Explore With the Note Episode 19 Recap
> Explore With the Note Recap
Wu Xie finally reunited with Pan Zi and Shun Zi. Before their reunion, the team observed scattered chariot and horse figurines by the moat, which was an unusual placement for such burial objects that typically belonged in the underground palace. Human figurines stood in a ditch in the center of the moat. Wang Pangzi noted they all faced the same direction, extending into the moat's depths, leading Zhang Qiling to speculate they were substitutes for live sacrifices.
Pan Zi expressed his relief at finding Wu Xie and apologized for not having taken better care of him. Wang Pangzi, observing their surroundings, commented on feeling watched. Wu Xie then asked Shun Zi to elaborate on the message Wu Sanxing had given him, finding the previous information too vague to be useful, and also seeking to fully resolve his lingering doubts about Shun Zi.
Shun Zi recounted that approximately a month prior, Wu Sanxing, disguised as a sightseer in a group Shun Zi was guiding, had secretly pulled him aside. Wu Sanxing instructed him to await Wu Xie at an estimated time and escort him to the mountain, promising a substantial reward. Wu Sanxing specifically stressed that "only Wu Xie would understand" the message.
Shun Zi confessed that he had perceived two distinct factions within their initial expedition and chose to feign ignorance to avoid compromising Wu Sanxing's crucial instructions, especially given the significant deposit he had already received. He further revealed that he had quickly discerned their true objectives once they ventured into the mountains and would have intervened during the avalanche if not for Wu Sanxing's specific orders.
Wang Pangzi wryly commented that Shun Zi appeared to be "another spy" in their midst. Shun Zi, however, asserted his sincerity, explaining that Wu Sanxing's payment was sufficient for two lifetimes, compelling him to uphold his commitment. Pondering Wu Sanxing's words, "Only you would understand," Wu Xie realized the message was not meant to be taken literally. He revealed that "Rising Black Tortoise Formation" was a homonym in the Hangzhou dialect, which translated to "Follow the waterway to the end."
Wang Pangzi was surprised by this revelation, acknowledging Wu Sanxing's cunning in using a local dialect to convey a secret message. Pan Zi, who had lived in Hangzhou, also admitted he had only thought of the phrase in its fengshui context. Wang Pangzi reassured everyone that Wu Sanxing was a resilient veteran and they should focus on their own safety, suggesting that Wu Sanxing's clues meant he knew more than them.
Wu Xie suspected the unusual phrasing might be from an ancient text and believed his uncle's trip to Xisha was to gather relevant information. He also speculated that A Ning's team might be targeting the Empyrean Palace (Yun Ding Tian Gong), not just the Underwater Tomb, and wondered if she had obtained crucial intel there. Wang Pangzi, however, dismissed this, reasoning that she wouldn't need their help if she had.
Given that the mausoleum had springs but no rivers, the team decided to follow the former water channel, which eventually led them into a square hole where further passage seemed blocked. Meanwhile, A Ning’s team faced challenges. Her subordinates reported being trapped in an endless corridor, suspecting a grand formation or trap within the mausoleum was preventing them from finding the way out. They couldn't even use flares due to the wooden structure, fearing fire.
Wu Sanxing, who had been unconscious after a wall centipede attack, finally awoke. A Ning tended to him, giving him painkillers. Wu Sanxing requested A Ning not to inform Jude Cox of his recovery. A Ning stated she could keep it from Jason but not her boss. Wu Sanxing then questioned A Ning about Jude Cox's true intentions in the Empyrean Palace, which A Ning claimed were the same as his.
Wu Sanxing disagreed, urging A Ning to consider Jude Cox’s advanced age and remarkable physical capabilities. He hinted that some individuals, like Jude Cox, were born with extraordinary talents, "kissed by God." A Ning corrected him, stating it was "the Devil of the tomb" who had kissed him. Elsewhere, Xie Yuchen confronted Uncle Hai, whom he praised as an "expert forger" whose counterfeits were so exquisite even museums couldn't detect them.
