Recaps

Xie Jinhuan refined a Five Elements opportunity while Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua guarded him, then pretended to be Ye Sheng to bluff away Lü Yan. The group escaped immediate danger, but Lü Yan discovered the false directions and pursued them.

• Xie Jinhuan, guided by Ye Hongshang, found a pure flame in a deep fissure and began refining its Five Elements essence.
• Ye Hongshang sensed people approaching, and Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua prepared to defend Xie Jinhuan.
• Xie Jinhuan and Nangong Ye impersonated Ye Sheng and his companion, convincing Lü Yan that they had already taken one opportunity and directing him toward another.
• Lü Yan left with Xi Yanjun, then found the supposed route was a dead end and the promised opportunity was absent.
• Lü Yan realized Xie Jinhuan had deceived him and turned back to pursue the group.

Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua fled through the underground passages after Xie Jinhuan obtained a divine gift, then pursued another opportunity while fearing Lü Yan’s arrival. Beneath them, a golden-armored woman recognized the group and decided to test Xie Jinhuan’s abilities.

• Xie Jinhuan persuaded Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua to seek another opportunity instead of returning toward the exit where Lü Yan might intercept them.
• Guided by Ye Hongshang, the three reached a second fire source, and Bu Yuehua began refining its Yang fire while Nangong Ye guarded the entrance.
• A golden-armored woman cultivating inside a colossal Purple-Gold Stone pillar noticed that two spiritual veins had vanished in quick succession.
• The golden-armored woman followed the remaining spiritual vein and recognized Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua above her.
• The golden-armored woman recalled her past help to Bu Yuehua and considered whether Xie Jinhuan’s ability could match that of the Old Devil shorter than a scallion.

Lü Yan caught up with Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye in the fissure and attacked them with Blazing True Fire. Xie Jinhuan collapsed the passage to escape, then left Lü Yan following misleading Life Gate and Death Gate marks again.

• Lü Yan heard digging underground and followed fresh sword marks into the fissure, eventually finding the three cultivators.
• Lü Yan unleashed Blazing True Fire, forcing Nangong Ye, Bu Yuehua, and Xie Jinhuan to retreat through the narrow passage.
• Xie Jinhuan invoked Empress Dowager Guo's name, and Lü Yan stopped his attack and offered Underworld River Grass for one of their shares.
• Ye Hongshang advised Xie Jinhuan to collapse the fissure, and he used the Heavenly Gang Mace to bring down the rock and escape with Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye.
• Lü Yan and Xi Yanjun searched for another route, found the Life Gate and Death Gate marks, and Lü Yan charged through the Life Gate in anger.

Xie Jinhuan lured Lü Yan away from Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua while they refined their opportunities, using Love-Me-Tender Powder to make Xi Yanjun cling to his martial uncle and disrupt Lü Yan. The three reunited and fled toward the surface, but as they neared the exit, they realized their escape was not yet assured.

• Bu Yuehua gave Nangong Ye a Heavenly Pivot Pill and took a Baleful-Breaking Pill, while Xie Jinhuan headed toward the last opportunity.
• Xie Jinhuan left the Yin-Yang Ruler’s protection to draw Lü Yan away, then collapsed rock to conceal Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua as they refined their opportunities.
• Xie Jinhuan used Love-Me-Tender Powder on Xi Yanjun, who hugged Lü Yan and disrupted his pursuit, but Lü Yan fought back with powerful fire arts.
• Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua finished refining their opportunities and joined Xie Jinhuan, and the three fled through the fissures while Lü Yan pursued from behind.
• The three neared the surface and saw starlight and moonlight, but realized they had celebrated their escape too soon.

After taking all three opportunities underground, Xie Jinhuan and his companions were cornered by Lü Yan and a Black Yama Gang force. Xie Jinhuan tricked the pursuers into attacking one another, then fled toward the surface as a battle erupted behind him.

• Xu Guanfu and Yan Lang detected the underground disturbance and rushed to intercept the people emerging from a fissure.
• Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua retreated underground to escape the approaching enemies, and Bu Yuehua spread poisonous fog through the passages.
• Xie Jinhuan learned that Xu Guanfu and Yan Lang were pursuing him, then used the Yellow Qilin Seal to help stage a false clash between the groups.
• Xie Jinhuan's deception led Xu Guanfu, Yan Lang, and Lü Yan to converge and fight amid the poisonous fog and collapsing rock.
• As the enemies battled, Xie Jinhuan, Nangong Ye, and Bu Yuehua slipped away toward the surface.

