The Wolf Episode 43 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Zhaixing resolves that if she does not receive a signal from Lord Bo within three days, she will return to Jin, emphasizing that she cannot allow Ji Chong to remain in danger for too long. The following morning, a horrific scene unfolds in Qiannu Camp: Li Qiang's mutilated body is discovered near the mine pit, his body mutilated and all four limbs severed, as if torn by a wild beast, indicating immense suffering before death.
Liu'er, arriving to deliver firewood, witnesses the gruesome sight alongside Zhao Jiu and others, all visibly horrified. Zhang Yuan, recalling the rampant rumors, firmly believes Lord Bo, driven by revenge for his imprisonment, controlled a "warrior wolf" to commit the murder. The Warden is informed by a subordinate that the actual "wolf monster" remains secured in its prison cell, with no signs of forced entry.
Despite this, seeing that the war slaves are falling into Lord Yun's trap, the Warden instructs his subordinates to bring Lord Bo. He intends to provoke the war slaves' hatred against Lord Bo, hoping they will accidentally beat him to death, even suggesting providing weapons if needed. Initially, Liu'er, harboring deep resentment towards Chu Kui and transferring some of that animosity to Lord Bo, decides to report Lord Bo to the Warden, especially after Li Qiang's tragic death.
However, as he approaches the door, he unexpectedly overhears a conversation between the Warden and Lord Yun. The Warden reports to Lord Yun that he personally killed Li Qiang last night, then allowed wolf dogs to mutilate the body to frame Lord Bo, making it appear as if Lord Bo, in control of a "warrior wolf," was the culprit.
He confirms that the rumors spread by Liu'er himself were successful, leading the war slaves to believe Lord Bo is the murderer. Lord Yun approves of the plan, instructing the Warden to let the war slaves kill Lord Bo, then execute the war slaves themselves to silence them. Lord Yun promises the Warden a promotion out of Qiannu Camp. Overhearing this conspiracy, Liu'er instantly realizes he had misjudged Lord Bo and nearly caused a disaster.
By this point, the war slaves are enraged and assault Lord Bo, who offers no resistance and is quickly beaten to the ground, bleeding. Zhao Jiu attempts to intervene, urging everyone to calm down as the situation is unclear. However, Lord Bo, having discerned Lord Yun's manipulative scheme, deliberately takes responsibility for the false accusation, openly admitting to the crime. He expresses a desire for peace to return to Qiannu Camp once he is gone.
Lord Yun, satisfied, declares that without Lord Bo, the disaster will cease, and instructs the Warden to deal with the "murderer." Just as Lord Yun is about to order Lord Bo's execution, Liu'er suddenly rushes forward, publicly declaring that Lord Bo did not kill Uncle Qiang.
He reveals he overheard the Warden's secret conversation with Gu Teng, exposing that Gu Teng killed Uncle Qiang at the Warden's behest to frame Lord Bo, with the aim of inciting the war slaves to beat Lord Bo to death. Enraged by Liu'er's outburst, Lord Yun dismisses him as a liar and orders his immediate arrest.
Liu'er, however, stands firm, proclaiming that his father taught him honesty and that he must speak the truth, even about his sworn enemy Chu Kui. He adamantly states that Lord Bo is not a monster, did not kill anyone, nor did he control any "warrior wolf." Lord Bo immediately intervenes, taking responsibility again and insisting that Liu'er is innocent.
Lord Yun, mocking Lord Bo's desire to appear virtuous even when facing death, orders Gu Teng to imprison Liu'er immediately and deprive him of food until Lord Bo dies, emphasizing that Liu'er's freedom is contingent on Lord Bo's death. The war slaves are then locked back in their cells, and Liu'er is taken away.
Yao Ji, disguised as Zi Shen, learns from Feng Ting'e's confidant that Princess Consort of Yun, Jing Chuchu, has long harbored suspicions about Lord Yun's intentions, even overhearing his conversations. Leveraging this knowledge, Yao Ji devises a plan to use the rampant rumors about Lord Bo controlling a "warrior wolf" to lure Jing Chuchu to Qiannu Camp. Jing Chuchu arrives, expressing concern over the rumors and her husband's prolonged stay.
