Sword and Beloved Episode 5 Recap
> Sword and Beloved Recap
As agreed, Wangquan Fugui and Little Spider, accompanied by the two raccoon demons Lu Qiba and Lu Shangxia, set off for Xiyun Hall to rescue Rumu's friends. Quan Rumu, meanwhile, went to the Blue Sky Convention to participate in the skill battles and buy time, with Fugui having told him he must persist until Fugui returned. The two raccoon demons pointed out Xiyun Hall in the distance, indicating their arrival.
On their journey, Lu Qiba and Lu Shangxia constantly complained about their mission, believing it to be unprofitable. They repeatedly tried to take advantage of Fugui, whom they still thought was blind. Lu Qiba first asked Fugui for a massage for his sore legs, but Little Spider quickly offered to do it herself, only for Lu Qiba to mock her thin arms. He then insisted Fugui tell his fortune, claiming to have been "dealing with those shameless guys" all year.
Little Spider again stepped in, stating Fugui didn't do fortune-telling and offering her services. Lu Qiba dismissed her, insisting Fugui, being blind, would be more accurate. At this, Fugui revealed that he was not blind and that it was Rumu who had arranged for Lu Qiba to find him. Lu Qiba then called Little Spider "even more shameless," prompting Fugui to warn him that he would regret those words.
Lu Shangxia proudly introduced Lu Qiba as the "Phantom of the Raccoon Dogs, Lu Qiba, also known as Lu Piaopiao," but Fugui's amused reaction angered Lu Qiba, who threatened to hit him. Upon arriving at Xiyun Hall, Fugui asked Lu Qiba about the situation inside.
Lu Qiba admitted he hadn't dared to go deep and didn't know the exact internal layout or the location of the cave entrance, only that it used to be a tobacco house for disheartened Yiqi Alliance members. Recognizing they couldn't act rashly due to hostages, Little Spider volunteered to go in first. She changed into a dancer's costume, having found and incapacitated a resting dancer.
When she spoke with Fugui, he confirmed that his eyesight had indeed recovered, much to her surprise. She reported that the mansion was heavily guarded, but she still hadn't located the cave entrance. Fugui then announced he knew how to find the entrance and called Lu Qiba over. He instructed Lu Qiba to enter the hall with him, remain silent, and follow his orders, promising extra money for his cooperation.
As they entered, Fugui, maintaining his disguise as a dancer, fabricated a story for the guards that Lu Qiba was a demon trying to escape from Master Quan's custody, which she supposedly discovered while stepping out for air. The guard, confirming that Master Quan's demons were usually held in a heavily-talismaned cave, was puzzled by how Lu Qiba could have escaped.
Fugui suggested that small demons were often cunning and hard to contain, then thanked the guard and had Lu Qiba taken away. Meanwhile, at the Blue Sky Convention, Quan Rumu entered the fifth skill battle against Li Shunqi. Under the influence of the pill forced upon him by Quan Jingting, Rumu became a bloodthirsty puppet, declaring that the pill filled him "with a yearning to kill!" He ruthlessly defeated Li Shunqi.
Wangquan Hongye, the Chief, observed Rumu's increasingly brutal behavior, noting he had already severely injured five opponents. While the next challenger, Shi Tang, was announced, a messenger informed Wangquan Shouyi that "the Soldier" (Wangquan Fugui) had arrived at Xiyun Hall. Every move by Fugui and Little Spider was reported to Wangquan Shouyi, who was present at the Blue Sky Convention. Wangquan Shouyi and Quan Jingting had orchestrated this entire plot.
Shouyi remarked to Jingting that he knew Rumu, having been friends with "the Soldier" since childhood, would never harm his friends under duress and would certainly try to get help from Fugui. Shouyi clarified that his foresight wasn't prophetic, but rather an understanding of human nature, allowing him to simply "play along." Jingting then revealed his deeper machinations: he had lured "the Soldier" to Xiyun Hall to be eliminated and forced Rumu to participate in the Blue Sky Convention.
