Episode Summary
In response to a dark omen of statues weeping blood, a mysterious killer known as "Ye Sha" begins assassinating the empire's top ministers in gruesome ways. The brilliant detective Xiao Beiming takes the case, boldly promising to solve it in three days. However, his elaborate plan to protect the final minister goes horribly wrong, revealing the victim dead from an impossible, silent attack and exposing a far more dangerous conspiracy.
Spoiler Alert
In the capital of the Great Qi Empire, a grand ceremony is set to take place. To honor forty-eight of his most loyal officials, the Emperor has commissioned the Langhua Pavilion, a hall where statues of these men are ranked by their merit. At the very top are four grand ministers: Lu Wenzhong, Qin Ye, Fan Jingzhi, and Shen Bi. But on the day the pavilion is unveiled, a terrifying omen appears—the statues of these four men begin to weep tears of blood. The Emperor orders the news to be suppressed, but a dark prophecy is already in motion. Within days, three of the four ministers are dead, each killed in a bizarre and horrifying manner.
The first to fall is Lu Wenzhong. While rushing to a disaster zone, his journey through a forest is cut short when his head is severed from his body in a single, clean strike. Left carved on a tree are two words: "Ye Sha" (Night Devil). Next is Qin Ye, who is practicing calligraphy in his study. When a servant opens a window for fresh air, Qin Ye suddenly bursts into flames and is incinerated into a pile of ash. As the wind scatters the remains, the name "Ye Sha" is revealed on the floor. The third, Fan Jingzhi, dies while washing his face, inexplicably drowning in his own washbasin. On the mirror above, the killer has once again left their signature: "Ye Sha."
Panic grips the capital. Strange phenomena fuel the terror, with blood appearing on the surface of lakes and fish bleeding for no reason. A note from "Ye Sha" surfaces, proclaiming that the Great Qi Empire is doomed.
Amidst the chaos, a brilliant detective from the Divine Capture Camp, Xiao Beiming, is on another case. He is called to the home of Lin Shu, who has died in his room. By staging a reenactment and noticing tiny clues—bran crumbs near a meditation cushion and a small bird by the window—Xiao Beiming quickly deduces the truth. Lin Shu, who had been paralyzed for years, was not a victim of some phantom killer but of his own brother, Lin Kang. Claiming to be his caretaker, Lin Kang had dismissed the servants and systematically tortured his brother, finally murdering him to seize the family fortune. Faced with the evidence, Lin Kang confesses.
After solving the case, Xiao Beiming is summoned to the palace. At court, the Divine Capture Camp and their rivals, the Dark Detective Camp, argue over who should lead the hunt for "Ye Sha." Zhuge Tong, the head of the Dark Detective Camp, confidently promises to solve the case in ten days. But Xiao Beiming steps forward and makes an audacious claim: he will catch the killer in just three. The Emperor, intrigued, grants him full authority.
After the court session, Zhong Yunchi, the head of the Divine Capture Camp, privately expresses his fear that the "Ye Sha" case is connected to a hidden incident from the past. The Emperor's face darkens, and he sternly warns Zhong Yunchi never to speak of it again, secretly giving him a jade tablet with instructions to find a specific person. Meanwhile, Xiao Beiming is scolded by his master for his reckless three-day promise, but the detective already has a plan in mind.
That night, Xiao Beiming visits the Langhua Pavilion. As expected, a masked figure appears. They engage in a swift fight, and Xiao Beiming quickly recognizes his opponent as his junior and fiancée, Zhong Xueman. Not wanting her involved in such a dangerous case, he pretends to be defeated and urges her to go home. She refuses, determined to help him solve the case quickly so they can finally marry. Though the killer wiped the blood tears from the statues, Xiao Beiming's keen eye spots another crucial clue they missed.
The next day, he investigates the forest where Lu Wenzhong died and discovers suspicious marks on the trees. His attention then turns to the last surviving minister, Shen Bi, who is terrified for his life. Xiao Beiming assures Shen Bi that he can leave the city safely under his protection.
Later, Xiao Beiming finds his junior disciple in a gambling den, about to have his finger cut off by Zhuge Kongyun of the rival Dark Detective Camp. Xiao Beiming realizes it's a setup. Zhuge Kongyun is trying to lure him out to get information on the "Ye Sha" case. Playing along, Xiao Beiming engages him in a game of dice. He lets Zhuge Kongyun believe he's winning and, as a "prize," tells him that Shen Bi will be leaving the capital the next day.
The following day, the plan is set in motion. Four identical carriages depart from Shen Bi's residence to act as decoys. Zhuge Kongyun, believing he knows which carriage holds Shen Bi, decides to help Xiao Beiming ensure the minister's escape. Just outside the city, Zhuge Kongyun approaches the carriage to confirm their success. He pulls back the curtain, only to find Shen Bi sitting lifelessly inside, killed by a single needle to the head. The murder happened so silently and swiftly that even Xiao Beiming, who was right beside him, was completely unaware. The "Ye Sha" mystery is far deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
