Psych-Hunter Episode 12 Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
General Yuan's Chief Gao secured a sniper point, ready to fire. Yuan Yi instructed Yuan Muqing to run forward without looking back and to meet him at Meng Xiong Bridge at ""Wu Shi San Ke"", assuring her he would be fine. Yuan Yi then confronted Master Hong, pleading with him to spare the innocent Yuan Muqing.
Master Hong, however, was distraught, lamenting Yuan Yi's betrayal and the loss of his thirty comrades, accusing him of abandoning them by letting Yuan Muqing escape. Overwhelmed by guilt for disappointing his friends and family, Yuan Yi chose to take his own life as his only form of respite. Knowing this truth, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng returned to Yuan Muqing's mind palace to reveal the reality of her brother's death and help her confront it.
After Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng left, Master Hong attempted to ambush General Yuan, but was quickly subdued by alert soldiers, and General Yuan killed Master Hong without hesitation. Later, in Yuan Muqing's mind palace, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng guided a grieving Yuan Muqing to understand the true reasons behind her brother's death.
A vision of Yuan Yi appeared, reiterating his deep regret for having lied to her and betrayed Master Hong, which led to the tragic loss of so many lives. He apologized for not meeting her at Meng Xiong Bridge at Wu Shi San Ke and explained that his death was a deliberate choice, a release from a life burdened by regret. He urged her to take care of herself.
Although Yuan Muqing was deeply saddened, she finally understood and tearfully expressed her forgiveness, choosing to find peace and no longer suppressing her grief. After waking, a still somber Yuan Muqing requested to visit Yuan Yi's grave with General Yuan. At the graveside, she reiterated her forgiveness and understanding of his decisions, reaffirming her everlasting love for her brother.
General Yuan also spoke to Yuan Yi's grave, confessing that Yuan Yi's biological father, Lin Guang, a loyal comrade, had broken military rules before a major battle, leaving General Yuan no choice but to execute him. He admitted this had been a deep-seated pain for years and, despite Yuan Yi's resentment, he would always consider Yuan Yi his own son. Later, while walking, Jiang Shuo thanked Qin Yiheng for helping to save Yuan Muqing.
Jiang Shuo then asked if Qin Yiheng trusted him. When Qin Yiheng affirmed his trust, Jiang Shuo cryptically stated, "Because I am Liu Zhi." Qin Yiheng observed that Liu Zhi had begun targeting those around them and reiterated his trust in Jiang Shuo, but pointed out Jiang Shuo's secret habit: a subtle "celebration ritual" after successfully lying or executing a trick.
Qin Yiheng then asked Jiang Shuo if he had felt anything when he kissed Yuan Muqing (a reference to an earlier incident where Jiang Shuo used a kiss to break her from a trance). Jiang Shuo quickly dismissed it as merely an act to save her, but Qin Yiheng highlighted that this denial was precisely his "celebration ritual," leaving Jiang Shuo speechless.
Qin Yiheng, later seen studying a book titled "Ten Techniques of Hypnosis," reflected on their ongoing predicament, realizing that what he thought was an offensive strategy was just another one of Liu Zhi's traps. Frustrated with constantly being the "prey," he resolved to become the "hunter." Qin Yiheng, while reading in a bookshop, noticed he was being followed.
He confronted the man, who admitted he was from a news agency and was instructed by his director to monitor Qin Yiheng's movements. Qin Yiheng then sought out the news agency director. The director, while denying any personal connection to Liu Zhi, confessed to tracking Qin Yiheng to gather intelligence and exclusive stories.
He showed Qin Yiheng newspaper clippings detailing Liu Zhi's activities and the nature of his hypnosis, including headlines like "Liu Zhi, unable to tell evil from good," "Hypnosis, punishing evil or doing evil?" , and mentions of "The lone successor seeking descendants." He also handed Qin Yiheng a mysterious invitation to a banquet on October 14th, addressed to Qin Yiheng, and warned him to be careful.
