Recaps

Zhang Xiaohua helped Zhang Xiaolong through the wedding customs by drawing a bow that turned out to be Hunter Zhang’s powerful ancestral bow. When guests challenged Zhang Xiaolong to display his calligraphy, Zhang Xiaohua wrote the characters “Misty” with a mop, leaving Mr. Liu and the onlookers astonished.

• Zhang Xiaohua drew and fired three arrows from Hunter Zhang’s Five-stone bow, though the crowd believed it was a Soft bow.
• Hunter Zhang realized his ancestral bow had been lent out, then retrieved it from the Liu family gate without noticing the three arrows were missing.
• At Liu Qian’s chamber, guests asked Zhang Xiaolong to write characters as a test before the door would be opened.
• Zhang Xiaohua took his brother’s place and wrote “Misty” across the courtyard stones with a mop dipped in ink.
• Mr. Liu came out, studied Zhang Xiaohua’s writing, and became entranced.

Zhang Xiaolong passed the bridesmaids’ literary challenges and married Liu Qian, then set out with her for Guo Village. The wedding party hurried onward while Mr. Liu watched them leave Baligou, mourning his daughter’s departure.

• Zhang Xiaohua stunned the onlookers by writing “Ethereal” on a bluestone slab, and Mr. Liu praised his skill.
• Zhang Xiaolong composed a poem for the second challenge, which Mr. Liu praised despite its irregular form.
• Zhang Xiaolong answered that he hoped Liu Qian would be a mirror, twin lotuses, and a walking stick, and Liu Yueyue opened the door for him.
• Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian kowtowed to Mr. Liu, who entrusted his daughter to Zhang Xiaolong and urged the couple to care for one another.
• Zhang Xiaolong escorted Liu Qian from Baligou in the flower sedan while Zhang Xiaohua and Liu Yueyue accompanied them.
• Zhang Xiaolong had Zhang Xiaohua ride with him and Liu Yueyue join the sedan, and the wedding party hurried toward Guo Village.

During a roadside rest on the wedding procession’s journey to Guo Village, the Three Wolves of West Cui decided to rob the group and abduct Liu Yueyue and the bride. The bandits scattered the procession and left Zhang Xiaolong unconscious and Zhang Xiaohua injured as they closed in on the bridal sedan.

• Zhang Xiaolong offered water to Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue, and Liu Yueyue stepped out of the bridal sedan to drink.
• The Three Wolves of West Cui spotted Liu Yueyue and agreed to attack the wedding procession and take the women.
• Zhang Xiaohua noticed the riders returning and warned Zhang Xiaolong, who tried to shield Liu Yueyue.
• Second Brother kicked Zhang Xiaolong into the roadside, knocking him unconscious, while Third Brother struck Zhang Xiaohua with a whip.
• The bandits attacked the wedding party, and the frightened procession and bystanders fled, leaving Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohua, and Liu Yueyue behind.

West Cui Mountain bandits attacked Zhang Xiaolong’s wedding party, wounded him, and tried to abduct Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue. Zhang Xiaolong invoked the Misty Sect with a token, and Lu Yueming arrived and demanded to inspect it, leaving the bandits facing a potential challenge.

• Liu Qian tore off her veil, found Zhang Xiaolong wounded, and knelt beside him while the bandits surrounded them.
• West Cui Mountain Second Brother and Third Brother threatened the women, then Third Brother seized Liu Qian as Zhang Xiaohua tried to protect her.
• Zhang Xiaolong revealed a token and claimed his family had ties to the Misty Sect, causing the bandits to release the women briefly.
• After inspecting the token, the Three Wolves of West Cui Mountain called it fake and ordered the group killed.
• Lu Yueming of the Misty Sect revealed himself and asked West Cui Mountain Boss to hand over the token for inspection.

Lu Yueming killed the Three Wolves of West Cui Mountain after their leader tried to poison him, then learned Zhang Xiaolong and his companions had obtained the Misty Sect token from Xue Qing. He treated Zhang Xiaolong’s injuries, killed the fleeing guards despite Zhang Xiaohua’s pleas for mercy, and returned the token to the group.

