Episode 16 recap: Mokun confronted Mu Qing.
At noon, Wang Di Bao and Men San Dao met on the outskirts of the city. Both of them were confused and thus made every effort to pursue Mokun and Yu Huanjie. However, Mokun had already realized that this was a ploy to lure the tiger out of the mountain. After learning the truth, Yu Huanjie became furious, but Mokun was rather pleased, believing that Zhuo Bufan had great potential for achieving important things. He ordered Yu Huanjie to take the rest of the disciples and quickly head south, while he alone would confront Men San Dao.
Mokun was no longer in his prime and had no desire for victory, so it didn't take long for him to be defeated in the duel. On the other side, Wang Di Bao had already chased and killed Qin Tuo, who had stayed behind as the rearguard. Mokun lamented that Cheng Yu had spent his entire life trying to overthrow the imperial rule but unfortunately ended up with a disciple who willingly became a lackey of the court. When Men San Dao heard his master's name, he anxiously inquired, but Mokun had already accepted his fate calmly.
Mu Qing learned that Zhuo Bufan and his party had changed course and headed north, so he and Wang Jialuo set off to pursue Yu Huanjie's group. Zhuo Bufan learned from Huo Cen that they were being followed by seven or eight people, and he decided to take care of them personally. Mokun stopped along the way and instructed Yu Huanjie and Qin Tuo to lead the other disciples south. From the beginning, he had decided to be the bait himself, forcing Zhuo Bufan to make everyone believe that the true destination was Anhui Temple in Shandong. Zhuo Bufan's feigned appearance of luring the enemy was meant to cause misjudgment on the part of the Internal Affairs Department and the Beiyang forces.
Mokun told Yu Huanjie and Qin Tuo that there was indeed an Anhui Temple in Shandong, but it was not their destination. Zhuo Bufan's true destination was Anhui Temple in Fujian. Mokun admired Zhuo Bufan's potential for achieving important things and approved of the choices he made. Yu Huanjie became furious upon learning the truth, but Mokun commanded him not to hold a grudge against Zhuo Bufan and not to seek revenge.
Mokun instructed Yu Huanjie and Qin Tuo to quickly head south with the other disciples while he confronted Mu Qing alone, providing cover for Yu Huanjie and the others to escape from Shanxi. Soon, Mu Qing caught up with Mokun. Mokun did not hide the fact that he was Zhuo Bufan's senior martial brother at Rongtian Ridge. Years ago, Mu Qing was recognized and promoted by Lord Chatai for his reformist beliefs, and Mokun, entrusted by Lord Chatai, had protected the members of the reformist faction but ended up being imprisoned for twelve years.
Mu Qing had lost his freedom years ago due to his revolutionary reforms but had now become a lackey of the court. Mokun believed that Mu Qing had betrayed his twelve years of faith, but Mu Qing stated that obeying the imperial orders was his only mission. Qin Tuo and Yu Huanjie knew that they couldn't escape Wang Jialuo's pursuit. Qin Tuo understood Mu Qing's actions and hoped that the eldest senior brother wouldn't blame Zhuo Bufan for what happened today because everything Zhuo Bufan did was for the revival of the Rongtian Sword Sect. He asked Yu Huanjie to lead the others away while he and a few senior brothers stayed behind as the rearguard.
Wang Jialuo caught up with Qin Tuo and promised to only capture him, allowing the other senior brothers to leave. Qin Tuo quickly instructed his fellow disciples to depart. Qin Tuo chose to die rather than surrender, and Wang Jialuo understood that it was his duty to apprehend Qin Tuo. He ordered Ding Yu to lead the others to leave while he stayed behind alone to capture Qin Tuo. Wang Jialuo only wanted to bring Qin Tuo to justice and had no intention of killing him. However, Qin Tuo chose to take his own life rather than be captured.
Seeing the two sides as enemies, Mokun faced Mu Qing in combat. Although Mokun was past his prime and did not seek victory, he was quickly defeated in the duel and was struck by Mu Qing's blade. Despite Mu Qing's exceptional swordsmanship, Mokun believed that within a hundred moves, Mu Qing would not be able to defeat Zhuo Bufan, let alone compare to Cheng Yu. Mokun lamented that Cheng Yu had spent his entire life striving to help those who wanted to overthrow the imperial rule and establish a new world, but unfortunately ended up with a disciple who willingly became a lackey of the court.
Mu Qing intended to inquire about some matters concerning his master, but Mokun had already passed away peacefully. Ding Yu and his men killed the three who had left. Although Wang Jialuo was dissatisfied with Ding Yu's actions, he did not comment further. Zhuo Bufan exchanged the lives of his disciples for his own escape, so his current whereabouts would not be easily revealed. Mu Qing also knew that Mokun willingly acted as bait, sacrificing the lives of the five members of Rongtian Ridge for Zhuo Bufan's escape. Mu Qing marveled at Zhuo Bufan's ruthlessness.
Mu Qing returned to the post station and threatened Lin Hao Han's life to extract information. Lin Hao Han, unable to bear seeing Liu Lin die in front of him, revealed that the porcelain jar was a treasure from Anhui Temple in Fujian. Mu Qing quickly instructed Lin Hao Han to prepare and accompany him to Fujian.
Prince Qi learned that Zhuo Bufan had obtained a clue and headed to Fujian. At the same time, he also learned that the Beiyang forces had become involved in the treasure hunt. Zhong Haichao informed Prince Qi about the news of the Internal Affairs Department and the martial arts sects attracting the attention of the Beiyang forces. Prince Qi had no choice but to explain that the Rongtian Ridge group was tasked with searching for the hidden treasure of the Jingtang, and his pursuit of the treasure was to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Alliance Society.
He didn't want to draw the attention of the Beiyang forces, as having the Jingtang treasure would give him leverage against them. Zhong Haichao was dissatisfied with Prince Qi's lack of trust in him, and he began to harbor thoughts of betrayal.
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