I Am Nobody: The showdown between Yin & Yang Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

> I Am Nobody: The showdown between Yin & Yang

I Am Nobody: The showdown between Yin & Yang Synopsis

Zhang Chulan is forced to enter the world of outsiders, enduring numerous hardships and growing into a righteous and responsible hero. He shares a fateful bond with Feng Baobao, and an unexpected event throws them into a tense situation. NDT Express special task force member Chen Duo murders a superior and goes on the run.

The seven elite members of the task force possess extraordinary abilities, but their identities are secret, and their movements are mysterious, leading to doubts and suspicion. The remaining six must work together to capture Chen Duo, with Feng Baobao being one of them. Meanwhile, the village of Biyou gradually emerges, linked to Chen Duo’s whereabouts. The village head, Ma Xianhong, is closely tied to Zhang Chulan's ongoing investigation into the "Eight Extraordinary Skills."

I Am Nobody: The showdown between Yin & Yang Recap

Episode 1 Recap

"NDT Express" is the management organization of the Outsider world, responsible for maintaining stability, eliminating evil forces, and preventing Outsiders from interfering with the lives of ordinary people. It operates under the guise of a courier company in the real world. Recently, a special case occurred within NDT Express. Around 1 a. m. , a body was discovered in a warehouse on Guangsheng Road in the Southwest District.

The chairman, Bi Youlong, drove over to investigate and found that the deceased was Liao Zhong, the head of the Southwest District. The poison had already infiltrated his internal organs, and his body showed signs of significant decay. Zhang Chulan received intel about a suspicious individual resembling an Outsider lurking in the Southwest District. He was asked to team up with Feng Baobao to capture the individual.

The task was assigned by Xu Si and Xu San, the heads of the North District. After locating the suspicious person, Zhang Chulan found that his abilities didn’t work on him. Xu San hinted that the person had a protective weapon. Feng Baobao tore off a necklace from the person’s neck, and Zhang Chulan was able to subdue the individual with his powers once again.

When Xu Si and Xu San were preparing to carry out the arrest, they discovered that the headquarters had sent people to assist and instructed Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao not to leave the room. Xu Si was ordered to return to headquarters for a meeting. Regarding Liao Zhong's tragic death, Bi Youlong concluded that it was caused by Liao Zhong's temporary worker, Chen Duo.

This led to concerns about the flaws in the temporary worker system, and a call to immediately recall all temporary workers from each district for identity investigations. Those found problematic would be permanently imprisoned in dark fortresses. Another board member, Huang Boren, suggested that the matter was up for debate. Xu Si also believed that the other six individuals shouldn’t be wrongfully implicated.

Bi Youlong further pointed out that the temporary worker management system, set up by Xu Si's father, Xu Xiang, had numerous flaws from the start. Board member Zhao Fangxu tacitly agreed with Bi Youlong’s theory but disagreed with the idea of capturing the other six temporary workers. Instead, the task of finding Chen Duo was left to them.

Bi Youlong added that all privileges for district leaders during the mission, including contacts with temporary workers, would be managed by the headquarters, effectively sidelining the seven district leaders. The two exchanged knowing glances, as if they had been plotting this for some time. After leaving the headquarters, Xu Si informed Zhang Chulan of the latest decision, explaining that the operation would be directly controlled by the headquarters and that he could not provide assistance.

Zhang Chulan requested to accompany Feng Baobao on the mission. Xu Si then handed over a phone that could directly contact the headquarters and once again reminded him to keep the identities of the temporary workers secret and to ensure Feng Baobao’s safety. The next day, Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao arrived in the Southwest District. They tried sending a message in a group chat, but only one person replied.

After sending a red envelope, it was quickly snatched up, revealing that everyone else was lurking in the background. Temporary worker Xiao Zizai from the East District mentioned that Chen Duo had been in contact with Wan Liangcai, so they immediately headed to the restaurant owned by Wan Liangcai. Xiao Zizai pretended to be Chen Duo’s uncle and asked about her whereabouts.

Wan Liangcai admitted to having met Chen Duo and mentioned that she had asked about the address of an elderly woman named Mei Jinfeng. Xiao Zizai ordered a bowl of noodles, and Wan Liangcai provided the address of Mei Jinfeng’s residence and handed over a letter left by Chen Duo. Wang Zhenqiu from the Southwest District approached Xiao Zizai to share some clues.

Feng Baobao asked Zhang Chulan if it was time to reveal themselves, but Zhang Chulan believed it wasn’t the right moment yet. The two prepared to secretly head to Chen Duo’s hiding place, with Xiao Zizai and Wang Zhenqiu quickly taking seats in the back of the car, determined to find Chen Duo together. Upon arriving at the destination, Zhang Chulan still didn’t allow Feng Baobao to expose herself.

After Xiao Zizai and Wang Zhenqiu got out of the car, a man soon appeared—Lao Meng, a temporary worker from the Northwest District. Lao Meng wasn’t interested in taking credit; he just wanted to have a few words with Chen Duo first. He stood outside and called her name. Hearing this, Chen Duo began to use her powers, causing poisonous bats to emerge from all directions.

The three fought off the bats, but Feng Baobao stood by, using her Cyclone Palm to quickly eliminate the poisonous bats. Chen Duo then walked out of the room.

Episode 2 Recap

When Lao Meng saw Chen Duo, he immediately questioned why she had killed Liao Zhong, as everyone knew that Liao Zhong had been very kind to her. Chen Duo remembered that on the day Liao Zhong was killed, he had stopped her from treating her own injuries. Despite her deep care for Liao Zhong, Chen Duo remained firm in her decision. Fury, the swordswoman Fu Rong, was tasked by Ma Xianhong to eliminate Zhuge Qing, the master of Wuhou Qimen.

She sent two replica dolls to duel with Zhuge Qing. Zhuge Qing quickly tore the two dolls to pieces. Fu Rong called Ma Xianhong in front of him to explain the situation. Ma Xianhong signaled for the phone to be given to Zhuge Qing and invited him to visit Biyou Village. Chen Duo remembered Lao Meng’s true identity and realized that he was the one responsible for all her misfortunes.

Lao Meng urged Chen Duo to return to headquarters and confess. Two men rushed out of the room, telling Chen Duo to leave first while they stayed behind to deal with several special agents. Zhang Chulan was about to take another car to chase after Chen Duo when two men used their powers to split the car apart as soon as he opened the door.

Xiao Zizai, being highly observant, noticed that Lao Meng’s skills were average and that Wang Zhenqiu wouldn’t be a match for him either. However, he was surprised that one of the men could withstand his Great Mercy Palm. The other man was placed under a spell by Wang Zhenqiu and lay on the ground, drifting into an almost ecstatic state. Feng Baobao used her Wind Speed Technique to catch up with Chen Duo, with Zhang Chulan following closely behind.

The two tried to persuade Chen Duo to return to headquarters and face judgment, but Chen Duo was determined to resist. A fierce battle broke out, and Zhang Chulan noticed that Chen Duo had a protective magic weapon, though it was still within his ability to destroy. He was curious about the connection between Chen Duo's magic weapon and the one used by the Outsider at the scene where Liao Zhong had died.

Just as he was pondering, Chen Duo was taken back to the shore by the weapon master Chou Rang. Chou Rang proudly boasted about his world’s most reliable defense ring. As he was showing off, a force arrived from afar, and Chou Rang immediately summoned a Vajra Shield to protect himself. However, the attack from the distance continued, and cracks began to appear in his Vajra Shield.

