Episode Summary

In episode 33 of "The Lost National Treasure," the police make significant headway by identifying "Three Fingers" as Liu Qiang and uncovering his connection to a mysterious demolition expert known as "The Blaster." Meanwhile, Mu Jianhui confronts his associate, Li Yuanguang, revealing a dark secret about his past and confessing he is the father of a child named Liangliang. After a brief, emotional reunion with his family upon his release from prison, Yan Xiaowu is taken in for questioning, as is Mu Jianhui. Their interrogation reveals a complex history, with the police suspecting Mu manipulated Yan into taking the fall for him years ago. The episode concludes with the arrest of another key figure, the "South China King," intensifying the stakes for everyone involved.

Spoiler Alert

"The Lost National Treasure" Episode 33 Recap & Spoilers

Episode highlights:

  • Wu Zhenchuan gets a new lead on Liu Qiang.
  • Mu Jianhui makes a shocking confession to Li Yuanguang.
  • Liu Shulan grows suspicious of her family's whereabouts.
  • The capture of the "South China King" creates a ripple effect.
  • Yan Xiaowu has a brief family reunion after his release.
  • A police interrogation reveals a complex history between Mu Jianhui and Yan Xiaowu.

Full Recap & Spoilers

Tracking a Ghost

The episode opens with Wu Zhenchuan's team visiting the hometown of the elusive "Three Fingers" to interview his ex-wife. She reveals his real name is Liu Qiang and that he once worked at the Yongcheng Mine before falling in with a man with curly hair. As the police close in, Mu Jianhui’s crew gets word that Liu Qiang's identity is compromised and frantically warns him to lay low.

On the drive back, Wu Zhenchuan updates Qi Dacang on their findings. The police manage to track down Liu Qiang's old foreman, Zhu Guoqing. He remembers Liu Qiang as someone who couldn't handle hard labor and quit after a few years to follow a demolition expert. The foreman provides a crucial description of this man: a tall, reclusive figure with a long face and curly hair, though his name remains a mystery.

Zeroing In on "The Blaster"

Back at the station, Qi Dacang analyzes the evidence and deduces that this unnamed demolition man must be the gang's "Blaster" (Pao Shou). He devises a two-pronged strategy: one team will continue the hunt for Liu Qiang, while the other will start a wide-net search for the Blaster.

Unbeknownst to them, the Blaster, whose real name is Li Yuanguang, has just been discharged from the hospital. He is in Jiao City trying to find a woman named Wenwen. Just as he’s about to meet her, Mu Jianhui intercepts him. Mu takes Li to a hotel, revealing he has arranged for him to flee to Hong Kong and has already covered all the expenses. He's also secured a new hideout for Liu Qiang and another associate, Qingye. Li Yuanguang hands over his fake documents but refuses to leave without knowing the truth.

A Devastating Confession

Forced into a corner, Mu Jianhui reveals a devastating secret: he and Wenwen were once drugged by Liu Shusheng (the brother of Mu's wife, Liu Shulan). Enraged, Li Yuanguang vows to kill Liu Shusheng. Mu desperately holds him back, arguing that it would be a suicide mission. After a tense struggle, Li Yuanguang relents but asks the one question that remains: who is the biological father of the child, Liangliang? Mu Jianhui admits that he is. Heartbroken but defeated, Li Yuanguang agrees to go to Hong Kong.

Trouble on the Home Front

Meanwhile, Mu Jianhui's wife, Liu Shulan, grows suspicious when she finds her brother, Liu Shusheng, and his wife have vanished. Mu lies, claiming his brother-in-law ran into business trouble and that he sent them away for their safety. Exhausted from the web of lies, Mu rests his head in his wife's lap and suggests they name their unborn child Liangliang. Liu Shulan, sensing the weight of unspoken truths, tearfully agrees.

A King Falls

In a stroke of luck for the police, a news broadcast from Anze County shows local philanthropist Wang Jiahao at a road-dedication ceremony. The police immediately recognize him as the wanted fugitive known as the "South China King." The information is relayed to Qinchuan, and he is swiftly apprehended, giving Qi Dacang and his team a much-needed morale boost.

A Brief Reunion

Yan Xiaowu is released from prison after serving a long sentence. Mu Jianhui watches from a car, ready to pick him up, but is forced to stay hidden due to heavy police surveillance. Instead, Yan Xiaowu is greeted by his wife, Fu Xiaoli, and their son. At home, he is overcome with emotion but also pained to see his family living in a rundown apartment. His wife shows him a stack of "dirty money"—implying it's from Mu—that she has refused to touch, insisting that they can be poor but must live with integrity. At dinner, Yan Xiaowu breaks down in tears while eating a meal cooked by his son. The family shares a tender moment as they take a photo together with a new phone his wife bought him.

The Past Catches Up

The happiness is short-lived. The police arrive and take Yan Xiaowu in for questioning. In a parallel move, Qi Dacang's team intercepts Mu Jianhui as he is preparing to send his wife, Liu Shulan, to a hideout in the mountains.

At the police station, Mu Jianhui and Yan Xiaowu cross paths. They share a brief, knowing hug before being led into separate interrogation rooms. Under questioning by Qi Dacang and Zhou Yongfu, Mu Jianhui recounts their shared history. Years ago, at the factory, he was bullied by many coworkers, including Yan Xiaowu. Everything changed when Yan Xiaowu's mother became critically ill. No one else would help, but Mu stepped in and paid for her surgery, forging a powerful bond between them.

Qi Dacang scoffs at this version of events, dismissing it not as an act of kindness but as a cold, calculated move. He accuses Mu of masterfully manipulating Yan Xiaowu, indebting him so deeply that he was willing to take the fall and serve a ten-year prison sentence for him. With this confrontation, the battle lines are drawn, and the case enters a dangerous new phase.