Sword and Beloved Episode 31 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
Quan Jingting, absorbing spiritual power from dragon corpses in the Dragon Cave, concluded that this power was insufficient. His goal was to harness the mighty power of living dragons. He remembered Long Weiyun, the daughter of a mother dragon, and a sinister smile spread across his face, indicating his intention to target her.
Meanwhile, a subordinate of Madam Black Fox urged Quan Jingting to hasten his power absorption, reminding him that he was destined to become Madam Black Fox's blade, a weapon to pierce Wangquan Fugui and eliminate everyone he cherished. In Qianji City, Wangquan Fugui encouraged Qing Tong not to despair over the slow progress of their recent proclamation, which had attracted few humans or demons to their cause. He believed things would improve gradually.
Soon after, they encountered a young demon named Little Bun, a child born of both human and Chongming bird demon parents, relentlessly pursued by both human and Chongming bird demon factions who sought his demise. Wangquan Fugui and Qing Tong intervened, driving off the pursuers and bringing Little Bun to Qianji City. Later, Qing Tong offered Little Bun some medicine, which the child found bitter. She coaxed him to drink it by promising a reward.
Observing this, Wangquan Fugui felt immense warmth. Little Bun, still traumatized, struggled to sleep. Unable to sing lullabies, Wangquan Fugui recited sword chants to soothe him. Qing Tong entered with a calming herbal soup, but Wangquan Fugui noted that, due to Chongming bird demons' timid and sensitive nature, regular calming soups might not be effective. He promised to gather more potent, specific herbs the next day.
The following day, as Wangquan Fugui collected herbs, Qing Tong brought him an umbrella when the sky threatened rain. On their way back, Wangquan Fugui, sensing Qing Tong's lingering sadness over Qingcheng's departure, gently held her hand. He explained that just as even the finest swords bear marks from use, representing varied experiences that lead to greater resilience, so too do people.
He admitted he wasn't good at comforting others and encouraged her to express her grief if she needed to. Qing Tong, however, insisted she was fine, touched by his concern. Having stepped down as Chief, Wangquan Hongye felt a sense of relief. His best friend, Master Li Quzhuo, visited him.
They shared drinks, reminiscing about their youthful, spirited days in the Mask Group, recalling battles and their camaraderie, with Quzhuo as the mischievous fourth and Wangquan Hongye as their undisputed leader. Quzhuo revealed that, at Wangquan Hongye's request, he had developed a spell to counteract the Black Fox's mind-manipulating techniques and identified four powerful artifacts capable of truly defeating her: the Purest Sun Flame, the Wangquan Sword, the Water-Control Orb, and the Grief Tree seeds.
He acknowledged that assembling all four would be incredibly difficult but found comfort in knowing they could finally leave something tangible for future generations. Quzhuo expressed concern for Wangquan Hongye's health and offered to call Wangquan Fugui back, but Wangquan Hongye dismissed the idea, noting that Fugui had grown independent and his resolve was unwavering. He lamented his unworthiness as a father. They then discussed creating a map of the area beyond the circle and ideas for new masks.
Meanwhile, Feng Tingyun was relentlessly practicing her sword arts, feeling she hadn't done enough to ease her Master's burdens. Wangquan Hongye approached her, affectionately advising her not to be so hard on herself. He expressed guilt for delaying her, remarking that a girl her age should typically be married. Feng Tingyun quickly countered that women have many paths beyond marriage, and since comprehending the Heart of Sword, she had set aside romantic feelings.
Wangquan Hongye then presented her with a jewelry box containing a phoenix gold hairpin, crafted by Dongfang Huaizhu. He told her that by wearing it, she would forever be a daughter of the Wangquan family. Moments later, Wangquan Hongye coughed up blood. A terrified Feng Tingyun immediately summoned Dr. Xin. After examining him, Dr. Xin conveyed a grim prognosis: Wangquan Hongye's heart was exhausted from accumulated injuries, and he had, at most, only a month left.
Wangquan Hongye calmly accepted the news, instructing the distraught Feng Tingyun to leave him to rest. Upon receiving news of his father's critical condition, Wangquan Fugui immediately returned to the manor. He found Wangquan Hongye standing alone by a tree and draped a cloak over his shoulders. Wangquan Hongye, sensing Qing Tong's presence outside, invited her in.
Once seated, Wangquan Hongye formally apologized to Qing Tong for his past harsh judgment and treatment, admitting he was wrong to believe all demons were heartless. He then began to recount the tragic history of the Mask Group and their defeat by the Black Fox, displaying two masks, including the Jinlan Mask, a personal creation of Dongfang Huaizhu.
He revealed that the "Hongye" under the mask had died beyond the circle, having witnessed his closest friends and loved ones perish due to emotional manipulation by the Black Fox. He explained that he could never forgive himself for surviving while his comrades suffered, for his wife Dongfang Huaizhu sacrificing her life to save the Yiqi Alliance, and for forcing his son to bear the burdens he and his generation could not.
He confessed that his past harshness and insistence on Fugui maintaining a "simple heart and body" were not born of hatred, but a desperate attempt to prevent his son from following in his footsteps and being undone by emotions.
He admitted he was profoundly wrong to impose his own guilt and burdens on Fugui, and that his hope for Fugui to simply survive the battle with the Black Fox was a naive attempt to compensate for the two decades of loneliness he had inflicted. Qing Tong then presented a beautifully woven depiction of the "Bamboo Pavilion by River Huai," a place Wangquan Fugui had always wanted to visit. After another moment of physical weakness, Wangquan Hongye asked Fugui to accompany him to the Bamboo Pavilion by River Huai. Wangquan Fugui agreed.
