Chapter Summaries

Zhou Yi had Shi Yuanbo arrested again after Tian Zhengbing arranged his release, leaving the Xue family unable to persuade Hou Xiangyang to intervene. Xue Baoguo and Zhong Liyun considered apologizing, while Zhou Yi spent the night with Jian Shuyue.

• Yan Li refused to let Gou Hongtao take Shi Yuanbo away, and Meng Shen ordered Shi to get out of the car.
• Shi Yuanbo called Zhong Liyun for help, and she told Xue Baoguo that Zhou Yi had arrested him again.
• Xue Baoguo called Hou Xiangyang, who declined to push Tian Zhengbing to confront Zhou Yi and advised him to be patient.
• Tian Zhengbing decided not to contact Zhou Yi again until the next day, while Xue Baoguo and Zhong Liyun remained anxious.
• Zhong Liyun suggested apologizing, but Xue Baoguo worried about the old patriarch's dignity.
• Zhou Yi spent the night with Jian Shuyue.

Zhou Yi confronted Gou Hongtao over forcibly releasing Shi Yuanbo and made him accept blame for violating procedure. Zhou Yi refused to reduce Shi’s punishment, while Jian Wanyan called from Capital City and proposed fifteen days of detention to teach him a lesson.

• Zhou Yi reprimanded Gou Hongtao for interfering in the Public Security Management Corps' case and releasing Shi Yuanbo.
• Gou Hongtao took Zhou Yi to Tian Zhengbing, who denied ordering the forcible release and made Gou accept responsibility.
• Zhou Yi proposed bringing Gou’s misconduct before a Party Committee meeting, but Tian Zhengbing persuaded him to settle for a reprimand and an apology.
• Tian Zhengbing tried to persuade Zhou Yi to follow Secretary Hou’s request to release Shi Yuanbo, but Zhou insisted that Shi serve at least seven days in detention.
• Jian Wanyan called from Capital City and said Shi Yuanbo should receive fifteen days in detention as a lesson.

After Zhong Liguang’s plea caused Shi Yuanbo’s detention to rise to fifteen days, Xue Zongxian told his family to accept the punishment and apologize to Zhou Yi and Jian Shuyue. Zhou accepted their apology, while rumors spread through the department about his dressing-down of Gou Hongtao and his growing influence.

• Jian Wanyan told Zhong Liguang that Zhou Yi would decide Shi Yuanbo’s punishment, and Zhong learned the detention had risen from seven days to fifteen.
• Xue Zongxian rebuked Zheng Shumin for asking Zhong Liguang to intervene, then told the family to accept the fifteen days and apologize.
• Xue Baoguo and Zhong Liyun apologized to Zhou Yi by phone and offered to visit Jian Shuyue, while Zhou confirmed Shi Yuanbo’s detention would stand.
• After Xue Baoguo praised the fifteen-day punishment, Zhou Yi accepted the increased term rather than changing it back to seven days.
• Department staff discussed Zhou Yi’s scolding of Gou Hongtao for trying to get Shi Yuanbo released and speculated that Department Director Tian had let Gou take the blame.

At the Provincial Public Security Department’s first Party Committee meeting under Tian Zhengbing, Tian promoted a province-wide organized-crime crackdown while leaders battled over who should fill a committee vacancy. The vote ended in a tie, and Feng Shicheng then revealed that Gou Hongtao had been reported for misconduct.

• Tian Zhengbing presented plans for a more intensive second phase of the province-wide crackdown on organized crime and eyed Zhou Yi as a rival.
• Gou Hongtao and Zhang Yongliang backed Qi Huawei for the vacant Party Committee seat, while Feng Shicheng noted Qi’s past disciplinary sanction.
• Gan Yongsheng and Gou defended Qi, while Xiang Qun recommended Jiang Xuezeng, whom Tian opposed.
• The leadership members split four to four, and Tian postponed the decision.
• Feng Shicheng announced that the Discipline Inspection Department had received several letters reporting misconduct by Gou Hongtao.

