Tomb of the Sea Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

Tomb of the Sea Synopsis

Li Cu, an ordinary student who failed the college entrance exams, is accidentally attacked and then caught in a huge plan with the purpose of the current state of the world.

He then gets to know the mastermind behind all this, Wu Xie, who appears as Guan Gen, a travel photographer. He becomes the key person in Wu Xie’s “Tomb of the sea” subversion plan.

Wu Xie used Gutongjing, the forbidden place of Mystery Nine, to plot to “depurate” the Mystery Nine to destroy the Wang family’s counter-attack plan.

Wu Xie has been not as naive as the year, with his extraordinary wisdom, he began to declare war on the fate setting thousands of years ago.

Tomb of the Sea Recap

Episode 1 Recap

Li Cu, his back covered in intricate markings, found himself stranded in the desert of GuTongJing, recording what he believed to be his final words. He stated his address in Shuangliu Alley, Shunjing, and revealed that he had been kidnapped, his captor now dead, and he was next. The person responsible for his abduction was Wu Xie.

Months earlier, Li Cu was a typical high school senior who had just failed his Gaokao, scoring a mere 150 out of a possible 750. His teacher, exasperated, suggested he repeat the grade and aim for a third-tier university, emphasizing that Li Cu wasn't stupid and shouldn't waste his potential. However, Li Cu vehemently refused to repeat the year.

At home, his father, prone to alcoholism and violence, often beat him and locked him in a dark room, a punishment that left Li Cu terrified of enclosed spaces and ultimately drove his mother away. Among the three students who failed the Gaokao, Li Cu's close friend Su Wan was one. Su Wan, smitten with Shen Qiong who lived nearby, often used a telescope from his rooftop to watch her.

He explained to Li Cu that he was "protecting" Shen Qiong, as he had noticed other strange individuals seemingly peeping at her house. Li Cu pointed out that these individuals – a man with an unwalked dog, another reading the same magazine in the dark, and a third in a parked car – seemed to be watching Shen Qiong's next-door neighbor, whose windows were ominously sealed with iron sheets.

Another of Li Cu's friends was Yang Hao, known as Brother Hao, a former troublemaker who had become a loyal companion. The three friends found themselves in trouble when Brother Hao scheduled a fight with a kid named Zheng Yi and insisted Li Cu and Su Wan come along. One night, Shen Qiong returned from a trip in a peculiar truck, accompanied by strange people who moved odd boxes, leaving behind white sand.

Her return coincided with the ongoing surveillance of her neighbor's house. To investigate, Su Wan flew his expensive drone, which accidentally crashed into the neighbor's yard. Li Cu, determined to retrieve the 30,000 yuan drone, attempted to break into the house. However, Shen Qiong suddenly appeared with the drone in hand, explaining it had merely fallen in the hallway.

She then gave Li Cu a mysterious box as a "souvenir" from her travels, urging him to open it later for a surprise. She also advised him to take care of himself and not worry others, referring to him as "the flunked one." The next day in class, Li Cu opened the box. It revealed a frightening human-like face, with eyes that functioned as a switch. Upon opening, a black mass burst out, striking Li Cu on the forehead.

The incident was noticed by his teacher, who, fed up with Li Cu's disinterest in studying and his "granite head" stubbornness, decided to contact Li Cu's father. Fearing his father's wrath, Li Cu tried to sneak away during class, narrowly escaping his father's pursuit. While fleeing, Li Cu encountered a disheveled man, later identified as Huang Yan, emerging from the very house next to Shen Qiong's. Huang Yan, frantically searching for the box, found it empty in Li Cu's possession.

In a sudden, violent act, he carved several deep wounds across Li Cu's back with a knife before committing self-mutilation and dying on the spot due to severe blood loss. Li Cu was rushed to the hospital, his back scarred and in immense pain. His primary doctor, Liang Wan, tried to ascertain what had happened, but Li Cu could only recall a struggle for 50 yuan and was shocked to learn of Huang Yan's death.

Liang Wan, overwhelmed by his questions, eventually told him to ask the police for details. Soon after, a man named Wang Meng appeared. He introduced himself, revealing that Huang Yan was his colleague. Wang Meng offered Li Cu 120,000 yuan from his boss as compensation, with the password to the card being the date Li Cu's back was scarred. Li Cu recognized Wang Meng as one of the suspicious individuals who had been watching Shen Qiong's neighbor.

Wang Meng demanded that Li Cu accompany him to meet his boss, who wanted to know every detail of the incident. Despite Li Cu's protestations, he and Liang Wan were forcibly taken from the hospital. They were brought to a mysterious location where they met Wang Meng's boss. The man casually offered Li Cu some Changsha stinky tofu, urging him to eat. He identified himself as Wu Xie and confirmed that Huang Yan was his subordinate.

Wu Xie then informed Li Cu that since he had accepted the compensation, he was now obliged to go to a certain place with him. Li Cu, bewildered, demanded to know Wu Xie's identity. Wu Xie simply stated, "My name is Wu Xie." Li Cu, a seemingly ordinary high school student, was now unknowingly entangled in a profound and dangerous mystery. Shen Qiong's strange behavior upon her return from her trip suggested she might be part of this enigmatic affair.

Episode 2 Recap

Wu Xie instructed his men to hold Li Cu down while he ordered Liang Wan to remove the sutures on Li Cu's back. Liang Wan expressed concern that reopening the fresh wounds would lead to infection and offered to show photos of the injury instead. However, Wu Xie insisted, emphasizing that as a doctor, she was the only one capable of performing the task. Li Cu cried out in pain as Liang Wan carefully picked the stitches.

Wu Xie intensely observed a dark substance emerging from Li Cu's open wounds. Afterward, he instructed Liang Wan to re-stitch the wound and apply a special, potent medicine to his back, which he claimed was very valuable. Liang Wan, visibly distressed by her involvement in such a bizarre situation, lamented her emerging crow's feet from anxiety. Upon waking, Li Cu was told by Wu Xie that the medicine he received was exceptionally precious, and Liang Wan offered him a painkiller.

Wu Xie then informed Li Cu that he would be accompanying them on a thirteen-day journey to a foreign desert no man's land. Li Cu protested, stating he had school, but Wu Xie disregarded his concerns, asking if he wasn't curious why Huang Yan had carved symbols on his back.

Wu Xie explained that Huang Yan had led an expedition to the no man's land north of Nei Mongol, and was the sole survivor, returning in a strange state and attempting to seal himself in iron. Huang Yan, the owner of the iron box Li Cu found, had carved the pattern on Li Cu's back, making it the sole clue to GuTongJing. Wu Xie's goal was to uncover what happened to his team there.

Li Cu, remembering Shen Qiong had given him the iron box, asked if she was also involved. Wu Xie dismissed the box as useless, declaring Li Cu himself was now the vital element. Wu Xie then handed Li Cu the mission files, informing him their cover would be a photography team—with Wu Xie as the photographer and Li Cu and Wang Meng as assistants—joining an expedition. He demanded Li Cu memorize all the details before their plane landed.

Wu Xie made it clear that he was Li Cu's "only brother" now, isolating him further by throwing Li Cu's phone out the window. When Li Cu attempted to escape, Wu Xie revealed extensive knowledge of his personal life, detailing his parents' divorce in 2010, his mother Cheng Lu's departure, and his father Li Yiming's alcoholism, workaholism, and abusive tendencies toward Li Cu, implying no one would notice his absence for weeks.

Li Cu retorted that he didn't care for his father, who beat him just as he had beaten his mother away. Wu Xie then threatened to "get rid of" Li Cu's father. Defeated, Li Cu resigned himself to the journey, viewing it as a coerced "trip," a sentiment he recalled his "third uncle" once used. Before their departure, Wu Xie bade farewell to Liang Wan.

He informed her that his "brother" would remain to "help" her with chores, which Liang Wan correctly interpreted as surveillance. Wu Xie then gave her his WeChat contact, saying they should keep in touch, while a terrified Liang Wan insisted she had seen nothing and would not speak. Li Cu and Wu Xie's team crossed the border smoothly.

Wu Xie reminded Li Cu to remember his words, warning him of severe consequences if he failed to do so, and also inquired if the medicine had alleviated his pain. Upon arriving in Nei Mongol, Wu Xie, using the alias Guan Gen, met the expedition team. A team member commented on his young assistant, and Wu Xie introduced Li Cu as his photography assistant who insisted on joining.

Wu Xie then met with Mr. Ma, the stern leader of the expedition, who subtly criticized Wu Xie's delayed arrival and stressed the importance of integrity in business. Su Nan, another member of the expedition, questioned Wu Xie's confidence in finding GuTongJing, mentioning her previous attempts to gather information from locals had been met with avoidance whenever the name was uttered.

Wu Xie explained that a friend had revealed a method of entry by tracking the shifting "seas" (lakes) in the desert, and thus he required a "sea-finder" to guide them. Another person from Mr. Ma's team expressed skepticism, reminding them that no one had ever returned alive from GuTongJing, but Wu Xie countered that "nothing is absolute."

Su Nan pressed Wu Xie on his personal motive for embarking on such a perilous journey, to which he replied he was a photographer seeking unique shots and needed helpers. Mr. Ma concluded by emphasizing the need for unity and no "petty tricks." They proceeded to the home of the alleged "sea-finder," only to discover him seemingly dead by hanging.

Unfazed, Wu Xie casually ordered Wang Meng to collect all the liquor in the house, despite Li Cu's horrified protests about taking a dead man's possessions. Suddenly, the "dead" man revived, revealing himself to be a cunning drunkard who had faked his own death.

He initially refused to guide them to the "haunted" GuTongJing, but Wu Xie produced a rare bottle of Song Dynasty "old spirit," promising it as a down payment and the remaining five jars upon successful completion of the task. Although the liquor was highly valued, the man still hesitated, fearing the journey.

Wu Xie then threatened to pour the precious liquor onto the ground, which prompted the drunkard to hastily agree to guide them, claiming it would be a "curse from God" to waste such a spirit. With a guide secured, Wu Xie's team and Mr. Ma's expedition set off. Along the way, they encountered a film crew whose RV was stuck in the sand. Wu Xie's team assisted them.

The film crew's director introduced his team, including Sis Dan (producer), Guozi (director assistant), Caitou (cameraman/lighting), Fu Mei (log keeper), Uncle Zeng (historian), and Chen Chao (geologist). He explained their documentary aimed to uncover the secrets of the foreign desert. Wu Xie warned them about the dangerous, forbidden, and haunted nature of the no man's land, advising them to turn back. The director attempted to record Wu Xie's ominous warning for his film, but Wu Xie refused to repeat it.

Despite the warning, the film crew decided to follow Wu Xie's convoy. Wang Meng relayed Wu Xie's condition: they could follow, but must obey all orders; otherwise, Wu Xie's team would not be responsible for any incidents that might occur. Meanwhile, Su Wan became increasingly concerned when he couldn't reach Li Cu, especially given Li Cu's recent injuries. He went with Shen Qiong to Li Cu's house, but no one answered the door.

A neighbor informed them that Li Yiming and Li Cu had been absent for days, possibly on a trip. Skeptical, Su Wan visited the hospital, where the nurse informed him that Li Cu had been discharged and left with his attending physician, Dr. Liang Wan, who was now on leave. Su Wan obtained Liang Wan's address. Su Wan and Shen Qiong tracked down Liang Wan, who was behaving suspiciously by being heavily covered.

Su Wan cleverly tricked her by claiming Li Cu was dead and that she was the last person to have seen him alive. Frightened, Liang Wan confessed that Wu Xie and Wang Meng had taken Li Cu. She provided their names and, under duress, showed Su Wan and Shen Qiong photos from Wang Meng's WeChat Moments (which she had "liked" out of fear). Su Wan then enlisted the help of Yang Hao, who was preoccupied with online shopping.

Su Wan urgently explained the situation, showing him the photos, and Yang Hao, after some prodding, realized the photos from Wang Meng's Moments were taken at the Crescent Hotel. Su Wan and Yang Hao immediately went to the luxurious Crescent Hotel, but their inquiries about Wu Xie and Wang Meng were met with unhelpful waiters. Yang Hao's attempt to bribe a waiter failed, and the hotel manager began to observe them suspiciously.