• West Cui Mountain Boss attacked Lu Yueming with a poisoned dagger, but Lu Yueming deflected it and killed him with the same weapon.
• Lu Yueming defeated West Cui Mountain Second Brother and Third Brother with the Misty Seven Swords, then questioned Zhang Xiaolong about the token.
• Zhang Xiaohua explained how the group had met Xue Qing in Lu Town, and Lu Yueming confirmed the token’s connection to his junior sister.
• Lu Yueming reset Zhang Xiaolong’s dislocated arm, gave him medicinal pills, and warned him to rest for six months.
• Lu Yueming asked Zhang Xiaohua what to do with the four guards, then killed them when they fled after she urged him to spare them.
• Lu Yueming returned the token to Zhang Xiaolong and told the group to keep it safe because it might prove useful someday.

Lu Yueming rescued Zhang Xiaolong’s wedding party from the West Cui Mountain bandits and sent them on their way, while the Zhang family feared the worst after hearing they had been attacked. Zhang Xiaolong and the others returned alive, and Grandmother insisted on receiving their wedding bows despite her failing health.

• Lu Yueming told Zhang Xiaolong and the others to leave the bandits’ belongings behind and not reveal his name or the Misty Sect, then arranged the bandits’ corpses and horses before riding away.
• At the Zhang family home, Liu Er reported that the wedding party had encountered West Cui Mountain bandits, and Grandmother collapsed after hearing the news.
• Zhang Cai and the villagers worried that Zhang Xiaolong and the others were dead, while Zhang Xiaohu prepared to search for his brothers.
• Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohua, Liu Qian, and Liu Yueyue returned to Guo Village alive, and Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi rushed to welcome them.
• Grandmother urged Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian to complete the wedding bows, so Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi supported her into the main hall.

Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian’s wedding turned into a funeral when Grandmother died just after the ceremony. As the Zhang family mourned her, Zhang Xiaohua decided he would learn martial arts so he could protect his family.

• Grandmother died peacefully as Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian completed their wedding rites, and Liu Qian joined Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi in mourning her.
• The family replaced the wedding decorations with funeral trappings, prepared Grandmother’s body, and placed her coffin in the main hall for the mourning period.
• While keeping vigil, Zhang Xiaohua blamed his inability to fight for the family’s troubles and resolved to learn martial arts, though he did not know how.
• Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu carried the exhausted, injured Zhang Xiaohua to Zhang Xiaolong’s room, where Guo Sufi checked his wound and urged him to rest.
• Guo Sufi and Zhang Cai stayed with Grandmother’s coffin while Zhang Xiaohu and Liu Qian went to rest.

Hermit Yanming and the three sect disciples found that the sour jujube grove’s entrance had changed and the incantation had vanished, leaving them unable to use their previous plan. While Hermit Yanming and the others chose caution, Zhang Zhaoyang insisted on entering the grove alone and offered to scout ahead.

• Hermit Yanming found that the sword marks he had carved into the sour jujube trees were gone, so Tan Feng and Zhang Zhaoyang searched the grove’s perimeter with Lu Yueming and found no marks.
• Hermit Yanming had the group blood their pieces of hide, but the place where the incantation had appeared was blank.
• Hermit Yanming advised against entering without the incantation, and Lu Yueming and Tan Feng agreed to follow his decision.
• Zhang Zhaoyang said his Sword Master had ordered him to bring back the medicinal herbs and declared that he would enter the grove.
• Zhang Zhaoyang offered to enter alone and scout the way for the others.

Zhang Zhaoyang entered the silent Sour Jujube Tree forest with Snow Silkworm Silk cord as a safety line, but Hermit Yanming pulled back only a bloodstained, frayed end. Lu Yueming noticed the forest had no birdsong, and the three men fled, leaving Zhang Zhaoyang's fate unknown.

