Sword Snow Stride Episode 34 Recap
> Sword Snow Stride Recap
Upon arriving at Shangyin Academy, Xu Fengnian and Li Chungang disembarked from their boat, finding Xu Weixiong already waiting for them at the river mouth. As they walked, Xu Fengnian reminded Li Chungang not to refer to Xu Weixiong as "Second Sister" in her presence, nor to mention Jiang Ni's name. Xu Weixiong greeted Li Chungang, then immediately drew her Hongchi Sword, offering it as a gift but clearly using it to test him.
Li Chungang, after a polite exchange, disarmed her with a single move, causing her to sheath her sword. He then confronted Xu Weixiong, expressing his displeasure over her previous actions towards Jiang Ni. Li Chungang intended to seek an apology for Jiang Ni, but Xu Weixiong remained composed.
She explained that her intent in "troubling" Jiang Ni was merely to make her appreciate her future husband, viewing it as a mother's guidance for a daughter-in-law of the Xu family since their mother had passed away early. This unexpected explanation left Xu Fengnian speechless, while Li Chungang, surprisingly, praised Xu Weixiong for her interesting and understanding demeanor, deciding to halt their confrontation.
Immediately after, Xu Weixiong asked Xu Fengnian to accompany her back to her residence for a private discussion. Before they left, Li Chungang borrowed a Divine Token from Xu Fengnian, which he later used to discreetly track them. On their way back to the academy, the siblings encountered Zhao Kai. He audaciously introduced himself as Xu Weixiong's "brother-in-law," provoking Xu Weixiong to draw her sword. Although Zhao Kai managed to escape, his bold behavior piqued Xu Fengnian's interest.
Zhao Kai, after making his exit, deliberately avoided the crowds and instructed Yuan Tingshan to keep an eye on Xu Fengnian. He asked Yuan Tingshan to try and overhear their conversation but not to force it if he couldn't. Later, after everyone had dispersed, Shu Xiu approached Li Chungang and revealed information about the inheritance of Feng City Lyupao.
Li Chungang, usually unflappable, suddenly waved his hand, conjuring water into a sword and pointing it directly at Shu Xiu, demanding to know who sent her. Soon after, Zhao Kai appeared before Li Chungang. Zhao Kai revealed that he had extensively researched Li Chungang's past since learning that the Sword God was accompanying Xu Fengnian on his eastern journey. He spoke of the widespread belief that Li Chungang himself had killed Feng City Lyupao, one of the Four Grandmasters.
However, Zhao Kai deduced that Li Chungang had not intended to kill her, suggesting this tragic event was the true reason for his long seclusion from the martial world. Zhao Kai then proposed a deal: regardless of what Xu Xiao had promised Li Chungang, he would strive to fulfill Li Chungang's deepest desires.
He offered to provide information about Feng City Lyupao's sect and the whereabouts of her remaining descendants, which he had gone to great lengths to uncover, in exchange for Li Chungang remaining neutral when Xu Fengnian reached Wudi City, allowing Zhao Kai a chance to kill him. After a moment of hesitation, Li Chungang accepted the secret letter offered by Zhao Kai.
Xu Fengnian arrived at Xu Weixiong's living quarters, unaware that Li Chungang was tracking them using the Divine Token. Inside the room, Xu Fengnian observed its simple and austere decor, devoid of flowers, calligraphy, paintings, or even the musical instruments Xu Weixiong was known to master. Xu Weixiong urged Xu Fengnian to return to North Liang, stating her intention to go to Wudi City herself to retrieve Old Huang's sword box from Wang Xianzhi.
She explained that rumors were circulating that Li Chungang's return to Wudi City was to settle his past grudge with Wang Xianzhi over his broken sword. Xu Weixiong also mentioned that Deng Tai'e, the Sword God Peach Blossom, was already en route to Wudi City. His epithet "Peach Blossom" came from his ability to conquer opponents with merely a peach branch, disdaining the use of a conventional sword, a testament to his unfathomable martial prowess.
She noted that Wang Xianzhi, Cao Changqing, and Deng Tai'e were generally considered the three strongest martial artists in the world, but with Li Chungang's return to the Immortal-on-Earth realm, the number of supreme masters had grown. Xu Fengnian unequivocally declared his support for Li Chungang. Xu Weixiong further explained that there were rumors that the former master of Mount Longhu, Qi Xuanzhen, had ascended to Heaven's Gate.
