Luoyang Episode 26 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Wu Siyue, following up on her previous visit to the Eastern Palace, inquired about Dai Zhou's whereabouts and learned he had been missing for seven days, ever since Kang Zhanbi's death. It seemed Dai Zhou was hiding, fearing repercussions from the Prince and other threats. Meanwhile, Liu Shi reviewed Taoist Tiantong's alchemy manuscript, specifically his notes on Northern Emperor Xuanzhu.
Liu Shi found the formulas contained within to be absurd, suggesting that following them would yield either highly toxic substances or useless lime. He recommended that Baili Hongyi consult "Qi Wei Yao Shu" by Cao Gongqi to understand the laughable nature of Tiantong's formulas, as Baili Hongyi sought to understand alchemy. Concerned about Wu Siyue, Gao Bingzhu was restless at Bai Lang's home, nearly setting the house ablaze by letting a pot boil dry.
Bai Lang, upon his return, teased Gao Bingzhu about his visible worry, reminding him that as a member of the Intelligence Services, he should be free of emotional attachments. Gao Bingzhu, in turn, playfully threatened to burn Bai Lang. When Wu Siyue returned, she confirmed Dai Zhou's prolonged absence and revealed his severe gambling addiction, noting he owed a substantial debt to Yang's Casino in Hui Jie Fang.
Wu Siyue proposed going undercover to investigate, but Gao Bingzhu strongly objected to her taking such risks, insisting he and Bai Lang would go instead. Bai Lang playfully disclosed Gao Bingzhu's earlier distraction, almost burning his house down, which subtly warmed Wu Siyue's heart. Back home, Baili Hongyi immediately consulted all his alchemy texts. Liu Ran stayed by his side. He soon noticed the resemblance between Tiantong's manuscript and the Thunder Formula.
However, he realized the Thunder Formula was not for creating elixirs from minerals but for neutralizing their inherent toxicity during the alchemy process. He promptly instructed Shen Fei to acquire an alchemy furnace and five sets of ingredients according to the formula. Liu Ran desperately tried to dissuade him, recalling how her own father, Liu Shi, had similarly immersed himself in ancient texts and alchemy at home before abandoning his family to wander the world.
Fearing Baili Hongyi would also leave her, Liu Ran expressed her deep concern. Baili Hongyi reassured her, stating his sole purpose was to understand the actual products of Tiantong's manuscript formulas, not to pursue immortality or neglect her, which brought her some peace. She then asked if she could join him in his research. Wu Shenxing learned from Yang Huan that Prince Li Dun's alchemy room in the Eastern Palace had caught fire.
Wu Shenxing intended to use this to implicate the Prince in a conspiracy with Song Liang, but Yang Huan cautioned him against rash actions, reminding him that the Prince was the empress's biological son, contrasting it with Wu Shenxing's status. Wu Shenxing later visited his brother, Wu Youjue, mentioning that the Interior Guard Services was investigating a Western merchant murder case involving the forbidden Northern Emperor Xuanzhu, and that the Prince seemed to be implicated.
He advised Wu Youjue to pursue the investigation rigorously, as any evidence against the Prince could benefit him in the looming fight for the crown. Gao Bingzhu and Bai Lang located the gambling den, hidden deep within an alley and guarded at the entrance. They feigned interest in gambling and gained entry. Inside, Gao Bingzhu exposed a dealer's cheating, demanding to see the shop owner and threatening to report the establishment for fraud.
The frightened shop owner immediately appeared, pleading for leniency. Gao Bingzhu then inquired about Dai Zhou. The owner claimed Dai Zhou owed a large sum and had only pawned a Tortoise Token as collateral before resigning his post and leaving for Jiangnan. Gao Bingzhu, recognizing the shop owner's deceit, discreetly left with Bai Lang. Baili Hongyi began his alchemy experiments, with Liu Ran constantly by his side. Eventually, she dozed off, leaning on him.
Baili Hongyi noticed a sudden flare-up in the furnace. As he got up to inspect it, the furnace violently exploded, sending sparks flying. He instinctively pulled Liu Ran into his arms to shield her. After reviewing the ingredients, he initially suspected an incorrect proportion. However, upon closer inspection, he found the proportions to be accurate. He pondered what kind of elixir required such high-purity Northern Emperor Xuanzhu and such a potent fire-controlling method.
He also noted that Tiantong's manuscript only described the smoke and flames, not the explosion itself. Liu Ran, concerned by his continuous work, urged him to rest, but Baili Hongyi wanted to solve the mystery first, thanking her for her companionship. Meanwhile, Liu Feng persistently waited for Yuwen Peipei at Hong Xiao Fang for several days. One evening, Yuwen Peipei finally returned late, arriving in the King of East River's carriage.
When confronted by Liu Feng, she coldly denied knowing him, even denying the name "Chunhe" that Liu Feng used, before retreating to her room. The Hong Xiao Fang owner, Madam Chun, advised Liu Feng to go home, warning him against crossing the King of East River, but Liu Feng defiantly chose to rent a room and stay the night.
At Liubai Building, Liu Shi was lecturing, but his audience mocked him, praising Taoist Tiantong for his charitable acts, including treating the ill and distributing elixirs. Annoyed, Liu Shi publicly denounced Taoist Tiantong as a charlatan, inadvertently revealing that he had seen Tiantong's alchemy manuscript. The guests, intrigued, pressed him for details, making Liu Shi realize his slip of the tongue. News of this quickly reached Taoist Tiantong, causing him to panic.
His superiors demanded to know if the manuscript had been recovered, threatening him with severe consequences if it wasn't found, and his subordinates were ordered to destroy all other evidence. Baili Hongyi continued his relentless alchemy experiments, attempting the formula twelve times, but each time, he only produced a pile of ash, never the elixir. Liu Ran, observing his sleepless night, went to prepare breakfast for him, urging him to rest.
At dawn, the shop owner stealthily escorted Dai Zhou out of the gambling den's back door. Gao Bingzhu and Bai Lang, who had been waiting there all night, quickly intercepted him. Startled, Dai Zhou tried to flee back inside, but Gao Bingzhu and Bai Lang swiftly subdued him. However, the shop owner's men then surrounded Gao Bingzhu and Bai Lang.
Suddenly, the gambling den's doors and windows were sealed from the outside, and toxic smoke bombs were thrown inside, causing the shop owner and his employees to cough and stumble. Gao Bingzhu, covering his mouth and nose, struggled to rescue the employees. With the help of a few who held their breath, they managed to break open the main door. In the ensuing chaos, Dai Zhou escaped, and Gao Bingzhu dispatched Bai Lang to pursue him.
Wu Siyue and Li Beiqi arrived at the gambling den and encountered Bai Lang, who quickly informed them of Gao Bingzhu's predicament. Gao Bingzhu, despite his worsening condition from the toxic smoke, continued to pull the unconscious employees out of the smoke-filled building one by one. After saving the last one, he succumbed to the poison and collapsed.
