The Journey of Legend Episode 38 Recap
> The Journey of Legend Recap
Xiao Xueyu was compelled to marry Xiao Kaiyan, who was delighted by the prospect. He expressed sorrow that their parents and Xiao Yiran could not witness their joyous day, but suggested they could pay their respects later and give Xiao Qiushui a surprise. Feigning compliance, Xiao Xueyu stated that her ideal husband had always been a hero capable of commanding the martial world.
Taking this as acceptance, a pleased Xiao Kaiyan presented her with the Hero Token, proclaiming they would rule the martial world together. Continuing her deception, Xiao Xueyu explained that she had always been an orphan, fortunate to be raised by the Xiao family and to learn medicine, aspiring to roam and help people rather than settling for a domestic life. Yet, she claimed to have moved past such "useless obsessions," stating one must always look forward.
As she poured the wedding wine, she secretly introduced poison into Xiao Kaiyan's cup. He praised her newfound perspective, assuring her that her talents could flourish beyond the Daxi Era, even if she wished to heal or roam. Upon drinking the wine, he realized her treachery. Xiao Kaiyan, enraged, questioned why his own family continually betrayed him.
He declared that her death was the only way she would "stay," and swore to make everyone understand who truly brought glory to the Xiao family before fatally striking her. Xiao Qiushui, having received a wedding invitation, arrived and confronted Xiao Kaiyan, demanding to know where Xiao Xueyu was. Xiao Kaiyan invited him to share a wedding toast, claiming it was his and Xueyu's big day.
He taunted Xiao Qiushui, asking if he feared poison, and assured him he would not be killed yet. Xiao Qiushui, accusing Xiao Kaiyan of imprisoning and forcing Xueyu into marriage, refused the drink, stating Xiao Kaiyan was unworthy. He criticized Xiao Kaiyan's appearance, saying he no longer seemed human, and reminded him that Xueyu had always been his greatest protector since childhood. Xiao Kaiyan, visibly agitated, retorted, "Protected me most?"
He then launched into a tirade, recounting his resentment over being overlooked while Xiao Qiushui and Xiao Yiran were favored. He painted Xiao Yiran as stubborn and self-righteous, and Xiao Qiushui as merely a troublemaker, claiming he himself was the true source of the Xiao family's glory and could obtain anything he desired. Ignoring Xiao Kaiyan’s words, Xiao Qiushui broke through a screen and found Xiao Xueyu, lifeless under her bridal veil.
He cried out her name, begging her not to scare him. As Xiao Kaiyan mockingly questioned why even his wedding day could not go as he wished, Xiao Qiushui tearfully held his sister's hand, discovering she still clutched the Hero Token. He carefully retrieved it and lifted her body to take her home. Xiao Kaiyan continued to provoke him, stabbing him in the back, but Xiao Qiushui remained steadfast, refusing to engage and carrying his sister away.
Xiao Qiushui simply stated that he would not kill Kaiyan, because he wanted Kaiyan to witness his reign over the world, adding that keeping Kaiyan alive was far more interesting. He then called Kaiyan pathetic. Meanwhile, Yan Kuangtu, under guard by three exotic masters who were tasked by Xiao Kaiyan, engaged them in conversation. He acknowledged their lightness skills but found their internal energy and swordsmanship lacking compared to Daxi's martial arts.
The exotic masters boasted about Daxi’s “hidden masters” but Yan Kuangtu countered that they were merely "hiding filth and decay," pointing out that without traitors, Xiao Kaiyan could not have captured Wu Jie. This confirmed to Yan Kuangtu that General Wu Jie was indeed imprisoned nearby. One of the exotic masters scoffed, revealing that Wu Jie's failure to report to the court had already aroused suspicion, and even releasing him now would not hinder the North Wasteland's plan.
Yan Kuangtu derided the three as "martial arts seniors" who were nothing more than greedy individuals serving Xiao Kaiyan for wealth and honor. Challenged to a fight by the exotic masters, Yan Kuangtu, despite his injuries, proclaimed he would show them the true martial arts of Daxi. Xiao Kaiyan then arrived, revealing he had underestimated Yan Kuangtu. He declared that while he once considered sparing him for Xiao Xueyu's sake, that consideration was now gone.
Yan Kuangtu questioned General Wu Jie's whereabouts, but Xiao Kaiyan dismissed it as irrelevant, stating he would now absorb all of Yan Kuangtu's martial arts. After draining much of Yan Kuangtu's internal energy, Xiao Kaiyan relished the power, thanking him for the "gift." A weakened Yan Kuangtu accused Xiao Kaiyan of being a thieving rat who would never plunge Daxi into chaos.
