The Blood of Youth Episode 40 (Ending) Recap, Plot

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Snow fell heavily, corpses littered the streets. Xiao Chong stood on the long street with sword in hand, under a blood-red moon, finally returning to peace and settling the dust. In the palace bedchamber, Hua Jin stayed by Ming Dedi’s side, caring for him meticulously until he awoke. Though pale, his eyes still radiated regal authority. Now that the turmoil in Tianqi City had subsided, the ghost doctor Night Crow was brought to justice, and Lord Chi’s residence was sealed.

After healing Yue Ji, Wu Xin sent her to Hanshui Temple to reunite with Ming Hou. It was time for him to say farewell and return to the Tianwaitian Sect. Before leaving, Wu Xin asked Xiao Se if he had made up his mind about becoming emperor. He reminded him that if he was uncertain, he should try sitting on the throne—the feeling in that moment would give him the answer.

After Wu Xin left, Luo Qingyang also departed Tianqi with Declared Consort. Xiao Se entered the palace to meet with Ming Dedi, who sat in the high seat, eyes sharp and energetic—perhaps a final burst of life. Ming Dedi lifted the ban on Jin Xuan and asked Xiao Se to spare him. As for Hua Jin’s life-saving act, he rewarded her with ten thousand taels of gold and two houses in the Tianqi Pharmacy Bureau.

Mu Chunfeng, for his service, was granted a snow pine longship named Spring Breeze. Ming Dedi understood clearly that Mu Chunfeng’s father was highly ambitious. Allowing Mu Chunfeng to assist Xiao Se in Tianqi was because he believed Xiao Se would one day become emperor. Compared to the throne Ming Dedi had seized, Xiao Se was chosen by fate. Thus, he left behind two imperial scrolls, one each for Xiao Se and Jin Xuan.

Xiao Se unrolled the dragon-seal scroll in public and was stunned to see Xiao Chong’s name written on it. Ming Dedi dismissed everyone and spoke with Xiao Se as a father would with a son, reminiscing about the past—those fleeting warm moments were deeply treasured by Xiao Se. Ming Dedi wished to arrange a marriage for him, thinking first of Ye Xiaoying’s daughter, Ye Ruoyi.

But Xiao Se said he already had someone he loved—Sikong Qianluo, daughter of the Vermilion Bird Envoy. Though Ming Dedi considered Sikong Qianluo a fine girl, he still harbored unease about people of the martial world. He thought of Declared Consort and felt guilty toward Lord Langya. In that instant, Ming Dedi seemed to age a decade. As he slowly spoke Lord Langya’s name, Xiao Se froze where he stood, and the scroll slipped from his hand.

In the winter of the 23rd year of Ming Dedi’s reign, he passed away in his sleep at the age of 57. That same day, the Langya Army was defeated at the border, losing nineteen cities in succession—urgent alarms sounded across 900 li. For days, snow fell without pause. Against Lord Bai’s objections, Xiao Se insisted on leading a large army to the front to support the Langya Army.

Just after Xiao Se left, Jin Xuan suddenly arrived at Lord Bai’s residence and presented the dragon-seal scroll, urging Xiao Chong to seize the opportunity while Xiao Se was away from Tianqi to ascend the throne. He warned that when Xiao Se returned, he would have military achievements and might claim the throne himself. Xiao Chong rejected Jin Xuan’s proposal.

With a single order, Jin Yan, Xie Xuan, the Sword Immortal of Wrath, and Wushuang entered, and Jin Xuan—whose schemes were endless—ultimately suffered the consequences. That night, Xiao Chong sat alone in the study and opened the scroll, staring at the name on it until dawn. Soon, Xiao Se returned triumphant with his army, greeted with grandeur by all civil and military officials—no less than the welcome once given to Lord Langya.

Xiao Chong knew well that Xiao Se’s triumphant return meant a new emperor was about to ascend the throne. He and Xiao Yueli had been waiting in the main hall for a long time. The officials assumed Xiao Se would naturally be the new emperor and bowed in unison. Yet Xiao Se did not allow them to rise, declaring that he had one final announcement.

After sitting on the throne and contemplating briefly, he handed the dragon-seal scroll to Xiao Yueli to read aloud, declaring that Ming Dedi’s final decree passed the throne to Lord Bai, Xiao Chong. The ministers were shocked—even Xiao Chong found it hard to believe. Xiao Se gave him a slight bow and walked away without hesitation, showing no attachment to the throne. When Xiao Yueli heard the ministers praising Xiao Se, he scoffed that they had too little vision.

Xiao Se decided to continue roaming the martial world with Lei Wujie, Ye Ruoyi, and Sikong Qianluo. Xie Xuan, Ji Xue, Li Fansong, and others came to see them off. Master Tu was overjoyed to receive Prince Yong’an’s residence. Though the residence was grand, in Xiao Se’s heart, it couldn’t compare to Snowfall Villa at the frontier. As Xiao Se bid farewell, the Sword Immortal of Wrath arrived on behalf of Xiao Chong to deliver a dragon-seal scroll.

It turned out the scroll Ming Dedi gave Xiao Se had Xiao Chong’s name, while the one entrusted to Jin Xuan bore Xiao Se’s. This was to prevent the two sons from repeating old mistakes—for only one who can let go of the throne is a true ruler. Xiao Se laughed, saying his father was cunning indeed. Then he destroyed the scroll and rode away with Lei Wujie and the others. The four of them gallantly rode off on horseback.

In the 23rd year of Ming Dedi’s reign, after three months without an emperor, Xiao Chong, second son of the late emperor, ascended the throne. He named the new era Chonghe. In the first year of Chonghe, spring bloomed once again.

Episode 39 Recap

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