The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Episode 8 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Recap
During breakfast, Hua Rong seemed troubled. Ling assured her not to worry about the female slaves, explaining that she had already arranged for their safe return, covering their travel expenses and providing carriages herself. Ling emphasized that as a follower of Swordman Yunhe, who aids those in need, it was her duty to help. Ling then vowed that she and Qin Shangcheng would protect Hua Rong and uncover the mastermind behind the attacks.
Hua Rong then inquired about Qin Shangcheng's whereabouts. Zhang Xian reported that he and Qin Shangcheng had searched beneath the cliff for a long time but couldn't find Shangguan Hong's body, concluding he must have escaped. Ling speculated that Shangguan Hong, a stranger to Hua Rong, must have been instructed by someone else to repeatedly target her. Just then, Duanmu Bai arrived.
His attendant immediately challenged Qin Shangcheng, asserting that as Duanmu Bai was destined to marry Hua Rong, Qin Shangcheng was the outsider who didn't deserve her, especially given his apparent inability to wield the Rapier. Qin Shangcheng calmly observed that since the Rapier was a dowry and would eventually belong to Duanmu Bai, he wondered why Duanmu Bai was so eager and what secret he was hiding.
Duanmu Bai retorted that if it would be his eventually, there was no harm in wanting it now and offered to prove his claim. Hua Rong intervened, advising Duanmu Bai not to try, suggesting his martial arts might not be as proficient as Qin Shangcheng's, a comment that visibly pleased Qin Shangcheng. Later, in his room, Qin Shangcheng was looking at a painting of himself and Hua Rong.
Zhang Xian, noticing he was looking at it upside down, pointed this out. Qin Shangcheng then admitted that his vision was impaired after being injured by Shangguan Hong's hand cannon the previous night. Qian Dayou immediately expressed concern for Qin Shangcheng’s eyes, worrying it might lead to blindness, recalling a similar case. Qin Shangcheng, however, stated he was not yet blind, only experiencing double vision.
He instructed Qian Dayou to find Hua Geng, a legendary physician his foster father had once mentioned, stressing that Hua Rong must not be told, as he didn't want her to worry. That night, Hua Rong pondered Qin Shangcheng's condition, suspecting an eye ailment, likely from saving her. She initially wanted to confront him but realized he was likely hiding it to protect her from worry. She decided it would be better to investigate discreetly first.
Qin Shangcheng, Qian Dayou, and Zhang Xian eventually located Hua Geng in a coffin shop, which Qian Dayou explained was characteristic of the doctor's eccentric practice of treating both the living and the dead. They recognized Hua Geng as Hua Sanlang, the painter from an earlier encounter. Hua Geng, who admitted to once being blind himself before curing his eyes, asked if Qin Shangcheng was there for a similar reason.
After receiving a generous payment from Qin Shangcheng, Hua Geng revealed his unusual cure for eyes injured by saltpetre: a concoction made from the gall bladder of the golden eye snake king, combined with a pair of fresh living human eyes, a procedure that had to be completed within ten days of the injury.
Qin Shangcheng vehemently rejected this "witchcraft," declaring he would rather remain blind than take someone else's eyes, and again warned his companions not to tell Hua Rong. Unbeknownst to them, Hua Rong had secretly followed them and overheard everything. After they left, she approached Hua Geng, inquired about the golden eye snake king, and was told it resided in Meiyin Valley, on the outskirts of Hai City.
He gave her a special "snake powder," cautioning her that the snake king was unique and extremely difficult to find. Back at the mansion, Hua Rong was preoccupied. Ling hurried to tell her that one of the recently rescued female slaves, Xiaoyue, had fainted, and Duanmu Bai was attending to her. Duanmu Bai diagnosed Xiaoyue with "Cold Food Powder" poisoning, explaining it initially caused euphoria but led to addiction, delirium, and internal heat if used long-term.
He suspected Shangguan Hong had added it to their drinking water to control them. Xiaoyue claimed she had been poisoned for less than a month, but Duanmu Bai's examination of her pulse revealed she had been afflicted for at least a month, making him suspicious of her motives. After all the other slaves were treated and sent home, Xiaoyue chose to stay, claiming to be an orphan with no family or home.
