Lost in The Kunlun Mountains Episode 17 Recap
> Lost in The Kunlun Mountains Recap
Ding Yunqi borrowed Wu Shuang's Jingang Rope to retrieve the Dragon Sceptre, which had exploded upon contact with fire during Ding Yuanshan's water burial. Kneeling to bid farewell to his father, Ding Yunqi accepted the position of Heaven Official and vowed to dissolve the Penta-sect, proclaiming that from then on, there would be no Penta-sect in the world. Meanwhile, Zhou Qiu Hai was concerned that Ding Yunqi had not returned to the bell tower.
His Qian Li Huo men reported that Ding Yunqi hadn't been seen since he left. A subordinate investigated and discovered that the rickshaw men from Shuntong Vehicle Shop, who frequently waited near the bell tower and had picked up Ding Yunqi, had also disappeared. Zhou Qiu Hai also learned that a mover signal flare had been fired, but no one knew who set it off, only that Gold Touching signal flares were seen.
He suspected that the movers were already in Shanghai and had contacted Ding Yunqi. He believed the rickshaw that picked Ding Yunqi up was likely from the movers. Zhou Qiu Hai wondered if Wu Shuang knew the identity of the movers, concluding it depended on how much Ding Yunqi had told her. After the funeral, Cui Yanzhi, a Mountain mover from Mingyi Palace, approached Sun Sanxuan.
She apologized for concealing her identity and explained that Mountain movers only followed the Heaven Official's orders and typically hid their presence. Sun Sanxuan, recognizing the necessity, forgave her and suggested they address each other as siblings to avoid suspicion. Cui Yanzhi confirmed that Wu Shuang was unaware of her true identity, as she had deliberately stood behind Wu Shuang during the farewell to Ding Yuanshan so Wu Shuang wouldn't see her formal salute.
Later, Luo Yunsong and He Biao arrived at Cui Yanzhi's residence, having been summoned by Ding Yunqi. Before the meeting, Ding Yunqi spoke with Zhu Lao Jiu about the Dragon Sceptre's explosion. Zhu Lao Jiu explained that its full name was Lihuo Dragon Sceptre, named after the 30th hexagram of the 64 hexagrams of Zhouyi, where two fires are in sync. Thus, it must never be near fire.
He recalled the Nanming Lihuo Sword created by Bodhidharma, which produced a "Baizhanghong" (hundred-zhang rainbow) capable of destroying powerful demons. Zhu Lao Jiu deduced that the burst of light from the Dragon Sceptre was likely this Baizhanghong, though its exact function remained unknown. When Luo Yunsong and He Biao entered, they noted the presence of many of Cui Yanzhi's men, both visible and hidden.
Ding Yunqi informed Luo Yunsong that he was too late; his father, Ding Yuanshan, had passed away and was given a water burial according to Penta-sect tradition, leaving no tomb. Ding Yunqi explained that he had called Luo Yunsong so his father could tell him directly that he was not responsible for Luo Yunsong's family's misfortunes. Luo Yunsong furiously dismissed this, accusing Ding Yunqi of lying and claiming there was no evidence due to the water burial.
As He Biao reached for his weapon, Cui Yanzhi's men drew their guns, pointing them at Luo Yunsong and He Biao. Cui Yanzhi warned them against any rash actions, stating that no one would leave if they pulled a weapon. Luo Yunsong then confronted Cui Yanzhi, accusing her of complicity in Luo Jiutian's death.
Cui Yanzhi retorted that Luo Jiutian had begged her for help, and she had lent him men, suffering losses herself when several of her brothers died in the opium business incident. She pointed out that Commander Hu was responsible for Luo Jiutian's death and accused Luo Yunsong of being unfair by blaming her. Luo Yunsong, however, declared that his feud with the Penta-sect was far from over.
Despite the mounting tension, Ding Yunqi signaled Cui Yanzhi to let them go, asking for two days to provide an explanation to everyone. Meanwhile, Chu Fengling had secured new appointments from Her Ladyship. She excitedly showed Luo Yunsong a Certificate of Appointment, stating that she was appointed as the Special Commissioner of the Kunlun Mountains team, and Luo Yunsong as the Deputy Special Commissioner.
