Heroes Episode 15 Recap
> Heroes Recap
Wen Rou accompanied Wang Xiaoshi back to their courtyard, where they found Madam weeping. Wang Xiaoshi immediately sensed something was wrong when he couldn't find Mr. Wo. Madam revealed that Mr. Wo had gone to confront Guan Qi, stating he could not rest until Guan Qi was dead, and she admitted she was the one who let him go. Wang Xiaoshi, hearing this, raced out, leaving Wen Rou to console Madam.
Wang Xiaoshi found Mr. Wo standing motionless on a dim, deserted street. As he approached, he was horrified to discover a spear piercing Mr. Wo's chest. Mr. Wo, though gravely wounded, was still alive. He told Wang Xiaoshi not to cry, imparting a final lesson: when someone holds a sword to kill, someone else will bravely step in to seek justice. He then urged Wang Xiaoshi to take good care of Madam and "Cha Hua" before taking his last breath.
Wang Xiaoshi returned to Madam, apologizing for failing to protect Mr. Wo. Madam, though blind, understood what had happened and simply said, "As long as you're home." She then instructed Wang Xiaoshi to place Mr. Wo in the main hall with his head facing the door and a light at his feet, and to remove some tiles from the roof so his spirit could see the sky.
While Guan Qi wreaked havoc across the Capital, causing an uproar, Fu Zongshu remained unperturbed in a private chamber, casually eating noodles. He arrogantly dismissed Su Mengzhen and Lei Sun, saying he'd outlast "one sickly man and one useless old man." A panicking subordinate burst in, reporting that Guan Qi had not killed but terrified Fu Zongshu's Second Madam to the point of madness, and many others had died.
Fu Zongshu, however, callously remarked that their deaths had nothing to do with him. The subordinate then added that Guan Qi had also killed an old man, and Wang Xiaoshi was seen carrying the body away. Su Mengzhen, his patience exhausted, sternly confronted Fu Zongshu, pointing out that while Guan Qi couldn't find him in his hiding place, continued chaos would inevitably alert the imperial court, a responsibility no one could bear.
Lei Sun echoed Su Mengzhen's concerns, emphasizing Guan Qi's reckless behavior and warning that even the combined might of Six Half Hall and House of Sunset Drizzle could not protect the entire city if the rampage continued. Faced with their demands, Fu Zongshu finally put down his chopsticks but insisted they guarantee his safety before he would act. Su Mengzhen unequivocally promised to protect him.
With Fu Zongshu's agreement to be bait, the combined forces of Six Half Hall and House of Sunset Drizzle devised a plan. Su Mengzhen presented Fu Zongshu with his favorite braised meat, a seemingly kind gesture with the grim implication that it was his last meal. The ambush was set at the House of Sanhe, which would be cleared of its usual patrons.
Su Mengzhen planned to play the qin, with only five others present: Wang Xiaoshi, his brothers, Di Feijing, and Lei Sun. Su Mengzhen stressed the importance of keeping Guan Qi alive because he held critical secrets about the Youqiao Group. However, he acknowledged that Lei Sun might not share this objective, anticipating that another conflict would immediately follow Guan Qi's capture. Su Mengzhen called for unity, emphasizing that everyone must work together.
Meanwhile, Zhu Xiaoyao received confirmation from a subordinate that her own preparations were complete. Di Feijing, observing Zhu Xiaoyao, praised her exceptional skills as both a musician and an archer, though Su Mengzhen subtly hinted at Di Feijing's pervasive network of informers by mentioning that Zhu Xiaoyao's identity was a secret of the House. As they finalized arrangements, Fu Zongshu expressed doubt, wondering if Guan Qi would truly walk into such an obvious trap.
Wang Xiaoshi, however, assured him that Guan Qi would certainly come, even knowing it was a trap, as long as he believed he could kill Fu Zongshu. As Guan Qi approached the House of Sanhe, intent on killing Fu Zongshu, the minister himself was overcome with terror. Rather than facing Guan Qi, Fu Zongshu was frantically helped by his men to escape, jumping into a river and fleeing in a hurried carriage. Guan Qi then stepped into the prepared trap.
