Age of Legends Episode 17 Recap
> Age of Legends Recap
Liu Ziguang walked Hu Rong home, mentioning he would soon be delivering sand to Zhicheng's construction site. Hu Rong, worried about Hou Sihai, urged him to be extra careful and contact the police if anything happened. Liu Ziguang confidently stated he wasn't afraid of people like Hou Sihai, confessing that it was Hu Rong who had given him the courage to face this challenge.
He recounted how, after returning to Jiangbei and forgetting his past eight years, he had almost given up, but her persistent investigation had kept him going. Hu Rong admitted she had been suspicious of him then. Liu Ziguang believed his memories would eventually return and wondered if he would regret it.
He then proposed a hypothetical: if his past self turned out to be a "bad guy," she could ignore him, but if he was a "good guy," they could be friends. Hu Rong playfully retorted that it was the other way around; she would have to think about being friends with a "good guy," but if he was a "bad guy," she would surely pester him daily as part of her investigation.
Liu Ziguang found her logic sound and bid her farewell. Meanwhile, Hou Sihai, after learning from a subordinate that the police were investigating sea and transit routes, likely targeting their "Angel" operation, deemed it too dangerous to continue smuggling. He ordered a temporary halt to the operation and directed his focus entirely on Liu Ziguang. At Sunshine Sand Quarry, Li Jianguo and Bei Xiaoshuai worried about Liu Ziguang's disappearance and Hou Sihai's unusual silence.
When Liu Ziguang returned, they eagerly sought instructions on the sand transport routes. Bei Xiaoshuai playfully teased him about his relationship with Officer Hu. Liu Ziguang dismissed their concerns about Hou Sihai, stating he was tired and going to sleep, assuring them he already had a solution. Li Jianguo joked that being in a relationship must be exhausting.
Shortly after, Li Wan arrived at the sand quarry, stating she was there to assist with the important sand shipment scheduled for the following day. Liu Ziguang outlined two routes for transporting sand to Jiangbei: one by sea and one by land. He guaranteed the land route would be problem-free. Li Wan urged him not to take it lightly. Liu Ziguang mentioned that Meng Zhiqiu would handle the water route and was waiting outside.
Li Wan, eager to meet Meng Zhiqiu, requested a dinner be prepared. Later, General Manager Yin called Liu Ziguang, inquiring about the sand preparations and timely delivery. Liu Ziguang affirmed his punctuality and commitment. Yin, however, hinted that if Liu Ziguang encountered difficulties and had to break the contract, he should inform him, offering to speak on his behalf at the board meeting to waive penalty fees.
Liu Ziguang rejected Yin's offer, telling him to stop wasting time with board members and instead inform Hou Sihai to unleash all his tricks, as Liu Ziguang was prepared to fight him to the end. Hou Sihai met with Meng Zhiqiu, praising his noble spirit and suggesting that Liu Ziguang's fight was for the entire Jiangbei sand industry.
Meng Zhiqiu declined Hou Sihai’s offer of wine, stating one makes mistakes when drinking, and asked Hou Sihai to get to the point. Hou Sihai then referenced Liu Ziguang causing him trouble and explicitly asked Meng Zhiqiu to block Liu Ziguang at the pier the next day, and to pressure him if possible. Meng Zhiqiu questioned if Hou Sihai was overstepping his bounds, but a subordinate quickly intervened, urging Meng Zhiqiu to comply.
Meng Zhiqiu then promised to "do a good job" for Hou Sihai. After Meng Zhiqiu departed, Hou Sihai grew suspicious of his easy agreement, and his subordinate confirmed Meng Zhiqiu seemed to be "up to something." Hou Sihai then instructed his man, Monkey, to keep a close watch on Meng Zhiqiu. As Liu Ziguang’s trucks set off the next morning, Nie Wanfeng's subordinate reported their visible departure by both land and water.
Nie Wanfeng believed Liu Ziguang had likely sent Bei Xiaoshuai and Zhuo Li via the land route, expecting Hou Sihai to cause trouble there. On the land route, Bei Xiaoshuai and Zhuo Li’s trucks were stopped by traffic police for inspection. Bei Xiaoshuai noted that Liu Ziguang had correctly anticipated this. The police checked the vehicles' loading capacities and documents. Earlier, Liu Ziguang had emphasized strict adherence to weight limits and ensuring all paperwork was in order.
The police confirmed no issues and allowed the trucks to proceed. Bei Xiaoshuai immediately called Liu Ziguang, praising his foresight and reporting a smooth land journey, suggesting the waterway might have been unnecessary. Liu Ziguang cautioned them to remain vigilant. Upon learning his plan to cause an overload issue had failed, Hou Sihai, furious, called Liu Ziguang "cunning" and instructed Sun Wei to proceed with "their plan" for the land route.
Sun Wei then orchestrated a fake traffic accident: a man pretended to be hit by a woman driving a car, blocking the road in front of Bei Xiaoshuai and Zhuo Li’s truck and demanding compensation. Zhuo Li, realizing it was a scam, tried to pay him to clear the road. However, a woman then appeared and struck Zhuo Li.