Their Black Feather Team was also reorganized into an action team, equipped with advanced weapons and special funds from the Department of Internal Affairs. Luo Yunsong was surprised and agreed to join, acknowledging that he needed support and that this was a step forward, even if Her Ladyship was playing a waiting game. He expressed his pride in Chu Fengling for helping them make a comeback.
Chu Fengling, emboldened, planned to recruit Ding Yunqi immediately, but Luo Yunsong stopped her, revealing that Ding Yuanshan had just passed away. He advised her to wait until the next day, as Ding Yunqi was not in the mood to see anyone. Back at his old house, Ding Yunqi found himself haunted by childhood memories. Standing before a sandbag, he recalled his father's martial arts lessons. He re-enacted the moves, injuring his hand in the process.
Wu Shuang found him and offered to clean up the courtyard if he wanted to move back. Ding Yunqi confessed that he didn't consider it home. He recounted how, at eight, his mother left, and despite his father taking him to Shanghai and calling it home, he hated it. He hated his father for not protecting his mother and their home, believing that a place without his mother wasn't a home.
He repeatedly ran away, only to be brought back by his father. He found joy only when Wu Shuang visited; otherwise, the days were dark. When he moved to England, he felt free and happy, no longer having to face his father or that house. As he grew older, however, he began to think of his father and realized the wisdom in his teachings, regretting that he hadn't listened more.
He understood that his father, as Heaven Official, had no choice but to adhere to the Penta-sect's rules. Ding Yunqi confessed that he had wronged his father, blaming and hating him for years. He returned from England hoping to care for his father, but now, with his father gone, his "home" was truly lost. He declared he no longer wanted a home, as it brought only pain and regret.
Wu Shuang, who had never had a home, disagreed, finding losing hope crueler than losing something. Ding Yunqi apologized, clarifying that he meant having a home or not was the same in terms of pain. Changing the subject, Wu Shuang remarked on the Dragon Sceptre's beautiful spark when it exploded, suspecting it hid a secret. Ding Yunqi recalled Zhu Lao Jiu's words about the Lihuo Dragon Sceptre and its properties.
He deduced that if the dragon's head corresponded to fire (Lihuo), the sceptre's tail, linked to the saying "clouds follow dragons," must correspond to water vapor (Kanshui). He applied steam to the sceptre, causing it to open and reveal a Luban lock. Using a method his father had taught him, Ding Yunqi opened the lock, revealing the Book of Su, which detailed the secrets of the Kunlun Mountains. The ancient script, after he had memorized it, turned to dust.
Ding Yunqi understood that the treasure of the Kunlun Mountains was not for the Penta-sect but for the people, amassed from corrupt rulers and meant to aid the poor—a vision shared by his father. He learned that to open the Kunlun Mountains, he would need to decipher the address from the Dizi Ban book and gather the five Soul Pursuit Orders from the Penta-sect.
Recognizing this as his destiny and the Ding family's fate, Ding Yunqi resolved to find and open the Kunlun Mountains, return its wealth to the world, and fulfill his father's dying wish, regardless of the difficulty. The next day, Chu Fengling, still thinking of Ding Yunqi, asked He Biao where he might be. He Biao speculated Ding Yunqi would be somewhere no one could find him, as he wouldn't want to see anyone at such a time.
Chu Fengling, observing the street vendors near the bell tower, wondered how He Biao could identify the various spies. He Biao explained that their own agents were invisible, and pointed out Mound-digging Sect agents at a wonton stall, a fruit stall, and a cigarette vendor. He noted that agents from Commander Hu's forces were also present, but their identities were fluid and harder to determine. Chu Fengling realized that Gold Touching Sect agents must also be watching.
Despite the heavy surveillance, Ding Yunqi had managed to disappear without a trace. Chu Fengling remarked that she wanted to change her way of life, then invited He Biao to eat wontons with her.
