Word of Honor Episode 21 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
Scorpion King summoned Lovelace, Happy Ghost, and Changing Ghost, ordering them to eliminate the Fairy Ray Sect. Changing Ghost protested, expressing his weariness of endless fighting and his desire to follow Chief Zhao to quit the life of bloodshed. He argued that the Fairy Ray Sect had no connection to Ghost Valley and wished to withdraw from the mission.
Scorpion King retorted that Chief Zhao valued their killing prowess, mockingly asking if devils who don't kill would instead take up farming. Happy Ghost then rudely interjected, telling Scorpion King that even Chief Zhao wouldn't dare speak to Changing Ghost with such disrespect. In response, Evil Bodhisattva discreetly incapacitated Happy Ghost with a scented powder. Enraged, Changing Ghost demanded the antidote, calling Evil Bodhisattva a wicked witch.
Scorpion King intervened, admonishing Changing Ghost for disrespecting their allies in his presence, but instructed Evil Bodhisattva to provide the antidote. He then reiterated that Chief Zhao had his reasons for sending them to wipe out the Fairy Ray Sect, and if they were unwilling, they could leave, but any future encounter would treat them as foes. Faced with this threat, Changing Ghost reluctantly agreed to comply.
Scorpion King dispatched Pretty Arhat to accompany the trio, ostensibly to ensure success, but secretly to monitor them. He also instructed Evil Bodhisattva to ensure that Pretty Arhat left a few survivors from the Fairy Ray Sect to spread the news of their demise throughout the martial arts world. Scorpion King declared that with the century-old Fairy Ray Sect wiped out by Ghost Valley, no one in the martial arts world would be able to remain indifferent.
Later, Lovelace confronted Changing Ghost about their predicament, with Happy Ghost present. Lovelace mocked Changing Ghost, leader of the Ten Devils, for serving Zhao Jing like a dog. He argued that while Wen Ke Xing was erratic, at least he was "in their boat," sharing their fate, and noted that Wen Ke Xing's recent actions seemed designed to provoke the entire world against them.
Lovelace added that Zhao Jing’s intentions were no different, aiming for both Ghost Valley and the righteous sects to annihilate each other. He expressed his despair, believing that while Changing Ghost might secure a favorable outcome by serving Zhao Jing, he and Happy Ghost, with their blood-soaked pasts, would merely be discarded tools. Changing Ghost dismissed his complaints, stating their betrayal of Wen Ke Xing was a done deal, and accepting Zhao Jing's protection was their only recourse.
He challenged Lovelace to return to Ghost Valley and seek Wen Ke Xing's mercy. Changing Ghost reminded Lovelace, who was newer to the valley, that Wen Ke Xing had seized control not by eating the former Chief as rumored, but by flaying him alive in front of everyone, striking terror into all. Meanwhile, Zhang Cheng Ling, Zhou Zi Shu, and Wen Ke Xing were traveling together.
Zhang Cheng Ling asked why their grand master, Qin Huai Zhang, hadn't taken Wen Ke Xing back to Four Seasons Manor when they met as children. Zhou Zi Shu explained that Qin Huai Zhang had pressing matters and could not take the injured Zhen Ru Yu and his family at the time.
He promised to return in three months, but upon his return, the village had been razed, leaving Qin Huai Zhang with a lifelong regret over his inability to save his second disciple, Zhen Yan (Wen Ke Xing). Zhang Cheng Ling surmised that Wen Ke Xing must have recognized Zhou Zi Shu long ago but refused to acknowledge it.
Zhou Zi Shu believed Wen Ke Xing harbored a painful secret, possibly due to Zhen Ru Yu being an adopted son of the Healer Valley Chief, leading Wen Ke Xing to resent the name "Zhen" as his birth name was Wen. He speculated that Zhen Ru Yu and his wife had likely perished after being expelled from the Healer Valley, a tragedy too painful for Wen Ke Xing to speak of.
