Young Blood Episode 5 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Yuan Zhongxin plunged into a well to escape. Wang Kuan, Zhao Jian, and Xue Ying arrived at the river, with Wang Kuan explaining that the well connected to an underground river. Given Yuan Zhongxin's familiarity with water, he must have fled through the river. Having spent days interacting with Yuan Zhongxin, Zhao Jian understood his habits. She sought out Old Thief, the leader of all rogues in Kaifeng who had secretly been working for the Secret Repository.
Zhao Jian instructed Old Thief to mobilize his men to guard the city gates, preventing Yuan Zhongxin from escaping Kaifeng. Zhao Jian deduced that beyond the 50,000 strings of cash, the only person Yuan Zhongxin truly cared about was Yuan Boqi, leading her to believe Yuan Zhongxin would head for the Yuan mansion. Meanwhile, at the Yuan mansion, Liang Zhu continued to torment Yuan Boqi, pressing a sword against his neck and demanding he draw his own.
Yuan Boqi remained stoic, refusing to comply. Liang Zhu expressed his bitter hatred, questioning why it wasn't Yuan Boqi who had died in Qichuan Village. Yuan Boqi, in turn, silently pondered why he hadn't been the one to die. Suddenly, Yuan Zhongxin, disguised as a patrol soldier, arrived and lured Liang Zhu away with a false report of identity checks at the gate. Yuan Zhongxin then rescued the severely injured Yuan Boqi, planning to smuggle him out of Kaifeng.
Yuan Zhongxin had prepared a vegetable cart, hiding Yuan Boqi inside and disguising himself as a vendor. However, Liang Zhu, noticing a vegetable cart leaving the city in the late afternoon (an unusual time for a full cart), realized the deception and pursued them. Zhao Jian's group was also lying in wait, having anticipated Yuan Zhongxin's move. Zhao Jian's group intercepted the cart. Yuan Boqi emerged, and Liang Zhu swiftly arrived with imperial guards.
Zhao Jian, asserting the authority of the Privy Council, attempted to protect the Yuan brothers, but Liang Zhu disregarded her, stepping forward to fight Xue Ying, intent on apprehending both Yuan Zhongxin and Yuan Boqi. Amidst the ensuing struggle, Yuan Zhongxin managed to slip away with Yuan Boqi. Zhao Jian decided not to intervene further, stating her plan to let Liang Zhu capture the brothers first, then request Lu Guannian to reclaim Yuan Zhongxin for the Secret Repository.
She confidently stated that Liang Zhu, being the top imperial guard, would surely catch the injured Yuan Boqi. As they fled, Yuan Boqi, weakened by his injuries, insisted that Yuan Zhongxin leave him and escape alone to avoid being implicated. Yuan Zhongxin vehemently refused to abandon his brother, leading to an argument as Liang Zhu and his men closed in. Aware of Liang Zhu's powerful influence, Yuan Boqi knelt, pleading for his brother's release.
Liang Zhu, however, demanded Yuan Boqi kowtow. Unable to watch his brother suffer such humiliation, Yuan Zhongxin lunged at Liang Zhu but was quickly overpowered and severely wounded, collapsing to his knees. Yuan Boqi instructed his brother to expel the clotted blood from his chest. Wei Yanei and Xiao Jing then tried to intervene. Wei Yanei attempted to leverage his father, Grand Commandant Wei, but Liang Zhu dismissed his claims of authority without a military order.
Xiao Jing invoked the Secret Repository's name and Lu Guannian, but Liang Zhu asserted that a mere "repository" had no power to command him. As Liang Zhu ordered his men to break Yuan Zhongxin's leg, Yuan Boqi, enraged, sprang forward to protect his brother, engaging Liang Zhu in a fierce duel. Despite his injuries, Yuan Boqi fought with exceptional skill, proving to be Liang Zhu's equal, and ultimately knocked him unconscious.
Yuan Boqi had no intention of leaving Kaifeng himself, but his only concern was Yuan Zhongxin. He resolved to personally escort his younger brother out of the city. Yuan Zhongxin questioned his brother's decision, to which Yuan Boqi vaguely referenced the battle of Qichuan Village two years prior, urging Yuan Zhongxin to go far and take care of himself.
As they neared the city gate, Grand Commandant Wei arrived with his imperial guards, intending to arrest the Yuan brothers for assaulting an imperial officer. Just then, Lu Guannian appeared, presenting the Privy Council's military token. In Lord Fan's name, he commanded Grand Commandant Wei to release them, announcing that Lord Fan had volunteered for border patrol and Yuan Boqi would follow him to serve at the border. He reiterated his hope that Yuan Zhongxin would take good care.
Later, Lu Guannian spoke with Yuan Zhongxin, explaining that he was exceptionally suited for the Secret Repository and that losing him would be a great misfortune. He offered Yuan Zhongxin a year to decide, promising complete freedom to leave afterward if he wished. Yuan Zhongxin agreed to join. Lu Guannian then assigned Yuan Zhongxin his first task: to find the entrance to the Secret Repository, as "those who enter Secret Repository must make a living out of nowhere."
While Yuan Zhongxin searched, Zhao Jian unexpectedly appeared, warning him that the Secret Repository was a gathering of "mountain monsters and wild spirits," and once inside, there was no escaping. After she left, Yuan Zhongxin, by observing the wind direction, located a secret door that served as the entrance. Upon entering, he found Zhao Jian, who led him further inside.
She warned him that he could choose any chamber except the Seventh Chamber, to which Yuan Zhongxin readily agreed, assuring her he had no desire to share a room with her. Yuan Zhongxin then met Lu Guannian, who expressed surprise that Yuan Zhongxin had directly found the "secret door," as most new recruits, like Wang Kuan through "word puzzles" or Wei Yanei who tried to "smash the wall" (but was stopped by Lu Guannian), found it through indirect means.
Xiao Jing, Lu Guannian noted, had a special situation and required no such assessment. Despite Yuan Zhongxin's protests, Lu Guannian firmly assigned him to the Seventh Chamber, explaining that the primary mission of the Secret Repository was to maintain peace and stability. He then led Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian to the Seventh Chamber's courtyard, informing them that all their future provisions and expenses would be their own responsibility.
