Sword and Beloved Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
As the barrier set by the Third Young Master of Aolai shattered, the Black Fox reveled in her newfound freedom, having been confined for a millennium. She declared that Wangquan Fugui had finally unleashed the 13th Heaven-and-Earth Strike, inadvertently aiding her escape, and demanded his body to fulfill his destiny. Fugui vehemently refused, challenging her to take it if she could. The Black Fox, finding his defiance arrogant, promised his body would be hers.
She then transformed into the image of Wangquan Hongye, Fugui's father, engaging him in a fierce battle and asserting that she would show him the peak of his father's power. Meanwhile, at the Heavenly Gate, countless Black Fox clones surged forth like a black tide, attempting to breach the defenses. Feng Tingyun and Fan Yunfei immediately rallied their forces, vowing to hold the gate at all costs.
Despite their valiant efforts, the enemy's numbers were endless, and casualties mounted, pushing them to the brink. During his struggle, the Black Fox continued to taunt Fugui, highlighting his ruthlessness even against his "father" and stating they were no different. She reminded him that her power, fueled by hatred, was inexhaustible, questioning if he could outlast her. To end the battle, the Black Fox, despite her own waning demon power, risked manifesting a physical form to directly attack Fugui.
She then unleashed a mind-controlling sound across the battlefield, forcing the defenders to block their ears. In her physical form, the Black Fox gloated that the "farce" was ending, flaunting the terrifying power of hatred and calling Fugui a "weapon born from hatred" who should understand its might. She accused him of stealing his disciple's Water-Control Orb and killing Qingtong for the Black Grief Tree Seed, claiming he had lost everything and urging him to surrender his body.
When Fugui challenged her to take it, she declared she would imbue him with her millennium of hatred, intending for him to become her instrument to wipe out all life outside the Heavenly Gate. In a pivotal moment, as the Black Fox attempted to merge her soul with his, Fugui activated the Grief Tree Seed left by Qingtong. The seed's power, combined with cleansing talismans Fugui had secretly carved onto his Soul-Devouring Umbrella, unleashed a pure Power of Love.
Caught in Fugui's intricate trap, the Black Fox tried to withdraw, but it was too late. Fugui had used his own body as bait, luring her to infuse him with hatred, only to be bound by the threads of love and trapped within the core of the Grief Tree. The Black Fox, realizing the extent of Fugui's plan, was further stunned when Fugui activated his Purest Sun Flame, combining it with the Wangquan Sword.
He revealed that he was burning his life force for this power. Meanwhile, outside the gate, the Black Fox's clones began to withdraw, as Fugui used the Water-Control Orb to absorb the Power of Hatred. The Black Fox tried to reason with Fugui, offering to join forces to rule the Six Realms, but he sternly refused, proclaiming that the world belonged to all living beings, not just demons or humans.
He affirmed his identity as a "Soldier," born to be a sacrifice for the world, and stated he had no regrets. With a final, powerful cry of "Soul burns like flame. Blood boils into a blade! Die with no regrets! Slash the heaven and earth! Annihilate evil!" Fugui unleashed a devastating blow with the Wangquan Sword, consuming the Black Fox and ending her millennium-long menace.
As his life force dwindled, Fugui returned the Water-Control Orb to Fan Yunfei, entrusting him and the others with the responsibility of protecting the world and fostering a new era of harmony between humans and demons. In his final moments, a ghostly image of Fugui, holding an umbrella, appeared. He revealed that his "blackened" state was a deception to mislead the Black Fox. He had pushed away those he cared for to make her believe he had fallen into darkness.
He confessed his torment over knowing that Qingtong would die if she offered the Grief Tree Seed, which was why he could never bring himself to take it. However, Qingtong, with her clear insight, understood his plight and voluntarily chose to sacrifice herself at the Bamboo Pavilion by River Huai, ending her life in his embrace. This profound understanding between them, though heart-wrenching, allowed his plan to succeed.
Fugui expressed deep remorse for Qingtong's sacrifice but found solace in their shared path, hoping their love would become an eternal lantern for the world. Later, Feng Tingyun revealed her decision to honor her Master's teaching about the Wangquan legacy's purpose. She would split the "Wangquan" surname, adopting "Quan" herself to guard the Western Regions, while another outstanding disciple would adopt "Wang" to guard the Central Plain, ensuring their legacy of protection continued even without the Wangquan Sword.
Years passed, and Fan Yunfei, along with Li Xueyang, brought children to a vibrant field of flowers beneath the thriving Grief Tree. Fan Yunfei shared the tale of Fugui, assuring the children that he was not truly dead but had transformed into the very life force of the world, watching over them as a great hero. Inspired, the children declared their aspirations to become heroes like Fugui.
After the children departed, Fan Yunfei looked towards the sky, telling Fugui's spirit that everyone was well and his hopes had been realized. In a final scene, a vision of Qingtong, restored to her spider demon form, waits beneath the Grief Tree. A gentle voice calls her name, "Qingtong!"
