Cambrian Period Episode 22 Recap
> Cambrian Period Recap
Jian Zi knelt before Zhan Shili, enduring a severe beating as Zhan Shili pointed a gun at his head. Tang Yin rushed in, crying out for Zhan Shili to stop. She was heartbroken to see Jian Zi injured and wanted to take him away, but Zhan Shili refused to let them go.
Tang Yin accused Zhan Shili of trying to drive Jian Zi to his death, knowing that even if Jian Zi fulfilled all of Qiu Men's demands, Zhan Shili would never grant him freedom. At that moment, Mingzhu arrived and presented Jian Zi with an appraisal report. Reading it, Jian Zi learned that he was not an adopted son after all. He trembled as he asked if it was true.
Zhan Shili confirmed that Jian Zi was his biological son but revealed that Jian Zi's birth mother was not Qiu Yun, Tang Yin’s mother. This meant Jian Zi and Tang Yin were not blood relatives. Tang Yin understood that with such a biological father, Jian Zi's life would be forever shadowed, spent in darkness and distortion. This solidified her resolve to take him away, no matter the cost.
She challenged Zhan Shili, arguing that his claims of doing everything for Jian Zi's good were merely for his own satisfaction, as his actions only caused Jian Zi pain. Zhan Shili, in turn, angrily warned Tang Yin against meddling, suggesting she didn't understand his difficulties. He also brought up Tang Yin's deceased mother, Qiu Yun, stating that if Tang Yin persisted, he would "educate" her on her mother's behalf, considering their past relationship.
Enraged, Tang Yin forbade him from speaking about her mother. Zhan Shili then recounted his past with Tang Yin's parents, accusing her father of being a manipulative "beast" who forced Qiu Yun into marriage. He further claimed that he himself had threatened Tang Yin's father's life to bring Qiu Yun to him. Tang Yin called him a bastard and swore he would face retribution. She declared that she would not leave Jian Zi and would expose Zhan Shili's crimes.
Zhan Shili gave them three days: Jian Zi was to return to work, and Tang Yin could leave with enough money for a lifetime, but if she insisted on being with Jian Zi, they would face severe consequences. That night, back at the small tavern, Tang Yin tended to Jian Zi's wounds. Jian Zi, burdened by the new revelations, was distraught and preoccupied.
Later, he went to Tang Yin's room, embraced her from behind, and quietly told her they would leave tomorrow. Tang Yin affirmed his resolve, "Leave tomorrow." Meanwhile, Li Yongji had already begun secretly investigating Qiu Men. Using the authentic encoder he had swapped earlier, he started manufacturing a large number of counterfeit chips, intending to frame Qiu Men. He had been looking into Tang Yin's mother's case and received a farewell phone call from Tang Yin.
He promised her he would seek justice for her and her mother. However, Tang Yin seemed to have moved past it, expressing her desire to simply leave with Jian Zi and never return. Li Yongji, unwilling to let Qiu Men or Jian Zi escape justice, then resolved that no one could avoid their deserved punishment.
After the call, Mingzhu tried to dissuade Zhan Shili from interfering with Jian Zi and Tang Yin, even offering to give up her love for Jian Zi if he would let them go. Zhan Shili rejected her plea, ordered her confined, and prepared his men for an emergency operation. The next morning, with Mai Quancheng's help, Jian Zi and Tang Yin went to the seaside to bid farewell to Tang Yin’s mother at her grave.
Tang Yin tearfully apologized to her mother for misunderstanding her. As they prepared to leave on a waiting boat, Zhan Shili arrived with his men, cornering them. Despite Jian Zi's agility, they were outnumbered, and the three were quickly restrained. Zhan Shili began to explain his grand plan for Qiu Men, detailing its transformation from a criminal organization into a legitimate business empire, a world-leading resort.
He intended for Jian Zi to inherit it, claiming it was the path to true freedom. However, Jian Zi was uninterested, stating he only desired real freedom, not Zhan Shili's version of power. Zhan Shili grew angry, slapping Jian Zi and chastising him for being too emotional to succeed. He declared that Jian Zi's emotional attachments were his greatest obstacle and demanded he choose between Mai Quancheng and Tang Yin—only one could live.
Jian Zi pleaded for their lives, offering himself in their place, but Zhan Shili mocked his choice. In a horrifying display, Zhan Shili had Mai Quancheng thrown into the sea. He then declared that since Jian Zi had not made a choice, Tang Yin must also die. Jian Zi watched in agony as Tang Yin was thrown into the sea. Witnessing the disappearance of the two people closest to him, Jian Zi vomited blood and collapsed unconscious.
Zhan Shili's ruthless plan had been completed. Li Yongji was too late to intervene. He confronted Zhan Shili, demanding to know Tang Yin's whereabouts and warning him of severe repercussions if she was harmed. Zhan Shili, unperturbed, dismissed Li Yongji's threats as futile, like "a mantis trying to stop a chariot." Li Yongji retorted that the outcome was still uncertain, vowing to see Qiu Men's downfall and Zhan Shili imprisoned.
Later, Li Yongji dispatched search teams to scour the sea for Tang Yin, but they found no trace. Simultaneously, his informant within Qiu Men relayed a message from Zhan Shili, warning Li Yongji not to assume he was innocent just because evidence might be destroyed, asserting that Qiu Men could crush him effortlessly.
