Episode Summary
Nangong Wan discovers the war is a lost cause due to a secret pact between the elders and is given one year to act freely. Han Li excels on the battlefield but is given a new mission by his master, Li Huayuan, to travel to the capital and protect the mortal family of a fallen friend. In a twist, he learns he will be traveling with Nangong Wan. Meanwhile, Dong Xuan'er is found by her long-lost cousin, Wang Chan, before she goes missing, causing alarm.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a heavy revelation. Nangong Wan, determined to join the battle, is stopped by her senior sister. She learns a shocking truth: the Nascent Soul stage elders from both sides have a secret pact to not participate in the war. This is because their side's elders have previously fought and lost against the Demonic Dao's Nascent Soul cultivators. The war's outcome was decided before it even began, making the sacrifices of the younger disciples seem utterly meaningless to a stunned Nangong Wan.
Given a one-year grace period by her senior sister to do as she pleases before she must step away from the conflict, Nangong Wan vows to save as many people as she can. A year later, we see Han Li in battle, noting the strange increase in Demonic Dao cultivators he's been facing.
At the supply exchange, Han Li cashes in his merit points from killing a Foundation Establishment stage enemy. This feat earns him the envy of several Chen family disciples, but the Chen Elder quickly puts them in their place, highlighting that Han Li has accomplished such feats seven times alone, whereas they have only done so once as a group of three. Chen Qiaoqian then approaches Han Li, offering him a position as a guest elder in the Chen family, but he politely declines. Nangong Wan happens to witness this exchange from a distance.
Meanwhile, a new connection is revealed when Wang Chan spots Dong Xuan'er. He recognizes the jade pendant she wears—a gift from her master—and informs her that they are cousins. He insists on taking her to meet their family, much to her confusion.
Han Li later reunites with his master, Li Huayuan, and his senior brother and sister. They inform him that Dong Xuan'er, recently released from a long period of confinement, is also in the area. After a lighthearted card game where Han Li's presence helps everyone get a discount from a merchant named Wangyu, Wangyu gives Han Li a token, designating him as an honored guest and respecting his privacy.
The mood shifts when Dong Xuan'er's dropped hair ribbon is found, but she is nowhere to be seen. A worried Hong Fu rushes off to find her. Seizing the moment, Li Huayuan gives Han Li a new, crucial mission. He tasks Han Li with protecting the mortal descendants of a deceased fellow disciple, a promise Li Huayuan made long ago. This family now resides in the capital city of the State of Yue.
Han Li sees this as a perfect opportunity to leave the front lines. He cleverly negotiates with his master to ensure his accumulated battle merits won't be lost. Li Huayuan agrees and adds a final, surprising detail: Han Li will be traveling with Nangong Wan's group, as they are heading in the same direction. The news that he will be traveling with Nangong Wan leaves Han Li astonished.
