Sword Snow Stride Episode 15 Recap
> Sword Snow Stride Recap
Arriving at Mount Qingcheng to find Wu Lingsu, Xu Fengnian's party is instead confronted by Qingyang Sect disciples, who form the Shenxiao Sword Array to block their path. Lv Qiantang engages them with the Chixia Swordplay, a technique that boosts power by consuming one's life force. Aware of its lethal cost, he had willingly learned it from Xu Xiao to secure a chance for his family's survival.
Xu Fengnian orders Shu Xiu to assist, but their combined strength is not enough to break the formidable array. As Xu Fengnian prepares to fight, Ning Emei arrives with the Fengzi Battalion, revealing Xu Fengnian's identity as the Heir of North Liang. Vindicated, Xu Fengnian challenges the disciples to face his charge. Xu Fengnian declares he is looking for a bandit named Old Meng and a young girl, Xiaoque'er, demanding them dead or alive.
Though a female disciple feigns ignorance, Xiaoque'er appears moments later. Wu Lingsu, the Lord of Qingcheng, emerges and invites Xu Fengnian to enter the mountain alone. Despite his followers' protests, Xu Fengnian agrees, warning his men to be ready to raze the mountain should any harm befall him. Inside Wu Lingsu's residence, with Jiang Ni and Li Chungang secretly watching from the roof, Xu Fengnian rejects Wu Lingsu's demand for the lives of his two guards in exchange for Xiaoque'er.
He confidently lays out the consequences: if he were killed, Xu Xiao would lead the North Liang cavalry to destroy Mount Qingcheng, and the Liyang capital would hand over Wu Lingsu's entire family to appease North Liang. Outmaneuvered, Wu Lingsu concedes. A woman, Zhao Yutai, then appears with Xiaoque'er. Xu Fengnian is stunned to see her, recognizing "Aunt" as his mother Wu Su's swordswoman and confidante.
Zhao Yutai reveals she married Wu Lingsu and that the Qingyang Sect's hostility toward North Liang is a ruse orchestrated by Xu Xiao to create a secret outpost for monitoring the capital. She explains that she brought Old Meng and Xiaoque'er to the mountain for their protection; they have since been safely relocated to North Liang territory. Xiaoque'er, now a happy disciple of the Qingyang Sect, confirms this.
Zhao Yutai further reveals that her true mission, beyond managing the outpost, has been to investigate the truth behind Wu Su's death. Uninterested in family secrets, Li Chungang leaves them to return to the carriage. Zhao Yutai explains that Wu Su, while pregnant with Xu Fengnian, was gravely injured during a trip to the capital. She died shortly after giving birth to Xu Longxiang, never naming her attacker.
Zhao Yutai believes the culprit, a powerful figure in the capital, erased all evidence. She also confirms that Xu Xiao arranged the previous bandit encounters to test Xu Fengnian's resolve and even predicted he would enter Mount Qingcheng alone, proving that Xu Fengnian is still following the path his father paved. Though resentful of his father's apparent inaction, Xu Fengnian understands the need for secrecy and vows to continue the investigation himself.
Zhao Yutai gives Xu Fengnian the evidence she has collected over the years. Moved by the memory of the late Consort's kindness, Jiang Ni offers to help Xu Fengnian seek justice, despite their rivalry. Meanwhile, in a private confrontation, Zhao Yutai intercepts Wu Lingsu as he attempts to trade North Liang military intelligence to the capital for the safe return of their son, Shizhen, who is held hostage there.
Threatening to take her own life before allowing a betrayal, she forces a distraught Wu Lingsu to relent. After reviewing the evidence, Xu Fengnian concludes the Liyang royal family orchestrated the assassination. He realizes that his mother's pregnancy, which would have produced an heir for the newly powerful North Liang, made her a target. Acknowledging that his mother, a top sword master, must have been ambushed by multiple experts, Xu Fengnian swears to hunt down and kill every person responsible.
Zhao Yutai leads Xu Fengnian to a secluded valley where a stone tablet conceals his mother's sword, Daliang Dragon and Sparrow. She explains that since Wu Su was disowned by the Wu family for marrying Xu Xiao, her sword could not be returned to the family's Sword Tomb. Wu Su left instructions for Xu Fengnian to inherit the blade if he pursued martial arts, or to offer it as a betrothal gift to a worthy swordswoman.
As Xu Fengnian takes the sword box, a beast's roar echoes through the valley. Zhao Yutai identifies it as a Hukui, a unique and formidable creature she once fought to a stalemate. Having dedicated herself to the Qingyang Sect, Xiaoque'er decides to stay on the mountain. To maintain the illusion of enmity, Xu Fengnian instructs Jiang Ni to take the sword box and travel via a discreet forest path to a rendezvous point, while he departs through the main gate.
As Jiang Ni makes her way through the woods, a terrifying roar, like the death cry of a primeval beast, shakes the mountain. The sound is unnatural for the Hukui, which has no known predators in the area. Worried for Jiang Ni's safety, Xu Fengnian immediately orders Qing Niao and Wei Shuyang to follow him into the forest, leaving the others behind.
