Young Blood Episode 12 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian discussed Ding Er, who had returned to Xia, with Zhao Jian speculating that he might become a formidable adversary in the future. Later, Lu Guannian called each member of Section 7 individually to discuss their performance during the prison camp incident. Xiao Jing felt that Zhao Jian and Yuan Zhongxin made the most contributions, while Wei Yanei made the fewest, apart from herself.
Xue Ying agreed that Zhao Jian was the most instrumental and Wei Yanei the least. Wei Yanei, in turn, named Yuan Zhongxin as the top contributor but shockingly chose Xue Ying as the one with the fewest contributions, accusing him of failing to protect Wang Kuan or Xiao Jing despite his strength. Wang Kuan, however, refused to single out anyone, stating that everyone made mistakes due to lack of experience, not incompetence.
Yuan Zhongxin, when his turn came, also credited Zhao Jian with the most contributions. Lu Guannian then gathered everyone and informed them that the Privy Council was displeased with the prison camp incident, requiring one member to be expelled. With both Xue Ying and Wei Yanei having received two votes each as the "least contributive," Lu Guannian instructed them to decide among themselves who would leave.
Wei Yanei, true to his character, argued that neither of them should leave, but Xue Ying insisted that Wei Yanei, having done nothing in the outer camp, should be the one to go. An angry Wei Yanei was about to confront Xue Ying when Yuan Zhongxin intervened, asserting that Section 7 had other merits that could compensate for their errors, preventing anyone from being expelled.
Yuan Zhongxin then led Lu Guannian and the rest of Section 7 to the Hengxin Dyehouse, which Yuan Zhongxin revealed to be a secret stronghold for Liao agents. Zhao Jian was already inside, having infiltrated earlier. They stormed the place, apprehending all the agents. Yuan Zhongxin explained that he had suspected Ms. Su, a boatwoman, of being involved with Liao agents.
He noticed a loophole in her story about using "dirty things" to freshen dried shrimp, as there were many boatmen who could supply such materials, making her alleged connection to Feng Zhu, a stool cleaner, suspicious. He further elaborated that Wang Kuan had found Ms. Su's girdle in Feng Zhu’s cell, confirming a close relationship.
Yuan Zhongxin deduced that Ms. Su had likely discovered Feng Zhu's Liao identity and then killed him for the secret letter containing a list of crossbow technicians to sell for profit. Ms. Su, whose family was ruined by the emperor, had become the "Dragon King of water transport" as a way to profit from the turmoil.
Zhao Jian had been secretly monitoring Ms. Su since the prison camp, leading them to the stronghold when Ms. Su thought it was safe enough to conduct her trade. Their successful capture of the Liao agents was deemed a significant contribution, nullifying the need to expel anyone. Wei Yanei was allowed to remain in the Secret Repository but was stripped of his section chief position, which was then given to Zhao Jian.
Lu Guannian reminded them about the importance of secrecy regarding their identities and missions, even from their own families, and explained that the exercise of choosing who to expel was to teach them that in their line of work, absolute trust in anyone, even those closest, was a luxury they couldn't afford. Wei Yanei returned home, where his father, Grand Commandant Wei Zhuoran, expressed disappointment and scolded him, calling him useless.
Wei Yanei, feeling disrespected, secretly vowed to accomplish something extraordinary to earn his father’s admiration. Later that night, Wang Kuan tried to comfort a seemingly asleep Xue Ying, commenting on how Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian had developed good teamwork, which Yuan Zhongxin quickly denied when he overheard. The next morning, Xue Ying approached Wei Yanei, offering to be a punching bag for Wei Yanei's anger.
Wei Yanei, still upset, demanded to know why Xue Ying had voted for him to be expelled. Xue Ying explained that his family were military households from Hebei, and his father was a timid soldier. Members of military households could not leave their garrisons from birth. The only reason his parents were in Kaifeng, running a noodle soup shop, was because Lu Guannian had agreed to remove their military status if Xue Ying joined the Secret Repository.
If Xue Ying were expelled, his family would be forced back to their desolate military post, condemning future generations to the same fate. He pleaded with Wei Yanei to understand why he had to stay. While they were at Xue Ying’s parents' noodle shop, a local thug tried to extort protection money from Xue Ying's parents.
Seeing them being bullied and his father's cowardly subservience, Wei Yanei, remembering Xue Ying’s story and his own vow to prove himself, intervened and scared off the thug. He then shared a bowl of noodle soup with Xue Ying, declaring their previous grudges settled over the shared meal. A new mission was then assigned to Section 7 by Lu Guannian. A gifted technician named Chen Gong from the Crossbow Workshop was being targeted by both Liao and Xia.
Due to security concerns, the Privy Council decided to move Chen Gong to a private mansion in the east of the city, where loyal Imperial Guards would protect him. Section 7's task was to secretly extract Chen Gong from the highly guarded workshop and deliver him to the mansion without revealing their Secret Repository identities. Yuan Zhongxin was initially reluctant but was compelled to join by Zhao Jian.
Section 7 devised a plan: Wang Kuan and Xiao Jing would prepare the mansion, while Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian would retrieve Chen Gong from the workshop. Xue Ying and Wei Yanei would wait outside with a carriage for the pickup. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian successfully gained entry to the workshop by posing as Chen Gong's relatives, using a forged pass. They discreetly escorted Chen Gong over a wall, then brazenly exited through the main gate.
Chen Gong entered the waiting carriage. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian instructed Xue Ying and Wei Yanei to return to the Secret Repository. However, Wei Yanei, eager to claim credit, secretly followed the carriage. Midway, the carriage was ambushed by mysterious assailants. While Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian fought off the attackers, Chen Gong seized the opportunity to escape. Observing from afar, Wei Yanei and Xue Ying intercepted the fleeing Chen Gong.
Xue Ying intended to take him to the designated mansion, but Wei Yanei, still thinking of a way to maximize his personal glory, pulled Chen Gong in a different direction. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian returned to the mansion empty-handed. Zhao Jian wanted to report Chen Gong's disappearance to Lu Guannian immediately, but Yuan Zhongxin, suspecting a traitor within the Secret Repository since only their group knew the details, suggested finding Chen Gong first.
Meanwhile, Wei Yanei led Chen Gong and Xue Ying to Xue Ying's parents' noodle shop, where he promptly knocked Chen Gong unconscious. Wei Yanei revealed his audacious plan to Xue Ying: to hide Chen Gong until everyone else had given up searching, then present him, ensuring undeniable credit for themselves. News of Chen Gong's disappearance soon reached Lu Guannian, who was furious at Section 7's deception.
He ordered them to find Chen Gong immediately, emphasizing that the entire Imperial Army was already searching. Lu Guannian stressed the critical importance of Chen Gong, who possessed incomplete designs for the "Wheelbarrow Cannon." If these fell into the hands of Liao or Xia, the Song Dynasty would be gravely imperiled, thus, if Chen Gong were found captured by the enemy, he was to be killed without hesitation.
Xue Ying, alarmed by the escalating situation, urged Wei Yanei to turn Chen Gong in. Wei Yanei, however, refused, arguing that doing so now would be an admission of hiding Chen Gong, leading to punishment instead of reward. He insisted they wait a few more days. Zhao Jian then called a meeting for Section 7. She and Yuan Zhongxin outlined search areas and assigned tasks.
She sent Wei Yanei home to subtly extract information from his father, Wei Zhuoran, about the Imperial Guards' search progress. Wei Yanei then requested that Xue Ying be assigned to search the southern part of the city, where his parents' noodle shop was located.