Realizing the danger, he grabbed Chen Duo and rushed to a car to flee. Back at the base, Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao asked Lao Meng why Chen Duo saw him as the one who had caused her misfortunes. Lao Meng explained that five years ago, he had received a mission and, along with Liao Zhong, had worked together to eliminate the illegal organization "Yao Xian Hui" (the Medicine Immortal Society).

This organization existed outside of the Outsiders' realm and worshipped a poison that couldn't be neutralized. Chen Duo was the ultimate manifestation of this poison, known as the "Holy Child of Poison," but she was still an innocent victim, created by the Yao Xian Hui through their poisonous refining process.

The two of them had destroyed the Yao Xian Hui, and Liao Zhong had taken Chen Duo back to the dark fort for training, giving her the identity of a special agent to protect her. However, Chen Duo had no normal human emotions and had unknowingly committed many wrongdoings. Lao Meng had pleaded with the other special agents not to kill Chen Duo, wanting to talk to her before bringing her back to headquarters.

Xiao Zizai, Wang Zhenqiu, and the special agents from Northeast and Central Districts, who had been hiding in the shadows, agreed with this plan. Zhang Chulan realized that all the temporary workers’ targets pointed to Chen Duo, but he hadn’t yet realized the headquarters’ attitude toward the temporary workers. Suddenly, Wang Zhenqiu appeared beside him and, following Zhang Chulan's train of thought, analyzed that if capturing Chen Duo went smoothly, the headquarters might offer an explanation.

However, if the mission failed, it could be a way for the headquarters to abolish all temporary workers. Zhang Chulan finally realized that everyone was fully aware of their current situation. Wang Zhenqiu was more inclined toward a mission failure, as it would directly lead to the headquarters taking control. Zhang Chulan worried about Feng Baobao’s identity being exposed and silently disagreed with Wang Zhenqiu's stance.

Even so, Wang Zhenqiu saw through him, and Zhang Chulan further realized that each Outsider had already made up their mind. What had just happened was merely a test. It seemed that when dealing with Outsiders, one had to be even more cautious. The headquarters sent a message, confirming Chen Duo's location. As they headed toward Mei Jinfeng’s residence, the special agents immediately set out.

Due to Xiao Zizai destroying the car the previous day, they had no choice but to ride shared bicycles. Lao Meng was the most anxious, rushing to the front. When asked why, Lao Meng explained that Mei Jinfeng was an elder of the full essence faction and extremely dangerous, so they had to figure out her connection to Chen Duo as quickly as possible. In front of Mei Jinfeng's door, another elder, Xia Liuqing, was attempting to woo her.

When he said the wrong thing, Mei Jinfeng kicked him away. As they exchanged flirtatious banter, Chen Duo and her group arrived. Chen Duo demanded to take Mei Jinfeng away. Xia Liuqing naturally disagreed, and a battle broke out. By the time Zhang Chulan and the others arrived, Mei Jinfeng had already been taken. Xia Liuqing was shocked to see Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao, as they all knew each other.

Xia Liuqing had even taught Wang Zhenqiu some martial arts, so he was more familiar with them. He then informed them that everyone accompanying Chen Duo had protective magic weapons, making it a hopeless battle for him. However, he heard that they had taken Mei Jinfeng to Biyou Village and begged Wang Zhenqiu to find her, even offering to let him use his secret techniques.

Chen Duo returned to Biyou Village, handed an object to Ma Xianhong, and then spoke a few words to a yellow dog named Chen Junyan before heading back to her room to take a bath.

Episode 3 Recap

The special agents from the Northeast District found some information about Biyou Village. It was an Outsider village, established not long ago. In the past six months, the village had suddenly seen a large influx of Outsiders, none of whom had records at headquarters. Zhang Chulan realized that there seemed to be little restriction on the operation to capture Chen Duo, indicating that some leaders were taking a wait-and-see approach.

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, it was also a form of encouragement for the special agents. After saying this, a middle-aged man sat down beside him and praised Zhang Chulan for his clear logic. This man was Hei Guan Er, a special agent from the Central District. It was Hei Guan Er who had previously destroyed the magic weapon energies of several Outsiders, but each time, the effort nearly exhausted all his energy.

He hadn’t intended to reveal himself, but seeing how serious the situation was, he couldn’t help but join the team. Only Er Zhuang from the Northeast District hadn’t shown up yet. A few minutes later, a car arrived, specially prepared by Er Zhuang for everyone’s transportation. Along the way, Wang Zhenqiu had many concerns. Over the past few days, they had encountered countless magic weapons, and it was clear that someone behind the scenes was organizing this.

Ordinary sects only possessed one magic weapon, but the sheer number they had encountered recently suggested that the mastermind had immense power. Unable to resist, Wang Zhenqiu asked Hei Guan Er if he knew any insider information. There were rumors in the Outsider community that Hei Guan Er was very close to the leader, and might have some inside knowledge. However, Hei Guan Er advised Wang Zhenqiu not to pry into his matters.

When they reached their destination, they passed through a cave and entered Biyou Village. The village was picturesque, filled with lush greenery. Zhang Chulan had prepared travel agency gear in advance, allowing the special agents to enter the village as tourists. However, they hadn’t walked far before someone reported to the village chief, Ma Xianhong. Ma Xianhong invited Zhang Chulan for tea and introduced his family.

He was a descendant of the legendary Ma Ben Zai, who was also Zhang Chulan’s grandfather's sworn brother. Thus, Ma Xianhong had a significant connection with Zhang Chulan. When Ma Xianhong asked about their purpose in Biyou Village, Zhang Chulan directly stated that they intended to take Chen Duo. Ma Xianhong immediately darkened his face, saying that since Chen Duo had come to him for refuge, he would provide her with the protection she deserved.

The two of them walked out of the room together. Ma Xianhong asked Fu Rong to arrange accommodation for the special agents and invited them to the village banquet the following day. After bidding each other farewell, Zhang Chulan passed on Ma Xianhong’s message to the special agents. Wang Zhenqiu became intrigued by the fact that both Ma Xianhong and Zhang Chulan were heirs to the Eight Extraordinary Techniques.

Zhang Chulan quickly clarified that the Eight Extraordinary Techniques weren’t as legendary as some people believed and reminded the others to use the time wisely to search for information on Chen Duo. At the village banquet, Ma Xianhong passionately spoke about his desire to help everyone who came to Biyou Village fulfill their wishes. Zhang Chulan, however, found his speech eerie.

The Outsiders surrounding Ma Xianhong were all incredibly powerful, which made Zhang Chulan even more suspicious of Ma Xianhong’s true intentions. In the evening, Zhang Chulan called for a meeting to share the gathered information. Aside from Hei Guan Er finding two escaped Outsiders, there wasn’t anything particularly valuable. Suddenly, Er Zhuang from the Northeast District sent an email to the group, titled "Biyou Village Villager Information Summary. "Xiao Zizai and Lao Meng were puzzled by Er Zhuang's actions.

The mission had already reached such a critical point, yet he was still unwilling to reveal himself. This made it hard to verify the authenticity of the information they had easily obtained. Wang Zhenqiu and Zhang Chulan also asked the same question, and Er Zhuang, feeling wronged, shared his real-time video with the group. In the video, Er Zhuang was lying in a crystal room, eyes closed, with various wires connected to his head.

He explained that his power allowed him to intercept various electronic signals, and as long as the villagers of Biyou Village used their phones, he could easily gather all their information. However, due to an accident, his body had been damaged, and he could now only communicate through brainwaves. The other Outsiders immediately sent selfies to Er Zhuang, who expressed his gratitude. By browsing through the materials, Zhang Chulan discovered that his good friend Zhuge Qing was also in Biyou Village.

