Episode Summary
Feng Qingzhuo goes undercover at a wealthy merchant's home to be selected as an adopted son, only to uncover a sinister plot to refine human blood. After alerting his allies, he is drugged and kidnapped. While being transported in a cart, he cleverly leaves a blood trail for his friends to follow. Xiao Beiming discovers the trail and leads a rescue mission, racing against time to save Feng Qingzhuo from his captors in a remote cave.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a crowd gathering at the imposing residence of a mysterious, wealthy merchant. Everyone is hoping to be chosen as his adopted son. Among them is Feng Qingzhuo, who, despite his nervousness, has already passed several rigorous tests. The selection process is unusual, involving assessments of physical strength and some vague literary knowledge. Feng Qingzhuo successfully passes the initial screening. Meanwhile, Huo Dairong decides to wait outside, keeping a close watch on the mansion, and sends Zhong Xueman home to take care of the ailing Xiao Beiming.
That evening, Zhong Xueman tenderly feeds medicine to Xiao Beiming, and the two begin to reminisce about their childhood. As they talk, the past feels vivid and close, but the sweet memories are tinged with the sorrow of their current, life-threatening situation. Xiao Beiming observes that Zhong Xueman has matured greatly and believes she will be able to manage on her own even if he's gone. At the same time, Huo Dairong and Tong Shuang, still watching the merchant's house, grow suspicious of the unnatural quietness within. They devise a plan: Tong Shuang will create a diversion, allowing her to sneak inside and rescue Feng Qingzhuo.
Inside, Feng Qingzhuo is already on high alert. He discovers a drug in his food and covertly takes an antidote he had prepared. Late at night, he slips out of his courtyard and is drawn to a room emanating a strange aura. Just as he is about to investigate, he is spotted by guards. Thinking quickly, he feigns sleepwalking to allay their suspicions. At that moment, Tong Shuang executes her part of the plan, causing a commotion that draws the estate's dogs to another area. She slips in and runs right into Feng Qingzhuo. He informs her that one room has an overwhelmingly strong smell of blood. Combined with the fact that all the candidates have been fed blood-enriching meals, he deduces that a horrific operation to refine human blood is taking place. Feng Qingzhuo suggests that Tong Shuang bring reinforcements for a surprise raid the next day.
The following morning, a horse-drawn cart loaded with firewood quietly departs from the Salt Merchants' Guild Hall. Just after it leaves, Wang Feihu arrives with a team to search the premises. To their surprise, the steward is fully cooperative and leads them inside. Tong Shuang goes directly to the suspicious room and finds what appear to be bloodstains on the floor. The steward casually explains it away, claiming it's just the kitchen area where animals are butchered. When Tong Shuang asks for the adopted son candidates, they all appear—except for Feng Qingzhuo.
Xiao Beiming rushes to the scene. Seeing Feng Qingzhuo missing, he immediately suspects the firewood cart that just left. He decisively orders Zhong Xueman to interrogate the steward, using force if necessary, confident that the man will break under pressure. Elsewhere, Feng Qingzhuo awakens to find himself tied up in the firewood cart next to another captive. He cleverly cuts his own finger, leaving a trail of blood drops along their route as a clue. Back at the guild hall, Xiao Beiming's interrogation works; he learns Feng Qingzhuo's whereabouts and leads a group in a frantic horseback pursuit towards the mountains.
Feng Qingzhuo and the other captive are taken to a deep cave, where their captors prepare to drain their blood. Unfazed, Feng Qingzhuo begins talking, using every excuse he can think of to stall for time and look for an escape. Meanwhile, Xiao Beiming and his party follow the blood trail, finally pinpointing Feng Qingzhuo's location. They spur their horses on, racing towards the cave, desperate to save him in time.
