Episode 22 recap: The Palace Gate Battles Wu Feng
Gong Zi Yu drank the tea prepared by Gong Yuan Zheng and realized that he had some resentment towards him. However, he still reminded him that his hidden weapons bag had been stolen by Shang Guan Qian before, and his hidden weapons were damaged. Amidst the selection of the brides, Gong Zi Yu approached a woman whose face was concealed under a red veil, revealing a cunning smile. However, instead of lifting the veil, Gong Zi Yu walked towards another person.
When Gong Zi Shang woke up, Jin Fan took her to the Moon Palace and prevented her from participating in the succession ceremony. His task was to protect her, and Gong Zi Shang leaned on his shoulder. Gong Zi Yu went to Gong Yuan Zheng's residence and knew that he had some grievances towards him. However, he kindly reminded him that Shang Guan Qian had tampered with his hidden weapons. Gong Zi Yu presented him with a new set of hidden weapons made by Hua Gong Zi and personally made a hidden weapon box for him.
The succession ceremony of Gong Zi Yu began, with Wu Feng's Four Kings present, except for Sītú Hóng, the Southern King, who was absent. The other three kings, Bei Xu, the Eastern King of Wǎng, Han Yi Ke, the Northern Wǎng, and Mò Qí Ài, the Western King, arrived at the old Dust Valley from three different directions to steal the Boundless Flowing Fire. To divert attention from the front mountain, Wu Feng deliberately sent out seven brides to create chaos and buy them time. Han Ya Qi included Yun Wei Shan among the brides. At this time, Gong Shang Jue had lost all his internal energy, and Gong Yuan Zheng was waiting outside the gate.
Mò Qí Ài was responsible for dealing with the Moon Palace and Gong Shang Jue, using the bizarre Fei Lian technique. Han Yi Ke's extreme cold internal martial arts could paralyze limbs, forcing Xue Gong Zi and Xue Zhong Zi to give up going to the Moon Palace and stay to guard with Jin Fan. The Hundred Herbs Essence inside the Moon Palace was what Wu Feng had been wanting. Bei Xu was the unparalleled top swordsman in the martial world, and his target was the Boundless Flowing Fire. These pieces of information were delivered to Gong Zi Yu through the red string shopkeeper, and he began to set up his plan.
The diagram of the Boundless Flowing Fire was carved on black iron and produced a special sound when struck. Xue Gong Zi and Xue Zhong Zi placed the diagram at the bottom of the cold pool. Gong Zi Yu's plan was to make Xue Gong Zi give up on that location, so Wu Feng would not suspect that the real Boundless Flowing Fire was in an unguarded room. The elders handed the seal to Gong Zi Yu, signifying that he would be the last Blade Master of the Palace Gate. After the ceremony, he began to choose a bride from the seven candidates. Meanwhile, Mo Qi Ai had arrived at the rear mountain. As Gong Zi Yu approached one of the brides, he lifted the veil and discovered that it was Zi Yi. It turned out that the plan Yun Wei Shan knew was intentionally revealed to her by the Four Kings. The true plan emerged after she left. The deceitful brides included not only Yun Wei Shan but also Zi Yi. Her real name was Sītú Hóng, and just as she was about to kill Gong Zi Yu, she stood in front of him.
Mo Qi Ai intercepted and killed the two sons of Xue Gong Zi on their way to the Moon Palace, while chaos ensued in the front mountain. Gong Zi Yu, accompanied by Yun Wei Shan, dealt with Wu Feng's brides. Fortunately, Gong Zi Shang had researched gunpowder and managed to subdue the brides. Shang Guan Qian used a map to search for the location of the boundless flowing fire, while Han Yi Ke arrived at Gong Shang Jue and Gong Yuan Zheng, with their hidden weapons absorbed onto his sword. Gong Shang Jue recognized him as the one who killed his mother and younger brother, Fang. Shang Guan Qian secretly infiltrated the Moon Palace and overheard their discussions about the plan. After making some connections, Shang Guan Qian left. Xue Zhong Zi and Xue Gong Zi were injured, and Mo Qi Ai proved to be formidable. All of this was a prearranged act between Gong Zi Yu and Gong Shang Jue. Gong Shang Jue intentionally severed ties with Gong Zi Yu and let Yun Wei Shan leave, with the purpose of having Shang Guan Qian deliver the message that the palace gates would invite the enemy in this time. As for Gong Shang Jue, there was no truth to the claim of his loss of internal strength. Early on, when Yun Wei Shan's shoulder bore the marks of Gong Yuan Zheng's hidden weapon, Gong Shang Jue had secretly informed him of the entire plan from within the dungeon. Shang Guan Qian was also affiliated with Wu Feng, but after the revelation of the truth, the two secretly joined forces to confront Wu Feng, while maintaining a facade of opposition. They deliberately injured Gong Shang Jue in front of Shang Guan Qian as part of their act.
After Han Yi Ke and Shang Guan Qian presented false information, they began to confront Gong Shang Jue. Han Ya Si betrayed Gong Zi Yu at a critical moment by poisoning him. He instructed Yun Wei Shan to take Gong Zi Yu and leave, while he dealt with Gong Shang Jue alone. Just as he was being strangled and on the brink of death, he used a firearm to kill Gong Shang Jue and subsequently departed from this world. Mistaking the noise for Han Ya Si's demise, Yun Wei Shan followed his instructions without turning back, seeking the light ahead. Gong Zi Yu was taken to the Moon Palace, where Jin Fan discovered Shang Guan Qian in a secret chamber while retrieving medicinal ingredients. Bei Xu was in the Flower Palace, and Hua Gong Zi confronted him alone. In order to save Gong Zi Yu, Yun Wei Shan and Yue Gong Zi took turns channeling their internal energy into him. Yun Wei Shan, in an effort to save Gong Zi Yu, used a few strokes of his own poisoned blood. Upon discovering this, Gong Zi Yu reversed the process, and in the midst of their dispute, their true energies unintentionally merged. Jin Fan was stabbed by Yun Wei Shan, and Gong Zi Shang used a firearm to drive away Yun Wei Shan. Gong Zi Shang looked on with sorrowful tears as Jin Fan died. While Shang Guan Qian was fleeing, she had to transfer her internal energy to the injured Han Ya Qi. Han Ya Qi, who had always loved her, committed suicide upon seeing her selflessly healing him, realizing her importance in his heart. Xue Gong Zi and Xue Zhong Zi joined forces and fought for a long time, finally killing Mo Qi Ai. Hua Zhang Lao died at the hands of Bei Xu while trying to save his son.
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