Jun Qiluo accidentally discovers that someone has tampered with the crossbow Xuan Lie is supposed to use in the competition. She retrieves it from He Jiyao and repairs it herself. Dongyin, relieved to see Jun Qiluo return safely, expresses her concern for Jun Qiluo’s emotional well-being. She feels sad for Jun Qiluo, knowing that if Xuan Lie becomes the Wolf Lord, he will have to choose a wife from among the noblewomen of the five tribes. Although Jun Qiluo pretends not to care, she is deeply hurt inside. However, she is a pragmatic person and understands that she and Xuan Lie are unlikely to end up together.
Jun Qiluo personally delivers the repaired crossbow to Xuan Lie and gives him a lucky charm, wishing him success and safety in the competition. The competition is intense, with each tribe determined to win. Some tribes, like the Sun tribe, even go out of their way to protect their allies. At a critical moment, Xuan Lie’s crossbow breaks, but Luo Zhizhou quickly intervenes, deflecting an arrow shot by Xi Changkun at Xuan Lie and urging him to leave the scene.
During the competition, Xuan Lie and Luo Qi are ambushed by real arrows, indicating that someone is trying to kill Xuan Lie. Although the attempt fails, Luo Qi is injured by an arrow. Xuan Lie and Luo Zhizhou manage to eliminate Xi Changkun from the competition, but Xuan Lie prioritizes saving Luo Qi over continuing the match. He temporarily withdraws from the round, knowing he can still catch up later, but he cannot ignore Luo Qi’s life-threatening condition. The round ends with Luo Zhizhou taking first place. The king, seeing Luo Qi’s injury, understands why Xuan Lie did not secure the top spot.
Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo’s father receives a letter demanding a hostage exchange at a specified location. He goes with his men but falls into an ambush. He manages to escape during the chaos. Luo Qi’s injury is not fatal, but the arrow was laced with a paralyzing agent, leaving him unconscious. Jun Qiluo, deeply worried, waits outside the tent. Luo Zhizhou informs Xuan Lie that Xi Changkun mentioned his son, Xi Mo, meeting with Jun Qiluo, suggesting that the crossbow sabotage might not have been accidental. Xuan Lie initially refuses to suspect Jun Qiluo, dismissing Luo Zhizhou’s concerns. However, as he thinks more about it, he grows increasingly angry and confronts Jun Qiluo, accusing her of not trusting him. Jun Qiluo explains that she had to act independently to protect the Jun family, as the Xi clan was about to sign a contract for the Xuantie crystals with others. She denies tampering with the crossbow, but Xuan Lei, feeling betrayed, decides to part ways with her.
Xi Mo believes that Luo Qi’s injury was orchestrated by Jun Qiluo, acknowledging her formidable abilities. However, Xi Changkun warns his son to be cautious, lest Jun Qiluo turn the tables on them. Meanwhile, the queen dowager has begun investigating Qimin. Qingkou, however, prevents anyone from approaching her tent, limiting the information the queen dowager can gather. The queen dowager only knows that Qimin is acquainted with Jun Qiluo and is staying by Qingkou’s side to protect Jun Qiluo from Qingkou’s wrath. Recognizing Qimin as a potential threat, the queen dowager decides he cannot remain near Qingkou, regardless of his origins.
Jun Qiluo approaches Xi Mo, urgently seeking the Xuantie crystals. Xi Mo assumes that Jun Qiluo was behind Luo Qi’s injury, but Jun Qiluo deduces that the ambush in the forest was not orchestrated by the Xi clan, indicating that someone else is trying to prevent Xuan Lie from becoming the Wolf Lord. To gain leverage over Xi Mo, Jun Qiluo plays along, warning him that if the Xuantie crystals are not sent to Yanan soon, she can ensure the Xi clan is eliminated from the next round of the competition without anyone noticing.
Luo Zhizhou learns that Jun Qiluo has allied with the Xi clan and plans to scout the forest terrain with Xi Mo beforehand. Fearing that Jun Qiluo might disrupt his plans, he orders Dongyin to act quickly. Dongyin, who has feelings for Luo Zhizhou, is merely a tool in his eyes. Meanwhile, Jun Qiluo’s father survives the ambush but is left paralyzed. His two daughters instruct the family steward to find the best doctors to treat him.
