Explore With the Note Episode 9 Recap
> Explore With the Note Recap
Wu Xie suggested that he, Wang Pangzi, and Zhang Qiling explore the cave first, while Chen Pi, being elderly, decided to wait outside. As the three navigated the narrow, hot passage, Wang Pangzi complained that his expensive shirt would get scratched and that the temperature was rising, making it hard to breathe. He suggested they turn back, but Wu Xie insisted they continue a little further, promising to retreat if they didn't find an end soon.
Wu Xie, who had been experiencing hallucinations possibly due to altitude sickness or exhaustion, asked Zhang Qiling if he had felt anything unusual during their climb. Wang Pangzi joked that Wu Xie's "old problem" of hysteria might lead him to dream up the Empyrean Palace's location. After making their way through the narrow passage, they emerged into an area with a hot spring and an ancient mural depicting celestial maidens.
Wu Xie noted that the entrance was blocked by a "Crouching Dragon Sealing Rock," wondering what kind of place this was. Wang Pangzi humorously called it the "Qinghua Bathhouse," a perfect spot to relax. Realizing this was a safe and warm spot, Zhang Qiling agreed it would be a good place for everyone to gather. Meanwhile, A Ning set up camp in the mountains and reported their situation to Qiu Dekao.
That night, Jason's team, who had been separated, stumbled into their camp, having survived a snow avalanche that buried most of their gear. A Ning offered them some equipment to descend the mountain, but Jason refused, demanding to speak to Qiu Dekao. He threatened to keep the avalanche incident a secret if he wasn't allowed to stay, implying that a missing team might only be discovered decades or centuries later.
A Ning warned him that she was just like Qiu Dekao, having been raised by him. Speaking to Qiu Dekao on the phone, A Ning expressed her concern about collaborating with Jason, but Qiu Dekao explained he needed Jason's new shipping channels and personnel for a batch of cargo. He instructed A Ning to keep a close eye on Jason and, if he proved uncooperative, to arrange another "small snow slide" for him.
Qiu Dekao also expressed a deep personal desire to see the Empyrean Palace, comparing it to a "long-lost lover," and insisted on coming himself despite A Ning's warnings about the dangerous blizzards. After the call, A Ning recalled Wu Sanxing's warning about the unpredictability of human hearts, feeling increasingly wary of Qiu Dekao. Elsewhere, Jia Sha traced the source of a mysterious photo to an underwater tomb expedition organized by Qiu Dekao, in which Wu Xie had also participated.
Xie Yuchen, determined to uncover the truth, instructed his contact to use the Xie family's hacker channels to investigate further, acknowledging Qiu Dekao's stringent security measures. Back at the hot spring, Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi examined the celestial maiden mural, finding it odd that such a unique spot would only feature decorative art. Suddenly, Pan Zi arrived, explaining he had followed a map given by Wu Sanxing to scout ahead and had gotten lost before finding them.
Chen Pi, suspicious due to an earlier incident and the loss of one of his apprentices, demanded proof of Pan Zi's sincerity. Pan Zi offered to take everyone to see the "real" hot spring cave paintings. Wu Xie defended Pan Zi, assuring Chen Pi of his loyalty. As Pan Zi led Chen Pi and his men, Jin Shunzi, who had been recovering in the hot spring, suddenly disappeared. Moments later, he launched a wild attack on Wu Xie.
Zhang Qiling quickly intervened, subduing Jin Shunzi and diagnosing him with fox venom, which he believed the hot spring's sulfurous water could detoxify. They decided to immerse Jin Shunzi in the hot spring. Following Pan Zi, they arrived at another section of the cave. Wang Pangzi scratched at a mural there, revealing a second layer beneath the initial "flying maiden" paintings.
Wu Xie deduced that someone had painted over an older artwork, and the outer layer had never received a protective coating, causing it to fade. He, Wang Pangzi, and Zhang Qiling recognized the clothing in the exposed inner mural as similar to those seen in the Underwater Tomb, suggesting a connection to the Empyrean Palace. Noticing their discussion, Chen Pi signaled Lang Feng to join them.
Hua Heshang began to explain the murals, which depicted two distinct stories forming a single narrative. He described how the Eastern Xia people were once fierce warriors, capable of fighting three enemies at once, but were ultimately outnumbered and massacred by the Mongolian army.
