Word of Honor Episode 4 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
Zhou Zi Shu and Zhang Cheng Ling departed from the inn, with Wen Ke Xing already waiting for them at the roadside. Zhang Cheng Ling expressed his gratitude to Wen Ke Xing for saving his life. Wen Ke Xing, however, suggested they drop the formalities, reminding Zhang Cheng Ling that he and Zhou Zi Shu had shared dangers, meals, and shelter.
He then provided them with two horses, urging them to hasten their journey to Tai Lake to prevent further complications. Wen Ke Xing remarked that their chance meeting had quickly forged a bond, especially with Zhou Zi Shu, indicating that the depth of a friendship isn't measured by time.
Their conversation was interrupted by the Crippled Beggar, the Vice Captain of the Dazhi branch of the Beggar Gang, who identified himself as being under the orders of Law Elder Huang He and the Five Lakes Alliance. He stated their mission was to find Zhang Cheng Ling, the orphan of the Mirror Lake Sect, as a disciple had recognized him. Zhang Cheng Ling, frightened, hid behind Zhou Zi Shu, denying any knowledge of the beggars.
Zhou Zi Shu questioned why such a large group was needed merely for identification, implying they intended to seize Zhang Cheng Ling by force. The Crippled Beggar claimed that Shen Shen, the Leader of Mount Dagu Sect and Zhang Cheng Ling's father's sworn brother, had entrusted them with the task. Zhang Cheng Ling reiterated his desire to stay with "Uncle Zhou," a sentiment echoed by Zhou Zi Shu, who also denied knowing Shen Shen.
The Crippled Beggar then insinuated that Zhou Zi Shu might have drugged Zhang Cheng Ling. Wen Ke Xing quickly retorted, criticizing the beggar's talent for twisting facts and suggesting he become a lawyer instead. The Crippled Beggar commanded his disciples to form an encircling array. Zhou Zi Shu instructed Wen Ke Xing to protect Zhang Cheng Ling while he effortlessly dismantled the beggars' formation.
Zhang Cheng Ling, worried, urged Wen Ke Xing to assist, but Wen Ke Xing calmly assured him that Zhou Zi Shu was more than capable. Observing Zhou Zi Shu's agile movements, Wen Ke Xing commented that his "waist skills" must have been cultivated since childhood and offered Zhang Cheng Ling some amber walnuts for "tonifying the brain." Zhou Zi Shu then scattered a bag of soybeans on the ground, causing the Beggar Gang disciples to stumble.
Amidst the chaos, the Crippled Beggar tried to snatch Zhang Cheng Ling. Wen Ke Xing encouraged Zhou Zi Shu not to hold back against the malicious group and to draw his weapon. Zhou Zi Shu, however, focused on reaching Zhang Cheng Ling but suddenly coughed up blood. Wen Ke Xing intervened, rescuing Zhang Cheng Ling. Zhou Zi Shu then swiftly carried Zhang Cheng Ling away. Wen Ke Xing, in turn, killed the Crippled Beggar and the remaining Beggar Gang disciples.
Zhou Zi Shu led Zhang Cheng Ling to a secluded alley, where he began meditating to restore his depleted internal energy. Zhang Cheng Ling expressed concern, but Zhou Zi Shu reassured him that he was not in critical danger, though he lamented that he might be on the verge of becoming a "cripple" due to his injuries.
Meanwhile, Lovelace, one of the Ten Devils of Ghost Valley, had purchased two women, Yun Cai and Hong Lu, from a brothel and was harassing them. He warned them not to cry, stating that once a woman cried, he would lose all self-control. Gu Xiang arrived, reprimanding Lovelace for his conduct. Lovelace defended himself, asserting he had legally purchased the women and offered to show their deeds.
Gu Xiang dismissed his excuses, threatening to report him to "Aunt Luo" who would inflict severe punishment. To avoid Gu Xiang reporting him, Lovelace offered her the two women. Gu Xiang, in turn, demanded three favors from him for her silence. She then relayed the Valley Chief's directive for him to gather all the Ghost Valley devils currently outside and proceed to Sanbai Manor in Tai Lake.
