Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 33 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi finally set aside their differences to discuss a plan to rescue Baili Hongxuan. Baili Hongyi reported that all their family members were gone, and former allies were either exiled or under constant surveillance by He Yao, making it impossible to gather information about Baili Hongxuan's whereabouts.
While Baili Hongyi suspected Baili Hongxuan was held in the Royal Archives, Baili Hongshuo disagreed, arguing that He Yao would not risk imprisoning him in a place previously under their father's and Baili Hongxuan's control. Frustrated, Baili Hongyi impulsively suggested fighting their way in or capturing He Yao directly, but Baili Hongshuo dismissed these ideas as suicidal due to their limited numbers and He Yao's heavy guard.
He urged Baili Hongyi to remain calm, and she challenged him to propose a better solution. Baili Hongshuo then realized that if they could pinpoint Baili Hongxuan's location, they could devise a more effective rescue. This thought led him to remember Hou Zhengze. Baili Hongshuo called Hou Zhengze, who began sifting through Master Ji Qiu's belongings. Hou Zhengze soon found a mirror that he recalled Master Ji Qiu saying could locate people.
He tried to remember the correct incantation, fumbling through a Demon Taming Spell and a rain spell, much to Baili Hongyi's impatience. Finally, he recalled the "spell to find location" and its full incantation. He explained that it required blood from someone of the same bloodline. Baili Hongshuo pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the mirror.
Following Hou Zhengze's lead, Baili Hongshuo repeated the chant: "It's arduous to meet for both, between the dead and the living. It's trivial to deal with a mountain or a river. The seal holder who seeks the location, clean and cleanse the water seal. Help provision the water seal. Hold the respiration of the Cosmos. Use the strength of the adamantine body. As the nine energy flows radiate towards the sky, the constellations sparkle and flicker.
The three lights shine brilliantly together." The mirror absorbed the blood and then displayed an image of Baili Hongxuan's location. Meanwhile, Qiu Xiaotong prepared to join the rescue, but Hou Zhengze informed her that Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi had already left for the Royal Palace. He relayed Baili Hongshuo's reasoning that more people would only attract unwanted attention, and their own abilities were insufficient for a direct confrontation.
Qiu Xiaotong protested, highlighting her own spells, including a face-changing ability, but Hou Zhengze reiterated that even with all four of them, they couldn't overcome the thousands of guards in the heavily fortified Royal Palace. Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi stealthily entered the palace, believing Baili Hongxuan was being held near the Emperor's private chambers. However, they found themselves repeatedly returning to the same spot, realizing a powerful restriction was at play.
Baili Hongshuo's wall-passing spell proved useless against this enchantment, and they soon understood they were trapped and unable to leave the palace. Just as they were at a loss, a swarm of fireflies appeared, seemingly guiding them. They followed the fireflies and were led out of the palace. Outside, they encountered An Tingfeng, who revealed he had sent the fireflies.
Baili Hongshuo accused An Tingfeng of setting the restriction, but An Tingfeng denied it, stating he had no interest in their affairs and was not the one behind such a powerful enchantment. He explained that whoever created the restriction possessed immense magical power, making it too dangerous for even him to enter. He had summoned the fireflies out of goodwill to prevent them from being trapped indefinitely.
An Tingfeng warned them against returning to the palace, stating they were no match for the mysterious enchanter. With the palace now an impossible target, Baili Hongshuo concluded that the only remaining option to rescue Baili Hongxuan was at the execution court. On the day of the public execution, a large crowd gathered in Ye City, with Baili Haohe personally overseeing the proceedings from a high platform.
Baili Hongshuo, Baili Hongyi, Hou Zhengze, and Qiu Xiaotong strategically positioned themselves among the onlookers. Baili Hongyi worried about the overwhelming number of guards, but Baili Hongshuo pointed out that the very crowd they were blending into was their only vulnerability. Baili Hongxuan was brought forth, appearing weak and disheveled, and made to kneel on the execution ground. The charges of colluding with foreign enemies were read, and Baili Haohe ordered his immediate execution.
