Introduction
In Blood River: Drama Recap Episodes 9 to 18, a lot of events happened that paved the way towards the “Other Shore” goal. Su Changhe becomes the new patriarch, and Su Muyu takes leadership of the Su lineage. By their joint plan to trick the villains, Su Muyu had burned down the Wanjuan Tower, which contained the massive archive of the Blood River’s missions, including the backgrounds of its members. Meanwhile, Su Changhe had killed the leader of the Secret Shadow Sect, the true, hidden power that maintains control over the assassin guild.
This featured image was taken from Episode 10, when Muyu fought the half-man-half-monster Mu Ciling. Because Ciling was a Dark River, Muyu didn’t want to kill him. Changhe then helped Muyu, and they teamed up to drive Ciling away, but both of them were injured.
I love the bond between Muyu and Changhe. Their dynamic friendship in Blood River ( 暗河传 ) is a central element of the story, defined by their contrasting personalities, shared loyalty, and a complex relationship built on both deep affection and past conflict. Muyu is quiet and reserved, while Su Changhe is boisterous and willful. Muyu adheres to his “no killing” principles and has rejected some killing tasks, while the morally ambiguous Change took the tasks for him. Muyu is frugal and would rather cook (badly), while Change is a spender and treats everyone to the restaurant. Even their names mean opposite: Muyu (暮雨) means “evening rain”, while Changhe (昌河) means “bright/prosperous river”. These differences create an “opposites attract” dynamic. Their 20-year friendship is tested when power struggles arise within the assassin guild, but it ultimately strengthens as they support each other to forge a new destiny for their organization, “The Other Shore.”
Recap Episodes 19 to 28
Episode 19
Muyu thought that to go to Wushuang City, he needed a new identity. He couldn’t go as Muyu from the Blood River Guild. He would go with his origin, Zhuo Yuean, the Young Master of Wujian City. Hehuai spent three months of the clinic’s income to give him a very fine white sword called Crane Feather, which Muyu said was it show her feelings for him. Besides, Muyu couldn’t take his famous umbrella with him. Changhe wanted to go with him, but he couldn’t as his appearance would blow Muyu’s disguise. He had to go back ‘home’ to Blood River Guild to take care of the internal business.
Muyu showed up at a gambling house near Wushuang City wearing a luxurious red robe. He knew that to enter the city he needed a token that could be won by gambling. After seeing his fine appearance, the gambling house manager tried to trick Muyu into betting his sword, but he bet a rare item instead. Muyu requested to gamble with spiders. The other parties released two tarantulas, but Muyu released the White Ghost spider given by Hehuai, which can take many spiders. He won and got his pass, not after a scuffle with the manager and the gambling house owner. Muyu was suspicious that there was someone behind the wall who didn’t want him to enter.
It seemed Changhe had gone too long from the Blood River’s headquarters, because he was ambushed by his own Blood River assassin on the road. After killing people and forcing the leader to confess, someone betrayed him and poisoned everyone loyal to him.
Muyu arrived at the checkpoint, only to be messed with by a bunch of guards who would rather get a bribe. Muyu purposely angered them, and their leader showed up. The leader wanted to kill Muyu with his spear, but Muyu caught it.
Can’t help it. I liked Sikong Changfeng (played by Xia Zhi Guang) in Dashing Youth. Here, he made a cameo appearance to spiritually teach Muyu on his signature spear movement.
Episode 20
Muyu recalled Sikong Changfeng, the Spear Deity, teaching Ye Dingzhi (both were protagonists in Dashing Youth) his Surging Dragon Shift. He didn’t master the movement, but combined it with his own Eighteen Sword Formation to scare these bullies. The boss was so impressed that Muyu knew Sikong Changfeng and could perform Surging Dragon Shift, he must not be an ordinary martial artist. Muyu only said he fought alongside Sikong Changfeng during the eastern invasion of Demon Sect. After he left, the guy’s spear fell apart. He reported to his boss, Elder Jian, who sent four disciples to stop Muyu.
