Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 21 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
A fierce battle ensued at the border, with Baili Hongshuo quickly finding himself at a disadvantage against the You Wu tribesmen. Even Baili Hongxuan struggled to defend himself. Seeing her brothers and Tao Shen in danger, Baili Hongyi, though defiant, agreed to go with Ming Yefeng to stop the fighting. Ming Yefeng then ordered his men to cease, and he rode off with Baili Hongyi. As they departed, Baili Hongxuan warned Ming Yefeng not to harm her.
After Ming Yefeng left, the You Wu tribesmen contained those who wanted to chase Baili Hongxuan before retreating. Baili Hongshuo urged his brother not to pursue, explaining that Ming Yefeng's men displayed unpredictable martial arts and that venturing into the Wolf Tribe's stronghold would be futile. Baili Hongxuan agreed, reasoning that since Baili Hongyi appeared unharmed, Ming Yefeng likely had another, unknown purpose for kidnapping her, and harming her would offer him no benefit.
He stated that reinforcements would arrive soon, and they needed to plan carefully. During the journey back to the Wolf Tribe's Shuchi, Ming Yefeng displayed remarkable patience and care towards Baili Hongyi, even offering her water when she was thirsty, and challenged her to stay alive to fight him. Upon their arrival, Ming Yefeng openly carried the weakened Baili Hongyi into his tent, escorted by You Wu tribesmen.
This public display caused a stir among the Wolf Tribe, confirming for many that the legendary Thousand Mountain Decree, which grants Ming Yefeng command over the You Wu tribesmen, was indeed real. Gao Yi, the Thousand Unity General, initially mistook Baili Hongyi for a man and attempted to flatter Ba Yin, but Ba Yin corrected him, revealing Baili Hongyi to be the Second Young Lady of the Prince of Great Plains family from You Kingdom.
Later, Ba Yin confronted Ming Yefeng, expressing deep concern about him bringing back a member of the Baili family, sworn enemies of her Bai Ze Unit. Ming Yefeng sternly warned her to stay away from Baili Hongyi, reminding her not to threaten him and questioning whether the Bai Ze Unit or the You Wu tribesmen were more formidable. He reiterated that as long as she and her brother upheld their agreement, they would receive everything promised.
Confined in Ming Yefeng's tent, Baili Hongyi pressed him about his true motives, speculating he sought land, silver, or weapons from the Fusong Unit. Ming Yefeng, however, offered her strong Wolf Tribe wine, claiming he merely desired her company. A messenger from Baili Hongxuan arrived, requesting a private meeting, but Ming Yefeng flatly refused. Baili Hongyi, perceptive of his tactics, accused him of deliberately delaying to make Baili Hongxuan anxious and extract higher concessions.
Ming Yefeng then declared that this time, he "only" wanted her. When Baili Hongyi scornfully stated she would rather marry He Yao than be with someone as despicable as him, Ming Yefeng grew furious. He accused Baili Hongxuan of treating her as a mere chess piece, sacrificing her for alliances, and criticized Baili Hongshuo for passively observing. He asserted that if she were his family, he would never have allowed such a fate.
Baili Hongyi defiantly told him to kill her. Meanwhile, Baili Hongshuo confronted Baili Hongxuan about Ming Yefeng's earlier claim of their collaboration. Baili Hongxuan admitted to exchanging Fusong Unit weapons for evidence against He Yao, justifying it as a necessary evil to protect their family and the young emperor from He Yao's corrupt influence. Baili Hongshuo was appalled, viewing it as treason, but Baili Hongxuan maintained his actions were for the greater good.
He believed Ming Yefeng would not expose their dealings as long as he had needs of Baili Hongxuan. Baili Hongshuo, however, warned that Ming Yefeng was insatiably greedy and was holding Baili Hongyi for an even greater gain. Elsewhere, Gao Yi commented on Ming Yefeng's extreme actions regarding Baili Hongyi, hinting at a deeper mystery, but Ming Yefeng dismissed his concerns.
Baili Hongxuan soon received devastating news: Ming Yefeng had not only refused further negotiations but brutally killed his latest messenger, Zhang Tai, sending a chilling warning against any more attempts. Enraged by this, Baili Hongshuo declared his intention to infiltrate Shuchi alone to rescue Baili Hongyi, believing they could no longer afford to wait passively.
Baili Hongxuan vehemently rebuked his impulsiveness, highlighting the futility of facing the entire Wolf Tribe army, especially with the formidable You Wu tribesmen allied with Ming Yefeng. He warned that if news of Baili Hongyi's capture and imprisonment by the Wolf Tribe spread, it would irrevocably damage her reputation and bring disaster upon the entire Marquis manor.
He also stressed the horrific consequences of initiating a new war, reminding Baili Hongshuo of the countless civilians who would lose their homes and families, just as Baili Hongyi herself had suffered as an orphan of war. To prevent his brother from acting rashly, Baili Hongxuan ordered Tao Shen to keep a strict watch on Baili Hongshuo.
Baili Hongshuo attempted to appeal to Tao Shen's loyalty and their shared bond with Baili Hongyi, but Tao Shen, firm in his duty, insisted on obeying Baili Hongxuan's orders and trusting his superior's strategy. At the Marquis manor, as the seven-day deadline neared, Jin Yang had received no news from Baili Hongxuan regarding Baili Hongyi's whereabouts. While she deeply trusted him, she yearned to actively assist him, recalling Ling Jun's advice to "Take the initiative" in pursuit of happiness.
Recognizing Baili Hongxuan's dire situation, she decided this was her opportunity to act. Jin Yang then created a lifelike puppet to replace her in the manor. She secretly left her room, transforming into a large, white glowing bird, and flew away from the Marquis manor. Her puppet reminded her that her disguise could only last for ten days, after which her absence as the lady of the household would be discovered.
Baili Hongyi awoke with a scream from a vivid nightmare, remembering herself as a child in a blood-red desert, approached by a faceless man who touched her forehead, causing her to lose consciousness. Startled, she instinctively grabbed her sword. Regaining her composure, she cautiously peeked out of her tent, only to find Ming Yefeng already waiting outside.
He noted her early rise, playfully suggesting she might be attempting to escape during the shift change, and reminded her that without her cultivated power, fleeing the prairie was impossible. Baili Hongyi denied this, claiming she simply felt stifled and wanted some fresh air. When Ming Yefeng offered to take her for a stroll, she fiercely warned him not to touch her. Ming Yefeng calmly stated he only wanted to take her out to clear her head.
Despite her protestations that she would rather suffocate inside the tent than go anywhere with him, Ming Yefeng forcibly took her by the hand. Unbeknownst to them, Ba Yin and Gao Yi observed the scene, with Gao Yi making veiled comments to Ba Yin about women's tempers. Ming Yefeng then escorted a reluctant Baili Hongyi to the border between You Kingdom and the Wolf Tribe, a place that held special significance for them.
Baili Hongyi, suspicious, asked if he brought her there to kill her, but he assured her he would protect her. He asked if she remembered the location, but she replied she did not. Ming Yefeng then revealed that years ago, during a war in Li City between Baili Haoyuan and the Wolf Tribe, Baili Haoyuan adopted her. He probed whether she remembered her birth parents and the circumstances of their death, urging her to uncover her true identity. Baili Hongyi expressed annoyance at his sudden interest in her family, stating that she had long forgotten who her biological parents were.
