Swords of Legends Episode 22 Recap
> Swords of Legends Recap
Lingyue brings Tusu to Iron Pillar Temple for a temporary stay to suppress his demonic energy, or malice energy. The Master Abbot assigns Ling Duan the task of bringing Tusu back to Tianyong City, entrusting him with the Thousand-Year Faint Light Sword, though Lingyue intends for Tusu to return only after he has recovered. Lingyue consults the Abbot of Iron Pillar Temple, who initially suggests suppressing Tusu using the same method that had been used to contain the wolf demon.
Lingyue rejects this, unwilling for Tusu to be treated like a demon. The Abbot then proposes that when Tusu's malice energy acts up, they bring him to the temple's ancestral talisman seal, or demon-suppressing array, to help control it, to which Lingyue agrees. Since his time in Peach Blossom Valley, Tusu's malice energy has worsened significantly, becoming increasingly difficult for him to control. Lingyue expresses his concern and advises Tusu to calm his mind.
Tusu, fearing his escalating malice energy might harm Qingxue and unwilling to implicate her, insists that she return to Youdu. Lingyue, however, anticipates Qingxue will likely follow Tusu to the Iron Pillar Temple and promises to protect her from harm. Qingxue does arrive, disguising herself as a young waiter to bypass the guards and deliver food to Tusu. She seizes the opportunity to urge him to leave, but Tusu steadfastly refuses, still fearing his malice energy will endanger her.
Meanwhile, Ling Duan and his group arrive at Iron Pillar Temple, where they learn of Tusu's presence and the Abbot's plan to help suppress his malice energy. Ling Duan, intent on preventing Tusu from returning alive to Tianyong City and seeking personal revenge, instructs his group to monitor Tusu while he devises a way to remove a seal. Ling Duan questions Qingxue, who is still disguised as a waiter, after discovering someone delivered food to Tusu.
Qingxue manages to escape, and although Ling Duan pursues her, he eventually loses her in a small forest and returns with his group. Hidden nearby, Qingxue encounters Xiang Ling, who had also followed, and they both deduce that Ling Duan intends to harm Tusu. On the night of the full moon, Tusu's malice energy erupts. Ling Duan, seizing the moment, unlocks a seal, presumably one Lingyue had placed or related to Tusu's confinement, and rushes in with his people.
Qingxue and Xiang Ling appear, and Xiang Ling uses the Sword of Burning Solitude to hold Ling Duan hostage, allowing Qingxue to take Tusu away. With nowhere else to go, Qingxue's group, with Tusu and their hostage Ling Duan, accidentally enters the cave where the thousand-year wolf demon is sealed. While Qingxue helps Tusu suppress his malice energy, Ling Duan, exploiting Xiang Ling's momentary inattentiveness, injures her and breaks free from captivity.
Qingxue steps forward to aid Xiang Ling but proves to be no match for Ling Duan. Tusu, seeing Qingxue being bullied, confronts Ling Duan. Their struggle causes lamps to ignite, breaking the wolf demon's seal and causing an open flame in its forbidden area. A wolf howl reverberates as the ancient wolf demon prepares to break free.
The Abbot and his people rush in, lamenting and recounting the old Abbot's arduous history of suppressing the wolf demon and its potential danger to the human world. Lingyue steps forward to resolve Ling Duan's mess, offering to confront the wolf demon himself and asking the Abbot to re-fortify the seal, as he cannot allow the wolf demon to harm the human world.
The Abbot tries to dissuade Lingyue, insisting he is no match for the beast and urging him not to sacrifice himself. Tusu expresses his desire to go, but Lingyue advises him to stay, then dives underwater alone to challenge the wolf demon. The wolf demon ambushes Lingyue, striking him so hard that he spits blood. Tusu, clutching the Sword of Burning Solitude and disregarding the warnings from Qingxue and Xiang Ling, rushes to help Lingyue, with Qingxue following close behind.
Underwater, Tusu positions himself in front of the injured Lingyue, intending to activate the malice energy within him to fight the wolf demon. Qingxue helps the wounded Lingyue and advises Tusu to retreat to shore, but Tusu defiantly insists that Qingxue and the others leave first. Seeing Tusu's refusal, Qingxue takes the injured Lingyue ashore. On shore, the Abbot, witnessing the dire situation, urges everyone to evacuate. However, Qingxue, Xiang Ling, and Lingyue refuse to leave, vowing to defend Tusu.
The Abbot instructs his disciples to prepare for evacuation while he remains with them. Ling Duan, fearful for his life, flees with the temple disciples. Tusu and the wolf demon engage in a desperate and fierce struggle, which results in mutual heavy injury. The wolf demon then transforms into human form and attempts to corrupt Tusu, claiming he is a demon and continuously inciting the resentment within him.
Although Tusu wavers for a moment, his good thoughts and his attachments to those around him save him at this critical juncture, preventing him from being fully controlled by the malice energy. He overcomes his inner demons and points his sword at the wolf demon, causing malice energy to surge and gravely wound the beast.
Before its death, the wolf demon transfers its inner core into Tusu's body, which causes Tusu's malice energy to greatly increase and become even more uncontrollable, making it difficult for him to deny his demonic nature. The wolf demon then perishes completely, body and spirit. While those on shore anxiously worry about Tusu, he surfaces, now controlled by the heightened malice energy. He flies ashore, raising his sword as if to strike everyone. At this perilous moment, Qingxue rushes forward without hesitation, tightly embraces Tusu, and manages to prevent him from going berserk. Tusu eventually calms down and collapses, fainting together with Qingxue.
