Time Raiders Episode 2 Recap
> Time Raiders Recap
Wu Xie, eager to embark on his adventure, pondered his companions. He thought of Pan Zi, a man of immense strength, and Da Kui, who possessed both courage and intellect, capable of deciphering maps and codes. As their vehicle navigated the rugged forest roads, Wu Xie, filled with excitement, meticulously recorded his thoughts and plans in a notebook, dreaming of a journey as extraordinary as those in his grandfather's writings.
He felt a strong premonition that his life was turning a new page. During the journey, Wu Xie noticed a young man dressed entirely in black, carrying a sword box, who exuded an air of mystery. Wu Xie recognized him from a previous encounter at Wu Sansheng's place, where he had dismissed the man as too young. However, Wu Sansheng had held him in high regard, advising Wu Xie that in this world, many people keep a low profile.
Wu Xie questioned Third Uncle about the man's identity, noting his silence. Wu Sansheng responded that while some people are conceited, others keep a low profile, and some are even clueless about who they are, subtly asking Wu Xie which category he belonged to. Wu Xie then attempted to introduce himself to the silent man. The group eventually arrived at the end of the road, where the next leg of their journey required a boat.
Guide Yang welcomed them, explaining that this was the final stretch and they would need to take a boat to reach the cave. He called for the boatman, Lv Dandan, whose unusual name intrigued Wu Xie. Instead of the boatman, a dog named Lv Dandan appeared. Guide Yang explained the dog was a messenger and interpreted its barks to mean it was too early for the boatman to start work, so they should rest.
The group expressed frustration, but Yang explained that Lv Dandan was the only boatman available and operated on his own schedule, stating that even the village chief couldn't sway him. He then shared a local legend: the Mountain God only favored Lv Dandan's family's boat, allowing them safe passage into and out of the cave, while others who dared to enter never returned.
Villagers believed a snake monster lived in the cave, and Lv Dandan's ancestors had once saved its life. Wu Sansheng noted a distinct, foul odor from the dog. One of his companions quickly identified it as the smell of Bat dung, suggesting the dog consumed it. They suspected the guide was deliberately stalling, possibly waiting for a cooler time of day, theorizing that the boatman also ate Bat dung and was sensitive to the heat.
Wu Sansheng speculated they were heading into a "wet cave." When Wu Xie asked about wet caves, Wu Sansheng recounted a past expedition where a camera-equipped raft sent into a Japanese-era burial cave full of corpses never returned, only to reveal a monkey's face on the screen later. He then explained an ancient method for entering dangerous places: consuming Bat dung for months to develop a bat-like scent, making it impossible for "ghosts" to distinguish them from the dead.
Wu Xie realized this was why only the boatman could navigate the cave, as he must have consumed Bat dung. Wu Sansheng cautioned that while this might be superstition, they should still be wary. Pan Zi then chimed in, jokingly dismissing Wu Sansheng's explanation, and recounted a gruesome "true story" about a prison in Mobei Manledan situated in a snow mountain.
Inmates attempting to escape in groups of three would resort to cannibalism to survive, with only one ultimately making it out. Pan Zi dramatically claimed he was that sole survivor. Wu Sansheng, amused, observed that Pan Zi's storytelling had changed, reflecting a shift in his state of mind. Finally, the boatman, a man with a scarred face who appeared to be mute, arrived.
As they boarded the boat, Guide Yang translated his instructions: they must keep their voices low, avoid looking into the water, and never speak ill of the Mountain God. He estimated the passage would take five to fifteen minutes, depending on the current, describing the cave as dark and full of dangerous bends, requiring the boatman to navigate by ear.
While flashlights were permitted, he sternly warned them against shining them on the water, claiming the sights there would "scare you crazy" and that the creatures within were unimaginable. Wu Sansheng advised everyone to remain alert, as he deemed both the guide and the boatman untrustworthy. As they ventured deeper, the cave proved to be cold and unnervingly narrow. A companion observed that it felt man-made, with a history spanning over a century, and that explosives would be useless here.
Guide Yang reiterated old legends of a deity residing in a mountain ahead, for whom the path was supposedly built, but couldn't reconcile this with the earlier tale of a snake monster. To break the tense silence, the group attempted to converse, with Pan Zi and another companion joking about Wu Xie's composure on his first expedition. Suddenly, the boatman gestured frantically, and Guide Yang translated, urging them to stop talking as something lay ahead and trouble was imminent.
Moments later, they discovered that both the boatman and Guide Yang had vanished without a sound. A companion voiced concern that without the protection of their scent, they might be in trouble. Wu Sansheng ordered everyone to stay seated, emphasizing the complexity of the waterway. As the group peered into the dark waters, Pan Zi spotted something. Suddenly, a large creature lunged from the water towards Pan Zi, its mouth agape.
Before Pan Zi could react, the mysterious man in black swiftly drew a blade and cut the creature down. Wu Sansheng, impressed, immediately noted the black-clad man's unusually strong fingers, recognizing them as a result of "Twin-Finger Tomb Probing," an ancient Chinese martial art requiring decades of practice. The creature fell into the boat, where a companion quickly stomped it to death.
Wu Sansheng then identified it not as a Water beetle, but a Corpse beetle, an omnivorous creature whose blood glowed a sickening green. He speculated there were many more Corpse beetles upstream and they were likely starving, driven to attack living things since all the carrion in the cave had been consumed. He added that the beetles might also be fleeing something even larger approaching. Realizing the escalating danger, a companion suggested retreating immediately.
However, the black-clad man confirmed their suspicions, stating that their captors were confident they couldn't get out. Turning back, they saw another boat, laden with a massive buffalo, completely obstructing their path. Wu Sansheng, frustrated at being outmaneuvered by the local villagers, conceded that it was the treacherous environment itself that made their predicament so dire, giving their adversaries confidence that the cave would eliminate them.
With no option but to proceed, the group heard disturbing noises from beneath the boat. The black-clad man, now standing at the front, continued to strike into the water, each blow releasing more green liquid. Abruptly, a deafening, piercing shriek reverberated through the cave, shaking their eardrums and causing intense headaches. The boat capsized, plunging Wu Xie into the frigid water. The shock of the cold brought him to his senses, and he struggled to the surface.
He saw Pan Zi desperately fighting off a Corpse beetle that had bitten him. Wu Xie swam quickly to Pan Zi, managing to pry the beetle off. But the creature then turned on Wu Xie, biting him. As Wu Xie struggled, his strength failing, Pan Zi, freed from his own attacker, pulled out a dagger and swiftly killed the beetle on Wu Xie. Someone shouted for them to get to shore.
