Xu Qi’an introduced himself to his new team, using an alias. After learning the basic details about the team members, he reported back to Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan recognized several names mentioned by Xu Qi’an and found it intriguing that the founders of the Tian Ti Hui were not at all secretive about Xu Qi’an’s identity, allowing him to gather intelligence openly. Why would they do this? Xu Qi’an pondered that perhaps the Tian Ti Hui wanted to recruit the night watchmen to their cause.
As a reward for his work, Wei Yuan allowed Xu Qi’an to select a sword manual, advising him to choose something simple and practical, avoiding flashy but impractical techniques. Taking Wei Yuan’s advice to heart, Xu Qi’an picked the “One Blade Sword Manual.” Li Yuchun, observing this choice, expressed skepticism because the manual’s opening page stated: “One blade is all you need. If a second blade is required, the best strategy is to flee.” Li Yuchun believed running away was dishonorable, but the quick-witted Xu Qi’an disagreed, prioritizing survival above all else.
Guardians of the Dafeng Episode 12 Stills
Xu Qi’an’s luck seemed to be improving. After receiving his reward, he was given a newly compiled martial arts manual, which he credited to Lin’an’s influence. When he visited Lin’an to confirm, she took all the credit, convincing Xu Qi’an to trust her completely. In response, he swore eternal loyalty to the princess. Lin’an, torn between anger and affection, wanted to reveal her true identity to him but feared he might leave her upon learning the truth, losing a valuable ally in the process.
Not long after, the night watchmen received an alert: Earl Pingyuan had been murdered, and the suspect was nearby. Xu Qi’an and his colleagues rushed to capture the culprit. Through his jade mirror artifact, Xu Qi’an heard the suspect’s voice: it was Hengyuan, Member No. 6 of the Tian Ti Hui, who admitted to killing Earl Pingyuan. Hengyuan had previously saved Xu Qi’an, prompting Xu Qi’an to inquire about his motives in their group chat. Xu Qi’an reasoned that if Hengyuan’s intentions were righteous, he might help him as a favor. But if Hengyuan was malevolent, Xu Qi’an could locate him and claim the reward.
Hengyuan explained that Earl Pingyuan secretly engaged in human trafficking, abducting and abusing young children for profit. His crimes were well-documented, and Hengyuan detailed his numerous heinous acts. The revelations enraged the Tian Ti Hui members. Upon learning Hengyuan’s location, Xu Qi’an discreetly handed him Xu Xinnian’s academy robes to conceal his identity. This clever move ensured that the bronze mirror artifact could not locate him.
After handing over the robes, Xu Qi’an noticed that someone from the Jin Luo faction had found the jade mirror. Acting quickly, Xu Qi’an approached the person, demanded the return of the artifact, and invoked Wei Yuan’s name. Although the Jin Luo members didn’t know Xu Qi’an, they hesitated at Wei Yuan’s reputation and returned the mirror.
Through the Tian Ti Hui, Xu Qi’an learned that Earl Pingyuan’s murder had brought trouble for Wei Yuan, who was criticized by court officials for failing to capture the suspect. After a night of inner turmoil, Xu Qi’an confessed his actions to Wei Yuan. Furious, Wei Yuan smashed a cup on the ground upon learning that Xu Qi’an had secretly let the suspect go. However, Xu Qi’an detailed Earl Pingyuan’s crimes, calming Wei Yuan’s anger. In truth, Wei Yuan had disliked Earl Pingyuan all along, which explained why he had given the night watchmen a temporary break earlier that day.
Guardians of the Dafeng Episode 12 Stills
Wei Yuan instructed Xu Qi’an to continue infiltrating the Tian Ti Hui, uncovering the true identities of all its members, and reminded him to stay safe, tacitly forgiving his actions.
That evening, Hengyuan reported his safety in the Tian Ti Hui group chat. Everyone knew it was Member No. 3 who had saved him and curiously asked Xu Qi’an how he had evaded the night watchmen. Before Hengyuan could reply, Xu Qi’an fabricated and exaggerated the story, claiming he had worn Hengyuan’s clothes to divert the pursuers and was now still on the run. This narrative earned him sympathy and admiration, elevating his status within the group.
