Episode Summary
Gao Yunhu deals with the fallout from a secret mission and finds hidden gold on an executed man who falsely confessed to a crime. Meanwhile, Pang Sihai's plan to acquire the valuable mountain ginseng goes sideways when his men are outsmarted by the seller, Lao Shandong, forcing Pang to use his own family's gold for the deal.
Spoiler Alert
The Long Way Back Episode 8: A Body, A Bluff, and a Bathhouse Deal
Gao Yunhu's Bloody Night Out
Gao Yunhu is still a man on a mission. He sneaks out after dark to hunt for You Shilong and Niqiu. His plan goes south pretty fast. Two men start tailing him. He has to get his hands dirty and kills them both to escape.
He gets back to the tavern late, covered in blood. Da Kuo Zhi was waiting up for him, and she is clearly worried. He wants to pack his bags and leave. He knows he's putting her in danger. But Da Kuo Zhi refuses to let him go. She's not scared. Gao Yunhu stays, but he's still laser-focused on killing You Shilong.
A Murder and a Confession
Da Kuo Zhi's old friend, Xiao Hong Zao, comes to visit the tavern. As they are catching up, Gao Yunhu walks by. Xiao Hong Zao immediately gets a bad vibe from him. She tells Da Kuo Zhi that he has the look of a killer and warns her to be careful. Da Kuo Zhi doesn't seem to care and says she trusts him.
Later, one of the tavern's waiters returns from an errand with some big news. He overheard that Niqiu has been killed. Da Kuo Zhi runs to tell Gao Yunhu, who acts surprised by the news.
Things get even stranger when Pang Sihai arrives. He has a prisoner with him. The man loudly confesses to killing Niqiu. He even performs a little song about the murder. All the while, Gao Yunhu is watching the man through a crack in a door, trying to figure out what's going on.
The Execution
Pang Sihai orders his officers to execute the prisoner. None of them want to do it. They're all too afraid. So, Da Kuo Zhi steps forward to do it herself. She gives the man his final drink. He has a strange last request. He wants his body thrown in the river and mentions that he has a bad leg.
Gao Yunhu goes to collect the body after the execution. He remembers the prisoner's comment about his leg. He inspects a wound on the man's leg and finds a small paper package hidden inside. It's filled with gold. He gives all of it to Da Kuo Zhi, and you can tell she's impressed.
The Ginseng Deal Heats Up
The deal for the old mountain ginseng is finally happening. Shopkeeper Pu gets a letter from the seller, who wants to meet at a bathhouse the next day. Pu rushes to tell the out-of-town merchant who is acting as the buyer.
The merchant goes to the bathhouse and tries to spot the seller. He just ends up getting threatened by the other patrons. He finally calls out, and Lao Shandong pulls him into a private room. They quickly agree on a price. The merchant tries to get a good look at Lao Shandong's face, but Lao Shandong just splashes water on him and disappears.
The merchant then goes to the final meeting spot. He brings two horses and eight gold bars, just as instructed. Lao Shandong ambushes him and takes him hostage. He then calls out Pang Sihai's men, who were hiding nearby. They surround Lao Shandong and demand the ginseng.
Lao Shandong isn't intimidated. He pulls a massive bluff. He claims he has his own men hidden everywhere, and that they have Pang Sihai's crew surrounded. It works. Pang Sihai's men panic and run away. Lao Shandong takes the gold, grabs the ginseng, and rides off with Tian Xiao Gui. Pang Sihai is left with the ginseng but is in serious trouble. He used his own family's gold bars for the deal, and his wife is furious. He now needs to sell that ginseng for a huge profit to fix the mess he made.
