Episode Summary
Su Muyu and Su Changhe visit a mysterious pawnshop full of treasure and secrets. They learn they only have half of what's needed to claim it. Su Muyu travels to the capital alone to investigate a conspiracy, where he is drawn into a dangerous political plot by a man named Yi Bu. He ends the episode by threatening to unleash Dark River on the capital city.
Spoiler Alert
The World's Weirdest Pawnshop
A Tour of the Vaults
So, Su Muyu and Su Changhe are at the Yellow Spring Pawnshop. The owner, Shopkeeper Wang, is sizing them up. He thinks they just got lucky landing the top spots at Dark River. Su Muyu basically tells him to get to the point. Wang just laughs. He seems to enjoy their directness.
Su Changhe pulls out a key. He wants to see the vault. Wang takes the key and leads them into the back. He warns them that without this specific key, even the Patriarch of Dark River couldn't get inside.
The first vault is just piled high with gold. Enough to start a war. The second vault is full of legendary weapons. Any one of them could cause chaos if it got out. Su Changhe notices how proud the shopkeeper is. Wang doesn't answer him. He just leads them to the next rooms. One room is full of explosives. Another holds a giant python whose blood is pure poison.
Wang is impressed. He says anyone else would be drooling over this stuff. But Su Muyu and Su Changhe are completely unfazed.
The Catch
Su Muyu knows this isn't a free tour. He asks what the price is for all this treasure. Wang says there's no price for now. He then drops a bomb. He tells them that half of the missions Dark River has ever taken came from him.
Before they can process that, guests arrive. It's the Three Officials from the Soul-Lifting Hall. The Earth Official immediately tries to fight Su Changhe. Shopkeeper Wang has to yell at them to stop. This is his shop, after all.
The Earth Official forces Wang to tell the whole story. It turns out the key isn't enough. To take anything from the vaults, you also need a token held by the Three Officials. They have to approve any withdrawal. It's a two-key system, and our guys only have one half.
A Trip to the Capital
The Invitation
The Earth Official gives them an invitation. He tells them to go to Tianqi City and meet a certain person. He says all their questions will be answered there. Su Muyu knows it's a setup. He decides he'll go alone. He can't risk both of them walking into a trap.
Su Muyu arrives in Tianqi City. He sees a kid begging his dad for a candied hawthorn. It triggers a memory of his own father bringing him here as a child. It's a small moment, but it's effective. Of course, his arrival doesn't go unnoticed. Spies are everywhere.
He tries to meet with the Imperial Preceptor, Qi Tianchen. Qi Tianchen basically tells him to get lost without ever saying a word. He just writes the character for "please" and lets Su Muyu figure it out. Su Muyu gets the message and leaves.
New Players and Old Problems
A guy named Crow ambushes Su Muyu to test his skills. He quickly finds out he's outmatched. We learn Crow was sent by a man named Yi Bu.
Meanwhile, Su Changhe goes back to the pawnshop. He collects Hong Ying and gives her a new identity. She's now part of the Mu family.
Back in the capital, Su Zhe finds Su Muyu. He explains how Tang's Second Grand-Uncle really died. He also explains why everyone is trying to kill Tang Lianyue. Su Muyu finally understands just how deep the conspiracy in the capital runs.
The Big Meeting
A Power Play
Yi Bu's plan is simple. He wants to use Su Muyu to assassinate the Prince of Langya. Zhuo Qing, one of his associates, warns him not to underestimate Su Muyu.
Su Muyu shows up to his meeting with Yi Bu. He's intentionally late. He's sending a message that he doesn't play by other people's rules. Yi Bu lays out his offer. He wants Dark River to kill the prince.
Su Muyu sees the trap instantly. If Dark River kills a royal, they'll be hunted by everyone. They'll have no allies left in the martial world. Their only option would be to become completely dependent on Yi Bu.
A Threat for a Threat
Yi Bu gets arrogant. He tells Su Muyu he could wipe out Dark River whenever he wants. He says Su Muyu is in no position to negotiate.
This was the wrong thing to say.
Su Muyu doesn't flinch. He tells Yi Bu that he doesn't mind making a name for Dark River right here, right now. He threatens to turn Tianqi City into Dark River's first official stronghold. It's a direct challenge. He's willing to burn the whole city down to prove his point.
