Episode Summary
In "Abyss Dweller" Episode 14, Liang Shuo deflects blame for a warehouse explosion and masterfully frames Chen Gengsheng, leading to Chen's elimination. He then learns from his superior, Old Tan, that his comrade Yan Jiu was an underground agent who sacrificed himself to protect him. Tasked with continuing Yan Jiu's mission, the "Refugee Plan," Liang Shuo begins writing a diary to combat potential memory loss caused by a shrapnel fragment in his brain. The episode concludes with his sudden promotion to Director of the Special Inspection Department, where he is introduced to the high-ranking Japanese official Mizuho Genxin, setting the stage for a new conflict.
Spoiler Alert
"Abyss Dweller" Episode 14 Recap: A Dangerous Promotion
This Episode, the intricate web of espionage grows tighter as Liang Shuo masterfully turns a crisis into an opportunity, only to be thrust into an even more precarious position. Alliances are tested, a fallen comrade's true purpose is revealed, and a new, powerful player enters the game.
The Warehouse Gambit
The episode opens with high tension as Takagi Yugi of the Kempeitai furiously confronts Liang Shuo, blaming him for blocking an alleyway and delaying his operation. Liang Shuo, ever composed, counters that he was merely providing assistance before an explosion rocked the area, subtly shifting the blame to the Kempeitai's own hasty retreat. The arrival of Hirata Kiko, who confirms she received a tip-off from Liang Shuo, diffuses the immediate confrontation, allowing Liang to slip away.
Later, under the cover of darkness, Lu Xijian investigates the warehouse at Pingjia Lane. He discovers a hidden compartment previously located by Liang Shuo, finding the remains of explosives and a Military-Statistics Bureau radio. When Hirata Kiko arrives on the scene, Takagi doubles down, insisting to his superiors that Liang Shuo is at least half-responsible for the fiasco. However, his accusations fall flat when the decoded radio message points directly to Chen Gengsheng. This development not only humiliates Takagi but is revealed to be a brilliant counter-move by Liang Shuo, who had planted the codebook to frame Chen and neutralize a rival.
A Fallen Comrade's Legacy
The fallout from the warehouse incident is swift. Chen Gengsheng is abducted and silenced for good. Director Cui, now in possession of Chen's safe key, grows suspicious of Liang Shuo's potential involvement.
Meanwhile, Jiang Feiman arranges a secret meeting between Liang Shuo and his superior, "Old Tan." Here, a crucial truth is unveiled: Yan Jiu, who had previously taken his own life, was an underground party member.
A New Title and a Looming Threat
Liang Shuo's commitment comes with a serious personal risk. A secret medical examination arranged by Old Tan confirms that a piece of shrapnel lodged in his brain is a ticking time bomb, threatening to cause severe memory loss. To combat this, Liang Shuo begins keeping a detailed diary, a tool that will surely become critical.
Just as he takes on this new secret burden, his public profile skyrockets. In a surprising turn, Liang Shuo is promoted to Director of the Special Inspection Department at the infamous No. 76. The move comes with special approval from the Central Executive Committee, and the Director even gifts him a valuable painting to curry favor. This promotion, however, puts him in closer proximity to his enemies, including a tense, veiled conversation with Lu Xijian.
The episode culminates at a lavish party where Hirata Kiko introduces the newly promoted Liang Shuo to a high-ranking Japanese official, Mizuho Genxin. A new game of wits and power has just been set, with Liang Shuo standing squarely at its center.
Key Spoilers & Takeaways from Episode 14:
- The Frame-Up: The decoded radio message implicating Chen Gengsheng was a deliberate trap set by Liang Shuo to discredit his adversary, Takagi Yugi.
- Yan Jiu's Sacrifice: It is confirmed that Yan Jiu was an underground operative who died to protect Liang Shuo, passing on the "Refugee Plan" to him.
- Memory on the Brink: A shrapnel fragment in Liang Shuo's brain poses a direct threat to his memory, forcing him to rely on a diary to preserve his mission and identity.
- Promotion and a New Player: Liang Shuo's unexpected promotion to Director of the Special Inspection Department places him higher in the power structure but also makes him a more visible target. His introduction to the Japanese official Mizuho Genxin signals a new and dangerous front in the conflict.
The stage is now set for Mizuho Genxin's true agenda to come to light, while the secrets held in both Liang Shuo's new diary and Director Cui's key promise to ignite the next phase of the conflict.
