Guardian Episode 26 Recap
> Guardian Recap
Following a break-in at his residence, Shen Wei notices the damage is identical to a recent incident at the Marine Administration headquarters. He tells Zhao Yunlan that, as an apprentice to Professor Zhou of the institute, he believes the intruders were after secret experimental results. While the Marine Administration is outside their jurisdiction, Zhao Yunlan suspects the owner of the Karma Brush is involved and predicts another move is imminent.
Elsewhere, the villains discuss their plans, mentioning they have found a new, powerful candidate, Da Ji, who shares their goals, though they are wary of whether they can truly control her. Meanwhile, a man named Zheng Daqian, resentful of his wife Da Ji, conspires with his lover to murder her and seize their assets.
On their wedding anniversary, during a candlelight dinner, he thanks his wife for everything and then chillingly adds his gratitude for her "leaving early and setting me free" as she collapses, seemingly dead. However, Zheng Daqian is later apprehended by the authorities for financial fraud, while he hysterically insists he murdered his wife. The SID learns that Da Ji survived, withdrew all their shared assets using a power of attorney, and that her ID card is a forgery.
Lin Jing uncovers two similar cold cases from the past decade involving young women who looked identical to Da Ji and never seemed to age. The team suspects the Karma Brush owner is exploiting the situation. Soon after, a woman also named Da Ji places a marriage ad with requirements that seem tailor-made for Da Qing. Sent on the date, Da Qing feels an inexplicable sense of familiarity with her.
The woman is indeed the same Da Ji, a Werecat who recognizes Da Qing as a long-lost acquaintance, though his memory has been wiped. Having died and revived numerous times, she is numb to death but remains determined to restore Da Qing's memories, believing that humans are not his true companions. She takes him to places from their past, causing fragmented memories to surface in his mind.
During their journey, Da Ji spots the man she holds responsible for Da Qing's amnesia and attacks him with a stick. Da Qing instinctively shields the man, taking the full force of the blow. The impact, while painful, clears his mind and restores his memories. He recalls Kunlun, a figure with Zhao Yunlan's face, telling him that love makes all beings greater and that he would one day find someone he wished to protect.
With his memories and identity as an ancient Werecat king returned, Da Qing chooses to remain with the SID. He explains that he finds humans, despite their flaws, "very interesting" for their capacity to love, cry, and sacrifice for those they care about. The SID finally pieces together all the recent cases, identifying the owner of the Karma Brush as Wang Xiangyang, the seemingly harmless fruit seller near their office.
The brush is his family heirloom, and his motive is revenge. His pregnant wife died on New Year's Eve after a chain of events: a taxi driver, Zhu Hao, caused her to fall; Zheng Daqian stole the next cab she was waiting for, delaying her arrival at the hospital; and her death meant the loss of two lives. Furthermore, his fruit stall was smashed by thugs instigated by Kong Jing. To Wang Xiangyang, all three men were murderers responsible for destroying his family. Though the SID now knows his identity and motive, capturing him remains a formidable challenge.
