Young Blood Episode 31 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
As part of a plan conceived with Yuan Zhongxin to lure Dean Lu Guannian from his office, Wei Yanei and Xue Ying rushed to see him. Feigning panic, they informed him that Section 5 had sent a letter threatening Wang Kuan’s life to avenge Liu Sheng, and that both the letter and Jing had gone missing. They claimed to suspect Section 5 had taken Jing and that Di Jiang was involved.
They urged Lu Guannian to accompany them to Section 5, arguing that a search warrant alone wouldn't suffice. The ruse worked, and Lu Guannian agreed to go, leaving his office unguarded. Meanwhile, Yuan Zhongxin, disguised as Di Jiang, had already infiltrated the Secret Repository and located Zhao Jian, who was imprisoned in a secret room. Initially mistaking him for the real Di Jiang, Zhao Jian offered to reveal Wang Kuan’s whereabouts if he would unlock her.
Yuan Zhongxin then removed his mask, revealing his true identity. He explained that he had used the Di Jiang disguise to gain entry after realizing Zhao Jian was in trouble when she didn't send a coded message. Zhao Jian, while relieved, told him that the lock was no ordinary one and likely required a key. She then revealed the full extent of Lu Guannian and Han Duanzhang’s treacherous plan.
Their primary goal was to create civil strife in Liao, which would give Song an opportunity to intervene. Their initial plan, using Princess Yun Ni to assassinate the Song Empress, had failed. Now, they were on a backup plan: arranging a political marriage between Yun Ni and a Song royal. Han Duanzhang had manipulated Yun Ni’s brother, Prince Yun’an, into agreeing to the marriage without the Liao King’s permission.
They predicted that when the Liao King discovered this insubordination, he would attack Prince Yun’an, sparking the civil war they desired. Zhao Jian cautioned Yuan Zhongxin against taking the risk of stealing the key directly from Lu Guannian, fearing it would alert him to their efforts and put them in greater danger. After leaving Zhao Jian, Yuan Zhongxin met with Wei Yanei and Xue Ying.
He tasked Xue Ying with leaving a coded message for Wang Kuan to meet them behind the hostel that night. For Wei Yanei, he assigned the seemingly impossible mission of "getting" the key from Lu Guannian, clarifying that he didn't mean stealing it directly. Yuan Zhongxin's plan involved exploiting Dean Lu Guannian's connections. Wei Yanei, using his familial ties, arranged for Commandant Lv Jian to invite Lu Guannian to his mansion for a private meeting.
Upon arrival at Lv Jian’s residence, Lu Guannian was required to relinquish all weapons for security, including a small key. Wei Yanei successfully intercepted the key during this process. Separated from the main group, Wang Kuan, Jing, and Yun Ni were in hiding. Yun Ni continued to accuse Wang Kuan of killing Xiaohua, refusing to believe his protestations of innocence, but Wang Kuan calmly reiterated his belief that the real killer would soon be found.
Wang Kuan expressed concern for Yuan Zhongxin, but maintained confidence in his ability to evade capture, knowing no one else knew of their secret hideout. Jing, following Wang Kuan’s earlier instruction, had searched for Yuan Zhongxin’s coded messages, finding none. However, she later found the code Xue Ying left, confirming the rendezvous for that night. Unbeknownst to them, the real Di Jiang was still actively searching for Wang Kuan.
Han Duanzhang, encountering Di Jiang, convinced him that aimlessly wandering the streets wouldn't lead to Wang Kuan. After some initial caution from Di Jiang, who asked Han Duanzhang to remove his mask as a precaution against impersonators, Han Duanzhang proposed that they track members of Section 7, knowing they wouldn't abandon their friends. They soon spotted Jing and followed her back to Wang Kuan and Yun Ni’s hiding place.
When Di Jiang attacked Wang Kuan, Jing bravely stepped in front of Wang Kuan to protect him. Fearing for Jing's life, Wang Kuan urged her to leave. In a surprising turn, Jing grabbed Yun Ni and held her hostage, threatening to kill the princess if Di Jiang harmed Wang Kuan. Yun Ni, bewildered, protested, but Jing calmly explained that Han Duanzhang needed her alive, giving them leverage.
Recognizing Yun Ni's critical role in his larger scheme, Han Duanzhang immediately intervened, stopping Di Jiang from further action. He allowed Wang Kuan, Jing, and Yun Ni to escape. With the key in hand, Yuan Zhongxin returned to Zhao Jian’s cell. He found her surprisingly relaxed, eating a tangerine. He playfully chided her for her nonchalant attitude, given the efforts made to save her.
After a brief banter where Zhao Jian feigned contentment with her imprisonment, she admitted she was just teasing him. Yuan Zhongxin then used the key to free her. Once released, Zhao Jian discussed Lu Guannian and Han Duanzhang's conspiracy further, emphasizing the need to inform Yun Ni of Han Duanzhang’s true intentions. Yuan Zhongxin revealed he had paid "Old Thief" a substantial sum (Wei Yanei's money, as Zhao Jian quickly deduced) to gather information, expecting to hear from him soon.
Meanwhile, Dean Lu Guannian was still engaged in a long and philosophical conversation with Commandant Lv Jian. Lv Jian, appearing frail and reflecting on his life, subtly criticized Lu Guannian's transformation, lamenting that he had lost his youthful idealism and morality by "lingering too long in darkness."
Lv Jian argued that those young people who still believed in justice, like the members of Section 7, represented the true hope for Song, and that Lu Guannian, as their Dean, should protect that idealism. Lu Guannian, however, steadfastly defended his ruthless methods as necessary for the future of their country. As Lu Guannian later returned to his office, he discovered that the key to Zhao Jian's secret room was missing.
Wang Kuan, Jing, and Yun Ni were on the run again, but were still being pursued by Han Duanzhang's hooligans. Wang Kuan proposed that Jing take Yun Ni and separate from him to increase their chances of escape, as he was their primary target. Jing refused to leave him, but eventually agreed to take Yun Ni to meet Yuan Zhongxin and the others. She decided they should head for the hostel, believing Yuan Zhongxin would be there, and instructed Yun Ni to hide outside while she went in.
