And the Winner Is Love Episode 28 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
After escaping a carriage trap set by Feng Cheng, Feng She found himself still within Lord Lu’s Mansion. There, he carefully examined a piece of gold, noticing an official seal inscribed with the characters “Guān Zhì” (Official System). He immediately recognized this as the same mark he had seen on Man Feiyue’s gold, which led him to the startling realization that Man Feiyue had colluded with government officials.
Resolved to inform Shangguan Tou, Feng She requested to borrow the gold from Lord Lu. Lord Lu readily agreed, promising more gold once Feng She recovered, and feigned distress over Zhong Xuezhi’s captivity. Feng She, in turn, counselled Lord Lu, remarking that his sheltered upbringing prevented him from understanding the harsh realities of the martial world. He then declared his urgent intent to rescue Zhong Xuezhi, feeling responsible for her plight.
Lord Lu, however, now viewed Feng She as a dangerous liability due to his knowledge of the official collusion. Pretending to assist Feng She with arrangements for the rescue, Lord Lu secretly dispatched a message to Feng Cheng, ordering Feng She's elimination. Meanwhile, Feng Cheng subjected Zhong Xuezhi to brutal interrogation, offering her sips of water in exchange for revealing moves from the Lotus Sutra manual.
He detailed the escalating torment she would endure—headaches, dizziness, loss of inner strength, and eventually unconsciousness—while acknowledging her protection by the Lotus Sutra and vowing to prolong her suffering. Zhong Xuezhi defiantly called him despicable. Later, Feng She bravely returned to Huashan Sect, sneaking into Zhong Xuezhi’s prison. Zhong Xuezhi, seeing him, urged him to flee, warning that he was no match for their captors.
Feng She, however, declared that he would not abandon her, reminding her of her past kindness to him. Feng Cheng then appeared, coldly accusing Feng She of disloyalty and reminding him of his familial status. Ignoring Feng She's defiance, Feng Cheng gave a signal, and his men seized Zhong Xuezhi. A hidden message appeared: "Kill Feng She since he knows too much." Feng Cheng then struck Feng She with a powerful palm, sending him to the ground, spitting blood.
As he lay dying, Feng She reflected on the cruel yet exhilarating martial world that had both abandoned him and been abandoned by him, a world now defined by Zhong Xuezhi's presence. Wuming soon arrived to inform Shangguan Tou that Zhong Xuezhi was held captive at Huashan Sect and that Feng She had been killed. Shangguan Tou, desperate to save Zhong Xuezhi, rushed alone to Huashan Sect.
Feng Cheng mocked his solitary arrival, questioning if Yuwen Muyuan underestimated the Huashan Sect. Shangguan Tou confronted Feng Cheng, declaring him an enemy for his repeated attempts to harm Zhong Xuezhi. As they fought, Feng Cheng’s men inflicted several wounds upon Shangguan Tou. Yuan Shuangshuang, witnessing the brutality, urged Feng Cheng to stop, reminding him that Shangguan Tou was the Imperial Advisor’s son and his death would provoke severe repercussions.
Feng Cheng, consumed by rage, dismissed her concerns, insisting that matters of the martial world were settled by its own rules. He then demanded Shangguan Tou’s life for Zhong Xuezhi's, offering to spare her if Shangguan Tou committed suicide. Shangguan Tou, recalling precious memories with Zhong Xuezhi, agreed to the terms, bidding her a silent farewell.
As he raised his sword to end his life, Wuming intervened, knocking the blade away and striking Feng Cheng, who seized the opportunity to flee. Shangguan Tou then killed Yuan Shuangshuang and instructed Wuming to pursue Feng Cheng, as he had questions for him. Meanwhile, Yuwen Muyuan, who had been fighting at the back door of Huashan Sect, injuring Feng Mo, encountered the fleeing Feng Cheng. Yuwen Muyuan demanded to know where Zhong Xuezhi was.
