Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui forges a shaky alliance with Qu Hanshan by tricking him into believing Liu Suifeng is a mutual threat. He uses a Corpse Beetle he planted to seal the deal. At the same time, Tang Fang discovers a plot within her own sect involving poison and another Corpse Beetle. The two storylines converge at the Ghost King's lair, where a chaotic fight exposes the Ghost King's operation, reveals Xiao Qiushui's enhanced power to a shocked Liu Suifeng, and ends with Xiao Qiushui finally revealing the Hero's Token to Tang Fang.
Spoiler Alert
An Unlikely Alliance
Finding a Friend
The episode kicks off with Xiao Qiushui spotting a guy who looks familiar. He decides to follow him to a courtyard. Inside, the man starts playing music. That's when it clicks for Xiao Qiushui. This is one of the Three Talents Swordsmen. He remembers saving them when they were struggling street performers.
Xiao Qiushui reveals who he is, and the swordsman is immediately grateful. He feels a strange connection to Xiao Qiushui. The swordsman also has these weird thoughts popping into his head. He blurts out phrases about "996" work culture and not wanting to go to his terrible job. Xiao Qiushui finds it amusing but has no way to explain it. When the swordsman learns Xiao Qiushui is after the Power-wielding Gang, he's all in. Turns out, he's been working undercover, and now it's time to act.
The Pitch to Qu Hanshan
They come up with a plan. The swordsman "captures" Xiao Qiushui and presents him to Qu Hanshan. Xiao Qiushui doesn't hide his intentions. He tells Qu Hanshan that he saw one of Liu Suifeng's men snooping around the Sword King's place. It's a clear attempt to drive a wedge between the two of them.
Xiao Qiushui then proposes a deal. If Qu Hanshan helps him kill Liu Suifeng, he'll hand over the Hero's Token. Qu Hanshan doesn't buy it at first. He thinks Liu Suifeng would have found the token by now if Xiao Qiushui really had it. To convince him, Xiao Qiushui shares a secret. The back of the token has the fingerprints of the three great sect leaders. Very few people know this.
Qu Hanshan starts to waver. But he's the one who crippled Xiao Qiushui's martial arts, so there's bad blood. Xiao Qiushui argues that his personal grudge is nothing compared to Liu Suifeng murdering his parents. He says the token is just a magnet for disaster anyway.
Trouble Brewing Everywhere
Poison in the Tang Sect
Things aren't going well for Tang Fang back at her home sect. She's been out of it. Her uncle, Tang Shunyao, is still sick, and the future of their family branch looks grim. Tang Fang promises to find the "Book of Forgetful Love" to cure him.
As they're talking, they spot Steward Li sneaking into Tang Shunyao's room. Tang Fang follows him. She catches the steward in the act of poisoning her uncle. Before he can say who ordered him, the steward kills himself. A Corpse Beetle crawls out from the wound in his neck. Tang Fang immediately suspects Tang Song arranged for an insider from the Power-wielding Gang.
The Corpse Beetle Connection
Just as Xiao Qiushui is trying to convince Qu Hanshan, a body is brought to the door. It's Kang Chuyu. Qu Hanshan inspects the body and his men report finding a Corpse Beetle. He jumps to the conclusion that Liu Suifeng must have killed Kang Chuyu, knowing their connection.
Xiao Qiushui just watches from the side. He's the one who planted the beetle on Kang Chuyu's body after finding it on Qiu Bo. Qu Hanshan has no idea. This is the final push he needed. He agrees to team up with Xiao Qiushui to kill Liu Suifeng. But first, Xiao Qiushui has to prove his loyalty. He needs to go to the Ghost King's base in Yimen and get something for him.
The Ghost King's Lair
A Messy Confrontation
The swordsman explains to Xiao Qiushui why the Ghost King is so important. The Corpse Beetles he creates are crucial for the "Eight Princes." If they can get to the Ghost King, Qu Hanshan will no longer have to fear Liu Suifeng. The Ghost King is paranoid, so Xiao Qiushui heads to Yimen Town alone.
Meanwhile, Tang Fang has followed her brother, Tang Song, to the same town. Xiao Qiushui spots her and pulls her aside. Tang Song is there to meet with Song Mingzhu and ask about the Ghost King. We learn the beetles are the Power-wielding Gang's secret weapon for controlling people.
Tang Song and his sister follow Song Mingzhu to a secret location to get more beetles. Xiao Qiushui warns Tang Fang not to follow them any further. Of course, things go south. Liu Suifeng is already at the base meeting with the Ghost King. Song Mingzhu and the Tang siblings arrive with live humans to feed the Corpse Beetle King.
The Ghost King releases his pet, but it immediately senses Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang hiding nearby. They have no choice but to show themselves. They split up. Tang Fang gets caught in a trap. Xiao Qiushui fights Liu Suifeng, who is shocked by how much stronger Xiao Qiushui's internal energy has become. Xiao Qiushui hears Tang Fang scream, finds her, and gets her out of the trap. Just then, Zuo Qiu and Deng Yuhan show up and rescue the people who were about to become beetle food.
The Big Reveal
The Ghost King's base is exposed, so he quickly moves. Liu Suifeng is still reeling from Xiao Qiushui's power boost. Song Mingzhu finally confesses that Xiao Qiushui took the Wuji Immortal Pill. She says she felt she owed him for saving her life. Liu Suifeng is furious. He punishes her by making her kneel at Reflection Cliff for seven days and nights.
Later, Xiao Qiushui gathers his friends for drinks. After the dust has settled, he finally shows the Hero's Token to Tang Fang.
