Word of Honor Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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Rumors spread in the martial world that twenty years ago, the evil Rong Xuan was executed at Mount Qingya by the Five Lakes Alliance and heroes from across the land. Before his death, he left behind an arsenal that could render a person invincible overnight. To open the arsenal, one must first find the Glazed Armor. All factions began to covet the treasure, secretly searching for the Glazed Armor. Far in the north, Prince Jin also began stirring.

He secretly cultivated a large number of Window of Heaven spies and assassins to murder key officials in court. Officer Li of Zhenwu Command submitted a memorial to the court, accusing Prince Jin of plotting rebellion. Upon hearing this, Prince Jin sent Zhou Zishu, leader of Window of Heaven, to assassinate Officer Li's entire family. In the dead of night, countless Kongming lanterns floated over the Command's residence. The guards shot one down, igniting a blazing fire.

Amidst the chaos, three masked figures descended from the sky and quickly slaughtered all the guards in the compound. A swordsman in green arrived to rescue Officer Li. He engaged in fierce combat with the masked intruders and carved a bloody path through them. Grabbing Officer Li’s hand, he leapt over walls trying to escape via the rooftops, only to be stopped by the masked Zhou Zishu. Zhou Zishu forced Officer Li to hand over a secret letter.

The swordsman in green refused, and they fought fiercely. In the clash of blades, the swordsman tore off the leader’s mask—Officer Li was shocked to discover that the Window of Heaven leader was Zhou Zishu. Officer Li urged him to turn back from the wrong path and not aid the wicked. Zhou Zishu ignored him, slashed him dead, and took the secret letter.

Zhou Zishu and Princess Jing An, daughter of Officer Li, were senior and junior disciples under the same master. She was also the lover of Zhou Zishu’s close friend Qin Jiuxiao. Zhou Zishu informed her of her father’s death. Grief-stricken, she was given a bottle of poison by Zhou Zishu, who honored her act of delivering Qin Jiuxiao’s remains to the Four Seasons Manor. With tears in her eyes, she drank the poison.

Zhou Zishu watched her die from the poison, still clutching the hairpin carved by Qin Jiuxiao, his heart overwhelmed by mixed emotions. Zhou Zishu returned to report to Prince Jin. Upon learning that Bi Zhangfeng had made a grave mistake in taking down the Commandant, Prince Jin insisted he leave Window of Heaven. Enraged, he ordered Zhou Zishu to personally execute Bi Zhangfeng. Zhou Zishu returned to the now-empty Four Seasons Manor, overwhelmed with emotion.

Ten years ago, he had arrived in Jinzhou with 81 brothers—now only he and Bi Zhangfeng remained. Bi Zhangfeng had loyally followed Zhou Zishu for years and gradually came to see Prince Jin's true nature. He advised Zhou Zishu to stop being Prince Jin's lapdog—even if he became a cripple, he should still leave Window of Heaven.

Window of Heaven had a rule: those who left had to undergo the punishment of the Nails of Seven Torments—iron nails driven into different parts of the body, stripping one of all senses and speech. After three years, the person would die when their life force was completely drained. Even so, Bi Zhangfeng was willing to endure this to leave. Zhou Zishu reluctantly drove seven nails into Bi Zhangfeng’s body. Bi Zhangfeng endured the excruciating pain motionless.

Zhou Zishu, having seen all his brothers die tragically, was heartbroken and fell seriously ill, coughing up blood. Prince Jin was unhappy to hear that Zhou Zishu was in seclusion to recuperate, and summoned him through the Window of Heaven command. In truth, Zhou Zishu had long prepared to leave. Every three months, he drove a nail into his own body—he had already embedded six.

Though it meant he would only live for three more years, his senses would gradually fade, and he could still retain half his martial skills. Zhou Zishu arrived on time to see Prince Jin and presented the punishment of the Nails of Seven Torments, asking Prince Jin to embed the final nail. Prince Jin pleaded bitterly for Zhou Zishu to stay and help him conquer the land, but Zhou Zishu was determined.

Prince Jin flew into a rage and declared that he would one day march into the Central Plains and become emperor. Prince Jin ordered Duan Pengju to drive the final nail into Zhou Zishu and appointed him the new leader of Window of Heaven. Duan Pengju, having longed for this position, accepted eagerly. After leaving Window of Heaven, Zhou Zishu donned a specially prepared mask and roamed the martial world under a new identity.

In Mount Qingya, there was a Ghost Valley, whose Chief commanded the Ten Devils and over 3,000 minions. Hanging Ghost had stolen the Glazed Armor from the Chief and was being pursued. He narrowly escaped, only to be killed by someone else. The Chief ordered the valley to mobilize fully to find Hanging Ghost—whoever found the Glazed Armor would become head of the Ten Devils. Three months passed quickly. Zhou Zishu wandered into Yuezhou City, bustling with people.

He leaned against a bridge, basking in the sun. Gu Xiang and Wen Kexing were drinking in an inn across the street. Zhang Chengling from the Mirror Lake Sect, one of the Five Lakes Alliance, happened to pass by. He asked his attendant Xiao Wu for money to give Zhou Zishu. Zhou Zishu firmly refused. Gu Xiang, curious, offered him a pot of wine.

Zhou Zishu drank it all in one gulp and boasted that he only wanted wine, not money. Gu Xiang thought he was scamming drinks and attacked him. Zhou Zishu dodged left and right. Gu Xiang pulled out a whip and tried to strike him down. Wen Kexing arrived in time to stop her.

Episode 2 Recap

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