Feng Cheng, defiantly and maliciously, claimed she was dead and that he had killed her. Enraged by this lie, Yuwen Muyuan fiercely attacked Feng Cheng, quickly defeating and killing him. Wuming then arrived, expressing dismay at Feng Cheng's death and revealing to Yuwen Muyuan that Zhong Xuezhi was, in fact, still alive. Shangguan Tou entrusted Zhong Xuezhi to Yuwen Muyuan, asking him to return her safely to the Hall of Flames. Zhong Xuezhi, recovering from severe dehydration, soon regained consciousness.
Yuwen Muyuan assured her that Feng She was unharmed, though he had to admit that Feng Cheng was dead, killed by his hand. Zhong Xuezhi expressed deep concern that the Huashan Sect’s leader dying at the hands of the Hall of Flames would inevitably lead to widespread rumors and accusations, further solidifying the Hall of Flames’ image as a cult and bringing them to the forefront of martial world conflict.
Yuwen Muyuan, in response, stated his willingness to bear the consequences alone. Shangguan Tou, meanwhile, returned to Moon Valley for healing. During his recovery, strange, flower-like blood patterns appeared on his wrist. Lin Changran, inspecting them, explained that his selfless actions to save Zhong Xuezhi had activated the healing properties of the Lotus Sutra, which, while causing pain, would promote his recovery.
Shangguan Tou discussed his suspicions with Lin Changran, positing that Lord Lu was the mastermind behind both Man Feiyue and the Huashan Sect, though he lacked concrete evidence. Lin Changran, knowledgeable of Lord Lu’s cunning and ruthless nature, warned Shangguan Tou against any rash actions, highlighting the significant danger of interfering with official powers and reminding him of his family's connection to Lord Lu.
Shangguan Tou confessed his anxieties about Lord Lu's machinations and his forced distance from Zhong Xuezhi, fearing that his association, due to his "official label," might inadvertently harm her. Lin Changran advised Shangguan Tou to prioritize resolving his relationship with Zhong Xuezhi, as they would need to face future challenges together. Lin Changran then produced the gold nugget with the "Guān Zhì" seal, which had been found on Feng She, confirming Shangguan Tou's suspicions.
Back at the Hall of Flames, Yuwen Zhongsong furiously reprimanded Yuwen Muyuan for killing Feng Cheng, the leader of a prominent sect, fearing the repercussions that would undoubtedly target Yuwen Muyuan and the Hall of Flames. Zhong Xuezhi, feeling the weight of responsibility, joined Yuwen Muyuan in kneeling before the ancestral tablets. She acknowledged that the Elder's anger was directed at her, admitting that Yuwen Muyuan had acted to protect her and the Hall of Flames.
She spoke to her father's tablet, lamenting the martial world's corruption, where the pursuit of the Lotus Wing had fueled greed, treachery, and even familial betrayal, wishing the martial art had never existed. Yuwen Muyuan gently corrected her, asserting that it was human desire, not the Lotus Wing itself, that corrupted people. He emphasized that the Hall of Flames had stood for a century not solely on the strength of the Lotus Wing, but on its inherent power and principles.
Still worried about the consequences of Feng Cheng's death, Zhong Xuezhi heard Yuwen Muyuan swear a solemn oath before the ancestors: to protect her at all costs, even if it meant confronting the entire martial world. Zhong Xuezhi, in turn, swore to stand by Yuwen Muyuan, facing all challenges and defending the Hall of Flames. She insisted on kneeling with him until the Elder's anger subsided. Meanwhile, Lord Lu welcomed a new, perceptive advisor.
The advisor, unlike his predecessor, did not presume to know Lord Lu’s intentions. He shrewdly identified Lord Lu's true ambition as extending beyond Xiangzhou, stemming from a deep-seated obsession rather than a desire for wealth or power. The advisor then proposed a strategic path: since Lord Lu himself did not possess formidable martial arts, he should leverage those who did, making them serve his purpose to achieve his goals. When asked for specific advice on the current situation, the advisor unequivocally stated: "The Hall of Flames must be wiped out."
