Tientsin Mystic Episode 21 Recap
> Tientsin Mystic Recap
Ding Mao observed that Aunt Hu had lost hope after her brother Tianming's death, which made her susceptible to the Demonic Cult's influence. He recalled that the Demonic Cult had controlled Huang Yu of The Colored Door, intending to use his skills to execute a jailbreak at Xiao Xiguan Prison and free the Demonic Cult elder, the Little Immortal. However, Captain Fu had informed them that the Little Immortal was executed by a military unit.
Ding Mao expressed his doubts, remembering the Little Immortal's power that once caused hundreds of officers to turn on each other, questioning if he could truly be dead. Following Guo Deyou's realization that they needed to find someone who witnessed the events of two decades prior, he and Ding Mao visited Aunt Hu, bringing a special thirty-year-old wine for her.
Aunt Hu, initially wary, questioned the purpose of their "wine of asking a way," despite Guo Deyou's compliments about her past achievements. When they finally admitted they were there to inquire about the Demonic Cult's Little Immortal, Aunt Hu’s demeanor shifted, and she became agitated, demanding they leave. Guo Deyou, however, pressed on, emphasizing the value of their wine and insisting she guide them.
After a moment of thought, Aunt Hu demanded a jin of pork hock and then began to recount the past. She revealed that twenty years ago, Ding Yiqiu, Guo Chun, and Secretary General Xiao led the charge to eliminate the Demonic Cult. This was a monumental achievement at the time. The army suffered heavy casualties, barely managing to capture and imprison the Little Immortal. However, Secretary General Xiao, driven by ambition, claimed all the credit for himself.
Disgusted by this injustice, Ding Yiqiu refused to remain in government service and, with Supervisor Hu, founded the Chamber of Commerce for Grain Transportation. Guo Chun, a simple riverman and Guo Deyou's master, returned to his ordinary life, pushed aside and forgotten. Aunt Hu questioned why Secretary General Xiao didn't eliminate the Little Immortal outright if he was so dangerous, instead secretly imprisoning him for two decades, only to order his execution now.
She implied that the official narrative concealed a deeper, shameful and embarrassing truth. Ding Mao noted that the news of the Little Immortal was tightly guarded, concluding that the Xiao family was deeply problematic. Guo Deyou suggested that Ding Mao approach Xiao Lanlan for a breakthrough in their investigation, despite Xiao Lanlan's father previously warning Ding Mao to stay away from her.
Guo Deyou speculated that Huang Yu was merely a pawn, and the Xiao family might be the true orchestrators within the Demonic Cult. Ding Mao vowed to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Aunt Hu forbade Gu Ying from getting involved in the Demonic Cult's affairs or associating with Guo Deyou or Ding Mao. Gu Ying, defiant, refused to comply. Aunt Hu threatened to be unforgiving if provoked and ordered Gu Ying not to leave after sunset.
Gu Ying retorted that it wasn't yet sunset, prompting Aunt Hu to challenge her directly. A brief struggle ensued, Gu Ying using Tai Chi palm pushes to push Aunt Hu aside and escape from the house. Later, Ding Mao met Xiao Lanlan by the river.
Xiao Lanlan reflected on how her father used to bring her there to clear her mind, but it no longer helped her cope with the recent events at Xiao Xiguan Prison, particularly the death of the prisoner. Ding Mao reassured her that her actions against the prisoner were justifiable self-defense. When Xiao Lanlan asked what her father had discussed with him, Ding Mao was evasive.
Xiao Lanlan admitted her father often kept secrets from her and expressed her determination to investigate the Demonic Cult, despite her family’s entanglements. As Ding Mao attempted to ask about the connection between the Demonic Cult and the Xiao family, they were ambushed by a group of black-clad assailants sent by Lian Huaqing. Xiao San unexpectedly arrived, quickly apprehending the attackers and securing Ding Mao and Xiao Lanlan's safety.
He instructed his men to take one of the attackers away and dismissed Ding Mao, saying he would handle the matter. Ding Mao found Xiao San's sudden appearance suspicious. Back at the Dragon King Temple, Gu Ying surprised Guo Deyou by climbing into his room. She explained she had argued with Aunt Hu and decided not to return home that night.
After some lighthearted banter where Guo Deyou jokingly referred to himself as a "fabulous person among people and extraordinary," he realized she was genuinely upset. He offered his bed to Gu Ying, who took it, and Guo Deyou went to Ding Mao's room for the night. Guo Deyou’s unexpected entry startled Ding Mao, who was searching through government and military records. Ding Mao, still shaken, recounted the attack on him and Xiao Lanlan.
He suspected Xiao San's timely rescue was too coincidental, leading him to believe the Xiao family was closely monitoring their investigation. Guo Deyou joked about Ding Mao's romantic prospects with Xiao Lanlan before settling down for the night. The next morning, Ding Mao, who hadn't slept, was engrossed in a book on hypnosis, hoping to understand how to counter the Little Immortal's abilities. He explained to Guo Deyou that breaking hypnosis requires avoiding focus and constantly questioning the hypnotist.
He also shared his discovery that Xiao San was not originally a member of the Xiao family and had no background records prior to working for Secretary General Xiao a decade ago. Guo Deyou, tired and hungry, dismissed the details, eager for breakfast. Ding Mao planned to conduct an experiment on himself to test his new knowledge of hypnosis. Meanwhile, Xiao San confronted one of Lian Huaqing's men.
He declared that the Demonic Cult would now declare war on the entire city of Tianjin. The man, however, mocked Xiao San, stating that Lian Huaqing knew Xiao San's true target was Xiao Lanlan, which allowed Lian Huaqing to move against the Little Immortal while Xiao San was preoccupied. Shocked, Xiao San vehemently denied that Lian Huaqing could know the Little Immortal's whereabouts, but the man urged him to see for himself.
Rushing to his secret prison, Xiao San found the Little Immortal still there. However, Lian Huaqing then appeared, or was already present, and activated the parasitic bugs he had planted in Xiao San, causing Xiao San to collapse in pain. Lian Huaqing then freed the Little Immortal, calmly greeting him as "little ghost."
The Little Immortal, the Preacher of the Demonic Cult, and Lian Huaqing discussed the future of the cult and the importance of finding the Holy Child to achieve evolution. The Preacher affirmed he would find the Holy Child and deliver him to Lian Huaqing but stressed that he was not Lian Huaqing's subordinate and would not be responsible for the cult's future. Elsewhere, Secretary General Xiao summoned the military officer who handled the Xiao Xiguan prison riot.
He discovered that Xiao San had used a forged command, supposedly signed by the Secretary General himself, to take custody of the special prisoner—the Little Immortal—instead of executing him. Enraged, Secretary General Xiao ordered a city-wide search for Xiao San. Xiao Lanlan, having overheard the entire conversation, was stunned by the revelation. The next morning, Guo Deyou went to wake Gu Ying, but found her room empty, only her wooden sword left on the table with a note attached.
Simultaneously, Gu Ying was seen walking aimlessly through the streets, her eyes distant and lifeless. Meanwhile, Xiao Lanlan arrived at Ding Mao's room, finding him attempting to hypnotize himself by staring at a pendulum. She informed him that the Little Immortal was not dead and that Xiao San had secretly taken him away by faking her father's orders during the Xiao Xiguan prison riot, whose original mission was to kill the Little Immortal.