Psych-Hunter Episode 9 Recap
> Psych-Hunter Recap
Jiang Shuo, seizing a commercial opportunity, set up a registration table outside Qin Yiheng's door. He offered various appointment options: five copper coins for a regular slot, ten for jumping the queue, one silver dollar for unlimited appointments over three days, and two silver dollars for a week. Additionally, anyone registering for three weeks or more would receive a free portrait of Dr. Qin. Women, desperate to see Qin Yiheng, rushed to sign up.
When Yuan Muqing arrived with Zhao Meng, she demanded to see Qin Yiheng directly, but Jiang Shuo insisted she register. Seeing through his scheme, Yuan Muqing threatened to expose his "little trick" if he didn't allow her in. Jiang Shuo attempted to pacify the other ladies, claiming Qin Yiheng's time was fully booked by "this young lady" and offering them free portraits.
Their protests continued until Yuan Muqing announced her name, and the crowd recognized her as the general's daughter, silencing their complaints. Jiang Shuo then apologized to the women, promising to convey their requests. Qin Yiheng examined Zhao Meng, confirming her mental distress was genuine. He asked Yuan Muqing to explain the dynamic between Zhao Meng, Li Jing, and Liu Fang Hui to better understand the case.
Yuan Muqing explained that Li Jing was the most talented painter in their class but came from a poor family. Liu Fang Hui, envious of Li Jing and leveraging her family's power, frequently bullied her. Zhao Meng, feeling compassion for Li Jing, became her friend and protector, even funding a luxurious dorm room for them to share. As a token of her gratitude, Li Jing gifted Zhao Meng a black cat.
However, after Li Jing's disappearance, this cat began appearing nightly, speaking in human language and demanding revenge for Li Jing, further exacerbating Zhao Meng's mental state. Qin Yiheng noted that a black cat symbol appeared on Liu Zhi's map, leading him to suspect this talking cat was part of Liu Zhi's latest scheme.
Jiang Shuo decided to enter Zhao Meng's psych-realm, and despite Jiang Shuo's concerns, Qin Yiheng approved Yuan Muqing's participation, acknowledging her familiarity with the school would be an asset. Before they entered, Jiang Shuo cautioned Yuan Muqing about the dangers of the psych-realm, noting he had adjusted the dragon incense's dosage due to Zhao Meng's emotional instability. He instructed her to stay close and assured her they would awaken once the designated time elapsed.
Inside, they found themselves perceiving the world through the black cat's eyes. Yuan Muqing identified their location as Zhao Meng and Li Jing's dorm room. They witnessed Zhao Meng's memory of Li Jing falling down the stairs, followed by Liu Fang Hui dragging her away, with a terrified and disoriented Zhao Meng unable to intervene. Yuan Muqing realized the accuracy of Zhao Meng's earlier accounts.
She then questioned Jiang Shuo on how to exit, and he explained that only Zhao Meng could release them, urging Yuan Muqing to appeal to her. However, Zhao Meng remained unresponsive. Trapped within the psych-realm, they found themselves back in the dorm, where the black cat continued to torment Zhao Meng, pushing her to the brink.
It was only when Qin Yiheng, from outside, called out Zhao Meng's name that they were jolted awake, escaping the psych-realm as Zhao Meng recounted another unsettling dream of the black cat. Zhao Meng, though still fragile, insisted on returning to the school to confront Liu Fang Hui and investigate the black cat.
Despite Qin Yiheng's lingering doubts about the absolute reality of what they witnessed, he and Jiang Shuo agreed to accompany her, also keen to explore the black cat's potential link to Liu Zhi. At the school gate, a stern gatekeeper informed them that men were prohibited from entering. Yuan Muqing suggested that she and Zhao Meng go ahead while the two men found another way.
Qin Yiheng, leveraging his handsome appearance and claiming to be searching for his sister, successfully gained entry. Jiang Shuo attempted the same strategy, but his lie about Yuan Muqing being his sister was quickly exposed by the gatekeeper, who, recognizing Yuan Muqing's prominent family status, denounced him as a "pervert" and had him expelled. Undeterred, Jiang Shuo later snuck into the school disguised in women's clothing.
