Episode Summary
In "Abyss Dweller" Episode 8, Liang Shuo's loyalty is shattered when he confronts his superior, Xie Jun'an, and learns he was manipulated into killing his father figure, Yan Jiu, as part of "Operation Snow Blind." Left for dead in a Japanese trap, Liang survives a near-drowning and explosion, only to awaken in a hospital under the suspicion of both his Japanese superiors and his colleagues at No. 76. Seizing the opportunity, he convinces his director to let him launch an internal investigation to find a mole. Meanwhile, another operative, Lu Xijian, is forced into a tragic escape that ends with him killing a comrade to prevent his capture, dealing a severe blow to the operation.
Spoiler Alert
Abyss Dweller Episode 8 Recap: Loyalties Shattered and a Desperate Gambit
This article contains major spoilers for Episode 8 of "Abyss Dweller."
Episode 8 throws Liang Shuo into his most perilous trial yet, forcing a confrontation that shatters his allegiances and leaves him fighting for his life. As the lines between friend and foe blur, the true, brutal nature of Operation Snow Blind is laid bare, while a tragic side plot reveals the devastating human cost of this shadow war.
The Unmasking of a "Teacher"
The episode kicks off with Liang Shuo being brought before Xie Jun'an, the head of the Military-Statistics Bureau, with Xie Nianci also present. The reunion is anything but warm. When Xie Jun'an claims the title of Liang's "teacher," Liang Shuo explodes with grief and rage. He demands to know why he was manipulated into a mission that forced him to personally kill Yan Jiu, the man who raised him.
Xie Jun'an's response is chillingly pragmatic. He states that Yan Jiu's death was a necessary sacrifice and that Liang's only concern should have been the explosives. Through this cold exchange, Liang Shuo realizes the horrifying truth: Yan Jiu was merely a pawn used to transport the bomb, his life disposable in Xie Jun'an's grand scheme. Xie further twists the knife, explaining that No. 76 let Liang Shuo go precisely because they believe he is the killer, a fact that visibly shakes Liang.
The confrontation escalates as Xie Jun'an, angered by Liang's defiance, draws a pistol. In a swift move, Xie Nianci aims her own weapon at her superior to protect Liang, only to be shoved aside. Liang wrestles the gun away, declaring their ties severed, but Xie Jun'an reminds him that he joined Operation Snow Blind willingly and cannot escape his duty. As Bureau agents subdue Liang, Xie pulls the trigger, but the chamber is empty—a final, cruel test. He then reveals his true aim: to redirect Liang's fury, claiming the Japanese are the real culprits behind Yan Jiu's death and that Liang should seek revenge against them. Liang Shuo refuses to be a puppet, insisting he will find justice his own way.
A Deadly Trap and a Miraculous Survival
The tense standoff is cut short by the arrival of Japanese forces. Xie Jun'an and his team retreat, leaving Liang Shuo and another operative, Motegi Kazuhisa, in a horrifying trap: hung upside down over water tanks, left to drown. When Hirata Kiko's team discovers the secret room, they trigger a massive explosion.
Liang Shuo is pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, barely alive. Flashbacks reveal the brutal training he endured under Xie Jun'an, a past that forged the incredible resilience now keeping him alive. News of his near-death state reaches Jiang Feiman via a hospital messenger.
Upon waking, Liang Shuo finds himself surrounded by suspicion. The Japanese, including Mizuho Genxin and Hirata Kiko, are wary of his rapid recovery, suspecting a ruse. Inside No. 76, his rival Chen Gengsheng fuels the flames of doubt with his superiors. However, Hirata Kiko, ever the opportunist, sees a potential asset. She approaches Liang with a private offer of cooperation and reward, which he meets with stoic silence.
The Hunt for a Mole Begins
Turning the situation to his advantage, Liang Shuo reports to his director that the mission was compromised from the start, insisting there must be a mole from the Military-Statistics Bureau planted within No. 76. Citing clues he has gathered, he requests official support to launch an internal investigation.
After a tense and sarcastic exchange with a jealous Chen Gengsheng, Liang is left alone. He recalls Xie Jun'an's final command before the raid: survive at all costs and complete the mission. Staring at his own reflection, his face a mask of conflict and rage, he smashes the mirror to pieces.
A Tragic End and a Fractured Plan
In a parallel storyline, the tragedy of the mission deepens. Lu Xijian, after being discharged from the hospital, is taken by Mizuho Genxin's men. Their convoy is ambushed, and Lu is branded a traitor. He manages to escape, limping away, only to be pursued by a young operative named Xiao Si, who tearfully pleads with him, believing there must be a reason for his actions.
With Japanese soldiers closing in, Lu warns Xiao Si to flee. To prevent the young man from being captured, Lu makes an impossible choice and shoots him. This tragic event marks a critical failure for Operation Snow Blind. With a key operative lost and Liang Shuo now playing a dangerous game inside No. 76, both he and Xie Jun'an must find a new path forward in a war where every move could be their last.