Jiang Qizi ambushed Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye while pursuing the Lingguang Divine Gift, but the three overwhelmed him with their Immortal Artifacts and escaped. A golden-armored woman watched them leave and flew toward Northern Zhou.

• Jiang Qizi led more than forty corpse puppets across the Gobi toward Fire Phoenix Valley, hoping to seize the Lingguang Divine Gift.
• Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye spotted Jiang Qizi, recognized him as a Corpse Witch, and chose to attack before their pursuers caught up.
• Nangong Ye took the Zhenglun Sword as Bu Yuehua unleashed poisonous mist, and Jiang Qizi countered with corpse smoke and his puppets.
• Xie Jinhuan, Bu Yuehua, and Nangong Ye battered Jiang Qizi with the Yin-Yang Ruler, the Zhenglun Sword, and their attacks, killing him despite his final counterattack.
• Xie Jinhuan caught the falling Bu Yuehua and took two objects from the scattered remains before Nangong Ye used the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Movement Spell to carry them away.
• A golden-armored woman watched the three escape, then flew toward Northern Zhou instead of returning underground.

Lü Yan escaped the underground battle with the unconscious Xi Yanjun, while Xu Guanfu fled and encountered Sikong Tianyuan. Sikong revealed that Xu Guanfu had been used in a plot against Xie Jinhuan and killed him, leaving the broader scheme in motion.

• Lü Yan emerged from the underground in a burst of fire with Xi Yanjun and found that Xie Jinhuan had already escaped.
• Lü Yan struck Xi Yanjun and ordered him to return to Northern Zhou alone.
• Xu Guanfu hid in a rocky fissure after fleeing the battle, but Sikong Tianyuan seized control of him.
• Sikong Tianyuan explained that he had tracked Xu Guanfu and used him as part of a plan to kill Xie Jinhuan.
• Sikong Tianyuan struck Xu Guanfu with a soul attack and killed him.

Nangong Ye, Xie Jinhuan, and the unconscious Bu Yuehua hid in a forest crevice after escaping their pursuers, while Xie Jinhuan examined the spoils taken from a slain fiend. After recovering enough to travel, they set off north again, still surrounded by danger.

• Coal Ball scouted ahead as Nangong Ye carried Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua into the Southern Border forest to find shelter.
• Xie Jinhuan realized that the unconscious Senior Sister Hua had suffered a severe Divine Soul injury, while Nangong Ye worried that her identity might be exposed and agreed with his guesses about her training.
• Xie Jinhuan found a crevice beneath a cliff, fed Coal Ball, and examined a forbidden cultivation scripture fragment and a piece of refined fish-scale copper with Ghost Wife and Ye Hongshang.
• Nangong Ye identified the fish-scale copper as a fragment of an Immortal Artifact that could be used to make protective gear, but neither she nor Xie Jinhuan could identify its source.
• After resting for an hour and recovering more than half their Qi, Xie Jinhuan picked up Bu Yuehua and Nangong Ye carried them north again.

Nangong Ye nearly gave Bu Yuehua a Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, but swallowed it herself after Xie Jinhuan caught her. She then rushed to kiss him in the bath, where Bu Yuehua woke and caught them; Nangong Ye fled afterward, leaving Xie Jinhuan behind as Bu Yuehua explained she was likely hiding nearby.

• Nangong Ye considered giving the sleeping Bu Yuehua a Like Falling into an Ice Cellar Pill, but swallowed it herself when Xie Jinhuan entered and questioned her.
• The pill took effect, and Nangong Ye rushed into Xie Jinhuan's bath and kissed him while Ye Hongshang watched.
• Bu Yuehua woke, heard the pair next door, and went to confront them after Nangong Ye insulted her.
• Bu Yuehua caught Nangong Ye and Xie Jinhuan together, then agreed to keep their relationship secret from the sect in exchange for Nangong Ye's apology.
• Nangong Ye dressed and fled through the window, saying she would return to her sect to confess, while Bu Yuehua told Xie Jinhuan she was probably hiding nearby.

