Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Episode 16 Recap
> Adventure Behind the Bronze Door 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.
