Young Blood Episode 9 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Zhao Jian spoke with Ding Er, who revealed his personal history. His own father had sent him to the prison camp, leading him to believe he had no future outside its walls and no desire to leave. Zhao Jian urged him to choose resistance, recounting a time she herself defied her father’s command to marry, choosing her own path to achieve her aspirations. Ding Er was astonished by her story.
Zhao Jian continued, emphasizing that while his father gave him life, he could not dictate his destiny. Ding Er’s life should be his own to forge, and he should not abandon himself to despair. Ding Er reflected on her words, understanding that he must walk his own way. Ding Er had also previously informed Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian that many soldiers were in league with the prisoners, allowing them to move freely at night.
Earlier, Yuan Zhongxin had learned that Wei Yanei was the "Great Preacher," being used as a shield by the prisoners. Wei Yanei had also revealed that Wang Kuan and others had gone into the mining cave and disappeared. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian discussed this. Yuan Zhongxin firmly refused to let Zhao Jian enter the dangerous cave alone, arguing that they should first report to Lu Guannian and rescue Wei Yanei, as entering rashly could trap them.
Zhao Jian playfully warned Yuan Zhongxin not to fall in love with her, as she was determined never to marry. Later, Yuan Zhongxin approached the Warden to discuss their plan to escape the camp, specifically by stealing crossbows to gain prisoner trust. The Warden, however, was reluctant to involve Lu Guannian and preferred to call upon external soldiers. Yuan Zhongxin was surprised by the Warden’s unusual earnestness.
The Warden then confided that he believed someone was stalking him, revealing that a hair he carefully placed in his office door crack had been disturbed, and someone had infiltrated his residence. Nothing was stolen, which made him even more uneasy, fearing the prisoners intended to kill him. Yuan Zhongxin agreed that the Warden posed the greatest threat to a prison break.
Deciding against involving outside forces for now, Yuan Zhongxin chose instead to return to the quarry to subdue the prisoner leader himself and prevent chaos. After her talk with Ding Er, Zhao Jian ventured alone into the mountain cave. There, she heard beautiful "xun" music. Wang Kuan suddenly appeared, stopping her from going further. He secretly told Zhao Jian that he and the others had followed a clue into the cave, but were captured by a mysterious person.
He had just managed to slip out. Wang Kuan could not leave because Xue Ying and Xiao Jing were still trapped inside; if he left, the mysterious person would kill them. He gave Zhao Jian a valuable silk handkerchief as a clue and urged her to leave. Upon returning to the quarry, Yuan Zhongxin could not find Zhao Jian. Shortly after, imperial guards suddenly appeared, forcing everyone back to their cells.
Not long after, the former Warden was found dead, and the Deputy Warden temporarily assumed command. The Deputy Warden immediately summoned Yuan Zhongxin and, suspicious of the previous Warden's sudden death, interrogated him. Yuan Zhongxin skillfully claimed Zhao Jian was helping in the mess hall. When the Deputy Warden took him there and found no sign of her, his suspicions resurfaced, and he ordered a search of the quarry and cells. Fortunately, Zhao Jian had already returned to their cell.
There, she and Yuan Zhongxin staged a dramatic quarrel, effectively dispelling the Deputy Warden's doubts. Once the Deputy Warden left, Yuan Zhongxin informed Zhao Jian of the Warden’s murder and the camp’s recent upheaval. Zhao Jian then shared her own findings from her mountain cave visit: she had heard a woman humming and a distinct rustling sound. She also reiterated that Wang Kuan had given her a valuable silk handkerchief as a clue.
Both agreed it was unlikely to be a "mountain ghost" and speculated that the activities in the cave were connected to a woman. Meanwhile, the old thief, who was monitoring the prison camp, discovered the late Warden's body being taken to the medical hall and transported it to the Secret Bureau.
With the prison camp’s situation unclear and the cause of death unknown, Lu Guannian, concerned for the safety of the Seven Palaces members, decided to hold off on sending troops, waiting for a more opportune moment, trusting Yuan Zhongxin's intelligence. Later, a prisoner named 'Preacher' led Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian to a meeting with Wei Yanei. To their surprise, the Deputy Warden was also present, confirming his complicity with the prisoners in plotting the escape.
The Deputy Warden, impressed by Yuan Zhongxin’s intelligence, appointed him and Zhao Jian as envoys to negotiate with the individual inside the cave. Entering the cave, Yuan Zhongxin sprinkled insect repellent powder, holding Zhao Jian's hand tightly as they proceeded. They heard loud insect noises, leading Yuan Zhongxin to deduce that someone was using medicine to control insects within the cave. Deep inside, they encountered a man who guided them further, where a woman appeared.
Yuan Zhongxin conveyed the escape plan: a joint breakout in three days, with the 'Great Preacher' (Wei Yanei) taking responsibility for all consequences. However, the woman demanded that the 'Great Preacher' (Wei Yanei) personally enter the cave for a detailed discussion. As Yuan Zhongxin hesitated, the cave dwellers prepared to attack. At that moment, Yuan Zhongxin recognized the woman as Su Xingqiao, a boat foreman from Bian Shui Canal whom he and the old thief had met before.
He wondered why she was imprisoned in the camp. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian then split up. Yuan Zhongxin emerged from the cave, falsely claiming Zhao Jian was being held captive. He reported Su Xingqiao's demand to the Deputy Warden, who, overjoyed, immediately ordered Wei Yanei to enter the cave for negotiations. Meanwhile, Zhao Jian secretly infiltrated the former Warden’s tent to search for information regarding Su Xingqiao's date of imprisonment.
