Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 17 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
Ji Qiu, a charlatan, performed a ritual, attempting to summon the White Lotus Cleansing Fire and the Flame of the Big Dipper, while falsely claiming to impart his cultivation to Baili Hongshuo. An Tingfeng, hidden nearby, mocked the phony Taoist priest for even knowing of such powerful flames as the Red Lotus Hellfire. Baili Hongshuo and Ji Qiu's disciple questioned Ji Qiu's abilities as his repeated incantations yielded no results.
When Ji Qiu and his disciple attempted to flee, Baili Hongshuo and Hou Zhengze quickly apprehended them. Ji Qiu tried to explain away his failures as merely "warming up." As Ji Qiu was still trying to justify himself, An Tingfeng secretly performed a spell. Suddenly, a black mist filled the air, and a monstrous, elderly man with dark hair emerged within the fire circle, laughing maniacally.
Ji Qiu was terrified, unable to identify the creature, but Baili Hongshuo immediately recognized it as You Yan. You Yan confirmed its identity, boasting of having consumed many people, including the family from the border village Baili Hongshuo mentioned. You Yan created an inescapable barrier, declaring its intent to devour everyone. Baili Hongshuo bravely charged forward, but the demon effortlessly overpowered him.
Seeing Baili Hongshuo injured, Hou Zhengze, despite his fear, rushed to his general's aid but was also easily defeated. As Ji Qiu and his disciple were trapped within the barrier, Baili Hongshuo, in a desperate move, instinctively pointed his sword to the ground, unleashing a powerful burst of spiritual energy that shattered You Yan's barrier and momentarily pushed the demon back. You Yan quickly recovered and lunged at Baili Hongshuo once more.
At that critical moment, Ji Qiu, acting on a sudden impulse to save Baili Hongshuo, threw a talisman-like object at You Yan. An Tingfeng then appeared and delivered a decisive sword strike, wounding the demon. Wounded, You Yan retreated, leaving behind a peacefully sleeping baby. Baili Hongshuo and Hou Zhengze discovered the infant, which Hou Zhengze recognized as one they had encountered earlier. Baili Hongshuo instructed Hou Zhengze to take the baby back to camp.
Later, Ji Qiu, still trying to impress, boasted to his disciple about his supposed role in defeating You Yan and then attempted to recruit Baili Hongshuo as his student, claiming their meeting was fated due to Baili Hongshuo's inherent talent. Baili Hongshuo, focused on the immediate threat, asked Ji Qiu how to capture You Yan. Ji Qiu explained that You Yan, cunning like a monkey, often feigned sleep and used a weak, infantile form to deceive people.
Upon hearing "infantile form," Baili Hongshuo's expression turned to alarm. Ji Qiu further clarified that while the old man form was a disguise, the baby form was You Yan's most deceptive trick for gaining trust. Realizing the grave danger, Baili Hongshuo immediately rushed back to his quarters. Baili Hongshuo arrived to find You Yan, now in its elderly form, poised to devour an unconscious Hou Zhengze.
Baili Hongshuo confronted the demon but was quickly overwhelmed and fell under a bewitching spell. You Yan taunted him, threatening to eat Baili Hongshuo before the "dummy" Hou Zhengze. Ji Qiu arrived, shouting for You Yan to stop. His disciple, observing Baili Hongshuo and Hou Zhengze in a dazed state, suspected they were bewitched. Ji Qiu, deciding there was no escape, chose to fight. He attempted a spell but was swiftly knocked unconscious by You Yan.
An Tingfeng then reappeared, stabbing You Yan with his sword. Wounded, You Yan transformed back into an infant. An Tingfeng, noticing Ji Qiu slowly regaining consciousness, decided to leave the scene. As Ji Qiu fully regained consciousness, he took credit for the demon's defeat, attributing it to the collective strength and responsibility bestowed upon him by Taoist priests. Baili Hongshuo, Hou Zhengze, Ji Qiu, and his disciple stood over the seemingly innocent, sleeping infant.
Despite knowing it was the murderous demon, You Yan, none of them could bring themselves to kill it in such a vulnerable form. Ji Qiu declared he would not commit such an act, and Hou Zhengze admitted his inability to do so, even his disciple hesitated. Recognizing this human reluctance, they decided to temporarily keep You Yan in Ji Qiu's room. Later that night, You Yan, confident its disguise had worked, reverted to its true form.
An Tingfeng reappeared, confronting the demon. You Yan, recognizing An Tingfeng again, questioned his identity. An Tingfeng observed that even the most wicked individuals could evoke sympathy when appearing helpless, a human weakness You Yan understood well from centuries of existence. An Tingfeng then challenged You Yan, asserting that its disguise could not fool him, and fatally plunged his sword into the demon.
