Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Synopsis
Wu Xie after he and Zhang Qiling, Wang Pangzi, and others have gone through a series of adventures. After Zhang Qiling made a ten-year promise with Wu Xie and entered the Bronze Gate alone, Wu Xie became intensely curious about Zhang Qiling's past. However, despite his investigations, he found little. Five years later, a string of scorpion beads related to Zhang Qiling's past emerges, leading to a breakthrough. Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi follow the clues and set off for Mosang, marking the beginning of a new adventure.
Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Recap
Episode 1 Recap
My name is Wu Xie, and I run an antique shop called Wu's Mountain Abode. While I say I run it, I'm not skilled in the traditional ways of my tomb raider ancestors. I have two partners: Wang Fatty, who is optimistic and energetic, and Zhang Qiling, who is known for his strange temper and being difficult to get along with.
Understanding the story I have to tell means starting with Zhang Qiling, which is complicated because no one truly knows who he is. When I met him, he had already lost his memory, remembering only a long period spent walking endlessly in the snowy mountains, searching for something unknown.
In his search for memory, Zhang Qiling ventured into the Zhang Family Ancient Tower, hidden deep in the southwestern mountains and believed to be his family's shrine containing clues about his past. After he went missing for days while exploring the underground caves there, Wang Fatty and I went to rescue him. We managed to access the tower, noting the difficulty of reaching it and the strange environment covered in white ash.
Being careful, we attempted to use an intercom and kept our guard up. I recalled reading in my grandfather's notes about dangerous creatures like the Mystic Claw (密扎陀), which ancient people supposedly kept using jade disks. Following footprints within the vast tower, which seemed to be the Zhang family shrine, we discovered extensive signs of a fierce struggle, including claw marks, indicating Zhang Qiling had been involved in an intense fight.
Shortly after, we encountered one of the Mystic Claw creatures and quickly dealt with it; it dissolved into green pus. Continuing our search, we saw that the footprints became mixed up from the fight, though I believed I could still identify Zhang Qiling's. We came across numerous rooms filled with books, appearing to be the Zhang family's ancient texts and historical records, which made us realize the immense scale and history of this family.
I was astonished by the interior of the Zhang Family Ancient Tower, realizing how little I actually knew about Zhang Qiling. Suddenly, we smelled something burning and found that our flare had ignited the wooden floor, which we quickly put out using our backpacks. Moving further into the tower, we discovered gear belonging to Zhang Qiling's team, suggesting someone had fallen from above.
Then we found the bodies of his team members, which filled us with concern for Zhang Qiling's safety. Searching among the fallen, we found Zhang Qiling himself. Wang Fatty and I repeatedly called out to him, urging him to wake up, until he finally did. We later learned that Zhang Qiling had survived the hazardous conditions, which included a hallucinogenic miasma within the tower, by deliberately lowering his heart rate through bloodletting to slow down the effects of the poison.
After his rescue, we expected to continue our search for his memories together, but Zhang Qiling informed us that he had to leave for ten years to resolve a major, difficult issue that required someone to handle it periodically. He told me that if I still remembered him after ten years, I could return to the location and potentially see him again.
It was only later that I learned this task was originally meant for me, but Zhang Qiling had hidden the truth and taken my place, enduring ten years of hardship. Overwhelmed with guilt, I resolved that during those ten years, I would investigate the reasons behind his memory loss, hoping to see him again and uncover his secrets. Years later, a string of beads Zhang Qiling left behind became a crucial clue.
I knew the task ahead was challenging but essential. My childhood friend and antique dealer, Xie Yuchen, discovered a string of these beads. Examining one, he identified it as a moonstone, an organic gemstone whose toughness makes it suitable for detailed micro-carvings and which was historically used for secretly conveying information. Looking closely, he found a hidden clue around the perforation: a scorpion pattern.
Xie Yuchen noted the various symbolic meanings of the scorpion and agreed to help me trace the pattern's origin, while I sensed its critical importance as a key to something larger. Jin Wantang, another antique dealer, approached me claiming to have important information related to the scorpion pattern, suggesting it involved Zhang Qiling. Initially angered by his past involvement in my troubles, I was hesitant. Jin Wantang explained he saw my public notice searching for the scorpion pattern's background.
He presented a bead identical to mine, which he obtained from a descendant of a wealthy family named Ma whose fortunes had declined. To convince Jin Wantang of the bead's value, the descendant had shown him a memoir from his grandfather, Ma Pingchuan, a wealthy man from Ma'an Village. The memoir recounted how Ma Pingchuan's family had claimed a mountain behind their village, shaped like the Wuqu star, believing it would bring wealth, and moved their ancestral graves there.
However, that same year, strange occurrences began on the mountain. The memoir detailed how the mountain mysteriously turned black. Ma Pingchuan, sensing something was gravely wrong, decided to move the graves yet again. However, upon digging over ten meters deep, they discovered that all the coffins were missing. Concurrently, all vegetation within a vast area around the village withered and died, and the ground turned the same black color as the mountain.
Ma Pingchuan's investigation confirmed that the missing graves were concentrated precisely within this withered zone. Amidst the ensuing panic at the heavily guarded Ma residence, a mysterious kid suddenly appeared on the roof, proclaiming that he knew exactly where their missing coffins had gone.
Episode 2 Recap
Jin Wantang recounted a story about Ma Pingchuan, the wealthiest man in his village. After becoming rich, Ma Pingchuan chose an auspicious burial ground for his family members. One day, he discovered the soil there had turned black, and nothing would grow, as if cursed. Considering it a bad omen, Ma Pingchuan decided to move the graves. However, after digging deeply for a long time, they couldn't find the coffins.
It wasn't just Ma Pingchuan; many prominent families in the village found their ancestral graves had vanished. His subordinates reported this to him, but Ma Pingchuan initially didn't believe it. That changed when he returned home and saw a young man sitting on the roof of his house, making him feel a chill down his spine. The young man Ma Pingchuan encountered was Zhang Qiling, who moved with effortless grace.
Zhang Qiling told Ma Pingchuan that only he knew where the vanished ancestral graves and coffins were. Ma Pingchuan, half-believing, followed him to the burial ground. Guided by Zhang Qiling, Ma Pingchuan saw that the transformed landscape was shaped like a giant scorpion. Zhang Qiling explained that this area was the site of an ancient town buried by a mudslide, built in a peculiar scorpion shape.
The grass had died because of a defense mechanism laid during construction; triggering a switch released a large amount of poisonous gas from machinery, killing all surface plants overnight. Zhang Qiling stated that the ruins below had "eaten" the coffins, which had sunk into the outer wall as if attracted by something. He also predicted that within a few months, nothing would grow for dozens of miles around, and everyone in the area would meet a miserable end.
After some questioning, Zhang Qiling calmly stated he had seen Ma Pingchuan's family coffin in the ruins and had come to inform him.
He then, with a dagger held to Ma Pingchuan's throat, instructed him to have his men prepare several things within the hour: a short knife weighing six jin, lamp oil wicks and a bag of charcoal powder, means to seal several holes in the ruins' pores, and five-zhang-long bamboo poles to be filled with lime and hammered into the mud around the area's edge, densely packed with only about one finger's width left above the mud.
Zhang Qiling then handed Ma Pingchuan a letter addressed to his family's hometown, instructing him to mail it if he didn't return after seven days. Some time passed, and the village returned to its usual quietude. The young man never reappeared. Ma Pingchuan, worried something had happened to him, sent people to the address on the letter, only to find a large empty house. He then mailed the letter.
Wu Xie saw Zhang Qiling's name on the envelope and confirmed it was indeed him. Jin Wantang provided a crucial clue: Ma Pingchuan later suddenly decided to move his family to a small country outside the borders, Nilaisi, specifically its capital, Dejia, near the Mosang snow mountain, and never returned.
Jin Wantang's contact had recently returned from there and saw lots of Ma family's ancestral items, including some agate beads like those found at the dug site, being sold cheaply near their house, confirming the location. With this being the only clue Wu Xie had found about Zhang Qiling, he was eager to find him and decided to leave soon for that border country. Jin Wantang begged to accompany him, claiming familiarity with the area and potential business opportunities.
Wu Xie appeared to agree but secretly planned to go alone. He discussed his plan with Wang Meng, admitting he knew Jin Wantang was likely trying to trick him but insisted on going because it was a clue to Zhang Qiling's past. He instructed Wang Meng to keep his ID safe from Jin Wantang and manage the shop while he was away, stating he would mail back goods later. Wu Xie arrived in Dejia and searched many places without success.
Towards evening, he visited a small restaurant near the address he had for the Ma family. Noticing some old items displayed in the restaurant, Wu Xie inquired about the Ma family's whereabouts. The owner, mistaking Wu Xie for someone else trying to collect a debt from them, readily revealed that the Ma family had moved to Mosang. The owner explained that when the Ma family left, they used some antiques to settle debts with him.
Wu Xie then called Wang Meng, instructing him to transfer all available funds from the shop's account to his card. Despite Wang Meng's concerns about the shop's finances, Wu Xie insisted, stating he had found a new clue and was heading to Mosang, also hoping to find some business opportunities there. With the funds secured, Wu Xie flew to Mosang.
Upon leaving the station after the long journey, Wu Xie felt lost in the vast unfamiliar place, wondering how he would find one person among so many. Just then, he noticed a painting on a wall depicting a young figure contemplating a stark, reddish-gray mountain range. Recognizing the figure immediately, Wu Xie found the artist, Chen Xuehan, and urgently asked where he had seen the person in the painting.
The artist revealed that the painting was a copy of an original he had seen at the Jila Meditation Center and suggested Wu Xie ask the practitioners there for more information, noting that the original had been painted by a great practitioner before the person in the painting left Mosang. Chen Xuehan guided Wu Xie across the vast snowfield and over mountains and valleys until they reached the Jila Meditation Center, an inhabited area.
Inside a tent warmed by charcoal sat an elderly, sharp-minded sage named Yu Da. Seeing the photo on Wu Xie's phone, Yu Da, after a moment of thought, spoke Zhang Qiling's name. Wu Xie eagerly pressed him for more information. Yu Da recounted first meeting Zhang Qiling many years ago. Zhang Qiling was a handsome young man, and Yu Da was a child.
Zhang Qiling was warming himself by their door, stating he had come from the deep part of the mountains near the cliff. Yu Da was surprised, but when he saw footprints by the cliff, he believed him. Zhang Qiling asked Yu Da to show him the 127 rooms in the meditation center, saying he needed to look for something "unclean." As they toured the rooms, Zhang Qiling seemed more familiar with the retreat than the locals.
In one room, Zhang Qiling found a mummified body. He told Yu Da that the person was his friend, Deren, expressing surprise that he had died there. Yu Da mentioned they had no one named Deren in the retreat's records at that time. Zhang Qiling asked Yu Da to arrange for Deren's proper burial and stated he would stay at the retreat.
Yu Da later checked records and learned that the name Deren had a peculiar significance in the retreat's history; from its founding, there had always been a practitioner named Deren who would take on a disciple also named Deren, until this line seemingly ended with the mummified Deren, who died without taking a disciple. This made Yu Da suspect the retreat was not ordinary. Zhang Qiling stayed at the retreat for a period.
Yu Da, seeking to understand the mystery, approached Zhang Qiling, but found that Zhang Qiling himself didn't fully know, as he suffered from a condition that caused him to periodically forget everything from his past, leaving only fragmented memories. He had been searching for answers to these fragments to piece together his history. Through effort, Zhang Qiling and Yu Da reconstructed some of Zhang Qiling's fragmented memories from his arrival at the retreat.
Many years ago, Zhang Qiling had been preparing to enter the snow mountain and made an agreement with the last Deren: he would return from the mountain with a great secret, but his memory might be severely confused upon return, with only fragments remaining. Deren was to wait for him at the retreat and record his fragmented accounts of what happened in the snow mountain before Zhang Qiling forgot them completely.
However, when Zhang Qiling returned from the mountain, Deren had already passed away, without finding a successor. Zhang Qiling, perhaps concerned he would forget his remaining memories, asked the young Yu Da to temporarily take over Deren's duty of recording everything that happened on the mountain on scrolls. Yu Da said Zhang Qiling had told him the reason for coming to the snow mountain when he first arrived, though he could not now recall the specifics after so much time.
Yu Da told Wu Xie that he had recorded and organized Zhang Qiling's fragmented memories from that time in scrolls, which he kept in what had been Zhang Qiling's room. He invited Wu Xie to go look at them there.
Episode 3 Recap
Wu Xie searched through a vast collection of scrolls, finding many drawings and notes that were difficult to understand. After a long search, he finally unearthed details about Zhang Qiling's childhood and the Zhang family within some of the old texts. The scrolls depicted the Zhang family as a mysterious clan with extraordinary skills and extremely strict rules, resembling legendary martial arts families found in novels.
A significant rite of passage for young Zhang family members approaching adulthood was a test called 'Wilding'. This involved traveling outwards to confront evildoers and, crucially, to acquire a powerful weapon. The rarer the weapon obtained, the higher the individual's future standing within the family would be. The scrolls also indicated Zhang family members historically carried a mission to oppose evil and uphold justice.
During Zhang Qiling's 'Wilding' period, he was part of a group that included Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing. They encountered some bandits who had little of value besides a few firearms. The bandits attempted to kill them. The Zhang family members quickly fought back and defeated the bandits. After searching the bandits, finding only a few guns, they continued their journey. Zhang Qiling, who remained largely silent and reserved, found a hidden treasure map among the bandits' belongings.
His companions were overjoyed and eager to follow the map. Zhang Qiling did not recommend going to such a dangerous place, but others, including Zhang Haixing, felt that the more dangerous the place, the better the treasure. Seeing their eagerness, Zhang Qiling frowned slightly. Tensions were evident regarding Zhang Qiling.
Some in the group called him a 'lousy brat' and a 'jinx', suggesting they leave him behind to die as he was delaying their progress and was an outcast with no parents. Zhang Haike suggested letting the others (implied to include Zhang Haixing, referred to as "old maid", and Zhang Qiling, the "jinx") handle the immediate mess while they focused on their main goal: finding weapons.
Zhang Qiling revealed that the map indicated a place he had learned about from a secret family scroll. This place, known as the Zhang Family Castle, was buried deep beneath Ma'an Village. He explained it was an ancient Zhang family site containing many famous weapons and secret scrolls, but these items were protected by extremely powerful traps that even ancient martial arts masters could not overcome.
He warned his companions that going there would be extremely perilous, likely leading to death. Despite his warning, the others were undeterred, eager to complete their 'Wilding' and secure their status, believing the greater the danger, the better the treasure. Zhang Haike was determined to go, seeing it as their only chance to stand out in the clan. They agreed to go, deciding to treat Zhang Qiling merely as labor, leaving his fate to chance once they were inside.
They promised not to blame him if things went wrong and to take responsibility themselves. Following Zhang Qiling's guidance based on the scroll information, they traveled to Ma'an Village. Using external landmarks, such as West Mountain's strange rocks eight hundred feet south, they located the approximate spot and found a hidden passageway. The passage appeared old, leading them to speculate it was dug long ago, perhaps by rescuers or looters.
Descending into the passage, they reached a room and were astonished to find it was completely upside down. Objects and even corpses were hanging from what should have been the ceiling, defying gravity. They initially wondered if a mudslide had flipped the entire room, but reasoned that hanging objects would have fallen if that were the case. Zhang Qiling quietly mentioned the concept of 'Heaven as Earth, Earth as Heaven'.
Zhang Haixing quickly dismissed any connection to the Heaven and Earth Society as a joke, reminding others of the strict family rules about mentioning such things if they wanted to survive. Zhang Qiling proposed that the strange setup was a deliberate decoy, a bizarre armory with ordinary weapons meant to distract potential intruders from finding the true treasures deeper within the Zhang Family Castle.
They observed dead bodies in the room, noting wounds that suggested they had triggered hidden mechanisms and died from subsequent infection. They began searching for a passage leading further in, being cautious to avoid activating any traps. While searching, they discovered an upright bronze horse in the room, unlike everything else which was inverted. There was a mottled opening in its body.
Observing the dead bodies nearby, they noticed they were all precisely two meters away from the horse, suggesting this distance was the lethal range. They concluded the bronze horse was the room's primary defense mechanism. Zhang Qiling identified the mechanism inside as a complex variant of the 'Eighteen Strings' trap, even more complicated than versions their elders knew and potentially beyond their ability to handle. He explained that dismantling it required carefully removing tiny beads from a disc deep inside.
Even a slight vibration would cause beads to roll off, hitting wires that triggered multiple, unpredictable traps simultaneously. There were hundreds of wires. He knew of this mechanism from having seen it in the main family house and understanding it somewhat. Despite the immense danger, Zhang Qiling decided to attempt to disarm it manually.
He instructed the others to use ropes to lift or support him and be ready, as touching a wire and triggering one trap was inevitable during the process. As he reached into the horse, arrows shot out, which they dodged with quick reflexes. Zhang Qiling successfully removed eighteen beads, dismantling the mechanism.
Having witnessed him accomplish something even the elders found difficult, the others began to see Zhang Qiling in a new light, though some attributed his success merely to luck. Confirming Zhang Qiling's theory about the decoy room, they found another passageway behind the bronze horse mechanism, leading deeper into the structure. They were now certain they had reached the core area of Zhang Family Castle, where the most valuable items and dangerous traps were expected to be located.
However, they soon reached a dead end—a wall. They found that this wall had been previously smashed open, but then deliberately rebuilt to block the space behind it. They recognized the technique of pulling bricks outwards as a method used by the Zhang family, indicating that someone from their own clan had attempted to access this area but failed, perhaps being trapped or sealed inside. This suggested that something significant had happened concurrently with the mudslide.
Deciding to investigate further, they planned to break through the wall. Before fully breaking through, one of them put a hand through an existing opening in the wall to feel what was inside. They felt something inside and identified it as a dried corpse leaning against the other side of the wall. Upon closer inspection, they found a wound on the corpse, confirming he had been killed.
They also discovered the Zhang family's Qilin emblem on the body, solidifying the chilling realization that a member of their own family had been sealed inside this place. Despite this discovery, they resolved to break down the wall to uncover the truth behind what had happened. Breaking through, they immediately noted that whatever was inside was incomplete—only "half" of something remained, along with the number "four".
Back in the present, Wu Xie continued studying the scrolls, finding the details fascinating but frustrated that the most crucial parts were missing, including cryptic drawings he couldn't decipher. Eager for understanding, he immediately sought out the Teacher, who held the scrolls. Wu Xie asked if there were more records and if the Teacher could explain the drawings.
The Teacher calmly replied that the rest of the data was inaccessible and for the meaning of the drawings, he simply stated that understanding would come when the time was right.
Episode 4 Recap
Years ago, on a rainy night at the Wu family residence, amidst a sorrowful atmosphere, Wu Laogou lay gravely ill. His sons, including the eldest (老大), second eldest (老二), and third eldest (老三), were present. Wu Xie was young at the time and witnessed his grandfather's passing. Wu Laogou instructed his sons to divide his possessions among themselves.
He then gave urgent instructions for his cremation: it must take place within two hours of his death, no one was to be within 30 meters of the cremator, and no one was permitted to look inside. For decades, Wu Xie harbored the feeling that his grandfather had taken a significant secret to his grave, a mystery that remained unknown but often surfaced in his dreams.
Wu Xie reflected that knowing too many secrets could be dangerous, especially those more hidden and complex, often requiring abilities beyond an ordinary person, particularly concerning individuals like Zhang Qiling. Despite the inherent danger, he still felt compelled to do what he could to help Zhang Qiling. Later, Wu Xie was staying at a spiritual retreat in Mosang. Early one morning, as he walked outside, his attention was drawn to a figure sitting motionless, seemingly observing a distant cliff face.
Immediately thinking of Zhang Qiling, he approached, only to discover the figure was a stone statue that locals said had been there for decades. Wu Xie imagined Zhang Qiling himself carving it. That day, Wu Xie found the local restaurant unusually crowded with hikers and foreigners. The server noted the unusual number of visitors, particularly the foreigners, who arrived on Wu Xie's third day there, and felt they didn't seem like typical tourists.
Wu Xie felt the place had lost its spiritual retreat atmosphere, becoming more like a motel, leaving him subtly uneasy. He called his friend Fatty. Fatty, recognizing the urgency in Wu Xie's call, expressed concern that Wu Xie might have been set up. He questioned why Wu Xie, having failed to find information in Dejia, traveled to Mosang instead of returning home, suggesting some subtle influence must have driven his decision.
Fatty then pointed out the suspicious coincidence of finding a painting depicting Zhang Qiling right after arriving in Mosang and near a mailing station. He concluded that the investigation into the Ma family was likely a distraction, a "bait," and that Wu Xie had been intentionally steered into a trap using the painting as the lure.
Fatty urged Wu Xie not to leave Mosang, but to remain calm and act as if unaware, promising to arrive quickly to help, as Wu Xie's situation potentially put him at risk as well. Wu Xie, determined not to sit idly by, decided to begin his own investigation while waiting for Fatty, noting that many people present were physically fit experts, not just ordinary tourists.
Wu Xie went to a nearby post office under the pretense of completing a past transaction. While waiting for staff to check, he examined the nail hooks on the wall where the painting had hung, noting the heavy oxidation on the nails suggested it had been there for a long time. However, he then realized that Zhang Qiling's small oil painting must have been deliberately made conspicuous for him to see.
To achieve this, a larger, contrasting but unobtrusive ink wash painting must have been hung nearby to highlight the smaller one, confirming his suspicion that he had been manipulated. He called Fatty to report his findings, stating he was indeed being played. Wu Xie outlined his plan: he needed to isolate himself and identify his watchers, who could be anyone nearby. He recognized that in a place like Mosang, control points at intersections would suffice for surveillance.
To confuse them, he would perform seemingly random, suspicious actions. As a test, he offered a chocolate bar and instant noodles to a woman, introducing himself and proposing exchanging contacts for mutual help, but she curtly dismissed him. Wu Xie considered this tactic, born from his business experience, as a way to make opponents reveal themselves by reacting to his unpredictable moves.
He planned to hide small items in various locations around the retreat, anticipating his watchers would have to check them, potentially leaving traces. He targeted the early morning hours, when surveillance would be most lax, for his observers would be tired. The next morning, checking his hidden items, he found they had been moved, noting that even the specific sequence of items at locations like 30, 37, 31, and 36 had been altered, confirming he was under constant surveillance.
He also encountered a person with the surname Zhang at the location, leading him to wonder if Zhang Qiling's family was somehow involved in watching him. One morning, while seemingly getting hot water, Wu Xie made a coded signal by complaining loudly about daily diarrhea at 7 am, then repeating "Seven o'clock" and calling out for "Fatty." Fatty, who had been secretly observing Wu Xie, appeared shortly after, disguised so well he was almost unrecognizable.
Wu Xie, recognizing his friend, asked about his rapid arrival and if he had been followed. Fatty confirmed it was a trap. Wu Xie mentioned his suspicion that Zhang Qiling's family was involved based on his earlier encounter, but Fatty revealed the situation was more complex, involving a group of foreigners as well, making him doubt it was solely the Zhang family's doing. Fatty explained that his phone at Gui's place had been monitored for three weeks.
As a countermeasure, he had set up a false trail, making the eavesdroppers believe he was still at Gui's (using Gui's phone and speakerphone) while he had secretly traveled to Mosang to monitor Wu Xie from the shadows. He confirmed that someone was indeed following Wu Xie very closely, though he hadn't yet identified them, and stressed the need for Fatty to remain hidden.
They agreed that Wu Xie would continue to operate in the open while Fatty worked in secret, enabling them to counter-investigate. Before parting, Fatty gave Wu Xie a cigarette case containing a baby monitor, instructing him to keep it on him so Fatty could stay informed in real-time. Wu Xie asked about their adversaries' goal, and Fatty replied he didn't know but assured him it wasn't to kill him, otherwise he'd already be dead.
He warned that they could act at any moment, requiring them to be ready to adapt. After his clandestine meeting, Wu Xie was stopped by a trainer who urgently requested he go up the mountain to see Mr. Yu Da. The trainer stated that "what happened back then is happening again," explaining that someone had emerged from the snow-capped mountain, just as Zhang Qiling once had, and this person looked exactly like Wu Xie.
Arriving at Mr. Yu Da's location, Wu Xie was stunned to find a man who was his absolute double. The two men stared at each other, equally shocked, their appearance, voice, and expression almost identical. Mr. Yu Da confirmed the new arrival had come from the snowy mountain earlier that day, just like Zhang Qiling years ago, and bore an uncanny resemblance to Wu Xie.
The original Wu Xie demanded to know the other's identity, to which the double replied, "I am Wu Xie." Wu Xie then accused the double of being a mountain monster who had used magic to transform into his likeness. The double dismissed this as childish. Addressing the double as "brother," the original Wu Xie advised him to leave immediately while he was still free, warning that otherwise, he would become entangled in a deep mystery.
The double retorted he had nothing to worry about and that his presence was merely a coincidence, adding that how he arrived was "none of your business." Wu Xie pressed the point, emphasizing that if the double hadn't arrived through his own investigation, they were both facing significant trouble. As the two men argued, the door was violently kicked open, and several armed individuals, carrying guns and knives, burst in.
They blocked the only exit, informing the two Wu Xies that escape was impossible due to their skill levels. The intruders expressed satisfaction that both were finally in one place, suggesting it would help resolve their questions. The original Wu Xie demanded to know their identity and purpose for setting this trap. One of the intruders, later identified as Zhang Robert, stated he would not reveal anything until he could confirm which Wu Xie was genuine.
When one intruder made a move towards one of the Wu Xies, the other Wu Xie used a slingshot to deter them. A discussion ensued among the intruders about which one was real; one referred to as "Second Uncle" doubted the original Wu Xie's outward appearance, referencing Wu Laogou's family reputation for "playing the pig to eat the tiger." The original Wu Xie asserted his identity and offered Mr. Yu Da as confirmation, but Mr. Yu Da remained silent.
Addressing Zhang Robert by name and calling himself a "useless piece of work," Wu Xie questioned why such an elaborate scheme was orchestrated for someone like him, revealing he knew more than they thought, visibly surprising Zhang Robert. Addressing the group as Mr. and Ms. Zhang, Wu Xie proposed they lay down their weapons, deal with the "fake" person, and talk peacefully over tea. Instead, the intruders seized one of the Wu Xies.
Mr. Yu Da attempted to intervene, calling it a misunderstanding, but was ignored. The captured Wu Xie cried out in pain as they roughly twisted his arm. The intruders explained that one of the faces was a fake, created with sophisticated technology and worn for over twenty years, causing it to fuse with the real skin, making it undetectable by touch without professional equipment like genetic testing.