When Wang Pangzi asked for more details, Hua Heshang elaborated that Eastern Xia was a short-lived regime that emerged in Jilin and Heilongjiang during the decline of the Jurchen state, with whom they shared close cultural and linguistic ties, including their script. They were eventually annihilated by the Mongolians, existing for only about 70 years, leading many historians to consider them more of a large tribe than a nation.
Wu Xie questioned how a short-lived regime with low productivity could construct an imperial tomb of the scale Chen Pi had mentioned. Chen Pi countered by proposing that the Empyrean Palace and the Eastern Xia royal tomb might be the same place, pointing to a mural depicting Eastern Xia women in ceremonial attire carrying out a funeral procession towards a palace in the clouds.
Chen Pi further supported this theory by citing historical records, including "History of Goryeo" from the Ming Dynasty, which suggested that some Eastern Xia survivors might have retreated into the mountains along the Jilin-Joseon border and continued to exist long after their supposed demise. To further bolster his claim, Chen Pi presented a Snake-Eyed Copper Fish. Hua Heshang used a flashlight to illuminate the fish scales, revealing 47 tiny Jurchen characters etched onto them.
Chen Pi explained that this rare copper fish, a variant of a dragon, had come into his possession by chance. He believed its creator possessed deep knowledge of Eastern Xia and had concealed a secret within the fish.
Although the information was incomplete and he couldn't fully decipher it, Chen Pi stated that the legible portions indicated that after the decisive battle between Eastern Xia and the Mongolians, a faction of Eastern Xia people had retreated to the border region of Jilin and Joseon, where they lived for an extended period. He added that if he could acquire the complete information, he could fully uncover this lost history.
Chen Pi then revealed that Xie Yuchen once possessed another Snake-Eyed Copper Fish, which Wu Sanxing had obtained in exchange for two ancient tombs, promising to share the deciphered information. Chen Pi speculated that Wu Sanxing must have already broken the code, given that Wu Xie was now on a mission to find the Empyrean Palace.
Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi tried to smooth things over, reminding Chen Pi that Wu Sanxing hadn't excluded him from this expedition and that they were now relying on Chen Pi's knowledge. Chen Pi, however, still expressed his frustration with Wu Sanxing's secretive nature, which he believed had put both himself and Wu Xie in a perilous situation.
Later, as Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, and Hua Heshang explored a deep crevice, Wang Pangzi suggested blasting it open, earning him the nickname "Cannon God" from Hua Heshang due to his previous expertise with explosives. Wu Xie, drawing on his architectural background, advised against it, explaining that the crevice was part of a natural frozen rock formation and likely contained no hidden passages.
Suddenly, Jin Shunzi appeared, stating that the hot spring had improved his condition and he had come looking for them. He confirmed this was the "Shilong Hot Spring" his father had told him about but couldn't recall specific details about the archaeological team his father was with due to his young age at the time. Wu Xie subtly warned Jin Shunzi to be careful about what he revealed.
Without warning, Jin Shunzi lunged forward and snatched the Snake-Eyed Copper Fish from Chen Pi. Zhang Qiling and Wang Pangzi quickly subdued him again. Zhang Qiling explained that the fox venom, which had been temporarily suppressed by the hot spring, had now infected Jin Shunzi's nervous system, causing his erratic behavior. Chen Pi immediately complained about Jin Shunzi becoming a burden.
Zhang Qiling calmly stated that Jin Shunzi's condition wasn't severe and that two more days in the hot spring would fully detoxify him. His precise knowledge surprised Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, and Chen Pi, with the latter warning Zhang Qiling that even his influence wouldn't protect him if such an incident recurred. Wu Xie then asked Hua Heshang about the final, undeciphered sentence on the copper fish.
Hua Heshang reiterated that the incomplete data prevented a full translation but hinted at significant revelations about the Eastern Xia survivors. An impatient Wang Pangzi dismissed such intellectual pursuits, preferring a direct approach: "open the coffin and see what's inside." Hua Heshang retorted with the importance of "knowing your enemies."
Wu Xie pondered whether the two-layered murals were meant to be relocated to a tomb or simply painted by people with too much time on their hands, a sentiment Wang Pangzi echoed. Exhausted, everyone decided to return to the Crouching Dragon Hot Spring for rest. Zhang Qiling remained behind to ensure Jin Shunzi continued his detoxification in the hot spring.
