Archives: The Nanyang Mystery Episode 4 Recap
> Archives: The Nanyang Mystery Recaps
Deep in the rainforest, an archaeological expedition team led by Professor Warner had been excavating for months in search of ancient treasures. Suddenly, a mysterious, disguised woman carrying severed arms breached their camp. Recognizing a dark black magic curse, she sought out Warner to make a deal. The woman was actually Zhang Haiqi in disguise.
Facing a lethal threat from assassins who used stolen faces to get close to her, she targeted the foreigners because Western features were much harder for her enemies to imitate. She offered Warner a valuable treasure map in exchange for a safe escort back to Xiacheng under the identity of Miss Dong, the ship owner's daughter. Meanwhile, Zhang Ruipu cornered Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia. He threatened to systematically crush the paralyzed Zhang Haixia's spine unless Zhang Hailou cooperated.
To save his brother, Zhang Hailou quickly yielded. Zhang Ruipu revealed that the Twilight Grass poisonings across Balai's villages were a conspiracy orchestrated by warlords who possessed the last remaining seeds from three years ago. By mapping the outbreak locations, Zhang Ruipu discovered that the timeline aligned perfectly with the shipping route of the Nan'an. Because his clan had sworn never to return to Xiacheng, Zhang Ruipu demanded that Zhang Hailou board the Nan'an to investigate.
In exchange, Zhang Ruipu promised to care for Zhang Haixia. Zhang Hailou accepted the ticket and funds but demanded luxury care for his brother, listing off extravagant meals and therapies. Recognizing his cheeky demeanor, Zhang Ruipu asked if Zhang Hailou was raised by Zhang Haiqi, though he remained cryptic about his own connection to her. Before boarding, Zhang Hailou was warned that any attempt to slip away or fail the mission within six months would result in his brother's execution.
Meanwhile, back at their quarters, Zhang Haixia noticed a strange scent on little Zhang Haijiao, who was wearing a small yellow flower on her head. Despite his attempts to send her away to safety, she insisted on staying. Soon after, Zhang Ruipu relocated Zhang Haixia to his own residence.
Zhang Hailou boarded the massive Nan'an, where a crew member assigned by Zhang Ruipu detailed the ship’s layout, noting that its first- and second-class areas were interconnected while the third-class remained isolated. Oddly, no one on board had shown signs of poisoning. Zhang Hailou spotted heavily armed mercenaries disguised in plain clothes and noticed Miss Dong boarding with her foreign allies. Sensing he was being watched, Zhang Hailou decided to secure Miss Dong's authority to aid his search.
Cornering Miss Dong at her table, Zhang Hailou fabricated a story about overhearing a heist plot in a local tavern. Claiming to be a patrolman on an urgent mission, he requested full access to the ship's decks. Though Miss Dong easily saw through his ruse, she granted him the privilege but set a strict forty-eight-hour deadline. If he failed to find the culprits before departure, she promised to have him imprisoned in Xiacheng or shot on sight.
To assist him, she assigned her personal physician, Steven, who boasted of being Nanyang's quick draw. Zhang Hailou countered by claiming to be the region's quick blade. Unbeknownst to Zhang Hailou, Professor Warner instructed Steven not to let anyone—even Miss Dong—delay their departure. Warner made it clear that their true objective lay elsewhere, and ordered Steven to eliminate Zhang Hailou if he became an obstacle. On land, Zhang Ruipu was transporting Zhang Haixia when disaster struck.
The girl beside them was actually a disguised killer who had replaced Zhang Haijiao. The killer struck and killed Zhang Ruipu with a dart poisoned with Twilight Grass. When Zhang Haixia confronted her about the real Zhang Haijiao, she coldly revealed that the child was already dead. Using his modified wheelchair, the paralyzed Zhang Haixia narrowly evaded the assassin. He fled to a bridge overlooking the canal.
Timing his escape by counting the rhythm of a passing vessel below, he threw himself over the edge and landed on the boat, though his paralyzed legs made his escape highly difficult.
