Sword Snow Stride Episode 30 Recap
> Sword Snow Stride Recap
After arriving at Mount Longhu, Xu Fengnian thanked Arch-Taoist Zhao Xituan for taking good care of his brother, Xu Longxiang. He then inquired about the Xuanyuan family, specifically the influential clan residing across the river from Mount Longhu, expressing his intention to draw them to North Liang’s side. He noted that their Old Ancestor Xuanyuan Dapan, a master of the Celestial Realm, might be a significant obstacle. Zhao Xituan confirmed that Xuanyuan Dapan would not easily ally with North Liang.
Xu Fengnian casually revealed that Jiang Ni, who was with him, was the princess of West Chu, confident that even if Zhao Xituan tried to arrest her, Invincible Cao Changqing was accompanying her. Zhao Xituan then agreed to share stories about the Xuanyuan family. Zhao Xituan recounted that Xuanyuan Dapan, though bearing the Xuanyuan surname, was not originally a member of the family. He was a former retainer who later married into the clan, changing his name to Xuanyuan.
After years of martial struggle, all of Xuanyuan Dapan’s direct offspring had died out, leading to deep resentment. Now, having achieved the Celestial Realm, he sought to continue his bloodline through Xuanyuan Qingfeng as a form of revenge against the Xuanyuan family, intending also to sever the original Xuanyuan family's direct lineage. Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Qingfeng had returned to Mount Hui after being summoned by Xuanyuan Dapan, initially believing she might gain control of the family for her branch from him.
However, her father, Xuanyuan Jingcheng, revealed the grim truth: Old Ancestor Xuanyuan Dapan intended to force her into a "double cultivation" marriage, not to impart true instruction. Xuanyuan Qingfeng’s mother, who had long despised Xuanyuan Jingcheng for his perceived weakness, found herself helpless and without recourse, trapped by the same circumstances. Distraught, Xuanyuan Qingfeng attempted to leave Mount Hui, but her second uncle, Xuanyuan Jingyi, intercepted her, confirming her father’s grim warnings.
With no escape, Yuan Tingshan, a retainer, presented Xuanyuan Qingfeng with two choices: marry the nearly century-old Xuanyuan Dapan or marry him. Yuan Tingshan made it clear his true goal was to gain access to Wending Pavilion, the family’s repository of martial arts, to achieve the Celestial Realm like Xuanyuan Dapan.
He revealed that he had known Xuanyuan Dapan's true intentions for Xuanyuan Qingfeng all along and that her returning to Mount Hui was essential for his plan to become a legitimate member of the Xuanyuan family, thus gaining the opportunity he sought. Xuanyuan Jingcheng, witnessing the deep corruption within his family, had originally planned to kill Xuanyuan Dapan five years later.
However, the Old Ancestor’s immediate actions and his third brother, Xuanyuan Jingxuan’s, blatant ambition to seize power and claim his sister-in-law, forced his hand. To protect his daughter's honor, Xuanyuan Jingcheng broke through to the Land Immortal cultivation level, revealing his long-hidden martial prowess. He then flew from Guniujiang, heading towards Mount Longhu, where he was detected by Li Chungang and Zhao Xituan, though Xu Fengnian and Jiang Ni remained unaware of his presence.
Xuanyuan Jingcheng appeared before Xu Fengnian, who, upon hearing Xuanyuan Jingcheng mention his mother Wu Su, became enraged and attacked with his Spring Thunder blade. Xuanyuan Jingcheng effortlessly parried the attack, showcasing his remarkable agility and strength. Xu Longxiang, present during the confrontation, sensed no ill will from Xuanyuan Jingcheng, confirming his benevolent intentions. Xu Fengnian ceased his attack, realizing he could not harm him.
Xuanyuan Jingcheng then explained that he had a portrait of Wu Su at home, painted by his wife. She had met Wu Su years ago, disguised as a man, and had fallen deeply in love, later painting her from memory, wishing to preserve the memory of the charismatic young swordsman. Xuanyuan Jingcheng’s true purpose was to seek the aid of North Liang.
He intended to kill Xuanyuan Dapan, knowing he might perish in the attempt, but he needed Xu Fengnian to protect his wife and daughter afterward. He proposed that if Xu Fengnian helped, his young daughter, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, could take control of Mount Hui, with the entire Xuanyuan family falling under North Liang’s influence to consolidate her position.
Xuanyuan Jingcheng rejected Zhao Xituan's offer of refuge at Mount Longhu, explaining that Longhu was too close to Mount Hui, and their intervention would leave the Xuanyuan family with no future, believing only North Liang's distant influence could truly save his family's honor. Having secured Xu Fengnian's agreement, Xuanyuan Jingcheng returned to Mount Hui, vowing to deal with Xuanyuan Jingxuan first.
Jiang Ni questioned Xu Fengnian’s plan, noting that if he ascended Mount Hui within an hour, it would publicly declare his intervention in the Xuanyuan family’s internal affairs. Xu Fengnian, seeing it as an opportune moment to control the Xuanyuan family and believing it was part of his long-standing plan for Mount Hui, decided to proceed, bringing his Fengzi Battalion with him. Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Jingxuan, who had long lusted after his sister-in-law, confronted her.
Xuanyuan Qingfeng intervened to protect her mother. Xuanyuan Jingxuan, emboldened by a pill from Xuanyuan Dapan that had elevated him to the Void Realm, easily overpowered Xuanyuan Qingfeng, threatening to break her limbs and send her to the Old Ancestor. Just then, Xuanyuan Jingcheng arrived. Ignoring Xuanyuan Jingxuan’s newly acquired Void Realm cultivation, which he dismissed as superficial and detrimental to martial arts development, Xuanyuan Jingcheng calmly approached as heavy rain began to fall.
Despite Xuanyuan Jingxuan being in the Void Realm, Xuanyuan Jingcheng effortlessly defeated and killed him, clearing a major obstacle for Xuanyuan Qingfeng to inherit Mount Hui. His wife and daughter were stunned by his hidden strength. Before leaving, Xuanyuan Jingcheng shared a flask of Danggui Wine and told his wife that he never regretted marrying her.
Concurrently, Xu Fengnian and his entourage reached the gates of Mount Hui, where they were met by Xuanyuan Jingyi and a large group of retainers who attempted to block their path, leading to a fierce skirmish. Xuanyuan Qingfeng, learning of Xu Fengnian’s arrival, approached him and resolved to lead him to Guniujiang's Great Snowfield (Daxelping), where she intended for him to witness her father kill Xuanyuan Dapan.
Xuanyuan Qingfeng’s mother, however, chose to remain behind, sitting alone in a pavilion, drinking the Danggui Wine Xuanyuan Jingcheng had left, and contemplating a poem he had inscribed on her wine cup.