Hou Sihai then instructed Sun Wei to leave the land route obstruction to others and assist Meng Zhiqiu in blocking the waterway. Nie Wanfeng's subordinate informed him that if the land route failed, Liu Ziguang would have no choice but the waterway, where Meng Zhiqiu, having guarded the pier for Hou Sihai for years, would certainly intercept him. Nie Wanfeng predicted a direct confrontation, where the braver party would prevail. At the pier, Liu Ziguang's sand was loaded.
Meng Zhiqiu, with his men, immediately blocked Liu Ziguang's path, telling him to turn back and find another way. Liu Ziguang explained that Hou Sihai had left him no other option, forcing him to use this pier, and offered to abide by Meng Zhiqiu's unwritten rule of fighting anyone who wished to pass. During their duel, Liu Ziguang intentionally yielded to Meng Zhiqiu.
Meng Zhiqiu, impressed by Liu Ziguang's character, declared them sworn brothers and ordered his men to clear the path. As Liu Ziguang's trucks prepared to proceed, Sun Wei, as anticipated by Hou Sihai, arrived with more thugs, blocking their way again. Fortunately, police arrived, alerted by Li Wan, and arrested Sun Wei and his men for public brawling.
Officer Yang, leading the police, urged Liu Ziguang to hurry, reminding him that the entire Jiangbei construction industry was watching him to deliver the sand promptly and bring righteousness to the sector. Liu Ziguang thanked them and continued his journey. Meanwhile, at Zhicheng, General Manager Yin continued to pressure Li Wan, reiterating that Liu Ziguang's convoys were blocked and his failure would jeopardize her board position.
Li Wan calmly dismissed his concerns, stating she enjoyed "dancing on the knifepoint" since aligning with Liu Ziguang against Hou Sihai. She also suggested Yin should persuade Hou Sihai to stop his actions if he truly cared for the corporation, hinting Liu Ziguang might even leave him some business if he repented. Li Wan later commented to Yin that Meng Zhiqiu, in his confidence, resembled Liu Ziguang.
At the Zhicheng construction site, General Manager Yin attempted to obstruct Liu Ziguang, proudly announcing he was thirty seconds late and thus in breach of contract. As Yin began to elaborate on the penalty, Bei Xiaoshuai emerged from inside, interrupting him. Bei Xiaoshuai revealed that their first load of sand had arrived twenty-five minutes earlier through a back gate, with Chairman Li Wan supervising the work. Yin, frustrated, had to concede.
Following this success, Bei Xiaoshuai exuberantly declared that Sunshine Sand Quarry would soon be inundated with contract offers. Indeed, Li Jianguo’s phone immediately rang off the hook with companies eager to sign. However, his celebratory mood was cut short when he received news that Zhuo Li had been seriously injured and was in the ICU.
Liu Ziguang, who had earlier noted a twitching in his right eye, a sign he interpreted as an omen of disaster, had warned Hu Rong to be careful, acknowledging that some things cannot be avoided. Hu Rong rushed to the hospital after receiving a phone call. She found Liu Ziguang, Li Jianguo, and Bei Xiaoshuai by Zhuo Li's ICU door. Bei Xiaoshuai explained that Zhuo Li had been detained for public brawling and was injured.
A police officer present elaborated that Zhuo Li had gotten into a conflict on the highway, injuring someone and getting injured himself. While in custody for a check-up, he escaped and was later found beaten by a group of unknown men. The officer stated they were investigating the assault but reminded Hu Rong that Zhuo Li would still face charges for injuring someone and escaping custody.
Hu Rong angrily questioned how Zhuo Li could be injured while in police custody, suspecting Hou Sihai's involvement. The officer assured her they would thoroughly investigate and punish the attackers. Nie Wanfeng's subordinate informed him that Hou Sihai's men had beaten Zhuo Li, who was now in the ICU. The subordinate expressed concern that Liu Ziguang's loyalty to his friends might make him concede. Nie Wanfeng, however, confidently asserted that Liu Ziguang never knew the meaning of losing.
Meanwhile, Hou Sihai's subordinate reported that police patrol cars were outside their house, indicating the police had them on their radar. Realizing the danger, Hou Sihai ordered Sun Wei to ease off on Liu Ziguang to avoid giving the police more weaknesses to exploit. At the hospital, a doctor confirmed Zhuo Li was out of danger, much to Liu Ziguang's relief. Bei Xiaoshuai, convinced Hou Sihai was behind the assault, pleaded with Hu Rong to arrest him.
Hu Rong, understanding his frustration, explained the need for evidence but promised a thorough investigation. Back at the police station, Hu Rong asked Little Zhao for details on the hospital assault case, learning Captain Han had taken everything. When she confronted Captain Han, she passionately argued that her past mistakes or injuries shouldn't prevent her from contributing to the team or investigating cases. Captain Han calmly confirmed she was referring to Zhuo Li's case and showed her evidence.
He revealed they had already identified the person who beat Zhuo Li and had been planning his arrest for two hours, which would happen immediately. Captain Han emphasized his concern for her safety but clarified that investigating was their job. Hu Rong apologized for misunderstanding him, and Captain Han then assigned her the responsibility of questioning the suspect once he was brought in, which she accepted.