Later, as Wu Xie's team and the accompanying film crew shared drinks, Li Cu remained sullen and refused to participate, reiterating that he had been forcibly brought along. Wang Meng, noticing Li Cu's mood, confided that he, too, was initially "dragged around" by Wu Xie but eventually became a trusted companion, promising Li Cu that surviving this journey would dramatically change his life. Li Cu, curious, asked about Wu Xie's true nature.

Wang Meng proudly described Wu Xie as a legendary and famous antique dealer who, alongside his two close friends—one stout and the other taciturn—had embarked on numerous fantastical adventures. Wang Meng humbly positioned himself as Wu Xie's most trusted follower. He then recounted a past incident at the very Crescent Hotel where Wu Xie and his men had caused a deliberate disturbance, intending to "spice things up" for an owner who had grown "too comfortable."

This revelation by Wang Meng underscored the dangerous and unpredictable character of Wu Xie, a foreshadowing of the perilous journey that lay ahead for Li Cu, while simultaneously confirming the lead that Su Wan and Yang Hao were following.

Episode 3 Recap

Led by Marera, a large convoy made its way towards GuTongJing. After a long journey through sandstorms, they reached a location that Marera identified as a mirage, confirming the actual ancient city was not far. Master Ma questioned Marera about the location, and Marera, with his knowledge of how desert "seas" move with underground water flow, affirmed that the specific "sea" they sought had been there three days prior.

Su Nan, after a thorough inspection, gave Master Ma the all-clear to set up camp. Li Cu, acting as Wu Xie's assistant, held a camera and inquired if they could return home once they ventured inside. Wu Xie, however, stated he was still unsure if this was the precise destination he was searching for. As the team began to establish their camp, Wang Meng unearthed a considerable number of burnt cameras from the ground.

A film crew director, present with his own team, excitedly declared it a "camera tomb" and instructed his crew to document everything, confidently predicting that the footage would secure them the "Golden Strawberry Award." Wang Meng collected over forty cameras, managing to retrieve data from six usable SD cards, which he then copied before burying the unusable ones as instructed.

Li Cu expressed his apprehension, fearing the destroyed cameras indicated something terrible had been recorded, making him hesitant to continue filming. Wu Xie reviewed the recovered photos, which depicted a tour group composed of both domestic and international tourists. He noticed that some individuals in the pictures did not carry cameras, suggesting the presence of another tour group, one with at least fifteen cameras, whose members were conspicuously absent from the photos.

He theorized these individuals likely met with an accident and that the cameras were destroyed to conceal whatever they had captured. He also suspected that some of these people might still be within GuTongJing. Wu Xie pointed to a specific spot, instructing Mr. Mai to begin excavating. Su Nan used her equipment to confirm that the air quality below was excellent with plenty of oxygen.

Wu Xie identified the structure as a sacrificial temple, expecting a large internal space, and decided to descend himself to investigate further. Su Nan confirmed it was safe for him to go down. The film crew director, captivated by the "gloomy" atmosphere, believed it offered outstanding material for their award ambitions. Inside, Li Cu discovered human remains arranged in the "Seven fingers" pattern, which he recognized as eerily similar to the scar on his back.

Wu Xie confirmed it was no coincidence, as the patterns were consistent. Li Cu also found a piece of clothing among the remains that resembled what the person who carved his back had worn. Su Nan estimated that there were about ten skeletons, all dressed in similar outfits, suggesting they belonged to a single tour group whose members had perished, implying the owners of the fifteen cameras never made it out.

Wu Xie, however, countered this, asserting that someone must have escaped, otherwise, who would have burned the cameras? Wu Xie then noticed bas-reliefs beneath the bones. He identified the carvings as Yuezhi characters, detailing the life of GuTongJing's 28th lord. He clarified that this was not a tomb but an underground palace. Master Ma insisted on entering, but Wu Xie advised caution due to the unknown dangers within.

Su Nan reminded Master Guan (Wu Xie's alias) that their primary objective was to find items for their boss, and that the unique underground scenery should be a compelling reason for him to document it. Wu Xie then revealed he had already located the entrance by observing eight murals, noting a distinct fissure in the two central ones. Li Cu, despite his claustrophobia, protested that they should not damage cultural relics.

Wu Xie dismissed his concerns, appealing to the opportunity to explore the ancient wisdom held within the underground palace. Once the entrance was opened, Master Ma expressed his triumph and prepared to lead a team down, while Su Nan reminded him of her objectives. Wu Xie instructed Li Cu and the film crew, including Xu Lei, Uncle Zeng, and Caitou, to follow him into the underground palace.

Li Cu again voiced his fear, citing his claustrophobia, but Wu Xie reminded him that the "Seven fingers" scar on his back made his descent imperative. Wu Xie then ordered Wang Meng to remain above, instructing him to search for "that person" if any complications arose. Inside the underground palace, Li Cu marveled at the abundance of plants, questioning how they could thrive without water in the desert.

He then felt an unsettling sense of being watched, an impression dismissed as paranoia by another team member. Earlier, while Wu Xie's team prepared for the expedition, Wang Meng recounted to Li Cu stories of Wu Xie's past as part of the "Iron Triangle," which included a "fat guy" and a "quiet one," and that Wu Xie was still searching for the latter.

Li Cu, misinterpreting their mission, excitedly offered his rich friend's help to pay off Wu Xie's alleged loan shark debts, urging Wang Meng to convince Wu Xie to abandon the dangerous journey. However, a drunk Wang Meng fell asleep, leaving Li Cu frustrated. Meanwhile, Su Wan and Yang Hao, searching for Li Cu, had sneaked into the Crescent Hotel. They were soon confronted and questioned by hotel staff.

Yang Hao attempted to bluff his way out by feigning a complaint about the hotel's food and even offering a job, but Su Wan, embarrassed by Yang Hao's lame excuses, intervened. He admitted they were looking for Wu Xie and Wang Meng, as their friend (Li Cu) had gone missing, and they suspected the two men were involved. Su Wan offered money as an "information fee," hoping they would be allowed to leave.

Liang Wan, having received the false news of Li Cu's death, felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and submitted her resignation. Her director, puzzled by her decision, then presented her with a silk banner inscribed "To Dr. Liang: stitch fairy from above," signed by Li Cu, along with a thank-you letter. This unexpected message only intensified Liang Wan's confusion and fear regarding Li Cu's true fate.

Seeking solace, Liang Wan visited a temple to pray for good fortune, promising Buddha she would abandon her "lust after handsome guys." Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Ri Shan, the manager of the Crescent Hotel, was also at the temple, passing her by as he prayed. He later made a phone call, inquiring about the two kids (Su Wan and Yang Hao) and stating he was immediately returning to the hotel.

Back at the Crescent Hotel, Su Wan and Yang Hao found themselves locked in a room. Su Wan realized they had stumbled into a "thieves' nest" and that Wu Xie and Wang Meng were likely complicit. Yang Hao, criticizing Su Wan for his lack of "social experience," suggested they escape. They discovered a heavy, yet fake, sword, some topical medicine, and a large handprint on a cabinet. Trapped, they grew increasingly fearful, calling out for Li Cu and wondering if he too was imprisoned there.

Episode 4 Recap

A meeting of the Nine Clans Association was held at the Crescent Hotel, presided over by President Zhang Rishan. Li Qunao, the owner of BaMianHengTong, voiced his discontent, pointing out the absence of Master Huo and Master Wu and questioning the necessity of a general assembly. President Zhang Rishan countered that the association's greatest fear was a rotten core and being wiped out, asking if they would willingly surrender their businesses.

Qi Anmei, the owner of JinShangZhu, was surprised by the suggestion that outside forces sought to undermine their enterprises. Some attendees felt President Zhang Rishan was avoiding an investigation by bringing up old rumors, asserting they were not easily intimidated. President Zhang Rishan then hinted that these "outsiders" might be among them. Their discussion was abruptly interrupted when Chen Dingju, representing the Chen family, burst in.

He carried the corpse of Huang Yan on his back and had a man tied up beside him, claiming he was there to attend the meeting on behalf of his master and that the items were gifts. Chen Dingju identified the corpse as Huang Yan, who had gone mad after returning from the desert.

He pointed out the many cuts on Huang Yan's body, suspecting them to be a map, and added that Huang Yan had also carved another map on a child's back—a map undeniably linked to GuTongJing. He reminded everyone of Uncle Buddha's long-standing rule that no Nine Clans member was permitted to take anything from GuTongJing without permission.

Since Master Wu of WuShanJu had already violated this rule by entering GuTongJing, Chen Dingju argued that the others were no longer obligated to abide by it. President Zhang Rishan unequivocally stated that he would handle the GuTongJing matter. When Chen Dingju defied him, Zhang Rishan quickly subdued him. President Zhang Rishan reiterated his resolve to manage the GuTongJing situation and demanded that the bound young man be left behind.

Chen Dingju, provoked, questioned President Zhang Rishan's relationship with Wu Xie, given his protective stance. President Zhang Rishan denied any connection. As his phone displayed a message notification, Chen Dingju immediately assumed it was from Wu Xie and tried to snatch the phone. President Zhang Rishan restrained him, sternly warning that anyone attempting to exploit the situation would bring trouble upon the Nine Clans.

After Chen Dingju's departure, the young man, who was indeed Wu Xie's subordinate, handed President Zhang Rishan a note from Wu Xie with four characters: "No making without breaking." President Zhang Rishan scoffed, remarking that four words were insufficient to secure his assistance, but nonetheless instructed the young man to stay at the Crescent Hotel to avoid detection until Wu Xie's return. Meanwhile, Wu Xie's team ventured deeper into the underground palace.

As they moved through a passage lined with numerous stone statues, Li Cu's claustrophobia began to manifest, causing him distress. He complained to Wu Xie about being brought to such a confined and eerie place. Wu Xie, with a reassuring gesture, told Li Cu to close his eyes and urged him to follow closely and not be afraid. As they continued, Li Cu noticed one of the stone statues blink.

Wu Xie stepped forward, examined the statue, and then twisted its head. In response, all the surrounding statues moved aside, unveiling a hidden path. Following this path, they encountered a corridor with a shattered ceiling and a weight-balancing mechanism on its floor. Lao Cheng analyzed it, explaining that the device could only withstand precisely 48 kilograms; any deviation would cause the passage to collapse.

He stressed that one person had to cross the corridor to activate a switch and open a door, or everyone would perish. Su Nan, appearing to be the lightest among them, volunteered. She removed her jacket and heavy shoes to adjust her weight, which proved to be exactly 48 kilograms. With steady steps, she traversed the passage, successfully triggered the switch, and opened a door on the other side.

Upon passing through the door, the group entered a vast, freezing palace, which Wu Xie identified as the Cool Hall, a royal summer retreat mentioned in ancient texts. He lit a match, causing a series of flames to ignite around the perimeter, illuminating the palace and revealing its impressive jade walls. Wu Xie cautioned everyone about the palace's inherent traps, and Master Guan reiterated this, advising them to leave immediately if anything seemed amiss.

The film crew, however, was immediately drawn to a large chest, which Lao Cheng skillfully pried open, revealing a hoard of gold, silver, and jewels. The sight ignited a frenzy of greed among the crew. Amidst the chaos, Li Cu heard a peculiar sound and discovered clusters of red, spherical objects beneath barnacle-like growths on the walls.

Master Guan warned against touching them, suspecting they were part of a mechanism rather than mere barnacles, and reiterated that such an elaborately hidden palace would undoubtedly be heavily booby-trapped. Despite the warnings, the crew's avarice led them to collect the "rubies," which triggered an immediate and violent tremor. The palace doors slammed shut, trapping them inside. Wu Xie, realizing their mistake, frantically ordered everyone to put the rubies they had taken into the chest.

Reluctantly, the crew complied, and as the last item was returned, the shaking abruptly ceased. Their brief respite was shattered as more red orbs rained down, causing the floor to shake even more violently. The ground cracked open everywhere except for the central platform, revealing deadly mechanisms below. Lao Cheng lost his footing and plunged into a chasm, where he was immediately impaled by sharp spikes, dying instantly.