Based on the chat records Er Zhuang provided, he found that Zhuge Qing was in a romantic relationship with Fu Rong. Hei Guan Er also noticed that the magic weapon master Chou Rang, who had previously helped Chen Duo escape danger, was present as well. Xiao Zizai became more interested in Zhao Guizhen. As they were discussing this, they felt a shadow pass by behind them, and they immediately gave chase.

The shadow turned out to be one of Ma Xianhong’s puppet dolls. The special agents used their powers to stop it, but the doll miraculously restored itself. As they were about to catch up, they encountered Wang Ye, and Zhang Chulan invited him to join their team. When they reached the mountaintop, they discovered several puppet doll statues. Feng Baobao found a moving puppet and pulled its hair, causing it to fall to the ground and drop a lamp.

Chou Rang then appeared and explained that the fallen puppet was named "Ru Hua. " He warned Zhang Chulan and the others not to roam around the village.

Episode 4 Recap

While Wang Ye was eating at a snack street, Ma Xianhong called him. He asked about the next destination and then mentioned that he was a descendant of the legendary Ma Ben Zai, who was skilled in the Divine Machine techniques. He suggested that the heirs of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques should gather together and do something significant. Just as Wang Ye was about to decline, Ma Xianhong mentioned that Zhuge Qing was already on his way to Biyou Village.

Wang Ye immediately called Zhuge Qing, and upon hearing that Zhuge Qing had made up his mind, Wang Ye arranged to meet him after they arrived at Biyou Village. Wang Ye wanted to express his suspicions about Ma Xianhong. Since Wang Ye had previously defeated Zhuge Qing using strategy in a martial arts competition, he always felt somewhat guilty about it.

While they were talking, Ma Xianhong arrived with a man and greeted them, introducing him as Liu Dang, a hardcore combat enthusiast who wanted to learn a few moves from Wang Ye. Before Wang Ye could even stabilize his footing, Liu Dang rushed at him. Wang Ye used magic to easily sidestep Liu Dang, who nearly crashed into a stone. Fortunately, Zhuge Qing intervened just in time to save him.

Wang Ye realized that Liu Dang was just an ordinary person and couldn't understand why Ma Xianhong had brought him to spar with him. Liu Dang explained that a month ago, he had studied basic combat techniques under a master who only asked him to repeat the same movements over and over. Liu Dang didn't want to waste time and left, only to find that his skills had improved but felt more and more frustrated with his progress.

So, he asked Wang Ye if there were any other methods to improve. Zhuge Qing explained that his ability was innate, the result of possessing divine strength. A normal person couldn’t achieve such power through training alone. However, Ma Xianhong stated that he never accepted fate. His goal was to help those who wanted to acquire special abilities to fulfill their wishes.

He then took Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing to a brick kiln where there was a cultivation furnace inside. Liu Dang, eager to fulfill his wish, stepped into the furnace without hesitation. When he emerged, he had acquired the ability to push Wang Ye away with his newfound power. Wang Ye shared his experiences with Zhang Chulan and the others.

Xiao Zizai asked Wang Ye to show them the cultivation furnace, but Wang Ye explained that although he had searched for it later, he couldn’t find it. It was likely hidden using the ultimate technique of the Divine Machine, a skill Ma Xianhong had mastered. Wang Ye continued explaining that everything about Biyou Village and Ma Xianhong’s words felt eerie, so he began to look for an opportunity to leave. However, Zhuge Qing seemed troubled.

As they walked towards the back mountain, Ma Xianhong, accompanied by several Outsiders, blocked their way. A fight ensued, and Wang Ye had to use his signature technique, the Wind King’s Extraordinary Gate, to slow down the six experts attacking them. However, he nearly exhausted all his energy in the process. Ma Xianhong called Zhuge Qing aside and once again invited him to stay. Zhuge Qing, willing to sacrifice himself to save Wang Ye, prepared to fight to the death.

At a critical moment, Wang Ye agreed to teach Ma Xianhong the Wind King’s Extraordinary Gate, on the condition that Ma Xianhong would allow Zhuge Qing to leave the mountain. Ma Xianhong, no longer as forceful, said that he wouldn’t force them to stay. After saying this, he left with the six experts. Wang Ye immediately prepared to descend the mountain, but Zhuge Qing wanted to stay for a few more days without explaining his concerns.

Wang Ye knew that Zhuge Qing was stubborn and couldn’t be persuaded, so he used his inner vision to perceive Ma Xianhong's true intentions. It was similar to what he had seen during the martial arts competition with Zhang Chulan. He approached Ma Xianhong and warned him that he was walking down a path of no return. Ma Xianhong did not accept this and instead believed that one should always be willing to try new things.

Meanwhile, Lao Meng, with the help of the yellow dog Chen Junyan, found Chen Duo's hiding place. Chou Rang was guarding the door. Chen Duo agreed to let Lao Meng enter the room for a conversation. Ma Xianhong was monitoring Chen Duo's room using an insect’s eye. Afterward, a woman appeared, and Ma Xianhong called her "sister. " He also informed her that the long-planned scheme was about to be set in motion.

Hei Guan Er suddenly realized Ma Xianhong’s scheme. The headquarters had always strictly controlled the population of Outsiders, but Ma Xianhong was continuously expanding the Outsider population, attempting to change the world’s demographic structure.

Episode 5 Recap

Zhuge Qing followed Ma Xianhong to the side of the cultivation furnace, where an elderly woman was pushing a middle-aged man in a wheelchair. The man appeared to be in a deep coma, waiting in advance. Ma Xianhong explained that the man’s name was Zhao Nian, and he had somehow found a book on cultivation techniques, which he practiced desperately. As a result, he became trapped in his inner vision and couldn’t escape.

Ma Xianhong said that if Zhuge Qing was willing, he could share the inner vision with Zhao Nian to help him wake up. Upon hearing that Zhuge Qing was the Outsider capable of awakening her son, the elderly woman hurried forward, pleading desperately. Zhuge Qing had no choice but to agree. Ma Xianhong explained the method to operate the furnace, and Zhuge Qing wheeled Zhao Nian into the cultivation furnace.

They were immediately transported to a celestial scene, where Zhao Nian had transformed into an ancient immortal. Zhuge Qing tried to persuade him to return to reality, but Zhao Nian suddenly struck out, sending Zhuge Qing flying out of the furnace. Ma Xianhong asked if there were any difficulties, and Zhuge Qing explained that to awaken Zhao Nian, he would need to sacrifice part of his memory.

The elderly woman insisted that whatever method it took, she wanted her son to wake up. Zhuge Qing returned to the celestial scene and reminded Zhao Nian that he was just an ordinary person and shouldn’t get lost in the illusion. Zhao Nian, however, was dissatisfied and sealed Zhuge Qing inside with his sword. The cultivation furnace shook violently, and Ma Xianhong, watching from the side, guessed that it was caused by Zhuge Qing’s Qi overloading the furnace's components.

Zhuge Qing then took on Zhao Nian's physical form, allowing Zhao Nian to experience the emptiness of the inner vision. Zhao Nian admitted that he didn’t care whether it was real or not, he just wanted to become powerful. Zhuge Qing shattered the idealized world Zhao Nian had created, telling him that true strength is found on the path of seeking the truth. Zhao Nian, recalling the sleepless nights he had spent in pursuit of science, became emotionally charged.

