Attack of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng!

"Attack of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng!" (襲来! 玄鬼宗, Shūrai! Genkishu) is the second episode of the first season of Thunderbolt Fantasy. It originally aired on July 15, 2016. "Not knowing how a fight to the death will end is why people draw their swords"- Shāng Bù Huàn prepares to duel Liè Mèi.

Plot
Dān Fěi introduces herself to Shāng Bù Huàn and Lǐn Xuě Yā and tells the story of the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, and her family's shrine. The Tiān Xíng Jiàn was the most powerful sword used during the War of the Fading Dusk. Luckily, despite Miè Tiān Hái invading the shrine, the sword is still secure due to a seal, and the guard still being in Dān Fěi's possession. However, Miè Tiān Hái has the hilt of the sword after taking it from Dān Héng. Despite the intention to avenge her brother and relying on the other Hù Yìn Shī, Shāng Bù Huàn insists she rethink her plan because she may just want to avenge her brother. Guǐ Niǎo intends on joining and aiding Dān Fěi to get the guard back, but Shāng Bù Huàn refuses. despite Guǐ Niǎo's pestering, as a man who prefers to avoid trouble, Shāng Bù Huàn goes off on his own, defending his action of saving Fěi as a spur of the moment decision and living up to the code of umbrellas, and tells Guǐ Niǎo to help the girl by himself. Meanwhile, in seven sins tower, Miè Tiān Hái summons Diāo Mìng and Liè Mèi, asking why they haven't found the Guard's guardian. Instead they report that they intend to find Shāng Bù Huàn by monitoring all the roads. Miè Tiān Hái reminds them that the holy grail of his collection is the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, the enigmatic sword deserving to be with him, rather than rusting away in a Hù Yìn Shī temple. Liè Mèi heaps praise on him but Tiān Hái is not amused. Diāo Mìng promises the guard will be in his lords possession, while Liè Mèi wonders what kind of reward she can earn should she be the one to capture the guard.

Elsewhere, Guǐ Niǎo sends a messenger bird to an ally of his, telling Dān Fěi they would need as much help as they can get. Dān Fěi asks why he would go through such trouble, to which he reveals that he is acquainted with the Bones of Creation, knowing he would not hesitate to use the Tiān Xíng Jiàn for himself, and so the blades Hilt must be retrieved. Dān Fěi believes sir Shāng might have aided them had Guǐ Niǎo told him this, but Guǐ Niǎo says that he will be joining them soon enough, since their destination is the same. In a nearby town, Bù Huàn finally arrives to where he may sleep at an inn rather than on the ground, but when looking for something to eat in the trading square, many of the villagers seem to recognize him and run away. One shopkeep hides under his table and ignores Bù Huàn's request for service. The man begs Shāng to take whatever he wants and leave as soon as possible. Shāng takes one of the mans Shaobing (leaving money for it,) and continues on to a wall where he finds several posters with his face, declaring anyone who participates in business with the vagabond to be a lifelong enemy of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng. At least finding food, Shāng decides to go off on the road again. On his way out he passes a cliff, where a man in an eye patch sits with his arms and legs crossed. The man asks Shāng weather his name is Shāng Bù Huàn, and naturally, Bù Huàn plays coy. Bù Huàn relates that if he was, he probably wouldn't give his name to some creepy stranger with a bow. Amused, the archer says whoever he is, Shāng must be quite eccentric, To which Shāng responds that whoever this hypothetical man is, he must be going through hell for so many creeps to be waiting for him on the side of the road. The archer warns him that, Shāng Bù Huàn or not, there is an ambush lying in wait up ahead. Shāng goes into the woods anyway and is confronted by seven Xuán Guǐ Zōng, led by Liè Mèi, who claims responsibility for the posters. Shāng expresses his dissatisfaction with posters depiction of his likeness. when Shāng requests a redraw, Liè Mèi promises his memorial would feature him in a better light, and the Xuán Guǐ Zōng draw their swords.