Jingting hinted that his ultimate target was not just "the Soldier," but someone else, someone who had always "outshone him in every aspect since childhood." He confirmed that Rumu would not kill "the Soldier," but outlined his "kill two birds with one stone" strategy to "split them up and destroy them separately." Wangquan Shouyi assured Jingting that the Musk Demon King, whom he had cultivated, would successfully eliminate "the Soldier" at Xiyun Hall.
He elaborated that the Musk Demon King, despite not being the most powerful in the Demon Realm, was formidable due to her mastery of clones and poison; her clones would "never die" unless her true body was destroyed. Shouyi confidently stated that "the Soldier" would not survive this encounter. Wangquan Fugui proceeded unhindered, finding the dungeon where Rumu's friends were held with surprising ease. This smooth progress made him suspicious, realizing that someone must have anticipated his arrival.
A man inside the dungeon even commented on Fugui's effective plan, admitting that had they not been pre-warned, a prison break would have undoubtedly occurred, and Fugui would have succeeded. Suddenly, shouts erupted as attackers confronted Fugui, declaring they had been waiting for him. This confirmed Fugui's suspicions of a trap. He fiercely fought back, swiftly eliminating the mob and rescuing Rumu's friends. As they tried to escape, a dancer blocked their path.
Little Spider, recognizing her as a demon, engaged her in a verbal sparring match before attacking. The dancer then revealed herself to be the Musk Demon King and recognized Fugui as Wangquan Fugui, "the Soldier," whom she had been waiting for as per her master's orders.
The Musk Demon King then unleashed her suffocating, poisonous miasma, which not only hindered sword control but also disoriented Fugui's senses, making it impossible for him to distinguish her true form from her numerous alluring clones, even with his restored vision. Little Spider quickly warned Fugui to hold his breath. The Demon King boasted that no swordsman could defeat her if they couldn't find her true body in such chaos.
However, Little Spider, with quick thinking, had already discerned the Demon King's true body when she was pulled onto the stage earlier. She had discreetly wrapped her gossamer around the Demon King's wrist. Now, using her silk, she ensnared the real Musk Demon King. Wangquan Fugui seized the opportunity, striking the identified target and instantly destroying the Musk Demon King. Other demons then appeared, ordered by their master to leave no survivors.
Fugui thanked Little Spider for her ingenuity, but warned her to run away next time and not risk her life. Little Spider, however, expressed her concern for Fugui, asking what would happen to him if she left. Reflecting on the events, Wangquan Fugui realized that the enemy had anticipated his rescue attempt at Xiyun Hall and was even willing to sacrifice their own people to ensure his demise.
He then deduced that Quan Jingting's manipulation of Rumu, using the enhanced Dragon Tempering Pill containing mind-controlling talismans, was not actually aimed at him. Instead, Jingting's true target was his father, Wangquan Hongye. Fugui immediately urged Little Spider to go somewhere safe, telling her to take care and not to follow him as the situation was too perilous. He then sped off using his sword.
At the Blue Sky Convention, Rumu, under Quan Jingting's control, was ordered to kill his opponent. His behavior became increasingly erratic, causing Wangquan Hongye to note his madness and order Rumu to be taken off stage. Seizing the opportune moment, Wangquan Shouyi, addressing Hongye as "Uncle," dramatically announced, "It's your turn now." Masked assassins, acting on his command, swarmed the stage, targeting Wangquan Hongye. Hongye immediately descended to engage the attackers.
Quan Jingting, observing Rumu, commanded him to "kill Wangquan Hongye at all costs." Wangquan Fugui arrived just in time, cutting down multiple assassins. Seeing Rumu's bloodshot eyes and uncontrolled rage, Fugui activated his own Dongfang Divine Fire. Drawing on memories of his father teaching him about the power of the Divine Fire, Fugui used it to purge the sinister pill from Rumu's body, causing Rumu to collapse unconscious. However, in the intense confrontation with the maddened Rumu, Fugui sustained injuries.
