Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 34 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
Having successfully entered the royal palace, Baili Hongshuo found Baili Haohe already awaiting his arrival in the main hall. Baili Haohe immediately began to mock Baili Hongshuo, taunting him about his brother, Baili Hongxuan. He claimed that Baili Hongxuan had long coveted the throne and believed it to be his own, asking if Baili Hongshuo, as an emperor, would tolerate such ambition. Baili Hongshuo fiercely defended his brother's unwavering loyalty to the Baili family and Great You.
Undeterred, Baili Haohe asserted his own absolute control over Baili Hongxuan's fate and reputation, declaring him now tarnished by treason. He further provoked Baili Hongshuo by mentioning that Chamberlain He had spoken of both brothers before his death. He then criticized Baili Hongshuo's diminished martial arts skills, boasting about his own surprising strength, and expressed deep resentment, feeling that neither Baili Hongxuan nor Baili Hongshuo had ever truly respected him as the emperor, always treating him as a mere child.
Enraged, Baili Hongshuo attacked, but his sword proved futile against Baili Haohe, who moved with incredible speed, effortlessly wounding him with a mere flick of his hand. A mysterious red mark appeared on Baili Haohe's head just before Baili Hongshuo was unexpectedly rescued. In the same moment, Baili Haohe's form dissipated, only for Ling Jun to materialize, dropping a puppet that revealed a dazed Baili Haohe once more.
Baili Hongshuo was saved by An Tingfeng, who warned him against venturing deeper into the palace. An Tingfeng, a demon hunter, explained that the powerful demon he had been tracking for a long time resided within the palace, implying it was Baili Haohe himself. He confessed that even he dared not confront it directly and advised Baili Hongshuo to leave the perilous place immediately to preserve his family's bloodline.
However, Baili Hongshuo defiantly declared that he would never live as a coward, as it would dishonor the legacy of the Prince of Great Plains. Meanwhile, outside the palace, Hou Zhengze and Qiu Xiaotong were desperately searching for Baili Hongshuo. Qiu Xiaotong expressed her frustration, likening their search to finding a needle in a haystack, while Hou Zhengze teased her about her limited magical knowledge but acknowledged her desperate efforts to help Baili Hongshuo.
Suddenly, An Tingfeng appeared, startling Qiu Xiaotong with a small demon he was taming. An Tingfeng provided precise directions to Baili Hongshuo, stating he had given him medicine and he would soon wake, but strictly instructed them to take him away and never return. Qiu Xiaotong, recognizing An Tingfeng's influence with their Master, expressed immense relief that Baili Hongshuo was alive, while Hou Zhengze carried the unconscious Baili Hongshuo and urged them to quickly leave their current spot.
Elsewhere, Ming Yefeng, despite a severe injury to his left hand that made it impossible to even lift a water basin, pressed on urgently towards Shuchi. He knew that if the Lang Tribe discovered his trip south, it would cause internal strife. Baili Hongyi noticed his pain and questioned why he hadn't revealed the extent of his injury, suggesting they could delay their return.
Ming Yefeng insisted they couldn't stop and needed to reach Shuchi for treatment due to the precarious situation in the Lang Tribe. He teased Baili Hongyi about her concern, and she then challenged him, suggesting that men, like him, prioritized power over life, even to the point of sacrificing themselves. Ming Yefeng clarified that power was merely a tool, and his true objective was to protect those he cared about.
Baili Hongyi dismissed this as a typical male excuse, hinting that men simply relished being superior, and subtly contrasted him with Baili Hongxuan. Ming Yefeng then informed her that You Wu tribesmen would meet them at the You Kingdom border to escort her safely back to Shuchi, while he would proceed ahead on his own. In a secluded cloud cottage, Baili Hongxuan awakened to find Jin Yang by his side, initially believing he had entered the underworld.
Jin Yang reassured him they were both alive, saved by Ling Jun. She recounted how, during his public execution, time had inexplicably paused, allowing her to use a puppet mantra, a technique taught to her by Ling Jun, to substitute him with a decoy. She revealed that she too had been saved in a similar fashion in the palace.