Wu Xie and Li Cu were on the verge of falling as well but were quickly pulled back to safety by Su Nan. Panicked and distraught, some crew members demanded to be let out, threatening to expose them. Wu Xie, maintaining composure, asserted that there must be another exit. In their desperate search, Li Cu noticed a mural on the wall that had appeared out of nowhere, sensing that a lower section of the artwork remained hidden.

The floor was a precarious, seesaw-like mechanism that required precise balance. Despite Wu Xie's warnings to stay still, two crew members, Caitou and Xu Lei, lost their balance and plummeted to their deaths. Director Wang also fell. Wu Xie, trying to calm the panicked survivors, explained that the mechanism, though dangerous, was not overly complex; maintaining balance was key, and by following his instructions, they could escape.

He declared that he needed one person to cooperate with him to keep the platform balanced—someone trustworthy who would strictly obey his commands, or they would all die. When a crew member volunteered, Wu Xie rejected him, citing a lack of trust. He then designated Li Cu, despite Li Cu's initial reluctance and Master Guan's offer to go instead, insisting that Li Cu was the only person he could trust.

Li Cu, though fearful, agreed, facing a stern warning from Brother Mai not to betray them. With a perilous hole now revealed as the sole exit, Wu Xie directed Li Cu to work with him to safely transport the remaining survivors across. They painstakingly sent each person over one by one. Eventually, only Su Nan, Li Cu, and Wu Xie remained. Su Nan swiftly plunged a knife into the wall, temporarily wedging one end of the seesaw-like floor.

She then urged Li Cu to cross, and both quickly made their way to the exit. However, the knife soon dislodged, leaving Wu Xie stranded on the collapsing platform. He told the others not to worry about him and to go on.

Episode 5 Recap

Wu Xie managed to reach the exit just as the seesaw was about to tilt fully, narrowly escaping danger. Once on the surface, Shiyi, who had first bolted from the exit, was severely beaten by the others, including Lao Mai, for his panicked actions. Su Nan noticed her subordinate, Yaowang, was missing and hadn't come out with the rest of the group.

She questioned Lao Mai, who confirmed he hadn't seen Yaowang and speculated he might have gone further into the underground palace, though Su Nan doubted this, fearing an accident. Wu Xie asked Li Cu if he had considered running away while at the exit; Li Cu chuckled, stating he hadn't, as he depended on Wu Xie to lead him out.

Despite the recent events, Su Nan, at Master Ma’s insistence, announced they would have to descend again to retrieve what was needed. Wu Xie warned that the underground was too perilous, but Master Ma countered that risk was inherent in their venture, and the deaths shouldn't derail their efforts.

Wu Xie relented, agreeing to formulate a new plan for their next expedition and advising Su Nan’s team, who were preparing to go first, to retreat immediately should they encounter any trouble. Meanwhile, Wang Meng successfully recovered several SD cards for Wu Xie, but none contained photos of Huang Yan. Wu Xie handed the tablet with the recovered images to Li Cu, cautioning him against playing games.

Li Cu browsed the photos and discovered a deleted image where he saw someone resembling Wu Xie. Shortly after, Sis Lulu, Master Ma’s companion, approached Li Cu, requesting help with her photos and asking him to transfer them to Master Ma’s phone after enhancing her features considerably.

Li Cu hatched a plan: he deliberately deleted all of Sis Lulu’s photos, then enlisted Wang Meng’s help to recover them, knowing this process would also retrieve the photo Wu Xie had previously deleted. Wang Meng restored the files, and Li Cu confirmed that Wu Xie had indeed been to this place before. While Wang Meng was briefly away, Li Cu quickly copied the incriminating photo.

When Sis Lulu returned, displeased with Li Cu's lack of photo editing, she snatched her phone back, frustrating Li Cu’s efforts to study the images further. He later attempted to retrieve the phone from Master Ma’s tent but was unsuccessful. Back in their tent, Wu Xie and Wang Meng were working on a detailed map of the underground palace.

Wu Xie remarked that the palace's layout didn't match the Seven-Fingers Map tattooed on Li Cu's back, making him question if this was the true GuTongJing. Nearby, Marera, muttering in his sleep about "auspicious bugs from heaven," began to reveal an ancient legend after Wu Xie instructed Wang Meng to give him more liquor. Marera recounted a tale about the lord of GuTongJing, a spider-like entity with eight limbs, who could mount clouds and mist.

This lord reportedly managed floods hundreds of miles away during the day and returned to the city at night to absorb human souls. Most importantly, the legend spoke of an almighty gemstone that granted its owner limitless power, from ascending to the heavens to descending into the earth. Wu Xie realized this gemstone was Master Ma's ultimate objective. Later, Su Nan summoned Wu Xie to Master Ma.

Master Ma was eager to see Wu Xie’s new plan, but Wu Xie claimed it wasn’t ready, subtly attempting to dissuade him by asserting the underground palace held only archaeological value. Master Ma, however, was unconvinced, believing his intelligence was accurate. He cynically stated that human hearts were the most deceitful things in the world and demanded a new plan by nightfall.

Back in their tent, Li Cu confronted Wu Xie, accusing him of lying about his past presence in GuTongJing and threatening to expose his secrets to the group. Wu Xie calmly challenged Li Cu to do so, then revealed that the Seven-Fingers Map on Li Cu’s back did not correspond to GuTongJing, suggesting they might not be in the genuine location and asking Li Cu to stop causing further problems. Wu Xie firmly maintained he had never been there.

The discussion was interrupted by an alarm from outside as some of Su Nan’s men returned from the underground palace; one, Beiluo, was severely injured, while another, Ye Xiao, was now missing, and Yaowang was still unfound. Beiluo distraughtly claimed the palace was "eating people." Despite these harrowing reports, Master Ma staunchly refused to abandon the mission. Su Nan then decided she would go down again and invited Wu Xie to join her.

Master Ma, however, insisted Wu Xie stay to finalize his plan. Recalling seeing Wu Xie's drawings earlier, Su Nan retrieved a map from Wu Xie's tent and presented it to Master Ma. Upon seeing the map, which precisely marked the gemstone’s location, Master Ma became overjoyed and declared he would personally lead the next descent, commanding everyone, including the film crew, to accompany him.

Master Ma then proposed a deal: Wu Xie would lead the expedition for the gemstone, and in return, he could take everything else. Wu Xie accepted and added two conditions: the descent would take place the following morning, and the film crew, being a hindrance, should not go. Master Ma insisted all the men from the crew must go down, but compassionately permitted the female members to stay behind.

Wu Xie privately instructed Wang Meng that if he did not resurface within 42 hours, Wang Meng should contact "Black Glasses." He also advised Li Cu to be exceptionally careful, as he would not be able to offer constant protection. The following morning, the entire team, secured to a single rope, embarked on their second descent. After turning a corner, another team member, Zeng Ye, vanished without a trace.

Su Nan observed that the rope's shackle remained attached, indicating that the disappearances were not due to getting lost but to activated traps. Caitou, a film crew member, panicked and fled. Soon, his cries led them back to where they found the rope tied to a stone statue. Su Nan struck the statue, revealing it to be filled with strange sand.

Meanwhile, above ground, Guozi, who had used some of their precious drinking water to wash her hair, asked Lao Mai for two more bottles. Lao Mai attempted to take advantage of her, but Wang Meng arrived just in time to intervene.

Guozi later expressed concern to Wang Meng that Lao Mai’s tattoo resembled that of a wanted criminal she had seen on the news, but Wang Meng dismissed it as a coincidence, stating he had merely been there to fetch water himself. Back in the underground, Zeng Ye miraculously reappeared, disoriented and unable to recall how he had returned. The team then pushed open a large door, revealing a new chamber.

This vast space was filled with mummified figures, which were identified as the city lord's ancient soldiers. Master Ma was thrilled, believing that the presence of these guards meant they were close to his desired location. Based on architectural elements, the chamber appeared to have once been a pond. As the film crew began to set up for shooting, fine fluff from one of the mummies drifted into a girl’s eye, instantly causing her eyes to turn white.

It became evident that Master Ma was determined to acquire the gemstone, and his subordinates, such as Lao Mai, who Guozi suspected of being a wanted criminal, were not to be underestimated. This reinforced the impression that Master Ma's pursuit of the gemstone was driven by self-serving motives, likely at the expense of others.

Episode 6 Recap

The crew members who had been exposed to the white fuzz from the dry corpses in the pond started to exhibit alarming symptoms. A spore plant, when inhaled, would swell with water and obstruct the trachea, causing suffocation. Faced with the treacherous dry corpse pond as their only path forward, Su Nan took the lead. She tied a rope around herself and carefully traversed the pond, securing the rope on the other side for the remaining team members to follow.

However, when Li Cu was halfway across, he became overwhelmed with terror. Seeing his panic, Wu Xie quickly went to him, offering encouragement to help him cross. But Li Cu's extreme fear caused him to blurt out Wu Xie's secrets to Master Ma. Although Master Ma initially seemed indifferent to Wu Xie's identity, he became convinced that Wu Xie had been to this place before and demanded that he lead the way to the gems.

Wu Xie insisted he did not know the way. As Master Ma's subordinate, Kaikai, was about to take action against Wu Xie, Su Nan ingeniously triggered the spore plants, creating a diversion that allowed everyone to escape the immediate danger. During the chaotic escape, Li Cu got separated from the group. He wandered alone through the underground palace until he stumbled into a mysterious room. This room also featured a pond, but instead of water, it was filled with coffins.

Just like before, spore plants covered the ground, and there was another door on the opposite side. Li Cu began to cross the pond by stepping on the coffins. As he reached the last coffin, Wu Xie and Su Nan appeared, descending from above to rescue him. However, when Li Cu opened the door on the other side, he inhaled the spores and started to struggle for breath.

When Li Cu regained consciousness, Wu Xie was nowhere to be seen; only Su Nan was by his side. Su Nan initially spun a tale, claiming that after Li Cu lost consciousness, a group of people attacked, and Wu Xie killed them all before she barely managed to escape with Li Cu. She then probed Li Cu about his knowledge of the "seven-finger pattern" and his reasons for being in the underground palace.

Li Cu, growing suspicious, realized she was testing him. He confronted her about her knowledge of the seven-finger pattern, which he had never mentioned to her. Su Nan then dismissed her story as a joke, revealing that she had only given him regular painkillers and that Wu Xie was fine, currently with the others discussing their escape plan. Wu Xie explained that the underground palace was divided into East and West Palaces, which were mirror images of each other.

He deduced that these two sections were on the same horizontal plane and connected in a parallel manner. To find their way out, they needed to locate the precise connection point between the two palaces. As they continued their search, they uncovered a pile of weeds to find a deceased team member, confirming the inherent dangers of the place.

Wu Xie, consulting a map of the East Palace, reasoned that given the symmetrical, opposite design of the two palaces, they should turn left to reach the edge of the palace, despite a team member pointing out there was no visible path in that direction. Wu Xie asserted that the palace's designer would not have broken the consistent symmetrical pattern. Meanwhile, Su Wan and Yang Hao were held captive in a room.

They discovered a ventilation shaft, which they used to crawl into an adjacent room, where they hid inside some boxes. From there, they overheard a conversation about auction artifacts being moved to the old stage. They eventually found themselves pushed before President Zhang, who ominously stated his intention to send them to a place they would never wish to revisit. Separately, Liang Wan was searching for Li Cu and Su Wan.

She tracked down Li Cu's head teacher using hospital records. After some persuasive questioning, she confirmed that Li Cu was alive. She then inquired about Su Wan, learning that he had also been absent from school without leave, causing her to worry that he might be in trouble. Liang Wan, feigning a distant familial relationship to both students, quickly left. Su Wan and Yang Hao were led into a room filled with masks.

