Yu is a poor general

In this episode, Yin Xue leaves his isolation to help the Chinese army--really to help Ge'er--and Feng'er returns to Flame Villa...

1)The Flowing Fire covers a range of ten miles, and all Yu can do is lecture Ge'er for arriving to help him.  He expresses frustration that they do not know how to counter it.  Ge'er observes wounded men later and this is when we learn that Yu (acting very irresponsibly) did not bring enough medication and it will soon run out--in three days.  When that happens, Niang will likely make her move and only focus on him.  Elsewhere, Hueng, who has his meds, is KO'd by Anye Jue who mocks her from her perch.

2)Ge'er attempts to get the meds, even though Yu has forbidden her, however he locks her pressure points which incapicates her so she cannot go (again, I think this was silly of him).  After he sends her to his tent, he receives a letter from Anye Jue, and she promises the safety of his men if she gives her Ge'er, whom she wishes to teach a lesson for marring her face.  Yu rejects this.

3)Miles away, sensing Ge'er in danger, the ice around Yin Xue cracks and he sends  a firefly to guide Joaqin to the entrance.  The disciples do not want to let him in but when Yin Xue stumbles down the path, they obey him.  It seems Grand Mentor is in seclusion because he used up much of his vitality to save him.  Even though they tell him that he needs to wait 100 years, Yin Xue ignores them and goes with Joaqin--he can barely walk--to save Ge'er.  He tells his disciples that they are the last, and they are to let no one into the mountain.

4)In the middle of all this mess, Yu's top concern is Ge'er's safety, which is not very good for a general or a leader.  His top thoughts should be his men.  Yin Xue, meanwhile, gets to the Eastern Sea very fast and begins to turn the lanterns off.  Niang is confronted by Joaqin and successfully convinces her that he is the one who learned from Yin Xue how to do this.  She flees.  Yin Xue admits that had it been Anye Luo they would not have been able to fool him.  With the lanterns gone, Yu releases Ge'er, who isn't angry merely wants an update.  Joaqin arrived at the camp, and no one saw Yin Xue's face, whom he introduced as the mentor to Yin Xue.  Ge'er goes to greet them, and whether it is deliberate or a result of the frost curse, he ages dramatically, and Ge'er is frozen, like she seems to receognize him but it's clearly not him.  

5)Elsewhere, the Japanese camp is visited by Niang and they are portrayed as violent rude drinkers.  Niang essentially explains that they hit a small ripple in their plans.  The Japanese decide to attack head on and she refuses to go insisting she is not going to her death.  After the general leaves she basically calls them animals.  While the Japanese attack, Ge'er escorts elder and Joaqin away and forces him to take the flame seal for their safety.  'Elder' begs her not to go back but she says she must.

6)Niang watches the battle for quite a while, her plan being to go in after the Japanese have killed a lot of the enemy.  This causes a lot of casualties to the Japanese as well.  The Japanese are ambushed as they retreat and their leader expresses anger towards Niang for only watching.  She finally sends her lanterns back--meanwhile Yu again is only concerned about finding Ge'er.  She is found just as these lanterns descend--however Elder makes it snow, and they win the battle.  Niang wonders if Yin Xue is not dead.

7)Niang reports to Anye Luo that the disciple to Yin Xue has some skills, and Anye Lue basically says his only concerns is to delay Yu long enough for Feng to attack, although killing him would be ideal.  MW, Feng leaves a day earlier, as does Lei and Miss D.  Feng returns, and housekeeper updates him: Flame Lord used this as an excuse to gather Azure soldiers.  He warns him that now it is kill or be killed.  Alone, Feng breaks down in tears as he thinks about killing his mentor and adoptive father (basically) but Anjue Lue's words come back to him along with the anger and his resolve to kill.  He goes to the flame lord, who is praying to the memorial tablets of his parents, and asks him why he has come...

00I gave this episode an 8.5 because I thought some of the characters were poorly acted/written and especially find Yu's character to be very grating. The last bit is clear bias on my part, but the acting could have been better.

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