Recaps

Hu Xiaotian navigated court plots, helped Long Xiyue face her father and escape palace confinement for a night, and accompanied Qiqi through a dangerous clash with the Beggar Gang. The arc ended with Long Xiyue’s departure for Great Yong moved forward, while Zhou Ruiyuan warned Long Yelin of a concealed financial crisis.

• Hu Xiaotian warned Ji Feihua that Quan Dean might be framing him and Long Xiyue in a rebellion plot, then accompanied Long Xiyue to meet Retired Emperor Long Xuan'en.
• Long Xuan'en attacked Long Xiyue and revealed that Long Yelin wanted his throne, so Hu Xiaotian helped her leave and she mourned at her mother’s memorial tablet.
• Hu Xiaotian took Long Xiyue out to watch New Year’s fireworks, but Ji Feihua arranged her abduction and told Hu Xiaotian to escort her to Great Yong and ensure the wedding proceeded.
• Hu Xiaotian struggled to reverse Yin-Lifting Yang-Shrinking, then visited Qiqi and accompanied her to Great Xiangguo Temple, where she told him her mother had died by suicide.
• After their horses were stolen, Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi pursued the thief and were surrounded by Beggar Gang members, but Hu Xiaotian helped secure the release of the arrested beggars.
• Hu Xiaotian visited his parents and discussed his possible escort mission with Hu Buwei, who urged him to go while refusing to choose a side in the palace struggle.
• Zhou Ruiyuan warned Long Yelin that the officials and soldiers connected to Chu Yuanhai’s case had died unnaturally and urged him to see conditions beyond the Imperial City.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Long Xiyue’s departure for Great Yong had been advanced, while Qiqi repaid him and stayed for dinner.

Hu Xiaotian navigated palace schemes and secret discoveries while preparing to escort Princess Anping and Long Xiyue to Great Yong. As the procession departed, a group of beggars stopped it with a gift for the princess.

• Hu Xiaotian challenged Qin Yutong’s belief that fate governed everything, then learned from Ji Feihua that Wen Boyuan might be targeted during the journey to Great Yong.
• Wen Chenghuan revealed that Wen Boyuan was really Li Boyuan, a member of Great Yong’s Duke of Jing family, and ordered him to prevent Princess Anping’s marriage to Xue Daoming.
• The old beggar taught Hu Xiaotian the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps and the Playing Dead Dog technique after chasing and kissing him in the cemetery.
• Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi followed an underwater passage to a hidden Long Family cave, where they defeated a giant crocodile and discovered jade slips.
• Ji Feihua recruited Hu Xiaotian to help kill Wen Boyuan, while Hu Xiaotian made plans with Zhou Mo to protect Princess Anping and Long Xiyue.
• Qiqi asked Hu Xiaotian to protect Long Xiyue, and he shared a tender farewell with her before promising to watch New Year’s fireworks with her in the future.
• Hu Xiaotian set out with Princess Anping’s wedding procession, and the beggars at Everlasting Prosperity Bridge stopped it to present the princess with a fluffy white dog.

Hu Xiaotian escorted Princess Anping through Skywave City, where Xi Yan staged a mock engagement and he reunited with Yang Lingqi. On the journey north, an ambush revealed Wen Boyuan’s betrayal, and Hu Xiaotian killed Zhao Zhihe while Tang Qingxuan witnessed it.

• Zhu Ba gave Hu Xiaotian a puppy for Princess Anping and secretly passed him a map of outlaw forces, while Xu Fengyi urged Hu to keep riding north and not return.
• In Skywave City, Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue visited the lantern fair, where he encountered Yang Lingqi and recognized him as the missing son of County Deputy Yang.
• Xi Yan lured Hu Xiaotian to Mingjue Pagoda, demanded he become her fiancé, and exchanged mock wedding vows with him before flying away with his cloak.
• Hu Xiaotian won a portrait contest against Wen Boyuan, then learned from Yang Lingqi that corrupt officials and Li Tianheng’s purge had destroyed Yang’s family and driven him into exile.
• Hu Xiaotian’s party left Skywave City and entered Black Pine Forest despite his warnings, then camped overnight after losing the road in heavy snow.
• A flock of night owls attacked the camp, and smoke and bandits soon followed as Wen Boyuan’s men tried to kill Hu Xiaotian, whose Black Silkworm Armor kept their blades from piercing him.
• Zhan Peng helped Hu Xiaotian escape the ambush and identified the attackers as Divine Strategy Office warriors, leading Hu to conclude that Wen Boyuan had plotted against him.
• Hu Xiaotian confronted Zhao Zhihe by a stream and killed him when Zhao tried to call for help, then claimed Zhao had tried to rape Tang Qingxuan as warriors arrived.

Hu Xiaotian uncovered growing dangers on the journey to Yong Capital, survived Sumeru Heaven’s schemes, and helped the convoy endure the Turbid Water Gang’s ambush in Peak Forest Gorge. The arc left him refusing to retreat and bargaining with Sumeru Heaven as they faced the gang’s underground maze.

• Princess Anping protected Tang Qingxuan after Wen Boyuan tried to seize her, but Hu Xiaotian grew suspicious that Wen had arranged the Black Pine Forest ambush.
• At Lu Family Village, an unseen attacker killed warriors and abducted Tang Qingxuan, and Hu Xiaotian found her underground before confronting Sumeru Heaven.
• Sumeru Heaven forced Hu Xiaotian to help her perfect the Myriad Poison Spirit Body, and Hu Xiaotian returned with Tang Qingxuan to a relieved Long Xiyue.
• Hu Xiaotian warned the convoy about an ambush in Peak Forest Gorge, but Wen Boyuan led it into the gorge despite his concerns.
• Collapsing pillars and hidden attackers devastated the convoy, and Hu Xiaotian followed Sumeru Heaven’s directions to lead survivors to safety.
• Hu Xiaotian treated the wounded and used yellow-earth water to cure the warriors poisoned with heart-itch agony, while Wen Boyuan blamed the Tang brothers for the lost dowry.
• Hu Xiaotian opposed retreating from Peak Forest Gorge and argued that the convoy should recover the missing men and dowry and confront the Turbid Water Gang.
• Sumeru Heaven led Hu Xiaotian underground and offered help against the Turbid Water Gang, but Hu Xiaotian demanded a mutually beneficial arrangement.