Young Blood Episode 10 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Wei Yanei, planning his own escape, secretly knocked out the Preacher. Yuan Zhongxin, realizing this rash action would expose their true identities, promptly knocked out Wei Yanei as well, making it appear as though the Preacher had retaliated, thus preserving Wei Yanei's cover. The Deputy Warden, having temporarily assumed command after the warden's sudden death, summoned Yuan Zhongxin to his office.
He questioned Yuan Zhongxin, suspecting him of involvement in the late warden's demise, as Yuan Zhongxin was the last person to have met him. Yuan Zhongxin skillfully fabricated a story, claiming the warden had appointed him an informer to investigate the theft of crossbows, given his status as a newcomer. The Deputy Warden found this plausible, but then pressed Yuan Zhongxin about his wife, Zhao Jian, who had inexplicably vanished.
Yuan Zhongxin first guessed she might be in the kitchen, then the quarry, then finally, his cell. After being taken to the kitchen and quarry, where Zhao Jian was not found, the Deputy Warden brought Yuan Zhongxin to his cell, threatening to kill him if Zhao Jian wasn't there. Luckily, Zhao Jian had returned.
They staged a dramatic argument, with Zhao Jian claiming she had gone into the cave alone to look for Yuan Zhongxin, fearing the Mountain Ghost had taken him. She threatened to kill herself with a sword due to Yuan Zhongxin's accusations of infidelity. This act convinced the Deputy Warden of their innocence, and he left, instructing Yuan Zhongxin to continue his informer duties.
Once alone, Yuan Zhongxin informed Zhao Jian that the warden had been killed, not died of acute disease, and the Deputy Warden was testing them. He suspected foul play within the prison. Zhao Jian shared her findings from the cave, mentioning a woman singing and a strange rustling sound. She also presented a clue from Wang Kuan: an expensive girdle from a well-known embroidery shop. They deduced that the "Mountain Ghost" was likely a woman.
Consulting the prisoner records, they found that Su Xingqiao, the head of the Bian River boatmen, was recorded as "deceased by accident" three months prior. Coincidentally, a Liao agent named Feng Zhu, also a boatman, was recorded as "deceased by illness" two months prior. Suspecting that Feng Zhu might still be alive, just like Su Xingqiao, Yuan Zhongxin tasked Zhao Jian with digging up his grave in the back camp to verify.
While Zhao Jian was digging Feng Zhu's grave, Ding Er approached her. He expressed his suspicion that she and Yuan Zhongxin were not a genuine couple, citing their lack of intimacy. Zhao Jian denied it, attributing it to a quarrel. Ding Er, however, remained unconvinced and surprisingly offered to help her dig. After confirming Feng Zhu was indeed dead and had been beaten to death, Zhao Jian prepared to leave. Ding Er stopped her, promising to keep her secret.
He thanked her deeply for her past words, which had "pulled him up from the water" and helped him find his path. He offered to repay her by "dealing with her father." Wary of his intentions, Zhao Jian kicked him and warned him to stay away. Later, the Deputy Warden held a meeting with prisoners, including the now recovered Wei Yanei (still acting as the Preacher), to discuss their breakout plan.
The Deputy Warden revealed the outer camp was heavily guarded, and he intended to use the cave dwellers, specifically the boatmen, as a sacrificial first wave, with the Preacher responsible for finalizing the arrangements. Subsequently, Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian were sent into the cave as messengers to negotiate with Su Xingqiao's group. They observed a strange rustling sound.
Yuan Zhongxin speculated it was caused by someone using insecticide to control insects, and Zhao Jian confirmed this, explaining that manipulating insects was an ancient skill, and few still possessed it. They eventually met Su Xingqiao, whom Yuan Zhongxin recognized as the "Dragon King of Bian River." He proposed a joint breakout in three days, with the Preacher taking responsibility for the consequences. Su Xingqiao, however, demanded that the Preacher come in person for further discussion.
Yuan Zhongxin then left the cave, fabricating a story for the Deputy Warden that Zhao Jian was being held hostage by Su Xingqiao to ensure cooperation. The Deputy Warden, pleased, ordered Wei Yanei (acting as the Preacher) to go into the cave that night. Meanwhile, Zhao Jian returned to the warden's office to gather more information. That night, Wei Yanei, disguised as the Preacher, led a group of prisoners into the cave to meet Su Xingqiao and her people.
They agreed to the breakout plan for the following day. To ensure their compliance, Su Xingqiao took Wei Yanei hostage. As the Deputy Warden's group prepared to leave, Yuan Zhongxin suddenly demanded that Su Xingqiao release Zhao Jian. This was a pre-arranged signal. Taking advantage of the situation, Su Xingqiao's people seized Yuan Zhongxin. Elsewhere in the cave, Zhao Jian found Wang Kuan and his companions.
She attempted to rescue them, but Su Xingqiao's forces, having anticipated this, quickly captured them, suspecting them of being Liao spies. After the Deputy Warden departed, Su Xingqiao interrogated Yuan Zhongxin. She revealed a secret message, surprised by his apparent allegiance to Liao. Yuan Zhongxin explained that taking Wei Yanei hostage was his idea, conveyed to her earlier via a hidden note. He then asked her to release him, stating he understood her motivations.
Yuan Zhongxin recounted Su Xingqiao's story: she was framed for salt smuggling by the Liao agent Feng Zhu, who later entered the prison camp. Driven by hatred, she had beaten Feng Zhu to death and then established herself in the cave, using the "Mountain Ghost" legend to identify and eliminate other Liao agents. While Yuan Zhongxin admired her actions, Su Xingqiao remained suspicious of him. To prove his true loyalty, Yuan Zhongxin burned the secret message and informed her that he would prevent the prisoners from escaping the next day.