• Hermit Yanming, Lu Yueming, and Tan Feng stayed outside while Zhang Zhaoyang entered the forest, using Snow Silkworm Silk cord to signal his progress.
• After receiving one signal, Hermit Yanming later got no response and pulled the cord from the forest, finding its bloodstained end frayed and Zhang Zhaoyang missing.
• Lu Yueming pointed out that no birds called from the forest, which Hermit Yanming remembered had also been shrouded in mist and filled with bones.
• Hermit Yanming took the cord and hurried away with Lu Yueming and Tan Feng, unwilling to remain near the silent forest.

After Hermit Yanming, Lu Yueming, and Tan Feng escaped the mysterious wild jujube grove, Zhang Xiaohua’s family prepared to bury Grandmother. Zhang Xiaohua broke down at the coffin, revealing extraordinary strength, before Liu Qian helped him let the burial proceed; the family left her newly mounded grave at dusk.

• Hermit Yanming ended the mission, kept Wan Jian Peak's hide, and sent Lu Yueming and Tan Feng away; that night, Wan Chengjiu learned Zhang Zhaoyang was missing.
• The Zhang family received mourners, and Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher stayed to help while Zhang Xiaohua silently grieved for Grandmother.
• As the family prepared to close Grandmother's coffin, Zhang Xiaohua shoved a helper aside and pulled out a nail with his bare hand.
• Zhang Xiaohua opened the coffin and wept over Grandmother until Liu Qian comforted him and persuaded him to let the burial continue.
• The Zhang and Liu families buried Grandmother beside Guo Shan's grave, tended both graves, and stayed until dusk.

After Grandmother’s death, the Zhang family resumed farm work and arranged for Mr. Liu to move to Guo Village, where he settled into a new home near their house. Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu both began longing for lives beyond their current routines, while Mr. Liu’s move left him emotional as he parted from his son.

• Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu moved into Grandmother’s cottage, while Zhang Xiaolong recovered from his injuries with Liu Qian caring for him.
• The Zhang family finished spring planting, visited Grandmother’s grave, and Zhang Xiaohua continued to feel guilty and wonder whether leaving home would let him learn martial arts.
• Zhang Cai learned that Guo Village had no schoolhouse or teacher’s residence, so he secured the clan chief’s permission for Mr. Liu to move in and build a house.
• The Zhang family cleared land beside their pond and bamboo grove, and Mr. Liu approved the site and paid for construction while the villagers helped build his home.
• Zhang Xiaohu asked Liu Qian about Liu Yueyue, learned about her circumstances, and grew disheartened as he imagined a life beyond farming and an unwanted marriage.
• Mr. Liu moved into the completed courtyard with his belongings, and he grew emotional as he looked at his reluctant son and happy daughter.

During a gathering at the Zhang family’s home, Zhang Xiaohu announced that he wanted to leave the village and go to Pingyang City to seek a more exciting life. His parents began to warm to the idea after Liu Qian suggested he might also find a wife there, but Zhang Cai had not yet agreed when someone interrupted.

• Guo Sufi admired Mr. Liu’s kitchen and resolved to build a kitchen of her own.
• Zhang Xiaolong recounted how he escaped the West Cui Mountain bandits while keeping Lu Yueming, the Misty Sect, and Xue Qing’s token secret.
• Mr. Liu, Liu Kai, and Zhang Xiaolong discussed whether the scattered bandits might return or seek revenge.
• Zhang Xiaohu announced that he wanted to go to Pingyang City and change his life rather than remain a farmer in the village.
• Mr. Liu and Liu Kai shared their views about leaving home, while Liu the Butcher advised against the trip.
• Liu Qian suggested Zhang Xiaohu could find a wife in Pingyang City, easing Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi’s objections before an unknown speaker interrupted.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu sought their parents’ permission to leave for Pingyang City, with Xiaohua hoping to learn martial arts and protect his family. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi eventually agreed, and the brothers prepared to set out with their family’s support.

