The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 14 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
Huang Yu remained deeply suspicious of Chen Gong regarding the peculiar circumstances of Di Yue's death. He ordered Elder Guan, who was accompanying them, to monitor Chen Gong closely and to kill him immediately if he made any suspicious moves. Elder Guan, testing Chen Gong, inquired about the workings of the Bamboo Kite.
Chen Gong, maintaining his cover as Mi Chong, feigned ignorance, explaining that Elder Qin's previous accident was likely due to panic, causing him to pull the control ropes too frequently and loosen the wings, leading to the disaster. Huang Yu, acknowledging the critical nature of the Qingping Plan's final stage, personally tasked Elder Guan with carefully overseeing the last Bamboo Kite and Chen Gong.
He then instructed Mi Chong to rest until the operation commenced at seven o'clock, as they were already positioned on the mountain across the valley. Chen Gong, deep in grief over Di Yue's loss, continued to maintain his cover and was determined to execute his mission. Meanwhile, Xun Xu entrusted Pei Xu with covering his shift, providing him with his uniform as a safeguard. He instructed Pei Xu to devise an excuse should anyone come to check on him.
Pei Xu assured his chief he would manage everything. Recognizing the immense peril of his mission, Xun Xu told Pei Xu that if he did not return, the Jing'an Division would be left to him, a grim prospect Pei Xu tried to dismiss. Later, identifying himself as Xun Xu from the Jing'an Division on urgent business, Xun Xu successfully passed through a city checkpoint. Gao Tangbing arrived at a checkpoint on Mount Dingjun under the guise of inspecting provisions.
A soldier noted his diligent patrols in inclement weather, to which Gao Tangbing replied that such hardship was inherent to his duties in Siwencao Intelligence. Granted passage, he learned that the military provisions were bound for Wudu and escorted by Commandant Cheng Fan, whom he knew and intended to visit. Gao Tangbing stressed the vital importance of the granary and the increased responsibilities of the garrison, especially with the impending Northern Expedition.
Subsequently, General Ma Dai's invitation to a banquet was extended. Gao Tangbing initially humbly declined, but upon being told he was representing Clerk Feng, he accepted the honor. Using the falsified permit, Xun Xu reached Mount Dingjun's second checkpoint. He identified himself as a Siwencao Intelligence officer with urgent military intelligence for Commandant Qiao Jun. When offered an escort, Xun Xu stated his familiarity with the route, leading the guards to allow him to proceed unaccompanied.
After concealing his horse, he embarked on a dangerous climb up a cliff and under a bridge, eventually reaching the back door of the head office. There, he carefully evaded patrolling soldiers and unlocked the heavy door, a crucial action intended to facilitate Chen Gong's escape. Donning Shu military uniforms, Chen Gong and members of the Wuxian Sect arrived at the final checkpoint of the head office.
The plan, as previously detailed by Huang Yu, was set in motion: Huang Yu's forces would attack a warehouse at the valley's western end at a quarter to ten, setting it ablaze to divert the Shu army. Simultaneously, Chen Gong, Elder Guan, and Eighteen Arhats would descend a cliff to infiltrate the now-vulnerable head office.
Huang Yu had provided Chen Gong with the key to the designs warehouse and reminded him of Zhulong's password, confirming that the warehouse fire would signal Chen Gong's moment to retrieve the designs, with Elder Guan covering his retreat to an eastern cliff for a Bamboo Kite escape. As the warehouse fire erupted, drawing Shu soldiers away for rescue, Chen Gong and his contingent infiltrated the head office.
Inside, Chen Gong quickly entered a secret room and secured the crossbow designs in a bamboo tube. The deception was swiftly discovered, however, and Shu soldiers returned. Wuxian Sect members heroically fought to cover Chen Gong and Elder Guan's retreat toward their designated cliff-jumping site. At the cliff, Elder Guan told Chen Gong he would provide cover so Chen Gong could escape with the Bamboo Kite. Chen Gong then fatally stabbed Elder Guan.
Despite his mortal wound, Elder Guan, with his dying breath, uttering "What's the thrill with breath? What's the fear of death?" , plunged off the cliff, his body unknowingly serving as a warning to Huang Yu. Chen Gong then proceeded to the pre-arranged door, finding it unlocked, and felt a profound sense of relief and appreciation for his comrade's efforts. Xun Xu, however, found himself in a precarious position.
