Episode Summary
Xiao Xueyu fails to kill Xiao Kaiyan and dies, but she secures the Hero's Token and the Oblivion Scripture for Xiao Qiushui. Both Yan Kuangtu and Li Chenzhou are killed, leaving Xiao Kaiyan more powerful but also leaving Xiao Qiushui as the last hope.
Spoiler Alert
The Wedding That Wasn't
A Poisoned Toast
So, Xiao Xueyu is forced to marry Xiao Kaiyan. She plays the part of the dutiful bride. She tells him she's just a lonely girl. She says she's grateful to the Xiao family for taking her in. Her real dream was to be a traveling doctor. She wanted to marry a true hero. But now, she says Xiao Kaiyan can give her everything she needs.
It's all a performance. She prepares the ceremonial wine for the wedding toast. She also secretly poisons it. Xiao Kaiyan is completely fooled. He's so happy he gives her the Hero's Token, telling her they'll rule the world together. Then they both drink. He immediately knows something is wrong. In a rage, he uses his remaining power to strike her down. He kills her on the spot.
The Aftermath
Xiao Qiushui gets an invitation and has to show up. He sees Xiao Kaiyan, who looks like a monster. Qiushui demands to know why he's done all this. Kaiyan just rants about how his parents never valued him. He says his brother always held him down.
Qiushui has heard enough. He smashes a screen and rips the veil off the bride. He finds Xiao Xueyu is already dead. He takes her hand and finds the Hero's Token clutched tightly inside it. He carefully takes the token and carries her body home.
Two Legends Fall
Yan Kuangtu's Final Stand
Elsewhere, Yan Kuangtu is talking with three masters from another region. They have a friendly sparring match and then let him go. Just as Yan Kuangtu is about to rescue Wu Zhe from a cell, Xiao Kaiyan arrives.
Kaiyan declares that he has nothing left to lose. He's determined to take Yan Kuangtu's internal energy for himself. He attacks and begins to absorb Yan Kuangtu's power. Yan Kuangtu is left completely drained. He whispers that he's leaving the rest to Xiao Qiushui. Then, he destroys his own meridians and dies. Wu Zhe hears everything from the next room, helpless.
Li Chenzhou's Goodbye
Li Chenzhou goes to the palace for a meeting with the Emperor. Unsurprisingly, the Emperor has poisoned wine waiting for him. Li Chenzhou decides he's done pretending. He speaks his mind about the dangers facing the Da Xi kingdom. He warns that the Northern Wilderness army is already at Xianren Pass and will threaten the throne. He also defends Wu Zhe, saying he was framed.
The Emperor is furious. He accuses them both of treason. Li Chenzhou doesn't argue. He drinks the entire cup of poisoned wine, leaves a note, and walks out. The Emperor, still angry, finds the letter. For Li Chenzhou, this was always the endgame. He was prepared to die.
He walks out of the palace and finds Zhao Shirong waiting for him, just like always. He's relieved to see her. He gives her a small smile, then coughs up blood and collapses into her arms.
A New Beginning for Qiushui
The Secret in the Scripture
Back at his home, Xiao Qiushui prepares Xiao Xueyu's body. He discovers something written on the corner of her clothes. It's the Oblivion Scripture. He realizes Yan Kuangtu must have told it to her in prison. She memorized it and wrote it down, a final act of defiance. After burying her, Xiao Qiushui swears he will get revenge.
Later, he plays a long zither. As he plays, he thinks about his family, his loyal friends, and all the heroes who died for justice. He has a breakthrough. He realizes the Oblivion Scripture isn't about pure strength. Its true power comes from understanding its secrets and using the energy of the world around him.