• Zhang Xiaohua announced that he wanted to go to Pingyang City to learn martial arts so he could protect himself and his family from bandits.
• Mr. Liu and Liu Kai supported the brothers’ plans, while Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi discussed the dangers of the journey and where Xiaohua might study.
• Liu Kai explained the route to Pingyang City, and Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian offered to manage the family’s fields while the brothers were away.
• After several days, Zhang Cai told Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua that he and Guo Sufi had agreed to let them go, and Guo Sufi gave them newly made clothes.
• Zhang Xiaohua asked Liu Qian why she had let them worry, and she told him the uncertainty was a lesson in staying calm and prudent away from home.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua prepared to leave for Pingyang City to pursue martial arts, accepting advice and travel money from their family and Mr. Liu. After an emotional farewell, the brothers set out, unaware that their journey would affect the martial world.

• Liu Qian encouraged Zhang Xiaohua to learn to manage on his own, while Zhang Xiaohu refused Zhang Xiaolong's unused banknotes and the Misty Sect token, saying he wanted to rely on his own abilities and save the token for emergencies.
• Mr. Liu praised Zhang Xiaohu's resolve, gave him a banknote, and shared travel advice with the family that night.
• Zhang Xiaohu lay awake worrying about how the brothers would find a path to martial arts in Pingyang City, while Zhang Xiaohua rose early to carry water for the family.
• Zhang Cai led the family to the grandparents' graves, and everyone accompanied Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua to the village entrance with their packed bundles.
• As the brothers departed, Zhang Xiaohua ran back to embrace Guo Sufi, vowed to become strong enough to protect his family, and received a farewell hug from Zhang Cai.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua set off for Pingyang City, while their family watched until they disappeared beyond the hillside.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua left Lu Town by carriage, beginning their journey toward Pingyang City. As the carriage carried them away from home, Zhang Xiaohua reflected on his changing life and unusual recent experiences, and the group approached Bao Town by nightfall.

• Zhang Xiaohu told Zhang Xiaohua that they would travel by carriage from Lu Town rather than walk all the way to Pingyang City.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua reached Lu Town, worried they might encounter two bullies, and booked seats on the final carriage of the day.
• Zhang Xiaohua switched seats with a young scholar who wanted to read by the window, and Wang Qisheng joined the passengers as their armed protector.
• As the carriage departed, Zhang Xiaohua struggled with leaving home, while Zhang Xiaohu held his hand and later fell asleep.
• The carriage neared Bao Town, and the young scholar explained that its name came from an important man surnamed Bao, embarrassing Zhang Xiaohu after his guess about treasure.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu traveled toward Pingyang City, where Li Jinfeng promised to help them find the Misty Sect, while the sect prepared to attack the Luoshu Gang. After a violent fight disrupted their overnight stop, Zhang Xiaohu reconsidered the dangers of entering the martial world, and the brothers resumed their journey toward the city.

• The Zhang brothers stopped overnight at the Bao Town carriage service, where Li Jinfeng introduced himself and promised to help Zhang Xiaohua locate the Misty Sect in Pingyang City.
• Ouyang Peng confirmed that the Misty Sect had prepared to attack the Luoshu Gang, assigned Zhang Chengyue to manage sect affairs, and led the attack force out under cover of night.
• A fight between the Fierce Tiger Gang and another group broke out outside the inn, and an arrow shot into the communal sleeping quarters.
• Zhang Xiaohu watched the fighting and wondered whether he wanted to enter such a dangerous martial world, while Zhang Xiaohua slept through the disturbance.
• The brothers continued their journey the next morning, and Zhang Xiaohu remained quiet as the carriage headed toward Pingyang City.

The Zhang brothers arrived in Pingyang City and learned that Shangguan Yun and Yu Lun were headed to the Lotus Escort Agency to learn martial arts. After the pair and Li Jinfeng left without them, Zhang Xiaohu chose to seek the Misty Sect instead, and the brothers set out for Misty Manor before stopping in surprise at something around a corner.