Changhe went back to the headquarters and dealt with the traitor coming from the Su family. The traitor thought he had poisoned Yumo, Xuewei, Changli (Changhe’s brother), and Mu Qingyang (the new head of the Mu Family). But the Poisonous Blossom, Xuewei, couldn’t be poisoned and could heal everyone else. This traitor was angry because Changhe appointed Muyu as the head of the Su Family, but he actually had a mysterious backup. Changhe killed the man after he mocked the Other Shore mission.
Muyu and other travelers were stopped at the last checkpoint before the gate of Wushuang City. The four disciples of Elder Jian arrived and fought Muyu, but Muyu didn’t even draw his sword to defeat these people. It turned out that Elder Jian didn’t teach them anything; instead, he used the four of them to test his own sword skills. They alerted the city to stop Muyu by the gate.
At the city gate, Muyu was face-to-face with Elder Jian. However, Elder Jian couldn’t defeat Muyu, so the Wushuang City Lord’s disciple, Song Yanhui showed up. Recognizing that Muyu was Zhuo Yuean, the young master of Wujian City he knew when he was young, he invited Muyu for tea and chat, reminiscing the past. But Muyu was here for business to clear up his father’s name. Yanhui regretted it soon; luckily, the former city lord and his teacher showed up. He was the Lord of Wushuang City, Liu Yunqi aka the master culprit of the Wujian City annihilation. Master Liu knew this was a personal grudge, so he ordered Yanhui to retreat.
The sword fight between Muyu and Master Liu was so cool, and it was a real duel of life-and-death!
Muyu used the Eighteen Sword Formation without his umbrella, by ‘borrowing’ people’s swords.
Episode 21
So, as I wrote in Episode 20, the duel between Muyu and Master Liu was like a real sword fight; you should watch it! They even exchange barbs while flying and fighting. Muyu had murderous intentions, and his swordsmanship shown was meant to kill. Master Liu saw that and taunted that Muyu had been living as an assassin. Muyu no longer disclosed his assassin identity and used the Eighteen Sword Formation by borrowing people’s swords. Just when he was about to kill the old man, Yanhui went down and begged Muyu not to kill Master Liu because he was already dead spiritually when he was wounded. Muyu agreed, and they decided to duel a week from now. He wanted to remove the city’s name if Yanhui lost.
The spectacular show by the Wushuang City gate became a talk high and low in jianghu. Changhe was surprised when his brother Changli told him about the duel. His best friend, who was an assassin by night, challenged two duels in public two times in broad daylight. Even used the Eighteen Sword Formation. So arrogant, hahaha! People whispered that the unknown Zhuo Yuean, the young master of Wujian City, was actually Su Muyu, the Umbrella Ghost from the Blood River Assassin Guild.
At night, Muyu was drinking alone on the roof. He had a spiritual convo with his father, Zhou Yuluo. I had to make this screenshot because the actor who played his father, Jiang Zhen Hao, played the older version of Su Muyu in The Blood of Youth. By theory, avenging Wujian City was by killing the entire population in Wushuang City. But Muyu knew that his conscience and his father wouldn’t want that. His father told him not to dwell in grudges and live as himself after the debt was paid.
From the talk within the imperial walls, we knew that the first prince and his aide, Eunuch Zhuo Qing, were behind this. Eunuch Zhuo Qing, or the emperor himself, was probably the one who gave the Blood River an order a long time ago to annihilate Wujian City, while nudging the greedy Master Liu from Wushuang City to steal the sword manual. Wushuang City, although its martial arts had declined, its craft and devices were second to none. They wanted to use Muyu to annihilate Wushuang City, and then they would take the craft technology and the devices. However, Master Ji, the Leader of Baixiao Hall, already hinted Muyu before that he was being used.
The Deities were informed, and they loved to watch the spectacular swordsmanship duel!
Master Liu died in a few days, and appointed Yanhui as the new city lord. How ironic, he died with his disciple and successor by his side in a warm bed. Meanwhile, Muyu’s father, Zhou Yuluo, died alone on the cold wet ground, after his family was killed and his son was sent away, and the entire Wujian City was annihilated!
Episode 22
I like this Yanhui. For now on, I call him Lord Song. He might not be strong in martial arts, but he was wise, kindhearted, and humble. The way he treated his master, little disciple, subordinates, the whole city, even to an outsider with ill intentions like Muyu, showed that he could be a wise leader.
