Original subtitles

What godforsaken place is this?

Why bring me here?

This is Heisha Sea.

The very place ruled by Desert Tiger

100 years ago?

That's right.

This place used to be a bustling town,

being the main goods distribution hub in the northwest.

Countless caravans departed from here.

Then a notorious bandit emerged, known as Desert Tiger.

No one knew his real name.

He roamed the entire Heisha Sea Region

and ambushed passing caravans,

destroying this prosperous place.

Two years later,

the government sent a massive army to attack him.

It took them a year

to wipe out this group of bandits.

Desert Tiger, the head of the bandits,

was publicly executed,

but the legacy he left behind

and a secret arms warehouse have never been found.

Only some of those old guns

and cannons

are lucky to survive.

His legacy

remains missing to this day.

Uncle.

Why tell me all this?

You'll report for duty the day after tomorrow.

You can't run around cluelessly, right?

I know why you became a cop.

(Heisha Sea)

Here, read this.

The ins and outs of Northwest Wolves.

Desert Tiger's legacy

is in the hands of Gu Mulan.

That's the core of the syndicate's wealth.

=Chase the Truth=

(Adapted from Zhao Junkai's novel "Northwest Off-North is Not North")

=Episode 10=

Do you know about Heisha Sea?

Where Desert Tiger used to roam.

All of these belonged to him.

You already have these.

Why bother with Gu Mulan?

Do you think Desert Tiger

only had these broken guns?

He had a rule.

Let mailmen pass.

It's because most nearby mailmen

were basically his informants.

Their job

was to guide caravans

into his hunting area.

Gu Mulan's

grandfather,

also known as Gu the Third,

was one

of Desert Tiger's most trusted mailmen.

Do you trust me this much?

I hope you live up to my trust.

What plans do you have

with your little girlfriend?

Girlfriend?

Gun.

This is the modern age.

A few kisses and she's my girlfriend?

Oh, right.

Her surname is also Gu.

She's not Gu Mulan's daughter, is she?

She is.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

I would've done away with her long ago

and spared myself the trouble.

Just go.

Boss.

This kid

is Seven's son,

and he's involved with Gu Mulan's daughter.

Maybe we have said too much?

What I said just now

can be found in the book.

It's not much of a secret.

Is Gu Mulan

really the old mailman's grandson?

(Send the warehouse's pic and location)

(to Ji under Long Qi's name ASAP.)

(Once completed,)

(Reply with "Deal" in plain code.)

(Do not make any other replies.)

(Send the warehouse's pic and location)

(to Ji under Long Qi's name ASAP.)

(Once completed,)

(Reply with "Deal" in plain code.)

(Do not make any other replies.)

Hello.

Chief Tai.

(Jin Shengcai)

Why are they all asking about my dad?

I'd like to know that too.

But if you really

were related

to Gu Mulan,

that would be a big deal.

You'd be like a criminal's daughter.

What's wrong?

My uncle said he took this photo.

But I remember that after my performance,

I sat right beside him.

He was sitting in the second row,

and he didn't have a camera.

So, who took this photo?

Just ask him, and you'll know.

Is that it?

Hua Mulan. [*a legendary folk heroine]

Mulan?

Mulan.

Mulan. [*Gu Mulan's first name]

(Gu Mulan, leader of Northwest Wolves)

No way.

It's impossible, Nana.

Don't overthink it.

Maybe your dad

has a half-brother or a stepbrother.

Or,

you see,

Mr. Gu might be

an escaped criminal on the surface,

but actually, just like that Long Qi,

he might also be a cop.

(Nana.)

(Your foot was bitten)

(by a hyena when you were six.)

(Later, you were saved by a group)

(of Northwestern Wolves.)

(It's my daughter's birthday today.)

(It's a big day.)

(Here. Cut the cake.)

Come with me to the hospital.

This brat.

He's burning his bridges.

This is too arbitrary.

He's forcing us

while pushing himself into a dead end too.

Right now, all we can do is trust

that his judgment is accurate.

But considering Gun's style,

once he gets suspicious,

he won't give the other party any chance.

This time, Gun didn't make a move.

Instead, he went to great lengths

to lay an elaborate trap.

It means that in his expectations,

we aren't the only ones

who can fall into that trap.

Is this why he deliberately

exposed his flaws?

Judging by the previous information,

the person Gun doubts the most

is Gu Mulan.

Let's take a step further.

If Chu Yihan was affiliated with Gu Mulan,

by taking action against him,

wouldn't Gun be at odds

with Gu Mulan?

It's a choice that would harm both sides.

