The Journey of Legend Episode 7 Recap
> The Journey of Legend Recap
The alarm sounded throughout the Sword Retreat as the woodshed burst into flames. Xiao Qiushui immediately recognized this as a diversion and, taking his men, rushed to Zhenmei Pavilion, where Madam Wu was hidden. There, Tang Fang had already engaged Qiu, who had been stealthily approaching the pavilion. Tang Fang recounted how she had followed Qiu after noticing his suspicious behavior, only for him to attack her on sight.
As Xiao Qiushui and Xiao Xilou arrived, surrounding Qiu, the traitor took his own life. Xiao Xilou, lamenting the betrayal, revealed that Qiu, a long-time family servant, was actually a mole for the Power Gang. Xiao Qiushui then pressed the servants for details of Qiu's day. A servant reported that Qiu had cleaned the Sword Retreat, visited the woodshed, and even helped an old servant named Zhang water flowers.
Realizing the grim implication, Xiao Qiushui exclaimed, "Father, Mother, he watered the flowers to poison!" He instantly ordered that no one was to draw water from the well and commanded an immediate investigation into its contamination. Xiao Xilou confirmed their fears, stating, "We only have one well. The well water is poisoned. All of us are targeted." Sun Huishan, horrified, remembered she had just had soup made with well water sent to Madam Wu.
Rushing back, they found Madam Wu, who calmly assured them, "I've not eaten the soup yet." With the deception exposed, Xiao Xilou introduced Madam Wu to everyone present. Madam Wu expressed her gratitude, explaining that she was on her way to Xianren Pass to find her son when she was intercepted in Jinzhong by martial artists demanding the Hero Token. She attributed her safety and refuge to Xiao Xilou's timely intervention.
Qu Jianchi then respectfully asked, "Madam Wu, you're not from the martial world. Why do they think you have the Hero Token?" Madam Wu recounted the history of the Hero Token. Thirteen years ago, when the North Wasteland armies invaded the Daxi Era, causing immense suffering, the leaders of the Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei sects united. They forged the Hero Token from a celestial spar, swearing to grant it to anyone who could save the Daxi Era.
It was Yan Kuangtu who achieved this, infiltrating the North Wasteland camp, killing many elite soldiers, and nearly assassinating their commander. Though he received the Hero Token, Yan Kuangtu's arrogance made him an outcast, and he vanished after an ambush on Mount Wuxing. Recently, a falcon delivered the token to her. Madam Wu concluded her tale with sorrow, lamenting that the Hero Token had brought bloodshed and now calamity to the Xiao family, causing her great distress.
Xiao Xilou acknowledged the grave situation but reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Madam Wu and delivering the Hero Token to General Wu, a national hero who alone deserved it. He emphasized the urgency, as they had only two days to escort her, and the poisoned well left them with dwindling water supplies. Xiao Qiushui, seeking a solution, asked his father how long their remaining water would last if a portion of their people left.
Xiao Xilou replied that it could sustain them for twenty days. Xiao Qiushui then proposed a daring plan: he would lead a contingent to break out and draw the Power Gang's attention, while a separate group would escort Madam Wu to safety. He suggested using an impersonator as "bait to mislead them." Madam Wu, concerned about others risking their lives for her, expressed her unease, but Xiao Qiushui bravely declared, "I will draw them away."
He reassured his mother, Sun Huishan, that he had grown up, and with his elder siblings away, it was his responsibility to act for their family and the Sword Retreat. Before Xiao Qiushui's departure, Sun Huishan, her eyes filled with worry, admonished him, "Countless enemies await outside. You must protect yourself." Xiao Xilou urged her to trust their son, who had matured and had a well-considered plan.
Xiao Qiushui, apologizing for not spending more time with his parents, promised to protect himself, adding that he still longed for his mother's noodles. His mother then presented him with her "Hundred Treasures Bag," filled with various trap mechanisms, instructing him to use them "in the most treacherous way possible." Xiao Xilou, with a chuckle, admitted he had "been tricked by your mother before."
