Word of Honor Episode 9 Recap
> Word of Honor Recap
The Yueyang Sect disciples brought back Fang Bu Zhi's body. Zhou Zi Shu recognized him as the Nine Clawed Fox who had stolen Wen Ke Xing's Glazed Armor, commenting that it was no surprise he died so quickly after touching such a "hot potato." Gao Chong carefully examined the body and found several Rain Hitting Banana Leaves Needles in Fang Bu Zhi's throat.
Zhou Zi Shu immediately identified these as unique to the Window of Heaven, concluding that Han Ying had taken the Glazed Armor from Fang Bu Zhi. Believing the Five Lakes Alliance to be preoccupied, Zhou Zi Shu suggested they not linger, and Wen Ke Xing readily agreed. Gao Chong, though unable to press them to stay, extended an invitation to the upcoming Heroes Conference. Meanwhile, Cao Weining treated Gu Xiang to a meal in the city.
He found her amusing, especially when she teased him about his "baby fat." Gu Xiang then playfully warned him about a Ghoul from the Ten Devils of the Ghost Valley who "especially eats the faces of handsome young boys" like him. Cao Weining reacted with horror at the thought of a human eating a human, vowing to protect Gu Xiang and kill all the ghouls to live up to his sect's mission of defeating evil and protecting justice.
He optimistically stated that with Chief Gao of the Five Lakes Alliance leading the Heroes Conference, the Ghost Valley would surely be destroyed. Gu Xiang, however, expressed skepticism, pointing out that the Ghost Valley had recently left ten human heads in Yueyang City, right under the Five Lakes Alliance's nose. Cao Weining reiterated his promise to protect her, making Gu Xiang feel much safer. She then spotted a mother and daughter sent by Wen Ke Xing.
Pretending she had mistaken them for singers, Gu Xiang quickly relayed her instructions to them to gather information, promising that when she asked them to sing, it would mean her mission was complete and they could tell her where to find "Master." She then returned to Cao Weining, resuming their meal. Later, Wen Ke Xing ordered a lavish meal for himself and Zhou Zi Shu. Zhou Zi Shu, lost in thought, realized his senses were beginning to fade.
He wondered why the Window of Heaven was involved with the Glazed Armor, speculating that Prince Jin might also covet the armory. He also questioned Gao Chong's true intentions for hiding Zhang Cheng Ling. Zhou Zi Shu expressed regret for sending Zhang Cheng Ling back to the Five Lakes Alliance. Wen Ke Xing tried to comfort him, suggesting that sometimes "all matters can wait" if one can enjoy a meal with a companion.
He then shared a story from his childhood about a beloved dog, a gift from an important person, which he ultimately "betrayed," concluding that while it's impossible for everything to go as one wishes, one should strive to have no regrets. As Zhou Zi Shu prepared for sleep, a sudden ear ringing prompted him to meditate and restore his internal energy. Wen Ke Xing, sitting in the room, softly played his flute, aiding Zhou Zi Shu's recovery.
The next morning, Wen Ke Xing attempted to rouse a sleepy Zhou Zi Shu, insisting they visit Yuefan Tower, which he described as the best place to admire Yueyang City's scenery. Despite Zhou Zi Shu's initial reluctance, Wen Ke Xing persuaded him with the philosophy that one might as well spend the day happily. At Yuefan Tower, they observed the Four Sages of Anji performing in a pavilion.
Zhou Zi Shu explained that the four were renowned music masters from diverse backgrounds who, fifteen years prior, had become soulmates and retired from the martial arts world to a beautiful bamboo forest. He highlighted that one of them, the solitary bandit He Yi Fan, had been "guided to give up evil for good" by his friends.
Zhou Zi Shu reflected on their profound bond and his own complex, friend-and-foe relationship with Wen Ke Xing, lamenting that with his own limited time, he longed to roam the world with a soulmate like the Sages. Wen Ke Xing agreed, stating that even "living like this for two or three years is better than wasting an entire lifetime."
