Episode Summary
Zang Hai, having spent ten years training to avenge his family's murder, arrives in The Capital and quickly becomes the top advisor to his target, Zhuang Lu Yin. His rising influence and strategic acumen impress and worry Xiang An Tu, who considers eliminating him. After Zang Hai cleverly uses gift-giving to bolster Zhuang Lu Yin's reputation, Xiang An Tu spreads damaging rumors about him. While investigating his family's past at the Marquis Pingjin's residence, Zang Hai finds his parents' belongings and renews his vow for revenge. He is then kidnapped by former advisors Hui Jian and Shi Lei. During the confrontation, Zang Hai recognizes his father's knives and, through a scar, reveals his true identity to Hui Jian, who turns out to be his long-lost senior martial brother, Guan Feng. They share their stories, and Zang Hai deduces his father may have hidden a treasure in Liu Xian's tomb.
Spoiler Alert
"Legend of Zang Hai" Episode 9: Revenge, Rumors, and a Shocking Reunion
We kick off with a painful flashback: Zang Hai, just eight years old, witnesses his parents and sister being brutally murdered. He only survives by hiding in a secret passage, later rescued by a mysterious masked individual. This savior sends him to Master Xing Dou, where Zang Hai spends the next decade dedicating himself to learning architecture and the intricate art of geomancy. His ultimate goal? To avenge his family against a man named Zhuang Lu Yin. When the time is right, Master Xing Dou tasks his own master, Gao Ming, with accompanying Zang Hai to The Capital to finally set his revenge plot in motion.
Upon arriving in The Capital, Zang Hai's first significant encounter is at the Pillow Tower with the enigmatic Xiang An Tu. She quickly brings him up to speed on the complex political landscape. It's not long before Xiang An Tu proves to be a crucial, if complicated, ally, cleverly helping Zang Hai dodge a life-threatening situation at that very same Pillow Tower.
Fast forward three months: Zang Hai has not only managed to survive a perilous, trap-filled underground palace (who even builds those things?) but has also astonishingly become Zhuang Lu Yin's top advisor. This development piques Xiang An Tu's curiosity immensely. She summons Zang Hai back to the Pillow Tower, where her subordinate, Xu Ben (the owner of Pillow Tower), attempts to test him. However, Zang Hai, ever perceptive, sees right through the ruse.
Impressed, Xiang An Tu offers Zang Hai a coveted VIP status at the Pillow Tower. But Zang Hai declines, coolly stating that his allegiance to Zhuang Lu Yin is purely for personal gain – fame and fortune. This enrages Xiang An Tu, who retorts that he'll undoubtedly come to need her assistance later. Zang Hai remains steadfast. Observing this interaction is Xiang An Tu's close friend, Eighth Master, who recognizes Zang Hai as a formidable individual. This makes Xiang An Tu wary; she fears Zang Hai's capabilities will propel Zhuang Lu Yin to greater power, potentially leading to war and suffering for her people in Da Yong. The idea of eliminating Zang Hai crosses her mind, but given his current strong position, she decides to wait for a more opportune moment.
News of Zang Hai becoming Zhuang Lu Yin's chief strategist spreads like wildfire, and officials from all corners begin to send lavish congratulatory gifts. Zhuang Shan, one of Zhuang Lu Yin's men, even shows Zang Hai the array of treasures. Zang Hai astutely notes the absence of names on the gift list, correctly deducing that these officials will soon be calling in favors. Zhuang Shan confirms these are indeed "return gifts," a practice Zhuang Lu Yin is well aware of.
But Zang Hai is always a step ahead. He begins distributing congee to the common folk at the residence of Pingjin Hou (Marquis Pingjin), doing so in Zhuang Lu Yin's name. The public is deeply appreciative, and Zhuang Lu Yin's reputation soars. This clever move not only bolsters his patron's image but also subtly discourages the officials from expecting returns on their gifts. Zhuang Lu Yin is thoroughly impressed, granting Zang Hai unrestricted access to his study and advising him to delve into military strategy.
