Crimson Sabre - Season 1

First aired: 11/20/2000 35 episodes

Episodes

1. Episode 1

Aired: 11/20/2000

The Holy Virgin of the Wu Du Sect HE HONG YAO has been appointed the new leader of the group. One day, an unexpected guest XIA XUE YI suddenly breaks in, trying to seize the Sect’s two treasured objects – a sword and an awl. There is a fight between YAO and XIA, and during which, YAO has developed a maze of feelings for XIA. XIA is bitten by a venomous snake before he flees away. YAO just follows him around, in the hope of fixing him up with the antidote. During the inauguration, YAO has not only refused to succeed to the title as the leader of the Wu Du Sect, but also helped XIA steal the Sect’s two treasured objects as well as the treasure map. But soon after that, XIA leaves her. Two years later on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, the WEN family are all in panic, fearing that XIA, who claims to be ‘Golden Snake’, would be coming back to exact revenge……

2. Episode 2

Aired: 11/21/2000

XIA sneaks into the WENS’ Castle by stratagem, and tricks the five elders into killing their youngest brother. The five elders are condemned for killing XIA’s family of totally ten people. And the six of them are soon in a brawl. XIA is unfortunately trapped and hurt. To escape danger, he has captured YI as a hostage. The five elders fly into a fury and claim that they will kill YI if she ever loses her virginity. XIA takes YI back to his hometown Lingjiang, and confides to her the murder of his family by the WENS. He swears to pay them back. YI feels so regretful about the sin of her family, and learns that it was YUAN CHONG HUAN, a noble general who helped to bury XIA’s family. XIA releases YI eventually. Looking at XIA’s shadow, YI gets somewhat confused.

3. Episode 3

Aired: 11/22/2000

HUAN has been defending the city of Ji against the Manchurian army. HUAN and his troops, however, are running out of food. HUAN is so preoccupied by this urgent matter that he hardly ever cares about his son CHENG ZHI, who is afflicted with a serious disease. One day, the food depot for the Manchurian army is mysteriously ignited, and their commander has been beheaded. The Manchurian army is thus in disarray. At the end of the day, they have no choice but to withdraw. HUAN is so grateful for XIA’s help and invites him home for a natter. The terminally ill ZHI is already on the verge of death. To pay a debt of gratitude, XIA saves ZHI’s life with his vital energy, promises to teach the lad kung fu, and gives HUAN the treasure map. HUAN gets betrayed by TANG XIAN, a trusted follower of his own, and is later on framed by the vicious official CAO HUA CHUN for treason. HUAN and his family are all arrested……

4. Episode 4

Aired: 11/23/2000

HUAN is sentenced to death. Having witnessed the execution, ZHI is struck dumb with fear. YAO has found XIA eventually. She mistakes ZHI for XIA’s son, and is burning with anger and jealousy. She assaults ZHI with force and poison, and compels XIA to marry her. She threatens that she will not provide the antidote if XIA rejects the marriage. ZHI does not want to cause XIA any more trouble. He slips away and is going to kill himself. Luckily XIA has stopped it in time. YAO once again forces XIA to marry her but XIA refuses. YAO throws the antidote away down below the cliff and then leaves. XIA brings ZHI to Mt. Huashan, and requests the master of the Hua Shan Sect CHING to rescue ZHI. CHING has put ZHI’s condition under control. As he finds out ZHI is the son of HUAN, he promises to try his very best to save ZHI. CHING’s dumb servant and his granddaughter HUI look after ZHI with scrupulous care. XIA has to depart from Mt……

5. Episode 5

Aired: 11/24/2000

The Mid-autumn Festival is approaching and XIA has been home to carry out a sacrificial rite for his ancestors. There he sees YI. He finds this girl very kind-hearted and becomes attracted to her. However due to the long bitter feud between the two families, XIA has to hide his affection and finally drives her off. At home, XIA is drinking himself into oblivion. Meanwhile, YI has just returned. Being obsessed with each other, they come to have sex. The next day, YI slides off, and on the way, she meets YAO who keeps pestering her for XIA’s whereabouts. Luckily XIA just appears in time and successfully repulses YAO. XIA then escorts YI back to her home but he knows for sure he is going to miss her so much. He then suggests travelling around first before they have to part and YI is thrilled to bits with this idea. The leader of the Iron Sword Sect, MU SANG, a Taoist priest has come to visit CHING while he is giving therapy to ZHI……