During the chaos, Wangquan Shouyi expressed surprise that "the Soldier" was still alive. Hongye, recognizing Fugui, threw him a sword, and Fugui pleaded with Rumu to "Wake up!" As the situation unraveled, Wangquan Shouyi, surprised that Fugui was still alive, made a desperate lunge at Wangquan Hongye with a dagger. However, Quan Jingting swiftly intercepted Shouyi, seizing the dagger and killing him in a shocking turn of events.
Jingting then feigned remorse, confessing to Hongye that he had sought out "Elder Wangquan" (Shouyi) at Xiyun Hall to acquire a powerful elixir for Rumu, hoping to secure Rumu's victory at the Blue Sky Convention and facilitate their return to Wangquan Manor. He claimed he was horrified to discover Shouyi's true ambition: to murder the Chief and usurp his position, crediting himself with preventing a catastrophe by acting swiftly.
Quzhuo, examining the pill, confirmed it was a powerful combat enhancer mixed with mind-controlling talismans, capable of turning users into senseless killing machines. He noted that the "master-talisman holder" was likely present. Hongye pressed Jingting for his true involvement. Jingting reaffirmed his desire for Rumu to return to Wangquan Manor and reclaim his surname, admitting he was "used by Wangquan Shouyi."
He pleaded for Rumu's forgiveness, offering his own life and pledging to guard the Sword Tomb as atonement, as Hongye had given him a chance over ten years ago for Rumu's sake. Quzhuo also exposed Jingting's lie, revealing the drug was cheap "Chakuwa," not the expensive "Dragon Tempering Pill" Jingting claimed to have bought.
Hongye, having heard enough, ordered Jingting to be immediately imprisoned and sent to guard the Sword Tomb, and instructed Quzhuo to continue investigating Xiyun Hall and Shouyi's conspirators. During this, a mysterious voice broadcast a taunt, claiming responsibility for a "small gift" that caused infighting within the Yiqi Alliance, declaring it pathetic, and that "the show has just begun." After the battle, Quzhuo reported to Wangquan Hongye that while Rumu would recover, Fugui's injuries required closer attention.
Hongye acknowledged this, decided to cancel the next day's "mind battles," and planned to return to Wangquan Manor once Rumu recovered, explaining to his concerned subordinate that Fugui "has his own way to go" and that "spoiling him too much will only harm him." Meanwhile, Little Spider, realizing Fugui had sent her away for her safety, decided she had to return to him. She found Rumu in a snowy courtyard, who teasingly invited her to see the wintersweet.
Little Spider then rushed to Fugui, expressing relief that he was unharmed. Fugui, aware of Rumu's presence, quietly told her to calm down. Little Spider explained that she couldn't leave yet because she hadn't fulfilled their agreement to learn a sword technique for self-protection. Rumu then revealed a secret to Little Spider: Fugui had sacrificed ten years of his lifespan to enable her transformation into human form.
Rumu joked about them both owing Fugui their lives and, after telling Little Spider to "take your time to feel touched," left the two alone. Overwhelmed with emotion, Little Spider tearfully asked Fugui why he had made such a sacrifice. Fugui explained it was because he saw her "striving to survive" and refused to let her "be crushed by fate," adding that he would have done the same for any other creature who desired to live.
Deeply moved, Little Spider pledged her unwavering loyalty, declaring she would not leave and would repay his kindness, stating, "From now on, I'll be your person in life and your little spider in death." Fugui, clarifying that she didn't belong to him, offered her a name instead. He named her "Qingtong," meaning "clear eyes," because she possessed "eyes that can see through the world."
Qingtong, overjoyed, practiced writing her new name in the snow, profusely thanking Fugui for his profound kindness, which surpassed anyone else's in her life. She joyfully embraced her new identity and name: Qingtong.
