Episode Summary
In episode 23 of "The Seven Relics of Ill Omen," the team operates on two fronts. Yan Hongsha infiltrates a wedding, suspecting the bride, Ya Feng, is not who she seems. Meanwhile, Luo Ren and Mu Dai explore a collapsed pit, uncovering an ancient tomb linked to the relics. The storylines collide when Yan Hongsha's plan to expose Ya Feng with tainted wine coincides with the discovery that the real Cao Yanhua has been captured by Ya Feng. The group converges at the tomb, but Yan Hongsha falls into a trapdoor. A chaotic fight ensues, culminating in Mu Dai's dramatic rescue and Ya Feng's capture. However, as they apprehend her, they discover the relic has mysteriously vanished from her person.
Spoiler Alert
"The Seven Relics of Ill Omen" Episode 23 Recap & Spoilers: The Tomb, the Trap, and the Truth
This Episode , the hunt for the relics takes a perilous turn as the team delves into a hidden tomb while simultaneously trying to expose a sinister plot at a village wedding. What begins as two separate investigations quickly collides, leading to a desperate life-or-death struggle in a collapsing cave where the true enemy is finally revealed, only to present an even greater mystery.
A Wedding of Suspicions
The episode kicks off with dual storylines. While Luo Ren and Mu Dai investigate a collapsed pit, Yan Hongsha is undercover at the Cao family wedding. She's immediately suspicious of the bride, Ya Feng. For a supposed trafficking victim, Ya Feng’s cheerful demeanor seems entirely out of place. Yan Hongsha’s suspicion grows when she photographs a ceremonial tablet bearing the ancient character for "Earth." The village elder, Cao Jinhua, dismisses it as a local custom honoring the soil that provides their livelihood from pottery, but Yan Hongsha isn't convinced. She devises a plan, lacing a bottle of wine with blood to test the bride. Her instincts prove correct when Ya Feng, upon being offered the wine, smells the blood and feigns drunkenness, knocking the cup away before it can expose her.
Secrets and Revelations
Meanwhile, at the pit, Luo Ren confides in Mu Dai about his dangerous past. He reveals he left Black Sand Island after making a powerful enemy, a local crime boss who is now seeking revenge. He fears for the safety of those close to him, but Mu Dai reassures him that she and her martial arts family will protect him.
The two plots begin to merge when Cao Jinhua stumbles upon the real Cao Yanhua, who has been bound and beaten. Before she can react, Yan Hongsha knocks her out. Cao Yanhua quickly moves the unconscious elder to a nearby mill before meeting with Yan Hongsha. There, he reveals the shocking truth: Ya Feng orchestrated his capture and is the true master of the relic they've been hunting.
Descent into Danger
After confirming the air is safe, Luo Ren descends into the collapsed pit and makes a startling discovery: an ancient tomb chamber. Inside, he finds two skeletons and several kneeling terracotta figures. An inscription on the wall reads, "The Seven Stars Return to Their Place," confirming the tomb's connection to the seven relics. Luo Ren deduces that the tomb was designed by someone who escaped a past slaughter, complete with offerings, effigies, and a deadly trapdoor.
The Trap is Sprung
Yan Hongsha and Cao Yanhua arrive at the cave, intent on helping the others. Just as they formulate a plan, Cao Jinhua awakens. In her groggy state, she inadvertently gives them a clue about the trapdoor's mechanism. Thinking she can outsmart the trap, Yan Hongsha secures a rope, and Cao Yanhua triggers the switch. The plan backfires spectacularly, and Yan Hongsha plummets into the pit.
All-Out Brawl in the Cave
The situation explodes into chaos with the arrival of Ya Feng and a seemingly mind-controlled Cao Qingshan. Ya Feng attacks Cao Yanhua while Cao Qingshan tries to cut the rope supporting Yan Hongsha. Despite her confusion, Cao Jinhua follows Cao Yanhua's desperate instructions, holding onto the rope and jamming the trapdoor with her foot. In a critical moment, she kicks the controlled Cao Qingshan, knocking him unconscious.
Down in the pit, Luo Ren manages to attach a dagger to a rope, sending it up to Yan Hongsha, who secures it. In a stunning display of skill, Mu Dai uses her lightness ability to leap out of the trap, rescue Cao Jinhua, and kick Ya Feng away, turning the tide of the fight.
The Vanishing Relic
With the immediate threat neutralized, Cao Yanhua shouts that the relic is on Ya Feng's body. As Mu Dai gives chase, Luo Ren joins her, and together they finally subdue the bride. Luo Ren notices a severe burn on Ya Feng’s hand, realizing she had hidden the injury when she previously handled a blood-stained hairpin, confirming her deception.
During the commotion, Cao Qingshan escapes and is spotted by a terrified Yi Wan San, who hides in a nearby car. But the final twist is yet to come. As the team escorts Ya Feng down the mountain, she begins to cry for help, feigning innocence. It's then that they discover her back is covered in blood, and the relic is nowhere to be found. It has vanished.
