Listening Snow Tower Episode 17 Recap, Plot

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After a fierce confrontation, Xiao Yiqing defeated Shu Jingrong, stating that despite three years, she was still not strong enough to defeat him. Shu Jingrong acknowledged his superior strength and knelt, willing to join Snow Tower and serve with unwavering loyalty until the day she could surpass him. Xiao Yiqing pressed her, asking if her loyalty would falter should he cease to be the strongest, implying she might rebel against Snow Tower or even kill him.

Shu Jingrong confirmed this, asserting that only the world's strongest could wield the Blood Rose Sword, and if he no longer held that title, she would kill him. Conversely, she granted him the right to dispose of her if she ever became useless to him. Xiao Yiqing accepted her terms, understanding that her experiences had taught her to trust no one in the world.

He recognized her as a potent weapon, describing her as his best dagger, albeit with risks of cutting himself. Meanwhile, Lei Chuyun regained consciousness in a desolate shack, bewildered to find himself alive. He soon realized Xiao Yiqing and Huang Quan were present.

Huang Quan clarified that his apparent assassination attempt on Lei Chuyun was a pretense, necessary to make the Moon Sect believe Lei Chuyun was dead and to uphold Snow Tower regulations, as Lady Jing had secretly let him off. Xiao Yiqing had healed Lei Chuyun’s wounds with the finest Jinchuang ointment. He then ordered Lei Chuyun to vanish, warning that if Snow Tower ever found him again, he would not be spared.

Huang Quan later questioned Xiao Yiqing's decision, to which Xiao Yiqing revealed he had saved Lei Chuyun to fulfill Shu Jingrong's secret wish. Huang Quan also inquired if Xiao Yiqing’s strenuous search for the rare Azure Azalea to save Gao Mengfei was also for Shu Jingrong. Xiao Yiqing, musing on the concept of fate and destiny, asserted that he never trusted such things. At Snow Tower, Chi Xiaotai brought tonic medicine to Gao Mengfei, attributing it to Nan Chu.

Gao Mengfei, though, returned her kindness with a Sea Flower, a token he had taken when he left Snow Tower previously. He clarified that since he was giving it to her now, it was hers to keep. While Xiao Yiqing was absent, Nan Chu, Zi Mo, and Chi Xiaotai discussed a marriage alliance proposal from the Long family of South Sea.

Chi Xiaotai was initially enthusiastic about the prospect, but Zi Mo explained that the Long family’s eldest son had a dark history: his eleven previous wives had all died on their wedding nights. The Long family, powerful and wealthy, had offered the rare Azure Azalea in exchange for the alliance.

Gao Mengfei, learning of this, felt he was becoming a burden and expressed his desire to leave Snow Tower to Xiao Yiqing, unwilling to cause any Snow Tower woman to suffer such a fate for his recovery. Xiao Yiqing assured him that arrangements had already been made for his illness, which Doctor Mo believed could be cured by the Azure Azalea to counter the adverse effects of the Xuan Yin Heart Sutra.

Xiao Yiqing dismissed Gao Mengfei’s concerns, stating he had already decided on a course of action. Elsewhere, Ming He prepared to escape the Moon Sect with Xue Wen, hoping to obtain the Xuan Yin Heart Sutra from her. However, her plan was thwarted when Gu Guang informed her that Bing Ling, their rendezvous contact at the Vermillion Palace, was missing, a sign that something was amiss. Just then, Hua Lian, Ming He's mother, appeared.

Gu Guang, revealing his betrayal, delivered Xue Wen to Hua Lian and took her to Hong Lian Prison. Hua Lian then confronted Ming He, revealing that she had known about Ming He's past ruses, including her feigned fall into the river, and understood her daughter's cunning attempts.

Hua Lian explained that she had sensed changes in Jia Ruo's aura while absorbing his inner energy, linking it to the Xuan Yin Heart Sutra and realizing Ming He's true intentions to have Jia Ruo practice it to heal his old wounds. Hua Lian, furious that Ming He was defying her for an outsider, implanted a blood venom in her, causing Ming He to collapse.

Xiao Yiqing later informed Shu Jingrong that Snow Tower had located Hong Chen, the poison master responsible for blinding her three years prior, in Qingfeng Town. The Long family was also searching for Hong Chen, though their reasons were unknown. Xiao Yiqing offered Shu Jingrong the opportunity to decide Hong Chen's fate—either recruit her for her formidable skills or exact revenge for past wrongs.

Nan Chu, concerned about the impending arrival of the Long family's marriage alliance envoy, suggested Shu Jingrong as the most suitable candidate for the perilous marriage, given her intelligence and courage. Xiao Yiqing did not explicitly confirm his choice but instructed Nan Chu to prepare a warm welcome for Hao Tian, the Long family's chief steward. Shu Jingrong tracked Hong Chen to the local yamen.

When they fought, Hong Chen's blood proved to be poisonous, and Shu Jingrong was quickly overcome. Xiao Yiqing arrived in time to save her. Upon waking, Shu Jingrong angrily accused Xiao Yiqing of breaking his promise by intervening, wanting to kill Hong Chen. Xiao Yiqing explained that as a member of Snow Tower, she could not recklessly endanger herself. He urged her to understand the full truth before acting on vengeance.

He then revealed that Hong Chen's mother, Zhu Niang, had been imprisoned after taking the blame for Hong Chen’s misdeeds, having been pursued by the Long family years ago for unknown reasons. Unaware of her mother's sacrifice, Hong Chen had grown up believing Zhu Niang had abandoned her, leading to deep resentment. Shu Jingrong was moved by Hong Chen's tragic past.

Xiao Yiqing cautioned Shu Jingrong about Hong Chen’s dangerous poisons, reminding her how grave the situation could have been without Doctor Mo's medicine. Back at the Moon Sect, Hua Lian watched over Ming He, troubled by Xue Wen's prophecies and the approaching three-year mark. When Ming He regained consciousness, she immediately demanded to know where Jia Ruo was.

Desperate to find him, Ming He pulled out a dagger, threatening to stab herself if Hua Lian tried to control her with the blood venom, stating she would rather dig out her own heart. Hua Lian lunged to stop her but was wounded by the dagger as Ming He escaped. Hua Lian, enraged and determined to eliminate the source of Ming He's defiance, pursued her daughter, vowing to end Jia Ruo's life.

Ming He, pleading for Jia Ruo's safety, jumped into the Holy Lake, where Jia Ruo was chained at the bottom in an ice coffin. Her calls awakened Jia Ruo, and he embraced her as they flew out of the lake. Hua Lian attacked Jia Ruo. Ming He desperately begged Jia Ruo to spare her mother, but Hua Lian, consumed by her obsession, continued to fight.

Ultimately, Jia Ruo absorbed Hua Lian’s inner energy and struck her, sending her plunging into the lake. As she sank, Xue Wen's prophecy, "When the moon flowers bloom, the lotus in the lake will rot," was fulfilled. Ming He watched in agony as her mother died, Hua Lian's final thoughts revealing a long-held wish to be buried with Xue Wen in the Holy Lake.

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