Episode Summary
The investigation into General Huo's death reveals he was strangled, but a disciple confesses that the General, in a fit of madness, killed himself. An autopsy confirms suicide under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, which he had been consuming long-term. The Huo family, particularly Mrs. Huo and her daughter Huo Dairong, exhibit strange behavior, hinting at a deep, hidden secret within the household.
Spoiler Alert
The investigation into the death of old General Huo takes a sharp turn as new revelations paint a picture not of a simple murder, but of a household steeped in secrets and suffering.
The episode opens with Zhuge Kongyun publicly announcing his joint investigation with Zhong Xueman into the General's death.Just then, Feng Qingzhuo steps forward, claiming to have found the key evidence of a murder.Inside, Feng points to ligature marks on the General's neck, previously concealed, revealing the true cause of death was strangulation.The Huo family immediately turns on Zhong Xueman, but Zhuge vows to work with the Divine Capture Camp to find the real killer and clear her name.
As the investigators dig deeper, the idyllic facade of the Huo residence begins to crumble. Zhong Xueman recalls several unsettling details from her initial survey: faint bloodstains on the floor hinting at brutal training sessions, and a network of horrific scars covering Mrs. Huo's back.Most bizarrely, on the day of mourning, Mrs. Huo was discovered wearing brightly colored undergarments, seemingly devoid of any grief.Adding to the mystery, two of the General's disciples had attempted to set fire to the morgue, and the General's daughter, Huo Dairong, saw through Zhong Xueman's identity with suspicious ease. It becomes clear the family is hiding something.
The first major breakthrough comes from the General's disciple, Li Xiaozi. Cornered by Zhuge and Zhong, he confesses the shocking truth: the General killed himself.Li Xiaozi recounts a terrifying scene where the General descended into madness, raving about an avenger coming for him, before attacking those present with a sword and then, horrifically, strangling himself to death in front of multiple witnesses.
A separate, clandestine investigation by Xiao Beiming and Feng Qingzhuo confirms this account.They examine the body and conclude the General did indeed strangle himself while in the throes of a powerful hallucination.Just as they reach this conclusion, Zhuge arrives to conduct an official autopsy.Xiao Beiming, ever cautious, slips away. Zhuge instructs Feng to proceed with the autopsy to gather definitive proof, while Zhong Xueman feigns squeamishness to leave and confer with Xiao Beiming.
The puzzle pieces begin to form a sinister picture. Feng's autopsy reveals that the General had been consuming a hallucinogenic drug over a long period.Meanwhile, Xiao Beiming, disguised as Tong Shuang, has a strange encounter with Huo Dairong. She looks at him with an unnerving sense of recognition, remarking on his resemblance to an old acquaintance.More importantly, she confesses that she, too, believes her father's death is not what it seems and that a dark secret lies behind it.The investigation then leads Zhong Xueman and Xiao Beiming to Li Xiaozi's room, where his extreme nervousness and fixation on a dagger at his bedside suggest he is hiding yet another critical secret.
