Episode Summary
Tensions rise as He Gang attacks Liu Tianfei's territory, while Liu Tianye plots to outmaneuver the He family by framing a new partner. Mai Hongchao and Ye Tianyou attempt to mend their relationship during an investigation into Su Hongbao's return. Tianye shows a rare moment of kindness when he discovers an old classmate is the target of his debt collection assignment.
Spoiler Alert
Internal Conflicts and Old Debts
We start with some heavy tension in the criminal underworld. Su Hongbao has a long memory. Years ago, Mai Hongchao helped him visit his dying father before Su went to prison. Su still feels a deep debt of gratitude for that.
Things are less sentimental over at the He camp. He Gang is fuming. Someone beat up his people at the casino. He wants to hit back immediately. He Biao is the voice of reason here. He tells He Gang to calm down and avoid making a scene right now.
We also see some shifting loyalties. Zheng Hao used to work for Luo Bo. Now he runs to Liu Tianfei for protection. Tianfei actually takes him in. But the peace doesn't last. He Gang shows up with a crew and trashes Tianfei’s place anyway.
An Awkward Dinner
Mai Hongchao heads out to meet Qin Feng. He walks into a setup. Ye Tianyou is there too. Mai still has a grudge against Ye and isn't happy about the surprise guest.
Qin Feng didn't bring them together for a social call. He has intel. A guy named "Old Nine," who used to work for Su Hongbao, spilled some beans. He admitted Su Hongbao visited him recently. Su wants to get back into the game. He apparently smashed up an antique shop and caused a huge scene.
Qin Feng leaves early to force the other two to talk. It is awkward. Ye Tianyou tries to break the ice. He mentions that his apprentice, Zeng Xu, really looks up to Mai. Ye also makes a solemn promise. He swears he will solve the murders of Xu Li and Hu Xiaoyue.
Liu Tianye Plays Both Sides
Liu Tianye is busy moving cargo under the cover of night. A man named Boss Wei approaches him. Wei wants to partner up. He claims to own three wholesale factories and has the capacity to handle big orders. Tianye is skeptical. He notices Wei knows He Biao. That makes him dangerous.
Tianye reports his earnings to He Biao later that night. It goes sideways. He Biao found out Liu Tianfei opened a secret gambling den on the side. He Biao locked Tianfei up. Tianye begs for his brother's life. He Gang steps in with a gun. He threatens Tianye and hands him a stack of "dead debts." These are impossible to collect. He Gang says he won't let the issue go until Tianye collects the money.
Tianye realizes he is walking on a knife's edge. He tells his subordinate, Zhao Peng, to stash their recent earnings. They need an escape fund. He Biao is too ruthless. Tianye comes up with a plan. He needs to outperform He Gang to gain favor. But he plans to use Boss Wei as a scapegoat for the illegal stuff. He also decides he needs backing from Zhang Xin at Xinrui Holdings Group to survive.
Warnings and Mercy
The police are digging into that antique shop incident. They suspect the hidden casino there links back to Ma Jin.
Mai Hongchao has a busy night. He saves a drunk woman from being harassed on the street. Later, he meets up with Su Hongbao. Su thanks him again for handling his father's funeral years ago. But the conversation turns dark. Su is hunting the person controlling Ma Jin. However, he claims the person behind the murders of Xu Li and Hu Xiaoyue is untouchable. He warns Mai to stop investigating for his own safety.
The next day, Liu Tianye goes to collect on those bad debts. He walks into a shop and finds his old classmate, Zhou Sisi. She is being attacked by other debt collectors. Tianye fights them off. He learns her husband got addicted to gambling and killed himself. He left her with a mountain of debt. Tianye looks at her miserable situation and cracks. He can't be the bad guy here. He suggests she sell the shop to clear the debt. He even offers to pay the remaining balance out of his own pocket.
