Episode Summary
In "Abyss Dweller" Episode 21, the key players in Shanghai's intelligence war converge. A disillusioned Xie Nianci distances herself from her ruthless brother, Xie Jun'an, and aligns closer with the underground. Meanwhile, the return of legendary Japanese spymaster Mizuho Genxin, codenamed "Black Fox," sets a new, dangerous plot in motion as he seeks a long-lost list of collaborators. As Xie Jun'an takes over the Military-Statistics Bureau and tests the loyalties of informant Jiang Feiman, Liang Shuo sees a golden opportunity. Mizuho's decision to lock down the Secret Service Headquarters for a banquet provides the perfect setting for Liang Shuo to finally expose the mole known as "Bone Maggot," with all signs pointing to the high-ranking Zhou Andao.
Spoiler Alert
Abyss Dweller Episode 21 Recap: The Black Fox and the Bone Maggot
This Episode , the intricate web of espionage in Shanghai grows ever more tangled. Loyalties are tested, a ghost from the past returns with a deadly agenda, and a plan is set in motion to finally unmask the traitor known as the "Bone Maggot."
A Rift Between Siblings
The episode opens on the heels of a failed operation, leaving Xie Jun'an furious and volatile. In a moment of frustration, he inadvertently reveals to his sister, Xie Nianci, that he was the one who coldly ordered the death of their colleague, Senior Brother He. The casual disregard for his subordinate's life shatters Nianci's perception of her brother, leaving her feeling disillusioned and estranged from the man she thought she knew.
Weighted down by this grim realization, Nianci remembers her promise to Liang Shuo. She seeks out the teahouse owner Jiang Feiman and delivers a photograph from him, though her troubled demeanor doesn't go unnoticed by the perceptive Jiang Feiman. Meanwhile, with intelligence suggesting a high-ranking Japanese official is secretly arriving in Shanghai, the underground communist organization, led by the veteran Lao Tan, formally considers recruiting the increasingly sympathetic Xie Nianci into their ranks.
The Return of the "Black Fox"
A mysterious figure, Mizuho Genxin, slips back into Shanghai ahead of schedule. A phone call with his contact, Asai Hisashi, reveals his true purpose. Mizuho is the legendary Japanese spymaster once codenamed "Black Fox," whose mission years ago was to turn key officials within the Chinese government. He only managed to secure a list of seven names before the operation went dormant. Now, Mizuho has returned to retrieve that very list, signaling a new and dangerous conspiracy is about to unfold.
A Test of Trust
As a secret Military-Statistics Bureau contact point receives an urgent order to evacuate and destroy all files, Xie Jun'an makes a bold move. He visits Jiang Feiman at her teahouse, acting in his official capacity with the Bureau—the very organization Jiang Feiman secretly feeds information to. He demands intelligence on the "East Coast Trading Company," a request Jiang Feiman immediately connects to the upcoming "Peace Conference." When Xie Jun'an deflects her question, her suspicions are raised. His are as well; immediately after leaving, he orders a full investigation into Jiang Feiman, convinced she is far more than a simple informant.
Closing the Net
The surveillance on all sides intensifies. Director Cui, still wary of Liang Shuo, sends his wife to visit Xie Nianci, probing for information under the guise of a friendly chat. At the same time, Liang Shuo and his partner, Lu Xijian, conduct their own investigation, eventually zeroing in on a suspicious gatekeeper and examining the visitor logs for clues.
The episode culminates as Mizuho Genxin makes his public move. He announces a grand banquet at the Secret Service Headquarters (Meihuatang) and has the entire building sealed off by military police, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. For Liang Shuo and Lu Xijian, this lockdown presents the perfect, unmissable opportunity. They believe it is the ideal moment to trap and eliminate the deep-cover Japanese spy, "Bone Maggot," and their primary suspect is none other than high-ranking official Zhou Andao.
As Xie Jun'an officially takes full command of the Military-Statistics Bureau's Shanghai station, his unusually aggressive posture puts both Jiang Feiman and Lao Tan on high alert. With all factions now poised for a decisive confrontation at Mizuho's deadly banquet, the battle for Shanghai's soul is about to begin.
