And the Winner Is Love Episode 11 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Lin Changran urged Shangguan Tou to carefully consider his choices, cautioning that missing certain people could lead to lifelong regret. Shangguan Tou, burdened by unspoken troubles, could only drown his sorrows in wine. Meanwhile, Zhong Xuezhi was also dejected. Yuwen Muyuan, having tracked her to Moon Valley, was overjoyed to find her alive.
Heartbroken by Shangguan Tou's rejection, Zhong Xuezhi expressed a desire to return to the Hall of Flames with Yuwen Muyuan, no longer wishing to remain in Moon Valley. However, Shangguan Tou arrived and challenged Yuwen Muyuan regarding his succession as Leader of the Hall, demanding he prove his innocence. Yuwen Muyuan explained to Zhong Xuezhi that the Hall of Flames faced severe internal and external threats, forcing him to temporarily assume the leadership to prevent the disciples from scattering.
Shangguan Tou remained skeptical of Yuwen Muyuan's words, leading to a heated exchange between them that almost escalated into a fight. Fortunately, Lin Changran intervened, admonishing them for their mutual suspicion. Perceiving that even Zhong Xuezhi harbored doubts, Yuwen Muyuan, in an effort to prove he did not covet the position, declared his intention to immediately return, resign as Leader, and then leave the Hall of Flames for good, hoping to reassure her.
Zhong Xuezhi was deeply touched by Yuwen Muyuan’s unwavering support during her difficult times. Shangguan Tou, having overheard their conversation, realized his mistake and apologized to Yuwen Muyuan for misjudging him. Shangguan Tou then explained the dangers outside, asserting that keeping Zhong Xuezhi in Moon Valley was the safest option. He proposed that she should only reveal herself during the Weapon Ranking Convention.
Understanding Shangguan Tou's strategic reasoning for not wanting Zhong Xuezhi to leave, Yuwen Muyuan agreed to the plan. At Sword Manor, Xia Qingmei reported to Lin Zongxing that there was no new information from the Hall of Flames. Lin Zongxing expressed deep regret, blaming himself for his apprentice losing the Nine Moves, which triggered a series of unfortunate events. With the Weapon Ranking Convention approaching, he feared other martial arts sects would target the Hall of Flames.
Therefore, Lin Zongxing instructed Xia Qingmei to immediately attend the convention and discreetly assist the Hall of Flames if necessary, to avoid appearing biased. Yuan Shuangshuang and Lin Fengzi also requested to go, and Lin Zongxing granted their permission. Lin Fengzi, in particular, was determined to go to Dongdu to reunite with Shangguan Tou, believing their union was fated despite any objections. Yuwen Muyuan returned to the Hall of Flames alone, much to Yuwen Zhongsong’s relief.
Muyuan informed his grandfather that he would personally participate in the upcoming Weapon Ranking Convention. He then relayed the news of Zhong Xuezhi’s survival to Zhu Sha and the other chief guardians, who were delighted. They prepared to accompany Muyuan to Dongdu for the convention. Yuwen Muyuan decided to take the Furong Heart Sutra with him, but Yuwen Zhongsong tried to prevent it, fearing for the relic’s safety. Muyuan, however, insisted on his authority as Leader, promising to protect it.
Unable to stop him, Yuwen Zhongsong secretly dispatched men to follow him. Meanwhile, Shangguan Tou and Zhong Xuezhi also set off for Dongdu. Since Shangguan Tou’s rejection, Zhong Xuezhi maintained a polite but distant demeanor, making Shangguan Tou uncomfortable. During their journey by boat, a ferryman noted their strained interaction, advising Shangguan Tou to appease Zhong Xuezhi, calling her his wife. Shangguan Tou, however, distanced himself, stating he was merely an onlooker and some "fish" were not in his "pond."
He then led Zhong Xuezhi to a discreet, long-unused residence in Dongdu, explaining the necessity of always being prepared. He told her she needed to disguise herself as his attendant before the convention, as her "death" was publicly known and her true identity must remain a secret to prevent further harm. Zhong Xuezhi, though disliking the disguise, complied, silently acknowledging that Shangguan Tou no longer cared for her appearance.
Yuwen Muyuan and his group soon arrived at Luduan Temple in Dongdu. The abbot warned Muyuan that the martial arts community was attending the Weapon Ranking Convention with the sole purpose of scrutinizing the Hall of Flames, which would likely become the target of all accusations. Muyuan presented a box, claiming it contained the Furong Heart Sutra, and requested to "leave" it at Luduan Temple.
Later that night, Hong Sheng, a bell-toller from the temple, secretly entered the room where the manual was supposedly kept. To his surprise, the box was empty. This revealed the Abbot and Muyuan’s trap to expose the thief. Realizing Hong Sheng's malicious intent, and suspecting him of also stealing the Nine Moves, the Abbot, enraged, crippled Hong Sheng’s martial arts. That evening, Shangguan Tou advised Zhong Xuezhi to rest for the important events of the next day. Zhong Xuezhi, still guarded, asked him about his plans after the convention, noting his evasiveness. He simply replied, "To where I should go."
