Be Reborn Episode 26 (Ending) Recap
> Be Reborn Recap
Luo Jian and Zhuang Wenjie discussed the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace and the "Luoshen" painting, recognizing that Xu Zhengqing desired both and that there must be a connection between them. Luo Jian noted that both masterpieces were lost during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Xu Zhengqing, recalling what he had overheard from Zhuang Heting, explained that during the war, several warlords had plundered priceless treasures and attempted to transport them to Shu along three different routes to avoid conflict. Zhuang Heting was part of one such group, and his team got separated. The Japanese discovered the escort operation and deployed forces, including reconnaissance aircraft, to intercept the artifacts.
With their whereabouts exposed and unable to break through the blockade with the treasures, the commanding officer decided to hide them in a natural cavern. Cultural experts were instructed to mark the location on both the "Tears of Moon Goddess" and "Luoshen" to facilitate their retrieval after the war. Xu Zhengqing clarified that this method of marking was chosen because it was wartime, and paper could easily be destroyed.
Inscribing the information separately on the artifacts ensured both concealment and preservation, as the items themselves were valuable and would likely be kept even if captured by the enemy. He also suggested that the value of these two items was far less than the hidden treasures, signifying a strategy of making minor sacrifices to safeguard major interests. The officer then ordered the cave entrance to be sealed and the treasures hidden.
For security and confidentiality, the "Tears of Moon Goddess" was given to one expert, and "Luoshen" to Zhuang Heting, with instructions to meet at an agreed location after breaking through enemy lines. Zhuang Heting led his team, watching his companions fall protecting the artifacts, until he was the sole survivor.
When he arrived at the rendezvous point, the team carrying the "Tears of Moon Goddess" never appeared, leading him to conclude they had been annihilated and the necklace's whereabouts and its hidden message lost to time. Luo Jian then deduced that the numbers on the "Tears of Moon Goddess" and the pattern of the chess pieces on the "Luoshen" painting, once deciphered by Zhuang Wenjie, were location coordinates.
Zhuang Wenjie realized that by using a Cartesian coordinate system, with the top-left corner as the origin, he could convert the chess pieces into numbers: 24, 28, 33, and 38. Luo Jian questioned the order of these four numbers, prompting Zhuang Wenjie to recall his father's teachings on chess strategy. He then understood that the specific order of the pieces was crucial for the unique solution.
When combined with the numbers from the "Tears of Moon Goddess," Luo Jian confirmed they formed geographical coordinates, which he quickly calculated on his phone to point to The Devil City of Yadan in Lenghu Town. Meanwhile, Xu Zhengqing and Dai Mengde had calculated the same location.
Dai Mengde questioned why Xu Zhengqing went through such elaborate efforts to steal the "Luoshen" painting, suggesting he could have simply approached Zhuang Wenjie as his master's apprentice to gain trust and extract the secret. Xu Zhengqing explained that Zhuang Yaobai's death was connected to "Luoshen," and directly approaching Zhuang Wenjie with the painting would raise suspicions, making it impossible to obtain the secret if Zhuang Wenjie acted like his father and misled him.
He felt fortunate that circumstances had put Zhuang Wenjie in his path, enabling his scheme. Xu Zhengqing called a car rental service, complaining that their driver, supposedly arriving at 3 PM, was late. He was informed the driver was new and would arrive soon. A short while later, Luo Jian, disguised as their driver, apprehended Xu Zhengqing and Dai Mengde. The police successfully recovered the Southern relocation artifacts.
At a case summary meeting, Director Zhao praised Luo Jian for his success, while Luo Jian credited Zhuang Wenjie for providing crucial clues. Luo Jian also requested leniency for Zhuang Wenjie, explaining his actions were influenced by Xu Zhengqing but he later cooperated actively with the police. Director Zhao assured him the situation would be considered. Luo Jian's primary task was now to interrogate Xu Zhengqing and Ding Shenghuo to uncover any other crimes.
Su Ying and Liao Shuang re-interrogated Ding Shenghuo. Upon learning that Xu Zhengqing had been captured, Ding Shenghuo, who initially feigned ignorance, confessed all his crimes after Su Ying confronted him about Meng Xiaoyu's murder and his long history of covering for Xu Zhengqing. Concurrently, Luo Jian interrogated Xu Zhengqing, who initially admitted only to the attempted murder of Zhuang Wenjie and denied further involvement.
