Sword and Beloved Episode 20 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
Guifeng, a clone of the Black Fox, watched as Qingcheng excessively flattered Qing Tong. Guifeng scoffed, telling Qingcheng his efforts were in vain because Qing Tong only had eyes for the Soldier. Hearing this, Qingcheng gritted his teeth and vowed to sever all ties between Qing Tong and the Soldier, ensuring she remained by his side. Meanwhile, Fugui, known as Lantern Wang, liberated the captured civilians from the female bandit's dungeon.
They expressed their gratitude and departed, while Fugui turned back to rescue the little corsac fox. Inside, Fan Yunfei, the Second Prince of Corsac Fox State who had transformed into human form, was seemingly giving the female bandit a massage. The bandit provocatively teased him, but Fan Yunfei, unversed in romantic overtures, bluntly stated he was there to reclaim the family's sacred Water-Control Orb.
Enraged, the bandit threw him to the ground, and as she prepared to attack, Fugui arrived just in time. The female bandit then produced the Water-Control Orb, intending to use it against them. Fugui, observing that she could only wield it as a mere artifact and hadn't assimilated it, felt a measure of relief. With his internal energy not fully restored, he could only offer guidance to Fan Yunfei from the sidelines.
Fortunately, Li Xueyang, a female general of the Li Army, arrived after learning of the situation. Together, they subdued the female bandit, and Fan Yunfei, revealing his true form, swallowed the Water-Control Orb. Fan Yunfei recognized Li Xueyang, but she showed no recollection of him, a fact Fugui noticed, observing Fan Yunfei’s evident disappointment. Envoys from Corsac Fox State then escorted Fan Yunfei and Fugui to the royal palace.
It was confirmed that Fan Yunfei had indeed secured the Water-Control Orb, though it was now within him. According to their agreement, he was entitled to assume the throne of Corsac Fox State. However, the Corsac Fox Elders voiced their dissent, proposing that Fan Yunfei could become king only if Fugui agreed to stay on as a tutor. Fugui unequivocally declined. The old King then met with Fugui privately, imploring him to reconsider.
Fugui reasoned that since the Water-Control Orb was inside Fan Yunfei, he might as well remain for a while, but he simply told the King he needed more time to think. Later, Fan Yunfei recounted his past encounter with Li Xueyang. He explained that one day, when he was still a small corsac fox, he found Li Xueyang injured and unconscious in a desert sandstorm.
To save her, he unwillingly unleashed his demon power to shield her, then went to fetch water. By the time he returned, she had vanished. He admitted to Fugui that his heart pounded whenever he thought of her, wondering if he was in love. Fugui advised him that affection required mutual feelings.
Fan Yunfei later attempted to impress Li Xueyang by presenting a gift, but his awkward attempts at striking impressive poses were met with confusion and a playful beating from Li Xueyang, who mistook his actions for a challenge and did not recognize him as her savior.
Her parents, General Li and his wife, reminded her of a similar incident three years prior where she was rescued in the desert, but she could only recall her savior being "furry" and comforting, unaware it was Fan Yunfei. Fugui decided to accept the role of tutor temporarily. He mused that while the King seemed simple-minded, his longevity suggested hidden depths, and the title of "Tutor of Corsac Fox State" was certainly an upgrade from "Lantern Wang."
Meanwhile, Qing Tong anxiously awaited news of Fugui in Qianji City. Qingcheng eventually returned, bearing the devastating news that the Soldier had been stripped of his sword meridian by the Yiqi Alliance and had died, his place taken by his cousin, Rumu. Qingcheng then led a heartbroken Qing Tong to see the Soldier's cenotaph. Consumed by grief and anger, Qing Tong refused to believe the Soldier was truly gone without seeing his body.
She swore that if Fugui had indeed died at the hands of the Yiqi Alliance, she would exact vengeance. Qingcheng seized the opportunity to dissuade her from impulsive action, pointing out that her current demon power was too weak and confronting the Yiqi Alliance would be suicide. He urged her to train in Qianji City, which held numerous martial arts manuals, to significantly boost her power before seeking revenge.
Following this, Qing Tong embarked on a relentless regimen of cultivation, day and night. Yet, she found her demon power inexplicably weakening rather than growing, sensing that something was amiss. Unbeknownst to Qing Tong, Guifeng confirmed to Qingcheng that the "cultivation methods" he had given Qing Tong were deliberately unsuitable for her constitution, ensuring she would not grow powerful enough to escape his control. In the Yiqi Alliance, Rumu continued his relentless campaign against demons.
His uncle, Wangquan Hongye, noticed Rumu's intense dedication to demon-slaying. Hongye then revealed that before his death, Fugui had approached him, expressing his willingness to have his sword meridian transferred to Rumu, stating he had "no regrets." Rumu, feigning indifference, dismissed the sentiment as a joke, claiming his relationship with Fugui was merely a matter of childhood games and that he himself harbored no grand ambitions, wishing only to wander freely.
Hongye acknowledged their shared pain and urged Rumu to look ahead. Soon after, urgent news arrived from the border: the long-lost Water-Control Orb had reappeared in the Western Regions, now in the possession of the Corsac Fox Clan. Fearing the orb's powerful and corrupting influence, which could plunge the Western Regions into chaos, Wangquan Hongye decided to send Rumu, as his most trusted individual and the one most familiar with the Western Regions, to retrieve it.
Rumu accepted, but requested to bring someone with him, to which Hongye agreed. As Rumu departed, he asked if Hongye had any message for an old friend in the Western Regions, but Hongye simply told him not to disturb the person and to take care of himself. To lift Qing Tong's spirits, Qingcheng commissioned the collection of various rare treasures from across the land. Among these was a fish lantern from the Western Regions.
Upon seeing it, Qing Tong was overcome with emotion. She instantly recognized it as Fugui's handiwork, realizing with a surge of hope that Young Master Fugui was, in fact, still alive, and that he was in the Western Regions.
