Resumo do episódio 37 de Zhan Zhao Adventures (final)
> Resumos de Zhan Zhao Adventures
Zhan Zhao, riding hard despite his severe injuries, finally managed to meet up with Bai Yutang. After taking a brief moment to catch his breath and steady himself, Bai Yutang told him that his search had yielded nothing, as there were no documents or evidence to be found. Just then, Han Zhang and Jiang Ping arrived, battered and supporting each other. They reported that the two groups they had been tracking had split up, heading toward Dengcheng and Nanzhang County.
Ignoring the toxic poison ravaging his body, Zhan Zhao insisted on splitting up with Bai Yutang to pursue them. As they rode, the poison inside Zhan Zhao flared up violently. He pushed his horse to its limits, but his strength failed him, and he collapsed heavily from his saddle. As he lay semi-conscious on the ground, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. Opening his eyes, he saw Mingzhu'er riding toward him, tightly clutching a letter.
Mingzhu'er presented the document, which detailed the collusion between the Lord of Xiangyang and Western Xia, and asked if it would be of any help. He explained that he had run into a squad of Iron Blood Guards and overheard them talking about Zhan Zhao’s mission, so he had poisoned their tea while they were resting at a tea stall to steal the letter.
Overjoyed but suddenly horrified, Zhan Zhao embraced Mingzhu'er, only to realize his young companion was mortally wounded. Coughing blood, Mingzhu'er weakly told him that he finally remembered everything about the fire from ten years ago. Flashbacks of that tragic night rushed back: Zhou Jiliang had forced him to take a drug, causing him to lose his mind and throw a torch onto the oil, accidentally killing his own family.
Remembering Zhou Jiliang's cruel words that it was better for him to die in the fire than live with the guilt of killing his family, Mingzhu'er gasped that he did not deserve Zhan Zhao's kindness. In his final moments, Mingzhu'er told Zhan Zhao that he could no longer stay by his side and urged him to find another servant, proudly declaring himself a great hero before passing away. Deeply grieved, Zhan Zhao wept over the boy's body.
He softly confessed to his lifeless companion that ten years ago, it was actually Mingzhu'er who had saved him, giving him a chance to live and redeem himself. Zhan Zhao admitted that he had willingly let Mingzhu'er believe he was the killer, knowing the lie would cause pain but believing it was far better than letting the boy live with the devastating guilt of accidentally causing his own family's deaths.
All Zhan Zhao had wanted was for Mingzhu'er to survive and live a good life. With Bai Yutang’s help, Zhan Zhao brought Mingzhu'er’s body back to the old Ming estate. While Zhao Zhier met the incoming troops from the capital and Han Zhang pursued the remaining Iron Blood Guards, Bai Yutang brought the Naihe Yin to Zhan Zhao. Sensing his end was near, Zhan Zhao prepared to head to Chongxiao Pavilion.
When Bai Yutang offered to join him, Zhan Zhao refused, stating he was a dying man with no future and only wanted to know how much time he had left. Tang Tianhao stepped forward and admitted that while the Baihua Dao's formula could cure him, it required a highly potent fire poison as a crucial booster to counter the cold poison.
Since they still did not know what this exact ingredient was, Tang Tianhao confessed that Zhan Zhao would not survive long enough for them to find it. Refusing to give up, Zhan Zhao asked if the Naihe Yin could buy him enough time to fulfill his remaining wishes. Tang Tianhao warned him that while the medicine's fire properties could temporarily suppress the cold poison, it would only grant him a few hours.
Once the effect wore off, the cold poison would return with absolute fury, leaving even the most skilled physician helpless. Zhan Zhao confessed that his previous claim about using acupuncture to suppress the poison was merely a lie to keep them from worrying. Hearing this, an angry Bai Yutang argued that the Naihe Yin was a poison, not a cure.
However, Zhan Zhao remained steadfast, explaining that he needed those precious hours to settle his score with the Lord of Xiangyang. He did not want to deceive Bai Yutang any longer, wanting to choose his own path and die with dignity. Before parting, Zhan Zhao unbuckled his sword and presented it to Bai Yutang, knowing his friend had appreciated the plain weapon since their first meeting.