Xie Jinhuan returned to Luojing after securing an opportunity in Fire Phoenix Valley, only to find that his friends and family had already left with the diplomatic delegation for Northern Zhou. Before setting out to catch up with them, he met the newly enthroned Zhao Xiao, who asked him to assess whether Empress Dowager Guo planned to lead Northern Zhou south in the coming years.

• Xie Jinhuan traveled north with Bu Yuehua while Nangong Ye secretly followed them, and Bu Yuehua promised to help find a Tiger Bone Vine.
• A diplomatic delegation led by Monk Jingkong and Jing Wuniang traveled toward Yanjing as Yang Dabiao, Fei Ji, Linghu Qingmo, Lin Wanyi, and Lin Zisu accompanied it.
• In Yanjing, Xie Wen reviewed a report on Jiang Xian'er and learned that Lü Yan had been beaten up.
• Xie Jinhuan returned to Luojing and discovered that Zhao Xiao had ascended the throne and that the delegation, including his friends and family, had already departed for Northern Zhou.
• Xie Jinhuan met Zhao Xiao and Xu Tong, then agreed to investigate Empress Dowager Guo's intentions toward a possible northern campaign.

Nangong Ye discussed the fractured Directorate of Celestial Observation with Lu Wuzhen, then promised Xie Jinhuan she would join him in Yanjing after handling official business. Wei Wuyi, Lu Wuzhen, and Monk Wuxin reunited at their old tavern and spoke warily about their past and the divided state of the Jianghu.

• Nangong Ye returned the Yin-Yang Ruler to Lu Wuzhen, who suspected an experienced hidden figure had arranged the dangers she faced in Fire Phoenix Valley.
• Lu Wuzhen invited Nangong Ye to a gathering of Cinnabar Cauldron Sect leaders, and she agreed to attend before traveling to Yanjing.
• Xie Jinhuan returned to Nangong Ye and insisted she prove she was not angry; after spending the night together, she promised to meet him in Yanjing once her business was done.
• Wei Wuyi, Lu Wuzhen, and Monk Wuxin met at their old tavern in Qingmiao Alley and reminisced about their student days with Sikong Tianyuan.
• Lu Wuzhen warned Wei Wuyi that his lack of apparent desires made his ambitions difficult to discern, then left with Monk Wuxin.
• Wei Wuyi paid the tavern keeper and reflected that his former classmates' acceptance had once kept their fellowship from ending in disaster.

Xie Jinhuan left Luojing for Northern Zhou with Bu Yuehua, Ye Hongshang, and Coal Ball, while Mu Yunling stayed behind on official business. After his departure, Huangfu Qi reflected on how Xie had repeatedly disrupted the conspiracy behind the Pill King’s rise, and Xu Tong took Zhao De to Wei Wuyi’s banquet.

• Xie Jinhuan departed Luojing for the north, carrying the Martial Dao Divine Canon and expecting Mu Yunling to join him later.
• Huangfu Qi reviewed how Xie Jinhuan had exposed the conspirators’ schemes and survived their attempts to kill him.
• Huangfu Qi learned that Xu Tong had come to take Zhao De to Wei Wuyi’s banquet at Purple Gold Pavilion.
• Zhao De left the manor with Xu Tong, joking about wealth and asking his granduncle to help him get permission to go out.

Empress Dowager Guo awoke from a nightmare of the Golden-Armored Divine Being’s last stand and asked after the trouble in Lizhou and Xie Jinhuan’s whereabouts. In Linchuan County, Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua found a room and prepared to use a secret dream method to study the Martial Dao Divine Canon.

• In her nightmare, the Golden-Armored Divine Being fought the demon tide, discovered the Corpse Ancestor’s true body, and helped the righteous forces destroy him before awakening to a battlefield where a black-robed man with five Immortal Weapons stood over the slain allies.
• Empress Dowager Guo learned that Shen Cang and Jiang Xian were investigating Lizhou and ordered her officials to watch for Xie Jinhuan, who she believed would come.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua reached snowy Linchuan County, learned that a Shajie Kingdom delegation was traveling to Yanjing for the young emperor’s birthday, and found a single room at a poor inn.
• Bu Yuehua agreed to learn the Martial Dao Divine Canon from Xie Jinhuan through the Hidden Immortal Sect’s Dream Transmission of the Dao, and Xie Jinhuan secretly called on Ghost Wife for help.

