The Wanted Detective Episode 28 Recap
> The Wanted Detective Recap
As night fell upon Haiya, Xiao Beiming and Zhong Xueman maintained a vigilant watch, acutely aware of the man-eating monsters lurking nearby, especially after a recent close encounter. A person attempted to discreetly steal property from their carriage but was quickly detected. Upon tracking the intruder, they discovered it was a child, and the child led them to an entire group consisting only of women, who displayed immediate hostility, shooting arrows as a warning.
Xiao Beiming reasoned that raiding the camp was not an option for investigators, noting that Feng Qingzhuo's medical chest had also been taken by the group during the encounter. He later confided in Zhong Xueman that he had deliberately revealed their origin from the Qi Kingdom to gauge the women's reactions, suspecting they held critical information about the past events in Haiya.
The next morning, Xiao Beiming formulated a plan, recognizing that in this desolate area, food was their most valuable asset. He decided to use their provisions as a "ticket in," observing the women's gaunt appearance and the child's desperate attempt to steal food, which suggested the absence of men in their camp. Meanwhile, Luo Shu, the leader of the Haiya women, expressed deep concern over their dwindling food supplies and the increasing frequency of monster attacks.
She worried about their ability to sustain themselves, especially with no word from the men who had left over a month ago, and prepared to venture out alone if necessary. When Xiao Beiming and his companions approached their camp with food, Luo Shu confronted them aggressively, accusing the Qi people of feigned compassion. Despite her initial rejection, they left the food and retreated.
Inside the camp, some women remained suspicious, but desperation, particularly for the children, led Luo Shu to instruct them to bring the food in and test it for poison. Xiao Beiming, understanding their ingrained resentment, nonetheless hoped his genuine intentions would eventually be recognized, noting the warning arrow was aimed at the ground, not them, as a small sign of hope.
He acknowledged the drain on their own provisions but emphasized that only these Haiya people could help them uncover the truth about the past. Later that night, Luo Shu, unable to bear the prolonged wait for news, decided to leave the camp in search of a solution. Xing, a boy from her group, secretly followed her out of concern for her safety. Tragically, Xing was bitten by a poisonous snake. Luo Shu quickly carried him back, triggering the camp's alarm.
Feng Qingzhuo immediately recognized the severity of the viper bite. Realizing his medical chest, which contained the necessary antidote, had been stolen by Xing and was now within the Haiya camp, he urgently demanded to be taken to their camp. Luo Shu initially resisted, bringing up the long-standing feud between the Qi and Haiya people. However, Xiao Beiming forcefully insisted that saving the child's life was paramount. Luo Shu finally relented, opening the gates and allowing them inside.
The Haiya women helped search for Feng Qingzhuo's medical chest, which was quickly found. With the chest recovered, Feng Qingzhuo skillfully treated Xing with acupuncture, stabilizing his condition. Overwhelmed with gratitude for saving Xing and for the life-saving food, Luo Shu, despite her lingering wariness, agreed to try to convince her people to allow them to stay the night. That evening, Xiao Beiming directly asked Luo Shu about the profound hatred the Haiya people harbored for the Qi Kingdom.
Luo Shu, still cautious, countered by questioning how they had entered Haiya, which was blockaded by the Qi, and what their true purpose was. Xiao Beiming explained that an elder had given him a map and that they were in Haiya to investigate the highly classified "Haiya Case." Luo Shu responded with bitter sarcasm, asserting that such an "unconscionable and inhuman" act should indeed remain classified, and abruptly ended the conversation.
Sensing the lingering distrust, Huo Dairong stepped forward, offering to try to bridge the gap. Luo Shu warned her not to spoil the limited goodwill she had extended. Huo Dairong then empathetically expressed her understanding of Luo Shu's immense burden as a leader. She then revealed a profound truth: she and Xiao Beiming were also Haiya people, born there before the tragic events that led to their families being torn apart and their subsequent upbringing in the Qi Kingdom.
She explained that their shared history of loss fueled their quest for the truth, hoping it could mend the rift between Haiya and Qi. Stunned by this revelation, Luo Shu invited Huo Dairong to sit and asked how they discovered their Haiya origins if the matter was so secretive. Huo Dairong explained they uncovered the Qi army's massacre and their own identities through an orphan registry, though the reasons behind Qi's actions remained unknown to them.
Luo Shu admitted her knowledge of the past was limited, only knowing that the Qi Kingdom had brought the monsters and inflicted a life of constant fear upon her people. She recounted how the adults had told them of the Qi's slaughter and destruction but had no answers as to why. She questioned the purpose of seeking a truth that couldn't change their living hell. Suddenly, a strange sound interrupted them.
Moments later, a woman named Xiaoyue was found bitten and collapsed. Feng Qingzhuo quickly examined her, confirming the bite marks were human, not from a beast. Xiao Beiming and Tong Shuang tracked the bloodstains, finding a man exhibiting extraordinary lightness skill with blood still on his mouth. Xiao Beiming, sensing Luo Shu's evasion, confronted her, stating that the monster's footprints indicated it had been within the camp, not from outside, suggesting she knew more.
He urged her to trust them for their collective safety. Reluctantly, Luo Shu led them to a hidden underground dungeon filled with the stench of decay. There, they discovered multiple emaciated corpses. Feng Qingzhuo confirmed they had starved to death. Luo Shu painfully revealed that these were their own family members whom they had been forced to cage and leave to die after they turned into monsters.
She then disclosed that the monster who had just attacked Xiaoyue was her own brother, Luo Sen, who had recently escaped from one of these cages. Luo Shu explained that years ago, the Qi army massacred people in "Lonely Town," located in central Haiya. Legend had it that anyone who went there lost their souls and became monsters. Desperate for supplies, Luo Sen and other men had risked a trip to Lonely Town.
They returned with provisions, but soon began to exhibit monstrous behavior, losing their humanity and cycling between violent frenzies and unconsciousness. Luo Sen, the last to succumb, had himself confined to protect others, but his condition worsened, and he eventually broke free, leading to Xiaoyue's attack. Feng Qingzhuo noted a striking similarity between Luo Sen's symptoms and those of Old Bug before his death, specifically the swollen and deformed hearts.
He hypothesized a connection to Yesha's mysterious pills, although he dismissed the idea that the Haiya people had ingested them, citing the recent development of the pills by Huang Wuchang. Xiao Beiming concluded that the origin of the illness must lie within Lonely Town and that capturing Luo Sen was crucial for obtaining clues. Realizing Luo Sen's extreme hunger from his recent actions, Xiao Beiming devised a trap using food. They prepared roasted chicken as bait.
Luo Sen soon appeared and consumed the drugged food, which should have sedated him. However, to their surprise, Luo Sen suddenly erupted into an even more violent frenzy, demonstrating immense strength. Despite the unexpected turn, the group managed to activate a prepared trap, using a net to successfully capture Luo Sen.
