Word of Honor Episode 27 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
Ye Bai Yi, weary from his journey, encountered Zhou Zi Shu waiting for him outside Four Seasons Manor. Ye Bai Yi expressed his frustration, believing Zhou Zi Shu had mocked him by sending him to the Grand Wizard when they were already close friends. He felt foolish for "showing off his acquaintances" to the former Master of Window of Heaven.
Zhou Zi Shu sincerely apologized, explaining he had personal reasons for not seeking medical help from the Grand Wizard and genuinely hadn't realized Ye Bai Yi's friend was the Grand Wizard. Ye Bai Yi then revealed that Wen Ke Xing was the Chief of Ghost Valley.
Zhou Zi Shu calmly stated he was already aware of Wen Ke Xing's true identity, explaining that Wen Ke Xing was the son of Zhen Ru Yu—a close friend of both Ye Bai Yi's disciple, Rong Xuan, and Zhou Zi Shu's own master—making him Zhou Zi Shu's long-lost junior and soulmate. Ye Bai Yi, enraged at being deceived by two "brats," accused Zhou Zi Shu of being "in cahoots" with the Chief of Ghost Valley.
Zhou Zi Shu clarified that he had only learned Wen Ke Xing's identity as Zhen Yan after entering Longyuan Cabinet. He stressed that Wen Ke Xing became his junior first, before entering Ghost Valley, and if they had brought him back to Four Seasons Manor earlier, tragedies might have been averted. He argued that Wen Ke Xing still retained his good nature and the sins of Ghost Valley shouldn't solely fall on him.
Ye Bai Yi dismissed this, reminding Zhou Zi Shu of the "bloodshed" caused by Ghost Valley and accusing him of abandoning "justice" for "brotherhood." He reiterated his oath to "eradicate" Ghost Valley if its devils ever "bring disasters to the world." Zhou Zi Shu offered to share half of Wen Ke Xing's culpability, which Ye Bai Yi found unacceptable.
The tense situation escalated into a fight, and Ye Bai Yi injured Zhou Zi Shu, who adamantly blocked the path to Four Seasons Manor, vowing Ye Bai Yi would have to "step over my body first" to enter. Wen Ke Xing arrived just in time, joining the battle against Ye Bai Yi. He was quickly overwhelmed and severely injured.
As Ye Bai Yi pressed him to "take his own life," Wen Ke Xing defiantly declared he would rather die fighting "this damn world's evils." Zhou Zi Shu intervened, fiercely condemning Ye Bai Yi. He reminded Ye Bai Yi that Wen Ke Xing's parents were killed while protecting Ye Bai Yi's disciple, Rong Xuan, leaving Wen Ke Xing an orphan who "lost his parents at a young age" and was forced into Ghost Valley.
Zhou Zi Shu passionately argued that Ye Bai Yi had no right to judge Wen Ke Xing and that his own Master, Qin Huai Zhang, would have shown compassion, guiding Wen Ke Xing to "change his ways and learn from the good," rather than being "opinionated and indiscriminate." He challenged Ye Bai Yi to "kill both of us" if he wished.
Moved by Zhou Zi Shu's words, Ye Bai Yi relented, warning Wen Ke Xing to remain within Four Seasons Manor or face certain death if he ventured out again. Wen Ke Xing apologized to Zhou Zi Shu for his deception, but Zhou Zi Shu merely teased him for his "cowardly" demeanor, revealing he had already deduced Wen Ke Xing's plan to intercept Ye Bai Yi before he could expose his identity.
As they painfully made their way back, supporting each other, Wen Ke Xing confessed his remorse for his past actions. He admitted to deliberately creating the latter half of the "Five Lakes Water, World Gathers" ballad, knowing it would "sow the seed of doubt" and cause all those coveting the Armory to "fix their eyes on the Five Lakes Alliance."
He acknowledged that while he didn't personally kill Zhang Cheng Ling's family, their tragedy was indirectly caused by him, leaving him uncertain how to face Cheng Ling. Zhou Zi Shu consoled him, promising to help him find the true culprits behind the Mirror Lake Sect's massacre after his own injuries healed. They would then reveal the truth to Cheng Ling together.
Zhou Zi Shu emphasized that regardless of Wen Ke Xing's identity, he was first and foremost his junior, urging him not to "worry about eternal sorrow" and to embrace a simpler life. Wen Ke Xing later contemplated his path, yearning for a life "without secrets and haze" and "someone to accompany him forever" as he watched Zhang Cheng Ling diligently practicing martial arts. Meanwhile, in the Qingfeng Sword Sect, Mo Wei Xu delivered a letter to Cao Weining.
Gu Xiang, recognizing it was from Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu, quickly snatched and concealed it. Mo Wei Xu then privately questioned Cao Weining about Gu Xiang, expressing concern over her "evil aura." Cao Weining fiercely defended her, clarifying that her Master, a respected elder, had entrusted her to him, but he was bound by a promise not to disclose her Master's identity. He affirmed his trust and love for Gu Xiang, vowing never to betray her.
Mo Wei Xu then revealed that Gao Chong had entrusted the three pieces of Glazed Armor to Mo Huai Yang, explaining the reason for the Qingfeng Sword Sect's sealed mountain policy. Cao Weining, having already suspected this, accepted the heavy responsibility. Scorpion King, having learned that Gu Xiang and Cao Weining were at the sealed Qingfeng Sword Sect and Mo Huai Yang hadn't been seen for months, reported his suspicions to Zhao Jing.
Zhao Jing dismissed Scorpion King's concerns, prioritizing the upcoming Heroes Conference. He revealed he had long suspected Mo Huai Yang possessed the Glazed Armor, citing Mo Huai Yang's abrupt departure from the previous conference, Fan Huai Kong's inaction during Gao Chong's death, and the subsequent lack of Glazed Armor news as proof. When Scorpion King suggested using his Drug Men to turn the Qingfeng Sword Sect into a "dead realm," Zhao Jing became furious.
He reminded Scorpion King he had ordered all Drug Men destroyed, fearful that any association with such "demon tricks" would ruin his carefully cultivated reputation and cost him the position of martial arts alliance leader. He harshly rebuked Scorpion King, who finally realized Zhao Jing's true manipulative nature and that he was merely a tool to be discarded once useless.
Back at Four Seasons Manor, Ping An arrived with an update from the Grand Wizard, who was delayed because he was custom-making a special medicine for Zhou Zi Shu. Ping An also delivered a letter from Ye Bai Yi, sealed with the "Token of Honor" (Shan He Ling). The letter was a challenge, calling upon all martial arts sects to unite and "wipe out" Ghost Valley. Zhang Cheng Ling was overjoyed, eager for revenge for his family.