Bù Huàn explains he abandoned the shrine maiden, but he knows just as well as Liè Mèi that she isn't going to care, but no matter how much they interrogate him, he won't know where she is. Liè Mèi is pleased, as this leaves only executing Shāng Bù Huàn to avenge Cán Xiōng. Shāng asks why she would bother after she discloses that she was disappointed by his defeat, and she explains that their proud master has ordered them to cover up Cán Xiōng's defeat, meaning erasing Shāng Bù Huàn, Bù Huàn trashes Miè Tiān Hái, as someone who sends others to die for his own pride is undeserving of the title of leader. Liè Mèi laughs at his optimism, but before it can be decided who wanted would walk away victorious, a voice calls out through the forest, and a spear flies out through the brush, landing in front of Shāng. The spears wielder leaps out from the trees, introducing himself better than anyone could:

"Let those in earshot hear my words, let those who can see bear witness, arriving like a storm, shaking the earth, the warrior whose name is known throughout the east, I am called the frozen wonder, Juǎn Cán Yún and his spear have arrived!"

As expected, this introduction leaves both sides speechless, until Bù Huàn asks the young man what exactly he's doing, angering the boy who believes Shāng is acting rude and should be more grateful to his "savior". Shāng warns Cán Yún to back off before he gets hurt but the "frozen wonder" clearly believes himself to be doing Shāng Bù Huàn a favor, and explains to Liè Mèi that he's "Kind of a big deal". Shāng Bù Huàn deduces that Juǎn must be the type of guy who "only believes whatever is convenient for him." The frozen wonder once again attempts to advocated his heroism by saving the ungrateful Shāng, but finds himself frozen, wondering why the Xuán Guǐ Zōng want Bù Huàn in the first place. Due to this idiocy, Liè Mèi orders the other Xuán Guǐ Zōng to kill both men, as anyone who picks a fight with the Xuán Guǐ Zōng need to be put in their place. Before they can, one of the thugs is felled by an arrow. Before Liè Mèi can locate the archer, Another soldier is effortlessly put down. She doesn't believe they could be fired from too far away, but as Juǎn confirms, the bow user is "The Sharp-eyed Impaler", Shòu Yún Xiāo. As such, he resigns himself to waiting for his "Bro", to finish stealing the show. Cán Yún warns Bù Huàn to stay put, and Bù Huàn seems surprised Cán Yún addresses the meddler as "Bro". Cán Yún reminds Shāng that he had already met him before the ambush, and is surprised to find that Shāng seemingly hadn't heard of "The One-eyed Impaler". With two more soldiers shot down, Liè Mèi and the last two Xuán Guǐ Zōng Meteor Walk in the direction of the sharp shooter. Yún Xiāo's incredible eyesight sees their approach, and seems impressed with their usage of the Meteor walking technique. Liè Mèi arrives and confronts Yún Xiāo, to which he jumps down to the clearing and is surrounded. He compliments their boldness in not shying away from one of his reputation, while Liè Mèi brags that he is at a disadvantage at close range. Shòu Yún Xiāo surprises her by not shooting at any of his opponents, instead shooting 3 arrows into the air. Believing he's gone mad, Liè Mèi attacks him with her deer horn knives, and Yún Xiāo maneuvers around all three of the Xuán Guǐ Zōng's blades, and reminds them that No one can choose their own death, and forces each of them back with a strike. The two lower level soldiers catch themselves, while Liè Mèi falls backwards, leading to her being the only one to survive as tow of the arrows fired by Shòu land in their necks, while the last lands at Liè Mè's feet. Had she caught herself as Shòu anticipated, she would have been killed. In facing such shame, and being patronized by Yún Xiāo, She immediatley promises to repay the dishonor when next they meet, and Meteor Walks away to safety, passing Shāng Bù Huàn on her way out. Shòu Yún Xiāo once again asks Shāng whether or not he is indeed Shāng Bù Huàn. His cautious "what if I am?", is met with an arrow flying right at Shāng Bù Huàn's heart.

Characters

 * Dān Fěi
 * Lǐn Xuě Yā (Guǐ Niǎo)
 * Shāng Bù Huàn
 * Dān Héng (mentioned)
 * Miè Tiān Hái
 * Diāo Mìng
 * Liè Mèi
 * Cán Xiōng (mentioned)
 * Shòu Yún Xiāo
 * Juǎn Cán Yún

Techniques
Meteor Walking -Liè Mèi

Trivia

 * No Characters call out any attacks during this episode.
 * "Not many get a chance to choose how they die. "
 * "If you think people can choose how they die, ... You're gravely mistaken."

=== Next... "A voice whispers in the darkness, a suspicious enticing lullaby, a woman's devilishness is in full bloom at night. Fall for the deception, and you lose your life." ===