The Mystic Nine Episode 12 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Yin Xinyue, dressed in men's attire, encountered the actual Peng Sanbian who had forced his way into Xinyue Hotel. Her servant reported the presence of two Peng Sanbians, noting that the man outside seemed more reasonable and was willing to confront the one inside, who had been acting strangely. Yin Xinyue decided to handle the matter herself, instructing her servants to take the real Peng Sanbian to a side hall and ensure no one else was alarmed, especially her father.
Inside the side hall, the real Peng Sanbian loudly insisted that he was the genuine article, claiming his invitation had been stolen on the train by two thieves, one of whom was the famous opera singer Er Yuehong. He suspected they harbored ill intentions at the hotel. Yin Xinyue, still in her male disguise, introduced herself as Mr. Yin's nephew, managing affairs on his behalf. She questioned Peng Sanbian for proof of identity, knowing his invitation was reportedly stolen.
Peng Sanbian angrily demonstrated his whip skills, declaring the whip itself his proof. Unimpressed, Yin Xinyue warned him about damaging hotel property and again instructed her servants to keep him contained without alarming the housekeeper. Meanwhile, in the auction hall, Zhang Qishan and Qi Tiezui observed the other bidders from their private box on the second floor. Competitors included Master Baylor, the head of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and Jude Kao, who was hidden behind a screen.
The first round of auction featured common items, which were all bid on by people in the general seating area, while those in the private boxes remained silent. Jude Kao was present to observe Zhang Qishan's actions. Qi Tiezui expressed his dismay at the amount of money being spent on what he perceived as ordinary items, but Zhang Qishan reminded him that the second round was the main event.
Qi Tiezui also mentioned Er Ye's absence, noting he would be heartbroken to see the money spent, caring only for his wife's well-being. Zhang Qishan reassured him that once they secured the Deer-Reviving Grass, Er Ye's wife would be cured. The host then announced the second round, which would feature three unique and valuable medicinal ingredients: dragon's blood palm, Deer-Reviving Grass, and blue snake bile.
A special condition was added: these items were part of Yin Xinyue's marriage arrangements with Peng Sanbian, and if Peng Sanbian secured one, it would be considered the first betrothal gift. Qi Tiezui, surprised, joked that they would get a wife as well as the medicine. Zhang Qishan realized this explained Yin Xinyue's earlier peculiar behavior. Qi Tiezui, reflecting on a poem from the invitation, understood the underlying romantic implication of the "new moon" and its connection to the marriage.
The host then announced that this round would employ "blind bidding," where bidders wouldn't know which item was in which embroidered box. Qi Tiezui protested the unfairness, but Zhang Qishan, recognizing the critical importance of obtaining the Deer-Reviving Grass for Er Ye's wife, declared they couldn't let any of the three boxes go.
Qi Tiezui elaborated on the legendary properties of each medicine: blue snake bile as a rare cure, dragon's blood palm as an immunity-boosting and evil-dispelling herb, and Deer-Reviving Grass, capable of resurrection and prolonging life. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce was the first to "light the sky lantern," a bidding practice signifying a complete purchase of an item in the round at any price. Qi Tiezui explained this high-stakes maneuver.
Zhang Qishan decided to retaliate by also lighting his sky lantern, committing to outbidding the Japanese for all three boxes. He managed to secure the first two items. Qi Tiezui was thrilled but worried about the immense cost, but Zhang Qishan emphasized the life-or-death situation. During the bidding for the third item, the hotel staff informed Zhang Qishan that his guaranteed funds had reached their limit, and he would lose bidding eligibility if he couldn't increase the amount.
Zhang Qishan instructed Qi Tiezui to contact Jiu Ye in Changsha for more funds, specifically asking him to find a bank willing to act as a guarantor. The auction was then paused for thirty minutes. Kinoshita, from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, approached Zhang Qishan during the break, advising him to withdraw from the bidding to preserve his remaining assets, implying that Zhang Qishan, as a Chinese, lacked the resolve to continue.
Zhang Qishan countered by citing Chinese proverbs about reciprocity and national pride, asserting that Kinoshita did not understand Chinese culture, earning applause from the Chinese onlookers. Jiu Ye, after receiving Qi Tiezui's urgent call, grumbled about Zhang Qishan's reckless heroics but immediately wired a telegram to Kinoshita of the Japanese Commerce Inspection Board, initiating a freeze on the Japanese Chamber of Commerce's funds due to high investment risk.
Additionally, Master Baylor's attendant brought a large box of money to Zhang Qishan, stating that Master Baylor admired his resolve and saw the money as mere possessions, encouraging him to use it freely. Qi Tiezui, in a show of loyalty, also offered all his personal savings to Zhang Qishan. When the auction resumed, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce representative reported that their headquarters had frozen their funds. Kinoshita, suspecting foul play, attributed it to Chinese interference.
With the Japanese out of the race, Zhang Qishan successfully bid for and won the final item, securing all three medicinal ingredients. Qi Tiezui expressed a mix of relief and awe at having acquired all three rare items, pondering the value of such a "deal." As Zhang Qishan prepared to leave with the items, a hotel attendant informed him that, according to hotel rules, purchased items could only be delivered upon checkout.
Zhang Qishan accepted this, realizing it was part of the unfolding drama and that attempting to leave would be futile. Suddenly, the real Peng Sanbian, having escaped from the side hall, burst into the auction, loudly accusing Zhang Qishan of being an imposter. The audience was confused, and the hotel staff were flustered.
Yin Xinyue, still disguised as the "young master," quickly sent a message to Er Ye, assuring him that the medicine would be brought and urging him to leave with his wife for the train station. Zhang Qishan, maintaining his facade, boldly countered the real Peng Sanbian's accusations, claiming he was the real one who entered with an invitation, while the other had "barged in" and was trying to "cry thief."
The auctioneer intervened, after a subtle cue from Yin Xinyue, stating that if "Peng Sanbian's" identity was fake, the entire auction would be voided, and the items, along with the bid money, would be forfeited. Kinoshita immediately seized the opportunity, suggesting the items should go to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce if the identities couldn't be clarified. The real Peng Sanbian insisted that the three medicines were his and challenged Yin Xinyue to devise a method for identity verification.
Yin Xinyue, feigning ignorance, stated she had never met him before. The real Peng Sanbian then proposed speaking his native "Northwest" dialect as proof. He recited a short nursery rhyme. Zhang Qishan promptly refuted him, asserting that while his family resided in Yinchuan, his ancestral home was Northeast China, and he spoke Northeastern Mandarin, not Yinchuan dialect. Enraged, the real Peng Sanbian challenged Zhang Qishan to a whip duel.
Qi Tiezui, alarmed at the prospect of a real fight, tried to interject, pointing out the danger to the prestigious guests and the hotel's valuable property. He secretly whispered to Zhang Qishan that his clever verbal tricks would be useless in a genuine whip confrontation. Yin Xinyue stepped in and proposed a blindfolded whip duel in an empty, darkened space to prevent damage and injury.
She also, with a smile, reminded the real Peng Sanbian that he would need to pay for the chair he had broken earlier. The real Peng Sanbian agreed to the terms, and the hotel staff began preparing the space for the duel.
