The Dauntless Youths Episode 21 Recap
> The Dauntless Youths Recap
Zhong Liyuan hosted a grand banquet for Gongsun Wuyu and the various princes. During the feast, Zhong Liyuan raised his cup, toasting everyone and expressing his gratitude to Lord Gongsun and the Princes Guard for their assistance in quelling the rebellion, eliminating the villains, and restoring order in Zhongli. Gongsun Wuyu, however, humbly replied that the Taurus Army and the Princes Guard had no intention of interfering in Zhongli's internal politics.
He added that the former Grand Tutor, who had usurped the throne, was executed by Zhong Liyuan himself, and thus, they had not directly assisted. Zhong Liyuan acknowledged this, assuring them he would explain the situation to His Majesty to ensure they would not be implicated. Jiang Wenhuan then spoke up, stating that the Prince's Camp was under His Majesty's orders to seek the elixir of immortality.
Now that the immediate threat was gone, they would continue their mission and hoped Zhong Liyuan would assist them. Zhong Liyuan promised Jiang Wenhuan he had already dispatched men to the Treasurership to scour ancient texts for any mention of the elixir, assuring them he would inform them immediately if anything was found.
Jiang Wenhuan then made another request, hoping Zhong Liyuan would clear the names of the Kun Army and the You Su clan, who had suffered under Xian Xuanji, including the surviving You Holy Maiden. Zhong Liyuan, feigning forgetfulness, quickly ordered an official to read an edict.
The edict proclaimed the Kun and Su clans' loyalty to the nation, lifted the ban on Su Village, posthumously honored General Kunze as the Loyal General, and conferred the title of brave and virtuous lady upon the late Holy Maiden Su Ying. The You Holy Maiden, Su Qingqing, stepped forward, expressing gratitude for the Monarch's benevolence and bravely requesting to personally deliver the good news to her people in Su Village.
Zhong Liyuan readily agreed, stating it was only proper for her, as the Holy Maiden, to do so. Later, Kunwu, along with his sister Su Qingqing and General Lin, visited their parents' cenotaph. Kunwu lamented that their parents' bodies were never recovered, hoping the cenotaph would bring peace to their souls. Addressing his parents, he vowed that he had not let them down and that their revenge had been exacted.
He expressed regret for not yet being able to reveal his true identity, but promised that one day, he, Kunwu, would revive the Kun family as their true descendant, ensuring the spirit of the Kun Army lived on. Su Qingqing, overjoyed, told Kunwu that everything was arranged for her return to Su Village, with the Monarch providing a squad to escort her.
She excitedly anticipated sharing the news of the village's unsealing with her family and seeing her beloved Grandma Su, wondering if she was still alive and if their childhood flower sea remained. Kunwu appeared solemn, regretting that he couldn't accompany her, but Su Qingqing understood, explaining that his presence would only invite suspicion as he couldn't yet reveal his true identity.
She reassured him that thanks to him and the Princes Guard, the village was unsealed, and there would be ample opportunities for them to visit together in the future. After their farewell, Jiang Wenhuan approached them, confirming they had finished their respects. He then "borrowed" Kunwu, insisting it was time to relax after all the hard work. Jiang Wenhuan led Kunwu to the Kun family's old residence.
Upon seeing the familiar courtyard, Kunwu was transported back to his childhood, recalling his father coaching him on the "Copper Wall Formation" technique and his mother affectionately bringing him water and snacks during his training. Tears welled up as he whispered, "Father, Mother, I'm finally back." Jiang Wenhuan comforted him, acknowledging Kunwu's long-held desire to revisit his home but his inability to do so due to his hidden identity.
He assured Kunwu that with him present, he could safely relax and look around. Jiang Wenhuan then solemnly poured wine as an offering to Kunwu's parents. He spoke to their spirits, commending their son as Zhongli's bravest warrior, who had not only cleared their name but also repeatedly saved Jiang Wenhuan's life. He lightheartedly mused that if they were alive, they might scold Kunwu for befriending a Donglu heir.