Lord Song (played by Ray Chang) with his little disciple Wushuang. This Wushuang would be in The Blood of Youth.
Muyu was walking around the city when there was a commotion. People running away, saying that the so-called group called Sword Bearers was looking for Zhuo Yuean. Muyu deduced there were traitors in the city to tarnish Lord Song’s name, since he had already agreed to the duel anyway. Muyu faced them and, when asked his identity, he acknowledged he was Zhuo Yuean. Before they could touch him, they were already killed by a great force. Changhe was behind him. Yay! Backups were coming to watch the duel. Hehuai and Uncle Zhe were on the way, too. She was wearing a beautiful red dress and was teased by her father along the way.
Enough teasing! Hehuai smelled something wrong. The whole city had been poisoned by Blossom Ash, which could make people pass out. She deduced that this was planned for a long time to get this much amount of poisonous gas for the whole city! She gave the carriage coachman and Uncle Zhe antidotes and asked her father to message Muyu. Muyu and Changhe saw the sign in the sky from Blood River, and Changhe guessed it must be Uncle Zhe and Hehuai. The Deities, Li Hanyi and Xie Xuan, also identified the poison. Xie Xuan, the ever-scholar, had a chance to quickly study about the poison. Yan Zhan Tian, the Wrathful Sword Deity, disregarded it. Commoners started collapsing. Martial artists, although they were stronger, the poison depleted their qis. Lord Song also heard about the poison and checked it out.
The four met outside the city in a dilapidated area. Hehuai gave Muyu his beloved umbrella. She and Uncle Zhe informed Muyu and Changhe about the poison. They didn’t feel it because of their strong qi. She quickly released her supreme poison insects from the Wen Clan and set up a barrier around them.
Episode 23
Hehuai’s poisonous insects could fight the poison. Judging from its poison characteristics, Hehuai could guess who could be the poisoner: Luo Yandie. There must be someone powerful behind the scenes who could order a top poisoner to prepare a poison for a long time.
Sure enough, next we saw the first prince called Elder Jian’s son, Jian Wudi, on his side. He was the top martial artist in Wushuang City after his dad, but he was not interested in taking over the position to be the city leader, so they drugged him to be a killing machine. The concoction seemed was made by a black magic sorcerer, Yeya or Night Crow the Ghost Physician.
The Sword Deity, Li Hanyi, caught the lackey who was involved in this poison incident, the boss from the gambling den where Muyu got his city pass last time. This guy was recruited by the first prince, too. She forced the guy to confess and hand over the antidote.
Jian Wudi found the Blood River guys and challenged Muyu to fight. They fought several rounds with a lot of people (who were not poisoned) watching. Li Hanyi and Xie Xuan watched in awe, and they guessed Su Muyu might be the 6th Sword Deity born, from his pure swordsman skills. Changhe felt that this Wudi guy was extremely strong, and his fighting skills matched Muyu. Muyu couldn’t kill him, but he felt something demonic in this guy. The new city leader, Lord Song, finally located the Blood River guys and arrived to stop Wudi. He had gone crazy. Lord Song decided that duty was above kinship. He and Muyu jointly killed Wudi.
Hanyi and Xie Xuan were able to copy the antidote and spread it throughout the city. People woke up after detoxification. Muyu and Lord Song had a good heart-to-heart chat, and they encouraged each other. They realized that someone was behind this chaos. Muyu realized that Lord Song, although he was weak and easily defeated, was a good guy, unlike his master. Muyu hoped that they could have a chance to meet again in the future under better circumstances. Lord Song promised that Muyu would find a match at his level from Wushuang City in the future (his disciple Wushuang, who was a child prodigy). Muyu’s decision was crucial to the future of the first prince’s plan. Since Muyu didn’t destroy Wushuang City this time, the first prince’s plan was delayed or ruined.
After they said farewell to Lord Song and he left, Wudi was suddenly revived. Hehuai identified that Wudi was drugged by the old Xichu puppet black art, and guessed that her martial arts niece Ye Crow, who was obsessed with reviving dead people, stole the manual and used this forbidden art. Hehuai pinned Wudi and asked Muyu to shred Wudi’s heart with one stroke. Wudi was dead, but… Hehuai got Wudi’s poisoned blood from a pin that was flown back!
