Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Episode 10 Recap
> Adventure Behind the Bronze Door 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.
