The Journey of Legend Episode 11 Recap
> The Journey of Legend Recap
Tang Qing’s subordinates thoroughly searched Xiao Qiushui, but found no special items. Tang Qing, alongside Tang Song, aimed to intercept Xiao Qiushui and obtain the Hero Token, as this was the first time the Power Gang had responded to Tang Song’s overtures. She was determined to extract the token’s location from him. Identifying herself as Tang Fang’s close sister in the Tang Sect, Tang Qing claimed Tang Fang had asked her to "take care" of Xiao Qiushui.
She then forced Xiao Qiushui to ingest a special pill, confident it would make even the most formidable martial artist obedient. When asked about his identity, Xiao Qiushui, feigning confusion, identified himself as Xiao Qiushui from the Huanhua Sect. Tang Qing then questioned who was prettier between her and Tang Fang, to which Xiao Qiushui mockingly replied, "You’re slightly uglier than her."
Angered by his defiance, Tang Qing was about to strike him, but Tang Song intervened, reminding her of their objective. Tang Song pressed Xiao Qiushui for the Hero Token’s location, and Xiao Qiushui, still feigning disorientation, claimed it was buried in the bamboo forest outside the Tang Sect. Tang Qing was skeptical, having already searched both Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang.
However, Tang Song believed Xiao Qiushui had taken precautions before entering the sect and led his people to dig up the bamboo forest. Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Qiushui had secretly obtained an antidote pill from Tang Fang earlier, anticipating such a trap, and was merely toying with the siblings. He mocked their foolishness internally. Meanwhile, Tang Fang managed to escape her confinement and came to rescue Xiao Qiushui, who easily broke free from his chains.
As they tried to flee, Tang Song and Tang Qing, having found nothing in the bamboo forest, realized they had been deceived and confronted them. Tang Song abruptly changed his arrogant demeanor, offering to introduce Xiao Qiushui to Madam Tang, whose experience, he claimed, could help Xiao Qiushui use the Hero Token to resolve his family’s crisis. Xiao Qiushui, however, asserted that the Hero Token had been taken by the Power Gang.
Tang Song immediately denied this, prompting Tang Fang to question if he was colluding with the Power Gang. Tang Song tried to sow discord by revealing that Tang Fang’s initial motive for going to the Xiao family was to obtain the Hero Token, and then attempted to shame her for bringing a stranger into the sect, suggesting their father was too injured to intervene and proposing marriage to Tang Fang to save her family’s main branch.
Tang Fang vehemently defended her father, stating he was in retreat for cultivation, and challenged Tang Song to disturb him if he dared. Seizing the opportunity created by the internal strife, Xiao Qiushui used the "Thick-Skinned Three Forms" to escape with Tang Fang. They fled, with Tang Song in close pursuit, until they reached a cliff. With no other option, they jumped, landing on a wedding boat passing below.
Tang Fang almost fell into the river, but Xiao Qiushui swiftly pulled her to safety, accidentally tearing her sleeve. Enraged, Tang Fang turned on him, drawing her sword. She recounted an oath sworn to her late mother: any man who saw her body must die. Xiao Qiushui argued that the oath was too rash and that he had saved her life. Tang Fang remained resolute, stating that only her husband was an exception.
The bride on the boat, observing their heated argument, suggested a practical solution: Xiao Qiushui should marry Tang Fang. Tang Fang readily agreed, seeing it as a way to escape Tang Song’s persistent harassment. Xiao Qiushui, though reluctant to enter a marriage so casually, agreed as well, particularly after Tang Fang mentioned needing his help to breach the Tang Sect's perilous Qianluo Formation to permanently get rid of Tang Song.
They departed the wedding boat, with Xiao Qiushui offering the couple money as a wedding gift and apology, and they in turn wished him and Tang Fang a happy marriage. Their immediate goal was to reach Guangling. Tang Fang produced a map of Jinzhong, which she had stolen from Tang Song's room, noting that he had diligently marked all of the Power Gang's outposts.
These red-marked sects, including the Wuhu Peng, Tanglang, and Wuyi Gang, were strategically located along the critical route to Guangling, likely having surrendered to the Power Gang. Xiao Qiushui realized these strongholds would hinder Xiao Yiren's return from Guangling to support the Sword Retreat, and decided they needed to be cleared. Tang Fang reminded him of his promise to help her with the Qianluo Formation after the Xiao family crisis was resolved, or she would take his life.