Bu Yuehua and Xie Jinhuan became trapped in a vivid illusion of the Hidden Immortal Sect, where Bu Yuehua appeared in revealing clothes and the two studied a martial arts star chart. As snow and cold engulfed the illusion, they shared Xie Jinhuan’s robe for warmth, while in the inn room Coal Ball let the winter wind in and found A Huan covered in frost.

• Bu Yuehua woke on a beach beside Xie Jinhuan and learned they were in an illusion depicting the Hidden Immortal Sect.
• Bu Yuehua discovered the illusion had dressed her in revealing clothes, and Xie Jinhuan insisted he could not control or end it.
• Bu Yuehua and Xie Jinhuan studied the Martial Dao Divine Canon’s star chart while strange chain sounds drew Xie Jinhuan’s attention toward a cave beneath the cliff.
• As the illusion turned cold and began to snow, Bu Yuehua shared her robe with Xie Jinhuan so they could keep warm together.
• In the inn room, Coal Ball opened a window gap to watch the street and let in wind and snow, then noticed A Huan’s eyebrows were frosted over.

Wei Jili met a Jianghu performer outside Mountain and River Pass and urged him to kill Xie Jinhuan, providing information about Bu Qingya's murder to lure Xie out. After reaching an inn, Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua learned of a suspected Soul-Seizing Lock case and rode toward Baihua County.

• Wei Jili told the Jianghu performer that Xie Jinhuan had entered the north and warned that he could disrupt their plans.
• Wei Jili gave the performer details about Bu Qingya and his wife's murder, and the performer resolved to use someone nearby to kill Xie Jinhuan without exposing their involvement.
• Xie Jinhuan woke beside Bu Yuehua after they had fallen asleep together in the cold room, while Ghost Wife and Coal Ball explained how the night had unfolded.
• Bu Yuehua overheard laborers say that a Soul-Seizing Lock was being used in the deaths at Baihua County and hurried to investigate.
• Bu Yuehua explained that the Soul-Seizing Lock had belonged to the Corpse Witch Sect and later the Corpse Ancestor, then rode with Xie Jinhuan toward Baihua County.

Bu Yuehua accompanied Xie Jinhuan to Baihua County, where evidence of a chain-type Dharma Artifact revived her search for the killer of her father, Bu Qingya. As they headed toward Sword River to investigate, a message reached Li Huaichuan at Li Mountain Sword Lodge, leaving the nature of the news unclear.

• Lü Yan learned that Xie Jinhuan might be near Lizhou and flew from Five-Spirit Mountain to seek him.
• Bu Yuehua remembered her father’s murder by an unknown attacker using the Soul-Seizing Lock and recognized Xie Jinhuan’s trail as a possible lead.
• Criminal Constable Shen Cang examined three victims in Baihua County while Jiang Xian urged the investigators to pursue the bandits immediately.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua watched the investigation from a rooftop, and Ye Hongshang confirmed that a chain-type artifact had extracted the victims’ souls.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua descended from the roof to investigate Sword River for clues about the Soul-Seizing Lock.
• Li Huaichuan received a message at Li Mountain Sword Lodge and looked toward the storm beyond the manor.

Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua found evidence in an abandoned mine that linked the Red Witch Cult to a plot involving vital souls, the Young Emperor, and Bu Yuehua’s parents’ deaths. Xie Jinhuan realized the clues might be a trap and hurried Bu Yuehua out, while the cult’s scouts had already sent word of their arrival.

• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua followed fresh tracks into an abandoned mine in Sword River.
• Chu Xing confirmed Xie Jinhuan’s identity while He Can and Zhang Chu warned that the Red Witch Cult could not defeat him; Chu Xing sent a carrier pigeon to the Li Mountain Sword Lodge.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua found a Red Witch Cult shrine and deciphered its inscriptions about Zhu Man and a Blood Sacrifice.
• Xie Jinhuan discovered burned correspondence ordering the gathering of vital souls and mentioning the distinguished person’s early return to the capital; Bu Yuehua suspected Empress Dowager Guo had killed her father.
• Xie Jinhuan suspected the clues had been planted to lure him into a scheme and rushed Bu Yuehua out of the mine.

