Recaps

Hu Xiaotian navigated the looming conflict between Great Yong, Great Kang, and Black Hu while Xi Yan maintained her impersonation of Princess Anping. After rescuing Tang Qingxuan from Black Hu kidnappers, he fled with her into Doghead Mountain, where she disappeared into a pool.

• Hu Xiaotian stayed in Great Yong to investigate Xi Yan while Long Xiyue left for Hailing Commandery, and Empress Jian forced the poisoned Long Yelin to name Long Tingsheng Crown Prince.
• Qiqi rescued Quan Dean and later delivered the Retired Emperor’s letter to Long Tingsheng, revealing that the Imperial Seal was fake and that the real seal remained with the Retired Emperor.
• Hu Xiaotian met Xi Yan, treated Xue Shengjing, and attended Xue Lingjun’s banquet, where Wanyan Chixiong’s insults led to a contest between Xiong Tianba and Lahan.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Xi Yan that killing Xue Daoming would strengthen Great Yong, then learned from Xiang Jimin that Great Kang’s emperor was gravely ill and Great Yong favored an alliance with Black Hu.
• Hu Xiaotian followed Tang Qingxuan to a Horse Market and discovered Black Hu men had abducted her and her brother, Tang Tiehan, to demand the Record of Fine Steeds.
• Hu Xiaotian killed two guards and escaped with Tang Qingxuan on Little Gray, then used a ravine to evade Zha Wan’s pursuers and left Tang Tiehan behind as a hostage.
• Hu Xiaotian and Tang Qingxuan became lost in Doghead Mountain, and after she developed a feverish itch and disappeared into a pool, Hu Xiaotian jumped in after her.

Hu Xiaotian survived the Peach Blossom Pool and rescued Tang Tiehan, then became entangled in the Black Hu killings and Great Yong’s political maneuvering. After acquiring Hidden Edge and learning new sword techniques, he faced Qiu Mubai in a life-and-death duel at Happy Woods.

• Hu Xiaotian escaped the Purple Giant Python’s lair after eating the Wind-and-Cloud Fruit, which cured his poisoning and greatly improved his strength and senses.
• Hu Xiaotian rescued Tang Tiehan by trading Lahan to Wanyan Chixiong, then returned to Peach Blossom Pool with Zhou Mo and recovered the python’s skin and a plaque containing hidden sword diagrams.
• Hu Xiaotian confronted Xi Yan about Great Yong’s threat to Great Kang and the Li Clan, then attended Xue Daohong’s banquet, where he challenged accusations linking him to the Black Hu killings.
• Hu Xiaotian met Sumeru Heaven on East Lake, spent the night with her, and learned the Spirit Snake Nine Swords before she departed from the Central Plains.
• Zong Yuan opened the mystic iron plaque and found hidden sword-practice diagrams, while Hu Xiaotian obtained the great sword Hidden Edge and began studying the techniques.
• Hu Xiaotian practiced the sword manual’s first move with Huo Shengnan, while Huo Shengnan and Yuchi Chong discussed the danger Qiu Mubai posed and the political risks surrounding the duel.
• Hu Xiaotian arrived at Happy Woods with Zhou Mo and Xiong Tianba, where Qiu Mubai demanded a life-and-death waiver and Grand Tutor Xiang Liren arrived to witness their duel.

Hu Xiaotian saved Xue Shengkang through a risky operation while navigating the palace marriage arrangements and Xi Yan’s demand that he kill Wanyan Chixiong. After assassins attacked Qichen Palace, Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan survived, but Xi Yan was badly injured and the plot’s sponsors remained unknown.

• Hu Xiaotian defeated Qiu Mubai with Hidden Edge but spared him after declaring that Qiu had been used as a pawn.
• Hu Xiaotian operated on Xue Shengkang to remove his gallbladder, then declined the emperor’s offer of a palace medical post as he planned to return to the Kang Capital after the wedding.
• Xi Yan agreed to marry Xue Daoming if Hu Xiaotian killed Wanyan Chixiong, but Hu Xiaotian refused her demand and said he would leave Yong Capital on the wedding day.
• Bai Desheng lured Hu Xiaotian away from Qichen Palace with an assassination attempt, and Xi Yan was left to face Peng Yijiang and Li Yishui’s attack.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Qichen Palace and fought alongside Xi Yan, killing Peng Yijiang and helping Xiong Tianba kill Li Yishui, while Xi Yan collapsed from her injuries.
• Hu Xiaotian concealed details of the attack from palace investigators as Shi Kuan identified the dead attackers as Mottled Sect disciples and Huo Shengnan began suspecting Xi Yan.
• Xi Yan revealed that Peng Yijiang’s blow had damaged the meridians around her heart, and she and Hu Xiaotian suspected a Great Yong imperial figure or prince had ordered the attack.
• Xi Yan offered to abandon her plan to assassinate Xue Daoming, and Hu Xiaotian told her he did not want anything to happen to her.

Xi Yan faked her death, escaped with her real remains, and engineered a clash between Great Yong’s forces and the Black Hu delegation. Hu Xiaotian stayed in Yong Capital to help Huo Shengnan and joined Xi Yan in disguise at Xue Shengjing’s treasure banquet, where he revealed a Night-Luminescent Pearl.

• Xi Yan was gravely poisoned, and Hu Xiaotian sought a Dark Nether Ice Toad to treat her, but Xue Shengjing said it had been stolen.
• Xi Yan appeared to die after asking Xue Daoming to bury her in Great Kang, and Xue Daoming had Huo Shengnan arrested while Emperor Xue Shengkang gave Hu Xiaotian a coffin and a soul-calming pearl.
• Xi Yan escaped with her real remains during a swarm attack, leaving a decoy corpse, and her scheme sparked a deadly battle between Dong Tianjiang’s soldiers and the Black Hu delegation.
• Hu Xiaotian realized Xi Yan had staged the clash and escaped with the real remains, while Xue Daoming promised Wanyan Chixiong an investigation and the court prepared Princess Anping’s funeral.
• Hu Xiaotian agreed to remain in Yong Capital for the funeral rites, learned Huo Shengnan was imprisoned, and persuaded Xue Shengjing to help him visit her.
• Hu Xiaotian met Xi Yan at True Flavor House, learned she had hidden accomplices throughout Yong Capital, and agreed to help her steal the Dark Nether Ice Toad.
• Xi Yan disguised herself and Hu Xiaotian as Hai Xiaohong and Hai Dasheng, and they entered Xue Shengjing’s banquet carrying a Night-Luminescent Pearl.
• When Zan Buliu offered a White Jade Guanyin at the banquet, Hu Xiaotian dismissed it and revealed his Night-Luminescent Pearl, captivating Xue Shengjing.