Xiao Qiushui vaguely responded that the matter could be discussed later and urged them to proceed. Meanwhile, Tang Song instructed Tang Qing to spread word that Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang were heading to Guangling with the Hero Token. He aimed to incite martial artists along the route to ambush Xiao Qiushui, ensuring his demise.
In the Xiao residence, Xiao Kaiyan and Xiao Xueyu discussed collecting more evidence from the village, fearing it would be destroyed if they waited for their father Xiao Xilou’s reply. In the alchemy room, where Xiao Xueyu believed specific herbs could lead to an antidote for the villagers, they were ambushed by black-clad attackers. Xiao Kaiyan shielded Xiao Xueyu, but they were in peril until Xiao Yiren arrived, forcing the attackers to flee.
Xiao Yiren chided them for acting rashly, explaining that rushing to present evidence would only pit the Xiao family openly against the Power Gang, a situation to be avoided at all costs. Xiao Xueyu showed him Oldenlandia and Hedyotis herbs, suspecting their connection to the villagers' poisoning. Xiao Yiren, while acknowledging their good intentions, reasserted his authority as the acting leader of Huanhua, instructing them to consult him before any future actions.
Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang successfully cleared two Power Gang outposts, securing a path for potential reinforcements to Jinzhong. However, based on Madam Wu's estimated timeline for her messenger, Xiao Yiren should have already returned to Jinzhong from Guangling. Finding no trace of him, Xiao Qiushui worried something had gone wrong. They decided to buy fast horses and head directly to Guangling. At a market, Xiao Qiushui noticed a military stamp on a horse’s stirrup.
Under questioning, the horse trader confessed he found the horse beside a dead soldier in the woods. Investigating further, Xiao Qiushui found the deceased soldier still clutching a letter—the message Madam Wu had sent to Xiao Yiren seeking aid. It became clear that Xiao Yiren and his forces in Guangling were completely unaware of the crisis, and Xiao Qiushui realized he needed to reach his brother immediately.
Knowing the main pass to Guangling was likely fortified by the Power Gang, they opted for a less controlled ferry further downstream. Unaware of these developments, Liu Suifeng expressed his frustration with Tang Song’s incompetence in letting Xiao Qiushui escape. He knew Tang Song was spreading rumors about Xiao Qiushui possessing the Hero Token, which would undoubtedly attract opportunistic martial artists.
Believing the real Hero Token was with Xiao Qiushui, especially after Madam Wu’s private conversation with him, Liu Suifeng offered his personal Wind Token to anyone who could bring Xiao Qiushui to the Power Gang, assuring his subordinate Song Mingzhu he would simply kill the token holder before any demands could be made. He dispatched Song Mingzhu to intercept Xiao Qiushui, who he presumed was rushing to Guangling for aid, likely from one of Guangling’s "three powerful men," Qu Hanshan.
Noting Tang Fang’s continued presence with Xiao Qiushui, Liu Suifeng’s concern for her was evident, prompting Song Mingzhu to call Tang Fang his master’s 'soft spot,' an observation Liu Suifeng did not deny. As Xiao Qiushui and Tang Fang approached the ferry, a street vendor warned Xiao Qiushui about two unscrupulous rascals running the nearby Ferry Inn, fearing Tang Fang might be in danger.
Xiao Qiushui rushed to the inn, where Tie Xingyue, known as the King of Farts, and Qiu Nangu, known as Iron Mouth, were celebrating Tang Fang’s capture. They had received a secret letter from the Power Gang’s Sword King and intended to hand over Xiao Qiushui, whom they expected to arrive, to gain favor with him.
Xiao Qiushui, feigning to be Xiao Donghuo, a distant relative of Xiao Qiushui, and claiming that Tang Fang had fallen out with Xiao Qiushui, demanded an antidote for the unconscious Tang Fang. He then cleverly manipulated the simple-minded duo by suggesting that if they had handed Tang Fang over to Zuo Changsheng, the First Cave Demon, as they claimed, Zuo Changsheng would extract information about Xiao Qiushui and claim all the credit with the Sword King, stealing their glory.
Convinced, Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu, now seeing Xiao Qiushui (as "Xiao Donghuo") as a friend, agreed to help him retrieve Tang Fang from Zuo Changsheng. Meanwhile, Liu Suifeng received an update that Sword King's men had captured Tang Fang. While Xiao Qiushui’s exact whereabouts remained unknown due to the Sword King’s control over Guangling, Liu Suifeng deduced he would seek help from Qu Hanshan. He reinforced the importance of securing both Tang Fang and the Hero Token, acknowledging his deep personal concern for Tang Fang.