Meanwhile, government troops arrived in time to restore order, saving Linglong Manor and the Huo family. Relieved to see his daughter's capable leadership, Huo Tianxing officially handed control of the manor over to her, confident she could lead them forward. Huo Feng appeared in chains, and Huo Tianxing willingly surrendered to the soldiers. Huo Feng comforted his sister, noting that Linglong Manor was named after her and would now truly live up to its name.
Watching her father and brother being led away, Huo Linglong wept but remained resolved, ordering her followers to find all the scattered Huo disciples and bring them back home. Having consumed the Naihe Yin, Zhan Zhao made his way to Chongxiao Pavilion. Bai Yutang quickly caught up with him, refusing to let him face the danger alone.
Having snatched a blade on his way, Bai Yutang returned Zhan Zhao's sword and promised they would share a drink once the battle was won. However, the Lord of Xiangyang had prepared a deadly trap. Hidden mechanisms unleashed a barrage of arrows, and Bai Yutang threw himself in front of Zhan Zhao to shield him from a fatal crossbow bolt. Mortally wounded, Bai Yutang collapsed.
With his final breaths, he tried to share what he had learned from interrogating a cultist about the missing ingredient—explaining how the toxic Bailong Powder was made from venomous snakes on Flying Petals Col—but he lost his strength and passed away before he could name the exact herb. Zhan Zhao pressed on to find the Lord of Xiangyang casually playing chess, completely unsurprised by his arrival. Suddenly, Zhu Mingyuan ambushed Zhan Zhao from the shadows.
Weakened by the poison, Zhan Zhao initially struggled to defend himself. However, as the fight dragged on, he managed to read his opponent's movements. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Zhan Zhao exploited a critical opening and delivered a fatal blow to Zhu Mingyuan. Standing before the defeated conspirator, Zhan Zhao produced the imperial edict lacking the imperial seal.
The unrepentant Lord of Xiangyang proudly declared himself the rightful heir to the throne of Emperor Taizu, arguing that the crown would have been his if not for the Covenant in the Golden Chamber. He demanded Zhan Zhao's allegiance, but Zhan Zhao firmly replied that his loyalty belonged to justice and the people, not a throne.
He condemned the Lord of Xiangyang for agreeing to cede Song territory to Western Xia, proving he cared nothing for the citizens he wished to rule. The Lord of Xiangyang merely laughed, mocking Zhan Zhao's ideals. He boasted that since the empire belonged to his family, his nephew, the Emperor, would never execute his own uncle to save the royal family's face.
He claimed he would only face a few years of confinement before being quietly released to rebuild his power, construct a new Chongxiao Pavilion, and manipulate new officials. He taunted Zhan Zhao for the useless deaths of his companions, declaring that no blade in the world could kill an Imperial Uncle.
In response, Zhan Zhao stated that while no such blade might exist, he would gladly become that blade himself, executing the Lord of Xiangyang to deliver the justice he deserved. That night, a heavy snow fell over the city. Having learned of the Yaksha's noble sacrifice, the grateful citizens gathered under Wanxing Tower, lighting candles and offering prayers for the hero who had saved them. Months later, Huo Linglong officially took charge of Linglong Manor.
Tang Tianhao visited her, and they discussed how her father and brother had received leniency from the court after handing over their mining secrets. Linglong expressed her deep gratitude to Zhan Zhao, who had left a letter to the Emperor detailing her help during the investigation, allowing Zhao Zhier to successfully plead for her family.
As she fondly recalled their shared struggles, a disciple announced the arrival of Ding Zhaohui and a man in a bamboo hat named Zhan Rifei, who was actually Zhan Zhao in disguise. With the Imperial Cat restored to his post, Zhan Zhao returned to Kaifeng Court to assist Bao Zheng in rebuilding the country and protecting the hard-won peace.
In a final, poignant scene, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang are seen sitting on the rooftop sharing a drink, bickering in their usual friendly manner. When Bai Yutang joked that drinking on the roof was improper, Zhan Zhao retorted that painting in the imperial palace was far worse. Reflecting on their journey, Zhan Zhao mentioned his pending duties regarding Western Xia, though Bai Yutang teased him for constantly obsessing over work.
As they argued over the titles of Imperial Cat and Jinmao Rat, they fondly debated who had truly won their past duels, sharing a quiet moment of camaraderie in the peaceful night.
