Psych-Hunter Episode 3 Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
Jiang Shuo, having obtained clues about three mansions from the butler, encountered Qin Yiheng immediately after stepping out. Without resistance, Jiang Shuo handed over the evidence, noting that he had already figured out the murderer's identity. He firmly told Qin Yiheng that they should go their separate ways and never see each other again. Back at the police station, Qin Yiheng presented the new evidence and the butler's statement.
They deduced that the Wang family's butler, Chang Shou, had sold three mansions on Wang Qian's orders, all purchased by a man named Mr. Six Fingers. Mr. Six Fingers then hired Jiang Shuo, a property agent, to sell these properties to Zhang Meng, Liu Xin, and Xiang. These three, who had previously served as bodyguards at the Wang mansion, along with Wang Qian, later died in the mansions they had just acquired.
The primary suspects were now Mr. Six Fingers and Zhang De Li, the Wang family's carpenter. Zhang De Li's daughter, Zhang Lan, had drowned in the Wang family's lake after being raped by Zhang Meng, Liu Xin, and Xiang. Zhang De Li had repeatedly reported these crimes, but the lack of evidence prevented any arrests. Since Zhang De Li had renovated these three mansions, he possessed intimate knowledge of the crime scenes and had a strong motive for revenge.
The police decided to apprehend Zhang De Li. When the police arrived at Zhang De Li's house, he fled. Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing gave chase and brought him back. Jiang Shuo noticed a mirror by Zhang De Li's door, realizing that its reflection could disorient a person's mind under certain conditions. Qin Yiheng, examining a fengshui paper and Zhang De Li's medicine, concluded that Zhang De Li's confused state was not due to fengshui but deliberately induced by someone.
A physician confirmed hallucinogens in Zhang De Li's medication, indicating the murderer had incapacitated him to prevent him from speaking and to shift suspicion onto him. Later, Yuan Muqing visited Jiang Shuo at his courtyard, bringing profiteroles to thank him for saving her the previous day. As they discussed the case, Jiang Shuo realized the murders were spatially organized, forming a pattern.
He identified the locations of Liu Xin's, Xiang's, Zhang Meng's, Wang Qian's, and Zhang De Li's houses, along with the place where his own memorial tablet had been located. He deduced that the killer was setting up a "pentagram formation" and was using Zhang De Li's actions as a disguise for a larger scheme. With four people already dead in the formation, Jiang Shuo quickly realized that Zhang De Li was the next target.
They rushed to the hospital just in time to see a black-clad figure attempting to kill Zhang De Li. The figure fled, but Jiang Shuo advised Yuan Muqing not to pursue, predicting the murderer would return for Zhang De Li. To obtain information from Zhang De Li, Jiang Shuo proposed using his mind-reading ability, asking Qin Yiheng to join him in Zhang De Li's "Psych" while Yuan Muqing stood guard.
He instructed Yuan Muqing to wake them by striking copper coins before the dragon incense burned out. Using the dragon incense and a red string, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng entered Zhang De Li's mind. They found themselves in a maze-like version of the Wang Mansion, which Qin Yiheng explained was Zhang De Li's "Psych," a projection of his inner world and his psychological defense mechanism.
They heard a voice calling for help and recognized it as Zhang Lan, Zhang De Li's daughter. After an unsuccessful chase, they realized Zhang De Li was wary of them. Jiang Shuo suggested finding the lake where Zhang Lan died, a significant emotional knot for Zhang De Li. Using a special fengshui compass, they located the "water exit" and arrived at the lake, where Zhang De Li's defenses weakened. There, they witnessed Zhang Lan's tragic death.
Zhang De Li, unable to save her, was approached by a mysterious black-clad figure who offered him a drink to "forget all pain," unknowingly feeding him hallucinogens. This incident revealed how Zhang De Li became the killer's unwitting accomplice and why he was unconscious. Jiang Shuo realized the figure was the mastermind. As they proceeded through Zhang De Li's mind, they saw representations of the victims' houses, including Liu Xin's mansion and scenes related to Madam Wang's curse.
They encountered a burning room that Jiang Shuo recognized from a previous incident involving himself, indicating Zhang De Li had also been there. They then saw memorial tablets for Zhang Meng, Xiang, Liu Xin, Wang Qian, and Zhang De Li. Jiang Shuo realized the murderer was using these five to create a formation, initially thinking one was missing, then remembering his own tablet and realizing he was the sixth intended victim.
As they approached the final door, Zhang De Li, manipulated by the black-clad figure, attacked them with an axe. Qin Yiheng, understanding Zhang De Li was being controlled, used Zhang Lan's magazine article "My Father's Love" to appeal to Zhang De Li's paternal love and awaken his true consciousness. Reading excerpts about Zhang Lan's appreciation for her father's hard work and love, Zhang De Li dropped the axe, breaking free from the black-clad figure's control.
He declared that his vengeance was complete and he wished to join his daughter forever, accepting his own death within his "Psych." His consciousness began to collapse. Outside Zhang De Li's mind, the black-clad figure, realizing control over Zhang De Li was lost, turned towards Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng's sleeping bodies. Yuan Muqing, though affected by a "bewitching" spell, mustered her remaining strength.
As the figure approached, she lunged, tackling him and managing to transmit a crucial message to Jiang Shuo. Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng instantly woke up. During the struggle that followed, the culprit's face was revealed. The perpetrator jumped out the window, escaping. Jiang Shuo immediately pursued. Police officers rushed into the room to find Yuan Muqing unconscious.
Qin Yiheng, grabbing a gun from an officer named Xiao Hei and instructing him to care for Yuan Muqing, joined Jiang Shuo in the chase, shouting "Wang Qian, come out!" as he pursued the culprit.
