Episode Summary
In "Abyss Dweller" Episode 27, Jiang Feiman strategically fakes a confession to possessing a secret Japanese list, prompting Director Li of No. 76 to escort her to Nanjing to secure the intel for himself. This escort becomes a trap for Liang Shuo, whom Director Li assigns to the mission under heavy surveillance to test his loyalty, a situation secretly instigated by his rival, Lu Xijian. The underground party's rescue plan is foiled when No. 76 unexpectedly moves up the train's departure time. The episode concludes with Liang Shuo and Jiang Feiman trapped on the train, surrounded by enemy agents, their fates uncertain.
Spoiler Alert
Abyss Dweller Episode 27 Recap & Spoilers: The Deadly Escort
In the intricate world of espionage, a single move can trigger a fatal chain reaction. Episode 27 of "Abyss Dweller" throws its key players into a deadly gambit centered around the transport of a high-value prisoner, where every decision is a step closer to salvation or a meticulously planned grave. Liang Shuo finds himself at the heart of the storm, forced to escort his comrade Jiang Feiman into the lion's den, all while navigating a web of surveillance and betrayal from every side.
The episode masterfully escalates the tension as multiple factions—the underground resistance, the collaborationist regime's secret police at No. 76, and the Japanese Army—all converge on a single train to Nanjing, each with their own desperate agenda.
Key Developments in This Episode
- Jiang Feiman's Counter-Play: Captured by No. 76, Jiang Feiman turns the tables by falsely confessing to possessing a secret list of Japanese officials. This strategic lie, orchestrated by Liang Shuo, is designed to make her a valuable asset that No. 76's Director Li would rather control than hand over to the Japanese.
- Xie Nianci's Initiation: Liang Shuo's trusted contact, Xie Nianci, undertakes her first official mission for the underground party. Using the code phrase "I want to buy Taihu rice," she successfully delivers critical intelligence to the resistance leader, Old Tan, officially marking her entry into their ranks as a peripheral member under observation.
- A Trap Within a Trap: The escort mission becomes a complex maze of deception. Director Li, suspicious of Liang Shuo, appoints him to lead the transport to Nanjing, a move designed to test his loyalty. Unbeknownst to Liang Shuo, his rival Lu Xijian had already manipulated events to force Director Li's hand, hoping Liang would reveal himself as a communist sympathizer by attempting a rescue. To complete the setup, Director Li assigns two unknown agents to watch Liang's every move with explicit orders to "eliminate on sight" at any sign of trouble.
- A Three-Way Power Struggle: The episode highlights the clashing interests of the three main powers. The Japanese Army, led by Takagi Yugi, demands custody of Jiang Feiman but is stonewalled by Director Li. The underground party's carefully planned rescue operation at the train station is thrown into chaos when No. 76 abruptly changes the departure time. Meanwhile, the Chongqing government, represented by Xie Jun'an, decides to organize its own rescue, adding another layer of complexity to the volatile situation.
Full Recap: Spoilers Ahead
The episode opens with urgency as Liang Shuo tasks Xie Nianci with delivering a vital message to Old Tan, a key contact in the underground resistance. The mission is immediately complicated when they are interrupted by a dinner invitation from Director Cui and his wife. The dinner is tense, with Japanese official Takagi Yugi pressuring Director Cui to hand over a prisoner. The call of duty forces both Cui and Liang to leave the awkward gathering. Back at the No. 76 interrogation room, news arrives that changes the entire game: Jiang Feiman has "confessed," claiming she holds a classified list belonging to a high-ranking Japanese officer.
This confession is, in reality, a brilliant gambit devised by Liang Shuo. By dangling the list as bait, Jiang Feiman makes herself indispensable to Director Li, who sees it as an opportunity to gain leverage over the Japanese. He refuses to transfer her and decides to secretly escort her to Nanjing to secure the intelligence for himself. While this political chess match unfolds, Xie Nianci successfully completes her mission, meeting Old Tan at a grain shop and solidifying her role within the resistance.
The situation grows more precarious as multiple factions lay their own plans. With no orders from the Chongqing government, a frustrated Xie Jun'an decides to take matters into his own hands, recruiting former operatives for a private rescue mission. At No. 76, Director Li's subordinate, Lu Xijian, maliciously leaks the original transport details to Liang Shuo, hoping to bait him into a rescue attempt that would expose him as a traitor. Sensing the setup, Director Li makes a last-minute change: he replaces the original escort with the more capable Liang Shuo, but surrounds him with spies. The mission is now both an escort and a loyalty test, and Liang Shuo has no choice but to walk into the trap to protect Jiang Feiman.
The Japanese are not so easily fooled. Officer Asai Hisashi sees through Director Li's ploy and dispatches Takagi Yugi to intercept the transport in Nanjing. Just as all the pieces are in motion, Director Li makes his final, decisive move: he advances the train's departure time by thirty minutes. This sudden change completely shatters the underground party's rescue plan, leaving Old Tan and his team helpless at the station.
On the train, the suffocating tension is palpable. Liang Shuo and Jiang Feiman find themselves in a carriage filled with No. 76 agents, Director Li's hidden trap now fully sprung. In a brief moment alone, Liang Shuo attempts to signal his rescue plan to Jiang Feiman, but she refuses, insisting that her arrival in Nanjing is the only way to ensure his cover remains intact. "Trust me," is all he says in response. As the train pulls away from the station, Old Tan watches, knowing the mission has failed, leaving Liang Shuo and Jiang Feiman to face an uncertain and deadly future alone.
