Word of Honor Episode 23 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
Shen Shen, having accepted Zhou Zi Shu's previous help, prepares to depart with Zhang Cheng Ling. He confirms his injuries are minor but acknowledges the profound debt he owes the Wen family. His immediate goal is to locate Gao Xiaolian and arrange for her safety at the Mount Dagu Sect.
Expressing concerns about his own fate, Shen Shen makes a heartfelt request to Zhang Cheng Ling: if he should die, Zhang Cheng Ling is to protect Gao Xiaolian, irrespective of any romantic involvement, and ideally bring her to Four Seasons Manor for shelter, as she would be utterly alone. Zhang Cheng Ling solemnly promises to honor his request. Meanwhile, Wen Ke Xing remains unconscious for a full day and night.
Gu Xiang diligently keeps vigil by his side until Zhou Zi Shu relieves her, learning from her that Wen Ke Xing frequently suffered similar episodes as a child. As Zhou Zi Shu checks his pulse, Wen Ke Xing, still in a semi-conscious state, instinctively grasps his hand.
He experiences haunting flashbacks of his harsh upbringing in Ghost Valley, where the former Valley Chief indoctrinated him with a philosophy of brutal survival, grooming him to become the formidable "King of all venomous worms, leader of all evil." Upon regaining consciousness, Wen Ke Xing is enraged to discover that Zhou Zi Shu allowed Shen Shen to leave. He vehemently wished to kill Shen Shen to avenge his parents.
Zhou Zi Shu calmly counters, explaining that Shen Shen, though flawed and selfish, was ultimately a victim of manipulation and has endured years of guilt, making him undeserving of death. He gently persuades Wen Ke Xing to direct his vengeance towards the true mastermind, Zhao Jing, rather than further staining his hands with blood.
Wen Ke Xing, after an impassioned outburst about the suffering of the righteous versus the excuses of villains, reluctantly agrees, deciding that letting Shen Shen live to witness the Five Lake Alliance's demise would be a more profound revenge. Zhou Zi Shu promises to stand with Wen Ke Xing in confronting Zhao Jing once he fully recovers.
Gu Xiang then rushes in, overjoyed to see her master awake, but Wen Ke Xing, still irritable, finds her noisy, prompting Zhou Zi Shu to leave them. Elsewhere, Scorpion King holds Liu Qianqiao and the delirious Luo Fumeng captive. Having learned that the Water of Lethe can make a person forget their deepest obsessions, he orders Liu Qianqiao to find its formula, promising her freedom in return for her cooperation.
Gu Xiang, noticing Wen Ke Xing's underlying turmoil, questions why he was forced to drink the Water of Lethe at such a tender age. Wen Ke Xing reveals that powerful figures sought to erase his memories, but the "blood feud" was too deeply etched to be forgotten. He discloses that his childhood episodes of debilitating headaches, vomiting blood, and comas were the agonizing price of his will fiercely resisting the Water of Lethe's effects.
He admits his fear of eventually succumbing to madness but vows that all his enemies will perish before that day arrives. He sternly rejects Gu Xiang's offer to assist in his revenge, declaring his path leads to hell. Wen Ke Xing then confronts Gu Xiang about her feelings for Cao Weining, forcing her to confess her affection by threatening to harm Cao Weining if she denies it.
He instructs her to return to the Gentle Wind Sword Sect with Cao Weining for a peaceful life, believing its shrewd leader, Mo Huaiyang, will keep the sect out of the brewing conflict, thus ensuring her safety. Gu Xiang tearfully admits that her initial intent in approaching Cao Weining was to glean information about the Glazed Armor for Wen Ke Xing, but she subsequently developed genuine feelings for him.
She pleads with Wen Ke Xing not to target the Gentle Wind Sword Sect, not wanting Cao Weining to be harmed or to hate her. Overwhelmed by her past as the "Heartless Amethyst Fiend" from Ghost Valley, she expresses profound insecurity, fearing that her true identity will inevitably destroy her relationship with Cao Weining. Wen Ke Xing is visibly moved by her distress.
He promises to spare the Gentle Wind Sword Sect and keep her entirely out of Ghost Valley matters, advising her to conceal her past from Cao Weining and to remain on Mount Qingfeng unless he specifically summons her. He dismisses the Glazed Armor as nothing more than a "cover." Following this, Wen Ke Xing calls Cao Weining aside. He recounts rescuing a young Gu Xiang, emphasizing their shared suffering and interdependence.
