The Mystic Nine Episode 22 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Qi Tiezui reflected on Er Yue Hong's great-uncle's ultimate sacrifice, wondering if the Japanese had uncovered something significant to provoke such a desperate act. The old miner confirmed that they had indeed dug a tomb tunnel leading to a burial chamber, which was why Er Yue Hong's great-uncle had snuck in to stop the Japanese.
He recounted how his great-uncle, in an urgent and unsupported situation, had used a gunpowder bag to blow up the Japanese supervisor and destroy the entire mine, sacrificing himself heroically. After the explosion, the Japanese, enraged by the destruction of the mine, captured all the surviving miners. The old man revealed that instead of killing them, the Japanese had blinded the miners, turning them into human outposts to listen for any sounds from within the mine.
Zhang Qishan expressed his regret for having mistreated the old man earlier, who gracefully accepted the apology, acknowledging his own unsettling appearances. When Qi Tiezui asked how the old man survived, he explained that he had hidden deeper in the mine until the Japanese left, then stayed there to avoid bringing trouble to his family. Zhang Qishan promised to safely guide him out.
Meanwhile, Lu Jianxun and Chen Pi met with Huo Sanniang to discuss their plan to overthrow Zhang Qishan. Lu Jianxun introduced Hendry, describing him as someone with a mysterious background whose assistance would ensure success. Hendry, intrigued, asked Huo Sanniang how Zhang Qishan, originally an outsider, managed to become the head of the Mystic Nine Families.
Huo Sanniang recounted the tale: years ago, Zhang Qishan's friends, hearing of his ability to "move mountains and reclaim land," challenged him to demonstrate it. Zhang Qishan pointed to a large Buddha statue on a distant mountain and claimed he could bring it home. The next morning, he invited his friends to his mansion, where the same massive Buddha stood in his courtyard.
This miraculous feat, attributed to Zhang Qishan's "mysterious transportation technique," spread like wildfire across Changsha overnight, earning him immense fame and the respectful title of Zhang Fo Ye. Hendry found Zhang Qishan even more fascinating after hearing this story. As Zhang Qishan's group prepared to venture deeper into the mine, the old man offered them protective talismans, which he had seen the Japanese use to navigate the tomb.
Qi Tiezui was skeptical, warning that these were mere tricks and the poisonous hair could still be lethal. Following the old man, they entered a path thickly covered with hair-like fungus. Despite precautions, the group was startled by the dangerous environment. Qi Tiezui accidentally made contact with some hair-like fungus and was terrified, but Er Yue Hong, who was skilled at resolving such situations, saved him.
However, the old man was not so lucky; he became entangled in the hair-like fungus. Er Yue Hong tried desperately to save him, but Zhang Qishan urged him to let go, explaining that continued efforts would only prolong his suffering. The old man, in his final moments, requested that his orifices be sealed with dirt after his death to prevent him from becoming a monster.
Zhang Qishan solemnly promised to fulfill his wish and to ensure his family would be taken care of once they returned to Changsha. After the old man passed away, Zhang Qishan performed a short ritual and reiterated his vow. Lieutenant Zhang worried about how they would proceed without their guide. Zhang Qishan, consulting a map, pointed out their next path and urged everyone to prepare.
Er Yue Hong was deeply affected by the old man's death and expressed his sorrow over the constant loss of those he cherished, feeling powerless to stop it. Zhang Qishan tried to comfort him, explaining that the hair-like growths were a virus accumulated over years, likely linked to secret Japanese experiments, and that the old man's encounter with them was perhaps a final comfort from fate. Meanwhile, Lu Jianxun, Chen Pi, and Huo Sanniang discussed their next move.
Chen Pi declared his intention to kill Zhang Qishan if he survived the mine. Hendry, inspired by Zhang Qishan's rise to power, proposed using Zhang Qishan's own tactics of manipulating public opinion against him. He suggested finding a trusted soldier from Zhang Qishan's personal guard to leak details of his dangerous tomb expedition. This, Hendry believed, would create a public sensation in Changsha and tarnish Zhang Qishan's reputation.
Huo Sanniang then proposed a "honey-trap" to extract information, a suggestion Hendry met with a knowing remark, selecting a particular soldier, a frequent guest at a brothel, as Zhang Qishan's "fatal talisman." Back in the mine, Zhang Qishan's group reached a colossal, ancient gate. Lieutenant Zhang noted the scattered corpses nearby, similar to those found on the train. Qi Tiezui observed that the gate, about five zhang (approximately 16.
65 meters) high, was likely the entrance to the ancient tomb, but its construction date remained a mystery that even Er Yue Hong's great-uncle could not solve. A chilling inscription on the gate read, "All hope must be abandoned, ye who enter here!" Despite this ominous warning, Zhang Qishan was resolute, convinced that immense secrets lay beyond, secrets that had captivated the Japanese. Qi Tiezui cautioned that the gate marked only the beginning of their perils.
Upon passing through the gate, they found themselves in a familiar ancient tomb environment, a welcome change from the treacherous mine shafts. However, Zhang Qishan reminded them not to lower their guard, suspecting greater dangers ahead, especially remembering his great-uncle's notes about being trapped for twenty-seven days after passing the arched gate. As they encountered multiple diverging paths, Zhang Qishan decided they would split into three teams.
He, Er Yue Hong, and Qi Tiezui would each take a path, secured by steel wire from a large spool held by Lieutenant Zhang, ensuring they could be retrieved if needed. Qi Tiezui bantered with Zhang Qishan about the steel wire's hidden purpose and his own loyalty, before they each went their separate ways.
Unbeknownst to them, outside the mine, Lu Jianxun and Chen Pi visited Qi Tiezui's fortune-telling stall in an old teahouse, which served as his sole base of operations, unlike the sprawling businesses of other Nine Families. Hendry found Qi Tiezui's unusual business model "quite interesting," noting his reputation for dealing in "priceless treasures."
