The Mystic Nine Episode 43 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
The Nine Families gathered, and a junior from the Huo family was presented to Zhang Qishan, who was asked to look after her as she would be taking over leadership. Zhang Qishan agreed, stating he would certainly help. He then addressed the assembled Nine Families, noting that they constantly deal with darkness and walk the line between life and death.
He acknowledged the pressing circumstances and ongoing conflicts both above and underground, which had brought great changes to their country, Changsha, and the Nine Families themselves, making the future unpredictable. Zhang Qishan declared his hope to lead everyone in protecting their Changsha, their country, and their Nine Families. With the tomb raiding concluded, Zhang Qishan finally found time to rest.
To make amends to Yin Xinyue, who had endured constant worry at home, he personally prepared a table of dishes for her. He apologized for keeping her waiting and invited her to taste the food. Xin Yue, surprised that he had cooked, was told by Zhang Qishan that cooking was far more challenging than fighting a war, though he admitted many people had helped him.
She found the food delicious but was puzzled by his sudden attentiveness, asking why he was acting so good to her. Zhang Qishan explained that he wanted to compensate her for risking her life for him and for knowing about the Zhang family's ancient building. Thinking he might be trying to send her away, Xin Yue was then taken aback when Zhang Qishan knelt and proposed marriage.
Initially thinking he was joking, Xin Yue soon realized his sincerity as Zhang Qishan confessed that he had thought of her every day since their first meeting and that she had profoundly changed him. He expressed his desire to spend the rest of his life with her and asked her to marry him. After confirming his genuine intentions and lack of regret, Xin Yue accepted.
Zhang Qishan then vowed to protect and safeguard her, no matter what the future held, a moment Xin Yue had long awaited. The two were married. On their wedding night, after a celebratory drink with his brothers, Zhang Qishan feigned drunkenness to avoid being pressed to drink more. He was escorted to the bridal chamber by Qi Tiezui and Lieutenant Zhang, promising them two jars of wine each later. Qi Tiezui playfully urged him not to miss the auspicious hour.
Zhang Qishan inquired why Er Yue Hong was absent, to which Lieutenant Zhang explained that Er Yue Hong had left early, wishing to avoid painful memories. Inside the chamber, Yin Xinyue, holding a gun, playfully declared a new rule for the Xinyue Hotel: a military wife must know how to handle a gun. Zhang Qishan playfully retorted that she only needed to protect her husband.
Reflecting on their journey, Xin Yue asked if he considered her worth the three sky lanterns he paid. Zhang Qishan unequivocally affirmed it, though Xin Yue teased him about getting a great bargain, acquiring both her and the Xinyue Hotel. She then asked if he loved her and when he had fallen in love.
Zhang Qishan reminded her of the first time she had called him "honey" during a moment of distress, revealing that he had recognized her as his wife from that very moment. After a brief discussion about gun handling, Xin Yue pointed out that the lights were still on. Meanwhile, Er Yue Hong, despite being happy for his good brother Zhang Qishan, found himself overwhelmed by grief, constantly reminded of his deceased wife, Ya Tou.
He drank until his face was flushed, his steps unsteady, and under the moonlight, his thoughts were consumed by her. He spoke aloud to a picture of Ya Tou, noting that it was Zhang Qishan and his wife's wedding day and that Ya Tou, who liked Xin Yue, must be happy for them. He recalled their first meeting on the train, attributing Zhang Qishan and Xin Yue's union to his need for medicine.
He then lamented Ya Tou's absence on this significant day, as she was, in a way, their matchmaker. He expressed his deep longing for her through song and heartfelt words, wondering if she could hear him across the boundary of life and death. Later that night, Zhang Qishan found Xin Yue still awake. When he asked what was on her mind, she confessed that their happiness felt "too unreal."
Zhang Qishan reassured her by pointing out that she was embracing "the great Zhang Fo Ye, who is alive and kicking." Still basking in the joy, Xin Yue suggested they hold another wedding at the Xinyue Hotel, and then a third one back in Beiping, to which Zhang Qishan happily agreed.
As a new day dawned, Zhang Qishan advised Xin Yue that if she felt bored, she could go out, but emphasized the importance of bringing her hearing maids and stick-holding guards. He warned her that despite outward appearances, Changsha was becoming quite chaotic, and her safety was paramount. However, this newfound peace was short-lived. A year later, a peculiar parasitic virus began to spread through the outskirts of Changsha.
A farmer afflicted with the strange illness suffered from intense itching, yet no cause could be identified. He sought help from a rural doctor, who initially suspected an untreated wound allowing the virus to spread. The doctor admitted he had never encountered such a recurrent illness and suggested the farmer accompany him to a major hospital in Changsha for proper testing. However, the farmer, seemingly intimidated by the idea, vanished from the clinic without a word.