Feng Shicheng disclosed allegations that Gou Hongtao accepted bribes and interfered with a criminal case, while Zhou Yi backed him against Tian Zhengbing's criticism. Tian summoned Zhou and Feng to his office to learn whether the accusations had evidence, and Feng revealed that the complaint letters named a serious assault case but offered no direct proof.

• Feng Shicheng raised the complaint letters against Gou Hongtao at the Party Committee meeting, prompting Gou to denounce them as a frame-up.
• Zhou Yi said he had asked Feng to verify the complaints and accepted responsibility for not informing Tian Zhengbing sooner.
• Feng said the letters accused Gou of taking cash, a Little Golden Dragon, and Hetian jade, and Gou denied accepting bribes.
• Tian ended the meeting and summoned Zhou Yi and Feng Shicheng to his office, while Gou returned to his office frightened and sweating.
• Tian asked whether the allegations had concrete evidence, and Feng said the letters also accused Gou of downgrading a serious assault case two years earlier but provided no direct proof.

Zhou Yi arranged an investigation into Gou Hongtao while Tian Zhengbing tried to contain the scandal and protect himself. He then asked Qu Hongying to give him a few days to settle department affairs before helping with the stalled Shanhai Group case.

• Zhou Yi proposed that Feng Shicheng lead a Party Committee investigation into the allegations against Gou Hongtao, and Tian Zhengbing agreed to a preliminary inquiry without reporting it to the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission yet.
• Tian Zhengbing told Gou Hongtao he would return the incriminating items and give him copies of the allegations, then urged him to clean up the evidence quickly.
• Gou Hongtao promised to take responsibility himself, and Tian Zhengbing suggested they might yield the deputy department director position to Jiang Xuezeng to protect him.
• Zhou Yi told Qu Hongying to wait a few days while he dealt with the department's affairs, and she sent him the requested good-luck comment.
• Wu Daojun asked Qu Hongying what Zhou Yi had said, then eagerly posted the same comment while waiting for progress on the Shanhai Group case.

After learning of the allegations against him, Gou Hongtao followed Yu Xia’s plan to return the gifts and contain evidence of a buried assault case. Qi Huawei went to return his own gifts to Wang Xianda, only to find procurators waiting at Wang’s home, where he handed over the valuables and confessed.

• Gou Hongtao returned home with the report, and Tian Zhengbing’s driver brought back the Little Golden Dragon, Hetian jade, and cash.
• Yu Xia instructed Gou Hongtao to return the gifts to Qi Huawei and to pressure the assault victim’s family and the officers who handled the case.
• Gou Hongtao summoned Qi Huawei, who returned the gifts and cash to him, then called Wang Xianda to arrange returning the valuables Wang had given him.
• Qi Huawei arrived at Wang Xianda’s home and discovered Kang Jian and other procurators waiting there.
• Kang Jian urged Qi Huawei to cooperate, and Qi handed over the Little Golden Dragon, Hetian jade, and cash while claiming he had come to return them.

Zhou Yi’s plan exposed the illicit gifts linking Gou Hongtao, Qi Huawei, and Wang Xianda, drawing the Discipline Inspection Commission toward Gou. As evidence implicated Tian Zhengbing, Secretary Hou Xiangyang ordered Guan Ruibo to investigate him according to procedure.

• Qu Hongying’s searches led to the arrests of Wang Xianda and Qi Huawei after Qi carried the illicit gifts into Wang’s home.
• Gou Hongtao feared Qi would implicate him, while Tian Zhengbing cut ties and told Gou not to mention their connection.
• Lü Ruiqi summoned Gou Hongtao to the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, and Gou left the Public Security Department in regret.
• Guan Ruibo told Hou Xiangyang that evidence confirmed Tian Zhengbing had accepted a bribe from Gou Hongtao in exchange for a promotion.
• Hou Xiangyang ordered Guan Ruibo to investigate Tian Zhengbing according to procedure, then slammed his hand on the desk after Guan left.