Su Wan was horrified to discover masks resembling Li Cu and their head teacher, Yang Jingmi. Believing both to have been murdered and their faces flayed, they frantically fled the Crescent Hotel. As they made their escape, two separate groups began to follow them, one of which was affiliated with the Crescent Hotel. President Zhang, informed of their escape, instructed his subordinates to prepare for an operation, but specifically ordered them not to harm the two boys.

Episode 7 Recap

After finding the connection point between the East and West Palaces, Wu Xie's group proceeded through it, arriving in a palace that appeared identical to the Cool Hall. Wu Xie explained that the underground palace was designed with symmetrical opposition, confirming they were now in the West Palace, a mirror image of the East.

He noted that the box in this "Cool Hall" was untouched, unlike the one in the East Palace which had been opened, and the entrance was in a completely opposite location, solidifying his theory. Consulting a newly found map, Wu Xie identified a small, central room connecting both sides as the main hall—the core of the entire underground palace and their only route back to the East Palace.

Master Ma, convinced his desired gemstone was there, urged them to press on. During this, Su Nan provocatively questioned Wu Xie about Li Cu having "something on his back," to which Li Cu nervously attributed to a mental episode. Wu Xie jokingly blamed Su Nan for "infecting" Li Cu, and Su Nan warned them to be more careful not to expose their act. The group soon reached a chasm, with a bright but perilous path leading to a sheer drop.

Wu Xie surmised the main hall lay below, filled with complex traps. He decided to scout ahead with Li Cu, strictly ordering everyone else to await his signal. As they rappelled down a wall littered with skeletal remains, mostly animal but some human, Li Cu began to see visions of Caitou, who had recently died. Overwhelmed by fear, he lost his grip on the rope and fell, passing out upon landing.

Discovering a floor covered in more corpses, Wu Xie realized it was a trap and yelled up to warn the others not to descend. However, Su Nan and the rest of the group, led by Master Ma who was consumed by his desire for the gemstone, ignored the warnings and descended into the abyss. Confronted by Wu Xie, Master Ma brushed off the danger and demanded his gemstone.

Later, as Li Cu recovered, Wu Xie comforted him, explaining that his visions of Caitou were hallucinations induced by claustrophobia, a common reaction under such intense pressure. Wu Xie shared his own past struggles with fear in underground explorations, revealing how the thought of his two trusted friends—one referred to as "the fat guy" and the other who had returned home—always helped him overcome it, and suggested Li Cu could think of him when scared.

Meanwhile, after escaping the Crescent Hotel, Su Wan met Liang Wan, who was devastated to learn that Li Cu had been flayed. Liang Wan, distraught and feeling responsible, implored Su Wan to never return to that dangerous place, fearing more lives would be lost. Unbeknownst to them, Master Zhang watched from above, convinced Liang Wan held vital clues.

That night, Su Wan performed a mournful ritual for Li Cu, burning joss paper and a stolen piece of "face skin" to ensure Li Cu's peace in the afterlife, while Yang Hao added paper effigies of luxury cars and beauties, much to the amusement of hidden observers. Their solemn act was cut short when Zheng Yi's henchmen attacked them, mistaking the offerings as a curse on their boss.

Su Wan and Yang Hao fled, pursued by Zheng Yi's men and other unidentified figures in black. On the surface, Wang Meng, whose designated time to leave for help had arrived, was interrupted by Lao Mai and two of his men attempting to assault three young women from the film crew, including Guozi. Wang Meng, unable to abandon them, returned and confronted Lao Mai.

Their standoff was abruptly interrupted as the ground beneath them shifted, creating a square hole—a mechanism inadvertently triggered by Master Ma inside the underground palace. Within the main hall, Wu Xie noticed signs that the stone statues had been moved. Li Cu, recalling the eye-switch mechanism from Huang Yan's iron box, pressed an eye-like switch on the wall, causing them all to move forward.

They discovered fragments of a larger pattern carved on the back of each statue, which they recognized as the complete design tattooed on Li Cu's back. Wu Xie explained that Huang Yan had copied these seven patterns before destroying the originals. Suddenly, the statues began to spew sand, and an Ouroboros symbol, representing the cycle of death and immortality, rotated.

The central floor sank, revealing a coffin containing the remains of what appeared to be an "Eight hands and eight feet" monster, which Wu Xie identified as conjoined twins, dismissing the legend as an exaggeration. Su Nan found a hidden space beneath the remains, and using principles of geomancy, Wu Xie deduced the exit was located at the head. Su Nan then spotted a gemstone, sending Master Ma into a frenzy.

Wu Xie warned him against taking it, identifying it as a trap that would endanger them all. Master Ma feigned compliance, but as they prepared to descend further, he furtively snatched the gemstone. It instantly disintegrated into dust, triggering a new mechanism that pinned the group to the wall. One by one, they were pulled downwards, until Wu Xie and Master Ma both fell into the depths below.

The newly formed hole on the ground allowed Su Nan and the remaining group to escape to the surface, leaving Lao Mai to contend with Wang Meng. Trapped below, Master Ma fell into despair, lamenting their seemingly inevitable demise. Wu Xie, however, searched for an escape and discovered a hollow wall, just as the chamber was shaken by an explosion from one of Su Nan's bombs. On the surface, Master Ma's wife frantically questioned Su Nan about her husband's whereabouts.

Su Nan informed her that he was "down there" and, under pressure, revealed they had only ten minutes before it was too late. Believing it was the only way to save them, Su Nan prepared more explosives to completely collapse the underground palace. Wang Meng vehemently protested, warning of the extreme danger and the need for precise calculations, but Su Nan disregarded his concerns, asserting that the palace would sink anyway and this was their last resort. She grimly announced that Master Ma now had only five minutes, his survival dependent purely on luck.

Episode 8 Recap

Wu Xie, trapped underground, deduced Su Nan's aggressive plan to blast an opening from above, leaving them with merely five minutes to find a hiding spot. He stressed the extreme peril, likening the palace ceiling to a colossal rock suspended overhead, certain to collapse. Su Nan, he noted, had used enough explosives to sink the palace by half a meter, essentially betting their lives on their ability to find temporary refuge.

Despite his personal history of losing bets, Wu Xie found hope in the principles of ancient architecture, believing that for every "death gate," there must be a "life gate." They soon entered another palace, strikingly similar to the one they had just left. There, Wu Xie meticulously studied a mural depicting figures worshipping a divine tree, which he inferred was either a sacred totem or a deity's embodiment, particularly since no such tree existed within the actual palace.

One of Master Ma's subordinates, later identified as Lao Mai, urged Wu Xie to perform his usual trick of striking a brick to reveal an exit. Wu Xie insisted he was merely a photographer, a claim Lao Mai scoffed at. With less than a minute until the next explosion, Wu Xie acknowledged Su Nan's impatience, just as the ground began to quake. They managed to escape the imminent collapse.

Outside, the explosion, paradoxically, saved Li Cu, who emerged from the sand unharmed, though the intricate pattern on his back was now exposed for all to see. Ye Xiao, who had been missing, also reappeared. Master Ma, upon seeing Li Cu's back, immediately recognized the markings as a map of gems. Both Master Ma and Su Nan were intensely interested in the underground mural. Master Ma demanded to know its meaning.

Wu Xie explained it was a map to the "true" GuTongJing, clarifying that their current location was a false one. He admitted he only managed to capture two partial images during the chaos of the blasting and required more time to decipher its complete connection to the engravings on Li Cu's back. Later, Lao Mai complained to Master Ma about taking orders from Su Nan. Master Ma quickly shut him down, stating their only concern was obtaining what they sought.

In a subsequent confrontation, Lao Mai confronted Wu Xie (whom he referred to as Master Guan), accusing him of withholding information about Li Cu's back. Wu Xie maintained he was only paid as a photographer. Master Ma then warned Wu Xie to be cooperative, emphasizing his business principles and methods, which prioritized getting what he desired. He brought up the casualties from their descent, holding Wu Xie responsible.

Wu Xie retorted that Master Ma had forced everyone to descend despite the dangers. Lao Mai interjected, threatening Wu Xie with violence from Master Ma's men if he didn't cooperate, revealing that these men were wanted criminals with multiple murders to their names. Wu Xie acknowledged their dangerous reputation but still insisted he needed more time to study the map. Late that night, Li Cu discovered Marera secretly taking a car to flee.

Li Cu convinced Marera to take him along, but just as they started the vehicle, Su Nan appeared directly in front of them, blocking their escape and forcing them to return to the camp. The next morning, Master Ma had a private conversation with the director. He revealed that a severe car accident years ago had left him almost paralyzed, and despite intensive rehabilitation, he hadn't fully recovered.

He believed that GuTongJing held the key to restoring his full abilities, making its discovery paramount. He then subtly threatened the director and his crew, hinting at the criminal pasts of his henchmen to ensure their continued cooperation. Abruptly, the desert began to sink, and the vehicles became trapped. Panic ensued as everyone scrambled to escape the collapsing ground.

Meanwhile, in the city, Su Wan and Yang Hao were in a cybercaf, plotting revenge for Li Cu by researching the Crescent Hotel. They discovered that an auction house named Baosheng consistently supplied items to the hotel, and its legal representative was Zhang Rishan—the same man they had previously seen at the Crescent Hotel. Yang Hao questioned their ability to "destroy" such a powerful figure.

As they left the cybercaf, they were accosted by their class teacher, Mr. Yang, who chastised Su Wan for being at a cybercaf with "street rascals." Yang Hao initially defended Su Wan, but Su Wan quickly silenced him, confirming Mr. Yang was his teacher. Mr. Yang insisted on taking Su Wan with him. In the car, Su Wan became suspicious, noticing that Mr. Yang had a car and recalling the human-skin masks at the Crescent Hotel.

Realizing this Mr. Yang was an impostor, he covertly sent a voice message to Yang Hao, stating that their teacher was fake. Yang Hao, engrossed in a game, initially dismissed the message. However, after finishing his game, he listened to Su Wan's frantic recording and connected it to Su Wan's previous warnings about "face peels" at the Crescent Hotel. Panicked, he rushed to Shen Qiong for help. Shen Qiong remained surprisingly calm despite Yang Hao's dire account.

Convinced of Su Wan's demise, Yang Hao dragged Shen Qiong to "burn paper money" for him, comically burning his customized clothes, suggesting he become a fashionista in the afterlife, and even playfully offered to burn Shen Qiong's "image" for him, knowing Su Wan's affection for her. Just then, a disheveled Su Wan appeared, muttering poetry. Shen Qiong remarked on his heavy "resentment."

Su Wan explained he had been taken for remedial tutoring by the imposter Mr. Yang, confirming it wasn't their real teacher. He then presented a wild theory: the "Jiu Men" they heard about at the Crescent Hotel actually referred to "nine academic subjects" (Chinese, math, English, chemistry, physics, biology, geography, history, and politics). He concluded that the Crescent Hotel was, in fact, a "cramming league" dedicated to improving the grades of "slackers" like himself and Li Cu.

While Shen Qiong and Yang Hao found his theory preposterous, they also admitted it made a strange kind of sense. Shen Qiong urged Su Wan to be cautious and offered her help with his studies, also warning Yang Hao not to lead Su Wan into danger again. Yang Hao, embracing Su Wan's new academic zeal, declared his intention to study hard and not disgrace the "cramming league."

Meanwhile, the imposter Mr. Yang, revealed to be Zhang Rishan, removed his lifelike face mask. He then summoned Master Yin to the Crescent Hotel for a meeting. During their conversation, Zhang Rishan, a temporary resident at the hotel, slyly remarked on Master Yin's financial gains from the establishment, making Master Yin feel at a disadvantage. Zhang Rishan complimented Master Yin's composure amid turmoil.

Master Yin expressed his regret over the fragmentation of the Jiu Men, acknowledging that no single faction could dominate anymore and that collaboration was essential. Zhang Rishan reiterated this was why he sought Master Yin, recognizing his status as an "outsider" after "Uncle Buddha's" passing. He leveraged Master Yin's free accommodation at the hotel, subtly hinting at the encroaching threats from other Jiu Men factions.