• Shangguan Yun and Yu Lun told the carriage passengers they planned to try their luck learning martial arts at the Lotus Escort Agency, and Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu decided they might try as well.
• Yu Lun agreed to guide Zhang Xiaohu to the agency the next morning, but the Zhang brothers learned that he, Shangguan Yun, and Li Jinfeng had moved to another inn without telling them.
• Zhang Xiaohu chose to go to the Misty Sect, and the brothers learned that Misty Manor lay ten li east of Pingyang City.
• The Zhang brothers left the Carriage and Horse Service and headed across the city toward the east gate.
• After turning a corner, Zhang Xiaohua stopped and asked Zhang Xiaohu whether it was New Year again.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu explored bustling Pingyang City, recovered a stolen money pouch, and met Qiutong, who offered them a ride toward Misty Manor. The brothers learned that Qiutong was a manor maid as their carriage journey began.

• Zhang Xiaohua caught a young thief stealing Zhang Xiaohu’s money pouch, but the thief escaped when his companions helped him disappear into the crowd.
• Zhang Xiaohua spotted the thief stealing a girl’s pouch and chased him until he dropped it, then returned it to the girl.
• The girl thanked Zhang Xiaohua and introduced herself as Qiutong when the brothers said they were heading to Misty Manor to learn martial arts.
• Qiutong offered the brothers a ride in her carriage, and they learned she was a manor maid buying potted plants.

After Misty Sect refused to accept Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua as disciples, the brothers followed a guard’s advice to seek martial arts training at the Lotus Escort Agency in Pingyang City. Fourth Master Wen registered them and demanded 160 taels for a year of tuition, food, and lodging, leaving the brothers stunned.

• Qiutong left Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua near the road to Misty Manor, and they approached the sect’s gateway.
• The guard leader told the brothers that Misty Sect had stopped recruiting and refused to take them to Wen Wenhai or Lu Yueming, who were both away.
• After a guard suggested the Lotus Escort Agency, the leader directed the brothers to its recruitment office in Pingyang City.
• Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua reached the Lotus Escort Agency and told its staff they wanted to learn martial arts.
• Fourth Master Wen recorded the brothers’ names and told them that tuition, food, and lodging would cost 160 taels for both of them.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua learned that the Lotus Escort Agency could hire runners who earned wages while learning martial arts, but that the work was dangerous and required physical ability. Zhang Xiaohu passed a strength test and reproduced most of a beginner's fist set after watching it once, leaving Old Li Liu suspicious of his claim that he had never trained.

• Fourth Master Wen explained that the Misty Sect accepted young disciples, while the Lotus Escort Agency hired runners and guards; the Zhang brothers had no martial foundation and could not qualify as guards.
• Fourth Master Wen took Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua to Old Li Liu, who agreed to test Zhang Xiaohu for a runner position.
• Zhang Xiaohu lifted stone locks weighing one hundred and one hundred and fifty jin, then failed to raise a two-hundred-jin lock overhead but impressed the onlookers.
• Old Li Liu had Little Monkey demonstrate Six Harmonies Fist and asked Zhang Xiaohu to repeat it; Zhang Xiaohu performed six or seven tenths of the set after watching once.
• Old Li Liu questioned Zhang Xiaohu sharply about whether he had truly never practiced martial arts.

Zhang Xiaohu passed the Lotus Escort Agency’s test and became an escort hand, while Zhang Xiaohua’s extraordinary strength impressed Third Master Qu despite his being too young to join. Third Master Qu arranged for Zhang Xiaohua to work at Huanxi Mountain Villa, where he could farm and receive martial arts instruction, and Qiutong took him there as the brothers parted ways.

• Zhang Xiaohu impressed Old Li Liu by recalling much of the Six Harmonies Fist and passed the escort agency’s test, while Zhang Xiaohua was told he was too young to be recruited.
• Zhang Xiaohua lifted a two-hundred-pound stone lock and then a five-hundred-pound one, shocking the training ground.
• Qiutong recognized Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu, and Third Master Qu heard how Zhang Xiaohua had helped her recover her money pouch.
• Third Master Qu proposed that Zhang Xiaohua work at Huanxi Mountain Villa’s medicinal fields and receive martial arts instruction there.
• Zhang Xiaohua accepted the job and its monthly pay, and Zhang Xiaohu reassured him that he would visit and that they could reunite at the escort agency when Xiaohua grew older.
• Old Li Liu took Zhang Xiaohu to register as an escort hand, while Zhang Xiaohua followed Qiutong by carriage toward Huanxi Mountain Villa.

