Time Raiders Episode 1 Recap
> Time Raiders Recap
Centuries ago, a massive Meteorite shattered into nine fragments, falling to Earth. Where these fragments landed, all life mutated due to radiation, transforming into new biological forms. These new life forms established unique ecosystems in confined spaces where humans could not survive. Ancient civilizations, believing these meteorites were divine revelations, built temples to venerate them. However, the Meteorite's power was so immense that those who possessed it sought to keep its existence hidden, constructing elaborate ways to conceal these temples.
Despite their efforts, these ecosystems continued to exist across the world, awaiting ambitious individuals and unwitting trespassers. In the 1920s, deep in a mountain forest at Dart Summit, Hezhou, a group of tomb raiders deliberated outside a cave. San Yazi's grandfather, observing bloodied soil, felt it was an ill omen. One of the men expressed worry about a Blood Corpse potentially being below, threatening their entire venture.
Another man dismissed the concerns, while a bearded man suggested Blood Corpses weren't necessarily good things, recounting how San Yazi's second great-uncle had dug one up by South River and was still insane. After some heated discussion, San Yazi's grandfather declared he would go first once the hole was ready, with Er Yazi taking the rear with the drag hoe.
He instructed San Yazi, who was just a boy, to stay above and hold the rope, explaining that if all four went down, there would be no means of escape. San Yazi insisted on joining them, but his grandfather scolded him, calling him a "brat" with a death wish. Before descending, one of the men reassured San Yazi, promising to find him a golden blade, acknowledging the danger.
Once inside the tomb, an eerie silence initially prevailed, allowing San Yazi to hear muffled conversations from below. However, the quiet was soon shattered by agonizing screams and cries of "Poison! It's poison!" San Yazi's grandfather frantically yelled for San Yazi to run. San Yazi fled a considerable distance, but he could still hear rustling noises pursuing him. He quickly lay flat in the mud, and a grotesque monster stepped over his back, leaving deep, corroded wounds.
Despite the excruciating pain, San Yazi held onto the rope. As he pulled, he retrieved a severed hand, tightly clutching a densely inscribed letter. Turning, San Yazi was horrified to see a moving, blood-dripping Blood Corpse. He realized it was his second brother, Er Yazi, transformed by the poison. Many years later, San Yazi had become an elderly man with children and grandchildren.
His grandson, Wu Xie, now operates an antique shop in a waterside town, still fascinated by his grandfather's past adventures chronicled in his precious notes. Wu Xie, who had rarely ventured far from home, felt his legendary life had yet to begin. One day, a man with a gold tooth and heavy gold chains, Jin Wantang, visited the shop. Jin Wantang inquired about old rubbings from Hezhou and produced a photocopy of an ancient silk manuscript to demonstrate his sincerity.
Wu Xie immediately recognized it as similar to something his grandfather once held, noticing the torn edges. Cautious about unfamiliar items, Wu Xie politely declined, claiming it was a fake and that his illiterate grandfather couldn't have read such a thing anyway. After Jin Wantang left, Wu Xie secretly photographed the copy with his phone.
Convinced the manuscript held secrets and was related to his grandfather's past, he decided to contact his Third Uncle, Wu Sansheng, the only family member who inherited his grandfather's skills and was even more proficient. Wu Sansheng, often referred to as Third Master, usually responded quickly, but sometimes he would vanish for days. Eventually, Wu Xie received a text from Wu Sansheng: "Nine o'clock. Chicken-eye yellow sand. Dragon's Spine. Come quick."
Wu Xie, realizing this was a pivotal moment, drove swiftly to meet his uncle. At Dragon's Spine, Wu Xie found Wu Sansheng, who playfully offered him "junk food," having already sold the valuable antique Wu Xie had hoped to see. Wu Xie complained about being tricked again, but Wu Sansheng promised even better things for tomorrow. Wu Xie surmised that the antique, the Dragon's Spine, had been an ancient weapon, a guess Wu Sansheng confirmed.
He then questioned the identity of the young, wealthy buyer, but Wu Sansheng reminded him of the rule: "Don't ask about missed treasures." Wu Xie then shared his own bizarre encounter with Jin Wantang and the silk manuscript, noting its resemblance to his grandfather's notes and observing Wu Sansheng's immediate interest.
He recounted the legend described in the manuscript: a Lu State lord with a Gui Seal, commanding a special army that moved at night, had unusual physiques, and left no footprints. Wu Xie, thinking it was a tall tale, was corrected by Wu Sansheng, who explained that even fiction has real-world origins.
Wu Sansheng pointed out the strange fox-face pattern on the manuscript, explaining that it was not a stain but a map, an "Eight-Array Diagram" or "Pictorial Text," which encoded detailed geographical information using special syntax disguised as a story. He boasted that very few people could decipher such a complex map. Wu Xie, intrigued, asked if this meant Wu Sansheng intended to follow the map. He eagerly volunteered to join the expedition, comparing it to "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Wu Sansheng initially hesitated, suggesting Wu Xie call his father, knowing he would object strongly to his son getting involved in such dangerous ventures. Wu Xie, however, was persistent, flattering his uncle and reminding him of his own rebellious youth. When Wu Sansheng still seemed reluctant, Wu Xie threatened to tear up the map, forcing his uncle to finally concede. Wu Sansheng then revealed that he had already been in contact with Jin Wantang.
The original owner of the silk manuscript was a famous antique dealer named Ma, who disappeared five years prior after deciphering the map and setting off with a team of outdoor experts. Ma's wife, desperate, had hired Jin Wantang to find her husband, believing Wu Xie's grandfather could help, which led Jin Wantang to approach Wu Xie. Wu Sansheng had already taken on Ma's search mission.
When Wu Xie offered to help carry equipment, Wu Sansheng scoffed at his inexperience, highlighting the standard 50kg equipment load per person and the need for two more team members. Ultimately, Wu Sansheng agreed to take Wu Xie along, having secured his father's reluctant permission for what was deemed a "relatively safe search mission." He emphasized this would be Wu Xie's only such adventure and instructed him to help crack the map's code.
The team was completed by two of Wu Sansheng's trusted subordinates, whom Wu Xie knew well: Pan Zi and Da Kui. Pan Zi, Wu Sansheng's most loyal and longest-serving subordinate, was known for his fierce efficiency in collecting debts and his surprising kindness towards Wu Xie.
Da Kui, on the other hand, was a man of immense strength but few principles, willing to work for anyone who paid, even if it meant double-dealing, all to fund his critically ill mother's medical treatments. The three gathered, and Wu Sansheng outlined the mission: "We're retrieving one person. The client's paying eight million. We'll split it." He clarified that their destination was still unknown, pending the complete deciphering of the map.
Working together, Wu Sansheng, Wu Xie, Pan Zi, and Da Kui meticulously analyzed the map. Wu Sansheng identified stellar symbols such as "Kulou 10, Zhu 8, Beihe 1," which formed an ancient Lu State terrain map. Further refinement revealed "Jiuqi 2, Tianlao, Sangong 1, and five fuxi stars." Wu Xie excitedly confirmed that a place called Hechuan in Quling County matched the star map. Wu Sansheng then determined that Hechuan corresponded to the modern-day Pengzhou.
By overlaying various topographical and river maps, they finally pinpointed the map's center to an underground cave. Wu Sansheng announced their plan: "Let's go to Pengzhou first. We leave tomorrow." That night, they celebrated with abundant wine. Wu Xie, dazed and feeling as if everything was surreal, reflected on this turning point, believing he had finally seized the opportunity for the legendary life he had yearned for, wondering if his grandfather would approve.
