Episode Summary
In episode 5, Li Song'er's feelings for Gu Yuan grow, but she still plans to poison him on his birthday to return home. Her plan goes awry when she gets drunk and makes him longevity noodles instead. A suspicious Gu Yuan accuses her of treachery, shattering their budding trust, only to realize his mistake after tasting the noodles. Meanwhile, Zhou Heng's assassination plot fails comically due to a punctual assassin named Shi Ren, and Gu Yuan strategically concedes a duel to keep Zhou Heng as a pawn. After bluffing her way through a martial arts test, Li Song'er's luck runs out as she is confronted by the real Chu Meng Die.
Spoiler Alert
To Get Master Episode 5: Recap & Spoilers
A birthday celebration becomes a minefield of suspicion, a top-tier assassination plot descends into comedy, and a case of mistaken identity is about to blow up in the most spectacular way possible. This episode throws Li Song'er and Gu Yuan into a crisis of trust, even as external threats and long-lost figures close in.
A Tug-of-War Between the Heart and the Mission
After days of sword training with Gu Yuan, Li Song'er can't deny the feelings blossoming within her. She starts to misinterpret his intense gaze as a sign of affection, though in reality, Gu Yuan is merely keeping a close watch on her, ensuring she doesn't interfere with his own secret plans. Torn but resolute, Li Song'er decides to stick to her original mission: poison Gu Yuan during his birthday celebration to trigger her return to her own world.
Meanwhile, their rival, Zhou Heng, knows he's no match for Gu Yuan in a fair fight and opts for a more insidious plot to wound, but not kill, him.
A Birthday Surprise, a Broken Trust
Gu Yuan, ever the strategist, anticipates Li Song'er's every move. He has her watched and, during a pre-birthday dinner, pointedly orders wine to prevent her from tampering with the drinks. However, his plan takes an unexpected turn when Li Song'er, in a rare moment of abandon, drinks too much and gets tipsy. In her drunken state, she abandons her poisoning plot and decides to make him a bowl of longevity noodles from the heart instead.
Gu Yuan, seeing her sprinkle "seasoning" into the bowl, immediately assumes the worst. He confronts her, laying his suspicions bare. Heartbroken and furious at the accusation, Li Song'er proves her innocence the only way she can: by eating the noodles herself. Through tears, she tells him it was meant to be a genuine birthday surprise before smashing the bowl and running out. A moment later, a hesitant Gu Yuan tastes the remaining noodles and is stunned—the flavor is an exact match for the noodles his mother used to make for him as a child. Realizing his grave mistake, he rushes out after her.
The Assassin Who Clocks Out on Time
As Gu Yuan gives chase, he's ambushed. Zhou Heng had hired what he thought was a team of ten elite assassins. Due to a communication blunder, however, he didn't get ten killers; he got one killer named "Shi Ren" (a name that sounds like "ten men"). Shi Ren is a peculiar old man who works with the strict discipline of an office clerk: his services last for the time it takes ten incense sticks to burn. Once the last stick is extinguished, he promptly packs up and leaves, regardless of whether the job is finished. The assassination attempt fails spectacularly.
Later, at the official duel, Gu Yuan doesn't even bother to fight. He sends Zhou Heng a letter of concession. While Zhou Heng gloats, he's oblivious to the fact that Gu Yuan is playing a longer game, intentionally keeping him alive as a useful pawn to keep other political forces in check.
An Identity Crisis on a Collision Course
Li Song'er's charade as Chu Meng Die nearly comes crashing down when Uncle Bai is sent to test her martial abilities. Thinking fast, she grabs his wrist, not to fight, but to "diagnose" him with a "kidney deficiency" that needs urgent care. The medical jargon, completely foreign in this world, terrifies Uncle Bai into a hasty retreat.
Just as Li Song'er breathes a sigh of relief, her luck runs out. On her way back to her room, she is stopped by a woman with a cold, knowing smile. The woman introduces herself, and Li Song'er's world freezes: it's the real Chu Meng Die.
Highlights & Spoilers
- Birthday Betrayal Backfires: Li Song'er's heartfelt gesture of making longevity noodles is mistaken for a poisoning attempt, leading to a raw, emotional confrontation with Gu Yuan.
- The World's Most Punctual Assassin: Zhou Heng's master plan is foiled by an elderly hitman who literally clocks out mid-fight when his "ten incense sticks" of work time are up.
- A Calculated Defeat: Gu Yuan strategically forfeits a duel with Zhou Heng, sparing his life to use him as a distraction in a larger political game.
- The Fanboy: A lowly sweeper named Baili witnesses Gu Yuan's incredible lightness skill (Qinggong) and is instantly converted into a devoted follower, begging to become his disciple.
- Identity Crisis Cliffhanger: After narrowly avoiding having her cover blown by faking a medical diagnosis, Li Song'er comes face-to-face with the real Chu Meng Die.
