Recaps

Meng Zhao rescued Cao Baoyu, obtained the final fragment of the Mechanism Diagram, and chose to spare the snow-white flood dragon. He then built a covert force in Hebei Province, forged an alliance with the White Dragon Venerable Society, and considered how to bring the Wen Family under his control.

• Meng Zhao learned from Cao Quan'an that Ren Tianxing had poisoned Hong Chengtong and held Cao Baoyu hostage, then agreed to help rescue Baoyu in exchange for a share of the benefits.
• Meng Zhao and Yan Congke joined Ning Baihe to investigate Red Skull, where they encountered Duan Hong and fought Wang Song and Xie Feng, only to discover that Cao Baoyu was not there.
• Meng Zhao proposed that Ren Tianxing had moved Cao Baoyu to Misty Rain Villa, and Cao Quan'an rescued his son there before Ren Tianxing escaped.
• Ning Baihe gave Meng Zhao the final fragment of the Mechanism Diagram, but Meng Zhao declined Cao Quan'an's offer to join the Hong Sect and invited Yan Congke and Duan Hong to open Old Xi Kou's Treasure with him.
• Meng Zhao attracted a snow-white flood dragon at Mysterious Abyss but chose to spare it, and Duan Hong and Yan Congke agreed to help him pursue his goal of overthrowing the Tian Yuan Dynasty.
• Meng Zhao used Kaiyan County and his covert network to build troops, weapons, and support for rebellion while Kang Tongxiao investigated the organization and grew suspicious of Li Zheng.
• Meng Zhao made a secret alliance with the White Dragon Venerable Society and agreed to send a powerful swordsman to help with its plan to assassinate the Tianyuan Emperor.
• When Wen Family experts entered Little Cold Village, Meng Zhao overwhelmed them and considered whether to seize them or use their offer to settle the conflict as a path to control the Wen Family.