They reasoned that Wu Xie, being a teenager twenty years prior, could have his future appearance estimated with high accuracy, allowing for the creation of the mask long ago. They stated they had crucial information for the real Wu Xie and were certain they could identify the imposter, who they would eliminate. The two Wu Xies were told they must prove their authenticity. The original Wu Xie protested that the intruders didn't know him well enough to make this judgment.
The intruders explained their method, assuring the real one would be fine. They then presented a box containing seven severed human heads, explaining they belonged to previous individuals who had impersonated Wu Xie and been exposed. The test was for each Wu Xie to carefully examine the heads and identify which one most resembled himself within five minutes. The original Wu Xie found the test absurd and subjective, questioning its accuracy.
As the timer started, one intruder suggested the double was fake because he didn't react fearfully to the heads like the original Wu Xie did, calling him "not afraid at all of seeing his own head." The two Wu Xies began arguing amongst themselves about who was the imposter. With three minutes remaining, the original Wu Xie attempted to get the double to refuse to choose, arguing they couldn't kill both of them if neither selected a head.
The intruder warned that failure to choose within the time limit would result in having their hand and foot tendons severed and being imprisoned for life. As the time ran down, the original Wu Xie argued that the test was flawed because the real Wu Xie might make a wrong choice under extreme panic due to his personality weaknesses, leading to his accidental death, but the intruders expressed absolute confidence in their method.
With one minute left, the original Wu Xie finally made a choice, asking for paper and a pen to write it down secretly so the other couldn't see. With seconds left, he quickly pointed to a head. Immediately, the intruders rushed forward and seized Wu Xie (the original). He cried out in confusion and fear, asking what they were doing, why they were grabbing him when he had made his selection and they had smiled.
They restrained him, telling him not to move, and chillingly described how they would slowly cut his spinal cord from the base, promising he wouldn't feel pain. Terrified, Wu Xie pleaded for another chance, claiming he might have been nervous and chosen incorrectly, desperately insisting he was the real Wu Xie.
Episode 5 Recap
After being subjected to a terrifying illusion of execution, Wu Xie found himself disoriented, feeling the residue of warm liquid and a strange numbness around his neck. Believing he had been decapitated, he was surprised to hear someone call his name. As he looked up, touching the spot where he felt the blood, he saw the man who had posed as him sitting opposite, smiling and congratulating him on passing the test.
The man removed his disguise, revealing himself as Zhang Haike. He introduced the woman beside him, who had appeared to "cut his head," as his younger sister, Zhang Haixing, and another person present as Zhang Longban. Zhang Haike explained they were all members of the overseas Zhang family and the execution had been a psychological and intellectual test to verify he was the real Wu Xie.
He revealed they had simply used an anesthetic block and some pig's blood at the back of his neck to create the illusion of decapitation. He then shared Wu Xie's test results, noting low scores in most areas except intelligence, classifying him as an avoidant personality, and expressing surprise at the outcome. Zhang Haike stated that despite the unexpected results, they needed Wu Xie's help for a task given by their clan leader, Zhang Qiling.
Wu Xie was highly skeptical, questioning the test and how Qiling could issue a mission five years after entering the Bronze Door, sarcastically asking if it was via satellite phone. He also doubted his own capabilities given his low test score compared to the seemingly formidable Zhang family members, noting that such strange phenomena were typically handled by the Zhang family. Zhang Haike assured him they were merely there to assist him.
To convince Wu Xie, Zhang Haike showed him a video featuring Zhang Qiling from many years prior. In the recording, Zhang Qiling spoke about a matter he "must" attend to and stated that someone would complete the task in his stead. He specifically instructed that the video tape be given to a person who had worked with him for over three years, asserting this person could definitely accomplish the mission.
Zhang Haike identified Wu Xie as the person chosen by the clan leader due to having worked with him for more than three years. Zhang Haike then elaborated on the "Night King Devours The Sky," explaining it wasn't just a portrait but a real entity deep within the Mosang snowy mountain, part of a legend among the Yinsha Tribe.
He described the Night King as an evil god, similar to the King of Hell, with a thousand eyes, that awakens every eighty years to cause widespread destruction, dragging resisting tribes under the ice. The Night King was accompanied by the Night Lady, a mortal reborn from fire after being punished. They were described as a pair of twin gods whose appearance is marked by lightning and thunder, making it seem as if the sky is being devoured.
Zhang Haike revealed that Zhang Qiling had come eighty years ago, helped the Yinsha people, and sealed the Night King behind a giant door, as it couldn't be truly killed and would revive every eighty years. Now, with the cycle completing, Zhang Qiling needed Wu Xie to help resolve the situation and aid the Yinsha people.
He added that they had recently received a distress letter from the Yinsha Tribe, who called the phenomenon a biological disaster, but the tribe was now unreachable, suggesting a grim situation. Their plan was to enter the snow mountains before the disaster escalated. Wu Xie remained highly skeptical, openly dismissing their story as a fabricated lie by aliens to hide an assassination plot against him. He sarcastically stated his sensitive identity required him to eliminate them for humanity's safety.
When Zhang Haike told him to stop acting, Wu Xie insisted he was being truthful and questioned why they were treating him like a fool, reminding them he had shared adventures with Zhang Qiling and knew such strange phenomena existed. He adamantly refused to believe Zhang Qiling would enlist his help, stating that if they believed it, they were deceived, and if they didn't, they were lying to him. He declared he would not believe them under any circumstances.
Wu Xie attempted a quick escape while fabricating his story, but Zhang Haixing easily captured him. Zhang Haike changed tactics, presenting an ultimatum: if Wu Xie refused to help, he would sever his connection to Zhang Qiling and his memories.
When Wu Xie asked if they would kill him, Zhang Haike said they wouldn't kill the clan leader's friend, but they would burn down the spiritual retreat where they were, destroying the item Wu Xie was meant to find along with it. He offered Wu Xie time to consider. Wu Xie eventually agreed to hear what they wanted him to do.
They revealed the task was to find something Zhang Qiling had hidden with great secrecy in the capital of Nilaisi, something only Wu Xie could locate. Wu Xie claimed Qiling had never mentioned hiding anything from him. Zhang Haike explained the clue must be hidden within their shared experiences, thus the requirement of having worked together for over three years.
The item was the Zhang family heirloom, the Heavenly Staff, Zhang Qiling's personal artifact and the key to dealing with the Night King. Wu Xie humorously speculated if it was a single-shot rocket launcher, but they described it simply as a staff, approximately thirty centimeters long. Wu Xie, still skeptical, joked about the Zhang family poking the Night King with a stick like a wizard's staff.
They reiterated it was the staff the clan leader left "for" him, and their role was only to help him retrieve it. They admitted they didn't know what the staff truly was, how it worked, or how to use it against the Night King, trusting Zhang Qiling would reveal this to Wu Xie in his own way. They pressed Wu Xie to decide whether to join them.
Wu Xie expressed his hesitation, stating he didn't fully trust them as they had only just met, despite their claim of being Zhang family. He insisted on discussing it with the person he had brought with him. Zhang Haixing expressed surprise that he wasn't alone. Wu Xie retorted that he wasn't a defenseless target and could cause them trouble if he had more time.
Zhang Haike, acknowledging the friend's potential skill, proposed a test: if Wu Xie's friend could overcome Zhang Haixing, he could join; otherwise, he wasn't qualified. Wu Xie jokingly warned Zhang Haixing against using a "honey trap," to which she snapped back. After over four hours, an impatient Wu Xie checked on Zhang Haixing, wondering if his friend had bested her. When Wu Xie touched her, she exclaimed in pain. He asked if he could stop moving.
Zhang Haike inquired about the friend's ability. Zhang Haixing reported his skills were decent but his mind was slow, deeming him useless for the mission and advising Wu Xie to accept her assessment. Wu Xie refused, needing to speak with his friend himself. Zhang Haike agreed, but stated that unless the friend could escape on his own immediately, he was effectively "dead to them." Wu Xie reacted sharply to this, questioning what he meant.
The person Zhang Haixing had brought in was motionless, covered with a head covering. Wu Xie demanded they remove it before the person suffocated. Zhang Haike permitted removing the cover but insisted his hands remain tied. Upon removing the cover, the person began speaking loudly in a foreign language, cursing extensively. Wu Xie immediately stated this was not his friend, noting his friend was more devious.
He asked Zhang Haixing who she had captured, while the clearly disoriented man demanded to know who they were and why he was there, suspecting they were in league with a foreign big man who had gotten him drunk before kidnapping him and threatened them with over ten years in prison for abduction. Wu Xie asked him where his friend was, but the man didn't know.
Wu Xie then addressed the Zhang family, explaining that his friend, whom he called "ruthless," sets traps not for escape but to ensnare others. He described his friend's traps as crude but effective against the arrogant. He warned them not to underestimate him, stating that his friend, Fatty, was in Mosang, likely nearby and prepared, and if their opponent had a full force, the Zhangs would already be trapped. He advised them to be alert.
Zhang Haike responded that caution wasn't necessary as Wu Xie's friend was aware of them. Since they had captured the wrong person, he suggested letting him go. Suddenly, shouts of "Poison gas!" erupted from outside, and people scrambled to open windows. They checked for ambushes or missing members. Zhang Haike, seeing no immediate threat from within, told Wu Xie to have his friend come out, declaring their petty tricks wouldn't work.
Just then, a laser sight again fixed on Zhang Haixing. Wu Xie warned everyone not to move. Zhang Haike instructed his sister to listen to Wu Xie and stay still. Wu Xie pointed towards his friend (Fatty, presumably outside), explaining that Fatty needed to see the Zhangs weren't a threat, which required them all to remain still. He asked if he could move, presumably to signal Fatty.
Zhang Haike relented and told the friend (Fatty) to come in, acknowledging he had passed the test and was indeed capable. Fatty entered, complaining the fun was over too soon. Wu Xie affectionately greeted him, expressing worry. Fatty remarked on their chemistry and revealed they had teamed up to trick the Zhangs.
When Zhang Haike asked about the laser from outside the window, Fatty explained it was a toy belonging to the innkeeper's son, whom he had bribed with a lollipop. He joked that since the Zhangs bullied a child (referring to Wu Xie's perceived innocence), he used a child to bully them back. Fatty, taking what appeared to be a cigarette pack, revealed it was a baby monitor he'd prepared for Wu Xie ("our baby") and that he had heard everything.
He called Zhang Haixing "too green" and suggested she go home and drink more milk, provoking a sharp reaction from her. Fatty then introduced himself as "Naive's agent," specializing in dealing with people who target inexperienced youth. He declared the discussion needed to start over now that he was involved, stating anyone doubting his abilities would pay a heavy price. Fatty then told Wu Xie to check his phone for missed calls and make a call.
He announced that he had performed the "courtesy" part and now it was time for "force." Fatty added that Wu Xie didn't have to agree to the Zhangs' terms. A voice from another group asked Wu Xie who Fatty was. Fatty replied it didn't matter, only Wu Xie's choice did. Wu Xie highlighted their disadvantage, being only two against over a dozen skilled Zhang family members. Suddenly, sounds of gunfire erupted from outside.
Then, the other group arrived inside, and a voice addressed Wu Xie, asking if he was Mr. Wu and inviting him to sit, implying they should choose their side. Fatty greeted their timely arrival. Wu Xie asked what was happening, and Fatty replied it was complicated, starting to explain from their meeting in the restroom. Fatty noted the large number of people in this new group, joking about them having diarrhea or numb legs from squatting.
He repeatedly asked for their boss. Fatty was led to meet the boss, who introduced himself as Feng, from Denasi. Feng greeted Mr. Wang (Fatty) and Mr. Wu, saying they finally met. Fatty dismissed his formality, asking if he was trying to scare them and what he intended to do with them. Feng assured them he only valued the meeting.
Feng introduced himself as being in biological research, explaining his company acquired Qiu Dekao's company because they needed research species Qiu had brought back from ruins. He added that while sorting materials, they found information about Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Qiling, expressing admiration for their adventures and a long-held desire to meet them. Fatty sarcastically called him a fan. Feng mentioned his latest research project, "Night King Devours The Sky," and the importance of the creature to his company.
He stated his purpose was to collaborate with them. Fatty immediately brought up money. Feng stated he had discussed the price with Mr. Wang (Fatty). He then presented Wu Xie with two options: go with the Zhangs, which offered uncertain information about Zhang Qiling, or cooperate with the Denasi, which guaranteed money, safety, and protection for the spiritual retreat. Wu Xie called them fools, reminding Feng that they had just been shot at "inside" the room.
Feng maintained that his team was professionally trained and confident, just as the fight outside had ended quickly (within three minutes). Wu Xie questioned their confidence and how they were sure they had won. Feng remained certain, stating he knew Wu Xie was cautious but their offer was the best option for a pleasant cooperation. Feng suggested Wu Xie and Mr. Wang (Fatty) discuss it while he checked on the situation outside, promising to return to finalize details.
Wu Xie protested that he hadn't agreed to cooperate. Fatty commented on Feng being a "big investor" and wondered if the Zhangs had been killed or perhaps offered a higher price, though he thought that unlikely given the Zhangs' apparent experience. Wu Xie questioned Fatty about the price that had convinced him to bring Wu Xie into this dangerous situation.
Fatty, offended, explained that Feng had come with a nail gun "and" a million dollars, calling himself a fan, leaving Fatty with no choice but to consider cooperation for a backup plan and an ally in case they couldn't escape the Zhangs. Wu Xie questioned if Fatty genuinely wanted to cooperate, calling him foolish and deeming both groups terrifying, leaving them vulnerable on the chopping block.
Fatty retorted that they still had a chance and told Wu Xie to be quiet. Wu Xie pointed out that the Denasi knew everything about them from their research, while they knew nothing about the Denasi. Fatty agreed this was the key: understanding their opponents. Fatty proposed using the conflict between the Zhangs and the Denasi to their advantage, stirring things up between them.
Wu Xie expressed concerns about things going wrong, Fatty making a secret deal with the Zhangs, and the Zhangs potentially using mysterious abilities or "sorcery." As Wu Xie repeatedly called for Fatty, expressing concern, Fatty briefly engaged with someone, possibly Zhang Haixing ("that practitioner"), confirming his skills were still sharp and that the dynamic from earlier was repeating itself.
Episode 6 Recap
Wu Xie and Fatty were speaking in their room when they heard a disturbance outside the door. Exchanging glances, they collaborated to apprehend the late-night intruder. Upon removing the person's mask, Wu Xie was surprised to find it was the same individual who had asked him for directions at the spiritual retreat earlier that day. Wu Xie and Fatty became increasingly apprehensive, uncertain how many different groups were now present at the retreat.
They placed the subdued person into a sack and intended to discreetly remove him late at night. Suddenly, they discovered the entire spiritual retreat completely deserted. Wu Xie and Fatty were struck with a chilling realization. Despite the place being crowded with people during the day, it was now vast and empty. Even a covert departure would have likely generated some sound or visible signs. Fatty, maintaining his characteristic humor, speculated whether the people had been captured or had perished.
As they pondered this mystery, the person in the sack regained consciousness. Seeing the deserted environment, he became visibly terrified and trembling, claiming darkness was falling and they would soon die. Wu Xie and Fatty, witnessing his convincing fear, were both partly persuaded and skeptical; how could so many people disappear instantaneously? Nevertheless, they decided to heed his warning and began building a fire to provide warmth in the room. Soon after, sounds emanated from outside the door.
A howling wind swept through the courtyard. After a prolonged period, the noise abruptly ceased. Wu Xie cautiously peered out and observed a large number of insects starting to stream into the room. The person from the sack bolted out the door in a panic. Wu Xie and Fatty frantically searched for objects to barricade the door, but the insects appeared to have remarkably strong mandibles, quickly chewing the entire door panel into fragments.
Fatty and Wu Xie were forced to flee outside to escape. The swarming insects pursued them relentlessly, inflicting bites on Fatty's hands. Wu Xie suddenly recalled that his blood might possess repellent properties. He motioned with his hand, allowing drops of his blood to disperse in the air. Although his blood did repel the insects to a limited extent, it was not sufficient to deter the immense swarm, which continued to encircle them frantically.
Fatty and Wu Xie ran until they reached Zhang Qiling's statue. The insects seemed particularly averse to the statue, merely hovering above it. Wu Xie and Fatty, shivering intensely from the cold, were trapped near the statue. They believed their end was imminent. Fatty could not help but voice his final thoughts, expressing profound gratitude for having Wu Xie and Little Brother as friends. Wu Xie began to feel disoriented and struggled to process his thoughts.
He intensely focused on his memories, feeling as though he were trapped within a hallucination. Recognizing this familiar sensation, he made a deliberate effort to clear his mind. After an indeterminate period, Wu Xie opened his eyes and found himself lying in the same room they had been in the previous night. Across from him were Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing. Zhang Haixing was sealing something into a bell, indicating this bell had been responsible for inducing Wu Xie's illusion.
Zhang Haixing explained that this hexagonal bell was a Zhang family artifact crafted from a special meteorite bronze, capable of creating incredibly realistic hallucinations. She admitted it was normally kept sealed because using it casually was very dangerous. This incident was presented as a test, merely a small trial to assess if Wu Xie could handle it.
As anticipated, Wu Xie displayed an exceptional nature, and although Fatty was less capable, his presence provided Wu Xie with a sense of inner peace, thus allowing Fatty to also pass the assessment. This was identified as the second of three tests the Zhang family typically administered to determine someone's suitability to confront the Night King. Wu Xie expressed his displeasure with what they termed a "test."
Shortly after Zhang Haike departed, representatives from Anjing Company, including Mr. Feng, invited them into a room to view a video recorded by an expedition team years ago. They explained that their research into "Night King Devours The Sky" had commenced approximately eighty years prior. A century before that, renowned figures Hicklefort and William Boulogne had led expeditions into Mosang and uncovered clues about the Night King within ancient city records.
These records described a peculiar, ancient structure situated deep within the snowy mountains, potentially serving as an entrance to a city where the legendary Night King was said to be active. Anjing Company had dispatched several teams in an effort to locate this city. Most of these teams disappeared, but one team, consisting of fifteen seasoned special forces veterans, managed to leave behind a video recording.
The video documented the team encountering a rapidly moving golden sphere or mass of flesh that swiftly annihilated them. A second team sent on a rescue mission discovered their remains frozen deep within the ice, appearing as though they had been severely mangled or chewed by a gigantic creature. Among the remains, they found a securely locked safe. Inside the safe was a decaying mass of flesh.
Anjing Company's research concluded that this was a biological organism, perhaps an organ belonging to the Night King, and likely the entity that had attacked the team. They discovered that substances within this decaying mass possessed significant medicinal properties, promoting rapid cell repair and even influencing DNA structure, potentially offering a way to eliminate diseases. However, the beneficial substances within the decayed mass rapidly degraded. To advance their research, they needed a "living" Night King.
Aware of the Zhang family's historical involvement with the Night King, Anjing Company sought to establish cooperation. Mr. Feng knew that the key to defeating the Night King lay with the Zhang family's Heavenly Staff, which was hidden in a secret location accessible only with three special keys. He also knew that Zhang Haike himself did not possess the Heavenly Staff or any of the keys, while Anjing Company did possess one of the keys, hidden in Dejia.
Therefore, attending this meeting was necessary to exchange information and potentially form a collaboration. Wu Xie was identified as crucial for finding the remaining keys, although the precise reason for this remained unclear to everyone involved, described like holding a "blind card." The strategy necessitated remaining in Dejia to locate the other two keys before searching for the Heavenly Staff to confront the Night King.
Before the larger meeting with Anjing Company, Wu Xie and Fatty discussed the situation in private. Fatty voiced suspicion regarding Zhang Haike's motivations and the purpose of the testing. Wu Xie reasoned that regardless of which party they aligned with, they would likely become entangled, so it was more advantageous not to antagonize anyone and instead use the meeting to gather intelligence. He specifically wondered if Yu Da, whose scroll he sought, might represent another independent force.
They decided to attend the meeting, initially remain silent, observe the interactions and dynamics, and be prepared to cause a disruption and withdraw if the situation became unfavorable for them. Fatty, confident in his ability to create chaos when needed, readily agreed.
Episode 7 Recap
Based on the information they had, the Anjing Company representative, Feng, stated that their understanding of the Night King as an invisible creature conflicted with the Zhang family's belief that it sheds visible, ball-like organs. He acknowledged that conflicting views were normal because no one fully understood the creature, and answers would only come with more data gathered at the location.
Feng then offered Wu Xie three million yuan, acknowledging him as the person chosen by Zhang Qiling to deal with the creature. For the Zhang family members present, he offered two million yuan to rent the Heavenly Staff plus another two million as a service fee. Zhang Haike openly questioned why the Zhang family was receiving less money than Wu Xie.
Feng responded that the price was negotiable if they had other bargaining chips and urged them to discuss it quickly, as time was limited. Fatty remarked that the meeting could go on forever and suggested they had gathered enough information. Wu Xie agreed, noting that the meeting itself indicated neither side could completely suppress the other, creating a temporary balance that offered them safety for a while.
He also observed that the core conflict – Feng wanting to research the Night King and Zhang Haike wanting to kill it – was unlikely to be easily resolved and could lead to fighting if they continued talking. Wu Xie proposed they find an excuse to establish a basic consensus and then leave.
As they prepared to make their exit, individuals presumed to be Anjing Company guards blocked the doorway, stating no one could leave until an agreement was reached and warning them not to draw weapons. Amidst the tension, Wu Xie intervened, acknowledging the differing goals: Feng wanted to capture the Night King alive for research, while Zhang Haike insisted it must die.
Wu Xie proposed a simple plan: they would first cooperate on the necessary steps – getting the key and finding the Heavenly Staff, and then capturing the Night King. The conflict over who gets the Night King would be settled later. Wu Xie suggested that once they reached the snowy mountain, they would draw a line, and all three teams would race from that line; the first one to reach and capture the Night King would claim it.
He framed it as a game, and with no explicit objections raised, the meeting concluded. After the others left, Wu Xie and Fatty were alone. Fatty found the foreigners' ideas about the Night King interesting, but Wu Xie dismissed it, reiterating that he was only there to uncover Zhang Qiling's past and had no interest in their conflicts. Zhang Haike told him it was too late, he was already caught in the conflicts, and then he left.
Zhang Haixing questioned Haike, asking if he was serious about collaborating with the foreigners and why they couldn't just take the key since it was Zhang family property. Haike explained that Wu Xie was unique, and they needed to be cautious, first gaining his trust and ensuring his safety before attempting to seize Feng's key. Haixing asked if he had a complete plan and if his strategy was worth it, wondering if they couldn't just find freedom like others.
Haike stated he didn't want to escape, and Haixing declared she would accompany him. Haike told her she didn't need to get involved, calling her his only sibling. Fatty expressed skepticism about the Night King stories but mused that if the Zhang family and Feng couldn't handle it, Qiling wouldn't have left it to them. He warned Wu Xie that Zhang Haike could deceive him again.
Wu Xie replied that he had been deceived so many times that he relied on instinct, which felt more reliable. They then discussed their escape plan. Fatty suggested Wu Xie go first pretending to be two people, while Fatty hid and ran later, leading their pursuers away. Wu Xie hesitated, lamenting the thought of leaving Yu Da's scrolls behind, fearing Zhang Haike might burn the place. Fatty reassured him that Haike wouldn't dare if Qiling were to find out.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Wu Xie and Fatty prepared to leave. However, as they packed, Wu Xie observed that the entire spiritual retreat was surrounded by both the foreigners and Zhang family members. He realized running directly out to the snowy mountain would make them easy targets. Their best chance was to find a way down the mountain first before attempting to escape. Wu Xie proposed they adopt the confident demeanor they displayed at Xinyue Hotel, acting like important figures.
He suggested Wu Xie leverage his role as Qiling's appointed specialist to demand unified management, asserting himself as the de facto leader. He then proposed they conduct a team-building activity down the mountain to break down barriers and showcase skills, specifically using a long-distance air gun shooting demonstration as a cover. This demonstration would allow them to gain distance from the groups, and once they were far enough, they would make a run for it.
They carried out the shooting demonstration and, at a pre-determined distance, took off running through the winding streets while being chased. Just as they were being pursued intensely, a hand reached out from a hidden passage in a wall, pulling them inside. Their rescuer was Yu Da. Yu Da explained he had come down the mountain to buy things and saw them running.
He told them fate had brought them there and revealed he had discovered the secret passage when he was younger while secretly sneaking down the mountain. Yu Da guided them through the passage, stating it would lead them to a bus station where they could find freedom. As they were about to part ways, Yu Da revealed that he had found Zhang Qiling's memory and placed the content written on a scroll in Zhang Qiling's room.
He told Wu Xie he could choose whether or not to read it but added that if Wu Xie did not, he would give the scroll to "that pretty young girl" (Zhang Haixing), who was also asking about it. Wu Xie was stunned by the revelation. After leaving Yu Da, Fatty immediately suspected Yu Da was a pawn of Zhang Haike, trying to lure them back with the scroll.
At the bus station, Fatty had secured tickets, but Wu Xie was torn. Fatty argued that going back was a clear trap after they had just escaped. Wu Xie insisted he wanted to return, feeling that the scroll might contain vital information about Qiling that he couldn't miss after years of searching, especially fearing it might be destroyed.
Fatty called him naive and foolish, pointing out the suspicious timing of the scroll's appearance right after their escape, believing it was just a trap. Wu Xie countered that if it were a trap, Yu Da wouldn't have helped them escape. He argued that this was the first real information about Qiling in years, and he couldn't let it fall into Zhang Haike's hands.
Despite Fatty's strong reservations, he ultimately agreed to accompany Wu Xie, accepting Wu Xie's desire to gamble. They headed back up the mountain and encountered the people who had been chasing them waiting for them. Fatty jokingly commented on how long they had waited. Wu Xie asserted that their successful escape demonstrated their capability and that they could not be stopped.
When warned about facing consequences if they ran again, Wu Xie accepted the role of "leader" they had put upon him and agreed to share his plan for dealing with the Night King after they had eaten. In the newly obtained scroll, Wu Xie began to read, finding information about Qiling's past experiences in the Zhang Family Castle. He described seeing numerous corpses and wondering what had happened.
He identified some bodies as Zhang family members due to their distinctive long fingers, noting their deaths were caused by broken necks, a specific fighting style of the clan, indicating they were killed by their own people.
He saw evidence of a thick layer of plaster sealing an entrance from the inside, while bricks were being removed from the outside, suggesting two factions within the Zhang family had fought violently inside, and one group had sealed the entrance against another trying to get in. He speculated this might have happened during the landslide that buried Zhang Family Castle, recalling that their ancestors were already engaged in internal conflict during the landslide.
