Episode Summary
Deng Yunfeng suspects Jianmeng Sect's involvement in his assassination attempt. Gou Lingfeng seeks a gift for Ma Yingdan. Zhuge Heng learns the truth about his mother's death and challenges his father, Zhuge Yu, to a duel. Ling'er confronts Linglong Princess. The duel ends with Zhuge Yu wounded. Zhuge Heng learns the full story of his parents' past. Deng Yunfeng arrives with accusations against Jianmeng Sect, and Linglong Princess offers Eunuch Deng information about the true assassin.
Spoiler Alert
"Hidden Master" Episode 16: Family Secrets and Sword Fights – Oh My!
So, things are really heating up in the world of "Hidden Master." Deng Yunfeng is starting to smell a rat. He realizes that Zhuge Buru is heading to Jianmeng Sect, but the real sword master, Zhuge Yu, is still alive and kicking, and has been gone from the sect for days. This makes Deng Yunfeng suspect the assassination attempt on him has something to do with Jianmeng Sect.
Meanwhile, our boy Gou Lingfeng is hanging out with Ma Yingdan. Because he's got some serious poison in his system, he can't even touch the cute little critters they see on the street. It's a real bummer for Ma Yingdan, who clearly loves the little things. Gou Lingfeng, being the sweet guy he is, vows to find her a creature that's immune to poison as a gift. Awww.
Zhuge Xun drops a bomb on Zhuge Heng, revealing the history of the Wanying Sword. Apparently, it's a super-secret Jianmeng Sect technique known only by Zhuge Yu. Zhuge Heng finds out his dad is in Huizhou City and, fueled by rage, decides to head back and seek revenge. Gou Lingfeng, while checking out a Jianmeng Sect shop, notices it's laid out exactly like the Gou Family Business. Turns out, Gou Yushu designed it! Small world, right?
On the way to Huizhou City, Zhuge Heng and Gou Lingfeng stage a fake assassination attempt to draw Zhuge Yu out of hiding. Zhuge Heng pretends to be losing, and Gou Lingfeng busts out some demonic powers, forcing Zhuge Yu to intervene. Gou Lingfeng apologizes, saying he had no choice. But Zhuge Heng isn't having it. He accuses his father of killing his mother and challenges him to a sword duel to the death. If he wins, he becomes the Jianmeng Sect leader. Gou Lingfeng uses the opportunity to ask Zhuge Yu about Deng Yunfeng's assassination, but Zhuge Yu denies any involvement, saying that if he had been involved, Deng Yunfeng would be dead.
Later that night, everyone tries to talk Zhuge Heng out of the duel, but he's too far gone. He reveals that he saw his mother, A Shun, who came from the Demonic Sect, die at his father's hand. A Shun used the Yuehua Sword Technique to beat Zhuge Yu many times, and Zhuge Heng believes it's the only way to defeat his father. But when Zhuge Yu demonstrates the technique, Gou Lingfeng scoffs, saying it's just a shadow of the real thing.
Ling'er, furious that Zhuge Heng is so stubborn, confronts Linglong Princess, slapping her and accusing her of encouraging Zhuge Heng to learn the Yuehua Sword Technique. Linglong Princess coolly replies that it was Zhuge Heng's wish. Ling'er reveals the truth: Zhuge Heng's enemy is his own father, Zhuge Yu.
The next day, the father and son face off by a lake. Gou Lingfeng, Ma Yingdan, and Ling'er watch. Zhuge Heng is losing badly and resorts to the Yuehua Sword Technique. The sword flashes remind Zhuge Yu of his dead wife, and he's distracted long enough for Zhuge Heng to wound him. Ling'er rushes forward and slaps Zhuge Heng, but when she turns back, Zhuge Yu has collapsed.
Gou Lingfeng and Ma Yingdan find Zhuge Yu and ask about the past. Zhuge Heng, pushed outside by Ling'er, finally learns the truth. The Wulin heroes forced Zhuge Yu to kill A Shun because she was from the Demonic Sect, but she sacrificed herself to protect her husband and son. Zhuge Yu then retreated from Jianghu and used the Gou Family Business to turn Jianmeng Sect towards commerce. The Yuehua Sword Technique was created by A Shun's father, and Zhuge Yu promised that if she ever used it, he would surrender, just to make her smile.
Even knowing the truth, Zhuge Heng can't let go of his hatred. Zhuge Xun leads Zhuge Yu back to Jianmeng Sect. After they leave, Deng Yunfeng shows up, claiming to have evidence that the assassins came from Jianmeng Sect. Ma Yingdan notices Zhuge Xun traveling frequently between Jianmeng Sect and Huizhou City and suspects something is up. She drags Gou Lingfeng to Huizhou City to help. Meanwhile, Eunuch Deng arrives in Huizhou City, and Linglong Princess visits him, offering to help Deng Yunfeng investigate the case and revealing the true identity of the assassin.
Looks like we're in for some serious revelations and confrontations in the next episode! Who is the real assassin? Will Zhuge Heng ever forgive his father? And what is Linglong Princess really up to? Stay tuned!