Zhang Xiaohua arrived at Huanxi Mountain Villa with Qiutong, where she left him waiting while she went to report to the young mistress. As Qiutong brought the young mistress back to the hall, the villa’s one-armed elder had already questioned Zhang Xiaohua about his place there.

• Zhang Xiaohua rode with Qiutong to Huanxi Mountain Villa and wondered about its connection to Misty Manor.
• The guards admitted Qiutong and Zhang Xiaohua through a side gate, and Qiutong left him in a courtyard while she went to report to the young mistress.
• While waiting alone, Zhang Xiaohua handled several training weapons until a stern one-armed old man ordered him to put them away and asked why he was there.
• Zhang Xiaohua told the old man that Qiutong had brought him to grow medicinal herbs, and the old man left in anger over the idea of putting a child to fieldwork.
• Qiutong searched for the young mistress, then returned to the hall with her and explained that Uncle Qu San had recommended Zhang Xiaohua and that his family would be investigated through the Lotus Escort Agency.

Qiutong explained Zhang Xiaohua’s unusual strength to Ou Yan and Old Yu, who agreed to keep him at Huanxi Mountain Villa and observe his potential. As Zhang Xiaohua anxiously awaited his fate, a group of workers arrived and mocked his name.

• Old Yu objected to Qiutong bringing a young child to work in the medicinal fields, so Qiutong recounted how Zhang Xiaohua had recovered her money pouch and lifted a heavy stone lock.
• Ou Yan told Old Yu to keep Zhang Xiaohua for rough work, watch his martial arts potential, and let him enter the fields once the Lotus Escort Agency confirmed his status.
• Qiutong and Ou Yan discussed their worry for Ou Yan’s eldest brother, Ou Peng, who was leading the Misty Sect’s campaign against the Luoshui Gang.
• Ou Yan decided Old Yu should arrange Zhang Xiaohua’s placement and allow him to face some hardship so she could see how he handled it.
• Zhang Xiaohua waited anxiously in the courtyard until a group of workers arrived, and several blue-clothed men laughed and mocked his name.

Zhang Xiaohua arrived at Huanxi Mountain Villa, where the workers mocked his name before Tian Zhongxi helped him settle into a room with Ma Jing. After Old Yu assigned him no work yet, Zhang Xiaohua tried to adapt to his new surroundings and put aside his homesickness.

• The blue-clad workers mocked Zhang Xiaohua's name until Tian Zhongxi sent them back to their rooms.
• Tian Zhongxi brought Zhang Xiaohua into his room, gave him water, and offered him a place to wait for Old Yu.
• Old Yu returned and told Zhang Xiaohua to familiarize himself with the medicinal fields, then asked Tian Zhongxi to arrange his lodging.
• Tian Zhongxi took Zhang Xiaohua to Ma Jing's room and arranged for him to sleep on Liu Er's empty brick bed.
• Zhang Xiaohua flattered Ma Jing to avoid offending him, then resolved to adapt to villa life and set aside thoughts of home.

Zhang Xiaohua ate dinner at Huanxi Mountain Villa and asked Ma Jing why the workers received different meals. Ma Jing began explaining the change in the medicinal fields, but admitted he did not know what herbs were planted.

• Zhang Xiaohua followed Ma Jing to the dining hall, where he learned the empty table was reserved for first-class meals and Tian Zhongxi found him a seat with the other workers.
• Zhang Xiaohua devoured the plentiful dinner while the other diners watched and mocked him, and he wished he could take the leftovers home for his pigs.
• Back in their room, Zhang Xiaohua opened the window to escape Ma Jing's foot odor and asked why the dining hall served two kinds of food.
• Ma Jing said servants had managed the medicinal fields before the New Year, but several more fields had opened around the eighteenth day of the first lunar month.
• Ma Jing asked Zhang Xiaohua to guess what herbs were planted, then admitted that he did not recognize them either.