In the political labyrinth of Da Qi (大亓), Imperial Investigator Xiao Beiming (萧北冥) walks a razor's edge. His pursuit of the elusive assassin Yesha (夜煞) leads not to a final confrontation, but to a chilling discovery: every clue points back to the brutal Haiya Massacre. Why does Yesha, responsible for countless deaths, consistently spare Xiao Beiming? This central mystery drives the captivating narrative of the historical drama The Wanted Detective (定风波).
As Xiao delves deeper, guided by fragmented evidence and the cryptic last words of the doomed Huang Wuchang (黄无常) – "Truth lies in Haiya" – he uncovers a conspiracy reaching the highest echelons of power, forcing him to question his own forgotten past and the true nature of the killer haunting him.
Orphans of Haiya
Huang Wuchang’s dying declaration isn't just a clue; it's a key unlocking a tragic legacy. He reveals himself as a Haiya orphan, saved by Yesha after witnessing the massacre that claimed his family. His life became one of vengeance, mirroring others marked by that horrific event – figures like the fiercely loyal Zhu Yitie (朱一铁). They share a singular, dangerous purpose: retribution at any cost. Xiao Beiming realizes Yesha isn’t merely an assassin; he’s a symbol, a leader for these lost souls.
This revelation reframes every encounter. Why did Yesha spare Xiao at Fengbo Lake years ago? Why do his attacks now feel less like elimination attempts and more like… guidance? Huang Wuchang’s absolute obedience to Yesha, coupled with his final cryptic message, suggests Yesha’s mission transcends simple killing. He is herding Xiao Beiming towards Haiya, forcing him to confront the ghosts buried there.
Evidence gathered by the shrewd official Wu Zhui (吴锥) confirms Xiao’s grim suspicion: the Haiya Massacre’s shadow stretches into the Imperial court itself, implicating the Emperor’s own uncle, the powerful Prince Wu Lie (武烈). This connection transforms Xiao’s pursuit from a criminal investigation into a deadly political gambit. The Haiya orphans aren't random victims; they are casualties of a ruthless power play, and Yesha seems determined to expose it.
Secrets in the Dark
To confront the past, Xiao must face its living remnant. Prince Wu Lie has languished for years in Fengyu (酆狱), Da Qi’s most notorious and brutal prison. Securing an audience with this dangerous figure requires desperate measures. Xiao’s steadfast ally, the brilliant strategist Zhuge Kongyun (诸葛孔云), risks everything, stealing an official token to grant them entry. Their bond, forged in the fires of previous investigations, proves essential once more.
Within Fengyu’s suffocating darkness, the encounter with Wu Lie is explosive. The mere mention of Haiya by Xiao’s companion, the physician Zhong Xueman (钟雪漫), triggers violent fury. Despite years of confinement, Wu Lie’s martial prowess remains undimmed; he brutally injures both intruders with terrifying ease. His reaction is visceral, defensive – the raw pain of a wound violently reopened.
Wu Lie’s rage, however, isn't the only revelation within Fengyu’s walls. Xiao discovers a hidden clue pointing to Beihai, a disciple of the notorious Dujue Valley. This discovery, later verified by the ingenious craftsman Feng Qingzhuo (风清浊), unlocks a dangerous mechanism and opens a new path. It leads Xiao away from the capital, away from the prison’s gloom, towards a remote location holding answers about his own origins.
Brother's Keeper
The trail ends at Beihai Residence in the isolated Xiaogucheng (小孤城). Here, the fragmented pieces of Xiao Beiming’s identity finally coalesce into a shocking whole. He learns he is not merely an orphan raised by the famed constable Zhong Shenbu (钟神捕), but the son of Beihai. Even more staggering: he had an older brother, Bei Kun (北鲲).
The story unfolds – Beihai, facing imminent danger, entrusted his two young sons, Bei Kun and Bei Ming (later Xiao Beiming), to Zhong Shenbu’s protection. Tragedy struck during their escape. Zhong Shenbu could only save the younger child, Bei Ming, whom he renamed and raised as his own. The fate of Bei Kun remained unknown… until now. The puzzle of Haiya gains terrifying clarity. The massacre wasn't random violence but a calculated purge ordered by the Emperor himself. Faced with an uncontrollable situation fueled by the chaotic effects of a potent elixir, Jifeng Dan (Gale Pellet), the Emperor commanded Wu Lie to eliminate all witnesses, including the Beihai family, to preserve the dynasty's reputation. Wu Lie, bound by imperial decree, carried out the horrific order.
This devastating truth illuminates Yesha’s actions. His deliberate sparing of Xiao Beiming, his guidance towards Haiya, his focus on exposing the Imperial crime – all point to one compelling conclusion. Yesha isn't just connected to Bei Kun; he is Bei Kun. The lost elder brother, raised by unknown forces, trained as a weapon, now uses his deadly skills not randomly, but surgically, to dismantle the conspiracy that destroyed their family.
He protects his only remaining kin, Xiao Beiming, while maneuvering him towards the painful, necessary truth. The shadow killer haunting Da Qi is, ultimately, a brother shielding his sibling from the darkness until he is strong enough to face it. The final confrontation looms, not just between hunter and quarry, but between brothers bound by blood and tragedy.
