Episode Summary
Kunwu arrives in Donglu City under the guise of an heir named E Shun to fulfill a secret deal. He quickly gets entangled with local conflicts, including a duel with E Shun's old enemy, Chongyi Biao, and is saved by Jiang Wenhuan. A thief named A'si steals a copper bar from him, which is revealed to be a key for a monster's cage. That monster escapes during a tournament, and Jiang Wenhuan's plan to trap it goes wrong, putting everyone in immediate danger.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 2: New Faces, Old Grudges, and a Monster Problem
A New Identity
Ten days have passed. Kunwu’s carriage finally rolls up to the edge of Donglu City. This is where his new life begins. He’s no longer Kunwu. From now on, you can call him E Shun, the heir of Nanbo Hou.
This whole thing is a deal he struck with the real E Shun. Kunwu pretends to be him and competes in the "War God Beast Fighting" festival. In exchange, E Shun will help Kunwu find his sister, who he's been looking for for years. Kunwu seems to think this is a fair trade. I'm not so sure.
Meet the Locals
We get thrown right into some local drama. A guy named Ning Ziyu is practically begging for forgiveness from someone named Chongyi Biao, who is hiding behind a screen. Chongyi Biao isn't saying a word.
Then, a new character, Xin Jia, wanders by. He thinks the situation is funny. He jokes that maybe Chongyi Biao is deaf. This was a mistake. Chongyi Biao storms out, ready to throw a punch. Xin Jia immediately starts apologizing to calm him down. It works. After all that, Ning Ziyu and Xin Jia decide they're pals and head off for a drink.
A Thief and a Chase
Their little bonding moment doesn't last long. A woman appears out of nowhere and snatches Ning Ziyu’s wallet. They both take off after her.
Just by chance, Jiang Wenhuan is walking past. He recognizes the thief and joins the chase. She's incredibly fast and agile. She spots Kunwu’s carriage, jumps on, and grabs him. She holds a hand over his mouth, telling him to stay quiet.
An Awkward Reunion
Jiang Wenhuan gets to the carriage, but the thief has vanished. Kunwu steps out and immediately recognizes Jiang Wenhuan. This is the man who saved his life before. But he can't say anything. He has to stick to the plan. So, he introduces himself as E Shun.
Jiang Wenhuan hears a sound inside the carriage. He wants to check it out. Kunwu stops him. As they argue, the thief makes a run for it. She throws the wallet at Jiang Wenhuan but keeps whatever was inside. In the heat of the moment, Jiang Wenhuan grabs a small bag and chucks it at her. It turns out to be a dye pack. It explodes all over her, staining her clothes bright red. She is furious and storms off.
The Smuggling Plot
We find out the thief's name is A'si. She didn't just steal cash. She took some strange copper bars from the wallet. She goes to her father's pawnshop to try and sell them. The shopkeeper is wary. He tells her these aren't just any copper bars. They're used as smuggling tokens.
He also tells her that a mysterious black box is delivered to a place called Qiankun Lane every night. A'si puts two and two together. She suspects that the new heir, "E Shun," is up to no good.
The Duel and a Rescue
That night, all the heirs gather for a duel. Kunwu, as E Shun, shows up late. Chongyi Biao spots him and immediately challenges him to a fight. He clearly has a deep-seated hatred for the real E Shun.
Kunwu knows he can't back down. Chongyi Biao fights like he's trying to kill him. Kunwu is fast, though. He just keeps dodging every attack without fighting back. He's in real trouble. Jiang Wenhuan sees this, jumps onto the stage, and stops the fight, saving Kunwu. He then takes Kunwu to his room to treat his injuries.
The Key to Everything
While helping him, Jiang Wenhuan says that "E Shun" reminds him of his old dog, Da Huang. It's an odd thing to say, but okay. Then, Kunwu notices a drawing on the table. It's one of the copper bars. Jiang Wenhuan explains that his was stolen by the female thief.
Kunwu knows the design. He draws the complete pattern from memory. It hits him. This isn't just a token. It's a key. A key designed to lock the cage of a very ferocious beast.
The Monster Is Loose
A'si sends her men to investigate the black box in Qiankun Lane. They find it. They hear something inside that scares them half to death.
Using this new information, Jiang Wenhuan sets up a trap with iron chains at the seaside arena where the next day's duel will take place. The next day arrives, and the tournament begins. The monster box has been moved by mistake into the stables. A'si sneaks in, still convinced she's about to expose Jiang Wenhuan as a smuggler.
Suddenly, a pillar in the arena cracks open. A giant monster crawls out. The crowd panics. People run for their lives, but the exits are sealed shut. Jiang Wenhuan steps up. He draws the giant's attention and leads it toward the trap he set last night. It's a brave move. But the giant is too powerful. The trap fails completely.