Lovelace agreed, grumbling about his exceptional martial skills being used for errands, and departed. Zhou Zi Shu and Zhang Cheng Ling continued their journey, camping by a lake. Zhou Zi Shu attempted to grill some fish, but Gu Xiang, who had followed them, appeared and ridiculed his lack of domestic skills, pointing out that he hadn't even cleaned the fish, making it bitter. She then inquired about her Master.
Wen Ke Xing arrived on a splendid boat with Yun Cai and Hong Lu by his side. He invited Zhou Zi Shu and Zhang Cheng Ling to join him for a proper meal prepared by a renowned chef on board. He lightly chided Gu Xiang for her lack of refinement, suggesting she learn from the two women how to be more attentive.
Wen Ke Xing then turned his attention to Zhou Zi Shu, noting the striking resemblance between Zhou Zi Shu's sword and the legendary White Cloth, one of the three masterpieces forged by Magic Craftsman Rong Chang Qing, and the revered weapon of Qin Huai Zhang, the last leader of Four Seasons Manor.
Wen Ke Xing admitted he had been testing Zhou Zi Shu during the encounter with the beggars, puzzled why Zhou Zi Shu, despite being in danger, had refused to draw his sword. He speculated that either the sword wasn't Zhou Zi Shu's or Zhou Zi Shu was deliberately concealing his identity. Zhou Zi Shu, acknowledging Wen Ke Xing's past assistance, firmly stated that their relationship was "raw," lacking the familiarity for such probing questions.
He challenged Wen Ke Xing by saying that he himself did not know his origins or destination, and had no interest in Wen Ke Xing's. He warned Wen Ke Xing not to press further about the White Cloth. Wen Ke Xing apologized for his "deliberate testing" which had aggravated Zhou Zi Shu's internal injuries, expressing remorse and promising to be more direct in the future, trusting that Zhou Zi Shu wouldn't lie to him.
Suddenly, a piercing zither melody echoed from the dense forest, causing Yun Cai and Hong Lu to lose balance and fall into the water, from which Gu Xiang rescued them. Zhang Cheng Ling also felt dizzy and sick. Zhou Zi Shu immediately seized Wen Ke Xing's flute and played a counter-melody, overpowering the zither music. The zither player, Phantom Musician Qin Song, one of the Scorpion's Four Assassins, was badly injured by the backfire and fled.
Wen Ke Xing identified Qin Song, noting that it must have been a significant expense to hire such a formidable assassin. Zhou Zi Shu simply remarked that Qin Song had suffered greatly from the musical backlash. Wen Ke Xing, pleased, commented on their growing compatibility, and Zhou Zi Shu offered to replace his flute, which had been dirtied.
Wen Ke Xing declined, light-heartedly teasing Zhou Zi Shu about his "tone-deafness" despite his martial prowess, offering to teach him music, which Zhou Zi Shu politely refused. The injured Phantom Musician Qin Song stumbled back to his fellow Scorpion assassins: Golden-Haired Jiang Guai, Pretty Rakshasa, and Poisonous Bodhisattva. When the hot-tempered Pretty Rakshasa wanted to seek immediate revenge, the more cautious Golden-Haired Jiang Guai stopped her, reminding her of their orders to return and not to cause unnecessary trouble.
Zhang Cheng Ling continued to feel unwell and vomited. Zhou Zi Shu chastised him, pointing out that his insufficient internal cultivation made him vulnerable to the magic sound. Zhang Cheng Ling tearfully confessed that he had never properly learned martial arts, having assumed his older brothers would carry the family's legacy while he remained with his parents. He pleaded with Zhou Zi Shu to take him as a disciple.
Zhou Zi Shu initially refused, stating that at fourteen, Zhang Cheng Ling had missed the optimal time for foundational training, making it difficult to achieve the highest levels of martial arts, comparable to legendary figures like Bodhidharma or Changming Sword Immortal. Wen Ke Xing interjected, advising Zhang Cheng Ling that Zhou Zi Shu was "firm in speech but soft in heart," and that with persistent effort, he could still reach a high level of martial arts.
