The Journey of Legend Episode 13 Recap
> The Journey of Legend Recap
After falling into the cavern, Xiao Qiushui and his companions discovered an old man with messy hair, chained to the cave wall. The man, who looked familiar to some, turned out to be Du Yueshan, the leader of the Mengxiang Sect and one of Guangling's "Three Greats" alongside Qu Hanshan and Gu Junshan. Du Yueshan, in a frenzied state, repeatedly roared about wanting to eat fresh meat, even remarking that unwashed flesh "smells better."
His erratic behavior raised questions among Xiao Qiushui's group, with some wondering if he served Qu Hanshan. Xiao Qiushui, realizing they were trapped and the entrance was blocked by the Sword King, deduced that Du Yueshan must also be a victim of Qu Hanshan. When Xiao Qiushui proposed escaping together, Du Yueshan, consumed by his hunger, lunged at them.
During the struggle, Tang Fang was inadvertently caught by the chains and pulled towards him, but Xiao Qiushui quickly intervened, using his sword to free her. The group was surprised to learn the madman was the renowned Du Yueshan. Xiao Qiushui quickly surmised that Du Yueshan was afflicted with the Power Gang's Bat Toxin, which had caused him to lose his sanity.
Tang Fang confirmed that draining his internal energy by striking his Jingmen and Baihui acupoints could cure him, though he would lose his martial arts. Despite Du Yueshan's formidable and frenzied state, Xiao Qiushui decided they had to act. The four united their efforts, targeting his acupoints. Du Yueshan was subdued and fell unconscious, his toxin dissipating with his internal energy, indicating he would soon recover.
However, their predicament worsened as Kang Chuyu's men began setting fires outside the cave entrance, attempting to smoke them out. Realizing they had no other option, Xiao Qiushui led the group, carrying the unconscious Du Yueshan, toward the sound of water. They arrived at a cavern with a waterfall endlessly cascading from above.
Though initially it appeared to be a dead end, Xiao Qiushui, observing the continuous flow of live water, speculated that an exit might lie beneath the pool, requiring them to explore its depths. Du Yueshan eventually regained consciousness. Tang Fang introduced herself, Tie Xingyue, and Qiu Nangu, and confirmed Du Yueshan's identity with his token.
He recounted his ordeal, explaining that the "wicked Qu Hanshan" had lured him there for a duel and then imprisoned him for years with Binding Chains, attempting to force him to reveal the Mengxiang Swordplay. Learning that Xiao Qiushui was from the Huanhua Xiao family, Du Yueshan cautioned him against leaving the cave. He revealed that Liu Suifeng of the Power Gang harbored a deep blood feud against the Xiao family, and if discovered, Xiao Qiushui would not escape alive.
Xiao Qiushui vehemently denied the existence of any such feud and declared his resolve to confront both the Power Gang and Liu Suifeng. Despite the warning, Xiao Qiushui remained determined to find an exit, questioning Du Yueshan about the pool's depths since he had been trapped there for so long. Du Yueshan, acknowledging Xiao Qiushui's sharp mind, disclosed that years of confinement had allowed him to understand the cave's structure.
There was a narrow fissure at the bottom of the pool, too small for a person to pass. He explained that his Mengxiang Swordplay included a technique to gather water with sword energy, allowing him to cleave a path through the water. However, having lost his internal energy, he could not fully execute the moves.
Thus, Du Yueshan offered to teach the Mengxiang Swordplay to one of them, believing that a quick grasp of its essence would be enough for their escape. After Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu eagerly but unsuccessfully offered themselves, Du Yueshan chose Xiao Qiushui, noting his decent aptitude. Although Xiao Qiushui initially hesitated, his companions urged him on, emphasizing that their escape depended on him. Xiao Qiushui accepted, and Du Yueshan immediately began imparting the swordplay to him.
