The Mystic Nine Episode 33 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Qi Tiezui brought Shi Huaichan to Zhang Qishan, hoping she could assist with his condition. Zhang Qishan was awake, but his mind seemed lost, leaving him delirious and unresponsive. Yin Xinyue and Qi Tiezui expressed their concerns, noting that while his heartbeat and body temperature were normal, he remained senseless. Shi Huaichan explained that Zhang Qishan was likely trapped by a heart demon, which controls one's will at their weakest moments, bringing forth their deepest fears and unbearable memories.
Qi Tiezui found this hard to believe, as Fo Ye was known for his bold and fearless nature, having built his career through daring feats. Shi Huaichan then pointed out that Er Yue Hong had recovered by confronting his own demon, but she could not identify Fo Ye’s. Later, Qi Tiezui discussed Fo Ye’s state with Er Yue Hong, who was still recovering from his own ordeal in White Qiao Village.
Er Yue Hong suggested that Fo Ye's demon might stem from "that incident" over ten years ago. Flashbacks revealed Zhang Qishan, his father, and clansmen engaged in a fierce gun battle against numerous and well-armed Japanese soldiers. His father and many others were killed. With his dying breath, Zhang Qishan’s father urged him to go to Changsha. Zhang Qishan, being young and strong, was captured by the Japanese and forced into coal mining as a laborer.
However, his cunning allowed him to orchestrate an escape with other prisoners. Japanese soldiers pursued them relentlessly, forcing Zhang Qishan and his companions to hide in an ancient tomb for three days and three nights before successfully evading their pursuers and finally reaching Changsha. There, he started from scratch, building his empire.
While this experience was undoubtedly harrowing, both Er Yue Hong and Qi Tiezui concluded it was not severe enough to be the root of Fo Ye’s current deep-seated demon. They speculated that the real demon might trace back to even earlier events—specifically, why the Zhang family migrated south from Northeast China. To unravel this mystery, they decided that Zhang Qishan needed to return to his ancestral home in Northeast China.
Shi Huaichan prepared for their journey, offering supplies and guards to escort them to the nearest train station. She acknowledged that Er Yue Hong, still weak, would remain in White Qiao Village under her care, along with Dr. Mo. She assured them that Er Yue Hong's improving condition meant he had likely let go of his obsession with his deceased wife. Qi Tiezui, Lieutenant Zhang, and the unconscious Zhang Qishan then traveled to Beiping to meet Yin Xinyue.
Upon their arrival, Yin Xinyue was distraught by Qishan’s condition. She expressed doubts about seeking help from Master Baylor, whom they had only met once. Qi Tiezui reassured her, stating that Lieutenant Zhang had already presented Master Baylor’s jade pendant, and that Master Baylor’s assistance would be invaluable in the Northeast. Yin Xinyue promised Qishan that she would find a way to resolve his demon in his hometown.
Master Baylor greeted them, acknowledging Fo Ye’s "heroic feat of lighting three lanterns for bidding" at the Xinyue Hotel, and readily offered his help, including doctors. However, Yin Xinyue explained that Fo Ye's ailment was a "heart ailment needing heart medicine," and they hoped returning to his birthplace in Northeast China might help. She mentioned Fo Ye's large Zhang family and his distinctive Qiongqi tattoo as a family mark.
Intrigued and surprised by the Qiongqi symbol, Master Baylor, after consulting with local elders, discovered some clues. He revealed that this particular Zhang family in the Northeast had always been low-profile and mysterious, marrying only within the clan and residing in a single manor surrounded by a "death line" that outsiders could not cross. He also noted that there had been no news from them in recent years, suggesting some misfortune might have befallen them.
Master Baylor provided three potential locations for the Zhang family manor and advised them to rest for the night, offering his guards as an escort the next day, while he would provide reinforcement from the city. The next morning, Qi Tiezui, finding the palanquin journey slow and too conspicuous, convinced Yin Xinyue that they should borrow horses from Master Baylor’s guards and continue on their own.
As they approached the designated area, Zhang Qishan began to react intensely, confirming they were near his ancestral home. Aware of the "death line" Master Baylor mentioned, Lieutenant Zhang suggested he take Fo Ye ahead, while Yin Xinyue and Qi Tiezui stay in a nearby village for safety. Yin Xinyue agreed.
Lieutenant Zhang then attempted to find any Zhang family contacts in a small village pharmacy using a code phrase, but the pharmacist did not respond as expected, so he simply bought some licorice. Realizing there were no available contacts, and finding the villagers strangely uncommunicative, they decided the area was unsuitable for a prolonged stay and quickly left. Soon, they realized they were being followed by Japanese spies.
Lieutenant Zhang explained that the "death line" around the Zhang Mansion would deter the Japanese, as only Zhang family members could safely cross. They sped towards the manor, where a stone tablet explicitly warned, "Outsiders will die if stepping inside." With Japanese pursuers closing in and no other escape route, Lieutenant Zhang courageously faced the enemies alone. Yin Xinyue, seeing their predicament, ordered Qi Tiezui to rush into the manor with Zhang Qishan, followed closely by Lieutenant Zhang.
Surprisingly, they entered the territory unharmed, while the Japanese soldiers who pursued them immediately triggered hidden mechanisms and were blown up. Qi Tiezui was baffled, questioning the mysterious nature of the "death line" that spared them. Lieutenant Zhang speculated that someone must have helped them, then revealed his own identity as a member of the Zhang family. An exasperated Qi Tiezui questioned why he hadn't shared this crucial information earlier, but with little time for explanation, they pressed deeper into the dilapidated ancestral mansion.
