Sword Dynasty Episode 10 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
Ding Ning found himself at the Shendu Bureau, where he was immediately brought before Chancellor Li. Identifying the high-ranking official by his attire and the deference shown by Mr. Mo, Ding Ning engaged in a clever exchange. Chancellor Li probed him with a fabricated story about his "aunt" and her "hometown's rice harvest," which Ding Ning skillfully corrected, pointing out his hometown grows millet, not rice, and that its harvest was poor this year.
When questioned about his whereabouts on the rainy night Song Shenshu died, Ding Ning explained he was fixing a leaky roof for a solitary old woman who sold ink paste at the fish market, an alibi swiftly confirmed by an official. Despite the lack of direct evidence, Chancellor Li decided to detain him. Meanwhile, two Marquises from the Eleven Marquises visited Chancellor Li, arguing against Ding Ning's release.
They stressed the prevailing public panic and the imperative to eliminate any potential threat, adhering to the principle of "better to kill a wrong person than releasing the right one by mistake." They suggested Ding Ning could serve as a necessary scapegoat to appease the populace and alleviate their collective anxieties. Upon learning of Ding Ning's arrest, Zhangsun Qianxue was concerned about Ding Ning's safety and his identity being exposed.
She recalled the solemn pact she and Ding Ning had made: if one of them was caught, the other would use Moshi Swordsmanship to eliminate a Bashan traitor, thereby clearing the captive's name. She swiftly chose Nangong Shang, a notorious traitor who practiced dark arts, consuming the heart blood of children to extend his life. Zhangsun Qianxue intercepted Nangong Shang as he was rushing to gather more children's blood.
Taken aback by her knowledge of his gruesome practices, Nangong Shang challenged her, scoffing at the idea that the Ninth-hell Dark Lord Sword could not be cultivated into a natal sword. However, Zhangsun Qianxue, having mastered it, used Moshi Swordsmanship to swiftly dispatch him. As he lay dying, he questioned her motives, to which she replied her actions were "to feed the sword, to help innocent children, and to save my family."
Her decisive strike sent ripples of alarm throughout the kingdom. Prince Yuan Zichu urgently pleaded with his father, the King of Heng (Yuan Wu), to spare Ding Ning. He argued that Ding Ning, the gifted Baiyang Cave disciple renowned for his rapid spiritual cultivation, could not be Liang Jingmeng's successor, as Nangong Shang had been killed with Moshi Swordsmanship while Ding Ning was already imprisoned. He stressed that the Kingdom of Heng should not unjustly lose such a talented individual.
The King of Heng, however, dismissed his son's reasoning, suggesting there might be "more than one disciple" of Liang Jingmeng. He admonished Yuan Zichu for "cherishing talented people without knowing and using them correctly" and advised him to "learn more and observe more from your mother, Ye Zhen, and see how she handles it." That same night, Ye Celeng used a prison order tablet to infiltrate the Dafu Water Dungeon.
Finding the deepest parts of the dungeon unguarded, she discovered that the cells meant for Bashan's old guards were empty. Chen Xuan then emerged, revealing he had orchestrated the entire setup to protect her. He accused her of "treason" and urged her to abandon any rescue attempts, emphasizing that Bashan had been destroyed and the King of Heng had reached the formidable eighth realm, rendering her efforts futile.
Ye Celeng, however, affirmed her unwavering loyalty to her master, Liang Jingmeng, and demanded to know the identity of the true prisoner. Chen Xuan finally revealed it to be Lin Zhujiu. Meanwhile, a recovering Feng Qianzhuo drafted a libelous report against Baiyang Cave. Queen Ye Zhen, aware of his depraved nature, was indifferent to his plight, viewing him as a mere pawn whose own indulgences led to his downfall. However, she saw an opportunity in Xue Wangxu's recent actions.
Xue Wangxu presented himself before Ye Zhen, confessing to trespassing in Ba Prefecture to reclaim the Beauty-locking Elixir for Baiyang Cave and admitting his disciple had crippled the eldest grandson of the Feng family. He humbly offered to sacrifice his own cultivation as penance for Ding Ning's freedom.
Ye Zhen, though initially questioning his priorities, was persuaded by Xue Wangxu's fervent defense of Ding Ning as a "rare genius" and "the hope of Baiyang Cave," whom he would "help in any way" a devoted master could. She granted Ding Ning's release and permitted Xue Wangxu to live until the next Minshan Swordsmanship Tournament.
Instead of accepting his offer to cripple his cultivation, she assigned him a task: to "teach Liang Lian a lesson," clearly implying a duel that would require his full seventh-realm strength. The following morning, Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning arrived at the Tiger and Wolf Army's camp, where Xue Wangxu formally challenged General Liang Lian to a duel. Liang Lian, aware of Xue Wangxu's recent audience with Queen Ye Zhen, accepted.
The duel was an intense spectacle; Liang Lian employed the powerful "Dyke Breach Sword" from the Scripture of the Cofferdam Sword, a technique known for its accumulating momentum. Pushed to his limits, Xue Wangxu countered with a final, decisive strike, which onlookers noted appeared to exceed his own seventh-realm capabilities. Liang Lian was defeated, collapsing to the ground. Xue Wangxu declared his victory, asserting that his deeper understanding of sword scriptures surpassed Liang Lian's youth and strength.
Later, resting in a nearby forest, Xue Wangxu coughed up blood. He reassured a Ding Ning who suppressed his grief, finding contentment in experiencing the "twilight years" of his life rather than perishing in battle, calling the feeling "fresh" and noting it made his life "more complete." He informed Ding Ning that he could no longer serve as his unwavering support.
Ding Ning, however, demonstrated a keen understanding of the Queen's underlying political maneuvers, stating that her promise now provided him with the greatest protection until the Minshan Swordsmanship Tournament. Impressed by Ding Ning's foresight, Xue Wangxu predicted his disciple would become "one of the best advisers." Kneeling before his master, Ding Ning solemnly vowed to "use this sword in my hand to slay all those who caused you to lose your cultivation."
Xue Wangxu, in turn, comforted him, explaining his sacrifices were made because Ding Ning was "the pride of Baiyang Cave." Back at the palace, the King of Heng questioned Ye Zhen's harsh treatment of Xue Wangxu, lamenting the potential loss of such a "rare master who has reached the seventh realm" and the potential harm to the Kingdom of Heng.
Ye Zhen defended her actions, asserting that Xue Wangxu had "been over the line recently" and that she simply aimed to "teach him a lesson to warn the other practitioners" and uphold the King's authority. Satisfied, the King praised her methods. Ye Zhen then sought to further please him, revealing that Director Xu would return the following day from a sea voyage with an elixir designed to help the King "advance to the ninth realm" and achieve immortality.
She declared that with his eternal life, her own wish would be fulfilled, and she would have no regrets. The King, in turn, pledged that if he attained eternal life, she too would become immortal. Meanwhile, deep within the Dafu Water Dungeon, an emaciated Lin Zhujiu mockingly observed Queen Ye Zhen's cultivation, noting her progress but also her failure to reach the eighth realm, calling her repetitive remarks "boring."
He proposed that she release him so he could gather "fresh news" for her. Ye Zhen countered by demanding the "Gushan Sword Treasure" in exchange for his freedom. Lin Zhujiu dismissed her demand as equally "boring" and "cliché." Ye Zhen then revealed a truly "interesting" piece of news: "Liang Jingmeng's disciple is back," claiming he "killed Marquis Dugu with Moshi Swordsmanship." Lin Zhujiu found the news "new," but "not funny."
