Sword Rose Episode 8 Recap
> Sword Rose Recap
Deng Yan and Chang Rui arrived at the detention center to interrogate Whiteboard, who was suspected of murdering Zhao Dafeng. Whiteboard adamantly denied any involvement, claiming he could never kill anyone. Deng Yan, however, produced evidence: Whiteboard's car was found near Zhao Dafeng's body, and a knife recovered at the scene bore both Whiteboard's and Zhao Dafeng's DNA.
Chang Rui, frustrated by Whiteboard's defiance, sternly reminded him that murder carried the death penalty but offered a chance for a reduced sentence if he cooperated. Faced with overwhelming evidence, Whiteboard finally confessed. Whiteboard explained that Zhao Dafeng had once stolen trafficked individuals ("goods" or "people") from him, which infuriated his handler, Skinner, who threatened Whiteboard. Whiteboard arranged to meet Zhao Dafeng, who defiantly refused to return the individuals. Enraged, Whiteboard pulled out a knife.
Zhao Dafeng, undeterred, challenged him to use it, prompting Whiteboard to stab him. Whiteboard admitted he did not know Skinner's current whereabouts or phone number, as Skinner always initiated contact and frequently changed numbers. He also clarified that he only handed over trafficked individuals to Skinner, then left after receiving payment. Meanwhile, Skinner received a call from his boss, who warned him about a recent crackdown and advised him to tell his subordinates to keep a low profile.
Separately, Luoluo, a young girl from the welfare home who had run away, sought out Chang Rui at the Anti-abduction Office. Chang Rui took her out to eat and gently inquired about her reasons for leaving. Luoluo confessed she found the other children at the welfare home "too childish and silly," unable to comprehend why they laughed despite being abandoned by their parents.
Chang Rui thoughtfully explained that while some things in life are out of one's control, how one faces them determines their future. He then informed her he would return her to the welfare home, but Luoluo expressed a wish to visit an amusement park. Chang Rui agreed, adding a condition that she behave.
That same day, Yan Lei, who was tracking Mo Lin, reported to Deng Yan that Mo Lin had fled into the mountains with a girl, He Xiaoying, after some aggressive men came looking for her at his home. Deng Yan immediately mobilized a team to Pengcang Town for a night search.
Chief Chen, a local officer, briefed them on the treacherous conditions, highlighting the damp, cold, and slippery mountain terrain, the high river levels that made crossing difficult, and the blocked bridges. He stated their search area was narrowed to the stream near the village. Yin Jiansheng suggested that Mr. Mo, Mo Lin's father, might be covering for him.
Deng Yan then assigned Yin Jiansheng to persuade Mr. Mo to cooperate rather than join the mountain search, with Yang Jiajia accompanying him. During the search, Chang Rui discovered numerous cigarette butts, surmising that non-local individuals, likely Skinner's men, had been in the area, as villagers would never risk smoking in the damp woods. Meanwhile, Yin Jiansheng and Yang Jiajia visited Mr. Mo's grocery store.
Initially evasive, Mr. Mo eventually revealed that Mo Lin was indeed hiding a girl because San Laizi, a notorious local troublemaker, and three other men, all armed with knives, were pursuing her. He admitted he had advised Mo Lin to take the girl to his second uncle's place to contact the police from there. Following the trail of cigarette butts, Deng Yan and Chang Rui's team quickly located and apprehended San Laizi and the three other men in the forest.
They continued their search and eventually found Mo Lin and the girl, whom Mo Lin called Lianqiao, hiding in a small wooden cabin. Deng Yan identified the girl as He Xiaoying, stating her full name and her father's name, He Dashan, but He Xiaoying emphatically denied this identity and home. She recounted her harrowing experience: her father, He Dashan, gambled away all their money, constantly drank, and subjected her to physical and emotional abuse. Her mother eventually left.
He Xiaoying worked after school as a waitress to support the household and her father's drinking habits. He Dashan attempted to sell her for 30,000 yuan. When she tore up the contract, he became enraged and raped her. He Xiaoying tearfully pleaded with Deng Yan not to send her back, explaining that she had run away twice before, only to be returned by the police, after which her father's abuse would resume.
Deng Yan solemnly promised He Xiaoying that they would not send her back and would ensure no one, not even her father, would harm her. Mo Lin further explained He Xiaoying's recent ordeal. She had initially run away to find her mother, but couldn't reach her. She then sought work but was ensnared by the traffickers, drugged, and woke up imprisoned in a small wooden cabin. During a transfer of girls, she seized an opportunity to escape.
Skinner had sent his men, including San Laizi, to pursue her. Mo Lin encountered He Xiaoying while she was being chased on the mountain and hid her, initially in the cabin. Mr. Mo, fearing their capture, then instructed Mo Lin to take He Xiaoying to his uncle's house, where they could safely contact the police. Later, Chang Rui interrogated one of the captured traffickers.
The man initially refused to cooperate, but Chang Rui, outlining charges of woman trafficking, kidnapping, and assaulting an officer with a weapon, warned him of a possible life sentence. This threat prompted the trafficker to reveal his handler was Skinner, noting Skinner's peculiar fondness for salted duck eggs. Meanwhile, Deng Yan visited Madam Zhang at the Tuanyuan Restaurant. Madam Zhang warmly greeted her, praising her recent success in solving cases.
As Deng Yan ate the vegetarian rice noodles, Madam Zhang reminisced about how Lin Ran, her lost daughter, also loved the same noodles, though she was much pickier. Overcome with emotion, Deng Yan confessed her deep regret and guilt over Lin Ran's abduction, wishing she had never asked Lin Ran to play outside that day or had held onto the trafficker more tightly. Madam Zhang consoled her, assuring Deng Yan that she was just a child and never to blame.
She then asked if Lin Ran was the reason Deng Yan joined the Anti-abduction Office. Deng Yan tearfully affirmed her determination to find Lin Ran. Madam Zhang then promised Deng Yan free vegetarian rice noodles whenever she visited. Later, Chang Rui took Luoluo to an amusement park, where she was visibly delighted. Luoluo wanted to ride the roller coaster, but Chang Rui told her she was too small.
Chang Rui then needed to use the restroom, instructing Luoluo to wait for him at their spot and explicitly warning her not to wander off. Upon his return, Luoluo was gone.
