Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui and his friends take down a local tyrant, Fu Tianyi, against Qiushui's better judgment. This act forces them to form the Shenzhou Alliance and go on the run. Qiushui, a transmigrator, is punished by his system for revealing future events and now aims to become the leader of the Huanhua Sect to gain control of the plot.
Spoiler Alert
A Not-So-Simple Bank Heist
Xiao Qiushui kicks things off with a plan. He wants to rob the Jinyin Bank. But he knows it's backed by Fu Tianyi, a major player in the Power-wielding Gang. Qiushui is hesitant. He also remembers from the "original story" that his friend Tang Rou gets hurt during this mission. So, he tries to find a reason for her to sit this one out. His friends, Tang Rou, Deng Yuhan, and Zuoqiu Chaoran, just think he's being weird and overcautious. They don't care who backs the bank. For them, justice is justice.
The four of them head to the Zigui Wharf. While grabbing a bite, they see thugs from the bank shaking down a couple of boatmen. Deng Yuhan steps in and sends the thugs packing. Tang Rou talks to the boatmen. She learns that the Jinyin Bank has been extorting everyone since they took over the waterways. Qiushui wants to eat first and make a solid plan. His three friends are not having it. They are fired up and drag him straight to the bank.
The Big Bad Shows Up
That night, the raid is almost too easy. Tang Rou, Deng Yuhan, and Zuoqiu Chaoran flip into the courtyard. They take down all the bank's men in minutes. Qiushui just watches from a nearby wall. He's impressed by his friends' skills but also terrified. He decides to nope out of there and slips away into the night.
He ends up at the riverbank. He runs into the same two boatmen from the wharf. Qiushui tells them not to worry about the protection money anymore. The bank has been dealt with. Just then, a voice cuts through the dark. It's Fu Tianyi, fishing by the river.The old boatman who was just complaining about the bank gets a fishing hook through the throat. Fu Tianyi killed him without even flinching.
Back at the bank, the others can't get any information out of the captured thugs. A local constable arrives with his men. He says he can lead them right to Fu Tianyi. Suddenly, Tang Rou remembers a warning from Qiushui. He told her to be wary of a man holding an umbrella. It just stopped raining, but this constable is the only one with an umbrella open. The group follows him, but now they're on high alert.
The Four-on-One Showdown
Fu Tianyi tries to strangle Qiushui with his fishing line. This attack somehow awakens Qiushui's dormant martial arts abilities. He uses every move he has and manages to escape. At the same time, the constable makes his move on Tang Rou. Thanks to Qiushui's earlier warning, she dodges the attack.
Fu Tianyi comes down from the cliff. The fight is on. It's the four of them against him. Fu Tianyi is a beast. His iron palm technique is nearly impossible to break through. Qiushui has to think fast. He tells the other three to pin down Fu Tianyi's arms and legs. With Fu Tianyi restrained, Qiushui uses his Mantian Huayu sword technique. He stabs Fu Tianyi directly in the heart, killing him instantly.
Cleaning Up the Mess
They took out a major villain. It should be a moment to celebrate. But Qiushui's knowledge of the plot is a curse. He remembers that in the original story, the Eight Heavenly Kings attack his family after they discover Fu Tianyi is dead. He can't let that happen.
He immediately goes into damage control. Tang Rou gives the surviving boatman some silver to keep his mouth shut. Deng Yuhan finds a small boat. They put Fu Tianyi's body on it, set it on fire, and push it out onto the river. The four of them get out of Zigui before nightfall.
An Alliance is Born
After putting some serious distance between them and Zigui, they stop to eat. Tang Rou starts arguing with Qiushui. She believes they did a good thing for the people. They shouldn't have to hide like criminals. Qiushui tries to explain why they need to lay low. It's about building up their strength. They need to be ready to take out the rest of the Eight Heavenly Kings.
Hearing this, Deng Yuhan gets fired up. He declares that this is the perfect time to formalize their group. He proposes they form the Shenzhou Alliance.Everyone else loves the idea. They immediately cut their palms and swear a blood oath over wine. A very reluctant Qiushui is forced to join in.
A Little Backstory
Qiushui is still confused. He doesn't understand why these three heroes respect him so much. Tang Rou explains it. When she was new to the martial arts world, she met Qiushui by chance. He barely knew her, but he risked his life to save her. Deng Yuhan and Zuoqiu Chaoran have similar stories. Qiushui is moved. He realizes his previous self was a true hero. He makes a promise to himself to protect his new brothers.
The Rules of the Game
That night, Qiushui gets a rude awakening. The "Magic Tome," the system controlling his transmigration, punishes him. He experiences agonizing pain from something called the Boiling Blood Cocoon. His crime was giving Tang Rou a spoiler about the future. The system also informs him that the difficulty is about to increase.
He wakes up from a nightmare. He dreamed his family was massacred, even though he destroyed Fu Tianyi's body. He realizes he can't reveal any more of the plot. His life literally depends on it. The Magic Tome did give him one hint. If he becomes the leader of the Huanhua Sect, he can control the story freely. He decides to ask his sister, Xiao Xueyu, for help. He also remembers writing some "helper elements" into his version of the story. Finding one of those could fast-track his promotion.
The next morning, he wakes everyone up to go on a treasure hunt. They find the spots where the helper elements should be. But the items have no special powers. The system wasn't kidding about the increased difficulty. His friends are completely lost. Finally, Qiushui comes clean about his new goal. He tells them he wants to become the leader of the Huanhua Sect.
