Resumo do episódio 2 de The Mystic Nine
> Resumos de The Mystic Nine
Er Yue Hong returned to his mansion with the ring Zhang Qishan had left with him. His wife, Ya Tou, had prepared a bowl of noodles for him. Ya Tou noticed Er Yue Hong seemed troubled since his return from the opera. When asked, Er Yue Hong dismissed it as a minor incident at the opera that had already been resolved.
Ya Tou soon began to cough, prompting Er Yue Hong to express concern for her health and remind her to take her medicine. Ya Tou reassured him that her illness takes time to cure and told him not to worry. Concerned for her well-being, Er Yue Hong instructed Taohua, a servant, to escort Ya Tou back to her room to rest and ensure her medicine was prepared on time.
As night fell, Er Yue Hong opened a hidden door concealed behind a bookcase, revealing a secret room. He skillfully bypassed the numerous mechanisms protecting it, making his way to the deepest part. The room was filled with eerie objects, maps, and old photographs. From a box, Er Yue Hong took out a ring, examining it closely.
It was identical to the one Zhang Qishan had presented to him, and he mused that after everything, it was brought to light again. That night, Zhang Qishan invited Qi Tiezui to his mansion. Lieutenant Zhang informed Qi Tiezui about an incident at the opera where Zhang Qishan had confronted an insolent man, telling him to "go to see Takefu."
Qi Tiezui then recounted the story of Takefu, a Japanese martial artist who had once tried to encroach on his business, culminating in the destruction of Qi Tiezui's incense altar and his kidnapping. Zhang Qishan had intervened, single-handedly defeating Takefu's men and demanding Qi Tiezui's release, thus solidifying his reputation in Changsha. Qi Tiezui, though initially hesitant due to the late hour, speculated that Zhang Qishan's urgency stemmed from Er Yue Hong's refusal to assist.
When Zhang Qishan confirmed Er Yue Hong's warning that the matter was dangerous, Qi Tiezui urged him to drop the investigation. However, Zhang Qishan interpreted Er Yue Hong's veiled warnings as confirmation of their suspicions: the Japanese were likely conducting secret experiments, placing Changsha in grave danger.
Despite Qi Tiezui's skepticism that the situation was so dire, given the dead occupants of the train, Zhang Qishan remained resolute, convinced of a Japanese connection and determined to uncover the truth himself, even without Er Yue Hong's help. Qi Tiezui lamented their lack of clues, especially since Er Yue Hong, an expert in Northern and Southern Dynasties tombs, had refused to identify the coffin's origin.
Zhang Qishan countered, asserting that while the coffin's specific tomb remained a mystery, they could, with certainty, trace the train's starting point. He unfolded a railway map, pointing out that although all the main lines from Northeast China had been destroyed by bombs, the tracks leading from Changsha towards the Northeast remained intact. He explained that the continuous mountain ranges around Changsha often concealed smaller rail lines connected to mining sites.
Based on this, Zhang Qishan confidently concluded that the mysterious train had originated from one of these mining sites. Qi Tiezui then revealed that the mining sites had recently become volatile, teeming with Japanese spies who were clearly plotting something. Zhang Qishan swiftly connected this intelligence to his theory, reasoning that the Japanese would only operate in such a desolate area if they were conducting secret experiments.
He immediately ordered preparations for an expedition to the mining sites the following day, instructing Qi Tiezui and Lieutenant Zhang to accompany him. Qi Tiezui, known for his timidity, attempted to decline, citing family rules and his lack of combat skills, claiming he would only be a burden. However, Zhang Qishan insisted, even using one of Qi Tiezui's fortune-telling coins to "predict" that Qi Tiezui was destined to go.
Promising his safety, Zhang Qishan eventually persuaded a reluctant Qi Tiezui to join the mission. Later, a doctor reassured Er Yue Hong that Ya Tou's illness was merely a cold, urging her to keep warm. Despite this, Er Yue Hong remained deeply troubled by her condition. He knelt before his ancestral tablets, expressing his profound worry that her sickness was a retribution for his family's ancestral business, which he believed might have involved immoral activities.
He solemnly vowed to his ancestors that he would no longer participate in the family's old trade, offering to bear any karmic debt himself and imploring them to bless Ya Tou with good health. Meanwhile, Ya Tou was found lost in thought by the lake. Chen Pi, Er Yue Hong's devoted apprentice, approached her and gently draped his coat over her shoulders, urging her to keep warm.
He expressed concern for her being out so late, fearing Er Yue Hong would worry. Ya Tou inquired about his late return and the dock business, which Chen Pi assured her was fine, just busy. Ya Tou then asked if he had seen Er Yue Hong, but Chen Pi had not.
Later, some servants were seen gossiping, revealing that Chen Pi had once again been punished by Er Yue Hong, this time for neglecting his practice to catch crabs for Ya Tou, his beloved "Madam." Ya Tou found Chen Pi kneeling in the ancestral hall, where he admitted his transgression and playfully asked her to intercede on his behalf. Ya Tou, however, insisted that his punishment was deserved, but promised him a reward for his thoughtful gift.
She brought him a bowl of noodles, making him eat them while still kneeling. Though Chen Pi initially grumbled about eating noodles when there were crabs, he quickly praised Ya Tou's cooking as the best he had ever tasted, even without crab roe. Ya Tou encouraged him to dedicate more time to his training to avoid further punishment.
The scene then shifted to Chen Pi on the streets, desperately trying to sell his crabs when a man aggressively demanded them all, despite Chen Pi's pleas that they were already reserved. The man refused to release him, highlighting Chen Pi's vulnerability when he was not under Er Yue Hong's protection. Zhang Qishan, Qi Tiezui, and Lieutenant Zhang set off towards the mining sites. The journey was arduous, but they eventually reached a town nearby.
Qi Tiezui remarked on its desolate state and the absence of people. Zhang Qishan sensed that something was amiss in the deserted town, cautioning everyone to be careful as they proceeded on foot. Inside the town, they observed numerous ancient artifacts scattered about, suggesting a deeper history. Qi Tiezui wondered if this indicated something beneath the ground. Their eerie walk was interrupted when they spotted a frightened mother and her child hurriedly leaving.
Lieutenant Zhang tried to question the woman, who was too scared to speak, only revealing that a series of devastating mine disasters had forced most residents to flee, leaving the two of them as some of the last to depart. She also mentioned that the Japanese had been present before the disasters but had left afterward.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qishan immediately connected the presence of the Japanese and the unusual mine disasters to the mysterious train case, affirming Qi Tiezui’s observation that they had indeed come to the right place. Given the late hour and the town's desolation, Zhang Qishan decided they would stay overnight, despite Qi Tiezui’s apprehension. Lieutenant Zhang then spotted two lit lanterns ahead, a curious sight since most residents had fled.
Zhang Qishan reasoned that some able-bodied men might have remained due to the town's proximity to the mines. Finding no inns, they realized their only option was a nearby bunkhouse. Qi Tiezui, smelling the aromatic food cooking inside, immediately proposed entering to gather information. He argued that after their fruitless journey, this was a rare opportunity to extract clues by socializing with the occupants. However, Lieutenant Zhang warned him about the potential dangers of the diverse and unknown individuals inside, cautioning that they could be killed before uncovering anything useful.
