Episode Summary
Gu Yu sacrifices himself to save Xie Huaian and is killed by the Iron Mo King. Xie Huaian buries his friend and convinces his enemies to focus on the invading army. Ye Zheng recovers from his injuries and helps the former emperor Xiao Wenjing escape the falling capital. Su Changlin betrays and captures Ye Zheng's junior sister.
Spoiler Alert
A Hero Falls
Gu Yu makes a hard choice right out of the gate. He could have fled south. Instead, he sends General Wu Mei away with the army's orders. He stays behind to help Xie Huaian. The Iron Mo King arrives and looks like he already won the war. Gu Yu tries to buy time. He grabs the King with the last of his strength. It does not end well. The King slits Gu Yu's throat without blinking.
The Master is the Monster
Xie Huaian freezes. He held a hostage specifically to trade for Gu Yu's life. The King did not care. Xie kills his hostage instantly. It does not fix anything. He stares at the Iron Mo King. He realizes this man is his father's killer. He also realizes this man was his childhood teacher. The Tiemo people infiltrated the court right under everyone's noses. Xie finds a quiet spot to cry. He pulls himself together. He has a plan to finish.
The Iron Mo King respects Gu Yu's bravery. He orders his men to bury the body. Xie Huaian watches from the shadows. One soldier tries to mess with the corpse. Xie kills that soldier immediately. He takes off his own cloak. He wraps Gu Yu in it. He drags his friend to a sunny spot for a proper burial.
Uneasy Truce
Yan Fengshan's men intercept Xie Huaian. They want revenge for their fallen leader. Xie tells them to look around. The Tiemo army surrounds the capital. The city is about to fall. He reminds them of the old days when the White Kiss Tiger and the Tiger Guard protected the nation together. The soldiers might hate Xie. But they hate the invaders more. They let him go.
The Emperor Escapes
Ye Zheng is alive. A masked man dropped him at a clinic. Xiao Wenjing and Ye Zheng's junior sister nursed him back to health. Ye Zheng wakes up confused. He remembers someone helping him up when he was dying.
Xiao Wenjing gets confirmation that Yan Fengshan is dead. He breathes easier. He lived his whole life under that tyrant's thumb. Now he is finally free.
Ye Zheng knows the truth about his own master, Zhu Zhiguang. The man is Tiemo. He used Xie Huaian as a weapon to take down Yan Fengshan. Ye Zheng keeps this to himself for now. He hears Gu Yu is dead. Xie Huaian is missing. Ye Zheng follows his orders. He needs to get Xiao Wenjing out of the city.
The Capital Crumbles
The Tiemo army attacks. The defense collapses in a day. Ye Zheng finds a carriage for Xiao Wenjing. The former emperor feels the irony. He is free from Yan Fengshan but now he is a refugee. He leaves his home with nothing. The junior sister gives him a warm coat. Ye Zheng and the sister watch the carriage leave. They see new faces in the crowd following it. Xiao Wenjing is a target. They decide to follow and protect him.
Betrayal runs Deep
The junior sister tries to ambush Su Changlin. She blames him for hurting Ye Zheng. Su Changlin is one step ahead. He stabs her in the back. He throws her on his horse as a hostage. She asks him why he is doing this. They have a history. She saw him steal food when they were kids. She recognized him years later when he collected rent. He ignores the sentiment. He chooses violence.