Liu Suifeng sought out Qu Hanshan, who, upon Liu's arrival, remarked on his presence in Guangling and cautioned him against meddling in his affairs. Liu Suifeng responded by highlighting that both of them had been outsmarted by the cunning Xiao Qiushui, who, if pushed too hard, would rather destroy everything than allow others to benefit. He advised Qu Hanshan to step back and observe Xiao Qiushui's next moves.
Qu Hanshan, however, was concerned about Xiao Qiushui knowing his true identity and insisted he could not let him live. Liu Suifeng, leveraging Qu Hanshan's influence in Guangling, suggested twisting the truth about Xiao Qiushui and prioritizing the search for the Hero Token. He explained that after investigations, it was clear the true Hero Token was either in the Xiao Residence or with Xiao Qiushui.
Since the one with Xiao Qiushui had proven fake, the real one must be in the Xiao Residence. Despite their long-standing animosity and Qu Hanshan's initial surprise at Liu Suifeng's offer of cooperation, the allure of the Hero Token was too strong to ignore. Liu Suifeng revealed that the Sword Retreat possessed a self-destruct mechanism, which would activate explosives if an attempt was made to force entry, thus destroying the Hero Token. Therefore, internal access was necessary.
Since Liu Suifeng was already exposed, he proposed that Qu Hanshan, under the guise of aiding the Xiao family due to his esteemed reputation in Guangling, could gain entry to the Sword Retreat. Xiao Yiren, he predicted, would surely seek Qu Hanshan's help. Liu Suifeng suggested Qu Hanshan agree to infiltrate the Sword Retreat. Qu Hanshan voiced concerns that Xiao Qiushui, if left alive, might disrupt their plans.
Liu Suifeng assured him that Xiao Qiushui was not a threat and that dealing with him was well within his capabilities, only asking that Xiao Qiushui be left alive for him to exact his revenge. Qu Hanshan, impressed by Liu Suifeng's "killing two birds with one stone" strategy, agreed to the plan. Xiao Qiushui, proving to be a quick study, swiftly mastered the Mengxiang Swordplay.
Despite the inherent dangers and the energy-consuming nature of the technique, he plunged into the pool, successfully using the swordplay to cleave open a path through the water, creating an exit. As the pursuing guards closed in, Xiao Qiushui urged his companions to jump and follow him through the newly opened waterway. Meanwhile, a guard reported to Qu Hanshan that Xiao Qiushui had escaped through the waterways. Coincidentally, Xiao Yiren had just arrived at Qu Hanshan's residence.
Seeing this as "perfect timing," Qu Hanshan decided to prioritize meeting Xiao Yiren, momentarily setting aside the matter of Xiao Qiushui's escape. Xiao Yiren, accompanied by Kaiyan, arrived at Qu Hanshan's residence, seeking his assistance against the Power Gang's siege on their family. Qu Hanshan, however, was immediately hostile, accusing the Huanhua Sect of repeatedly provoking him. Xiao Yiren respectfully explained their plea for justice, acknowledging Qu Hanshan's reputation as Guangling's "Pillar of Justice."
Qu Hanshan then angrily recounted how Xiao Qiushui had recently led "riffraff" to his residence, made a scene, and "tarnished" his reputation by branding him as the Power Gang's Sword King and accusing his household of being Power Gang members. He claimed Xiao Qiushui intended to publicly ruin his fame and thus refused to aid the Xiao family.
A guard chimed in, suggesting Xiao Qiushui's companions were far more suspicious than Qu Hanshan's people and that Xiao Qiushui was making things up and, if unchecked, would disgrace their family and become a scourge to the martial world. Xiao Yiren was astonished by these accusations. While he admitted Xiao Qiushui did associate with various people, he couldn't believe his brother would act so baselessly.
Suspecting a misunderstanding or that Xiao Qiushui might have been tricked, Xiao Yiren decided to return immediately to investigate the matter, instructing Kaiyan to seek help from Master Ge of the Blade Hall. Xiao Qiushui intended to bring Du Yueshan to the Guangling Villa for treatment, believing his sister, Xiao Xueyu, skilled in medicine, could heal his internal injuries before arranging his return to Mengxiang.