He wondered about the cause of the conflict, especially why it occurred during the landslide, suggesting a hidden secret or valuable treasure. He noticed Zhang Haike was no longer with them, having gone ahead. They moved into another area, identified by Wu Xie as likely the Zhang Family Castle dungeon, used for punishing clan members, noting numerous jars with bloodstains, implying large-scale blood usage.
They found a brazier and lit it, revealing more bodies, also Zhang family members killed by neck breaking. These bodies wore gear for underwater activity and were tied together, suggesting they intended to enter an underwater pool. Other bodies displayed different wounds – cuts on the wrists, consistent with the method used by some Zhang family members with a special blood that repels bugs.
These individuals, imprisoned in the dungeon, had their blood harvested to allow passage through the bug-infested pool. Wu Xie considered the possibility that the raiders during the landslide were not outsiders but insiders from Zhang Family Castle. Given the castle's accumulated treasure and the breaches caused by the landslide, internal traitors might have seen an opportunity to attack.
The castle guards likely discovered them, leading one group of traitors to block the entrance against reinforcements while another group harvested blood to access something vital under the water. Suddenly, Zhang Haike appeared, stating he was present when these events occurred and had been to this place before. He identified it not just as the site of internal Zhang family conflict unknown to the wider family, but as Sifang City, a forbidden part of their history.
He warned that the clan would not be happy that Wu Xie had been brought there, suggesting their presence was a serious transgression. Feng tried to seize Haixing, implying taking her back could serve as atonement for this transgression. Wu Xie stopped them from fighting, insisting they had come willingly and they couldn't defeat Feng anyway. He urged them to focus on understanding what happened instead of fighting. Wu Xie asked Zhang Haike for the truth.
Haike confirmed the place's true name was Sifang City and recounted how many years ago, a group of Zhang family traitors plotted to assassinate the previous patriarch there in a brutal battle that resulted in many clan members' deaths. He stated that the room they were in was a temporary setup used by the traitors to hunt the patriarch. The pool below was indeed filled with highly toxic bugs, impassable without assistance.
They captured children with the special blood, including Haike himself, to harvest blood to drive the bugs away. However, during the attack, a landslide completely buried Sifang City, ending the assassination attempt. The patriarch died in the deepest part, along with the Heavenly Staff, the symbol of his authority. Haike explained the Heavenly Staff possessed a strange power allowing the patriarch to communicate with spirits and know everything, making it crucially important to the clan.
However, the clan began to decline after its loss, yet many didn't search for it because the ancestors had different views, believing it also caused severe physical harm to the family, details known only to the patriarch. Haike pointed out Zhang family weapons in the area and instructed them to take some and return the way they came, which would count as passing the survival training.
He warned them not to mention Sifang City upon their return, assuring them they wouldn't be troubled if they kept quiet. Wu Xie asked what Haike would do, and Haike replied he needed to go much deeper for what he sought, stating they couldn't help him as some places only he could reach, hinting he might be after the Heavenly Staff. He warned them again not to go deeper or they would die. Fatty questioned if they could trust Haike.
Feng voiced suspicion, feeling that trusting Haike would lead to their loss and that he couldn't accept the situation. He argued that if Haike found the Heavenly Staff and succeeded, it could cause a massive shift for the entire Zhang family, and they were already involved. Feng suggested the wider Zhang family might not even want the staff back and suspected Haike wanted it for himself and to claim all the credit.
Feng declared he wanted a share in any such achievement that could grant access to the Zhang family core. Wu Xie admitted he was interested in Haike and decided to follow him deeper, partly because he was kin and gaining more information would help them adapt. Fatty agreed to go as well. Zhang Haixing also decided to join, finding the unfolding mystery more interesting than the survival training.
Episode 8 Recap
Despite Zhang Qiling's advice for them to turn back and avoid danger, several companions secretly followed him, concerned that he might claim any discoveries or credit alone. As the path grew increasingly narrow and dark, the group continued forward. When they observed Zhang Qiling apparently using a bone-shrinking technique to enter a small hole, they opted to take a different route nearby. Their chosen path led them into a vast, disorienting area resembling a maze with many branching passages.
Soon, some companions began experiencing dizziness and vomiting. They noticed black lines appearing on their wrists, which rapidly spread, turning their veins dark. Recognizing these as signs of poisoning, they suspected they had contracted parasitic infections from the water earlier, lamenting that they had not heeded Zhang Qiling's warning about poisonous creatures in the pool. As the dark veins spread up their arms and towards their necks, fear intensified among them.
They attempted to contact Zhang Qiling, but there was no response in the empty surroundings. Desperate, they consulted a map to plan an escape route. Amidst the panic, arguments arose about who should prioritize leaving. They decided they needed to get Zhang Qiling's attention and lure him back. Believing that threatening the potential collapse of the ancient city and the loss of the Heavenly Staff would compel him to intervene, they planted explosives to create a significant disturbance.
A massive explosion shook the area, causing walls to crack and collapse. Zhang Qiling, realizing his companions were in danger, immediately altered his path to find them. He soon located Haixing, who had been affected by collapsed debris and showed significant signs of the spreading poison on her neck. Understanding the severity, Zhang Qiling used a probe to pierce a vein and offered her his blood, which the companions had speculated was special and could repel the parasites.
After Haixing drank Zhang Qiling's blood, her poisoning symptoms quickly subsided, and she was healed. Together, they continued searching for the others. They found Jiuri trapped under heavy stone slabs, weakened by the poison and unable to free himself. Working together, they managed to lift the stones, and Zhang Qiling gave Jiuri some of his blood, which also healed him. With time of the essence, Zhang Qiling hurried ahead and found Zhang Nian in a critical situation.
He was trapped by rocks and suspended precariously over a deep pit, with the unstable structure posing a risk to anyone trying to move. Zhang Qiling carefully assessed the perilous setup. Despite the extreme danger and Zhang Nian's panicked reaction, Zhang Qiling calmly focused on the rescue. He managed to free Zhang Nian from his dangerous predicament. Once everyone was rescued, including Zhang Haike who was also safe, Zhang Qiling's blood cured their poisoning.
All four companions – Haixing, Jiuri, Zhang Haike, and Zhang Nian – were now safe and healed. They expressed gratitude towards Zhang Qiling, though Zhang Haike's lingering animosity was still apparent. Zhang Qiling pointed them toward an exit, instructing them to leave immediately and assuring them they could still complete their "wilding" task by successfully getting out.
Some companions openly speculated if Zhang Qiling's true motive for risking his life was to find the Heavenly Staff, which they had heard could allow the wielder to become the patriarch. Zhang Qiling offered no explanation and saw them off towards the exit. Reaching a point where a chain coated in fire oil served as the only way across a chasm, Zhang Qiling swiftly crossed it.
Seeing this, the companions decided to follow him, not wishing to remain indebted after he had saved them all and feeling it was right to stick together. Zhang Qiling silently accepted their decision but cautioned them to be extremely careful. As they proceeded, they encountered debris and jars partially buried in mud.
When Haixing started to examine one, Zhang Qiling quickly stopped her, explaining these were dangerous traps set by the Zhang family, possibly containing something sealed by the patriarch to defend against intruders. This moment seemed to mark a shift, with the companions, particularly Zhang Haike, showing signs of starting to heed Zhang Qiling's warnings. They eventually reached a derelict ship. Nearby, they discovered several ancient corpses identified as Zhang family members by their elongated fingers.
The bodies lacked obvious external injuries but showed signs of violent struggle, suggesting they might have died from poison or self-inflicted poisoning, seemingly in an act of protecting something. Wondering if the patriarch's body was among them, they attempted to investigate further. This action triggered a mechanism, and a poisonous needle shot out, which Zhang Qiling swiftly caught. They realized the entire ship area was part of a trap and that the Heavenly Staff was certainly not there.
Zhang Qiling quickly understood the ship's defense mechanism was weight-sensitive. He instructed everyone to maintain balance and find a way off the unstable vessel before the traps could fully activate. Haixing, Jiuri, and Zhang Haike managed to get to safety off the ship. However, Zhang Nian became ensnared by another part of the activated mechanism. Facing imminent danger, Zhang Nian began to panic and prioritize self-preservation. Zhang Qiling calmly instructed everyone to remain still. He then told Haixing, Jiuri, and Zhang Haike to evacuate, stating that he would remain behind alone to rescue Zhang Nian.
Episode 9 Recap
After navigating various hazards, the group found a deep, hidden space within the Zhang Family Castle. The air was thick with humidity, causing the decaying contents of ships to meld together. Exploring further, they found more space blocked by cargo crates. They speculated that people had tried to seal the area but died before finishing. The state of the bodies inside, reduced to bones, contrasted sharply with the mummified remains found outside, suggesting something dangerous was contained within.
Wu Xie and others felt an ominous presence, but they decided to split up and search cautiously. Jiuri located the remains of a patriarch, believing the Heavenly Staff might be there. Suddenly, strange phenomena occurred; their shadows moved ahead of them. Before they could fully comprehend this, they were swarmed by bugs. Someone realized the bugs were mimicking their shadows, which were identified as "Little Devils." Recognizing the danger, someone called out, stating that Wu Xie's blood could help them.
The Heavenly Staff was spotted, and Wu Xie was instructed to retrieve it quickly, warned that there might be mechanisms or explosives beneath the body. The swarm of bugs intensified, forcing them to escape. Jiuri volunteered to stay behind to seal the passage, intending to keep the bugs from escaping the area. Wu Xie, who knew the way out, led the group to safety through a water pond which had seemingly served as a final barrier sealing the bug chamber.
Jiuri was stopped from fully sealing the passage and dragged out by the others. As the others reached safety, Zhang Qiling stayed behind at the passage entrance and used fire to destroy the bugs in the chamber. Carrying the newly retrieved Heavenly Staff, Wu Xie was asked if he was sure about taking it back. The group, having survived the ordeal together, decided to form a team, calling themselves the "Scorpion Team," vowing to share fortune and hardship.
Later, Wu Xie reflected on the events and the existence of the Heavenly Staff. He wondered why Zhang Qiling would want to be the patriarch, questioning it based on his understanding of Zhang Qiling's reserved and noble character, which seemed far from worldly ambitions. He pondered the mysteries surrounding Zhang Qiling's past and current motives.
Feeling both closer and further away from understanding Zhang Qiling, Wu Xie resolved to stay and complete whatever tasks Zhang Qiling might need him to do, hoping to eventually bring him home. Fatty joined him, discussing a scroll Wu Xie had received.
The scroll mentioned Zhang Qiling and Zhang Haike knowing each other and that Zhang Qiling's presence in the snowy mountains was related to the Night King, information that aligned with what others had told them and what was found in Feng's records. While admitting his initial skepticism, Wu Xie now felt a hint of belief that Zhang Qiling might genuinely need his help, perhaps because he couldn't find anyone else he trusted.
They decided that until they gathered more information, they would follow the lead of the other factions, treating it as an exploration, but ready to adapt if they found the others to be deceitful. Wu Xie was resolute in his decision to stay, viewing this path of being deceived and seeking opportunities within it as his destiny. The following morning, a strange bell sound echoed, causing panic among the locals.
Someone explained that it marked the start of "Luku Day," a day occurring every eighty years. It was said this day would end with golden rain and the resurrection of the Night King in the snowy mountains, who would then slaughter all living things.
Facing the impending events and the presence of two distinct groups – the foreigners led by Feng (De Na Xi) and the Zhang family descendants led by Zhang Haike – Wu Xie and Fatty decided they needed to choose a side and strategize effectively. They agreed to test each group separately. Fatty offered to engage with Feng ("Old Feng"), while Wu Xie would speak with Zhang Haike.
Fatty went to interact with Feng, who, as Fatty later revealed, was a "scientific weirdo" and a "變態狂." While with Feng, Fatty got him drunk and discovered deeply disturbing documents, including Wu Xie's blood analysis reports and detailed anatomical diagrams, leading him to conclude that Feng intended to dissect Wu Xie alive. Horrified, Fatty rushed back to warn Wu Xie, emphasizing the need to be extremely cautious around Feng.
Fatty also shared a story about Feng's past, detailing his father's abuse and sister's disappearance, suggesting Feng's twisted view on violence stemmed from his upbringing, contrasting him with Zhang Haike. Wu Xie then showed Fatty a hexagonal bell he had received from Zhang Haike, explaining that it was the item previously known to cause hallucinations. Zhang Haike had given it to Wu Xie for protection, claiming it could enhance his confidence.
Wu Xie explained that the bell's hallucination effect wasn't caused by sound alone, but by powder inside, activated "after" a psychological suggestion. Fatty, playing with the bell, accidentally triggered a vivid hallucination of being dissected, a result of having seen Feng's anatomical diagrams earlier. This experience confirmed the bell's potency and authenticity, convincing Wu Xie that Zhang Haike was likely more trustworthy than Feng, as he had given him such a powerful and potentially dangerous item.
They decided to align with Zhang Haike but still needed a plan to evade Feng, who seemed determined to use Wu Xie as a test subject. Zhang Haike visited them, stating his people were ready to act against Feng "that night", viewing their current cooperation as temporary. He believed Feng was secretly planning against them. Wu Xie proposed a different plan to Zhang Haike, one that required cooperation.
Wu Xie then executed his plan by creating fake "Personality Type Assessment" (综合评估) scores for everyone. He presented these comically low scores to Zhang Haixing, Zhang Haike, and Feng, causing a distraction as they reacted to their results. While the others were preoccupied with the assessment sheets, Wu Xie and his companions quietly made their escape. Feng quickly realized they were gone and ordered a pursuit, also noticing his sister, Zhang Haixing, attempting to flee and ordering her capture. Feng stopped his men from shooting, concerned they might hit Wu Xie who was in the car. Although they missed catching Wu Xie's group, Feng declared he had other plans.
Episode 10 Recap
Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike were brought down the mountain by Zhang family members, a rough descent that left Fatty complaining about his fear of heights. Wu Xie explained that during their escape from Feng's group, he had subtly used a powder and held his breath to avoid inhaling it, ensuring the resulting hallucination effect on Feng's group would be temporary and harmless. He noted that the Zhang family's method of transport helped them escape.
They assessed their relative strengths and weaknesses: Feng had abundant resources, manpower, and equipment but lacked intelligence and unity, while their group was strong physically but lacked funding, personnel, and equipment and could be impulsive. Zhang Haike offered to bring Zhang family experts and funds, but Wu Xie believed they needed a different, more strategic approach than brute force, hinting he had a plan. They were heading to Dejia, a place located over 4,000 meters high.
As the narrative shifted, it described Zhang Qiling's return to the Zhang Family Ancient Residence. The scene felt both festive with colorful lights and desolate, a long corridor leading from perceived prosperity to ruin. It seemed the ancient family had declined, waiting for a successor. Despite sensing danger from the attitudes of the Zhang family members, a deep question troubled Zhang Qiling, driving him forward into the potential crisis to uncover the truth buried within the mysterious family's core.
He entered the ancestral hall where the Patriarch awaited. The Patriarch stated that upon retrieving the Heavenly Staff, Zhang Qiling was destined to become the next patriarch, enter the Zhang Family Ancient Tower as "Zhang Qiling," complete the succession ceremony, and set the Zhang family free. He explained that the family had been ruined from its foundation and its collapse was inevitable, acknowledging that nothing lasts forever.
Zhang Qiling expressed his desire to know his origins, and the Patriarch confirmed that all answers were in the Ancient Tower, accessible only after becoming patriarch. He warned that taking the position meant losing his name and past, becoming someone without a future or past, and that the role would strip away everything save for decay. He offered Zhang Qiling a final chance to leave if he hesitated, but Zhang Qiling affirmed he would uphold his promise.
The Patriarch further revealed the Zhang family's ancient secret: a special disease called Tianshou, which struck in adulthood. Once it manifested, affected Zhang family members could not leave the local water source, as only its water sustained their health and prevented unpredictable and dangerous behavior, memory loss, and often death. This fear had trapped the family for generations. However, a cure existed within the Zhang Family Ancient Tower, but past patriarchs, to maintain control, had refused to provide it.
The family had chosen Zhang Qiling because only the patriarch could enter the tower, insert the Heavenly Staff to activate a mechanism, release the cure, and grant them normal lives. Outside, villagers gathered, anticipating freedom as Zhang Qiling prepared for the ritual, dressed in patriarchal attire. A large coffin was present for the ceremony.
The Patriarch explained that after Zhang Qiling activated the mechanism, the Heavenly Staff's immense power would immediately afflict "him" alone with Tianshou, making him the sole carrier of its consequences and the patriarch of a family consisting only of himself. When asked what would happen, it was stated he would likely die, and the matter would be concluded, though his suffering would not last long. Despite this grim fate, Zhang Qiling was presented with a drink.
Others present, his companions from the expedition, recognized it as poisonous and desperately urged him not to drink, knowing that not drinking would prevent him from entering the Ancient Tower. But Zhang Qiling, resolute, took the cup and drank. He fell unconscious and was placed in the dark, enclosed coffin, which was moved towards a cold, unnatural cave, destined to face his unknown future.
He later emerged from the coffin in a ruined area and activated the mechanism by inserting the Heavenly Staff. After activating it, bright golden light appeared, and he experienced intense pain. Following the pain, Zhang Qiling found himself in a void, a sparkly, windless, painless space. He saw a group of children playing and observed a younger version of himself watching them from a distance, alone.
A young boy, later identified by Zhang Haike as a young Zhang Haike, approached the solitary figure of young Zhang Qiling and asked if he missed his mother, but young Zhang Qiling silently denied it and walked away. The narrator speculated this might have been their only interaction.
Later, Wu Xie reflected on the significance of memory to Zhang Qiling, an orphan in the indifferent Zhang family who didn't know his origins or destination, and whose name was merely a title. Wu Xie believed Zhang Qiling found answers in the Ancient Tower but quickly lost them to Tianshou, which the scroll described as a special family disease disturbing thoughts, causing loss of self-awareness, unpredictable behavior, and likely linked to poisonous insects or parasites.
Wu Xie resolved that if Zhang Qiling forgot, he and Fatty would remember it, ensuring it would never be lost again. Zhang Haike revealed that a man named Wang Jinyuan knew information about Zhang Qiling's origins and memories. Wang Jinyuan was a practitioner belonging to a special Zhang family organization, which included individuals like Yu Da, responsible for recording and preserving patriarchs' memories to prevent loss during amnesia.
Wang Jinyuan was specifically the keeper of memories related to keepsakes or tokens. He was stubborn and would not speak without seeing the patriarch. Zhang Haike, Wu Xie, and Fatty traveled to the Zhang family's base in Dejia to see him. Arriving at the base, which resembled a guesthouse, they were observed by the Zhang family members living there, who looked at them like outsiders.
Zhang Haike explained that after the family gained freedom, many found it hard to live normal lives and eventually returned and gathered at the very secluded base. The person in charge was wary of outsiders but accepted them after Zhang Haike asserted Wu Xie was chosen by the patriarch to fight the Night King and surely possessed special abilities.
At the base, they encountered Zhang Xiaoguo, an orphan dressed similarly to Zhang Qiling, who had a temper but idolized the patriarch. Wu Xie and Fatty told him that Zhang Qiling was the smiliest person they knew. Zhang Xiaoguo, convinced Wu Xie was special due to the patriarch's choice, asked Wu Xie to teach him to fight the Night King.
Wu Xie, finding the child endearing, agreed to take him as an apprentice if he returned to his room, reflecting that young Zhang Qiling could have used someone to trick him kindly like this. Zhang Haike discussed the mission: finding the key, obtaining the Heavenly Staff, and defeating the Night King. The person in charge reiterated concerns about bringing outsiders and potentially attracting Feng's group.
Zhang Haike insisted Wu Xie was not ordinary and trusted the patriarch's reason for choosing him. Since previous attempts to get information from Wang Jinyuan had failed, they agreed to let Wu Xie try. If he failed, Zhang Haike would leave with his companions immediately. Wu Xie was taken to the room Zhang Qiling had used. Wang Jinyuan arrived, curious about Wu Xie as the patriarch's appointed person.
The very old Wang Jinyuan was initially resistant, stating he would not reveal anything about the patriarch's memories or secrets until the patriarch returned, mentioning his age and busy schedule. Wu Xie proposed they avoid talking about the key and instead focus on the secret Wang Jinyuan kept, suggesting Zhang Qiling must have left a significant mark on his life.
Wang Jinyuan dismissed this approach but agreed to a procedure: he would ask Wu Xie three questions, and if satisfied with the answers, he would acknowledge Wu Xie's connection to the patriarch.
Episode 11 Recap
An elderly man, Wang Jinyuan, first spoke with Zhang Qiling about life and the patriarch before turning to Wu Xie. He posed three questions, stating that if Wu Xie answered satisfactorily, he would acknowledge Wu Xie as being affiliated with the patriarch and reveal the clue to the Key's location. Wang Jinyuan had spent decades safeguarding the patriarch's memory and secrets at that location, often being called stubborn for his dedication.
He questioned the meaning of his long vigil and whether these memories were truly important to the patriarch, who suffered from repeated memory loss, known as Tianshou, constantly searching for his past self. He wondered if his own efforts over the years held significance for the patriarch, who had nonetheless entrusted him with important tasks. Finally, he asked Wu Xie what he saw when looking at him. Wu Xie responded that he saw his future self decades from now.
Wang Jinyuan was very pleased with this answer. Wu Xie asked if he had answered the questions correctly. Wang Jinyuan replied that feelings should not be spoken carelessly or faked, especially concerning the patriarch. He then asked Wu Xie to play a song he liked. Satisfied with Wu Xie's responses, Wang Jinyuan revealed the clue about the Key's location, showing Wu Xie a sketch with an address on the back.
He explained that the Key was at that location and that inside, Wu Xie would find the "monster box" and "mud hut." Wang Jinyuan's time came to an end two days later. Wu Xie and Zhang Haike handled the arrangements for his remains. Zhang Haike explained that during this process, they found several other sketches on Wang Jinyuan, drawn around the same time as the one given to Wu Xie.
Wang Jinyuan likely carried multiple "fake" sketches because he feared the Key's location might be stolen, but only the one he gave Wu Xie, which was drawn by Zhang Qiling, was genuine. Zhang Haike recounted that after defeating the Night King and leaving the snowy mountain, Zhang Qiling recovered in this area and met Wang Jinyuan, a folklore scholar with extensive knowledge of local history and culture. Wang Jinyuan quickly recognized the many secrets Zhang Qiling carried.
When Zhang Qiling anticipated another episode of Tianshou and needed to hide the Heavenly Staff and the Key before it happened, Wang Jinyuan suggested concealing them somewhere deep underground in Nilaisi. Zhang Haike explained that Nilaisi is prone to earthquakes, causing buildings to sink and creating vast, complex underground ruins and voids filled with trash and rats. Locals call this area Old Niles. Some parts closer to the surface are inhabited, but even Zhang Qiling never reached the deepest areas.
Zhang Haike also mentioned that the oldest and purest-blooded members of the Zhang Family in Dejia, known as the "Old monsters," live in seclusion in the houses on the mountain, having relinquished their Zhang Family responsibilities. They are the only ones qualified to enter the back mountain and require their recognition for entry; anyone attempting to go without it would be instantly killed, as they dislike disturbance.
Zhang Haike revealed that these "Old monsters" were the ones who forced the patriarch into his current state, and they could only rely on themselves. He offered to show Wu Xie a place Zhang Qiling had visited if he wanted to learn about his past. They went to a tavern. While there, Zhang Haike noticed a man with a hat at the bar who seemed to be following them, identifying him as one of Feng's men.
Despite the surveillance, they decided to stay. Wu Xie reminded Zhang Haike what they should do about the remaining Key, and Zhang Haike replied they would keep guessing. Zhang Haike ordered Ayla for Wu Xie, mentioning it was Zhang Qiling's favorite drink. Wu Xie questioned why Zhang Haike seemed to enjoy testing his familiarity with Zhang Qiling. Preparing for the dangerous journey into Old Niles, Wu Xie, Zhang Haike, and Zhang Haixing acquired postcards to write final messages.
Fatty, initially joking about the amount of space, grew serious and wrote his last words carefully, saying he didn't want to worry people like Zhang Qiling did. Zhang Haike commented on the Zhang Family being hardcore since they seemingly had no family to write to. They located the entrance at 112 Ramil Street, where they found the number 11083. Zhang Haike explained this was the entrance to Old Niles, via a collapsed sewer connecting to the buried city.
He noted that Wu Xie's actions were becoming increasingly similar to Zhang Qiling's. They descended into the narrow, complex tunnels, crawling forward. Zhang Haike cautioned Fatty to be careful and watch his steps. As they advanced, they found many statues and evidence of worship, such as candles and burned paper. Zhang Haixing explained that locals believe souls are trapped if they die here, so families place statues, each representing a life, and visit yearly for worship.
Many people, including scavengers, get trapped and die in the dangerous, confusing tunnels connected to Old Niles. Zhang Haike remarked that hiding the Key here was a stroke of genius by the patriarch, as it was very safe. Fatty joked about becoming Ninja Turtles. Zhang Haike warned him and Wu Xie not to touch anything unnecessarily in the increasingly dangerous environment.
They encountered a strange object and chose to ignore it, pressing forward until the tunnel widened enough for them to stand upright. Wu Xie noticed a mark left by Zhang Qiling, confirming he had been there. Zhang Haike explained that Zhang Qiling habitually left marks due to his memory loss, a way to remember where he had been. They continued following the marks, which indicated the correct path.
They discussed the danger of the mission and why bringing more people, like Zhang Longban, might not be beneficial. Fatty insisted his presence was essential. Following the marks, they noticed fewer statues ahead, indicating that locals stopped venturing further due to increased danger. They heard a rustling sound and saw a plastic barrel roll past. Wu Xie suggested it was just the wind, but Zhang Haike questioned where the wind was coming from.
Wu Xie found a new mark from Zhang Qiling, which Zhang Haike identified as a danger sign, signaling they needed to be extremely cautious ahead. Wu Xie jokingly asked if they should pause to show respect to Zhang Qiling. Zhang Haike assured Wu Xie they would protect him if he didn't cause trouble. Wu Xie pointed out that Zhang Family members could follow the marks themselves without him.
Zhang Haike speculated that Zhang Qiling might have had a deeper reason for involving Wu Xie, or that Wu Xie didn't fully understand him. Wu Xie stated that the Zhang Family only needed to trust Zhang Qiling. Zhang Haike noted Zhang Haixing seemed to disagree, attributing it to a "teenage phase," which prompted a reaction from Zhang Haixing and a comment from Wu Xie about the phase's longevity.