Master Yin, recalling Yin Xinyue's decree against the hotel's interference in Jiu Men affairs, initially resisted. However, Zhang Rishan emphasized the benefits of "sharing the meal." Master Yin, while still cautious, eventually agreed to cooperate. Zhang Rishan then shrewdly chose Luo Que for his task, praising his exceptional skills. Dr. Liang Wan anxiously tried calling Su Wan, but his phone was off, sparking deep worry.

Later, her director praised her work, specifically mentioning her excellent handling of "the kid whose back was a complete mess"—Li Cu. Upon hearing this, Liang Wan broke down, weeping uncontrollably. She confessed her guilt, believing she might have caused Li Cu harm, and now feared she might endanger another child, Su Wan. Her director was left utterly bewildered by her emotional outburst.

Episode 9 Recap

The desert floor began to give way, turning into quicksand and collapsing rapidly, leaving Wu Xie’s team unable to retrieve any of their supplies. Panic spread as a crew member, Sis Dan, risked her life to retrieve vital footage. She quickly sank into the sand, but Wu Xie instructed Wang Meng to toss her a rope, and the team worked together to pull her to safety.

Realizing there was no turning back as the area behind them completely caved in, they had no choice but to push forward in search of the true GuTongJing. Their journey continued on foot, weary and parched. Wu Xie explained that the phenomenon was quicksand, a result of the underground palace's rotation the previous day. He warned that the entire area was empty beneath and would continue to collapse, making it suicide to return.

Despite Master Ma's initial skepticism, who called Wu Xie an alarmist and still wished to return for his supplies, the complete collapse of their former campsite confirmed Wu Xie's warning. Later, Master Ma, concerned about the "spoiled" city dwellers, pulled Wu Xie aside, lamenting the loss of all their food and drink.

Wu Xie, however, merely smiled and declared that he was counting on Master Ma, as he had brought him along to find the "seas," implying he would make good use of him. This irritated Master Ma, who cursed his bad luck for ever meeting Wu Xie. Wu Xie also handed Li Cu an empty bottle, telling him to save it for urine, as it might become a life-saving drink.

Along the difficult trek, Li Cu attempted to remove his jacket, but Wu Xie stopped him, explaining that direct sun exposure would lead to rapid dehydration and death. He advised Li Cu to imagine himself as a camel, control his breathing, and minimize sweating. The group eventually reached a campsite, but their food was scarce, barely enough to survive.

Su Nan, showing leadership, not only shared her own provisions but also commandeered Master Ma's treasured strong liquor to distribute among everyone, ensuring they at least had something to drink, much to Master Ma's dramatic dismay. The desert night offered no solace; exhausted, they were kept awake by strange crying sounds. Wu Xie, having heard sand whistles before, admitted this sound was new to him.

Later that night, Master Ma questioned Su Nan, asking if she truly believed GuTongJing could help her. When she affirmed it was her only hope, he expressed admiration for her patience. He observed that while she pretended to be ordinary, her eyes betrayed no common desires, distinguishing her from the rest.

At the Crescent Hotel, Zhang Rishan took notice of an employee named Luo Que, who possessed the extraordinary skill of using a fishing rod to place cups precisely on a table from a floor above without breaking them. Impressed, Zhang Rishan requested Luo Que from Master Yin. Though Luo Que was headstrong and only submitted to those stronger than him, Zhang Rishan quickly proved his superior ability, and Luo Que became his loyal subordinate.

Meanwhile, Su Wan and Yang Hao found themselves increasingly targeted by mysterious individuals. Su Wan nervously scanned his surroundings, then told Yang Hao, whose phone had died, to pretend his phone was still working. He whispered that two women had been watching them. When the women suddenly appeared, the boys decided to split up and meet at Yang Hao's family shop. Both were pursued, but help arrived unexpectedly.

Su Wan was rescued by a man with a fishing rod, while Yang Hao was saved by Zhang Rishan, who efficiently took down their pursuers with powerful kicks. Back at Yang Hao's shop, Shen Qiong listened intently as Su Wan excitedly recounted his escape from a "crazy woman" and the dramatic intervention of the "fishing man." Yang Hao then shared his own heroic rescue by Zhang Rishan.

Shen Qiong, appearing thoughtful, remarked that she would "believe their nonsense for now," and wondered who they had provoked. Su Wan speculated that the incident was related to the Crescent Hotel, explaining that their investigation into Li Cu had led them there. At the Crescent Hotel, Zhang Rishan interrogated the individuals captured after chasing Su Wan and Yang Hao. The people, identified as members of the Jiu Men, remained tight-lipped about their company affiliations.

Zhang Rishan, who had been a member of the Jiu Men Association for over 30 years compared to their 10, sternly reminded them of the rules. He noted that Huang Yan, Wu Xie's man, had died exploring the desert, a matter that should have been handled by the association president. He rebuked their companies for causing trouble despite their bosses claiming to uphold the rules.

Just as Zhang Rishan was about to resort to harsher methods, Luo Que received a call from Master Yin, who advised a milder approach, stating that times had changed and suggesting a "serious warning but a mild punishment." Zhang Rishan then ordered everyone to be brought forward, but Luo Que discovered one person was missing.

For their transgression, Zhang Rishan ordered the literate ones to copy the association rules five hundred times, and the illiterate ones to recite them five hundred times, instructing them to relay his message directly to their bosses. Later, as Zhang Rishan returned to his room, the missing woman, wearing a mask, ambushed him. During their struggle, Zhang Rishan sustained a cut on the back of his hand, but despite her impressive skills, she proved no match for him.

Identifying her as a member of the "tenth family," Zhang Rishan activated a hidden mechanism by moving his fish tank, causing the floor beneath her to open. As she fell, she detonated a bomb. When a subordinate offered to bandage his wound, Zhang Rishan refused, stating he intended to exacerbate the injury and strictly forbade anyone from revealing his condition.

Observing the sequence of events—Shen Qiong's prior monitoring of Su Wan and Yang Hao, her immediate inquiry about the Crescent Hotel and Li Cu's connection to it, and the subsequent attack on Zhang Rishan—it seemed that Shen Qiong was playing a far more significant and potentially antagonistic role.

Episode 10 Recap

The group continued their arduous journey through the desert, relying solely on Marera to guide them to water. However, Master Ma’s patience wore thin, and he threatened Marera with a knife, accusing him of toying with them. Marera, quick-witted, claimed that a sea could be found just over the next sand dune.

Wu Xie, overhearing this, remarked to Li Cu that it was like “looking at plums to quench thirst,” noting Marera was an "old fox" and advising Li Cu to learn from him. Later, Marera genuinely sensed the presence of a sea, attributing it to the wind of an approaching sandstorm. He urged everyone to flee, but depleted of water, the others dismissed his warnings, only wanting to drink.

Just as the words were spoken, a backpack was ripped away by the wind, signaling the arrival of the sandstorm. With no time to escape, Wu Xie quickly instructed everyone to find shelter on a leeward slope. After the sandstorm passed, the group found themselves buried in the sand but unharmed. Marera, however, was nowhere to be found. Enraged, Master Ma took a knife from his man and threatened Wu Xie.

Su Nan intervened, daring Master Ma to kill Wu Xie, then her, and then everyone else. Master Ma, faced with her challenge, relented. Recognizing Marera's unparalleled knowledge of the desert, Wu Xie admitted he had no confidence in navigating out without him. Nevertheless, he declared that their only remaining hope was to trust Marera's earlier assertion about the sea, and he led the group in that direction.

As they continued, exhausted and desperate, Master Ma hallucinated seeing a pool of clear water, and one by one, several members, including Li Cu, collapsed onto the desert floor. Meanwhile, Liang Wan, still preoccupied with lingering guilt, was called to attend to a new emergency patient: Zhang Rishan. He had sustained both knife and burst injuries, which he had deliberately inflicted and exaggerated, having chosen Liang Wan specifically after reviewing her records.

Liang Wan, known for her infatuation with handsome men, was instantly charmed. Zhang Rishan even probed into her personal life, asking if she was living alone. After bandaging his wounds, Liang Wan told him to proceed to the checkout. Zhang Rishan claimed he had forgotten his wallet, prompting Liang Wan to immediately offer to lend him the money and ask for his phone number so he could repay her.

Despite feeling that her behavior was uncharacteristic, she still helped him save her number in his phone. She even told him that, unlike other patients who needed to queue, he could come directly to her if he had any further issues with his hand. Her assistant, Xiao Mao, subtly highlighted this preferential treatment, to which Liang Wan insisted, "He's different. He is a patient."

Zhang Rishan accepted, promising to return the money "next time," which delighted Liang Wan, much to Xiao Mao’s quiet amusement. It appeared Zhang Rishan was not only pursuing clues but also genuinely interested in Liang Wan herself. In a separate encounter, Yin Nanfeng confronted Zhang Rishan, questioning his interference in WuShanJu affairs when he usually forbade others from doing so.

Zhang Rishan explained that he was simply returning a favor to Fifth Master Wu Gou, adding that he had not forgotten the Wong family's past attempt to control everyone. Yin Nanfeng warned him that this was a losing venture and he wouldn't recover if he failed. Zhang Rishan retorted that not everything could be measured by money.

Yin Nanfeng then observed his unwavering loyalty to "Uncle Buddha," noting that after so many years, Zhang Rishan was still dedicated to fulfilling his mentor’s vision. Zhang Rishan left, stating he had other matters to attend to. In another conversation, he clarified that his involvement in GuTongJing was to help Wu Xie, and he challenged anyone who sought to stop them. Back in the desert, Li Cu eventually awoke to find himself in a local's home, wearing their clothes.

Thirsty, he drank from a cup, only to discover small, black, round objects at the bottom. Wang Meng explained they were "sheep droppings," a local custom to prevent them from drinking too quickly after severe dehydration, comparing it to Civet coffee. Li Cu, disgusted, spat out the water and quickly sought more to rinse his mouth. The hostess, Surige, appeared and informed Li Cu that her son, Galu, had rescued them.

She explained that Galu, who appeared to be mentally slow, often brought back people he found, "whether they are alive or dead." When Li Cu asked for a toilet, Surige directed him to a "dry toilet" area behind the house, warning him not to wander too far as theirs was the only household for hundreds of kilometers. While relieving himself, Li Cu saw Wu Xie emerging from a cellar and questioned what he was doing.

Wu Xie simply told him to wash his hands, offering no explanation. Later, Galu threw sheep droppings at Li Cu, who retaliated by hitting him in self-defense. Galu then ran crying to Eji, his mother. The behaviors of Surige and Galu, including their habit of counting the visitors, struck everyone as odd. After drinking the water, Ye Xiao began experiencing stomach pains.

Wu Xie also felt a slight discomfort but noted that Wang Meng, who had also consumed the water, felt fine, which intensified his suspicions. Li Cu, worried about his purpose as a "living map" now that his back was healing and they still hadn't found their destination, asked Wu Xie if he planned to reopen his back. Wu Xie reassured him, stating he had memorized all the important information and would not make him suffer again.

Feeling no longer needed, Li Cu requested to go home, but Wu Xie refused. He sternly advised Li Cu to be wary of Surige and to conceal any signs of distrust. He emphasized that if Li Cu wanted to survive, he must follow his instructions.

During a meal, Li Cu found an unidentified object in his food, prompting Wu Xie to warn everyone to avoid touching anything unnecessary in the house, as he suspected something was deeply wrong with the place. Surige continued to bring hot water to each group throughout the night. Ye Xiao drank the water she offered, only to vomit a black liquid, confirming their fears.

The documentary crew members were increasingly frightened, complaining that their film project had turned into a terrifying ordeal, and many blamed Wu Xie for their predicament. Director Wang, asserting control, warned them against leaving without his permission. Meanwhile, Lulu spoke with Master Ma, asking him what they would do if, despite their best efforts, they failed to find GuTongJing. She reminded him of his earlier pledge to die if he failed and promised her lifelong loyalty regardless.

Master Ma pondered the loyalty of others, admitting he didn't know if he could trust them. He reflected on his life, describing it as "treading on thin ice," having pushed himself to a point of "riding a horse on the wall," with no option to retreat. He concluded that his future now depended solely on luck. Unable to sleep, Li Cu got up and inadvertently witnessed Surige bathing. He was startled to see a strange tattoo covering her back. Surige, sensing movement behind her, quickly turned, and Li Cu managed to hide himself just in time.

