Heroes Episode 12 Recap
> Heroes Recap
Following their acrimonious meeting with Lei Sun, Su Mengzhen's day takes a gentler turn. Lei Chun presents him with a drawing she chanced upon, admiring its poignant artistry and believing he would appreciate it. Su Mengzhen, recognizing the pride of the artist within the work, accepts the gift. He asks why she has eaten only sour fruit for over a decade, and she replies that it was the taste of their first encounter.
In return, Su Mengzhen gifts her a warm jade he found in the northwest, noting her sensitivity to the cold. Lei Chun is delighted with the gift, not for its unique texture, but because its roundness symbolizes completeness and unity. As she prepares to leave, Su Mengzhen advises her to return home early, as the night is cold. Later, hearing a carriage, Lei Chun steps outside and notices a broken lantern.
Her attendant offers to buy a new one the next day, but Lei Chun instructs her to hang up a replacement immediately and to keep it lit forever. Observing from the shadows, Su Mengzhen finds the gesture deeply sentimental but regrets not saying more before they parted. An unidentified subordinate remarks on the impending conflict between Su Mengzhen and Lei Chun's father, questioning how many more glances he will get.
Su Mengzhen remains resolute, stating that while death is inevitable, one should not simply wait for it to arrive. Wang Xiaoshi leads Wen Rou to an ambush spot, explaining that the corrupt Minister of Justice, Fu Zongshu, will pass by that night. They plan to teach him a lesson for his abuse of power. Wen Rou, who had previously firebombed Fu Zongshu's carriage, eagerly agrees. Wang Xiaoshi anticipates Fu Zongshu will be unescorted, as he is secretly visiting a mistress.
When the carriage arrives, Wang Xiaoshi swiftly attacks with a brick, leaving Fu Zongshu with a swollen forehead. The pair celebrate their small act of justice. As they walk through a lively market, a cry for help erupts as a man falls into the water. Wang Xiaoshi immediately dives in and rescues him.
However, the man, revealed to be the flamboyant Marquis Shentong, Fang Yingkan, admits it was a prank to see which beauty would rescue him, lamenting that his "irresistible charm" attracted a man instead. Annoyed, Wang Xiaoshi tries to leave, but Fang Yingkan's entourage of female performers surrounds him. Wen Rou intervenes, announcing her identity as the daughter of Lord Wen Wan of Luoyang and a disciple of the Red-Sleeved Nun, demanding they release him.
Fang Yingkan cheekily addresses Wen Rou as "my wife," claiming her father had already agreed to their marriage during a past visit. Disgusted, Wen Rou dismisses his shameless claims. To prove his sincerity, Fang Yingkan has a golden basin brought out and declares he will perform a "golden basin foot washing," vowing to abandon his indulgent ways forever. Enraged, Wen Rou tells him to get his brain checked and kicks the basin over.
As Wang Xiaoshi pulls her away, she realizes her perfume pouch is missing. Unbeknownst to them, Fang Yingkan has stolen it. At Six Half Hall, the Third Elder, Lei Mei, inquires about taking over the northern business operations. The Chief Elder, Lei Sun, asks if she is willing to sacrifice her eyes and tongue for it. When she says no, he declares she is not qualified.
However, he offers her a mission: return to her former home, the Pili Sect, and persuade her late father's five greatest warriors to join Six Half Hall. If she succeeds, the northern business will be hers. The First Elder, Di Feijing, delivers the formal message, warning her of Lei Sun's temper and the fatal consequences of defying him.
He reminds her that while the Pili Sect was her father's life's work, she was his true pride, and he would have sacrificed the sect to ensure her safety. Later, Bai Choufei invites Lei Mei for a drink to repay her previous generosity. He marvels at his own transformation from a penniless fugitive to the Vice House Master of Sunset Drizzle, calling the Capital a place of miracles.
Bai Choufei then asks Lei Mei if she has ever refused an opportunity. She admits she hasn't, believing that for ambitious people, any chance for advancement must be seized. Bai Choufei suggests her inability to refuse stems from a lack of security, whereas he had once refused an Elder position in Six Half Hall—a gamble that led to his current success.
Lei Mei points out that his status is also buoyed by her influence, as he is only recognized at the high-end establishment because he was seen with her. She retorts that he owes her more than a single meal.
Bai Choufei concludes that his true miracle was not what he gained, but what he refused, hoping she too will one day find the freedom to say no. Despite her hesitation, Lei Mei later confirms to her attendant that she will undertake Lei Sun's mission. In his official uniform, Fang Yingkan visits Yuan Shisanxian to see his foster father, the Prime Minister, but is turned away. Yuan Shisanxian calls him back, noting that his name, Yingkan, means "should watch."
He advises him to observe the capital's unfolding drama from the sidelines and not get involved. Wen Rou receives a note from Fang Yingkan, who admits to having her perfume pouch, writing that it eases his loneliness. Furious, she wants to confront him, but Wang Xiaoshi calms her down, arguing that it would only encourage Fang Yingkan's persistence. He promises to handle it and goes to buy her a new pouch. While shopping, he spots Fang Yingkan on a rooftop.
Wang Xiaoshi demands the pouch back and tells him to stop pestering Wen Rou. Fang Yingkan claims it isn't pestering but genuine pursuit, arguing that love is about making oneself happy. Wang Xiaoshi condemns his attitude as perverse, insisting love requires respect. Their argument escalating, Fang Yingkan throws the pouch into a deep well, challenging Wang Xiaoshi to retrieve it. As Wang Xiaoshi leaps in, Fang Yingkan seals the well.
He reveals it's a secret Six Half Hall location rigged to flood within half an incense stick's time, having already cleared the area of guards. Trapped below, Wang Xiaoshi discovers he is not alone. A man named Guan Qi guides him to a hidden mechanism. Lighting a match, Wang Xiaoshi sees the well is filled with skeletons.
Guan Qi reveals he is a prisoner of Lei Sun, who has kept him chained there for years to suffer a fate worse than death. He points to a child's skeleton with bells on its ankle, identifying it as his son, and states that all the bones in the well are Lei Sun's victims. As water begins to flood the chamber, Guan Qi begs Wang Xiaoshi to remove the hook embedded in his back.
Seeing no other choice, Wang Xiaoshi frees him. Once unhooked, Guan Qi bursts out of the well, overjoyed to see the moon again. Wang Xiaoshi carries the weakened man to safety. Elsewhere, it is reported to Lei Sun that the well guards were killed and the prisoner has escaped. Furious, Lei Sun mobilizes all his forces, warning them that Guan Qi is an exceptionally dangerous foe who will be nearly impossible to recapture.
Meanwhile, Fang Yingkan watches the ensuing chaos from a rooftop, revealing his true intentions. " Su Mengzhen, Bai Choufei, Wang Xiaoshi," he muses, "if you want to defeat Youqiao Group, this is the wound you must strike," confirming he orchestrated Guan Qi's release to sow discord among his enemies.
