Recaps

Hu Xiaotian saved Le Yao, treated Wan Tingsheng, and used his new post as County Deputy to challenge the Wan family and take charge of local cases. After confronting Xu Qinglian over county affairs, Hu investigated the destruction of Azure Cloud Bridge and learned that bandits had blown it up after an ambush on Heavenly Wolf Mountain.

• Hu Xiaotian stopped Wan Tingsheng from assaulting Le Yao, revealed Cai Ping’s betrayal, and later gave Le Yao his Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant.
• Hu Xiaotian rescued Wan Tingsheng with surgery, then used a supposed soul-summoning ritual to search the Wan Residence and reassure Le Yao.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Wan Boping that Wan Tingsheng had been struck, and Wan Boping later agreed to ally with him and show leniency to Liu Kuohai.
• Hu Xiaotian took office as Azure Cloud County Deputy, held court, and exposed Wan Tingchang’s role in the servants’ actions against Liu Kuohai.
• Hu Xiaotian met Xu Qinglian, who assigned him to inspect Azure Cloud Bridge, and Hu set out with Murong Feiyan and Liu Kuohai.
• Hu Xiaotian and Murong Feiyan found signs of a dam and explosives near the destroyed bridge, then captured Jia Liu while he spied on them.
• Jia Liu told Hu Xiaotian that bandits had blown up the bridge after an ambush on Heavenly Wolf Mountain, and Hu returned to town as County Commandant Liu Baoju arrived.

Hu Xiaotian investigated the bridge conspiracy while arranging repairs and charity, then uncovered the deception behind the Wan Residence’s hauntings. The arc left him holding the household guards responsible and warning Wan Boping that his fortune foretold doom for his siblings.

• Hu Xiaotian learned that Zhou Batian suspected traitors had destroyed his battalion and that officials in Azure Cloud County were colluding with the mounted bandits, then agreed to investigate the bridge’s destruction.
• Hu Xiaotian recruited Wan Boping to organize a charity auction for the bridge repairs and secretly arranged a way to help Le Yao escape the Wan Residence.
• Hu Xiaotian organized embankment patrols as the Tongji River rose, while Zhou Batian revealed the Tigerhead Battalion’s betrayal and warned him to watch Liu Baoju.
• Hu Xiaotian saved Li Xiangzhi with an emergency tracheotomy, winning Zhou Wenju’s respect, while Murong Feiyan reported that Liu Baoju had shared Hu’s information with Xu Qinglian.
• Hu Xiaotian and Murong Feiyan caught a masked intruder trying to abduct Le Yao, but the intruder’s drug left both women unconscious and they attacked Hu Xiaotian while under its influence.
• Madam Wan ordered Le Yao to enter a convent, and Hu Xiaotian comforted her before Murong Feiyan led him away from the household.
• Hu Xiaotian exposed five Wan household guards who had overturned the incense burners on the eldest son’s orders, then rejected Wan Boping’s offer to become sworn brothers and warned him of doom for his siblings.

Hu Xiaotian protected Le Yao, was forced to treat Yan Boguang, and negotiated with Blackstone Stockade while Wan Tingchang remained captive. After leaving the stockade, Hu Xiaotian survived an assassination attempt and returned to Azure Cloud County wounded, with the attackers claiming someone from the county office had hired them.

• Hu Xiaotian arranged for Le Yao to leave the Wan Residence, but Madam Wan sent servants to ambush her before Murong Feiyan rescued her and took her to Fork River Town.
• Hu Xiaotian was abducted with Liang Dazhuang and forced to operate on Yan Boguang, the intruder who had tried to abduct Le Yao, while Murong Feiyan intervened when the bandits turned on him.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Wan Tingchang was being held at Blackstone Stockade and agreed to go there after Wan Boping promised to rebuild Azure Cloud Bridge.
• At Blackstone Stockade, Hu Xiaotian found Yan Boguang recovering from surgery, met Qin Yutong and Meng Zizai, and learned that the stockade would remain neutral.
• Hu Xiaotian, Murong Feiyan, and Liu Kuohai left without Wan Tingchang, then fought off masked assassins in Flying Eagle Valley and captured two survivors who blamed someone from the county office.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Azure Cloud County wounded, sent Murong Feiyan to deliver the assassins to the county office, and told Wan Boping that his son was still captive.
• Xu Qinglian and Liu Baoju visited Hu Xiaotian and concealed their knowledge of his journey, while Hu Xiaotian learned from Liu Danggui that Meng Zizai had been the resident physician at Heavenly Mystery Hall.

Hu Xiaotian uncovered the Iron Deed of Redemption, exposed a Five Immortals Cult threat, and used a charity auction to draw powerful guests to Azure Cloud. After learning the Shajia delegation could be ambushed, he joined forces with Zhou Mo and Xiao Tianmu and moved to confront the local officials.

• Hu Xiaotian recovered a rust-free Iron Deed of Redemption from Hu Bucheng’s grave and sent a rubbing and letter to his father.
• Xiao Tianmu identified the assassins as members of the Five Immortals Cult, while Hu Xiaotian discovered that someone inside the yamen had poisoned them.
• Hu Xiaotian hosted the Charity Auction, where Long Yefang and other powerful guests helped attract bidders and raise money for Azure Cloud Bridge.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan sold a charcoal portrait for two thousand taels of gold, and Xi Yan later warned him to stay away from Qin Yutong before claiming she had come to kill him.
• An Dequan revealed that Qiqi was the deposed crown prince’s daughter, gave Hu Xiaotian a Blackwood Token and a weapon, and warned him that Xi Yan belonged to the Five Immortals Cult.
• After Zhu Yannian died and Qin Yutong linked the assassins’ poison to the Five Immortals Cult, Hu Xiaotian counted the valuables stolen from corrupt officials with Zhou Batian and Xiao Tianmu.
• Hu Xiaotian, Xiao Tianmu, and Zhou Batian swore brotherhood, learned the Shajia delegation was traveling to arrange a marriage alliance, and planned against a possible bandit ambush.
• Hu Xiaotian persuaded Zhou Mo to set revenge aside, then ordered Liang Qing and Xu Heng to arrest Xu Qinglian after the Prince of Zhou excluded the local officials from the Wan Residence.