Episode Summary
Xu Xiao interrogates Cui Haitao, uncovering Wang Bingde's true identity and the gang's dark secrets, including the immortality ritual requiring female sacrifices. Cui Haitao reveals the events leading to his lost eye and Zhou Jiahei's crimes. Meanwhile, Chen Nan investigates the ancient Ding and discovers his teacher, Han Zhen, had previously researched it. Lin Guoqiang remains hospitalized, cared for by Zhang Yanni.
Spoiler Alert
"Hanging Mirrors" Episode 15: Recap & Spoilers
Episode 15 gets intense! Xu Xiao, upon learning about the tragic events that befell Lin Guoqiang, is absolutely furious. He storms into the interrogation room, ready to throw some punches at Cui Haitao. Chief Yang and the team are observing the interrogation from behind the scenes and quickly pull Xu Xiao out, telling him to cool down.
After he calms down a bit, Xu Xiao resumes the interrogation, taking a clever approach. He starts by asking about Cui Haitao's family and kids. Cui Haitao knows where Xu Xiao is going with this and gets spooked, remembering the ruthlessness of Wang Bingde and his crew. He's afraid his family will be targeted if he talks. But Xu Xiao assures him he'll be protected, and Cui Haitao finally spills the beans.
Turns out, Wang Bingde's real name is Wang Xiang. Cui Haitao had a stint in prison for tomb raiding. After getting out, he worked on Wang Bingde's construction site, and Wang Bingde pulled him back into the gang. Cui Haitao's specialty is explosives for wood, a skill Wang Bingde personally taught him. Only a few people know how to do it. However, Cui Haitao was just on the periphery of the operation. Wang Bingde is the number two guy in the group, the strategist.
Cui Haitao provides details about the tortoise shells Zhou Jiahei and others took from the tomb – the same tomb Chen Nan is currently investigating. Zhou Jiahei went crazy after coming out of the tomb. Six months later, he murdered and dismembered a female college student. Zhou Jiahei killed women because the tortoise shells contained information about achieving immortality. The police quickly caught on and traced it back to Zhou Jiahei. The Zhou family even tried to bribe Lin Guoqiang, but it didn't work. Xu Xiao figures out that Lin Guoqiang was the cop who refused the bribe. Zhou Jiahei and his men then kidnapped Lin Guoqiang's daughter. Knowing he was done for, Zhou Jiahei took all the blame, letting Wang Bingde and the others walk free. But they still wanted to teach Lin Guoqiang a lesson, so they killed his daughter.
Xu Xiao then asks about Cui Haitao's fake eye. The question clearly makes Cui Haitao uncomfortable and regretful. After Zhou Jiahei died, his son, Zhou Daye, took over the gang. The others wanted to go straight and start legitimate businesses, but they wanted Cui Haitao to keep doing the dirty work of raiding tombs. Cui Haitao wanted out, but Zhou Daye punished him by blinding him in one eye.
Xu Xiao uncovers the details of the "immortality ritual," learning that it requires sacrificing five women at a time, and possibly multiple times if it doesn't work the first time. The police are shocked by the sheer cruelty of these criminals, willing to kill so many innocent lives for a superstitious belief.
Meanwhile, Chen Nan visits a craftsman who makes replicas of ancient Ding (鼎, a type of ancient Chinese cauldron). The real Ding is lighter than the fake one, which surprises Chen Nan. The craftsman suggests the real Ding might have hidden layers, using less material, making it lighter.
Xu Xiao visits Lin Guoqiang in the hospital, where he's still unconscious. Zhang Yanni is there, bringing Lin Guoqiang turtle soup. Zhang Yanni complains to Xu Xiao about how Lin Guoqiang ended up in the hospital because of the case. Xu Xiao can only smile and listen, but he's happy to see Lin Guoqiang being cared for by Zhang Yanni and Ding Dang.
Chen Nan is also digging into the mystery of the Ding, searching through books and documents. At the library, he finds relevant books and asks the librarian who else has borrowed them. The librarian finds only one person: Chen Nan's teacher, Han Zhen! Chen Nan recalls some of his teacher's past actions and behaviors. Dun dun dun...
