Sword Dynasty Episode 11 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
Ye Zhen, in the underwater prison, informs Lin Zhujiu that Liang Jingmeng's disciple has returned, using Moshi Swordsmanship to kill Marquis Dugu and the Nine-death Silkworm Martial Art to kill Song Shenshu. She highlights that the Nine-death Silkworm is a secret art not taught to outsiders. Ye Zhen offers Lin Zhujiu freedom if he reveals the secret of the Gushan Sword Manual, emphasizing that Liang Jingmeng's disciple, as the inheritor, would greatly need the former Bashan Sword Field adviser.
She urges him to consider her offer. Officials from the Shendu Bureau discuss the King of Heng's increasingly urgent quest for immortality, noting that Director Xu from the Bureau of Rites has been dispatched with a large, heavily laden fleet on a long overseas expedition. They speculate whether the King's health or his progress towards the next cultivation realm might be at issue.
However, they conclude that given the upcoming Lushan Alliance Meeting, the King would prioritize stability, suggesting his cultivation is not failing. Instead, they consider the unsettling possibility that the King fears a problem with the "next" cultivation realm. They also briefly discuss the recent death of Nangong Shang, an official from the Bureau of Royal Secretaries, who was killed by Moshi Swordsmanship, but the Jiantian Bureau claims to have no leads on the practitioner responsible.
Chen Xuan discusses with Ye Celeng the contrived animosity between the Shendu Bureau and the Jiantian Bureau, explaining it's a facade maintained to ensure their survival and appear controllable to the King and Queen. He observes that Ye Celeng always shows emotion when Liang Jingmeng is mentioned. Ye Celeng asks if he fears she will do something reckless and implicate him.
Chen Xuan reassures her, saying those distant past events are long over, and it is now the 11th year of the Yuan Wu era. While Ye Celeng acknowledges his point that Liang Jingmeng has been dead too long for some ideals to remain relevant, she insists that certain things and principles still endure. Ding Ning brings an injured Xue Wangxu back to the Wutong wine shop, asking Zhangsun Qianxue to look after them.
Zhangsun Qianxue directs Xue Wangxu to approach Ding Ning for any needs, not her, and clarifies his room is in the west wing. Meanwhile, Ding Ning diligently sweeps outside the shop, explaining that avoiding trouble for others prevents trouble from finding him. Xie Changsheng, dressed in full armor, arrives at the wine shop, loudly challenging Ding Ning to a duel. Initially reluctant, Ding Ning is urged on by Xue Wangxu and Jiang Li.
Xie Changsheng explains his father sent him to assess Ding Ning's suitability as a husband for his sister, Xie Rou, and that his allowance depended on it. Ding Ning agrees to the duel on the condition that if he wins, Xie Changsheng provides three Sanyang Herbs. Ding Ning easily defeats Xie Changsheng, who, after jokingly lamenting being helped to fall, concedes defeat and declares Ding Ning worthy of being his brother-in-law, promising the herbs.
Ding Ning loudly rejects the marriage to passersby. Later, he playfully asks Zhangsun Qianxue for a reward, assuring her the marriage talk was a joke. Zhangsun Qianxue, however, sternly warns him that excessive showing off in Fengming leads to a swift demise. Ding Ning prepares to go to Baiyang Cave to cultivate using the spirit vein, declining Xue Wangxu's offer to accompany him due to his master's injuries.
Before leaving, he discusses with Zhangsun Qianxue his need to win the Minshan Swordsmanship Tournament to elevate his standing among Fengming's nobility and gain support against figures like Liang Lian. Separately, Wang Taixu, observing from a distance, expresses his confidence in Ding Ning's potential victory and offers to meet him at the Baiyang Cave entrance later. During his intense training, Ding Ning pushes himself too hard, almost succumbing to qi deviation.
Xue Wangxu arrives just in time, helping him to stabilize and successfully break through to the third realm. Xue Wangxu scolds Ding Ning for the dangerous accelerated cultivation, reminding him it shortens his life. Ding Ning counters that if he is destined to die young, he prefers to live a brilliant, impactful life rather than idly await his fate. Moved, Xue Wangxu simply asks Jiang Li to help him return.
Back at the wine shop, Zhangsun Qianxue confronts Ding Ning about his rapid breakthrough, questioning his need to draw so much attention, especially given the short time since the Sword Sacrifice Trial and his travels. Ding Ning explains it is now necessary, driven by his desire to bring honor to his master, who has even less time left than he does.
