Episode Summary
Xiao Wuyang fights Wu Zhongheng but gets betrayed and stabbed by his own brother, Xiao Wenjing. Wenjing strikes a deal with Wu to become a puppet king to survive. Wuyang refuses to fight back and accepts his fate, but Wu blinds him, breaking a promise to Wenjing. Xie Huaian fails an assassination attempt on Wu and goes into hiding, while Wenjing is rejected by his former allies for his treachery.
Spoiler Alert
The Bait and the Switch
Xiao Wuyang decides to play risky. He uses himself as bait to draw out Wu Zhongheng. It works. The two get into a brutal fight. Wuyang has youth on his side. He should have the advantage. But it ends messy with both of them injured. Wu Zhongheng realizes he is losing steam. He tries to flee.
Xie Huaian sees his chance. He rushes in for revenge. He wants Wu dead. But Wu has backup arriving. Xie forces himself to stop. He hides to save his strength for another shot.
A Brother's Betrayal
Lu Xiaobing tries to help Wuyang up. Wuyang refuses the help. He orders Lu to go protect the shopkeeper who helped them before. Wuyang stays behind to deal with the Iron Mo assassins.
Wu Zhongheng planted killers all over Cangshui Abyss. Wuyang handles them fine at first. His combat skills are solid. Then Xiao Wenjing steps out. Wuyang relaxes. He trusts Wenjing. He remembers how Wenjing looked out for him recently. That trust is fatal. Wenjing jams a knife straight into Wuyang's stomach.
Wuyang is in shock. He asks why. Wenjing lays it out. He was trapped by Wu. The Iron Mo army is marching on Chang'an. The White Kiss Tiger soldiers are falling apart. Gu Yu is gone. The central plains are about to collapse. Wu offered a deal. If Wenjing cooperates, he gets half the territory. He gets to be King.
The Puppet King
Wenjing didn't want to agree at first. But he has no weapon. He has no real power. He is just a figurehead. The Iron Mo leaders don't need him specifically. They could pick any orphan and make them a puppet, just like Yan Fengshan did. They chose Wenjing because he is weak. He is easy to control. Wenjing realized he had to listen to Wu to survive.
Wenjing stabs Wuyang a second time. Blood is everywhere. Wuyang is losing strength fast. Wu Zhongheng steps out of the shadows. He gloats. He hid in the mountains for this exact moment.
The Final Lesson
Wuyang stands there with his sword trembling in his hand. He could kill Wenjing right now. It would take one strike. He doesn't do it. He puts his hand on Wenjing's shoulder instead. He tells him to pull himself together. He says Wenjing has grown. He asks him to protect the people of Chang'an. The throne belongs to Wenjing anyway. Wuyang never wanted it. He is willing to die by his brother's hand.
Wu Zhongheng ruins the moment. He attacks while Wuyang is defenseless. He blinds Wuyang. Wenjing screams. He had a deal with Wu to spare Wuyang's life.
No Redemption
Wuyang is blinded and covered in blood. The shopkeeper sees this horror show. He is furious. He regrets ever saving Wenjing.
Xie Huaian tries one last desperate attack on Wu Zhongheng. He almost gets him. But Zhu Zhilong blocks the blow at the last second. Xie has to run.
Wenjing is broken. He walks the streets like a stray dog. He ends up back at the rice shop. The owner refuses to open the door. He calls Wenjing an animal for hurting his own brother. Wenjing kneels outside and begs for forgiveness.
Wu Zhongheng is terrified. He keeps thinking about Xie Huaian's blade at his neck. He orders a full manhunt. Zhu Zhilong guesses Xie might go to the rice shop. They go there to look. They hear a voice. But they find no one.