During this period, Mo Ce diligently attended to Er Yue Hong, who was feeling unwell. Her affection for him was evident to everyone, but Er Yue Hong remained devoted to Ya Tou, his home and habits still steeped in her memory, which began to make Mo Ce consider withdrawing. Xin Yue visited Er Yue Hong and found Mo Ce already tending to him.
Mo Ce diagnosed a slight inflammation of his tongue and advised him to cut out alcohol and rich foods. Xin Yue chided Er Yue Hong for his lack of cooperation with Mo Ce's care, remarking that his home was in disarray and that he needed a wife to manage it.
Xin Yue then left, mentioning she had to find Zhang Qishan, leaving Er Yue Hong and Mo Ce to share the lunch, which included vinegar meat and lotus slices that Xin Yue had prepared. As they ate, Mo Ce, though praising Xin Yue's cooking, inquired about the unique decorations, particularly the fresh flowers changed daily, the old bed curtains, and his old chopsticks.
Er Yue Hong explained that these were all Ya Tou's preferences or gifts, and he had grown accustomed to them, prompting Mo Ce to apologize for her intrusion. Before leaving, Mo Ce asked Er Yue Hong if he truly intended to live alone forever. He responded that he had made a promise that he must uphold, its importance being a personal matter. Later, at the hospital, Mo Ce approached Chief Li about the parasitic reports from the Kangjiacun Village Clinic.
Chief Li acknowledged the reports but, after reviewing them, dismissed the virus as unremarkable. Mo Ce, however, expressed concern over the recurring nature of the illness and, citing her experience studying advanced Western techniques and her compassionate heart, requested additional medical personnel to investigate on-site, arguing that such a rare disease was suspicious given the turbulent times. Chief Li, seemingly tight-lipped, refused her request, stating that the hospital was overwhelmed with patients and lacked staff for "unimportant matters."
He even suggested the photos might be fake and that the farmer could be feigning illness to avoid military conscription, advising Mo Ce not to "get involved blindly." Undeterred, Mo Ce asserted that it was not a trivial matter and that ignoring a potentially rare disease would be a disregard for human life. Chief Li, however, firmly denied her request for additional doctors and urged her to "take care of herself."
As Mo Ce attempted to leave with the patient files, Chief Li confiscated them, warning that such "groundless claims" could cause panic among the populace, and Changsha could not afford further unrest. Mo Ce, determined, vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly and personally explain her findings to the higher-ups if it proved to be a rare and difficult disease.
Chief Li, resigned, told her he couldn't stop her if she insisted on being "nosy" and reiterated his warning to "take care of herself." Elsewhere, Hendry remained in a coma, occasionally mumbling "Copper Meteorite" in his sleep, a detail that deeply concerned Tanaka. She emphasized the critical need for Hendry's recovery, as his knowledge was vital for their next move and understanding what had transpired "down there." Upon waking, Hendry inquired about the progress in Black Qiao Village.
Tanaka reported that, thanks to his guidance, they were just one step away from success. Hendry, reflecting on the gravity of their plans, decided they required a "resolute helper." Tanaka noted the limited options in Changsha, with Lu Jianxun dead and Chen Pi missing. Hendry, however, surprisingly suggested Chen Pi as the ideal candidate.
Tanaka reminded him that Chen Pi had almost killed him during his unconscious state, pressing him to reveal what he and Chen Pi had witnessed inside the underground tomb. Hendry vaguely recalled the danger. Shortly after, a subordinate reported a sighting of Chen Pi, which Hendry welcomed as a sign of "heaven helping me." He instructed Tanaka to locate Chen Pi swiftly, believing his assistance would secure their plans.
Tanaka assured him it would be taken care of, although Hendry insisted on personally verifying the matter to feel at ease, despite Tanaka's urging him to prioritize his health after his recent serious illness. Unfazed by Chief Li's warnings, Mo Ce traveled to Kangjiacun Village Clinic to investigate the parasitic virus herself. The rural doctor initially seemed unwelcoming but became more cooperative upon learning her identity as a doctor from Changsha.
He explained that he had suggested the infected farmer, Er Niu, seek treatment in Changsha, but Er Niu had left without notice. The rural doctor then led Mo Ce to Er Niu's home. Upon entering, Mo Ce was horrified to find Er Niu suffering from severe skin ulcerations. As she cried out in shock, the rural doctor knocked her unconscious from behind. Elsewhere, in a small, remote village, a brother and sister discussed the increasing turmoil in the world.
The sister expressed fear over the chaos and suffering reported in Changsha, but her brother reassured her not to listen to "craps." He insisted that their secluded village was too far to be affected by the widespread conflict and promised to protect her, even if trouble did reach them.
