Episode Summary
Jiang Wenhuan leads the heirs on a quest to find an immortality pill in Zhongli, though he suspects it's a trap. After a bittersweet farewell with A'si, the group sets out. Their journey is immediately perilous, as other forces are aware of their movements. The episode ends with the entire group being knocked unconscious by a poison gas attack on their first night camping.
Spoiler Alert
The Quest for the Immortality Pill
This whole thing kicks off with Jiang Wenhuan and the other young nobles getting ready to head out.Their mission is to find the so-called immortality pill in a place called Zhongli.
A Suspicious Mission
Right away, Jiang Wenhuan smells a rat. He pulls E Shun aside and asks him why a powerful magic pill would be hidden in a remote wasteland like Zhongli. The whole thing feels off. E Shun is clearly hiding something. We know he's been to Zhongli before, but he plays dumb. He just agrees that it's a weird place for a treasure hunt.
Jiang Wenhuan is also dealing with conflicting information. A letter he found said his father, Ning Bohou, was looking for the pill in Ningzhou. Now, he's being told it's in Zhongli. The target keeps moving, and it's making him question the entire quest.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Before he leaves, Jiang Wenhuan has a serious talk with A'si. He tells her he plans to visit his own birthplace, Tushan Village, while he's out there. A'si has a bad feeling about this whole immortality pill business. She thinks it's a bad omen and is more focused on the hope of finding her own family.
Later, A'si's spirits are lifted when she sees a sky full of lanterns. Seeing her happy, Jiang Wenhuan literally runs to the market to buy one for her. But by the time he gets back to the field, she's gone.
The next day, the heirs officially begin their journey. As the leader, Jiang Wenhuan promises to bring every single one of them back home safely. Gongsun Wuyu gives him a stark warning, telling him to be careful because the road ahead is extremely dangerous. After the group passes through the Donglu Pass, a single lantern floats up into the sky. Jiang Wenhuan knows it must be from A'si. He shouts into the air, promising they will meet again. Then, they ride off in opposite directions.
B-Plots and Bad Omens
Other people are making moves while the heirs are on the road.
A Desperate Confession
Gongsun Wuyu prepares to leave the city, and he's taking a woman named A'shi with him. This sends Jiang Wenfeng into a panic.He suddenly recalls a past misunderstanding between them and chases her down. He gives her a desperate, heartfelt confession of his love. He tells her that when he almost died years ago, his only thought was of her and how she would cope. It's a pretty intense speech, but it doesn't change her mind. She leaves anyway.
A Dangerous Welcome
E Shun gets an urgent message confirming the heirs are on their way to Zhongli. He knows this is more than a simple treasure hunt. He arranges a meeting with Kunwu's sister to thank her for some recent help.
Elsewhere, a man named Guxi uses his skills to predict that the nobles will soon arrive in Zhongli. His associate, Xian Xuanji, is less optimistic. He grimly states that there's no guarantee any of them will even make it to Zhongli alive.
The First Trap
The heirs travel for several days before making camp by a lake. Jiang Wenhuan gathers with E Shun and a few others to plan their next move. One of the nobles, Xin Jia, shares a local rumor.He says Zhongli is so prosperous because a powerful sorcerer lives there.
The mention of Zhongli makes E Shun visibly uncomfortable. He starts to tell a story about a river there that reminds him of fishing with his father, but he cuts himself off. Xin Jia couldn't care less. He tells E Shun he missed the most important part of the rumors. Zhongli is supposedly filled with countless beautiful women.
This news lifts everyone's spirits, and they all start laughing and joking around. Their celebration is cut short. A strange, poisonous mist suddenly fills the forest, and the entire group collapses, unconscious.
