Episode Summary
Zhuge Yu explains his vision for Jianmeng Sect, focusing on combating inner darkness rather than just eliminating the Demonic Sect. Gou Lingfeng is warned about the Demonic Sect's resurgence and his own vulnerability. He's later forced by Guilao to become the Demonic Sect's leader. Meanwhile, Deng Yunfeng seeks help from Gou Lingfeng, Zhuge Heng discovers a connection between Guilao and the Demonic Sect, and the group investigates Wulipo, finding ordinary people instead of evil villains. Guangming Xia is secretly observing them.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 18 of "Hidden Master" dives deep into the heart of Jianmeng Sect as Zhuge Yu gives everyone a tour. He explains the real reason he wants to transform it into a hub for merchants. Turns out, back in the day, the Wulin heroes teamed up with all the Jianghu sects to wipe out the Demonic Sect. They thought getting rid of the Demonic Sect would bring peace, but they realized the problem wasn't the Demonic Sect itself, but the darkness within people's hearts. So, whether it's the Demonic Sect or the Wulin heroes, human wickedness is the toughest thing to eradicate.
That's why Zhuge Yu is really thinking about the future of Jianmeng Sect. He introduces everyone to Wang Qing, a former swordsman who lost an arm fighting the Demonic Sect. Wang Qing could have had a miserable life, but now he's running a small business in Jianmeng Sect and living happily.
Meanwhile, Gou Lingfeng, Zhuge Heng, and Ma Yingdan return to the Xia Association to see Guangming Xia, who praises them but warns them not to get too cocky. Guangming Xia then has a private chat with Gou Lingfeng. Gou Lingfeng remembers how his nanny was brutally murdered by the Demonic Sect when he was a kid, and Guangming Xia saved him just in time.
Guangming Xia tells Gou Lingfeng that the Demonic Sect has been making moves lately. He’s worried that Gou Lingfeng's kind nature might make him too trusting and easily manipulated. He urges him to be careful in his actions. Gou Lingfeng promises to be cautious and then rejoins Ma Yingdan and the others. Zhuge Heng, having fulfilled his previous wish, now has three new ones: to strive, to get rich, and to start a family.
Hearing Zhuge Heng, Gou Lingfeng decides to set a date for him and Ling'er ASAP. The four of them are laughing and joking around. Zhuge Heng pushes Gou Lingfeng and Ma Yingdan to tie the knot soon, but Gou Lingfeng insists he's destined to be a great hero. However, Ma Yingdan's poison is getting worse, and her meridians are all messed up. Ling'er is worried sick and thinks that Gou Lingfeng might be able to help. She wants to go find him, but Ma Yingdan stops her, saying the poison is incurable and even Gou Lingfeng's presence would be useless.
Later that night, Guilao tells Gou Lingfeng that the Demonic Sect is holding a succession ceremony in four days, and he needs to be there. Gou Lingfeng scoffs, wondering who's taking over this time. When Guilao coldly says it's him, Gou Lingfeng's expression changes, and he refuses. Guilao then mentions that Gou Yushu is still in his hands, making it clear this isn't a request but an order.
Deng Yunfeng is having trouble managing the Vigilantes because they don't respect him. Linglong Princess comes to him and reveals that Zhuge Heng's maternal grandpa, Guilao, is a key figure in the Demonic Sect and has been active in Wulipo recently. She suggests using this connection to control the Vigilantes. Deng Yunfeng stops Linglong Princess as she's leaving and asks if she failed to confess her feelings to Zhuge Heng. Linglong Princess gets angry, saying romance isn't her priority and that her engagement with Deng Yunfeng will never change, regardless of her feelings for either of them.
On the other hand, Gou Lingfeng is stressing about Guilao forcing him to become the Sect Leader. Deng Yunfeng comes to them, hoping they'll take on some Xia Association missions. Zhuge Heng notices that all the missions are related to Wulipo. Gou Lingfeng sees this as an opportunity to find his master, Guilao, and accepts the missions.
The next morning, Ma Yingdan buys a bunch of candied hawthorns for two little beggars. But when they find them, they see Xiao Zhan crying because his friend Xiao Zhao was killed by the Demonic Sect. With the succession ceremony coming up, Gou Lingfeng and the others plan to investigate Wulipo. On the way, they run into the two bandits who harassed Ma Yingdan before. The bandits tell them about their miserable lives, saying they haven't robbed anyone successfully and have to pay protection money to the Xia Association.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaowu of the Demonic Sect tries to stand up for justice but gets beaten up by the Vigilantes. Zhuge Heng, who met Ma Xiaowu once before, steps in to save him again. Ma Xiaowu, who is from Wulipo, takes Gou Lingfeng and the others back to the Demonic Sect's "headquarters." To everyone's surprise, the so-called Demonic Sect is just a group of ordinary people trying to live peacefully.
As Gou Lingfeng and the others are wandering through the lively market in Wulipo, Guangming Xia is secretly watching them from afar. That night, Guilao is drunk in the woods when he hears Liu Guang's voice. Liu Guang warns him that the Wulin heroes are going to wipe out the Demonic Sect and that he should come up with a plan and not put all his eggs in Gou Lingfeng's basket.
