EPISODE 31

The following is a semi recap plus review plus opinion on the specific episodes, emphasising more on the review than the recap. Spoilers alert and highly opinionated. Read at your peril.

Brother, I think you have fallen into the love curse! You're damned for life! One just left.. now another has arrived! - SXM

I had difficulty in choosing the quote of my choice for this episode because almost every scene has a great quote, especially the ending. But I decided to go with the witty one because boy oh boy, this episode is heavy on the drama. SXM gave that line and the one with the clearest mind, he sees things. I really like him. I hope he doesn't die but from what I've read, he is doomed.

This is also the episode where the supporting characters come forward to provide some much needed help either in the form of advice or actual help. For what DFYQ did for HQG without any question whatsoever to that super bitch NMT, I will say I forgive DFYQ for all that he did.

Also this episode is also quite frustrating to watch because  there is a jump; a jump in plot that I shall highlight and also the unfairness to poor HQG, the busiest disciple ever, and that is not because she is busy learning. But first, Shifu's poisoned state #3...

He is getting worse... see the dark circles and all.. save your tears, because he will get much worse than this.

Recap! Oh so exciting!

Tang Bao saw HQG with NMT and was angry with NMT for bullying HQG and insisted on going after NMT who promptly slapped Tang Bao so hard Tang Bao fell behind. She wanted to do more but HQG stopped her and basically told her;

You dare to slap Tang Bao? Aren't you afraid what your shifu will do to you?

So it is an open secret Shiyi likes Tang Bao or favours and dotes on her. This one can but HQG can't do the same for BZH? Oh yeah right, BZH is master and she is disciple, Tang Bao is persona non grata in Changliu! Anyway NMT huff and puff and left. I am losing my patience with that super bitch.

Meanwhile, HQG is busy keeping shifu alive. Pouring over books, she chants to herself "There must be away.. there must be a way..." but there isn't. She keeps cutting herself to bottle her blood and the way she goes, one bottle per session means she will dry up soon. This time she puts her blood into his favourite dish, errr I used to write Plum Blossom Soup but now the translator says Peach Blossom Soup, I will just say Blossom Soup, ok? But then, why does she thinks shifu will ever drink it? I mean it looks really orange colour, not appetizing at all and she puts it in front of his room for a week, 6 bottles of blood gone...

But not one drop entered BZH's mouth because he knows, he ignores until one day.. he opened the door and saw her offering the soup and angrily... well first time ever BZH very very angry  and so must screencap that...

BZH can even throw a bowl beautifully. Anyway, he is angry because she is not listening. I am surprised he only realises that now. Poor HQG, crying...

I don't want to lose you shifu... I don't want to lose you...

Shifu ponders on the fate of the world as he is slowly agonisingly dying. I just feel his death wish is clear. He is not exactly doing anything to save himself, he is just preparing to die whilst HQG is doing her best to keep him alive, like a mother trying to persuade her stubborn son to drink her milk and he hates it. I mean come on BZH, do something, anything instead of just preparing to die!!

Meeting day and everyone is wondering, where is BZH? Even Mo Yan is wondering and Jade Cloud Peak's sect, I think Sect Leader Wen if I am not mistaken asked with genuine concern and revealed BZH was injured and everyone, even Mo Yan was shocked and whispered aloud but BZH arrived just in time, a bit pale but otherwise all ok. He chaired the meeting and urged everyone to work together to defeat SQM and SCQ. Frankly I wonder what have those 2 done to have everyone ban together to defeat them? So far the world doesn't seem to be at peril. Anyway NMT's dad wanted to say NO but Sect Leader Wen (name to be confirmed) agreed and everyone agreed and for once, everyone listens to BZH.