Seizing the opportune moment, Qiu Xiaotong threw a talisman, creating a thick, disorienting white mist. Under its cover, Baili Hongshuo and Hou Zhengze rushed to rescue Baili Hongxuan. Hou Zhengze then used a spell to transform Baili Hongshuo's appearance to resemble Baili Hongxuan, leaving him in the prisoner's place. As the white mist began to clear, the disguised Baili Hongshuo was identified. He Yao gave the command for the executioner to strike.
However, Baili Haohe noticed three suspicious figures moving against the flow of the crowd and immediately ordered them to be apprehended. The guards intercepted Baili Hongxuan, Baili Hongyi, and Qiu Xiaotong. Realizing their plan was compromised, Baili Hongshuo shed his disguise and joined the confrontation. Baili Haohe, calmly but with intent, took up a bow and fired an arrow that forced Baili Hongshuo back several steps. He then unleashed three arrows simultaneously.
Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi narrowly dodged them, but a weakened Baili Hongxuan was unable to evade the attack. An arrow struck him deeply in the back, killing him instantly. Baili Hongyi cried out for her "Eldest Brother," lamenting the loss of their last remaining family member after their mother, Royal Father (Baili Haoyuan, Prince of Great Plains), and grandfather.
Overcome with grief and rage, Baili Hongshuo tried to charge at Baili Haohe, but he was restrained by the numerous guards. As Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi fought desperately, Ming Yefeng suddenly descended from the sky. Unable to persuade Baili Hongyi to leave, he joined the struggle against the guards. Recognizing the dire situation, Qiu Xiaotong threw all her remaining talismans, creating another dense cloud of white smoke. Baili Hongyi, seeing Baili Hongshuo's uncontrollable fury, knocked him unconscious.
Hou Zhengze quickly recited a spell, and they all vanished in the mist, escaping with Baili Hongshuo, Baili Hongyi, Ming Yefeng, and Qiu Xiaotong. When the mist cleared, Baili Haohe, who had watched the events unfold with calm composure, showed no surprise but instead smiled. In the Royal Palace, He Yao reported the identities of the rescuers to Baili Haohe, confirming that Ming Yefeng, the new King of the Wolf Tribe, was among them.
He Yao saw this as an opportunity to provoke war with the Wolf Tribe. However, Baili Haohe, influenced by his mother, the Empress Dowager, recognized that Ming Yefeng's unauthorized journey south to rescue an enemy of the You Kingdom—the son of their archenemy, the Prince of Great Plains—would severely undermine his authority and cause internal turmoil within the Wolf Tribe. He chose to exploit this political weakness rather than immediately wage war.
Baili Haohe instructed He Yao to handle the matter of Ming Yefeng and Baili Hongyi discreetly, but emphasized that Baili Hongshuo, as a traitor to the You Kingdom, must be relentlessly pursued and captured. The group reappeared in a desolate wilderness. Ming Yefeng returned the tiger tooth necklace to Baili Hongyi. When Baili Hongshuo awoke, he refused to accept Baili Hongxuan's death, insisting on returning to rescue him.
Baili Hongyi reminded him that they had witnessed Baili Hongxuan die in his arms, killed by Baili Haohe. In his grief and denial, Baili Hongshuo coldly rebuked Baili Hongyi, stating he didn't trust her, just like Ming Yefeng. He questioned if she was satisfied that the Manor of Prince of Great Plains was gone, implying she had achieved her revenge for her father.
When Hou Zhengze intervened, Baili Hongshuo angrily declared that he should detest the people of the Manor of Prince of Great Plains, including Baili Hongyi. Heartbroken, Baili Hongyi told him that her debt to the You Kingdom for raising her for over a decade was now paid. She declared that from that moment on, they had no connection, and his life or death would mean nothing to her.
Soon after, Baili Hongshuo insisted on separating from Hou Zhengze and Qiu Xiaotong. Later that night, still in denial, Baili Hongshuo attempted to infiltrate the Royal Palace alone, but the powerful restriction remained in place, rendering his wall-passing spell ineffective.
