Psych-Hunter Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
Jiang Shuo, a real estate agent, sought Dr. Qin Yiheng's help after being plagued by nightmares and harassment from a mysterious individual named Liu Zhi. Jiang Shuo recounted how the police couldn't find Liu Zhi and advised him to visit a hospital. He showed Dr. Qin the threatening text messages Liu Zhi had sent, but to Dr. Qin, the phone screen appeared blank. Dr. Qin explained that he would use a machine to enter Jiang Shuo's subconscious mind for treatment.
Before the session, Dr. Qin took two photos which he designated as Jiang Shuo's "anchor." He warned Jiang Shuo that if the anchor were destroyed, he might not wake up in the real world, potentially falling into a vegetative state or having his body taken over by another personality.
He assured Jiang Shuo that the experiment prioritized his safety and that he himself would only fall into a deeper level of the subconscious if he "died" there, from which Jiang Shuo could theoretically wake him. Upon entering his subconscious, Jiang Shuo found himself in a vivid Republic-era world, much to Dr. Qin's surprise. Dr. Qin revealed that personalities couldn't be killed, only contained, and offered Jiang Shuo a secret code to protect his anchor from his alternate personality.
Frightened by the risks, Jiang Shuo initially wanted to quit, but Dr. Qin insisted on continuing, explaining that stopping would only worsen his condition and that his principle was "never to give up." During the treatment, Jiang Shuo's second personality, Liu Zhi, ambushed Dr. Qin, causing him to "die" within the subconscious and fall into a deeper layer. Back in the real world, Dr. Qin remained unconscious.
Feeling responsible, Jiang Shuo pleaded with Yuan Muqing to allow him to re-enter his subconscious to save Dr. Qin, despite her warnings that entering the un-researched second layer could lead to him becoming lost and forgetting himself entirely. Jiang Shuo was resolute, believing he shouldn't abandon Dr. Qin who had risked his life to save him. Once inside the second layer, Jiang Shuo found himself being cared for by Master Bu Yan.
Soon after, Dr. Qin Yiheng appeared, now having regained his memories. He helped Jiang Shuo realize that everything around them, including their friends Yuan Muqing, Master Bu Yan, and others from the courtyard, were merely projections within his subconscious. Liu Zhi appeared, attempting to manipulate Jiang Shuo by threatening the lives of these projected loved ones, urging him to destroy his anchor to save them.
Dr. Qin reminded Jiang Shuo that destroying the anchor would mean he might never wake up, and his body would be taken over by Liu Zhi. Dr. Qin and Jiang Shuo then moved to a prison within Jiang Shuo's subconscious, which Dr. Qin identified as the place where Liu Zhi had originally tried to trap Jiang Shuo by forcing a confession of guilt.
Dr. Qin explained that a confession would have led to Jiang Shuo accepting eternal imprisonment in his subconscious and never waking up. Jiang Shuo, now fully aware of Liu Zhi's intentions, resolved to trap Liu Zhi in his own self-created prison. Suddenly, Qin Yi, Dr. Qin's father (a manifestation within the subconscious), emerged, brandishing a gun. Unaware of the true nature of their reality, Qin Yi shot Liu Zhi, demanding to know the location of the Treasures of Yin River.
Dr. Qin rushed to intervene, frantically explaining to his father that Liu Zhi was Jiang Shuo's other personality, and killing him would result in Jiang Shuo's death and the collapse of their entire subconscious world, including Qin Yi himself. Just as Dr. Qin was explaining, Liu Zhi detonated a bomb, threatening to blow up the prison cells next if Jiang Shuo didn't destroy his anchor.
Jiang Shuo desperately requested the anchor from Dr. Qin, who refused, urging him to be rational and not give up on himself. Liu Zhi then aimed his gun at Dr. Qin, but Qin Yi bravely stepped in front of him, taking the shot and dying. With his last breaths, Qin Yi expressed his deep love for his sons, regretting how he had involved them and caused the death of Dr. Qin's brother (in the subconscious narrative).
He warned Dr. Qin not to trust Liu Zhi, who was a master of mind-reading. As Liu Zhi prepared to attack Dr. Qin again, Jiang Shuo grabbed a nearby dagger, threatening to end his own life if Liu Zhi didn't release Dr. Qin and the compound residents. Liu Zhi agreed, revealing that the prison cell key was in the archive room. Dr. Qin rushed off to retrieve it and rescue everyone, promising to return for Jiang Shuo.
Yuan Muqing, though rescued, ensured everyone got on the lifeboat and asked Dr. Qin to tell Jiang Shuo that he still owed her a date and to return safely. Alone with Liu Zhi, Jiang Shuo demanded to know why Liu Zhi was so determined to replace him. Liu Zhi explained that he believed human nature was inherently evil, and Jiang Shuo's compassion made him unworthy of the body.
He declared his intention to become a "scavenger," eradicating the "waste of society" and propagating his form of goodness. Realizing he couldn't change Liu Zhi's dark ambitions and prevent him from harming others in the real world, Jiang Shuo, having already destroyed his anchor, chose to stab himself with the dagger, ensuring his own demise within the subconscious to prevent Liu Zhi from taking full control. Dr. Qin returned to find Jiang Shuo dying.
With a snap of his fingers, he transported Jiang Shuo into a deeper, third layer of his subconscious and exited himself. Jiang Shuo woke up in a room, confused about his whereabouts. Master Bu Yan cheerfully informed him that he was about to marry Yuan Muqing. Jiang Shuo, seeing a wedding invitation and then discovering Dr. Qin's analytical drawings and a ring in his own room, suddenly remembered Dr. Qin Yiheng.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhi, still within Jiang Shuo's mind, vowed to keep Jiang Shuo trapped there forever. In the real world, Dr. Qin Yiheng regained consciousness. He informed Yuan Muqing that he had adjusted the machine's power, and Jiang Shuo would soon wake up. However, he admitted that there was a 50/50 chance whether Jiang Shuo's original personality or Liu Zhi would be the one to emerge. At that moment, Jiang Shuo's eyes opened.