As they left, BZH finally felt weak and grabbed his chest and luckily only SXM there and BZH again left his final wish; he urged SXM to take care of Xiaogu because he knew eldest brother will never let HQG go and her life will be hell and SXM said how can BZH hide his condition anymore and BZH said after his death to spread the rumour that he over practised his kung fu and died from that and SXM was like "oh brother..." but promised to take care of HQG but urged BZH to think of a way to settle HQG who is becoming a problem because both knew whether anyone believed how BZH died, rumour or not, HQG will suffer.

Sword Competition day. Again Mo Yan was waiting for BZH, why is he late, etc etc and pushes SXM agrees to look for BZH in one of the more lighthearted moment. HQG was still busy bottling her blood and rushed to her shifu to give to him when he looked pale but he refused and SXM arrived and told him he had to attend the sword competition and this time, it is obvious SXM KNOWS about HQG's blood! But when did he know? How did he know? I don't get it! Is there a jump? Anyway BZH was persuaded. Didn't show him drink the blood but next scene he was at the competition, looking ok.

Competition started with HQG and NMT... a nice screencap for you all..

It felt weird the sword flew into the river and then flew out. I wonder why? Anyway kung fu is still terrible, lots of clothes, lots of fighting in the air and then.... they both stood still on the pillars on each side and NMT was thinking how she will torture HQG because she realised how much HQG loved BZH and will want to do something about Tang Bao as well and obviously HQG heard her thoughts for some reason and this time HQG aimed to kill. Shiyi was curious why HQG with all her skills couldn't finish off NMT immediately. Anyway one of the rules is you can't kill your opponent. But HQG aimed for NMT and Mo Yan cried NOOOOOOO and BZH secretly threw a magical pebble thingy and stopped HQG and HQG fell to the floor and NMT was considered the winner. HQG saw BZH left angrily and she had only one thing on her mind; shifu.. shifu.. shifu.. as she rushed to his side and he.. well he..he SLAPPED her so hard she fell to the floor. BZH angrily reprimanded her, saying how she could use all the magic he taught her to try to kill, more so a fellow disciple and he walked away and HQG followed closely crying for her shifu and she fell to her knees in front of his room and cried ..

Shifu, I know I am wrong! Shifu please forgive Xiaogu!

But shifu was so angry, he pointed at her and angrily said;

You think about your wrongdoing!!

and auto door opened and closed shut and poor Xiaogu, traumatised by her shifu's very angry outburst.

Pause! PAUSE!!!

Such injustice! HQG may have aimed her sword at NMT but what about NMT cutting those pillars and throwing them at HQG's way? Wasn't NMT also trying to kill HQG? No? Really? Pillars can't kill issit? So unfair!!

Poor HQG. All day and night, through rain and shine, she knelt before his door, crying ..

Shifu, Xiaogu realises her wrong! Please forgive Xiaogu!

And she kow towed her head on the rock until she was bloodied.. until the rain fell and stopped and it was morning and she was still doing the same and the grass around her turned black which means she bled so much and then.. thankfully she fainted. I let the pictures do the talking at this harrowing scene..

 

Shifu knew she was doing it all night, but did he know she was kow towing until she bled out so much? Did he? Did you BZH!! DID YOU!!! Well SXM did, he was shocked to see her that way and carried her to the ice chamber to recuperate, looked at her with sympathy and I believe SXM would make a good shifu to HQG.

SXM reprimanded BZH in a way. He asked BZH ..

Do you really not care about HQG? You let her kneel in front whole night and yet.. in your heart, you know you care! Of all us brothers, shifu once said you're the most forgiving and willing to adapt, but the truth is you're most stubborn and dead set in your ways!  I know you're angry, this is you letting anger influence you but brother,  do you really not care at all? 

But BZH was angry HQG wanted to kill and SXM was the one who said maybe she had her reason and BZH was like so what if she had her reasons, she can't kill. And it was like talking to a brick wall.

Pause.

And fans says BZH is IN LOVE with HQG. No this is fatherly, this is love lover-ly.

Finally BZH softened when SXM emphasised how HQG kneel all night BUT he did not say she also knocked her head on the rock ALL NIGHT! Anyway BZH asked qently;

How is she?

