Episode Summary
City Lord Wen Yu hates his job but is forced to mediate a conflict, giving mining rights to the Horse Division to keep the peace. His daughter brings Fu Sheng to help, but the City Lord is ungrateful. In the city, Fu Sheng gets robbed, while Sun Siming is beaten by a rival and later murders a guard who humiliated him. Gu Tian manipulates a situation to meet a beautiful woman, and the City Lord agrees to see Fu Sheng only if his daughter meets with Xu Buhuai.
Spoiler Alert
The Reluctant Boss
City Lord Wen Yu is having a terrible time. We find him leaning against a railing, looking like he wants to be anywhere else. His generals are screaming at each other nearby. He is completely over it. He actually offers to give up his title right then and there. He thought being the City Lord meant a life of luxury and relaxation. Instead, it is just endless marching and exhaustion. He wants out.
The problem is, nobody else wants the job either. Neither Xu Buhuai nor Song Jingye steps up to take the reins. So, Wen Yu is stuck. He has to go do the actual work of a leader and break up the fight between his subordinates.
A Bitter Pill for Song Jingye
Wen Yu arrives at the standoff. The arguing hasn't stopped. Song Jingye shows the City Lord a little respect, but his men are ready to tear the Horse Division apart. They look wild and ready for a fight to the death.
Wen Yu has to think fast. He needs to smooth things over with the Horse Division and solve that messy poisoning issue from earlier. He makes a command decision. He announces that the mining rights to the Golden Cicada Cave now belong to the Horse Division.
This hits Song Jingye hard. You can practically see the smoke coming out of his ears. But Wen Yu is the boss. Song has to swallow his pride and shut his mouth. He hates it, but he takes the loss.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Wen Yu’s daughter, let's call her young Wen Yu, is thrilled. She drags Fu Sheng to meet her father. She is proud of herself for finding a doctor all the way from out of town. She expects a pat on the back.
She doesn't get one. The City Lord frowns at her. He doesn't thank her. He actually thinks she is meddling in city business. It is a cold reaction.
The Horse Division is much nicer. They are genuinely grateful that Fu Sheng cured the poison. They hand him a special token. It gives him free access to all the city gates. At least someone appreciates his work.
Street Smarts and Scams
Fu Sheng and Gu Tian head into the city. Gu Tian is useless immediately. He sees the beautiful women walking around and loses his mind. He can't even walk straight.
While Gu Tian is distracted, a kid named Gourd Boy shows up. He claims he knows the underground terrain and offers to be a guide. Fu Sheng thinks the kid is being helpful. He is wrong. Gourd Boy is a pro. He swipes Fu Sheng’s money bag and vanishes like a rat in a sewer.
Sun Siming's Downward Spiral
Sun Siming tries to play the strategist. He goes to Li Zhizhuo with a smile and a plan to handle the Horse Division. It backfires completely. Li looks at him with total disdain. He beats Sun up and kicks him out like a stray dog. Sun leaves injured and humiliated.
Fu Sheng is still hunting for his stolen money. The thief, Gourd Boy, is terrified and running for his life. The chase leads to a ruined temple. Sun Siming is there, trying to recover from his beating.
Sun realizes Fu Sheng is the doctor who saved the West City. He warns him. He tells Fu Sheng that this city runs on greed and power. It is dangerous. He tells the doctor to do his job and get out. He also says Fu Sheng should remember this favor, implying he might need saving later. Fu Sheng leaves some medicine and takes off.
Calculated Romance and Alleyway Justice
Gu Tian is still on the prowl. He spots Yingying from the Chunyun Pavilion. She is stunning. He decides he needs an introduction. He throws a stone to spook her horse. The horse rears, she falls, and he catches her. It is a classic, manipulative "hero" moment. But it works. They have met.
Sun Siming hits rock bottom. He uses his last coins to buy plums for his brother. A city official decides to ruin his day. The official accuses them of stealing the plums and humiliates them in public.
Sun snaps. He has no dignity left to lose. He tricks the official into following him to a quiet side street. Once they are alone, Sun kills him. It is brutal, but it settles the score.
The Trade-Off
Young Wen Yu goes home and finds her father in agony. His head is pounding. She panics and wants to get a doctor immediately. The City Lord waves her off. He says he will see Fu Sheng tomorrow.
But there is a catch. He demands that she meet with Xu Buhuai the next day. She knows what this means. She doesn't want to stress her father out further, so she agrees. She is trading her freedom for his peace of mind.