6. Episode 6

Aired: 11/27/2000

YI begs XIA not to kill the innocent from the WENS and XIA promises. YI feels sick and soon lapses into unconsciousness. She is found pregnant and XIA gives up taking revenge. The couple are astonished to see the five elders of the WENS who are actually coming for the treasure map that the Manchurian King has already secured. XIA pursues them and has finally captured the map. When he returns home, he finds YI has disappeared. She is kidnapped by her elders, who are using her as a tool to extort the map. XIA is much worried about YI and the baby’s safety, and for this reason, he just stays at the WENS’ Castle. CHING is out for something urgent, before he goes, he asks SANG to help oversee ZHI. SANG concentrates so much on the chess that he fails to notice that he has taken YAO’s potion. YAO has caught ZHI. On her way she meets YU, who gets struck by her beauty at first sight. YAO and YU have had a fight and ZANG soon arrives.

7. Episode 7

Aired: 11/28/2000

ZANG is hurt by YU, and is robbed of his Iron Sword when he is trying to save ZHI. YU is ZANG’s junior but is taken as a betrayer of the Iron Sword Sect. CHING thinks highly of ZHI and decides to teach him kung fu. ZANG offers ZHI a special suit of armour. YI has just given birth to a baby girl named QING QING. Her elders make her stay home with a number of excuses. On the day when QING is just one-month old, YAO and YU come to the WENS’ Castle making loads of trouble, but are ultimately driven off by XIA. YAO claims that some day she will make them suffer. XIA is carelessly trapped by the elders while YI is locked up. Though his arms have already become paralysed, XIA still refuses to say a word about where the map is. In the meantime, the Gangsters have come, searching for XIA.

8. Episode 8

Aired: 11/29/2000

As soon as YAO discovers that XIA has been kept imprisoned and in irons, she risks stealing the Golden-snake Sword in order to free XIA’s hands and legs. YI has been trying to rescue XIA and as a result, she is buried alive inside an old well. This is all sighted by YI’s younger sister QIAN, who, however, is too scared to tell anyone about the incident. The five elders mean to let YAO bring XIA away, hoping this would help expel the Gangsters at the same time. The five elders have caught XIA again from the hands of YAO. XIA lures the elders to Mt. Huashan. As YAO attempts to save him, he just manages to flee away and later on meets up with ZHI. The son of the oldest of the WENS cares about nothing but the treasures. And XIA is going to exploit him to pass the treasure map as well as the kung fu book on to ZHI somehow. YAO keeps pestering XIA for marriage but XIA refuses again……

9. Episode 9

Aired: 11/30/2000

CHING and ZANG are both very fond of ZHI, an extremely talented lad. They have made a deal and based on their agreement, ZANG will have to teach ZHI some kung fu every time he loses a game of chess. Time passes away, and ZHI has already grown up and inherited much of ZANG’s kung fu. ZANG intends to depart from Mt. Huashan to recover the Iron Sword from YU while CHING has started to teach ZHI another kind of kung fu. CHING learns that the whole country is in chaos and decides to save his fellow countrymen who are all suffering. ZHI has finished studying ZANG’s kung fu and is leaving Mt. Huashan to offer CHING support. HUI misses him very much. ZHI enters a cave and finds the Golden-snake Sword. There he also discovers ZHENG’s body that he mistakes for XIA’s. He believes that XIA has died already. As he is burying the corpse, he finds XIA’s treasure map and kung fu book. He is immensely interested in the kung fu book.

10. Episode 10

Aired: 12/1/2000

ZHI keeps practising night and day, and when he has finished learning all that recorded in the kung fu book, he gets to look for YI, as instructed by XIA. ZHI encounters DUO ER GUN who uses an assumed name ‘JIN ER WEN’. They appreciate each other. ZHI has noticed that all the colonels look up to GUN so much and he can hardly understand why. QING, who is disguised as a man, has kidnapped GUN for money. She goes to GUN’s home to get the ransom in person. QING is robbed of the ransom by JUN, a follower of the Hua Shan Sect, but has got it back later on. JUN and his senior HE have soon chased QING up and ZHI who passes by has repulsed them, just by chance. ZHI tells QING that he is looking for YI and QING just brings him home. The five elders of the WENS deceive QING, saying that it was XIA who made her mother YI suffer. QING thus hates XIA dreadfully……