Zhou Zi Shu clarified that while early training was ideal, consistent effort from that day forward would still lead to improvement. He then agreed to teach Zhang Cheng Ling some basic internal mental skills to heal his current internal injuries. Gu Xiang, meanwhile, questioned Wen Ke Xing's dedication to helping Zhou Zi Shu, noting that he had played the flute all night for a "beggar" (Zhou Zi Shu), a favor she rarely received.
Wen Ke Xing brushed her off, reminding her that her internal energy was too shallow to benefit from such efforts. He further asserted that his decisions were his own, suggesting he simply "liked" Zhou Zi Shu and wanted to be friends, concluding philosophically that "once one enters the mortal world, karma is born." The following morning, Zhou Zi Shu felt his internal energy fully restored and remarkably refreshed, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Zhang Cheng Ling also felt reinvigorated. Wen Ke Xing, who had played the flute all night, joked about a slight "lag" in his own internal energy but felt generally well. He offered to take Zhou Zi Shu's pulse, but Zhou Zi Shu declined. Zhang Cheng Ling again earnestly requested to be Zhou Zi Shu's disciple. Zhou Zi Shu reiterated his refusal, stating that their connection would end once he delivered Zhang Cheng Ling to Sanbai Manor.
Wen Ke Xing, ever the instigator, encouraged Zhang Cheng Ling to persistently "pester him," promising that "where there is a will, there is a way." As they prepared to depart, Wen Ke Xing, feigning exhaustion and claiming Gu Xiang had kicked him off the boat for playing the flute all night and causing him to feel a strain on his internal energy, insisted on hitching a ride. Zhou Zi Shu, unfazed, assigned him the task of driving the carriage.
Wen Ke Xing proved to be a capable driver, and as they neared Huzhou, he playfully criticized Zhou Zi Shu's simple culinary habits, expressing concern for Zhang Cheng Ling's weight loss and promising a grand meal in Huzhou. Zhou Zi Shu, however, cautioned Zhang Cheng Ling to remain discreet due to the Beggar Gang's extensive network and the numerous people searching for him, emphasizing that all precautions should be taken until they reached Zhao Jing's mansion.
Zhang Cheng Ling continued his pleas to become Zhou Zi Shu's disciple, while Wen Ke Xing praised his "toughness" and assured him that their "fate had not ended." Elsewhere, Tao Hong and Lv Liu relentlessly pursued Ao Lai Zi, the leader of the Mount Tai Sect, and his disciples, demanding the Glazed Armor. They mocked Ao Lai Zi for his perceived naivety, warning him against entanglement in dangerous affairs.
Ao Lai Zi, undeterred, declared that his sect feared no one and instructed his disciples to flee and seek help from Master Zhao. However, his loyal disciples refused to abandon him. As Tao Hong and Lv Liu pressed their attack, noting Ao Lai Zi's weakened state, Shen Shen suddenly arrived.
Observing the confrontation, Shen Shen intervened, scolding Tao Hong and Lv Liu and making it clear he was there to assist Ao Lai Zi against their aggression, effectively allowing Ao Lai Zi and his disciples to escape. Finally, Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing escorted Zhang Cheng Ling to Sanbai Manor. Wen Ke Xing admired the manor's magnificent and elegant architecture.
A disciple, Qing Hua, introduced the two to Zhao Jing, the leader of the Tai Lake Sect and a sworn brother of Zhang Cheng Ling's father. Zhao Jing warmly greeted Zhang Cheng Ling, welcoming him to make the manor his home and to ask for anything he desired. He then expressed profound gratitude to Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing for safely bringing Zhang Cheng Ling to him. As Zhao Jing offered his deep appreciation, Qing Hua burst in, urgently seeking Zhao Jing's help for Ao Lai Zi, who was being pursued.