Episode 11 Recap

A woman's scream pierced the morning silence, waking everyone. Outside, under a pile of straw, they found Ye Xiao's lifeless body, covered in knife wounds. Master Ma questioned why his man was in such a state, to which a subordinate explained that Ye Xiao was frantic last night but had calmed down before his death. Wu Xie examined the body, asserting that Ye Xiao inflicted the wounds himself with a small blade.

The cuts were vertical, on the inside of his arms, along with numerous scratches all over his body and even on his ears, suggesting he had tried to insert the blade. Wu Xie concluded that Ye Xiao must have suffered immense pain, possibly from tinnitus, before dying quietly and swallowing the blade. Li Cu, visibly shaken, recalled Huang Yan's similarly gruesome death, stating that Ye Xiao's state was identical to Huang Yan's.

Back inside, Wu Xie speculated that Ye Xiao, overwhelmed by pressure, had committed suicide. However, to provoke a reaction, he posited that Ye Xiao might have been poisoned, which then induced the frantic self-harm. Master Ma scoffed at the idea of a man deliberately cutting himself to death, insisting Ye Xiao had no mental problems. Wu Xie clarified that the poisoning led to the self-mutilation, making everyone present a suspect.

Enraged, Master Ma immediately confined everyone to the premises, forbidding anyone from leaving. Su Nan attempted to logically narrow down the suspects, listing items consumed by everyone: Surige's food and water, the antibiotic tablets she gave to Ye Xiao, and the medicine Wu Xie gave to Master Ma. Wu Xie then pointed out that everyone also drank from the same water source in the desert, extending suspicion to all.

He proposed various motives for different individuals: Li Cu's reluctance to follow Master Ma, Master Ma viewing Li Cu as a burden, his own desire not to be Master Ma's hostage, and Surige's potential for financial gain. He noted Su Nan seemed to lack a clear motive, yet she was the one who provided Ye Xiao with medicine. Su Nan, acknowledging the widespread suspicion, resignedly suggested they might all be stuck there indefinitely.

As the group debated, Surige's son, Galu, began singing a song that Marera used to hum, "Do you sell empty wine bottles?" . Seizing an opportunity, Wu Xie poured water on Li Cu, fabricating a story that the boy had wet himself in fear, and asked Su Nan for permission for Li Cu to relieve himself outside. Once outside, Li Cu, recalling Wu Xie emerging from a cellar hidden under straw during an earlier trip, decided to investigate.

Descending into the cellar, he discovered various strange equipment and, on a shelf, a handgun. Further exploration behind a woodpile, where he bravely shone his light, revealed Marera's lifeless body. Li Cu returned, dragging Marera's body and the retrieved equipment into the room. Su Nan immediately recognized the gear as belonging to the previous tour group, instantly making Surige the primary suspect. Surige, feigning innocence, vehemently denied involvement.

However, when she challenged them, asking how they could assume the discovered gun was "hers," Wu Xie discerned that she had accidentally revealed the existence of another weapon. Su Nan quickly produced a gun she had taken from Surige, confirming Wu Xie's deduction. As Su Nan questioned her, Galu rushed in, crying out for his mother. Surige calmly sent him away to play.

Conceding defeat, Surige admitted to robbing the tour group and committing murder, asking Su Nan to kill her. Su Nan stated that the police would decide her fate and she needed to interrogate her further. During a brief distraction, Surige attempted to seize Su Nan's gun, but Su Nan quickly kicked her away. In a shocking act of defiance, Surige then fatally smashed her head into a nearby pillar, committing suicide. Galu rushed back, cradling his dead mother.

With Surige dead, Su Nan believed only her son, Galu, held the remaining answers. She ordered her men to tie him up and interrogate him, using both gentle and forceful methods. However, they extracted no information, leading Su Nan to conclude that Galu was genuinely simple-minded. Su Nan confiscated Surige's gun for self-defense, promising to hand it over to the police later. Soon after, Uncle Zeng from the film crew collapsed, gravely ill.

Director Wang angrily confronted Master Ma, accusing him of leading them to this dreadful place. Master Ma retorted that no one was forced and that their only path to survival was forward. Wu Xie intervened, advising everyone to rest. In their room, Li Cu questioned Wu Xie's deception, noting that Ye Xiao's death mirrored Huang Yan's, indicating it wasn't just poisoning.

Wu Xie calmly explained that their ultimate goal was to reach GuTongJing, and the specific individuals who made it there with them were inconsequential. He enigmatically advised Li Cu to cherish his current ability to be a "coward," suggesting that sometimes one can't even be a coward if they wanted to.

Later, a young woman named Guozi from the film crew, worried about Uncle Zeng's worsening condition and Director Wang's increasingly volatile temper, came to Wu Xie for medicine, expressing her fear that they were like a clay idol crossing a river, unable to save themselves. Meanwhile, Master Ma, severely coughing and unsteady, reassured a distraught Lulu of his affection, promising to treat her well if their mission succeeded.

He urged her, if he failed, to remember above all else, to live well. When Guozi returned with the medicine, Director Wang was also coughing, confirming a spreading illness. The next morning, Li Cu awoke from a nightmare. He saw Galu at Surige's makeshift grave, attempting to place flowers. Li Cu went out to help, showing Galu how to properly bury them.

Lulu also emerged, carrying a water bottle, and gently explained to Galu that picked flowers needed water to live, not just burial. Galu then burst into heartbroken sobs, understanding the pain of loss. Lulu knelt to comfort him, sharing that she too had no mother and understood his grief, relating it to her own difficult situation with Master Ma, but emphasizing the importance of living on.

Wu Xie and Su Nan discussed the progress toward GuTongJing, with Wu Xie confirming he had a general direction but needed more time to find the exact path. Wu Xie remarked that Su Nan reminded him of a woman he once knew, who was both a friend and an enemy, intelligent and formidable, whose thoughts were always inscrutable. He recounted how this woman had died years ago from a snakebite by a river while sifting through sand.

Su Nan, asserting her difference from such a "careless" person, then removed her headscarf and went for a swim. Wu Xie, clearly uninterested, walked away. Later, back at the inn, Wu Xie's companion, Wang Meng, noted the unusual quietness, as Master Ma and the entire film crew had not come downstairs. Shortly after, Su Nan returned from her swim, looking incredibly weak, bleeding from her nose. She then collapsed, convulsing and spitting up a large pool of blood.

Lao Mai and others rushed to carry her to her room. Wu Xie theorized that the escalating illness was not due to poisoning but rather an infectious bacterial disease. He noted that since their arrival, everyone had shared food and water, no one had left the premises, and now Su Nan had fallen ill even after Surige's death, making poisoning less plausible. He highlighted that many were exhibiting early symptoms similar to Ye Xiao's: coughing, colds, self-scratching, and even self-harm.

Lacking proper equipment to definitively identify the pathogen, Wu Xie decided that an autopsy on Ye Xiao might provide the crucial answers. When they uncovered Ye Xiao's body, his stomach was unusually swollen, a symptom Wang Meng recalled seeing in Huang Yan's body at the hospital. They proceeded to move Ye Xiao's body to the cellar for dissection, with Galu, who had been playing with mud, curiously following them.

Upstairs, Director Wang, having overheard Wu Xie's discussions, grew increasingly agitated as Uncle Zeng's condition deteriorated, causing him immense pain and leading him to scratch at his face. Desperate, Director Wang decided to take Uncle Zeng to the county hospital via camel, dismissing Wu Xie's efforts and distrusting all the "outsiders." He lashed out at Master Ma for their current plight, calling him a bastard and urging his crew to follow him.

While a mysterious illness plagued those in the desert, Zhang Rishan in the city also faced challenges. Liang Wan, who had treated the injuries he intentionally sustained, found herself constantly thinking of him, speaking to his picture daily and wondering why he hadn't returned for a dressing change. Her colleague, Xiao Qi, encouraged her to be more assertive, noting Zhang Rishan's handsome appearance and suggesting that no man could resist "Dr. Liang's doctor's robe."

Meanwhile, at the Crescent Hotel, Zhang Rishan was informed by Luo Que that several Jiu Men representatives, including Master Li, Master Qi, and the Huo family, had gathered in the meeting hall. He understood their true motive: to ascertain if his injured hand was permanently disabled, which would diminish his value to their association. He instructed Luo Que not to dismiss them, as it would only heighten their suspicions.

The Huo family's delegate, a young girl, displayed considerable arrogance, defiantly occupying Zhang Rishan's seat until his arrival, at which point she grudgingly moved aside. A heated exchange erupted between her and another Jiu Men member, with the Huo girl accusing others of having "gone for wool but come home shorn," while the other man retorted that she was putting on airs with unearned authority. Zhang Rishan then calmly asked the gathered representatives about the purpose of their visit.

Episode 12 Recap

Members of the Jiu Men, the Nine Clans, arrived at the Crescent Hotel with gifts, though their true intentions were veiled. A young woman from the Huo family, in particular, immediately challenged Zhang Rishan, asking him to inspect a precious item. She referenced the Zhang family's renowned "double-finger tomb probing" skill, which had allowed their ancestor, Buddha Zhang, to lead the Nine Clans. Noticing Zhang Rishan wearing leather gloves, the other elders feigned concern, asking if he was injured.

Zhang Rishan admitted to injuring his hands, joking that it was merely a fish bone while cooking, and then revealed his seemingly unblemished hands by removing a layer of fake skin. However, the elders remained unconvinced. To prove his hands were still functional, Zhang Rishan presented the Nine Orifices Exquisite Box from the Northern Song era, a treasure of the Crescent Hotel.

He explained its dangerous mechanism: 3,000 gold threads inside, but only one connected to the inner lock; touching a wrong thread would trigger dozens of poisonous barbed needles, disabling the opener's hand. Zhang Rishan stated he would open it, and if successful, they should leave. He then appeared to skillfully open the box, revealing a superior tongue jade, satisfying the onlookers who then departed. Alone with Luo Que, Zhang Rishan acknowledged he had actually failed and his hand remained injured.

He revealed he couldn't go to a hospital without exposing his secret, concluding he had no choice but to seek Liang Wan's help. Meanwhile, Liang Wan was at home, enjoying a meal with a face mask on, complaining about Zhang Rishan breaking his promise to contact her. The doorbell rang, and to her surprise, it was Zhang Rishan. She quickly shut the door, removed her mask, changed clothes, and tidied her apartment before letting him in.

Liang Wan noticed his wounds were worse than before. She offered to treat him, but insisted he go to a hospital for deep cuts near the nerves. Zhang Rishan refused, stating he only wanted her to treat him and confessing he came specifically to see her. Liang Wan, flustered by his persistence, warned him it would be painful without anesthetic, to which he simply told her to proceed.

As she began, another woman arrived at the door, calling for Zhang Rishan. He immediately claimed Liang Wan was his girlfriend. Liang Wan, seizing the opportunity, boldly confronted the woman, asserting her position as Zhang Rishan's current girlfriend and sharply dismissing the woman, who was apparently his ex-girlfriend. After the woman left, Liang Wan pressed Zhang Rishan on the nature of their relationship, and he playfully suggested it was "pending further investigation." Liang Wan, however, took his words seriously.

In the desert, Master Ma's condition worsened; he became delirious, failing to recognize Lulu and accusing her of trying to kill him. He ordered Lao Mai to tie her up and investigate who wanted him dead, promising a massive reward but also threatening everyone's lives if Lao Mai failed. Though Lao Mai questioned the value of money in their dire situation, he agreed to investigate under the threat of death.

At the same time, Director Wang and his crew attempted to escape the desert on camels but were quickly intercepted by Lao Mai's men, who fired a warning shot to halt their flight. In the cellar, Wu Xie, Wang Meng, and Li Cu performed an autopsy on Ye Xiao's bloated body, extracting a long, wriggling worm. Wu Xie then deliberately cut Li Cu's arm in two places, instructing him to feign illness.

