Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 1 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
In ancient times, the Nine-headed Monster menaced the people. Five Gods arrived in the world to fight the creature, sealing it within the earthen body of the Earth Goddess. They swore an eternal oath that the Five Gods would not meet again, and the Nine-headed Monster would never rise again. After this great war, the Five Gods’ spirit energies were exhausted, and their primal spirits dissipated into the mortal world without a trace.
In the subsequent era, the You Kingdom and the Wolf Tribe co-existed, separated by mountains, often engaging in warfare. During this time, a mysterious force secretly schemed, drawing people into an ancient, thousand-year-long conflict. For many years, the Wolf Tribe struggled against the You Kingdom, but Baili Hongxuan, the eldest son of the former Prince of Great Plains, protected You Kingdom’s borders single-handedly.
However, Emperor Baili Haohe, Baili Hongxuan’s uncle, was only sixteen, with Empress Dowager He handling most state affairs. Baili Hongxuan’s numerous military merits made Empress Dowager He wary. Thus, under the guise of rewarding his victorious return, she arranged a marriage between Baili Hongxuan and Princess Jin Yang of Liao Dong, a distant state whose family had fallen from power, thereby preventing him from marrying into a strong, influential family.
Meanwhile, in the Wolf Tribe, known for its martial prowess, A'Na Huai, son of the King, competed in an archery contest against Ten Thousand Cavalry General Ming Yefeng. A'Na Huai’s arrow struck near the bullseye, merely pushing the target holder back a step. Ming Yefeng, however, calmly shot a perfect bullseye, exciting the target holder so much that he fell backward but still cheered, to the acclaim of the surrounding soldiers.
Though A'Na Huai was displeased by his public defeat, he had no recourse. King Mola Khan expressed his disappointment in A'Na Huai's recent defeat against the You Kingdom and stated his belief that Ming Yefeng could defeat Baili Hongxuan. Ming Yefeng, in turn, subtly mocked A'Na Huai, suggesting that if they couldn't conquer You Kingdom by force, they would do so by wit.
Later, on a dark and windy night, the Prince of Great Plains Manor was besieged by arrows from all directions. Night patrols were swiftly eliminated. Dozens of black-clad assailants prepared to ambush, but Baili Hongshuo, the second son of the former Prince of Great Plains, who had anticipated their move, caught them off guard. Despite his efforts, one assailant managed to slip past him while he was engaged, attempting to enter the inner hall.
However, Baili Hongyi, the daughter of the former Prince of Great Plains, burst through the door, striking the intruder with a sword before he could even step inside. Afterward, Baili Hongxuan, Baili Hongshuo, and Baili Hongyi discussed the attack, concluding that it could only have been the Wolf Tribe, seeking revenge for a battle lost to Baili Hongxuan a few months prior.
Baili Hongshuo assured his older brother that he and Hongyi would handle the manor's security and that he would protect Hongyi vigilantly. Days later, Princess Jin Yang visited Empress Dowager He. Her dignified and virtuous demeanor pleased the Empress Dowager, who praised her for praying for the kingdom and for being so caring. The Empress Dowager then proposed the marriage to Baili Hongxuan.
While grateful for the grace, Princess Jin Yang expressed humility, fearing her fallen family made her unworthy of the Baili family. Empress Dowager He dismissed her concerns, stating it was the Baili family’s honor. During their conversation, Princess Jin Yang suddenly saw a shadowy figure on the wall behind the Empress Dowager, which visibly disturbed her. When asked by the Empress Dowager, she quickly attributed her distress to blurred vision and fatigue.
The arrival of Emperor Baili Haohe ended the inquiry, and Empress Dowager He sent Princess Jin Yang home to rest, advising her that marriage would provide support and help ease Baili Hongxuan's burdens while stabilizing the state. At noon, Emperor Baili Haohe visited Baili Hongxuan at the Prince of Great Plains Manor. After playfully bantering about osmanthus cakes, the Emperor confessed his weariness of being an emperor, constantly nagged and treated like a child by Empress Dowager He.
He again expressed his belief that Baili Hongxuan was more suited for the throne and offered to abdicate immediately, assuring him that such an act would align with ancestral rules and be well-received by the people.
