Duel on Mount Hua: Nine Yin True Sutra Episode 1 Recap
> Duel on Mount Hua: Nine Yin True Sutra Recap
In the Southern Song era, the Mei family of Lin'an prospered as successful seafaring merchants. Their beloved daughter, Mei Ruohua, lived a carefree childhood, unaware that her life was about to drastically change. On the day of her birthday and the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mei Ruohua's father introduced Qiu Yunhai, the family's new chief business manager, who had significantly expanded their commerce.
That very night, a meticulously planned scheme by Qiu Yunhai led to the massacre of the Mei family, and Mei Ruohua, a mere ten-year-old, was sold into a brothel. For the next decade, Mei Ruohua endured life as an entertainer, her every waking moment consumed by thoughts of vengeance. One day, the Madam of the brothel led her to a private room to serve a special client.
Removing her blindfold, Mei Ruohua was horrified to find Qiu Yunhai seated before her. Declaring her "dirty," Qiu Yunhai refused to touch her, instead offering her to one of his subordinates. Once alone with the man, Mei Ruohua produced a hidden dagger and killed him. Enraged, Qiu Yunhai commanded his men to capture Mei Ruohua alive. Though defenseless, she fled through the streets and into the wilderness.
Cornered, she braced for death, but at that moment, Huang Yaoshi, who had been cultivating nearby, was disturbed by the commotion. Witnessing the attack, he intervened, effortlessly scattering the men. Amazed, Mei Ruohua knelt and pleaded for him to accept her as his disciple so she could avenge her family. Moved by her resolve, Huang Yaoshi taught her three techniques and transferred some of his internal energy to her, but departed without accepting her as a student.
With newfound strength, Mei Ruohua returned to seek revenge on Qiu Yunhai's forces but was quickly overwhelmed by their numbers and exhausted. As the men were about to kill her, a kind young woman named Feng Heng intervened. When the thugs then turned their aggression towards Feng Heng, a weakened Mei Ruohua, touched by the stranger's kindness, bravely stepped in front of her. Just then, Huang Yaoshi, Feng Heng's husband, appeared and swiftly subdued the attackers.
Feng Heng, who felt a kinship with Mei Ruohua, convinced Huang Yaoshi to let the girl travel with them. Feng Heng, who possessed no martial arts, suffered from a severe cold poison from a Ninefold Yin Pill. Huang Yaoshi used his Solar Mantra to channel pure Yang energy into her to counteract it, but this method conflicted with his own internal energy, leaving him weakened after each session.
Learning of this from a subordinate who saw Huang Yaoshi spit blood, Qiu Yunhai saw an opportunity to defeat the legendary master and make a name for himself. He ordered his men to find and kill the vulnerable Huang Yaoshi. After a tender moment with Feng Heng, Huang Yaoshi was ambushed by Qiu Yunhai and his forces. Mei Ruohua, grateful for being rescued twice, attempted to sacrifice herself to protect him.
However, Huang Yaoshi, despite his condition, was still a formidable opponent and easily dispatched the attackers. Seeing Mei Ruohua's unwavering loyalty, Feng Heng again implored her husband, this time to formally accept the girl as his disciple. Huang Yaoshi agreed, and the three set off for their home, Taohua Island. Upon their arrival, Huang Yaoshi's disciples—Qu Lingfeng (the eldest), Chen Xuanfeng (the second), Lu Chengfeng (the fourth), and Wu Mianfeng (the fifth)—were surprised by their master's early return.
After some playful bickering, they greeted the newcomers. Lu Chengfeng introduced the disciples to Mei Ruohua, explaining that all of them bore "feng" as part of their names, and jokingly complained that because he skipped his formal discipleship ritual, his master made him study medicine instead of teaching him more martial arts. Mei Ruohua formally pledged her allegiance to Huang Yaoshi, vowing to learn the martial arts of Taohua Island and uphold its honor.
Huang Yaoshi accepted her, stating that the island had few rules and that he hoped she could find herself, begin anew, and release the burdens of her past. He then bestowed upon her the name "Mei Chaofeng," symbolizing a transcendent wind that soars beyond worldly cares. Feng Heng personally guided Mei Chaofeng to her new quarters, showing her the master's painting collection, incense made by Wu Mianfeng, and cosmetics she blended herself.
She advised Chaofeng to get three Nine-Flower Dew Pills from Wu Mianfeng to strengthen her internal energy for training. Later, the disciples discussed their new junior sister. While some found her cold, others admired her stubborn and determined gaze. They speculated about her origins, with Lu Chengfeng sharing that his incorruptible official father was framed and exiled before Huang Yaoshi rescued him.
The disciples noted their master's respect for loyalty and patriotism, as his own parents were anti-Jin patriots and Wu Mianfeng's parents were military doctors who died on the battlefield. They concluded that regardless of her past, Mei Chaofeng was now one of them, a part of their family on Taohua Island.