The furnace shook even more violently. After a moment, Zhao Nian stepped out of the furnace and embraced his mother, crying uncontrollably. Zhuge Qing took a brief rest and explained to Zhao Nian that becoming too obsessed with fantasies could lead to extremes. He emphasized that such obsession would only cause harm. After Zhao Nian left, Zhuge Qing also prepared to descend the mountain, but Ma Xianhong called upon several Outsiders to surround him.

Ma Xianhong had never been able to grasp the true mystery of the inner vision and wanted to ask Zhuge Qing for guidance. However, Zhuge Qing was the least willing to face this matter. He still held a grudge from when he lost to Wang Ye and was troubled by his desire to master all the techniques of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques. Ma Xianhong’s words, however, reminded Zhuge Qing that it was time to resolve his intense inner conflict.

Fu Rong asked Zhuge Qing about the plans he and Ma Xianhong had been working on recently. Zhuge Qing replied that he would not be controlled by Ma Xianhong, but he needed to conquer the inner vision to be reborn. This was the reason he had stayed in Biyou Village. He also expressed that Fu Rong was the person he trusted most and asked her to help guard the place.

After entering the inner vision, Zhuge Qing found himself facing the Divine Machine technique book. Driven by curiosity, he couldn't help but open the pages. Suddenly, the inner vision became grotesque, and he found himself face-to-face with a real person who mocked him for being hypocritical. Zhuge Qing, overwhelmed by the mental struggle, decided he wanted to end the endless torment quickly. He then ignited the Threefold True Fire, which burned the inner vision to the ground.

After exiting the inner vision, Fu Rong entered the room to congratulate Zhuge Qing on his success. Lao Meng then told the other special agents about the situation between Chen Duo and Liao Zhong. Five years ago, when they were eliminating the Yao Xian Hui, they had prepared to retreat when someone discovered Chen Duo. Out of compassion, Lao Meng had wanted to take Chen Duo away.

Episode 6 Recap

Five years ago, Lao Meng took Chen Duo out of the Yao Xian Hui cave. Liao Zhong was there to assist, and he was surprised that Chen Duo easily trusted Lao Meng. Lao Meng explained that Chen Duo seemed to lack independent thought; she would just do whatever others told her. Therefore, Lao Meng stayed behind to handle the aftermath while Liao Zhong took Chen Duo back to the Dark Fortress.

Some time later, Lao Meng visited Chen Duo at the Dark Fortress. Liao Zhong noticed how much Lao Meng cared for her and teased him about it. Lao Meng replied that Chen Duo was only about sixteen or seventeen, around the same age as his daughter, so it was natural to feel protective.

Liao Zhong informed him that the Yao Xian Hui was quite evil, and aside from teaching Chen Duo foreign techniques, they hadn’t given her any basic education or common sense. When the staff fed Chen Duo, she was uncooperative. Liao Zhong went to her room to feed her himself. Chen Duo mechanically opened her mouth, and thinking she still had no sense of taste, Liao Zhong fed her a spoonful of mustard.

Immediately, Chen Duo choked, tears streaming from her eyes, and her clothes became soaked in blood. Liao Zhong had the clothes sealed for processing and explained that he initially thought Chen Duo was just a poisoned child. Later, he realized she was more like a poison incubator. The founder of the Yao Xian Hui was a madman who believed that controlling the world required a deadly poison, so he collected babies and taught them his twisted beliefs.

Chen Duo suffered massive blood loss and needed surgery. The doctors found that the highest dose of anesthesia couldn’t put her under, so they had no choice but to perform the surgery while she was awake. After some time of testing, Liao Zhong realized that Chen Duo had basic cognitive abilities, but she was constantly resisting with some kind of willpower, refusing to speak or show any emotions.

He then attached a monitoring device to her, with the remote control watch in his possession. Chen Duo was taken to the activity room, where a large monster was playing basketball. A young man, Chen Junyan, entered and was very curious about her. Seeing that she didn’t speak, he poked her face with his finger, which scared the staff, who immediately pulled him away.

Liao Zhong chatted with Feng Boti, a test subject in the Dark Fortress, who asked if Liao Zhong had special feelings for Chen Duo, which made him bring her back for treatment. Suddenly, Liao Zhong noticed the data on the watch fluctuating wildly. He hurried to the activity room, where the large monster, Chen Junyan, was fooling around, and Chen Duo was showing a long-lost smile.

Once Liao Zhong appeared, Chen Duo quickly adjusted her heart rate back to its original values. The doctor analyzed that Chen Duo and Chen Junyan were similar in age. Chen Duo had been suppressing her nature since childhood, while Chen Junyan was carefree, which might have led to Chen Duo feeling some sort of yearning. Chen Junyan then offered Chen Duo a basketball. She sat still, hesitant to accept it.

After Chen Junyan left the activity room, the ball fell to the ground, and once again, Chen Duo's heart rate spiked. The doctor suggested continuing to provide her with strong emotional stimuli, but Liao Zhong thought it would be better to report to headquarters and develop a more reasonable plan. After receiving approval from headquarters, Chen Duo was taken to a park surrounded by children.

The children gathered around her, talking to her as if she had returned to a familiar, locked-up environment and was reunited with old friends. Suddenly, Chen Duo lost control of her emotions and cried for hours. When they returned to the Dark Fortress, the doctor told Liao Zhong that Chen Duo didn’t seem to be consumed by toxins, but rather by an invisible Qi. From then on, Chen Duo seemed like a completely different person, learning languages and life skills.

She became good friends with Chen Junyan. When Feng Boti left the Dark Fortress, she actually seemed reluctant. Because Chen Junyan was not an Outsider in the strictest sense, he had to be sent out of the fortress as well. After Chen Junyan left, Chen Duo was deeply saddened. Liao Zhong told her that to leave like the others, she needed to learn new skills. He arranged for people to train with Chen Duo every day.

Her learning ability and physical strength soon exceeded those of normal people. After two years, she had fully met the standards. When Chen Duo presented her potted flowers for testing, Liao Zhong knew the time had come for her to leave. He was filled with a mix of excitement, reluctance, and countless emotions.

Episode 7 Recap

Liao Zhong applied to headquarters to allow Chen Duo to leave the Dark Fortress. Although Chen Duo still had poison in her body, she had been trained to control it. However, Bi Youlong deemed it too risky and stated the company had no obligation to cover the costs of her departure. Liao Zhong proposed that Chen Duo leave as a special team member, taking over the position of his team members who had grown less capable.

After deliberation, the board agreed but made it clear that Liao Zhong would bear full responsibility for any accidents. They also provided a collar with an explosive mechanism that could be triggered at any time to neutralize Chen Duo in case of danger. At the age of twenty, Chen Duo left the Dark Fortress as a special team member for the Southwest Region. Under Liao Zhong’s arrangement, she successfully completed several missions, which satisfied headquarters.

However, the doctor who had trained Chen Duo began to feel something was off. During multiple missions, Chen Duo’s heart rate remained unnaturally stable, which was not the behavior of a normal person. Liao Zhong dismissed these concerns. During another mission, Chen Duo reported a breach in her protective suit, alarming Liao Zhong, who rushed to her location. He found her calmly petting a stray cat.

She later brought the cat back to the Dark Fortress for observation, ensuring it hadn’t been contaminated by the poison. Chen Duo told Liao Zhong that the cat was fine and explained that she had deliberately suppressed her toxins. She revealed that she could now control the release of toxins for short periods.