Episode 24
Although Hehuai could suppress the poison at this time, it was a temporary measure. She asked her father to send a message to Muyu’s sister back in Nan’an, to release a pigeon that will go straight to King Medicine Valley, to her junior Xin Baicao. Only he could heal her.
Li Hanyi went straight to the first prince to confront him, since she knew he was behind the poisoning in Wushuang City. I like the way she froze the entire place, so no guards could interrupt him while she scolded and delivered a threat to the first prince. Unfortunately, Hanyi didn’t kill that wretched prince. Her deity colleague, Xie Xuan, arrived to calm her down. Well, she didn’t actually want to kill the first prince, just threatened him. They left and saw Changhe steering the carriage passing them without saying anything. The deities felt the the Blood River people were in trouble.
They were back in Nan An, and luckily, Xin Baicao arrived on time. Their names scared bejesus out of him, knowing that he was in the same room with the Blood River assassins, and couldn’t believe his senior was entangled with these people. “It must be love!” he declared. Changhe and Uncle Zhe were amused. Later, the physician needed someone with high internal strength to perform the technique while his senior was taking a medicinal bath. The shy Muyu was reluctant, but not until Changhe teased them and offered his help. Muyu finally helped Xin Baicao treat his beloved, with his eyes blindfolded. Outside, Changhe expressed his wish to see a wedding once (between Muyu and Hehuai). Poor Changhe, he loved this peaceful life in Nan’an City and wished every Blood River member could live like this. However, Uncle Zhe reminded him that he couldn’t do that, because he was the patriarch. Besides, not everyone in Blood River wanted to live like regular people, because they had ambitions.
While everyone had fun eating in a restaurant to celebrate Hehuai’s healing and thank Xin Baicao, Changhe got a visit from his subordinates. Changli reported that some traitors seemed to collide with the first prince, and their spies found that he went to Suzhong, where the Tang Clan lived. Changhe was surprised; he thought the Tang Clan was allied with Prince Langya. Moreover, Changli reported that Tang Lianyue disappeared after back from the Tang Clan, and Yumo couldn’t track him down despite using informants from the Baixiao Hall.
Episode 25
Changhe told Muyu and Uncle Zhe about what his subordinates had found. Because the first prince failed Wushuang, now their target was the Tang Clan. This was complex indeed, as the Tang Clan was famous for its poisons. They knew last time when the first prince sent assassins to poison the second master Tang, Tang Lianyue was their real target because he backed Prince Langya. Uncle Zhe said that this matter was not really their business, so Muyu and Changhe wanted to focus on bringing the Blood River members to the other shore. They were looking to establish a new base.
Well, no land broker wanted to help them, because the sects around didn’t want these Blood River people, no matter that they said they were not what they used to be. Luckily, Muyu met Ge Xiu, whom he had met before during a killing mission, and Muyu spared Ge Xiu’s life. He was the leader of the Changsheng Sect. Muyu asked him for help to obtain a land deed and Ge Xiu promised him that the next morning he would deliver one.
The next morning, there was news that Ge Xiu had killed the prefect’s son. Muyu went to investigate, and now he was a detective, and Hehuai was a forensic examiner, lol. It was clear that Nan’an City didn’t like the Changsheng Sect and the Blood River people living around them. Ge Xiu was accused of stabbing the prefect’s son, but Hehuai found that the man had been poisoned to death with a special poison before the knife was thrust into his chest. The prefect ordered his guards to find the sect which was known for poisons. Of course, the other two sects collided to frame Ge Xiu.
Muyu realized, living in the light for the Blood River guild was not easy. Ge Xiu was framed for his effort to help Blood River obtain a land deed. After this, there would be many obstacles along the way, and many more people and groups would be framed for helping them.
Muyu asked Changhe and Uncle Zhe for advice to ally with the Tang Clan. The clan was a major and powerful clan now. When it was founded, the clan also encountered obstacles because of its expertise in hidden weapons and poisons. Because the Tang Clan allied with Prince Langya, they might be able to build a connection with the prince.