Lord Yun reassures her that he was merely investigating the local populace to dispel the baseless rumors and offers to return to the capital with her, stating that his presence is no longer needed at Qiannu Camp as others will manage affairs. This strategic move, orchestrated by Yao Ji, buys Lord Bo more time, as Lord Yun, concerned about his wife discovering his machinations, temporarily delays Lord Bo's execution.
Yao Ji acknowledges that this manipulation not only saved Lord Bo for now but also strengthened Lord Yun's trust in her. All the war slaves have been forced back into their cells. Zhao Jiu, demonstrating a keen sense of reasoning, analyzes the intricate plot orchestrated by Lord Yun and the Warden.
He concludes that their intention was to incite the war slaves' hatred against Lord Bo and use them as unwitting tools to kill him, only to then eliminate all of them, including Liu'er, once their usefulness expired. Recognizing they are merely pawns in this scheme, Zhao Jiu adamantly refuses to further harm Lord Bo, asserting that Lord Bo had previously saved Liu'er and that killing him would make them no different from heartless executioners.
He then asks if they are willing to trust him to save Liu'er. Lord Bo, observing their collective realization, offers a way out: he will lead them to freedom. He explains that given the numerous guards, they need to steal gunpowder from Gu Teng's military office to blow up Qiannu Camp. He assures them that allies will assist from outside the camp when night falls. The prospect of escaping Qiannu Camp initially brings joy to the war slaves.
However, when Lord Bo proposes seeking refuge in Jin, a collective gasp of astonishment ripples through the group. Yet, after careful consideration, they acknowledge their dire situation in Yang Kingdom, realizing that their only viable path to survival, free from constant hiding and humiliation, is to align with their enemy's enemy. Most war slaves agree to trust Lord Bo, sensing his genuine desire to atone for past wrongdoings by saving them.
Only Zhang Yuan remains unconvinced, angrily throwing a knife to the ground and storming out of the cell, ostensibly to inform the Warden. Just as he leaves, another war slave loudly denounces Zhang Yuan's betrayal. The Warden, hearing the commotion, comes out to investigate. Zhang Yuan calls for help. The Warden orders Zhang Yuan to stay inside, then harshly rebukes the accusing war slave, ordering him to be locked in the confinement room alongside Liu'er.
Inside the Warden's office, Zhang Yuan observes explosives stored within a cabinet. When the Warden enters, Zhang Yuan hesitates, seemingly on the verge of pleading for Zhao Jiu and the others, but ultimately decides against it, concluding that further words would only implicate himself.
The Warden, believing Zhang Yuan is a spy, then reveals his counter-plan: he will allow them to attempt to steal the gunpowder, then spring a trap to capture them all and execute Lord Bo and the war slaves for attempted escape. He instructs Zhang Yuan to continue his role as a spy and monitor their every move. That night, the escape plan proceeds as scheduled.
Lord Bo instructs Zhao Jiu to use a fire igniter to send a signal, a method chosen for its effectiveness and inconspicuousness, though Lord Bo expresses concern that the high walls of Qiannu Camp might obstruct the view of the Prince of Jin. However, Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong successfully spot the signal. Ma Zhaixing confirms it's Lord Bo's signal and informs Ji Chong that they will proceed according to their prearranged plan.
Meanwhile, Lord Bo observes Zhuiri, confirming that the Prince of Jin has indeed received the message and will now act to support their escape. The following morning, Zhang Yuan frantically reports to the Warden that Lord Bo stole the gunpowder last night and has already escaped. The Warden, disbelieving, claims the key to the gunpowder cabinet was always on him and guards were present all night.
However, upon checking, he finds the cabinet empty and immediately orders all officers to search the slave quarters, forcing all war slaves outside. Unbeknownst to the Warden, Zhang Yuan had not betrayed Lord Bo at all. Instead, he had secretly collaborated with Lord Bo, who had instructed him to covertly steal the gunpowder from Gu Teng's office, hide it in an old water jar by the window, and then distribute it among the war slaves to tie to their legs.
Once everyone is outside, Lord Bo gives the command, and the war slaves simultaneously throw the explosives, scattering the officers and creating utter chaos. The Warden is taken completely by surprise, realizing that he, not Lord Bo, was the one who fell into a trap. It is revealed that Zhang Yuan had not betrayed Lord Bo at all.
