Psych-Hunter Episode 7 Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
Police Chief Bai Kai sought Qin Yiheng's assistance with the unsolved murder of Mr Jack, which had yielded no clues from the initial autopsy. Qin Yiheng, with Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing, shared their findings. He noted that Jiang Shuo's graveyard had been disturbed, and Jack had visited it. County records, researched by Yuan Muqing and Jiang Shuo, indicated that Qiu Jing Xuan and Jack had once participated in the same competition.
Qiu Jing Xuan's failure to win had brought shame upon the imperial court, leading to the massacre of his entire family. Qin Yiheng concluded that all these events revolved around clocks, and he suspected that Liu Zhi was orchestrating another one of his "games," as the blueprints from Liu Zhi were still in Jiang Shuo's possession. Qin Yiheng decided to accompany Bai Kai to examine the body, while Yuan Muqing and Jiang Shuo were tasked with investigating the film.
Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing took the film to a photo shop. The owner recognized the photograph, explaining it was taken twenty years ago when former dynasty officials visited Qiu Mansion with foreign guests. He identified the central figure as Qiu Jing Xuan, the royal watchmaker appointed by the court to represent the Qing dynasty in the International Horology Competition. Qiu Jing Xuan's family was tragically executed after he failed to win.
The owner also pointed out Qiu Jing Xuan's closed-door disciple, "Xiao Wu Zi," who vanished after the Qiu family's downfall. Yuan Muqing recalled knowing a watchmaker named Mr Wu with the same surname and suggested they visit his shop. Upon arriving at Wu's Shop, they found a "shop for sale" sign and Mr Wu absent. Only his son, Wu Liang, was there.
Wu Liang informed them that his father had left a few days prior to handle some private matters and had not yet returned. Jiang Shuo showed Wu Liang the photograph, asking if he recognized anyone. Wu Liang only identified his father and claimed not to know anyone else in the picture. Disappointed, Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing had their watch repaired and left, asking Wu Liang to have his father contact them when he returned.
Back at the morgue, Qin Yiheng confirmed Jack's actual cause of death: his throat had been crushed, causing suffocation. He noted that such an injury would require immense force but leave no visible external marks. Jiang Shuo immediately connected this to Wu Liang's powerful grip, which he had observed during their previous visit to the shop. Convinced Wu Liang was involved, the group returned to Wu's Shop. Wu Liang, seated calmly, revealed a large, intricate clock when asked about Jack.
Observing Wu Liang's strange demeanor, Qin Yiheng suggested he was problematic. Jiang Shuo promptly hypnotized Wu Liang. Within Wu Liang's Psych, they saw visions of Jack harassing Mr Wu, leading to Jack's death, and a plan involving Mr Wu and his son. They also discovered Mr Wu's hiding place in a secluded cave. They rushed to the cave, where they found Mr Wu.
He confessed to killing Jack, explaining that Jack was responsible for his master's (Qiu Jing Xuan's) death and the eradication of his entire family. Bai Kai inspected Mr Wu's arm and confirmed the presence of scratches, which matched his earlier observations. Mr Wu was then taken into custody. At the police station, Jiang Shuo questioned Mr Wu about what Jack had been seeking.
Mr Wu revealed that his master, Qiu Jing Xuan, had met an erudite man named Liu Zhi, who helped him create the "Clock of Eternity"—Qiu Jing Xuan's priceless legacy, which Jack desperately wanted. Mr Wu further disclosed that Liu Zhi was characterized by having six fingers. Later, at the county archives, Jiang Shuo pondered Liu Zhi's motives, especially why he would help Qiu Jing Xuan, the most skilled watchmaker of his time, create an extraordinary clock that Jack coveted.
Yuan Muqing joined him, expressing her strong belief that Mr Wu, despite his confession, was not a bad person and that there was more to the story. She highlighted that Jack was a Westerner, which complicated matters, and speculated that perhaps Liu Zhi intended for them to find the Clock of Eternity. They decided to attend the International Horology Competition. At the competition, Wu Liang presented his "Clock of Eternity."
The moment he opened it, everyone present fell into a trance; even Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng, initially resistant, were eventually caught in its hypnotic spell. Jiang Shuo found himself in a graveyard, where he saw Liu Zhi. Realizing he was under hypnosis, he used his knowledge to break free by pressing specific acupuncture points. Qin Yiheng, however, was also hypnotized and saw his father, who told him he had thought things through and urged him to pursue his ideals.
As his father walked away, Qin Yiheng, desperate not to lose him, chased after the apparition, inadvertently choking Yuan Muqing next to him. Yuan Muqing woke up from the hypnosis due to the strangulation, and Jiang Shuo, now fully conscious, intervened to stop Qin Yiheng. As Wu Liang closed the Clock of Eternity, the rest of the spectators gradually regained consciousness. Wu Liang was declared the winner, impressing everyone.
However, the unusual power of the clock sparked suspicion in Jiang Shuo, Qin Yiheng, and Yuan Muqing. Qin Yiheng theorized that if the clock could so quickly hypnotize everyone, the Psych they had seen in Wu Liang's mind earlier might have been fabricated. Jiang Shuo admitted he must have been a step behind, leading them to see a false narrative.
Yuan Muqing, still doubting Mr Wu's guilt given his age and her inability to crush a throat with similar force to Qin Yiheng's in her hypnotic state, volunteered to keep an eye on Wu Liang. Jiang Shuo was hesitant but could not stop her. Yuan Muqing subsequently tracked Wu Liang to the British Consulate but was unable to enter, so she waited outside.
While Yuan Muqing followed Wu Liang, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng went to the police station to confront Mr Wu. Taking him by surprise, Jiang Shuo hypnotized him. Inside Mr Wu's Psych, they noticed that the clock was stationary, indicating Mr Wu's resistance to their intrusion. To access his memories, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng adjusted the clock to the three significant time points they had observed in Wu Liang's Psych.
They then uncovered the true events: Wu Liang had overheard Jack threatening Mr Wu, specifically about the Clock of Eternity. Wu Liang then confronted Jack, who revealed that Mr Wu had taken money to tamper with the Clock of Eternity, causing Qiu Jing Xuan to lose the competition and his entire family to be massacred. It was then revealed that Wu Liang was actually Qiu Jing Xuan's son, not Mr Wu's. Filled with rage, Wu Liang killed Jack.
Overcome with guilt for his past actions and to protect Wu Liang, Mr Wu decided to confess to Jack's murder, taking the blame for his "son." After exiting Mr Wu's Psych, Mr Wu confirmed their discoveries. He explained that his betrayal of Qiu Jing Xuan was fueled by resentment that his master hadn't taught him the secrets of the Clock of Eternity, combined with a bribe from Jack, who promised to procure Western medicine for Mr Wu's gravely ill son.
His tampering made the clock irreparable. However, shortly before the International Horology Competition, the Clock of Eternity mysteriously restored itself, bearing a six-fingered mark. It was then that he received the notice for the competition. At that moment, Xiao Quan arrived, relaying Yuan Muqing's message: Wu Liang had gone to the British Consulate.
Recalling Wu Liang's vow to avenge those who harmed his family, Jiang Shuo quickly realized that Wu Liang was heading there to kill Ambassador Robin, Jack's nephew, who was also involved in the conspiracy against Qiu Jing Xuan. They immediately rushed to stop him.
