Lost in The Kunlun Mountains Episode 15 Recap
> Lost in The Kunlun Mountains Recap
Sect Leader Zhou Qiuhai gathered his disciples, taking the opportunity of the Mid-Autumn Festival to speak from his heart. He reminded them that the Mound-digging Sect guards the word "loneliness," as most of their disciples are orphans or separated from their families, including himself. He recounted how his master saved him when he wandered in a strange city, teaching him kungfu and how to be a man, just as he now teaches them.
Many of his childhood friends from the sect had died during their dangerous journeys. Zhou Qiuhai admitted that he might have been even stricter than his own master, but this was to ensure they learned kungfu well enough to protect themselves and their comrades in their perilous line of work. He didn't want them to suffer the loss of family twice. He acknowledged that some might complain or even hate him, but he didn't care.
His only wish was for them to survive and support each other long after he was gone, having realized that living well with family is the most important thing in the world. He urged his disciples to remember everyone around them, for they are the family they must risk their lives to protect. Wu Shuang listened intently to her master's words, deeply moved and appreciating her good fortune as a Mound-digging disciple after all their recent trials.
Luo Yunsong instructed He Biao to place something in his study, expressing a desire to keep it from Chu Fengling to spare her further sadness. He Biao then reported that Luo Jiutian had met an opium dealer to conduct a business deal. Luo Yunsong inquired about the dealer's background, but He Biao explained that none of the various sects acknowledged knowing such a person, leading them to suspect it was a trap from the beginning.
He Biao further revealed that the men Luo Jiutian took to the dock were borrowed from Cui Yanzhi of Xuanwei Zitan. Luo Yunsong, puzzled, wondered why Cui Yanzhi had suddenly turned against them and allied with Commander Hu to deal with Luo Jiutian. He ordered He Biao to have contacts within the Mound-digging Sect investigate Cui Yanzhi's connections with both their sect and Commander Hu.
Cui Yanzhi met with Ding Yunqi, asking when he planned to leave Shanghai, noting that the car was ready. She observed his internal struggle and inquired if Wu Shuang would accompany him. Ding Yunqi admitted he couldn't quite explain the situation with Wu Shuang, prompting Cui Yanzhi to remark that he seemed genuinely fond of her. Ding Yunqi then explained Wu Shuang's stubborn insistence that his act of returning the dragon bone constituted a bride-price, making them engaged.
Cui Yanzhi scolded him for his apparent ignorance, asserting that indeed, giving the dragon bone was a form of bride-price, and even questioned if he intended to deny the marriage. She elaborated that while Penta-sect disciples endure hardship due to their strict rules, female Mound-digging disciples have a singular hope: to marry the Heaven Official.
Given that Ding Yunqi and Wu Shuang clearly harbored feelings for each other and he had publicly offered the dragon bone as a bride-price, it was perfectly understandable for Wu Shuang to consider them betrothed. Ding Yunqi reiterated his firm refusal to become the Heaven Official, stating his sole focus was finding his father.
Cui Yanzhi then pointed out the inescapable truth: if he didn't become the Heaven Official, he couldn't marry Wu Shuang, as Mound-digging female disciples were only permitted to marry the Heaven Official. Realizing that Ding Yunqi was not inclined to leave Shanghai anytime soon, Cui Yanzhi decided not to press the issue further. Ding Yunqi inquired if she had been present at the Commander's mansion that day, to which she affirmed.
He expressed his reluctance for her and her men to risk themselves for his sake. Cui Yanzhi reiterated her promise to Ding Yuanshan to protect his son, stating she would not break her word. While she respected his choice to stay or leave, she affirmed that if he remained in Shanghai, she would stay with him to ensure his safety.
Ding Yunqi declined her direct protection, insisting he didn't want to cause trouble for anyone, believing that those in the martial arts world must forge their own destinies. He advised her to focus on her own matters.
Before leaving, Cui Yanzhi informed Ding Yunqi that she had stationed men downstairs near the clock tower, instructing him that if he ever needed help, he simply had to go to the rooftop and stroke his hair, and her men would arrive within a minute. She urged him to be careful. Meanwhile, Commander Hu, angered by his failure to secure the dragon bone and by being outmaneuvered by the Luo siblings, sought to discredit Luo Yunsong.