And SXM in this scene with some very funny response asked..

She? Who are you referring to? Who is the she?

Ha! Anyway SXM told him he took HQG to the ice chamber and then ZX arrived with a bottle of antidote made from the cauldron crying to BZH to see her, knowing he lied to her about his health and that was when SXM said that gem of a line I chose as the best quote. SXM volunteered to chase ZX away but BZH felt it is time to confront what is inevitable and he did it at a very beautiful "xian" like location. Basically he told ZX his poison is ok now, so ZX can stop making antidote and that he wondered why ZX turned into this "neither ghost nor human" sort of look and volunteered to steer her to the path of righteousness again. ZX laughed bitterly and again the same line; that BZH is in denial about his feelings for HQG, that he is even willing to die for HQG but BZH said HQG is her disciple, he will die for her if he had to and ZX basically said he is denying he loves her and BZH I guess was beyond answering the often asked question.

Look, BZH is not in love with HQG and yet ZX refused to believe it. Again and again she questioned him. If a master or a disciple won't die for one another, who will? I wonder what will ZX say if BZH will die for her instead of HQG? Love again? Is this woman's head only filled with this equation;

SACRIFICE = LOVE?

HQG willingly did all she could for half the reason of love, the other half was because BZH is her only family, sort of. It is frustrating to watch ZX that way, and BZH basically said the same thing. She left him with the bottle and warned him;

Don't let HQG become like me...

Well BZH certainly didn't listen to that prediction eh? Anyway he threw the bottle into the lake. Why? Simple. No antidote could save him, wasted effort anyway. Anyway, this scene answers my ONE QUESTION about BZH's age. He said to ZX;

We together have cultivated for 1000 years...

So he is at least 1000 years old plus his original age, probably 20 ish when he started. Which means SQM must be very old but he could have been ZX's fellow disciple at 7 Murder Faction Sect. Point is this series just throw out a fact like ZX was from that sect and yet I never see any interaction between her and SQM, except with SCQ which means SCQ is at least as old. Wow.. 1000 years... that woman has been in love with BZH for 1000 years.. Tan Fan probably also 1000 years.. no wonder neither could let go...

HQG woke up and her shifu was done healing her wounds. She rushed to him and kneel and hugged him and begged for forgiveness and he asked her why did she aimed to kill NMT? She couldn't answer, just said she was foolish. Shifu wasn't too pleased with the answer because he knew there must be a reason.

HQG strolled alone, looking glum. I haven't seen a happy carefree HQG for some time now. NMT cornered her and angrily huffed how HQG dared to try to kill her and pushed HQG to the ground and hit HQG and Tang Bao and DFYQ arrived and DFYQ told NMT sternly to leave, Tang Bao refused to let her leave until HQG told her to let NMT go. For once, I am so happy to see DFYQ. Anyway he was at Changliu to observe the competition since the winner may be the next leader of Changliu...

WHAT? NMT could be the next leader of Changliu? That woman who is always like she is PMS-ing? Seriously? She and Mo Yan makes a fine couple.

Anyway, we are told some news about 2 missing characters; MXL is doing well as an emperor, Qingshui is living well and happy just to be by his side and DFYQ observed how he admired Qingshui for having the guts to pursue her own happiness. Anyway he asked HQG what's with NMT and HQG told him about the hankie but not what's on it and DFYQ didn't ask much and said he will help her to retrieve it. Weird thing in this scene is Tang Bao calling DFYQ as Dongfang instead of diedie aka daddy. Weird!

Next came the scene why I forgive DFYQ.

He walked into NMT's room at night, quite stylishly may I add and she was sleeping and she woke with a start to see DFYQ with a small knife, and some clever magic she involuntarily told DFYQ where the hankie was. DFYQ didn't immediately look at the hankie, he respected HQG too much to snoop into her affairs. Reason no. 1 why I forgive him. Reason no. 2, the pocket knife brandished around NMT. Reason no. 3, he warned NMT to leave HQG alone and she can never reveal HQG's secret! Yeap, I am on team DFYQ for once!! And I screencap this scene because I want to burn it to my memory forever...