Zhou Yi took charge of the Provincial Public Security Department after Tian Zhengbing was detained, and Tian confessed to accepting bribes and implicated Ma Gangyao. Meanwhile, Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that the investigation into her remained under control.

• Cheng Zhixing convened an emergency meeting after Qi Huawei, Gou Hongtao, Zhang Yongliang, and Tian Zhengbing were taken into custody, then announced that Zhou Yi would oversee the department.
• Cheng Zhixing urged Zhou Yi to keep the department's work running and advance the crackdown on organized crime, assuring him that the provincial leaders supported him.
• During interrogation, Tian Zhengbing saw evidence of his dealings with Gou Hongtao and confessed to taking bribes.
• Tian Zhengbing revealed that Ma Gangyao had paid him 500,000 yuan to secure the release of his nephew, prompting Qu Hongying and Wu Daojun to celebrate the new lead.
• Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that Qu Hongying had made no progress investigating her and that the situation remained under her control.

Rong Jinxiu learned that Zhou Yi’s moves had brought down Tian Zhengbing and led to Ma Gangyao’s detention, while Qu Hongying pursued the case. Zhou Yi redirected Qu Hongying toward Wang Xianda, whose confession implicated a senior Chuanhai official and alarmed provincial leaders.

• Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that Zhou Yi had caused Tian Zhengbing to be placed under Shuanggui and taken charge of the Public Security Department.
• Rong Jinxiu learned that Ma Gangyao had been detained after Tian Zhengbing confessed to financial dealings with him, and she tried to arrange protection for Ma Gangyao.
• Qu Hongying persuaded Guan Ruibo to let her question Ma Gangyao, but Ma Gangyao stayed silent throughout the interrogation.
• Zhou Yi advised Qu Hongying to question Wang Xianda instead, and Wang Xianda later implicated Chuanhai Executive Vice Mayor Guan Yifei.
• Jiang Yunlai, Guan Ruibo, Lan Kun, and Hou Xiangyang grew alarmed as the investigation threatened to ensnare more officials.

Hou Xiangyang and other provincial leaders discussed the recent corruption arrests before shifting their focus to the second-phase organized-crime crackdown. At a later Standing Committee meeting, Hou criticized the supervision task force in Desheng City, leaving Duan Huaien fearing he would be replaced and eyeing Zhou Yi as a possible successor.

• Hou Xiangyang convened a meeting with Lan Kun, Guan Ruibo, Cheng Zhixing, Jiang Yunlai, and Han Dong to discuss the recent arrests of corrupt officials.
• Han Dong and Guan Ruibo credited Qu Hongying and the Discipline Inspection Commission for the anti-corruption cases, while Lan Kun argued that the crackdown on graft must continue.
• Lan Kun redirected the meeting toward the organized-crime campaign, and Hou Xiangyang endorsed giving equal weight to anti-corruption and the crackdown on criminal forces.
• Three days later, Hou Xiangyang told the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee that Desheng City's problems and its officials' collusion with criminal forces remained unresolved.
• Hou Xiangyang rebuked Duan Huaien for the task force's ineffective work, and Duan wondered whether Zhou Yi would replace him in Desheng.

Zhou Yi accepted the assignment to lead the Provincial Party Committee's second supervision team in Desheng City, then helped Hou Xiangyang reconnect with the Jian family. The chapter ended with Hou promising to visit Zhou Chunyi and Jian Yan for New Year, while Zhou Chunyi reflected on how many powerful uncles Zhou Yi had gathered.

• Cheng Zhixing recommended replacing Duan Huaien with Zhou Yi as leader of the second supervision team, and Zhou Yi agreed to the organization's arrangement.
• Hou Xiangyang praised Zhou Yi and invited him to his office, prompting Lan Kun to worry that Hou was trying to draw Zhou Yi into his camp.
• Hou Xiangyang reminisced with Zhou Yi about his childhood friendship with Zhou Yi's father-in-law, Jian Wanyan, and asked after the Jian family.
• Zhou Yi took Hou Xiangyang's hint and passed his message to the Jian family, and Hou later received a call from Zhou Chunyi inviting him to visit for New Year.
• Hou Xiangyang promised to visit Zhou Chunyi and Jian Yan, while Zhou Chunyi noted that Zhou Yi's circle of powerful uncles had grown large enough for a mahjong table.

