Psych-Hunter Episode 11 Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
After failing to locate Yuan Muqing following their expedition into her mind palace, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng sought answers at the police station. Captain Bai, the only one in the bureau privy to such sensitive information, revealed details of a highly confidential kidnapping case connected to Yuan Muqing. He informed them that Chief Gao, previously thought to be a hero by some, was actually secretly executed for leaking classified information, though the specifics of what he disclosed remained unknown.
Captain Bai openly expressed his distrust of Chief Gao, believing only a "silly girl like Mu Qing" would consider him a good person. When asked about their sudden interest in the old case, Jiang Shuo confirmed he had recently seen Chief Gao. Qin Yiheng clarified his intent, explaining he was conducting research on the mental states of trauma survivors, but Chief Gao's execution meant his research could not proceed.
Captain Bai then suggested they interview Chief Gao's brother, whose address was listed in the case files. As dawn broke, Qin Yiheng, still anxious about Muqing, proposed they head to Chief Gao’s residence. Just as they were leaving, a person from the courtyard rushed over with news: Ms. Yuan had been found and brought back safely by Lady Shi San.
Jiang Shuo was eager to return immediately, but Qin Yiheng suggested he go back to assess Muqing’s condition, believing this information would be crucial for her treatment, while he continued to investigate Chief Gao's case. They then parted ways. Upon arriving at Chief Gao’s home, Qin Yiheng was met with suspicion by Chief Gao’s brother, who immediately assumed he was from the Yuan family, accusing them of being responsible for his brother's death and delighting in their current plight.
Qin Yiheng quickly clarified his identity as an old friend of Chief Gao, stating he had come to pay his respects after hearing of his passing. The brother then spoke of his brother’s "wrongful death," explaining that General Yuan had once saved Chief Gao's life on the battlefield, forging an unshakeable loyalty. He adamantly denied his brother would ever betray the Yuan family or abduct their children, reminiscing about Chief Gao's kindness towards the Yuan children.
When Qin Yiheng inquired about Master Hong, the brother insisted his brother was a virtuous man and had no dealings with any thugs. He lamented their inability to seek justice as commoners, despite his belief that General Yuan likely knew of his brother's innocence. Qin Yiheng offered some money, but the brother declined. Unbeknownst to them, General Yuan had just received an alarming letter from his daughter, Qing'er, pleading for his help.
She stated she was Master Hong’s hostage and warned him to come alone, as bringing troops would endanger her life. Enraged by Master Hong's audacity, whom he had previously spared, General Yuan initially ordered his Captain Yang to assemble soldiers. However, his brother intervened, reminding him of Qing'er's explicit warning. General Yuan then declared he would face Master Hong alone, assuring his brother he would bring Qing'er back safely.
Yet, he secretly instructed Captain Yang to gather troops and set up an ambush near the courtyard, awaiting his command. Back at the courtyard, Qin Yiheng returned to discover Jiang Shuo had impulsively entered Ms. Yuan’s mind palace to treat her. He was also informed that Lady Shi San had gone to prepare medicine for Ms. Yuan, and Qin Yiheng asked for her to be brought back, as he had questions.
Unbeknownst to Qin Yiheng, Lady Shi San had already joined forces with Master Hong. She confirmed that Jiang Shuo was inside treating Muqing, and the rest of the residents were unconscious due to her sedatives. She urged Master Hong’s men to act swiftly, ordering them to tie up the other people in the courtyard. When the person Qin Yiheng sent to fetch her arrived, Lady Shi San cleverly pretended to be leaving through the back.
Shortly after, Master Hong’s men ambushed Qin Yiheng. Despite his valiant efforts to fight them off, Lady Shi San appeared, casually remarking that it was "just a tranquilizer," and ordered her men to tie him up, cautioning them to maintain silence to avoid attracting the police. Inside Yuan Muqing's mind palace, the environment had shifted dramatically, with family photos replacing the previous ones, creating a fabricated memory.
Jiang Shuo found himself "rescuing" Muqing, an illusion that culminated in her professing her love for him and proposing marriage. Despite his reservations about their vastly different backgrounds, Jiang Shuo was momentarily swept away by the dream-like scenario. The illusion shattered when he noticed the absence of the iron chains on "Muqing’s" ankles. He confronted her, realizing, "You're not Yuan Mu Qing. Who are you?"
The figure, revealed to be Yuan Yi, mockingly asked if Jiang Shuo truly believed he would allow his "sister" to marry a "coward" like him, admitting he was merely acting out a charade after Jiang Shuo had previously interfered with his plans. Yuan Yi asserted his dominance, declaring himself the master of this mind palace. Jiang Shuo, furious, accused Yuan Yi of being a lunatic, defending Muqing's genuine guilt and admiration for him, and demanded he return the real Muqing.
Yuan Yi chillingly responded that Muqing had lived long enough and it was his turn. He then unveiled his true motive: Yuan Zhen, Muqing's father, had brutally murdered his parents right before his eyes after his father refused to join the war and attempted to elope with his mother. Yuan Yi, still haunted by the trauma, declared his intent to assist Master Hong in destroying Yuan Zhen, asserting that Muqing's only "mistake" was being Yuan Zhen's cherished daughter.
