Episode Summary
The Shanhai Gang disbands and surrenders its weapons, leading to public praise for Cheng Hui despite his past crimes. Governor Wilson announces an award for Cheng Hui. However, the ceremony becomes a trap set by Zheng Qiu and Long Shiqi, who attempt to assassinate both Cheng Hui and Wilson. Liu Zhendong sacrifices himself to save them. In the ensuing chaos, Cheng Hui kills Zheng Qiu. Afterwards, Cheng Hui and his key members are exiled to Rebirth Island. Years later, the Shanhai Gang's former headquarters is a school run by Cheng Nanping, where Liu Zhendong's son, Liu Shanhai, attends.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off at the break of dawn, and we see Hei Hu, all by himself on the stairs, carefully cleaning that handgun he’s carried for what feels like a lifetime. It’s a somber moment as he watches the Shanhai Gang’s entire arsenal get packed up and sealed away. With a heavy heart, he finally hands over his own beloved pistol to the police. Gou Wendao is the one tasked with logging all these confiscated weapons. When Cheng Hui steps up to surrender his usual short knife, Gou Wendao almost waves him off, thinking it’s just a harmless fruit knife not worth the trouble. But Cheng Hui, looking dead serious, insists. That blade might be short, he implies, but it’s drawn blood before and is more than capable of taking a life.
With the Shanhai Gang officially disbanded, the news absolutely blows up across Shicheng. The newspapers are having a field day, and surprisingly, public opinion is largely in their favor. Even though Cheng Hui and his crew are facing serious prison time for a string of killings, many ordinary citizens and local business owners are hailing them as heroes who took out the trash. People are so worked up about it, they even start petitioning Governor Wilson directly, asking for leniency for Cheng Hui.
Then, Liu Zhendong arrives bearing what seems like incredible news. To recognize the Shanhai Gang’s cooperation with the government's call to transition into legitimate businesses and contribute to Shicheng's development, Governor Wilson himself plans to visit the Shanhai Wharf warehouse. The kicker? He’s going to personally present Cheng Hui with an award! Hong Yan is, understandably, ecstatic and heaps thanks on Liu Zhendong. Liu Zhendong, seizing the good mood, mentions that his son still hasn't been named and asks Hong Yan if she’d consider offering some suggestions. He plans to make the final decision later that night during a gathering of the elders.
The day of the award ceremony arrives. Governor Wilson is up on a high platform in the warehouse, delivering his speech, with all the Shanhai Gang members standing respectfully below. Zhao Tiehan, ever the observer, is scanning the crowd when his eyes snag on a man standing beside Xu Guangrong. He looks closer and – shocker! – it’s Long Shiqi, who’s been off the radar for ages. It turns out Zheng Qiu had been masterminding a devastating plot in the shadows all along. He and Long Shiqi had disguised themselves to infiltrate the event. Their chilling objective? To assassinate both Cheng Hui and Governor Wilson. The ensuing chaos, they hoped, would ignite a massive conflict between the Shanhai Gang and the police, creating the perfect diversion for them to escape Shicheng.
Suddenly, gunshots shatter the air, catching everyone completely off guard. In that critical instant, only Liu Zhendong reacts, lunging forward to shove Cheng Hui and Governor Wilson out of the line of fire. Tragically, Liu Zhendong takes the bullets to his chest and collapses on the spot. In a heart-wrenching parallel, at that very same moment, Hong Yan has just settled on a name for her grandson: "Liu Shanhai," a name chosen to symbolize the enduring spirit and legacy of the Shanhai Gang. The warehouse erupts into a bloody melee. Amidst the chaos, Cheng Hui and Huang Zhongxin split up to hunt down Zheng Qiu. In the end, it's Cheng Hui who personally finishes off his treacherous foe.
In the aftermath, a government representative named James faces the media. With a completely straight face, he announces that the authorities will extend "leniency" towards Cheng Hui and the others. Their version of leniency? They're to be exiled to a place called Rebirth Island for "re-education and self-reflection through hard labor," cynically framing it as an opportunity to "learn new skills for a new life." When the official list of exiles is published, Cheng Hui, Zhao Tiehan, She Yan, and Hei Hu are all photographed for the record. In a true testament to loyalty, Huang Zhongxin, who wasn't even on the list, insists on going with them, solely to look after Cheng Hui. A tearful Cheng Nanping watches them leave, promising to wait for his return.
Several years flash by. The Shanhai Gang's former headquarters has undergone a remarkable transformation: it's now the Shanhai Primary School, dedicated to educating countless impoverished children and local youngsters. Cheng Nanping is running the school with a capable hand. There's a touching scene where she’s watching Liu Shanhai, Liu Zhendong's son, drawing a picture of his late father – a truly poignant moment. Even Xu Guangrong makes regular appearances, coming by to teach classes. The once-constant echoes of violence and bloodshed have finally given way to the hopeful sounds of children learning and their voices filling the halls.