Zhang Haixing asked about the nature of the place given the numerous Zhang Family danger marks. Zhang Haike explained it was where the Dejia Zhang Family members performed a different kind of "wilding" – venturing into Old Niles' deepest parts to retrieve a token. Only those successful were considered true Zhang Family members worthy of entering the back mountain where the "Old monsters" resided, which is why Zhang Qiling hid the Key nearby.
Zhang Haike suggested the mountain inhabitants might not be as cold-blooded as they seemed, but Wu Xie maintained they were unreliable and that the Zhang Family members willing to fight the Night King were the ones they already knew. They found another mark and a statue that Wu Xie recognized from Wang Jinyuan's painting. Zhang Haike confirmed they had found the location. The statue's style suggested it dated back to the Kumuli period, known for instability and the first earthquake.
The structure was very unstable and prone to collapse. The mark indicated the Key was located straight ahead, but the entrance was blocked by fallen rocks. They needed to move the rocks carefully to avoid causing the structure to collapse. Fatty teased Wu Xie for getting in the way. They successfully cleared the rocks. Meanwhile, in a hospital operating room, Zhang Nian was performing surgery when he received a message showing Wu Xie and Zhang Haike.
He immediately stopped the procedure and arranged for another doctor to take over. He found Zhang Jiuri, telling him it had been a long time. Zhang Jiuri initially wanted nothing to do with the past. Zhang Nian, however, spoke of revenge against Zhang Qiling, reminding Zhang Jiuri that Zhang Qiling was responsible for their parents' deaths.
He showed Zhang Jiuri a picture of Zhang Qiling's friends and a dart he had just found, calling it their former token from wilding training and stating Zhang Qiling had ruined everything. Zhang Nian argued that changing appearances didn't erase the past and showed Zhang Jiuri a scorpion he carried, a constant reminder of that moment. He was determined to get revenge on Zhang Qiling.
He told Zhang Jiuri that Zhang Qiling's friend, Wu Xie, was here to take the Heavenly Staff, left by Zhang Qiling, to the snowy mountain, and with it, killing Zhang Qiling was not impossible. Zhang Nian saw this as his closest chance for revenge and framed it as a make-or-break moment.
Zhang Jiuri noted how much Zhang Nian had changed but insisted that whether or not to kill Zhang Qiling was his personal matter and had nothing to do with Zhang Nian. Zhang Nian called him crazy. Back underground, Wu Xie, Zhang Haike, and Zhang Haixing noticed a strong, rotten smell. They proceeded cautiously, mindful of unstable ground.
They encountered numerous South Asian puppets draped in opera costumes, which Zhang Haixing explained were used in traditional ancient magic shows, possibly depicting legendary hero stories or everyday life scenes. Fatty pointed out that they were in a maze-like area, which Zhang Haixing explained was ideal for magic performances to create illusions with complex environments.
Faced with multiple paths and no marks from Zhang Qiling, Wu Xie chose a direction based on what Zhang Haike called his tacit understanding with the patriarch. As they continued, they saw even more puppets. Fatty noticed one puppet looked exactly like one they had seen earlier and questioned if the puppets could move on their own.
Episode 12 Recap
Zhang Haike scouted ahead and reported nothing unusual. Upon returning, he cautioned Wu Xie and Fatty to be careful. The group moved past the ragdolls and proceeded forward, but after walking for some time, they seemed to end up back where they started. Wu Xie took out reflective stickers to mark the paths they took. After trying five or six different routes, looping around extensively, they still returned to their original location.
Zhang Haixing noticed that the positions of the ragdolls had changed. Wu Xie suspected they might have triggered a mechanism in what seemed to be a traditional Kumuli stage setup ("Zhablind"), causing the ragdolls to move on their own. He examined the structure and decided to tie thin threads along the paths they walked. They went on another long loop, following a compass, and despite walking in a single direction, they still ended up back at the starting point.
The only difference was that all the ragdolls were in new positions. Reflecting on their failed attempts to mark the path and the strange circular movement, they found it bizarre, especially since the compass and magnetic field seemed normal. Wu Xie drew their paths on paper. Only four exits remained unexplored. Fatty suggested they stay put to conserve energy while he went alone to check the remaining exits.
Wu Xie remained where he was, but then heard rustling sounds behind him. He quickly turned and saw a large ragdoll chewing the head of a smaller one. It was indeed moving. Wu Xie turned away, worried the large ragdoll had seen him. As he continued, he felt something following him. To be safe, he dripped some oil behind him. Soon after, the large ragdoll appeared, stumbling towards him.
Wu Xie remained calm and warned the ragdoll not to advance, but it continued to move closer. Wu Xie then realized the ragdolls had snakes inside. Fatty, worried about Wu Xie, had followed him and got lost.
Wu Xie instructed Fatty to keep talking so he could follow the sound, explaining that the sound here had peculiar refraction properties like a sound-reflecting wall, and simply following the sound direction wouldn't work; Fatty needed to stay put and talk continuously while Wu Xie located him. After some time, Wu Xie finally located Fatty, who had been talking so much his voice was hoarse, calling out a series of nicknames and things he liked to eat.
They reunited with Zhang Haixing and Zhang Haike. As they continued searching for the key, they came across a device resembling a large table lamp. Finding the area too dark, Fatty lit it. It turned out to be a device for shadow play, and a large screen appeared on the wall, displaying images that told a story about the Kumuli Kingdom and snakes.
The shadow play depicted the Kumuli people raising many snakes and using them in traditional magic shows for the king. However, the snakes eventually became a disaster, leading to the kingdom's downfall. Fatty concluded this was the "snake disaster" that destroyed Kumuli and was the source of the "curse." They decided these snakes and ragdolls were part of a Kumuli magic show and not directly related to the key.
To avoid the potential danger posed by the snakes hidden within the ragdolls, Wu Xie and the others put on costumes similar to the ragdolls' attire and used a spray. Zhang Haike explained that snakes rely on smell for navigation, and using these measures could confuse them. This disguise proved effective, as the ragdolls stopped following.
Wu Xie then explained his theory about the maze: the walls, though seemingly ordinary, were arranged in a special nested lotus structure, forming a looping fractal. These walls had a subtle curvature, making it seem like they were walking straight while actually circling. He had calculated that by counteracting the subtle curve every 100 meters, they could walk a true straight line to find an exit. Following his calculation and method, they successfully navigated the maze and exited.
After escaping the maze, they took off the suffocating costumes. Wu Xie wanted to pause and review the situation, reasoning that the maze was a magic venue where the Kumuli king's attempt to control snakes for entertainment backfired, causing the snake disaster that led to the kingdom's abandonment. He speculated the area ahead would be even more dangerous due to the prevalence of snakes.
He believed Qiling might have used this dangerous environment to hide the key, meaning the key was likely nearby. They soon found a mark left by Qiling. They then observed Zhang Haixing setting up an intricate web of traps. Fatty was astonished, calling her a "spider demon." Zhang Haike explained their strategy: the maze would delay their pursuers, the Denaxi people, giving Zhang Haixing time and position to ambush them and steal Feng's key.
He acknowledged that Feng had been tricked before, but emphasized that luring the enemy into their chosen ground and taking the initiative was the Zhang family's approach. Wu Xie noted that Qiling never used such elaborate methods; wherever he was, that was his ground. Zhang Haike replied that plans were for the weak, but their method would be effective. Zhang Haixing was confident in her ability to handle the situation, asserting she never did anything meaningless.
Zhang Haike cautioned her to be careful and only attack when she had a clear purpose, not impulsively. After saying their goodbyes, Zhang Haixing remained behind to continue setting traps and wait for an opportunity while Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike continued forward.
Episode 13 Recap
Feng and his team quickly entered the mountain cave, well-equipped and following the footprints left by Wu Xie and the others. As they advanced, they noticed the tracks became messy, suggesting the others might be lost. Finding a fishing line left by Wu Xie's group, Feng deduced they might still be trapped in the maze.
With a large group, Feng decided to split them into multiple teams of four to search for a safe exit, instructing each team to be responsible for a passage and report their position every five minutes. Meanwhile, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike had moved beyond the area with the puppets. The path ahead was easier, but they kept finding marks left by Zhang Qiling. Initially, these marks indicated extreme danger, causing nervousness.
However, further marks suggested they were moving away from the perilous areas. Fatty joked that Zhang Qiling might be trying to show a sense of humor like him. As Fatty was feeling pleased, he suddenly stepped onto unstable ground and nearly fell into a large pit. Wu Xie grabbed him just in time. Peering into the void, they dropped a light stick to gauge the depth, finding it was about twenty meters deep.
It seemed the ground had sunken here due to frequent earthquakes. Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike prepared to descend into the darkness using ropes. Below, they used their lights and discovered murals depicting a strange war involving the Kumuli dynasty and an unseen enemy. Discussing the murals, they considered if the enemy was the Night King and if the Кумули were connected.
As they continued, they saw a massive structure resembling a building or a large iron box, suspended in mid-air by several chains. They had never seen anything like it. Zhang Haike examined the peculiar structure, noting it looked like both a house and a large iron box. Recalling details from scrolls and Wang Jinyuan's past descriptions, Wu Xie realized this iron box-like house might be connected to the Night King.
They speculated that the structure might contain the Night King itself, based on descriptions indicating its immense size. Deciding they needed to enter to find a key, they approached the structure, likely climbing onto it, to search for an entrance. As Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike explored, Feng's group encountered trouble behind them. The puppets became aggressive, lurching towards Feng's team. Feng's men opened fire, and as the puppets fell, multiple venomous snakes emerged from their clothing.
Feng was nearly bitten, but Zhang Nian appeared and drove the snakes away, warning them not to touch the snakes. Zhang Nian expressed his animosity towards Zhang Qiling and proposed an alliance with Feng, stating his purpose was to disrupt Wu Xie's plans. He reminded Feng of their previous unfinished deal, where Feng was supposed to meet him in Dejia after the first key was obtained. Feng was initially cautious, citing past dishonesty from Zhang Nian.
Zhang Nian revealed that Zhang Haike had deliberately exposed his location to lure Feng and steal his key, warning Feng that many traps lay ahead on the path. He argued that since they had a common enemy in Wu Xie and the Zhang family, cooperation was necessary for both of them to succeed and avoid being exploited. Feng agreed to the alliance. While Zhang Nian and Feng were negotiating, Zhang Jiuri was also moving alone. He encountered Zhang Haixing.
They exchanged words and fought. Although their skills seemed evenly matched, Zhang Haixing became emotionally distracted during the fight, which allowed Zhang Jiuri to strike and knock her unconscious. Back at the floating structure, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike were searching for a way in. They found no obvious door, realizing the house was completely sealed using traditional joinery.
Zhang Haike explained that this sealing method, used by the Zhang family for extremely terrifying things, made structures impossible to open from the outside once locked, serving to contain whatever was inside. Wu Xie noticed a scuff mark on the ground near the structure. He deduced this mark and a slight tilt in the suspended structure, caused by the weight of an internal mechanism, indicated someone had opened the house before.
Using a steel ball, he located the heaviest side and, by chance, discovered the hidden mechanism nearby. Activating it, the structure opened from the center like a fully automatic convertible roof. Fatty marveled at the sight. With the entrance revealed, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike prepared to enter.
Episode 14 Recap
Wu Xie and Fatty approached a massive structure, initially mistaking it for a wall. Fatty realized it was not just a wall but a house, believing it contained the Night King and, more importantly, the key they sought. They recognized it as the Night King's dwelling and speculated it held special mechanisms, possibly similar to an outer container they had previously encountered. They decided to climb onto the structure to locate the mechanism.
Upon reaching the top, they searched the area, probing features that resembled a mouth and eyes. Wu Xie found a potential spot, but the mechanism appeared to be jammed, possibly due to age and disrepair. They confirmed the mechanism's location was in that area and required a corresponding part inside to operate. Zhang Haike arrived and suggested using a specialized Zhang Family jack to create a gap large enough for one person to enter and activate the inner mechanism.
Zhang Haike volunteered, stating he was more agile and understood these mechanisms better, having opened the outer container. He noted the jack, though aged, was made from the same material as the patriarch's Ancient Black Gold Sword, and the cover was not as heavy as expected, possibly hollow. As Fatty struggled to hold the cover jacked open, Wu Xie worked on the mechanism inside the gap. Suddenly, someone began shooting at them. Fatty wondered if it was the Feng gang.
He urged Wu Xie to find cover, but Fatty was pinned under the jacked-up cover. Realizing they were exposed, they decided their best option was to get inside the structure. Fatty, despite being shot in the arm, continued to support the cover. Zhang Haike confronted the shooter, identifying him as Zhang Jiuri, and demanded to know Zhang Haixing's whereabouts. Zhang Haike and Zhang Jiuri began to fight.
Wu Xie, losing time as Fatty struggled, removed his gloves to manipulate the mechanism directly. Just as the mechanism yielded, the structure's entrance opened, and Fatty and Wu Xie quickly got inside to escape the gunfire. The entrance then sealed, trapping them inside. Outside, Zhang Jiuri attempted to blast an opening using explosives but was stopped when a snake bit him before he could detonate them. Inside, Fatty discovered he had been shot in the arm and was bleeding heavily.
Zhang Haike offered to bandage him. Fatty then noticed Wu Xie's injured hand, which was scraped from operating the mechanism. Despite his own wound, Fatty insisted on bandaging Wu Xie's hand first, noting it was important and they had often had to treat each other's injuries in the past. They discussed the ambush, confirming Zhang Jiuri was the attacker. Zhang Haike explained that Zhang Jiuri had become unstable and the situation was complicated, promising to explain more later.
Zhang Haike also discovered his leg was injured. With the entrance sealed and the mechanism broken, they realized they were trapped and needed to find another way out. Fatty pointed out a large, ominous object hanging suspended inside, which looked like a cocoon. They noted its dangerous nature, with observations suggesting it was corrosive and melted upon touch, speculating it might be part of the Night King or its skin.
They found murals depicting ancient people, likely from the Kumuli Dynasty, fighting the Night King alongside members of the Zhang Family, and building the "monster container." They discussed the potential dangers of the creature depicted in the murals. Zhang Haike shone his light on the hanging object, and they spotted something inside – first a shadow, then what looked like an umbrella. They wondered if it could be a key left behind by Zhang Qiling.
Despite the perceived danger, they decided they had come too far not to open it and discover what was inside. Zhang Haike carefully cut it open, warning them to wear masks as poisonous gas and dust erupted. Inside the cocoon were countless keys hanging on threads. They all looked similar, suggesting the puzzle was not simple.
Fatty considered knocking them down, but Zhang Haike recognized the arrangement as the Zhang Family's "Eighteen Strings" mechanism, an intricate system where sensitive threads connected to numerous traps, and a single mistake could trigger them all. However, Zhang Haike believed the patriarch would not create an inescapable death trap but would have placed the real key on a specific, safe thread. They needed to understand the logic behind the mechanism to find the correct thread.
Wu Xie studied the arrangement of the keys and realized their layout formed a mountain range, matching a map from Wang Jinyuan which showed the mountains near Mosang. He identified it as a "keys array" forming a "mountain range chart," but the view from their current position was incomplete. Recalling his grandfather's notes mentioned a "Feng Shui Eye" at the intersection of three "dragons" within such formations, he located this point on the map.
To see the full picture and find the real key, he determined they needed to reach the "Xun position of the Bagua diagram," which offered the best vantage point to see the "meridian points." Wu Xie identified the spot where they needed to climb to get the correct view. Though unsure, he felt it was their last chance. Climbing up, he located the critical point and directed Fatty, who was on the ground, two steps forward and two steps left.
Wu Xie then identified the target key as the second one up from that position. Fatty quickly lifted Wu Xie up to reach it. As Wu Xie grabbed the key, the structure began to shake violently. Fatty urged him to hurry. The floor beneath them gave way, and Wu Xie fell into a deep crack. Calling out to Wu Xie, Fatty was told he was unharmed.
Zhang Haike assessed the situation, explaining that the corrosive liquid from the cocoon had burned through both the inner and outer structures, and Wu Xie had fallen into a pre-existing crack outside the main building that was previously hidden beneath the floor. He was relatively safe there for the moment. With the structure tilting, the main cover might slide open, potentially offering an exit.
Zhang Haike decided to prioritize finding Zhang Haixing first, noting that Feng might have also entered the area. From the crack, Wu Xie told Fatty to wait for Zhang Haike's return before attempting to rescue him. Wu Xie saw a symbol left by Zhang Qiling down in the crack and decided to scout ahead. He observed some nearby puppets were harmless. Meanwhile, Zhang Jiuri, Zhang Nian, and Feng discussed their strategy.
Zhang Jiuri believed Wu Xie's best chance of finding an exit from the complex cave system was to backtrack the way he came, so they should wait along that route to capture him and retrieve the key he likely had. However, Zhang Nian preferred a more direct approach, suggesting they actively search for Wu Xie, as his own men who had entered the maze already knew Wu Xie's location. Zhang Haike searched for his sister, calling out Zhang Haixing's name.
He found her, and she informed him that Zhang Jiuri, Zhang Nian, and Feng had come down together and were all after the key. Zhang Haike mentioned they had encountered Zhang Jiuri, who had since disappeared. Zhang Haixing noted that since Zhang Jiuri could navigate the maze, Zhang Nian likely could too. They decided they needed to leave quickly before the others found them.
Episode 15 Recap
Wu Xie continued forward, eventually spotting what the elder described as the "monster box" and "mud hump." He moved cautiously, finding a larger mud hump central to several smaller ones, with a key resting on top. Recognizing it as the final key and understanding its importance, he was about to grasp it when gunshots erupted behind him. A grenade landed nearby, and the resulting explosion caused him to lose consciousness.
He woke up later in a hospital room surrounded by foreigners. He recalled hearing Fatty call his name just before the explosion, urging him to hurry because foreigners were breaking through with explosives. Worried about Fatty, Wu Xie repeatedly questioned the nurse, who couldn't understand him. Zhang Haike arrived and told Wu Xie that he had used the final key to exchange for the lives of himself, Zhang Haixing, and Fatty.
Feng had already gathered all the necessary keys, obtained the Heavenly Staff, and headed into the Snowy Mountain. Zhang Haike indicated they had lost and implied he was abandoning the plan to confront the Night King, suggesting Wu Xie should return home. Wu Xie spent his days waiting for Fatty to wake up, constantly asking the doctor when he would recover. With the doctor uncertain, Wu Xie pondered the purpose of his journey.
He felt he couldn't let Fatty's sacrifice be in vain. Abandoning his original plan to return home with Fatty, Wu Xie instructed Wang Meng to arrange for more guides, resolving to go to the Snowy Mountain himself to stop the Night King. Late one night, Wu Xie visited Fatty's hospital room to say goodbye. Suddenly, the lights in the room went out as if due to a power outage, and the floor trembled slightly.
Wu Xie felt himself plunge into an ethereal space. He saw Zhang Qiling standing before him, congratulating him on passing a test and personally handing him a key. Wu Xie then woke up abruptly, finding himself in a secret room holding a real key. Comparing it to the keys in his backpack, he discovered they could combine into a single key. Disoriented, he wondered if the earlier hospital experience had been another illusion, perhaps triggered by a hexagonal bell.
He moved forward through a landscape of strange rocks, soon discovering seven headless bodies. He found it peculiar that there were exactly seven and that the wounds suggested different causes of death, as if from various mechanisms. He suddenly remembered a past test where Zhang Haike had shown him seven human heads, claiming they were artificial. Now, these bodies seemed to be real casualties.
Wu Xie realized these were individuals who had failed Zhang Qiling's harsh test related to the mission to resolve the Night King issue, their wills faltering and leading to decapitation. He understood that his own determination to find the Night King had allowed him to pass this test and obtain the key, avoiding becoming the eighth body. Just then, Fatty appeared, greeting him warmly. At that moment, Wu Xie fully understood that the hospital memory was indeed an illusion.
Wu Xie confronted Zhang Haike, demanding an explanation for the seven bodies and accusing him of using him to get the key. Zhang Haike denied being responsible for the bodies and insisted Wu Xie was his valuable trump card, not a disposable asset, explaining that was why he entrusted him with important things. Wu Xie, familiar with being manipulated, didn't believe him, pointing out that Zhang Haike could easily retrieve any item placed on him.
He threatened to blow up the key unless Zhang Haike revealed the truth. Fatty urged Zhang Haike to explain clearly. Zhang Haike explained that the seven bodies were related to Zhang Nian's actions. He revealed that Feng had obtained the patriarch's item with the help of a Zhang family member, Zhang Nian. Zhang Jiuri's earlier attack on Zhang Haixing and destruction of the traps were also orchestrated by Zhang Nian, who was now with Feng's men.
Zhang Haike explained that Zhang Nian and Zhang Jiuri were part of the original Scorpion Team alongside Zhang Qiling. Wu Xie questioned why, if they were friends, they attacked them. Zhang Haike revealed Zhang Nian harbored deep hatred for the patriarch, Zhang Qiling, because their goals for finding the Night King differed. Zhang Haike recounted the history of the Scorpion Team.
After Zhang Qiling was sent into the Zhang Family Ancient Tower, there was no news, but Zhang Jiuri believed he would return because he had promised the team. Four years later, the Scorpion Team found markings they suspected were left by Zhang Qiling. They followed them to Dejia. When Zhang Jiuri and Zhang Qiling reunited in Dejia, Zhang Nian was also there, observing unseen. He saw Zhang Jiuri's simple belief in Zhang Qiling's return as naive.
After this reunion, the Scorpion Team experienced a period of peace while waiting for Zhang Qiling. Zhang Haike continued, explaining that an incident later changed Zhang Nian's perspective. They witnessed refugees being robbed. Zhang Nian intervened, claiming the Zhang Family rules about not interfering with outsiders no longer applied since the family was gone.
By helping the helpless couple, Zhang Nian experienced a profound sense of control and power, which he believed was similar to what Zhang Qiling felt when saving people. This experience ignited a new life goal within him. Using his Zhang family abilities and intricate schemes, Zhang Nian quickly rose to become the director of the Daola Research Center and married Pulisa, the daughter of a local elite.
Zhang Haike noted that Zhang Nian had changed, while the others remained much the same. Zhang Nian was not satisfied with his power and sought to establish a new form of the Zhang family, becoming a different kind of patriarch. He learned the secrets of the Night King's ability to devour the sky, particularly its connection to gaining more benefit, and began collecting related information.
However, he worried about Zhang Qiling's eventual return and the possibility that his current life and achievements, built with great effort, could be ruined. Zhang Nian's research into the Night King's power yielded results, allowing him to become more powerful and gain an effective means for achieving immortality. He promised this would also benefit his father-in-law, extending his life, and provide eternal youth for his wife, Pulisa. Just as he neared success, Zhang Qiling appeared, having broken through security.
Zhang Qiling ordered him to stop his research. Zhang Nian refused, deeming Zhang Qiling's stance too rigid and the power of the Night King too valuable to be left unused. He proposed they join forces, forget the old ways, and use the Night King's power to restore the Zhang family, with Zhang Qiling as patriarch and Zhang Nian as vice. Zhang Qiling rejected the offer, and their fight in the laboratory caused equipment to break, starting a fire.
In the inferno, Zhang Nian's research and his wife, Pulisa, perished. Pulisa's father, devastated, blamed Zhang Nian's pursuit of immortality and the Night King, which brought Zhang Qiling, for his daughter's death. He told Zhang Nian he would provide no further support, leaving Zhang Nian alone with his burning hatred for Zhang Qiling.
Episode 16 Recap
Wu Xie questioned Zhang Haike about why Zhang Nian was so fixated on developing an immortality drug, wondering if it was driven by deep love for his wife. Zhang Haike confirmed this, explaining that Zhang Nian's love for his wife was matched by his hatred for the Patriarch (identified by Zhang Nian as Zhang Qiling). Wu Xie didn't understand why Zhang Nian was so intent on obtaining the Heavenly Staff if his goal was to kill the Patriarch/Qiling.
Zhang Haike clarified that Zhang Nian knew he was too weak to kill the Patriarch directly, so he sought the Heavenly Staff to control the Night King, which he believed was his only path to revenge. Zhang Haike also mentioned that only Wu Xie could obtain the Heavenly Staff. Zhang Haike explained that Zhang Nian understood he couldn't deceive Wu Xie, so he devised a plan.
He revealed that Wang Jinyuan's lack of surprise upon seeing Wu Xie and willingness to disclose the key's location was because Wang Jinyuan had already experienced the same situation seven times. Zhang Nian had previously attempted to find the key in the deep parts of the old city but encountered a disaster beyond his imagination and failed to find the key after several attempts.
He then learned of Wang Jinyuan and knew he had to get past him to obtain the key, but Wang Jinyuan would only tell the truth to the Patriarch. A few years prior, the Patriarch entered the Bronze Door for a mission more important than dealing with the Night King. Zhang Nian intercepted a videotape left by the Patriarch.
Believing that an impersonator could trick Wang Jinyuan, Zhang Nian, without telling others, found several people who resembled Wu Xie to meet Wang Jinyuan. However, these individuals failed Wang Jinyuan's test. Sensing the deception, Wang Jinyuan gave them false locations in fake sections of the old city, which were filled with deadly traps. The impersonators died, and their bodies disappeared into the mechanisms. Zhang Nian failed seven times, and this continuous failure caused him to lose his sanity.
Unable to harm Wang Jinyuan, he blamed and killed many of his subordinates for not finding a perfect double of Wu Xie. Zhang Nian's remaining subordinates, unable to tolerate his increasingly ruthless methods, secretly contacted Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing, eventually betraying Zhang Nian. When Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing returned to Dejia, one of Zhang Nian's subordinates informed them of everything Zhang Nian had been doing.
Considering the severity of the situation, Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing went to confront Zhang Nian, urging him to stop. Zhang Nian refused, stating that the Zhang family was gone and his actions were his own business. He insisted that Zhang Qiling had killed his wife and that he had nothing left, so he didn't care about putting others in danger.
Zhang Haixing suggested arresting him, while Zhang Haike reminded Zhang Nian that he was responsible for his wife's death, not the Patriarch. Unwilling to listen, Zhang Nian disappeared and had not been seen or heard from in the following years. Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing later found the Patriarch's videotape among Zhang Nian's materials, which explained the full story of events.
Learning this story led them to focus on Wu Xie, identifying him as the chosen one indicated by the Patriarch's information (which also included a genealogy chart). After receiving a letter from the Yinsha Tribe, they lured Wu Xie to Mosang to complete the mission the Patriarch had left: dealing with the Night King. Zhang Haike emphasized that this was the Patriarch's mission left for Wu Xie, not Zhang Qiling's mission given to them. Wu Xie temporarily accepted this explanation.