Reflecting on the purpose of life – to live joyfully, die without regrets, uphold justice, and live a worthy life – Yan Kuangtu, gravely injured, entrusted the remaining task to Xiao Qiushui before taking his own life by severing his meridians. General Wu Jie heard Yan Kuangtu's final words. Xiao Qiushui brought Xiao Xueyu’s body back to the ancestral home and buried her next to their parents and brother, Xiao Yiran.
He discovered that Yan Kuangtu had revealed the secrets of the Book of Oblivion to Xiao Xueyu while they were imprisoned, and she had meticulously transcribed the mantra onto the hem of her clothes, hoping he would find it. Grieving, Xiao Qiushui vowed to avenge his family. Later, sitting alone, he played an ancient guqin left by his parents.
As he played, memories surfaced of his childhood, when his father praised his musical talent, noting that his older brothers, Xiao Yiran and Xiao Kaiyan, struggled with it. His father had said that no one should be forced to do what they didn't want, and that was the desire of a caring family.
Xiao Qiushui realized that the Jiang brothers, in an act of gratitude, had not only inscribed the Book of Oblivion within the Sword Retreat but also embedded its essence within musical scores. The Book of Oblivion, he understood, was not about rigid techniques but about one's state of mind, where melodies birthed techniques and one's mindset conjured infinite possibilities.
He recalled his father’s words that those who cared for the world would always find each other, and that loyalty was the true essence of the martial world. As he played, he reflected on Yan Kuangtu’s final words, reiterating the philosophy of living joyfully, dying without regrets, and upholding justice to live a worthy life.
He then recited the fifteen techniques of the Book of Oblivion: Heavenly will, earthly form, monarch's sway, kinship's bond, mentor's creed, metal's edge, wood's tenacity, water's flow, fire's spread, earth's shroud, solar blaze, lunar glow, wind's charm, cloud's veil, and finally, selfless void, concluding that it meant to be empathetic to the world. Li Chenzhou arrived at the imperial temporary residence near Xianren Pass, where the Emperor eagerly awaited him.
The Emperor offered him wine, claiming it came from North Wasteland and suggesting it symbolized a path to endless delicacies through a truce. Li Chenzhou rebuked the Emperor, stating that Northern cavalry were poised to crush Xianren Pass, and its fall would leave Daxi's territory defenseless, leading to the capital's eventual demise. He questioned whose responsibility this would be. The Emperor, dismissing his concerns, accused Li Chenzhou of attempting to take advantage of the conflict.
He defended his policies by lamenting Daxi's long-standing weakness and public misunderstanding of his efforts, asserting that all his actions were for Daxi's long-term stability. Li Chenzhou countered, asking if the Emperor had truly considered his people, arguing that if peace talks worked, they wouldn't be in such a crisis. He questioned who truly benefited from endless war.
The Emperor then brought up Wu Jie, whose failure to return to the capital and whose army's defiance suggested someone was secretly aiding them in rebellion. Li Chenzhou fiercely defended the soldiers dying on the front lines and the general who was ambushed and missing, criticizing the Emperor for suspecting him, a "mere idle person," instead of focusing on fighting the enemy. He warned that if this continued, Daxi would inevitably perish.
The Emperor, furious, condemned Li Chenzhou's "treasonous words," invoking the legacy of Daxi's founders. Li Chenzhou retorted that complacency would lead to a dead end, and compromise would bring no lasting peace, insisting that Daxi's centuries-old foundation depended on the Emperor's willingness to act decisively. The Emperor, irritated, declared Li Chenzhou had "spoiled his mood" and, citing urgent state affairs, dismissed him. Li Chenzhou then took up the poisoned wine, stating he had "had enough of this wine."
He then raised the cup in a toast to the frontline warriors and the fallen heroes of the martial world before drinking it. He placed a note on the table, urging the Emperor to recognize North Wasteland's deceitful peace talks and their true intention to invade. He reminded the Emperor of the vow to reclaim lost territories, declaring he would fulfill it in his own way, and bid the Emperor to "take care."
As Li Chenzhou departed, the Emperor, in a silent thought, justified his ruthlessness, believing Li Chenzhou had chosen his own path to destruction. Outside the palace, Zhao Shirong was already waiting. Li Chenzhou smiled, visibly relieved to see her, but then suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. Zhao Shirong rushed to his side, pleading for him to wake up.
