The Dauntless Youths Episode 12 Recap
> The Dauntless Youths Recap
Jiang Wenhuan instructed Xin Jia to meticulously search for evidence with a night candle. Xin Jia initially procrastinated, but Jiang Wenhuan motivated him by suggesting the immense gratitude and loyalty Chong Yibiao would show his savior. Xin Jia, inspired by the chance to gain Chong Yibiao as a devoted follower, then diligently continued his search, proclaiming Jiang Wenhuan a "good guy." To his surprise, he discovered a glowing bead under the bed.
Jiang Wenhuan commended Xin Jia, noting he was "quite something." Xin Jia, dreaming of making the "stubborn donkey" Chong Yibiao treat him to drinks and call him "brother" in front of beauties, pointed out the bead. Jiang Wenhuan then noticed a distinct mark on it, which Xin Jia identified as "the mark of Quanqin Alley." Meanwhile, A Si grew suspicious of her father, Mr. Li, observing his secretive behavior.
She overheard him discussing that the monthly accounts were ready and telling his steward to wait for him. A Si followed him to a familiar black market. Noting that the footprints in their backyard indicated a lame left foot, while their steward had injured his right foot, she felt something was amiss. She eventually discovered a hidden room, which she had never known about, and wondered if its contents were related to the murder case.
Inside, she found a box filled with books and various other items, realizing her father had been secretly preparing for her future, including financial assets and even a wedding trousseau. Deeply moved and filled with remorse, A Si resolved to protect her father from his predicament. Elsewhere, Mr. Li presented a contract to Ning Ziyu.
Stating he had already "taken down Chong Yiwu" as per the agreement with the "late marquis," Mr. Li pressed Ning Ziyu on what more he wanted. Ning Ziyu then burned the contract, presenting it as a gesture of "sincerity." However, he sternly reminded Mr. Li of "what happened 16 years ago" and threatened that if his current plan failed, both Mr. Li and A Si would be in danger.
Ning Ziyu revealed that Chong Yiwu's death was merely a "trigger" and that "the real show still needs Mr. Li to help me." The following day, Mr. Li gave A Si a beautiful piece of jewelry crafted from a night pearl. When A Si asked about the beads she had given him earlier, he confirmed he "naturally carried" them with him and advised her to choose jewelry for herself, hoping she would "find a good match."
Noticing A Si's reluctance towards marriage, Mr. Li revealed his awareness that she only didn't want to marry anyone but Jiang Wenhuan. He vehemently warned her against associating with the Jiang family or the East Wu Marquis's Mansion. Confused and frustrated, A Si demanded an explanation, questioning if Quanqin Alley had "done something wrong to the Duke's family" or if "something shady" was happening behind the scenes, especially since her father prevented her from getting "involved in the business."
Mr. Li angrily rebuked her for questioning him, forbidding her from seeing Jiang Wenhuan and from interfering with Quanqin Alley's affairs. Still, A Si voiced her deep concern for her father. Later, Jiang Wenhuan and E Shun, who had "looked everywhere for the lame man" but found nothing, discussed the lack of clues with A Si, suspecting that the person was "deliberately hidden." Jiang Wenhuan showed A Si the glowing bead found in Chong Yiwu's room.
A Si immediately identified it as belonging to the Li family but declared it a "crude imitation," lacking the "exquisite" craftsmanship of their genuine items. She concluded that someone had "imitated" their night pearl to "frame" the Li family for the murder, much like they had forged the "Sword of Valor." E Shun agreed with her reasoning. A Si, determined to clear her family's name, vowed to help them "find the truth."
Observing A Si's sharp insight, E Shun noted that something was amiss, and agreed with Jiang Wenhuan that they needed to visit the Li Mansion in person. They noticed the Li family's heavily guarded warehouse, confirming their suspicion that "something fishy" was going on. Jiang Wenhuan devised a plan to "blend in with the guards and act secretly" to investigate the warehouse. During their infiltration, an urgent letter arrived for Mr. Li, who then passed it to Ning Ziyu.
Ning Ziyu read that the Duke of Beibo had allied with Jiang Wenfeng. Enraged, Ning Ziyu declared that Jiang Wenhuan had "miscalculated" and swore to act faster. He ordered Mr. Li to proceed with the High Sacrifice, stating he would make "all of you accompany my father in death." Meanwhile, a servant offered poisoned wine to Chong Yibiao. Chong Yibiao, detecting the poison, confronted the servant, who promptly bit his tongue and died by suicide.
