Sword Dynasty Episode 26 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
As Lin Zhujiu, Zhangsun Qianxue, and Bai Shanshui approached the west gate of the Dafu Water Dungeon, an escort informed them that he could only accompany them to that point, urging them to proceed with caution. Just as they were a step away from freedom, they realized Liang Lian was already there, confirming their suspicions of being trapped. Ye Zhen appeared, taunting Lin Zhujiu about their long acquaintance.
Lin Zhujiu acknowledged their dire situation, but Ye Zhen, focusing on the Gushan Sword Manual, offered to let him die with a whole body if he revealed its secrets. Lin Zhujiu, however, declared he no longer cared for such trivialities and vowed to kill her for her betrayal of Liang Jingmeng and the extermination of Bashan Sword Field. Ye Zhen then unleashed her Sparkling Comet-tail Sword, engaging Bai Shanshui.
Zhangsun Qianxue joined the fight, striking with her sword and preserving Bai Shanshui's true essence. During the fierce confrontation, Ye Zhen recognized Zhangsun Qianxue, having previously seen her at the Wutongluo tavern, and identified the Ninth-hell Dark Lord Sword in her possession as Liang Jingmeng's. Realizing Zhangsun Qianxue's true identity, Ye Zhen accused her of having deserved to die with Liang Jingmeng ten years prior.
Zhangsun Qianxue retaliated, denouncing Ye Zhen for her treachery and her role in the Bashan tragedy, promising to avenge Liang Jingmeng today. Ye Zhen defended her actions by claiming the Bashan Sword Field deserved its fate for betraying the King of Heng. Lin Zhujiu interrupted, asserting that Ye Zhen knew the truth in her heart and reminded her of Liang Jingmeng's sincere treatment of her and Yuan Wu, whose trust she betrayed for selfish desires.
He prophesied that Ye Zhen and the King of Heng would ultimately kill each other, visibly striking a nerve with Ye Zhen. Just as Ye Zhen prepared to strike, a Jiantian Bureau ship dramatically crashed through the water dungeon's mountain wall. Ye Celeng emerged, fighting her way through the guards and incapacitating Liang Lian.
She declared her unwavering loyalty to Heng, but condemned Ye Zhen and Yuan Wu for their past betrayal of Bashan's loyalists, stating that their leadership was Heng's true sorrow. She vowed to protect Bashan's disciples from further humiliation and urged Lin Zhujiu and the others to escape through the newly breached wall. Chen Xuan, witnessing Ye Celeng's actions, appeared and emotionally ordered her to drop her sword, accusing her of rebellion.
Ye Celeng, however, calmly stated that given the long-standing animosity between the Jiantian and Shendu Bureaus, it was fitting for Chen Xuan to kill her. Knowing her fate, she sacrificed her natal sword, urging Zhangsun Qianxue to ensure her master's well-being. With a swift turn, Ye Celeng launched a fierce assault with her sword, but Ye Zhen narrowly dodged it. Before Ye Celeng could react, Liang Lian, having recovered, stabbed her from behind.
Falling into Chen Xuan's arms, Ye Celeng uttered her last words, expressing fulfillment and regret, wishing never to meet him again in another life. She gazed at him with shimmering eyes, but no tears fell until she drew her last breath, at which point two glistening lines traced down her cheeks. The Autumn Water Sword, which Ye Celeng wielded, was indeed strong in water but weak in dryness.
It symbolized her true weakness, not in skill, but in her inability to reciprocate affection, owing a debt to Chen Xuan even after repaying Ding Ning. Following the failed encirclement, Lin Zhujiu, Zhangsun Qianxue, and Bai Shanshui managed to escape, with Ding Ning sending carriages to meet them and arranging their refuge at the Minshan Sword Sect.
Ding Ning spent the night using his Life-sustaining Magic Art to heal Zhangsun Qianxue's internal cold energy caused by the Ninth-hell Dark Lord Sword. Zhangsun Qianxue remarked that while Ding Ning hadn't fully mastered the art, his growing control over his yang hyperactivity was perfectly suited to her condition. Upon waking, Zhangsun Qianxue spoke to Ding Ning about Ye Celeng's sacrifice of her natal sword and how Bai Shanshui had informed them of the dire situation.
She expressed worry about Ding Ning being implicated since Ye Zhen recognized her Ninth-hell Dark Lord Sword and knew she was the landlady of Wutongluo. Ding Ning, however, remained fearless, reminding her of their shared resolve for revenge. Zhangsun Qianxue confessed her constant worry amid their increasingly dangerous actions, feeling that Ding Ning, being so young, should not have been drawn into Liang Jingmeng's feuds.
She considered herself and others more fitting to avenge Liang Jingmeng's death, lamenting the difficulty of their path and offering Ding Ning an escape if he wished to give up. Ding Ning refused, stating that as the inheritor of his master's skills and everyone's hope, giving up would render all sacrifices meaningless. Zhangsun Qianxue, in turn, expressed her desire for him to simply stay alive after this arduous battle.
