Sword Snow Stride Episode 9 Recap
> Sword Snow Stride Recap
Zhao Xituan arrived on Wudang Mountain, revealing that he had been sent by Jian Jiuhuang. He explained that Jian Jiuhuang, aware of Xu Fengnian's predicament regarding his brother, had visited Mount Longhu after leaving North Liang. Zhao Xituan noted that Xu Longxiang had become a highly sought-after figure, and claimed that only Mount Longhu could ensure his safety.
He justified this by revealing that his sect's inherited Heart Arts required a disciple of extraordinary talent like Xu Longxiang, and that Jian Jiuhuang had chosen him specifically because he genuinely wished to take on a disciple. To disclose a confidential matter concerning the royal family, Zhao Xituan insisted on speaking with Xu Fengnian alone.
As Old Kui and Jiang Ni stepped outside, Old Kui advised Jiang Ni to cherish her time with Xu Fengnian, warning that time easily separates people, leading to regret. Jiang Ni somberly replied that their fate was already sealed—a destiny of "life and death" that would entangle them. Once they were alone, Zhao Xituan explained the source of Mount Longhu's influence: it harbored a hidden member of the royal family, an ancestor of the Liyang Emperor.
This ancestor sought the pinnacle of martial arts but was blocked by Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City. Unwilling to test Wang Xianzhi himself, he struck a deal with Jian Jiuhuang: in exchange for Mount Longhu protecting Xu Longxiang, Jian Jiuhuang would challenge Wang Xianzhi, allowing the royal ancestor to gauge his true power.
Zhao Xituan assured Xu Fengnian that with the ancestor's word and his own commitment as a master, Xu Longxiang would be safe, adding that Jian Jiuhuang believed this arrangement would create a "third way" for Xu Fengnian out of his dilemma. Despite the compelling arrangement, Xu Fengnian initially refused, insisting on taking his brother home. However, Xu Longxiang entered and declared his willingness to go to Mount Longhu to help his brother. Seeing his resolve, Xu Fengnian reluctantly agreed.
Before their departure, he sternly warned Zhao Xituan not to mistreat Xu Longxiang and took his brother's hair ornament as a keepsake. In turn, Zhao Xituan asked Xu Fengnian to relay a challenge to Wang Chonglou, Wudang's Chief, stating that Mount Longhu wished to "spar and see the brilliance of Dahuangting." As Zhao Xituan's party prepared to leave, a grim message arrived: Jian Jiuhuang had died in battle at Wudi City.
The letter detailed his final day, from his last meal at a tavern to the duel itself. Jian Jiuhuang fought with five swords and eight moves, but Wang Xianzhi parried with only a single hand. After 68 exchanges, Jian Jiuhuang unleashed his ultimate technique, described as "the Milky Way flowing down." This move finally forced Wang Xianzhi to use both hands and tore his sleeve.
After another 49 exchanges, Jian Jiuhuang, exhausted, faced North Liang and died, leaving his sword box on the city wall. Wang Xianzhi himself admitted he would have been at a disadvantage if Jian Jiuhuang hadn't been weary. Before the end, Jian Jiuhuang named his final move "The Six Thousand Li," which Wang Xianzhi praised as the greatest swordplay in the world. Devastated, Xu Fengnian kept the letter.
For days, he reread it, weeping as he recalled his three years with Old Huang. He lamented that the letter immortalized "Jian Jiuhuang" the legend, but not "Old Huang" his friend, wishing he had returned defeated rather than died a hero. Witnessing his grief, Jiang Ni understood the depth of his bond with Old Huang. Fueled by grief, Xu Fengnian resolved to learn martial arts to reclaim the sword box from Wudi City.
He convinced a skeptical Old Kui to teach him, declaring that no matter how many years it took, the sword box could not remain on that wall. His training began with holding his blade outstretched with a stone on it for an hour, followed by a daily regimen of 4,000 repetitions of four basic moves: thrust, slice, split, and sweep.
Old Kui warned him of the immense challenge, noting that Wang Xianzhi had once shattered the famous sword Mumaniu of Sword God Li Chungang with just two fingers. Meanwhile, Zhao Xituan's message reached Wang Chonglou, who recognized it as a political threat. He lamented that by mastering Dahuangting, he had made Wudang a target for the powerful Mount Longhu, placing his sect in an impossible position where they could neither win nor lose.
As Xu Fengnian trained, Old Kui noted his natural talent for bladeplay but warned that without internal power, a skill that takes decades to cultivate, he would be a "second-tier master at best." Unwilling to use the North Liang army against Wang Xianzhi, Xu Fengnian attempted to cultivate inner power by trying to sever a waterfall with his blade, only injuring his hand.
Hong Xixiang observed this and demonstrated how his own self-devised "fist arts," created from studying Taoist scriptures, could part the water without injury. He suggested that Xu Fengnian could apply these universal principles to his blade training and study Wudang's basic sword manual for inspiration. That night, Xu Fengnian confessed to Jiang Ni his regret for not learning martial arts when Old Huang had urged him to, realizing his wit was useless in life-or-death situations.
He now trained not only to retrieve the sword box but also to protect himself so no one else would have to sacrifice themselves for him. He asked Jiang Ni to promise to flee if he ever faced mortal danger. She retorted that if he were dying, she would stab him with a Divine Talisman first, ensuring he died by her hand.
