The Journey of Legend Episode 28 Recap
> The Journey of Legend Recap
Xiao Yiren invited Xiao Qiushui back to his residence for a meal, a rare gathering for the three brothers. Yiren, wasting no time, directly confronted Qiushui, asking if he had secretly studied the Book of Oblivion. He questioned why Qiushui had suddenly gained such profound internal energy after losing his martial skills, and if Zhao Shirong's claim about Qiushui taking the Supreme Elixir was true.
Yiren also noted that the Hero Token given at the Golden Summit only contained a map, suspecting Qiushui had taken the book beforehand. Xiao Qiushui confirmed he obtained the elixir by chance from Shao Liulei and denied knowing the Hero Token was hidden in Master Zhang's dagger, stating that neither the dagger nor the Hero Token contained the Book of Oblivion. Yiren, however, dismissed this, calling Li Chenzhou a cunning manipulator whose words couldn't be trusted.
Kaiyan tried to mediate, suggesting that if Qiushui truly had the Book, it would be beneficial for the family. Qiushui expressed his weariness with the constant suspicion, arguing that if he had mastered the Book, Li Chenzhou couldn't have overpowered him at the Golden Summit, nor would he have stood by while Heavenly King Zhu deceived the martial world with fake elixirs.
This only angered Yiren further, who accused Qiushui of blaming him for trying to seize the elixir to restore their family's honor. Yiren again pressed Qiushui about the Book of Oblivion, and when Qiushui reiterated his denial, Yiren accused him of keeping it a secret. He declared Qiushui unfit to be the young sect leader for taking the Supreme Elixir, learning unorthodox techniques, and abandoning Huanhua's teachings, demanding he surrender the Sword of Changge.
Qiushui retorted that Yiren's own pursuit of the book was also unorthodox and that the sect would not be revived by one person's obsession. He refused to give up the Sword of Changge, challenging Yiren to take it by force. Yiren, infuriated by Qiushui's refusal and his accusation that Yiren was acting with prejudice, furiously overturned the table and disowned Qiushui as his brother. Qiushui left, lamenting Yiren’s inability to focus on their family's true plight.
Later, as Yiren sat alone drinking, a cloaked figure appeared. The figure shrewdly played on Yiren's jealousy, noting how Xiao Qiushui's martial prowess and reputation had overshadowed Yiren at the Golden Summit. When Yiren dismissed him, the figure suggested that Yiren's current strength was insufficient to surpass Qiushui and revive the sect, proposing he borrow power from "influential figures." The figure offered to connect Yiren with these powerful individuals if he retrieved a specific item from Nantiandang.
Though skeptical, Yiren was convinced when the cloaked figure summoned five exotic experts who would secretly follow and assist him. Meanwhile, Tang Song, held captive in Avici Tower, was rescued by Tang Qing. She revealed that the matriarch had ordered his release. Tang Qing presented an Eagle Flute, explaining that "the other side" had sent it, seeking their help to "play a bigger game."
Elsewhere, Xiao Qiushui was walking when he suddenly felt a chaotic surge of internal energy tormenting him, causing him to collapse. He awoke to find himself bound by iron chains, surrounded by a strange mist. The cloaked figure from before stood over him, revealing the mist to be North Wasteland's Sapping Incense. Qiushui, recognizing the man he had long sought, confronted him, identifying him as "R." R confirmed his identity and expressed admiration for Qiushui's ability to track him.
He refused to reveal his true face until Qiushui's death, stating Qiushui had "another purpose." R began to absorb Qiushui's internal energy, declaring that with it, he would become invincible in the martial world and shake its foundations, which prompted Qiushui to realize R's connection to the Book of Oblivion. However, Qiushui had feigned unconsciousness. He swiftly broke free, stating he had acted convincingly to lure R out. R, impressed by Qiushui's strong internal energy, vanished.