Still trapped underground in the maze, Wu Xie confirmed he had secured two keys. Zhang Haike learned the third key was with the foreigner, Feng. After discussing how to proceed given Feng's anticipated ambush at the original exit, Zhang Haike looked at Zhang Haixing.
Zhang Haixing then urged Wu Xie and Fatty to leave quickly and find another way out while she stayed behind, stating this environment was her home ground and she could handle it, revealing that Feng had put the key in his outer jacket's left pocket. Described as agile and skilled, Zhang Haixing managed to retrieve the key from Feng's coat pocket with frightening ease while Feng and his men were nearby.
With all three keys obtained, the group needed to find another exit while avoiding Feng and his men. Wu Xie, Fatty, Zhang Haixing, and Zhang Haike cautiously searched for another way out, as their original path back was blocked by Feng's men, who had anticipated their escape route and were guarding the exits. Using their flashlights, they discovered several rag dolls ahead. Fatty threw stones, confirming they were not people in costumes but actual dolls.
After shedding their bulky opera-style outfits, they advanced in large strides, only to encounter more horrifying rag dolls. As Wu Xie and Fatty discussed the situation and cautiously approached the dolls, talking about them, Fatty suddenly disappeared. A chill went down their spines. They moved cautiously, back-to-back. Zhang Jiuri appeared, escorting a dazed-looking Fatty, who seemed to be drugged.
Zhang Jiuri proposed cooperation, claiming the rag dolls in this area were covered in a strong hallucinogenic drug powder used in Kumuli's ancient sorcery performances. He explained that anyone walking here would become disoriented and lose their sense of direction. Wu Xie was initially skeptical but tested the environment and then seriously answered Zhang Jiuri's questions, which focused on Zhang Haike, to Zhang Jiuri's satisfaction, earning them passage. Wu Xie was puzzled by Zhang Jiuri's behavior.
Zhang Haike explained that Zhang Jiuri had once been an admirer or follower of the Patriarch/Qiling. After the Patriarch disappeared, Zhang Jiuri waited daily by the village entrance, hoping for his return, keeping the mark of the Scorpion Team and believing the Patriarch would not abandon them. However, the Patriarch didn't return. After Zhang Jiuri's parents died in an accident, he stopped waiting and largely lost contact with others.
Zhang Haike speculated that perhaps Zhang Jiuri blamed Qiling for his parents' death because he was waiting for him instead of being home. Zhang Haike also mentioned that the Patriarch later came to Dejia and met Zhang Jiuri once. Something happened during that meeting, possibly the Patriarch not remembering him, which led to Zhang Jiuri's mental breakdown.
Zhang Haike added that understanding a lunatic's logic is impossible; perhaps Zhang Jiuri simply needed someone to hate to give his long life purpose, and hating an immortal being like the Patriarch/Qiling ensures he has a goal forever because he can never succeed in killing him. Continuing through the rag doll area, they encountered more figures wearing strange outfits, which Zhang Haike identified as belonging to Nile sorcery. The group observed the dolls' coordinated movements.
Zhang Jiuri repeatedly questioned Wu Xie, asking if Zhang Qiling would suffer if Wu Xie died and if Wu Xie was actually Qiling in disguise, noting that Wu Xie, despite appearing weakest, kept saving everyone, similar to Zhang Qiling. Wu Xie denied being Qiling, stating he simply didn't want bad things to happen to those around him, attributing his success to "beginner's luck."
Zhang Jiuri concluded that his initial assessment of Wu Xie was wrong and that Wu Xie wasn't worth Zhang Qiling's suffering. Finally, Zhang Jiuri revealed that the hallucinogenic effect was caused by drug powder on the dolls and could be neutralized by burning the dolls, admitting his earlier statements were lies meant to test them. Following Zhang Jiuri's suggestion, they likely neutralized the drug effect and moved on.
They continued through the area, which Wu Xie commented seemed similar to the earlier maze area, and eventually reached the exit. Wu Xie, having counted Feng's men, confirmed that Feng had deployed all his people down there, so there wouldn't be a second ambush at the exit. Safely outside, they planned to rest and celebrate.
Episode 17 Recap
Returning to the Zhang family village, Wu Xie was greeted by Zhang Xiaoguo, a young boy who greatly admired Zhang Qiling. Zhang Xiaoguo referred to Wu Xie as his master and eagerly hoped to become his apprentice, wishing to learn how to fight the Night King. Seeing the boy's earnestness and innocence, Wu Xie accepted him as a disciple and told him to remember to smile often. Thrilled to have a master, Zhang Xiaoguo bounded away happily.
Later, under a large locust tree, Wu Xie spoke with Zhang Haike. Zhang Haike called over his sister, Haixing, instructing her to give Wu Xie a key she had obtained from Feng. Haixing complied, commenting that she always does as she is told. With this, Wu Xie possessed all three special keys. Zhang Haike explained that he had given Wu Xie everything he could and expressed hope that they could trust each other moving forward to accomplish their task.
He added that these items were from the patriarch and their use was entirely up to Wu Xie, promising his full support if Wu Xie decided to fulfill the patriarch's responsibilities. Zhang Haike then recounted events that transpired after Zhang Qiling entered the Zhang Family Ancient Tower and succeeded as patriarch. Following Zhang Qiling's act of sacrifice, the Zhang family members gained their long-awaited freedom and dispersed across the globe.
Their powerful abilities, usually used with restraint, began to manifest unrestrained among some as they entered the ordinary world. The family divided: one group, like those in the village, chose seclusion and a simple life, while others, driven by desire, abused their powers, causing chaos in the world. Until Zhang Qiling addressed the Night King matter and came to Dejia, where rebellious Zhangs, though initially subdued by his presence, attempted to band together and ambush him but mysteriously vanished.
The patriarch stopped Zhang Nian and then went to the old underground city of Dejia, where he hid the Heavenly Staff and the keys before leaving. It was said he later entered the Bronze Door at Yunding Heavenly Palace to guard the world's ultimate secret. Zhang Haike mentioned that he learned the patriarch had entrusted the crucial Night King matter to Wu Xie, whom he initially found surprisingly ordinary despite testing him multiple times.
However, he now understood the patriarch's choice, realizing that Zhang Qiling, having experienced much betrayal and abandonment from Zhangs, finally trusted Wu Xie, who had demonstrated unwavering loyalty by his willingness to fight alongside him to the death. That evening, the villagers, celebrating Wu Xie obtaining the keys and the potential for success, shared drinks. Wu Xie and Zhang Haike also had a few. As Zhang Haike excused himself to rest, Wang Fatty approached Wu Xie, appearing slightly unsteady.
Wang Fatty offered Wu Xie chicken wings and urged him to check the keys Zhang Haike had given him, suggesting they might be fake. Wu Xie assembled the three keys; they fit together seamlessly into a single key, clearly genuine.
Wang Fatty took the combined key, examined it, and held onto it, his demeanor changing as he spoke aggressively, accusing Wu Xie of not trusting him or caring about his feelings, even mentioning being left alone to sleep without fear of getting cold. Wu Xie tried to retrieve the key, but Wang Fatty refused. Wu Xie thanked him. Suddenly, Wu Xie felt a sharp pain in his abdomen as a dagger was plunged into him.
The person removed their mask, revealing it wasn't Wang Fatty, but Zhang Nian. Zhang Nian confessed he had known Wu Xie's plans from the start and had been watching him, calling Wu Xie careless. He revealed he had used a special, colorless, odorless drug in the wine, powerful enough to incapacitate most Zhangs before he finished his work. After Zhang Nian secured the key, he gave a signal, and several killers descended, starting a massacre.
Zhang Nian declared that all Zhangs, including Zhang Haike, Haixing, and Wang Fatty, were going to die, but offered to spare Wu Xie if he would lead him to where Zhang Qiling had gone. As chaos erupted, Zhang Haike, despite feeling severe pain from the poisoned wine, desperately tried to rouse the villagers, who were feeling ill. Someone urged Wu Xie to go inside, saying he was the most important and needed protection.
Wu Xie protested, insisting he wasn't the most important and they needed to save the others upstairs. Amidst the massacre, Zhang Haike, struggling against the poison, managed to secretly hide the severely wounded Wu Xie. Reports later confirmed Zhang Haike had been captured, Zhang Haixing was missing, and Wu Xie had disappeared. Zhang Nian demanded that Wu Xie be found alive. Speaking with Feng, Zhang Nian was questioned about the massacre.
Feng was angry that Zhang Nian had killed so many people, believing it would complicate things and served no purpose towards their goal of obtaining the Night King. He also criticized Zhang Nian for not consulting him before impersonating Wang Fatty. Zhang Nian dismissed Feng's concerns, thanking him for the information that had made his flawless impersonation successful and allowed him to fool everyone.
He argued that leaking the plan risked failure and that the deaths of insignificant people didn't matter as long as they obtained the key, asserting that everything he did was for their cooperation. Since Wu Xie's body wasn't found, Zhang Nian was confident he was still alive. Zhang Nian then stated he knew where the Heavenly Staff was. Examining the combined key, Zhang Nian realized it was cleverly engraved with a map of the underground drainage system of Dejia City.
Later, as Zhang Nian and Feng reviewed records, Zhang Nian explained they were fragmented pieces of memory Zhang Qiling had recounted to Wang Jinyuan while hiding the staff, as Zhang Qiling was losing his memory at the time. These fragments were messy and unclear. When asked if there was content related to the Night King, Zhang Nian dismissed them as broken memories. To prevent Wu Xie from finding them, Zhang Nian ordered these records burned.
Some time later, Wu Xie regained consciousness, clutching his bleeding abdomen wound. He stumbled out, finding the village silent and covered in blood and bodies. The scene of horror overwhelmed him, and he was consumed by guilt and regret, blaming his carelessness for bringing disaster upon the villagers. He struck his head, muttering, wishing for guidance or a chance to rectify his failure, thinking he had screwed up everything. He felt he was not capable.
He wished he had reacted earlier. In his anguish, he seemed to see a silent vision of Zhang Qiling, whose stillness seemed filled with both anger and sorrow. An internal thought or voice echoed the idea that the patriarch hadn't chosen the wrong person and challenged Wu Xie to think about when he started losing, suggesting that even with another chance, he would make the same choices, even knowing the risk. Memories flooded him – Zhang Xiaoguo's smile, the toast.
He despaired, questioning why things had turned out this way and why those people had died, insisting it shouldn't be this way. He begged for another chance, asking what to do. An internal voice accused him of causing their deaths by running away alone and told him he must remember this day forever.
Realizing that Zhang Nian was a Zhang and that only Zhangs could truly oppose him, Wu Xie recalled Zhang Haike mentioning that among Dejia's Zhang family members, those with the purest blood and who had lived the longest lived in seclusion on the mountain. He remembered that only orthodox Zhangs who could bring out a token were qualified to enter this back mountain area.
He decided his only option was to find these "old monsters" on the mountain in Dejia and ask for their help. After bandaging his wound, he headed towards Dejia. Wu Xie arrived at a strange place marked with numerous Zhang family danger symbols. He recognized it as likely being the place in Dejia where Zhangs used to practice "Wilding".
He saw more symbols, suggesting that many who attempted to enter this place had not returned, hinting at fire, people being punished and burned to death, and potentially a deity mastering fire.
Episode 18 Recap
Wu Xie returned to Niles, understanding from Zhang Haike that acceptance by the local branch of the Zhang Family depended on retrieving specific tokens. Inside a hidden chamber, he found only unusual jars, realizing these were the tokens he needed. He also observed numerous marks left by many Zhang family members, indicating their frequent presence there, alongside scorch marks suggesting a past fire.
The walls bore complex and disordered markings, highlighting the extreme danger of the location, but Wu Xie felt compelled to proceed, having no alternative as people he needed to rescue were waiting. Upon touching one of the ancient jars, fierce flames erupted before him. Recognizing this as potentially a Zhang Family test or illusion, labeled "Fire God descends," Wu Xie reminded himself it was a hallucination and charged into the fire.
The intense heat caused a strong burning sensation on his face. The fire subsided, and he found himself back where he started, the jar gone. He vaguely felt as though someone had pulled him back by his foot. Determined to succeed and meet the Zhang Family, he grabbed another jar and rushed into the flames again. After this attempt, the jar was still gone. Trying a third time, he charged into the fire with desperate abandon.
In the midst of the illusion, he felt someone stop him and send him back once more, this time waking up in a different location. Through these trials, Wu Xie encountered the former acting patriarch of the Zhang Family. Wu Xie confronted him, accusing him of being responsible for Zhang Qiling's current situation. The patriarch defended his past decision, stating that Zhang Qiling's choice to inherit the patriarch position was his own, and he merely presented it as an opportunity.
He argued that sacrificing one person to secure the freedom of the entire Zhang Family was the best possible outcome for both Zhang Qiling and the family, as each obtained what they desired. The patriarch insisted he would make the same choice again and dismissed Wu Xie as an ordinary person whose understanding was not important.
Wu Xie introduced himself as Zhang Qiling's friend and stated his purpose: he needed the Zhang family's assistance to rescue his companions held by Zhang Nian. The patriarch agreed to provide the Cloud-piercing Beacon, an ancient signal to summon scattered Zhang family members in Niles. However, he cautioned that after many years, these individuals might no longer be involved in Zhang family affairs and might not respond to a call traditionally associated with Zhang Qiling's command.
He warned Wu Xie to be prepared for the possibility of no aid. Wu Xie declared he must still try. The patriarch reiterated that any response would be out of loyalty to Zhang Qiling, who was absent. Wu Xie then posed the question, "What if Zhang Qiling could appear here?" Accepting the implied challenge, Wu Xie resolved to proceed. He made preparations, including putting on Zhang Qiling's mask, and climbed to a mountain peak to release the Cloud-piercing Beacon.
After a tense wait, numerous fireworks soared into the sky, answered by a rapid and widespread barrage of responsive firecrackers echoing from across the region. The ancient signal had been received, and Zhang family members throughout Niles recognized the call and began mobilizing rapidly towards the designated location. Zhang Nian and Zhang Jiuri also heard the distinct signals of the Zhang Family mobilization. Zhang Nian immediately recognized its significance. Reviewing surveillance footage, he spotted a silhouette that caused him apprehension.
While it resembled Zhang Qiling, Zhang Nian found it difficult to believe Zhang Qiling would use the Cloud-piercing Beacon, a signal meant for mass family mobilization, as Zhang Qiling typically acted alone. However, the undeniable fact that the main Zhang family was responding made the figure's identity critical. Uncertain but suspicious, Zhang Nian decided he needed to verify the figure's identity and saw Zhang Jiuri as the perfect means to do so.
Zhang Jiuri, who had long awaited a chance to confront Zhang Qiling, was eager. Zhang Nian offered to provide him with means and arrange for him to face the figure alone. Zhang Jiuri agreed, carefully selecting a sword for the impending confrontation, while Zhang Nian watched with a faint, knowing smile. As Zhang family members initiated their infiltration of the base, quickly neutralizing foreign security personnel, Wu Xie managed to gain entry.
Zhang Nian deliberately led away the Zhang family members who had accompanied Wu Xie, creating an opportunity for Zhang Jiuri to confront him privately. Zhang Jiuri intercepted Wu Xie, addressing him as Zhang Qiling and stating he had waited a long time to settle things.
Before their fight progressed far, the effects of Hexagonal Bell powder, which Wu Xie had previously obtained from one of the jars and used, caused Zhang Jiuri to experience a powerful delusion, reinforcing his conviction that he was fighting Zhang Qiling. During the struggle, an observer remarked that Zhang Jiuri seemed intellectually impaired while under the delusion's influence and noted his high regard for Zhang Qiling's strength.
Wu Xie, recognizing Zhang Jiuri and aware of the powder, understood the delusion and that Jiuri was mistaken about his identity. As the fight continued, Wu Xie perceived Zhang Jiuri was losing ground and stepped forward. At that moment, Zhang Jiuri seemed to break free from the intense delusion or notice something critical, recognizing that the person he was fighting was not Zhang Qiling, stating his eyes looked wrong.
Simultaneously, he discovered that the sword given to him by Zhang Nian had been tampered with; explosives were hidden inside. Zhang Jiuri attempted to throw the weapon away, but it detonated immediately, inflicting severe injuries and causing him to collapse. Zhang Nian emerged from the shadows with a cruel smile, believing his cunning plan had perfectly resulted in the demise of both individuals. He saw Zhang Jiuri critically wounded and nearing death.
Wu Xie then used the Hexagonal Bell powder to induce hallucinations in Zhang Nian. Addressing Wu Xie, whom he now perceived as Zhang Qiling due to the hallucination, Zhang Nian acknowledged that anyone capable of defeating Zhang Jiuri must be him. Gloating, he declared that after all these years, Zhang Qiling had finally died by his hand. Wu Xie confronted Zhang Nian, accusing him of remaining unchanged, still willing to do anything to achieve his objectives.
Observing Zhang Jiuri's condition, Wu Xie, drawing upon his medical knowledge, stated that Jiuri was gravely injured and had approximately an hour left to live. As Zhang Nian continued to fixate on his perceived victory, repeating "Zhang Qiling!" under the influence of the hallucination, Wu Xie grimly advised Zhang Jiuri to make the most of his remaining moments.
Episode 19 Recap
Trapped in a hallucination fueled by the Hexagonal bell's powder, Zhang Nian saw only images of Zhang Qiling and fired his weapon wildly. Zhang Qiling remained still while Zhang Nian fled, pursued by the phantom shadow behind him. Zhang Nian reached the area where Zhang Haike was held captive and manipulated a bomb's switch, warning Zhang Qiling that any further step would detonate the explosives.
Zhang Nian, in a frenzy, heard Wu Xie mention the Zhang Family was outside and knew escape was impossible. He activated a toxic gas device. In the adjacent room, Zhang Haike struggled to untie the ropes binding his hands. From outside, Wu Xie desperately smashed a glass door with a chair, creating a large opening. Wu Xie managed to pull Zhang Haike out through the broken glass. Wu Xie, already severely injured, staggered as the toxic gas spread.
He collapsed, vaguely aware that Zhang Nian had followed him and thrown a bomb. Wu Xie scrambled to escape but was struck by the fiery blast wave. As his consciousness faded, Wu Xie saw Zhang Jiuri nearby. Concerned about the spreading gas and the danger of prolonged exposure, Zhang Jiuri painstakingly dragged Wu Xie to a slightly safer distance. Having found a better spot, a sudden collapse occurred.
Zhang Jiuri expressed his confusion to Wu Xie, asking why he insisted on saving everyone. He pointed out that Wu Xie could have achieved all his goals if he had abandoned the search for Zhang Haike and Fatty after the Hexagonal bell's powder took effect on Zhang Nian, as they could have escaped then, but Wu Xie had wasted valuable time. Zhang Jiuri noted that he now saw Zhang Haike had escaped safely.
He shared a message for his friends, telling them to play rock-paper-scissors to choose the next Night King killer. Both exhausted, they expressed their inability to continue. Zhang Jiuri wondered if Zhang Qiling would remember why they did these things if they died, but Wu Xie insisted he would remember him. Just then, a long stone slab crashed down.
To shield Wu Xie, Zhang Jiuri used his own body to hold up the stone with all his might until he perished. Wu Xie awoke to find the patriarch beside him. They were out of danger, but Zhang Jiuri was gone. Zhang Nian had escaped, and the patriarch remarked that once Zhang Nian hid, he would be hard to find.
Wu Xie looked at the small patch of blue sky above, his heart heavy, feeling the unfairness of Zhang Nian's escape while Zhang Jiuri died in the events caused by Zhang Nian, along with the many lives lost in the Zhang Family village. Feng, identified as part of the Denaxi people, proposed a collaboration for the expedition into the snowy mountain, offering resources, funds, equipment, and weapons.
Wu Xie immediately refused, holding Feng's group partly responsible for the deaths of many Zhang Family members. Feng denied this, claiming the Zhang Family base incident was Zhang Nian's independent action, stating he was only informed after the events concluded and that they were cooperating with the police investigation, which could be proven by recordings. Feng persisted, arguing that Wu Xie lacked the necessary manpower and would likely die before reaching the dangerous snowy mountain.
He mentioned their own costly research had resulted in many researchers dying, but they had obtained valuable data leading to a device capable of dealing with the Night King, which would make the expedition safer. Feng asked Wu Xie if he wanted his friends to risk their lives without such equipment.
Fatty advised Wu Xie to consider using Feng's offer, noting that they lacked resources and needed people and equipment, suggesting they use Feng to get into the snowy mountain and find the Night King. Zhang Haike cautioned Wu Xie, describing Feng as unpredictable and like a "ticking time bomb." Feng concluded that despite their differing goals, cooperation was the most practical choice to reach their destination, suggesting Wu Xie await the investigation results. Wu Xie and Fatty departed.
Before proceeding towards the snowy mountain, Wu Xie and Zhang Haike performed a cremation for Zhang Jiuri. Zhang Haike reflected that although Jiuri had been erratic, he never intended to kill and had in fact saved them previously in the underground. Zhang Haixing commented on the burden of the Zhang Family's long lifespan, suggesting that living too long could lead one to forget the purpose of life.
She believed Zhang Jiuri had been searching for a reason to live and perhaps also an opportunity to die, and that this outcome might be the best release for him. Zhang Haike agreed that if that were the case, death would be a relief. Wu Xie asked Zhang Haike for his thoughts, who replied that everyone has their persistence and choice, and he would not judge.
Wu Xie felt Zhang Haike had already made his judgment but chose not to voice it. Wu Xie took possession of the Heavenly Staff and examined it with Zhang Haike. Zhang Haike noted it did not appear to be a weapon and lacked any internal mechanisms. Zhang Haike questioned how the Zhang Family used it against the Night King.
Wu Xie stated he had only seen it used once during "the wilding" and its function was a mystery to him, undocumented despite its age. Zhang Haike wondered aloud what use it would be in the snowy mountain. Wu Xie believed Zhang Qiling's assertion that it could solve the Night King meant it had a purpose that would become clear in the right environment.
Wu Xie then discussed the task the patriarch had entrusted to him, stating he truly felt the patriarch needed his help and had chosen wisely. While not fully trusting, Wu Xie felt compelled to address the Night King issue regardless, both to prevent further harm from people like Zhang Nian and to uncover more of Zhang Qiling's memories. He acknowledged that having just cleared some obstacles, the real danger lay ahead, but was thankful for his companions' help.
Wu Xie decided to visit the site where the Heavenly Staff was placed, as Feng mentioned Zhang Qiling had left important information there, despite the location being destroyed. Wu Xie mused about Zhang Qiling's lost memories and what he might have wanted to communicate. A narrative explanation followed, detailing Zhang Qiling's path after becoming the patriarch. He was required to remain in the Zhang Family Ancient Tower for three years.
While this period would heal the Tianshou illness in others, the patriarch contracted a more severe, incurable form known as Jueshou. This disease would significantly worsen during his time in the tower and recur throughout his life. The condition was triggered upon inserting the Heavenly Staff and activating a mechanism, intensely stimulating senses but causing extreme mental confusion and a risk of immediate death. If he survived, the Jueshou would remain, recurring painfully.
Simultaneously, scattered Zhang Family Noses, long-term spies unaware of internal events, would continue to send reports requesting the family's intervention in various matters. These requests constituted the patriarch's mission, leaving Zhang Qiling to decide whether to abandon the Noses or undertake the tasks alone. The patriarch had warned Zhang Qiling that his personal quest for his background would take a long time, requiring him to survive, and that even a patriarch could die.
Zhang Qiling endured three years alone in the Ancient Tower with Jueshou, survived, and read all the records seeking clues about his birth. However, Jueshou severely jumbled his memory, mixing the mission requests from the Zhang Family Noses with fragmented clues about his own background. Unable to distinguish them, he was compelled to pursue each lead that randomly surfaced, completing the missions while hoping to uncover the truth of his origins.
The Tianshou mission relevant to the current events involved the "Night King Devours The Sky" and originated from a message sent from the snowy mountain by Dong Can. Dong Can was a Zhang Family spy sent to investigate "Night King Devours The Sky." After entering the depths of the snowy mountain, he found the decaying remains of spherical creatures in the snow before disappearing without a trace.
This mission led Zhang Qiling to head to the snowy mountain in search of Dong Can. On his journey towards the snowy mountain, Zhang Qiling encountered a group of Denaxi people. They hailed him, noting it was rare to see someone alone on this route and asking if he was going to Nilaisi. Zhang Qiling stated he wasn't a guide or translator.
The Denaxi explained they weren't seeking business but were conducting a site survey and looking for people familiar with the route. They offered salt for his horse, suggesting a chat so the horse could benefit, and commented that he seemed to prefer animals to people. Zhang Qiling asked if they traveled this route often; the Denaxi replied they didn't remember.
Observing Zhang Qiling's poor memory despite his age, they speculated if it was due to the environment or his "clan," suggesting it might be a hereditary condition. Zhang Qiling asked the distance to Nilaisi. The Denaxi estimated about seven days beyond the mountain, warning of a blizzard and inviting him to join their group as they needed over a dozen people to cross.
They explained their plan was to go to Nilaisi, then deeper into the snowy mountains for scientific research. They inquired if he knew any locals in Mosang who could assist with transporting items recovered from the mountains to a transfer hub, offering generous payment. Zhang Qiling confirmed they intended to venture deep into the snowy mountains, which they affirmed.
Episode 20 Recap
Zhang Qiling led a group, including some Denasi people, through a snowy mountain landscape. A fierce storm began, prompting some Denasi to state they could not continue and wished to descend, fearing they would freeze to death at the summit. Zhang Qiling disagreed, warning them that turning back would lead them directly into the path of the heaviest blizzard, where their bodies would inevitably be buried under the snow.
He argued that going to the peak, while dangerous, offered a chance of survival if the wind shifted, whereas retreat guaranteed death. Despite their fear and regret at having followed him, the group's leader decided they would continue upward, relying on Zhang Qiling's guidance. The storm raged, and the Denasi struggled, freezing and fearing they had made a terrible mistake. Unexpectedly, a light pierced through the storm, and the temperature around them rose, revealing that the blizzard had stopped.
Zhang Qiling had saved the Denasi. Later, Wu Xie, while reading scrolls at the Jila Spiritual Retreat, learned about Zhang Qiling's past actions. He had received the scrolls delivered by people sent by Yu Da, who was informed of Wu Xie's location by Zhang Haike. Yu Da had found the scrolls while cleaning the retreat and believed Wu Xie needed them as part of an unavoidable destiny. Wu Xie accepted them, anticipating finding crucial information about Zhang Qiling's secrets.