Hua Rong, out of compassion, took Xiaoyue in as a sister. Later, Xiaoyue brought a bowl of medicine to Hua Rong, intending to poison her. However, Hua Rong, believing the medicine was for Xiaoyue's recovery, insisted Xiaoyue drink it. Trapped, Xiaoyue feigned a coughing fit and spilled the medicine. Hua Rong then asked Xiaoyue if she knew about Meiyin Valley, revealing her intent to go there. This conversation was overheard by one of Duanmu Bai's subordinates.
Xiaoyue subsequently reported to the Master of the stronghold, informing him of Hua Rong’s plan to find the snake king in Meiyin Valley. It was revealed that the Master of the stronghold was holding Xiaoyue’s twin sister hostage, compelling Xiaoyue to attempt to kill Hua Rong, and he saw Hua Rong's trip as an excellent opportunity to eliminate her. That night, Qin Shangcheng sat by Hua Rong's bedside, watching her sleep.
He gently pulled the blanket over her and whispered his fears, admitting that while he could visualize her every expression even with his eyes closed, he longed to see her more, terrified that soon he would only be able to imagine her face. Hua Rong, secretly awake, shed silent tears, vowing that she would cure his eyes, no matter the sacrifice, so he could see her once more.
The next morning, Qian Dayou discovered poisonous residue (arsenic) in some leftover medicine dregs. Realizing Xiaoyue had been the only one preparing medicine there, he suspected she might have tried to harm Hua Rong. Learning that Hua Rong had left early with Xiaoyue, and seeing the character "Hua" on a medicine packet, Qin Shangcheng deduced that Hua Rong had met Hua Sanlang (Hua Geng) and was likely heading to Meiyin Valley to find the snake king.
Realizing Hua Rong was in grave danger, Qin Shangcheng immediately set off to follow her. In Meiyin Valley, Hua Rong attempted to use the snake powder, but no snakes appeared. Suddenly, Xiaoyue lunged at Hua Rong with a dagger. Hua Rong dodged, and the golden eye snake king appeared. Hua Rong managed to capture the snake, but it bit Xiaoyue.
Hua Rong immediately sucked some of the venom from Xiaoyue’s wound, warning her not to move and promising to find a doctor. Just then, Shangguan Hong appeared with his men and fired an arrow at Hua Rong. Xiaoyue, experiencing a change of heart, shielded Hua Rong and was struck by the arrow. Hua Rong then retaliated with her gun, killing Shangguan Hong.
Surrounded by Shangguan Hong's remaining men, Hua Rong was in dire straits until Duanmu Bai arrived, saving her by incapacitating the attackers. Duanmu Bai sent a message challenging Qin Shangcheng to a fight at Meiyin Cave three miles away, using Hua Rong's alleged kidnapping as leverage. He declared that if Qin Shangcheng won, Hua Rong would be safe, but if he won, he would claim the Rapier.
Qin Shangcheng received the challenge and dispatched Qian Dayou and Zhang Xian to rescue Hua Rong using a compass, while he proceeded to Meiyin Cave. During their duel, Qin Shangcheng, despite his impaired vision, fought skillfully, using defensive tactics to pinpoint Duanmu Bai's movements. He defiantly stated he would never surrender. Duanmu Bai, seeing Qin Shangcheng weakened, urged him to give up the Rapier. Meanwhile, Qian Dayou and Zhang Xian successfully located and rescued Hua Rong.
Hua Rong rushed to the cave, intervening just as Qin Shangcheng was about to be injured. As she appeared, Duanmu Bai noticed the "Little White Dove" pendant around her neck, recognizing its significance, and stopped his attack. With Duanmu Bai subdued and the golden eye snake king captured, the group returned to Hua Geng. Hua Rong, resolute in her determination to cure Qin Shangcheng, bravely offered to sacrifice her own eyes for the transplant.
Qian Dayou, however, reminded her that Qin Shangcheng had earlier refused such a brutal method, finding it cruel. As Hua Geng prepared for the gruesome eye removal and transplant, explaining the bloody process, Ling initially volunteered to assist but quickly backed out, leaving Hua Rong to reaffirm her willingness to proceed, even offering "life for life."
Just as Hua Geng was about to administer a sedative to Hua Rong, Duanmu Bai, now recovered, intervened, announcing that he possessed a legitimate and normal method to cure Qin Shangcheng's eyes, thus preventing the barbaric procedure.
