The Mystic Nine Episode 34 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Qi Tiezui, Lieutenant Zhang, and Yin Xinyue led Zhang Qishan into the Zhang family’s ancestral mansion. The mansion was desolate and in disarray. They found a front hall where Yin Xinyue and Zhang Qishan could rest, while Lieutenant Zhang and Qi Tiezui explored. Qi Tiezui noted the heavy negative energy and chilling wind, sensing great danger in the place. Zhang Qishan's reaction to the mansion grew stronger, and Yin Xinyue worried about him.
Despite the ominous atmosphere, Yin Xinyue insisted they continue searching for a way to help Zhang Qishan, while Qi Tiezui and Lieutenant Zhang went ahead to explore the many rooms, each filled with strange and exotic items. Qi Tiezui discovered a painting containing the alignment of a dragon vein, a sight he quickly averted his eyes from, fearing divine retribution for prying into heavenly secrets.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Zhang found a room filled with poisonous threads that could cause anyone who touched them to rot and die. Qi Tiezui was astonished by the dangers, but also joked about his narrow escape. Despite the incredible sights, they found nothing useful for Zhang Qishan's condition within the mansion. They then proceeded to an ancient building located behind the ancestral mansion, bringing Zhang Qishan and Yin Xinyue with them.
Inside, the building was vast and lined with coffins arranged neatly from top to bottom. Zhang Qishan's reactions intensified, leading them to believe they were in the right place. Amidst their search, Yin Xinyue encountered an illusion, a test from the Zhang family, where she almost sacrificed herself by entering a coffin, believing it was a "life for a life" situation to save Zhang Qishan.
Qi Tiezui and Lieutenant Zhang frantically tried to stop her, but it turned out to be an illusion. Miraculously, Zhang Qishan's consciousness returned, and he immediately urged everyone to leave the treacherous place. Outside, Yin Xinyue, relieved, was scolded by Qi Tiezui for nearly giving them a heart attack with her "now alive, now dead" state. Zhang Qishan, now lucid, reassured her that he would not fall ill again.
As they departed the ancestral mansion, Zhang Qishan revealed that while he was a member of the Zhang family, he did not fully understand its origins and history. He explained that a thousand-year history of the ancestral building of the Zhang family was hidden beneath the Changsha mine.
This ancient site, which once served as a gathering place for his family and housed what they were sworn to protect, was the true reason for his father's insistence on their relocation to Changsha. He speculated that the mine's bronze artifacts, like the piece Er Yue Hong retrieved earlier, shared origins with those in the ancestral building, proving the connection.
Qi Tiezui realized that the bronze pattern he had seen in the mansion was indeed similar to what he had encountered in the mine. Zhang Qishan further elaborated that due to the Zhang family's history of migration, there were likely multiple such ancestral buildings, deeply hidden. He stated that the one in Changsha only came to light during the Qing Dynasty's mining boom when a coffin was unearthed, and its existence was confirmed by Er Yue Hong's bronze piece.
He then dismissed concerns about immediate Japanese intervention, believing the current unstable political climate and the chaos within the Nine Families would deter them from reckless action. He also suggested that the Japanese had likely discovered the "death line" outside the ancestral mansion, which, capable of identifying Zhang family members, prevented them from entering. With Zhang Qishan recovered and the immediate danger behind them, the group decided to return to Changsha.
Zhang Qishan noted that while he felt much better, Er Yue Hong was still recovering in White Qiao Village. Upon their secret return, they visited Jiu Ye, who informed them that Chen Pi had become a prominent figure within the Nine Families, having taken over most of Er Yue Hong's territories with the support of Lu Jianxun and Huo Sanniang. These three were colluding, all eyeing the treasures within the mine.
Zhang Qishan, confident that their alliance, built on self-interest, was fragile, began to devise a strategy to destabilize them. Jiu Ye then reminded Zhang Qishan that his earlier strategy of funding the army for a military post and expanding his influence was still applicable for regaining his status within the Nine Families. Meanwhile, the situation at the mine was dire. None of the workers sent by Huo Sanniang and Lu Jianxun had returned alive.
Even Chen Pi's offer of ten times the usual pay couldn't convince anyone to descend, as rumors of man-eating monsters circulated. Hendry then visited Chen Pi, hinting at something in the mine that could bring people back from the dead. This immediately piqued Chen Pi's interest, as he desperately wished to resurrect Ya Tou, his beloved Madam. Lieutenant Zhang, who had been listening in, reported Hendry's claim to Zhang Qishan.
Zhang Qishan found the idea of resurrection ridiculous, deeming it a cynical lie to lure Chen Pi into the mine. However, he acknowledged that Hendry's confident tone had indeed swayed Chen Pi, making it imperative to prevent Chen Pi from entering. He decided to send for Er Yue Hong to return to Changsha immediately, indicating they would need to re-enter the mine.
As part of his plan, Zhang Qishan orchestrated a series of complaints against Lu Jianxun from his old subordinates, accusing him of neglecting military affairs, unjust rewards, colluding with local forces, and bribery. This led to Lu Jianxun's superior suspending his command over the army, severely weakening his power. Lu Jianxun was furious, realizing Zhang Qishan's move and acknowledging his loss of military authority.
However, Zhang Qishan predicted that Lu Jianxun would not give up on the mine and would seek a new, powerful partner. Zhang Qishan then established a new organization called "Huixin Mansion" in Changsha. For its grand opening, invitations were sent to all prominent families in the city. However, when representatives from Chen Pi's household and the Huo family arrived, they were deliberately turned away at the door.
Huo Sanniang and Chen Pi were infuriated, recognizing this as a deliberate insult and a challenge to their authority in Changsha, although they didn't realize Zhang Qishan was behind it. Er Yue Hong, having mostly recovered, received a secret message from Zhang Qishan. Despite the Chieftain of White Qiao Village's concern for his health, Er Yue Hong decided to return to Changsha, believing something urgent required his presence.
He thanked the Chieftain for her care, promising to return her kindness in the future. Back in Changsha, Zhang Qishan met Yin Xinyue at their newly rebuilt headquarters, which appeared to be the Huixin Mansion. Yin Xinyue admired the intricate rockery, recognizing it as Qi Tiezui's design.
Zhang Qishan informed her of his success in angering Huo Sanniang and Chen Pi and further explained his strategy: instead of direct confrontation, they would covertly dismantle their opponents' influence, aiming to severely weaken Huo Sanniang, Chen Pi, and Lu Jianxun before the Mid-Autumn Festival. This, he reasoned, would force them to the negotiation table, where he intended to seize the initiative regarding the distribution of profits and conditions for entering the mine.
Yin Xinyue, while not fully grasping the intricacies of his plan, affirmed her trust and support. Yin Xinyue also light-heartedly inquired about their room arrangements, expressing her desire to stay close to Zhang Qishan, hinting at their close relationship.
