Episode Summary
In episode 32 of "The Lost National Treasure," the police confirm Liang Jianbin's motive for assault was personal revenge. Meanwhile, Mu Jianhui masterfully manipulates the Antiques Association into funding his trip to a Hong Kong auction, where he outbids his rival, Zhao Youlin, for an ancient official seal. He then donates it, successfully laundering his public reputation. As the Yin Village tomb is threatened by a landfill project, the police get a critical lead on the mysterious "Three Fingers." The episode ends on a cliffhanger: just as authorities grant a three-month excavation window, a sudden power outage plunges the team into darkness.
Spoiler Alert
This Episode , the tangled webs of the investigation, archaeology, and the criminal underworld are pulled tighter than ever. While the police make a breakthrough by risking it all, Mu Jianhui executes a masterful plan in Hong Kong to reshape his public image. All the while, the clock is ticking on the Yin Village tomb, leading to a shocking cliffhanger that puts everything in jeopardy.
A Grudge and a Confession
The episode opens with the police zeroing in on Liang Jianbin. Following a tip from their informant, Haozi, detectives Qi Dacang and Wu Zhichuan bring Liang in for questioning about the assault on "Uncle." Under pressure, Liang cracks and confesses. He admits to organizing the attack, but his motive wasn't part of a grand conspiracy; it was simple revenge for an old feud where "Uncle" had stolen a tomb site from him. While this closes one loop, it only deepens the mystery of who is pulling the larger strings.
A High-Stakes Play in Hong Kong
At a gathering of the prestigious Antiques Association, the ever-ambitious Mu Jianhui makes his move. After charming the influential Elder Qin with his cultural knowledge, Mu proposes a bold plan: the association should travel to Hong Kong to bid on an ancient official seal that has surfaced at auction. Some members are skeptical, questioning the seal's monetary value. However, Mu delivers a passionate speech, arguing that its true worth lies in its historical significance as a symbol of centralized imperial power. His vision wins over Elder Qin and the other members, who agree to the Hong Kong trip.
Meanwhile, the police departments of Qinchuan and Qingyuan officially merge their cases—the Yin Village tomb theft and the Qingyuan tomb-raiding brawl—into a single special investigation: the "3.17 Task Force." With leads growing cold, they decide on a high-risk, high-reward strategy: they will leak the codename "Three Fingers" to the criminal underworld, hoping to flush out their mysterious and elusive target.
An Auction and an Accusation
In Hong Kong, the atmosphere is electric. Mu Jianhui comes face-to-face with his arch-rival, Zhao Youlin, who wastes no time in publicly mocking Mu's background. Later, in a private moment, Zhao corners Elder Qin and poisons the well, whispering that Mu Jianhui is nothing more than a common tomb raider. The accusation hits its mark. Elder Qin's demeanor toward Mu turns icy, and he deliberately avoids him at the auction.
But Mu Jianhui is unfazed. In a stunning display of wealth and strategy, he dominates the bidding, securing the official seal for a staggering sum. Then, in a move that catches everyone off guard, he announces he is donating the seal to the Antiques Association on the spot. He even suggests that the association, in turn, present it to the archaeological team. This act of "selfless" generosity instantly rehabilitates his image, winning back Elder Qin’s admiration and earning him glowing press coverage as a great philanthropist.
A Race Against Time and a Sudden Blackout
Back home, archaeologist Fang Kun is in a panic. He learns that the second phase of a landfill project is set to begin, which would completely destroy the Yin Village tomb. He and Luo Qing rush to seek help from a provincial authority, Director Lu, who promises to report the crisis to his superiors. Director Lu also delivers the stunning news that the missing seal has been found and is now in the possession of the Antiques Association, thanks to Mu Jianhui. Fang Kun is deeply conflicted, struggling to accept a donation from a man he suspects is a criminal, but he knows he has no choice but to accept it for the sake of the excavation.
The police investigation finally gets the break it needs. Using a local mystic as an informant, Yang Qingshi uncovers the first concrete details about "Three Fingers": a physical description and, most importantly, a criminal record for illegally manufacturing explosives, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence. With this information, they can finally track down his true identity.
Riding his wave of good publicity, Mu Jianhui holds a press conference where he publicly cements his new identity as a great benefactor. His eyes lock onto Fang Kun in the audience, and he pointedly references a past conversation they had, twisting Fang Kun's words to whitewash his own history and reframe his journey from the shadows to the spotlight.
Just when things seem darkest for the archaeological team, Director Lu returns with incredible news: the government has ordered the landfill site to be moved. The team has been granted a three-month window to conduct their excavation and prove the tomb's ultimate significance. That night, as the relieved team gathers to strategize, the lights in their small courtyard suddenly flicker and die, plunging them into total darkness. The abrupt power outage ends the episode on a tense cliffhanger, signaling that a new, unseen threat has just emerged.