Meanwhile, Zhang Haike mentioned his lack of progress in finding Zhang Nian, who he believed was hiding. Wu Xie, reading the scrolls, learned that after guiding the Denasi people to safety past that storm, Zhang Qiling ventured deeper into the snowy mountains alone to investigate Dong Can. The scrolls continued the narrative from Wang Jinyuan's records, detailing Zhang Qiling's entry into the snowy mountains to seek the secret.
Wu Xie realized that Wang Jinyuan's records indicated Zhang Qiling had been investigating secrets in the snow mountains, possibly related to the Night King, and that a Zhang Family Nose had died there because of it. Returning to the past timeline depicted in the scrolls, Zhang Qiling was at the Spiritual Retreat and spoke with Deren, the current custodian. Zhang Qiling identified Dong Can from a depiction and learned his original name was Zhang Can, a Zhang Family Nose.
Deren confirmed finding Dong Can's body in the strange, embedded state within a mountain cave alongside a mural. Deren was unfamiliar with the mural type but suggested old texts might hold answers. Zhang Qiling needed to know Dong Can's last location before heading into the snowy mountains to find clues about his death and was shown the guestroom where Dong Can had stayed. In Dong Can's former room, Zhang Qiling found a painting of a breathtakingly beautiful lake among mountains.
He asked Deren about its location. Deren speculated it might only exist in heaven but, if real, could be in the remote inland region of Mount Gangreboge, a place no one had ever reached. Zhang Qiling deduced that Dong Can must have been there. Determined to find clues about Dong Can's death, Zhang Qiling asked Deren to find him two porters or guides, willing to pay any amount of money.
Deren warned him that the destination was a dangerous no-man's land where even experienced caravans wouldn't venture. Zhang Qiling understood the risks but resolved to go anyway. Zhang Qiling set off with two local guides. The guides spoke of past foreign employers and the extreme dangers of the journey ahead, including blizzards, deadly cold, and the presence of "ghosts"—the lost dead who remained in the snow.
They voiced fear, stating that humans were more terrifying than ghosts due to their unpredictable nature. Noticing one guide had a hidden knife, Zhang Qiling advised him to discard it as useless and burdensome in such conditions. As they progressed, the guides became increasingly fearful, declaring the mountain was cursed and they could go no further than their usual hunting limits. They spoke of something terrifying, even to ghosts, residing deeper in the mountains.
They demanded double payment to continue guiding him further. Zhang Qiling agreed to the increased payment, instructing them to guide him only until he found his desired location. They soon came across several frozen bodies. The guides immediately identified them as dead people from the mountains and suggested taking their valuables to pay off debts. Zhang Qiling examined the bodies and recognized some faces as the Denasi people he had saved earlier.
He found text on their belongings, noting the phrase "The Night King of the snow mountains." Observing movement ahead, they saw living people traveling in the distance. The guides expressed surprise that anyone was active in such a remote area. Zhang Qiling, believing that if anyone lived there, it would be by the lake from the painting, decided to follow them, hoping they would lead him to his destination.
As they followed, one guide pointed out that a person ahead seemed to be waving at them. Zhang Qiling corrected him, stating the person was not waving but was reacting to something else: a presence hidden under the snow, following the distant travelers. He explained he could sense it moving beneath the surface. Suddenly, the guides were startled by an unseen disturbance. Zhang Qiling calmly identified it as likely a type of fish kept by the local inhabitants.
Reaching a point where the path became too dangerous for the guides, Zhang Qiling paid them generously, giving them enough to clear their debts, and told them they did not need to follow him further. He would continue alone. As he pressed onward alone, Zhang Qiling found a magnificent temple in the snowy mountains. Inside, incense burned and many offerings were present, but it was empty of people. He searched cautiously, finding writings on the walls that also seemed to be about the Night King. The phrase "Night King Devours The Sky" resonated with him, reinforcing his purpose.
Episode 21 Recap
Zhang Qiling arrived at Yinshaluo and searched the rooms one by one. In a room lit by many candles, he found a woman in red lying on a couch, her upper body bare except for a large red robe covering part of her. The woman heard his movements and asked who he was, noting that his scent was not from the area.
She mentioned that only one outsider had come here many years ago and that Zhang Qiling's scent was very similar to his, although he was not that person. She asked if he had come from down the mountain, and Zhang Qiling confirmed. She offered to tell him all her secrets if he would take her away, but warned him to be careful as the people here did not like outsiders. The woman's eyes were white.
As Zhang Qiling considered her offer, he heard rustling footsteps behind him. The woman urged him to leave quickly, warning that they did not like outsiders. Zhang Qiling quickly hid, but gunshots rang out. Zhang Qiling, moving with agility, was unaffected by the handguns. After a struggle, several practitioners bowed to him in worship. A leader emerged from the crowd, bowed to Zhang Qiling, and apologized, explaining the confrontation was a test arranged by Mr. Dong Can.
He stated that Zhang Qiling had passed the test and they had finally been waiting for him. The leader explained that Yinshaluo Lake translates to "Blue Snow Mountain," and their village is located in a river valley by the lake. The leader recounted that for years, due to the Night King's disturbances, the people suffered greatly. They spoke of a legend where the Night King favored a woman called the Night Lady, whose limbs grew in reverse.
By what they perceived as fate, some children in their tribe were born with the same physical form as the Night Lady. Their ancestors were terrified, considering these children to be the Night Lady's human incarnation. To seek the Night King's forgiveness, they selected these children and carefully nurtured them, referring to them as 'Night Ladies.' The leader confirmed that the woman Zhang Qiling had just seen was the one chosen as the Night Lady's incarnation.
He explained that Mr. Dong Can came to the tribe, saw the girl, and believed the children's condition was merely a congenital physical disability, mistaken for an incarnation. Mr. Dong Can found a special bone that produced a smoke when burned, which could alleviate the woman's pain and treat her bone disorder. During the treatment process, Mr. Dong Can fell in love with the woman and decided to stay in Yinshaluo, becoming their chieftain.
The chieftain wanted to help them resolve the Night King's crisis, but the Night King was too powerful. Before entering the snowy mountains to kill the Night King, the chieftain worried he might fail. He told them that if he didn't return, a member of his former tribe would come to take his place and help them. For years, porters brought many people, but none passed the test until Zhang Qiling arrived.
The leader declared Zhang Qiling was the one foretold to help them kill the Night King and resolve their disaster. Zhang Qiling asked what exactly the Night King was, and the leader replied that the Night King is simply the Night King, and no one who had seen it survived, including the chieftain. Zhang Qiling then asked to be taken to see the Night King.
Meanwhile, Wu Xie read a scroll and learned that Zhang Qiling had entered the snowy mountains and met the legendary Night King, but the scroll's record stopped there, leaving his fate unknown. Wu Xie found the account frustratingly incomplete, comparing the limited information to squeezing toothpaste little by little, and believed the Night King must be a formidable entity.
He discussed how the scroll's information about the Night King being in the mountains and Zhang Qiling meeting him generally matched what Zhang Haike had told them, and connected it to Dong Can being a Zhang family member who discovered Yinshaluo while investigating the "Night King devouring the sky" matter.
Wu Xie wondered what the Night King truly was, questioning if it was the cauliflower-like creature depicted in a drawing, as Zhang Nian had said it could kill Zhang Qiling, which seemed unlikely for such a large, static form. Fatty suggested that if they wanted to get closer to the truth, they should cooperate with Feng, as his foreign group had advanced weaponry. Feng arrived, having recorded a statement with the police and undergone checks.
To gain Wu Xie's trust and ensure cooperation, Feng put on a nickel wristband bomb with a detonator remote control given to Wu Xie, telling him he could trigger it at any moment. He explained it was made of a special alloy that couldn't be removed without a key and offered it as their contract or Wu Xie's trump card.
Wu Xie, despite reservations, particularly upon hearing Feng mention Zhang Nian's prior actions and commanding his team, agreed to the cooperation, viewing the bracelet as a necessary measure for trust. Feng's technician noted privately to Feng that removing the bracelet would be easy for them. Feng replied that Wu Xie did not trust them, and if the bracelet could improve cooperation, they would wear it, emphasizing it was an order.
After preparations, the group, including Wu Xie, Fatty, Zhang Haike, Zhang Haixing, and Feng's team, set out the next day. They carried ample equipment and moved cautiously through the heavy snow towards Yinshaluo. After a long journey, they reached a vast ice lake. By the lake, they found the carcass of an animal, which appeared to be an antelope, mostly eaten but with a well-preserved skeleton.
Feng, using his knowledge of zoology (he mentioned being a former associate professor), examined the remains but found no bite marks, leading him to conclude the predator was highly intelligent. They noticed a bullet hole in the animal's skull, suggesting it might have been shot from the mountain and fed here. Suddenly, a large shadow moved beneath the ice. Feng's men saw it and used equipment to scan the ice layer.
The scan indicated a large biological entity beneath the ice, potentially a creature that had been fed by the locals for centuries. Wu Xie felt danger from the ice layer and suggested they detour around the lake by climbing the steep cliffs. He recalled seeing in Zhang Qiling's scroll that a creature attacked him near here, dragging people into the snow, and speculated the shadow could be a "strange fish" fed by Yinshaluo people for defense.
Feng dismissed Wu Xie's detour plan, stating their equipment couldn't navigate such narrow paths. He argued the ice, measured at 20cm thick, was safe, especially in the center, and they needed to cross quickly due to the cold. They decided to split up: Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haike would take the land route over the mountain, while Feng and his subordinates, including Zhang Haixing, would cross the ice to meet them at the temple on the other side.
Zhang Haike decided to go with Wu Xie and Fatty, saying he needed to protect Wu Xie as a friend of their clan leader, and Zhang Haixing could take care of herself. Zhang Haike, climbing with Wu Xie and Fatty, watched as Feng's group made their way across the ice. Zhang Haixing and Feng's men were looking forward to crossing quickly to light a fire and warm up. As Feng's team neared the other side, they saw trouble ahead.
Feng and his people began running back erratically, as if being chased by something invisible. They began tearing off clothes and rolling on the ground frantically, as if being burned by fire. The soldiers trailing them quickly retreated. Zhang Haike saw his sister, Zhang Haixing, acting as if possessed. He ran down to the ice to help her but was also affected and soon collapsed on the ice.
Wu Xie observed their bizarre behavior from the cliff, recognizing it as a hallucination, similar to an experience he'd had before. Realizing they were in danger, he told Fatty to get a rope. Despite Fatty's concerns about Wu Xie's safety, Wu Xie ventured onto the ice alone with the rope. He tied the affected Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing and began dragging them back towards the land, telling Fatty to meet them at the other side.
He explained that he knew how to deal with such hallucinations, noting that the fiery visions seemed to originate from hexagonal bell powder from a jar that had mixed with the ice. The wind blew the floating ice particles, carrying the powder into the air. As they worked to pull them to safety, the affected people continued to writhe and scratch as if on fire.
Episode 22 Recap
Wu Xie rescued Zhang Haixing and Zhang Haike from the frozen lake. After they regained consciousness and were still shaken, Wu Xie explained they had experienced hallucinations caused by powder from a hexagonal bell. He had seen a jar containing the powder buried under the ice, which had cracked, allowing the powder to seep out through ice fissures and into the air as they passed. Zhang Haixing identified the powder as not typical hexagonal bell powder but a special variant.
She deduced that the Zhang family had likely set up this defense mechanism for the Yinshaluo people to deter outsiders, indicating a deep connection between the two groups, especially as such a concentrated amount of the powder was only documented in core Zhang family texts. They arrived near the purported Yinshaluo temple, finding it deserted and in ruins, with no signs of life. Nearby lay several dead bodies identified as Denaxi personnel.
Wu Xie discovered a notebook on one of them. The notebook recorded a special scientific expedition by the Denaxi to the snowy mountain a year prior. It detailed an attack by a fast, spherical creature. The creature moved faster than the naked eye could follow, killing many before they understood what was happening. Survivors later hypothesized that the creature attacked indiscriminately unless one maintained constant eye contact with it, with death occurring the moment one blinked.
The diary entry ended abruptly, covered in bloodstains. They concluded that some of the previous Denaxi expedition members were victims of this creature deeper in the mountains, while the Denaxi bodies found here had died from the cold after succumbing to the hexagonal bell hallucinations on the frozen lake. Recognizing the potential danger from the spherical creature, Wu Xie decided to split the group into two teams for safety and mutual support. Wu Xie and Fatty formed one team.
Zhang Haike insisted on joining Wu Xie's team, stating he needed to protect Wu Xie due to his status as a friend of the patriarch, though Wu Xie was skeptical given past events where he had to rescue Zhang Haike. Members of Feng's team identified the deceased Denaxi as part of a previous expedition from a different department of their company a year ago.
Feng explained that the failure of that mission and the significant losses prompted their company to consider acquiring assets from Qiu Dekao. They also noted that the trap under the ice lake must predate this Denaxi expedition, and the apparent long-term abandonment of the Yinshaluo temple suggested something more had happened than just the Denaxi tragedy. They decided to postpone the journey to the Yinshaluo settlement until daybreak due to the hazardous terrain and approaching darkness.
During the night, Fatty and Wu Xie discussed the spherical creature. Fatty referenced Feng's video, pointing out that the spheres weren't present when the Denaxi first entered the cave shown in the video. He also mentioned Qiling's scrolls, which documented the decaying remnants of similar spheres found buried under the snow.
Wu Xie speculated that the Golden Spheres might not be independent entities but rather sensory organs belonging to the Night King, suggesting the Night King's main body might be hidden beneath the snow, deploying the spheres to locate prey. The next day, Wu Xie's team, including Zhang Haike, moved towards a mountain valley where Qiling's scrolls indicated the Yinshaluo settlement might be located. They found the valley warmer with no snow, indicating volcanic activity.
Upon reaching the valley, they discovered evidence of a massive, recent avalanche that had buried the area. They reasoned that an avalanche alone wouldn't extinguish the Yinshaluo population, who were familiar with the terrain and had lived there for centuries, suggesting other catastrophic events must have occurred after they sent out their distress signal.
They used a modified geological detector, developed based on analyzing the remnants of the Golden Spheres which contained a special metal element, capable of detecting the Night King's presence. The detector suddenly alerted, indicating the Night King might be nearby. They took defensive positions, but the alarm turned out to be false, prompting frustration from Fatty. Wu Xie's team then decided to head towards the opposite mountain described in Qiling's scrolls, which mentioned human bones.
They found significantly more bones than expected, theorizing these could be the remains of the Yinshaluo people, exposed by thawing snow. As they advanced, the detector sounded again, confirming something was present. Meanwhile, Feng's team, exploring the area, discovered a large monument partially buried in the snow. They cleared the snow from the monument, revealing inscriptions in ancient Yinshaluo script. Feng began translating, explaining it contained records about the Night King.
The text described how, during the "season where the dew withers," the slumbering Night King awakens, opening "a thousand pairs of eyes" (referred to as messengers) to survey the world. Any living being seen by these messengers would be sacrificed. The monument was a warning marker, stating that those who entered this place would never return alive. Another challenging word to translate roughly meant "absolute silence," signifying the moment the Night King would descend, transforming the world into hell.
They also noticed unusual behavior from animals, such as an eagle flying away, interpreting it as a sign that the Night King's arrival was imminent, as animals' instincts are sharper than humans'. Wu Xie attempted to warn Fatty via walkie-talkie, urging him to return and stay alert. Fatty replied that they had found something, saying it was directly beneath his feet. Just as he spoke, a Golden Sphere erupted from the ground near him.
Simultaneously, the Denaxi soldiers with Feng's team, alerted by the monument's prophecies and the animal's reaction, prepared for an attack. The Night King entity, manifested by the spheres, appeared, and chaos ensued. Soldiers panicked, firing their weapons and deploying a drone, but the Golden Spheres were relentless, consuming soldiers. Wu Xie's team retreated towards a cave for shelter.
Wu Xie instructed Zhang Haixing to deploy smoke bombs, and someone commented on their effectiveness in slowing the Golden Spheres by impeding their vision, noting it seemed like a technique inspired by the Zhang family. Wu Xie went back to find Fatty and Zhang Haike. He encountered a Golden Sphere, but it surprisingly bypassed him, seemingly sensing something or reacting to his presence, sniffing the air before diving into the snow.
He found Fatty and Haike and led them towards the cave. Inside the cave, the Denaxi commander decided they must blow up the entrance to prevent the Night King from entering, arguing they couldn't risk everyone's lives for Wu Xie's sake, whom he felt Feng was overestimating. Feng objected, wanting to wait for Wu Xie's return. Zhang Haixing declared she would go with Feng to help find Wu Xie. Despite the dissent, the commander ordered the detonation.
Just as the explosive was triggered, Zhang Haike quickly conveyed the detonator codes to Wu Xie, who was likely just outside or at the entrance. Wu Xie shouted for them to wait, as people were still outside, but the entrance was blown shut, trapping those inside and leaving those outside to face the Night King and the Golden Spheres, resulting in a bloodbath.
Now trapped inside, Feng suggested the Golden Spheres were actually a type of bug, although Wu Xie found this improbable given the extreme cold, arguing any bug would have frozen long ago.
Episode 23 Recap
After the cave entrance was sealed, temporarily preventing the Night King from entering, the Denasi people began assessing their casualties. They found they had suffered heavy losses, with many dead and injured. A somber mood settled over the Denasi, as well as for Wu Xie and Fatty. Feng, identified as a project manager, reminded everyone of their mission's objective. The Denasi conducted analysis on some clues found earlier, including samples from the golden spheres, and transferred data.
Wu Xie felt a profound sense of helplessness, unlike past crises with Fatty and Qiling where he was primarily responsible for devising plans. With Qiling absent, he struggled to find a solution. Fatty tried to comfort him, urging him not to give up and suggesting that Qiling must have had a good reason for choosing him, even if they couldn't see it yet.
Wu Xie expressed that he felt his luck was gone and he was on a different level than Qiling, questioning if he had the right to follow Qiling's path. Fatty countered that they were still alive and had saved people. He pointed out they now knew the golden spheres were just bugs that could be dealt with smoke, suggesting that if they could handle the bugs, they could potentially handle the Night King.
He added that the golden spheres were often found near the Bronze Door in previous records, implying they were close to their target and the Night King. The Denasi researchers reported their findings to Hans, their leader, and Feng. The analysis of the golden sphere samples indicated they were not from the Night King's eye as initially speculated, but from a type of insect, confirming Wu Xie's earlier assessment. Furthermore, the samples were found to have no medicinal value.
Hans was shocked by the result. One of his assistants was furious, unable to accept that so many lives were lost for this outcome. He demanded the scientists immediately re-test the data, but the lead scientist confirmed the result was accurate. Feng approached Wu Xie privately. He identified himself as a science manager whose job was to ensure the project's success for profit. However, the analysis of the golden sphere's body showed no medicinal value.
Feng explained that perhaps this sample was different from the one found eighty years ago, or more likely, the golden sphere itself had no medicinal value, but the previous sample eighty years ago had eaten something valuable, which was what they were researching. Thus, their current target might be whatever these golden spheres consumed. Feng emphasized that the situation had become a matter of life and death, beyond his control.
Seeing the heavy casualties among his men, whose morale was broken, Feng suggested Wu Xie consider giving up, offering to try and convince Hans to terminate the operation if Wu Xie agreed to stop. Wu Xie refused, stating he could not give up and would continue regardless of what others decided, as he felt he had to eliminate the Night King based on ancient scrolls.
Hans, the Denasi commander, confronted Feng, stating that Feng planned to terminate their mission and have the Denasi team receive compensation to return home. Hans vehemently disagreed, having lost an arm in the fight and seen many of his men die. He refused to go back empty-handed, insisting they must complete the mission to get their bonus.
He declared he didn't care what Feng and Wu Xie discussed; he intended to find whatever they were looking for and get the money. Accusing Feng of wanting them to have died in vain, Hans ordered his men to seize Feng, stating they needed him to manage Wu Xie. Meanwhile, Fatty discovered a draft of wind coming from a nearby crack in the rock. He called Wu Xie over.
Wu Xie examined the area and found ancient bones nearby, identified as belonging to the Yinshaluo Tribe. There were no obvious fatal wounds on the skeletons, suggesting they were trapped and died there while seemingly trying to escape the crack. Wu Xie speculated there was something dangerous inside the fissure. He noted the crack's appearance reminded him of a deep fissure he had seen years ago beneath the Yunding Heavenly Palace, where bronze chains led to the Bronze Door.
He suspected the massive door they sought in the snowy mountains might be in the depths of this crack, implying they were very close to their objective and potentially the Night King. Given the Denasi's poor physical and mental state, Wu Xie decided they couldn't continue together. As Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haixing prepared to move towards the crack, the Denasi, realizing they were being left behind, pursued them angrily.
Hans ordered his men to stop Wu Xie, determined not to let him claim their prize. Zhang Haixing urged Wu Xie to go ahead while she tried to slow down the Denasi, but Wu Xie insisted they stay together. They scrambled towards the crack as the Denasi opened fire.
Agile, Zhang Haixing managed to evade the gunfire with Wu Xie and Fatty, and they quickly entered the narrow passage within the crack, which they then caused to collapse behind them, blocking the Denasi. They climbed up the cliff face within the crack for a long time. Zhang Haixing, despite her usual resilience, started to show signs of fatigue after the arduous journey. Fatty teased her about being pampered.
They finally reached the end of the climb and saw a massive, formidable door, remarkably similar to the one Wu Xie had seen years ago at the Yunding Heavenly Palace. Wu Xie retrieved the Heavenly Staff from his bag, believing it might be the key, and tried to use it on the door, but it remained motionless. Fatty observed that the door seemed impregnable.
He then revealed he had managed to "acquire" some explosives from Hans during the earlier chaos and suggested using them. As Fatty examined the door, he noticed it was tightly sealed at the top, unlike the Bronze Door at Yunding Heavenly Palace which usually had a gap after sinking into the rock. He speculated this door might not be as heavy or its foundation was specially treated, possibly even hollow.
He then pointed out a section on the door that had clearly been repaired, with rust indicating it was done only a few decades ago. Wu Xie and Fatty wondered if Qiling had done the repair. Fatty, calling himself the "Explosive Prince," prepared the charge. Wu Xie expressed concern that blasting the door might wake the Night King if it was asleep inside. They debated how long the Night King might take to wake up after being disturbed.
Zhang Haixing urged them to be serious, stating they had no time. Wu Xie decided they had to gamble. If the Night King was still asleep, they would go in and try to kill it quickly. If it was already awake, they would have to face it immediately after the blast. They placed the explosive charge against the door. With a countdown, Fatty detonated the explosive.
The blast pushed them back, and immediately, a large volume of thick, muddy liquid gushed out from behind the door. Wu Xie, Zhang Haixing, and Fatty were struck by the flow. When the liquid stopped, Wu Xie pulled Fatty, who was covered in the substance, from the ground. Fortunately, the muddy liquid was not corrosive, much to Fatty's relief about his face.
Wu Xie noted that the mud flowing into the deep crevices below created the ground they were now standing on. He found it strange, remembering that the Bronze Door at Yunding Heavenly Palace didn't release mud when it opened. Despite the strange occurrence and the potentially awakened Night King, the door was open. Wu Xie commented on how soundly the Night King must be sleeping if it wasn't roused by the massive explosion. Realizing they had limited time, Wu Xie urged everyone to be careful and move quickly.
Episode 24 Recap
Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang Haixing cautiously entered the vast, empty palace. Wu Xie examined the walls covered in incredibly intricate and dense bronze engravings, appearing both orderly and complex. Fatty was amazed by the craftsmanship on the walls, which soared tens of meters high, wondering how such patterns were created.
He searched for seams but found none along the extensive surface, speculating the entire structure might be cast from a single piece of bronze, something he had never encountered before. An unsettling feeling of being watched permeated the air. In the center of the chamber, Zhang Haixing discovered a figure encased in mud, appearing petrified. She carefully peeled back the mud layer, revealing a jade statue.
The statue's clothing had decayed, but a silver accessory suggested a connection to the Yinshaluo tribe. However, its overall style was distinctly from the Central Plains. The statue's grim expression and deliberate openings at the mouth and nose, seemingly for mud infusion, created the unsettling image of someone being suffocated and drowned in mud. Located centrally and treated with reverence, they considered this a sacrificial site.
They theorized it might have been created after a severe natural disaster involving mass drowning by mud, with the ancients believing a deity desired such offerings and used jade to create the effigy due to the lack of traditional materials like grass figures in the stone environment.
Upon examining the jade statue's chest, which was broken open and empty, they found black cotton inside the cavity and wondered if it was a ceremonial item or if something had been contained within the statue and had since escaped.
They also discussed a theory, proposed by Fatty and supported by Wu Xie, that the mud itself was a result of a natural geological phenomenon involving snowmelt and minerals, rather than a deliberate human or divine act of filling the space. Suddenly, the statue moved upward, indicating a mechanism had been triggered, possibly by their presence or weight. Pillars surrounding the statue, also intricately engraved, appeared to be part of this system.
They noted the mechanism's easy activation suggested a deliberate design. They later theorized that the chains attaching the statue to the floor/pillars were not symbolic but real restraints, meant to contain whatever entity was believed to be inside the statue. Wu Xie then attempted to understand the wall engravings, recalling a past experience with a bronze tree. He poured water on the wall, observing how it flowed along the patterns, forming a clear design resembling an alpaca.
He believed this liquid guidance method could reveal hidden meanings. Fatty tried pouring water next, but it scattered randomly, leading them to suspect the patterns were designed for a specific liquid, not necessarily water. Wu Xie realized the engravings might be intended to guide blood. He cut his hand and dripped blood onto the wall. His blood flowed smoothly upwards along the patterns, causing them to shift and expand into a structured shape. Wu Xie felt dizzy and fainted.
Fatty immediately supported Wu Xie. Determined not to let Wu Xie face the danger alone, Fatty cut his own hand to continue the experiment, joking about his "rich blood." However, his blood did not follow the patterns like Wu Xie's, simply flowing downwards. They hypothesized that Wu Xie's blood was unique, potentially due to his consumption of Qilin Blood, which allowed it to interact with the patterns.
Fatty speculated that the bronze engravings served as an identity recognition system specifically designed to react to Qilin Blood. While Fatty was preoccupied, Zhang Haixing tricked him into leaving by claiming she was going to check on her brother, Zhang Haike, and deal with the pursuing Hans. Believing her moment had come, she turned on the unconscious Wu Xie, wounding him further and mocking him as "naive" for trusting a supposed Zhang Family member.
She revealed she was no longer affiliated with the Zhang Family and had manipulated the situation to trap him, stating the explosions they heard earlier were her doing and Hans and his men were not pursuing them. She admitted her goal was to use Wu Xie's blood, claiming his initial bleeding wasn't enough, to locate the Night King.
