Episode Summary

In "In the Name of Justice" Episode 10, the investigation into Qiao Zhenxing's murder intensifies on two fronts. Prosecutor Hong Liang's team, following a leaked timeline, retraces the victim's last steps, facing surveillance and obstruction. They discover a potential lead when Hong recognizes the sound of a train from Qiao's final call. Meanwhile, Zheng Yaping investigates Wang Yu's freight hub, uncovering an illegal gambling ring and a violent conflict between Wang Yu and Chen Youcai, which is tied to past betrayals involving a man named Wanhai. The investigation culminates in the discovery of the likely murder scene at the Jinhai Hotel, but the team faces a critical deadline: Qiao Zhenxing's body is set for cremation the next day, creating a race against time to perform a crucial autopsy.

Spoiler Alert

In the Name of Justice Episode 10 Recap & Spoilers: The Clock is Ticking

This episode centers on the escalating investigation into Qiao Zhenxing's death. Prosecutor Hong Liang's team follows a trail of clues to pinpoint Qiao's last movements, but they quickly encounter surveillance and resistance. Meanwhile, Zheng Yaping's investigation into Wang Yu's freight distribution hub exposes a bitter conflict with Chen Youcai and hints at a deeper conspiracy. As different factions maneuver in the shadows, the team gets closer to the truth, but they face a critical challenge: Qiao Zhenxing's body is scheduled for cremation, leaving them little time to conduct a crucial autopsy.

Key Moments

  • Hong Liang and his colleague Zhang Huaien are tailed by a mysterious vehicle while retracing Qiao Zhenxing's steps.
  • Zheng Yaping's questioning of Wang Yu and Chen Youcai uncovers an illegal gambling operation at the freight hub.
  • The conflict between Wang Yu and Chen Youcai boils over, with Wang brutally assaulting Chen after catching him helping the rival Wan family.
  • The victim's brother, Qiao Feng, discovers what appears to be the murder scene at the Jinhai Hotel, leading to an emotional breakdown.
  • With the cremation imminent, Hong Liang and Zheng Yaping scramble to find a way to perform an autopsy, facing a race against time.

Full Recap

Following the Trail

After the previous investigation, Xu Yanwu obtains the timeline of Qiao Zhenxing's movements and deliberately leaks it to the victim's brother, Qiao Feng. A desperate Qiao Feng immediately brings the information to prosecutor Hong Liang, who sets out with his colleague Zhang Huaien to verify the route. Their investigation is quickly met with resistance when they notice a car tailing them. Thinking fast, Zhang Huaien manages to shake the pursuer in a tense moment on the road.

Elsewhere, Qiao Feng canvasses eighteen different shops along Central Road, searching for anyone who might have seen his brother, but finds no witnesses. The investigation seems to have hit a dead end until Hong Liang hears the distinct roar of a passing train, recalling the same background noise from Qiao Zhenxing's final, desperate phone call. A critical clue finally clicks into place.

A Family Interlude

The tense investigation is briefly interrupted by a moment of family drama. Chen Shenglong gifts a luxurious new house to Cheng Zijian and his fiancée to celebrate their upcoming wedding. Cheng Zijian's mother-in-law, Liu Yun, is curious about the extravagant gift, but Chen Shenglong explains it's a reward for Cheng Zijian's success in recovering a significant debt for the company. Seeing how much Liu Yun admires the home, Cheng Zijian generously suggests his in-laws move in with them. The family's warm interaction provides a brief respite from the dark case unfolding around them.

Conflict at the Freight Hub

The episode shifts to the contentious freight distribution center, now under the control of Wang Yu, who is actively blocking the Wan family's attempts to transport coal. Wracked with guilt, a man named Chen Youcai tries to help the Wan family behind Wang's back but is secretly photographed by Wang's men.

When Chen Youcai confronts Wang Yu for giving away his freight slots, Wang threatens him with the photos. Desperate, Chen Youcai gets on his knees and begs, bringing up a dark chapter from their past: how they conspired to send a man named Wanhai to prison with false testimony. Enraged at the mention of this, Wang Yu brutally beats Chen Youcai.

The violent scene is interrupted by the arrival of Zheng Yaping, who is touring the facility. Her team discovers gambling tables and chips, exposing an illegal operation. Zheng Yaping questions Chen Youcai about why he reported Wanhai, prompting a self-loathing tirade from Chen. Wang Yu quickly steps in, trying to pass off the brutal assault as a simple disagreement between "best friends."

The Truth Nears

Unconvinced, Zheng Yaping presses Wang Yu about his relationship with Wanhai. Wang admits to knowing him for over a decade but falsely claims he was too scared to cross the supposed "mafia" figure. Zheng Yaping points out the obvious: with Wanhai in prison, Wang conveniently regained control of the distribution center. Cornered, Wang Yu kicks them out. The tension breaks when Chen Youcai testifies that Wang Yu was deep in gambling debt, exposing their conflict to the prosecutors.

At the same time, a cleanup crew is dispatched to the Jinhai Hotel to erase any evidence, smashing a distinctive fish tank in the process. The loud crash attracts Qiao Feng and Zhang Huaien, who are nearby. They rush in to find a flooded room that Hong Liang immediately recognizes from a video Qiao Zhenxing recorded before his death. Overcome with grief, Qiao Feng collapses as Hong Liang begins to piece together how his brother was murdered.

A Race Against Time

After composing himself, Qiao Feng suggests a crucial next step: comparing the water from the broken fish tank with the water found in his brother's stomach to confirm this was the primary crime scene. Wary of potential moles within the local police department, Hong Liang contacts a superior at the provincial prosecutor's office to send a trusted forensics team to collect the samples under the cover of darkness.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yaping visits Wanhai in prison, questioning him about Wang Yu. Wanhai admits to forcibly acquiring the distribution center but avoids giving any details. When Zheng Yaping informs him of Qiao Zhenxing's death, Wanhai becomes visibly terrified and feigns illness to end the conversation.

Hong Liang reports his findings to Zheng Yaping late that night. Suspecting that someone in the city's police force is manipulating the case, Zheng Yaping insists they need to perform an autopsy. However, they are faced with a ticking clock: Qiao Zhenxing's body is scheduled to be cremated the very next day. The investigation has reached a critical countdown, with all sides making their final moves.