She believed that if Li Chungang and Wang Xianzhi fought with all their might, they might open Heaven's Gate, providing an opportunity for ascension. This, she surmised, was Deng Tai'e's purpose in traveling to Wudi City. She warned Xu Fengnian that even Li Chungang might not be able to protect him in such a mêlée, given that Xu Fengnian's current skills would make him appear as insignificant as an ant before such grandmasters.
Additionally, Xu Weixiong informed Xu Fengnian that Jiang Ni and Cao Changqing had returned to West Chu, signaling that the revival of West Chu would inevitably lead to great turmoil. Meanwhile, in the capital, Zhang Julu sought an audience with the Emperor and unexpectedly encountered Yang Taisui, a Grand Master for Splendid Happiness.
Through Yang Taisui, Zhang Julu learned that Gu Jiantang was allegedly ill with a cold, but Zhang Julu saw through this as an excuse to avoid being dispatched to quell the rebellion in Shu. Zhang Julu, his mind clear, was angered by Gu Jiantang's self-preservation during a national crisis. Fortunately, he believed there was one more capable individual: the War Immortal in White, Chen Zhibao.
At the Yinma River in North Liang, Chen Zhibao received a letter from Prime Minister Zhang Julu. The letter urged him to volunteer to suppress the rebellion in Shu, promising that Zhang Julu would recommend him in court to become the second non-royal lord of the current dynasty, thus freeing him from the influence of the Lord of North Liang. After reading the letter, Chen Zhibao destroyed it, his own plans remaining inscrutable.
Even upon hearing that Xu Xiao had arrived at the military camp, Chen Zhibao remained unfazed, continuing to observe the overall situation from a high tower. Zhang Julu discussed his strategy with Yang Taisui, asserting that securing the loyalty of such a renowned general as Chen Zhibao would inevitably lead to the disintegration of North Liang.
Yang Taisui expressed the Emperor's concern that as long as Xu Xiao remained alive, Chen Zhibao might not dare to accept such an imperial decree. This conversation led Zhang Julu to consider Han Diaosi as a potentially useful figure in his schemes. Elsewhere, Xu Fengnian attentively brought a basin of water and began washing Xu Weixiong's hair. This act of service, however, masked his own strategic calculations.
Xu Weixiong, astute as ever, saw through his pretense, realizing he had new plans which he had not even disclosed to their father, Xu Xiao. After a brief period of catching up, Xu Weixiong accompanied Xu Fengnian to the river mouth. Suddenly, Zhao Xuansu emerged from a boat, rushing towards Xu Weixiong and loudly exclaiming "Second Sister." Xu Weixiong was disgusted by this unexpected "brother," especially learning that his origins were unknown. She promptly kicked him into the river.
As Xu Fengnian prepared to depart, he gifted Xu Weixiong a female Hukui named Bodhisattva, saying it would keep her from feeling lonely in the academy, completely ignoring Zhao Xuansu's loud cries for help from the river. Later, Shu Xiu came to Zhao Xuansu's rescue and showed him considerable care. As Xu Fengnian's ship sailed away, Zhao Kai felt a great weight lift from his mind. He interpreted Li Chungang's acceptance of the secret letter as consent to their agreement.
He believed the ideal moment to strike would be when Xu Fengnian went to Wudi City to retrieve the sword box. Zhao Kai's plan was to wait for Li Chungang and Wang Xianzhi to clash, and for the Twelve Martial Slaves of Wudi City—elite fighters who had lost to Wang Xianzhi and now guarded the city—to engage Xu Fengnian as he tried to claim the sword box from atop the city walls.
This would distract Xu Fengnian's personal guards, creating the perfect window for an attack. Zhao Kai also mused whether Xu Fengnian's attempt to retrieve the sword box was merely a pretense, but ultimately concluded that Xu Fengnian, being a schemer who defied fate just like himself, would indeed dare to provoke Wang Xianzhi. At the same time, Han Diaosi was seen traveling alone by boat, preparing to rendezvous with Zhao Kai.