Zhou Zi Shu instructed Zhang Cheng Ling not to inquire further if Wen Ke Xing did not bring it up himself. He affirmed that regardless of Wen Ke Xing's acceptance, he would always regard him as his junior fellow disciple, lamenting that good people like Zhen Ru Yu and Rong Xuan often met tragic ends. Wen Ke Xing, who had been secretly listening, then rejoined them. Zhang Cheng Ling affectionately embraced him, calling him "Uncle Master."
Ye Bai Yi, who was also present, inquired why Wen Ke Xing was still there, remarking on how his noble parents could produce such an annoying child. Despite his harsh words, Ye Bai Yi offered to fulfill one of Wen Ke Xing's wishes to atone for his "bastard disciple" Rong Xuan's wrongs against Wen Ke Xing's parents.
Wen Ke Xing's only desire was for Ye Bai Yi to heal Zhou Zi Shu’s injuries, ensuring his lifespan and martial arts remained intact, in exchange for wiping their past grievances clean. Ye Bai Yi, though admitting he couldn’t personally heal Zhou Zi Shu, declared he knew someone who could. He instructed them to wait at Four Seasons Manor and swiftly departed.
Wen Ke Xing, despite joking about Ye Bai Yi's eccentric temperament, was overjoyed, realizing Ye Bai Yi’s departure meant Zhou Zi Shu’s injuries could indeed be cured. Zhou Zi Shu, while skeptical of Ye Bai Yi’s boasting, was encouraged. Zhang Cheng Ling, delighted by the news, exclaimed that they could finally "go home." Meanwhile, Yu Qiu Feng visited Zhao Jing, who expressed disappointment at his absence from the Heroes Conference.
Yu Qiu Feng recounted a prevalent rumor: Luo Fu Meng, also known as the Tragicomic Ghost, was once Zhao Jing’s fiancée. Zhao Jing had jilted her on their wedding day, eloping with the wealthy daughter of the West Zhejiang Observer, driving Luo Fu Meng to madness and turning her into a demoness who sought to kill all unfaithful men.
Yu Qiu Feng feigned disbelief at such scandalous rumors about the upright Zhao Jing, claiming he had already punished those spreading such gossip and urged Zhao Jing to be wary of slanderers. After Yu Qiu Feng's departure, Zhao Jing pondered how these old secrets had resurfaced. He grew suspicious that Yu Qiu Feng was holding Luo Fu Meng, especially after the men he sent to move her had been killed at Yueyang.
Scorpion King, enraged by the rumors, offered to eradicate the Mount Hua Sect, but Zhao Jing cautioned against such rash action. He reminded Scorpion King that Yu Qiu Feng, as a leader of a noble sect, had just left their presence, and attacking his sect immediately would lead to public criticism. Zhao Jing decided to wait until Yu Qiu Feng had left Yueyang, assuring Scorpion King that taking Yu Qiu Feng’s life could be done at any time.
He then instructed a messenger named Wu Yang to deliver a letter to Lovelace at the Ghost Valley fort, noting that most of the ghosts were already on the Fairy Ray Sect mission. Separately, Wen Ke Xing, seeing a secret message from the Thin Affectionate Division, met with two of their surviving members. They recounted their ordeal after Ghoul descended into madness and began craving human flesh, forcing them to flee.
They had later received a message from Beauty Ghost, saying she had rescued their master and was helping her recuperate, advising them to lay low. The women, being weak in martial arts, sought Wen Ke Xing’s guidance, expressing their desire to return to Mount Qingya, the only place they considered home.
Wen Ke Xing sternly forbade them from returning, declaring that in Ghost Valley, one either hunts or is hunted, and without the ability to protect themselves, they had no place there. He ordered them to find refuge elsewhere and never again step foot into Mount Qingya, under penalty of death. Later, Zhang Cheng Ling, frustrated by Zhou Zi Shu’s dry storytelling, begged Wen Ke Xing for a bedtime story.
Wen Ke Xing, relenting, recounted a parable about a traveler caught between wolves above, snakes below, and stinging bees, hanging by a fraying rope in a well. Despite his perilous situation, the traveler found a moment of bliss by tasting honey oozing from a beehive on the wall, forgetting his impending doom. Wen Ke Xing concluded that life itself is but a fleeting dream, and what people desperately chase is merely the fleeting pleasure of that "honey."
