Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 20 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
Baili Hongshuo regained consciousness in a secluded room, his forehead still throbbing. He found Baili Hongxuan sitting across from him, pouring wine. Baili Hongxuan reflected on their childhood, recalling how Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi would secretly share drinks, never inviting him due to his serious demeanor. He admitted he had always yearned to join their carefree camaraderie, but his duty as the eldest son of the Baili family constrained him.
Offering a cup to Baili Hongshuo, Baili Hongxuan spoke of his admiration, and Baili Hongshuo, momentarily setting aside his indignation, drank with his brother. Baili Hongxuan explained that both he and Baili Hongshuo were subjects of the Emperor, bound to obey his commands. He emphasized the necessity of Baili Hongyi's marriage to He Yao for the stability and future of Great You, despite his personal reluctance. Baili Hongshuo vehemently disagreed, arguing that Baili Hongyi should not be sacrificed.
He challenged Baili Hongxuan, asking what he would do if He Yao one day committed treason and harmed Great You, forcing them to fight against Hongyi, who would then be He Yao's wife. How could they guarantee her safety in such a scenario? Baili Hongxuan promised to protect Hongyi, but Baili Hongshuo insisted that she should not be placed in such peril to begin with and demanded to be released.
Unable to sway his brother, Baili Hongxuan finished his wine, stood, and reaffirmed his order to keep Baili Hongshuo confined until after the wedding. Later, Baili Hongxuan stood outside Baili Hongyi's room, inquiring about her. Upon learning she was preparing for sleep, he decided not to disturb her, citing his official duties. Before the wedding, an unidentified person conversed with Ling Jun.
Ling Jun advised that certain events are destined and cannot be prevented, suggesting a calm acceptance as the Marquis manor's fate was undergoing a significant change. The person questioned the underlying reasons for recent chaos, including a demon in the manor, Baili Hongshuo's banishment to Li City, and Baili Hongyi's forced marriage, sensing these were not mere coincidences. Ling Jun, acknowledging his limited foresight, affirmed that Baili Hongxuan's safety remained secure as long as this person was by his side.
On the day of the wedding, Baili Hongxuan, adorned in his ceremonial robes, waited at the manor's entrance. Baili Hongyi, stunning in her red bridal attire, wore a forced smile, her eyes lingering on the Marquis manor's plaque before she boarded the bridal sedan without resistance. Meanwhile, Baili Hongshuo, still under confinement, anxiously recalled the ancient magic spells Ji Qiu had taught him.
He executed the hand gestures and incantation for "Illusory Shadow in Demonic Spirit," a technique that allowed passage through solid objects and underground travel. With a flash, he vanished from his room and reappeared outside the Marquis manor, just in time to see the procession. As Baili Hongxuan led the entourage, a mysterious black-clad figure, later revealed to be Ming Yefeng, descended from the sky and dramatically entered Baili Hongyi's sedan.
Baili Hongxuan, moving to intervene, was incapacitated as the sedan exploded. The guards hesitated, fearing they might harm Baili Hongyi. However, when a soldier's attack nearly struck her, the black-clad figure instinctively shielded her, sustaining an arm injury. Witnessing this, Baili Hongxuan, now free of concern for Baili Hongyi's immediate safety, personally engaged the kidnapper. The figure then conjured a blinding white mist and vanished, leaving only a wooden decoy.
Ming Yefeng, having swiftly spirited Baili Hongyi away, hid her in a nearby building. Baili Hongyi, restrained and furious, demanded to know what he had done, to which he coldly retorted that she would be wise to remain silent. A distraught Baili Hongxuan urgently ordered his men to find Baili Hongyi at all costs. News of Baili Hongshuo's escape reached Baili Hongxuan, making him suspect his younger brother was behind the kidnapping. He ordered an exhaustive search.
Meanwhile, in the imperial court, the Empress Dowager expressed outrage over the public abduction. He Yao seized the opportunity to accuse Baili Hongxuan of deliberately orchestrating the kidnapping, suggesting Hongxuan was unwilling to proceed with the marriage. Baili Hongxuan vehemently denied these claims, asserting his loyalty and commitment to the imperial decree, and questioned He Yao's motives for making such 'cold-hearted' accusations while Baili Hongyi's whereabouts were unknown.
The Empress Dowager intervened, urging them to set aside their disputes and focus on finding Baili Hongyi. Concurrently, in the Wolf Tribe camp, the new camp's troop inspection proceeded without Ming Yefeng. Gao Yi, the Thousand Unity General, presided over the impressive display of force from the Awa, Wuyin, and Wuluolan units.
King Mola Khan, however, expressed profound despair, lamenting the loss of his last son and witnessing Ming Yefeng's ascendant influence within the Wolf Tribe, feeling utterly drained and hopeless. Back in Ye City, Baili Hongxuan, now formally invested by the Emperor as the Embroidered-Clothed Supreme Commander with authority to find Baili Hongyi within seven days and execute any obstructionists, directed General Tian Yuan and Zuo Gong to initiate a comprehensive city-wide search.
In an alley, Tao Shen intercepted Baili Hongshuo, accusing him of abducting Baili Hongyi and urging him to return her to spare Baili Hongxuan from blame. Baili Hongshuo adamantly denied the accusation, explaining he had been tracking Baili Hongyi since her abduction. When Baili Hongxuan arrived, he questioned Baili Hongshuo's escape and motives. After Baili Hongshuo emphasized his sole focus was finding Hongyi, Baili Hongxuan reluctantly allowed him to join the search, but strictly under his command.
Following a suspicious carriage's trail, they arrived at a house. During the search, Baili Hongshuo noticed something concealed behind a straw mat, but chose not to investigate further. Their attention was quickly drawn to suspicious figures outside, prompting them to give chase. Ling Jun, invited by a mysterious figure, observed these developments, calmly stating that everything was unfolding according to his carefully crafted scheme.
He subtly confirmed his role in assisting Ming Yefeng, noting that even the most calculated individuals could be provoked into rash actions when their weaknesses were exploited – a strategic outcome he had anticipated. He underscored that their meticulous, years-long plans demanded absolute precision and patience. Meanwhile, Baili Hongxuan and Baili Hongshuo continued their relentless pursuit.
Baili Hongshuo identified faint, shimmering traces of Tridacna stone powder, a unique gemstone his father had gifted Baili Hongyi, realizing she was deliberately leaving a trail. They swiftly followed the markers, eventually catching up to Ming Yefeng and Baili Hongyi at the border. Ming Yefeng had hidden Baili Hongyi in a secret compartment within a civilian carriage, using hired commoners as a diversion to pass through the city gates.
Once clear, he dismissed the civilians and switched to horses, pressing on towards the Wolf Tribe lands. Baili Hongyi, furious, challenged Ming Yefeng, accusing him of using her to negotiate with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Ming Yefeng scoffed, boasting that by the time Baili Hongxuan realized their true location, they would already be in Shuchuan.
As Baili Hongxuan and Baili Hongshuo confronted him, Ming Yefeng brazenly claimed a secret alliance with Baili Hongxuan, suggesting they had collaborated on various plots, including exchanging intelligence about Bai Nuo and He Yao's conspiracy for weapons from the Fusong Department. Baili Hongshuo was stunned, but Baili Hongxuan vehemently denounced these claims as "complete nonsense."
Baili Hongshuo insisted on a one-on-one duel with Ming Yefeng, who initially agreed, only to reveal he had been stalling for time, as his Youwu reinforcements arrived, swiftly tipping the balance of power. With his troops now present, Ming Yefeng confidently declared Baili Hongxuan defeated.