Meanwhile, Qin Yiheng went directly to the art room to question Liu Fang Hui about Li Jing. Liu Fang Hui denied any significant interaction with Li Jing, claiming she was at a birthday celebration the night Li Jing disappeared. However, Qin Yiheng, observing her evasive gaze, nervous swallowing, pursed lips, and restless feet, discerned she was lying. He pressed her, asserting his family would find Li Jing, dead or alive.
Liu Fang Hui, recognizing Qin Yiheng not as Li Jing's brother but as a scion of the Qin family, her family's primary business rival, accused him of seeking revenge for her family's takeover of the Qin family's dock business, and stormed off. Jiang Shuo, now in his disguise, made his way to Li Jing and Zhao Meng's dorm. Yuan Muqing and Qin Yiheng soon joined him, teasing him about his feminine attire.
Jiang Shuo brushed off their comments, asking about their findings. Yuan Muqing reported that their search around the stairs and school buildings yielded no physical evidence of Li Jing's body. Jiang Shuo, in turn, revealed he found black cat hair in the dorm, suggesting the cat was still hiding nearby. Qin Yiheng recounted his fruitless encounter with Liu Fang Hui, who steadfastly denied everything. Jiang Shuo, convinced he needed to handle her, then approached Liu Fang Hui.
When Liu Fang Hui spotted Yuan Muqing with Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng, she accused Yuan Muqing of also doubting her and vehemently reiterated her innocence. Yuan Muqing tried to reassure her, stating they only wanted the truth and would help prove her innocence if she was blameless. However, Liu Fang Hui, in a desperate attempt to escape, screamed "gangster" and pointed at Jiang Shuo, causing a commotion. Yuan Muqing intervened to defend Jiang Shuo.
Realizing that the chaotic, crowded environment made using mind-reading impossible, Jiang Shuo decided not to pursue Liu Fang Hui. Qin Yiheng, however, quickly devised a plan. An accomplice, acting on Qin Yiheng's instructions, approached Liu Fang Hui and urgently informed her that her brother was in trouble, urging her to return home. Startled, Liu Fang Hui immediately hailed a rickshaw to the Liu Mansion.
As she attempted to leave, Jiang Shuo intercepted her, identified himself as a police officer, and requested her cooperation. Yuan Muqing confirmed that the phone call was a ruse to get Liu Fang Hui out of the school. With Liu Fang Hui subdued, Jiang Shuo hypnotized her.
He and Yuan Muqing then entered Liu Fang Hui's psych-realm, finding themselves immersed in a vibrant landscape of flowers—a setting Yuan Muqing recognized as Zhao Meng's award-winning oil painting, the very artwork that secured Zhao Meng the sole international study opportunity. Within Liu Fang Hui's psych-realm, Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing observed a past event unfold. Liu Fang Hui confronted Li Jing, accusing her of having painted Zhao Meng's artwork, which had won Zhao Meng the coveted study abroad spot.
Liu Fang Hui threatened to report Li Jing to the inspector, but Li Jing desperately pleaded with her, explaining that Zhao Meng provided her with living expenses and accommodation, a lifeline her impoverished family couldn't offer. She feared immediate expulsion if the truth was revealed. However, Liu Fang Hui, facing immense pressure from her own family for failing to secure the scholarship, was unyielding and forcefully dragged Li Jing. During the struggle, Li Jing tumbled down a flight of stairs.
Liu Fang Hui, calling Li Jing's name, rushed off to fetch medical supplies, but upon her return, Li Jing had vanished. In a panic, Liu Fang Hui destroyed the painting and fled the scene. Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing, having witnessed that Liu Fang Hui was genuinely unaware of Li Jing's whereabouts, then exited her psych-realm. Waking up, Liu Fang Hui angrily demanded to know what they had done to her.
