Episode Summary
Qi Meihua strong-arms Xun Ge to protect Liao Siyuan, while Yong’an Village reels from Jie’en’s ritualistic murder during the Water Lantern Festival. A skull hidden in the River God statue exposes decades of secrets, and Shu He’s investigation uncovers drug operations and rising tensions between villagers and hidden killers.
Spoiler Alert
Qi Meihua’s dangerous gamble takes center stage as she throws a wild party to intimidate Xun Ge, flaunting her wealth and a hidden gun to warn him against harassing Liao Siyuan. Unnerved by her threat, Xun Ge retreats, but Qi Meihua coldly declares she’ll outspend anyone backing him—and vows to destroy anyone who harms Liao Siyuan. Meanwhile, chaos erupts in Yong’an Village when police seal it off after Basong’s grisly murder. Villagers whisper that the River God punished him for disrespect, severing his arm. Defiant drunk Jie’en scoffs at the superstition, publicly hacking the River God statue with an axe—a move that seals his fate.
At dawn, Liao Siyuan arrives to investigate, but police detain him for questioning after he reveals he’s the son of Liao Nianguo, a name that rings alarms. Supá watches silently, her gaze lingering. That night, Jie’en’s drunken taunts escalate: he confronts Ke Xin at her gas station, accusing her of faking the River God’s power. His arrogance peaks just as the Water Lantern Festival begins. Streets blaze with color as Liao Siyuan, Li Zhi, and Qi Xia join the celebrations. Nostalgia hits Qi Xia hard—lanterns remind her of lost moments with Liao Zhibai—while Li Zhi secretly wishes for a future with Liao Siyuan.
The festival turns macabre when Jie’en’s corpse drifts into view on a bamboo raft, sparking mass hysteria. Supá kneels, screaming about the River God’s vengeance, and villagers follow in panicked prayer. Police swarm the scene, and Liao Zhibai spots a critical clue: the raft’s candles suggest the killer hauled the body through mountain trails. Autopsy reveals Jie’en ingested AH7—a hallucinogen—before death, but not enough to kill him. Security footage exposes Tai Shu using Jie’en’s bank card, prompting Shu He (a detective on “vacation”) to launch a manhunt.
As rumors spread, villagers mob Ke Xin’s home, tearing her clothes and dragging her out as a “River God accomplice.” Supá races to stop the violence, but only Qi Xia’s warning gunshot quells the riot. Meanwhile, Shu He’s team stumbles upon Xun Ge’s hidden drug lab near Jie’en’s factory—a lead abruptly dropped when chaos calls them away. The episode closes with a bombshell: Jie’en’s father smashes the River God statue, exposing a human skull inside—proof the legend hides decades of bloodshed.
The River God’s curse is a carefully crafted lie, but the real killer remains in the shadows—and Tai Shu’s return could ignite a war between the village’s secrets and those determined to bury them.