Muyu and Changhe night stroll before another dangerous mission: Tang Clan
Back at the Blood River’s headquarter, Yumo reported that Tang Lianyue never left the Tang Clan, although people there said he had gone. Something was wrong here. Changhe told Yumo and Qingyang about Muyu’s plan to make friends with other sects for their destination to walk in the light. Changhe sent Qingyang and Xuewei together to scout the Tang Clan. Qingyang was happy, since it seemed he liked Xuewei. Yumo probed further, and Changhe told her that Yeya who studied the drugged puppet went to Tang Clan. There was a scheme behind the scenes targeting Prince Langya.
The parting between Muyu and Hehuai was so sad. It seemed Muyu would never end his missions. The goal for Other Shore seemed never reached. They both knew, the Tang Clan’s mission might not be the end. Hehuai gave Muyu a little jade snake, which could suck the poison out of him and prolong his life for ten days. Yumo could help him find spiders to feed the snake.
Episode 26
On the way home to the Baihe Medicine Hall, the Medicine King was ambushed by his evil junior, none other than the Yeya. Before capture, Xin Baicao released his snake to seek help to Hehuai.
Meanwhile, Qingyang and Xuewei entered the Tang Clan territory and was ambushed by the Yeya and her people. The evil witch saw that Xuewei had a special, poisonous ability, so the witch captured Xuewei. However, they wanted to kill Qingyang, so he was on the run.
Muyu and Changhe entered Jin City, belonged to the Tang Clan, and were shocked when they heard from Master Mu, the teahouse owner who happened to be from the Mu Family, that Qingyang and Xuewei hadn’t been there yet.
Yumo, who traveled with Muyu and Changhe earlier, didn’t have any patience and went first to find her beau, Tang Lianyue. She met Lianyue’s young disciple, Tang Lian, and introduced herself as “your master’s future wife” and even showed him the ‘love token’ aka Lianyue’s hidden weapon she stole from him (and he knew but didn’t do anything). Tang Lian said that his master was in a long seclusion, but Yumo didn’t believe it. She broke into the secluded place, only to find that Lianyua was frozen solid! Two Tang men went in and fought Yumo. Tang Lian asked her to run away for help while he tried to block the men. Yumo escaped.
After being informed that Lianyue had been frozen, the Blood River’s people realized that the situation in Jin City/Tang Clan was quite serious, and Master Ji thought so. Although what happened in Tang Clan might be an internal issue, Lianyue was his best friend. He knew relying on the Blood River guild itself was not enough, so he asked the Sword Deity Li Hanyi to help.
Meanwhile, Qingyang encountered a man riding a white crane. He was Lei Yunhe from the Lei Clan. Yunhe didn’t care who Qingyang was, but since his chasers were from the Tang Clan, he would help. After killing the chasers, he told Qingyang to hop on his beautiful ride. Yunhe took him to a safe place.
I love the white crane CGI!
Before running from his chasers, Qingyang was saved by Yunhe, Qingyang managed to release the Sole Calling Paper Butterfly only the Mu Clan leaders could do. It means he was in danger. The butterfly flew to see the rest, and now they were looking for Qingyang. Muyu ran into one of the Tang elders and was attacked.
Episode 27
Of course, these Tang men were not at the same level as Muyu. Just when he was about to kill the elder, he heard Qingyang. Qingyang was chased again. After finding Qingyang, Muyu took him back to Jin City. Qingyang reported that Xuewei had been kidnapped by Yeya and her men because they wanted to take the poison in her body.
Yeya indeed imprisoned Xuewei and Xin Baicao. One of the elder, Tang Lingzun, seemed worked together with Yeya for the power struggle in Tang Clan. The Tang Clan sent a letter to invite Muyu and Changhe to the banquet, but it was signed by Tang Fulu. Since Tang Lianyue was frozen, the top poisoner, Tang Linghuang was supposed to be the next in command, but he was nowhere to be found, maybe dead.