Seeing Zang Hai's reputation flourish, Xiang An Tu isn't pleased. She enlists Eighth Master to spread several damaging, false rumors. Soon, children's rhymes carry these tales throughout The Capital: Zang Hai is a mystic searching for an immortality elixir for Zhuang Lu Yin; Zang Hai is a spy planted by Zhuang Lu Yin's political rivals; and the most scandalous of all, Zang Hai is Zhuang Lu Yin's illegitimate son. Zang Hai immediately suspects Xiang An Tu's hand in this. Gao Ming, concerned that these rumors could jeopardize their carefully laid plans to assassinate Zhuang Lu Yin, urges Zang Hai to apologize to Xiang An Tu.
Zang Hai heads to the Pillow Tower to make amends, but Xiang An Tu refuses to see him, even having her staff lie that she's out. Back at the Marquis Pingjin's residence, Zang Hai receives more gifts, but among them is a letter exposing his true intentions for being there. Later that night, Zang Hai ventures into the treasury and discovers a locked room beneath a secret passage. Inside, he finds not only gold and jewels but also the fish-shaped token that Qu Jiao had taken from his father, Kuai Duo. The most devastating discovery, however, is his parents' blood-stained clothing. Overwhelmed by memories and grief, Zang Hai is overcome, even coughing up blood. Kneeling amidst these painful relics, he fiercely renews his vow to kill Zhuang Lu Yin and give his parents the proper burial they deserve.
With his resolve hardened, Zang Hai procures poison, intending to eliminate Zhuang Lu Yin. However, an opportunity never arises, as Zhuang Lu Yin is always accompanied by Zhuang Shan during their chess games. While out on an errand, Zang Hai is ambushed from behind. He awakens to find himself bound and kidnapped by Hui Jian and Shi Lei, two disgruntled former advisors from Marquis Pingjin's household. They were dismissed after the death of Yang Zhen and now hold Zang Hai responsible, seeking revenge.
As Hui Jian prepares to flay Zang Hai's face with a distinctive set of eight willow leaf knives, Zang Hai has a shocking realization: he recognizes those knives! They were a gift from his own father, Kuai Duo, to a man named Guan Feng. Zang Hai presses Hui Jian about his true purpose for being at Marquis Pingjin's residence. Hui Jian confesses he is there to avenge his master. The pieces fall into place for Zang Hai; he deduces that Hui Jian is his senior martial brother, Guan Feng. In a desperate gamble, Zang Hai tells Hui Jian to begin the flaying from his back, hoping Hui Jian will recognize the whip scars there – scars that Guan Feng himself had treated years ago when Zang Hai (who has since undergone facial transformation) was younger. The gamble pays off. Despite Zang Hai's altered appearance, Guan Feng recognizes the scars.
The revelation is electrifying. Hui Jian, now revealed as Guan Feng, realizes that Zang Hai is his long-lost junior martial brother, Zhi Nu. An emotional reunion ensues, filled with tears and a heartfelt embrace. Zang Hai quickly recounts his harrowing experiences. Guan Feng then shares his own tragic tale: on the fateful day Kuai Duo's family was murdered, Guan Feng had been sent by their master's wife to chop wood in the mountains as punishment. He returned to find the horrific scene. Since that day, he has wandered, carrying the knives Kuai Duo gave him, swearing to avenge their master. He was eventually taken in by Kai Zhen San Ren after being caught stealing buns, and there he became a disciple alongside Shi Lei. After Kai Zhen San Ren passed away, Guan Feng and Shi Lei stuck together, eventually managing to become advisors at the Marquis Pingjin's residence, all while seeking an opportunity for revenge.
Zang Hai had initially believed Guan Feng was the one who sent him the anonymous warning letter earlier, but it turns out it was someone else. This leads Zang Hai to suspect that this unknown ally is after a treasure his father brought back from a place called Dong Xia. Guan Feng then recalls that their master, Kuai Duo, had returned from the southwest. Connecting these clues, Zang Hai deduces that his father must have hidden the precious treasure in Liu Xian's tomb.