Zhou Yi led the Provincial Party Committee’s Second Inspection Team for the Crackdown on Organized Crime into Desheng City, where local leaders welcomed the team and Yang Mingshan worried about the scrutiny. As the inspection began, Bi Wensheng returned to Desheng and expressed renewed admiration for Zhou Yi.

• Jian Wanyan and Hou Xiangyang spoke for an hour, reconciled, and agreed to meet over the New Year holiday.
• Zhou Yi urged Qu Hongying to keep investigating Guan Yifei and Ma Gangyao while taking precautions against Rong Jinxiu.
• On December 20, Desheng City announced the inspection team’s arrival and publicized its hotline and mailbox for reports.
• Yang Mingshan watched coverage of Zhou Yi’s arrival and resolved to keep a low profile until the team left.
• Shen Zhendong and Su Qin welcomed Zhou Yi and his inspection team at a banquet attended by Desheng City officials.
• Bi Wensheng returned from leave to attend the banquet, and Zhou Yi greeted him warmly.

Deputy Department Director Zhou Yi unsettled Desheng’s officials by asking about Yang Mingshan and Guo Zikun, while a man was tortured and forced to watch his sister being raped. The chapter ended with the threat that she would die if he continued refusing to talk.

• Bi Wensheng believed Zhou Yi had secretly sent him to Desheng to investigate criminal forces, and resolved to follow Zhou’s instructions.
• Zhou Yi ate with Shen Zhendong, Su Qin, and other officials as the tense gathering watched him in silence.
• After Li Linsen whispered to him, Zhou Yi asked whether Yang Mingshan was well known, causing an official to drop a cup.
• Zhou Yi asked who Guo Zikun was, and Zou Guiping dropped another cup as the officials fell silent.
• Zhou Yi told everyone to sit and continue eating, then the scene shifted to a burly man threatening a battered captive as several men raped the captive’s sister.

Guo Zikun tortured Yu Xiaofeng and his sister over a missing disc, but Uncle Yang’s warning about Zhou Yi led him to imprison them instead of killing them. At a municipal banquet, Zhou Yi outlined three types of organized criminals and made the officials wonder whether he was already targeting people in Desheng.

• Guo Zikun accused Yu Xiaofeng of stealing a disc and had his men restrain him while his sister was tortured.
• Uncle Yang warned Guo Zikun that Zhou Yi had begun investigating him and urged him to stop causing trouble.
• Guo Zikun pretended to comply, then ordered his men to lock up Yu Xiaofeng and his sister.
• At the welcome banquet, Su Qin asked Zhou Yi to share his experience fighting organized crime.
• Zhou Yi described arrogant, calculating, and psychologically depraved criminals, prompting unease among the officials.

After Zhou Yi warned Desheng’s officials that he intended to pursue organized crime, he tested Bi Wensheng’s resolve and ordered him to arrest Guo Zikun. Guo calmly surrendered after a woman reassured him, but the interrogation began with a shocking reference to another man’s death sentence.

• At the banquet, Zhou Yi said he expected the officials to attend a victory banquet soon, leaving Shen Zhendong alarmed by the implied threat.
• Zhou Yi questioned Bi Wensheng about Yang Mingshan and Guo Zikun, then ordered him to arrest Guo immediately despite Bi’s concerns about leaks and interference.
• Bi Wensheng directed Dong Gang and Kong Kai to carry out the arrest, while refusing to back down after Liu Jian and Shi Nanting called to question him.
• Guo Zikun debated whether to flee, but a woman reassured him that Zhou Yi had no evidence against him, so he waited for the police and surrendered calmly.
• During Guo Zikun’s interrogation, the criminal police officer began by reciting the background of Wen Hua, a man sentenced to death for rape and intentional homicide.

