Forward Forever Episode 8 Recap, Plot

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Yu Chu, displeased that Chong Liming, as the leader of Yan Shi Fan, consistently skipped training, searched for him without success. Mu Yi advised her not to worry, assuring her that Lord Zhe Yu had clearly instructed her entry into Yan Shi Fan, making her joining a certainty. Yu Chu insisted she had confidence in her own abilities to secure her place. The day's training focused on martial arts. Yu Chu volunteered first and selected Si San as her opponent.

Si San, initially dismissive, was quickly defeated. Under pressure from Yu Chu, he revealed that Chong Liming was at Shanglin Xianguan. Seeing Si San's defeat, Wen Gou challenged Yu Chu, but A Yi stepped forward to fight Wen Gou instead. A Yi, despite his smaller stature, used his agility to overpower Wen Gou. The training instructor then challenged A Yi.

A Yi recognized the instructor as one of the individuals from the massacre of his village years ago and attacked him with furious intensity. Although A Yi fought with fierce determination, the experienced instructor skillfully defeated him. Nevertheless, the instructor praised A Yi's fearless fighting spirit and declared him the only one to pass the martial arts assessment, noting that the others were too soft.

Yu Chu went to Shanglin Xianguan to confront Chong Liming, pointing a gun at him and demanding he return to Yan Shi Fan. Chong Liming, instead, took the opportunity to kiss her. Enraged, Yu Chu smashed a vase. The noise woke Fang Er, who, rushing in, mistakenly assumed Yu Chu was another of Chong Liming's courtesan lovers.

Chong Liming denied any such relationship, but Fang Er then thought Yu Chu was a young lady Chong Liming had seduced, even offering to help raise their child if one came. Yu Chu, deeply embarrassed and furious, fired several shots, forcing a startled Chong Liming to agree to return with her to Yan Shi Fan. Upon their return, Chong Liming challenged Yu Chu to a shooting contest. He quickly won, scoring all bullseyes in 10.

5 seconds, and reminded her not to harass him anymore. He also cheekily informed her that she owed him 300 silver for the items she broke at Shanglin Xianguan. When Chong Liming later prepared to leave for Shanglin Xianguan again, Yu Chu, to his surprise, did not object. Instead, she calmly encouraged him to go and meet his "lovers." When Chong Liming arrived, he discovered that the infantry led Yamen had sealed Shanglin Xianguan.

Vendors complained that Yu Chu, using her authority, had closed the establishment due to its unofficial gambling activities, noting that this was clearly "aiming at him." Chong Liming, realizing Yu Chu's actions, was furious and vowed to get even with her. Yu Chu continued to practice her shooting, striving to match Chong Liming's speed while maintaining perfect accuracy, a goal she found frustratingly difficult.

Chong Liming soon confronted her about sealing Shanglin Xianguan, accusing her of abusing her power for personal gain. Yu Chu readily admitted it, stating it was easy for her to find legal pretexts to seal the place. She criticized him for neglecting his duties as the Yan Shi Fan leader and frequenting pleasure quarters.

Chong Liming, initially playing the role of a carefree nobleman, countered that he would simply go to other pleasure districts unless she was capable of sealing all of the Eight Hutongs. Enraged, Yu Chu fired her gun at him, startling him into fleeing. Meanwhile, Fang Er showed her brother, Xiao Ke, the courtyard Chong Liming had given her.

Xiao Ke mistakenly believed she had used her redemption money to buy the "broken yard" and suggested Chong Liming was merely trying to keep her without paying for her freedom. Fang Er indignantly denied having an improper relationship with Chong Liming, asserting their interactions were "innocent." Xiao Ke, however, warned her about men who offer "small favors" and "sweetness" to trick "simple silly women" out of their savings. Frustrated, Fang Er told him to leave if he was unhappy.

Xiao Ke then asked her for 50 silver, which Fang Er immediately realized was for gambling. They argued fiercely, with Xiao Ke claiming he gambled to earn money to redeem her from her "dirty place," while Fang Er retorted that she despised that life but had endured it for their survival. Feeling accused and hurt, she asked if he now thought she was "dirty" and why he never acknowledged her as his sister in front of others.

She then walked away to get some air. Outside, Xiao Ke was confronted by a debt collector for 30 silver. Three, a prominent member of the Green Gang, intervened and increased the debt to 300 silver, claiming Xiao Ke had injured his men. Xiao Ke defended himself, stating he only retaliated because the debt collector had tried to collect before the agreed-upon time.

Impressed by Xiao Ke's spirited defiance, Three challenged him to a duel: if Xiao Ke won, all his debts would be cleared; if he lost, he would have three days to pay the 300 silver. Xiao Ke agreed, and in a fistfight, he defeated Three. True to his word, Three honored the agreement, warning his men not to seek revenge, noting Xiao Ke's "crazy" and "deadly" fighting style. Later, Yu Chu questioned Can Yan Xin about Chong Liming's whereabouts.

Can Yan Xin mockingly listed various pleasure houses, advising Yu Chu to seal all of the Eight Hutongs if she wanted to control Chong Liming, drawing Yu Chu's angry accusations of shamelessness. Concurrently, Chong Liming meticulously investigated the late emperor's last meal by interviewing palace staff. He learned about a unique "Worry-free solution," a foreign item specifically procured by Dong Lianhai that smaller eunuchs were forbidden to taste. This revelation raised Chong Liming's suspicions about Dong Lianhai.

He also discovered that Dong Lianhai had been sent back to his hometown about half a month prior. While Chong Liming was investigating, Si San rushed to inform him that Yu Chu had just set a new shooting record, achieving a perfect score in 10 seconds. Feigning disinterest but recognizing the challenge, Chong Liming instructed Si San to inform all new recruits that Yu Chu's record was now the standard, requiring 10 seconds and 100 rings to pass the assessment.

He emphasized that Yan Shi Fan members must possess true skill, regardless of gender. Chong Liming then met with Lord Deqi and shared his findings about Dong Lianhai and the "Worry-free solution," suggesting it could be linked to the emperor's death. Lord Deqi acknowledged the item but cautioned that "medicine is three parts poison," implying potential danger based on dosage.

He advised Chong Liming to maintain political balance by also focusing on Lord Zhe Yu's request to find evidence against the "latter party." Chong Liming affirmed his commitment to investigating the emperor's death but agreed to address Zhe Yu's task, reiterating that he does not fear Zhe Yu and views the downfall of the "latter party" as revenge for his father.

Lord Deqi, helping Chong Liming, then provided the exact address of Dong Lianhai's hometown, Dong Jiayu in Yongping Mansion, Zhili, and warned him to be wary, as a disgraced eunuch with sensitive knowledge could be desperate and dangerous. At 11:40 PM, Chong Liming gathered the new Yan Shi Fan members—including Wen Gou, Si San, Yu Chu, Can Yan Xin, and A Yi—and assigned them a critical mission.

They were to infiltrate Shanglin Xianguan and retrieve a safe containing an important document before dawn. He explained that Shanglin Xianguan was more than just a pleasure house; it was a Green Gang stronghold and a key intelligence hub within the Eight Hutongs. Lord Deqi expressed concerns to Chong Liming about entrusting such an important mission to new recruits, but Chong Liming, confident in his team's abilities, assured him they were capable. Accepting the mission, the masked recruits made their way to Shanglin Xianguan, where A Yi skillfully located and opened a secret room.

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