11. Episode 11

Aired: 12/4/2000

QIAN’s heart is torn into pieces when she comes to know that XIA is dead already. She then tells ZHI all the sin of the five elders. QING, however, does not believe it, and worse than that, is going to assist the five elders in extorting the map. In the meantime, HE and JUN arrive at the WENS’ Castle, and soon start a fight with ZHI. ZHI’s senior HUANG ZHEN has come in time, and makes the five elders release GUN. QING refuses to return the ransom and ZHI vows to get it back. QING wants to get some news of XIA from ZHI, but at last has mistakenly got ZHI trapped. ZHI is so scared and in a split second, he grabs QING’s hand making her fall onto the trap as well. By then, ZHI comes to discover QING is a girl. In order to get the map, the five elders again fight with ZHI but ZHI, with the Golden-snake Sword, has successfully escaped danger.

12. Episode 12

Aired: 12/5/2000

GUN gives the ransom to Prince CHUANG, hoping this will help win ZHI’s trust and support. Out of his friendship with ZHI, GUN gets to know CHUANG as well. Prince CHUANG does not mind getting punishment for a soldier who has breached the protocol. ZHI is therefore so respectful to him. GUN and ZHI have become sworn brothers. GUN means to do this as he can make a lot of advantages out of such a relationship. SHU, a senior of ZHI’s has misunderstood ZHI and the two of them soon have a fight. SHU is defeated and is so unhappy about that. ZHI wants to help CHUANG out and decides to travel to Nanjing to look for the treasures. Along his way he meets QING again. QING pesters him for the treasure map and is again rejected. She then decides to go along with ZHI. They encounter the ‘Fabulous Thief’ NAN who is brawling with a monk named HAN. ZHI reconciles them and NAN gives him the Ice Toad in return as a token of thanks.

13. Episode 13

Aired: 12/6/2000

ZHI has been on the road with QING, HAN and NAN. The impulsive, rude QING has made lots of enemies along the way but all that ZHI can do is to put up with her. A senior member of the Qing Zhu Sect ZHU finds out that ZHI is XIA’s disciple and thus takes ZHI as the object of revenge. Fortunately with his wit, ZHI successfully makes a getaway. QING, HAN and NAN have been caught by the Qing Zhu members midway through the journey. ZHU is killed and his daughter JIU reckons it is done by ZHI. For the purpose of protecting ZHU’s reputation, ZHI just conceals the truth, which makes JIU even more strongly believe that ZHI is the killer of his father. JIU knows that she will not be able to beat ZHI and therefore chooses to poison him. Though having got poisoned, ZHI can still defeat her. However, he is already seriously hurt and death is expected at any moment.

14. Episode 14

Aired: 12/7/2000

ZHI is saved by the Ice Toad but the Golden-snake Awl is lost. Everywhere ZHI goes, there are members of the Gangsters who get killed by the Golden-snake Awl. Loads of rumours are going around saying that it is done by ZHI. ZHI wants to find out the treasures as soon as can be, so he just ignored the rumours and carry on with his journey to Nanjing. ZHI, QING, HAN and NAN are again attacked by the Gangsters. Meanwhile, the master of the Wu Du Sect SHOU comes along and helps drive the Gangsters off. SHOU compels ZHI to return the three treasured objects of the Sect. QING means to cause confusion by seducing SHOU. SHOU is determined to take ZHI’s life. ZHI has finally saved QING by stratagem and SHOU swears to recover the three treasured objects. To find out who the real killer is, ZHI decides to venture into the base of the Gangsters to see how the denunciation of himself is going.

15. Episode 15

Aired: 12/8/2000

JIU is so eager to seek revenge that she pretends to have been kidnapped by a stranger, by which she hopes to seize an opportunity. JIU has got the chance but at last she lets him off. QING finds that there are some strange goings-on between ZHI and JIU and she really feels so upset about that. NAN points out that she is jealous of JIU. The next day, a senior member of the Qing Zhu Sect WU is killed at midnight. JIU knows for sure ZHI is not the murderer and insists that he is innocent. They are soon reconciled. SHOU studies kung fu industriously in order to defeat ZHI. She knows the Gangsters have been hoping to wipe out the Wu Du Sect. She dares not counter-attack, nevertheless. The leader of a branch of the Wu Du Sect is killed by the Gangsters. Members of the Wu Du Sect are all in a fury. They believe that it is done by the real ‘Golden Snake’, XIA, and that he is still alive. SHOU goes to ask YAO about XIA’s whereabouts……

