Episode Summary
Li Chenzhou frames Xiao Yiren as a Northern Wilderness collaborator, forcing him to flee. After the bodies of Xiao Qiushui's parents are returned, Zhao Shirong reveals they were killed by the "Marrow-Shattering Finger," a rare technique known only to three families. After ruling out two suspects, Xiao Qiushui identifies Fei Yuchiao as the likely killer. A flashback reveals the full story of Xiao Qiushui's transmigration; he and his rival, Li Nan, were both sent into the novel's world after a fight over Li Nan's espionage, leading Xiao Qiushui to realize Li Nan is likely behind his parents' murder.
Spoiler Alert
The Set-Up
So, everyone is gathered around the treasure from Nantian Dang. Li Chenzhou gives this big speech, but you can tell the other sects aren't really buying it. They trust Xiao Qiushui more. He's actually been doing things to help the martial world.
Xiao Qiushui, playing it smart, agrees to send the treasure to the front lines to avoid a direct fight with Li Chenzhou. The other sects even agree to donate their shares. But as they're packing everything up, Li Chenzhou suddenly kills a disciple from the Huanhua sect. He pulls up the guy's sleeve and shows everyone a Northern Wilderness tattoo.
This immediately frames the disciple's master, Xiao Yiren. He has no way to defend himself and has to run for it. Later, we see him meet with the mysterious man in black. Xiao Yiren is totally confused. The guy promised to help his family, not get them mixed up with the Northern Wilderness.
After the chaos, Xiao Qiushui steps up. He promises everyone that his master is not a traitor and that he'll find the truth. Zhao Shirong then passes on a message from Li Chenzhou. Xiao Qiushui is now in charge, and they'll return his parents' bodies once the treasure is delivered.
The Real Mission
The man in black gives Xiao Yiren a wild story. He claims the Da Xi empire lost its Imperial Seal years ago in a war. He says the seal is hidden in the Nantian Dang treasure. His whole plan was to plant his people to find it and return it to the emperor to stop the fighting. Xiao Yiren does not believe a word of it.
A Murder Mystery Unfolds
Xiao Qiushui gets back to his rebuilt villa, where Tang Fang is helping out. His brother, Xiao Kaiyan, shows up in a panic. He says he was chasing the man in black with Xiao Yiren but they got separated. Before they can talk more, word arrives that Zhao Shirong has returned the bodies of their parents, Xiao Xilou and Sun Huishan.
As they are grieving, Zhao Shirong drops a major clue. She says they were killed by the "Marrow-Shattering Finger" technique. This is a rare skill. It was only taught to men in three families: the Fei family, the Deng family, and the Tang clan.
The Suspects
This gives them a short list of potential killers. For the Tang Clan, it would be Tang Yaoshun. But his daughter, Tang Fang, immediately shuts that down. She says her father has been sick for a year and is too weak. Zhao Shirong agrees.
For the Deng family, the practitioner is Deng Qingfeng. His son, Deng Yuhan, swears he's never seen his father use such a dark technique. Xiao Qiushui believes him.
That leaves only one person. Fei Yuchiao of the Fei family. Xiao Qiushui decides he needs to go question him personally. Before he leaves, Zhao Shirong tells him Li Chenzhou wants to see him at the Power-wielding Gang headquarters.
A Shocking Flashback
This is where things get really interesting. While Xiao Qiushui is alone with his parents' bodies, he finds the letter 'S' printed on his mother's hand. This triggers a massive memory from his life before he transmigrated.
Connecting the Dots
We learn his real name is Xiao Mingming.He was a novelist writing for his former senior, Li Nan. Just as his book was about to launch, Li Nan wanted to add a bunch of cheap power-ups for the main character. Xiao Mingming refused.A few days later, Li Nan released a book using his exact outline.
When Xiao Mingming confronted him, Li Nan basically told him to shut up and take the money. He said only his name could make the book sell. A colleague suggested he blow off steam in an interactive system called "Magic Tome," which is how this all started.
But the actual transmigration was way more dramatic. It turns out, Xiao Mingming accidentally saw Li Nan's computer and found out he was selling state secrets. They fought over the laptop, a drink spilled, and an electrical shock sent them both into this world.
Back in the present, Xiao Qiushui realizes Li Nan must be here, too. And if Li Nan put a spy in the Xiao family, that person could have killed his parents. The episode ends with Deng Yuhan, feeling guilty, offering to go with Xiao Qiushui to find his own father and get some answers.