Baili Hongxuan then met Ling Jun, who introduced herself as his rescuer, but despite his gratitude, he remained wary, pressing her and Jin Yang for Ling Jun's true motives. Jin Yang claimed she did not know them. Despite his lingering unease about Ling Jun's intentions and the consequences of such intervention, Baili Hongxuan expressed understanding and compassion for Jin Yang, not blaming her for her actions to save him. He then inquired about his manor and his brother, Baili Hongshuo.
Jin Yang expressed regret for failing to protect the manor but relayed Ling Jun's promise to find Baili Hongshuo. She then offered to attend to him in his room. Meanwhile, in the Lang Tribe, the annual sheep-snatching ball competition was underway, presided over by Gao Yi in Ming Yefeng's absence, who was reportedly unwell. Gao Yi opened the contest, emphasizing its importance in showcasing not just skill and stamina, but also intelligence and integrity.
During the event, Ming Lai expressed his suspicion about the King's absence and directly pressed his sister, suggesting it was an opportunity for her to gain influence by replacing Li Ruo. He strongly suspected that Ming Yefeng had secretly gone to You Kingdom to save Baili Hongyi, especially after Baili Hongxuan's execution notice, adding that it would be a great taboo for a monarch to travel to an enemy country.
His sister, however, reminded him of the intertwined fate of the King and the Bai Ze Unit, suggesting that the King would never risk their stability in such a way. Ming Lai eventually convinced himself that the King absolutely would not and could not have gone to You Kingdom. After the Bai Ze Unit emerged victorious, Gao Yi conveyed the King's congratulations and promised future rewards.
Elder Huyu and other elders voiced their profound concern, noting that the King's prolonged absence from such a vital tribal event was unprecedented outside of wartime and that he had neglected state affairs for days, causing widespread unease and suspicion. Back in You Kingdom, Hou Zhengze carried the still unconscious Baili Hongshuo to a secluded, ruined house.
Qiu Xiaotong watched over Baili Hongshuo, tearfully lamenting their dire situation: Baili Hongshuo's unconsciousness, their new status as wanted criminals, and their Master's disappearance. She despaired that her Master's prophecy of a long, peaceful life for her had proven false, as she faced an uncertain tomorrow. Hou Zhengze comforted her, assuring her that Baili Hongshuo would awaken thanks to An Tingfeng's medicine.
He proposed that their current hardships were a "fated catastrophe," a necessary trial for their future growth, and made a heartfelt vow to remain by her side, never leaving her alone, no matter where their path led. Later, at a volcanic land, Baili Hongshuo encountered a masked man. When a dark mist attacked them, the man effortlessly dispelled it with a swift swing of his sword.
Baili Hongshuo was perplexed by this display of power, but his shock deepened when the man removed his mask, revealing the face of Baili Hongxuan, albeit with a completely different demeanor. Baili Hongshuo immediately asked him who he was. When Baili Hongshuo eventually regained consciousness, he urgently asked for paper and pen to sketch the mysterious red mark he had seen on Baili Haohe's head.
Qiu Xiaotong, acting as his senior sister, sternly reminded him not to act recklessly and leave them again, asserting her commitment to their shared responsibility. Baili Hongshuo confirmed that Baili Haohe, the Emperor, was his attacker. Hou Zhengze recognized the drawn symbol from his Master's books, identifying it as the "seal of ten thousand demons running amok," its intertwining snake-like form signifying a vastly powerful demon.
He further elaborated that it resembled the Nine-winged Drago, an ancient and formidable creature that even the legendary hero Hou Yi could not subdue. Qiu Xiaotong, scared and confused, pressed for more answers. Baili Hongshuo then speculated that An Tingfeng might possess the knowledge to unravel this mystery.
On their journey back, Baili Hongyi, escorted by the powerful You Wu tribesmen, questioned why such a formidable tribe, renowned for their indestructible bodies, chose to serve Ming Yefeng, especially since he was not of their kin. A You Wu tribesman eventually broke their silence, explaining that Ming Yefeng was revered as their deity.
He revealed the tribe's secret: every sixty years, the You Wu Tribe faced a catastrophic threat linked to the Thousand Mountain Decree, which would decay and lead to their annihilation. Only Ming Yefeng's unique blood, offered as a sacrifice to the Decree, could prevent its decomposition for sixty years, thereby granting the You Wu Tribe true eternal survival. This profound, life-sustaining bond was the reason for their unwavering loyalty to Ming Yefeng.
