Five Kings of Thieves Episode 8 Recap
> Five Kings of Thieves Recap
Lin Wan provided attentive care for Zheng Zedao during his recovery. The Water King encouraged Zheng Zedao to make himself at home, focus on healing, and prepare for the upcoming Three Fire Gate Tasks. He also arranged for Three Snakes to provide instruction. The Water King proposed that if Zheng Zedao were to win first prize in the tasks, the marriage between him and Shui Yao'er could proceed.
Zheng Zedao expressed his satisfaction, stating this arrangement aligned perfectly with his father's wishes, and that he was eager to marry soon to alleviate Shui Yao'er's suffering from her illness. While overhearing this conversation, Lin Wan became visibly distressed. For Zheng Zedao, joining one of the five-element families and achieving prominence was his priority, leaving Lin Wan's genuine feelings aside. Later, Lin Wan left the Water King's residence, clearly unhappy.
Zheng Zedao followed her and requested her help in explaining some matters to Huo Xiaoxie, specifically about his impending marriage to Shui Yao'er. Uncomfortable refusing, Lin Wan agreed. Meanwhile, another life was lost in Wangjiapu, marking the second death in two days and leading some to call the Five Elements Rally a "Five Elements Murder." The victim sustained a peculiar, arc-shaped upward cut from a rare weapon. Huo Xiaoxie and Jin Pan investigated the scene.
They deduced that since the Fire family had locked down Wangjiapu and checked everyone participating in the rally, the killer must still be inside, likely someone unnoticed. The single fatal blow to the chest suggested the victim was caught off guard, likely by an acquaintance. Huo Xiaoxie recalled seeing a person at an inn using a unique wine-pouring implement and later seeing the same person in Wangjiapu. He suspected the wound might have been inflicted by that very object.
Deciding the suspect was the tea stall owner, they devised a plan to lure him out. They went to the tea stall and spoke loudly, pretending the Fire family had set traps and found Mr. Zhang Si's hideout, ensuring the owner overheard. The owner quickly left after serving their tea. Huo Xiaoxie and Jin Pan realized he had fled and began searching for him nearby. Under Three Snakes' watchful eye, Shui Yao'er grew restless.
Zheng Zedao came to speak with her about the planned marriage. Shui Yao'er attempted to evade Three Snakes, feigning illness and then fabricating a story about a "Philanderer" attacking her to send Three Snakes away. Once alone with Zheng Zedao, she directly confronted him, demanding he provide cover for her escape to see Huo Xiaoxie. Zheng Zedao refused, reiterating the Water King's promise to marry them after the Three Fire Gate Tasks.
Shui Yao'er firmly declared she would not marry him, that her heart belonged to someone else, and she would rather die than become his wife, urging him to abandon the engagement. After she left, Zheng Zedao was consumed by bitterness and jealousy towards Huo Xiaoxie. Zheng Zedao then sought out Huo Xiaoxie. He first confirmed that Huo Xiaoxie's friends, whom Zedao had helped find jobs, were doing well, solidifying a sense of brotherhood between them.
He then requested a favor and revealed the long-standing engagement between him and Shui Yao'er, arranged twenty years prior and intended to be fulfilled after the Five Elements Rally. He explained his decision to join the five-element families was precisely to marry her. Huo Xiaoxie was shocked by the revelation. Zheng Zedao admitted that Shui Yao'er was distant and even disliked him, asking Huo Xiaoxie to help persuade her, believing she might listen to him.
Huo Xiaoxie questioned the validity of an arranged marriage, especially given Shui Yao'er's feelings and Zedao's background. Zheng Zedao explained the situation was far more complex. He revealed that Shui Yao'er suffered from the Heart-breaking and Soul-splitting Disease, contracted at birth after her mother was attacked.
He stated that rumors claimed the disease could only be cured through marriage to someone with both water and fire bloodlines, which is why the Water King had sought out their Zheng family and believed only he could save his daughter, whose time was running out. Huo Xiaoxie was distraught, struggling to comprehend the situation and pleading for another solution.
