Episode Summary
In this episode, Su Wuming identifies the mysterious killer bird and cleverly manipulates court politics to get himself appointed as an official investigator. His first case leads him to a murdered dancer and a merchant who bought a human-skin mask from the shadowy Yin-Yang trader. A sting operation to capture the trader backfires spectacularly when the bird kidnaps Su Wuming, leaving Lu Lingfeng with no leads except the infamous Ghost Market.
Spoiler Alert
That Creepy Bird Has a Name
So, Su Wuming sees Lu Lingfeng return, and the guy is clearly in a bad mood. Su Wuming is smart enough not to poke the bear. He just gets back to work on that feather.
He hits the books. He finds out the feather belongs to a "Black Flame Bird." It's from a mythical place called the Yaming Kingdom. The legends say it's a seriously nasty creature.
Lu Lingfeng scoffs at the whole myth thing. But Su Wuming explains the bird is very real. It was the national bird of the Amonuo Kingdom, which was wiped out years ago. He says it has an incredible sense of smell, especially for sweet things. It looks terrifying, but there are no records of it ever eating people.
Then Master Fei, who's just been lying around, suddenly speaks up. He mentions that the victim, Liu Shiqi, had his face peeled off. Cherry is disgusted by the cruelty of the Yin-Yang trader. Master Fei gives her a strange look, like he's figuring something out about her.
Su Wuming Needs a Badge
Lu Lingfeng Gets Sidelined
Lu Lingfeng is convinced the bird is still hiding out near the relay station. He also wants to find the masked men who attacked Su Wuming. He's ready to go charging in.
But Su Wuming stops him. He gives Lu Lingfeng a reality check. His official duty from the Emperor is to protect Lu Tong. He needs to go back to the city and do his job. Su Wuming tells him to stay out of the political drama and let him handle the investigation.
How to Get a Job in Tang Dynasty Politics
There's just one big problem. Su Wuming is a civilian. He has no legal power to investigate a crime.
He first tries asking the local official, Du Ming, for permission. Du Ming wants nothing to do with it. He's caught between the Emperor and the Princess and refuses to help. It's a classic case of a bureaucrat covering his own hide.
So, Su Wuming goes over his head. He gets a meeting with the Princess herself. He lays it out plainly. If Lu Lingfeng gets blamed for a bird killing an official, his reputation is ruined forever. This argument works. The Princess immediately appoints Su Wuming as the "Criminal Justice Doctor of Yongzhou Prefecture." He now has the authority to investigate the bird attacks.
The Investigation Begins
A New Case and an Old Grudge
Du Ming has to obey the Princess's order, but he's clearly not happy about it. He acts petty. He tells Su Wuming the job is "temporary" and that he won't be getting a salary. Then he calls in a guy named Wu Wenbin to brief Su Wuming.
Wu Wenbin tells them about another murder that happened the night before. He takes Su Wuming and Cherry to see the victim. It's a female dancer. Wu Wenbin is completely disrespectful toward the victim because of her job. Cherry gets angry and starts arguing with him.
Su Wuming steps in and shuts them both down. He makes it very clear. A victim is a victim. Everyone deserves the same respect and a proper investigation. It's the only way for justice to be fair.
The Case of the Beautiful Wife
Su Wuming gets to work at the crime scene in Pingkang Ward. While he investigates, Pei Xijun draws a portrait of the dancer based on witness descriptions.
Suddenly, Wu Wenbin spots someone spying on them from outside. He gives chase and pins down three suspicious men. He's about to draw his sword when Su Wuming yells for him to stop. It turns out they're old friends. They are three constables from Chang'an County named Lao Jia, Lao Luo, and Lao Liu.
After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the constables are thrilled to hear Su Wuming is an official again. He asks them to help him find any information they can about the dead dancer.
They get a hit almost immediately. They found a merchant named Qu whose wife was known for being very plain and staying indoors. But recently, she's been hosting lavish parties. She's suddenly beautiful and a talented singer and dancer. Everyone who sees her is amazed. Cherry sneaks into their house and hides in the rafters. She overhears the merchant lovingly telling his wife to take good care of her new face.
The Mask Comes Off
A Confession and a New Drawing
The three constables burst in and arrest the merchant. He panics and confesses everything. He admits he bought a human-skin mask from the Yin-Yang trader using gold bars.
At the same time, we see the Yin-Yang trader's boss meeting with the "Bird Man." The boss tells him to stop using Liu Shiqi's face and get a new one. The Bird Man refuses. He says he really likes this face.
Back with our crew, Pei Xijun uses the merchant's description to draw a portrait of the Yin-Yang trader.
The Trap Goes Wrong
Su Wuming takes the drawing to Master Fei that night, likely to confirm the trader's identity. Then, he and Cherry set a trap. They go undercover, pretending to be a wealthy uncle and niece who want to buy a custom face mask.
They find the Yin-Yang trader, but he claims he has no idea where the Bird Man is. Just as Wu Wenbin moves in to make the arrest, the Black Flame Bird attacks out of nowhere. It grabs Su Wuming and flies away with him into the night.
In the middle of the chaos, the Yin-Yang trader escapes. Lu Lingfeng gets the news and rushes over, but the trail is completely cold. He decides his only option is to start digging for clues in the Ghost Market.