Baili Hongxuan, perceiving in the repeated offer the royal family's enduring suspicions, reminded the Emperor that he had made the same offer many years ago when he was a six-year-old child who had just ascended the throne, then reaffirming his steadfast loyalty and dedication to assisting Baili Haohe in his reign and protecting Great You. Baili Hongxuan emphasized that Baili Haohe was the proper heir and that he would not covet the throne.
As the wedding approached, an imperial decree officially proclaimed Baili Hongxuan as the Marquis of Northern Defense, replacing his ancestral title of Prince of Great Plains, which was to be permanently stored in the imperial archives. Empress Dowager He also specially bestowed a brocaded ice silk robe as his wedding attire. Baili Hongxuan, though visibly burdened by the change, accepted his fate.
His younger brother, Baili Hongshuo, was furious, pointing out that Baili sons traditionally wore red deerskin robes, symbolizing the Baili family as the righteous royalty of Great You. He accused Empress Dowager He of deliberately choosing the white-based brocaded silk robe as a deliberate slight, asserting that she had used the young Emperor’s upbringing to secretly seize power since their grandfather's death, elevating her own He family.
Baili Hongxuan chastised Hongshuo for speaking presumptuously and warned him against such rebellious words, reminding him that despite their shared surname, a hierarchy existed, and that as sons of Baili, they could not decide everything for themselves. He maintained that Princess Jin Yang possessed good morals, making her a suitable wife, and other considerations were unimportant. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager He discussed Baili Hongxuan's marriage with Emperor Baili Haohe.
She feigned concern, questioning the suitability of Princess Jin Yang, an orphan from a faraway state, compared to Ye City's noble families, and the unusual granting of the Marquis of Northern Defense title. The Emperor, however, acknowledged Baili Hongxuan’s pure loyalty and unwavering support since his own youth, recalling how deeply he was moved by Baili Hongxuan’s dedication to fighting for the country.
Empress Dowager He then revealed her true worries, mentioning rumors that some considered Baili Hongxuan the "proper heir" to Great You, implying that the Emperor’s favor might ultimately bring trouble to Baili Hongxuan. Elsewhere, at a carriage station, Ming Yefeng met General Ming Lai of the Bai Ze Unit. Ming Yefeng presented the heads of Generals Mu Li and Hao Zhe, revealing they had conspired to surrender to Great You, a plot Ming Lai was unaware of.
Ming Yefeng then exposed Chief Bai Nuo's secret intentions to also surrender to Great You, stating that this crime was severe enough to warrant the destruction of the entire Bai Ze Unit by the Khan, who would rather see it abandoned than taken by You Kingdom. Ming Yefeng proposed that Ming Lai assassinate Bai Nuo and his family, taking over as leader of the Bai Ze Unit.
Ming Lai, however, was hesitant, citing Bai Nuo's high reputation among the elders, which would make a direct mutiny difficult to justify. He suggested finding Yi Jiumo, a highly respected figure who had been exiled by Bai Nuo for opposing his succession. Ming Yefeng revealed that his investigations showed Yi Jiumo was held captive by You Kingdom guards in an abandoned area near Qianling Lake in Li City.
Ming Lai agreed that if Ming Yefeng could rescue Yi Jiumo, the entire Bai Ze Unit would pledge their allegiance to Ming Yefeng. High amidst the mountains, veiled by clouds, a secluded wooden hut served as a meeting place. A hooded figure in white robes, his face obscured, met with Ling Jun. A Spirit of Earth hovered between them.
Ling Jun declared that the day Mars confounds and the Four Gods appear would be the opportune moment to begin their millennia-long plan: to awaken the Spirit of Earth and unseal the Nine-headed Monster. The hooded figure questioned the purpose of this, noting that only one God remained after the primal spirits of the Four Gods had dissipated a thousand years ago. Ling Jun explained that once the plan began, it could not be stopped.
He clarified that when the Nine-headed Monster reappeared and menaced all living beings, the resulting chaos would force the primal spirits of the Five Gods to awaken and convene to reverse the situation, thus achieving their ultimate goal of reuniting the Five Gods.
