Episode Summary
Qingcheng murders Wangquan Shouren and forces Qingtong to choose between him and Fugui. During a confrontation, Fugui expels the Black Fox from Qingcheng, but Qingtong intervenes to save her brother and becomes tainted by the fox's energy herself. We learn Guli Zan and Quan Jingting's master plan is to use a massive array to free the Black Fox. To power it, Guli Zan traps Long Weiyun in a dream, but Quan Rumu enters the dream to save her. Inside, they discover their mutual feelings before breaking the spell, though not before Guli Zan steals some of Weiyun's power.
Spoiler Alert
Sword and Beloved Episode 27: A Spider's Web and a Dragon's Dream
I hope you have your snacks ready. This episode was a lot. Let's get right into it.
The End of the Road
The episode opens on a grim note. Wangquan Shouren is dying. He's completely wrapped in spider silk. He spends his last moments apologizing over and over to Qingtong.
Then Qingcheng shows up. He kills Shouren without a second thought. It's brutal. Qingtong is convinced the Black Fox is possessing him. She thinks that’s the only explanation for his cruelty. But Qingcheng just puts a silencing spell on her. He tells her she has to make a choice. It's either him or Wangquan Fugui.
A Messy Family Confrontation
Fugui Steps In
Wangquan Fugui arrives right in the middle of this mess. He sees Qingtong trapped by her own brother. Fugui doesn't hesitate. He uses his power to force the Black Fox's aura out of Qingcheng’s body.
You’d think that would solve the problem. It doesn't. Qingcheng immediately starts trying to provoke Fugui. He wants Fugui to kill him. He says everything he can to push Fugui over the edge.
Qingtong's Choice
Qingtong gets seriously worried. She thinks Fugui might actually kill him. She manages to break free from her restraints. She jumps right in front of Qingcheng, shielding him with her own body. Then she grabs Fugui and pulls him away from the scene entirely.
As they leave, Fugui notices something deeply unsettling. He can now sense the Black Fox's aura coming from Qingtong herself. This is not good at all.
Later, Feng Tingyun gets the report. She knows Qingtong would never do these things willingly. She demands that Qianji City hand over Qingcheng for judgment. Fugui asks her to give him a little more time to sort it out.
The Black Fox's Grand Plan
A Deal in the Western Regions
The story then cuts to Guli Zan. She's having a meeting with Quan Jingting. She gets straight to the point. She asks him what his real plan is. What does the Black Fox want from her?
He tells her everything. The goal is to set up something called the Ten Thousand Wither Array. They plan to build it in the Western Regions. The array is designed to generate an unbelievable amount of hatred. All that negative energy will be the key to freeing the Black Fox.
A Trap for a Dragon
We also learn that children from the Dragon Clan have been disappearing. Quan Rumu hears this news and immediately worries. He suspects the real target is Long Weiyun. He rushes off to investigate.
His fears are correct. Guli Zan kidnapped the children. It was all a trap to lure Long Weiyun out. Guli Zan has a special weapon ready. It’s a Dream Soul Array. This array is meant to trick Weiyun into willingly sacrificing her immense power.
Into the Dreamscape
Rumu's Rescue
Quan Rumu gets to Long Weiyun’s home, but she's already gone. He uses a tracking talisman to find her. It leads him to the Dream Soul Array. He sees her trapped inside. He realizes there's only one way to save her. He has to enter the dream and wake her up from within.
The Faceless Groom
He enters her dream world. In this reality, Weiyun is preparing for her wedding day. She's about to marry the love of her life. There's just one problem. Her groom has no face.
Rumu appears in the dream. Weiyun doesn't recognize him, but she strangely remembers stories about him. She says her beloved is named "Si Gou." That's when it clicks for Rumu. He is Si Gou. He is the man she has secretly loved this whole time.
Shattering the Illusion
Crashing the Wedding
It's Weiyun's wedding day in the dream. She's in the bridal sedan, wishing for everything to go perfectly. Rumu crashes the party. He intercepts the sedan and tells her that he is the one she is supposed to marry. He knows this happy dream is a dangerous illusion. He has to pull her out.
The Thunder Pool
Rumu has an idea. The most dangerous place in her dream is the Thunder Pool. He gambles that this dangerous spot is also the array's biggest weakness. He takes her there. They are surrounded by lightning and thunder. The chaotic energy works. It jolts Weiyun's memory.
She remembers everything. She is not just some bride. She is Long Weiyun of the True Dragon clan. She unleashes her power and shatters the core of the dream array. They escape, but Guli Zan already managed to absorb a significant amount of her power. Weiyun is completely exhausted from the ordeal. Rumu carries her back to safety.
The episode ends back with Qingtong. She has successfully trapped Qingcheng. She leaves to find a way to save him from the Black Fox's influence. But as she leaves, Qingcheng smiles. He is not worried. He already has a new plan in motion.