With Xin Jia present, Chong Yibiao remarked that Jiang Wenhuan was "like a prophet" for predicting this, and relayed Jiang Wenhuan's next instruction: "to assist at the ceremony." As Jiang Wenhuan and E Shun tried to return to the camp, they were intercepted by Ning Ziyu. Ning Ziyu, gloating, asked if Jiang Wenhuan was in a hurry to leave, then revealed himself as the mastermind.
He accused Jiang Wenhuan of underestimating him and declared he was no longer an "indecisive coward." Ning Ziyu vowed that Jiang Wenhuan and his cohorts, whom he labeled "murderers who killed my father," would "die by my hand, and be buried with my father." Jiang Wenhuan, in turn, called Ning Ziyu "both bad and stupid." Ning Ziyu then ordered Mr. Li to "kill them."
Just as the executioners moved in, A Si burst onto the scene, threatening to take her own life if they were not released. Ning Ziyu reminded Mr. Li of their agreement, warning that showing mercy would "destroy everything in the Alley." Jiang Wenhuan further cautioned Mr. Li that if he were to die in the Li family mansion, Jiang Wenfeng would launch a thorough investigation, ensuring Mr. Li and Quanqin Alley would not escape accountability.
Enraged, Mr. Li silenced Jiang Wenhuan, asserting he never intended to kill him in his mansion, and ordered his guards to "take them away." Later, Ning Ziyu met with an envoy from Division K. The envoy questioned if Ning Ziyu truly believed Mr. Li would "take such drastic measures." Ning Ziyu boasted he "saw the person being burned" and challenged the envoy, asking if he doubted his competence.
He accused the envoy, and by extension, the "people from Division K," of looking down on him, much like Jiang Wenhuan did. Ning Ziyu asserted that they were not "on the same boat" but merely "both have our own goals": the envoy sought "the elixir," while he sought only revenge for his father. He warned that if he failed to avenge his father, the envoy "won't get that elixir either."
The envoy silently concluded that "the Ning family has no future." Jiang Wenfeng and Gongsun Wuyu prepared to attend the High Sacrifice. Jiang Wenfeng inquired about Jiang Wenhuan's whereabouts, and his subordinate confirmed orders were issued to report immediately if he was seen, with precautions taken at the camp. Gongsun Wuyu urged Jiang Wenfeng to depart, emphasizing that Chong Yiwu's incident had caused public unrest and the ceremony "must not go wrong again."
At the High Sacrifice, the attendees, including Jiang Wenfeng and Gongsun Wuyu, drank wine laced with a drug. Mr. Li, addressing Ning Ziyu, questioned why he didn't simply poison them to death. Ning Ziyu explained his cruel intention: the drug would only temporarily incapacitate them, allowing them to awaken and "watch the people they care about die in the fire before themselves." As the ceremony erupted into chaos, Jiang Wenhuan and A Si arrived to rescue the fallen attendees.
Ning Ziyu, furious at Jiang Wenhuan's unexpected survival, questioned how he was "still alive." Jiang Wenhuan revealed A Si's help in his escape. As the rescue unfolded, Ning Ziyu, in a fit of rage, triggered a cave mechanism, intending to "die with you all." The cave began to collapse around them. A Si desperately warned her father that "the statue is about to fall," and he urged her to "be careful."
Mr. Li then intercepted Ning Ziyu, pulling him back from A Si, declaring that she was his "only daughter" and he "won't let anything happen to her." He urged Jiang Wenhuan to evacuate everyone else. Mr. Li confronted Ning Ziyu, stating he had "repaid the favor" he owed to the Duke of Ning and would not permit him to harm A Si. Ning Ziyu accused him of breaking his word.
Amidst the collapsing cave, Mr. Li's leg was struck by falling debris. A Si refused to leave him, trying to pull him out with a whip. Realizing his end was near, Mr. Li told A Si to "live on" no matter what and implored Jiang Wenhuan to "take care of her." With his final breath, Mr. Li sacrificed himself, telling Jiang Wenhuan, "You must let her live well," as he was crushed by falling rocks. A Si, heartbroken, desperately cried out for him, but it was too late.
