The Mystic Nine Episode 26 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Xin Yue brought her cousin, Mo Ce, who had studied Western medicine, to treat Zhang Qishan’s injuries. Later, Mo Ce accompanied Qi Tiezui to Er Yue Hong’s mansion to treat his wounds. They found Er Yue Hong lying unconscious in a rocking chair, and Qi Tiezui expressed great alarm. Fortunately, Dr. Mo arrived in time and administered antipyretic medicine, saving him from a critical state.
As Er Yue Hong slowly regained consciousness, he confused Dr. Mo for Ya Tou, which made Dr. Mo quite uncomfortable. Er Yue Hong then apologized and thanked Dr. Mo, who went to prepare some wet towels, leaving Qi Tiezui to look after him. Qi Tiezui then inquired about the events in the tomb. Er Yue Hong, though still weak, confirmed the extreme dangers underground, stating it was "far more than dangerous."
He then revealed the existence of a secret room behind a wall in his mansion and permitted Qi Tiezui to enter and study its contents. However, he instructed Qi Tiezui to burn the model after he was finished to prevent the secret from leaking. Inside, Qi Tiezui discovered a model that depicted the tomb's topography, which was much larger than they had imagined, with their previous exploration only scratching the surface.
After his study, Qi Tiezui followed Er Yue Hong's instructions and burned the model, ensuring the secret of the ancient tomb disappeared from the world. Meanwhile, Chen Pi, having bribed the women of a brothel, sent a soldier from Zhang Qishan's unit, who had been part of the tomb expedition, to the establishment for leisure.
The women deliberately questioned the soldier about his recent whereabouts, and after a few drinks, the soldier, fueled by vanity, boasted about accompanying Fo Ye on an expedition to find treasures in a tomb under the old mine mountain. He dramatically described the dangers, claiming that even Zhang Fo Ye and Er Yue Hong barely escaped with their lives.
Soon, the news of Zhang Qishan's tomb expedition spread throughout Changsha, with people saying he intended to keep the treasures for himself. Chen Pi’s plan to spread rumors against Zhang Qishan was a success, leading Hendry to later comment that Zhang Qishan's public image was being undermined. Hendry and Chen Pi led a team to the mine mountain, intending to search for treasures.
Chen Pi surveyed the area and reported to Hendry that the mine tunnels had been bombed and were inaccessible, having been completely blocked by rocks. Chen Pi claimed to have searched the entire mountain without finding any other entrances. However, Hendry remained unconvinced, firmly believing that there must be other entrances due to the mountain's size and history of mining.
He accused Chen Pi’s men of being negligent and instructed Chen Pi to continue searching, telling him to make his men exert more effort. Chen Pi reluctantly suggested that the only way forward would be to clear the bombed tunnel. Huo Sanniang confronted Zhang Qishan, implicitly criticizing him for intruding upon the mine mountain, which was Huo family territory for over 300 years.
She accused him of disrespecting the rules of the Mystic Nine and demanded he hand over all information about the ancient tomb, subtly threatening that rule-breakers would face collective punishment. Zhang Qishan dismissed her claims as baseless rumors, stating he was too preoccupied with governing Changsha to engage in such activities, and warned her against believing city gossip that could harm the harmony of the Nine Families. When Huo Sanniang continued to press, he became enraged by her disrespectful attitude.
He drew his pistol, threatening to kill her if she didn't "shut up." Intimidated, Huo Sanniang fell silent and left, but not before vowing to make him pay a hundredfold for the humiliation he had inflicted upon her. Since the tomb expedition, Zhang Qishan had been experiencing mental disorientation. He confided in Qi Tiezui that he often saw shadows and had violent impulses, such as the one he experienced during Huo Sanniang’s visit.
He also felt a strange pressure on his body, a feeling that began only after returning from the mine. Qi Tiezui, concerned, offered Zhang Qishan a family heirloom: a bronze mirror said to ward off evil spirits and reveal the true forms of malevolent entities. While Qi Tiezui briefly left to get water, Zhang Qishan gazed into the mirror. He immediately saw a vision of his father, then a flashback to a past gun battle where his father tragically died.
He saw himself burying his father and other clan members, noticing their bodies were face down, just like the corpses found on the military train the previous year. He then felt himself attacked and pressed down by an unseen force. When Qi Tiezui returned, Zhang Qishan, still shaken, described the vision and his lingering sensation of being pressed. He speculated that the force might be a person rather than an inanimate object.
Qi Tiezui, observing Zhang Qishan's deteriorating state, grew worried and advised him to rest, promising to find a solution soon, and urged him to keep this information private. Failing to incriminate Zhang Qishan directly, Lu Jianxun decided to target Er Yue Hong while he was vulnerable from his injuries.
He discussed his plan with Chen Pi, who, despite his loyalty to his master, was ordered by Lu Jianxun to focus on clearing the mine entrance while Lu Jianxun's men apprehended Er Yue Hong. Chen Pi, although skeptical of Lu Jianxun's men, was unable to stop the arrest. Lu Jianxun’s troops then stormed Er Yue Hong’s mansion, dragging the ailing man from his bed. Er Yue Hong defiantly refused to cooperate, challenging them to shoot him.
Chen Pi, fulfilling his promise to his deceased master's wife, intervened when Lu Jianxun almost shot Er Yue Hong, warning Lu Jianxun not to harm his master. Er Yue Hong was then taken away. Upon learning of Er Yue Hong’s arrest, Zhang Qishan immediately confronted Lu Jianxun, demanding his release.
Lu Jianxun tried to justify his actions by citing a drunken soldier's testimony in a brothel, which had led to widespread rumors of Zhang Qishan and Er Yue Hong monopolizing treasures from the tomb. Zhang Qishan sharply rebuked Lu Jianxun for crediting such unreliable hearsay and for undermining his role as an intelligence officer.
He asserted his authority as both the Defense Commander of Changsha and the head of the Mystic Nine Families, warning Lu Jianxun that he would not stand idly by if any harm came to Er Yue Hong. Despite Zhang Qishan’s stern warning, Lu Jianxun remained unconcerned, believing that targeting Er Yue Hong would unsettle Zhang Qishan.
Lu Jianxun then proceeded to search Er Yue Hong's mansion, but found no valuable antiques, learning from his subordinates that Er Yue Hong had pawned everything to save his wife, which prompted Lu Jianxun to remark on Er Yue Hong’s deep devotion.