She vehemently denied killing Li Jing, admitted to her past jealousy and bullying, but insisted she knew nothing of Li Jing's current location, expressing her daily torment over the incident. Qin Yiheng concluded that if both Zhao Meng and Liu Fang Hui were telling the truth, then finding Li Jing was the only way to uncover the complete truth.
Meanwhile, at a school award ceremony, Liu Fang Hui was officially announced as the school's sole public-funded international student, receiving congratulations from her peers. However, a mentally unstable Zhao Meng was still plagued by the black cat, pleading with it to spare her, believing that Liu Fang Hui's success was its doing. Later, while accepting congratulations from classmates, Liu Fang Hui appeared troubled.
She then spotted Li Jing's figure on the road and pursued her, only to be ambushed by Zhao Meng. Appearing possessed, Zhao Meng trapped Liu Fang Hui and repeatedly accused her of murder, claiming she had to kill Liu Fang Hui for Li Jing to be at peace. As Liu Fang Hui desperately denied the accusations, Li Jing suddenly appeared, picking up a knife from the ground and asserting that Liu Fang Hui was indeed the cause of her suffering.
Liu Fang Hui, seemingly distraught, cried out that she had finally "caught" Li Jing. Just as Li Jing prepared to strike, Jiang Shuo and Qin Yiheng intervened, preventing Li Jing from attacking Liu Fang Hui. Jiang Shuo then revealed the true events to Li Jing: Liu Fang Hui had not intended to kill her that day, but rather took her to the supply room to help her.
He further exposed that Liu Fang Hui had been searching for Li Jing after her disappearance and had even left a substantial sum of money with Li Jing's grandmother, which the old woman had never spent. Jiang Shuo admitted that they had spread the rumor of Liu Fang Hui going abroad specifically to lure Li Jing out, as they knew she was still alive.
A remorseful Liu Fang Hui then tearfully apologized to Li Jing, expressing her envy but denying any murderous intent. She explained her personal struggles as the only daughter in a family that favored her brother, describing the immense pressure she faced to gain their approval, which was why losing the study abroad opportunity had been so devastating. She offered to take full responsibility for what had happened, even suggesting that Li Jing could stab her to settle their score.
Li Jing, instead of stabbing her, slapped Liu Fang Hui, declaring them "even now," finally releasing her deep-seated resentment. Zhao Meng then confronted Li Jing, questioning why she had been used despite her kindness. Li Jing countered, accusing Zhao Meng of manipulating her with money and pity to paint the award-winning artwork, not out of genuine friendship, but purely to secure the international study opportunity for herself by surpassing Liu Fang Hui.
She asserted that her artistic skill was a result of hard work, a path that would never lead her to study abroad without such coercion. Jiang Shuo then intervened, urging everyone to put their past grudges aside. Afterward, Jiang Shuo questioned Li Jing about how she controlled the black cat and the fake blood on Zhao Meng's face.
Li Jing confessed that the "blood" was a concoction of potion and paint, which she used to frame Zhao Meng as a scapegoat in her initial plan for revenge against Liu Fang Hui, before she had learned the full truth. Regarding the black cat, Li Jing recounted how she had fled the school after believing Liu Fang Hui intended to kill her. On her escape, she encountered a mysterious man with six fingers by the river.
This man offered to help her achieve revenge, and the black cat, which he somehow already possessed, became her instrument. Li Jing could only recall his six fingers and a silhouette, despite later attempts to find him. Qin Yiheng, observing the cat's unusually linear pupils, theorized it was under mind control.
Both he and Jiang Shuo suspected that Liu Zhi, the six-fingered man, possessed mind-reading abilities and had directly influenced Zhao Meng to hear the cat speak—a talent Jiang Shuo had previously believed only he possessed. Later that night, Jiang Shuo and Yuan Muqing were strolling through the city when they came across a lively sacrificial event. Yuan Muqing, captivated by the festivities, eagerly rushed into the joyous crowd.
As they enjoyed the atmosphere, Yuan Muqing suddenly seemed to enter a trance, pushing people aside. Jiang Shuo, noticing her altered state, called out to her, but it was too late. Yuan Muqing, acting unlike herself, violently kicked him into the nearby water.
