The Long Ballad Episode 25 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Ayi'er’s life was in Sheer’s hands. Asher Sun couldn’t care about his dignity anymore—he was willing to kneel to Sheer in submission. Ayi'er couldn’t bear to see Asher Sun humiliated and took her own life on Sheer’s sword. Sheer did not expect Ayi'er to do such a thing. Asher Sun, crying, rushed toward her and collapsed with grief, holding her tightly and vowing to kill Sheer. Asher Sun held a crossbow, determined to avenge Ayi'er by killing Sheer.
Yicheng stepped in front of Sheer and pleaded with Asher Sun to spare him, saying she was willing to die in his place. Sheer didn’t want his Anah to be harmed and was willing to die at Asher Sun’s hand. Seeing the two of them clinging to each other, Asher Sun ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it. He smashed the crossbow in despair.
Sheer’s guards arrived and were about to capture Asher Sun, but Li Changge arrived with the Eagle Division to bring Asher Sun back to camp. The strength of the Eagle Division deterred the Wolf Army from making a move. Asher Sun was filled with killing intent again, but Li Changge urged him not to act impulsively. Overwhelmed with pain, Asher Sun blamed Li Changge—if she hadn't acted on her own, Ayi'er wouldn’t have died.
Though full of guilt, Li Changge couldn’t let Asher Sun die here. She knocked him unconscious and ordered Mu Jin to bring him back to the Eagle Division. The Great Khan was not in the camp, and Sheer’s people ordered the Wolf Division to relentlessly pursue Asher Sun. Li Changge made a quick decision to split up.
She and the Eagle Division would lure the pursuers away, while Mu Jin would take Asher Sun and Ayi'er's body to hide, then return after the pursuers left. Though Mu Jin felt the plan was too risky, there was no other way to protect Asher Sun, so he ordered Suyishe and the Eagle Division to obey Li Changge’s command. The Wolf Division had overwhelming numbers, and Suyishe’s group could not match them.
Knowing Asher never killed tribal captives, Li Changge instructed Suyishe to surrender if captured to ensure survival. As for herself, she planned to rescue Luo Yi, knowing the Wolf Division wouldn’t spare her, but she had her own means of survival. She parted ways with the group, and the Wolf Division split up to chase them. Not a match for the Wolf Division, Li Changge was struck by an arrow.
Just as she thought she was about to die, she was saved by the skilled Situ Langlang, who fearlessly rescued her from the Wolf Division. After returning to camp, Asher Sun’s first act upon waking was to visit Ayi'er's body. She was his family. The Great Khan had always used Ayi'er to threaten him, forcing him to fight Sheer, and he had obeyed. Yet, in the end, he still couldn't protect his family.
Devastated, Asher Sun no longer wished to fight for the Great Khan—he would only fight for those he loved. He then asked about Li Changge and Suyishe’s whereabouts. Learning that Suyishe was captured but safe brought him some relief, but hearing Li Changge was missing filled him with anxiety.
He wanted to search for her personally, but Mu Jin stopped the physically weak Asher Sun and decided to search with Mimi, leaving Asher Sun to take care of himself—for surviving was the best way to honor Li Changge. Yicheng was wounded by an arrow from Asher Sun while protecting Sheer. Though not fatal, when Sheer learned Yicheng was safe, he wanted to visit her but was stopped by the tribal doctor.
Yicheng had always treated them well, so they would care for her, but if Sheer visited without permission, the Great Khan would punish her. Although Yicheng was Sheer’s birth mother, he couldn’t see her. He remembered Asher Sun kneeling in humiliation for Ayi'er and felt a deep sorrow. He didn’t understand how things had come to this, nor what he, as Little Khan, could do.
Back at camp, Sheer’s confidant presented a plan—to blame the Eagle Division for everything: Yicheng’s injury and Luo Yi’s death, and kill Asher Sun. Sheer had never wanted to kill Asher Sun, but his confidant reminded him of Yicheng’s years of humiliation—this was his best chance at seizing power. Asher Sun went to the royal court, using a childhood code to summon Sheer.
Though Sheer hadn’t meant to kill Ayi'er and felt deep remorse, Asher Sun pressed a blade to him, saying Sheer had no right to mention Ayi'er's name. The two fought fiercely. Asher Sun mocked Sheer for being childish—while they bore the future of the grasslands, Sheer only cared about winning or losing. Asher Sun demanded Sheer hand over Suyishe’s group and Li Changge. Sheer agreed to release the Eagle Division members but admitted that Li Changge was not with him.
He didn’t mention that she had been rescued. Though aware of the dangers in the grasslands, Asher Sun believed that Li Changge was still alive. Li Changge woke up in a carriage and found herself saved by two strangers—Situ Langlang and an elder named Master Sun. They had always helped the weak, and saving her was a fortunate accident.
The Wolf Division sent a message to the Great Khan, accusing the Eagle Division of aiding Luo Yi’s escape, Asher Sun of wounding Yicheng. Sheer hadn’t expected his own men to act this way. Knowing it was his fault, he didn’t want Asher Sun hurt.
When the Great Khan, furious, wanted to kill Asher Sun, Sheer spoke up for him, claiming they had both been chasing Luo Yi and that Asher had accidentally shot Yicheng, and he himself accidentally killed Ayi'er. Ayi'er had always been the Great Khan’s bargaining chip. Now that she was gone, the Great Khan tried to move Asher Sun with familial sentiment. But Asher Sun had only one request—to travel the vast world and hand over the Eagle Division to someone else.
