Episode Summary
Ding Baoyuan is released from prison and returns home to a manipulative Sun Caiyun, who pretends affection to secure his compensation money. Realizing her betrayal, Ding kills her lover Guan Qiao by burying him alive. He then starts investigating the real killer behind the old murder case. Meanwhile, Chen Jianghe uncovers deeper truths about the Liu family, while facing guilt over his mentor’s tragic fate.
Spoiler Alert
Sandstorm Episode 10 Recap & Spoilers:
Buckle up, because Episode 10 of Sandstorm is as intense and twisty as ever—betrayals, revenge, and a good old-fashioned live burial. Yes, really.
Ding Baoyuan Walks Free… and Into a Trap
After years behind bars, Ding Baoyuan is finally declared innocent and released. But freedom doesn’t mean peace—not in this show. As Ding steps back into the world, his wife Sun Caiyun is already scheming. She had been planning to run away with her lover Guan Qiao, but when she finds out Ding is entitled to a hefty state compensation, she slams the brakes on the getaway plan. Why run when you can rob him blind first?
Caiyun puts on a glowing “welcome home” act, complete with a fake smile, heartfelt words, and even a celebratory setup. But Ding isn't fooled for long.
The Mask Slips
Back in his old bedroom, Ding notices something odd—books and a computer clearly used for writing. His wife never reads, and suddenly their home looks like a writer’s den? He quickly realizes the setup is for Guan Qiao. Ding doesn’t just suspect betrayal—he knows it.
His own child seems distant and awkward around him, and the family reunion feels anything but warm. Fueled by rage, Ding confronts Caiyun and literally strangles her in a fit of fury. She gasps for her life and plays her final card—reminding him of their child and claiming that the real killer behind the case that landed him in prison is still out there. She swears she’ll help him find the truth. It works. Ding lets go.
Guan Qiao’s Very Bad Road Trip
Ding may be limping and physically weakened, but he’s far from helpless. He decides to play along with Caiyun’s game for now—he needs help to uncover the real killer. Caiyun, ever the manipulator, brings Guan Qiao into the house under the guise of being Ding’s lawyer (you can't make this up). Guan, shockingly naive or just hopelessly in love, agrees to help Ding file for compensation.
But here's the twist—on the way to the provincial capital, Ding strangles Guan unconscious and buries him alive. That’s right. The man who thought he was helping his lover’s husband cash a check ends up six feet under. Karma—or just brutal justice?
The Hunt for the Real Killer Begins
With Guan Qiao out of the picture, Ding shifts focus to the original murder case that ruined his life. He suspects Wang Liang and sneaks into Liu Yingying’s home at night to confront him. But before he can act, Yingying stops him and insists that Wang isn't the real killer. For now, both Wang and Yingying are spared.
Meanwhile, in the Shadows of the Liu Family…
Elsewhere, Chen Jianghe is trying to connect the dots. He suspects that if Liu Yingying was capable of conspiring with Wang Liang to kill her own father, she might also be capable of going after Liu Dazhi—someone who destroyed her happiness. But Luo Yingwei disagrees, believing no one could harm their own sibling like that. Jianghe, ever the realist, tells her to stop trying to control Wang Dazhuang and focus on preventing more bloodshed by helping Liu Dazhi reintegrate into normal life.
A Close Call and a Painful Goodbye
Jianghe gets a tip that Liu Dazhi might be planning to disappear. To prevent anything drastic, he rushes to Liu Yingying’s house, playing the role of a concerned friend. He stalls just long enough to confirm Liu Dazhi's safe exit. Before leaving, he secretly checks Wang Liang’s backpack—and finds tools that scream “next crime scene”: a hammer, a knife, and more.
Days later, Jianghe visits Liu Duoduo’s grave and notices something chilling: her birthdate matches the day his mentor’s accident occurred. It all clicks. That day, his mentor had rushed off after uncovering the Liu family’s involvement in the case. Jianghe had selfishly chased after him, hoping to get a transfer approval signed. Tragically, Jianghe’s car got stuck in a sandpit. His mentor saved him—but at the cost of his own life, suffering brain damage and falling into a coma.
Now, his mentor is dying. Jianghe rushes to the hospital, kneels by his bedside, and tearfully confesses everything. In a heartbreaking moment, the comatose mentor sheds two silent tears… and then passes away.
Episode 10 is a storm of buried secrets (and people), emotional gut punches, and the ever-growing question: who really killed Cheng Chun? With one more body down and more revelations ahead, Sandstorm shows no signs of slowing.