Qiushui pondered R's unnatural techniques, wondering why he sought his internal energy and who he truly was. Returning to Liang's residence, Qiushui had no appetite despite Sancai having saved dinner for him. He informed Sancai that he had met R, confirming it was not Liu Suifeng, and pressed Sancai for information about Li Chenzhou. Sancai revealed Li Chenzhou's secret identity: he was Daxi's royalty, the current emperor's own brother, and the former emperor's legitimate son.
Qiushui, recalling R's use of North Wasteland's Sapping Incense, a rare item obtainable only by North Wasteland experts, concluded that Li Chenzhou, being Daxi royalty, was unlikely to have deep ties to North Wasteland. Sancai agreed, noting the deep animosity between Daxi and North Wasteland would preclude such trust. Qiushui acknowledged this was mere speculation, as he had only met Li Chenzhou once, and resolved to quietly investigate his true motives.
On the appointed day, numerous martial sects converged at Nantiandang. The Power Gang arrived with Zhao Shirong and Blade King leading, while Liu Suifeng and Song Mingzhu followed discreetly. Li Chenzhou was conspicuously absent, prompting concerns from some sects about Power Gang's intentions. Zhao Shirong assured them that Li Chenzhou was delayed but would arrive soon.
She warned everyone about Nantiandang's perilous environment, explaining that its constant toxic fog was not ordinary water vapor but lethal miasma imbued with the poisons of various plants. She urged extreme caution, emphasizing that unknown dangers lay deeper within. Despite the warnings, the sects pressed on, eager for treasure. Zhao Shirong promised rich rewards for the first to find the treasure and compensation for any who perished.
As they advanced, Liu Suifeng questioned Song Mingzhu about Li Chenzhou's absence and their trailing position, to which Song Mingzhu replied that their leader surely had his own plans and they should simply obey. Xiao Qiushui also cautioned his companions about Nantiandang's complexity and dangers. After passing through a poisonous forest, Qiushui suggested they pause to examine their maps, as it was getting late and they had found nothing.
They gathered their maps, and Qiushui pointed out a black pattern that resembled a dragon's silhouette, with a distinct body, claws, and head. Others agreed, identifying the location as "Dragon raising its head." Qiushui deduced that the treasure would be at the highest point. He instructed everyone to split up and search for this location, signaling with fireworks upon discovery. That night, Xiao Qiushui wandered alone when Li Chenzhou appeared.
Li Chenzhou stated that he knew Qiushui distrusted the Power Gang, but asserted they rarely killed innocent people. He explained that during North Wasteland's invasion of Daxi, an organization called Eagle Flute emerged, colluding with the invaders to map the Central Plains. He claimed that all those recently killed by the Power Gang were Eagle Flute lackeys. Qiushui challenged this, asking if even the "respected Diancang Sect" was an Eagle Flute lackey.
Li Chenzhou confirmed that both Diancang and the Xuefu Sect were indeed part of the Eagle Flute. Qiushui then pressed him about the innocent lives lost in his own family. Li Chenzhou claimed he had ordered a siege, not a massacre, of the Xiao family, and that when the second wave of Power Gang members arrived, the Sword Retreat had already fallen, implying that the true killer of Qiushui's family was an internal member. Qiushui was incredulous.
He then accused the Power Gang of killing Tianzheng and Taichan, having witnessed it himself. Li Chenzhou admitted Power Gang's responsibility for their deaths but claimed that someone had impersonated him using "Thousand Faces" and issued the command, resulting in a grave error. He explained that he took Qiushui's parents' remains to investigate their true cause of death, revealing a note with an "R" found near their bodies, whose meaning was unknown to him.
Li Chenzhou suggested they shared a common enemy and mentioned that the Medicine King had identified a unique, rarely known finger technique as the cause of death. Qiushui, internally questioning if Li Chenzhou was truly not R, asked for details about this finger technique. Li Chenzhou promised to return his parents' bodies to Huanhua and provide full details about the technique after their return from Nantiandang.