Well, there was this Grandmaster Tang, and he was invited by the first prince. The first prince wanted Tang Clan to ally with him. Grandmaster Tang refused, since Tang Lianyue was already allied with Prince Langya. The first prince mocked the Grandmaster, stating that he was too old because the Tang Sect would change. Just about the Grandmaster and his aide were about to be killed, Yan Zhantian, the Wrathful Sword Deity, showed up to save them.
He took them to the blind second prince. Was he blinded by his brother? The second prince was very humble and polite, unlike his brother. Grandmaster Tang quite liked this young man, although he was not as level as Prince Langya. The second prince learned swordsmanship from Yan Zhantian.
Elder Tang Lingzun wanted a nego with the Blood River guild, so she asked Yeya to release Xuewei in three days. She bragged that she was the only one who was qualified to talk business with them. Tang Lingzun was suspicious when Changhe sent Muyu to settle the bill, since he would treat her. However, of course, Muyu had another business to do. So did the Yumo, whom her guards encountered. Tang Lingzun sent her guards to bring Xuewei in, who was unconscious, sitting in a wheelchair. She mocked that with her conditions right now, she was just an ordinary woman with no poisonous skills, would Changhe still regard her as a family? Changhe didn’t even let this poisonous witch touch Xuewei and after waking her up with his inner energy, Xuewei woke up and stood up behind Changhe.
Episode 28
Tang Lingzun realized Muyu had been gone too long to settle the bill. Changhe lightly said that he must be gone for a light snack at the Tang Clan. While Changhe was fighting the Tang men, Yumo, Muyu, and Qingyang were in the rescue plan. Qingyang would save the little Tang Lian, while Muyu and Yumo would rescue the frozen man. While they were staring at Tang Lianyue, suddenly, a Tang elder came and threw poison at Muyu and Yumo. Luckily, Hehuai and Uncle Zhe showed up to save the day. She gave a pill to press Muyu’s poison and released Ember, the flame snake, to melt the frozen man. After defrosting, Lianyue was surprised that the ones who showed up to save him were the Blood River, for all people, not his own clan members.
Mu Yumo blocked the melting Tang Lianyue from the poisoned secret darts
Yumo got a message that Qingyang found Tang Lian, but not without a fight. He was hit by a hidden weapon. Luckily, a cure came from an unlikely source. Li Hanyi came and, upon hearing from Qingyang that there was an internal fight in the Tang Clan and Tang Lianyue was frozen by his own clan, the sword deity healed Qingyang’s wound and then left.
Meanwhile, the top poisoner Tang Linghuang was still imprisoned by Yeya. She wanted to make him a drugged puppet, like she did with Jian Wudi from Wushuang City before. The vice master was the best candidate to be a drugged puppet. Changhe and Xuewei were just finished fighting Tang Lingzun and her men. They got a signal from Muyu that everything went well on his side.
While the wounded Xuewei, Qingyang, and Xin Baicao were recuperating, Changhe, Muyu, Yumo, and Hehuai were waiting for Lianyue to return, but he never did. He and Li Hanyi went to look for Tang Lingzun. A Tang Clan representative thanked them on Lianyue’s behalf, but neither Changhe nor Muyu accepted the so-called thanks and demanded Tang Lianyue come in person to Blood River to thank them. Changhe and Muyu did that because the Blood River had to be respected after saving the Tang Clan, and also for their sister, Yumo, to meet Tang Lianyue again.
Changhe met the Azure Dragon and asked for an audition from Prince Langya. Changhe used his own rough charm and straightforwardness, but he was polite as well. Meanwhile, Muyu and Hehuai went to look for a place to open an apothecary in Tianqi. Muyu met his old acquaintance from the brothel, where he was taken by Uncle Zhe before. This old acquaintance was a famous and rich master Tu Wan, boss of the Thousand-Gold Tower. He told Muyu and Hehuai about rumors on Prince Langya, that he might stage a rebellion at this time.
Conclusion
After our Blood River assassins tackle some external issues facing several cities and sects, it’s time for them to return to Tianqi city, with the power struggle triad between the Emperor of Beili, the First Prince, and Prince Langya the emperor’s brother. Could Su Muyu and Su Changhe play in the murky political arena, which is darker and more complex than their own underground guild? Let’s continue to the final part: Blood River: Drama Recap Episodes 29 to 38!