Liao Zhong felt this was a step closer to Chen Duo becoming a normal person, but the doctor disagreed, warning that prolonged toxin suppression could cause irreversible damage and eventual loss of control. During a mission to capture fugitives, Chen Duo unexpectedly went missing. In her final communication, she told Liao Zhong that she had encountered three individuals and that the situation was complicated.

Liao Zhong reported this to headquarters, and Bi Youlong ordered that if Chen Duo was not found within 72 hours, the collar should be detonated. The people Chen Duo encountered were Ma Xianhong and his group. Ma Xianhong took Chen Duo to Biyou Village. When Chen Duo woke up, Ma Xianhong did not harm her but instead took her to the village entrance and let her leave freely.

Chen Duo thought Liao Zhong would come to pick her up, but Ma Xianhong showed her a damaged locator and communication device, stating that no one would come for her. After Ma Xianhong returned to the village, Chen Duo observed the peaceful environment of Biyou Village and stayed there for the entire day. That night, Ma Xianhong saw Chen Duo still standing at the village entrance and became intrigued. Chen Duo shared her past with Ma Xianhong.

While she slept, Ma Xianhong removed her explosive collar and told her that Liao Zhong had only been using her. To prove it, he activated the collar’s switch, cutting a large tree in half instantly. Chen Duo still refused to believe that Liao Zhong would harm her. Ma Xianhong told her that if she wished, she could stay in Biyou Village, and he would find a way to cure her.

Chen Duo agreed to stay but requested to meet Liao Zhong one last time. Chen Duo arranged to meet Liao Zhong in a remote location. Liao Zhong wore a surveillance device, and every move was monitored by headquarters. Upon seeing Chen Duo unharmed, Liao Zhong was overjoyed and tried to bring her back to the Dark Fortress. Chen Duo explained that she no longer wanted to return.

Headquarters immediately ordered her execution, but Liao Zhong hesitated, saying he could still convince her to change her mind. Unaware of headquarters' orders, Chen Duo misunderstood and believed Liao Zhong truly intended to harm her. In self-defense, she killed Liao Zhong. Lao Meng, while recounting Chen Duo’s story, became visibly upset. Zhang Chulan, however, felt that Chen Duo might be hiding certain details.

He questioned why, after gaining her freedom, she had risked meeting Liao Zhong again, knowing it could endanger her life. Other team members seemed to share this sentiment but chose to remain silent. Zhang Chulan decided to seek Wang Ye’s help in analyzing the situation but remembered Wang Ye’s usual disinterest in such matters. Wang Ye was either focused on finding the Furnace of Self-Cultivation or on his own spiritual practices.

Zhang Chulan then turned to Zhuge Qing and arranged to meet him by the river. After hearing Zhang Chulan’s account, Zhuge Qing speculated that there might have been an extraordinary emotional bond between Chen Duo and Liao Zhong, one that drove her to risk the collar being detonated. Zhang Chulan then asked Zhuge Qing about his recent plans with Ma Xianhong, but Zhuge Qing did not respond.

To uncover what had happened between Chen Duo and Liao Zhong before his death, Zhang Chulan sent Feng Baobao to speak with Chen Duo. As Feng Baobao was not skilled in communication, she wore an earpiece to receive remote instructions. Chen Duo told Feng Baobao that before his death, Liao Zhong ignored headquarters’ orders and desperately tried to convince her to change her mind.

Chen Duo explained to Liao Zhong that she didn’t want a normal life and that no one had ever truly understood her. She then released her toxins to kill Liao Zhong. With his last bit of strength, Liao Zhong managed to deactivate the remote control. Before Chen Duo could finish recounting her story, there was a loud noise outside. Feng Baobao rushed to the courtyard and discovered that the area had been surrounded by giant bamboo poles.

When she tried to cut a path with her axe, the poles quickly regenerated. Meanwhile, the yellow dog, Chen Junyan, ran to the Outsiders' courtyard and barked wildly at Lao Meng. Realizing that Chen Duo was in danger, Lao Meng sprang into action.

Episode 8 Recap

Ma Xianhong used the Furnace of Self-Cultivation to recover his memories. Meanwhile, Zhang Chulan was monitoring Feng Baobao outside Chen Duo’s courtyard when he suddenly noticed a tall bamboo forest growing rapidly around the yard, completely engulfing Chen Duo’s house. Alarmed, Zhang Chulan rushed closer to investigate, only to find the area barren and desolate. Lao Meng and Wang Zhenqiu arrived shortly after, led by the yellow dog, Chen Junyan. They discovered that their phones had all lost signal.

At headquarters, Bi Youlong noticed that all the special team members had suddenly gone silent and suspected that Ma Xianhong might be trying to turn Zhang Chulan and his team against NDT Express. After several failed attempts to resolve the situation, Feng Baobao also realized her phone had lost signal. Instead of panicking, she began playing games and even taught Chen Duo how to play. The two started chatting about Chen Junyan and spent the time having fun together.

Meanwhile, in the Northeast Region, Gao Lian reported to headquarters via landline that Gao Er Zhuang had lost the connection between his consciousness and body, estimating that it could only last for another thirty minutes at most. Elsewhere, Xiao Zizai and Hei Guan Er also noticed their phones had lost signal. As they were discussing what to do next, a shadowy figure suddenly burst into the room. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be one of Ma Xianhong’s puppets.

The puppet used a phone to type a few words, identifying itself as Gao Er Zhuang. It then tried to write something on the ground with a stick, but before it could finish, numerous other puppets appeared and surrounded the three of them. Zhang Chulan eventually confronted Ma Xianhong, questioning his true intentions. Ma Xianhong urged Zhang Chulan to leave NDT Express and offered to help him gain freedom, just as he had done for Chen Duo.

Zhang Chulan felt that Ma Xianhong was dangerously testing the limits. In response, Ma Xianhong asked him what he would do if Feng Baobao ended up like Chen Duo. How would headquarters treat her, and what choice would Zhang Chulan make? Xiao Zizai and Hei Guan Er began fighting off the puppets, including the one resembling Ruhua. Meanwhile, Chou Rang used his magic weapon to disassemble Gao Er Zhuang’s body.

The two briefly lamented his condition, but suddenly, an invisible force slapped their faces. Gao Er Zhuang’s voice reappeared, explaining that Ruhua’s body still contained faint electromagnetic waves, which could be used to reassemble him. Using the fragments of Ruhua’s limbs, they built a vine that extended upward, eventually breaking through the shadow barrier that covered Biyou Village. This revealed the unusual phenomena surrounding the village to everyone.

Zhang Chulan, still in conversation with Ma Xianhong, overheard Feng Baobao chatting with Chen Duo through the listening device. Realizing the situation, he immediately left. Zhang Chulan then had Feng Baobao ask Chen Duo if she was willing to leave. Chen Duo refused. Feng Baobao returned to Biyou Village using Shenji Bailian, while Gao Er Zhuang greeted everyone in the group chat. Both Xiao Zizai and Hei Guan Er expressed their admiration for Gao Er Zhuang’s resilience.

The signal was restored, and headquarters was shocked by what had occurred in Biyou Village. Bi Youlong proposed eradicating the village entirely. However, another board member argued that NDT Express’s role was to reasonably manage the outsider community, not to destroy it indiscriminately. Given the recent communication blackout, they emphasized the need to contact the special team members immediately to prevent any misunderstandings.

Headquarters then issued a direct order to capture Ma Xianhong and Chen Duo and to round up all the outsiders in Biyou Village. The special team members responded one after another, but Zhang Chulan hesitated for a long time before finally sending a brief “Received.” Deep in his heart, Zhang Chulan silently prayed that if any of the other six special team members felt sympathy for Chen Duo, now would be the time for them to prepare for a real battle.