Fatty, having been misled by Zhang Haixing into a dangerous situation that nearly resulted in him falling off a cliff while attempting to trigger an explosion, realized he had been deceived and rushed back. He found Wu Xie injured and bound by Zhang Haixing. Wu Xie warned Fatty that the Night King had appeared, although he couldn't clearly see it, and that Zhang Haixing had stolen their only effective weapon against it, the Heavenly Staff.
Fatty quickly freed and bandaged Wu Xie, who then directed him to retrieve his backpack containing essential supplies. Knowing the Night King was invisible, Fatty activated a glow stick and threw it towards the backpack's location to illuminate the area. As Fatty went to get the backpack, the unseen Night King attacked, seizing his neck and lifting him into the air. Wu Xie quickly threw several bombs at the invisible entity.
The explosions caused the Night King to recoil and roughly drop Fatty some distance away. Fatty then grabbed a smoke bomb from the backpack. They used the smoke as cover to retreat and escape the area through the exit. Upon exiting the immediate area, they paused, relieved the Night King seemed not to have followed. Finding themselves in darkness, they searched for light. They located a lighter and a sticky, petroleum-like substance.
Attempting to ignite the substance for illumination, they morbidly joked it might be their "final flame." The resulting light revealed the Night King was not immediately upon them. Suddenly, Zhang Haixing reappeared. Fatty confronted her, preparing for a fight and humorously trying to distract her by claiming a long-standing, secret crush and calling her "Granny Haixing."
Using his distraction and coordinating their movements, Wu Xie and Fatty were able to evade or counter Zhang Haixing's attack, preventing her from harming them further. Fatty explained his tactic was necessary because they couldn't match her strength in a direct confrontation. He recounted how she had deliberately put him in mortal danger by lying about Hans's pursuit and instructing him to blow up the path, which had led to his near-fatal fall.
Episode 25 Recap
While confronting the creature known as the "Night King" (later identified as a Mystic Claw), Wu Xie and Fatty were additionally faced with Zhang Haixing. Proving to be a formidable opponent they couldn't defeat together, Wu Xie and Fatty relied on their usual coordination. While Zhang Haixing was distracted, Fatty managed to knock her unconscious. While Zhang Haixing remained unconscious, Wu Xie quickly relayed the details of his conversation with her to Fatty.
They discussed Zhang Haixing's statement that she was no longer a member of the Zhang Family, concluding it wasn't a simple act of rebellion but a symbolic declaration of betrayal. They reasoned that her current actions must be against the interests of the Zhang Family. This led them to suspect that both Zhang Haixing and her brother, Zhang Haike, had betrayed their clan, possibly for valuable secrets or power hidden within the Zhang Family.
Given their close relationship, it was unlikely Zhang Haixing was acting alone; Zhang Haike was almost certainly involved and likely the mastermind behind the entire scheme. Wu Xie realized that many events he experienced, possibly even starting with being given the Hexagonal bell, might have been deliberately orchestrated by Zhang Haike. The Hexagonal bell was likely used to test Wu Xie's unique ability to resist illusions, which would be necessary for navigating traps potentially set by Zhang Qiling.
They also considered that Zhang Qiling's appearance in the videotape was real and related to the events here, although the full context remained unclear. Needing to lure the creature out of the door where it could be defeated, Wu Xie recalled Zhang Qiling's scroll mentioning "bone incense." The scroll described a woman from the Yinshaluo people who reacted strongly to the scent of crushed animal bones used for steaming or incense.
Wu Xie proposed that such an incense might attract the creature. Since they didn't have dried corpses as mentioned in the scroll, Wu Xie suggested using teeth, which contain protein, similar to dried bones. Fatty readily offered one of his teeth that had been loosened earlier. After some reluctance and prodding from Fatty, Wu Xie painfully knocked out one of his own teeth. They crushed a tooth to create the bone powder.
As they burned the bone powder, the creature emerged from the door. Wu Xie immediately understood why it had been invisible inside: its armor matched the patterns on the door, acting as a camouflage, making it difficult to see in dim light. Wu Xie and Fatty led the creature away from the door, attempting to lure it into a trap. The creature was powerful, nearly throwing Wu Xie into an abyss.
Thinking quickly, Fatty detonated an explosive charge nearby, saving Wu Xie by blasting him upwards while sending the creature tumbling down the cliff. As the creature fell, they recognized it as a Mystic Claw (密札陀), a beast usually tamed by the Zhang Family for defense. They questioned why it was here and noted it seemed mutated compared to one they had seen before.
They felt a sense of irony that the "Night King" they had sought was this creature, a Mystic Claw. Seeking the Heavenly Staff which had been knocked away during the fight, Wu Xie and Fatty searched the area near where they had battled the Mystic Claw. They located the staff and Fatty helped Wu Xie retrieve it from a drop-off. While retrieving the staff, they triggered a hidden mechanism and fell into an artificial passage below.
They realized it was an intelligently designed trap with a hidden door or "live door." Exploring the passage, they discovered a door leading to a large chamber filled with skeletons. Among the remains, they found discarded Mystic Claw armors and masks. This chilling discovery led them to the realization that the "Night King" was not a single creature but a fabricated entity or entities.
They suspected the Yinshaluo people whose skeletons were present were involved in secretly creating these Mystic Claws. Fatty grew furious, understanding that Zhang Haike had completely deceived them by creating the "Night King" myth as a lure. They suspected the Zhang Family had secretly built this place to produce Mystic Claws, using a fake Bronze Door and Qiling's mechanisms to protect this hidden production line.
They discussed the true purpose of Zhang Haike's elaborate scheme, suspecting he used Wu Xie to bypass Qiling's sophisticated defenses that protected this hidden facility. They determined they needed to find Zhang Haike and Zhang Haixing to confront them, and uncover the real secret Zhang Haike was after, as killing the Mystic Claw seemed too simple a task for Zhang Family members to require their involvement.
They also needed to find the Heavenly Staff which had fallen into the passage with them. Searching for a way out of the artificial cave, they came across a chamber resembling a library, filled with spirit containers or "灵龛." Inside these containers, they found skeletons with characteristic long fingers and items, recognizing them as deceased members of the Zhang Family, commemorated according to local customs. Further exploration revealed an opening in the passage from which wind was blowing, suggesting a potential exit or connection to the outside.
Episode 26 Recap
Near the lava, Wu Xie and Fatty discovered numerous large holes resembling the spherical creatures that had consumed Feng's team. They speculated these could be the nests of those bugs. Carefully searching for an exit along the cliff face, they found markings left by Zhang Qiling. These carvings showed that Zhang Qiling had encountered these golden spheres long ago.
The depictions included scenes of the golden sphere bugs attacking and killing many people from the city, and many warriors bravely attempting to eliminate the bugs but failing at great cost. Realizing that the danger of the golden sphere bugs had been known for many years without being fully eradicated, Wu Xie considered that the Zhang Family might have also been involved in combating them. Besides the golden sphere bugs, the carvings also showed snakes.
An ancient carving recorded a once prosperous kingdom that was wiped out due to the presence of both golden sphere bugs and snakes, leading to the disappearance of the Yinshaluo people. Wu Xie suggested it was possible the Yinshaluo people were descendants of the Kumuli people, referencing the structures and forms seen in shadow plays that matched the architecture depicted in the carvings of the Kumuli ancient kingdom.
The carvings revealed that Kumuli suffered from the golden sphere bugs before the Zhang Family arrived, leading them to believe the "Night King" was coming for them and sending warriors to the mountains, where most died. Later, the carvings depicted a different combat method led by the Zhang Family, seemingly using snakes as bait, after which the golden spheres stopped appearing, and Kumuli found peace.
However, the kingdom was later destroyed by a snake plague and earthquake, burying the snakes and the old city. Wu Xie puzzled over the cause of the snake plague. The carvings also depicted a unique flower that seemed to only grow in that location. Wu Xie and Fatty discovered more of these flowers in the area.
The carvings suggested the golden spheres produced eggs, which were previously mistaken for the "Night King's hide," and that the golden sphere larvae were parasites on the roots of this flower, leaving the roots and becoming aggressive only after maturing, then attacking the city. Wu Xie wondered why the Zhang Family would protect these flowers, building bronze structures around them and creating legends. He speculated that Zhang Qiling's mission might be to have them retrieve these flowers.
Further analyzing the carvings, Wu Xie discovered images related to the creation of the Mystic Claw, showing that the Zhang Family built the large bronze structure and set up traps to prevent the flower's seeds and golden sphere bugs from leaving, as well as to prevent outsiders from entering. He then realized Zhang Haike's goal must be to obtain the seeds and flowers.
Wu Xie concluded that Zhang Haike had lured them there because there was a specific trap he couldn't bypass, but Wu Xie's unique physical constitution could. Wu Xie's blood was depicted in the carvings as a way to reveal hidden patterns, including the location of a hidden door. He saw a figure in the carving using the Heavenly Staff to open a door, realizing the staff was the key.
Knowing Zhang Haixing could potentially open this door at any moment, Wu Xie decided they had to retrieve the Heavenly Staff quickly. Meanwhile, Zhang Haixing, injured and limping, was also seeking the location of the final door. Having seen Wu Xie's blood dissolve the patterns on the wall, she knew the path was open.
She held the Heavenly Staff, hoping her brother Zhang Haike would arrive soon, and inserted the staff into a mechanism lock, causing the door to slowly open. As Zhang Haixing prepared to retrieve the Zanghai Flower from inside, she heard footsteps and saw a figure approach, believing it to be her brother. Excited, she called out that she had opened the last door and the Zanghai Flower was within, stating that Niata could finally be saved and his wish fulfilled.
However, as the figure took the Heavenly Staff from her, Zhang Haixing realized it wasn't Zhang Haike. The figure was Wu Xie, who had used the powder of a Hexagonal bell to create an illusion. Wu Xie took the Heavenly Staff and hurried forward. Fatty put on a Mystic Claw's coat to distract Zhang Haixing, pretending to pursue her. Soon after, a real Mystic Claw appeared and attacked.
Wu Xie intervened to help Zhang Haixing escape, and was injured himself during the attack, being bitten by the creature. Zhang Haixing was already injured and in distress. Seeing Wu Xie injured from the attack while helping her, and believing he was dying, Zhang Haixing decided to tell him everything she knew, even though it was only based on their family's external speculations. Zhang Haixing explained that the Zanghai Flower is the source of the Zhang Family's longevity.
Its origin was unknown, but it held great significance for the family. The Zhang Family established the bronze structure and traps to protect the Zanghai Flower, which only the patriarch could access to ensure it wasn't obtained by outsiders. However, Zhang Qiling had to leave suddenly for the Bronze Door under Yunding Heavenly Palace to resolve a more significant issue, meaning he would be occupied for ten years.
Because of the urgency, he entrusted someone else to look after the Zanghai Flower field. Zhang Haike had obtained a tape recorded by Zhang Qiling from Zhang Nian and, after carefully examining Zhang Qiling's activities before his departure, deduced that Wu Xie was the one entrusted with the task. This is why they lured Wu Xie there, using the fabricated legend of the Night King, intending for him to retrieve what they wanted.
Zhang Haixing admitted they were members of the Zhang Family but had betrayed the family's ideals and were cooperating with the Wang Family, serving a different philosophy. When Wu Xie questioned their betrayal of Zhang Qiling, considering they were friends who had explored together, Zhang Haixing claimed Zhang Qiling had betrayed them first. She recounted that the patriarch ascension ceremony was a farewell.
The day after Zhang Qiling entered the Zhang Family Ancient Tower, their elders announced that the Zhang Family was gone, the Tianshou illness no longer existed, and they were free to leave. As youngsters, they didn't fully understand, only knowing they had lost a companion. Zhang Family members gradually left, with many elders choosing to live in Dejia. They received no news of Zhang Qiling.
Zhang Haixing began living an ordinary life and found happiness in it, realizing how simple life could be when not a Zhang Family member. Her brother, Zhang Haike, fell in love with an outsider, Niata. Zhang Haixing initially struggled to accept an outsider, but Zhang Haike was happy and encouraged her to forget the Zhang Family and start a new life.
Seeking her own ordinary happiness, Zhang Haixing pursued Zhang Jiuri, but he was not interested in a relationship, looking for thrills instead. Zhang Haike planned to marry Niata, but on the wedding night, the figure they knew as "Punk," Zhang Qiling, returned after many years. He brutally attacked Zhang Haike, leaving him severely wounded, and killed Niata.
Zhang Haixing recounted her brother's pleas to Zhang Qiling, begging him to spare Niata, offering to cancel the marriage and obey the Zhang Family's destiny, asking if Zhang Qiling was under the control of Tianshou, which required him to kill his family members.
Episode 27 Recap
Zhang Haixing told Wu Xie that her brother, Zhang Haike, sought revenge because he had witnessed Zhang Qiling kill his newlywed wife, Niata. After Niata's funeral, a stranger sent them a letter claiming they could revive Niata, and the key was the Zanghai Flower. The letter promised revival if they followed instructions. This news rekindled hope for Haike, leading him to seek out the former patriarch of the Zhang Family.
The former patriarch refused, calling the Zanghai Flower forbidden and stating the Zhang Family no longer existed. Haike argued that Zhang Qiling was still the patriarch and, controlled by Tianshou, had killed his wife and taken everything. He insisted he sought only the Zanghai Flower to save Niata.
The patriarch explained it was impossible: the flower wilts immediately upon picking, and medicine made from it can only temporarily sustain life or induce a coma in the living, not revive the dead. Haike was desperate, determined to try even the slightest possibility. The patriarch gave him something but reiterated it was useless as Niata was dead, and the family's stored flowers were withered with inactive seeds.
Haike then began communicating with the mysterious letter writer, hoping to find a possibility in the impossible. Haixing knew her brother was just searching for a reason to continue living. The mysterious person introduced themselves as being from the Wang family, enemies of the Zhang Family. For Niata, Haike accepted their conditions. Haixing knew the Wang family was deceitful but felt compelled to help her brother. They decided to follow the Wang family's plan.
However, the keys, Heavenly Staff, Bronze Door, and Zhang Family mechanisms were interconnected and required deciphering one by one to obtain the Zanghai Flower. They believed Wu Xie was the only one capable of this. Zhang Haixing explained they believed Zhang Qiling had murdered many people after being controlled by Tianshou.
Wu Xie found this hard to accept, stating that Zhang Qiling's objective under Tianshou was clear; he dealt with Zhang Nian because Nian studied the Night King and likely knew its secrets related to the Zanghai Flower. But Wu Xie questioned why Qiling would target Zhang Jiuri and the siblings.
Haixing suggested Qiling wanted them to return and serve the Zhang Family, but Wu Xie countered that this reason wasn't valid as Qiling became patriarch on the condition of freeing the Zhang Family. Wu Xie argued that a patriarch, even under Tianshou, would never slaughter the innocent. He contrasted Qiling sparing Zhang Nian with killing Niata without a word and murdering other defenseless people.
Wu Xie insisted this was not characteristic of Zhang Qiling and suggested it was a murder committed by someone impersonating Qiling who intended for Haike to witness "Xiaoge" destroying his life by killing Niata. Wu Xie noted the similarity between Haike's experience and that of another person, explaining that hatred is a powerful weapon used by manipulators to achieve their own goals.
Wu Xie urged Haixing to consider who benefited from Niata's death and who contacted them immediately afterward, directing the hatred towards Zhang Qiling. Haixing remarked that it seemed someone could not bear for them to experience any happiness. Wu Xie then revealed that the killer was likely Zhang Nian, not their patriarch, suggesting the Zhang siblings had been deceived and had let their patriarch down. Wu Xie told Haixing that regardless of the killer's identity, Niata was dead.
He explained that if their patriarch were the killer, they could attribute it to the fate of Zhang family members, but if Zhang Nian was the killer, they could only blame themselves for being foolish. Wu Xie commented that he had thought Zhang family members were transcendent but realized they were merely ordinary after all. Haixing told Wu Xie he was dying and shouldn't talk so much nonsense.
Wu Xie admitted he was dying but stated he needed to know if the Night King truly existed before he died. Haixing was unsure, explaining the letter was a forgery by her brother to deceive Wu Xie, although the patriarch's history was recorded by Deren. She added that if "Xiaoge" had indeed been there before, the place held a more serious issue than the Night King that needed resolution.
Haixing suggested that even if Qiling had resolved it previously, sending Wu Xie here after many years implied the matter wasn't simple, and it wasn't merely to stop them from finding the Zanghai Flower since they couldn't find it on their own. Wu Xie acknowledged that he was very smart and had grasped this key point early on, which was why he had doubts but followed them nonetheless.
Haixing recounted that in their efforts to save Niata, they pieced together information suggesting the Zanghai Flowers matured every eighty years, releasing spores that would drift out and cause mutated phenomena in infected organisms. The unusual behavior of the Kumuli Dynasty's puppet-controlling snakes was attributed to a past outbreak of Zanghai Flower spores. The Zhang Family had to deal with the flower field issue every eighty years.
They speculated that during one period, the Zhang Family lost the Heavenly Staff, leaving the field unmanaged. The spores then infected the Mizhatuo guardians trained by the Zhang family, causing them to mutate, become uncontrolled, and attack the Yinshaluo people. The Yinshaluo mistook the mutated Mizhatuo for the Night King and failed to kill it. Dong Can was killed by the mutated Mizhatuo while handling this situation in Yinshaluo.
Zhang Qiling arrived afterward, first resolving the mutated Mizhatuo problem in Yinshaluo, then addressing the Zanghai Flower field issue. Therefore, if the Night King was anything, it was the mutated Mizhatuo. Haike utilized this misconception to weave a perfectly convincing lie.
Wu Xie concluded that his mission from Zhang Qiling, as indicated by the video tape, was not to fight the Night King but to destroy the Zanghai Flower seeds and prevent spore dispersal, which would otherwise cause a massive ecological disaster. Haixing confirmed this was their speculation but admitted they weren't certain.
Wu Xie understood his mission was to destroy the Zanghai Flower field but asked Haixing how to do it, to which she replied she didn't know and would not tell him. She explained her brother had dedicated years to finding this flower to save Niata, and by not helping him obtain it, she would essentially be sending him to his death. Wu Xie asked if she truly believed anything could revive the dead, knowing she didn't believe it either.
He realized she supported Haike because his obsession was the only thing keeping him alive, and she helped him with his absurd plan to protect him. Wu Xie questioned if Haike was selfish and whether he truly cared about her. Haixing insisted he cared. Wu Xie argued that the Zhang Family had been fighting the people manipulating them, but the siblings had betrayed the Zhang Family.
Haixing stated she didn't care about the Zhang Family's opinion, only a limited few like Niata and herself. Wu Xie urged Haixing to pull her brother back, saying he had lost his mind, but she hadn't. Haixing felt she had never had choices and couldn't turn back now, stating she could only continue to disappoint the patriarch. She confirmed the door to the flower field was open, Haike was coming, and everything was set.
She coldly told Wu Xie to rest in peace. Wu Xie then revealed he had tricked her, stating he was not dying. Haixing accused him of deceiving her. Wu Xie insisted that the mission given to him by Xiaoge was to destroy the Zanghai Flower field. He and Fatty decided to proceed, despite Haixing's claim they didn't know how to destroy it. Fatty declared that causing damage and destruction was their strength. They ran towards the field, leaving Haixing behind.
Wu Xie and Fatty reached the field, marveling at the vast expanse of vibrant Zanghai Flowers, but feeling chills knowing each bud contained terrifying golden sphere larvae. They realized burning wouldn't work as the roots and parasitic larvae were deep beneath the ice. Wu Xie reasoned that the Zhang Family, who had fenced and guarded these flowers, must know the secret to destroying them. He suspected the Heavenly Staff and the Key, considered patriarchal symbols, held the key.
Using the hole in the Key, Wu Xie looked through it and spotted a reflective point, a mechanism hidden within the flower field. He realized the shape of the key was a map of the flower field, and the hole aligned with the mechanism's location. Such a mechanism would require verification, likely the patriarch's blood or the Heavenly Staff. As they prepared to activate it, Zhang Haike arrived with Zhang Haixing and Hans, along with other men.
Wu Xie noted Feng was captured, realizing Hans had betrayed them and joined Haike. The situation had changed; Hans and his men would kill them regardless of whether they destroyed the flowers. Wu Xie and Fatty decided a swift resolution was best, prioritizing Zhang Qiling's mission. Fatty threw a dummy grenade to create a diversion, calling himself the Night King to taunt them and stalling for time, despite Haike's warnings and threats not to move.
Meanwhile, Wu Xie ran towards the mechanism. Haike realized Wu Xie's plan and ordered his men to stop and kill him. Wu Xie shouted to Haixing not to kill Haike, stating he would leave one flower for him. Haike's men fired. Wu Xie reached the mechanism and quickly inserted the Heavenly Staff. The mechanism began to activate. Although Haike threw a grenade towards Wu Xie, it was too late.
The ground beneath the flower field began to boil and churn, and the golden sphere larvae were stripped and quickly died. The entire field of Zanghai Flowers withered and was destroyed in moments. Wu Xie completed his mission. He stated that living or dying didn't matter to him anymore. Zhang Haike, seeing the destruction, asked about the samples they had collected. Hans showed him, and the flowers were wilted despite being in advanced preservation equipment.
This confirmed the former patriarch's words that the flowers could not be taken away and only belonged there. Haike was devastated, realizing Niata could not be saved, and his hope was completely gone. Wu Xie told him the flower could not revive the dead and reminded him that Zhang Family members also died, questioning the very existence of the ancient tower otherwise.
Haixing retorted that Wu Xie didn't understand how many years her brother had spent searching for the flower and accused him of destroying all his hope in that moment. Wu Xie argued that even if the flower could revive Niata, where would they live if the spores spread and caused ecological disaster? He asked if Haike had considered Niata's future. Haike became agitated, refusing to listen and claiming Zhang Family's past technology was backward.
He insisted he could succeed in spreading it to benefit the world, dismissing any talk of bad consequences. Wu Xie called him crazy, emphasizing the known dangers of mutated golden spheres and Mizhatuo if the spores went unchecked. Haike insisted he didn't care. Wu Xie asked what he did care about, stating Haike's burden was merely selfish obsession, stubbornly trying despite knowing it wouldn't succeed. Haike threatened to kill Wu Xie, but Wu Xie dared him.
Haike ultimately relented, tired of seeing Wu Xie's face after so many years. Haike asked what to do next, but accepting the result was impossible for him, he declared it was over and walked away with Haixing. Haixing cursed Wu Xie, calling him a bastard and asking if he was satisfied now that his mission was complete.
Watching the Zhang siblings leave, Wu Xie felt changed, believing his past self could never have done this and regretting causing anyone such pain, even though it was the right thing to do. Fatty then asked Wu Xie if he had kept one flower.
Episode 28 Recap
With the field of Zanghai Flowers destroyed, Wu Xie and Fatty felt a sense of relief after their perilous mission, though Wu Xie still felt uneasy about not having seen the golden sphere bugs appear. Fatty urged him to leave, saying they had completed their task and should head home. However, Hans was unwilling to leave empty-handed. Feng warned Hans against his obsession, but Hans ordered his men to search for any surviving Zanghai Flowers.
Their soldiers then discovered something moving beneath the ice. Golden sphere bug eggs were stirring under the ice, trying to break free. Driven by greed, Hans threw a grenade onto the ice to get more samples. Wu Xie and Fatty cried out for him to stop, but it was too late. As the ice exploded, the clear sky was instantly engulfed in dark clouds. A massive vortex formed, unleashing a huge storm towards them, along with countless golden sphere bugs.
Hans fired his weapon wildly, but he was not spared; a golden sphere bug attacked his neck, and the remaining men scattered in terror. When Wu Xie woke again, he found himself in a warm room. He had been rescued by the Yinshaluo people, who had relocated there after a snow avalanche and were settled on the other side of the mountain by Zhang Qiling.
Wu Xie immediately looked for Fatty and found him in the same room, injured in the leg and with a neck issue. Wu Xie hurried out to find a signal, but there was no mobile signal or any other form of communication. He found the Yinshaluo elder and urged her to lead her people to retreat quickly, warning that the storm would arrive soon. The elder calmly continued her work, accustomed to disaster and possessing a strong sense of destiny.
Hearing that Wu Xie was a friend of Zhang Qiling, she was pleased that the usually solitary Zhang Qiling had friends. She advised Wu Xie to descend the mountain immediately due to the impending danger of the storm, wishing to avoid additional casualties. However, Wu Xie was determined to stay, feeling responsible since they had brought about the storm and intending to see the matter through for Zhang Qiling.
Wu Xie returned to the room to persuade Fatty to leave the mountain, but Fatty refused, insisting that as brothers, they must face difficulties together. Unexpectedly, Wu Xie saw Zhang Haixing outside the tent. Zhang Haixing immediately urged Wu Xie to descend the mountain, stating that she had already decided to stay. Wu Xie sought help from Feng, a science professor, believing he would know how to handle the storm.
Feng analyzed the storm's path with Wu Xie, devising a plan to enter the storm's eye and use explosives to dissipate the vortex. Feng revealed his plan involved sacrifices: a suicide squad would protect a team tasked with breaking through the storm to reach the eye, where there was no wind. From the eye, explosives could be sent up to dissipate the vortex.
Feng warned that given the current wind speed, anyone in the suicide squad entering the storm would face certain death, but this would allow others to survive. Wu Xie and Fatty calculated the minimum number of people needed for the mission, reducing the initial estimate. Wu Xie and Fatty witnessed the courage and spirit of the Yinshaluo people. Upon hearing about the impending disaster, many volunteered without hesitation to join the suicide squad.
The next day, news arrived from the Yinshaluo scouts who had gone ahead; they had not returned, and the storm was advancing faster than expected. Wu Xie immediately gathered the suicide squad, realizing they had to move earlier than planned. Wu Xie discussed the storm's cause and effects with Feng, who explained that Hans's actions had released massive underground heat, causing violent air convection, a pressure difference, a cyclone, and finally the storm.
Feng mentioned historical data suggesting explosives could disrupt particles in the atmosphere to break up the cyclone, though achieving this was nearly impossible without something like a nuclear weapon, which would cause worse consequences. Wu Xie sensed Feng had a viable plan, and Feng admitted he did, though it would involve sacrifices. As the Yinshaluo people prepared, they trained for the mission, practicing hand gestures for communication in the storm.
Zhang Haixing watched, then spoke to Wu Xie, questioning his motives for staying, whether it was to repay a debt or just self-gratification. She argued that Zhang Qiling chose him for a more important mission and that he should not sacrifice himself. Wu Xie acknowledged his own obsession and desire to take responsibility, comparing it to her long history of bearing burdens for her brother. Zhang Haixing eventually decided to leave, though she noted Wu Xie was different from others.