Back at Mount Hua, Lovelace arrived, encountering Liu Qianqiao (Green Siren) while searching for Luo Fu Meng. They engaged in a fierce battle, during which Yu Qiu Feng escaped. Lovelace subdued Liu Qianqiao and attempted to assault her. Just then, Scorpion King and Evil Bodhisattva arrived. Luo Fu Meng emerged, disoriented and repeatedly calling out "Jing Lang." Scorpion King was visibly stunned by her state.
Lovelace, misinterpreting Scorpion King’s reaction, taunted him about his "heavy taste" for a madwoman, implying Scorpion King was infatuated with Luo Fu Meng. Enraged by the insult, Scorpion King swiftly killed Lovelace. Liu Qianqiao pleaded with Scorpion King to spare Luo Fu Meng, emphasizing her madness. At that moment, Yu Qiu Feng returned, remorseful for his earlier flight. He offered a piece of Glazed Armor in exchange for Liu Qianqiao’s life.
Liu Qianqiao, touched by his return, confessed that the Glazed Armor she had given him earlier was fake, merely a ploy to use him to save her master. Evil Bodhisattva then exposed Yu Qiu Feng as the "world's foremost unfaithful man," detailing how his jealous wife had publicly humiliated and disfigured Liu Qianqiao by parading her naked, while Yu Qiu Feng remained hidden. After this, Liu Qianqiao had joined Ghost Valley.
It was also revealed that Yu Qiu Feng’s next lover was Liu Qianqiao’s sister. Liu Qianqiao knelt before Scorpion King, pledging her servitude if he would release her master. Upon learning that Luo Fu Meng had drunk the Water of Lethe, causing her dementia and memory loss, Scorpion King, perhaps touched by her tragic fate, ordered Evil Bodhisattva to take both Liu Qianqiao and Luo Fu Meng to Scorpion’s branch fort, instructing them to keep their presence secret.
As Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Ke Xing, and Zhang Cheng Ling continued their journey towards Four Seasons Manor, they stopped at a tea stall. They witnessed a group of injured Fairy Ray Sect disciples passing by. The tea stall owner informed them that the Fairy Ray Sect had been burned down two days prior, and its leader, Chevalier Bai, had perished, attributing the attack to Ghost Valley. Zhou Zi Shu, disturbed by the news, decided to investigate.
Around the same time, Gu Xiang and Cao Weining were also traveling and came across the burnt ruins of the Fairy Ray Sect. Gu Xiang found the sight and smell repulsive and criticized the surviving disciples for not burying their comrades. Cao Weining lamented the loss of Leader White, a righteous figure.
He also mused that if they had arrived two days earlier, they might have been able to help, but Gu Xiang cut him off, suggesting they might have simply become more casualties. Despite his limited martial arts, Cao Weining insisted he wouldn't shy away from danger given the close ties between Fairy Ray Sect and his Gentle Wind Sword Sect. They then encountered Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Ke Xing, and Zhang Cheng Ling.
Zhang Cheng Ling, still uncomfortable with the sight of the dead, was advised by Zhou Zi Shu to drink water. Wen Ke Xing questioned why they were getting involved in the Fairy Ray Sect's misfortune when they were headed for Four Seasons Manor. Zhou Zi Shu, taking Wen Ke Xing aside, stated that the nature of the deaths at Fairy Ray Sect indicated professional assassins, not merely random chaos.
He theorized that someone was using Ghost Valley’s name to eliminate rivals and frame them. Wen Ke Xing agreed that the motive would be self-gain. Zhou Zi Shu reflected that he initially suspected Gao Chong, but now believed there was another master manipulator within the Five Lakes Alliance. He concluded that both Shen and Zhao, one feigning ignorance and the other weakness, were likely complicit, and that Gao Chong's fate was orchestrated by his own "brothers."
Wen Ke Xing added that both men were treacherous and faithless, deserving whatever came their way. However, he expressed concern that if one of them was genuinely loyal and the other deceitful, they might inadvertently harm an innocent party. Zhou Zi Shu retorted, "Who is innocent?" and then dismissed the topic, urging them to continue to Four Seasons Manor.
