Heroes Episode 36 Recap
> Heroes Recap
Having learned that Wang Xiaoshi was alive, Bai Choufei shut himself off in deep distress. Lei Mei arrived to find him tormented, viewing Wang Xiaoshi's survival as a destabilizing force. She brought more troubling news: his new bride, Lei Chun, had gone missing, and Su Mengzhen's body had yet to be found.
Bai Choufei was haunted by memories of Wang Xiaoshi’s desperate pleas for him to turn back and avoid becoming heartless, contrasted with his own embrace of power, declaring that money and life were superior to fame and influence. Elsewhere, the remaining members of the House of Sunset Drizzle were determined to avenge their House Master, Su Mengzhen.
The House's Advisor, Yang Wuxie, rallied them to fight Bai Choufei, but Zhu Xiaoyao revealed that Su Mengzhen had intentionally sent them away on the night of his death. He wanted them to survive, believing that as long as they lived, the spirit of the House of Sunset Drizzle would endure. The Advisor confirmed that the transfer orders were given just before dawn, a clear sign of Su Mengzhen's intentions.
They acknowledged that a suicidal fight would leave no one to avenge their master or reclaim their home. The survivors found refuge in an area known as Trunk Tower, a noisy yet secluded neighborhood inhabited by ordinary people, making it an ideal hideout. Yang Wuxie instructed them to remain hidden, deferring any plans for revenge until Wang Xiaoshi’s return.
He recalled Su Mengzhen’s belief that Wang Xiaoshi’s arrival would bring a turning point and held steadfast faith in his late master's words. As days turned into weeks, Zhu Xiaoyao became a familiar sight at the city gate, waiting tirelessly for Wang Xiaoshi. Locals saw her as a madwoman, though some recognized the once-celebrated courtesan as a pitiful soul waiting for the only person she had left.
She refused to wait indoors, fearing she would miss him, declaring that with her home gone, she had nowhere else to wait but there. After an arduous journey, Wang Xiaoshi finally returned to the Capital. As a wanted fugitive, he had traveled separately from Official Liu and his Martial Uncle, Zhuge Zhengwo. At the city gate, Wang Xiaoshi’s arrival was met with Zhu Xiaoyao's tearful and disbelieving embrace. From her, he learned the devastating news of Su Mengzhen’s death.
Upon reaching the House of Sunset Drizzle's hidden refuge, Yang Wuxie informed Wang Xiaoshi of the full tragedy: Su Mengzhen's body was never found, only his crimson robe remained, and the House had been completely overtaken. He explained that Su Mengzhen had wished for Wang Xiaoshi, upon his return, to decide their future. Wang Xiaoshi confronted Bai Choufei, who offered a welcoming drink. Refusing it, Wang Xiaoshi cut straight to the point, asking if he had betrayed Su Mengzhen.
When Bai Choufei confirmed his betrayal, admitting the entire martial world already knew, Wang Xiaoshi was filled with pain. He accused Bai Choufei of breaking the House's rules, betraying his sworn brother, and colluding with corrupt officials. Unrepentant, Bai Choufei retorted that he had gained power by joining the Youqiao Group and made the House of Sunset Drizzle more glorious.
He claimed Su Mengzhen had been too conservative and living a life worse than death, suggesting his murder was a liberation. Wang Xiaoshi pressed on, demanding to know if Bai Choufei had personally killed Su Mengzhen. With a defiant "Yes," Bai Choufei admitted to it, taunting Wang Xiaoshi to find the body himself. Enraged, Wang Xiaoshi reached for his sword, but the lingering bond of brotherhood stopped him from drawing it.
Bai Choufei then produced a Letter of Passage, urging Wang Xiaoshi to leave the Capital and abandon its affairs. When Wang Xiaoshi asked why their relationship had devolved to this point, Bai Choufei bitterly shouted that Wang Xiaoshi was to blame. He recounted his torment in prison, clinging to the hope of Wang Xiaoshi's return. But after being told Wang Xiaoshi was dead, he lost all conviction in justice and morality, declaring there was no turning back.
Despite Bai Choufei's despair, Wang Xiaoshi vowed that Su Mengzhen's sacrifice would not be in vain and that he would be avenged. Later, Wang Xiaoshi climbed to a high vantage point, addressing the absent Su Mengzhen under the moonlight. He recounted his journey north after leaving the Capital, witnessing the vast snowfields that made him realize how insignificant humans are.
He spoke of avenging his parents by eliminating Fang Yingkan and Yuan Shisanxian, yet acknowledged that the world was not simply about retribution, as many had lost their lives. His Master was gone, and Wen Rou had left, leaving him with an acute sense of loneliness. After seeing countless facets of life, he had finally formulated his own vision for the Jianghu.
He sorrowfully conceded that he would never know if it aligned with Su Mengzhen's, feeling utterly alone without his brothers. Wang Xiaoshi met with Zhuge Zhengwo and Official Liu. They had returned from the north with a crucial piece of evidence: Chancellor Cai's handwritten order, which had cost many lives and was the key to exposing his crimes.
However, Official Liu explained that Cai's influence ran so deep in the court that the evidence could not reach the Emperor through conventional means. Zhuge Zhengwo, not yet reinstated to his official position, was also unable to secure an audience. Wang Xiaoshi pressed for any method to meet the Emperor, and Zhuge Zhengwo offered a rare opportunity: the Emperor's upcoming visit to Dafo Temple on the first day of the next month.
In the Trunk Tower area, Wang Xiaoshi lived quietly, earning a modest living by writing letters for the illiterate, treating minor ailments, and teaching children. His quiet life soon attracted attention. One by one, martial artists, including Tang Qimei, Liang A'niu, and others oppressed by the Youqiao Group, approached him. Expressing admiration for his past deeds, they asked him to lead them and bring justice to the martial world. Though initially hesitant, Wang Xiaoshi acknowledged their good intentions.
News of Wang Xiaoshi's growing following reached Bai Choufei, who cynically tried to "win hearts" himself. However, he was met with disdain. At a noodle stall, people openly whispered their disgust, recalling how he had killed his brother and usurped his position. A child, whose father was killed by Bai Choufei and whose mother was subsequently violated and murdered by his men, hurled insults at him.
Bai Choufei feigned empathy, but once out of earshot, he ruthlessly ordered his subordinates, Ren Lao and Ren Yuan, to murder the noodle stall owner and the others who had badmouthed him. He further commanded them to capture the child and torture him for a month before killing him, declaring that all who opposed him would meet a similar fate. As Wang Xiaoshi’s followers crowded his courtyard, he agreed to address them.
He shared what he had learned from the common folk—their simple hopes to suffer less abuse, to have their petitions heard fairly, and for their children to gain an education. He realized this too was the Jianghu, encompassing not just warriors but the daily lives of ordinary people.
He proposed a vision where the strong protect the weak, who in turn empower others, ensuring the legacy of the martial world—a free Jianghu where people do not yield to tyranny or fear injustice. The crowd resonated with his words, urging him to establish a new sect.
Looking at the large wooden tower that gave the area its name, Wang Xiaoshi declared their new organization would be called "Trunk Tower," emphasizing that only the House of Sunset Drizzle could truly be called a "House." The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting, "Trunk Tower that curbs the violent and assists the weak!"