Qin Yiheng took the invitation, remarking that if he couldn't understand banquets, his partner certainly would. Meanwhile, Yuan Muqing expressed her strong dislike for an upcoming charity banquet to her maid, Xiao Yu. She viewed the wealthy attendees as hypocrites who exploited farmers then staged superficial acts of charity. She was particularly annoyed that General Yuan was trying to introduce her to eligible young men.
She later confided in Xiao Yu, asking how to convey her romantic feelings to someone who didn't understand, to which Xiao Yu advised persistent confession. At the banquet, General Yuan introduced Yuan Muqing to Mr. Feng, praising him as a benevolent and successful businessman. During a performance by Miss Yan Hong, she openly approached Mr. Feng, their evident closeness causing an awkward stir.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Muqing excused herself, claiming an urgent movie appointment with a friend, and quickly left the banquet. She arrived at the Shan Zhou Movie Theatre, fuming that Jiang Shuo was late for their 2:50 PM "Heart of a Beauty" movie. After waiting fruitlessly, an enraged Yuan Muqing tore up the tickets, vowing to confront Jiang Shuo at the courtyard.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Yuan Muqing found its residents joyfully playing with various props she had gifted them, expressing their gratitude as they discussed forming a performing troupe. They talked about popular plays, including one initially referred to as "Stove Man," then corrected to "Reed Man," describing the story of Wu Zi Xu's journey and how his distrust led him to kill a kind fisherman. However, none of them knew Jiang Shuo's whereabouts, nor did Qin Yiheng.
Yuan Muqing, frustrated and concerned that Jiang Shuo had stood her up, spoke to Qin Yiheng. Qin Yiheng, looking worried, reminded her that "the day after tomorrow is October 15th," referring to it as "Jiang Shuo's death day," implying a significant and imminent danger for Jiang Shuo. Panicked, Yuan Muqing rushed to the police station to report Jiang Shuo missing. Sergeant Bai, however, was dismissive, finding it hard to believe a grown man like Jiang Shuo could be truly lost.
He was preoccupied with tracking the escaped criminal Ren Qiang, the disappearance of Mr. Zhu, and more importantly, the high-profile case of Mr. Feng Mou Xuan, a prominent businessman whose family had just reported him missing. Unable to persuade the police to act, a determined Yuan Muqing stomped her foot and decided to search for Jiang Shuo herself. After an extensive but unsuccessful search, Yuan Muqing returned to the courtyard as evening fell, where Qin Yiheng was waiting.
Sensing he knew something, Qin Yiheng led her directly to the news agency. Inside, they discovered a gruesome scene: the news agency director's body was hanging, with a note on his head reading, "Punishment is given to those who disobey the rules." Jiang Shuo was also present, disoriented, explaining that he had fainted and woke up there. Qin Yiheng immediately suspected this was another elaborate trap set by Liu Zhi.
Following a strange formation on the floor, Jiang Shuo located and retrieved an envelope, which also bore the same ominous message. Upon opening it, a burst of smoke enveloped them, rendering all three unconscious. They awoke to find themselves on a small boat, adrift on a vast, empty lake shrouded in thick fog. Yuan Muqing was unnerved by a strange object beneath the water. Jiang Shuo discovered his essential tools—copper coins and incense—were missing, realizing their captors "came prepared."
Qin Yiheng, acknowledging Liu Zhi's meticulous planning, deduced that this was merely the beginning of another scheme and urged them to find a way to shore. However, the boat lacked oars or a rudder, and the dense fog obscured all directions. Jiang Shuo then noticed the boat was moving steadily in a predetermined direction, concluding that Liu Zhi was guiding them to a specific destination. An island, resembling a skull, emerged from the mist in the distance. At the sight of it, Jiang Shuo seemed momentarily disoriented, as if recalling a large steamboat with Liu Zhi standing at its bow.