Li Huaichuan ambushed Xie Jinhuan near Sword River, hoping to kill him and seize the Lingguang Divine Gift, but Xie and Bu Yuehua struck first and fought back through a poisonous fog. The clash escalated as Xie rushed Li with his spear and reached for the Heavenly Gang Mace, while a streak of silver lightning appeared amid the mist.

• Li Huaichuan followed fresh tracks to an abandoned mine and waited outside for Xie Jinhuan, intending to kill him and take his chance at the Fifth Realm.
• Ye Hongshang spotted Li outside, and Xie Jinhuan warned Bu Yuehua before they confronted the swordsman.
• Li pretended to greet Xie warmly, but Xie attacked through the mine wall with his Ming Dragon Spear as Bu Yuehua released poisonous mist.
• Xie and Bu Yuehua moved through the mist to attack Li, who blocked Xie's spear with his Protective Gang Qi and countered with a storm of sword strikes.
• As Li's sword strikes closed in, Xie reached for the Heavenly Gang Mace, and a streak of silver lightning flashed through the mist.

Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua killed Li Huaichuan after a coordinated ambush, but Li Huaichuan’s death gave their enemies grounds to send Lü Yan after them. Injured and unable to escape on foot, Xie Jinhuan hid with Bu Yuehua in a hollow tree as Lü Yan approached.

• Bu Yuehua’s illusion and Xie Jinhuan’s mace let them overwhelm Li Huaichuan, though he pierced Bu Yuehua’s chest before Xie Jinhuan smashed him into a cliff and Bu Yuehua finished him with throwing knives.
• He Can, Zhang Chu, and Chu Xing watched from concealment and revealed that they expected Lü Yan to pursue Xie Jinhuan after Li Huaichuan’s death.
• Lü Yan approached using the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Movement Spell, and Coal Ball warned Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua of his arrival.
• Xie Jinhuan carried the injured Bu Yuehua through the mountains and chose to hide with her inside a hollow locust tree.
• A wind-splitting roar sounded overhead as Lü Yan drew near.

Lü Yan hunted for Xie Jinhuan after finding Li Huaichuan mortally wounded and accusing Xie Jinhuan of ambushing him. Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua hid in a hollow tree and treated her injury, but Lü Yan began burning the mountains to smoke them out, while Chu Xing and his companions faced the spreading fire nearby.

• Lü Yan found the dying Li Huaichuan, who claimed Xie Jinhuan had ambushed him with a Transcendent Grade poison shaman, and then died.
• Lü Yan declared that he could lawfully kill Xie Jinhuan and searched the surrounding mountains with the Divination Sect's Qi-Seeking Art.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua hid in a hollow tree, where Ye Hongshang warned them not to circulate their Qi as Xie Jinhuan helped dress Bu Yuehua's sword wound.
• Lü Yan set the mountains ablaze with Blazing True Fire when his search failed to reveal Xie Jinhuan's hiding place.
• Chu Xing and six others watched the fire approach from a ridge and worried that Lü Yan would find them if he burned farther in their direction.

Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua used Ye Hongshang’s Possession to prepare to fight Lü Yan instead of fleeing. Bu Yuehua unleashed an unfamiliar spell that disrupted the surrounding fire, snow, and power of heaven and earth, leaving Lü Yan astonished.

• Xie Jinhuan rejected Bu Yuehua’s offer to draw Lü Yan away and agreed to let Ye Hongshang possess her so they could fight together.
• Ye Hongshang’s possession gave Bu Yuehua heightened perception and inspired her with a strategy, while she blurted out that she would let Xie Jinhuan kiss her if they survived.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua emerged from the forest and confronted Lü Yan, who questioned their claims about Li Huaichuan and the Demon Path.
• Lü Yan attacked with the Bingding Yinghuo Fire Technique, and Bu Yuehua answered with the Hongshang Edict.
• Bu Yuehua’s spell threw the wildfire, blizzard, and surrounding power of heaven and earth into chaos, forcing Lü Yan to land and ask what kind of spell she had used.