He presented a large portion of the artifacts from the ancient tomb to Her Ladyship, claiming they were being submitted to the country. Simultaneously, he falsely accused Luo Jiutian of engaging in the opium trade and Luo Yunsong of concealing a Han tomb, attempting to embezzle its treasures for himself. Convinced by Commander Hu's fabricated account, Her Ladyship dispatched Captain Zhou, her guard captain, to Luo Yunsong's residence with orders to bring him in for investigation.
Upon Captain Zhou's arrival, Luo Yunsong's guards were prepared to resist. However, Chu Fengling, arriving at the scene, recognized Captain Zhou and intervened. Captain Zhou informed them he was acting under Her Ladyship's direct orders to take Director Luo Yunsong for investigation and was authorized to execute anyone who resisted on the spot. Luo Yunsong, understanding the gravity of the situation, ordered He Biao and his men to put down their weapons.
He assured Chu Fengling he would be fine and instructed He Biao to safeguard their home, before willingly accompanying Captain Zhou. Cui Yanzhi later informed Ding Yunqi that Commander Hu, unsure of Chu Fengling's exact relationship with Her Ladyship, had prudently avoided implicating her. Instead, Commander Hu had falsely claimed Luo Yunsong acted without Chu Fengling's knowledge.
While Cui Yanzhi viewed Luo Yunsong's downfall as a reduction of threats for Ding Yunqi, Ding Yunqi expressed no joy, seeing Luo Yunsong as a "man of hard life" and surmising that Zhou Qiuhai would be the truly pleased party. Luo Yunsong, speaking with Chu Fengling, confirmed he was no longer the Director.
Chu Fengling tried to offer comfort and suggested she speak to Her Ladyship, but Luo Yunsong dismissed it as futile, revealing Her Ladyship had personally informed him of his dismissal. He recounted Her Ladyship's decision regarding Luo Jiutian: despite being caught selling opium, she deemed Jiutian's death sufficient punishment and saw no need to involve others. However, regarding the Han tomb of Small Kunlun, Her Ladyship had fully believed Commander Hu's biased account, rendering Luo Yunsong's explanations useless.
Luo Yunsong, weary of such "manipulations," expressed gratitude to Chu Fengling, acknowledging that her influence had spared him from execution, resulting only in dismissal. A distraught Chu Fengling questioned how such an injustice could occur. Luo Yunsong bitterly explained that "everyone in the world is after profits" and that "nothing cannot be solved by profits," attributing Commander Hu's credibility to his treasures dug from the Small Kunlun.
Luo Yunsong then advised Chu Fengling to resign from her position as special member of the Kunlun Mountains Secret Investigation Team, stating that officialdom was not for them due to their lack of connections. He lamented that his police director position, hard-won with his own life and the lives of his brothers, had been stripped away with just some words, leaving him with nothing.
He questioned how to honor the sacrifices of his fallen brothers, his own blood and years of struggle, and how to prevent their family from collapsing. He agonized over how he could avenge their parents, his second sister, and Luo Jiutian, and how he could protect Chu Fengling herself. Witnessing her brother's profound despair, Chu Fengling refused to be disheartened.
She firmly declared that despite their second brother's death and their eldest brother's dismissal, their family would not fall apart, asserting, "I'm still here. I'll support this family." That night, Chu Fengling visited Ding Yunqi, sharing the full extent of her family's misfortunes. She noticed Wu Shuang wasn't there, and when asked if they had quarreled, Ding Yunqi declined to discuss it.
Chu Fengling mused that after her second brother's death, she'd hoped people would let go of many things, but everyone remained unhappy. Ding Yunqi candidly remarked that "happiness" felt like a luxury he hadn't known since he was eight, and questioned if she felt happy given her second brother's passing and eldest brother's dismissal.
