Episode Summary
Wangquan Hongye's health fails completely, and he collapses after a heartfelt moment with Feng Tingyun. With only a month left to live, he summons Wangquan Fugui back home. In a long-awaited confrontation, Hongye apologizes to Qingtong and confesses to his son that his coldness was born from his own self-hatred and fear, not from a lack of love. He then asks his son to accompany him on a final journey.
Spoiler Alert
What You Missed on "Sword and Beloved"
A Villain's Power-Up
Let's start with the bad guy. Quan Jingting is using his dragon scales to get stronger. He goes to a place called the Dragon Cave. There, he literally sucks up dragon power. But it's not enough for him. So he sets his sights on a new target. He's coming for Long Weiyun next.
Quiet Moments and Bad News
Qingtong sees that it might rain. She brings an umbrella to Wangquan Fugui while he's out gathering herbs. He can tell she’s been down lately. He admits he’s not great at comforting people. But he tells her it’s okay to cry. He says she’s already doing a great job. It's a sweet, awkward moment for them. They're also taking care of Little Bun together. Fugui remembers Zhang Qi’s wish. He thinks about the peach blossoms blooming at Peach Blossom Dock.
Back at the Wangquan Villa, things are not going well. Li Quzhu visits Wangquan Hongye. They share a drink. They talk about their old days in the Masked Group. Hongye’s health is getting worse by the day. But he refuses to call his son back. He knows Wangquan Fugui has his own life now.
Meanwhile, Feng Tingyun is training harder than ever with her sword. She wants to help Hongye and take on some of his burdens. She also makes it clear she has no interest in getting married. She believes a woman can do more with her life. She says she’s moved on from everything that happened before. Hongye seems to understand. He gives her a dowry. It’s a golden hairpin that his late wife, Dongfang Huaizhu, made by hand. He tells Feng Tingyun that with this, she is a daughter of the Wangquan family.
Then it happens. He turns away from her, suddenly coughs up a mouthful of blood, and collapses.
The Son Returns Home
The doctor gives them the worst possible news. Wangquan Hongye is terminally ill. He has a month to live, at most. Feng Tingyun refuses to believe it. She begs the doctor to find a way to save him. But Hongye already seems prepared for his death.
Qingtong hears the news from the villa. She immediately finds Wangquan Fugui and tells him his father is dying. He drops everything and rushes back from Qianji City.
He arrives at Wangquan Mountain Villa, but Qingtong stays behind. She waits at the foot of the mountain. She's too scared to go inside. But Hongye tells his son to bring her in. He even tells Fugui to have her wait in his personal room.
A Father's Confession
Qingtong is incredibly nervous inside the room. Wangquan Hongye finally sees her. He tells her he was wrong. He used to believe all demons were just evil. Now he knows that isn't true. He gives her a sincere apology for everything he put her through.
This is where it all comes out. Hongye gives Wangquan Fugui and Qingtong two masks. They are his old masks from the Masked Group. One of them, the Jinlan mask, was made by Dongfang Huaizhu herself.
Wangquan Fugui always thought his father hated him. He believed Hongye blamed him for his mother’s death. But Hongye says that was never true. He never hated his son. He hated himself. He has been living with the guilt of the Masked Group's deaths for years.
Hongye explains his cruelty. He believed love and emotion were weaknesses that led to the group's downfall. That’s why he tried to crush all emotion out of his son. He didn't want Fugui to feel love or attachment. But now, at the end of his life, he admits he was wrong about everything.
Finally, Hongye makes a request. He wants to visit Huai Shui Bamboo Pavilion one last time. He asks Wangquan Fugui to go with him.
