Sword and Beloved Episode 23 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
At the Li Army’s camp, soldiers were counting Fan Yunfei’s repeated marriage proposals to Li Xueyang. They reached his ninety-ninth attempt, with one soldier remarking that if he proposed just one more time to reach a hundred, the marriage would surely be settled. Another soldier wondered if their boss had an obsession with round numbers. Many doubted anyone could persist for a hundred proposals.
However, Li Xueyang, who declared her hatred for quitters above all else, was confident he would appear. Her soldiers enthusiastically agreed, chanting for her to marry him, which prompted Li Xueyang to tell them to "Cut that out!" Still, they were certain she would accept him. As evening approached and Fan Yunfei remained absent, Li Xueyang’s confidence wavered, "What if he doesn't show up today?"
Her soldiers tried to reassure her, but her concern deepened, questioning if he might have gotten into trouble. Worried, she went to search for him. She found him in a tavern, surrounded by beautiful women. He was boasting that once he married "that shrew" and ascended to the throne, he would banish her to the cold palace and marry all the women present.
Li Xueyang, enraged, confronted him, only for him to casually invite her to join them and then insult her as "that shrew." In a fit of fury, Li Xueyang slapped him, knocking out his tooth, and warned him never to appear before her again. After Li Xueyang left, the man revealed his true form: the Old King of Corsac Fox State. He had been disguised as his son, the Second Prince, to avoid being shamed for frequenting such establishments.
Meanwhile, the real Fan Yunfei was battling several small demons, complaining to them that they had ruined his hundredth proposal. After defeating them, he hurried to find Li Xueyang. Distraught, Li Xueyang questioned her own anger and the intensity of her reaction to Fan Yunfei's betrayal. While she was reeling, her old adversary, the Snake-Haired Fire Dame, appeared, mocking her emotional state and claiming she had a broken heart.
The Snake-Haired Fire Dame declared her intention to settle an old score, as Li Xueyang had previously harmed her sisters. Li Xueyang, in no mood for a fight, told her to leave, but the Snake-Haired Fire Dame persisted, taunting that Li Xueyang’s foul mood made her an easy target. The two engaged in a fierce battle in the desert, with the Snake-Haired Fire Dame vowing to burn through Li Xueyang's protective talismans and then burn her as well.
Just as the Snake-Haired Fire Dame was about to land a fatal blow, Fan Yunfei arrived, shielding Li Xueyang. Li Xueyang, surprised, questioned his presence, asking if he shouldn't be enjoying pleasures in Corsac Fox City. Fan Yunfei, confused by her words, faced the Snake-Haired Fire Dame. Li Xueyang, still reeling from the earlier incident, retorted to Fan Yunfei that her slap wasn't hard enough and accused him of pretending not to understand.
The Snake-Haired Fire Dame observed their exchange, mocking Li Xueyang for being a lovesick fool and calling Fan Yunfei a fickle corsac fox. Enraged, Li Xueyang prepared to fight again, but Fan Yunfei told her to rest, assuring her he would handle the Snake-Haired Fire Dame. Fan Yunfei then produced the Water-Control Orb, which astonished the Snake-Haired Fire Dame, as it was a sacred dragon relic incompatible with corsac fox magic.
Despite the perceived incompatibility, Fan Yunfei defiantly used it, declaring that anyone who dared to hurt his fiancée would die, and swiftly defeated the Snake-Haired Fire Dame. As Fan Yunfei stood over her, Li Xueyang recognized his familiar silhouette. She realized he was the small corsac fox who had saved her previously. Fan Yunfei carried the unconscious Li Xueyang back to her camp and personally gave her water mouth-to-mouth to help her recover.
Her subordinates, witnessing the scene, later whispered about the kiss, confirming they had seen it with their own eyes. When asked why they didn't intervene, a soldier explained they tried, but Fan Yunfei was merely saving their boss by hydrating her. Li Xueyang, overhearing, told them they talked too much, and they scattered. Later, Fan Yunfei's brother noticed his distress and asked if he was sick.
Fan Yunfei asked what "seeking nighttime pleasures" meant, a term he had heard Li Xueyang use. His brother vaguely explained it as engaging in certain activities at certain places. Fan Yunfei was indignant, stating he could never seek pleasure with other women, as he had been battling demons all night during his hundredth proposal attempt. His father, the Old King, then confessed that he had disguised himself as Fan Yunfei and visited the tavern, unwittingly causing the misunderstanding.
He even asked if his deception had successfully made General Li jealous. Fan Yunfei, furious, threatened to inform the Plump Consort, making his father quickly recant. His brother then advised Fan Yunfei to immediately go and explain everything to General Li, but Fan Yunfei was at a loss for how to do so. The next day, Fan Yunfei stood beneath the city walls, calling out to Li Xueyang.
He explained there was a misunderstanding and that the person she saw at the tavern was not him. He affirmed he was not one to give up halfway and proudly announced this was his one hundred and first formal proposal. Li Xueyang, calling him "Poor Dog," declared she no longer needed an explanation and believed him.
