Episode Summary
Yan Tuo and Nie Jiuluo bond over their traumatic childhoods, revealing the origins of Yan Tuo's family separation and Nie Jiuluo's fear of water. Xing Shen investigates the mine, finds the dead Di Xiao, and learns a clue pointing to Village Number 4. Yan Tuo begins his physical recovery and finally joins the group for a communal meal.
Spoiler Alert
Trauma and Incense
Nie Jiuluo is taking care of Yan Tuo. She lights some incense to help him sleep. The smoke drifts up slowly. Yan Tuo takes a deep breath. He admits something heavy. The dark cave wasn't the worst part of his captivity. The hopelessness was. That feeling of despair brings back old memories.
We get a look at his childhood. His mother took him and his sister away from home. She ignored his father's advice to buy the express ticket. She bought tickets for a bus leaving two hours later. That delay changed everything. The kids ran off to find a lost toy duck. They got separated. Yan Tuo found his way back home. His sister never did. Later, he saw his mother begging Li Shuangxiu for help. Li Shuangxiu was cold. She demanded the family assets. She told his mother to disappear.
Fear of the Water
Nie Jiuluo has her own demons to fight. She thinks back to a day on the lake with her father. They were on a boat. It seemed like a happy memory. Then her father sent her to buy ice cream. He kissed her on the forehead. It was a goodbye kiss. She ran back with the ice cream. The boat was empty. Her father was gone. She screamed for him.
He survived the suicide attempt. But he came back different. He locked himself in his room. He refused to eat. He was diagnosed with severe depression. That trauma is why Nie Jiuluo is terrified of water today. Yan Tuo sees her tense up. He remembers how his mom used to massage his hand before he gave speeches. He does the same for Nie Jiuluo. It works. She relaxes.
The Mine and the Madman
Xing Shen goes to the Roushan mine alone. He walks in carefully. He sees the dead body of the Di Xiao. That is a nasty shock. He keeps moving deeper. He finds a locked area. He pries it open. Inside, he finds Yu Wang meat soaking in water.
He rushes back to the base. The Madman has some cryptic information. He recites a line from the Nanshan Miscellaneous Notes. He talks about something called "Ren Ba." He claims this thing is in Village Number 4.
Recovery and Hotpot
The next morning is brighter. Yan Tuo wakes up. The sun is shining. He feels a bit dazed. Lu Xian is having a harder time. He sits at a table thinking about Lin Ling. He picks up his phone. He types a message. He hesitates. He puts the phone down without sending it.
Yan Tuo opens a box from Nie Jiuluo. It holds a family photo and some fruit. It is a sweet gesture. He starts exercising right there in the room. He is ready to fight back.
The villains are not happy. Feng Mi and Xiong Hei arrive at the mine. They see the dead Di Xiao. They see Yan Tuo is gone. They are furious. Xing Shen travels to the desert. He finds Village Number 4. It is completely ruined.
Back at the safe house, the mood is better. Lu Jie makes a hotpot. Lin Ling and Uncle Changxi arrive. Yan Tuo stays in his room for a moment. He gathers his courage. He walks out and joins the dinner.
