Sword and Beloved Episode 11 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
Wangquan Fugui reflected on the nature of good and evil, asserting that both humans and demons possess them, and no one is destined for darkness. Qing Tong confided in Fugui, expressing her deep affection for Peach Village, a place she had once imagined as her home, now tragically lost overnight. Fugui then instructed Qing Tong to open the Dust-Seeker Sword and brought her to a riverbank.
He began teaching her sword techniques for self-preservation, emphasizing that the true essence of swordsmanship lies in intent, not just movements. Discovering Qing Tong's remarkable intellect, Fugui wished for her to live a vibrant life, unconstrained, and to witness the world's myriad wonders. Qing Tong understood that Fugui desired for her to embrace the light and become her best self.
With this understanding, they bid each other a poignant farewell, promising to reunite someday, so Qing Tong could accompany Fugui to see the beautiful mountains, rivers, and vast landscapes of the world. In the aftermath of the night's devastation in Peach Village, Zhang Qi took on the sorrowful task of tending to the deceased. He cursed himself for the tragedy, believing he was responsible for the loss of life.
Yet, he remained steadfast in his conviction that his cultivation was not about compromising with a chaotic world; rather, every being, human or demon, strong or weak, deserved a home. He confessed to Fugui that he no longer had the face to return to the Yiqi Alliance. Still, to protect Peach Village and those who chose to remain, he was prepared to sacrifice his life.
Zhang Qi revealed to Fugui his initial plan to return to the Yiqi Alliance for a comfortable retirement, but the faces of the lost villagers—Jiu, a 900-year-old raccoon dog demon who cultivated into a great demon, the human and water-snake demon Wu couple who sacrificed for each other, and Qiu Hanlin, the noble benefactor of Fuying—haunted him, reminding him that they had no future. He realized he could not abandon them.
Fugui expressed concern that the Ximen family, whose territory Peach Village was, would not allow its continued existence, leaving the weak humans and demons with nowhere to go. Zhang Qi explained that he had burned the twelve talismans that once protected Peach Village from the miasma, ensuring that no one from the Ximen family could enter. However, this also meant the village itself would be engulfed.
He then revealed his ultimate sacrifice: he would use his own blood to write miasma-repelling talismans, with the peach tree as the core, to activate a defense formation, preserving Peach Village permanently from the miasma's corrosion. He explained that bamboo talismans would take seven years to set up, time he didn't have. Fugui realized this act would cost Zhang Qi his life.
Zhang Qi affirmed that his dream started and would end there, and he would not fail his past self. As his spiritual energy waned, Zhang Qi asked Fugui to activate the formation. Fugui agreed, acknowledging the heavy price he might pay as a Soldier of the Yiqi Alliance. Fugui affirmed Zhang Qi's belief that "we cultivate, not to compromise with this chaotic world," and promised to uphold his trust.
Zhang Qi's vision, as he passed, was of the peach blossoms finally blooming, symbolizing his dream's enduring legacy. Fugui, deeply moved, reflected on the purpose of his sword: not for indiscriminate slaughter, but for protecting the weak, regardless of their nature. He relayed Zhang Qi's final message to the villagers to leave within a day if they did not wish to stay, as the miasma would soon envelop the village.
When a subordinate asked about Zhang Qi, Fugui informed him of his death and ordered the palanquin to return home. Wangquan Hongye was furious upon hearing of the events in Peach Village and Fugui's actions. He questioned why Fugui hadn't brought Zhang Qi back, killed the demons, or protected the Ximen family's territory, which had now become a place where humans and demons coexisted.
Fugui, however, stood his ground, stating that the instigator of the Chakuwa was dead, and he believed the innocent villagers had a right to live. He declared his new resolve: from that day forward, before undertaking any demon-slaying mission, he would first ascertain the reasons and spare any demon that did not deserve to die. He even went so far as to question whether a system that relied solely on killing to deal with the Demon Realm was inherently flawed.
Wangquan Hongye was enraged, accusing Fugui of being swayed by Zhang Qi and neglecting his duties as a Soldier born to slay demons. Fugui asserted that this was not wavering, but a deeper understanding of a Soldier's true purpose. He declared that he, Wangquan Fugui, would stand without regret and with a clear conscience. Ignoring Wangquan Hongye's threats of family and Yiqi Alliance's reputation, Fugui decided to leave. Enraged, Wangquan Hongye immediately ordered Fugui to be subjected to clan punishment.