Jiang Shuo desperately pressed him to reveal Muqing's whereabouts. Jiang Shuo relentlessly searched the mind palace until he finally found the real Yuan Muqing, who remained deeply lost in her grief and delusions. He vowed to rescue her, telling her this was his third time coming for her. He urged her to be strong, explaining that Yuan Yi was manipulating her and was not the brother she believed him to be.
Muqing, however, was consumed by a traumatic memory of Yuan Yi asking her to meet him at Meng Xiong Bridge at "a quarter to one," only for him to never appear, followed by a gunshot. She was convinced he was still with her, blaming her. Jiang Shuo tried to reason, saying it was her own self-blaming illusions, and her loving brother would not want to see her in such a state.
He promised that if she truly refused to leave, he would stay with her forever, telling her to trust him and reminding her it was almost "a quarter to one." Suddenly, Yuan Yi appeared and, in a horrifying act, forced a gun into Muqing's hand, attempting to make her shoot herself. Muqing cried out in terror, begging him to stop. Muqing collapsed in anguish, repeatedly calling for her brother.
Jiang Shuo desperately tried to convince her that this was an illusion and not the real Yuan Yi. Witnessing Muqing’s complete breakdown and seeing no other immediate solution, Jiang Shuo reluctantly exited the mind palace, vowing to find another way. Meanwhile, at the courtyard, General Yuan Zhen stood defiantly before Master Hong, who threatened to kill Ms. Yuan if he was provoked.
Master Hong, confident in his position, promised to release Ms. Yuan only if Yuan Zhen surrendered his own life. Yuan Zhen, unfazed, mocked Master Hong's perceived lack of intelligence, asserting that "your brain is more important than bullets" and "favors are more useful than violence." Master Hong scoffed, daring him to shoot. In a calculated move, Yuan Zhen then addressed Master Hong's subordinates, meticulously listing their home addresses and descriptions of their vulnerable family members.
He threatened that if they did not release his daughter, his "100-thousand strong army" would hunt them down to the "ends of the earth" for the rest of their lives. He offered to spare Master Hong's life if his daughter was released, declaring his word as absolute.
Master Hong accused Yuan Zhen of playing dirty, but his men, terrified by Yuan Zhen's precise and chilling threats, immediately turned on Lady Shi San and executed her, reporting her death to Yuan Zhen. Yuan Zhen then taunted Master Hong, asking if he now understood the meaning of "using your brain." As Yuan Zhen prepared to deliver a fatal shot to Master Hong, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng burst onto the scene, stopping him.
Jiang Shuo quickly explained to General Yuan that Master Hong was still necessary for Muqing’s treatment, urging him to trust his judgment, despite the lack of time for a full explanation. Before Master Hong could react, Jiang Shuo used copper coins to hypnotize him, and together with Qin Yiheng, entered Master Hong's mind palace. Inside Master Hong's mind palace, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng uncovered the full extent of the conspiracy.
Yuan Yi admitted to a critical error in their intelligence: the hostages taken at the photo studio were Yuan Zhen's son and daughter, not Yuan Zhen himself. Master Hong, however, saw this as an advantage, believing the children would serve as valuable leverage to trap Yuan Zhen. Soon after, his men reported that Muqing had been recaptured after an escape attempt, and crucially, that Yuan Zhen's forces had surrounded them.
Yuan Yi, acknowledging his intelligence flaw, revealed his original intent to have Muqing lure Yuan Zhen to the photo studio, but an army emergency had resulted in Chief Gao sending the children instead. Master Hong, confident with his hostages, believed Yuan Zhen would not act rashly. Yuan Yi disagreed, warning that Master Hong underestimated Yuan Zhen's ruthlessness and his determination to annihilate them, regardless of his children's safety.
Master Hong then outlined his brutal plan: lure Yuan Zhen using his daughter, then kill both father and daughter, after which Yuan Yi would announce Yuan Zhen's death to seize his army and territory. However, Yuan Yi, experiencing a change of heart, abruptly declared the plan canceled. He ordered Master Hong to retreat with his men, explaining that despite his desire for revenge, he considered Qing'er his innocent sister and did not wish for her to suffer.
Master Hong was enraged, accusing Yuan Yi of being "crazy" for abandoning years of planning for "just a girl." Despite Yuan Yi's pleas, Master Hong refused to back down. With Muqing secured, Master Hong used both her and Yuan Yi as human shields, threatening Yuan Zhen that he would execute his son and daughter if his troops did not retreat. He began a chilling countdown, punctuated by gunshots.
Amidst the escalating tension, General Yuan received a report that Chief Gao had identified a sniping position. General Yuan calmly ordered Chief Gao to fire first if an opportunity arose. As Master Hong continued his deadly countdown, Yuan Yi desperately tried to reassure Muqing.
