Episode 32 recap: The people gathered for the 30-year appointment.
Mu Qing, Zhuo Bu Fan, and Wang Jia Luo gathered together, discussing how to write the calligraphy scroll welcoming the disciple of Prajna. They hung the scroll at the entrance of Ze Ze Residence, eagerly anticipating the 30-year appointment when they would finally know who the true disciple of Prajna was.
Lin Hao Han came to Ze Ze Residence late at night. Mu Qing threatened him with a knife, asking who he was and why he dared to return when he knew how dangerous the 6th day would be. Lin Hao Han claimed he was just a greedy person seeking the treasure. But Mu Qing suspected that Lin Hao Han was the disciple of Prajna, as the Northern Warlords, Rongtieling, and the Ministry of the Interior were all awaiting the disciple's arrival.
Seeing Lin Hao Han's self-serving explanation, Mu Qing said he did not want Lin Hao Han to die at Ze Ze Residence, and hoped he would leave quickly. Mu Qing said he would still share the treasure with Lin Hao Han even if he found it. Qing Yi Xin Feng knew that Zhong Hai Chao would not be fully honest with them, and even if he found the disciple of Prajna, he would not share the results. Qing Yi Xin Feng told Ye Shang Han not to let his guard down.
On the 6th of May, an aura of austerity and killing intent permeated both the interior and exterior of Ze Ze Residence, as various factions stood at the ready. Men San Dao told Liu Lin that from now on, she was no longer his prisoner. He let her leave, as he could now dismiss the Ministry of the Interior's people. Wang Jia Luo, Zhuo Bu Fan, Zhong Hai Chao, and even the Japanese were guarding outside the inn. Liu Lin could sneak out the back of Ze Ze Residence after nightfall, and once she had shaken off any pursuers, go to the Huang's Meat Shop in the western suburbs, where someone would be there to receive her.
Men San Dao had long suspected that Liu Lin had been by his side because she knew the Bodhi seal was related to him. By letting her go, he ensured the safety of Liu Lin and the Bodhi seal.
Mu Qing went to the courtyard to find Zhuo Bu Fan. Although they had opposed each other many times, they were now able to calmly wait for the disciple of Prajna at the inn. Mu Qing showed Zhuo Bu Fan the dark box containing the seals of the Vinaya and Bodhi, and had Zhuo Bu Fan's Vinaya seal placed inside. As they tested each other, Wang Jia Luo also arrived at the courtyard.
Zhuo Bu Fan learned that Wang Jia Luo was a disciple of Dharma, but did not believe the Dharma seal was in Wang Jia Luo's possession. Wang Jia Luo claimed that of the 9 victims in the Dagu case, only two were suspects, and the 5 who died were killed by his hand.
Zhuo Bu Fan believed that even if Mu Qing and Wang Jia Luo joined forces to kill him, he might not necessarily lose. He had previously noticed Mu Qing's progress in sword techniques, and confirmed that Mu Qing had received the Bodhi inheritance and mastered the Three Dharma Seal Sword. Zhuo Bu Fan wanted to witness the Three Dharma Seal Sword, and was greatly impressed after trying it out.
Facing Mu Qing's questioning, Zhuo Bu Fan openly admitted that the Dagu case involving 9 deaths was related to him, but killing them was not his original intention. The leader of the team that went was his senior Brother Yu Huan Jie, who used cruel interrogation methods, but this was not Zhuo Bu Fan's own intention.
Mu Qing stated that these nine people were members of the Tongmenghui, a rebellious party against the imperial court. However, from the court's perspective, Zhuo Bu Fan's actions were meritorious and he should be rewarded.
But Wang Jialuo argued that just because the victims were Tongmenghui members, it did not automatically make Zhuo Bu Fan's actions praiseworthy. Mu Qing responded that he had investigated the nine people, and while they had lived in the South Seas, there was no familial relationship among them. One of them was surnamed Lin, and his niece Lin An Jing was studying in Japan, but she was not among the nine who left Japan.
Mu Qing raised doubts about Lin An Jing's identity, suggesting there were hidden factors in the Dagu Bloodshed case. He emphasized that the most important matter was securing the secret imperial treasures, and he hoped Wang Jialuo, as an imperial official, would prioritize guarding the hidden cache. Mu Qing promised to let Wang Jialuo reinvestigate the Dagu Bloodshed case once the treasure matter was resolved, and the stubborn Wang Jialuo agreed to the proposal.
Mu Qing persuaded the two men to temporarily set aside their differences and collaborate. He offered to help Fushu Sword Sect become the premier sword school in the land and promised to send martial arts manuals to Zhuo Bu Fan, who readily agreed to the arrangement. The three men then assessed the current situation, aware that General Zhong Haitao's Northern Army was lurking in the shadows, and that Zhezhou Residence was already under close surveillance, making it unlikely for the Bodhisattva disciple to appear.
Following Mu Qing's suggestion, they had the Northern Army, Fushu Sword Sect, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel withdraw from the area around the inn, leaving the three of them alone to wait for the Bodhisattva disciple. They even prepared a welcome banner, though Mu Qing doubted the disciple would actually show up, given the perilous circumstances.
Unable to meet the disciple, the three men decided to change the time and location of the rendezvous to confuse the Japanese and the Northern Army. After a night had passed without the disciple's appearance, Mu Qing and Zhuo Bu Fan discussed the sword sects, with Zhuo Bu Fan admitting that while Fushu Sword Sect was formidable, his personal sword skills had surpassed it. He challenged Mu Qing to a duel, not for victory, but for the sake of witnessing the Three Seals Sword Technique. Mu Qing acknowledged that if not for their opposing allegiances, they could have been friends.
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