Guardian Episode 18 Recap
> Guardian Recap
At an underground boxing arena, Chu and Lin Jing arrive on a mission to investigate black energy, but before Lin Jing can detect any Subterraneans, a fight concludes. The victor, a desperate young man named Jie, shouts to the crowd, imploring the elusive defending champion, Ye Huo, to appear and fight him. Jie's performance isn't good enough to arouse Ye Huo's spirits. Observing this, Chu abruptly climbs into the ring, taking Jie's place to challenge Ye Huo himself.
Despite initial protests from Lin Jing and the arena's judge, the fight is permitted as victory is the only rule in this brutal setting. After Chu effortlessly wins against Jie, Ye Huo finally emerges, intrigued by Chu's abilities and agreeing to the challenge. He states he wants to see if Chu is capable of protecting those around him. Their match is set for an hour later.
Meanwhile, Director Zhao Yunlan, restless in his office after learning of Chu's unauthorized involvement in the arena, decides to head there with Shen Wei. He voices his frustration with Chu’s reckless nature to Shen Wei, who calmly defends Chu's character and loyalty. Upon their arrival, Chu has already won his fight against Ye Huo. The enraged crowd, having lost their bets, erupts into chaos, but Yunlan quickly quells the disturbance with a warning shot from his Dark Energy Gun.
In the ensuing commotion, Ye Huo seizes the opportunity to flee. Yunlan instructs Chu and Lin Jing to handle the aftermath, including getting the arena's boss, Mr. Zhou, while he and Shen Wei pursue Ye Huo. Lin Jing and Da Qing follow Yunlan and Shen Wei in a separate car. Lin Jing's equipment soon detects two distinct Dark Energy signatures—one stationary to the left, likely a stronghold, and another moving to the right, which is Ye Huo.
They decide to split up, with Lin Jing and Da Qing heading towards the stationary energy source, while Yunlan and Shen Wei continue their chase after Ye Huo. Their pursuit ends when Shen Wei, revealing his identity as the Black Robed Envoy, restrains Ye Huo. Surprisingly, Ye Huo concedes, expressing gratitude for the battle and asking about someone named Zhu Jiu. Concurrently, Zhu Jiu finds Mr. Zhou at the arena and kills him, because he is losing his value.
Zhu Jiu mentions a remote to "obliterate all traces" if necessary. Simultaneously, Lin Jing and Da Qing arrive at a secluded villa where the stationary Dark Energy signature was detected. They find the entrance open and cautiously enter, only to be ambushed and taken hostage by a group of children, demanding Ye Huo's release. The children identify Ye Huo as their "savior." Back with Yunlan, Shen Wei, and Ye Huo, the latter explains his complicated situation.
He confesses that he only learned of Mr. Zhou’s true nefarious nature after overhearing a conversation between Mr. Zhou and Zhu Jiu. Zhu Jiu was complaining about the slow supply of "young, fresh, and healthy" men, which Mr. Zhou promised to provide from the arena. Horrified, Ye Huo began covertly helping young men escape the arena's clutches, sending some home or to other cities. As the number of rescued individuals grew, Mr. Zhou grew suspicious.
To continue protecting them, Ye Huo changed tactics. Instead of letting new contenders win and be chosen by Zhu Jiu, he used his powers in the ring to defeat and injure them, rendering them unsuitable as "supplies." His continuous reign as champion generated massive revenue for Mr. Zhou, making him indispensable and thus protecting him from being fired. Ye Huo also reveals that his scarred face was self-inflicted using his own fire powers, not from an injury by an opponent.
He recounts a past incident involving Jie, the boxer Chu replaced. Jie, burdened by his brother’s crippling medical debt and feeling useless, desperately pleaded with Ye Huo to lose a fight so he could win prize money. Ye Huo refused, unaware of Jie's true despair until after Jie's subsequent suicide. Jie’s suicide note revealed his overwhelming shame and powerlessness over his brother’s medical bills and his own debts.
After hearing Ye Huo's full story, Shen Wei, acting as the Black Robed Envoy, decides against taking Ye Huo back to Dixing. He commends Ye Huo for using his powers to protect innocents rather than harm them and advises him to leave quickly, as Zhu Jiu might come after him. Yunlan reassures Ye Huo that the rescued boys will be taken care of.
He then instructs Chu and Guo to immediately take the boys out of Dragon City to a safe place. As a final gesture, Chu returns the Gold Belt to Ye Huo, acknowledging that Ye Huo’s true honor comes not from winning fights, but from his selfless act of guarding so many ordinary people.
In a separate location, Zhu Jiu, still recovering from his injuries, is reminded of his boss's three main orders: collecting hallows, providing human lives, and one other, which he cuts short due to his worsening wound.
