Episode Summary
Liu Suifeng makes a terrible sacrifice, turning himself into a "medicine man" to protect Li Chenzhou, who then outsmarts him and heads to the palace alone. Meanwhile, Xiao Kaiyan sets an elaborate trap using a mask to impersonate General Wu Zhe. He successfully captures Yan Kuangtu, but his plan to steal Yan's power backfires when it's revealed he can't control the forbidden techniques he's learned.
Spoiler Alert
Liu Suifeng's Sacrifice
Becoming the Medicine Man
Let's start with Liu Suifeng. His loyalty to Li Chenzhou is absolute. So when Dao Wang reports that Liu Suifeng is buying up weird herbs, Li Chenzhou doesn't even blink. He trusts his man completely.
That trust is intense. Liu Suifeng is using a secret manual from the Tang Clan. He's poisoning himself on purpose. He plans to become a "medicine man." He knows this will turn him into something that isn't human. It's a fate worse than death. Still, he drinks the poison down.
He shoves Song Mingzhu out of the room first. He doesn't want her to see the agony he's about to go through. She stays right outside the door, heartbroken. She swears to herself that she'll always stay by his side. As Liu Suifeng suffers, Dao Wang passes by and finally seems to get it. He understands Liu Suifeng's loyalty runs deep.
A Last-Ditch Effort
Later, Liu Suifeng heads to the Power-wielding Gang's headquarters. He's going to try and stop Li Chenzhou from walking into the palace. He even doctors the wine, hoping to knock Li Chenzhou out.
It doesn't work. Li Chenzhou was a step ahead. He already drugged Liu Suifeng's drink. Before Liu passes out, Li Chenzhou tells him to go find his own life. He wants him to be free of the gang and all their old fights. Liu Suifeng collapses before he can even answer. When he finally wakes up, Song Mingzhu tells him the bad news. Li Chenzhou is already gone. He went to the palace.
The Trap for Yan Kuangtu
A Warning and an Ambush
While all that is happening, Xiao Qiushui gets some bad news. People from the Northern Wilderness are crossing into Da Xi territory. He tells Zuo Qiu and the others to hit the Eagle Flute Sect's bases, and fast.
That night, Xiao Qiushui is taking a walk. He passes a ruined temple and hears footsteps. He hides just in time to see General Wu Zhe and his troops. Wu Zhe suspects there's a traitor in the royal court. Someone is pushing for a retreat from the critical Xianren Pass. He knows it's a terrible idea, but he has to follow the emperor's orders.
After Wu Zhe leaves, Xiao Qiushui sends a message. He gets a carrier pigeon to Yan Kuangtu. He warns him that Wu Zhe is walking into danger.
The Big Reveal
Yan Kuangtu heads straight for the temple. He finds three masters there waiting to ambush Wu Zhe. They claim to work for Zhu Datianwang. Yan Kuangtu doesn't waste time talking. He just kills them.
He waits, and sure enough, "Wu Zhe" returns. Yan Kuangtu begs him not to go back to the capital. He says the nation needs him. He even pulls out the Hero's Token, making the request on behalf of the entire martial world.
This is where the trap springs. "Wu Zhe" takes the token. Then he rips off his face. It's a mask, the Thousand Faces. Underneath is Xiao Kaiyan.
Xiao Kaiyan immediately attacks. He absorbs some of Yan Kuangtu's internal power. He's about to land a killing blow, but Xiao Xueyu appears. She throws herself in front of Yan Kuangtu. Xiao Kaiyan stops. He agrees not to kill Yan Kuangtu, but only if Xiao Xueyu does exactly what he says.
The Aftermath
A Prison of Water and Secrets
While this is going on, the real Wu Zhe gets ambushed on the road. He gives the Tiger Talisman to his subordinate, Jiang Yue. He tells him to get it to Xiao Qiushui.
Xiao Kaiyan throws Yan Kuangtu into a water prison. He then tries to force Xiao Xueyu to marry him. He also tries to absorb all of Yan Kuangtu's power. But something goes wrong. His energy channels get blocked.
Yan Kuangtu figures it out immediately. Xiao Kaiyan must have secretly learned the Oblivion Scripture. He knows how to take power, but he has no idea how to control or use it. Yan Kuangtu tells him it's only a matter of time before he goes completely mad from the power.
Xiao Kaiyan is furious. He sends Xiao Xueyu to convince Yan Kuangtu to cooperate. She uses the chance to secretly tell Yan Kuangtu she'll find a way to free him. He tells her not to worry. Instead, he tells her the secrets of the Oblivion Scripture. Back in her room, Xiao Xueyu crushes some grass to make a green juice. She uses it as ink to write everything down.
Li Chenzhou's Final Move
The episode ends with Zhao Shirong seeing Li Chenzhou off. They are just outside the capital city. A carriage from the palace arrives to pick him up. Li Chenzhou tells her not to worry. Then he gets into the carriage and heads for his fate.
