Five Kings of Thieves Episode 5 Recap
> Five Kings of Thieves Recap
After Yufeng Detectives suffered a setback, Huo Xiaoxie and Shui Yao'er discussed the effectiveness of their trap, with Huo Xiaoxie boasting about his status in Fengtian and his intention to turn Yufeng Detective into a "Yufeng Rat." Shui Yao'er emphasized that their success was thanks to her family's Qilin Elixir, stating that Huo Xiaoxie's Earth Bomb alone would only make noise. They then headed towards the Rocky Mound for safety.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan traveled outside the city and stopped at an inn to rest. When a traveler suddenly collapsed, she rushed to treat him using skills that revealed her affiliation with the Wood family. Just then, Zhang Si arrived with his remaining men. Recognizing her Wood family techniques, he ordered her capture. Zheng Zedao, who was resting nearby, intervened.
He addressed Zhang Si directly, accusing him of being a fugitive wanted by the Fengtian Police and collaborating with the Japanese to sell national treasures and commit murder. Zheng Zedao threatened to arrest Zhang Si and his men, claiming his team was nearby. Zhang Si, not wanting a confrontation that could lead to mutual destruction, decided to leave with his men. After Zhang Si departed, Lin Wan thanked Zheng Zedao and asked why he helped her.
Zheng Zedao explained his deep connection to the five-element families. He urged her to leave quickly, warning that he couldn't fool Zhang Si's men for long, and offered to distract them himself. Huo Xiaoxie continued his training with Yan Jingtian, learning the Fire family's Fire Slash, emphasizing stability, and the 13 Clouds of Fire legwork, which focused on nimbleness. Yan Jingtian expressed impatience with Huo Xiaoxie's apparent slowness and demanded the Jade Pearl.
Despite learning rapidly, Huo Xiaoxie feigned ignorance, joking that his "brain is made of wood." He also inquired about the upcoming Five Elements Rally. Shui Yao'er informed him that the Fire and Wood families would co-host the event, with the Fire family setting the Three Fire Gate Tasks, though she didn't know the specifics. She promised to help him obtain a Black Stone Fire Token.
During training, Yan Jingtian commented on Huo Xiaoxie's improved skill being powerful due to dark flame possession, though he quickly dismissed the remark. Shui Yao'er encouraged Huo Xiaoxie to train diligently, telling him not to waste his potential. She assured him she would handle getting the Black Stone Fire Token. Traveling further towards the five-element families' territory, Yan Jingtian, Huo Xiaoxie, and Shui Yao'er arrived at an inn.
Upon entering, they noticed the manager seemed agitated and the inn unusually deserted despite numerous horses tied outside. Huo Xiaoxie observed the manager cleaning blood from the floor. The manager explained the horses were necessary for hunting game, as the inn specialized in wild meat, but his hurried demeanor and the empty inn aroused suspicion. During dinner, Shui Yao'er mentioned having to return home once they crossed the border, questioning if going home was truly "nice."
Huo Xiaoxie responded by sharing his own difficult past, having been an orphan struggling on the streets until his master took him in. He envied those with parents and told Shui Yao'er she was fortunate. He jokingly offered to supervise her training to avoid returning home himself. Yan Jingtian interrupted, insisting that Huo Xiaoxie master the moves that night and hand over the Jade Pearl. Later that evening, Black Whipper arrived at the same inn seeking lodging.
Huo Xiaoxie immediately recognized her, blaming her for the deaths of his master and martial brothers. Overcome with rage, he attacked her. During their confrontation, Black Whipper defended herself, claiming his master was involved in risky business and she merely presented him with an opportunity, thus his death wasn't her fault. Yan Jingtian intervened, reminding them that Zhang Si's men could arrive anytime and threatening to tie up anyone who continued fighting.
Black Whipper commented on Huo Xiaoxie's noticeable improvement in Fire Slash. Yan Jingtian confirmed his progress and again mentioned needing the Jade Pearl for his master. Black Whipper revealed she also sought the Jade Pearl to meet the Fire King, who was avoiding her. She then suggested she could follow Huo Xiaoxie, as the Fire King might not hide from him. Later, Huo Xiaoxie and Shui Yao'er discovered the inn manager's sinister plan.
The manager was instructing a subordinate to release their horses from the stable. They stopped the subordinate, learning the inn was a trap where they killed travelers for "meat." Huo Xiaoxie and Shui Yao'er captured the manager and his subordinate. Soon after, Lin Wan arrived at the same inn. She was surprised to see Huo Xiaoxie and Shui Yao'er again and mentioned that she had encountered their enemies and lost her medicine cart because of it.
Her meeting with Yan Jingtian was immediately filled with animosity, a clear manifestation of the long-standing feud between the Fire and Wood families. Due to the limited number of rooms, Huo Xiaoxie and Shui Yao'er had to share one room. While preparing for the night, Shui Yao'er confronted Huo Xiaoxie directly, asking if he knew she liked him and what his feelings were. Huo Xiaoxie admitted he found her cute but hesitated to express affection.
He cited his unresolved quest for revenge and uncertain future, stating he was a nobody while she was the daughter of the Water King, making him feel unworthy of her. Shui Yao'er agreed that he was indeed unworthy if that was truly how he thought. The next morning, Shui Yao'er woke Huo Xiaoxie early, urging him to leave before Yan Jingtian woke up and discovered the truth about the Jade Pearl not being ready.
As they prepared to leave, Huo Xiaoxie went to wake Lin Wan, prompting a slightly jealous remark from Shui Yao'er. They discovered the inn manager, Mr. Qian, dead. Accusations immediately arose among the group regarding who was responsible. Huo Xiaoxie denied killing him, stating he had never killed anyone and would only kill Black Whipper. Yan Jingtian and Black Whipper arrived and were informed of the death.
Yan Jingtian questioned who the killer was and whether the Jade Pearl had been lost. Shui Yao'er denied losing the pearl or killing the manager, stating Huo Xiaoxie was with her. Shui Yao'er corroborated Huo Xiaoxie's whereabouts. The situation escalated as they realized Mr. Qian was still inside the inn, which was now on fire. They decided to re-enter to investigate.