However, Du Yueshan, feeling utterly disgraced by his years of imprisonment and half-destroyed cultivation, refused to be seen in such a wretched state by more martial artists. He declared he would rather die than have his humiliation spread throughout the martial world. Accepting some silver from Xiao Qiushui for his journey, Du Yueshan departed. As Du Yueshan left, Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu approached Xiao Qiushui.
Having witnessed his acts of heroism, they expressed their desire to join him, initially hoping to become disciples of the Huanhua Sect. Xiao Qiushui explained that joining Huanhua was a complex process beyond his sole discretion. Instead, he invited them to join the Shenzhou Alliance, an organization he described as welcoming all righteous individuals, regardless of their background, to be sworn brothers.
Delighted by the prospect of joining a "large sect" and becoming "sworn brothers," Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu enthusiastically accepted, pledging their loyalty to Xiao Qiushui. Tang Fang, however, voiced skepticism, questioning the informality of the Shenzhou Alliance and whether such members would flee in times of crisis. Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu retorted, feeling insulted, before leaving. Xiao Qiushui, Tang Fang, Tie Xingyue, and Qiu Nangu soon arrived at the Guangling Villa.
Xiao Yiren, greeting Tang Fang with courtesy, immediately ordered Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu to be driven out, referring to them as "gutter trash." Xiao Qiushui attempted to explain that Qu Hanshan was the Power Gang's Sword King and had tricked Xiao Yiren, insisting that Qu Hanshan's residence was the Power Gang's den. However, Xiao Yiren, already influenced by Qu Hanshan's earlier accusations, refused to believe him, threatening to use family law if Xiao Qiushui persisted.
Xiao Xueyu intervened, urging calm. Xiao Yiren expressed his frustration, stating that Xiao Qiushui was making enemies at a crucial time, pushing their family into deeper trouble. Xiao Qiushui countered by explaining that Qu Hanshan had framed him to conceal his true identity and that Gu Junshan had been killed by Qu Hanshan on the spot for discovering Kang Chuyu's true identity as the Nameless Demon.
Xiao Yiren, however, was skeptical, citing Qu Hanshan's long-standing impeccable reputation and the unlikelihood of such a prominent figure being part of the Power Gang. He recounted Qu Hanshan's version of events, where Kang Chuyu was lured for arrest, but Xiao Qiushui disrupted it, allowing Kang Chuyu to escape and framing Qu Hanshan. Tang Fang corroborated Xiao Qiushui's account, stating they had witnessed Qu Hanshan's deceit and that Kang Chuyu and Qu Hanshan were indeed in league.
Xiao Yiren dismissed Tang Fang's testimony, criticizing the Tang Sect's inaction during the siege of Sword Retreat. Amidst this heated exchange, a challenge letter arrived from Qu Hanshan. In the letter, Qu Hanshan demanded a duel at his manor the following day to clear his name, as Xiao Qiushui had "slandered" him and tarnished his reputation. Tang Fang immediately expressed concern for Xiao Qiushui's safety.
Xiao Yiren, troubled by the implications, recognized that accepting the challenge would make Xiao Qiushui a public enemy in Guangling and isolate the Xiao family. He volunteered to fight in Xiao Qiushui's stead but also confined Xiao Qiushui to his room, forbidding him from leaving without permission until the truth was cleared. Xiao Qiushui argued that Qu Hanshan merely wanted to silence him and that their priority should be to rescue their parents and secure the Sword Retreat.
Xiao Yiren, however, believed that offending Qu Hanshan meant offending the entire Guangling martial circle, making external help impossible. He also dismissed seeking help from distant sects like Shaolin or Wudang as impractical, urging Xiao Qiushui to resolve his immediate problems. Xiao Yiren continued his efforts to gather support, visiting several sects. However, all refused to help, fearing to offend Qu Hanshan, who commanded the loyalty of sixteen major sects in Guangling.