16. Episode 16

Aired: 12/11/2000

QING happens to discover that ZHI is going out with JIU. As she is about to ask ZHI for explanation, she gets hit by the Gangsters. ZHI has no choice but to capture JIU as a hostage. They are all safe then. ZHI guesses that the real murderer should be someone from the Gangsters, whose aim is to secure the treasure map. ZHI supposes QING is the betrayer and for that matter, he gives her a slap. Being so angry, QING leaves immediately. ZHI learns from JIU that he has misunderstood QING. He decides to look for her to make an apology. QING reckons ZHI has never given a shit about her. She is so depressed that she has carelessly trespassed on Wu Du Sect’s ‘Poison Zone’. She gets trapped and poisoned. SHOU requests the four seniors of the Sect to rescue the girl. ZHI knows QING is in danger and is trying to save her. The Gangsters’ consistent attacks against the Wu Du Sect have immensely sapped their own strength.

17. Episode 17

Aired: 12/12/2000

The Gangsters are recuperating, down the hill. ZHI wants QING back while the four seniors want the treasured objects. Nonetheless, QING is being too unreasonable. ZHI has little choice but to stay with the Qing Zhu Sect for the time being. QING knows that SHOU has mistaken her for a lad and that SHOU is attracted to her. She thus tries every way to please SHOU. ZHI doubts if XIA has died already. He then goes to YAO trying to find out the truth. YAO again insists that XIA has been killed by herself. SHOU suspects YAO is just lying. She gets to where XIA used to stay at and comes to be aware of something. The Gangsters again fight against the Wu Du Sect. ZHI wants to stop it but is strongly rejected by SHOU. The Gangsters blame the Wu Du Sect for shielding XIA and ZHI. ZHI has successfully settled the dispute by taking a big gamble.

18. Episode 18

Aired: 12/13/2000

ZHI is afraid that the war between the Sect and the Gangsters would be killing thousands of innocent people and thus decides to alone face a fight with a group of seven people. He wins and has got one month’s time to find out who the real murderer is. SHOU believes that YAO has been imprisoning XIA and so urges YAO to release him. In the meantime, YAO blames SHOU for falling in love with QING, which is definitely a breach of the doctrines. The two ladies are no longer on speaking terms. The Gangsters discover that JIU has been going out with ZHI. They then make her swear not to see ZHI any more in the future. JIU keeps pursuing YAO in order to find out where XIA is, but ends up getting hurt by YAO. Luckily she is saved by ZHI in time. ZHI and JIU hide themselves inside a cave, during which ZHI has given therapy to JIU. QING somehow knows an assassin has come……

19. Episode 19

Aired: 12/14/2000

ZHI and JIU flee away but QING herself is caught. ZHI has saved JIU just in time with the help of the Ice Toad. Their relationship is getting more and more amicable. SHOU attempts to shield QING in every possible way, which gradually makes the whole Sect split up into two main groups, one supporting YAO and the other, a senior member named QI. YAO suggests holding a meeting in which all members are going to discuss whether to recall SHOU or not. It is found that all sorts of disputes are planned by QI and the new leader of the Qing Zhu Sect CHENG, a spy sent from the Emperor CHONG ZHEN. At the meeting, the two groups among the Wu Du Sect cannot reach a consensus and consequently a fight breaks out. In the confusion, SHOU asks QI to bring QING away from the place. ZHI somehow knows about the split in the Sect. He is much worried about QING’s safety and so immediately goes back to see what is happening……

20. Episode 20

Aired: 12/15/2000

ZHI convinces XIA to explain everything to the public. XIA’s sudden appearance has eventually patched up all the disputes between the Wu Du Sect and the Gangsters. QING points out QI’s sin of all sorts. CHENG fears that QI will sooner or later reveal their secrets, and just cannot wait to kill him. ZHI stays a bit longer so that he can help cure those who have got poisoned, with the Ice Toad as well as his own kung fu. It is ZHI’s kindliness that has touched the people. QING denies XIA as she believes that he has killed her mother. SHOU comes to realise QING is in fact a girl. She feels heart-broken and extremely regretful, and is going to commit suicide. Thankfully ZHI has stopped her in time. XIA wonders if YI is still alive. He hopes he can go back to the WENS’ Castle some day to have a reunion with her. Thus he is willing to receive ZHI’s therapy.

