Episode Summary
Liang Shuo's team confirms Asai Hisashi's location at the Seamen's Club by orchestrating a fire, successfully baiting a reaction from his protector, Mizuho Genxin. Upon learning this intelligence, a vengeful Xie Jun'an ignores all advice and hastily assembles a team of inexperienced trainees for a reckless assault. Meanwhile, personal conflicts fester as Lu Xijian's suspicion of Liang Shuo deepens through eavesdropping, and Liang shares a fleeting, poignant moment with Xie Nianci. The episode culminates with multiple factions converging on the club, setting the stage for a deadly, chaotic showdown.
Spoiler Alert
"Abyss Dweller" Episode 29 Recap & Spoilers: A Desperate, High-Stakes Game
As tensions in Shanghai reach a boiling point, the hunt for Asai Hisashi becomes a dangerous free-for-all, with alliances fracturing and personal vendettas threatening to derail the entire operation. In an episode defined by calculated risks and reckless gambles, every faction puts their lives on the line.
A Fragile Alliance Shatters
The episode opens with a tense confrontation between Mizuho Genxin and Asai Hisashi. Mizuho, hoping to secure a major military achievement, attempts to persuade Asai to formally surrender to the Japanese Army, promising him a share of the glory. However, Asai sees through the self-serving plot and flatly rejects the offer. The meeting ends with their trust completely destroyed, leaving Mizuho furious that his prize might slip through his fingers.
A Moment of Peace in the Chaos
Amidst the turmoil, Liang Shuo and Xie Nianci find a rare moment of tranquility on the streets of Shanghai. The recent capture of their comrade, Jiang Feiman, weighs heavily on Nianci. She confesses her growing sense of helplessness, admitting she used to believe their friends were invincible. In a poignant gesture, Liang Shuo leads her to a photo studio to have their picture taken, a small act of permanence in an uncertain world. As Nianci laments what a beautiful city Shanghai could have been, Liang Shuo gazes at her and says, "I was talking about the person right in front of me."
Their quiet moment is a stark contrast to the building storm. Lu Xijian's obsession with proving Liang Shuo's supposed betrayal deepens. He confronts Liang, accusing him of intentionally abandoning Jiang Feiman. Liang fires back, bringing up the painful memory of Qi Xiao-si's death and reminding Lu that his own past actions led to a comrade's demise, a responsibility he can't escape. The conflict between them escalates, adding another layer of internal strife to their mission.
Setting the Trap
Liang Shuo secretly meets with his contact, Old Tan, to discuss the fallout from Jiang Feiman's arrest. Old Tan reveals that the organization is already planning a rescue mission in Nanjing. He also discloses a crucial piece of intelligence: Xie Jun'an has long known that Nakayama Kazuo was an imposter but deliberately spread false information to sow chaos.
Armed with new intel, Liang Shuo presents Director Li with photos of the Seamen's Club, the suspected location of Asai Hisashi. He proposes a risky plan: to test their theory by starting a fire. He also suggests recruiting Gu Zhentian, a gang leader who once hunted him but has a history of saving anti-Japanese fighters.
Director Li agrees to the plan. He arranges a banquet near the Seamen's Club to keep Mizuho Genxin occupied while Liang Shuo slips into an adjacent kitchen to start a fire. The plan works perfectly. As smoke billows, one of Mizuho's subordinates panics and rushes in to report the fire, only to be harshly silenced by Mizuho, who instantly realizes the fire is a deliberate ploy to smoke out Asai. Furious, Mizuho storms out. The ruse confirms their suspicion, and Liang Shuo makes a coded call to Xie Nianci—"I need to buy medicine"—to initiate their backup plan.
A Reckless Gambit
While Director Li and Director Cui head back to headquarters to plan their next move, Lu Xijian seizes the opportunity to plant a listening device, intercepting the crucial information about Asai's location.
The news reaches Xie Jun'an, whose personal vendetta against Asai sends him into a frenzy. Ignoring the desperate pleas of his subordinate, Lao Qi, he decides to launch an immediate, full-scale assault on the Seamen's Club. He rallies the new recruits from the Qingpu training class—young men who, as Lao Qi tragically notes, have never even held a gun before. A flashback reveals the source of Xie Jun'an's all-consuming hatred: years ago, he made a fatal deal with Asai to save his older brother, a debt he is now determined to repay in blood.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Jiang Feiman's capture having pushed Xie Jun'an to a breaking point. His rash, vengeance-fueled attack is set to trigger a brutal and bloody conflict.
