Episode Summary
Su Changhe and Su Muyu's secret four-year-old pact to take over the Dark River and the Su family is revealed, but Su Muyu's loyalty to the Patriarch causes him to hesitate. The Patriarch is severely injured and poisoned, forcing Bai Hehuai to propose a dangerous mind-entry technique to save him. Su Muyu fights through assassins and obstacles to reach the Patriarch, while the guard Mao Tu confronts the formidable Tang Lian Yue.
Spoiler Alert
A Secret Pact and a Poisoned Leader
The Two Sus and Their Big Plan
So, that big fight between Su Changhe and Su Muyu? It was all an act. They put on a show for Su Zhe, who was listening in from outside the courtyard. Once he was gone, they got down to business.
It turns out these two have a long-running plan. They made a pact four years ago. Su Muyu is supposed to get his hands on the Sleeping Dragon Sword. This will let him take control of the entire Dark River organization. In return, Su Changhe will get to take over as the head of the Su family. It's a classic power play.
But there's a problem. Su Muyu is having second thoughts. He sees the Dark River as his family. He feels like he owes the Patriarch, the man who raised him. He can't just betray everyone. Su Changhe, on the other hand, is all business. To him, the Dark River is just a network for transactions and gaining power. He doesn't have the same attachment.
Su Changhe sees his friend hesitating. He decides to give him a little push. He exposes a guy named Mu Bai, who was hiding in the shadows. After chasing him off, Su Changhe reminds Su Muyu not to forget their deal before he leaves.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
We get a flashback to fifteen years ago. Su Changhe was just a kid. He was on the verge of death. Su Muyu found him and saved his life. After that, Su Muyu was always there to save Su Changhe whenever he was in danger.
Their friendship was really tested during a brutal trial. The assassins-in-training were split into groups of ten. Only one person from each group was allowed to survive. Su Changhe and Su Muyu ended up in the same group. Their skills were so good that the other members ganged up on them. They had to fight side-by-side to survive.
The Patriarch is in Trouble
Back in the present, the Patriarch is in a bad way. He's traveling in a carriage with Bai Hehuai. The ride is suspiciously smooth. The Patriarch notes that the man who built the carriage died just a few days after finishing it. That's not a good sign.
The Patriarch is also badly injured. He's been infected with some kind of dark energy. It's giving him terrible nightmares. Bai Hehuai manages to wake him up and calm him down.
To figure out what's wrong, Bai Hehuai suggests a risky plan. He wants to use a secret technique called the Soul Separation Method. This would let him enter the Patriarch's mind and see the poison for himself. The Patriarch knows how dangerous this is. A person using this technique can read thoughts. They can even completely control the other person if their will is weak. Bai Hehuai swears he only wants to help identify the poison. He insists he has no other motives.
Roadblocks and Assassins
Everyone Wants a Piece
Su Muyu is racing to catch up to the Patriarch's carriage. But Su Changhe has set up obstacles and sent men to slow him down.
Just as things couldn't get more chaotic, Tang Lian Yue from the Tang Clan shows up. She's also after the Patriarch. One of the Patriarch's guards, Mao Tu, decides to stay behind. She'll hold off Tang Lian Yue while the others get the Patriarch to safety.
A Forest and a Graveyard
Su Muyu finally breaks through Su Changhe's roadblocks. He doesn't stop for a second. He continues his pursuit into the night. But while passing through a dense forest, he gets ambushed. This time it's Mu Yinzhen from the Mu family.
Su Muyu isn't worried. He doesn't even bother using his signature moves. He defeats Mu Yinzhen with ease. Mu Yinzhen dies, unable to believe he was beaten so easily.
Meanwhile, Mao Tu faces off against Tang Lian Yue. Mao Tu thinks she has the situation handled. She underestimates her opponent. Tang Lian Yue quickly turns the tables and takes Mao Tu hostage. But Tang Lian Yue hesitates to deliver the final blow. This gives Mao Tu an opening to trick her. For a moment, it looks like Mao Tu has won. But just as she lets her guard down, Tang Lian Yue unleashes her ultimate technique.
