Episode Summary
In Episode 19, Jin Xiasheng is brutally murdered by Yi Zhi Er after discovering the betrayal involving Cui Ye. Meanwhile, Cui Wei identifies Cui Ye as the prime suspect but struggles to accept the truth. Yi Zhi Er presents Jin’s corpse to Cui Ye, who buries his friend and discovers a cryptic clue—“930”—carved into his wrist. Gao Shuhua and Yanyan remain missing, held captive in a dark, locked room.
Spoiler Alert
Buckle up, because Episode 19 of Playing Go is a wild, bloody ride that takes betrayal and desperation to agonizing new levels.
The Setup: A Phone Call and a Dog Tooth
The episode rewinds the clock by 30 minutes. Cui Ye picks up a call from Jin Xiasheng, telling him to meet at the Mazu Temple. On the drive there, Jin notices a dog tooth pendant hanging in the car. He casually asks to see it, but behind that calm facade, his mind is racing. Something's not right. He steps out of the car, pretending to relieve himself, only to realize—his phone’s missing.
Cue the tension.
⚠️ One-Eared Devil
Enter Yi Zhi Er (yes, the guy with one ear and no chill). He sees right through Jin’s unease and drops a bomb—he’s kidnapped Cui Ye’s wife and son because he’s had enough of being a pawn in Cui Ye’s high-stakes game. Yi Zhi Er suspects he’s about to be sacrificed in the upcoming negotiations with Uncle Yi, and he's not going down quietly.
Jin tries to convince him that Cui Ye would never betray a teammate. Spoiler: Yi Zhi Er is not buying it. He tries to tie Jin up.
Rock, Blood, and a Hammer
Jin fights back like a cornered animal, grabbing a rock and smashing Yi Zhi Er in the head. Just when he thinks he can make a run for it—bam—a speeding car comes out of nowhere and slams right into him. The driver bolts. Even Yi Zhi Er is shocked by the hit-and-run.
But it gets worse.
Jin is barely alive, coughing up blood. Yi Zhi Er snatches the dog tooth pendant from his hand... and then picks up a hammer. What follows is brutal—he strikes Jin's head repeatedly, blood and brain matter splattering everywhere. It's not just murder; it’s a statement.
The Brotherly Bombshell
Meanwhile, Cui Wei (Cui Ye’s older brother and a cop) meets with his superior. He’s pieced it together—the main suspect has to be his own brother. The clues line up too perfectly. His boss warns him: if it’s true, he’ll be forced to recuse himself. Understandably, Cui Wei spirals. Later, he visits their mom at the hospital, hiding the truth about Cui Ye. His wife Qiu Jiawen is there, and he breaks down in her arms.
A Corpse in the Car
Yi Zhi Er rolls up to the Mazu Temple with Jin's corpse in the backseat. Cui Ye is stunned. Yi Zhi Er doesn’t mince words—he killed Jin and kidnapped Gao Shuhua (Cui Ye’s wife) and their son Yanyan. He even finds the folded drawing lots in Cui Ye’s pocket. All of them have Yi Zhi Er’s name on them. So yeah, the betrayal was real.
️ Buried Secrets
Cui Ye, burning with grief and rage, takes a shovel Yi Zhi Er bought and digs a grave in the woods, burying Jin himself. But then, something strange—on Jin’s wrist, Cui Ye spots something scratched into the skin: “930”. Turns out, even after being hit by a car, Jin crawled forward, grabbed the pendant, and etched those numbers as a last clue.
What does 930 mean? Cui Ye doesn’t know yet, but it’s clearly important.
A Call and a Lie
After the burial, Yi Zhi Er ties up Cui Ye in the passenger seat and dozes off on a plastic bag full of cash. The next morning, he buys breakfast and lets Cui Ye make a phone call—to his mom. Cui Ye plays it cool, saying his wife and son went to a friend’s place and he’s off to a competition. He even drops a cryptic message: Yanyan played up to page 38, and Big Brother should look under the Tianhou Cup.
Yi Zhi Er doesn’t catch on, but it’s obviously a coded message.
️ In the Dark
Cut to Gao Shuhua. She wakes up in pitch blackness, tied up alongside Yanyan. No response to their cries for help. She finds a flashlight—but it only reveals a thick, locked iron door. They're trapped. Alone. And time’s running out.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a turning point. Loyalties crack. Blood is spilled. And Cui Ye is now on a collision course with Yi Zhi Er—one that’s bound to end in more than just words. Jin Xiasheng’s death is a wake-up call, quite literally written in blood. What is “930”? What’s hidden beneath the Tianhou Cup?
Episode 19 doesn’t just raise the stakes—it buries them six feet under.