During this time, Weng Yueying of the Bishan Sect arrived at the villa, welcomed by Xiao Yiren and Kaiyan. She initially expressed her sect leader's willingness to help, but noted that Xiao Qiushui's conflict with Qu Hanshan complicated matters.
She then cast doubt on Xiao Qiushui's claims, stating that Gu Junshan was "perfectly fine" and that she had personally seen him off after he concluded discussions with her sect leader that very day, directly contradicting Xiao Qiushui's assertion that Qu Hanshan had killed him.
Nan Gongxiaoyi further reinforced the doubts, reporting that Tie Xingyue and Qiu Nangu had previously expressed a desire to join the Power Gang and were close to the "First Cave Demon," suggesting they might be spies sent to mislead Xiao Qiushui. Xiao Yiren began to believe Qu Hanshan's narrative, concluding that Xiao Qiushui had been deceived into misjudging the situation.
Xiao Xueyu, while acknowledging that Xiao Qiushui might have fallen into a trap, emphasized the urgency of resolving the conflict with Qu Hanshan to secure Guangling's support, lest the Xiao family become utterly isolated. Weng Yueying then offered to mediate, leveraging her past acquaintance with Qu Hanshan from a joint mission. Xiao Yiren, grateful, accepted her offer and, with Kaiyan, decided to visit Qu Hanshan to apologize, hoping to uncover the truth if Qu Hanshan proved to be deceitful.
Meanwhile, Tang Fang, overhearing these conversations, used a dart to relay the developments to Xiao Qiushui, who was confined to his room. He quickly surmised that Weng Yueying was also an agent of the Power Gang, a testament to Qu Hanshan's far-reaching influence. Trapped and unable to act, Xiao Qiushui attempted to leave his room to confront his brother, but Shinian, acting under Xiao Yiren's orders, prevented him.
Xiao Xueyu visited, expressing her belief in Xiao Qiushui's integrity but also her inability to secure his release without concrete evidence to sway Xiao Yiren. Xiao Qiushui reiterated his conviction that Weng Yueying was allied with the Power Gang and that the news about Gu Junshan was false, as he had witnessed Qu Hanshan kill him.
He urged Xiao Xueyu to stop Xiao Yiren from walking into a trap, but she explained that their pleas for aid had been rejected across Guangling and Wubei, and further impulsive action would only worsen their situation. Alone, Xiao Qiushui resolved that despite being grounded and Qu Hanshan's cunning, he could still act.
He determined that his immediate goal was to acquire Xiao Yiren's Sect Leader's Token, believing it might be the key to altering their fate and confronting the Sword King and the Power Gang. As predicted by Liu Suifeng, Xiao Yiren returned to Qu Hanshan's residence, earnestly seeking his help once more.
Qu Hanshan, following Liu Suifeng's strategy to use the Xiao family's "sense of justice" to deliver a final blow to Xiao Qiushui, agreed to convene a meeting the following day at the Forest of Justice. There, he would gather representatives from sixteen Guangling sects to discuss providing aid to the Sword Retreat, but only on the condition that Xiao Qiushui publicly apologize to him. Xiao Yiren and Kaiyan felt confident in Qu Hanshan's trustworthiness after their interactions.
Xiao Xueyu was informed of the arrangement and, although concerned for Xiao Qiushui, agreed that he would have to apologize publicly as a lesson and that Qu Hanshan, being highly respected, likely wouldn't be overly harsh in front of all the sect leaders. Xiao Xueyu planned to stay behind to prepare for the relief efforts, while Xiao Yiren and Kaiyan would accompany Xiao Qiushui to the Forest of Justice.
Meanwhile, Tang Fang, Tie Xingyue, and Qiu Nangu, aware of Xiao Qiushui's desire for the Sect Leader's Token, discussed the seemingly "absurd" idea of stealing it. Despite not knowing Xiao Qiushui's exact reasons, they trusted his judgment and resolved to support him, believing he always had a good rationale for his unconventional actions.
