Sword Dynasty Episode 21 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
The King of Heng delivered a solemn prayer at the sacrificial ceremony, highlighting Heng's resilience and its current position in the world. He acknowledged the surrounding states' hostile intentions, declaring that the demise of the King of Xian and the inexperience of the new ruler presented a prime opportunity for Heng to conquer the three states.
After the ceremony, the King departed for the palace, leaving Chancellor Li and Marquis Fang to preside over the Minshan Swordsmanship Tournament, with Ye Celeng assigned to assist them. As Baili Suxue passed Ye Celeng, he quietly remarked that she had "been working hard over these years," which visibly unsettled her. The first trial of the Minshan Swordsmanship Tournament was to be held in the Minshan Sword Tomb.
Participants were allowed to choose any sword from the tomb for the trial or use their own. It was explained that the swords within the tomb were left by grandmasters who had been defeated by Baili Suxue, the sect leader, and were now seeking new worthy owners. The rules stated that each person must engage in a battle, and while the chosen sword could be kept as an award, it must be exchanged for their personal weapon.
A strict rule was enforced: battles were to determine victory or defeat only; no participant was permitted to injure an opponent, or their cultivation would be revoked, and they would be expelled from Minshan. Inside the Sword Tomb, Ding Ning, understanding the unique properties of the various weapons, offered advice to his friends.
He suggested to Xie Changsheng that he seek a Xian weapon made of rutilated quartz, crystal clear with gold wire and a three-legged golden toad on its hilt, as it would be beneficial for his reckless temperament during prolonged battles. He cautioned that most swords in the tomb required a cultivation of the sixth realm to wield effectively.
For Nangong Caishu, whose sword movements were too soft, Ding Ning recommended a silver short sword with a pale white blade and fish scale runes, noting its curved blade would create unpredictable arcs in combat. To Jiang Li, whose sword style was strong and upright, Ding Ning suggested seeking a sword from the Lie Sword Furnace, describing its rough hilt and blade made of dark iron.
Ding Ning himself chose to retain his own broken sword, a gift from his father, which held an unshakeable sentimental value for him. Meanwhile, Zhangsun Qianxue, concerned for Ding Ning's safety, arrived at Minshan with intentions of acting against the King as his procession passed by. However, she was intercepted by Baili Suxue. He noted her current practice of the Ninth-hell Dark Lord Sword was extremely dangerous. Zhangsun Qianxue retorted that she feared no death if it meant revenge.
She then requested Baili Suxue's help for Ding Ning, whom she revealed to be Liang Jingmeng's disciple. Baili Suxue refused, reminding her that Liang Jingmeng had ignored his warnings about Ye Zhen and Yuan Wu, leading to disaster. He also revealed that the Minshan Sword Sect had nearly been destroyed attempting to secretly rescue Bashan disciples. He sternly criticized Liang Jingmeng for "knowingly committing a mistake" and being "too stubborn."
Zhangsun Qianxue, in a moment of raw emotion, admitted she felt not only "complaint, but also hate" towards Liang Jingmeng. While Baili Suxue maintained he would not show favoritism in the tournament, he promised to ensure no one would "break the rules at Minshan" to harm Ding Ning. He then urged Zhangsun Qianxue to remain hidden. As Nangong Caishu successfully located the silver fish scale sword Ding Ning had described, she overheard a black-robed man conversing with Ye Haoran.
The masked man cunningly inflamed Ye Haoran's arrogance, hinting at Ding Ning's perceived "lack of vitality" and suggesting that challenging Ding Ning directly would be the quickest way to pass the trial. After Ye Haoran departed, Nangong Caishu, recognizing the black-robed man's unique "Scripture of Willow Leaf Sword" style, realized he was Sun Xing.