Lao Mai, having rounded up Director Wang's fleeing crew, discovered Wu Xie's group in the cellar. Believing them to be the culprits, Lao Mai brought them to Master Ma. Wu Xie clarified that the illness only affected those who had entered the West Palace for a third time. He then demonstrated how the small worm, which he identified as a plant spore, expanded rapidly upon contact with water.

He explained that Ye Xiao's self-inflicted wounds mirrored the bodies found in the West Palace, a result of the worm's growth and the intense urge to remove it. Wu Xie added that Su Nan's severe symptoms were likely due to swimming and absorbing a large amount of water. Master Ma, skeptical, questioned why Wu Xie and Li Cu, who had also been to the West Palace, were not infected.

Wu Xie then revealed his genuine wounds, contrasting them with Li Cu's intentionally faked ones. As Master Ma's symptoms flared up, and Wu Xie and Director Wang also began to exhibit signs of the illness, Wu Xie instructed the others to bind them to prevent self-harm. With the sick tied down, the only solution was to remove the worms. Pressured by Lao Mai, Lulu, a former nurse with no surgical experience, reluctantly operated on Uncle Zeng.

She located the worm but, in her panic, it escaped back into his head, killing him instantly. Terrified, no one wanted to be next. Wu Xie, despite his worsening condition, volunteered and instructed Li Cu, who had witnessed the previous autopsy, to perform the extraction. Though frightened, Li Cu followed Wu Xie's guidance, making an incision and using chopsticks to extract the worm.

When the worm became stuck, Wu Xie, enduring excruciating pain, forcefully yanked it out himself before collapsing and then abruptly waking up. After the harrowing experience of extracting the worm from Wu Xie, Li Cu appeared to have matured. He questioned why he hadn't been infected, despite having been in the underground palace.

Wu Xie speculated that it was related to the unique map on Li Cu's back, suggesting that while the worm wasn't in him, the mysterious black substance from the box was. Wu Xie insisted Li Cu must continue the journey to GuTongJing, as it was not only their destination but likely the only place to resolve what was inside him. As everyone recovered, preparations began to continue their journey to GuTongJing.

Su Nan proposed bringing Galu along, recognizing that despite his simple-mindedness, he was a "living map" capable of guiding them through the desert. Before they set off, Wu Xie discovered that his gun was missing, leading him to suspect that someone had taken it. Meanwhile, Su Wan found himself caught in Shen Qiong's scheme as a result of his connection to Li Cu.

One evening, while studying, he received a call from Shen Qiong, inviting him to her home for tutoring. Su Wan, smitten with Shen Qiong, eagerly arrived. Shen Qiong, wearing a seductive nightgown, tutored him, but he struggled to concentrate. She subtly probed him, asking if he had ever visited labyrinthine places like the Crescent Hotel.

Guided by her, Su Wan drew what he called a "map to my heart," which Shen Qiong initially mistook for a genuine map of the Crescent Hotel. Later, while grabbing something, Su Wan noticed photos on Shen Qiong's desk: recent ones from the desert and an old photograph of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Shen Qiong, who he suspected was her mother.

Episode 13 Recap

Wu Xie, Li Cu, and the rest of the group continue their arduous journey through the desert. Li Cu reaches for his water bottle, but Wu Xie takes it, reminding him that the road ahead is still long and it's too early to drink. Li Cu reluctantly agrees, asking for his bottle back. Wang Meng supports Wu Xie, vouching for his boss's extensive experience. Nearby, Brother Mai playfully teases Galu.

Su Nan sternly warns Brother Mai that such jokes could be fatal and that she doesn't want to say it again. Su Nan then approaches Wu Xie, noting their shared hardships and suggesting he shouldn't keep secrets from her, especially regarding Li Cu's peculiarities. Wu Xie, realizing she's probing for information, reveals he initially studied architecture before learning "weird stuff" from his Third Uncle, which also involved significant suffering.

Li Cu jokingly asks if Wu Xie has relatives, to which Wu Xie retorts, "Who doesn't have a family? Do you think I was born from a stone?" Su Nan says she has no family, prompting Wu Xie to remark that she nonetheless appears to lead a free and easy life. Suddenly, Director Wang's compass begins to malfunction. Wu Xie deduces there's a magnetic ore deposit beneath their feet. Shortly after, the camels refuse to move.

Wu Xie estimates that GuTongJing must be nearby, given the time they've traveled from Galu's home. He instructs everyone to take their bags, abandon the camels, and split up to search. As they prepare, Li Cu discovers Wu Xie's gun in Director Wang's bag. Director Wang, highly agitated since realizing Brother Mai's group are wanted criminals, snatches the gun.

Wu Xie requests it back, stating he needs it to protect everyone, but Director Wang declares he trusts no one but himself. He vents his frustration at being a film director now stuck with criminals, blaming Master Ma for everything. Master Ma provokes him to shoot, but Director Wang, lacking the courage to shoot Master Ma directly, fires a shot into the air instead. He then hysterically claims they will all die there.

Wu Xie calmly retorts that if he kills them all, no one will be left to lead him to GuTongJing or out of the desert. Wu Xie, recalling Li Cu's past experiences with being beaten by his father, abruptly punches Li Cu in the nose, causing it to bleed. He declares it's time for Li Cu's blood to serve its purpose as a guide. Su Nan remarks on the unusual nature of Li Cu's blood.

Following the trail of Li Cu's blood, the group soon discovers a body of water. Excited, they rush towards it. Brother Mai is the first to spot glittering gold along the shore, leading the film crew to frantically collect it, believing they've struck it rich. Master Ma and Su Nan, however, remain uninterested, understanding that such an abundance of easily accessible gold means there's something far more valuable hidden beneath GuTongJing.

Su Nan warns Wu Xie that she will eventually force him to reveal all his secrets. After collecting some gold, the group sets up camp. However, the newfound wealth quickly breeds discord. The film crew members bicker, each trying to assert authority over the others. Meanwhile, Brother Mai's group considers Master Ma a liability and discusses plans to eliminate him. Wu Xie and Li Cu sit by the water, apart from the others.

Li Cu, puzzled, asks Wu Xie why he doesn't care about the gold and what his true purpose is for being there. Wu Xie recalls a conversation with Xie Yuchen before his journey to GuTongJing. He had asked Xie Yuchen to monitor suspicious individuals within the Nine Clans Association, acknowledging that Xie Yuchen's position would become dangerous and suggesting he seek help from Zhang Rishan if necessary.

Xie Yuchen expressed doubt, noting that QiongQi had withdrawn from association affairs after Uncle Buddha's passing, making Zhang Rishan's help unlikely, but assured Wu Xie he could manage alone. Wu Xie then tells Li Cu that he is remarkably similar to Wu Xie's younger self: impulsive, loyal, and thoughtful, but also disobedient and undisciplined, qualities his Third Uncle frequently criticized.

When Li Cu asks who this mysterious Third Uncle is, Wu Xie simply states that his Third Uncle is "not a human at all." Meanwhile, Master Li and Master Qi visit Zhang Rishan again at the Crescent Hotel. Though annoyed, Zhang Rishan agrees to meet them. They present him with exquisite HongBiaoSongPin tea but accompany it with a fake tea set. Zhang Rishan immediately identifies the tea set as a fake due to its unnaturally new glaze and distinct color.

The two masters then produce nine appraisal certificates, all bearing the BaoSheng stamp, claiming subsequent re-appraisals proved them to be forgeries. They accuse BaoSheng of fraud and propose a rotating system for the appraisal stamp to prevent any single clan from monopolizing it.

Zhang Rishan defends BaoSheng's strict practices and denies any wrongdoing, reminding them of Uncle Buddha's decree that the QiongQi and BaoSheng stamps represent the "head and tail" of the Nine Clans, and that any changes require a full association meeting. The two masters then suggest suspending BaoSheng's stamp to consolidate power with QiongQi. Zhang Rishan, however, produces his own BaoSheng business card, revealing a genuine, hidden watermark that exposes the Li and Qi families' certificates as crude fakes.

He dismisses their attempts as petty schemes and advises them to gather real evidence if they wish to challenge BaoSheng. Afterward, Zhang Rishan instructs his subordinate to locate Xie Yuchen. Xie Yuchen is seen at his master's memorial, lamenting the current situation. When Xie Yuchen eventually meets Zhang Rishan, he emphasizes that the most critical aspects of their plan, apart from Wu Xie's involvement, must remain confidential.

He acknowledges that Wu Xie's journey to GuTongJing means Zhang Rishan is now undeniably involved, and while they hadn't expected his direct help, they hoped he wouldn't obstruct their path. Back in the desert, Li Cu expresses his frustration to Wu Xie that their current location is still not the real GuTongJing, annoyed by the repeated false alarms. He decides to take a bath in the water.

While bathing, Li Cu tells Wu Xie that he inadvertently saw a phoenix tattoo on Surige's back when she was bathing, sensing it hints at something significant about her. Wu Xie listens, appearing thoughtful. Unbeknownst to them, Galu watches them from a distance with a grim expression, clutching a knife he pulls from his clothes. Brother Mai, still resentful over their near-death experience at the hands of Galu's mother, drags Galu back to camp.

Feeling emboldened by the gold they found, Brother Mai also turns his aggression towards Master Ma. He holds a knife to Master Ma's throat, demanding to be called "Brother Mai." Master Ma refuses. After Brother Mai counts to three, Galu, to everyone's surprise, calls him "Brother Mai." Master Ma, enraged by Brother Mai's taunts and unable to lash out at him, turns his anger on Galu, beating him. Galu's demeanor suddenly changes completely.

He pulls out a knife, stabs Master Ma, and then commands Brother Mai to tie up the others. Surprisingly, Su Nan instructs Brother Mai to obey Galu. Wu Xie realizes the immediate danger and urges Li Cu to get out of the water and dress quickly. They hear shouts and realize Master Ma has been fatally wounded.

Episode 14 Recap

Having dropped his pretense, Galu, after wounding Master Ma, ordered Lao Mai to round up the film crew and Wang Meng. Director Wang’s attempt to fight back was swiftly halted by Galu’s throwing knife. From a distance, Wu Xie and Li Cu observed the unfolding events. Wu Xie instructed Li Cu to stay put while he went to rescue them, but Li Cu, disregarding the warning, rushed forward.

Galu met him with a punch, knocking Li Cu to the ground and mocking his weakness. Wu Xie quickly followed, engaging Galu in a fierce fight. Despite Galu’s skill, Wu Xie gained the upper hand until Lao Mai intervened, holding a gun to Wu Xie’s head. Galu then returned to Li Cu, taunting him further about his perceived uselessness. Suddenly, Li Cu’s eyes turned pitch black, and he unleashed an immense, uncanny strength, effortlessly throwing Galu a considerable distance.

This burst of power quickly faded, his eyes returned to normal, and he along with Wu Xie and the others were subdued. Galu, no longer feigning simple-mindedness, relished in his successful deception, admitting how tiring it had been to maintain the act but how satisfying it was to see everyone fooled.

He revealed his ultimate goal was to reach GuTongJing and confessed to killing Marera, dismissing Surige as an incompetent pawn, not his mother, effectively confirming both were part of the Clan Wang. Su Nan, too, was revealed to be a member of the Clan Wang, having deliberately approached Wu Xie with ulterior motives. Galu, having noticed the Seven-Fingers Map on Li Cu’s back, decided to force Wu Xie to reveal the true route to GuTongJing.

He threatened to kill everyone, torturing three young women from the crew by cutting their tendons, not even sparing Lulu who had been kind to him. As he held Wang Meng captive, Wu Xie, unable to bear further harm to his friend, agreed to disclose the route. However, Galu abruptly changed his mind, deciding Wu Xie was too clever to be kept alive and aimed his gun at him, intending to kill him and rely solely on Li Cu's map.

Su Nan, however, intervened, pointing her own gun at Galu. She argued that Wu Xie’s life was essential as Li Cu’s map alone wouldn't suffice to navigate all the mechanisms within GuTongJing. Galu, accusing Su Nan of having feelings for Wu Xie, retaliated by shooting several of her men. Seizing a moment of opportunity, Su Nan kicked sand into Galu’s face, momentarily blinding him, and fired her gun.