Ding Ning then advised her to rest further while he went to check on Lin Zhujiu. Meanwhile, Baili Suxue was also tending to Lin Zhujiu. Lin Zhujiu expressed his relief at breathing freely after enduring a decade in the dark Dafu Water Dungeon, a place he described as hell. He shared with Baili Suxue that he persevered because he believed Bashan still lived, recalling the joyous days of fighting alongside Liang Jingmeng.
Despite betrayals, he still felt loyalty and integrity were paramount. He then mused about fallen comrades who would never meet again, hoping Liang Jingmeng would be at peace knowing their efforts. However, Baili Suxue then revealed the truth: Liang Jingmeng was still alive, explaining that he had survived due to the Nine-death Silkworm Martial Art. Lin Zhujiu, stunned, knelt before Ding Ning in recognition.
Meanwhile, Zhangsun Qianxue, pondering Ye Celeng's final request to care for her master, felt a growing sense of confusion. Accompanied by Xie Rou, who innocently remarked that Ye Celeng would be relieved if she knew her master was alive, Zhangsun Qianxue went to find Ding Ning. Witnessing Lin Zhujiu kneeling before Ding Ning, all her doubts vanished, replaced by a chilling realization that left her speechless. She confronted Ding Ning, demanding to know his true identity.
When he addressed her as "Aunt," she vehemently corrected him, insisting he call her "Qianxue," as he once did. Ding Ning feigned ignorance, asking if she was missing his master again. Zhangsun Qianxue, recalling his past words about discarding unsuitable swords, declared that an unsuitable person also need not remain, and walked away. Seeing Ding Ning's distress, Baili Suxue urged him to be honest with Zhangsun Qianxue, noting her deep affection. Ding Ning, however, expressed his conflicted feelings.
He recounted his past as a sinner to the Zhangsun family and questioned how he could face her as Liang Jingmeng. He felt that the identity of Liang Jingmeng was a heavy burden for both of them, complicating their already difficult path of revenge. In the palace, Ye Zhen reported the escape of Lin Zhujiu to the King of Heng, accepting responsibility.
The King, however, expressed skepticism, remarking on the spectacular power of her Sparkling Comet-tail Sword, which he felt even from his chambers. He questioned how Lin Zhujiu, a decade-long prisoner, could escape with Ye Celeng's help while Ye Zhen remained unharmed, subtly accusing her of showing mercy to the Bashan Sword Field.
Ye Zhen, deeply hurt, reaffirmed her decade-long loyalty to him, but the King retorted that if she truly felt no affection for Lin Zhujiu, she should have executed him. He voiced his concern about his secure position, especially with the return of the Nine-death Silkworm inheritor and challenges from the Lie and Qian states.
He explained that his desire for Lin Zhujiu's death was to destroy the Gushan Sword Manual and solidify Heng's foundation, then suggested Ye Zhen herself might covet the manual. Devastated, Ye Zhen attempted to take her own life, but the King stopped her, claiming he would not want that. This exchange highlighted the deep mistrust and power struggle between the once-united Emperor and Empress, whose relationship now rested solely on political maneuverings.
Amidst these court tensions, Prince Yuan Zihan advocated for war against Fengwu, which had recently increased its incursions into Heng territory, believing Xian was secretly backing them. However, his brother, Prince Yuan Zichu, argued against military action, expressing concern for the war-weary populace. Undeterred by an earlier rejection from the King, Yuan Zihan, eager to prove himself, recalled Zhu Yuan, his trusted aide and spy from Xian. He also secretly enlisted a maidservant from Yuan Zichu's retinue.
Zhu Yuan presented Yuan Zihan with the corpse of Officer Bai of the Jiantian Bureau, suggesting it could be used to appease the King following the Dafu Water Dungeon incident and the resulting public unrest. With a Fengwu curved knife, they could falsely accuse Fengwu of the murder, thus creating a pretext for war.
During the court assembly, while officials reported little public knowledge of the prison break, the King remained unconvinced, sensing a cover-up and expressing worry about public sentiment. Yuan Zihan seized the opportunity, reiterating his proposal for war with Fengwu to redirect public grievances. He presented the Fengwu curved knife found on Officer Bai's body, dramatically claiming Fengwu had escalated its aggression by infiltrating Fengming and assassinating an official.
Despite strong objections from Yuan Zichu and Chancellor Li, who warned against the financial and human costs of war, the King ultimately commanded Yuan Zihan to be the Commander-in-chief and Yuan Zichu the General of the Vanguard, ordering immediate preparations for war with Fengwu. Afterward, the King confronted a triumphant Yuan Zihan, acknowledging his manipulative tactics but accepting him as a useful, albeit disfavored, pawn.
The King then announced that Huang Zhenwei, who had long served him abroad by providing intelligence on the Gushan Sword Manual, would return to become the new Director of the Jiantian Bureau following Ye Celeng's death, instructing that Huang Zhenwei report to him before assuming his duties.
