The Lion's Secret Episode 31 Recap
> The Lion's Secret Recap
After observing Li Mo's villa, Liu Qing left. Later, one of Li Mo's subordinates informed him that Liu Qing, identified as "Lion" via phone tracking, had visited Victor's pub, confirming Li Mo's suspicion that Liu Qing was investigating him. The subordinate then added that Liu Qing was now at their main entrance.
Meanwhile, inside Li Mo's villa, Li Yuting attempted to leave but was prevented by Li Mo's men, who stated they were acting on Li Mo's orders for her safety, claiming it was dangerous outside. Li Yuting, however, found herself unable to even leave her room. She noticed a scar on one of the subordinates, which was identical to a scar on one of her kidnappers in Ocarwen.
This sparked her suspicion, and when Li Mo returned, she confronted him, asking why he was confining her and if he had orchestrated her previous kidnapping. Li Mo remained silent, but a subordinate quickly intervened, explaining that the scar was a local gang mark and that Andrew had initially hired these men to target Li Mo, but Li Mo had won them over. The subordinate claimed Andrew's influence reached Ocarwen, which was why Li Yuting was kidnapped.
He emphasized that Li Mo had risked everything to reunite with her. Li Yuting then questioned why they returned to the dangerous Drago, and the subordinate explained they could not be truly safe until Andrew was eliminated. She realized they had lured Liu Qing there and expressed guilt, worrying about Mu Wanqing, but the subordinate brushed off her concerns. Liu Qing and Li Mo finally met. Liu Qing demanded to know why Li Mo hadn't contacted them despite being alive.
Li Mo explained that after their past incident, he had been under constant surveillance, making it impossible to reach out without endangering them further. Liu Qing's primary concern was Li Yuting's safety, and Li Mo assured him she was secure. Satisfied, Liu Qing prepared to leave, but Li Mo quickly stopped him, admitting he faced a grave problem that would cost him his life if unsolved.
He emotionally pleaded with Liu Qing not to abandon him again, to which Liu Qing reluctantly agreed. Li Mo then introduced Liu Qing to his partners, Parenka and Simon. They had lost a large shipment of goods intended for Andrew, a ruthless figure who would kill them if the goods weren't replaced. The only supplier in Drago with sufficient inventory was Septis, but they had a long-standing feud with him.
Li Mo proposed Liu Qing, as an unfamiliar face, approach Septis pretending to be a buyer. He handed Liu Qing $500,000 as a deposit for negotiation. Liu Qing expressed skepticism, wondering why Septis would easily deal with an Asian stranger, especially given their cautious nature. However, Simon mentioned that Septis was desperate to sell a large quantity of goods, and his usual clients lacked the funds.
Liu Qing, though finding the situation absurd, agreed to go along, warning Li Mo that success was not guaranteed. Liu Qing proceeded to meet Septis. Septis, after greeting Liu Qing, dismissed the $500,000 as insufficient, mockingly offering only a single gun for the sum. Liu Qing retorted that they might as well just rob him. Septis, amused, agreed to a game to decide their dealings. They played cards, a single game for the win.
Despite having a strong hand, Liu Qing conceded the game, leaving the money behind. Simon was furious at the loss. However, shortly after, Jerry, one of Septis's men, called Liu Qing, informing him that Septis was impressed by his courage and would arrange the deal. Later, Liu Qing met Jerry alone. Jerry delivered only half of the goods, demanding the remaining payment before handing over the rest. Liu Qing called Li Mo for instructions.
Li Mo, without consulting Liu Qing, declared that half the goods were sufficient and ordered Liu Qing to handle the men in front while he took care of those behind. Confused and alarmed, Liu Qing tried to intervene, but it was too late. Li Mo's men ambushed Septis's crew, seizing the goods and leaving Jerry as the sole survivor. Liu Qing confronted Jerry, demanding to know his true identity.
Jerry, seeing Liu Qing's seriousness, and fearing Li Mo's reputation for torture, confessed he was an undercover agent for a special task unit. He revealed their objective was to dismantle Drago's entire criminal network, not just Septis. Liu Qing, recognizing the name "Tom," offered his assistance. Liu Qing then angrily confronted Li Mo for ambushing Septis's men without informing him.