Luo Jian pressed Xu Zhengqing about a restaurant named Old Taste of Golden Valley, which was called "Good Taste" twelve years prior. He presented surveillance footage from June 9, 2007, showing Xu Zhengqing in the restaurant. The footage captured Xu Zhengqing threatening Zhuang Yaobai, using a photo from Zhuang Yaobai's house to menace Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian explained that Xu Zhengqing had stalked Zhuang Wenjie to use him as leverage to force Zhuang Yaobai to steal "Luoshen."
Zhuang Yaobai had reacted angrily but, fearing for Zhuang Wenjie's safety, eventually agreed to steal the painting. After Meng Xiaoyu's unexpected death, Xu Zhengqing offered Zhuang Yaobai an additional million, claiming her death was an accident. Luo Jian then exposed Xu Zhengqing's involvement in Fang Haizhong's murder. He revealed that on June 12, 2007, the day "Luoshen" was stolen, Xu Zhengqing was seen following Zhuang Wenjie near the same restaurant.
However, Xu Zhengqing himself was being followed by Fang Haizhong, a police officer and Luo Jian's former teacher. Xu Zhengqing led Fang Haizhong to a rooftop, where he deliberately spilled oil on a wooden plank between buildings, causing Fang Haizhong to slip. When Fang Haizhong desperately clung to the plank, Xu Zhengqing pushed him to his death. Luo Jian further unveiled Xu Zhengqing's role in Meng Xiaoyu's death.
Xu Zhengqing initially blamed Ding Shenghuo for suffocating her with a handkerchief, but Ding Shenghuo had confessed that Xu Zhengqing provided the handkerchief. Su Ying then presented the handkerchief, which was found in the bedroom on the second floor of Zhuang's old residence. It contained traces of beta-blockers and Xu Zhengqing's DNA, conclusively proving that both he and Ding Shenghuo were responsible for Meng Xiaoyu's murder.
Finally, Luo Jian confronted Xu Zhengqing about Zhuang Yaobai's death, rejecting Xu Zhengqing's claim that it was an accident. Luo Jian explained that traces of leaking brake fluid were found along the accident route, leading to Fucheng Road. Although the car's front was destroyed, preventing direct inspection of the brake lines, the police realized that the previous investigation was incomplete because they were unaware of a third party's involvement.
With this new information, they deduced that "Luoshen" must have exchanged hands, requiring a stop. Road surveillance from the north and south ends of Fucheng Road showed Zhuang Yaobai's car stopping for at least two minutes. During this time, "Luoshen" was transferred, and the brake fluid line was sabotaged. Luo Jian concluded that Xu Zhengqing, having received "Luoshen," was the only person who had the opportunity to tamper with Zhuang Yaobai's car.
Faced with irrefutable evidence, Xu Zhengqing finally confessed, admitting he severed the brake line after Zhuang Yaobai handed over "Luoshen," then tricked Zhuang Yaobai into driving the damaged car to an old parking lot to be destroyed, resulting in his fatal crash. Luo Jian visited Zhuang Wenjie in the hospital and relayed the full truth of how Xu Zhengqing orchestrated his family's tragedy.
Zhuang Wenjie was deeply pained, questioning why his father, knowing the secret behind "Luoshen," didn't simply tell Xu Zhengqing instead of risking his family's destruction. Luo Jian clarified that Zhuang Yaobai was a righteous man who aimed to live an honest life. He knew Xu Zhengqing was after the national treasures, not just "Luoshen."
Therefore, Zhuang Yaobai covertly tipped off Fang Haizhong, hoping the police would intervene, thwart Xu Zhengqing's plans, and protect his family, making a difficult but selfless decision. Luo Jian encouraged Zhuang Wenjie to let go of the past, look forward, and start a new life. He also told Zhuang Wenjie that he would be gone by the time he was discharged from the hospital.
Zhuang Wenjie reflected on Luo Jian's words, remembering his father's lifelong desire to live a righteous life in the sunlight. Ding Shenghuo received life imprisonment for theft and intentional homicide. Xu Zhengqing, found guilty of theft, intentional homicide, and leading a criminal organization, was sentenced to death. Zhuang Wenjie, though found guilty of obstruction of justice, was pardoned for his cooperation with law enforcement and good behavior.
With the truth finally revealed, Luo Jian visited Fang Haizhong's tomb, offering a long-overdue apology and finding closure after twelve years. Su Ying joined him, and they shared a knowing smile. Zhuang Wenjie returned to school, where Lin Zhiyue waited for him at the entrance. As if reliving their childhood, he put a necklace on her. As they walked hand in hand towards the school, Zhuang Wenjie received a mysterious text message: "Congratulations. You persisted and you did it." He was visibly shocked.
