Episode Summary
Ma Yingdan sets out to cure her poisonous body and live a normal life. Gou Lingfeng desperately seeks a mission, leading him to disguise himself using a custom mask. Meanwhile, Zhuge Heng grows closer to the mysterious Ling’er. Ma Yingdan tests Gou’s rumored immunity to poison—only to discover it’s real. As schemes unfold and identities are hidden, new bonds and rivalries begin to form.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 4 of Hidden Master dives deeper into toxic secrets—literally—and gives us a heavy dose of drama, deception, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.
Ma Yingdan’s Lonely Curse
We finally get a glimpse into Ma Yingdan’s tragic backstory. As a child, she was ostracized because her entire body was laced with poison. The only kid who dared befriend her was a little boy she called “Xiao Shitou.” That bond was short-lived—he accidentally touched her tainted blood and was instantly poisoned. Panicked, Ma Yingdan gave him the antidote and fled in tears, never making another friend again. Since then, her biggest dream has been to rid herself of her poisonous nature and live like a normal person.
Now grown, she decides it’s time to leave the mountain in search of a cure. Her mother, who shares the same cursed condition, questions her resolve. But Ma Yingdan stands firm, promising to return. Her mother tearfully sees her off... then immediately regrets it—not out of sentiment, but because their family’s mahjong game is now missing a fourth player.
Mission Scramble: Gou Lingfeng vs. Zhuge Heng
Elsewhere, Liu Sanniang is assigning tasks to the heroes. Zhuge Heng gets a prime mission, handpicked by Sanniang herself. Gou Lingfeng, however, is left empty-handed and clearly salty about it. Determined not to be left behind, he pesters He Changzai for a task, threatening to go rogue if ignored. He Changzai warns him: heroes follow rules, and going solo could mean breaking the law.
Eventually, He Changzai suggests the Meili Yirongguan—a beauty salon known for transforming appearances. Gou Lingfeng goes, hoping a makeover might get him noticed. Zhuge Heng, initially not interested, changes his mind the moment he sees Ling’er, the stunning stylist. Smooth.
Makeovers, Moonlight, and Manipulation
Gou Lingfeng explains his mission ambitions, while Ling’er gently mocks him—this place is for polishing pretty faces, not miracle work. But she sees Zhuge Heng’s potential and brings him inside for a styling session. As she braids his hair, he’s oddly reminded of his late mother. Emotional grooming, anyone?
Back in the lobby, Gou Lingfeng sulks over how looks seem to dictate worth. The shopkeeper suggests a different kind of glow-up: custom masks. But it’s pricey—100 taels of silver. Gou Lingfeng doesn’t hesitate. He orders two masks, one modeled after He Changzai himself, and even spills tea about Changzai’s love of money—and his blood dragon jade pendant that's worth a small fortune.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Heng asks Ling’er to paint his portrait and notices a glowing moon in her artwork. Ling’er says she sees moonlight in his eyes. Romantic? Maybe. Mysterious? Definitely.
Poison Tests & Pillow Thieves
Later, Deng Yunfeng questions Ma Yingdan’s clear interest in Gou Lingfeng. She admits she’s curious about his rumored immunity to all poisons.
That night, Ma Yingdan sneaks into Gou Lingfeng’s room to test his resistance firsthand. She hesitates, but suddenly, he grabs her hand in his sleep. Shocked, she realizes her poison has no effect on him. Just then, he wakes up—and they lock eyes in a moment charged with tension.
Before she can leave, Zhuge Heng walks in. After Ma Yingdan bolts, Gou Lingfeng is left flustered, and Zhuge Heng quickly connects the dots: this guy has zero experience with women. Oh, and on his way out, Zhuge Heng casually steals the secret martial arts manual hidden under Gou’s pillow. Friend of the year.
Schemes, Scams, and Spiked Soup
The next morning, Gou Lingfeng struts through town wearing his He Changzai mask and a flashy blood dragon jade pendant. He tries to use the disguise to claim a mission but gets blackmailed by a woman who sees through the act. Unable to meet her demands, he reluctantly hands over the real jade.
Just then, Liu Sanniang surprisingly assigns him a task—for real this time. His mission? Deliver food to none other than Ma Yingdan.
He’s reluctant but obeys. Ma Yingdan invites him to eat with her and secretly poisons the soup. Gou Lingfeng slurps it down, totally unaffected. Ma Yingdan is floored—his immunity is real, and it terrifies her.
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 mixes emotional backstories with hilarious identity swaps, light romance, and a sprinkle of espionage. Ma Yingdan’s slow-burning intrigue toward Gou Lingfeng adds heart, while Gou's antics with face masks and stolen pendants keep the plot playful. Zhuge Heng might be charming, but he's also sneaky—watch that guy.
With Ma Yingdan’s poison proving ineffective and Gou Lingfeng unknowingly stealing her heart, things are heating up. And with secret identities floating around, it’s only a matter of time before it all blows up.