He tenderly describes Gu Xiang as his cherished sister, almost like a daughter, and credits her with being the sole source of warmth in his life, effectively saving him from utter despair. He implores Cao Weining to take Gu Xiang back to the Gentle Wind Sword Sect the following day, demanding an unyielding promise that he will never betray her, always protect her, and ensure her lifelong happiness and peace.
Cao Weining, deeply touched, pledges a solemn oath to Heaven and Earth, swearing eternal loyalty to Gu Xiang and vowing to take his own life if he ever fails her. Wen Ke Xing, though still cautioning him about the complexities of human nature, accepts his sincere promise. Zhou Zi Shu, having discreetly overheard the conversation, emerges to playfully tease Wen Ke Xing about his fierce "father-in-law" demeanor.
Zhou Zi Shu then inquires why Wen Ke Xing is so eager to send Gu Xiang away. Wen Ke Xing replies that having found his "lifelong reliance" in Zhou Zi Shu, he now wishes to settle Gu Xiang and then retreat with Zhou Zi Shu to live a tranquil, "fairy-like" existence.
Wen Ke Xing takes a sip of Zhou Zi Shu's wine, grimacing at its sour and bitter taste, implicitly hinting at Zhou Zi Shu's fading senses due to his self-inflicted injuries. Zhou Zi Shu dismisses it, blaming the remote location for the poor quality, but promises to unearth a hidden stash of fine wine from the plum forest at Four Seasons Manor upon their return.
Zhang Cheng Ling, oblivious to the underlying meaning, expresses surprise at the mention of a plum forest, prompting Zhou Zi Shu to proudly share the manor's legendary reputation: "Flowers bloom all four seasons, all things in the world are known." Meanwhile, Zhao Jing receives a report from Scorpion King. Unperturbed by the deaths of Long Que and Long Xiao or the alliance of Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu, Zhao Jing unveils the full scale of his intricate plan.
His ultimate objective is to obtain the Armory key from Ghost Valley. He orchestrated the Mirror Lake Manor massacre, the theft at Sanbai Manor, and Ao Laizi's assassination, all to create the illusion that Ghost Valley had stolen the Glazed Armor, thereby sowing chaos in the martial arts world.
When Scorpion King questions why Gao Chong was killed, Zhao Jing erupts in fury, revealing that he endured two decades of servitude under Gao Chong solely to engineer this moment of vengeance. After accepting Scorpion King's apologies, Zhao Jing, learning of the failed attempts to assassinate Zhang Cheng Ling, severely reprimands him. Zhao Jing further elaborates on his current strategy: he intends to exploit the sects' escalating fear of Ghost Valley by publicly disseminating a "Book of Ghosts."
This act will effectively sever any escape routes for the ghosts, forcing them back into Ghost Valley for a decisive annihilation. He plans to manipulate the ghosts into wildly accusing one another, then find a "witness" among them to "prove" that Ghost Valley had deliberately framed the Five Lake Alliance to destabilize the martial world.
By doing so, Zhao Jing will clear the Five Lake Alliance's name, lead the righteous sects in eradicating Ghost Valley, and thereby consolidate his position as the undisputed leader of the martial arts world, wielding both immense power and moral authority. Scorpion King, utterly captivated, profusely praises Zhao Jing's unparalleled genius.
Zhao Jing, however, expresses minor concern about the missing Lovelace (Yu Qiu Feng) but remains confident that with all the sects now actively searching for the ghosts, Lovelace cannot remain hidden indefinitely. The next morning, Cao Weining prepares a carriage and luggage for the journey. Wen Ke Xing, Zhou Zi Shu, and Zhang Cheng Ling are there to bid them farewell. Gu Xiang, feigning anger at Cao Weining, insists on staying with Wen Ke Xing.
Wen Ke Xing playfully "sells" Gu Xiang to Cao Weining for a laughably low sum, then ultimately gives her away for free. Cao Weining, with sincerity, declares that he will return and formally marry Gu Xiang with all traditional rites, including a grand dowry, and pledges a lifetime of devotion, assuaging her fears. Zhou Zi Shu lightheartedly teases Wen Ke Xing for his lack of knowledge regarding marital customs.