21. Episode 21

Aired: 12/18/2000

YAO is going to be executed and ZHI tries to intercede for her. YAO is finally spared but expelled. ZHI not only promises to teach SHOU kung fu but also gives her another ‘TI SHOU’. ZHI shows the treasure map to the public before he offers it to King CHUANG, hoping this would put the disputes of all kinds to an end. Everyone speaks highly of ZHI and chooses him to be the chief of a coalition of seven provinces. ZHI and the Gangsters are heading for Jiangnam to pass on the map to CHUANG. When XIA is in Xihu, he can recall all the sweetest memories of the days while he was with YI. GUN gets to know that ZHI is the chief of the coalition of seven provinces, and he therefore seeks every chance to flatter him. He tricks ZHI into showing him the map. Now that he knows what it looks like, he is able to draw another one, which is to be contributed to the Manchurian King later on……

22. Episode 22

Aired: 12/19/2000

JIU says she would like to go home, and ZHI suggests they may travel around together before she sets off. JIU is thrilled to bits. CHUANG has to leave Jiangnam for an urgent matter. Before he goes, he has arranged a meeting with ZHI and all other concerned parties, which is to be held at Mt. Taishan on the day of the Double Ninth Festival. YU follows ZHI around and when he comes to be aware that XIA is already paralysed, his target has instantly switched from XIA to ZHI. YU has caught JIU, yet fortunately JIU is saved by her maid XING. ZHI has finally defeated YU. The five elders of the WENS make QIAN, who has disguised as YI, lure XIA into a bamboo grove. The elders then force XIA to surrender the map. QING believes XIA is the killer of her mother. As she is going to take his life, ZHI and QIAN appear and save XIA. XIA learns that YI is dead and is thrown into despair……

23. Episode 23

Aired: 12/20/2000

After that, ZHI goes to meet up HUI and her father, the dumb servant. The three of them are glad to have such a gathering. ZHI leaves Mt. Huashan together with HUI. XIA has become more and more dipsomaniac and QIAN just keeps on looking after him without complaining. JUN and HE meet QING along their journey to Mt. Taishan. They soon start a fight but ZHI, who passes by in the meantime, has stopped it. QING claims she has become homeless after a serious quarrel with the five elders. She now has nowhere else to go. ZHI promises to look out for her. JIU has been kidnapped and ZHI at once goes to save her regardless of his own safety. JIU is in reality Princess CHANG PING, who has been spying against the martial ring. It is CAO HUA CHUN who has abducted JIU. He takes JIU as a lure to trap ZHI. ZHI’s armour has kept him safe. He just escapes death by sheer luck. GUN fears that ZHI will be getting stronger and stronger……

24. Episode 24

Aired: 12/21/2000

CHENG is actually the Commander-in-chief of the Ming Empire. He reminds JIU that safeguarding their own country takes priority over everything. JIU is strongly determined to kill ZHI. QING realises there are some goings-on between CHENG and JIU, even though she is not that clear about their relationship. She is afraid that they will do harm to ZHI. She tells ZHI all her worries but no-one trusts her. She is even mocked by the others. JIU and CHENG notice that the Gangsters are assembling together. They both know they have to grab the map as early as possible. In the meantime, they meet JUN and HE, who are teasing QING. JIU disguises as QING and makes ZHI lose his consciousness. She takes away the map and as she is going to kill ZHI, HUI comes along. HUI is killed by JIU, whom she has mistaken for QING. Before she dies, she tells ZHI that QING is the murderer. ZHI is furiously astonished. He swears to avenge HUI’s death……

25. Episode 25

Aired: 12/22/2000

ZHI does not trust QING. This makes QING so angry that she decides to go away. CHENG has put the map inside QING’s baggage. QING has no more excuse. JIU and CHENG have re-drawn the map and JIU studies the poem on the map by heart, hoping to spot the hidden clues, if there are any. Before HUI’s tomb, QING promises ZHI that she will find out who the real murderer is. Due to HUI’s death, ZHI is a bit late for the meeting scheduled for the Double Ninth Festival. When he arrives at Mt. Taishan, he discovers that members of the Gangsters are all killed and that CHUANG has disappeared. ZHI begins to investigate what has been happening. CHUANG has been taken back to Beijing by JIU. Somebody has left ZHI some clues, however, ZHI cannot crack the case in time. When he works out what is going on, CHUANG has already been sent to Beijing. QING follows JIU all the way to a temple but JIU has vanished in a minute……

