Love and Sword Episode 10 Recap
> Love and Sword Recap
Yan Shao knew that both Rong Shukuang and Lin Shaoci had their own agendas. In order to uncover the truth about what she wanted to know, she needed to earn money. So, she created a type of crossbow and named it "Meteor Fire." Her goal was to refine it into a successful product and sell it for profit. After multiple trials, both Rong Shukuang and Tang Yingluo, who had been helping with the experiments, ended up with smoke coming out of their mouths due to the device.
In the marketplace, a storyteller began recounting a tale as per Rong Shukuang’s arrangement. He claimed that the leader of Xingfeng Cave had suddenly died and that before his death, he had developed a miraculous weapon called Meteor Fire. He also announced that two great swordsmen would duel at the pavilion in the center of the lake the next day, attracting a large crowd of onlookers. Disguised as a man, Tang Yingluo mingled with the crowd, ready to stir emotions at the right moment. Meanwhile, Rong Shukuang, dressed as a ruthless swordsman, made an appearance at the lake pavilion.
In the crowd, concerns arose that such a legendary weapon might be lost forever. The ruthless swordsman fired a shot, seemingly killing the opponent, but pretended to be injured by a fellow disciple. This led to a public outcry demanding that the Meteor Fire be destroyed. Instead, people began placing bids on the weapon. In the end, all of the Meteor Fire crossbows were sold at a high price. After earning the money, Rong Shukuang distributed the earnings among the actors she had planted in the audience, instructing them to keep quiet.
Later, Rong Shukuang sought out Yu Linglong to buy back the illustrated book. Yu Linglong questioned her about what kind of scheme she was running—why sell the book only to repurchase it at a high price? Rong Shukuang did not answer, instead carefully examining the book. She soon realized that each page contained the same hidden mark, leading her to suspect it was some kind of symbol or secret code.
Meanwhile, Lin Wanci noticed that the group had truly fallen out with each other and became even more convinced that something was amiss with the Hidden Pavilion. She instructed Liu An to infiltrate the location for investigation and provided information on the guard shift schedules.
That night, Liu An donned dark clothes and sneaked into the Hidden Pavilion. She discovered a small box and reached out to grab it, but as soon as she did, a trap triggered, releasing a flurry of concealed weapons. At the same time, Lin Shaoci had been waiting in ambush and launched an attack on Liu An. Liu An attempted to escape through the window but was hit by a Meteor Fire shot fired by Rong Shukuang from outside. Yan Shao also appeared, trapping Liu An. It turned out the entire event had been a setup from the very beginning.
After purchasing the illustrated book, Rong Shukuang had studied it closely and identified the repeating marks as signals she had previously used to mark the locations of suspected spies at the manor. The marked areas corresponded to places where spies had appeared, but since Rong Shukuang had not yet been captured by Shen Zuitian at that time, it proved that Yan Shao was not the one responsible. Yan Shao expressed his willingness to assist in the greater plan to capture the spies. Thus, they staged the drama at the Hidden Pavilion, making it seem like they had a falling-out, when in reality, they had never doubted Yan Shao at all.
When Liu An opened the box she had taken, she found only a slip of paper that read, "Thank you for your patronage." Furious, she attempted to escape but was quickly caught. Seeing that it was Liu An, Rong Shukuang was unsurprised, having long suspected her to be untrustworthy. Just as they were about to take Liu An into custody, Lin Wanci suddenly appeared, and Liu An took her hostage to escape. As she fled, she pushed Lin Wanci away. Yan Shao instinctively rushed to catch Lin Wanci, which made Rong Shukuang jealous. She accused Yan Shao of having feelings for Lin Wanci. Yan Shao explained that he had never deceived Rong Shukuang, but then questioned her—if one day he did deceive her, how would she react? Rong Shukuang, feeling guilty herself, countered with a question of her own: What if she were the one who had deceived Yan Shao first? Before Yan Shao could respond, she suddenly felt that everyone had secrets, and none of it really mattered anymore.
Rong Shukuang noticed that Yan Shao's face was slightly dirty and instinctively reached out to wipe it clean. The close proximity made her heart race. She asked Yan Shao, "In this world, there are two kinds of people—those who watch others burn and those who burn themselves. Which kind do you want to be?" Without hesitation, Yan Shao replied, "I want to burn myself so that you don’t have to."
Early the next morning, Lin Shaoci came looking for Rong Shukuang. The two spent more time talking, and Lin Shaoci admitted that in the past, he had not worked as hard as she did. He had only been determined to surpass her one day, which was why he trained so diligently. Rong Shukuang suddenly realized that in any era, a woman who was too strong could make men feel pressured. Lin Shaoci expressed that he had long since seen her as a woman, wishing that she had not been so strong in the past. Unintentionally, his true feelings slipped out, making Rong Shukuang flustered. She quickly found an excuse to go find Yan Shao instead. However, Yan Shao had already witnessed their conversation, and jealousy surged within him.
When Yan Shao trained Rong Shukuang afterward, his jealousy made him especially ruthless in his sparring. Forced into desperation, Rong Shukuang unexpectedly executed the "Flowing Cloud Sleeve Strike," cutting through a pillar in the distance with sheer internal force. Overjoyed, she likened the technique to the Six Meridian Divine Sword from stories. However, when she tried to perform it again, she found herself unable to. She begged Yan Shao to ambush her, hoping that in a moment of crisis, she could unleash the move again. But even when Yan Shao suddenly startled her, she still couldn’t replicate it.
Meanwhile, Liu An was hiding in an abandoned house, tending to her wounds when Yan Shao arrived with his men and captured her. Realizing that Yan Shao was not ordinary, Liu An questioned his true identity. Yan Shao, tired of being asked the same question repeatedly, told her that knowing his identity would do her no good.
Yan Shao then brought up the massacre at Longyue Village, pointing out that it was the Ghost Valley Alliance that had slaughtered everyone there. Su Shiyu had placed two jade pendants on him and Fang Yi, attempting to escape with them.
Yan Shao told Liu An that the Ghost Valley Alliance had killed her entire family, yet she was now working for them. However, Liu An believed that it was the Fang family that had caused the village’s downfall. She had personally witnessed Lin Qianyi take Fang Yi away and rename her Rong Shukuang. Liu An couldn’t understand why everyone else had died, yet the Fang family's daughter had survived.
Yan Shao handed Liu An a silver locket that had belonged to her younger sister and called her by her childhood name, "Ah Yue." Shocked, Liu An looked at Yan Shao in disbelief. He told her that she had been blinded by hatred, which was why she had failed to recognize him. Liu An recalled playing with Yan Shao as a child and suddenly realized that he was none other than Yan Wuying, the boy Su Shiyu had adopted. She also realized that he had come to find Rong Shukuang.
Yan Shao interrogated Liu An about what poison she had used on Rong Shukuang, where she had obtained it, and whether there was an antidote. Liu An revealed that the poison was called "Red Lotus Heart," a creation of Su Shiyu, and that it had no cure. But Yan Shao declared that as long as he was alive, he would find a way to save Rong Shukuang.