Neither of them can afford it.

But no matter what,

we can't put Yihan's life

on a balance

that could tilt at any moment.

Chu Yihan won't willingly return

if he doesn't see Gu Mulan.

Instead of that,

why don't we

do as he requests?

Let's tilt the balance

toward Gu Mulan's side.

He'll have more chances

to avoid danger.

We must

make Gun believe

that Chu Yihan

is affiliated with Gu Mulan.

I disagree.

No,

I'm the patient here.

The decision to transfer hospitals

is made by our leader.

I can't do anything about it.

Why Kalisha?

Didn't you say Kalisha

has the best cardiac surgeon?

Go if you want.

No need to consult with me.

That's your choice.

I also want

to see the place where you grew up.

I'd like to meet your father.

Then go ahead.

Have you contacted Murray Hospital?

I'll arrange the transfer for you now.

Wait.

Let's...

Let's go together.

Captain Duan.

Hello.

Is this Mr. Ji?

Who are you?

Gun's warehouse is in Liujia Bay.

Its photo and location

have been sent to your phone.

(Liujiawan, Hanbei City, Xixia Province)

I'm Long Qi.

We met at the restaurant before.

If you're unhappy with the conversation,

I can help you.

But after it's done,

I'll need 5 million.

If you don't trust Gun,

you can test him with this.

Whether it's true or false,

it'll be clear once he speaks.

You dialed the wrong number.

Captain Duan.

Will he take the bait?

For him, testing Gun

is low-cost and high-reward,

unless he's not interested in Gun's warehouse.

But if he wasn't interested,

he wouldn't have negotiated repeatedly.

This person is very cunning.

He won't reply anymore.

Keep an eye on this phone number,

especially his conversations with Hanbei numbers.

Got it.

Inform our comrades

around Western Grand Hotel immediately

Act as Mandarin speakers

with cars with out-of-town plates,

and keep entering the hotel

and spending money as regular customers.

If anything unusual

happens inside the hotel,

take immediate action.

Ensure Chu Yihan's safety.

Roger that.

Hanbei's Jin Shengcai.

How's the investigation into him going?

Yesterday, I used Zhou Ji's phone

to call Gu Mulan.

The one who answered

wasn't Gu Mulan.

It was a woman.

Who?

Who do you think?

Qi.

Let me borrow your phone.

Gun.

That's not appropriate.

Give it to me.

Who is this?

Someone who hired me for a job.

You're taking private jobs?

This was accepted six months ago.

I've already received a deposit.

I can't just quit, can I?

It's a matter of principles.

Can you return it to me now?

Focus on the road.

I can confirm

it's not a bite wound.

Then what is it?

Miss.

How about

getting it checked at the Armed Police Hospital?

Armed Police Hospital?

It's a gunshot wound

that's caused by bullet penetration.

Am I right?

Jiang Jiuping. Born in 1962

in South Sea's Er City.

When he was 21,

he came to Kalisha

before bringing his family with him.

In 1990,

he founded a tourism company.

But in 1992, he declared bankruptcy.

Two years later,

he started over again.

He successively established six hotels,

one hospital,

and one antique company.

The hotels were later converted to home stays,

and his legal representative is Jiang Wenli,

his daughter.

The hospital is still under his name.

But in 2004,

the antique company

was already deregistered.

Jiang Jiuping

is known for his generosity

and has a good reputation in the business world.

None of his enterprises

have any illegal or unlawful activities.

A peculiar thing about him

is his sister,

Jiang Jiulin.

Since 2007, Jiang Jiulin

showed no records of purchase, travel,

or even tax.

In other words,

during the 2010 census,

it was only discovered

that she was registered as dead.

That means

it's highly likely

that she had disappeared

or died in 2007.

Check if she has any records

after September.

There's nothing currently.

The first time we ambushed Gu Mulan

was on August 21st, 2006.

There was an unidentified female corpse at the scene

whose identity isn't clarified to this day.

Considering the timeline,

she could be

Gu Mulan's second wife,

and Gu Linna

is their daughter.

This is just a guess.

Let's do this then.

Go to Kalisha with your master

and report today's meeting

to Cheng Fan.

If the opportunity arises,

investigate Jiang Jiulin

and Gu Linna.

Understood.

Qiao Dan.

In 1992, the company went bankrupt,

but he made a comeback two years later.

Where did he get the capital?

After the company went bankrupt,

he went abroad and engaged in mining business.

There was a special news at the time

about Jiang Jiuping,

praising his entrepreneurial spirit,

his community support,

and his donations to Hope Primary School.

