Episode Summary
The families of the slain assassins react with anger and sorrow, setting the stage for war. Su Changhe manipulates his family into seeking total control of the Dark River. Su Zhe reveals that Bai Hehuai is his daughter and tries to leave the organization, but the Patriarch stops him. We learn that Mu Kewen sacrificed his life to save the Patriarch. In a moment of truth, Su Muyu reveals his loyalty to the Patriarch was never about the poison he was given. The episode ends with Su Muyu confronting the Su family alone.
Spoiler Alert
The Families React
You knew this was coming. The powerful families are not happy about their dead kids.
Su Muyu starts by making a promise to his followers. He tells them he will get them home. They won't have to live like this, hiding in the shadows and getting hunted. It’s a nice speech. I hope he can back it up.
Things are not so calm over at the Xie house. Xie Qianji brings Xie Fanhua’s body home. The family head, Xie Ba, completely loses it. He is furious. He’s also mad that Xie Buxie, an apprentice, has vanished. He blames Xie Qianji for all of it. It's a total mess.
The Mu family handles their grief a little differently. Mu Qingyang brings Mu Bai's body back. Their leader, Mu Zizhe, is clearly heartbroken. But he stays calm. He doesn't fly into a rage like Xie Ba. Mu Qingyang tells everyone that Su Zhe killed Mu Bai. He conveniently leaves out the part about Su Zhe finding his long-lost daughter. Just as they're processing this, the Soul-Lifting Hall sends an agent to their door. That can't be good.
Su Changhe's Big Gamble
Su Changhe has been making a lot of noise. You’d think his family would be upset. They aren't. At first, the Su family head doesn't even blame him for the chaos.
Then he learns that Su Zhe killed Mu Bai. This news makes him panic for a second. A war between the Su and Mu families seems certain. But then he gets an idea. He decides to embrace the conflict. He wants the Su family to be the sole power in the Dark River. He's ready for an all-out war.
A Father's Desperate Plea
The Spider's Shadow assassins have an idea of their own. They want Su Muyu to become the next Patriarch.
Su Zhe hears them talking. He immediately goes to Su Muyu. He tells him not to take the job. The reason is simple. His daughter, Bai Hehuai, has feelings for Su Muyu. Su Zhe knows that being the Patriarch is a cage. He's afraid his daughter will only get hurt if Su Muyu is no longer free.
Su Zhe then asks Su Muyu about Mu Bai's death. He knows he didn't land the killing blow. Su Muyu doesn't hide the truth. He tells him Su Changhe planned it all. Su Changhe wants to burn the old Dark River to the ground and build something new.
Secrets of the Patriarch
Armed with this new information, Su Zhe goes to see the Patriarch. He lays his cards on the table. He tells the Patriarch that Bai Hehuai is his daughter.
Just then, Bai Hehuai shows up. She checks on the Patriarch. The poison is almost gone from his system. But he can't use his powers for a few days. The Patriarch finally understands everything. Bai Hehuai used the Soul-Shifting technique on him to look for clues about her father.
Bai Hehuai explains how the technique works. It's a life-for-a-life exchange. We learn that Mu Kewen gave his own life to save the Patriarch. The Patriarch is devastated. He and Mu Kewen used to be good friends.
A Final Warning and a New Path
Su Muyu goes to say his goodbyes to Mu Kewen. In his last moments, Mu Kewen gives him a warning. He says Su Muyu and Su Changhe remind him of himself and the Patriarch when they were young. He begs them not to make the same mistakes and suffer the same fate. He also tells Su Muyu the Patriarch's real name.
With the Patriarch saved, Su Zhe decides it's time to leave with his daughter. Leaving the Dark River is a death sentence. Instead of begging for his life, Su Zhe tells the Patriarch to send the Soul-Lifting Hall after him.
The Patriarch refuses. He reminds Su Zhe that he had a chance to leave once before but chose to stay. The two men are about to fight. Su Muyu and Bai Hehuai step in and stop them.
The Patriarch is moved by Su Muyu's unwavering loyalty. He decides to finally give him the "antidote" to a poison he gave him years ago. He always assumed Su Muyu's loyalty was just a way to stay alive.
But Su Muyu drops a bomb. He tells the Patriarch he was cured of the poison a long time ago. He stayed and protected him out of duty and friendship. This hits the Patriarch hard. Knowing he doesn't have much time left, he asks Su Muyu who should be the next leader.
The episode closes with Su Muyu walking straight into the Su family headquarters. He's there to see the family head. Before he can get there, Su Ze blocks his path and challenges him to a fight. The rest of the Su family just watches. Nobody thinks Su Ze has a prayer.