The confrontation began, with everyone surrounding Guan Qi. Lei Sun struggled to withstand Guan Qi's powerful attacks, nearly falling. Seizing an opening, Su Mengzhen moved in, using his sword to press Guan Qi. Guan Qi, however, quickly retaliated with a fierce strike, forcing Su Mengzhen to retreat.
During their exchange, Guan Qi mockingly referred to Su Mengzhen as "brother-in-law," prompting Su Mengzhen to assert that he had previously let Guan Qi live and offering him a chance to "go back into the well." Guan Qi dismissed this, confident that Su Mengzhen intended to kill him. Despite Guan Qi's reputation as a "killer god," he was ultimately overwhelmed by the coordinated efforts of the skilled combatants.
Di Feijing delivered a decisive palm strike, sending Guan Qi sprawling into the ruins. Just as everyone believed the conflict was over, Zhu Xiaoyao suddenly appeared and rescued Guan Qi, spiriting him away. Lei Sun, enraged by this unexpected betrayal, immediately turned on the House of Sunset Drizzle, accusing them of repeatedly saving Guan Qi and questioning their true intentions. He then ordered a full-scale search for Guan Qi and Zhu Xiaoyao throughout the Capital.
After Guan Qi's escape, Su Mengzhen reflected on Zhu Xiaoyao's actions. He knew she had once been a member of the Mitian Sect but was surprised by her profound loyalty to Guan Qi after so many years. He acknowledged that Zhu Xiaoyao's past no longer mattered, as her unwavering dedication had ensured the existence of the Red Sleeve Blade.
Su Mengzhen admitted it was his mistake that Guan Qi escaped, as he had hoped Zhu Xiaoyao would merely prevent Lei Sun from killing Guan Qi, not facilitate his escape entirely. Meanwhile, Zhu Xiaoyao tended to the unconscious Guan Qi. A man named Shuang, observing Guan Qi, mused that his own life might have been different had Guan Qi not been a madman or a killer.
Zhu Xiaoyao confirmed Guan Qi's internal injuries from Di Feijing's palm strike were severe, though his own martial arts skill had saved his life. She then told Shuang, who had been with her for nearly eight years, that she wished to send him and his recently returned father far away, urging him to leave the world of courtesans and seek a wider world.
Shuang refused, asserting his loyalty and stating he would never be able to hold his head high if he left her side now. Zhu Xiaoyao revealed that she, too, was a wanderer who wouldn't have survived without Guan Qi. She recounted her past: how she had been brutally tormented at the House of Sanhe until Guan Qi intervened, saving her life and bringing her into the Mitian Sect.
This was the only time someone had given her hope, and she was willing to remain by his side despite the violence that followed him. Zhu Xiaoyao admitted that her decision to save Guan Qi and raise Shuang stemmed from this past.
She felt indebted not only to Shuang's father but also to Su Mengzhen, and believed her life might one day be given to repay these debts, which is why she always said life is short and one must find leisure. Six Half Hall and House of Sunset Drizzle launched a massive city-wide search for Guan Qi and Zhu Xiaoyao, but all efforts yielded no results. Lei Sun, however, had a specific strategy.
He identified several potential hiding places Zhu Xiaoyao might use, locations he believed she wouldn't expect him to know about. He tasked a subordinate with leading a deliberate, high-profile search of these predictable locations. The goal was to make Zhu Xiaoyao aware of their pursuit, forcing her to try and move the injured Guan Qi out of the Capital. The real objective, he declared, was to guard the city gates to intercept them.
Meanwhile, back at the courtyard, Wang Xiaoshi checked on Madam, who was resting after Wen Rou had lit a calming incense for her. Wang Xiaoshi, still reeling from Mr. Wo's death, expressed his frustration to his dog, Yellow, regretting his inability to locate Mr. Wo's killer. Suddenly, Yellow tugged at Wang Xiaoshi's clothes, sparking an idea. Wen Rou, though deeply worried, knew she couldn't dissuade Wang Xiaoshi from his new plan.
He reiterated his resolve to find Guan Qi, stating that he was the one who had released Guan Qi, leading to Mr. Wo's death and many others, and he could not live another day without avenging these deaths. Wen Rou, understanding his conviction, made him promise to return safely, a promise Wang Xiaoshi solemnly gave. He then left with Yellow, who sniffed Zhu Xiaoyao's discarded clothes at the House of Sanhe before running off on the trail.