The following morning, as Baili Hongshuo conducted soldier training, Hou Zhengze rushed in to report that the demon was dead. He explained that Ji Qiu claimed You Yan had been killed by a peach wood sword. Suspecting something was amiss, Baili Hongshuo went to investigate. Ji Qiu, eager to claim victory, theatrically performed a ritual over You Yan's body, proclaiming that although the demon was dead, its spiritual energy lingered and needed to be suppressed.
He fabricated a story that You Yan had sustained severe internal injuries in their previous encounter, invisible to the eye, which led to its demise. Ji Qiu then began chanting a suppression spell, "Three spirits will be forever and the soul never vanishes in its entirety," urging Baili Hongshuo to join in to prevent the demon from harming the world again. However, as the ritual progressed, Baili Hongshuo heard eerie, unsettling laughter echoing from around them.
In the Wolf Tribe, following A'Na Huai's death, envoys from various units, including Sang Qi Er of the Wuluolan Unit, Ru Rui of the Awa Clan, and an emissary from the Western Wuyin Clan, immediately approached Ming Yefeng. They offered their utmost respect and pledged their complete loyalty, imploring him to lead the restoration of the Wolf Tribe's glory. Ming Yefeng initially downplayed his position, stating he was merely a General Wanqi and that they should follow the Great King.
However, the envoys insisted on their sincerity, promising unwavering support and obedience, and asking him to overlook any past grievances. Ming Yefeng noted the swiftness of their pledges after A'Na Huai's demise, remarking on the coldness of human nature, but subtly directed them to demonstrate their true commitment by supplying their best soldiers for recruitment after the New Year. Later, Ming Yefeng spoke with Chou Nu, a tribal leader's son who had served him for seven years.
Ming Yefeng inquired why Chou Nu, despite his noble birth, chose to serve him. Chou Nu expressed profound admiration for Ming Yefeng's unparalleled valor, declaring that serving him brought him no regrets. Regarding the recent tribal overtures, Chou Nu drew parallels to his own Hexi Unit's history, whose war was ended by Ming Yefeng, and whose pragmatic leader chose to surrender to Ming Yefeng's faction, Shu Chi, for the people's safety, a decision justified by Ming Yefeng's generous treatment.
Chou Nu believed the "wind of Shu Chi" was undeniably blowing in Ming Yefeng's direction, seeing the other tribes' actions as attempts to correct their past misjudgments. Ming Yefeng reiterated that he had no desire to be King, but rather sought immense strength to achieve his as-yet-undefined ambitions, admitting he didn't fully grasp what "strength" truly entailed.
Chou Nu speculated that Ming Yefeng desired to unite the entire prairie as its ruler, to which Ming Yefeng cryptically replied that was Chou Nu's wish. Chou Nu then reaffirmed his lifelong loyalty, vowing to follow Ming Yefeng in whatever he chose to do. In the imperial palace of Ye City, Emperor Baili Haohe, observing the persistent animosity between the Baili and He families, proposed a marriage alliance between Baili Hongyi and He Yao.
He believed Baili Hongxuan would ultimately prioritize state stability and accept the union. Empress Dowager expressed strong reservations, citing Baili Hongxuan's deep-seated resentment towards He Yao and Baili Hongyi's non-royal lineage and unladylike conduct. However, Baili Haohe insisted that Hongyi, being cherished by the Marquis' family as a blood sibling, possessed sufficient status, and that this marriage was the only viable path to reconciliation.
He urged his mother to trust his judgment, confident that Hongxuan would compromise for the sake of the state. The Empress Dowager reluctantly agreed, contingent on the Royal Uncle demonstrating his sincerity, and promised to make the necessary arrangements. Later, at the New Year's Eve banquet, Empress Dowager praised Jin Yang's meticulously embroidered "A Hundred Flowers" gift, which she greatly appreciated. Emperor Baili Haohe also commended both Jin Yang and Baili Hongxuan, granting them rewards.
The Empress Dowager then directly admonished Baili Hongyi for her masculine demeanor, emphasizing the importance of "virtue, speech, appearance, and craftsmanship" for a young lady, and instructed Jin Yang, as her elder sister-in-law, to guide her. Baili Hongyi admitted she was more accustomed to masculine attire and struggled in dresses, but promised to improve. Baili Hongxuan intervened to shield his sister, vowing to instruct her diligently but requesting the Empress Dowager to show leniency for the day.
The Empress Dowager, while fond of Hongyi, then offered her personal silk skirts from her youth, suggesting Hongyi wear them immediately to attract a good match. Despite Baili Hongxuan's attempt to delay, Hongyi was compelled to change into them. During the banquet, He Yao and his father toasted the Empress Dowager and Emperor. He Yao, now serving as the Grand Administrator, reported his duties were progressing smoothly, and publicly thanked Baili Hongxuan for the opportunity to return to Ye City.
