Di and his friends get closer to uncovering the truth of who is behind the deaths in Chang'an, putting them in danger. But Di has friends in very high places.
Di has been transferred to the north, along with his friends/attendants. They immediately discover a murdered man, a local gangster and unusual customs in the area.
Di's friend Teng is convinced he's committed a terrible crime but Di is unconvinced. His investigation leads him to a prisoner at a local quarry whose description matches the first victim.
Di believes Li Han may be the murderer and the man Yinlian was afraid of, while the dead man is Xu Kai, a painter apparently having an affair with Yinlian. He meets with Yinlian's sister, a woman obsessed with Xu Kai and who hated Yinlian.
Judge Di is investigating possible smuggling of weapons through Penglai when he meets an undercover agent sent by the Empress. During their meeting, a ship with just one stowaway on board crashes into the harbour.
Magistrate Di needs to clear his name and sets sail to find the mysterious island. Ms Cao is disturbed by her childhood memories. Di is distressed to find she has ignored his advice and joined the ship with Yusu.
The stabbed and burned body of one of Penglai's pawn brokers has been found near the local military fort. Ma Rong's jealousy over Cao An leads her to deliberately humiliate and steal from Cao An which infuriates Di.
Di attempts to question the fragile Ying'er but it goes badly. When he finds his possible witnesses hanged at the camp Di's frustration boils over. Attempting an arrest almost leads to more tragedy.
Di untangles a complex plot of love, jealousy and greed but can't unburden himself to Cao An. Finally his friends step in, before their journey to the desert town of Langfan, during which the group is overwhelmed by a sandstorm.
Di and the group arrive in Lanfang to find a town rife with gangs and violence and the magistrate's office is burned down. The one good man in town is found dead, apparently a suicide, but Di isn't convinced.
Di continues his investigation into Li Tao's death while defying the gangs. As more deaths follow Di realises his new office contains a mole working with the gangs.
Di Renjie confronts Qian Hao, warning him to stay out of the investigation. Qiu Xue seems to have fled Lanfang. Li Tao's father's revenge for his son's death boils over just as Di discovers the truth.
A lack of evidence forces Di to reluctantly release accused rapist Han Yongnan, who is then suspected of a death during a banquet. Di and Ma Rong pursue him into the desert.
Di and Ma Rong travel to a distant army fort in the desert. The officer in charge claims to have executed Han Yongnan for stealing but Ma Rong is suspicious. The fort comes under heavy attack by bandits.
Di Renjie and Ma Rong are left traumatized after the battle. Di follows Han Yongnan deeper into the desert and drags him home to Langfan. There he discovers he's been manipulated into a trap.
The impulsive Ma Rong defies orders again and Qiao Tai is injured by a poisoned arrow. Di leaves for Qingchuan looking for Heiyan and meets a strange old man who knows more than he's saying.
Di Renjie meets a lonely child wise beyond her years at the Qingchuan tavern and solves a mystery for her. The local Heiyan chapter confronts Di Renjie believing he has their list of members.
Ma Rong's guilt over Qiao Tai's injuries leads to a confrontation with Cao An but the latter shows kindness and the two women finally reach an understanding. Di Renjie believes he's found the head of Heiyan.
Mr Hong is busy preparing for Di Renjie and Cao An's big day. Until the remains of a dead girl are delivered anonymously during the party. Di is led to a house of corpses who seem to have killed each other.
Di Renjie realises the deaths are aimed at him. Frustrated he reaches out to community for help. The skeleton is identified and a suspect, but he is also dead. Cao An meets,a shy young man with a connection to the case.
Cao An wakes in Lin Fan's workshop. Earlier that day Di Renjie and his friends continued their investigations into Chunyu's disappearance. Di finally realises the connection between Cao An and Heiyan.
The clues to Heiyan's identity can no longer be ignored and Di Renjie is faced with a terrible dilemma. More of the townsfolk succumb to Heiyan's threats. Di Renjie finally solves Chunyu's murder. Cao An attempts to put things right.
Di Renjie now knows the reasons behind Heiyan's rampage and confronts him in the desert. Tormented over the outcome Di Renjie turns away from those he loves, but Cao An convinces him to take a trip to a famous spring in the mountains.
Di Renjie develops a fever from his infected hand. Cao An drives them through a snowstorm to Zhaoquan library where they are reluctantly taken in. Cao An notices something very disturbing is happening amongst the scholars.
Despite Di Renjie's apparent rejection of her Cao An continues to nurse him. When Di Renjie seems well enough to travel they set out, only for Cao An to leave him in a cave while she goes for help.
Ma Rong and Quai Tai find Di Renjie in the cave but to his horror, Cao An has disappeared. Desperate to find her, the group races back to the library, interrupting Li Miao's terrible plan and saving a life. But is it too late for Cao An?
