wan Mei, Chang An had not truly succumbed to the drug; he had feigned sleep and overheard her entire conversation and heartfelt farewell. As Wan Mei drifted to sleep beside him, Chang An shed silent tears, inwardly pleading for her survival.
The following morning, Wan Mei awoke to bright daylight and was immediately informed by an attendant that Chang An had secretly returned to Gui Hua City, attempted to assassinate Cha Luo, and failed, prompting Cha Luo to summon Wan Mei. Upon learning of Chang An's return and failed attempt, Xing Feng rushed to the scene. Cha Luo, asserting that Chang An, despite his defection, still harbored ill intentions, insisted on his punishment and tasked Xing Feng with it.
Cha Luo accused Chang An and Wan Mei of conspiring, suggesting his attempt was a backup plan if Wan Mei's challenge failed. Chang An vehemently denied this, claiming sole responsibility for his vendetta against Cha Luo. Wan Mei, distraught, questioned why Chang An had risked his life. Unconvinced by any explanation, Cha Luo declared Chang An would be sent to the Torture Room to reveal the "truth," a task Xing Feng confirmed he would carry out without mercy.
As Chang An was led away, Wan Mei immediately demanded to advance her challenge to Cha Luo to "now," but Cha Luo, mocking her, refused, holding to the original schedule of one day and one night, giving Wan Mei time to prepare for her "last moment."
In the Torture Room, Xing Feng, wielding a small golden hammer that was originally used for smashing walnuts for Cha Luo, began to detail the excruciating torture: he would systematically break every one of Chang An's bones, ensuring he would never walk again. During this ordeal, Chang An and Xing Feng engaged in a strained conversation. Xing Feng questioned why Chang An had attempted to kill Cha Luo instead of merely taking Wan Mei away.
Chang An explained Wan Mei's unwavering commitment to the city's people, and his own desire to spare her future unease. He admitted he "tried his luck," clarifying that his aim wasn't necessarily to kill Cha Luo but to "persuade" Xing Feng to act differently. Xing Feng, however, maintained his unwavering loyalty to Cha Luo.
Chang An then tried to appeal to Xing Feng's inner conflict, reminding him of a past promise he made to let Chang An and his master live if Chang An remained faithful to his master regardless of his own life. Chang An suggested Xing Feng regretted his own path, seeing a reflection of his past self in Chang An.
Chang An then revealed Xing Feng possessed a unique martial art capable of transferring internal energy and asked him to use it on Wan Mei. Xing Feng raised concerns about Chang An's certain death and the uncertain outcome for Wan Mei, but Chang An replied it would at least make the fight "fair." Xing Feng, filled with a nostalgic sorrow, expressed his own regret for Cha Luo's transformation and the city's suffering, a sentiment Chang An likely shared.
