Episode Summary
Li Chenzhou fakes his own death to expose traitors within his gang, a plan that succeeds but results in Liu Suifeng being gravely injured. The victory is short-lived, as Li Chenzhou and Zhao Shirong are killed in a second trap while trying to rescue an ally.
Spoiler Alert
The Funeral Trap
A Not-So-Sad Farewell
The episode kicks off with some bad news. Or what looks like bad news. Song Mingzhu tells Liu Suifeng that the big boss, Li Chenzhou, is back at headquarters. Liu Suifeng asks how he's doing, but Song Mingzhu is cagey. This makes him worry, so he runs to Li Chenzhou's room.
That's when Zhao Shirong walks out, looking pale. She tells Liu Suifeng to gather the elders. They're holding a river burial for Li Chenzhou in three days. Liu Suifeng immediately wants revenge, but Zhao Shirong calms him down. She says they need to keep this quiet. The official story is that Li is just away on a spiritual retreat. This is to prevent troublemakers from crashing the funeral. She also explains that Li Chenzhou knew his time was short. He wrote a will before he went to the palace. His final wish was to be buried with his military tally.
Of course, secrets don't stay secret for long. Xiao Kaiyan gets a message about Li Chenzhou's death and the plan to bury the tally with him. He decides he has to go to the funeral. He needs to see for himself if Li is really dead and, more importantly, get that tally.
The Betrayal
The day of the funeral arrives. Tang Fang shows up to pay her respects. Zhao Shirong places the military tally into the coffin herself. Just as Liu Suifeng and Dao Wang are about to carry the coffin to the river, everything goes sideways. Tang Song and his men burst in and start killing people.
Then comes the big reveal. The Water King and Human King switch sides. They admit they already told Xiao Kaiyan that Li Chenzhou was dead. This was their proof of loyalty to him.
A massive fight breaks out right in the middle of the memorial hall. Tang Fang gets her revenge, killing both Tang Song and Tang Qing.Dao Wang takes out Nangong Wushang. Liu Suifeng deals with the traitors himself, killing the Water King and the Human King.
The Real Plan (and Its Cost)
The Fake-Out
Just when they think it's over, Xiao Kaiyan shows up. He's so powerful he injures everyone in the room with a single blast of energy. He still suspects Li Chenzhou might be faking his death. He walks over to the coffin, ready to open it and grab the tally.
And he was right to be suspicious. The second he opens the lid, Li Chenzhou leaps out and hits him with a powerful palm strike.It was all a trap to expose the traitors in the gang.
A Heavy Price
Xiao Kaiyan isn't finished, though. He uses a technique from the Oblivion Scripture. Liu Suifeng jumps in front of the attack to block it. The move leaves him on the brink of death.In the chaos, Xiao Kaiyan snatches the military tally and escapes.
Li Chenzhou is furious. The plan worked, but he never wanted Liu Suifeng to get hurt. He orders someone to get an immortal pill to save his life. While they wait, Song Mingzhu makes a request. She tells Li Chenzhou that whether Liu Suifeng lives or dies, she wants to stay by his side. Li agrees. Luckily, the pill works, and Liu Suifeng survives. Song Mingzhu stays right by his bed, refusing to leave.
The Final Stand
Another Trap
The group regroups. Tang Fang has new intel. Xiao Kaiyan is gathering the Northern Wilderness army at the waterway. Zhao Shirong gives Tang Fang a special powder to sprinkle on the Tiger Talisman. Meanwhile, Xiao Kaiyan decides Wu Zhe is no longer useful. He orders him taken to Wansong Pavilion. The move is just a distraction for Xiao Qiushui. Xiao Qiushui's alliance confirms the army is gathering. He tells Liang Dou to take men to Xianren Pass for backup. He will go rescue Wu Zhe himself.
A Tragic End
Li Chenzhou and Zhao Shirong decide to intercept the prison cart carrying Wu Zhe themselves. They are attacked by three powerful masters from another region. In the fight, Zhao Shirong is stabbed and mortally wounded. Li Chenzhou makes quick work of the three attackers. He then rushes to the cart to save Wu Zhe.
But it's another trap. The person in the cart isn't Wu Zhe. It's an imposter who hits Li Chenzhou with a surprise attack. Li was already weak, and the blow is too much for him. He collapses, holding the dying Zhao Shirong in his arms.By the time Liu Suifeng and his men arrive, Li Chenzhou and Zhao Shirong are both dead.
