The Wolf Episode 38 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Plagued by incessant nightmares, Chu Kui expressed his profound unease within the supposed safety of his palace, despite reassurances from his attendant, Zhang Jin, about the protection afforded by thousands of imperial guards. He lamented that the medicine prescribed by his physicians provided no peace, even as they advised quiet recuperation for his recovery.
Feeling betrayed by the Prince of Bo, Chu Youwen, Chu Kui declared him removed as the leader of the Night Fiends and appointed Yao Ji to take his place. He then sought Yao Ji's recommendation for someone to oversee state affairs and manage the court in the aftermath of their recent defeat. Yao Ji suggested the Second Prince, Chu Yougui, acknowledging he might not be the perfect candidate but was the only viable option under the current circumstances.
Chu Kui agreed, ordering Chu Yougui's release to handle state affairs so he could focus on his own recovery. Determined to escape rather than remain a captive, Ma Zhaixing found herself traveling with Chu Youwen. As they navigated a steep cliff, she mentally assessed the treacherous terrain for any escape route, quickly realizing the narrow path made it impossible for the accompanying soldiers on horseback.
Chu Youwen, seemingly aware of her thoughts, taunted her by asking if she was contemplating jumping. Ma Zhaixing confronted him, accusing him of seeking revenge for how she once treated Wolf Boy. Chu Youwen dismissed her accusation, coldly stating that their current dynamic represented "the best relationship" and "most wonderful distance" they could have.
Ma Zhaixing retorted by calling him Chu Kui's "lapdog" and denouncing his lack of humanity, to which Chu Youwen warned her that he would prove her wrong if she continued with her insults. An old monk had previously warned of frequent landslides on Qi Mountain, cautioning them to protect themselves and avoid falling into the deep valley. To prevent Ma Zhaixing from falling into the deep valley, Chu Youwen secured a vine around her waist.
After more than an hour of walking, Ma Zhaixing began to falter, her strength waning. She attempted to cut the vine, prompting Chu Youwen to demand what she was doing. Frustrated, she asked him why he constantly disregarded her words and insisted he put her down. Knowing that such delays would prevent them from reaching the mountain summit before nightfall, Chu Youwen sternly reprimanded her.
Remembering the old monk's warning about a rapid stream that had to be crossed, and concerned about Ma Zhaixing's fragile health and the potential for her wounds to fester, Chu Youwen decided to carry her. Despite her protests that it was too dangerous and that she could walk on her own, he silenced her and quickened his pace.
As she continued to argue that crossing the stream recklessly would endanger them both, he questioned how to make her listen to him. When she demanded he let go, accusing him of trying to be "rough," Chu Youwen silenced her with a forceful kiss. He then declared that since she was "such a nuisance" and wouldn't cooperate, he would have to remove her outer clothing himself, leaving her in only her inner garments.
Ma Zhaixing, weeping, denounced him as "shameless and despicable," to which he ominously warned that any further escape attempts would result in her meeting her end in the wilderness. Ma Zhaixing remained oblivious that Chu Youwen's harsh actions were, in fact, a form of protection. The old monk had previously explained that despite the winter, Qi Mountain's subsurface heat and strong midday sun could lead to a dangerous invasion of body heat, threatening life, hence the necessity for lighter clothing.
Furthermore, the monk had warned about the severe insect plague, scarcity of food, and the likelihood of remaining fruits being rotten. True to this, Chu Youwen sampled the fruits himself, cautioning Ma Zhaixing to "eat this" because he didn't "want to drag your corpse back," ensuring she would not consume anything harmful. Ma Zhaixing noticed the presence of soldiers and attempted to cry for help, but Chu Youwen swiftly covered her mouth, silencing her as the soldiers searched nearby.
Once the immediate danger passed, Chu Youwen asked if she had finally come to her senses and given up. She then inquired about the identity of the soldiers, to which he misleadingly replied, "Soldiers of Jin." Ma Zhaixing immediately corrected him, stating they were "clearly the Bo Army," explaining that the Jin Army used "mountain-patterned mail" while the Bo Army used "chain-mail," and she had distinctly heard the sound of the latter.
Chu Youwen then admitted she was correct, confirming they were indeed the Bo Army, his former subordinates, who were now under orders to capture him. He further explained the perilous situation: if they were found, one would be taken to claim credit and the other to receive a reward. He expressed his confusion, asking why, despite her intelligence, she continued to make the same mistake by attempting to escape or call for help, as neither would benefit her.
As the side effects of the Wolfbone Flower intensified, Chu Youwen grew increasingly concerned, realizing the pain could make him lose control and inadvertently harm Ma Zhaixing. With nightfall approaching, he led her to a safe spot, telling her they would stay there for the night while he went to find food. Later, during the night, Ma Zhaixing witnessed Chu Youwen trembling and burning with fever.
As he struggled against the powerful influence of the Wolfbone Flower, she instinctively called out "Wolf Boy!" He managed to utter her name, "Zhaixing," before his pain became too overwhelming, causing him to lose control and nearly harm her. He then stumbled away into the night to protect her from his uncontrolled state. The next morning, Chu Youwen woke to find Ma Zhaixing conscious.
She questioned his immense pain, asking if it was due to her use of the Wolfbone Flower on him, noting that he never suffered such side effects before. He simply stated, "Because I want to live." Ma Zhaixing expressed her realization that she didn't know him at all, to which he dismissively told her not to bother trying.
