Episode Summary
Su Changlin reveals his true colors by murdering Yang Chuhao for revenge and seemingly killing Ye Zheng in a duel. Xie Huaian uses his grief to lower Yan Fengshan's guard, tricking him into dismissing Xie. Yan is then fatally stabbed by an assassin disguised as his dead adopted son, Wang Pu.
Spoiler Alert
The Snake in the Grass
Yan Fengshan demands answers. He wants to know why Xie Huaian spared Yang Chuhao. Xie thinks the old man just stayed neutral during the betrayal of his father. He believes neutrality doesn't deserve death. He wanted Yang to have a quiet retirement. Yan disagrees. He has zero tolerance for traitors. He wants Yang dead.
Xie assumes Yang is safe and far away. He is wrong. Yang travels with a kid named Su Changlin. Su looks loyal. He earned Yang's trust. But Su is a master of disguise with a long memory. Years ago, he watched a nobleman’s horse trample his father to death. That nobleman was Yang Chuhao. Su waited a lifetime for this moment.
The road gives him his chance. Yang treats Su like a son. He lowers his guard. Su picks up a rock. He smashes Yang’s skull. The old man dies at the hands of the boy he trusted.
Xie Huaian’s Miscalculation
News of the murder hits Xie hard. He hated Yang’s betrayal, but he loved the man who used to feed him wontons. He risked his own safety to get Yang out of the capital. He walked into the tiger's den to buy his "uncle" time. It was a waste. Yan Fengshan was steps ahead. He planted Su Changlin specifically for this kill. Xie realizes he lost this round.
Back in the city, the rest of the team is scrambling. Gu Yu needs to head north. He has to summon the White Kiss Tiger before the window closes. The capital crawls with Yan’s spies. Ye Zheng and Xiao Wenjing agree with the move. They just don't know how to pull it off cleanly. They miss Xie Huaian. Without his brain, they are flying blind.
A Box of Sweets and a Bloody Sword
Ye Zheng hears a noise outside late at night. He finds a food box. It holds sweets for his junior sister. He connects the dots. Xie once mentioned that Su Changlin had a crush on her. But Su should be fleeing with Yang. Ye Zheng realizes Su is back in the city. He decides to tail him.
It’s a fatal mistake. Ye Zheng is strong, but Su is lethal with a blade.
Su returns to Yan Fengshan later. He is covered in blood. He reports that Yang is dead. Then he drops a second item on the floor. It is Ye Zheng’s sword. Su brags that the body will be found by dawn. Xie Huaian picks up his friend's weapon. His hands shake. The grief is absolute.
The Ghost with a Knife
Xie plays the broken man. He rambles about hallucinations. He tells Yan he sees his dead love, Bai Wan, walking around. He asks if Yan ever sees his dead adopted son, Wang Pu. Yan buys the act. He thinks Xie has snapped. He dismisses him and tells him to go die at his old family home.
Xie walks out. Moments later, a figure appears in the doorway. It looks exactly like Wang Pu. Yan freezes. He misses his son. He thinks the stress finally broke his mind too. He thinks it is a hallucination. He rushes forward and hugs the boy.
The "ghost" doesn't hug back. He stabs Yan. The blade goes in again and again. Yan hits the floor. He looks up at the face. It isn't a spirit. It is a master of disguise, and the knife is very real.
