Adventure Behind the Bronze Door Episode 26 Recap
> Adventure Behind the Bronze Door 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.