Explore With the Note Episode 8 Recap
> Explore With the Note Recap
Jia Sha successfully traced the email address that sent the mysterious photos, revealing it originated from the Huo Family in Beijing. Puzzled by the Huo Family's involvement, Xie Yuchen decided to travel to Beijing himself, despite concerns about his health. He paid a visit to Huo Xiangu, who was already aware of his purpose. When Xie Yuchen directly pressed her for the photo's source, Huo Xiangu remained evasive, stating only that someone had taken it and she had acquired it.
Xie Yuchen challenged her, arguing that modern technology could easily forge such images and he couldn't simply trust an unverified photo that had such grave implications for the Xie family. Taken aback, Huo Xiangu reminded him that she had watched him grow up and would never stoop to deceiving him with a fake photo. Ultimately, Xie Yuchen left without obtaining any useful information, though he kept the photo.
Meanwhile, in the arduous terrain of Changbai Mountain, Wu Xie's team continued their difficult journey, occasionally pausing for brief rests. Wu Xie questioned their guide, Shun Zi, about the presence of any ancient tombs or unusual sites in the vicinity. Shun Zi denied knowledge of any tombs but warned them that further ahead lay a treacherous snow mountain fault, perpetually covered by deep snow.
He cautioned them against disrespecting the "Goddess of Snow Mountain" and recounted a grim tale from years past: an archaeological team, heedless of local warnings, ventured into the high snow. Their female captain soon became disoriented, and the team members began to quarrel over trivial matters. Shun Zi's recounting included snippets of their desperate arguments, revealing their growing fear, the loss of one of their guides in a rescue attempt, and internal jealousies.
Their leader's pleas for unity were in vain, as they were eventually engulfed by a catastrophic avalanche, leaving no survivors and instilling a deep local reverence for the mountain. Chen Pi then addressed the group, reminding them that treasure and danger are inseparable. He challenged anyone lacking courage to turn back, prompting Wang Pangzi to adamantly refuse, asserting he wouldn't be looked down upon.
As Shun Zi continued to lead, they struggled to locate the outpost they sought, only to realize it had been completely buried beneath a small avalanche directly below them. With their horses gone and facing extreme cold without shelter, Shun Zi suggested their only hope was to find a nearby hot spring, whose higher altitude he believed would keep it unburied.
Meanwhile, Anning, who had separated from Wu Xie's team earlier, contacted Jude Kao by phone to report their situation, explaining the recent strange occurrences that defied scientific explanation. She informed him that her team was maintaining a day's distance behind Wu Xie's, as instructed, for strategic reasons. Facing Shun Zi's collapse from sheer exhaustion, leaving him unconscious and them without a guide, the group decided to split up to search for the hot spring.
To ensure safety, they remained connected by ropes, extending them to their maximum length, and agreed to use their walkie-talkies if anyone made a discovery. As Wu Xie ventured out, he succumbed to severe hypoxia and extreme cold, triggering vivid hallucinations. He first saw Wu Sanxing, who affectionately urged him to come closer for warmth and oxygen.
However, Wu Xie's rational mind fought back, remembering that extreme cold could cause hallucinations, and questioned the incongruity of his "uncle" appearing in mountaineering gear and flippers. The hallucination then twisted into the menacing figure of Xie Lianhuan, who chillingly demanded that Wu Sanxing repay the life he owed. Terror-stricken, Wu Xie repeatedly cried out "No!" before being violently yanked back by his rope, rejoining the others who had just fallen into a newly collapsed snow pit.
Wang Pangzi quickly checked on a dazed Wu Xie. As the group recovered in the snow pit, they uncovered a large, intricately carved stone partially buried in the snow. Wang Pangzi initially found the serpent-like carving unappealing, likening it to a centipede or a poorly crafted piece. However, Chen Pi, demonstrating his extensive knowledge, corrected him, identifying it as a "Hundred-legged Dragon," a common motif from the ancient Eastern Xia period.
He explained the diverse and evolving forms of dragons in ancient China, implying the Eastern Xia civilization was very ancient. Wu Xie observed cracks on the stone, deducing it had fallen from above due to a past avalanche or earthquake. Chen Pi, angered by Wu Xie's partial understanding, vehemently corrected him, stating it was no mere falling stone, but a "sealing rock for a tomb passage."
He pointed to a chain within the dragon's mouth, revealing it to be the "horse chain" used to operate the sealing mechanism of the tomb from the inside. They attempted to pull the chain, but it remained firmly stuck. Simultaneously, Shun Zi's condition worsened dramatically. Lang Feng noticed his breath fading and his eyes suddenly opening, glowing golden-yellow, which startled him.
Shun Zi then deliberately removed his glove, revealing his wrist where a fox bite had begun to fester and decay. Just then, Zhang Qiling detected a strong sulfurous smell, suggesting the hot spring was nearby. Upon investigation, they found traces of previous explorers and a notebook with text from the Warring States period's Lu Huang silk book. Wu Xie began deciphering the ancient writings.
Zhang Qiling, noticing Shun Zi's feigned unconsciousness, privately confronted him and then advised Wu Xie to re-examine the stone carving. As the main group descended further into the discovered crevice, the temperature rose significantly, becoming uncomfortably hot. They observed numerous ancient, undecipherable writings on the rock walls, appearing to be a blend of ancient Han, Korean, and Jurchen scripts. Wu Xie theorized that the sealing rock was not an accidental placement.
He suggested that the mountain, once a quarry for tomb construction, had its workers discover this underground passage, which was subsequently sealed for unknown reasons. Wu Xie then revealed the alarming truth: Changbai Mountain is a dormant volcano, which last erupted in the 18th century, and a reawakening would quickly lead to their demise by magma. This grim discussion unnerved some of the group, with Lang Feng explicitly criticizing Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi for speaking inauspiciously.
Recognizing the narrowness of the path ahead, Wu Xie proposed that Chen Pi, due to his age and physical limitations, should remain outside to guard. Chen Pi agreed, acknowledging the difficulty for him to crawl through. Wang Pangzi then volunteered to stay with Chen Pi, ensuring he wouldn't be alone. With Chen Pi and Wang Pangzi staying behind, Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling prepared to enter the constricted passage.
