Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui seeks help from a supposed hero, Qu Hanshan, only to discover he is the villainous Sword King. He tries to trick him but is captured. Meanwhile, his family in Guangling uncovers a forged letter. A friend of Qu Hanshan's, Gu Junshan, arrives and exposes him, leading to a fight where Gu Junshan sacrifices himself to let Xiao Qiushui and a rescued Tang Fang escape. The escape fails, and Xiao Qiushui falls into a hidden cave where he finds a mysterious prisoner.
Spoiler Alert
A Not-So-Righteous Hero
A Friendly Tip
So, Xiao Qiushui is trying to find Tang Fang after she was snatched by the Sword King.He gets a tip from the Qu sisters. They tell him to find a guy named Qu Hanshan.They say he's a man of justice who lives in the Sword King's territory and will definitely help. Xiao Qiushui sends his friend Deng Yuhan off to Guangling to warn his brothers.Then he heads off alone to find this supposedly great guy.
He finds Qu Hanshan sorting out some local dispute, and he does seem pretty fair. Xiao Qiushui explains his family was attacked by the Power-wielding Gang and asks for help. Qu Hanshan is all smiles and hospitality. He invites Xiao Qiushui back to his home.
The Trap is Sprung
The second they're in the door, Qu Hanshan asks about the Hero's Token. That's a bit of a red flag. As Xiao Qiushui is about to answer, he spots something in the corner of the room. It’s a flower accessory that belongs to Tang Fang. And just like that, the pieces click together. Qu Hanshan is the Sword King.
Xiao Qiushui is quick on his feet. He decides to play a dangerous game and turn the Power-wielding Gang against itself. He lies. He says he got the Hero's Token from Old Madam Wu, but then Song Mingzhu stole it from him. He's hoping this will make Qu Hanshan go after his own people.
It almost works. Qu Hanshan immediately goes to see Liu Suifeng. But Liu Suifeng is no fool. He sees right through the lie. He even taunts Qu Hanshan, telling him his reputation as a great hero is about to be ruined. This just makes Qu Hanshan furious, and he storms back to his house to deal with Xiao Qiushui.
While he was gone, Xiao Qiushui found the room where Tang Fang was being held. He takes out the guards but gets stopped by Kang Chuyu.They fight, but then Qu Hanshan shows up and captures Xiao Qiushui.
Trouble in Guangling
A Forged Letter
Back in Guangling, things aren't much better. Xiao Yiren gets a letter supposedly from his brother, Xiao Xilou. The letter says not to fight the Power-wielding Gang. Xiao Xueyu thinks this sounds completely wrong. She checks the letter and notices the ink isn't the kind her brother usually uses. It's a fake. The letter was swapped.
Just then, Deng Yuhan and Zuo Qiu arrive. They fill everyone in on the attack on the Xiao family. Xiao Yiren wants to leave right away, but his brother Xiao Kaiyan argues against it. He says Xiao Yiren is the acting head of the Huanhua sect and needs to stay in Guangling to manage things. Weng Yueying of the Bishan Sword Sect shows up to offer support. She agrees that Xiao Yiren should stay and gather more allies.
The Sword King Revealed
An Unwelcome Guest
Qu Hanshan drags the captured Xiao Qiushui in front of him. He demands to know where the Hero's Token is. Xiao Qiushui changes his story. Now he says Old Madam Wu never gave it to him in the first place.
As Qu Hanshan is about to search him, two old friends show up for a visit. Kang Chuyu quickly pulls Xiao Qiushui into a side room, choking him so he can't make a sound. The main guest is a man named Gu Junshan. He tells Qu Hanshan that he's found traces of the Sword King in Guangling. He explains that because of the Sword King's unique energy shield, his fallen white hair is different from a normal person's. Qu Hanshan and Kang Chuyu share a nervous look.
Gu Junshan hears a struggle from the side room and gets suspicious. Xiao Qiushui manages to break free. He bursts into the main hall and yells at Gu Junshan to be careful.
A Hero's Sacrifice
Kang Chuyu tries to stop him, but Xiao Qiushui knocks him right out the door. While Gu Junshan confronts Qu Hanshan, Xiao Qiushui makes a run for it and saves Tang Fang from the storeroom.
The fight between Gu Junshan and Qu Hanshan is brutal. Qu Hanshan uses a deadly technique that destroys Gu Junshan's face. As he's dying, Gu Junshan asks where the third "King of Guangling," Du Yueshan, is. Qu Hanshan moves to finish him off, but Xiao Qiushui returns to help.
Qu Hanshan threatens Xiao Qiushui again for the token. Xiao Qiushui refuses to give it to a traitor. He tries to get the dying Gu Junshan out of there. But Gu Junshan knows it's over for him. He uses the last of his strength to hold Qu Hanshan back, telling Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang to run.
Out of the Frying Pan...
They don't get far. Kang Chuyu and his men surround them in the courtyard. Xiao Qiushui activates a trap and falls through the floor into a dark cave. He hears the sound of water, which gives him hope for an escape route. But as he moves forward, he sees a man with wild hair chained to the cave wall.
