Episode Summary
In this episode, a planned drug transaction on a train goes completely wrong. The police, tipped off, intercept the deal. Mao Zi, previously thought to be dead, is revealed to be alive during the chaos but is forced to flee. The fallout leads to suspicion within the criminal gangs, and Hua Long is ultimately ordered by his boss to kill his brother, Mao Zi, which he does in the final moments.
Spoiler Alert
A Messy Deal from the Start
A Quick Trip to the Past
The episode opens with a flashback to New Year's Eve, 1998. We see a younger Hua Long getting ready to skip town. He tells his brother, Mao Zi, to look after their mother. Then he dumps all the responsibility for whatever is happening right on Mao Zi's shoulders. Mao Zi, ever the loyal brother, is just worried. He even gives Hua Long some cash for the road. This little scene tells you everything you need to know about their relationship.
A Bad Plan Gets Worse
Back in the present, Hua Long's boss, Sun Ge, gives him a job. He has to pick up a shipment. Sun Ge also wants Mao Zi to handle the delivery. Hua Long immediately shuts that down. He doesn't want to put his brother at risk. He insists on going alone.
At the same time, San Ma Hu learns about Hua Long's pickup. He decides it's a good time to teach Hua Long a lesson. He sends his guy, Bing A Dou, to the train station to cause some trouble.
Everyone Is at the Train Station
Cops, Crooks, and a Secret Message
The police get a tip about a big transaction happening at the station.The problem is, it could be on any number of trains. Xiong Guoliang doesn't care. He orders all his officers, including Zhan Peng, to work overtime and figure it out.
While this is going on, the Old Chinese Doctor is trying to pass a coded message. He gives his apprentice a prescription, hoping it will get to Tu Hongjiang. But San Ma Hu's man, Ping Tou Ge, is suspicious. The apprentice plays it cool to throw him off. When Tu Hongjiang finally gets the prescription, it's blank. He instantly knows his informant is in serious danger. His cover might be blown.
The Decoy and the Ghost
San Ma Hu’s crew arrives at the station in disguise. The cops spot one of them, Bai Tao Hua, and start to follow her. She knows she has a tail. She gets off the train just to throw them off.
The real action is on the train. Mao Zi is there, disguised as an old man. He sees Bai Tao Hua and sends a warning to Hua Long. He also has a feeling Bing A Dou is on board and goes looking for him.
The Bust
Mao Zi grabs the package from a hiding spot in the bathroom. Just as he gets it, Bing A Dou ambushes him. He wants the goods. The two start fighting, and their brawl attracts the attention of the police.
Zhan Peng storms in and gets a massive shock. He sees Mao Zi, a man he thought was long dead. Zhan Peng and Mao Zi get into a brutal fight. In the end, Mao Zi makes a desperate escape by jumping from the moving train. The police don't get their man, but they do get the shipment.
The Blame Game
San Ma Hu Wants Answers
San Ma Hu is furious that the deal went south. He immediately suspects a leak. He thinks the Old Chinese Doctor betrayed them, since only a few people knew the plan. The doctor cleverly deflects. He suggests the police might have been after him personally, since he killed Tu Hongjiang's wife. He also reminds San Ma Hu that Hua Long's boss knew about the deal, too. Why only suspect your own people? For now, it works. San Ma Hu is still suspicious, but he's not sure who to blame.
A Very Uncomfortable Dinner
Later, San Ma Hu invites Hua Long to dinner. Hua Long asks why Bing A Dou was on the train without any warning. The conversation quickly turns to the real shocker. Bing A Dou mentions seeing Mao Zi, alive and well. The secret is officially out. Hua Long panics internally. He knows his plans have been exposed. But San Ma Hu just calmly talks about redistributing profits.
An Impossible Order
Sun Ge's Demand
The calm doesn't last. Sun Ge finds Hua Long after the dinner. He gives him a simple, brutal order. He must kill Mao Zi.
Brother Against Brother
Hua Long goes home, completely on edge. He senses someone is inside and pulls out his knife. It's Mao Zi. He came back. Hua Long is heartbroken. He tells his brother he never should have returned. He pulls out a bottle of liquor he'd been saving for a long time. They share one final drink. Then, in a devastating final scene, Hua Long kills his own brother.