As she asked to walk on her own, he offered her a covering, instructing her to tell him if she felt too warm so he could find a place for her to change, making her wonder if he was worried about her getting heatstroke. She also recalled how all the fruits he had given her were unrotten.
He then offered her spring water for her wounds, promising to ring a bell to indicate his presence nearby, reassuring her of safety but also reminding her she could not escape. He instructed her to close her eyes and turn away while she changed. When her clothing accidentally fell into the water, he retrieved it for her without looking. Later, as he prepared a fire, Ma Zhaixing, reflecting on their journey, voiced a shared doubt: "I miss Wolf Boy.
Do you?" She asserted that everything good came from him, and he set the rules, leaving her utterly confused. She confessed that at her most hateful, she realized he had acted for her own good, believing that even as the Prince of Bo, he retained the essence of Wolf Boy. Chu Youwen reacted with disgust, comparing her to a woman in a brothel, accusing her of feigning pleasantries to seduce him and test if he still harbored feelings.
Ma Zhaixing denied any pretense, affirming her understanding of Wolf Boy's true nature and merely hoping he would "realize the error of his ways." Chu Youwen scoffed, telling her she "thought too highly of herself" and truly "didn't know him at all." Ma Zhaixing clarified that her confusion stemmed from his self-inflicted pain for Chu Kui's sake.
He retorted that she couldn't understand, explaining that while with her he might be Wolf Boy, a man who once struggled to speak, his very life was owed to his "father emperor."
When she questioned if he would abandon his "humanity over power and status," Chu Youwen sternly warned her against trying to understand him or delve into his thoughts, declaring that he had become an "unrecognizable monster" and she should "stay away," "fear" him, and "stop testing" him, lest she "only hurt herself even deeper." Chu Youwen, dismissing Ma Zhaixing's hopes, secretly dispatched a letter to Ji Chong with his location.
As night fell, Ji Chong arrived and observed from a distance as Chu Youwen and Ma Zhaixing conversed by their campfire. It was only after Ma Zhaixing had fallen asleep, witnessing Chu Youwen's unspoken deep affection for her, that Ji Chong gained a profound realization. He then directly confronted Chu Youwen, criticizing his emotionally guarded demeanor and his failure to openly express the love that was clearly visible in his eyes.
Ji Chong sarcastically offered a "Wolfbone Flower" as a mock reward, highlighting that Chu Youwen had "specially prepared" it for Ma Zhaixing. He revealed his suspicions, stemming from Chu Youwen saving Ma Zhaixing and then deliberately revealing his whereabouts via a spy named Chasing Sun.
Ji Chong deduced that Chu Youwen had intentionally allowed the spy, who knew his weaknesses, to escape and divulge the Wolfbone Flower's fatal effect, making his subsequent easy acquisition of the flower and his unexpected compromise at Boxiang after the butterflies' release all seem orchestrated. He concluded that Chu Youwen had intended for Ma Zhaixing to kill him at Boxiang, using his death to fulfill her desire for revenge.
Chu Youwen, feigning ignorance initially, finally admitted his true intentions, pleading with Ji Chong not to reveal the truth to Ma Zhaixing. He confessed that he wished to use his life to repay her, but as the Prince of Bo, he was also obligated to stop Chu Kui's evil. He revealed that learning of his elder brother's death being part of his father's scheme solidified his resolve that the battle of Boxiang would be his end.
His goals were two-fold: to aid his fourth brother, Chu Youzhen, in overthrowing Chu Kui's tyranny, and to free Ma Zhaixing from the shackles of hatred with his death. Ji Chong pressed him on the Ma Ying case, to which Chu Youwen explained that Chu Kui had secretly ordered the Night Fiends to assassinate Ma Ying, only sparing Ma Zhaixing to later control the Ma Army, keeping Chu Youwen ignorant until it was too late.
Ji Chong questioned why Chu Youwen didn't reveal this truth to Ma Zhaixing earlier, allowing her to continue believing he was an unforgivable villain. Chu Youwen accepted responsibility as the Night Fiends leader who had deceived her, causing her immense pain, and expressed his desire for her to hate him. He reasoned that this hatred would not last long, as he intended to return to the capital the next day, facing treason charges and certain death.
He believed that when she heard of his demise, she would feel a sense of satisfaction, allowing her to finally lay down her hatred. Ji Chong countered that if she ever learned he was not involved in her family's death, that he sacrificed the battle of Boxiang for her, and protected her with his life on Qi Mountain, she would never be happy with him gone. Chu Youwen reiterated his plea: "So do not let her know the truth.
All my life I've brought her too much pain. Since I am certain to die, then let the truth be buried with me. Don't let her suffer again." Though Ji Chong found it against his principles to help with such a deception, he acknowledged that only he and Chu Youwen truly prioritized Ma Zhaixing's happiness.
Chu Youwen then entrusted Ma Zhaixing's well-being and reputation to Ji Chong, asking him to protect her from societal misunderstanding given the suspicions that would arise after he saved her from the battle of Boxiang. Ji Chong questioned why Chu Youwen, knowing his imminent death, still felt compelled to return. Chu Youwen stated that he, not his innocent brother Youzhen, deserved to die, and he was determined to save him.
Ji Chong remarked that if they hadn't loved the same woman and weren't destined enemies, they might have been friends. Chu Youwen sadly replied that such a chance would never come, as he was "destined to be alone forever."