Kunwu quickly interjected, asserting that their brotherhood transcended status and that his parents would not be so unreasonable. Jiang Wenhuan raised his cup, thanking them for raising such a fine son and allowing him to find a true confidant. Kunwu, deeply moved, told his parents that with a devoted friend like Jiang Wenhuan by his side, he no longer felt alone. Jiang Wenhuan, however, cut him off, questioning, "Just a friend?"
He argued that after enduring so much together, they should be considered sworn brothers. Jiang Wenhuan, seizing the moment, proposed they become sworn brothers immediately. Kunwu reminded him that they had already sworn brotherhood in Donglu, but Jiang Wenhuan playfully retorted that it was with E Shun, not him.
Thus, at the Kun family's ancestral home, Jiang Wenhuan, son of the Donglu Jiang family, and Kunwu, descendant of the Zhongli Kun family, formally swore their brotherhood, vowing to support each other through life and death, assist in times of danger, and share both fortune and misfortune, with heaven and earth as their witnesses and mountains and rivers as their oath, to uphold their bond for life.
Jiang Wenhuan then mischievously asked Kunwu his age, before quickly declaring himself older and instructing Kunwu to call him "Brother." Jiang Wenhuan then spoke of their future, envisioning a life of world travel after they found the elixir and left Zhongli. He dreamed of visiting Chong's grasslands to gaze at the stars and exploring Xin Jia's territory to witness the beauties Xin Jia often spoke of.
Meanwhile, Gu Xi, alone, accessed a secret chamber, still perplexed by the ominous divination from the black water pool. She mused that the ancient chamber shouldn't hide any anomalies. While searching, she overheard Zhong Liyuan's voice instructing someone that Su Qingqing had already entered Qinglun Mountain, giving the order to "make your move." The recipient affirmed the command. The following day, as soldiers escorted Su Qingqing back to her village, their path became engulfed in a thick, sudden miasma.
The soldiers quickly succumbed, fainting one by one. Su Qingqing herself was quietly carried away by a mysterious figure clad in black, vanishing into the dense fog. That evening, Gu Xi arrived at the Princes Guard camp, her expression grave. Jiang Wenhuan questioned her presence, accusing her of trying to deceive them again. Gu Xi confessed that she was the one who provided the palace map, not an enemy, and pleaded with him to trust her on this crucial matter.
She then starkly warned him that Su Qingqing was in grave danger. The next day, Gu Xi, Jiang Wenhuan, E Shun, Xin Jia, and Chong arrived at Su Village, where soldiers stood guard. When challenged, Gu Xi presented the Monarch's decree, demanding entry. She questioned why they hadn't investigated Su Qingqing's failure to return after delivering the edict.
The soldier explained they were under strict orders not to enter Su Village, citing fears of the You clan's illusion abilities leading them to release "criminals." Jiang Wenhuan corrected him, emphasizing that the You clan were no longer criminals, and inquired if any villagers had ever tried to leave. The soldier recounted that six or seven years prior, some villagers had attempted to escape, but they were mute, only able to pound on the gate.
The guards, in the line of duty, had shot them, and upon inspecting the bodies, discovered their tongues had been cut out, a detail Jiang Wenhuan found deeply disturbing. Kunwu remarked that someone clearly intended to silence the Su villagers. He then ordered the soldiers to prepare to enter the village with them. Inside, the village appeared desolate and abandoned. Kunwu, shocked, asked where the You Su people were, and the soldier admitted ignorance, offering to lead a search.
Kunwu quickly organized the search party. As they looked around, Kunwu noticed numerous drums hanging from trees, recalling his mother's vague explanation that they were for ancestral worship. Shortly after, a soldier reported discovering women's bodies. Gu Xi immediately went to investigate and was informed that the deceased were indeed from Su Village, all killed by a single stab. Gruesomely, their scalps had been peeled off, and their tongues removed.
Kunwu and Xin Jia remarked on the chilling similarity of the scalping to a corpse they had found earlier. Gu Xi pointed out the chilling detail that while the scalping was a recent injury, the tongue removal was an old, healed wound, indicating a prolonged period of torment. Suddenly, a terrified old woman stumbled out of the woods, screaming, "Don't catch me! Demons who peel skin and eat flesh!"
