The Great Ruler Episode 29 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Li Xuantong expressed his intent to obtain Jiuyou Spirit Blood. Luo Li confronted him, reminding him that Jiuyou was their companion through hardship and that hurting her would also kill Mu Chen, with whom Jiuyou shares a blood bond. Xuantong admitted he knew this and was willing to be seen as wicked, even sacrificing himself afterward, all for Luo Li's safety.
However, Luo Li vehemently rejected his plan, stating she did not want the Spirit Blood, nor did she want him to die or Mu Chen to suffer any harm. She declared that if anything happened to Mu Chen, she would not wish to live either. Understanding her resolve, Li Xuantong conceded.
Luo Li then expressed her deep affection for Xuantong, who had always been like an older brother to her since her parents' death, and formally proposed that they become sworn siblings. Li Xuantong, considering it an honor to be the sworn brother of the Luo God Clan Goddess, gladly accepted. They performed a sworn oath, vowing to share weal and woe, and never break their pledge.
Luo Li affectionately addressed him as "Brother," asking him to call her Luo Li instead of Goddess. As Xuantong was about to leave, Jiuyou appeared, seeming to confront him initially. However, she quickly clarified it was a misunderstanding and stated her trust in Xuantong, noting that if he had intended harm, he would have acted during their perilous time in White Horse City.
To Luo Li and Xuantong's surprise, Jiuyou then willingly offered her Spirit Blood, claiming it wasn't a significant loss for her as a descendant of the Phoenix and that she would quickly recover. She explained that while extracting Spirit Blood usually severely weakens a spiritual beast, it doesn't necessarily kill them, a common misconception. Luo Li, feeling a profound sense of shame and gratitude, thanked Jiuyou, as did Xuantong. Jiuyou, in turn, acknowledged Xuantong's sincerity in admitting his mistake.
Meanwhile, a severely injured Liu Mubai was revived by Tang Qian'er using the Restoring the pulse and soul technique. Mubai discovered that this powerful revival spell came at a grave cost to the caster, potentially destroying their spiritual pulse or even killing them. Seeing Qian'er exhausted, with a strand of white hair from her sacrifice, Mubai was heartbroken, believing he wasn't worth such a cost.
He confessed that he was no hero; he had joined the Evil Deity to gain power and restore the Liu Territory. He admitted to deceiving her about He Yao and revealed he was responsible for killing Zhu Tian and Huo Feng, and injuring Shen Cangsheng. He also confessed that his presence in White Horse City was not to help Mu Chen but to kill him for revenge, blaming Mu Chen for the loss of his father and the Liu Territory.
Despite these shocking revelations, Qian'er, deeply in love, insisted that she saved her husband and had no regrets, having even held a wedding ceremony with him. Mubai, filled with remorse, apologized to her. Back at the North Sect, Headmaster Shen Cangsheng organized the students and teachers to begin repairing the damaged buildings and the North Sect Protection Circle, using the provided formation diagram.
He assigned Ye Sun'er to lead the repair of the spiritual array due to her expertise and instructed Qing Ling to arrange patrols against infiltrators. Unbeknownst to them, Wen Qingxuan, empowered by Evil Deity's Power of Whisper, had already infiltrated the Sect. She ambushed and killed Deputy Headmaster Mu Ling, then assumed her form. Disguised as Mu Ling, she approached Tan Qingshan and Ye Sun'er, subtly inquiring about Mu Chen's whereabouts, claiming she had been secluded and out of touch.
Sun'er, observant, found "Mu Ling's" behavior and inquiries unsettling, sensing something was amiss, and did not reveal Mu Chen's location. Wen Qingxuan, having learned Mu Chen was not present, quickly deduced that Mu Chen's contracted beast, Jiuyou, likely shared a life-and-death bond with him. She formulated a plan to capture Jiuyou to harm Mu Chen. Elsewhere, Bai Tong found Jiuyou looking disheartened, despite her denial.
To cheer her up, he presented her with a handmade Double-winged White Horse, a symbol of wisdom from White Horse City, hoping it would make her forget her sadness. Jiuyou appreciated the gesture, admitting her mood had improved. Taking the opportunity, Bai Tong confessed his affection for her, telling her he enjoyed seeing her smile. Startled by his confession, Jiuyou quickly flew away.
Later, Jiuyou returned the Double-winged White Horse to Bai Tong, explaining that while she valued him as a friend, she couldn't accept a gift given out of romantic feelings, as she did not reciprocate them. She gently warned him that if he insisted on pursuing a romantic relationship, even their friendship would be jeopardized. Though visibly saddened, Bai Tong ultimately reaffirmed his desire for her friendship and offered the gift to her as a friend. Jiuyou, touched, accepted it.
Bai Tong then followed her as she headed to the back mountain to practice. Mubai, still severely weakened and unable to perform simple tasks, was cared for by Qian'er. She found potatoes and struggled to make a fire, comforting him as he lamented his helplessness and expressed his unworthiness of her sacrifice. Qian'er lovingly reassured him that he would recover. Just as she managed to start a fire, they heard someone approaching and quickly hid.
It was Mu Chen, who believed Mubai was dead. Grieving, Mu Chen built a cenotaph for Mubai using the fan he had made for him. He spoke to the makeshift grave, pledging to care for the Liu Territory and protect Qian'er, vowing to find her as she had left the Sect distraught by his reported death. Mu Chen tearfully lamented Mubai's perceived foolish death, expressing regret that he hadn't discovered Mubai's plight sooner.
After Mu Chen departed, Mubai and Qian'er emerged from their hiding spot. Mubai gazed at his own grave, somberly declaring that the "old Liu Mubai" had died. He urged Qian'er to leave him and return home, reiterating that he was now disabled and tainted by the Evil Deity's Power of Whisper, incapable of protecting her. Qian'er, however, refused to abandon him, insisting she didn't care about being a burden and only wanted to be with him.
Moved by her unwavering devotion, Mubai agreed to travel with her to Tang Territory. As Mu Chen went to the sea to retrieve the Sumeru Pillar, he was overwhelmed by its immense power and fainted. Meanwhile, Mubai's lingering Power of Whisper suddenly erupted, throwing Qian'er back. Mubai, whose spiritual power was gone but whose body still contained the Evil Deity's Power of Whisper, was then led by Qian'er towards Tang Territory. Along the way, they discovered the unconscious Mu Chen.
Mubai, seeing Mu Chen struggling with the Sumeru Pillar's power, removed it from him, thereby saving Mu Chen's life. He quietly declared to the unconscious Mu Chen that by saving him, their past grievances were settled, and that the old Liu Mubai was truly gone. With a final farewell, Mubai and Qian'er continued their journey. In the Sect, Ye Sun'er and Tan Qingshan were repairing damaged structures when they detected an unusual spiritual energy in the main hall.
Using a Power-detecting Circle, Sun'er confirmed that a fight had recently occurred and, more alarmingly, found traces of the Power of Whisper. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they hurried to inform Headmaster Shen Cangsheng. Meanwhile, Wen Qingxuan, still disguised as Mu Ling, located Jiuyou and Bai Tong in the back mountains. Wen Qingxuan seized an opportunity to attack Jiuyou, but Bai Tong bravely intervened, taking the blow intended for Jiuyou.
Realizing that the attacker was not Mu Ling, Jiuyou engaged the imposter. Wen Qingxuan revealed her true identity and her intent, explaining that since Mu Chen was not present, she would kill Jiuyou and absorb her spiritual pulse, knowing that this would inevitably lead to Mu Chen's death due to their life-and-death contract. She continued her relentless assault on Jiuyou and Bai Tong, who was already injured.
