BLOOD RIVER Episode Discussion - Episode 7-8

So, it’s my first time hosting. I’m open to feedback. thank you.

The scene starts with the Shadow Guards pledging their loyalty to their Kui; Su Mu Yu.

This scene is interesting because it clearly shows that everyone desires a new Anhe.

## A Chess Game

In order to deepen the feud between the three families, Mu Bai, the son of the Mu family head, is killed and his death is pinned on the Su family.

The same ploy is at play with Xie Fanghua (the sickly guy)’s death being pinned on the Su family.

These schemes really make me wonder what Su Changhe is up to. It seems people from both families are working for him to cause more chaos in Anhe.

But what does he gain from it?

So far, it seems Su Changhe is playing a chess game with everyone, but I can’t prove it.

Su Changhe and his antics.

With the death of important family members in the Xie and Mu families, each of them decides to play their ace cards—bringing in more powerful and deadlier assassins into their families.

Xie Qidao from the Xie family, an assassin trainer (Xie Buxie’s master), and Mu Ciling, a crazy assassin who is locked in a coffin for years, are our newest additions to the large family.

## The Patriarch’s Recovery

Finally, our young miracle physician is able to cure the Patriarch’s poison, but it doesn’t come easily as it requires someone else to draw the poison onto themselves.

Unfortunately, Mu Kewen, the old man with the hunchback who guards Spider’s Nest all his life, gives up his life to save the Patriarch.

With this news, we see an emotional reaction from the Patriarch, and I sense there’s a deep history between the two old men.

Can we talk about how good this actor is in portraying the Patriarch? I love seeing him on my screen.

While leaving the Spider’s Nest to probably live out the rest of his life away from Anhe’s conflicts, Mu Kewen hopes Su Changhe and Su Mu Yu won’t end up like him and the Patriarch.

Is this foreshadowing?

## Su Mu Yu x Su Changhe

A short flashback shows how Su Mu Yu and Su Changhe defy the long-standing rule of Anhe and how the current Patriarch saves their lives.

This explains why Su Mu Yu is really firm in his decision to protect the Patriarch in spite of how everyone around him expects him to make a different choice.

I really enjoy the way they care about each other.

So it’s all about repaying debt.

Su Mu Yu’s background as a sect member/martial artist is really shining through in these episodes because things like repaying debt and loyalty belong to the martial art sects, not an assassin sect.

It’s tough to be different.

## The Patriarch’s Proposal

Su Mu Yu goes to the Su family’s hideout in Juxiao City with the Patriarch’s proposal.

He delivers the Dormant Dragon Sword to the Su family head with the condition that he, Su Changhe, and a few people can choose to leave Anhe forever.

## Mu Ciling (Half-human/Half-monster)

While they deliberate on taking the sword, the Mu family delivers a special surprise locked in a Death Coffin to their door.

Mu Ciling, one of the newest characters, shows up interestingly, looking totally unhinged.

I like Mu Ciling already. I do have a soft spot for crazy characters that practice forbidden techniques.

Mu Ciling fights to steal the sword in exchange for a poison antidote from the Mu family head.

Apparently, Mu Ciling is one of the few formidable assassins of Anhe. To seal him in the Death Coffin, it takes the three family heads’ joint action.

But between him and just one family head, who will win in a fight?

Two members of the Su family try to fight him off but are easily defeated.

Left with no choice, the Su family head engages in a face-off with him.

An interesting battle between a seasoned assassin and family head with 40 years of experience and an unhinged assassin who has mastered a forbidden technique and slept in a Death Coffin for years.

It’s hard to choose who to bet on, to be honest.

Their fighting sequence is actually one of the most interesting I’ve seen since I started the drama.

The fight ends in a draw and Mu Ciling successfully escapes with the Dormant Dragon Sword.

Xie Qidao follows him in suit, where they fight in the street.

## Bai He Huai

Here, Bai Ye Huai, our cute physician, grabs the sword and creates a poison array to prevent the duo assassins from taking it back.

Unfortunately, her array doesn’t last long, so she trades the sword for her life. Smart move, I must say.

our meddling Water Official. He looks young, though. I wonder how he got the position.

During the conflict, we see a very cute character, Water Official, one of the three officials who are integral to Anhe’s operations and existence.

He attempts to steal the sword discreetly, but something seems amiss, so he lets go of it.

During the chaos, the Mu family head sneakily kills one of the Shadow Guards, a scene Su Mu Yu arrives at a little too late.

In the same frame, Mu Ciling threatens to murder another colleague of Su Mu Yu in exchange for the sword, and we watch him feel conflicted. Will he choose his subordinate or the sword?

Fortunately, he chooses his subordinate while Mu Ciling delivers the sword to the Mu family head, who proclaims himself as the new Patriarch.

As expected, the Xie family arrives to claim the sword for themselves.

## Water Official x Patriarch

The Water Official visits the Patriarch and realizes that the sword everyone has been fighting over for the past couple of hours is fake. The real sword lies with the Patriarch.

That’s a brilliant scheme to get the wolves off your back.

In his conversation with the Patriarch, he finds out that the old man has already created a Homeland—a safe space for people who want to leave Anhe.

## So,

How do you like the progress so far?

What’s your favorite part of the two episodes?