His face was disfigured, and he was consumed by a desire for revenge, vowing to "shatter your dreams" and "get rid of Ding Ning in the face of Cave Master Xue," accusing his master of unfair treatment. Nangong Caishu confronted him, asserting that Xue Wangxu was not biased and that Sun Xing was "too stubborn." She bravely engaged him in battle, stating that "there is no strong or weak sword scripture. The difference lies in the depth of personal understanding."
Using her new fish scale sword, she managed to inflict multiple short cuts on Sun Xing, causing him to accuse her sword of being "weird" and lamenting that he had "lost to Ding Ning again." Ye Celeng, alerted by the commotion, arrived to find Nangong Caishu gravely injured and unconscious. Her subordinates also found a weak Xie Rou nearby.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Ye Celeng ordered her men to search for suspects while she personally escorted Nangong Caishu and Xie Rou for immediate treatment. Meanwhile, Ye Haoran relentlessly sought out Ding Ning, shouting challenges. Ding Ning, having earlier planned to feign weakness to lull opponents, finally revealed himself.
Ye Haoran accused Ding Ning of "playing tricks," but Ding Ning calmly countered that the outcome of their duel had nothing to do with the superiority of their sects but rather their individual cultivation. Despite Ye Haoran's boastful display of "full vitality," Ding Ning observed his "unfamiliar sword movements" and deliberately provoked him to exhaust his energy. Ding Ning then decisively defeated Ye Haoran, explaining that Ye Haoran had "blindly pursued the speed of making breakthroughs. . .
but ignored the practice of sword movements." A humiliated Ye Haoran admitted his underestimation. Sun Xing, who had been secretly observing the fight and noting Ding Ning's internal injuries, attempted to ambush him, but Jiang Li arrived just in time to help Ding Ning leave. Elsewhere, Marquis Fang received a report from his subordinate. Although Bai Shanshui remained at large, new clues concerning the Lone Mountain Sword Cache had been discovered.
The subordinate revealed that Bai Shanshui's clue was merely one part, with another held by Zhao Si of the Lie Sword Furnace, and a third by an individual in the Dafu Water Prison. Marquis Fang deduced that Bai Shanshui and Zhao Si, who had previously cooperated in the fish market, might have already combined their clues. He envisioned this as an opportunity to potentially become the leader of the Eleven Marquises.
After the first trial concluded, Jing Liuli announced that ten participants had successfully passed. Their chosen swords were now permanent. The next stage would involve two-person battles, with the top three advancing to the finals to compete for the ultimate title. Ding Ning was matched against Li Jianbai from Glory Temple, and Jiang Li against He Zhaoxi from Qingteng Sword Academy.
Upon learning that Ding Ning was safe, Zhangsun Qianxue felt relief, but Baili Suxue once again prevented her from visiting him, stressing that her presence could cause unnecessary complications during the competition. He mused on King Yuan Wu's growing power and the prosperous state of Heng, concluding that as long as Minshan remained useful to the King, they would be safe.
Late in the evening, Xie Changsheng, worried about his sister Xie Rou and Nangong Caishu's absence, was informed by Ye Celeng that they were receiving treatment. Ding Ning, having observed Sun Xing's unique wounds, suspected they were caused by Nangong Caishu's fish scale sword. Hearing this, Xie Changsheng became furious and wanted to confront Sun Xing, but Jiang Li intervened, advising him against rash action that could be misinterpreted, especially with the Jiantian Bureau investigating.
Ye Celeng explained that Xie Rou had only been poisoned and would recover with an antidote, but Nangong Caishu's injury was "too close to the heart," and her awakening was uncertain. She reassured them that the Jiantian Bureau was thoroughly investigating and would hold the culprit accountable. Elsewhere, Maidservant Rong chastised Sun Xing for failing to kill Nangong Caishu and exposing his identity, making his mission of obtaining the Life-sustaining Magic Art even more difficult.
She reminded him that tomorrow was his "last chance" and promised to assist in "disturbing Ding Ning's mind" during his next battle, while Sun Xing claimed he had his own methods.