Fatty, still injured, overheard some of the plans and insisted he would not leave. He and Wu Xie shared a moment reinforcing their bond and mutual determination to face death together if necessary. Fatty joked about their shared philosophy and praised the Yinshaluo men's courage, noting that while they cherished the warrior title, they were also fathers and husbands, unlike the cold Zhang Family members. Later, Yindan brought news from Granny that the scouts sent out earlier had not returned.
Yindan, who had gone to look for them, found that many were swept away by the strong winds near the scout route, only managing to rescue a few. Feng confirmed the storm's wind speed had increased, likely due to changes in the underground heat source, and they had until noon the next day for the best detonation point. Yindan, injured, asked to join the suicide squad.
Wu Xie explained that Yindan was initially excluded because he was needed to survive and carry crucial data and information to the outside world should the mission fail. He stressed that Yindan was their last hope for the truth to reach the outside world. Wu Xie then instructed everyone to prepare for departure the next day.
Episode 29 Recap
The Yinshaluo people held a solemn farewell ceremony for the group preparing to face the impending storm, hailing them as warriors. The Chieftain spoke of the storm as a fearsome but respectable adversary they must confront with courage, like their ancestors and the hawks. She acknowledged that these warriors might not return but their spirits would live on. Addressing Wu Xie, the Chieftain asked if he had anyone to say goodbye to.
Wu Xie listed his family and friends, including Fatty, prompting the Chieftain to call him both blessed and a cause for worry. She thanked him and assured him that regardless of the outcome, he and Zhang Qiling would always be friends of the Yinshaluo. Wu Xie expressed his certainty of success. The Chieftain pondered why Zhang Qiling chose him, concluding it wasn't merely a lack of options but a shared quality in their eyes.
She noted that Wu Xie and his companions chose to bear this heavy responsibility. Wu Xie then questioned the decades of guarding the Zanghai Flowers and waiting for the Zhang Family, asking if it held true meaning. The Chieftain explained that meaning is personal, found not always before an action but often through the doing of it, illustrating with analogies of climbing mountains and shaping stones.
Wu Xie reflected on whether his life would have been different without his persistent search for secrets. The Chieftain stated that life cannot be reversed, and all encounters are predestined. Wu Xie expressed a hope to see Zhang Qiling again, a sentiment the Chieftain echoed.
Later, alone, Wu Xie spoke aloud to Zhang Qiling's portrait, vowing to stop the storm the next day, unsure if he would have the chance to retrieve him from the Bronze Door but promising to try. During a gathering, Wu Xie revealed a crucial discovery. He had found a marking left by Zhang Qiling on a wall inside the bronze processing factory.
After much contemplation, he finally understood its meaning: it wasn't a simple symbol but a simplified map of the factory's structure. He explained that a massive energy source lay beneath the factory, which he and Fatty had seen. When Hans detonated the Zanghai Flower field, this heat source leaked, creating intense air currents by clashing with the cold ice surface air, forming the storm.
Wu Xie speculated that the Zhang Family had foreseen this possibility and prepared a contingency: a large ventilation system built under the field, connecting to a valley outside. This system had two openings – an air inlet to draw in cold air to neutralize the underground heat and an outlet to expel the mix. He concluded that the mechanism was a giant cooling system designed to prevent the storm by controlling the heat source.
When asked what they needed to do, Wu Xie simply stated they needed to find and activate this mechanism to dissipate the storm. He admitted he couldn't be certain the century-old mechanism would work, but it was the only option that could solve the storm and allow everyone to survive. Wu Xie presented his discovery to the Chieftain and others. The Chieftain, seeing the conviction in his eyes, believed him, despite the potential implausibility.
She proposed a dual plan: Wu Xie would go to find and activate the mechanism, while the rest would prepare for the original plan to confront the storm head-on if the mechanism failed. When asked who should activate it, the Chieftain initially suggested Feng, the scientist, but he deferred, stating he was a biologist and Wu Xie was better suited. Fatty insisted he had to remain with the suicide squad.
The Chieftain countered that Wu Xie, with his understanding of the Patriarch's methods, was the most logical choice. Zhang Haixing offered to take Wu Xie's place in the suicide squad, reasoning that his success with the mechanism would negate the need for their original plan. However, Wu Xie argued he was the only one who knew how to navigate the storm according to their original strategy.
Fatty firmly supported Zhang Haixing, stating Wu Xie was uniquely qualified for the mechanism task and that his presence with the suicide squad meant Wu Xie was with them, bolstered by Feng's presence. Wu Xie finally agreed. They decided the original departure time would be 10 AM. Wu Xie would go ahead, and if he failed to activate the mechanism in time, he would rush back.
Zhang Haixing and Fatty were tasked with leading the others in the storm preparedness, emphasizing they must leave exactly at the appointed time regardless of Wu Xie's return. Others offered encouragement, reminding Wu Xie of his skills and the lives depending on him, adding that Zhang Qiling was waiting for the two of them. As Wu Xie was about to set off, Yindan, a Yinshaluo warrior, stopped him.
Yindan announced he was joining, having left a note to ensure news of the storm's resolution plan would spread even if they didn't return safely. Wu Xie expressed concern for Yindan's injuries, but Yindan assured him he could walk and was willing to risk his life for his tribe, even if he hadn't fully trusted Wu Xie before.
Yindan then led the way, explaining that this path, previously used during the rescue towards the Bronze Door, was the quickest route to the bronze processing factory area. Following Qiling's marking as a guide, Wu Xie and Yindan located the area described in the diagram. They identified key parts, like the ventilation shaft and their current position, confirming the mechanism's potential location. Excitement grew as they found what they believed was the control room.
However, upon entering, they found it empty, causing confusion. They searched nearby and Yindan found the true location of the mechanism. Simultaneously, back at the camp, a report came that it was time for the scheduled departure. Trusting in Wu Xie, they decided to delay for ten minutes, believing he might be close to resolving the issue. At the mechanism site, Wu Xie confirmed they had found the correct place.
Yindan eagerly suggested activating it, but Wu Xie stopped him to examine the detailed construction drawings on the wall. These confirmed it was a large fan system with a main switch, gears, and an ignition mechanism inside a connecting room. Yindan pressed the main switch, but nothing happened. He wondered if the storm had stopped, but Wu Xie determined the device hadn't started; the ignition was faulty, and fuel wasn't reaching it.
Back at the camp, news arrived that the mechanism was broken and the storm persisted. The order was given to prepare for immediate departure. Faced with the faulty mechanism, Wu Xie deduced they needed to provide their own power source. He explained that a combustion reaction from an explosion could generate enough force to push the piston and turn the gears if the space was sealed.
They attempted to close the door to the combustion chamber, but its clips were broken and couldn't hold. Back at camp, despite the grim news, some urged giving Wu Xie ten more minutes, reiterating their faith in him. At the mechanism, Yindan offered to hold the door closed. Wu Xie tried to find something to secure it, but Yindan insisted he had the strength to hold it shut manually.
Recognizing time was critical and the task of activating the mechanism required Wu Xie's expertise, Yindan took responsibility for holding the door. He quickly instructed Wu Xie how to operate the winding springs by listening for the click of the internal clips locking. With the explosive presumably placed inside the chamber, Yindan held the door shut with all his might as Wu Xie activated the mechanism. Yindan then threw a torch into the chamber.
An explosion erupted, and Wu Xie watched as Yindan was killed by the blast. Despite Yindan's sacrifice, Wu Xie, focusing intensely, succeeded in activating the mechanism after repeated efforts and adjustments. The storm rapidly diminished. As the dark clouds receded, a clear blue sky appeared, signifying the plan's success and rendering the suicide squad unnecessary. Back at the camp, the Yinshaluo people saw the sky change and erupted in cheers, celebrating Wu Xie's victory.
Through the heavy snow, Wu Xie carried Yindan's body back. Yindan was bleeding profusely, his life fading. He acknowledged that this sacrifice was his own choice, a decision to die outside under the blue sky rather than trapped inside. He urged Wu Xie to continue his own journey, accepting that he wouldn't survive his injuries to reach the Yinshaluo tribe.
He asked Wu Xie to put him down so he could see the blue sky, a clear sky he had longed to see for many years, a wish now fulfilled. He spoke of his childhood dream of leaving the mountains to see a wider sky, realizing in his final moments that the true vastness lay not in the physical world but within one's heart.
Thanking Wu Xie for protecting this sky, Yindan asked him to remember to bring liquor if he ever returned to the snow mountains. Wu Xie promised he would remember. With a faint smile, Yindan passed away. The Yinshaluo people held a solemn ceremony for Yindan, recognizing him as a hero who was prepared to give everything for his tribe. Yindan's dagger was placed as a symbol to ensure he would always be remembered.
A bonfire was lit, and the villagers cherished the hard-won peace. During the gathering, the Chieftain expressed gratitude to Wu Xie for resolving the crisis. Zhang Haixing spoke to Wu Xie about her complex feelings regarding her brother, Haike, acknowledging her exhaustion from supporting his pursuit of the impossible wish to revive Niata. She expressed her struggle with forgiveness and her uncertainty about their future relationship, remarking that she would confront him next time she saw him.
She told "Xiao Tianzhen" (Wu Xie) that he was more insightful and the pillar of his family. She then gave Wu Xie a precious scroll, the last one from the Zhang Family patriarch, which her brother Haike had given her. She explained that it was a top-secret document previously guarded by Deren but stolen by Haike from the Jila Spiritual Retreat.
She returned it to Wu Xie, explaining its significance: it detailed an important event that occurred shortly after the patriarch accepted the Tianshou and resolved the snow mountain matter, considered the true conclusion of that period of his story.
The scroll also contained important records explaining Zhang Qiling's simple reason for becoming the Zhang Family patriarch – he wanted to find his origins and understand his connection to the world, having forgotten everything after the first Tianshou, and his unconscious efforts led him to this point after dealing with the matter of Dong Can, finally reaching the stage where he could confront the most significant unresolved issue in his memory.
Episode 30 Recap
After enduring his first bout of Tianshou, Zhang Qiling unexpectedly surfaced a memory connected to his origins. In a dream, he saw a young woman, Bai Ma, holding a crying infant, and he noticed a small mole on her neck. Following this dream, Zhang Qiling sought out the patriarch of a spiritual retreat, requesting to see Bai Ma.
The patriarch was astonished, confirming they knew Bai Ma and describing her features precisely as Zhang Qiling had seen them in his dream: deep-set eyes, fair skin, and a mole on her neck. He asked how Zhang Qiling knew her appearance and why he suddenly wished to see her. Zhang Qiling explained it was a dream, possibly from the Tianshou or a past obsession.
The patriarch revealed that Bai Ma had arrived at their retreat ten years prior, waiting for her son, and he now realized Zhang Qiling was that son. The patriarch recounted Bai Ma's story. She had come to them after the Zhang Family had taken her child, pleading for their help to get him back, though she knew stopping the Zhang family was impossible.
Bai Ma knew that being raised within the Zhang Family environment would not allow her child to be happy. Stricken with a terminal illness and knowing her time was short, she despaired of ever seeing her son again. Having heard they knew the secret of the Zanghai Flower, she pleaded with the masters to use it to seal her away temporarily.
She explained that the flower could preserve her, hoping that if her son, unhappy in the Zhang Family, ever sought his origins, he would find her preserved and not merely a corpse. This way, she hoped he could feel a sense of love still existed in the world and they could have a chance to meet again.
The masters initially hesitated, stating the flower only sealed temporarily, couldn't cure, they couldn't guarantee waking her years later, and its use was strictly forbidden. But Bai Ma insisted her child was different and earnestly begged for this chance, kneeling and pleading at the retreat for three days and nights until she finally moved the patriarch.
They used the Zanghai Flower on Bai Ma, and she fell into a deep sleep, sealed away in an ice coffin and buried deep underground, offering her son a final solace by awaiting his arrival. Upon learning his mother's story, Zhang Qiling was eager to see her. The patriarch told him Bai Ma was neither dead nor truly alive, like a piece of rock, and suggested that Zhang Qiling himself was similar at that moment, lacking desire.
He instructed Zhang Qiling to carve a massive boulder in the courtyard, putting whatever was in his heart into the sculpture, promising he could see Bai Ma once the carving was finished. The patriarch reflected on Zhang Qiling's apparent lack of desire, comparing him to a rock born without needs or even the desire to think. He contrasted this with true enlightenment gained by losing desire after having it.
He felt Zhang Qiling shouldn't be like a rock, unable to make his mother feel his presence, and needed to learn to think and long for things. He believed life was his mother's first gift and this chance to connect was her last, intended for him to develop the heart that others had kept concealed. A follower later reported that a room was being prepared for Bai Ma's arrival.
Bai Ma had been sealed under the ice for many years, kept alive by the Zanghai Flower. They had promised her that they would bring her out when her son came. She was awakened upon his arrival, though most of her senses were gone; she couldn't see, hear, or speak. However, she knew her son was by her side.
The effect of the Zanghai Flower was temporary, and after it faded, she would only have three days left before truly dying. It was explained that Zhang Qiling needed to find his own "thought" or desire, guiding his carving. Only when the boulder took meaningful shape from his internal motivation, showing he had developed a heart, would he truly become human, finally easing his mother's worries.
The patriarch darkly noted that while humans born without feelings couldn't be hurt, once they developed feelings, anything could wound them, suggesting they made him develop a heart so he could be hurt better. Zhang Qiling worked tirelessly on the carving, chiseling the rock according to the image of Bai Ma he had seen in his dream, from winter until summer. His persistence finally moved the patriarch to bring out the sleeping Bai Ma.
Zhang Qiling finally met her; she was peaceful and serene, just as he had seen her. Though she remained unresponsive, she smiled slightly, and they shared a profound connection. He held her hand. He dreamt of them walking together across a vast snowy plain or standing silently side-by-side, feeling a deep sense of peace. However, Bai Ma passed away shortly after, living only three days after the flower's effect faded.
Zhang Qiling buried his mother and attempted to continue carving, but overcome with tears and grief, his strength left him. He dropped his chisel, curled up, consumed by thoughts of his mother. He completed the statue of his mother before quietly departing the spiritual retreat, his destination unknown. The scroll containing these memories became a precious possession. The story transitions to Wu Xie, carefully putting away the scroll.
Sitting by a bonfire with the Yinshaluo people, he began recounting his own history with Zhang Qiling. He explained how Zhang Qiling, while enduring frequent bouts of Tianshou and memory loss, traveled constantly, getting involved in conflicts and exploring dangerous places to investigate matters whose origins he didn't even fully understand. Every so often, he would return to the Bronze Door to fulfill his duty, guarding it for ten years at a time.
Wu Xie described how a mysterious organization composed of nine influential families discovered Zhang Qiling. These families, with vast resources and ancient histories of exploring underground secrets for profit, coveted Zhang Qiling's extraordinary abilities. After researching him, they proposed a deal: if Zhang Qiling completed a task for them, they would train individuals from their families to take turns guarding the Bronze Door in his place. Zhang Qiling accepted their proposal.
Zhang Qiling began working for this organization, and Wu Xie became unexpectedly involved through chance and overlapping adventures. Many of his own explorations ended up coinciding with the issues Zhang Qiling was working to resolve. Wu Xie recalled their first encounter and many subsequent ones, noting how they became close despite their different natures. He admitted that although they were like brothers, he felt he owed Zhang Qiling a great debt.
When asked about the debt, Wu Xie explained that as an ordinary, uninformed person, he stubbornly insisted on following Zhang Qiling into dangerous situations to find answers, perhaps surprising Zhang Qiling with his persistence. He recounted a time when Zhang Qiling questioned why he followed him, telling him he shouldn't get involved, that the situation was too complex and dangerous, and his uncle had already done much for him.
Wu Xie replied that his desire was simple: he just wanted to understand what was happening, but since no one would tell him, he felt compelled to get involved. Zhang Qiling then asked if he considered why they might be hiding the truth, suggesting sometimes lies are for protection and some truths are unbearable. Wu Xie countered that the person should judge their own capacity to bear the truth, and perhaps didn't want protection or just wanted a swift end.
Wu Xie asked if Zhang Qiling understood the pain of not knowing, to which Zhang Qiling replied he understood it better, having far more unanswered questions and no one to ask. Zhang Qiling described himself as a man without a past or future, doing everything to find his connection to the world, wondering if he would vanish without a trace, never having truly existed, sometimes doubting his own reality when looking in a mirror.
Wu Xie dismissed this, saying he would notice if Zhang Qiling disappeared. Zhang Qiling offered to share answers about his "own" mystery if he found them but told Wu Xie he wouldn't find answers about his "own" situation by clinging to Zhang Qiling, as it was a mystery to him too. Zhang Qiling felt Wu Xie had enough riddles already. Wu Xie pressed him on one point: why he entered the Bronze Door.
Zhang Qiling stated he was simply continuing Wang Zanghai's work, and behind the great door, he had seen "the ultimate of all things." Zhang Qiling then declared that he was on Wu Xie's side. Wu Xie continued his story, explaining that after their adventures concluded, Zhang Qiling completed the task for the nine families and came to bid him farewell in the South. Wu Xie was unprepared for the goodbye, unsure of what lay ahead.
Zhang Qiling reflected that after considering his relationship with the world, the only connection he felt seemed to be with Wu Xie. Zhang Qiling announced he was heading to Sansheng Snowy Peak. Wu Xie commented on how cold that place must be, contrasting it with the pleasant South, but Zhang Qiling simply said he had no choice and said goodbye. Wu Xie then related how he pursued Zhang Qiling to the Sansheng Snowy Peak near Yunding Heavenly Palace.
When he reached Zhang Qiling near the entrance to a fissure, Zhang Qiling told him he shouldn't be there and couldn't continue on this path. Wu Xie questioned why Zhang Qiling was there. Zhang Qiling explained there were serious issues within the door that required periodic attention, necessitating someone to enter and stay for ten years each time. Wu Xie asked about the pact with the nine families, confused why Zhang Qiling still had to guard it.
Zhang Qiling revealed that this was the reason he felt indebted to Wu Xie. He explained that years ago, he had made the agreement with the nine families to share the burden of guarding the gate, with members of the families meant to take turns. However, none of them fulfilled their promise. There was something far more dangerous within the gate that needed dealing with than what was outside.
According to the original agreement with the nine families, "Wu Xie" was the one chosen to guard the door. But the families never trained him, and entering untrained would mean certain death. Therefore, Zhang Qiling, as the last patriarch of the Zhang Family, chose to take on the duty himself to protect the future.
Zhang Qiling told Wu Xie that since he had come all this way, he would tell him that if he remembered him after ten years, he could return to this place and might see him again. Back by the bonfire, Wu Xie concluded his explanation, stating that "he" was supposed to be the one spending ten years in that deep abyss-like place.
Zhang Qiling had an opportunity to avoid this suffering but sacrificed it for Wu Xie, choosing to bear the pain and heavy responsibility himself. That was the debt Wu Xie felt he owed. Someone among the listeners commented on the rarity of such friendship and understood why Wu Xie fought so hard for him, declaring it a moment worth celebrating and toasting Zhang Qiling. An Yinshaluo person spoke, thanking Wu Xie and his companions for helping their tribe, wishing them well, and offering a final toast to them.
Episode 31 Recap
At night, Wu Xie repeatedly watched a video left by Zhang Qiling, feeling he had misjudged some things. In fact, the task of destroying the Zang Hai Hua field and eliminating the Golden Ball worms was never originally assigned to him. It was because Zhang Qiling often forgot things after contracting Tian Shou, and the Zang Hai Hua field would revive every eighty years.
Zhang Qiling made a video to remind himself, originally intending to remind himself that he still had unfinished tasks. Wu Xie decided to let go of his obsession and start a new life. Before leaving, he went to the practice ground again, originally planning to say goodbye. Unexpectedly, Yu Hai from the practice ground brought out several newly discovered scrolls. In the scrolls, Wu Xie made new discoveries. Many years ago, Zhang Qiling had destroyed the Zang Hai Hua field.
Worried that he might lose his memory again and forget the eighty-year promise, he recorded many things in the scrolls, including the origin of the Zhang family. In fact, the mysterious power of the Zhang family came from Meteorite Bronze. Each member of the Zhang family had two types of genes in their blood, blue and red. The blue genes would give them more strength but also manipulate their minds, while the red genes represented rationality.
The blue substance was similar in composition to some components of the Golden Ball worms, so the Golden Ball worms rarely attacked the Zhang family because the red substance would help them regain some sanity. After reading those scrolls, Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi came to bid farewell to the master of the practice ground. Yu Hai persuaded him to stay and become a 'De Ren' for thirty thousand yuan a month, but it had to be a lifelong commitment.
Wang Pangzi carefully noticed several sheets of paper beside Yu Hai. Upon opening them, he found they were promotional pages for global travel. It seemed Yu Hai wanted to retire and travel! Yu Hai verbally claimed he wanted to practice修行 everywhere, but he didn't actually deny his decision to retire. However, Wu Xie declined Yu Hai's suggestion, saying he had more important things to do.
Wang Pangzi fairly judged that limiting the freedom of the rest of his life for a bit of salary was not a worthwhile trade. Zhang Haike came to the practice ground, wanting to repent for deceiving so many people just for a little obsession in his heart. In fact, he knew this idea was problematic but still traveled around with Zhang Haixing. Yu Hai advised him that young people shouldn't always dwell on repentance; they should learn to let go.
He also asked him if he was willing to stay here and become a 'De Ren'. Zhang Haike agreed. Zhang Haixing came to bid her brother farewell. Seeing her brother wearing the 'De Ren' hat and sweeping the courtyard with a broom, she asked Zhang Haike if he had really thought it through. Zhang Haike apologized for his previous actions.
Zhang Haixing never felt she was forced to accept her brother's decision; she just wanted to help her brother move further away from the past. Everything was because she was willing. Zhang Haike explained that he really wanted to stay. Practitioners could see their past and present lives, but his mind was always chaotic, so he stayed at the practice ground to quiet down. Zhang Haixing knew her brother had let go of his obsession, so she bid him farewell.
She also wanted to pursue the life she desired. Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi returned to the south. He wrote down the story between himself and Zhang Qiling, and also compiled the deeds of Zhang Qiling's life, as well as information about the mysterious Zhang family. He felt that there was an invisible force constantly spying on and subverting the Zhang family.
Therefore, in the time that followed, Wu Xie would meticulously investigate, strive to find the evil force behind the scenes, and formulate some plans. Wu Xie named these plans the "Sand Sea Project".
Episode 32 (Ending) Recap
The Sand Sea Project was ultimately successful, and the grievances between the Zhang family members and the younger generations were resolved. Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi went to the cemetery to pay respects to Panzi, their comrade who fought alongside them. Having finally reached the ten-year pact, Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi decided to go to the Bronze Gate to bring Zhang Qiling back. Along the way, Wu Xie felt both nervous and apprehensive.
He didn't know if he would see Zhang Qiling, or what their first words would be if they met, or if Zhang Qiling had already forgotten this ten-year pact. And Wang Pangzi supported Wu Xie as always. The two of them arrived at the Bronze Gate, called out several times, but received no response. Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi decided to wait at the entrance. The two of them chatted together.
Wang Pangzi asked Wu Xie where he planned to retire. During a past expedition, Wu Xie had stumbled upon a village. This village had nine waterfalls, and the water from the waterfalls would cycle back into the village, so it was always misty, as if it rained every day. Wu Xie felt the air in this village was excellent, both moist and clean, completely unpolluted, like a utopia. Wang Pangzi fell asleep while talking to Wu Xie.
Wu Xie also became a bit blurry. He vaguely saw himself each time he came to the Bronze Gate over the past ten years. Each time was so clear. It turned out the Bronze Gate had memories. Wu Xie fell into a deep sleep while thinking. He continued to recall this beautiful village, which actually produced a type of fruit. This fruit could help people recover memories; it could even awaken memories of past lives.
Wu Xie liked this village and also hoped that if Zhang Qiling ate this fruit, he could see his past lives and events. After an unknown period, the Bronze Gate slowly opened, and Zhang Qiling truly came out! He walked directly to Wu Xie, remarking that Wu Xie has aged. Their eyes met, and Wu Xie was filled with mixed emotions. Wang Pangzi also woke up. Seeing Zhang Qiling, he excitedly pounced on him.
Wang Pangzi drove Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling to Yun, this village perched on the mountainside, quiet and tranquil, very suitable for retirement. Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, and Zhang Qiling began a life of working from sunrise to sunset. Every day they cleaned the courtyard, started planting crops and vegetables, harvested wild fruits and wheat. Life was peaceful and leisurely. The important thing was that the three of them were together again.
Wu Xie often reflected on the first half of his life, full of bumps and twists and turns. Was it all just for an obsession? But the journey of exploration itself was full of novelty and interest. Zhang Qiling would often go into the mountains by himself. Wang Pangzi and Wu Xie were already used to Zhang Qiling's lifestyle. Sometimes Zhang Qiling would also invite Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi to go into the mountains together.
One time, the three of them met an interesting person, an old man fishing in the river every day. He used a bomb hook but a very thin fishing rod, clearly not capable of catching large fish. Even with an unexpected catch, the old man couldn't be happy. He told Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling what had happened to him. Twenty years ago, the old man had brought his son here to fish.
As a result, his son was dragged into the river by a fish and disappeared without a trace or remains. As a result, the old man held onto his grief. He started living here, fishing every day, hoping one day to catch the large fish that had harmed his son. He was disappointed time and again, but he would persistently pick up his fishing rod. Now the old man was seriously ill and close to death.
Wang Pangzi commented optimistically: Spending twenty years doing one thing is also a kind of glory. The Chinese New Year was approaching. Wu Xie hung red lanterns on the eaves of the house, preparing for a lively New Year celebration for Zhang Qiling. Zhang Qiling proactively offered to kill a chicken but unexpectedly ended up dealing with the neighbor's chicken!
Meanwhile, Wang Pangzi was complaining that Wu Xie hadn't bought the liquor he liked, but he saw jars of old liquor at the neighbor's house. Wu Xie paid the neighbor extra money, and the neighbor, feeling apologetic, gifted them a lot of liquor and cured meat to go with it. Everyone returned happily, feeling great!
As the New Year firecrackers sounded, Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, and Zhang Qiling tasted the food and drinks, raising their glasses to celebrate the New Year together. In fact, eating and doing things together with loved ones is also a kind of happiness, whether it's adventuring or enjoying the mundane, or even sticking to one's obsession - this is also the meaning of life. No matter what your current state is, live in the present and dance with destiny!