Episode 9 Recap

Feng Baobao searched the streets for the villagers, knocking them unconscious and dragging them to the village entrance. The special team members didn’t intend to harm any innocent villagers, only to capture Ma Xianhong. During this operation, Chou Rang engaged in a fight with Feng Baobao but accidentally had his magic weapon, the Ruyi, stolen.

He begged Feng Baobao to return it, but she coldly replied that she had been eyeing the Ruyi for a long time, and now that she had it, she would never give it back. Zhuge Qing asked Fu Rong about her plans and inquired about the reason she came to Biyou Village. Fu Rong simply stated that she would not leave, because since coming to Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong had never done anything wrong.

Zhuge Qing was pleased with Fu Rong’s decision and said he would stay with her. The two of them entered the village together to rescue people, but Lao Meng stopped them halfway. He tried to persuade them to change their minds. Fu Rong, being fiercely protective of Ma Xianhong, became ready to fight at the slightest provocation. Lao Meng suddenly pulled out a document, and Fu Rong’s attitude shifted immediately.

Lao Meng began to list Fu Rong’s past misdeeds: multiple failed attempts to repay online loans, which led to her being listed as a defaulter. The loans were mostly used to buy luxury goods for men, and after being deceived time and again, she was ultimately abandoned. Lao Meng criticized Fu Rong’s poor judgment in choosing a partner. Zhuge Qing approached Fu Rong and expressed approval of her current choice, indirectly complimenting himself.

As they prepared to leave with Lao Meng, Wang Ye suddenly attacked from behind, beating Zhuge Qing mercilessly until he agreed to leave the mountain. Despite this, Wang Ye was still uneasy and called Zhuge Qing aside for a private conversation. Wang Ye expressed concern that Ma Xianhong treated Zhuge Qing well, and he feared that Zhuge Qing might feel guilty for leaving him.

Zhuge Qing reassured Wang Ye that while Ma Xianhong was a good person, he lacked judgment in many matters, which made him not the kind of friend Zhuge Qing would choose. He told Wang Ye that there was no guilt in helping each other, and after that, he returned to Fu Rong’s side, and they left together. Wang Ye noticed a significant change in Zhuge Qing and felt relieved.

Lao Meng asked Zhuge Qing whether he had learned the Shenji Bailian from Ma Xianhong, but Zhuge Qing clarified that he hadn’t, although that didn’t mean he couldn’t decipher the mechanisms of the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. Meanwhile, Feng Baobao started fires all over Biyou Village, trying to lure Ma Xianhong out. Ma Xianhong, observing everything through surveillance, signaled his subordinates to engage the special team directly.

The outsiders in Biyou Village began using magic to attack Hei Guan Er, but it was clear they were no match for him. Zhang Chulan tried to persuade Ma Xianhong to stop, reminding him that both of them were descendants of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques and should consider each other as family. Ma Xianhong, however, thought Zhang Chulan’s conversation was a deliberate attempt to stall him.

Zhang Chulan clarified that he only wanted to protect Ma Xianhong, especially after Ma Xianhong had become unusually active since the Outsider Martial Arts Tournament. Zhang Chulan asked Ma Xianhong what his true intentions were. Ma Xianhong revealed that he had a brain tumor and wanted to live the rest of his life without regrets.

Since Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing were proper successors of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, Ma Xianhong wanted to meet with them and ask Zhuge Qing to help adjust the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. Zhang Chulan finally made an emotional plea, telling Ma Xianhong that he had to choose between Chen Duo and Biyou Village. Ma Xianhong firmly stated that he had already done everything he could, and now, he might need to hurt Zhang Chulan’s people.

After Ma Xianhong left, Zhang Chulan immediately contacted Lao Meng and learned that Zhuge Qing had agreed to help dismantle the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. Ma Xianhong began leading the villagers into battle against the outsiders. Chou Rang followed Lao Meng, thinking he was the most cowardly special team member. However, Lao Meng suddenly summoned a swarm of bees. Chou Rang trapped the bees in his magic weapon, but their venom spread throughout his body.

Lao Meng, ever the graceful one, explained that the Beast Master had taken the art to new heights. Feng Baobao confronted Ma Xianhong, intending to draw him to the center of the village. Xiao Zizai intercepted Zhao Guizhen, recounting the massacre of the seven Maoshan disciples two years ago, all the clues pointing to Zhao Guizhen. Zhao Guizhen admitted his crime but claimed that Maoshan’s martial arts were just a sham.

Xiao Zizai exposed Zhao Guizhen as a fake Maoshan disciple. Zhao Guizhen, filled with arrogance, used his dark arts to summon the Seven Killing Spells, but Xiao Zizai easily countered him. With just a few moves, he subdued Zhao Guizhen. Realizing he was no match for Xiao Zizai, Zhao Guizhen offered several souls he had captured in Biyou Village to entertain Xiao Zizai. Xiao Zizai recognized that Zhao Guizhen was seriously ill.

He recalled his master’s warning from three years ago: only kill in self-defense and to rid the world of demons, but not for any other reason.

Episode 10 Recap

Feng Baobao led Ma Xianhong towards the center of the village. Ma Xianhong attacked twice, but Feng Baobao did not retaliate. Ma Xianhong couldn’t understand Zhang Chulan’s intentions. After tolerating it for a while, he was about to strike Feng Baobao first. The other special team members also arrived and gathered. Hei Guan Er began attacking a few villagers, but Wang Zhenqiu reminded everyone to remember the order not to kill anyone.

Hei Guan Er responded that neutralizing the outsiders' abilities was one thing, but dealing with the villagers would waste too much energy. Ma Xianhong threw out the Thief-Eater Beast to absorb Hei Guan Er’s Qi. Once Hei Guan Er realized this, he quickly retreated a few steps. Wang Zhenqiu began using the divine mask he had recently learned, a spell that, when evolved with righteous power, would unleash endless strength.

Wang Zhenqiu scolded Ma Xianhong for taking Mei Jinfen, accusing him of attempting to change the fate of ordinary people. A few of the outsiders, transformed by the Furnace of Self-Cultivation, wanted to take revenge on Ma Xianhong. However, Wang Zhenqiu, empowered by Sun Wukong’s strength, sent them flying far away. Ma Xianhong demanded they stop immediately, as the newly transformed outsiders were no match for the special team.

One of them, full of emotion, expressed loyalty to Ma Xianhong and an eager desire to experience the thrill of fighting outsiders. Xiao Zizai walked out of the woods, carrying a bundle, and reminded the excited outsider not to act impulsively. He then threw the bundle near Ma Xianhong. Someone opened it, and Zhao Guizhen’s magic was revealed. The transformed outsiders realized that even Zhao Guizhen was not their match, let alone themselves with insufficient strength.

Ma Xianhong gave another order: all the transformed outsiders should turn around and leave. Zhuge Qing used the Bagua formation to locate the Furnace of Self-Cultivation, which was in a locked position. Zhang Chulan urged him to hurry up. Ma Xianhong engaged in a full-scale battle with the four special team members, only to discover that their strength was formidable. Moreover, none of them were fully using their Qi, as if they were deliberately avoiding something.

Zhuge Qing used magic to overcome the divine machine technique and located the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. He left Zhang Chulan to dismantle it alone while he went ahead to find Fu Rong. Ma Xianhong realized the plan of Zhang Chulan’s group and noted that even if they delayed him, they could not easily destroy the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. Zhang Chulan began to destroy the control mechanism beside the Furnace, but suddenly, black puppets attacked.