Look at this, Chief Tai.

This is Li, the vice mayor at that time,

who took a photo with him.

(Blue Sky Hotel)

Come in.

Li.

Didn't you buy a new piano?

Where is it?

It's a virtual one.

Ji likes these type of stuff.

Let's talk about you first.

Have you figured things out?

Li.

I went to the hospital because my foot hurt.

The doctor said the injury on my foot

wasn't caused by a hyena bite.

He said it was a wolf dog.

The doctor also said

that hyenas don't actively attack people.

They mainly eat carrion.

But we weren't talking about hyenas.

The hyena you speak of isn't even a dog.

Their teeth are different.

Besides, we don't have hyenas

in Kalisha.

Where's Ji?

Why are you looking for him?

Li, why did he go to Hanbei?

To buy furniture.

Where's the furniture?

It'll arrive next month.

What else?

What else?

Ji went to Hanbei

with his assistant, Wu, right?

Where's Wu?

I don't see him around.

What is this?

Fan, listen.

No, is this necessary?

I'm just going to the airport.

Wait.

The wheelchair I asked for

is for my use in Kalisha.

But I can walk by myself now.

Fan, just lie down.

We don't need an ambulance to the airport, right?

Why the ambulance?

Master.

What are you doing here?

I was afraid you'd miss me.

I have it in my pocket.

Duan, what's the meaning of this?

It's called "traveling with a care companion".

I don't want him.

If you're good...

If you're good,

bring Dr. Mu here.

Fan, you...

Zheng.

Where's Dr. Mu?

She's not coming?

Mr. Cheng.

Dr. Mu can't come as she has a meeting at night.

She asked me to convey her wishes.

Wishing you a smooth recovery and return.

She really won't be coming?

Master.

You have me. What are you afraid of?

Get lost.

Get in.

Close the door.

Come on. Let's get in.

Careful.

Why go through all this trouble?

I can walk.

Lock it well.

I don't want to fall out of the car.

Someone died in Hanbei Central Mall,

and I was there at the time.

One of them looked so much like Wu.

It's all over the news.

Look.

Nana.

You're mistaken.

How could that be Wu?

Yeah, Nana.

You're overthinking it.

Wu has something going on at home

and returned to his hometown.

I just approved it last week.

Li, Ji.

I'll tell you a secret.

It might be a girls' secret.

Should I step aside for this?

I,

Gu Linna,

am actually the daughter of Gu Mulan.

Nana.

What's wrong with you today?

What's with the questions?

Ji.

Does this mean

that Gu Mulan

is now a relative of our family?

Is that right?

Nana.

Who told you this?

If this Gu Mulan

had any connection with our family,

the police

would be here to investigate us everyday.

How about this?

This weekend,

I'll invite Captain Xia

of the Public Security Bureau to our home.

At that time,

you can ask him in person.

Also,

the Golden Lamb Festival is coming up.

I'll try to arrange for your dad to talk to you

before the festival.

Then you can ask him in person

if he's the big villain.

Why can't I contact him now?

Of course, you can.

But

he might not pick up with the time difference.

It's connected.

(Boss)

(Boss)

Did we lie to you?

(Ambulance)

Women

can't be trusted.

You know?

She kept saying

that for my recovery

and healing,

she would take care of me at any cost.

But look at this,

I've already left,

but she hasn't even appeared.

And here I am, going to her father.

Is it for treatment?

Or I'm there to be

the peacemaker?

My visit this time

is basically

to break the ice of a harmonious family.

But look at this mess right now.

Nothing is complete.

There's no sense of ritual at all.

Master.

I think Ms. Mu is quite nice.

Nice? What's nice about her?

Beside being a little prettier

and soft spoken, what else is there?

Master.

That's enough.

Well, of course she's nice.

She's so great.

You see, professionally speaking, right?

She

is Hanbei's top cardiac surgeon, right?

Yes.

Apart from caring for patients,

she even has a child to care for at home.

She really does everything

and is especially considerate toward me

as the patient.

She even cooked for me.

Perfect. She's too perfect.

The only flaw

is that there's no man

she can talk to at home.

Who told you that I must have a man at home?

Xiaowan, you're here?

I was afraid you'd die on the way

and ruin my name.

Dan, do you see this?

This is the benevolence of a doctor

who never forsakes a patient.

Right?

Go tell the driver

to stop the car.

Switch seats with Ms. Mu.

(Western Grand Hotel)

Who was that text for?

Did you find out?

This has been off all along.

There must be a problem with it.

Unfortunately, the little device I installed

can only monitor phone calls.

