Word of Honor Episode 16 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
Witnessing Deng Kuan's suicide before him, Gao Chong was devastated. He defiantly stood before the martial arts sects, declaring that he had lived his life with integrity, owing nothing to the heavens or his martial arts brethren, and that despite being entrapped in a complex scheme, his conscience was clear. Shen Shen immediately pledged to live and die with Gao Chong. Huang He, however, rallied the crowd against Gao Chong and Shen Shen.
Mu Si Yuan, who had lost a son in the Mount Qingya battle, was the first to charge, but Gao Chong merely broke his sword, not inflicting a fatal blow. Observing the suspicious turn of events, the elder of the Qingfeng Sword Sect discreetly withdrew his disciples, deeming the situation too murky to get involved. Huang He then commanded the Beggar Gang to attack Gao Chong and Shen Shen.
Zhou Zishu, seeing Zhang Cheng Ling caught in the escalating conflict, attempted to lead him to safety. Zhao Jing intervened, blocking Zhou Zishu. Unaware of Zhou Zishu's true identity, Huang He offered to help him rescue Zhang Cheng Ling. Zhou Zishu responded with a barrage of insults, prompting Huang He to order his disciples to attack. As Huang He lunged to kill Zhang Cheng Ling, Wen Ke Xing arrived just in time, shielding the boy.
With Gao Chong surrounded, Zhang Cheng Ling watched in fear. Gao Chong urged Zhou Zishu and Wen Ke Xing to take Zhang Cheng Ling to safety, and they complied. Gao Chong and Shen Shen fought valiantly but were overwhelmed. Feng Xiaofeng seized the opportunity to knock over the Five Lakes Monument. Gao Shan, Gao Chong's loyal subordinate, rushed to his aid but was fatally stabbed by Feng Xiaofeng.
As the monument crashed to the ground, Gao Chong's hopes shattered, and he let out a wrenching cry of despair over Gao Shan’s tragic death. Zhao Jing implored Gao Chong to surrender the Glazed Armor, while Huang He continued to pressure him.
Zhao Jing knelt before Huang He, begging him to spare Gao Chong and urging his older brother to abandon his stubbornness for the sake of Gao Xiaolian, so she wouldn't have to carry the burden of their generation's sins. Gao Chong, after much deliberation, agreed to hand over the Glazed Armor, hoping for Gao Xiaolian to live an ordinary life. Shen Shen tried to intervene, but Gao Chong, having made his decision, knocked him unconscious.
Gao Chong then furiously accused the assembly of using despicable methods to frame him and force him to surrender the Glazed Armor. He produced three pieces of Glazed Armor, publicly severed his ties with the Five Lakes Alliance, crushed the armor into fragments, and cast them to the ground, much to Huang He's anguish. As heavy rain poured down, Gao Chong charged into the ruins of the Five Lakes Monument, dying instantly.
Zhang Cheng Ling wept uncontrollably, held by Zhou Zishu, while Wen Ke Xing stood in shock, haunted by the countless lives lost due to the Glazed Armor. Wen Ke Xing, Zhou Zishu, and Zhang Cheng Ling sought shelter in a cave. Standing at the entrance, Wen Ke Xing mused about his own villainy and the ironic turn of events, confessing that he had come to gloat at others' misfortune, only to find himself a player in the very same drama.
He wondered if he had been "too smart for his own good." Zhou Zishu, however, retorted that Wen Ke Xing was merely "too dumb for his own good," criticizing him for his emotional reaction to being outmaneuvered. Zhou Zishu explained that the intricate scheme was orchestrated by a mastermind, perhaps more than one, whose true motives remained unclear, though he suspected it was beyond just the Glazed Armor.
He highlighted Zhao Jing's cunning, noting how Zhao Jing had masterfully retreated at crucial moments, pretending to be weak, and completely absolving himself of blame. Zhou Zishu recalled Zhao Jing's old nickname, "Zhao Xuan De," remarking on his superb act of feigned tears and moral persuasion to win over the masses.
Zhou Zishu elaborated that while truth is elusive and a scheme hard to plan, even the most elaborate plot can be broken by unforeseen circumstances, such as human betrayal or a sudden storm. He emphasized that the truly perfect scheme adapts continuously, requiring the controller only to guide it with timely nudges. He pointed out that while human hearts are unpredictable, human nature is easily manipulated, as endless greed is an inherent part of it.
Zhou Zishu warned Wen Ke Xing against his persistent belief in being able to see through human nature, reminding him of his repeated errors, from the Four Sages of Anji to Gao Chong. Wen Ke Xing, unwavering, declared his goal to banish all demons from this world back to the eighteen layers of hell, and Zhou Zishu promised to assist him wholeheartedly.
It was revealed that Zhao Jing was indeed the orchestrator of the entire conspiracy and was the Scorpion King's godfather. Zhao Jing praised Scorpion King for using sorcery to muddle Deng Kuan's mind, leading to his suicide, acknowledging that it would have been difficult to bring down Gao Chong otherwise.
Zhao Jing, who had feigned weakness for over twenty years, reveled in his success, stating that Gao Chong’s heavy burdens and their twenty-year long game had finally led to his downfall. He lamented that the plan hadn't gone perfectly due to Tao Hong and Lv Liu kidnapping Gao Xiaolian. However, he decided to let Gao Xiaolian live and thrive, intending to use her as a living testament to his own "righteous and loyal" character.
Scorpion King recounted how he had killed Song Huai Ren, another of Zhao Jing's godsons, for refusing to hand over the Glazed Armor without a proper token, confirming his own loyalty and ensuring no one else could ruin their plans. Zhao Jing then entrusted the complete Glazed Armor to Scorpion King, who proudly wore it around his neck, declaring him his only trusted son.
Zhao Jing further instructed Scorpion King to pacify Mu Si Yuan, explaining that even an "idiot" like Mu Si Yuan could serve as a "lead sheep" to guide the "sheep herd" of the martial arts world wherever they desired, even into a "wolves' den." He proclaimed that with their united efforts, the entire martial arts world and the realm would eventually fall into their hands.
Meanwhile, Shen Shen, disheartened by Gao Chong’s death, resolved to find Gao Xiaolian and retire with her to the bamboo forests of Mount Dagu, leaving the Five Lakes Alliance to Zhao Jing. Zhao Jing feigned concern, trying to persuade Shen Shen to stay, but Shen Shen's mind was made up. Scorpion King proposed killing Shen Shen to eliminate any future threats, but Zhao Jing forbade it.
He desired Shen Shen to live and witness his ultimate triumph, so that his lifelong ambition would not be a "walk in the dark" without an old friend as a witness. Zhao Jing then handed Scorpion King a list of names, ordering him to eliminate them brutally, leaving no survivors, to instill fear as a means of control, not just greed.
Ye Bai Yi then arrived, bringing Long Xiao with him to Zhou Zishu, Wen Ke Xing, and Zhang Cheng Ling. Wen Ke Xing immediately began to ridicule Ye Bai Yi, calling him an "old toad monster" and taunting him about his martial arts. An argument quickly escalated into a near-fight, which Zhou Zishu managed to de-escalate, suggesting they choose a sunny day for their duel instead of fighting in the rain.
Zhang Cheng Ling, who had hoped the sack Ye Bai Yi carried contained Gao Xiaolian, was disappointed to find it was Long Xiao. Ye Bai Yi explained that Long Xiao was the "key" to unraveling the twenty-year-old mysteries surrounding Rong Xuan and the Glazed Armor, as the Longyuan Cabinet held these secrets.
