Time Raiders Episode 8 Recap
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The group learned from Third Uncle that the thick vines were Nine-Headed Snake Cypress, which parasitize giant trees. They drag animals in, strangle them, and consume them. The resulting excrement nourishes the giant tree, creating a symbiotic food chain. Third Uncle found some of Old Ma's belongings and surmised he had likely been dragged in and killed by the snake cypress, finding some closure in this grim discovery.
As they considered leaving, Pan Zi was instructed by Third Uncle to send a signal for Zhang Qiling, agreeing to wait fifteen minutes. Third Uncle then explained a crucial rule: the remains of the deceased must be returned to their original position, and if someone dies en route, they should be taken home if possible. Wu Xie and Pangzi carried the fox demon's corpse back to its initial location.
As soon as the corpse was returned, the ground began to shift, and a massive bronze casket slowly rose from a tree hollow, pulled by chains. Wu Xie recognized it as a casket, noting the many ancient inscriptions. Pangzi, however, felt uneasy, observing the highly artificial surroundings and suspecting more mechanisms. He questioned why such an important item would be pulled out instead of hidden.
Third Uncle, wary, told everyone not to move, recalling Zhang Qiling’s earlier warning to leave everything untouched, as the cave's contents were highly unusual. Despite Third Uncle's caution, Pangzi couldn't resist. He took another look at the casket, and it suddenly opened on its own. Inside, to their surprise, was a ship containing a body encased in what Third Uncle identified as a Jade Burial Armor.
He explained that such armor, thought to be a legend, was rumored to rejuvenate its wearer. He also pointed out the black, melted crusts on it, suggesting it might be meteorite jade. Wu Xie discovered layers of human skin within the ship. Zhang Qiling, who had returned, revealed the truth: the Jade Burial Armor was part of an elaborate immortality ritual concocted by ancient alchemists.
He explained that the person wearing the armor and supposedly swallowing meteorite jade powder mixed with corpse beetle king venom, would be consumed by the corpse beetle king. The subsequent skin shedding was merely a toxic reaction, misinterpreted by ancient people, who yearned for eternal life, as a sign of rejuvenation. Zhang Qiling warned that disturbing the armor would awaken the dormant corpse beetle king and its offspring, leading to their demise in the snake cypress-filled cave.
Zhang Qiling placed a blood-stained bundle into the coffin, then produced a Purple Jade Box containing a golden-threaded manuscript. Wu Xie managed to decipher parts of the ancient text, which chronicled significant events in King Shang of Lu's life.
It recounted how King Shang of Lu, in pursuit of an alchemist, entered an ancient tomb where the alchemist, after initially transforming into a giant snake, begged for his life, offering two treasures: a Gui Seal for power and the Jade Armor for immortality. Having received the secrets, King Shang of Lu then ruthlessly killed another person to verify the alchemist's claims about the Jade Armor.
The manuscript continued, detailing how King Shang of Lu, guided by his advisor Iron-Faced Scholar, amassed troops under the guise of war. He sent one force to search for something (likely the Jade Burial Armor) and the other, led by Iron-Faced Scholar, to construct the kiln they were in. Once everything was ready, King Shang of Lu took a pill from the scholar to fake his death before the emperor.
To conceal the kiln, he massacred all but two loyal aides to prepare him for burial. The group was appalled by King Shang of Lu's brutality. Wu Xie questioned the fate of Iron-Faced Scholar, surmising that a man of such cunning wouldn't blindly follow King Shang of Lu to his death. Zhang Qiling confirmed this, revealing that the person in the Jade Burial Armor was not King Shang of Lu, but Iron-Faced Scholar himself.
The scholar had meticulously planned to use King Shang of Lu's power to achieve his own quest for immortality. Zhang Qiling had learned this from the Iron-Faced Scholar's autobiography on a silk manuscript. Having brought the truth to light, Zhang Qiling stated that he had merely granted the trapped individual peace, and they decided to reseal the bronze casket, planning to contact archaeologists upon their return to the surface.
As Da Kui and Pangzi attempted to re-secure the casket, the mechanism failed to reset. Suddenly, Da Kui was bitten on the forehead by a large insect, and his face quickly turned green, his head swelling. Pangzi reacted instinctively, smashing and stepping on it. Zhang Qiling immediately identified the insect as the corpse beetle king and warned that killing it would unleash countless uncontrolled corpse beetles, making their escape nearly impossible. Hordes of snake cypress vines surged toward them.
Pan Zi, despite his injuries, managed to fight back and help. Third Uncle and Pan Zi were ensnared and dragged into a cavern. Inside, Third Uncle discovered abundant coal deposits and, realizing he had explosives in his backpack, used the coal as fuel to create a powerful blast, creating an exit. The vines, repelled by fire, could not follow, allowing Third Uncle and Pan Zi to climb out of the cave.
Meanwhile, Wu Xie nearly plunged into a chasm, but Da Kui, despite his worsening poisoning, pulled him to safety. In his final moments, Da Kui asked Wu Xie to promise to take care of his mother, before being engulfed by the snake cypress and dragged into molten lava. Finally, Wu Xie, Pangzi, Third Uncle, and Pan Zi emerged from the treacherous cave system to the sight of a clear blue sky and lush greenery, a moment that deeply moved them.
However, their relief was tinged with sorrow for Da Kui, who had perished. Wu Xie inquired about Zhang Qiling, but Third Uncle calmly replied that Zhang Qiling was capable of taking care of himself and would find his way out.