26. Episode 26

Aired: 12/25/2000

QING and the real JIU have been discovered by CHUANG PING. PING has killed the real JIU. QING tells ZHI everything but he does not believe her. HAN and NAN even think that QING is jealous of JIU (PING). ZHI learns from the clues that CHUANG has been sent into the Palace. Emperor CHONG ZHEN promises to surrender half of his empire to CHUANG, hoping this would make CHUANG give up fighting against him. However, CHUANG refuses. JIU finds that XING is the one who has been giving ZHI the crucial clues. XING is actually a descendent of a patriotic official, who was framed and executed by CHONG ZHEN. XING has been longing to kill CHONG ZHEN to avenge her father’s death. But she is killed by CHENG finally. ZHI sneaks into the Palace to rescue CHUANG, during which, he discovers that JIU has been trying to harm him. JIU confesses that she has been exploiting ZHI and that she has never been in love with him……

27. Episode 27

Aired: 12/26/2000

JIU cannot forget about ZHI but CHENG urges her to give up on him. CHUN keeps driving a wedge between JIU and CHONG ZHEN. JIU, in order to win his father’s trust, has decided to break up with ZHI. ZHI has become a drunkard. QING, HAN and NAN try every possible way to make him stand up again. One day, the four of them meet some Portuguese. One of the Portuguese challenges QING to a fight with a fencing sword. QING wins and the Portuguese just flies into a rage out of shame. He takes out a gun and shoots them. HAN gets hurt. ZHI knows that the Portuguese are going to sell the munitions to CHONG ZHEN for battling against CHUANG. ZHI is ready to steal the munitions from the Portuguese but JIU has taken them just a little earlier than he can. ZHI alone goes to destroy all the munitions.

28. Episode 28

Aired: 12/27/2000

CHENG presumes ZHI will be coming and so has planned to trap him. QING notices the trap and reminds ZHI immediately. ZHI is safe but QING gets hurt instead. ZHI believes the trap is set by JIU and he hates her dreadfully. QING is recuperating and ZHI stays with her all the way. QING knows ZHI is missing JIU. She then encourages him to go and see JIU. JIU understands her relationship with ZHI is hopeless and just rejects his love. ZHI knows CHONG ZHEN is going to attack CHUANG with the munitions. With the help of the Wu Du Sect, ZHI has finally secured the munitions. SHOU reveals that YAO has captured JIU and that she has betrayed the Sect. To help the Manchurian troops get into the Ming Empire’s territory, CHUN keeps persuading CHONG ZHEN and all other government ministers to draw support from the Manchurians. JIU points out clearly the disadvantages and all the negative consequences that would be brought about……

29. Episode 29

Aired: 12/28/2000

QING knows that YAO is just lying. XIA and YAO have in fact returned to Linjiang, XIA’s hometown, to avoid YAO. XIA teaches QIAN kung fu and he is very pleased to see that QIAN has been learning hard. YAO keeps on searching for XIA and she finds him eventually. QIAN reveals her love for XIA. She says she will be waiting for him all her life even though she is rejected. XIA feels touched. YAO knows where XIA and QIAN are hiding themselves. QIAN tries to drive YAO away with the sound of the flute, as instructed by XIA. But YAO is not affected at all. She defeats QIAN, captures XIA and brings him to CHUN. CHUN wants the secrets about the treasures while XIA asks CHUN to kill YAO. YAO catches XIA as a hostage but XIA ends up being saved by ZHI. QING can feel XIA’s care for QIAN and his everlasting love for YI. She forgives XIA at the end of the day. QING and XIA are reconciled……

30. Episode 30

Aired: 12/29/2000

JIU asks ZHI to assassinate the chief of the Manchurians, HUANG TAI JI. Along the way, HAN and NAN meet a eunuch sent from CHUN, LIU. They come to know that CHUN has been in league with the Manchurians for long. ZHI disguises himself as LIU and heads for Beijing. ZHI sees YU inside the Palace but he takes no action. ZHI breaks into the Palace and finds that GUN has an affair with JI’s concubine. GUN is so scared that he has killed JI. He just puts the blame on ZHI by claiming that ZHI is the murderer. YU runs after ZHI to capture him and in the meantime, QING appears and saves ZHI. ZHI successfully flees away but QING is caught. YU is going to rape QING but QING is fortunately rescued by NAN, just in time. QING supposes she has lost her virginity and is going to kill herself. ZHI saves her life and QING gets deeply touched. Their relationship is developing really well.