Zhangsun Qianxue expresses concern about his growing attachments, acknowledging that she herself has become one, and implores him to stay alive, to which he agrees. Sun Xing, now appearing destitute, waits for days outside Prince Liling's residence. Prince Liling initially dismisses him, recalling Sun Xing's previous refusal to become his retainer, and, hearing of his crippled hand, assigns him to clean the stables.
Undeterred, Sun Xing boldly enters Prince Liling's study, explaining that his vigilance in the stables allowed him to observe the mansion's workings and its inhabitants' habits. He advises Prince Liling against seeking perfect consensus for his return to power, suggesting it's more strategic to secure fervent support from either his father or Fragrant Concubine Zhao, rather than lukewarm approval from both. Impressed by Sun Xing's insight and ambition, Prince Liling asks for his proposal.
Sun Xing, declaring he seeks only benefit, offers to travel to the capital of Xian to persuade Fragrant Concubine Zhao on Prince Liling's behalf, asking in return to be appointed chancellor upon Prince Liling's enthronement. Prince Liling agrees, and Sun Xing departs immediately. In the royal court, the King of Heng delivers an impassioned speech, recalling the humiliation of Liangshan County being ceded to Xian and vowing to reclaim it, asserting Heng's newfound strength and ambition to conquer all kingdoms.
Stirred by the King's words, courtiers discuss the search for new talents. Ding Ning's remarkably swift breakthrough to the third realm, achieved in less than three months (compared to the usual eight), becomes a hot topic. While some, like Marquis Fang, remain wary due to Ding Ning's previous diagnosis of premature aging and reliance on elixirs, others, including Marquis Lian and Marquis Li, decide to publicly back him.
Consequently, various marquisates send lavish gifts, such as a gold-threaded robe for true vitality concentration and a potent whale balm to accelerate cultivation, to the Wutong wine shop for Ding Ning. Jiang Li is astounded by the generosity, but Xue Wangxu dismisses it, remarking that even high-ranking officials still act out of self-interest, questioning the ultimate value of their pursuit of status. Liang Lian secretly meets with Fan Zhuo of Yunshui Palace, whom he had previously released.
Fan Zhuo notes their debt is settled and questions the purpose of the meeting, especially after Liang Lian's men sought them out. Liang Lian requests Fan Zhuo's help in killing Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning. Fan Zhuo is hesitant, reminding Liang Lian that Yunshui Palace is solely interested in the Gushan Sword Manual and doesn't make bad deals.
Liang Lian argues that killing them now, when he is least suspected, would deflect blame and create chaos beneficial to both their agendas. He assures Fan Zhuo of his loyalty, stating that their alliance would strengthen with shared transgressions, and promises continued discretion regarding Yunshui Palace's true motives.
Liang Lian emphasizes that in the long run, with him in power and Fan Zhuo operating in the shadows, they could achieve their ambitions, concluding that no price is too high for such a crucial act. At the wine shop, Xue Wangxu becomes frustrated after losing several Go games to Jiang Li, chiding him for not showing deference, which leaves the good-natured Jiang Li bewildered. Wang Taixu mediates the situation.
Ding Ning watches with a helpless smile before noticing the Merchant's Young Lady talking with Zhangsun Qianxue by the door. She has arrived with a gift of rare seafood, ostensibly just to visit Ding Ning. Zhangsun Qianxue speaks with her briefly, learning of her admiration for Ding Ning's character and his selfless care for an old lady at the fish market. However, the Young Lady indicates she cannot pursue a closer relationship due to her own difficult circumstances.
After the Merchant's Young Lady leaves, Zhangsun Qianxue reveals to Ding Ning the painful history: Liang Jingmeng, Ding Ning's former master, was the driving force behind radical reforms that led to the King of Heng annihilating the Gongsun and Shang families, gravely impacting the Eleven Marquises' interests. The King then used the destruction of the Bashan Sword Field as leverage for the reforms.
Despite Liang Jingmeng's ruthless methods, he secretly saved the Shang family's sole surviving daughter, the very Merchant's Young Lady who just visited. Zhangsun Qianxue suggests that this young woman, despite her past suffering, would likely help Ding Ning if he ever sought her aid.
Ding Ning, however, acknowledges his master's immense debt to those families and expresses doubt about the feasibility of revenge, given the King's advanced cultivation, preferring that the Merchant's Young Lady maintain her quiet life at the fish market. Separately, a eunuch praises the Crown Prince's rapid advancement to the fourth cultivation realm, noting his swordsmanship was taught by Liang Jingmeng. The eunuch provocatively suggests the Crown Prince might soon surpass the King, leading to the King angrily questioning his intentions.