Xiao Qiushui reiterated his commitment to seek aid from the Jinzhong sects to repel the Power Gang once Madam Wu was safe, promising to gather support and return to rescue the Sword Retreat within twenty days. As the breakout commenced, Xiao Qiushui's elaborate plan unfolded: the group split into four. Mr. Qu, Mr. Meng, and Ironclad Constable led Group Dragon, serving as the main decoy.
To confuse and divide the enemy, an impersonator of Madam Wu, disguised under a black hat and escorted by others in black cloaks, would break out with two other groups. Xiao Qiushui, along with Master Kang, would lure the Power Gang deep into the forest.
He had previously instructed Tang Fang and Liu Suifeng, accompanied by Group Phoenix, to break through the eastern woods, reminding them to wear gas masks as they would pass through a poisonous forest where the Power Gang would hesitate. He also noted that the enemy wouldn't expect Madam Wu to be separated from Hero Zhang, making their path safer. Meanwhile, Tang Rou, Yuhan, and Zuoqiu were to proceed cautiously uphill, taking a reverse direction that the Power Gang wouldn't anticipate.
Xiao Qiushui, acting as the primary decoy, reflected on his strategy, thinking to himself, "In that case, I'll lure you all here." As Xiao Qiushui lured the Power Gang deeper, Kong Yangqin, the Guqin Demon, confronted him, demanding, "Leave Madam Wu, and I'll spare you." Realizing he had been tricked, Kong Yangqin furiously declared, "Tricking me? You're looking for death!" Xiao Qiushui retorted, "I'm going to send you to your death."
After a fierce struggle, Kong Yangqin fell into a trap, dying with Xiao Qiushui stating, "You slaughtered my family's disciples. Play your guqin on the road to the underworld." Shortly after, Hua Gufen, the Poison Demon, launched a surprise attack, taunting Xiao Qiushui that his tricks would cost him his life. Unfazed, Xiao Qiushui declared, "This is just an appetizer." Hua Gufen demanded Madam Wu's location, threatening to feed Xiao Qiushui to his poison insects.
Xiao Qiushui defiantly proclaimed, "Hua Gufen, the Poison Demon, this place shall be your grave." Hua Gufen then unleashed a venomous insect that embedded itself in Xiao Qiushui's neck, before Hua Gufen himself was caught in another explosion and killed. Tang Fang and Liu Suifeng arrived to find Xiao Qiushui wounded. Tang Fang offered to neutralize the poison, but Xiao Qiushui refused, stating that Xiao Xueyu had provided him with antidotes, which he would take shortly.
Liu Suifeng then inquired about Madam Wu and Tang Rou. Xiao Qiushui confirmed their safety, explaining that he had secretly instructed Tang Rou to escort Madam Wu and Hero Zhang to the cliff behind the mountain, from where they would depart using a specially prepared device. Zhang, who accompanied Madam Wu, later marveled at how the device "actually helped us fly." Madam Wu, having safely traversed the cliff, expressed her relief and commended Xiao Qiushui's clever strategy.
Liu Suifeng then asked why Xiao Qiushui had altered the plan at the last moment. Xiao Qiushui explained that the Power Gang's widespread infiltration and cunning tactics made it impossible to take risks with Madam Wu's life, necessitating the last-minute change. He recalled how he had informed his parents about the need for deception due to Qiu's betrayal and the Power Gang's extensive network of spies.
He had arranged for a maid to impersonate Madam Wu and depart with Liu Suifeng's group, intentionally keeping Liu Suifeng unaware of the switch. When his mother asked about the real Madam Wu, he simply stated he had "other arrangements." With Madam Wu safely evacuated and two Power Gang leaders eliminated, Xiao Qiushui instructed Tang Fang to meet Madam Wu outside of town and warn her about the Power Gang's pervasive infiltration, while he went to Tongfu Inn for information.
At the inn, he received a letter from the innkeeper, stating that the meeting with General Wu's forces had been moved to a new location the following afternoon. He trusted Madam Wu's group had their own means of contact. However, as he prepared to leave, he discovered that Sword King's men were also searching for Madam Wu, as they began to lock down the town, blocking all exits and preventing anyone from leaving.