31. Episode 31

Aired: 1/1/2001

CHUN again persuades CHONG ZHEN to draw military support from GUN while JIU insists that they will be able to find a way to stop CHUANG’s invasion. JIU supposes that CHUANG’s troops are running out of food and that the treasures will probably be a shortcut to their problem. ZHI expects he can find some clues to the puzzle of the treasures around the Palace so he just sneaks into it, inside of which he meets JIU again. Coming face to face with each other, JIU and ZHI feel a little sad. ZHI discovers that the treasures are kept inside the former residence of a man called XU ZU HUI, which is situated in the city of Nanjing. ZHI and his comrades all pray that JIU has not yet found that out. ZHI has finally got to the place where the treasures are hidden, nevertheless, all the treasures have been stolen. The Gangsters believe that it is a plot by ZHI and JIU and that the couple have already taken the treasures……

32. Episode 32

Aired: 1/2/2001

JIU and ZHI are both safe. QING has been caught by the Gangsters, and is surrounded by explosives. Though she is rescued by ZHI in time, she gets seriously hurt. On the one hand, all parties hope to set off promptly to catch up with GUN and recover the treasures. On the other, they are very worried about QING’s condition. They just cannot make up their mind whether to go or not. JIU offers to oversee QING and escort her back to the WENS’ Castle. QING feels touched by JIU’s thoughtfulness and comes to understand her conundrum situation. ZHI has successfully retrieved the treasures from GUN, which are in turn offered to CHUANG. He even helps to settle the disputes among the Gangsters. XIA decides to return to the WENS’ Castle to pay the five elders back for all their wrongdoings but QING begs him to let him off. The five elders have been working for CHUN, who instigates Prince FRANK to usurp the throne……

33. Episode 33

Aired: 1/3/2001

JIU fears that the five elders will be doing harm to his father, and wants to get into the Imperial Stack Room to see what is going on. She is not admitted and in the meantime, ZHI comes along. While Prince FRANK is compelling CHONG ZHEN to step down, JIU, with the help of ZHI, successfully enters the Imperial Stack Room and stops it. CHUN realizes he is not going to succeed and instantly does away with the five elders, his accomplices. CHONG ZHEN tries to please ZHI in any way, hoping to gain his assistance but ZHI just ignores that. JIU knows she is not going to see ZHI any longer. Before they part, JIU reminds ZHI to cherish QING. People all over the country feel totally disappointed in the government led by CHONG ZHEN, many of whom even come by to welcome CHUANG. CHONG ZHEN knows he will lose anyway and is going to kill himself. He also needs the Queen and all his concubines to commit suicide……

34. Episode 34

Aired: 1/4/2001

ZHI has not told JIU about his father’s death. He sneaks into the Palace, finds JIU’s flute and gives it back to her. QING knows ZHI has never really forgotten about JIU. She decides to leave ZHI and so she means to quarrel with him, making it a good excuse for her departure. When JIU realises that, she feels so sorry and leaves in secret. ZHI does not ever want this to happen but he just cannot help. YAO has captured QING, and forces XIA to marry her. XIA agrees in words but opposes in deeds – he has prepared some potion to poison YAO as well as himself. QIAN kills YAO and after that, she and XIA have decided to commit suicide with the poison, only to die for love. XIA and QIAN are on the verge of death. ZHI has tried his very best to save them but up to this moment, no effective remedy is detected. SHOU has finally worked out how to cure the couple. QING sets off with ZHI to look for JIU……

35. Episode 35

Aired: 1/5/2001

It appears to ZHI that CHUANG is not going to change. Major LI YAN is nearly dismissed from his title. He feels desperate and kills himself eventually. YU goes to Mt. Huashan causing a great deal of confusion. ZHI and YU soon start a fight. YU is so strong that ZHI is on a losing side at the very beginning. However with the help and instruction of XIA, CHING and ZANG, ZHI wins at the end, and YU dies. CHING loves to live in seclusion and has chosen his eldest disciple HUANG ZHEN as his successor. XIA and QIAN decide to stay at Mt. Huashan for ever. JIU has become a disciple of ZANG’s. QING hopes ZHI and JIU can give each other a second chance. How can these three persons, who have been trapped in the eternal triangle, work out their relationship? WU SAN GUI has brought the Manchurian troops in, for his concubine’s sake. ZHI knows for sure that CHUANG is going to lose this time……