Episode Summary
- Elaborate Deception: The entire conflict and "break-up" between Rong Shu Kuang, Yan Shao, and Lin Shao Ci was a meticulously planned ruse to expose the real spy within their midst.
- Hidden Identities and Past Trauma: The episode delves into the tragic backstory of Longyue Village, revealing Yan Shao's true identity (Yan Wu Ying) and his connection to Liu An (A Yue), as well as the deep-seated hatred and motivations driving their actions.
- Unpredictable Power and Romantic Tensions: Rong Shu Kuang's accidental unlocking of the "Flowing Cloud Sleeve Finger" highlights her latent potential, while the love triangle between Rong Shu Kuang, Yan Shao, and Lin Shao Ci intensifies with jealousy and unspoken feelings.
- The poison, Red Lotus Heart, is incurable.
Spoiler Alert
This episode is packed with schemes, reveals, and a healthy dose of romantic tension!
Rong Shu Kuang, ever the resourceful one, knows that both Yan Shao and Lin Shao Ci have their own agendas. To get the information she needs, she needs cash. So, she invents a powerful crossbow-like weapon called the "Fire Meteor." After some explosive (and smoky) testing with Tang Ying Luo, Rong Shu Kuang sets a clever plan in motion.
Using a town crier, she spreads rumors about the sudden death of the Xing Feng Sect's leader and a duel between two legendary swordsmen at the Lake Heart Pavilion over a powerful new weapon – the Fire Meteor. The hype works! A crowd gathers, with Tang Ying Luo (disguised as a man) stirring up excitement. Rong Shu Kuang, playing the part of the "Heartless Blade," puts on a show, "killing" her opponent and dramatically declaring the Fire Meteor too dangerous to exist. This, of course, sparks a bidding war, and Rong Shu Kuang successfully sells off her prototypes for a hefty profit. She shares the wealth with her accomplices, reminding them to keep the whole thing secret.
Next, Rong Shu Kuang buys back a mysterious picture album from Yu Ling Long, who's understandably confused about why Rong Shu Kuang would sell something only to buy it back at a higher price. Rong Shu Kuang, however, notices a recurring symbol in each picture, suspecting it's some kind of mark or secret code.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan Ci realizes that the supposed rift between the others is real, leading her to believe there's something fishy going on at the Hidden Pavilion. She instructs Liu An to investigate, providing him with information about the guard shift changes.
That night, Liu An, dressed in black, sneaks into the Hidden Pavilion. He finds a small box, but as he reaches for it, he triggers a trap, getting attacked by hidden weapons. Lin Shao Ci, who was lying in wait, moves in to capture Liu An. As Liu An tries to escape through a window, Rong Shu Kuang hits him with the Fire Meteor. Yan Shao also appears, cornering Liu An. It turns out, the whole "feud" was an elaborate act!
Rong Shu Kuang explains that after studying the picture album, she realized the recurring symbols were marks she had previously made to identify suspected spies within the manor. Since these marks appeared before she was captured by Shen Zui Tian, she knew Yan Shao couldn't be the traitor. Yan Shao confirms his loyalty and his willingness to play along with the Hidden Pavilion ruse to catch the real spy.
Liu An, utterly defeated, discovers the box he risked his life for contains only a mocking "thank you" note. He tries to escape again, but is captured. Rong Shu Kuang reveals she was never fooled by Liu An. Just as they're about to take him away, Lin Wan Ci appears, and Liu An uses her as a hostage to escape. In the scuffle, Yan Shao catches Lin Wan Ci, sparking a jealous outburst from Rong Shu Kuang, who accuses Yan Shao of having feelings for Lin Wan Ci. Yan Shao denies it, but wonders aloud how Rong Shu Kuang would react if he did deceive her. Rong Shu Kuang, flustered, counters with the same question, before dismissing the whole thing by saying everyone has secrets.
In a tender moment, Rong Shu Kuang notices some dirt on Yan Shao's face and reaches out to wipe it away. The close proximity makes her heart race. She asks him if he prefers to be the type of person who watches others burn or the type who burns himself. Yan Shao instantly replies that he'd rather burn himself, so Rong Shu Kuang wouldn't have to.
The next morning, Lin Shao Ci visits Rong Shu Kuang, and they have a heart-to-heart. Lin Shao Ci admits he used to feel inferior to Rong Shu Kuang's diligence and only strived to surpass her. Rong Shu Kuang realizes that in any era, a strong woman can be intimidating to men. Lin Shao Ci confesses that he wishes she hadn't been so strong in the past, and that he's always seen her as a woman. Caught off guard by his honesty, Rong Shu Kuang makes a hasty excuse to go find Yan Shao, who has witnessed the entire conversation and is seething with jealousy.
During their training session, Yan Shao, fueled by jealousy, pushes Rong Shu Kuang relentlessly. In a moment of desperation, Rong Shu Kuang unexpectedly unleashes the "Flowing Cloud Sleeve Finger" technique, a powerful move that slices through a nearby pillar from a distance. She's thrilled, comparing it to the legendary "Six Meridian Sword," but she can't replicate it. She begs Yan Shao to launch a surprise attack to force her to use it again, but even his attempts to startle her don't work.
The episode takes a dark turn when Yan Shao confronts Liu An, who is nursing his wounds in a dilapidated house. Yan Shao reveals his knowledge of Liu An's past, mentioning Longyue Village and accusing the Ghost Valley Alliance of slaughtering the villagers. He reveals that Su Shi Yu, the village doctor, placed jade pendants on Yan Shao and Fang Yi before attempting to escape with them.
Yan Shao accuses Liu An of betraying his family's memory by serving the Ghost Valley Alliance. However, Liu An claims it was the Fang Family who caused the massacre of Longyue Village. He witnessed Lin Qian Yi take Fang Yi, renaming her Rong Shu Kuang. Liu An bitterly questions why everyone else died while the Fang Family girl was allowed to live.
Yan Shao presents Liu An with his sister's silver lock and calls him by his childhood nickname, A Yue. Liu An is stunned to recognize Yan Shao as Yan Wu Ying, the boy adopted by Su Shi Yu. He realizes Yan Shao is seeking revenge on Rong Shu Kuang. Yan Shao demands to know what poison Liu An used on Rong Shu Kuang, where he got it, and if there's an antidote. Liu An reveals the poison is Su Shi Yu's creation, the "Red Lotus Heart," and claims it's incurable. Yan Shao vows to save Rong Shu Kuang, as long as he lives.