Qiushui, still wary, questioned Li Chenzhou's true motives for gathering numerous small sects for the treasure hunt, implying he had ulterior motives if the Power Gang could find it alone. Li Chenzhou simply smiled without answering. The next morning, the Shenzhou Alliance discovered the location of the "Dragon's Head." Zhao Shirong, citing the unknown dangers within, suggested that Xiao Qiushui enter first, praising his keen eyesight.
Qiushui accepted, stating that he would go ahead to explore the unknown territory and provide backup upon his return, advising others to wait. Kaiyan, concerned, urged Qiushui to be careful. Other sects, growing impatient and suspicious, tried to force their way in, accusing the Power Gang of plotting to use them and monopolize the treasure. Zhao Shirong defended the decision, reminding them of Qiushui's formidable skills and arguing that if even he couldn't return, their entry would be futile.
She pointed out Qiushui considered the Power Gang an enemy, discrediting the idea of them monopolizing the treasure. The large gate then closed behind Qiushui. After some time with no movement, chaos erupted inside, and Kaiyan, fearing Qiushui was in danger, moved to rescue him.
Zhao Shirong intervened, stating the situation was unclear and ordering the Fuhu Sect, Wuyi Gang, and Guidao Sect to follow her to a suitable location to plant explosives and blast a wall to rescue Qiushui, while others waited. However, some sects defied her, opting to search for alternative entry points.
Meanwhile, Song Mingzhu revealed to Liu Suifeng the Power Gang's true strategy: all other sects were under the influence of the Thousand Kalpas Finger, but Zhu Datianwang had given his followers pills to temporarily suppress its effects to seize the treasure. Thus, any who defied Power Gang's orders would be identified as Zhu Datianwang's people. Song Mingzhu led some Power Gang members to blast through a weak point in the mountain wall.
The Wuyi Gang, Fuhu Sect, and Guidao Sect rushed in through the newly opened passage, discovering mounds of gold. However, upon touching the treasure, they were instantly poisoned. Blade King of the Guidao Sect realized it was a trap and confronted Zhao Shirong. Zhao Shirong, without hesitation, revealed that the Guidao, Wuyi, and Fuhu Sects had colluded with Heavenly King Zhu to secretly destroy Power Gang outposts, and it was time to settle scores.
She mocked Zhu Datianwang for being a coward who dared not show his face. Blade King realized Zhao Shirong had known their treachery all along and accused Nantiandang of being the Power Gang's entire conspiracy. Zhao Shirong swiftly incapacitated him with her water sleeve, stating that their own ulterior motives led them to fall for the trap so easily. Xiao Qiushui, who had navigated the initial dangers and located a treasure chamber, was joined by members of the Shenzhou Alliance.
Wary of the Power Gang's machinations, Qiushui cautiously triggered a mechanism with hidden weapons, unleashing a volley of poisoned arrows. After securing the area, he instructed his allies to carefully collect the gold and jewels, avoiding the poisoned shafts. Just then, Li Chenzhou appeared. Other sect leaders confronted him, reminding him of his promise at Emei's Golden Summit that the treasure hunt was not for personal gain and demanded an explanation for its disposition.
Li Chenzhou responded, acknowledging that the dire situation on the Daxi frontline, where North Wasteland forces were massing and the Wu Army was now on the defensive, necessitated their actions. He asserted that while Power Gang's reputation in the martial world was contentious, they had never acted against Daxi's interests.
When other sects noticed the absence of the Wuyi, Fuhu, and Guidao Sect members and accused Power Gang of killing them, Li Chenzhou firmly stated that they only killed those who deserved to die and that arguing now would waste precious time. He reiterated his pledge: ten percent of the collected treasure would be given to those who helped, and the remaining majority would be dedicated to supporting Daxi's frontline. Yiren, who had also arrived, was stunned by the sheer amount of gold.
