Episode Summary
Fei Yuchiao confesses to accidentally killing his brother, revealing that the Iron-Clad Divine Constable is the real villain, Zhu Datianwang. The Emperor plots with the Constable to take down Li Chenzhou, who knowingly drinks poisoned wine out of duty. Fei Yuchiao is then killed by the Constable after asking Xiao Qiushui to destroy a dangerous mask. The Constable is later found dead, but the circumstances are suspicious. Through a series of clues, Xiao Qiushui realizes the traitor in his family is his brother, Xiao Kaiyan, confirming this when he sees a scar on his hand that connects him to the mysterious "R" from his own time.
Spoiler Alert
The Truth Comes Out at the Family Grave
A Brother's Confession
The episode kicks off with Xiao Qiushui and Fei Yuchiao at the Fei family graves. They find a buried sword that belonged to Fei Danfeng. This triggers a massive confession from Fei Yuchiao. He admits he's the one who killed his own brother.
Here's the story he tells. Years ago, Fei Danfeng was ambushed by Zhu Datianwang's crew. Fei Yuchiao went to help him out. On the way, he ran into one of Zhu's top men. He didn't hesitate. He used his infamous "Marrow-Shattering Finger" technique and killed the guy on the spot. But when he went to check the body, he found the man was wearing a "Thousand-Person Face" mask. He pulled it off. It was his brother, Fei Danfeng.
The guilt was so overwhelming that Fei Yuchiao intentionally crippled his own internal power. He made it so he could never use the Marrow-Shattering Finger again.
The Real Identity of the Big Bad
Fei Yuchiao drops another bomb. His brother, Fei Danfeng, had figured something out right before he died. Zhu Datianwang, the notorious river pirate, is actually the Iron-Clad Divine Constable. Danfeng was set up and killed because he knew too much.
Liu Suifeng is hiding nearby and hears everything. His mind starts putting the pieces together. He figures the Constable must have been the one who spread the false rumors about Baicao Valley. He also suspects the Constable impersonated Li Chenzhou to give orders that got Taichan and Tianzheng killed. This brought huge trouble to the Power-wielding Gang. It all starts to make a sick kind of sense.
Palace Politics Get Deadly
Li Chenzhou Drinks the Poison
Speaking of Li Chenzhou, he's having a terrible day. He's at the palace, and the Emperor is not happy. The Emperor is suspicious because Li Chenzhou sent supplies to the front lines without official approval.
He offers Li Chenzhou a cup of wine. Li Chenzhou knows it's poisoned. He drinks it anyway. He has to. After he leaves the main hall, Prince Liang Dou finally gets it. He understands that Li Chenzhou was only trying to protect the kingdom. Li Chenzhou just says he doesn't care what people think of him. He only cares about doing what he believes is right.
The Emperor's Secret Weapon
Once Li Chenzhou is gone, the Iron-Clad Divine Constable is called in to see the Emperor. We learn the truth. The Emperor himself created the "Zhu Datianwang" identity. It was a tool to keep the Power-wielding Gang from getting too strong. The Emperor now orders the Constable to use the supply incident to completely crush Li Chenzhou.
A Final Request and a Swift End
Later, Fei Yuchiao finds Xiao Qiushui on the road. This time, he shows his real face. He tells Qiushui that the Iron-Clad Divine Constable also knows the Marrow-Shattering Finger. The Constable stole the Fei family's Thousand-Person Face mask. Using the mask slowly destroys your internal energy and leaves permanent bruises on your face.
Fei Yuchiao asks Qiushui for one last favor. He wants him to get the mask back from the Constable and destroy it. He hopes this will stop more chaos in the martial world.
Qiushui agrees and leaves. Almost immediately, the Iron-Clad Divine Constable shows up. He demands the antidote for the mask's side effects. Fei Yuchiao tells him there is no antidote. The Constable kills him with a single palm strike.
The Plot Twists Keep Coming
The Constable is Dead. Or is He?
Xiao Qiushui gets back to the Sword Hut and runs into the Four Sticks of Dragon River. They're looking for his sister, Xiao Xueyu, to heal them. They casually mention something wild. On their way there, they saw a man in black kill the Iron-Clad Divine Constable.
Qiushui can't believe it. He rushes with them to the scene. The Constable's body is there. It's severely dehydrated, and the fingers are posed in the Marrow-Shattering Finger position. Qiushui feels like this is wrong. It doesn't match what he knows from the "original story." It reminds him of how the real Book of Forgetful Love was hidden in a different place than the legends said.
Clues at the Sword Hut
Back at home, Qiushui questions Zuo Qiu about anything strange that happened after the big attack on their family. Zuo Qiu remembers something. The complex "Thousand-Mechanism Lock" behind the Sword Hut had been opened before the attack. Only a few members of the Xiao family know how to open that lock.
Later, Zuo Qiu also mentions that during the siege, it was Xiao Kaiyan who led the charge. He also reported that the escape route was blocked. A new, terrible idea starts to form in Qiushui's mind.
The Traitor is Finally Revealed
Qiushui asks Nangong Xiaoyi where his brother Xiao Kaiyan is. He finds him at the Pipa Pavilion. Kaiyan has laid out a huge meal of all their parents' favorite foods. He invites Qiushui to eat and offers him a cup of wine.
But Qiushui isn't falling for it. He already suspects his brother. He attacks. The cup shatters and a piece cuts Xiao Kaiyan's hand.
Suddenly, a memory hits Xiao Qiushui. He remembers Li Nan, the person from his own time before he crossed over. Li Nan had a scar on his palm. In that instant, he knows. Xiao Kaiyan is R.