If we want to check the content of the text,

we'll need the police's help.

I'll send someone to destroy it.

What if Qi is manipulated by Gun

and set the trap for me?

After all, Qi only cares about money.

Without receiving a deposit,

why would he take such risks?

What if he and Gun had a fall out?

Be prepared.

Bring people to destroy the dugout.

I'll send a gift to Gun.

Alright.

(Ji)

Hey.

Hey, Gun.

Has Gu figured it out?

(Gun.)

(Are you available now?)

(I need to talk to you privately.)

(Just say it.)

There's a hidden cave

in a village called Liujia Bay.

What's within the cave

is interesting.

Is that so?

Cultural relics

wouldn't be inside, would they?

Gun.

Hanbei is your territory.

I won't encroach for gains.

How about

I send you pictures of the cave

to have a look first?

(I've sent you the pictures.)

(I'm letting you know)

(a thief is around you.)

(I'll be frank with you.)

(Someone beside you sent me these photos.)

(They want to exchange for money,)

(but I never engage)

(in such underhanded dealings.)

(I wouldn't have)

(any intentions toward you.)

So, you better move the things

in your cave quickly.

It'd be a real issue

if they ended up elsewhere.

Can you tell me

who the thief is?

(Sorry, Gun.)

(Their intention was to help me.)

I can't repay their kindness

by harming them,

can I?

(Gun.)

Mr. Gu has returned

to meet you.

Mr. Gu.

(Gun.)

(Mr. Gu wants to talk to you now.)

(Gun.)

(I've returned to Kalisha.)

Gu.

The weather in Kalisha and Hanbei is similar.

My right knee has been hurting.

You have

to take care of yourself, too.

(Gun.)

(Wasn't it your left knee that got injured?)

(Yes.)

(It was my left knee.)

(I'm getting older.)

My mind can't keep up with my mouth.

By the way, Gu.

We last met in 2013,

mid-autumn, right?

I still keep the Song Dynasty jade plate

you gave me.

(Others were from the Song Dynasty, while yours)

(was from the Tang Dynasty.)

(It was my bias.)

(We both know it.)

(No need to quiz me anymore.)

(Gun.)

(We were both at fault five years ago.)

(No apologies are needed.)

(We've been mates for decades, so no secrets.)

(Honestly,)

(I don't know if your warehouse is worth)

(what I'd give in return.)

(I won't make a bad deal.)

(I've never been involved in shady deals,)

(betrayal,)

(or anything dirty.)

(Otherwise,)

(you wouldn't have left alive back then.)

(If you still trust me,)

(come to Kalisha.)

(We'll decide our fate)

(over drinks.)

(If you don't,)

(of course,)

(I understand.)

(We needn't complicate matters.)

(We'll go our separate ways.)

(I'll hang up now.)

(General Manager's Office)

Chief Tai.

Here.

Gu Mulan is inviting Gun to Kalisha.

Gun didn't refuse.

Nor accepting it.

He didn't say on the phone.

Be prepared.

Once they're in Kalisha,

follow immediately.

Sha Xiaofei has seen your face.

Keep a low profile.

Understood.

What's wrong?

Mr. Jin.

Is Long Qi the thief?

Who else could it be?

That kid was caught in the act yesterday

and caused a stir.

He's Gu Mulan's man.

They are in cahoots.

Did you hear that?

Why do you still keep him?

Do you think

you and your few men

can handle him?

He doesn't sleep or nap.

Getting Gu to appear

is no small feat.

The most important thing now

is to have a good talk with Gu.

Your Seventh Aunt's son

is a crucial bargaining chip.

If we kill him,

negotiating with Gu becomes impossible.

Why do we have to negotiate?

The warehouse is ours.

It doesn't matter who we sell to.

(Kalisha)

(Kalisha)

(Kalisha Murray Hospital)

I've reached the hospital.

Nothing major.

I can do it myself.

However,

intermittent chest pains

won't go away in these days.

Avoid oil and salt intake

for now.

Okay.

I'll avoid it.

Come in.

Dr. Mu.

Mr. Mu.

Mr. Mu.

Stay down.

Mr. Mu.

I'm actually pretty good.

Mr. Mu can tell how you are

with just one glance.

Xiaowan.

This is Mr. Jiang,

our hospital's investor.

Hi, Dr. Mu.

Mr. Jiang.

I've emailed the medical records.

I'll go to the restroom.

Creating such a fuss, are you trying to get killed?

We have to go. Meet at the entrance.

Got it.

Let's go.

Scram.

Captain Duan, they've left the hotel.

Gun.

Where are we going?

