The Wolf Episode 3 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Ma Ying went to the prison with poisoned wine, finding Wang Xiang tied to a wooden stake and in rags. Though Wang Xiang had not been tortured, Chu Kui’s intent to kill was clear. Facing imminent death, Wang Xiang remained remarkably calm. He expressed deep gratitude to Ma Ying for his past compassion, which had saved Princess Pingyuan and her unborn child, preserving the sole bloodline of the former dynasty.
Ma Ying had not only protected them but also raised Princess Pingyuan's daughter, Ma Zhaixing, as his own. Wang Xiang declared that he could not repay such immense kindness, which was why he had faithfully served the Ma family for decades. Now that his great vengeance was complete, he had no regrets, wishing only for Ma Zhaixing to live a life of peace, forever unaware of her true parentage.
Moved by Wang Xiang's loyalty, but bound by the law that a murderer must be executed, Ma Ying drew his saber. With a swift stroke, Wang Xiang was killed and the former dynasty's secret was laid to rest. Meanwhile, on Langshou Mountain, a bronze bell continuously chimed. Wolf Boy, drawn by the sound, pursued it, only to discover that the bell-ringer was a disguised woman, and a pre-set trap lay in wait, ensnaring him.
Soldiers emerged from the shadows, led by Ma Jun, who reveled in his triumph. He mockingly shook the bronze bell, taunting Wolf Boy before brutally tormenting him. Wolf Boy was bewildered by this sudden turn of events, his confusion turning to despair when Ma Jun revealed that Ma Zhaixing had betrayed him by providing the bell that led to his capture.
As a pack of wolves charged the soldiers, Ma Jun seized the opportunity to kill a wolf cub and commanded his men to shoot Wolf Boy with arrows. A mother wolf shielded Wolf Boy with her own body, taking the volley of arrows. Wolf Boy, breaking free from his chains, stumbled to the dying mother wolf, his grief turning into a furious rage as he fiercely pursued Ma Jun.
Panicked by Wolf Boy's frenzied chase, Ma Jun galloped away, nearly falling off a cliff but managing to grasp his horse's reins. Wolf Boy, however, plummeted into the deep abyss below. Ma Zhaixing arrived in haste, but it was too late. As she scrambled to the edge of the broken cliff, Ma Jun, with cold disregard, struck her legs with his spear, breaking them and leaving her unconscious.
Back at the Ma Manor, Ma Ying was enraged by his son's cruelty. He confronted Ma Jun, condemning him for hurting Ma Zhaixing, who lay in a coma, especially since Ma Ying had sent her to stop him. Though Ma Jun’s wife attempted to defend him by blaming Ma Zhaixing for lying, Ma Ying swiftly cut her off and declared that Ma Jun would be sent to the border for military training as punishment.
Ma Ying then ordered an immediate search for Wolf Boy in the mountains, but Chu Kui intervened, dismissively stating that Wolf Boy was merely a savage and his survival was fated. Chu Kui ordered Ma Ying to lead his army back and cease the search, promising to send his own people to search at dawn, though it was implied to be a mere formality.
He further ordered the head of the traitor Wang Xiang to be displayed on the city gates as a warning. Later, Ma Ying returned the bronze bell to a recovering Ma Zhaixing, informing her that Wolf Boy had not yet been found. Distraught and aware of the cliff's daunting depth, she desperately wanted to personally search for him.
However, Ma Ying forbade her, reminding her of her injury and the dangerous implications of defying Chu Kui's decree, which would jeopardize the entire Ma family, already in a precarious position due to the Wang Xiang incident. In a dimly lit chamber, Chu Kui observed Wolf Boy as he regained consciousness.
Approving of the wild look in his eyes, Chu Kui declared Wolf Boy's life now belonged to him and bestowed upon him a nobility token, promising him everything he desired. He then secretly ordered his inner circle to conceal the fact that Wolf Boy had been found, instructing them to merely feign a search the next day. Chu Kui confided that with enemies lurking everywhere and the neighboring Jin Kingdom growing stronger, he desperately needed loyal talents.
