Late at night, Xu Qi’an experiences another nightmare, as if being hurled into a deep abyss by a malevolent force, unable to move. Waking up in a cold sweat, he pours himself a glass of water, only to find traces of the same sinister aura in the water. Shocked, he tries to make sense of it.
Suddenly, he finds himself in a void. When he regains consciousness, he is holding onto a monk with a gentle demeanor who seems vaguely familiar. The monk introduces himself as Shen Shu but admits he doesn’t know his true identity. He explains that someone brought him here, hoping Xu Qi’an’s body could nourish his severed arm. Startled, Xu Qi’an refuses to become a vessel for anyone. However, Shen Shu assures him that coexisting will not harm him and promises that, if accepted, Xu Qi’an will become the most powerful Golden Gong. After much deliberation, Xu Qi’an realizes there is no downside and agrees.
Shen Shu integrates into Xu Qi’an’s body, gaining complete awareness of his thoughts. Although Xu Qi’an is curious about this new presence, Shen Shu advises him to remain silent, even with Wei Yuan or the Supervisor of the Si Tianjian. Xu Qi’an reluctantly complies.
Later, Xu Qi’an visits Wei Yuan, hoping to learn about the figure he saw in his vision standing behind Wei Yuan. However, Wei Yuan keeps silent, revealing nothing. Frustrated, Xu Qi’an drops the matter. On his way out, he finds a pouch filled with gold, a stroke of luck that he readily accepts.
Elsewhere, Xu Pingzhi receives orders to help retrieve a lost pouch. While searching, he ends up at their old family home, where he hears faint sobbing inside. Suspecting a thief, Xu Pingzhi enters with his blade drawn but is surprised to find his son, Xu Xinnian. It turns out no one informed Xu Xinnian about the family’s move to a new house. Upon hearing rumors of Xu Qi’an’s death, Xu Xinnian had rushed back from White Deer Academy, penniless and exhausted from his arduous journey.
Seeing Xu Qi’an alive and well, Xu Xinnian bursts into tears of relief. The family exchanges warm greetings, though Xu Xinnian excuses himself to rest. Realizing no one had prepared a room for him due to the chaos surrounding Xu Qi’an, Xu Pingzhi panics. However, Xu Xinnian brushes it off, grateful for Xu Qi’an’s presence and repeatedly expressing how fortunate they are to have him.
Meanwhile, Li Miaozhen arrives in the capital with an enchantress. The enchantress uses seductive magic on Xu Qi’an, but he remains unaffected and instead extracts key information about Li Miaozhen. She has come seeking Xu Qi’an’s help in solving a case and shares a segment of her memory with him.
In the memory, Li Miaozhen and her group encountered a severely injured archer in a desolate mountain. Before succumbing to his wounds, the archer warned of a “blood massacre across three thousand li.” This cryptic message raises suspicions of a rebellion by the Duke of Zhenbei. Unsure of the situation, Li Miaozhen seeks Xu Qi’an’s insights to uncover the truth.