Chu Fengling confirmed her unhappiness, expressing deep concern for Luo Yunsong, who she felt "can't hold on any longer," though Ding Yunqi noted that his recovery depended solely on his own will. She affirmed her resolve to shoulder the family's burden and support her brother, whom she'd never seen so dispirited. Chu Fengling thanked Ding Yunqi for his intervention with Her Ladyship and Commander Hu, unsure when she could repay his kindness.
Ding Yunqi dismissed her gratitude, saying they were "even" as she had once saved his life, and proposed they become friends. She warmly agreed, suggesting he call her Fengling, which he did. Chu Fengling then earnestly urged Ding Yunqi to reconsider their "cooperation." She recounted how Commander Hu had blasted open the Small Kunlun after their departure, only to find it was merely a Han-era prince's tomb, not the fabled Kunlun Mountains.
This event, however, had exposed Commander Hu's brazen ambition for the Kunlun Mountains to all. She mentioned hearing that Her Ladyship had severely reprimanded Commander Hu and even considered transferring him to Fujian, hoping he would finally "restrain himself" from further misdeeds. Chu Fengling further revealed that Commander Hu had originally intended to target Ding Yunqi and his father after securing the dragon bone, underscoring his "cruelty."
She somberly shared her most humiliating experience, waiting to be executed "like a lamb to be slaughtered," realizing her second brother must have endured similar feelings. She concluded that all this suffering stemmed from "human nature and greed" ignited by the "invisible Kunlun Mountains," which had indirectly claimed countless lives. With renewed determination, Chu Fengling declared her unwavering resolve to continue searching for the Kunlun Mountains, "for the country, for my family, for my brother, for my passed second brother."
She firmly believed it must belong to the nation to prevent more people from dying for it, and asked Ding Yunqi for his help. Ding Yunqi reiterated his sole focus on finding his father. Chu Fengling then pressed him about Wu Shuang, revealing that Wu Shuang had confessed in prison that she fought so hard to find the dragon bone because she wanted to marry him.
Chu Fengling advised Ding Yunqi to be forthright with Wu Shuang if he didn't reciprocate her feelings, to spare her further pain. After Chu Fengling departed, Ding Yunqi went to Wu Shuang's location, observing her from a distance without revealing himself before leaving. Late that night, Wu Shuang, while walking, inadvertently came upon her senior sister, Red Sanmei, and Senior Hua Xingchen together.
Red Sanmei, startled, whispered to Hua Xingchen about running away, but he quickly dismissed it, pointing out that escaping would be betraying their sect and would inevitably lead to their death if discovered by Penta-sect members. Wu Shuang confronted them, angered that Red Sanmei had kept their secret from her. Red Sanmei, distressed, apologized for the deception, explaining that revealing it would mean certain death if Master found out. She promised to tell Wu Shuang anything she wanted to know.
Red Sanmei confirmed Hua Xingchen's genuine affection for her. Wu Shuang chastised them for their carelessness, always meeting in secret, to which Red Sanmei wistfully replied, expressing envy that Wu Shuang and Ding Yunqi could "be together openly." Wu Shuang vehemently denied being with Ding Yunqi, asserting their relationship was "pure and innocent" and that she "can't explain it." Red Sanmei, though initially skeptical, stated she believed her.
Wu Shuang then declared that nothing further would happen between her and Ding Yunqi, and that after returning to Mound-digging, she would not leave again. News of Luo Yunsong's dismissal spread quickly, with a newsboy shouting headlines about the police director's connivance in opium dealing leading to his removal. Ding Yunqi bought a newspaper and, upon learning the details, went to the Luo mansion. A servant informed him that Luo Yunsong was not seeing guests.
Chu Fengling, however, appeared and, upon seeing Ding Yunqi, shared her concern that Luo Yunsong was spending his days alone in the garden, refusing to speak or eat. Ding Yunqi expressed his belief that Luo Yunsong would recover, and Chu Fengling led him to the garden where Luo Yunsong sat, drinking. Luo Yunsong, bitter, challenged if Ding Yunqi was there to "laugh at me."