You'll know when we get there.

You're also having a heart issue, huh?

The doctor just told me

to be mindful of salt and oil intake.

Yes.

No heavy exercise.

That's right.

I don't just have heart issues.

My legs and this arm

are all injured.

Only this arm

works now.

Nana.

Mr. Cheng.

You've come.

Uncle.

This is the officer

who saved me in Hanbei before.

Mr. Cheng.

I found your name familiar

when I heard it earlier.

You're the lifesaver in our family.

Please, don't.

She saved me that day,

not vice versa.

Look.

She introduced me here.

Thank you.

Officer Cheng.

So, your chest injury is from a bomb blast?

One side is from the bomb,

and the other is from a recent gunshot.

Cops these days really have it tough.

Mr. Cheng.

You're Nana's savior

and even came to Kalisha for treatment.

That's fate.

I sincerely invite you to our place.

We have specialized wards

for heart conditions

with better conditions.

Well, I...

He's right. You should come, Mr. Cheng.

You'll be treated, and we'll gain a customer.

It's a win-win situation.

Look at this kid.

Okay, then.

I'll accept your invitation.

Here's my card.

I'm looking forward to your visit.

Blue Sky Hotel.

This is my property.

Jiang.

You should rest first.

Officer Cheng's situation is complex.

I need to run some diagnosis.

Okay.

I'll be leaving, then.

Thank you.

Take care.

Got it.

Bye, Mr. Cheng.

Bye.

Bye.

Jiang.

Captain Duan.

What's the situation?

According to Western Hotel stakeout,

Chu Yihan and Gun

left around nine in the morning

and took a civilian helicopter.

The air traffic department

received an application

for a civilian plane to Kalisha.

The plane's been in service

for a while, so it's approved.

They should be on the plane.

At normal speed,

they should reach Kalisha in 45 minutes.

Master.

That girl is

Gu Mulan's daughter,

and we ended up at Gu Mulan's place.

Isn't this entering the wolf's den?

This is called risk-taking for reward.

I'm not worried,

but I'm concerned about you.

How are we going to explain it to Ms. Mu?

Don't mention her.

Fan.

Yihan and Gun are heading to Kalsiha.

What's the situation?

(The bait we threw worked.)

(Gun took it.)

(He's very likely to meet with Gu Mulan.)

(You just focus on recovering.)

(Try not to meet with Yihan)

(in public.)

Stay away from other matters for now.

I'll bring my men

and meet up with you.

Fan.

If there's danger,

evacuate immediately.

Okay.

See you later.

(Blue Sky Hotel) Officer Cheng.

(Blue Sky Hotel) Mr. Jiang.

Alright, thank you.

Let's go in.

Let's go.

Please.

Thank you, you two.

Take it slow.

Alright, thanks.

Thanks for coming over, Gun.

Let's get on.

Where did they go?

They are in a traffic jam.

I have the guys take a shortcut.

Gun.

Why didn't Mr. Jin come?

I left him to watch the house.

I'll tell you something, then.

Don't blame him.

Actually,

he wasn't at home today.

(Boss.)

(Forget about me.)

Zhou Ji.

I have an agreement with Mr. Gu.

Don't push your luck.

Gun.

You've misunderstood me.

I never abide by sentiment.

Don't hesitate to act.

I told you yesterday that a thief is around you.

Why can't you figure out who it is?

How about

we video call Fei?

Go ahead.

Let him go.

Let him go.

Take me to Gu.

Now.

But Mr. Gu doesn't want to see you.

Dad.

(Fei.)

(I'm sorry,)

(but your dad is gone.)

♪Embark amidst the hustle and bustle, wander in the wilderness♪

♪If the heartbeat understands promises♪

♪Countless versions of myself♪

♪Move forward without looking back♪

♪Fulfilling the wait♪

♪Let go of possessions♪

♪Only then do I understand freedom♪

♪Only then do I exist♪

♪Dawn comes, and the heart becomes worthy♪

♪Sacrifice might lead us out of the wilderness♪

♪I am not lonely, engraved in your heart♪

♪There is more♪

♪The sunlight gradually awakens♪

♪Busyness persists♪

♪Slowly crossing over the mountain peaks♪

♪Countless versions of myself♪

♪Move forward without looking back♪

♪Fulfilling the wait♪

♪Let go of possessions♪

♪Only then do I have freedom♪

♪Only then there are possibilites♪

♪Dawn comes, and the heart becomes worthy♪

♪Whether remembered or forgotten♪

♪In any case, I will be by your side♪

♪Guarding freedom, you and I♪