Episode Summary
In "Abyss Dweller" Episode 10, Liang Shuo is trapped between multiple factions. Unable to move crucial explosives due to a Japanese Army lockdown, he is coerced by Hirata Kiko to investigate smuggling. Meanwhile, a negotiation for his freedom between his cousin Xie Nianci and her ruthless uncle, Xie Jun'an, fails. In a brutal setup orchestrated by his own side, a fellow agent, Gu Chengchun, sacrifices himself to force Liang Shuo's hand. This traumatic event leads Liang Shuo to finally connect with his true handlers, where he confirms his codename "Qingshuang" and learns his mission, "Operation Abyss Dweller": to rescue refugees by securing a key security position, a goal that dangerously aligns with the objectives of his supposed allies in the Military-Statistics Bureau.
Spoiler Alert
Abyss Dweller Episode 10 Recap: The Cost of a Conscience
The walls are closing in on Liang Shuo from every direction. Caught between the ruthless calculations of his own side, the manipulative pressure of the Japanese, and a dawning sense of his true mission, his fight for survival has become a desperate battle for his soul.
An Explosive Problem and a Dangerous Invitation
After Liang Shuo and Xie Nianci cleverly retrieve the key, Xie Jun'an’s men move to secure the hidden cache of explosives. There’s just one problem: the Japanese Army has the docks under a complete lockdown, making it impossible to transport the critical supplies.
Meanwhile, the cunning Hirata Kiko extends a seemingly friendly invitation to Liang Shuo for a luncheon, only to corner him. She brings up their "cooperation" again, this time demanding he assist her in investigating the smuggling network operating within the Secret Service Headquarters at No. 76. To test his allegiance, she takes him to a freshly raided underground party hideout. As Japanese soldiers surround a lone operative, another comrade bursts out to provide cover and is gunned down. Forced to watch the brutal scene, Liang Shuo swallows his rage and, under the pretext of the chaos, subtly creates an opening for the surviving operative to escape.
A Family's Gambit
Xie Jun'an learns of Liang Shuo’s actions, sarcastically congratulating his niece, Xie Nianci, on her "effective methods." Nianci, however, insists that Liang Shuo acts from his own moral compass. She lays her cards on the table: if her uncle wants her to remain with the Military-Statistics Bureau (Juntong), he must guarantee Liang Shuo’s safe exit from the hornet's nest of No. 76.
Xie Jun'an feigns consideration but offers a cruel counter-proposal: Nianci must convince Liang Shuo to have the defensive posts at Pingjia Lane removed. The cousins meet under the guise of a fitting at the Fenghua Tailor Shop, a known communication point. As Liang Shuo arrives, he's tailed by agent Chen Gengsheng. Inside, Nianci relays her uncle's demand. Liang Shuo flatly refuses any collaboration with the Juntong, warning her to stop these risky meetings before she gets herself killed.
A Bloody Awakening
The situation escalates when Juntong agent Gu Chengchun confronts Liang Shuo on a street corner, arguing over their conflicting missions. Spotting Japanese soldiers closing in, Gu makes a shocking move. He shoots the man tailing them, deliberately drawing the enemy's fire. Pinned down and mortally wounded, Gu forces a promise from a stunned Liang Shuo: "People are different. You have to do what must be done. Promise me, and my death won't be in vain!" As Gu bleeds out, he points to his own heart, and Liang Shuo, understanding the grim necessity, delivers the final, silencing shot.
Chen Gengsheng arrives to find his lead dead, while Xie Nianci, having witnessed the entire exchange from the shadows, is left devastated. Her uncle, Xie Jun'an, is chillingly indifferent. "The mission comes first," he states, revealing the horrifying truth: Gu's death was his design all along. He had anticipated Liang Shuo's "soft heart" and ordered Gu to use his own life to force Liang Shuo's hand.
The Mission Comes into Focus
Dazed, Liang Shuo makes his way to the riverside for a pre-arranged meeting. His contact, Jiang Feiman, gives the password: "Maple Leaf." The word triggers a memory of the dying words of Yan Jiu, and Liang Shuo responds with his own codename: "Qingshuang."
With his identity as an underground operative finally confirmed, the true nature of his mission is revealed. "Operation Abyss Dweller" is a plan to rescue two thousand refugees who are being held by the Japanese under the guise of a "Peace Conference" and are destined to become forced labor.To succeed, Liang Shuo must secure the position of head of security for the conference. In a startling twist of fate, this is the exact same position the Juntong needs him to acquire for their own "Operation Snow Blind."
At the subsequent luncheon, Liang Shuo subtly warns Director Cui of the Secret Service that the Japanese are cracking down on smuggling. Cui dismisses the warning, implying he's merely following orders from higher up. As he watches Hirata Kiko hold court, Liang Shuo understands his predicament with chilling clarity: he is a pawn at the center of a three-way vortex, used by the cold-blooded Juntong and hunted by the Japanese, all while his true mission as "Qingshuang" has only just begun.
