Heroes Episode 20 Recap
> Heroes Recap
Fang Yingkan invited Bai Choufei to a meeting, framing the martial arts world of the Capital as a high-stakes gambling table. He argued that only a select few were eligible to play: Su Mengzhen, a prodigy of his generation; Lei Sun, the master of Six Half Hall; and Fu Zongshu, who held a seat through his control over the Ministry of Justice despite their mutual contempt for him. Fang Yingkan claimed the final seat for himself.
Bai Choufei countered, asserting that Wang Xiaoshi deserved a place for surviving a battle with Guan Qi, an unprecedented feat. He also made a case for Di Feijing, whose martial skill stood on its own, and for the influential court officials who manipulate the martial arts world from the shadows. Bai Choufei then declared his own ambition to claim a seat at the table.
Fang Yingkan attempted to forge an alliance by persuading Bai Choufei that to truly win, he must "eliminate all other players." He used the analogy of a card game where two specific stand-alone cards, when paired, result in a complete victory. He likened himself and Bai Choufei to these cards, pointing out that Bai Choufei’s ambitions were constantly thwarted by Su Mengzhen within the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Fang Yingkan revealed he had been holding his "card" for a long time, waiting for Bai Choufei to play his. Bai Choufei, however, saw through the attempt to sow discord, stating that Su Mengzhen was his sworn brother and, ultimately, his only worthy rival—not Fang Yingkan. He dismissed Fang Yingkan as a pitiful schemer operating from a dilapidated house, warning him that tigers walk alone while cattle travel in herds.
Meanwhile, Lei Sun confessed to his daughter, Lei Chun, that his business in the martial arts world had failed spectacularly. He revealed that Six Half Hall was merely a pawn for a powerful entity called the Youqiao Group, on whose behalf he had been smuggling firearms. Lei Sun expressed regret over betraying the nation but claimed he had no choice, as refusal would have meant the destruction of Six Half Hall, just like the Mitian Sect before them.
He also apologized for canceling her engagement to Su Mengzhen years prior, an act born of fear that their combined power would attract unwanted attention. Moved by her father's despair and his promise to retire from the capital forever, Lei Chun offered to plead with Su Mengzhen to spare Six Half Hall. Lei Chun met with Su Mengzhen, formally introducing herself as a representative of Six Half Hall there to negotiate for her father.
Su Mengzhen condemned Lei Sun’s smuggling of illegal firearms as an unforgivable act of treason. Lei Chun argued her father was merely following orders and that eliminating him would not topple the Youqiao Group. Appealing to Su Mengzhen as a daughter trying to save her father, she proposed a deal: if Su Mengzhen spared Lei Sun’s life and withdrew his forces, her father would abdicate his position to Di Feijing, leave the Capital forever, and she would go with him.
Su Mengzhen agreed to her terms, vowing to cherish their personal bond even if she chose to forsake it. This negotiation, however, was a deception orchestrated by Lei Sun. He had used Lei Chun’s genuine plea to lower Su Mengzhen's defenses. He ordered a letter to be sent in Lei Chun's name, luring Su Mengzhen to a meeting at Shili Pavilion, a place where he would be vulnerable.
To prevent her from interfering, Lei Sun confined Lei Chun to her room. In a moment of reflection, Di Feijing recalled how Lei Sun and his wife had saved him from freezing to death as an orphan, giving him a home and family. He felt bound by his "small wish" to protect this family, even as Lei Chun reminded him that Su Mengzhen was like family to her as well.
Later, Lei Sun approached Bai Choufei, attempting to turn him against Su Mengzhen by suggesting his righteousness was holding Bai Choufei back. Bai Choufei contemptuously dismissed the provocation as an internal matter for the House of Sunset Drizzle. Wang Xiaoshi and Fang Yingkan met for their wrestling match. To show his confidence, Wang Xiaoshi blindfolded himself. Fang Yingkan immediately resorted to dirty tactics, kicking sand in Wang Xiaoshi’s face before using a hidden weapon.
Angered, Wang Xiaoshi removed his blindfold and swiftly defeated him, declaring the match over. He landed one punch for Wen Rou and another for attempting to drive a wedge between him and his sworn brothers. He finished with a final kick, warning Fang Yingkan to stay away from the people he cared for. When Wen Rou arrived, she ignored a wounded Fang Yingkan and rushed to check on Wang Xiaoshi.
Worried about Bai Choufei, who had been drinking alone for three days, Wen Rou and Wang Xiaoshi found him at a tavern. Bai Choufei announced his decision to leave the House of Sunset Drizzle. He explained that as Vice House Master, he was still subordinate to Su Mengzhen, which stifled his ambition to become the "number one martial artist."
Wen Rou was disappointed, unable to understand why he couldn't see that Su Mengzhen’s direct criticism came from a place of brotherhood. Bai Choufei retorted that he would have preferred to die at Di Feijing's hands than be saved by Su Mengzhen, calling the rescue a humiliation. Accepting his friend's decision, Wang Xiaoshi recalled Bai Choufei's desire to be a "flint" rather than a "flower in the dark."
He proposed that the three brothers share one last drink together after Bai Choufei officially resigned, affirming their lifelong bond. With the help of her maid, Mo'er, Lei Chun bribed the guards with wine and escaped her room. She ran into Wen Rou on the street and urgently tried to warn her of the danger to Su Mengzhen. Before she could explain, Di Feijing appeared and knocked Wen Rou unconscious.
As heavy snow began to fall, Lei Chun tried to flee with Wen Rou on her back but was confronted by a mysterious masked figure and tripped. Elsewhere, Su Mengzhen held the letter bearing Lei Chun’s name, unaware of the deadly trap that awaited him.
