Episode Summary
Jiang Wenhuan's suspicion forces Kunwu to navigate a series of dangerous tests to protect his identity as "E Shun." A'si's desperate attempt to avoid an arranged marriage further complicates things. During the Shizi competitions, Kunwu's superior skills in horsemanship and combat are exposed, first to save an injured Jiang Wenhuan and then to defend himself against a vicious Chongyi Biao. The episode ends with Chongyi Biao directly confronting Kunwu, questioning his identity and attacking him.
Spoiler Alert
The Dauntless Youths: Episode 7 Recap
Alright, let's get into it. This episode was all about secrets and seeing how long Kunwu can keep his act together. The answer is... not very long.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Jiang Wenhuan is still not convinced about "E Shun." He decides to test him. He takes Kunwu, who is pretending to be E Shun, back to the slave market. This is the same place Kunwu suffered. It’s a risky move.
Back at the market, nothing has changed. Slaves are being whipped and treated horribly. Kunwu sees this and you can tell it’s killing him inside. He wants to jump in and save everyone. But he can't. The real E Shun gave him strict orders. Do not blow your cover. So, Kunwu has to stand there and look like he doesn't care. He has to pretend the screams and suffering mean nothing to him.
He also knows Jiang Wenhuan is watching his every move. He’s looking for any sign that he’s the little slave he’s hunting for. Things get even more tense. The same slave master who used to whip Kunwu shows up. He starts beating another slave. Then he looks at Kunwu. He thinks he looks familiar. Kunwu sees the flicker of recognition in the man's eyes and acts fast. He asks the master if he’s ever been to the Nan'du slave market. This throws the guy off completely. It was a smart question that dodged a huge problem.
A Surprise Proposal
Just when things couldn't get more complicated, A'si shows up. Her father, Elder Li, is trying to force her into a marriage she doesn't want. She runs away and threatens to jump off a cliff to stop him. And guess who happens to be nearby? Jiang Wenhuan and Kunwu.
A'si sees them and gets an idea. It's a wild one. She yells out that she wants to marry both of them. Her logic is that this will make her father back off. Kunwu steps in. He tries to talk Elder Li down. He says A'si is a noble lady. She shouldn't be forced into a rushed marriage. He suggests they look for a proper husband for her at the Shizi Camp.
Later that night, Elder Li takes Kunwu's advice. He goes to the camp and finds "E Shun." He asks his age and decides he's a perfect match for A'si. Kunwu politely turns him down. But Elder Li misunderstands. He thinks Kunwu needs his parents' permission. So he decides to talk to Jiang Wenfeng about it.
Kunwu uses this moment to ask Elder Li about the wood business. He needs this information for his own mission. Elder Li tells him all the wood trade goes through official channels. Only Nanbo Hou has the rights to manage it. This is a huge piece of information for Kunwu. It also makes him realize that Jiang Wenhuan's suspicions are serious.
The Competitions Begin
The next day, the first round of competitions for the Shizi starts. Everyone heads to the stables to pick a horse. Xin Jia, who knows horses, sees Kunwu pick a small, weak-looking one. Kunwu just laughs it off. He tells everyone he's not good at riding anyway.
Jiang Wenhuan hears this. He remembers the little slave was an amazing rider. For a moment, he thinks he must have been wrong. Maybe this E Shun really isn't the person he's looking for.
Horsemanship and High Stakes
The competition is a team event. The first match is a tie. That means it all comes down to the second round. The next event is mounted archery. Jiang Wenhuan goes up against Chongyi Biao. They are both skilled, and it's a close fight.
But Chongyi Biao's team doesn't play fair. They cheat to win. They cause Jiang Wenhuan to fall hard from his horse. Kunwu sees this and panics. He wants to step in for Jiang Wenhuan. He remembers E Shun's warning. He was told not to beat Chongyi Biao in riding, or it would ruin their whole plan.
But Kunwu can't stand by. He sees Jiang Wenhuan is hurt but still trying to get back in the competition. He makes a choice. He takes Jiang Wenhuan's place, wins the match, and blows his cover wide open. The move immediately makes Jiang Wenhuan suspicious all over again.
The Mask Slips
After the competition, E Shun's butler is furious with Kunwu. He tells him how reckless he was. The real E Shun can't ride well. By winning against Chongyi Biao, he's put them both in danger.
He's not the only one who noticed. Chongyi Biao is now sure something is wrong. He decides to test Kunwu himself. The next day's event is stake fighting. It's Kunwu versus Chongyi Biao. Chongyi Biao doesn't hold back. He fights to kill.
Kunwu is done being careful. He doesn't use E Shun's fighting style. He uses his own skills. He wins the fight easily. Chongyi Biao has seen enough. He drops all pretense, calls him out, and says he knows he isn't E Shun. He demands to know who Kunwu really is and attacks him with a knife.
