Episode Summary
In Episode 7, Zichuan Xiu continues to feign blindness to secretly train his "Xiu-zi Camp" with custom-made martial arts manuals. After his deception is exposed by Bai Chuan, his men are tested in a real battle against the Northern Tribe, where they prove their newfound strength. Xiu secures a loan from Old Delun to better equip his soldiers. They then rescue a group of deserters led by Hu An, who reveals that a brutal new general, Lu Di, massacred thousands at Moon Bay to earn his title. Driven to act, Xiu leads his camp in a daring mission to rescue the captive civilians from Moon Bay, taking responsibility for them afterward. Meanwhile, Princess Zichuan Ning, under the tutelage of Li Qing, finds inspiration in the legendary female leader Liu Fengshuang and commits to her studies.
Spoiler Alert
Eternal Brotherhood Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: Deceptions, Battles, and a Brutal New Enemy
This episode of Eternal Brotherhood dives deep into strategy, deception, and the harsh realities of war, as Zichuan Xiu's camp is tested in unexpected ways and a horrifying new threat emerges in Yuanzhou.
A Princess in Training
The episode opens with Princess Zichuan Ning receiving a stern education from her new tutor, Li Qing. Tasked with learning the history and geography of Yuanzhou, Ning is initially defiant. However, Li Qing’s lessons, particularly the story of Liu Fengshuang of the Liufeng family, begin to resonate with her. Liu Fengshuang, a brilliant female leader, single-handedly solved a decade-long crisis on the border, and her tale sparks a fire in Ning. Inspired to become a leader of such caliber, the princess sheds her reluctance and begins to earnestly apply herself, proactively seeking knowledge from her teacher.
The Blind Man's Bluff
Meanwhile, Zichuan Xiu is enjoying a period of rest by feigning blindness, a ruse that Old Delun happily plays along with. To pass the time and secretly train his men, Xiu creates a set of unique martial arts manuals supposedly belonging to the eccentric Prince Zuo Jiaming. While the men are puzzled by the humorous and unconventional style of the manuals, Bai Chuan suspects they are legitimate, though she knows Xiu is behind it.
Her suspicions about his blindness are confirmed when she discovers his hidden drawings—including some risqué illustrations and the original drafts of the training manuals. To expose him, she enters his room and begins to disrobe. A panicked Zichuan Xiu instinctively scrambles to cover her with her clothes, his swift movements proving he can see perfectly. Furious, Bai Chuan punches him.
A flustered Xiu explains that his sight returned only recently and he was simply trying to avoid pressure. He confesses that the techniques in the manuals are genuine, taught by his master, which he has adapted to suit each of his men's individual strengths for maximum effect. While Bai Chuan understands his good intentions, she declares that he must face the consequences of deceiving his brothers.
Trial by Fire
The opportunity for Xiu's men to prove themselves arrives when the Northern Tribe launches an attack on Bulu Village, the very place that gave them shelter. Zichuan Xiu frames this as a chance to repay their hosts and for his "Xiu-zi Camp" to finally earn some real battlefield glory.
The first skirmish is a setup. Li Nong and Aze lead the charge against what are actually Old Delun's men disguised as Northern Tribe soldiers. The real test comes moments later when actual Northern Tribe warriors appear. Believing them to be more actors, Aze charges in recklessly, only to unleash a shocking display of power, single-handedly taking down more than a dozen enemy soldiers. The stunning victory, which Zichuan Xiu confirms was against a real enemy, finally allows the Xiu-zi Camp to shed their reputation as cowards.
During the victory celebration, Old Delun privately admits to Xiu that his own men were nearly overwhelmed by the Xiu-zi Camp's ferocity. Seizing the moment, Xiu mentions his need for funds to purchase better equipment. Seeing an opportunity, Old Delun agrees to lend him the silver, but with interest. An overjoyed Zichuan Xiu's first act with the new funds is to treat his men to a lavish feast.
New Allies and a Horrifying Revelation
While on patrol, Bai Chuan discovers a group of wounded deserters from the Yuanzhou army. Their leader, Hu An, reveals they were part of Lei Hong's 5th battalion. They express immense gratitude towards Zichuan Xiu for killing their former commander, a tyrant who treated them as nothing more than cannon fodder. Hu An and his men pledge their loyalty to Xiu.
With this new alliance comes grim news. Hu An explains that after Lei Hong's death, a man named Lu Di was appointed the new "Great General of Pingyuan." His promotion was the result of a horrifying decree from the Divine Emperor Sairong: the title would go to whoever killed the most people. To claim it, Lu Di marched on Moon Bay and massacred tens of thousands of innocent civilians, claiming their land after their slaughter.
A Desperate Rescue
Enraged by this atrocity, Old Delun vows to rescue the survivors from Moon Bay, but the other local leaders refuse to help. Zichuan Xiu offers his assistance, and together they devise a plan. Xiu persuades the local people of Moon Bay to help, providing a detailed map of the prison and assigning his Xiu-zi Camp to handle the fighting.
The rescue is a success, but the freed prisoners are hostile and ungrateful towards their rescuers from Bulu Village. It takes a show of force from Aze—who kicks a support pillar in half—and a practical appeal from Zichuan Xiu to quell their anger. He reminds the starving, desperate crowd that their only path to survival and food is to follow his lead.
Recognizing that the freed civilians are helpless and would surely perish if left alone, Zichuan Xiu takes responsibility for them. Understanding his unspoken intention, Bai Chuan agrees to help organize the effort to build them shelter, bringing a look of relief to Xiu's face as he prepares to manage his rapidly growing, unconventional army.
