Guardian Episode 12 Recap
> Guardian Recap
Fourth Uncle had taken who he believed to be Zhu Hong captive, but it was actually Guo Changcheng in disguise. Thinking he was speaking to his niece, he pleaded with her to leave the Special Investigation Unit and distance herself from the affairs of humans and Dixingren, emphasizing that the Serpent clan had survived by remaining neutral. However, the real Zhu Hong appeared and forced her uncle to drink potent realgar wine, incapacitating him.
She declared her unwavering loyalty to the Special Investigation Unit, stating she would live and die with them, before leaving Guo Changcheng in the care of her unconscious uncle to go for reinforcements. The guards outside, many of whom had admired her for years, willingly turned a blind eye to her escape. Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan's suspicion that Shen Wei was the Black Robed Envoy grew stronger.
He probed Shen Wei about the case, but Shen Wei masterfully deflected, claiming no expertise in sound control and portraying himself as an ordinary person caught in strange circumstances. Frustrated, Zhao Yunlan called the SID to check in. Wang Zheng answered, but the call was abruptly cut off by a piercing sonic disturbance. Sensing trouble, Zhao Yunlan rushed back to the office, with Shen Wei insisting on accompanying him.
They arrived to find the SID office in disarray, with Wang Zheng collapsed. Lin Jing explained that the attacker used powerful sound waves that could interfere with his shield's magnetic field and had even shattered his energy meter. The psychic power was sophisticated, able to vibrate space and control emotions simultaneously. Zhao Yunlan confronted the intruder, Tan Xiao, who was attempting to steal the Mountain-River Awl. Weakened by the sonic attack, Zhao Yunlan was steadied by Shen Wei.
Seeing his advantage lost, Tan Xiao fled. Shortly after, Da Qing arrived, and Lin Jing proposed an experiment to study spiritual frequency, for which Zhao Yunlan volunteered. While attempting to return to the SID, Zhu Hong was ambushed by Tan Xiao. He attacked her with sound waves and a corrupting dark energy that caused her to become disoriented and frenzied.
Lin Jing tracked the energy signature of the attack, arriving just in time to subdue the agitated Zhu Hong with a tranquilizer. As Lin Jing took her back to the SID, Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing successfully located and captured Tan Xiao and the girl with him, Zheng Yi. During interrogation, Tan Xiao calmly confessed to murdering Zheng Zhongyuan.
He explained that Zheng Zhongyuan was Zheng Yi's abusive stepfather and that he had killed the man to protect the girl from further harm. By confessing, he took full responsibility for the crime that the SID believed was committed by a Dixingren with psychic abilities. Zheng Yi, wearing a mask, remained silent throughout his testimony.
As Tan Xiao finished, the Black Robed Envoy materialized, stated that everyone must take responsibility for their actions, and took Tan Xiao away without a word to Zhao Yunlan. With Tan Xiao gone, Zheng Yi began to cry. Zhao Yunlan offered her Da Qing, who had transformed into a small cat, for comfort. However, a sudden realization struck Zhao Yunlan.
Recalling Lin Jing's observations about sound waves interfering with magnetic fields and Zheng Zhongyuan's research into "acoustic oscillation out of water," he connected the facts. He concluded that Tan Xiao, a scientist, was merely a cover. The scientific phenomena he described were not psychic powers. It was Zheng Yi who possessed the true Dixingren ability to both vibrate space and mesmerize minds, and Tan Xiao had sacrificed himself to protect her. Before Zhao Yunlan could act, it was too late.
Zheng Yi had vanished with Da Qing. Shortly after, a mesmerized Da Qing returned to the SID, now under Zheng Yi's control. He opened the protective shields, allowing Zheng Yi to steal both the Longevity Sundial and the Mountain-River Awl before disappearing with the sacred artifacts.
