Episode Summary
In episode 14, Luo Ren and Mu Dai finally confess their feelings for each other. The team confirms the existence of a second amber relic and another "Wild Man." While Yan Hongsha deals with a massive family debt, Lian Shu's suspicious behavior culminates in her kidnapping Mu Dai. Lian Shu then reveals her true identity as the descendant of the Wild Man, driven by a deep-seated desire for revenge.
Spoiler Alert
"The Seven Relics of Ill Omen" Episode 14 Recap: A Devastating Betrayal is Revealed
A long-awaited romance finally blossoms only to be shattered by a shocking revelation. As the team uncovers the truth about the amber relics, a hidden enemy makes their move, culminating in a life-or-death cliffhanger and exposing a vendetta born from a tragedy twenty years in the making.
A Bittersweet Goodbye and a New Beginning
Following the harrowing events surrounding Old Master Yan, the team decides to split up. Yan Hongsha and Yi Wan San remain behind to handle the aftermath, including the funeral arrangements. As the others prepare to leave, Zha Ma's mother notices Luo Ren's troubled heart and gives him a hand-woven bracelet, encouraging him to be "brave in his pursuit of love."
The departure is somber. Yi Wan San makes a quiet pilgrimage to a cliffside to leave a red apple in memory of the Wild Man, while Yan Hongsha places a white flower as a tribute to her grandfather, the two sharing a moment of grief.
On the road, the mood shifts when Mu Dai notices the bracelet on Luo Ren’s wrist is identical to her own. She explains its meaning to him: a symbol of fated love and marriage. The weight of this revelation hangs in the air until they stop to rest. Luo Ren, finally mustering his courage, confesses his feelings for her. A smiling and tearful Mu Dai takes his bracelet and fastens it for him, and the two share a deeply emotional embrace, cementing their relationship.
The Amber's Secret and a Harsh Return
The team's focus returns to the mission when they test the amber relic, Xin Jian, by placing it in a tank of water. The object reacts violently, confirming Luo Ren's theory: the amber they possess is incomplete. This means there is a second piece of amber out there, and consequently, a second Wild Man.
Upon their return to Lixi, the welcome is less than warm. Zhang Shu scolds Cao Yanhua for leaving home without permission, and Zheng Bo gives Luo Ren an earful for his recklessness. Mu Dai, however, watches the scene with a calm amusement. When Luo Ren learns that the suspicious Lian Shu has been looking after Ping Ting in their absence, he gives Zheng Bo a strict order: cut all ties with her immediately.
A Crushing Debt for the Yan Family
Meanwhile, back home, Yi Wan San stays by Yan Hongsha's side as she prepares for her grandfather's funeral. Their grief is interrupted by the aggressive arrival of debt collectors. They reveal that Yan Hongsha's Second Uncle owed a massive debt, and even after signing over the house, a staggering 1.2 million is still outstanding. When a furious Yan Hongsha nearly resorts to violence, Yi Wan San holds her back. With grim determination, she declares that she will shoulder the entire debt herself. "You are not alone in this," Yi Wan San tells her, offering his unwavering support.
A Sinister Plot and a Cryptic Warning
With the team back in Lixi, Lian Shu continues to insert herself into their lives under the guise of "helpfully" overseeing renovations at their restaurant and watching Ping Ting. Luo Ren confronts her directly about her motives, but she deflects with innocent excuses. To ease Luo Ren's paranoia, Mu Dai volunteers to help look after Ping Ting and supervise the work.
While with Lian Shu to pick out wallpaper, Ping Ting's behavior becomes deeply unsettling. She suddenly stands up and begins repeating a chilling phrase to Mu Dai: "Sister, go upstairs." She accompanies the warning with a gesture to be silent. The sense of dread escalates with a crucial phone call from Zha Ma, who delivers a bombshell clue: the "body" from the original incident was actually an ape. More importantly, he reveals that twenty years ago, a local woman was assaulted by the Wild Man. She gave birth to a child but eventually abandoned her husband and daughter to disappear back into the mountains.
The Trap is Sprung
Ping Ting repeats her warning phrase all day, putting Luo Ren on high alert. He checks the security footage and makes a horrifying discovery: the monitoring equipment near the room holding the Xin Jian relic shows extreme fluctuations whenever Lian Shu gets close. A sense of panic sets in as he realizes Mu Dai is gone. He frantically calls Cao Yanhua and Yi Wan San to begin a search.
But it's too late. Lian Shu has already drugged and kidnapped Mu Dai. In a secret, dark room, Mu Dai hangs suspended and helpless. Lian Shu steps into the light and reveals the truth. She pulls aside her collar to show a piece of amber embedded in her neck, identical to the relic. She is the child of the woman who was attacked by the Wild Man two decades ago.
In a furious monologue, she recounts her story: her mother, obsessed with caring for the Wild Man who assaulted her, abandoned her own family. Although her father eventually killed the Wild Man, her mother still chose to vanish into the mountains, leaving behind only the amber as a memento. Lian Shu, twisted by years of pain and abandonment, swore revenge on the mother who forsook her—a burning hatred she has now transferred to Mu Dai and her friends.
