Episode 22 recap: The true culprits behind the Five Elements Murder Case have been exposed.
The Deng brothers have been captured, but the number of people they have harmed is countless. This makes Gu Yuan feel that they should also learn more and prevent new forms of cases from emerging. The crimes committed by the Deng brothers are severe, and they have been imprisoned. However, Deng Zixiao still thinks about buying his freedom with money and making a comeback after leaving prison. Deng Zixiao enters the prison and meets Deng Ziqiao, explaining that they were deceived by Yu Si Yan and Zhao Cheng Min. As long as Deng Ziqiao brings out the money and takes action, they can make a fresh start.
Deng Ziqiao does not believe Deng Zixiao's words. He feels that Deng Zixiao has already wronged him in the past, and now he has even broken his leg. He will not forgive Deng Zixiao. Deng Ziqiao scolds Deng Zixiao and then reminds him that he will soon leave the prison under the pretext of medical parole. He has made arrangements and will ensure that the people in prison treat Deng Zixiao well and enjoy everything.
Deng Ziqiao is soon released from prison. He immediately hires an official in charge of handling his medical parole and gives him two pieces of gold. Deng Ziqiao thinks he will embark on a new life, but he is unaware that he has already been targeted by the Five Elements Killer. He is kidnapped when his bodyguard escorts the official out.
Deng Ziqiao is kidnapped and then buried alive under a bridge. The killer performs a ritual for him and sends the coordinates of the burial site to the police station. While the police station is investigating the cause of Deng Ziqiao's driver's death, they receive the Five Elements diagram sent by the killer. Gu Yuan immediately analyzes the diagram and finds Deng Ziqiao buried under the bridge based on the recorded locations.
The killer dug a hole under the bridge, threw Deng Ziqiao down, and filled it with cement, suffocating him to death. Gu Yuan inspects the crime scene, returns to analyze the Five Elements diagram, and deduces that the next victim will appear in the west, likely a young woman. The killer will strike within twenty-four hours, so he must find the killer within that time frame.
While Gu Yuan starts investigating the killer, Che Su Wei discovers a silver ring inside Deng Ziqiao's body, which Deng Ziqiao had swallowed. The ring appears to be used for religious rituals. Based on the inscription "Sanjiang Silver Jewelry" on the ring, Gu Yuan goes to the store to inquire about its origin, learning that it was custom-made by Yin Zhen Tian. He then investigates Yin Zhen Tian's house.
At Yin Zhen Tian's house, Gu Yuan doesn't find the killer, and the house seems like it hasn't been lived in for a long time, leaving no clues. While Che Su Wei investigates Yin Zhen Tian, he discovers the possible location where the next victim might be killed—a weapons warehouse, considering it as a suitable place for the killer associated with the Metal element. They decide to focus their investigation there.
Che Su Wei informs Gu Yuan and the others about the warehouse, where they almost get injured by a trap set by the killer. Fortunately, Yan Jun Jie reacts quickly, and they all avoid harm. Gu Yuan believes that the killer is not far away and they must proceed with caution. At this moment, they discover traps set up in the warehouse.
Gu Yuan and the others entered a secret room in the agency and discovered that it was filled with a large amount of toxic substances in high doses, which greatly concerned them as there could be many victims. While Gu Yuan was analyzing the killer's profile, the killer appeared outside the warehouse. Gu Yuan took Che Su Wei to pursue the killer, but they lost track of them on the street.
Che Su Wei noticed a suspicious person who brushed past her and thought that person might be the killer. She informed Gu Yuan, and they continued the pursuit. Meanwhile, Yan Jun Jie and Ren Meng Yao continued searching inside the secret room and found the Golden Source Distillery on the map, suspecting that the victim might be held there.
Yan Jun Jie went to the distillery and found Zhao Lingling, who had been kidnapped. Unexpectedly, the killer was also present in the distillery and attacked Zhao Lingling with hidden weapons. In an attempt to save Zhao Lingling, Yan Jun Jie was hit by one of the killer's hidden weapons, while Ren Meng Yao arrived at the scene and brought Gu Yuan and Che Su Wei to the distillery.
Che Su Wei examined Yan Jun Jie and Zhao Lingling and discovered that Yan Jun Jie had lost a significant amount of blood and needed immediate medical attention. However, at that moment, the killer locked the distillery, trapping them inside. Gu Yuan didn't have enough time to pry open the door when he started feeling dizzy and nauseous. It was then that Che Su Wei realized the killer had left a vat of mercury, which, when evaporated, would cause poisoning. This was the method the killer used to kill Zhao Lingling with the Metal punishment.
Everyone was in a difficult and dangerous situation, especially with Yan Jun Jie's critical condition. Gu Yuan had to remain calm and find a way out. He noticed that the lock on the door was made of aluminum, and mercury at high temperatures would rapidly corrode aluminum. Gu Yuan took out a syringe he had and injected mercury into the lock.
Yan Jun Jie was undergoing treatment at the hospital, and Gu Yuan was extremely worried about his condition. He feared that something might happen to Yan Jun Jie, but he didn't have the chance to praise Yan Jun Jie for his bravery. Zhao Lingling regained consciousness and provided some clues. Gu Yuan and Che Su Wei discovered that the burnt victim, Yin Zhen Tian, was actually Zhao Lingling's ex-husband, He Qiming. The burnt victim did not have the gold deity pendant that belonged to He Qiming, leading them to realize that the killer's target was He Qiming.
While Gu Yuan was investigating He Qiming, the killer sent another piece of paper, which was blank on both sides, leaving Gu Yuan unable to decipher the killer's intentions. Che Su Wei, who didn't understand divination, interpreted the blank paper as constantly flipping between positive and negative sides, which made Gu Yuan suddenly understand the meaning of the paper. He then reevaluated the conspiracy behind the Five Elements Murder Case.
Based on the divination, Gu Yuan found He Qiming in the north of the city, but he still didn't know who the fifth victim was. Gu Yuan had a conversation with He Qiming, hoping to obtain information about the fifth victim. He Qiming requested to speak to Gu Yuan alone, away from the others.
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