The puppets had at least absorbed the power of three outsiders, including Chen Duo’s deadly poison. Zhang Chulan was soon overwhelmed by the poison and quickly withered and died. Long ago, Zhang Chulan’s grandfather, Zhang Huaiyi, had asked Feng Baobao to hide a precious pearl, telling her it would save Zhang Chulan in a critical moment. Not long after, Feng Baobao transmitted the pearl’s power to Zhang Chulan.

After Zhang Chulan was poisoned, the pearl activated the Old Farmer's Power within him. With a stomp, the force shook the entire Biyou Village. Ma Xianhong realized Zhang Chulan had broken the black puppet’s hold and rushed towards the Furnace of Self-Cultivation. The four outsiders began chasing after him. Hei Guan Er moved closer to Ma Xianhong, ready to strike, but was immediately attacked by Ma Xianhong’s magic.

Thousands of silver threads pierced through his body, and he fell dead to the ground. Xiao Zizai, Feng Baobao, and Wang Zhenqiu continued the pursuit. Zhang Chulan had already absorbed the essence of the Old Farmer's Power. While disassembling the black puppet, he also destroyed the Furnace of Self-Cultivation.

Episode 11 Recap

Ten years ago, Hei Guan Er had undergone a heart transplant. A comrade had donated his heart, but its position was slightly off to the right. As a result, Ma Xianhong missed the correct spot when attempting to shoot. When Lao Meng passed through the forest, he saw Hei Guan Er lying on the ground and assumed he had died. He knelt beside him, feeling sorrowful and shedding tears. Suddenly, Hei Guan Er made a sound, startling Lao Meng.

It turned out that Hei Guan Er had only pretended to be dead to deceive Ma Xianhong. Upon seeing the destroyed Furnace of Self-Cultivation, Ma Xianhong was filled with rage and immediately attacked the special team members. Zhang Chulan stood aside, watching without intervening, knowing it was not the right time to act unless absolutely necessary. This was the moment to show the unity of the special team.

Feng Baobao snatched the Thief-Eater Beast, which began rising slowly, absorbing Feng Baobao’s Qi, causing it to grow bigger and rise faster. Ma Xianhong saw that the Thief-Eater Beast was near its breaking point and hurriedly turned to control Feng Baobao. Xiao Zizai and Wang Zhenqiu chased after him to stop him. Before Ma Xianhong could reach them, the Thief-Eater Beast exploded. Ma Xianhong was overwhelmed by a feeling of helplessness.

He mentally expressed to his sister that the enemies were too strong. Hei Guan Er appeared before Ma Xianhong and explained that although Ma Xianhong’s divine machine technique was powerful, the body of an ordinary person with a firm belief was even stronger. Ma Xianhong used his highest tactics, and the four special team members attacked together. Suddenly, it felt as if time and space had stopped. Each person’s attacks rebounded onto themselves.

Wang Ye descended from the mountain and asked if the company had ensured Ma Xianhong’s life. Feng Baobao answered that it was better to capture him alive. Wang Ye analyzed Ma Xianhong’s magic, explaining that he used a time-space distortion technique to slow time. It appeared that Ma Xianhong was being attacked, but in reality, he had shifted to another dimension. Wang Ye used his chaos magic to break Ma Xianhong’s turtle-fly body technique.

The two slow techniques battled for a moment, but Wang Ye eventually removed the magic artifact from Ma Xianhong’s neck. Ma Xianhong retaliated with a dagger, cutting Wang Ye’s carotid artery. Wang Ye fell heavily to the ground and ordered the four special team members to join in the fight. Ma Xianhong’s magical abilities were significantly weakened, and he was struck hard by Wang Zhenqiu. The divine machine beads, one by one, fell off Ma Xianhong’s body.

Lao Meng arrived just in time and urged Ma Xianhong to stop struggling. He added that what Ma Xianhong had done was not something the headquarters couldn’t face. Ma Xianhong decided to go back to the company with Zhang Chulan to meet with the company’s board of directors. Feng Baobao, seeing the beautiful beads, eagerly ran over and picked them up one by one. Wang Ye used magic to heal his wound and walked over to Ma Xianhong.

He told Ma Xianhong that if he hadn’t insisted on creating the Furnace of Self-Cultivation, Wang Ye wouldn’t have been on the opposing side. He also advised Ma Xianhong that if he wanted to live a peaceful life, he must stay away from one person. Wang Ye then walked over to Zhang Chulan and told him that the same advice for Ma Xianhong applied to him as well.

After Wang Ye descended the mountain, Xiao Zizai inserted a silver needle into Ma Xianhong’s neck, waiting for the headquarters to carry out the capture. Ma Xianhong calmly told everyone that his decision to be captured was voluntary. He hoped every outsider could find themselves. He warned that if Chen Duo were killed, the other special team members wouldn’t fare any better. Everyone at the scene chose to remain silent.

With Biyou Village and Ma Xianhong’s situation resolved, only Chen Duo’s matter remained. Lao Meng said that his specialized biological field had many similarities to the poison master’s abilities, so he would speak with Chen Duo first to seek her opinion. Before Lao Meng could finish speaking, Feng Baobao walked up to Chen Duo in a daze. The others quickly tried to stop her. Chen Duo didn’t reject Feng Baobao.

Feng Baobao explained her reasons, saying that before deciding to fight Ma Xianhong, she had given Chen Duo a choice. In the end, Chen Duo decided not to help Ma Xianhong. Everything had been designed by Zhang Chulan. However, Zhang Chulan looked innocent, pretending to know nothing. Lao Meng told Chen Duo that she had the right to choose.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chulan quietly reflected that Liao Zhong had accompanied Chen Duo with life and love, but in the end, he didn’t understand that what Chen Duo truly wanted was the freedom to make her own choices.

Episode 12 Recap

Chen Duo chose to return to her original world, and Lao Meng could not accept this. It was he who had brought Chen Duo out of the Yao Xian Society in the past. He knelt down, begging Chen Duo to reconsider her decision. Xiao Zizai advised Lao Meng to respect Chen Duo's free choice and even suggested that Chen Duo could choose to end her life in any way and with anyone.

Chen Duo expressed her desire to end her own life. Hei Guan Er explained that as long as she didn’t harm others, Chen Duo could proceed as she wished. Chen Duo began to remove her protective clothing and tried to tear it apart. However, the quality of the protective clothing was very high, and Chen Duo’s strength was insufficient to destroy it.

Hei Guan Er snatched the protective clothing from her and tore it apart with ease, tossing it aside without seeing Chen Duo as an outsider. Chen Duo expressed that she wanted to end her life while shopping. Lao Meng began to cry again and tried to stop her.

Wang Zhenqiu advised Lao Meng to stop thinking of Chen Duo as an ordinary person, saying that Chen Duo was merely a passerby in this life, and perhaps returning early would be the better end for her. Zhang Chulan opposed Chen Duo’s proposal. He explained that for the twenty hours in which the poison would be suppressed, it couldn’t rely solely on Chen Duo’s feelings. Once the poison was released, no one could take responsibility.

The outsiders all expressed their willingness to take responsibility. Xiao Zizai walked over to Zhang Chulan and stated that as a special team member, Zhang Chulan had already completed his task. Ultimately, Chen Duo was also a special team member, and he would still choose to support her. Zhang Chulan couldn’t say anything further. The group walked out onto the street. Chen Duo was like a bird that had just flown out of its cage, curious about everything.