I wanna rewind a bit. NMT did asked her father to teach her Peng Lai's forbidden kung fu to defeat HQG. He refused. I guess later on she will learn those on her own. I hope whatever worms got to do with NMT will be featured in here. I do know BZH will chop off her arm. I hope that scene stays. God I hate this woman. What's with her obsessive hate over HQG??

Next came my most favourite scene in this episode, so favourite I am going to basically recap the entire conversation, hopefully word for word...

DFYQ walked at night back from NMT mission, the hankie in his pocket, he has yet to see it and there appeared BZH...It was a beautiful confrontation with some atmospheric surroundings and nifty camera work featuring 2 guys who always have very interesting confrontation...

DFYQ : You?

BZH : Is there any place in Changliu you are not capable of entering... Yi Xiu Jun (DFYQ's alter ego, guy in mask - so BZH finally remembers his cactus up his butt moment - yes BZH was insensitive I agree especially to a boy who just lost his dad). You don't need to hide anymore, I know your identity.

DFYQ : So what if you know? The worst you can do is to kill me, in front of HQG.

BZH : Stop...stop now. Let all grudges go. Donghua is missing, Tanfan died violently, Wugou killed himself, Zixun is a fallen immortal and I.. I am dying from the Cauldron Poison and no antidote could save me..Isn't it time you let go of your hatred?

DFYQ : I just did what I had to do. Each and everyone of you deserved to die.

BZH : What about Xiaogu? Have you ever thought of her, what if she knew?

And he went on about Xiaogu and all that and DFYQ actually softened for a moment when BZH continued...

BZH : After I die, take Xiaogu away..

DFYQ : What?!

BZH : After I die, do all you can to take care of Xiaogu, never let her be alone anymore..

DFYQ : BZH! You are always acting to righteous. You think I will just let go of you just because you said that?

BZH : I will banish Xiaogu from Changliu. Changliu.. is no longer a place she can stay anymore...

DFYQ was stunned by what BZH told him and as BZH walked away and DFYQ saw his back walking away, he finally looked at the hankie and obviously knew why HQG was so distressed over losing the hankie...

Very powerful scene. Two great men discussing about Xiaogu. Poor Xiaogu. She really will have no place at Changliu. But she will never leave her beloved shifu. BZH is now busy leaving Will everywhere. My god, that man is preparing for death!

Wonderful episode; emotional, sad, happy, funny, all in one. Suddenly I like DFYQ. I like him for what he did for HQG, and especially what he did to NMT. All these busybodies made life hell for HQG and even BZH knew once he is gone, her life at Changliu will be over. Point is, suppose BZH does die, I believe HQG will kill herself. That was how devoted she is to him. He knows it and he appreciates it. He is making plans for her, and I bet if he had no choice, if there is no DFYQ, he would have asked SQM, now that will be a desperate act for BZH and means BZH is in love with HQG isn't it?

But no, he is not in love with her. I think fans are becoming like ZX.

Acting wise, what more can I say? Fantastic all round. Wallace does how how to look and act poisoned and mind you, 3 episodes in and still some more to go before he is not poisoned. I think everyone did well, even Li Chun as the hated NMT. 

And yes yes yes, DFYQ is great! Ok? I admit it!!

But did anyone of you hate BZH for his harsh treatment over HQG? Ever thought even if she didn't hit her head on the rock, he would have forgiven her. Her reaction over his anger is OTT of course but then she was desperate for BZH's approval over anything. Sometimes I do think HQG is too twisted in a way.

Anyway before I end this recap, some beautiful scenery, impressive location and why the sky is so nice is because it was darn hot!

And the most beautiful shot of all...

More heartache to come...

P/S : was told HQG at this point has lived with BZH for 4 years. Really?