Guardian Episode 3 Recap
> Guardian Recap
Following the recent incident with the Longevity Sundial, a new wave of unrest swept through Dragon City University with the tragic death of a student named Zhang Hao, who was found prematurely aged with white hair. The news reached Zhao Yunlan, Director of the Special Investigation Unit, who, noting the victim's appearance, lamented the immense pressure university students faced. Zhao Yunlan promptly led an investigation, starting with Zhang Hao's classmates.
He first questioned Liu Yadong, the monitor of Zhang Hao's Engineering Class 4, who seemed distraught but offered little useful information. Zhao Yunlan then visited Professor Shen Wei's office. While there, a nervous teaching assistant, Zhang Ruonan, rushed in, apologized, and quickly left. Zhao Yunlan questioned Shen Wei about Zhang Hao, but the professor claimed he was unfamiliar with the student, having only just begun teaching his class, though he did identify Zhang Hao as being from Engineering Class 4.
When Zhao Yunlan introduced himself to Zhang Ruonan and informed her of Zhang Hao's murder, she appeared distressed and fled. Later, Shen Wei vouched for Zhang Ruonan's character, describing her as a kind-hearted person and guaranteeing her innocence. Feeling unwell with a cold, Zhao Yunlan headed to the hospital with Da Qing. There, Da Qing accidentally bumped into a peculiar young woman, Wang Yike, who wore gloves and displayed a hostile demeanor.
Zhao Yunlan, intrigued by her odd behavior, learned from Liu Yadong that Wang Yike was known for her solitary nature and refusal to remove her gloves. A check of her medical records revealed she consistently obtained medication for congenital anemia but never underwent a physical examination. This unusual secrecy led Zhao Yunlan to suspect she might be a Subterranean, a being who fears exposure. Zhao Yunlan assigned Da Qing to observe Wang Ziqiang, Zhang Hao's roommate, who seemed deeply troubled.
Wang Ziqiang was heard agonizing over Zhang Hao's death, wondering if it was linked to an incident that had occurred "that day." While Da Qing was on watch, he dozed off outside Wang Ziqiang's dormitory. Upon waking, Da Qing discovered Wang Ziqiang had also died, his body aged and withered just like Zhang Hao's. A stone found at the scene was marked with the number "Two."
With two students now dead, Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing visited Zhang Ruonan, formally inviting her to assist their investigation. As they questioned Zhang Ruonan, Liu Yadong suddenly appeared, begging her for forgiveness and to spare his life. Zhang Ruonan, in turn, told Liu Yadong to run, revealing she had come to warn him.
Under Zhao Yunlan's persistent questioning, Zhang Ruonan tearfully confessed the truth: half a month prior, she had failed three students from Engineering Class 4 for skipping class. In retaliation, they lured her to a fake "birthday party" which turned out to be a cruel and traumatic setup. Zhao Yunlan deduced that the numbers "three, two, and one" corresponded to the three failed students: Zhang Hao, Wang Ziqiang, and Liu Yadong.
He then tasked Liu Yadong with escorting the distraught Zhang Ruonan to rest before seeking out Professor Shen Wei for the failed exam records. Terrified, Liu Yadong continued to plead for his life with Zhang Ruonan, blaming the other two students for the prank. However, Wang Yike appeared and confronted him, declaring he was the last one and couldn't escape. She then unleashed her power, causing Liu Yadong to rapidly age and die.
Zhao Yunlan arrived too late, witnessing the final moments. To protect Wang Yike, Zhang Ruonan immediately took the blame, falsely confessing to all three murders. She later explained to Zhao her profound bond with Wang Yike, stating they were family. She knew Wang Yike was a Subterranean with superpowers but believed her to be a kind child who had made a terrible choice out of loyalty.
Despite Zhang Ruonan's pleas for her to stop, Wang Yike insisted on making those who hurt her "pay with life." Seeking to end the killing, Zhao Yunlan urged Zhang Ruonan to reason with her, but Wang Yike made a chilling phone call, declaring, "after three, two, and one, there's a zero," implying her revenge was not yet complete.
Wang Yike, driven by a fierce protective instinct, confronted Shen Wei, accusing him of being a hypocrite with ill intentions toward Zhang Ruonan. She attacked him with her powers, but Shen Wei remained mysteriously unharmed, absorbing her energy before effortlessly casting her aside. Zhang Ruonan rushed to Wang Yike's aid and, despite warnings, accidentally touched her hand, causing herself to age rapidly. Shen Wei quickly intervened, pulling them apart and stopping the process.
Now visibly older, Zhang Ruonan calmly accepted her fate as atonement. Heartbroken, Wang Yike admitted her actions were wrong and vowed to pay for them with her life. In a poignant moment, they finally touched each other's faces without fear. As the Black Robed Envoy took Wang Yike away, Zhao Yunlan observed Shen Wei's extraordinary ability to neutralize her powers. Zhang Ruonan, holding a gift from Wang Yike, resolved to be strong and embrace a new life.
A new, gruesome case emerged with victims found with their faces completely erased. As the Special Investigation Unit mobilized, Shen Wei used his own abilities to search the city. Zhao Yunlan sensed the presence of another Hallowed Artifact, the Mountain-River Awl, might be near. Suddenly, a scream pierced the night. Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing rushed towards the sound and encountered a suspicious figure. Zhao Yunlan ordered the person to turn around, only to find it was Professor Shen Wei, who calmly put on his glasses, resuming his usual scholarly demeanor.
