Sword and Beloved Episode 26 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
The entire Ximen family was brutally murdered, and the killer left a message deliberately implicating Qingtong and Fugui, while also announcing the intention to kill Wangquan Shouren on the night of Frost's Descent. An investigator identified the unique wound as being left by the killer. Feng Tingyun reported her findings to Wangquan Hongye: the victims had been attacked with the Dust-Seeker Sword, an item Fugui had given to Qingtong.
This led to rumors that Fugui had returned for revenge, using a spider demon (Qingtong) to carry out the killings. However, Feng Tingyun asserted her belief that Fugui would not commit such acts. Wangquan Hongye, despite a moment of doubt, dismissed the idea of Fugui's involvement. He ordered a thorough investigation to clear their names and immediately dispatched guards to protect Elder Shouren. Despite the danger, Wangquan Shouren insisted on hosting a banquet on the night of Frost's Descent.
When Feng Tingyun tried to dissuade him, he defiantly stated that all his actions were for the Yiqi Alliance and the Wangquan family, not for himself, so he had no fear. He declared that if Wangquan Hongye wished to avoid disgrace, he must protect Shouren with all his might. Feng Tingyun reluctantly agreed to send more guards but insisted no guests be allowed inside the mansion before the Frost's Descent banquet.
Shouren assured her that most guests would be staying at the Night Hotel. Fugui and Fan Yunfei arrived in the mainland and were dining at a restaurant in the Night Hotel when they overheard guests discussing the murders. People speculated that the "Soldier" (Fugui) and his "little spider" (Qingtong) had committed the killings for revenge, first crippling the victims and then silencing them. They also heard that Master Ximen's body was at Huntian Prison, where evidence would surely be found.
Fugui noted that the entire Yiqi Alliance was being led to believe he was the killer. In the same restaurant, Qingtong was present in disguise. Having learned of the slaughter, she realized someone was framing them and was determined to investigate. Fan Yunfei pointed out Qingcheng, the one who had asked Fugui to write a letter.
Qingcheng then approached the disguised Qingtong to flirt, but Fan Yunfei immediately recognized her from portraits Fugui had drawn and affectionately called her "Young Master's Wife." Qingtong denied knowing them, and Fugui, understanding her caution, engaged her in conversation. He offered her a token belonging to Zhuge Wu, an inspector from Huntian Prison, knowing she intended to go there.
Fugui explained that the Zhuge family had bought posts at the prison, so the token would grant access, and revealed that he also needed to go. Qingcheng interjected, claiming to be Qingtong's younger brother and pretending they didn't know Fugui. Fugui discreetly arranged with Qingtong to meet at midnight to visit the prison. Fugui then instructed Fan Yunfei to keep Qingcheng occupied, as he was hostile and shouldn't know their plans.
Later, Qingcheng pressed Qingtong, asking who she would choose between him and Fugui, a question designed to drive a wedge between them as part of his larger scheme. That night, the Black Fox, communicating through Qingcheng, expressed surprise that Fugui had broken free of his binding spell. It urged Qingcheng to abandon Qingtong and assist Gulizan in the Western Regions with the Myriad Blight Formation. Qingcheng staunchly refused, stating his sole desire was Qingtong.
The Black Fox reluctantly agreed to Qingcheng's plan: to force Qingtong to choose between him and Fugui. Meanwhile, Fan Yunfei, using the alias Li Yunfei of the Li Army, kept Qingcheng from following Fugui and Qingtong. He deliberately provoked Qingcheng, boasting about his own wife, and eventually trapped him with a spell array to prevent him from interfering. Fugui and Qingtong used the token to enter Huntian Prison's mortuary.
They examined Master Ximen's body, noting nine non-fatal wounds on his limbs designed to cripple his martial arts, but the fatal wound was a swift strike to the neck. Both wound types bore the marks of the Dust-Seeker Sword. Fugui concluded the killer was someone intimately familiar with Qingtong, capable of mimicking her sword skills, and reaffirmed his unwavering trust in her.
Qingtong expressed her anguish over their separation and explained she hadn't acknowledged him to spare him further burden due to his severe internal injuries. Fugui, concerned only for her safety, insisted he knew she must have an idea who was behind the frame-up. Upon their return, Qingtong and Fugui set a trap. Qingtong baited Qingcheng by telling him she planned to go to the Wangquan Manor to clear her name.
Panicked, Qingcheng used a "Puppet Talisman" on her, ordering her to kill Wangquan Shouren instead. This confirmed he was the murderer. As Qingtong confronted him, Fugui appeared, revealing the setup. Cornered, Qingcheng attacked Fugui. Knowing Qingcheng was being influenced, Fugui only intended to expel the Black Fox from his body, not kill him. Qingcheng, however, screamed that Fugui was trying to kill him, a ploy for the sympathy of Qingtong, who was trapped by a silencing spell.
Just as Fugui prepared to use the Purest Sun Flame to drive out the Black Fox, Qingtong broke free and shielded Qingcheng. She pleaded with Fugui, saying she would handle the Black Fox herself. Fugui countered that since Qingcheng was the killer, he must be brought to the Yiqi Alliance. Cornered, Qingcheng confessed his plan was perfect until Fugui interfered and taunted Qingtong that he wasn't her real brother. Seizing the moment, he fled. Qingtong, realizing he was likely headed for Wangquan Shouren's mansion, immediately rushed there with Fugui, and they split up to search for him.