Fugui was suspended in mid-air and mercilessly whipped. Fei, a loyal servant, pleaded for Wangquan Hongye to stop, reminding him that Fugui was already injured and his spiritual power sealed, which would kill him. Wangquan Hongye remained unyielding, stating that while demons were cruel to humans, Fugui had shown mercy to demons. Fei desperately urged Fugui to concede, but Fugui only acknowledged him with a glance.
Wangquan Hongye, to further break Fugui, announced that he would no longer have birthdays, as a Soldier required absolute solitude and focus, free from worldly distractions. He then ordered Fugui to break the ebony sword, a gift from his father, to symbolize severing all sentiment. Even after enduring forty lashes, Fugui refused to admit any wrongdoing. Wangquan Hongye, seeing his defiance, ordered him to remain suspended until he repented, forbidding anyone from approaching him as a warning.
Meanwhile, Quan Jingting, still struggling to master the Dragon Spine Sword, received a visit from a Black Fox Elder. She chastised his despair, revealing that the Soldier, Fugui, had protected Peach Village, an act she framed as heaven siding with Quan Jingting's ambitions. Encouraged, Quan Jingting reaffirmed his determination, and the Black Fox Elder offered her assistance. With her aid, Quan Jingting finally subdued the Dragon Spine Sword, feeling ready to make his grand entrance.
The elders and family heads of the Yiqi Alliance convened, pressing Wangquan Hongye for an explanation regarding the Peach Village incident. Wangquan Hongye asserted that he had already punished the Soldier for a moment of weakness, but the Ximen family head, whose territory Peach Village was, vehemently rejected this, calling it a blatant disregard for their family and the Alliance.
Quan Jingting seized the opportunity, claiming that the Wangquan ancestors in the Sword Tomb had cried out to him, foretelling a great calamity for the Yiqi Alliance, stemming from Wangquan Fugui. Wangquan Hongye attempted to silence him, but Quan Jingting, now wielding the Dragon Spine Sword, claimed it as his right to speak. He amplified the "ancestral wailing" to further sow dissent, bringing up Wangquan Hongye's past transgressions that led to many deaths to undermine his authority.
He then argued that Fugui's changed mindset made the Blue Sky Assembly's prophecy a real danger. Fei attempted to defend Wangquan Hongye, highlighting his long service to the Alliance. However, the elder in charge of law introduced a severe countermeasure: a magic tool called Wuchen, capable of stripping away all of a Soldier's worldly thoughts, transforming him into a merciless, emotionless, peerless blade.
Fei was horrified, but Wangquan Hongye declared that as long as he remained in the Yiqi Alliance, no one would harm his son. The elder, understanding the ties of blood, offered a compromise: Fugui must mend his mistakes and provide a satisfactory answer by sunset the following day, or face the ruthless measures of the Yiqi Alliance. Later, the Black Fox Elder spoke with an associate about the confrontation.
She correctly predicted that Wangquan Hongye, despite his strict demeanor, would fiercely protect his son, Wangquan Fugui, who was also the son of Dongfang Huaizhu. She explained that she needed another "blade" to further destabilize the father and son, and pledged to provide it. Meanwhile, Qingche, Qing Tong's brother, followed his sister's instructions and arrived in Deer Village.
Using a precious gem, he rented a spacious courtyard, diligently arranging a room for Qing Tong, filled with happy anticipation of their life together. The landlord, noticing Qingche had rented two rooms for himself, offered a smaller, cheaper option, but Qingche explained the larger room was for his sister who would be joining him.
The landlord then warned Qingche to avoid the east, specifically Qianji City, located three hundred li away, ruled by a "devil in human skin" who indiscriminately hunted demons. Qing Tong, leading the group of humans and demons who did not wish to stay in Peach Village, journeyed towards Deer Village. While they rested, she sensed danger and quickly ordered everyone to evacuate, staying behind to cover their retreat.
Just as she suspected, Quan Jingting and a group of black-clad figures appeared in pursuit. Qing Tong fought bravely, eliminating the black-clad attackers, but was ultimately struck down and rendered unconscious by Quan Jingting. He remarked on her intriguing nature, noting that it was no wonder the Soldier had taken a liking to her.