Bu Yuehua disrupted Lü Yan’s magic while she and Xie Jinhuan attacked, then helped steal the Fire-Command Edict as they escaped the blast. Lü Yan pursued Xie Jinhuan south, while distant onlookers debated the failed ambush and Jiang Xian recklessly set off after the fugitives.

• Bu Yuehua disrupted Lü Yan’s fire spells, allowing Xie Jinhuan to charge, but Lü Yan trapped them behind the Eight-Gate Burning Array.
• Bu Yuehua distracted Lü Yan by naming his father and struck him with the Disrupting-Soul Illusion Technique, letting Xie Jinhuan close in and attack.
• Lü Yan unleashed Heaven-and-Earth Same-Lifespan, blasting the fighters apart, and discovered that the Fire-Command Edict had vanished.
• Lü Yan fled south after Xie Jinhuan, while He Can and Chu Xing discussed the failed ambush and the danger awaiting Xie Jinhuan at Mountain and River Pass.
• Shen Cang and Old Wang watched from afar as Jiang Xian ran after the fugitives, forcing them to chase after her.

After escaping the destruction at Sword River with the stolen Fire-Command Edict, Xie Jinhuan carried the injured Bu Yuehua toward Yanjing, while Jiang Xian tracked them in hopes of capturing the pair. They reached an empty house in northeastern Lizhou to rest, where Bu Yuehua wrestled with whether to honor her earlier promise to let Xie Jinhuan kiss her.

• Xie Jinhuan escaped the Sword River battle with Bu Yuehua and learned that Ye Hongshang had stolen Five-Spirit Mountain's Fire-Command Edict.
• Bu Yuehua warned that Northern Zhou would hunt them for killing Li Huaichuan and wounding Lü Yan, but Xie Jinhuan chose to travel toward Yanjing rather than flee south.
• Jiang Xian followed the fugitives' tracks using her Qi Gazing Divine Ability and ran ahead despite Shen Cang's warning to wait for reinforcements.
• Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua took shelter in an empty house, where he found replacement clothes and they tended to their wounds.
• While changing, Bu Yuehua recalled promising Xie Jinhuan a kiss and debated whether she should bring it up again.

After Bu Yuehua kissed Xie Jinhuan to honor her promise, Jiang Xian and two Criminal Constables Bureau officers arrived and offered to escort them to Capital City. Xie Jinhuan accepted, and he learned that Jiang Xian came from the Jiang Family Fort and hoped to become Empress Dowager Guo’s right-hand woman.

• Bu Yuehua kissed Xie Jinhuan, then meditated while both tried to put the awkward moment behind them.
• Jiang Xian, Shen Cang, and Old Wang confronted Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua over the deaths at Li Mountain Sword Lodge.
• After recognizing Xie Jinhuan as the Southern Dynasty envoy’s famed young officer, Shen Cang offered to escort him and Bu Yuehua to Capital City, and Xie Jinhuan agreed.
• On the carriage ride, Jiang Xian explained that she had tracked Xie Jinhuan by following his footprints and introduced herself as a descendant of Jiang Hehai of the Jiang Family Fort.
• Xie Jinhuan learned that Jiang Xian admired Empress Dowager Guo and had come to Capital City hoping to become her right-hand woman.

The uproar over Xie Jinhuan’s alleged murder of Li Huaichuan forced Northern Zhou’s court and cultivation leaders to balance public anger against the risk of war with Great Qian. Xie Jinhuan voluntarily returned to the Xing Constabulary, where his father Xie Wen hurried to meet him, leaving their reunion just beyond the cell door.

• Northern Zhou’s martial and Daoist leaders issued orders to find Xie Jinhuan, while Chen Chi secretly searched for him and publicly called for evidence as Empress Dowager Guo urged him to avoid provoking war.
• Zhao Ling, Duoduo, and the Southern Dynasty delegation’s students protested Xie Jinhuan’s treatment, while Linghu Qingmo and Lin Wanyi worried about him and Xie Wen fretted over the scandal.
• Xie Wen learned that Jiang Xian had captured Xie Jinhuan and that Shen Cang had brought him to the Xing Constabulary’s dungeon.
• Xie Jinhuan reassured Bu Yuehua that they would soon be released, and she tidied his hair as they waited in the cell.
• Xie Wen arrived at the dungeon with Jiang Xian, and Xie Jinhuan recognized his father’s voice and went to the cell door.