Archives: The Nanyang Mystery Episode 10 Recap
> Archives: The Nanyang Mystery Recaps
During the chaotic struggle in the cargo hold, Zhang Hailou fought desperately against the onslaught of assassins. He Jianxi remained in the shadows, using his keen senses to monitor the surroundings and warn Zhang Hailou of incoming threats, shouting that the attackers were trying to wear him down. However, the killers eventually noticed He Jianxi and charged at him. Zhang Haiqi suddenly intervened from the darkness, effortlessly dispatching the threat and saving He Jianxi's life.
Rather than revealing herself, she remained in the background, leaving He Jianxi safe but deeply anxious about the unfolding battle. Zhang Hailou's heart shattered when he discovered the lifeless body of Zhang Haixia. Overwhelmed by grief, his defenses slipped, and an assassin lunged from behind to ambush him. Mustering every ounce of his remaining strength, Zhang Hailou turned and eliminated the attacker before collapsing from his severe injuries. Zhang Haiqi stepped forward to finish off the final assassin.
Looking down at the unconscious young man, she realized he had not let her down and was no traitor. To protect him from further harm, she carefully fitted Steven's human-skin mask onto his face, ensuring the crew would mistake him for the wealthy foreigner. Soon after, Zhang Haiqi handed the precious jade over to Warner, refusing to explain who her pursuers were and instructing him to simply fulfill his end of their bargain.
Sensing the terrifying scale of the conflict, Warner ordered his men to clear the cargo hold, tally their losses, and take Zhang Hailou away for medical treatment. Believing him to be Steven, the crew administered the finest medicines. In the days that followed, He Jianxi stayed by Zhang Hailou's bedside, offering constant care. Though Zhang Hailou's remarkable physical constitution allowed him to recover quickly, the realization of Zhang Haixia's death left him entirely broken, refusing to eat or drink.
He Jianxi faithfully brought food to the room, trying to coax his companion back to life. He pondered why Zhang Haiqi had spared them and allowed them to stay in such luxury rather than executing them. To ease his companion's despair, He Jianxi shared his own tragic past, recounting how his former boss had committed suicide right in front of him due to the prohibition laws.
Left with nowhere else to turn, he had to flee to Jinfan to seek his brother. He gently reminded Zhang Hailou that while tragedy is sometimes unavoidable, those who survive must find the strength to go on, not just for themselves but for those they have lost. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, Zhang Hailou remembered his mentor's teachings.
In his memory, his mentor drew a snake, warning him that his true nature was like a serpent that would devour everything if left unchecked. His mentor had cautioned that learning to master this nature would carry a heavy price, but reminded him that he was fortunate to have Zhang Haixia by his side to keep him grounded.
Driven by a need for vengeance, Zhang Hailou slipped out of his room and learned the location of the captured assassins from the crew. After knocking out the guard, he entered the holding cell and confronted one of the surviving killers, demanding to know the truth behind Zhang Haixia's death. The assassin eventually recognized the description of the paralyzed young man, admitting they had to hunt him down twice before they could finally end his life.
The captive revealed that they had replaced the young girl, Zhang Haijiao, with their own agent during the initial negotiations with Zhang Ruipu. However, Zhang Haixia's brilliant mind allowed him to realize that they were not allied with Zhang Ruipu. Even after being poisoned and suffering broken legs, Zhang Haixia had managed to wound their men and escape into the third-class cabin on the Nan'an, pushing them to their absolute limits before he died.
The assassin also confirmed that the girl posing as Zhang Haijiao was actually Bai Zhu, a master of disguise and bone-shrinking. Since her body was never recovered, she had likely escaped. Before delivering the final blow, Zhang Hailou demanded to know who had ordered the hit on the Archives members.
The assassin claimed not to know the identity of the mastermind but confessed they were instructed to spread the Twilight Grass, lure the Southern Archives members onto the ship, and execute them all. Overcome with rage, Zhang Hailou beat the killer to death. He returned to his quarters covered in blood, but having finally avenged his family, he sat down to eat, bringing immense relief to He Jianxi.
Zhang Hailou explained to He Jianxi that the conspiracy was far from over. He revealed that the warlord forces who had originally excavated the shipwreck in search of the Twilight Grass were also connected to the Evil God. With the poison resurfacing and Archives agents being hunted, he vowed to uncover the truth behind the Panhua Reef Case. He Jianxi recalled hearing rumors about the reef being a haunted place.
Meanwhile, the ship's intercom announced their arrival in Xiacheng, marking Zhang Hailou's return to his homeland after more than a decade—the very place where the story of the Southern Archives had first begun. Before leaving the vessel, Zhang Hailou went to search for Miss Dong but found her quarters empty. Inside, he discovered a coffin containing Zhang Haixia's body, along with a written note from her.
Her message spoke of the harshness of the world and suggested they go their separate ways, though she left an address where he could find her if his questions remained unanswered, despite her warning that it was best they did not meet. Zhang Hailou dressed in his archive uniform, secured his brother's body onto his back, and prepared to disembark.
At the same time, Miss Dong's subordinate reported the murder of the captive assassin, asking if they should initiate a lockdown. Miss Dong declined, instructing them to simply hand the bodies over to the ship police as planned. Carrying his brother's weight on his shoulders, Zhang Hailou stepped off the ship onto the bustling pier of Xiacheng, followed by an exhausted He Jianxi. Looking out at the familiar sights of his childhood home, Zhang Hailou softly whispered to his brother that they had finally made it back.
