Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui learns his sister, Xiao Xueyu, is being forced into a political marriage with Nangong Wushang. He confronts his brother, Xiao Yiren, but is told the decision is final. The wedding night reveals a bait-and-switch; the groom is actually Nangong Han. Qiushui crashes the wedding, rescues his sister, and injures Han, creating a new enemy for the Xiao family. After fending off the Nangongs' demands for money, Qiushui declares to Yiren that he will now take responsibility for the family's future in his own way. The episode ends with the discovery of a mysterious eagle flute.
Spoiler Alert
A Moment of Peace Before the Storm
A Song and a Promise
The episode starts off pretty chill. Xiao Qiushui is bummed out because his brother, Xiao Yiren, is still giving him the cold shoulder. He wants to give back the Changge Sword, but he's worried it'll just start another fight.
To lighten the mood, Sancai whips out a harp. Qiushui plays a song that makes him think about his whole journey. Tang Fang even joins in with her flute. It’s a nice, quiet moment with their friends before everything goes sideways.
Later that night, Qiushui is cleaning the sword, getting ready to return it to Yiren. Tang Fang finds him. She thanks him for helping her secure her position in her clan. Then she gives him one of her old darts as a good luck charm, hoping he won't get hurt again.
The Xiao Family Sacrifice
Xueyu's Resignation
We cut to Xiao Xueyu. She's getting ready for her wedding. She thinks about how Qiushui told her to marry for love, but that's not what's happening. She's marrying Nangong Wushang to help restore the Xiao family's honor. She's accepted it.
Her brother Yiren comes to see her. She brings up how Qiushui was the only one who really looked out for her when they were kids. It's a clear dig at Yiren, and he knows it.
The Confrontation
Qiushui finally goes home to return the sword. He walks into a full-blown wedding celebration and finds out his sister is the bride. He immediately confronts Yiren. He tells him it's wrong to sacrifice Xueyu for the family's sake. Yiren fires back that Qiushui has no right to judge him.
Qiushui tries to reason with him. He tells Yiren that the Tang Clan's power is gone, so he doesn't need to be afraid anymore. This just makes Yiren angrier. He's furious that Qiushui went to the Tang Clan at all.
Xueyu steps in to stop the fight. Qiushui asks if she was forced into the marriage. She lies and says it was her choice to find some security in these chaotic times.She tells him not to blame their brother. Later, another brother, Xiao Kaiyan, explains the truth. The Nangong family threatened them with the Huanhua Sword Manual. Yiren felt he had no other option.
The Wedding Night Twist
The Wrong Groom
The wedding happens. Xueyu is sent off to the Nangong family. She tells Yiren not to worry about her anymore and walks into her new home.
That night, the man who enters her room is not her new husband, Nangong Wushang. It's Nangong Han.Xueyu is horrified. She accuses them of tricking her family. Nangong Han just smirks and shows her the marriage contract. It has Yiren’s signature on it.
Qiushui Crashes the Party
Just then, Qiushui bursts into the room. He's not playing around. He seriously injures Nangong Han and pulls out the Changge Sword. He threatens to kill him if the Nangong family ever messes with the Xiaos again.Then he grabs his sister and gets her out of there.
He takes Xueyu to where he's been staying and promises to sort things out with Yiren. They have a heart-to-heart. Xueyu remembers how Qiushui was always the one who was there for her. Qiushui says their family shouldn't be built on sacrificing its own members.
Picking Up the Pieces
A New Alliance and a Goodbye
Tang Fang says her goodbyes. She has to return to the Tang Clan for some family business but promises she'll be back. Qiushui tells her he'll wait. They plan to go to Emei Mountain together to investigate the secrets of the "Book of Forgetful Love."
The Fallout with the Nangongs
As soon as Tang Fang leaves, Zuo Qiu runs in with bad news. Nangong Wushang is at the Xiao family's other home, making a scene. He's demanding a ridiculous amount of money—5,000 taels of silver—for the wedding expenses.
Qiushui shows up and flashes the Changge Sword.He tells them he'll pay them back in the morning, but his threat is clear. Nangong Wushang knows he's outmatched and runs off with his men.
A New Declaration of War
This just makes Xiao Yiren even more furious. He sees Qiushui with the sword and knows he's completely wrecked the relationship with the Nangong family.
Qiushui has had enough. He tells Yiren he was a failure as the eldest son. He says reviving the family is everyone's job, and from now on, he's going to do it his way.
Just as the episode ends, Sancai pops up. He found something in the Sword King's old bedroom. It's an eagle flute, hidden in a secret compartment.