When Fan Yunfei confirmed she genuinely believed him, she reiterated her trust and, with a playful tone, told him not to bother her again, signaling her acceptance. Fan Yunfei was ecstatic, vowing to propose a hundred more times if necessary. Later, Li Xueyang recalled the moment in the desert more clearly, realizing it was Fan Yunfei who had saved her. He confessed that was when he fell for her.
She playfully prompted him to repeat his proposal, and he proudly declared his persistence, stating he had proposed not just a hundred times, but one more. Li Xueyang, confirming it was his one hundred and first proposal, joyfully accepted, promising to love only him for all lives to come.
She stated that his one hundred and first proposal was the most romantic thing she had ever experienced and expressed her desire to create a world where humans and demons coexisted, supporting all his pursuits. Subsequently, the Old King and Fan Yunfei formally visited the Li Army camp to propose marriage. The Old King presented lavish betrothal gifts, including treasures, warhorses, and camels. However, Li Xueyang's father stressed that wealth was secondary to his daughter's happiness.
He warned Fan Yunfei that Li Xueyang would retain command of the Li Army even after marriage and must be free to live wherever she desired. Fan Yunfei promised unwavering loyalty and freedom within the Corsac Fox State. Li Xueyang's mother added strict conditions, including lifelong fidelity and no concubines, threatening severe consequences if he broke his vows. Fan Yunfei stammered his agreement.
Li Xueyang's mother then presented her "Fourteen Family Rules," starting with rules about Li Xueyang's bathing water and appearance, but Fan Yunfei interrupted, calling her "Mother," and swore to comply with anything that made Xueyang happy, promising never to retaliate if hit or talk back if scolded. Li Xueyang’s father jokingly suggested Fan Yunfei learn from him in this regard.
Finally, Li Xueyang's mother asked her daughter one last time if she had truly considered the implications of a human-demon union. Li Xueyang firmly declared her love for Fan Yunfei, stating she would marry no one else in this life. The Old King happily pronounced them family. Meanwhile, Qian Jingting reflected on his predicament, feeling abandoned by Madam Black Fox after his defeat by Wangquan Fugui rendered him powerless.
He remembered Gulizan, the last queen of the Qianxia Kingdom from a thousand years ago, and her Myriad Blight Formation, which could absorb immense power, particularly hatred. Believing this would be a valuable asset to Madam Black Fox, Qian Jingting, despite his subordinate's doubt about Gulizan's survival, revealed that his investigations beneath the sands of the Western Regions confirmed Gulizan was still alive.
He instructed his subordinate to spread this news in Qianji City as a grand gift to Madam Black Fox. Elsewhere, Qing Tong had a vision, prompting her to realize that Young Master Fugui was still alive. Determined to find answers, she decided to visit Tushan. At Tushan, she met Tushan Rongrong, the Third Master, who was contemplating a missed distinguished guest according to her divination.
Qing Tong introduced herself and was recognized by Tushan Rongrong as the new city lord of Qianji City. Tushan Rongrong, noticing the Power of Love mixed in Qing Tong's demonic energy, deduced she was refining a Grief Tree seed. Qing Tong sought answers, and Tushan Rongrong explained the origins of the Grief Tree seeds from Tushan, revealing that Qianji City's former governor had stolen the seed Qing Tong now possessed. Tushan Rongrong demanded its return.
Qing Tong stated her intention was to ask questions, not to fight, but Tushan Rongrong insisted on the seed's return first. Qing Tong effortlessly deflected Tushan Rongrong's attack and revealed she had seen the Black Fox in a vision. She questioned if the Grief Tree within the circle could connect with the Black Grief Tree, but Tushan Rongrong firmly denied this.
Qing Tong then asked if her seed was a Black Grief Tree seed, to which Tushan Rongrong advised her to seek answers at the source of the seed. As Qing Tong departed, Tushan Rongrong mused that allowing Qing Tong to leave with the Grief Tree seed, despite it being stolen, might unexpectedly turn the tide against the Black Fox. Qing Tong returned to the Space of Joy and Sorrow, seeking answers about the nature of the seed she held.
An entity within the space explained that since Qianji City obtained the seed, the area had become a purgatory where countless beings died trying to refine it. Their combined hatred had corrupted the love-born seed, turning it into a Black Grief Tree seed. The entity informed Qing Tong that she was the only one capable of purifying it back into a pure Grief Tree seed and thereby obtaining pure Power of Love.
Qing Tong further inquired if purifying her seed would enable her to purify Madam Black Fox's Great Grief Tree beyond the circle, which the entity confirmed, warning her of the immense cost. Qing Tong declared her willingness to pay any price. She then confirmed that her vision of the Black Fox was real, finally realizing with joy that Young Master Fugui was indeed alive.
Filled with newfound purpose, Qing Tong confronted Qingcheng, declaring that Young Master Fugui was alive and in the Western Regions, and accused Qingcheng of lying to her twice. Qingcheng admitted his deception, offering to accept any punishment if only she wouldn't abandon him. He explained his lies by stating that Young Master Fugui was unworthy of her. Qingcheng desperately pleaded with Qing Tong not to leave, expressing his fear of losing her and even begging her to kill him. However, Qing Tong dismissed his pleas, asserting that as her younger brother, he had no right to make decisions for her, and she left him behind.