Back at the ICU, a worried Li Jianguo suggested they temporarily halt sand sales, fearing Hou Sihai's retaliation. Bei Xiaoshuai and Li Wan strongly disagreed, arguing that Hou Sihai would not spare them even if they conceded. Everyone then turned to Liu Ziguang for his opinion, but he remained silently gloomy. In the ICU, Bei Xiaoshuai impatiently asked Liu Ziguang about his plans. Li Jianguo suggested a temporary compromise, but Bei Xiaoshuai interrupted him.
Liu Ziguang, who had been silent, then spoke with firm resolve, declaring that the sand quarry would continue its operations. As Li Jianguo was about to try and persuade Liu Ziguang further, he received a phone call from Assistant Wei. His expression immediately changed; something had happened at the construction site. Li Jianguo and Liu Ziguang rushed to the chaotic construction site, where workers were in an uproar. It turned out the contractor had absconded with all the money.
General Manager Yin seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, stating that if the bank found out, future loans would be difficult to secure. Li Wan quickly met with bank staff, hoping for a loan, but they politely stated that banks have their own risk control standards. Just then, General Manager Yin arrived with members of the board to confront Li Wan, blaming her for the mismanagement.
Li Wan, in response, firmly declared that if she couldn't resolve the issue, she would resign immediately. Faced with this predicament, Li Jianguo suggested seeking Hu Rong's help. Hu Rong enthusiastically agreed to assist, making inquiries and learning that the construction contractor had not left Jiangbei City. Meanwhile, in the ICU, Zhuo Li finally regained consciousness. Liu Ziguang instructed him to rest and recover well.
At this moment, Liu Ziguang received a phone call invitation from Hou Sihai, who was celebrating his birthday the next day. Liu Ziguang accepted without hesitation. Li Jianguo and Bei Xiaoshuai worried it would be too dangerous for him to go alone, but Liu Ziguang appeared calm and unconcerned. The next day, Liu Ziguang arrived at Hou Sihai's birthday banquet, pushing a birthday cake. Upon seeing him enter, Hou Sihai's subordinates stood up, on high alert.
Hou Sihai reprimanded his men, claiming Liu Ziguang was an invited guest. Liu Ziguang slowly approached Hou Sihai with the cake. Hou Sihai warmly pulled Liu Ziguang close, repeatedly calling him "brother." Hou Sihai then asked his subordinates to cut the cake. Liu Ziguang, in a serious tone, stated that this cake was for Hou Sihai alone to eat, because he had monopolized the sand market in Jiangbei. Hou Sihai's expression immediately soured.
He coldly chuckled, saying he was determined to control the Jiangbei sand market, but he would not eat this cake. Liu Ziguang then directly grabbed Hou Sihai's head and forcefully pushed it into the cake. He then publicly announced that Sunshine Sand Quarry would continue to operate, and if Hou Sihai wanted to challenge anyone, he should come directly for Liu Ziguang. With that, Liu Ziguang walked out unconcerned.
Humiliated in front of everyone, Hou Sihai was furious and gritted his teeth in anger. Little Zhao informed Hu Rong that the SkyNet surveillance system showed the contractor had not left Jiangbei at all, but was spotted near the Lakefront Community. Hu Rong notified the police, who immediately dispatched officers and quickly apprehended the contractor. At his residence, Li Jianguo advised Liu Ziguang to go into hiding for a few days, but Liu Ziguang remained unconcerned.
Just then, Hu Rong excitedly arrived, telling them the contractor had been found. As the group walked downstairs, preparing to head to the hospital, a speeding van suddenly appeared and drove directly towards Hu Rong. With quick reflexes, Liu Ziguang pushed Hu Rong out of the way, but was himself struck by the oncoming van and fell to the ground, unconscious. Liu Ziguang was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Li Wan and others, having received the news, anxiously hurried to the hospital, deeply worried about Liu Ziguang. Outside the hospital room, Hu Rong was emotionally distraught, sobbing uncontrollably. Liu Ziguang was at one point critically ill, but fortunately, the doctors managed to save him from the brink of death. Learning that Liu Ziguang had been rescued, everyone's anxious hearts finally settled. Hu Rong kept a watchful vigil by Liu Ziguang's bedside.
She softly murmured that once Liu Ziguang woke up, she wanted to go to the amusement park with him, watch movies together, and openly confessed that she loved Liu Ziguang but had never said it aloud. Meanwhile, upon learning that Liu Ziguang had survived, Hou Sihai was infuriated. Sun Wei proposed another wicked idea, suggesting they go back to the hospital to finish him off, but Hou Sihai berated him, explaining that attacking in broad daylight now would be suicidal.
At the Zhicheng Group board meeting, with the project halted and the company suffering heavy losses, Li Wan indignantly offered her resignation. Later, Li Wan and Hu Rong sat side-by-side on a bench outside the hospital room. Li Wan frankly told Hu Rong that she knew Hu Rong also loved Liu Ziguang, but she would not give up on him. Hu Rong remained silent.
