Why Was Swordsman Dawei Exiled for 10 Years in Rusty Blade?

TL;DR

Dawei was exiled from Taiping for ten years after Lu Chen framed him for the robbery of merchant Jin Mantang. Driven by poverty, Dawei joined the crime, accidentally killed Mantang’s wife, and hid his share of the gold, which officials discovered. When he returns, Mantang is alive and seeking revenge, forcing Dawei to confront his guilt, betrayal, and divided family. Read on to see how his past catches up with him.

Transcript

This story takes place during the Ming dynasty. It follows a warrior named Lynn Dewi. At that time, he was part of a group of swordsmen hired by a city official to hunt down a ruthless assassin. When the moment came, Dewei and the others launched their attack. A fierce duel broke out between Dwei and the killer. Just as Dwei was about to win, an ar... Read More

Key Insights

• Dawei is a highly skilled swordsman who hides his strength because he wants to support his family without returning fully to a violent life. Poverty eventually forces him to accept a paid graveyard duel and later participate in Lu Chen’s robbery plan.
• The robbery of Jin Mantang is the central crime behind Dawei’s downfall. Dawei accidentally kills Mantang’s wife during the fighting, Lu Chen stabs Mantang from behind, and the stolen gold later becomes evidence used to condemn Dawei.
• Lu Chen is responsible for Dawei’s exile because he wants to replace Jin Mantang as Taiping’s leading merchant and eliminate Dawei as an obstacle. He frames Dawei, sends Ren Jan to kill him, and tries to claim Dawei’s wife during his absence.
• Ren Jan follows a personal code of debt despite his ambition and violence. Although Lu Chen pays him to kill the exiled Dawei, Ren Jan lets Dawei escape because Dawei had spared his life after defeating him in their earlier graveyard duel.
• Jin Mantang survives Lu Chen’s attack and spends ten years preparing revenge against the four men involved in the robbery. His campaign begins with the killing of Lee and his family, followed by a public warning aimed at Lu Chen and Dawei.
• Dawei’s return does not immediately restore his family because his daughter believes he abandoned her, while his wife resents his secrecy about the stolen gold. Their conflict deepens when Lu Chen reveals that Dawei killed Jin Mantang’s wife during the robbery.
• Dawei’s desire for peace conflicts with his unresolved responsibility for past bloodshed. He repeatedly refuses Lu Chen’s demands to fight Jin Mantang, but Mantang’s threats and Lu Chen’s revelations make it increasingly clear that avoiding the conflict may not protect his family.
• Dawei’s wife ultimately chooses loyalty despite learning about his crime. After initially believing that he must accept responsibility, she decides to face Jin Mantang beside him, while their daughter departs with Lu Chen and his son as Dawei prepares for the attack.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was Dawei exiled from Taiping for ten years?

Dawei was punished after officials discovered his share of the gold stolen from merchant Jin Mantang. Lu Chen wanted to replace Mantang as Taiping’s most powerful merchant, so he arranged for Dawei to take the blame for the robbery and killing.

Q: Why did Dawei agree to rob Jin Mantang?

Dawei initially refused Lu Chen’s plan but reconsidered because his family was desperately poor. They had run out of rice, his wife was sick, and swordsmanship was the only valuable skill he possessed.

Q: What happened during the robbery of Jin Mantang’s stronghold?

Lu Chen led four men in an attack on the wealthy merchant’s stronghold. During the fighting, Dawei accidentally killed Mantang’s wife, and Lu Chen stabbed Mantang from behind before the group divided the stolen gold.

Q: How did Lu Chen betray Dawei?

Lu Chen used the gold hidden at Dawei’s home to make him the scapegoat for the crime. He refused to prevent Dawei’s exile and secretly paid Ren Jan to kill him, hoping to remove Dawei and claim his wife.

Q: Why did Ren Jan let Dawei escape?

Ren Jan owed Dawei a debt from their earlier graveyard duel. Dawei had defeated him easily but spared his life, so Ren Jan allowed him to escape despite being paid by Lu Chen to kill him.

Q: What changed in Taiping during Dawei’s ten-year exile?

Lu Chen became both a powerful official and Taiping’s leading businessman, replacing Jin Mantang with help from corrupt authorities. Ren Jan became the strongest swordsman, while Dawei’s daughter grew up believing her father had abandoned the family.

Q: Why does Jin Mantang want revenge on Dawei and Lu Chen?

Mantang survived being stabbed and spent ten years preparing revenge against those who attacked his stronghold and destroyed his family. Dawei had accidentally killed his wife, while Lu Chen stabbed him and helped steal his gold.

Q: How did Dawei’s exile affect his family?

Dawei’s wife remained loyal while Lu Chen financially supported her and repeatedly sought to marry her. Their daughter grew up during Dawei’s absence and believed that he had abandoned them, making his eventual return difficult.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dawei, a gifted swordsman struggling to support his sick wife and child, accepts Lu Chen’s plan to rob the wealthy merchant Jin Mantang. During the attack, Dawei accidentally kills Mantang’s wife, while Lu Chen stabs Mantang and later frames Dawei by allowing officials to discover his share of the stolen gold.

• Dawei is exiled from Taiping for ten years, while Lu Chen seizes commercial and political power under the protection of corrupt authorities. Lu Chen supports Dawei’s family while repeatedly pursuing his wife, but she remains loyal. Meanwhile, Jin Mantang survives the robbery and patiently gathers resources for revenge against everyone involved.

• After returning home, Dawei faces resentment from his daughter and anger from his wife, who never knew the full truth. Jin Mantang begins killing the former robbers and publicly threatens Dawei and Lu Chen. When every escape plan fails, Dawei’s wife chooses to remain beside him as he prepares for the coming confrontation.