Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui, after taking an immortal pill, learns to control his new power while investigating the betrayal that destroyed the Sword Hut. He uncovers a conspiracy involving a corpse beetle and the Ghost King. Meanwhile, his family, the Xiao clan, faces public humiliation and is systematically dismantled by the rival Tang and Nangong sects. Xiao Yiren is given an impossible ultimatum: marry his daughter to an enemy or see his family's legacy erased. The episode ends with Xiao Qiushui identifying a potential traitor within the Power-wielding Gang who is linked to the Northern Wilderness, and he sets off to confront him.
Spoiler Alert
Xiao Qiushui's Power-Up and a New Mission
The Immortal Pill and a Grim Discovery
Xiao Qiushui meets up with Zuo Qiu and Deng Yuhan. He also thanks Liang Dou and the Great Seal Master for their help. The Great Seal Master notices something is different about him. Xiao Qiushui explains he took the Wuji Immortal Pill. This gave him a massive power boost.
He also delivers some bad news. Shao Liulei is dead. On top of that, the Power-wielding Gang is also hunting for the Immortal Pill. This sets the stage for a huge conflict between them, Wudang, and Shaolin. Liang Dou tells him to chill out for a minute. His inner power is strong, but his control over it is shaky. He needs to practice before jumping into any fights.
To help with that, the Great Seal Master gives Xiao Qiushui his secret heart method. It's a technique to help him manage all that new energy. After accepting the gift, Xiao Qiushui gives Zuo Qiu and Deng Yuhan a new task. They need to track down the source of the "Eagle Flute."
Uncovering a Betrayal
The conversation shifts to the Sword Hut. The Great Seal Master can't believe it fell. He remembers it being indestructible. Xiao Qiushui explains it was an inside job. Their trusted Qiu Bo betrayed them. He poisoned the water supply, leaving them defenseless.
The two elders at the hut were smart, though. They saved their three sons by sending them off with Old Madam Wu. But when the sons returned, the elders' bodies were gone. All they could do was set up an empty tomb.
Liang Dou finds one thing odd. Qiu Bo was a simple man with no family. Why would he work with the Power-wielding Gang? Xiao Qiushui has a dark theory. He thinks they forced Qiu Bo to take a "Worse Than Death Pill." The group travels to Huanhua and digs up Qiu Bo's coffin. Inside, they find a corpse beetle created by the Ghost King. This confirms he was coerced.
The Xiao Family Hits Rock Bottom
Public Humiliation
Back in Jinzhong, things are going terribly for the Xiao family. Xiao Yiren is trying to rebuild his sect, but he's failing. His sister, Xiao Xueyu, tries to cheer him up, but he's too stressed to listen.
It gets worse. It's the day they're supposed to collect rent, but nobody shows up. A servant reports that the Tang Sect is holding a huge ancestor worship ceremony.They've invited every other sect in the city. The Tang Sect usually holds this ceremony on the night of the full moon.Moving it up is a deliberate slap in the face to the Xiao family.
Xiao Yiren and Xiao Kaiyan go to the Tang Sect to demand an explanation. Tang Song is completely arrogant. He reveals that he's already poached all of the new students the Xiao family had just recruited. He then declares that the Nangong and Tang sects are now in charge of Jinzhong. Xiao Yiren is deeply humiliated.
An Impossible Choice
On the way back, Xiao Kaiyan can't believe how quickly their allies turned on them. The Nangong family was a longtime friend. Xiao Yiren, ever the strategist, thinks they can play the two sects against each other. He believes the Tang and Nangong sects won't be able to coexist peacefully.
He decides to visit the Nangong family, hoping to find an opening. But Nangong Han gives him an ultimatum. He has two choices. He can either marry his daughter, Xiao Xueyu, to Nangong Wushang. Or he can hand over the coveted Huanhua Sword Manual. Xiao Yiren can't agree to either, so he leaves with nothing.
Later, he's drinking alone when Nangong Xiaoyi finds him. She says she's ashamed of her father's dishonorable actions and has already sent a letter disowning him. The next day, Nangong Wushang shows up with marriage gifts. He's holding the Huanhua Sword Manual. It turns out the students who betrayed the Xiao family stole it for him. He gives Xiao Yiren one last choice. Marry Xiao Xueyu to him, or he will completely destroy the Xiao family's presence in Jinzhong.
The Mole in the Power-wielding Gang
While his family is falling apart, Xiao Qiushui is making progress. Zuo Qiu and Deng Yuhan return with information about the Eagle Flute. It's connected to a mysterious group that's working with the Northern Wilderness.This same group has a spy deep inside the Power-wielding Gang.
We learn that Li Chenzhou suspected a mole. He had Liu Suifeng stage a self-injury plot just to draw the traitor out. Their intelligence points to one man. Qu Hanshan is currently on his way back to headquarters and is staying at a local inn.
Xiao Qiushui believes Qu Hanshan is the mole.He figures Qu Hanshan must be desperate, knowing Li Chenzhou is closing in. This makes him vulnerable. Xiao Qiushui decides to go to the inn and test his theory.