Meanwhile, Zhang Cheng Ling, practicing with the second-generation disciples, endured taunts and physical punishment from a senior disciple who mocked his Mirror Lake Sword Sect's supposedly unique light footwork. Overwhelmed with emotion and believing his master had abandoned him, Zhang Cheng Ling cried when Gu Xiang approached him. Gu Xiang gently patted his head, reassuring him that she was sent by Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu to protect him, as the Yueyang Sect was heavily guarded.
Zhang Cheng Ling revealed that Wen Ke Xing had instructed him to persistently call Zhou Zi Shu "Master" because Zhou Zi Shu was softhearted. That night, Wen Ke Xing invited Zhou Zi Shu to drink and enjoy the moon on the rooftop. Zhou Zi Shu found the sounds of fighting below distracting and "mood-ruining," but Wen Ke Xing expressed his excitement, declaring that the "show has finally begun."
He led Zhou Zi Shu to witness more of the night's deadly spectacles. They arrived at a courtyard strewn with bodies, where Cyclops Jiang Che and Furious Blademaster Li Heng had perished while fighting over a piece of Glazed Armor. Wen Ke Xing described their demise as a "perish together" act, a "wonderful" end for "idiots" who chase profit without considering their lives.
When Zhou Zi Shu speculated that this was the piece Fang Bu Zhi had stolen, Wen Ke Xing encouraged him to "think about it a bit more." Zhou Zi Shu soon noticed that there were two identical Glazed Armors. Realizing Wen Ke Xing had deliberately scattered many fake Glazed Armors to incite bloodshed among martial artists, Zhou Zi Shu was deeply disappointed, calling him "truly crazy," and turned away in anger.
The city of Yueyang descended into chaos as people frantically fought over Glazed Armor pieces. Han Ying, holding two identical pieces, was baffled. The next morning, Wen Ke Xing arrived to bring Zhou Zi Shu breakfast, only to find him gone. Back at the Yueyang Sect, the gravely injured disciple Zhu Yaozhi was brought back, much to the anger of Gao Chong.
Gao Xiaolian, deeply worried, stayed by Zhu Yaozhi's side, observing how the stress had prematurely grayed her father's hair. Word spread that the Anji Four Sages possessed a piece of Glazed Armor, drawing the attention of various sects, including the Beggar Gang, Mount Hua Sect, and Kongtong Sect. Huang He of the Beggar Gang confronted the Sages, demanding the Glazed Armor.
Feng Xiao Feng, a small man, joined the fray, calling the Sages "Ghost Valley's dogs" and ordering Gao Shan Nu to attack them. Amidst the chaos, He Yi Fan of the Four Sages was poisoned. Gao Chong and Shen Shen arrived with Yueyang Sect disciples, halting the fighting. Gao Chong chastised Huang He, accusing him of disrespecting the Five Lakes Alliance. Huang He retorted, criticizing the Five Lakes Alliance's recent arrogance.
Shen Shen then condemned Huang He for associating with Tao Hong and Lv Liu, prompting Tao Hong to retort that the Five Lakes Alliance "has no dignity to begin with." As the situation escalated, Feng Xiao Feng, claiming disgust, announced he was withdrawing from the fight, but the remaining Sages stopped him, demanding he hand over the antidote for the poison. During the chaotic fight, three of the Anji Four Sages tragically died from poisoning and injuries.
The Beggar Gang snatched the Glazed Armor from Madam Pei's hands. Seeing his companions fall, the last surviving Sage, the scholar Du, lamented to Gao Chong that their fifteen years of peaceful seclusion had been destroyed because of their friendship with him and the cursed Glazed Armor. Addressing his zither, his last companion, he cried, "With no soulmates left in the world, what use are you?" before smashing the instrument and taking his own life.
Wen Ke Xing, observing the tragedy from a distance, was filled with remorse, reflecting on how "fifteen years of companionship was destroyed in an instant." A heartbroken and enraged Gao Chong then threw two pieces of Glazed Armor at Huang He's feet, promising to reveal the full truth after the Heroes Conference and settle their score then. Huang He, upon examining the pieces, discovered they were both fake.
