Episode Summary
The Spirit Dragon's outburst leads to a citywide curfew. Xu Qi'an faces political dilemmas while a mysterious assassin strikes, killing the Earl of Pingyuan's heir. Wei Yuan connects the assassin to the missing monk Henghui and the Sangbo case. Zhang Feng's attempted escape exposes his guilt. The episode ends with Henghui trapped in a formation, facing a showdown with multiple powerful opponents.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a bizarre incident: the Spirit Dragon, usually a docile creature, goes berserk and nearly crashes into Lin'an's precious tribute pearls. The Emperor is furious. He orders the dragon confined and institutes a citywide curfew, tasking Wei Yuan with beefing up security.
Back at the Xu residence, Xu Qi'an's uncle, Xu Pingzhi, and cousin, Xu Xinnian, are teasing him about his current predicament – essentially working for two powerful figures, Princess Lin'an and the Grand Princess. Xu Xinnian probes Xu Qi'an about his loyalties. Xu Qi'an admits that while Lin'an is a bit naive, she's also lively and fiercely protective. He contrasts her with the Grand Princess, who is incredibly intelligent and politically savvy, hinting that aligning with her could lead to significant career advancement. Xu Pingzhi, ever the opportunist, tries to butter up his nephew, hoping for a recommendation to the Grand Princess. Xu Qi'an, however, remains noncommittal and heads off to practice his martial arts.
Meanwhile, intrigue is brewing. Xu Qi'an receives a cryptic message via his jade mirror. It's from Number Four of the Tian Di Society, wanting to discuss the missing monk, Hengyuan. Suspecting Hengyuan might possess a powerful artifact that masks auras, Xu Qi'an, Number Four, and another member of the society head to the residence of the Earl of Pingyuan. They arrive to find the Earl seemingly unfazed by recent events, still indulging in music and dance. But the revelry is shattered by the arrival of a mysterious, highly skilled martial artist wearing a bamboo hat. This assassin effortlessly defeats the guards and kills the Earl's heir, who vanishes in a puff of smoke.
Xu Qi'an and his companions are outmatched. After a close call with the assassin's deadly blade, Xu Qi'an signals a retreat. Reporting back to Wei Yuan, Xu Qi'an is shown a portrait – it's Henghui, the monk who eloped with Princess Pingyang. Wei Yuan suspects Henghui stole the aura-masking artifact and is connected to the Sangbo case.
In a touching side plot, Lin'an visits Princess Pingyang's mother. The grieving mother reminisces about her daughter, sharing pomegranates picked by Pingyang herself. To comfort her, Lin'an lies, claiming Pingyang is traveling in Persia. The mother expresses a desire to visit, but Lin'an gently dissuades her, citing the long and arduous journey.
The Emperor is increasingly frustrated by the recent surge in crimes, including the new Pingyuan case. He berates his ministers for their incompetence. Summoning Wei Yuan for a private audience, the Emperor demands answers. The ministers, including the Minister of War, Zhang Feng, are dismissed, left to stew in their own anxieties.
When Wei Yuan emerges, the ministers press him for information. Wei Yuan cryptically states that the case is close to being solved. This unnerves Zhang Feng, who rushes home and begins packing valuables, planning a hasty escape with his son. However, they are apprehended at the city gates.
Wei Yuan, enjoying tea with Xu Qi'an, receives news of Zhang Feng's capture. He expresses satisfaction, noting that a guilty conscience often betrays the culprit. He believes they can now track down Henghui.
The episode concludes with a dramatic confrontation. Henghui appears at the Minister's mansion, using a terrifying power to drain the life force from three individuals. He then finds himself trapped in a formation created by Yang Qianhuan, a fourth-rank formation master from the Si Tian Jian. Henghui scoffs at the seemingly weak trap, but the situation quickly escalates as Golden Gong Jiang, Yang Yan, and other skilled fighters converge, setting the stage for a major battle.