She frantically gestured towards the forest, claiming it was full of such creatures, all while clutching a drum and reciting fragments of a cryptic song about "beautiful women, a mournful journey to Qinglun, offering skin for ritual, and beating drums." One of the men remarked that she seemed mad. Gu Xi, however, took the drum from her, sternly telling her to stop pretending, as she was not crazy.
Once exposed, Gu Xi pressed her on where she learned the ancient song, implying that those who knew it should be long dead. The old woman, undeterred, simply replied she had her ways, then turned to Kunwu, asking his name. E Shun quickly interjected, stating Kunwu was the noble heir of the South Boh Marquisate and would not reveal his name so casually. Upon hearing "South Boh," the old woman was startled, remarking on Kunwu's striking resemblance to "that person."
E Shun aggressively demanded her identity and whether she was involved in the murders. The old woman defiantly declared that the victims were all her kin, implying her deep connection to the tragedy. Kunwu then asked what exactly had transpired in the village. The old woman identified herself as Su Zhen, a resident of Su Village. Kunwu asked for the whereabouts of the You Su clan. Su Zhen, with profound sadness, declared that they were all dead.
She explained that years ago, after the fall of the Kun family, the entire You Su clan was confined to the village. Shortly thereafter, foreign invaders arrived, systematically slaughtering all the men. They then cut out the women's tongues, forcing them to focus solely on raising young girls. Once these girls reached the age of sixteen, they were taken to the mountains and never returned. Just that day, the last group of young girls had been taken to Qinglun Mountain.
Kunwu anxiously inquired if Su Zhen had seen a young lady, Su Qingqing, explaining she was the Monarch's envoy sent to clear the Su family's name but had not returned. Upon hearing "Monarch," Su Zhen's demeanor changed; she cursed Zhong Liyuan, calling him a "hypocritical beast." A soldier immediately threatened her with death for insulting the Monarch, but Jiang Wenhuan quickly intervened.
Su Zhen then offered to guide them, stating that if the young lady had disappeared from Su Village, she would undoubtedly be found in the Yin-Yang Cave behind Qinglun Mountain. Meanwhile, Su Qingqing slowly regained consciousness, finding herself amidst a group of other young girls. She then noticed a peculiar red glow and, drawn by it, walked towards it. There, she discovered a bizarre formation, chillingly adorned with dripping scalps. Su Zhen began leading the group towards Qinglun Mountain.
As they traversed a reed bed, Kunwu inquired how much further, and Su Zhen indicated the Yin-Yang Cave was just beyond. E Shun then asked Kunwu why Gu Xi hadn't accompanied them, to which Kunwu explained she had stayed behind to cover their tracks. E Shun expressed strong suspicion towards Su Zhen, questioning her survival when the entire village was massacred by foreigners, implying she might be complicit or leading them into a trap.
Kunwu, however, defended Su Zhen, recalling her kindness to him and Qingqing in their childhood, noting they even called her "aunt." Both conceded that the events of the past seven years in the village were shrouded in mystery. Suddenly, Su Zhen vanished without a trace, prompting Kunwu and the others to frantically call out her name. One of the men, suspecting a trick, wondered if Su Zhen had deliberately misled them.
Jiang Wenhuan quickly ordered the group to split up and search. Jiang Wenhuan, while searching, heard the faint sound of a drum and called out for Su Zhen. Instead, he stumbled upon A Si, who told him she had come specifically to find him. A Si confronted Jiang Wenhuan, bitterly blaming his Donglu people for killing her father and destroying her family, demanding to know why he didn't just die.
Jiang Wenhuan, in profound anguish, could only repeat, "It's my fault." As Jiang Wenhuan faced A Si, the other members of the group simultaneously fell into a powerful illusion. Xin Jia chased after a phantom "beauty," begging her not to run. Kunwu was plunged into a nightmare, screaming for his father not to kill his mother and Su Qingqing. E Shun relived a painful memory, hearing a voice accuse him, "Chong, E Shun, that stab hurt so much," and desperately cried out, "No, I didn't mean to!"