Zheng Zedao confirmed that neither the Water King nor the most renowned doctors could find a cure, and he had upheld the engagement because he believed he was the only one who could save her, perhaps already seeing her as his wife. Still in disbelief, Huo Xiaoxie couldn't understand why Shui Yao'er had never told him about the disease or the engagement, suspecting Zedao was lying.
Lin Wan appeared and confirmed the truth of Zheng Zedao's words, adding that even her master and the entire Wood family could not cure the illness. Lin Wan shared that Shui Yao'er had told her she would cherish even a single day spent with the person she loved, dedicating all her time to Huo Xiaoxie, having nothing left but him.
Overcome with emotion, Huo Xiaoxie lamented her sacrifice and expressed his pain at the thought of losing her after already losing his master and friends. Lin Wan urged him to accept the reality unless he could bear to watch her die, suggesting it might be their fate. Heartbroken, Huo Xiaoxie pleaded with Zheng Zedao to promise to take good care of Shui Yao'er if they married.
He listed specific ways to care for her: don't bully her, let her hit him when she's angry, practice martial arts with her (giving specific instructions on stance and gaze), enthusiastically praise her cooking, and never mistreat her. He repeatedly begged Zheng Zedao for the promise. Overwhelmed, Huo Xiaoxie began drinking heavily, expressing his deep anguish. Lin Wan tried to stop him, quietly acknowledging her own pain and confirming she had fulfilled his request (presumably by helping reveal the truth).
Three Snakes later found Huo Xiaoxie, inquiring if he had seen Shui Yao'er. Huo Xiaoxie learned she was missing and hadn't returned home. Zheng Zedao, who was also present, immediately suspected Mr. Zhang Si was responsible. They agreed to search for her separately. Zheng Zedao arrived at Mr. Zhang Si's location on the outskirts, where the tea stall owner was already present. Mr. Zhang Si confirmed Shui Yao'er was safe.
Observing Zheng Zedao's situation regarding the impending Three Fire Gate Tasks and Shui Yao'er's evident affection for someone else, Mr. Zhang Si proposed a "gift": staging a hero-saves-the-beauty scenario to help Zheng Zedao win Shui Yao'er's hand. The condition was that after the marriage, Zheng Zedao must assassinate the Water King. Zheng Zedao refused the treacherous offer.
Mr. Zhang Si then threatened to frame Zheng Zedao for the tea stall owner's crimes, leveraging their previous encounter to suggest they had already colluded, thus easily ruining Zheng Zedao's reputation. Faced with this threat, Zheng Zedao was compelled to agree. He then met up with Three Snakes and Huo Xiaoxie near the hideout, signaling Three Snakes to notify specific leaders of the five-element families, like Yan Jingtian of the Fire family, about the location.
Their plan was for Huo Xiaoxie and Jin Pan to create a diversion by confronting Mr. Zhang Si and his Hook Troop, while Zheng Zedao would rescue Shui Yao'er. Following their plan, Huo Xiaoxie and Jin Pan confronted Mr. Zhang Si, drawing his attention and the Hook Troop into a fight. Meanwhile, Shui Yao'er was rescued. Upon seeing Huo Xiaoxie, she ran towards him emotionally. However, Huo Xiaoxie responded coldly, telling her they should never meet again.
He explained that this was the only thing he could do for her, trying to push her towards marrying Zheng Zedao. Distraught, Shui Yao'er argued that he was making the decision for her without knowing her wishes and questioned what she would do if he left her, having already lost others dear to her. She begged him not to abandon her.
With tears in his eyes, Huo Xiaoxie told her that marrying Zheng Zedao was the only way for her to live, imploring her to forget him for his sake. He described how he would find comfort in knowing she was alive and capable of living a full life—smiling, crying, cooking, and getting angry—even if they could never see each other again. Shui Yao'er adamantly refused.
After the rescue, Shui Yao'er was brought back to the Water King Residence, safe but shaken. An elder thanked Zheng Zedao for his efforts. Zheng Zedao then went to obtain medicine for Shui Yao'er from the Wood family, where he met Lin Wan. She gave him the medicine and specific instructions for its use, emphasizing that while it could ease Shui Yao'er's pain, it could not save her life.
