Episode Summary
In this episode, Liu Yan finally learns the devastating truth about Fang Zhou's death. Just as he reels from the revelation, Ghost Peony captures Tang Lici. This forces the Central Plains Sword Association to form a shaky alliance with Xi Fangtao to plan a rescue.
Spoiler Alert
The Final Showdown
Liu Yan's Last Stand
The episode kicks off right where we left off. Xiao Shi is desperately shielding his master, Tang Lici. He stands between him and Liu Yan, refusing to back down. But Liu Yan has completely lost it. He is obsessed with killing Tang Lici. He brutally attacks Xiao Shi and starts choking him.
The noise wakes Tang Lici up. You can see his stomach wound has already healed. He immediately jumps into action. He rips Xiao Shi from Liu Yan's grasp. Tang Lici looks pained. He's tired of Liu Yan's demonic pursuit. He decides it's time to end this for good.
They finally have their death match. It's not even close. Tang Lici defeats Liu Yan in just a couple of moves.
A Brutal Dose of Reality
During the fight, Liu Yan recognizes Tang Lici's technique. It’s the Pure Lotus Heart Sutra. That was Fang Zhou’s martial art. This just fuels his hatred even more. So Tang Lici decides to drop a truth bomb. He uses a power called the Heaven-Changing Sutra. It forces Liu Yan to share his memories and feel his emotions.
Liu Yan is thrown back into the past. He sees everything that happened four years ago. He sees that Fang Zhou chose to practice the Rebirth Manual himself. He sees how he, Liu Yan, interfered with Tang Lici's attempts to save Fang Zhou. His interference is what actually killed Fang Zhou.
He finally understands. His entire quest for revenge was a lie. He's the one who caused all this chaos. He's the reason so many innocent people got hurt. The truth absolutely destroys him. He grabs a dagger, ready to end his own life. But Tang Lici snatches it away. He tells Liu Yan he must live. He has to stay alive to atone for all the wrong he's done.
A New Enemy Emerges
Ghost Peony Makes a Move
Just as they have this moment, Ghost Peony arrives. He's here to kill them both. Liu Yan is badly injured from the fight. Tang Lici knows they can't both survive this. To protect Liu Yan, Tang Lici shoves him out of the cave. Ghost Peony captures Tang Lici.
Revenge and a Warning
Shen Langhun finds Liu Yan outside the cave. He has a major score to settle. Liu Yan killed someone very important to him. Shen Langhun doesn't hesitate. He plunges his sword straight into Liu Yan's chest.
Liu Yan struggles to stay conscious. He uses his last breath to warn Shen Langhun. He tells him to go save Tang Lici. He says Ghost Peony took him to a place called the Wandering Plum Garden. Just then, the Red Maiden appears out of nowhere. She grabs the dying Liu Yan and vanishes.
The Alliance Shifts
An Unlikely Team-Up
Shen Langhun rushes back to the Central Plains Sword Association. He tells Sword Master Shao and Chi Yun what happened. They are all pretty skeptical of any information coming from Liu Yan.
But they can't ignore the facts. A'Shui and Tang Lici are both missing. Tang Lici is a powerful fighter. Liu Yan is now a broken man. The evidence points straight at Ghost Peony.
Then comes the real twist. Pu Zhu managed to convince Xi Fangtao to switch sides. Xi Fangtao gives them a grim warning. Ghost Peony is an emotionless killing machine. She says even the entire Sword Association working together probably couldn't touch him. But she is willing to lead an attack.
Some members are wary. They don't want to trust her. Pu Zhu speaks up for her. He points out that Xi Fangtao was trained by Ghost Peony. She knows his weaknesses. She also knows the layout of his headquarters. With her leading the way, they might actually have a chance.