Ding Yunqi denied it, stating he simply came to see him, and questioned why Luo Yunsong would consider himself a "joke," asserting that a person doesn't need external labels to live a decent life. Luo Yunsong dismissed Ding Yunqi's suggestion that their past grievances were settled, declaring that his sole remaining purpose was "revenge." Ding Yunqi urged him to "cheer up first" if he truly intended to seek vengeance, as his current state would only invite scorn from his enemies.
He emphasized that Luo Yunsong had "lots of things to do" beyond revenge. When Luo Yunsong, referencing Ding Yunqi saving his life, asked if he was now "teaching me how to do things," Ding Yunqi retorted that it was merely because Luo Yunsong had "lowered" himself. Ding Yunqi acknowledged Luo Yunsong's desire to avenge Commander Hu but warned that in his current condition, he "can't do anything to him."
He suggested that sometimes, being without power can be beneficial, allowing one to "calm down and think more" before acting. Ding Yunqi then posed a crucial question: which was more important, "revenging for a dead one and taking good care of someone around you?" Later, Ding Yunqi spoke with San Ge about his father's whereabouts, wondering if he was even in Shanghai, given his unpredictable nature and the fact that he hadn't appeared despite recent major events.
He pondered whether the martial artists' community was perpetually mired in "killing and fighting," expressing his weariness with "endless revenge and fights." He speculated that his father might have left because he "hates such a martial artist community." When asked if he also wished to leave, Ding Yunqi admitted he was unsure. He concluded by saying that the dragon bone was still with Wu Shuang, and he would retrieve it when he "figures it out."
Shortly after, Zhou Qiuhai arrived at the Luo mansion with his disciple, Wu Yu Tian, a visit Luo Yunsong immediately recognized as hostile. Zhou Qiuhai, with calculated pleasantries, mused aloud over how to address Luo Yunsong, finding both "Director Luo" (which would imply ill-informedness or humiliation) and "Mr. Luo" (which would seem snobbish or exploitative) difficult.
Luo Yunsong called him "vengeful," to which Zhou Qiuhai responded with feigned politeness, claiming he was merely "returning the favor" for Luo Yunsong's past mercy at the dock. Luo Yunsong challenged whether he was there to "visit in return or for fun," but Zhou Qiuhai denied any amusement, stating his true purpose was to "settle things." Luo Yunsong warned Zhou Qiuhai that coming with only two people was foolish and would lead to "suffering loss."
Zhou Qiuhai scoffed at the implied threat, pointing out Luo Yunsong had over a dozen hidden men, while he only brought one disciple, thus they were "not bullying" Luo Yunsong. Zhou Qiuhai then explicitly stated his intention to "clear the accounts." He first recounted how Luo Jiutian had "shot two of my disciples of Mound-digging" at the dock, and how Luo Yunsong had initially "framed our reputation of the Penta-sect" before his brother took their disciples' lives.
He demanded if Luo Yunsong "admitted it." Luo Yunsong conceded, but questioned Zhou Qiuhai's motives for waiting until he was "down" to settle scores, implying a lack of integrity. Zhou Qiuhai dismissed this, stating that "there's a priority to everything" and "we have to settle things anyway." He then declared that for "humiliating the reputation of our Penta-sect," Luo Yunsong's "dismissal" from his official position served as a fair compensation, deeming it "a good deed."
For "hurting my disciples," Zhou Qiuhai stated he had only demanded Luo Jiutian's life as payment, considering this "kind." It was then that Luo Yunsong finally understood: "Jiutian selling opium. . . was a trap set by you." Zhou Qiuhai, with a smirk, clarified that it was merely his disciple, Wu Yu Tian, who had orchestrated it, implying the matter was too insignificant for him to personally "make a fuss."
He further revealed he had initially intended to "make it bigger" but held back because he hadn't yet "figured out some interesting points of Mr. Luo," implying more scores to settle later. He casually added that they would "settle this later slowly," to which Luo Yunsong responded, "Anytime."
As Zhou Qiuhai and Wu Yu Tian departed, he advised Luo Yunsong not to make a spectacle of their exit and invited him to the "headquarters of Mound-digging" for tea if he wished to continue their discussions.
