Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Episode 23 Recap
> Adventure Behind the Bronze Door 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.