Xie Yuchen suggested that Uncle Hai was the only one who knew the true extent of the switched relics. Uncle Hai downplayed his involvement, claiming to be merely a reseller of old trinkets, and questioned if Wu Sanxing knew about Xie Yuchen's visit, implying Wu Sanxing was also involved. Upholding "merchant's ethics," Uncle Hai advised Xie Yuchen to seek information from someone closer to him, stating "she knows it better."
Back at his own camp, Xie Yuchen confronted his grandmother, ordering her to stay put until his mission was over. He demanded an explanation for her collaboration with Jude Cox, accusing her of forsaking the search for Aunt Ling's disappearance and not taking it seriously. His grandmother dismissed his concerns, calling Aunt Ling "naive."
Following the translated clue, Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, Zhang Qiling, Pan Zi, and Shun Zi ventured into the tomb along what used to be a water channel, now dried up, which eventually led them into a square hole. Wu Xie spotted a marker. They then found a giant fish-head statue situated to their right, with English letters carved in nearby rubble. Wu Xie remembered seeing similar symbols in the Underwater Tomb.
Pan Zi, who had worked for Wu Sanxing for years, stated his uncle never left such markers. While they discussed the path forward, Zhang Qiling quietly slipped away. Wang Pangzi was the first to bend down and enter through the fish-head statue, noting Zhang Qiling's typical elusive behavior but wishing he'd stay during dangerous times.
Inside the dark and featureless cave, Wu Xie then pointed out hiking boot prints on the ground, indicating others had entered before them, prompting them to hurry. After exiting the fish-belly cave, they entered a black-rock tomb chamber filled with thousands of roughly made wine jars. Wang Pangzi joked about the Lord of Slavery (Wan Nu Wang) being a heavy drinker and dreamt of finding more treasures from the Jin Dynasty.
Wu Xie cautioned him against premature excitement, reminding him that perishable goods from the Southern Song tributes would have long rotted. Accidentally, Wang Pangzi broke a jar, revealing a rotten monkey corpse. Pan Zi explained it was "Monkey Head Brew" (Hou Tou Shao), a spirit Wu Sanxing had told him about, made with unformed monkeys, believed to be an aphrodisiac, though its effects on longevity were uncertain.
Wu Xie warned Wang Pangzi against consuming anything from the ancient tomb, to which Wang Pangzi jokingly replied it would only cause a stomachache. Continuing their journey, they traversed several sealed stone barriers. At a crossroads, they paused, noting one passage was significantly more elaborate than the others, adorned with extensive, vibrant murals that led directly to the outer coffin chamber. It was at the entrance to this passage that they found more deliberate English letter markers.
Wu Xie explained that while he initially thought they were simple directional signs, the "change" in the symbol indicated it conveyed additional information, such as potential conditions or dangers ahead, rather than just the path taken. Pan Zi then recognized this as a "tracking language" system from his Vietnam jungle training, used for rescue tracking where symbols communicate vital information like food supply or distress.
However, Pan Zi noted this specific symbol was unfamiliar and different from previous ones, suggesting a new kind of warning. As they pondered its meaning, Wu Xie exclaimed warning, indicating an unseen danger. Shun Zi experienced a strange mental interference, hearing voices but being unable to move until someone (likely Zhang Qiling, who had briefly touched him) helped him. His intuition warned him of great danger.
Wang Pangzi dismissed further decoding, stating the symbols weren't meant for them, and they should simply find their own way. Wu Xie, however, warned about potential arrow traps and trapdoors. They soon arrived at a blasted jade door. After entering, they discovered a massive tomb chamber, ten times larger than the previous wine storage room, overflowing with mountains of gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones.
While Pan Zi and Wang Pangzi were ecstatic, Wu Xie noticed several dry corpses curled amongst the treasures. Their clothing, including an old Shanghai watch on one woman, suggested they were an archaeological team from the 1980s or 90s. Shun Zi stared at one corpse, then fell to his knees, weeping, recognizing it as his long-lost father. The other bodies were members of his father's team.
Wu Xie found their presence suspicious, noting they had entered the mountains at an unusual time and were clearly not ordinary tourists. Wang Pangzi searched their belongings, finding no identification, but observed that all their food had been consumed. Wu Xie concluded that the team had not died by accident; instead, they had seemingly "sat there, waiting to die."