The head office was on high alert after the attack, and all exits within a ten-kilometer radius of Mount Dingjun were sealed, making his departure impossible. Commandant Qiao Jun personally confronted him. Xun Xu tried to maintain his composure, claiming Feng Ying had sent him to report the Wuxian Sect attack and that he was rushing back to Nanzheng after failing to locate Qiao Jun in time.
Qiao Jun, however, pointed out that Feng Ying himself had established the head office's password, a security measure Xun Xu had advised. Xun Xu's inability to provide the password, despite his excuses about Feng Ying being too busy, deepened Qiao Jun's suspicion. Recognizing the critical situation with the stolen designs, Qiao Jun decided to detain Xun Xu for verification by Siwencao Intelligence. Meanwhile, a soldier from Mount Dingjun arrived at Siwencao to verify Xun Xu's claimed mission.
Sun Ling, the supervisor, was perplexed, as no such mission was recorded, and Xun Xu was officially on duty. Investigating, Sun Ling discovered Pei Xu wearing Xun Xu's uniform, claiming Xun Xu had left due to illness half an hour earlier. Sun Ling immediately saw through the lie, knowing that Mount Dingjun was too far for Xun Xu to have reached in that time. He ordered Pei Xu's arrest and set off for Mount Dingjun to investigate further.
Feng Ying escorted Liu Ying to General Li Yan's mansion, with Liu Ying engaging in lighthearted banter with Feng Ying during their journey. Feng Ying advised her to be truthful with Li Yan and reassured her when she expressed apprehension about meeting the general. At the mansion, Liu Ying's musical performance deeply moved Li Yan.
He spoke of his sadness and recounted his past experiences during the late Emperor Liu Bei's 218 AD campaign to conquer the Hanzhong region, where he faced Xiahou Yuan and Cao Cao at Yangping Pass. As magistrate of Zizhong County, he had defended it with only 4,000 men against tens of thousands of rebels, Ma Qin and Gao Sheng, instigated by Cao Wei.
He told Liu Ying that her music vividly rekindled the "sword and shadow" of that war, making her feel like a soulmate. Feng Ying praised Li Yan's military and civil prowess, and Li Yan, in turn, expressed gratitude for Liu Ying's recommendation, reaffirming his feeling of having found a soulmate in her.
Seizing the opportune moment, Feng Ying proposed that Liu Ying remain at Li Yan's quarters to engage in discussions about history and current affairs, suggesting it would create a "romantic story in history." Liu Ying readily assented, confirming Li Yan's agreement, which he enthusiastically confirmed. Huang Yu's scouts reported finding Elder Guan's body at the foot of the cliff, but no trace of Mi Chong.
Realizing he had been outmaneuvered and facing imminent encirclement by the advancing Shu army, Huang Yu admitted his misjudgment. With reports confirming that escape routes, including Gujian Xikou, were cut off, he ordered his remaining forces to retreat towards Tianshui. Back at Mount Dingjun, captured Wuxian Sect members confessed that their attack on the head office was a diversion, with the warehouse fire merely a cover for their elite to steal the designs.
Commandant Qiao Jun, furious over the theft and Xun Xu's suspicious conduct, ordered his interrogation. During the questioning, Sun Ling arrived, confirming that Feng Ying was on a secret mission and had not authorized Xun Xu's purported task, further exposing Pei Xu's deception. Qiao Jun, whose own life was now imperiled by the stolen designs, confronted Xun Xu, appealing to their acquaintance and urging him to reveal his true motives. Xun Xu, however, remained silent, merely requesting water.
He eventually vowed on his life that the designs were neither with the Wuxian Sect nor Wei spies and would eventually be returned, but still refused to disclose any details. Enraged by Xun Xu's obstinacy and the severity of the situation, Qiao Jun accused him of collaborating with the Wuxian Sect and ordered him tortured, dismissing Sun Ling's protests regarding proper procedure and his claim to take Xun Xu back for Siwencao interrogation.
Meanwhile, Chen Gong had arrived at the designated meeting point—a camphor tree in Gujian Xikou—where he carefully placed the stolen designs, awaiting Zhulong's appearance, as per his backup instructions in case of an unforeseen disruption to their original plan.
