The Vendetta of An Episode 12 Recap
> The Vendetta of An Recaps
Xie Huaian questioned Han Ziling once more about the day Wang Pu captured Gu Yu. Han Ziling vividly recalled seeing the general being dragged toward Zuihua Tower like a dog, his legs immobile and his neck wounded by iron chains. However, after examining the trash collected from the tower, Xie Huaian realized something was wrong.
There were no blood-stained bandages or scents of medicinal ointments, leading him to conclude that Gu Yu’s public imprisonment at Zuihua Tower was merely a diversion. The pair began scouring other refuse piles until they finally discovered a discarded bandage soaked in blood in a different room, revealing the general’s true location. Inside the secret prison, Gu Yu had been passing the time carving a wooden statue of a young woman for his caretaker, Yuan’er.
As she moved to check his healing wounds, Gu Yu presented her with the carving as a reward. However, he also confronted her about the weapon she was hiding. Before the situation could escalate, Gu Yu’s subordinate, Wumei, stormed the room with her men, killing the guards to liberate the general. Though Xie Huaian urged an immediate escape, Gu Yu was consumed by a desire for vengeance.
He refused to leave until the Huben Army paid for the slaughter of his Baiwenhu brothers. Respecting the general's resolve, Xie Huaian helped devise a counter-strike. That night, as Wang Pu moved in to deliver what he thought was a final blow to the Baiwenhu, he walked straight into a trap. Gu Yu appeared on horseback and unleashed an arrow that nearly struck Wang Pu in the forehead.
While Wang Pu managed to flee, he was horrified to find a pile of dead prisoners—an exact retribution matching the number of Baiwenhu soldiers he had previously murdered. The tide of the battle shifted as Wang Pu rallied reinforcements. Realizing the Huben command center was still functional and a counterattack was imminent, Xie Huaian and Han Ziling were forced to flee.
To ensure Gu Yu would escape without hesitation, Xie Huaian sent a Baiwenhu messenger to the general with a false report, claiming they had already broken through the encirclement. Believing his allies were safe, Gu Yu led his remaining men to charge out of the alley. Once clear, Gu Yu realized Xie Huaian was still trapped inside.
He immediately dispatched a rider to the palace with his token, entreating the Emperor to mobilize the Jinwu Guards and the Right Cavalry Guards to wipe out Hidden Soldier Alley and save his friends. Meanwhile, Xie Huaian and Han Ziling were pursued through the labyrinthine streets. They eventually sought refuge in the room that had belonged to Di Lu, the man Xie Huaian had been forced to kill upon first entering the alley.
Han Ziling revealed that he had returned to the cellar to cremate Di Lu’s body and place the ashes in a wine jar, fulfilling the man’s wish to spend eternity with his favorite drink. Xie Huaian was moved by Han Ziling’s loyalty, but their moment of peace was short-lived as the Huben torches drew closer. With the southwest exit only a hundred paces away and the enemy closing in, the situation became a dead end.
Han Ziling realized that only Xie Huaian possessed the strategic mind necessary to eventually defeat Yan Fengshan and dismantle the Huben Army. He insisted on drawing the guards away, telling Xie Huaian that if he truly felt guilty, he should carry the weight of this sacrifice to finish their mission. Han Ziling charged into the street, shouting to attract the soldiers and lead them on a chase.
Xie Huaian watched from atop a ward wall as the Huben soldiers surrounded his friend. Wang Pu approached the captured Han Ziling, mocking his life as a scavenger but offering to record his real name on a gravestone. Han Ziling proudly declared his name, stating it carried the meaning of soaring ambition. Wang Pu lamented that such ambition would end in a gutter before plunging a blade into Han Ziling’s chest. Witnessing his friend's heroic end, a tearful Xie Huaian remained on the wall, burdened by the mission he now had to complete alone.
