Episode Summary
Li Shuang is given fifteen days to find a spy in her army or face punishment from the Emperor. With Jin An's help, she identifies the mole as Huo Du. But before he can be caught, Huo Du kidnaps Li Shuang's brother, Li Ting. During the rescue, Jin An transforms into a powerful adult version of himself to save Li Shuang, revealing a mysterious connection between them. After he captures Huo Du for her, he loses control and kisses her before fleeing. Back at camp, Li Shuang realizes the stranger and the child Jin An are the same person, just as Jin An collapses from a fever.
Spoiler Alert
"Shadow Love" Episode 2 Recap
The Emperor is Not Happy
So, that raid on the Yao camp? It didn't go over well back at the palace. The Emperor is furious with Li Wei and Li Shuang for their risky move, especially since the Yao army used the opportunity to attack Lu City. He basically puts Li Wei on house arrest in the capital.
Li Shuang gets an ultimatum. She has fifteen days to find the spy in her army. If she fails, she's facing a whole list of charges. The Crown Prince, Su Muyang, tries to stick up for the Li family. But his brother, Su Muli, immediately uses it to suggest Su Muyang is a little too cozy with them. The court politics are already getting messy.
Finding the Rat
Li Shuang gets straight to work hunting for the mole. She starts investigating the soldiers' families. It's a smart move. She gets a hit almost immediately. Only one soldier's family has completely vanished from the capital. That soldier is Huo Du. Now she has a prime suspect.
Back at the camp, Jin An's super-hearing picks up the sound of birds at night, which is weird because he's never heard them before. It's not birds. He hears the spy making a deal. This is when it clicks for him why Li Shuang has been so wary. He realizes there actually is a mole in the Changfeng Army. He takes his evidence straight to Li Shuang, proving that keeping him around was the right call.
A Not-So-Simple Rescue
Just as Li Shuang orders Huo Du's arrest, she finds out he's already fled. Worse, her brother, Li Ting, has been kidnapped on his way to visit her. The timing is terrible.
It turns out Huo Du has joined up with a group of bandits led by a guy named Ouyang Jun. They're using Li Ting as bait to lure Li Shuang out. She decides to go alone, but Jin An insists on tagging along. She shuts that down and makes him stay behind.
At the bandit camp, Li Shuang puts on a hell of a show. She announces that Li Ting is just an adopted son. She claims they have no blood relation. Li Ting looks completely heartbroken. To sell it, she fires an arrow right at his chest. It was a calculated risk. She knew he was wearing a protective mirror that Prince Su Muyang had given him.
The bandits are stunned. Li Shuang uses the chaos to snag her brother with a rope and get him to safety. Then she turns to face the bandits alone.
Jin An Has a Secret
Jin An, miles away, suddenly senses that Li Shuang is in danger. He gets another surge of that mysterious power. He transforms into his adult self.
He shows up just as Li Shuang is about to be overwhelmed. He easily takes down the bandits with incredible strength. Li Shuang is just staring at this powerful stranger, having no idea who he is. They hide from the remaining bandits, and as Jin An looks at the blood on her lip, he feels a strange, intense craving.
He wants to get her out of there, but she refuses to leave. She won't let Huo Du get away. So, Jin An just goes and kidnaps Huo Du for her. Problem solved. But then he loses control again. Driven by that weird craving for her blood, he kisses her. He immediately runs off, leaving her more confused than ever.
Li Shuang gets back to camp and the first thing she does is check on the child version of Jin An. She sees the tattoo on his back. It's the exact same one the mysterious stranger had. She also notices how similar their faces are. She asks if the man was his father. Jin An quickly denies knowing him.
Just then, Li Ting starts freaking out about her shooting him. She explains it was all a trick because of the mirror. Jin An overhears them arguing and calmly explains to Li Ting that some things are hard to say, even to the people you love most. Right after playing mediator, Jin An collapses with a high fever.