Li Linsen exposed Guo Zikun as the long-sought Wen Hua, who broke down after learning Zhou Yi had directed his arrest. At the Desheng City Public Security Bureau, Bi Wensheng confronted Wen Xiaoyi with Wen Hua’s name, leaving her stunned that Zhou Yi had uncovered their secret without warning.

• Li Linsen showed Guo Zikun evidence of Wen Hua’s identity, and Guo Zikun eventually broke down and begged his mother to save him.
• Li Linsen credited Zhou Yi’s information for the arrest while reflecting on the far-reaching public tips that supported Zhou Yi’s investigations.
• Bi Wensheng convened the Desheng City Public Security Bureau’s Party Committee and announced Guo Zikun’s arrest.
• Bi Wensheng asked Wen Xiaoyi whether she knew Wen Hua, and her reaction revealed that she understood Zhou Yi had uncovered Guo Zikun’s true identity.
• Wen Xiaoyi wondered how Zhou Yi had discovered the secret without giving her any chance to prepare.

Bi Wensheng exposed Wen Xiaoyi’s role in Wen Hua’s return under the identity Guo Zikun, prompting the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission to detain her and other officials. Zhou Yi secured Desheng’s leaders’ agreement to act against Yang Mingshan and received the Provincial Party Committee’s full backing for the investigation.

• Bi Wensheng revealed that Guo Zikun was Wen Hua, and discipline inspection officers took Wen Xiaoyi away.
• Zhou Yi told Shen Zhendong and Su Qin that fingerprints had confirmed Guo Zikun’s identity and criticized Desheng’s failure to control criminal forces.
• Zhou Yi recommended that Desheng immediately take compulsory criminal measures against Yang Mingshan, and Shen Zhendong and Su Qin agreed.
• Zhou Yi called Guan Ruibo to report the Supervision Group’s progress and its leads implicating Yang Mingshan and Wen Hua in organized crime.
• Secretary Hou ordered Guan Ruibo to support Zhou Yi without reservation and praised his work.

As the investigation in Desheng City intensified, Yang Mingshan and Su Di decided to flee, and Yang ordered Cheng Youqiang to kill Zhou Yi. Yang and Su Di escaped before authorities could seize them, leaving Shen Zhendong and Su Qin facing the task of bringing them to justice.

• Guan Ruibo agreed to send Lü Ruiqi and a team to Desheng to support Zhou Yi, while Governor Lan ordered Su Qin to follow the supervision team's instructions.
• After learning about the arrests and investigations, Yang Mingshan, Su Di, and Cheng Youqiang discussed their worsening situation and decided to leave Desheng.
• Li Xianglin told Yang Mingshan that officials had not yet decided whether to investigate Hope Group, but Yang grew suspicious and ended the call.
• Yang Mingshan fled with Su Di and ordered Cheng Youqiang to get rid of Zhou Yi.
• Li Xianglin asked Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission staff whether his tip counted as making amends for his crimes.
• Shen Zhendong and Su Qin learned that Yang Mingshan and Su Di had vanished and worried they might fail to bring them to justice.

Yu Xiaofeng killed four men while defending his sister, and Zhou Yi’s team considered whether the killings qualified as special defense. As the investigation continued, Su Qin refused to protect her cousin Su Di, then learned that Zhou Yi had been in a car accident.

• Yu Xiaofeng killed four attackers after they assaulted his sister Yu Xiaohui, then police arrived to find the bloody scene.
• Bi Wensheng argued that Yu Xiaofeng’s actions qualified as special defense, and Zhou Yi ordered a thorough investigation supported by evidence and proper procedure.
• Su Qin told her sick aunt she could not save Su Di, who had colluded with Yang Mingshan and taken Wen Hua.
• Su Qin’s secretary Xiao Tian reported that Team Leader Zhou had been in a car accident, leaving Su Qin reeling.