Episode Summary
In Episode 5, Ma Yingdan is puzzled by Gou Lingfeng's immunity to a deadly poison. The sudden death of Jia Daxueshi sparks ghostly rumors at Jia Mansion, leading to a night of supernatural terror and emotional revelations. Deng Yunfeng suspects the return of the mysterious Puppet Master, Xiao Zhen. Meanwhile, Ling’er collapses from illness, and rare medicinal treasures begin to go missing, pointing to a deeper conspiracy involving deception, identity theft, and a desperate race to heal.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 5 of Hidden Master delivers a chilling mix of mystery, supernatural tension, and emotional gut punches — not to mention a few major reveals that crank the stakes way up.
Ma Yingdan’s Poison Test Fails... or Does It?
We kick things off with Ma Yingdan doubting her own skills. After Gou Lingfeng survives a dose of what should have been a lethal poison, she assumes she must’ve made a mistake in detoxifying it. But when she re-tests the water using a silver needle, the poison is still as potent as ever. So how on earth did Gou Lingfeng survive it? She's baffled — and now more curious than ever about this strangely resilient man.
Trouble at Jia Mansion
Suddenly, tragedy strikes: Jia Mansion announces that the respected scholar Jia Daxueshi has died. During the night vigil, creepy ghostly happenings terrify everyone. One maid dies in fright, and another loses her mind. Yeah — it’s that kind of night.
The next morning, Gou Lingfeng, still on a mission to locate a secret manual, hears about the haunting and rushes over — only to break down sobbing when he finds out the deceased is Jia Daxueshi. Turns out, this man was one of the few people (besides his own father) who ever called Gou Lingfeng “adorable.” With him gone, Gou feels like there’s no one left in the world who truly sees him.
Puppet Master Flashback
Meanwhile, Deng Yunfeng and Ma Yingdan arrive to investigate the strange events. The bizarre signs remind Deng of an old legend — a mysterious figure known as the Puppet Master who could control both the living and the dead using a kind of dark magic. Could this be the work of that same person?
Jia Yang, son of the late Jia Daxueshi, suddenly turns pale. He reveals that the Puppet Master might actually be his own adoptive brother, Xiao Zhen. Though once cheerful, Xiao Zhen changed drastically over time, eventually getting involved with the Demonic Sect. He returned home claiming he’d been framed, but fled before he could be turned over to the authorities... and hasn’t been seen since. Now it looks like he might be back — and deadlier than ever.
No Open Casket, Please
Right then, Gou Lingfeng bursts into the mourning hall, throws himself onto the coffin, and cries uncontrollably. Deng Yunfeng asks Jia Yang how he knows Gou, and Jia Yang explains that the Gou family used to manage business for the Jia household. He also drops a fun fact: Gou’s father once gifted them a rare luminous pearl — supposedly one-of-a-kind. Gou Lingfeng corrects him though, saying the pearl wasn’t unique at all; they’ve got plenty at home. Oof.
When Deng Yunfeng and Ma Yingdan suggest opening the coffin to inspect the body, Gou Lingfeng strongly objects. He warns that disturbing the body could ruin the Jia family’s feng shui, which would mean they could no longer be trusted with important responsibilities. Jia Yang agrees, and the idea is shut down… for now.
Night Watch: Ghosts, Swords, and Screams
Later that night, Gou Lingfeng volunteers to keep watch at the mourning hall — with Ma Yingdan by his side. Though she seems calm, she’s secretly terrified too, carrying a peach-wood sword for protection. Deng Yunfeng waits outside, just as nervously.
Sure enough, something creepy does happen. A corpse-like figure suddenly appears, and Gou Lingfeng loses it. He passes out cold after seeing what looks like a girl he once knew — now wearing the face of Jia Daxueshi.
Meanwhile: Ling’er’s Condition Worsens
Elsewhere, Zhuge Heng is stargazing romantically with Ling’er when she unexpectedly collapses. He rushes to get Ma Yingdan’s help, but even she is at a loss. The shopkeeper solemnly reveals that Ling’er has tuberculosis and, despite past treatment, her condition has relapsed. He once heard of a rare cure, but the ingredients are nearly impossible to find. Ling’er, ever the optimist, tries to comfort everyone. Ma Yingdan gives her a bottle of Qi-replenishing pills to ease her symptoms.
The Face Behind the Mask
Back at the Jia mansion, Gou Lingfeng recounts everything he saw. When they question the shopkeeper about the creepy face, he checks his records and confirms: someone did buy a mask that looks exactly like Jia Daxueshi. Suspicious.
Ma Yingdan insists on opening the coffin. Inside, they find that the body is untouched — but the luminous pearl in the mouth is gone. Gou is puzzled: why steal that when his family has tons of them? But then he remembers the mysterious girl once also took a legendary Blood Dragon Jade from him. Ma Yingdan realizes something huge: both the pearl and the jade are rumored to cure terminal illnesses.
The Hunt Leads to... a Beauty Salon?
Deng Yunfeng connects the dots and joins Ma Yingdan as they head to a beauty parlor called Meili Yirong Guan — likely the next step in this twisted mystery.
Sword Tricks and a Suspicious Shopkeeper
Back on a rooftop, Zhuge Heng tries to impress Ling’er with his sword skills, but falls off. She catches him mid-air, claiming she doesn’t actually know martial arts — just a bit of self-defense. He believes her. (Should he?)
Inside, the shopkeeper sits quietly, holding both the luminous pearl and the Blood Dragon Jade. Whatever’s going on, he’s clearly in deep.
Final Thoughts
Episode 5 takes a dark turn into horror-mystery territory with possession, secret identities, and a possible resurrection. Gou Lingfeng may be comic relief, but he’s also becoming central to the plot. Ma Yingdan’s sharp instincts and Deng Yunfeng’s martial prowess make them a solid team, but the pieces aren’t fitting together just yet.
And with a secret healer in the shadows collecting rare medicinal gems, we’re left wondering: is this about revenge… or redemption?
Stay tuned. Things are only getting weirder.
