Episode Summary
Tang Lici and A'Shui escape a deadly ice cave after she saves his life. They arrive at Biluo Palace, where Tang Lici must confront the Palace Master over a coffin he stole four years ago. Multiple factions gather outside, creating a tense standoff that Tang Lici diffuses with music. Inside, everyone prepares for a strategic showdown, as both Tang Lici and his rival Xifang Tao plan their moves to win the Palace Master's favor.
Spoiler Alert
A Sacrifice in the Ice
Tang Lici Freezes Over
The episode kicks off in a seriously bad spot. Tang Lici and A'Shui are stuck in a massive ice cave. They've been walking for a long time. The temperature is well below freezing.
A'Shui is doing okay. She has the Jade Smile Pearl, which keeps her from turning into a popsicle. Tang Lici is not so lucky. He's already got tiny ice crystals forming in his hair and eyebrows. He’s been using his internal energy to shatter ice swords blocking their path. That has clearly taken a huge toll on him. Before you know it, he’s completely frozen solid. Just a statue of a man.
A'Shui's Choice
A'Shui sees him and it finally hits her. She knows this is her fault. There's only one Jade Smile Pearl. Tang Lici gave it to her. She starts crying. She takes the pearl from her own body and places it on him. Then she turns and starts crawling away. Her plan is to go find help and get him out of there.
The pearl does its job. The ice on Tang Lici slowly melts away. He wakes up and quickly finds A'Shui, who has collapsed in the snow. He picks her up and carries her the rest of the way to Biluo Palace. This is the third time she has saved his life. I don't think he trusts her completely. But you can't just ignore someone saving you three times. He has to let his guard down, at least a little.
The Gates of Biluo Palace
A Four-Year-Old Grudge
They finally make it. The Master of Biluo Palace agrees to see Tang Lici. There's some history here. Four years ago, Tang Lici stole an ice coffin from the palace. This theft prevented the old Palace Master from being properly buried. So when the current Master hears Tang Lici is back, you know he's going to grant a meeting. He wants that coffin back.
An Unwanted Reunion
Outside the palace, things are getting tense. Cheng Daozhu, Chi Yun, and Shen Langhun have been waiting for two days and nights. Chi Yun is starting to panic. He's heard the stories. People who go into Biluo Palace don't come out. He's worried Tang Lici is already dead and buried in the snow.
Then, more people show up. Xifang Tao is here. So is Cheng Yunpao, a guard from Sword King City. It looks like a huge fight is about to break out. The Palace Master absolutely hates conflict. Tang Lici knows this. So he sits down and starts playing his qin. The music is calm and smooth. Chi Yun hears it and feels a wave of relief. It's proof that Tang Lici is still alive.
Xifang Tao is not happy about this. She came to bargain with the Palace Master, Wanyu, for Tang Lici. The music sends a clear message. If she starts a fight here, the Palace Master won't be pleased. The music could even turn into a weapon. A "sound kill." Nobody wants that.
A palace guard appears. He lays down the law. No fighting at the gate. If you kill someone, you die. Simple as that. Everyone who enters has to change into palace robes.
A Night of Strategy
Tang Lici's Big Theory
They get assigned rooms, two people per room. Tang Lici and A'Shui end up together. They're told the Palace Master will choose one person to speak with tomorrow. Nobody knows who it will be.
It's a long night. No one is sleeping. In their room, Tang Lici is just calmly sipping tea. A'Shui is a nervous wreck. She asks him what the plan is. Xifang Tao was also allowed inside. What if the Palace Master decides to work with her instead?
Tang Lici isn't worried. He says he has the Palace Master figured out. Yes, he stole the coffin four years ago and created this mess. But he doesn't think Palace Master Wanyu is a bad guy. The Master has delayed his ancestor's burial for a reason. He wants to fulfill the ancestor's final wish. So, Tang Lici's plan is simple. If they can help Biluo Palace return to the Central Plains, all their problems should get solved. Just then, Shen Langhun and Chi Yun find their room. The whole group starts planning their next move.
Xifang Tao Makes Her Move
Xifang Tao's light is on, too. She's not just a pretty face. She's sharp. She has already deduced that Palace Master Wanyu hasn't decided who to back yet. She believes if she makes the right move tonight, she can tip the scales in her favor.