He intended to forge Wolf Boy into a true weapon—a "real wolf" from the inside out—through a rigorous training regime, despite warnings from a subordinate about the medicine's side effects. As Wolf Boy drifted between consciousness, he heard Ma Zhaixing's voice echoing in his mind, pleading for him to return. Eight years later, Chu Kui, having meticulously planned his moves, unleashed a brutal purge across the Yang Kingdom, orchestrating bloody massacres. Esteemed officials were falsely accused of treason.
Even State Stabilizing Marquis Xiao Gui, a loyal general who had fought alongside Chu Kui, could not escape his fate. The one responsible for his execution was the former Wolf Boy, now known as Prince of Bo, Chu Youwen. Rumors spread throughout the kingdom that Prince of Bo was Chu Kui's third son, personally trained by the emperor, and even more ruthless than Chu Kui himself. It was said that none survived his direct involvement, their deaths being particularly gruesome.
Upon hearing that Chu Kui had accused State Stabilizing Marquis Xiao Gui of colluding with the Jin Kingdom and ordered the annihilation of his entire clan, Ma Ying immediately departed from Kuizhou City, hurrying to Suyang, the capital of Yang Kingdom. He intended to unite with other ministers to persuade Chu Kui to abandon his plans or at least spare Xiao Gui's life. However, Chu Kui feigned illness, leaving the ministers helpless.
Unbeknownst to them, Prince of Bo had already led his Night Fiends to the Marquis's manor, publicly executing Xiao Gui and presenting his severed head in the imperial hall. Witnessing this horrifying display, Ma Ying felt a deep sense of dread and decided to relinquish his military power, hoping to safeguard the Ma family and the people of Kuizhou. Earlier, with Ma Ying absent from the city, Ma Zhaixing had assumed the role of acting Feudal Lord.
Despite being a woman, she managed her duties with remarkable ease. From deploying the Ma Family Army for protection and assisting in clearing bandits from nearby counties to handling all internal affairs of the Ma Manor, she managed everything impeccably, even skillfully handling persistent marriage proposals. Having reached a marriageable age, matchmakers constantly besieged the Ma Manor. While tradition dictated parental consent in marriage, Ma Ying, deeply fond of his daughter, allowed her to make her own decisions.
In contrast, Ma Jun’s mother, still resentful that Ma Zhaixing’s actions led to her son’s hardship at the border, showed no concern for her. Ma Zhaixing found most suitors unappealing and often set impossible challenges. She had even broken off her engagement with the prestigious Shen family just days prior after revealing to the Shen family's son that their engagement was merely a ruse to deter other suitors, a plan to which he agreed.
This act earned her a notorious reputation across Kuizhou City, yet some ambitious young noblemen, believing themselves superior to the Shen family, continued to seek her hand. She greeted these suitors, clarifying that she would only entertain discussions about city affairs and would reject any marriage proposals. The suitors, boasting of their intellect and martial prowess, asserted their superiority and challenged her to test them.
Ma Zhaixing presented three tightly sealed wooden boxes, explaining that to win her hand, one must identify which box contained three butterflies by listening for the faint sound of their wings. When the suitors scoffed at the impossibility, she remarked that perhaps a wolf could. After they all failed, she declared that anyone who could truly hear the butterflies’ wings would know all boxes were empty.
Exasperated, the suitors accused her of deliberately humiliating them, and Ma Zhaixing firmly stated that she would humiliate anyone who dared to propose to her. Her maid, Xiao Feng, wondered if Ma Zhaixing would remain alone forever, as the only person capable of solving such a riddle was now of an unknown fate. Meanwhile, Prince of Bo, accompanied by his Night Fiends—Wen Yan, Hai Die, and the stealthy Mo Xiao—arrived in Kuizhou City on Chu Kui’s orders. Their mission was to assassinate Ma Ying while ensuring Ma Zhaixing remained alive, as Chu Kui intended to use her in the future.
