Sword and Beloved Episode 21 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
Qing Tong, convinced that Young Master Fugui was still alive after recognizing his fish-shaped lantern, immediately set off for the Western Regions to find him. On her journey, Qingcheng intercepted her. Qing Tong firmly declared that she had to find Young Master Fugui and urged him not to stop her. Noting her unwavering resolve, Qingcheng expressed concern for her traveling alone through the sandstorms of the Western Regions and insisted on accompanying her.
Meanwhile, Young Master Fugui, who had accepted the invitation to become Fan Yunfei's tutor in the Corsac Fox State, returned to Sandstorm Town to collect his belongings. Coincidentally, Qing Tong and Qingcheng arrived in the same town. Qing Tong noticed someone carrying a fish-shaped lantern and, filled with hope, rushed to the vendor's stall, asking if he made the lanterns himself and if he knew about the Soldier.
The vendor, a man secretly bribed by Qingcheng, confirmed that the Soldier had been publicly executed by the Yiqi Alliance for consorting with demons, with many witnesses. Hearing this, Qing Tong was heartbroken and utterly distraught, repeatedly denying the news. Qingcheng then gently urged her to return to Qianji City with him. Rumu returned to the Western Regions, bringing his father, Quan Jinting, to Long Weiyun, offering her the chance to exact her revenge.
Long Weiyun, furious at the sight of the man who harmed her mother, confronted Quan Jinting. He pleaded, claiming he was possessed by the Black Fox when he committed his past misdeeds and that he truly loved Long Weiyun’s mother. Despite her anger and disbelief, Long Weiyun couldn't bring herself to kill him. She lashed out with her power, causing him to cough up blood, before ordering Rumu to take his father away.
Rumu then led Long Weiyun to a place they often frequented, revealing it was his birthday. He used his powers to transform the area into a dazzling golden spectacle, fulfilling a promise he had made to her. Long Weiyun noticed his broken meridians were completely healed, much to her delight. Rumu, admitting his past immaturity and clinging nature, declared that he was now fully recovered and intended to fulfill his duties as the Soldier, protecting the Yiqi Alliance.
He promised he would no longer pester her, allowing her to live freely as a True Dragon. Before leaving, he asked for a hug and told her to go live for herself. After Rumu's departure, Long Weiyun felt a sense of loss but accepted that perhaps it was best for them to go their separate ways. Rumu, after placing his father in the Quan family dungeon, turned his attention to finding the Water-Control Orb.
His subordinate informed him that the Water-Control Orb had, by an unexpected turn of events, been consumed by the second prince of the Corsac Fox State, a situation Rumu deemed surprising. Upon learning that the Corsac Fox State was highly superstitious and believed in astrology, he decided to disguise himself as an astrologer and infiltrate the royal palace. Rumu, in his astrologer disguise, met Young Master Fugui.
Fugui found Rumu's odd appearance amusing, while the old King of the Corsac Fox State and Prince Fan Yunfei, thoroughly convinced by Rumu's astrological predictions of prosperity and fated love with General Li Xueyang, enthusiastically invited him to stay and assist them. Fugui reluctantly agreed to Rumu’s presence after Rumu (as the astrologer) subtly praised his character. The two brothers later conversed, catching up on their separated experiences.
Rumu brought up Qing Tong, and Fugui explained that a seal prevented him from leaving the Western Regions to search for her. Rumu promised to help find her. Rumu also admitted that his purpose there was to monitor the Water-Control Orb, as he had witnessed Long Weiyun transform into a berserk dragon and felt he could not stand by.
Fugui then revealed that the Water-Control Orb, which Fan Yunfei had swallowed, had not caused any backlash, indicating that Fan Yunfei's pure and kind nature made him uniquely suited to refine it over time, which would ultimately benefit everyone. Despite Rumu's skepticism about Fan Yunfei's clumsy swordplay, Fugui expressed confidence in the young prince's potential. Fan Yunfei later approached Rumu, now known as the Celestial Master, to seek guidance in awakening his talents.
Back in Qianji City, Qing Tong expressed her growing suspicion that Young Master Fugui's reported death was part of a larger scheme. She told Qingcheng, "Something's not right. Everything happened too smoothly. . . unless I see it with my own eyes, I'll never believe anyone." Determined to gain strength quickly, she asked Qingcheng for a faster way to cultivate her demonic power.
Qingcheng presented her with a grim method: absorbing the spiritual power of captured lesser demons, explaining it was a technique from the former Qianji City Lord’s secret journal. Qing Tong vehemently refused, deeming it dark magic no different from murder and ordering him to release the demons. Qingcheng tried to convince her by reminding her of their past sufferings and the Soldier's death, arguing they needed to be ruthless.
Qing Tong, however, stood firm, declaring she would not use such methods for cultivation. She then discovered the existence of the Space of Joy and Sorrow in a cultivation manual. Qingcheng tried to deter her, describing it as a perilous place where no one had returned, but also revealed that it contained a seed from the Tushan Grief Tree, capable of bestowing supreme Power of Love upon one with truly pure love.
Undeterred, Qing Tong insisted on entering, despite Qingcheng's desperate attempts to dissuade her by highlighting the fatal risks and even attempting to confine her. Feigning compliance, Qing Tong later made her escape. Entering the mysterious Space of Joy and Sorrow, Qing Tong declared to a towering statue that she was there for the Power of Love and was ready for its trial.
The statue's voice explained that the trial involved making the Grief Tree seed sprout, a feat only possible for those with truly pure love, but warned that failure meant being consumed by the hatred within her heart and being eternally frozen. Qing Tong accepted without hesitation. As she prepared, the Black Fox's voice mocked her, doubting her meager demon power could ever make the Grief Tree's seed take root.