Seeing people playing a claw machine, she walked into the store to watch. A middle-aged man saw the look in Chen Duo’s eyes and offered to teach her how to play the claw machine, but he secretly hoped to take advantage of her. As he reached out to touch her hand, Hei Guan Er grabbed his collar from behind. By the time Chen Duo successfully grabbed a stuffed doll, the man was already beaten up, his face bruised.

Chen Duo then wanted to try on new clothes. Hei Guan Er suggested that Feng Baobao also try on a lady-like outfit. Wang Zhenqiu laughed at their old-fashioned taste. Chen Duo changed into a dress and completely transformed her style, but the poison spots on her arms attracted attention. When the staff member prepared to take a picture, Hei Guan Er stepped forward to stop them.

After leaving the mall, Chen Duo asked Hei Guan Er for money to buy a lot of ice cream, which she then gave to each of the special team members. When she reached Lao Meng, he couldn’t be happy at all. Every time he saw Chen Duo, his heart sank.

Chen Duo said that she always knew Lao Meng loved her like Liao Zhong did, and that’s why she no longer hated him for taking her out of the Yao Xian Society. Everything had its purpose. Chen Duo didn’t eat any ice cream, as her body could no longer allow it. She didn’t want to cause any more difficulty for the special team members at her last moment.

With only two ice creams left, Chen Duo tried to offer them to passersby, but they all rejected her, seeing her as a monster. In the end, the ice cream fell to the ground. Lao Meng hurried over to her side and asked if she wanted to continue. Chen Duo replied that she would soon be able to rest forever, but still chose to struggle on. Lao Meng quickly grabbed her already decayed hand.

Someone nearby took a photo of Chen Duo, but the phone immediately died. The electronic screens on the streets also lost signal. Xiao Zizai informed them that Xu Er Zhuang had also arrived and would walk with Chen Duo for her final journey. Chen Junyan named himself and tried to make himself laugh. Liao Zhong helped fight for freedom and, just as he was about to gain it, laughed and cried at the same time.

Chen Duo was indeed a very smart child who deeply understood all emotions. But at this moment, all the beautiful memories of the past came flooding back. She looked back one last time at Lao Meng’s anguished face and the other concerned eyes. Then, she moved toward a ray of light and slowly walked to Liao Zhong’s side.

Episode 13 (Ending) Recap

The headquarters received the report on the destruction of Bi You Village and the capture of Chen Duo. Zhang Chulan described how Chen Duo had fled after refusing arrest and died from poisoning during the struggle. Bi Youlong expressed great doubt about the report, believing the operation had been wrong from the start. Initially, he had wanted to revoke the temporary workers' status, as each temporary worker was like a lone wolf.

However, the capture of Chen Duo had turned the group into a wolf pack, which was detrimental to the company. He ordered everyone to return to the hidden fortress for an investigation. On the way back to the company, everyone was heavy-hearted, perhaps because the scene they least wanted to see was now inevitable. Zhang Chulan, however, was quite satisfied and attributed the success of the operation to his good fortune.

From the beginning, he had been worried about Feng Baobao. If her identity were revealed, she would face a fate worse than Chen Duo’s. Fortunately, during this operation, he had observed the sympathy the other temporary workers felt for Chen Duo. This rare emotion could perhaps protect Feng Baobao in critical moments. As for his own life, it no longer mattered.

Therefore, when each of the temporary workers took responsibility for Chen Duo’s death, Zhang Chulan deliberately took an opposing stance to make them understand that, no matter what, they were a special group and needed to unite to protect themselves. After returning to the hidden fortress, Xu San informed Zhang Chulan that everyone would have to face the "wide bench" for questioning. Fearing Feng Baobao's true identity would be exposed, he had already prepared some words for her to memorize.

As for Zhang Chulan, who wasn’t a special team member, he too had to undergo questioning. The directors took turns talking with the special team members. When asked about Chen Duo's cause of death, Zhang Chulan first followed the report's narrative. The "wide bench" lit up a red light, indicating he had failed. Afterward, each of them revealed the truth and expressed their willingness to take responsibility for Chen Duo's death.

When asked about Ma Xianhong’s character, everyone agreed that Ma Xianhong was a person worthy of respect. At the very least, he had been sincere towards Chen Duo and the villagers, but his efforts had been misguided, leading to his tragic downfall. On the way to the hidden fortress, Ma Xianhong spoke about a skeleton illusion picture he had seen at his sister’s house. He had never understood its meaning.

In the picture, a child follows his mother to the outskirts of a village to watch a puppet show. The child climbs forward, only to discover that the performer is actually a skull head, controlled from behind by a larger skull, much like his own fate, which had always been controlled from the beginning. Before Ma Xianhong could finish his story, the car suddenly shook violently. Everyone lost consciousness.

After a moment, Ma Xianhong slowly woke up and struggled to climb out of the car. A woman approached—none other than Qu Tong, the mastermind behind everything. During Zhang Chulan's investigation, he explained that the mission was not over. Ma Xianhong had never truly understood his situation because there had always been someone pulling the strings behind him. At this point, another director suddenly took over the questioning, seemingly afraid Zhang Chulan would reveal more truths.

Zhang Chulan suggested they move to another place to continue the conversation. Ma Xianhong was taken back to Qu Tong’s home. He remembered that fifteen days earlier, through the Xiu Shen Furnace, he had regained his memories. When he was very young, his grandfather was killed by a group of strangers. At that time, Qu Tong had come to him, erased all his memories, and then raised him.

When creating the Xiu Shen Furnace, Qu Tong had given him a box of treasures called "裂缝" (裂缝 – “Crack”), which had allowed the furnace to be completed. Zhang Chulan came across an item very similar to the Xiu Shen Furnace. Zhao Dong explained that experts had identified it as an alien lifeform sustained by Qi. It became clear that there was a controlling force behind Ma Xianhong.

Zhao Dong asked Zhang Chulan how he had discovered this, to which Zhang Chulan replied that Ma Xianhong had told him himself. Ma Xianhong had once ordered Chen Duo to kidnap Mei Jinfeng, claiming it was a task entrusted to him. Afterward, Xu San investigated and found that Mei Jinfeng was a follower of Wu Gen Sheng, the head of the sect "All True," before turning forty. Wu Gen Sheng was likely the one who had triggered the Armor Incident.

Ma Xianhong asked Qu Tong about his childhood, and Qu Tong prepared to erase his memories again. However, Ma Xianhong preemptively used a chopstick to stab the table. Determined to understand Qu Tong’s plans for him, Ma Xianhong followed Qu Tong to where Mei Jinfeng was sleeping. Qu Tong told him that there were many secrets in Mei Jinfeng's dreams. She also brought out the裂缝 Furnace, suggesting that if Ma Xianhong was willing, they could rebuild the Xiu Shen Furnace.

Zhao Dong told Zhang Chulan that when Xu San set up the special team positions, he had known about Feng Baobao's true identity. After passing through the "wide bench," Zhao Dong still couldn’t help but ask Feng Baobao her real age. After Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao left the hidden fortress, Bi Youlong asked Zhao Dong why he had spared Feng Baobao, who hadn't passed the "wide bench" test.

Zhao Dong explained that the real powerful opponent was the person behind Ma Xianhong. If they wanted to find this person, Feng Baobao would be the best bait. Qu Tong showed Ma Xianhong Mei Jinfeng’s dream, where Wu Gen Sheng had gathered many people and taken Feng Baobao to a secluded place, planning to do something big.

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