Li Mo explained that he feared Liu Qing's softheartedness, recalling an incident in Bazhen where Liu Qing's compassion had led to Li Mo being left behind and other comrades like Otter and Leopard losing their lives. Liu Qing then directly accused Li Mo of killing Yan Jing. Li Mo admitted it, saying he acted out of loneliness and wanted Liu Qing and their other friends to be with him and help him.
He added ominously that "this is just a beginning." Li Mo wanted to eliminate Jerry, but Liu Qing revealed Jerry's true identity as Tom's undercover agent, convincing Li Mo that keeping him alive would be strategically beneficial. Li Mo then allowed Liu Qing to visit Li Yuting. Liu Qing went to see Li Yuting. She tearfully asked if he was angry and if he noticed Li Mo's drastic changes.
Liu Qing acknowledged the changes people undergo for survival, especially after such experiences, but affirmed his belief that "deep down inside, he's still the Li Mo we knew before."
Aware that Li Mo was likely monitoring their conversation, Liu Qing subtly conveyed a message to him, saying that with his and Li Mo's combined efforts, they could overcome any danger, but he also mused that some people, like him and Li Mo, are destined for an unsafe life, hinting at Li Mo's dangerous path. Li Mo, listening in, understood Liu Qing's words were meant as a lecture and an acknowledgment of his sincerity to help.
Liu Qing then met with Jerry. Jerry initially doubted the Special Unit's willingness to collaborate with criminals. Liu Qing emphasized that without his cooperation, Jerry had no value. Liu Qing explained he was merely a man trying to take his friends home, not a killer, distinguishing himself from Drago's criminals. He pressed Jerry for his superiors' true objective.
Jerry admitted their ultimate target was Andrew, but his entrenched power and government connections made a direct assault difficult, necessitating a gradual approach. Liu Qing countered that taking down minor figures like Septis was futile. He proposed a three-way alliance—Li Mo's group, Septis, and the Special Unit—to eliminate Andrew, arguing it was the only way to dismantle Drago's entire criminal network. Jerry was swayed, agreeing to use his undercover status to help negotiate with Septis.
Liu Qing then presented his comprehensive plan to Li Mo. He outlined how Jerry's discovery as an undercover agent could be leveraged as a trump card to force Septis into an alliance against Andrew. By provoking a conflict between Andrew and Septis, they could create an opportunity for Tom's Special Unit to intervene and "clear the field," significantly weakening Andrew.
Recognizing the deep animosity between Li Mo's group and Septis, Liu Qing volunteered to negotiate with Septis, making a somber request to Li Mo to spare his loved ones if he were to die. Li Mo would be responsible for dealing with Tom, offering him a portion of the seized goods for military cover, and, most crucially, convincing Andrew to join forces with them to eliminate Septis, using the goods as leverage.
The ultimate goal was to strategically provoke Andrew into revealing himself, allowing them to finally eliminate him. Meanwhile, Lei Shuo and Wu Fengyu arrived in Drago and checked into their hotel. Mu Wanqing called Lei Shuo, revealing she was also in Drago and had easily seen through Liu Qing's divorce agreement ruse, calling it "naive" and an insult to her intelligence.
She informed them she had already contacted local authorities, who introduced her to the head of a special task unit, possibly their old acquaintance Tom. She proposed they split up: she and Lei Shuo would meet the task unit head, while Wu Fengyu would go to Victor's pub, a comrade of theirs in Drago, to find clues about Liu Qing and Li Mo.
Lei Shuo initially objected, wanting to protect her, but Mu Wanqing firmly stated that they didn't understand what true protection meant for a woman, insisting on her plan. Lei Shuo eventually agreed to accompany Mu Wanqing, while Wu Fengyu set off to find Victor. Liu Qing, following his plan, went alone to meet Septis again. Septis, enraged by the stolen goods and the attack on his men, had Liu Qing cuffed and violently assaulted him.
Liu Qing, unflinching, revealed Jerry's undercover status, presenting a military eavesdropping device as proof, and stated he was there to help Septis. Septis, challenging Liu Qing, demanded he kill Jerry first before any talk of cooperation. Liu Qing adamantly refused to betray Jerry, even under threat of immediate death. Impressed by Liu Qing's courage, Septis demanded to know his true intentions.
Liu Qing explained that he and his brother, Li Mo, were being manipulated by Andrew and wanted to break free and return home. He then proposed an alliance: by working together to eliminate Andrew, Septis could take over Andrew's vast business network, which Tom's Special Unit also targeted. Septis, seeing the potential, agreed to the alliance, sealing it with a toast.