Instead, he had used the opportunity to infiltrate the Warden's camp and deliberately had someone create a disturbance to draw the Warden away. While the Warden was distracted, Zhang Yuan swiftly stole the gunpowder. As chaos erupts, Lord Bo instructs Zhao Jiu to rescue Liu'er. With Ji Chong's swift assistance, the war slaves begin their escape from Qiannu Camp, heading north to meet the Jin troops. Lord Bo goes to assist Zhao Jiu and Liu'er.
As they flee, Zhao Jiu is struck by a poisoned arrow and tragically dies in Lord Bo's arms, but not before entrusting Liu'er to Lord Bo's care, urging him to raise the boy. Ma Zhaixing, observing the pursuit, fires an arrow that ignites pre-buried explosives along the official road. Massive rocks tumble down the mountainsides, effectively blocking the pursuing officers and allowing Lord Bo and the escaped war slaves to continue their journey.
Upon learning of the escape, Lord Yun is enraged, deeming his officers utterly incompetent for failing to secure the heavily guarded Qiannu Camp. In a fit of uncontrollable fury, he brutally kills the Warden as an outlet for his frustration. Yao Ji stands nearby, silently observing the scene. Once Lord Yun departs, she visibly relaxes, feeling a sense of relief and acknowledging that Lord Bo's sincerity and efforts were not in vain, and that someone ultimately came to his rescue.
She reveals that the previous night, she had already discovered the presence of Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong near Qiannu Camp. Concluding that they were there to aid Lord Bo, not harm him, she made the strategic decision to withdraw her own deployed forces, allowing Ma Zhaixing to successfully carry out the rescue and claim the credit.
After successfully leading the escaped war slaves from Qiannu Camp, Lord Bo reunites with Ji Chong and the King of Jin's secretly dispatched elite Jin troops. They are escorted under the cover of night to Boxiang City. Liu'er is inconsolable over his father's death, repeatedly crying for him. Lord Bo embraces him, telling him that from now on, he can only be with him.
To comfort the grieving boy, Lord Bo shares a story about a little girl who, much like Liu'er, suffered the loss of her mother at a young age. He describes her as someone who learned to hide her pain, crying in secret while presenting a strong facade to the world. He recounts how she was forced to grow strong and lead armies due to immense responsibilities after her family's downfall, losing the right to live an ordinary life.
He alludes to her deepest wound: being let down by the man she trusted most, believing she had a future only to find a succession of traps and lies. Liu'er, deeply empathetic, notes the girl's misfortune. Lord Bo concludes that she learned to endure pain and became resilient, yet still longs for a simple life with loving parents and a devoted husband, suggesting she has now found happiness with a man who cherishes her.
When Liu'er asks if Lord Bo loves this girl, he denies such a relationship, stating that while they are no longer friends, he will always wish her well. Ma Zhaixing, standing at the doorway, listens to Lord Bo's tender narrative with tears streaming down her face. Ma Zhaixing then enters, bringing a decoction and offering belated congratulations on her and Ji Chong's marriage, promising a celebratory drink once they return to Taiyuan.
Lord Bo thanks her, but Ma Zhaixing insists she should be the one to thank him, as his words helped her understand the true nature of her repentance. Lord Bo then suggests Liu'er visit his uncles, who are worried about him. Liu'er agrees, but firmly reminds Lord Bo of his promise to his deceased father to raise him, insisting Lord Bo owes him. Later, in a private conversation, Lord Bo thanks Ji Chong for his help.
Ji Chong dismisses the thanks, stating he rescued Lord Bo and the war slaves purely for the sake of Jin and the greater good. Ji Chong then expresses gratitude to Lord Bo for honoring his promise to keep the full truth from Ma Zhaixing, acknowledging Lord Bo's reluctance. Lord Bo clarifies that his actions were solely for Ma Zhaixing's well-being, not for Ji Chong.
He states he doesn't regret his request to conceal the truth, believing their relationship doesn't need to change, as he remains the cause of her family's ruin. He asserts that knowing the truth of the War of Boxiang would only harm her, and that she is now thriving and has Ji Chong, which is enough. Ji Chong concurs, then comforts Liu'er, assuring him his father will watch over him from heaven, urging him to be brave.
Liu'er, however, confesses he isn't as brave as the girl Lord Bo described and fears life without his father. Lord Bo tenderly reassures him that even that little girl isn't as brave as she seems.