Wu Xie quickly picked up a fallen gun and aimed it at Su Nan. A tense standoff ensued, with Wu Xie stating they only had two choices: either he shot her, or she shot him, as he had no time to waste. Su Nan proposed a third option: Wu Xie kills Li Cu, she kills Wang Meng, and they go to GuTongJing together.

Wu Xie sarcastically acknowledged it as a "good idea," subtly confirming his knowledge of her Clan Wang identity. As their conversation continued, Wang Meng, seizing the distraction, swiftly knocked out Su Nan from behind. As Wu Xie, Li Cu, and Wang Meng attempted to gather their supplies, Galu, surprisingly, stirred back to life and threw a knife, hitting Wu Xie’s backpack.

As the sand around them began to shift, Wu Xie urged Li Cu and Wang Meng to run towards the approaching sea. They quickly reached the water, and Wu Xie ordered them to jump in, despite Li Cu’s protestations about the sanity of the act. Galu continued his relentless pursuit. Swimming was arduous, and Li Cu, struggling, soon grew exhausted and began to sink, though Wu Xie pushed him to persevere.

They eventually awoke on a vast white sand beach, though Li Cu was nowhere to be found. Wu Xie immediately noticed the eerily windless environment. Investigating further, he and Wang Meng discovered a Soviet truck half-buried in the sand. Wu Xie deduced, based on the rust and the type of tires, that the vehicle had been there for over half a century and could not have driven across the sandy terrain, implying a hidden road beneath.

As they dug around the truck, they uncovered a mummified corpse dressed in a 1930s-40s European engineer's uniform, suggesting a major past project. Wang Meng found a still-working watch and a notebook on the body. Nearby, Wu Xie discovered a brick wall bearing the inscription "GuTongJing 056," confirming they had indeed found the true GuTongJing. However, he realized that while entry was achieved, escape was now the challenge, with the sea appearing to be their only potential exit.

The immediate priority, however, was finding Li Cu. Returning to the buried truck, Wu Xie and Wang Meng examined its interior. The driver was dead, and an open container sat beside him. Wu Xie theorized that the container’s contents were responsible for the driver's death, but that their toxicity had dissipated over the decades, as proven by their own lack of harm after prolonged exposure.

He also believed the driver hadn't locked himself in to die, but had been forcibly trapped by others. As they pulled the driver’s body from the vehicle, a string of grenades was inadvertently pulled out with it. Wu Xie reacted swiftly, kicking the grenades away just before they detonated. The explosion caused a significant shift in the sand, revealing several other identical trucks and more dried corpses, all arranged in a circular formation.

Amidst the chaos, Wang Meng spotted Li Cu near one of the newly uncovered vehicles. Li Cu, waking from his ordeal, initially believed he had arrived in heaven, only to find himself in the true GuTongJing, his back throbbing for a moment. The trio surveyed their surroundings. Wu Xie pondered the circular arrangement of the cars, initially suspecting a camp or a defense against an unprecedented sandstorm, given that all the previous inhabitants had perished.

He also considered a darker possibility: they might have been attempting to encircle the mobile desert sea itself, fearing its unpredictable movements. To survive, they decided to search the vehicles and the corpses for any remaining provisions. Afterward, honoring the dead, they buried them and erected a tombstone, which Li Cu named "Lost Souls' Regrets," dedicating it to those who had left home and could never return. Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan was also active.

He had arranged to meet Liang Wan that night. Having just treated an emergency patient, Liang Wan arrived late, soaked by the rain, and feeling unwell. Zhang Rishan offered her his coat and later, at her home, poured her hot water. It was then, as he checked her forehead for a fever, that he noticed a phoenix tattoo on her back, immediately realizing she was a member of the Clan Wang and not the simple, infatuated girl he had perceived.

Liang Wan, sensing her cover was blown, her demeanor abruptly shifted, and she promptly asked Zhang Rishan to leave. The following day, Zhang Rishan proactively addressed issues within the Nine Clans. Having discovered illegal dealings by Master Huo's subordinates, whose company, JinShangZhu, had a long-standing partnership with Zhang Rishan’s QiongQi Company, he sent Luo Que to intercept their cargo.

Later, in a confrontation with a representative from JinShangZhu, Zhang Rishan asserted his authority as president of the Nine Clans Association, reminding them of Uncle Buddha's decree against illicit activities. He directly challenged JinShangZhu's disdain for the Nine Clans' rules, issuing an ultimatum: they could formally withdraw from the Nine Clans, but they would then face the repercussions of losing the association's protections.

Episode 15 Recap

Wu Xie, Wang Meng, and Li Cu were in the desert, burying the bodies of engineers. Li Cu invoked blessings, saying, "Hallelujah! God bless! Oh mami mami hong!" He noted that those who died in the desert were said to never leave, but promised they would get out if the deceased blessed and followed them. He added that once outside, the spirits could reincarnate, scare people, or even make horror movies, as they wouldn't hinder each other.

Wang Meng complimented Wu Xie's unique handwriting, which Wu Xie explained was a friend's specialty, used to help one face death happily. Wang Meng called that friend "depressed," but Wu Xie hinted he was much more, promising an introduction if Li Cu wasn't "stewed." Li Cu then headed to search for supplies in the old trucks, with Wu Xie cautioning him to watch his steps.

While looking for supplies, the trio discovered that the "Lost Souls' Regrets" monument they had erected was gone. Li Cu initially thought it might be behind a slope, but Wu Xie confirmed it should be in its original spot. Wu Xie expressed an ominous feeling, believing such strange occurrences always lead to more bizarre events that eventually connect. Li Cu then pointed out snake-like crawling traces in the sand.

He observed that these marks weren't on the surface but from underneath, indicating some writhing creature, possibly snakes or other organisms, were moving underfoot. To be safe, Wu Xie decided they should spend the night in the truck. Moments later, something indeed moved beneath the sand. Wu Xie clarified it was a living thing, and since sand inhibits speed, it must still be nearby or deeper.

They began digging where the monument had been, only to discover that the bodies they had just buried had also vanished. Realizing the place was too eerie, Wu Xie changed his mind, instructing everyone to fill all available containers with water and gather supplies to leave before nightfall. However, before they could depart, a creature emerged from the sand, entangling Wang Meng's ankle and dragging him into a hole. Wu Xie was also pulled down, disappearing into the sand.

Li Cu, disoriented, was knocked unconscious by the creature. When he came to, he frantically tried to dig out Wu Xie and Wang Meng. Suddenly, a multi-tentacled, vine-like monster appeared beside him. Terrified, Li Cu fled towards a truck, hoping to find refuge inside. Believing his end was near, he recorded a final video message on his phone.

He identified himself, gave his address, and left messages for his father, mother, and his friend Su Wan, encouraging Su Wan to pursue Shen Qiong, clarifying his own relationship with her was purely platonic, and warning him to be kind to her or Li Cu would haunt him. Li Cu stated he was in GuTongJing, kidnapped, and that his kidnapper was dead, yet then paradoxically named Wu Xie as his kidnapper before being knocked out again by the monster.

When Li Cu regained consciousness, the monster was gone, and Wu Xie and Wang Meng had not returned. Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan visited Elder He, a respected figure in the Red Clan, to watch him perform "the suicide of Concubine Yu." Elder He, recognizing Zhang Rishan, jested that Zhang Rishan, having seen Vermilion (Er Ye) perform, was now mocking his own "display of slight skill before an expert" by attending.

Zhang Rishan countered by acknowledging Elder He's keen perception, suggesting he must be aware of the true intentions within the Jiu Men Association. Elder He advised Zhang Rishan, as a capable man, to handle his business matters himself. Zhang Rishan lamented the decline of the QiongQi Company, describing it as "dying out and surrounded by enemies." He expressed his desire to restore order to the Jiu Men's rules, expecting resistance.

Elder He asserted that Uncle Buddha was the one who first destabilized the Jiu Men by discovering GuTongJing and then forbidding entry, igniting a "threat" that had burned for over eighty years. He noted that Uncle Buddha's original followers were gone, and the current generation only sought treasures in GuTongJing, disregarding the rules. Elder He advised Zhang Rishan to remove Wu Xie from the Jiu Men Association instead of constantly protecting him.

Zhang Rishan insisted there were no treasures in GuTongJing, but Elder He pointed out that after so many lives were lost searching, no one believed him. Elder He believed Uncle Buddha Zhang's restoration of GuTongJing was meant to create a balance among the Jiu Men but instead fostered mutual suspicion.

Zhang Rishan argued that without such a deterrent, the Jiu Men would have disintegrated into an "empty shell," and that the Association needed a leader like Uncle Buddha, just as Vermilion had once followed him. Elder He scoffed at the idea of Wu Xie being the next Uncle Buddha, calling both Wu Xie and Zhang Rishan naive.

He further reminded Zhang Rishan that the Jiu Men members were all highly intelligent and well aware of Zhang Rishan's support for Wu Xie since his entry into GuTongJing. Elder He explicitly stated he could not help Zhang Rishan, lacking both the influence and the standing; he believed his mediation would be ignored, and his past experience was no longer relevant. As he concluded, Elder He offered a final philosophical caution about going against nature.

After the visit, Zhang Rishan instructed Luo Que to drive back, choosing to walk alone, reflecting on the certainty of the impending conflict and hoping Wu Xie would not fail him. In a different part of the desert, Li Cu found himself hiding in a truck with a mysterious old man who had appeared out of nowhere.

The man, who identified himself as a driver, reassured Li Cu that the creatures outside couldn't get to them, even as their tentacles battered the truck. Li Cu, still in pain from his back, asked what the creatures were, but the man didn't know, believing their noise had attracted them. Li Cu introduced himself, explaining he was stranded and his friends were dead.

The man wondered if Li Cu had fallen from a plane, to which Li Cu sarcastically replied he might have swum in from the sea. Li Cu questioned how the man could be from outside, but the old man dismissed it. The driver explained that the trucks were arranged in a circle to prevent the underground creatures from accessing water, as contact with water would turn them into man-eaters.

He credited "Brother Chui" with this strategy, noting that while the creatures reacted to metal and attacked the vehicles, they couldn't penetrate the barrier. Li Cu asked why the man was the only survivor. The man claimed that understanding the rules made survival possible, expressing his surprise at seeing another living person after so long, having believed he would age and die alone in the desert. He remarked on Li Cu's resemblance to Brother Chui.

The old driver explained he usually slept inside the truck to avoid the sound-sensitive creatures, only venturing out for food and water when absolutely necessary, making it difficult to keep track of time. He longed to escape but was trapped by the encircling creatures. Li Cu then inquired about the driver's team's purpose in the desert. The man recounted that the area once had houses, walls, and a factory.

He never knew why they were sent there, but it involved foreigners. Their team transported various goods, including daily provisions and gasoline, but also strange, riveted containers that were empty upon arrival and full upon departure. He recalled Brother Chui also being curious about their contents. In a flashback, a younger version of the old driver, then called "Yaoer" by Brother Chui, was shown discussing the mysterious containers and expressing his desire to become a driver.

Brother Chui, a jovial man, promised to let him wear his badge someday. The old driver recounted that one day they transported double the usual amount of containers. Upon returning, the factory was sealed, and all the foreigners were gone. Their team was left behind, searching for answers. Yaoer discovered all the phone lines were cut, except for one, which inexplicably connected to the "very bottom of the desert," implying the foreigners were communicating from underground.

The team was ordered to stay and await further instructions and were supplied with provisions. The old driver expressed regret that they didn't retreat then. He described how the desert began to change, with the sand, once yellow, turning white in spreading patches, as if the "desert had a tumor." People started disappearing, even from inside their tents. In response, the captain mandated that everyone tie themselves together with ropes, even during sleep.

During one such night, an underground creature pulled one of the men (Yaoer) away. Brother Chui, in a desperate act, cut the rope to save the others, sacrificing himself while urging Yaoer to run. The old driver tearfully recounted Brother Chui's final moments and how the white desert had come alive, trapping them. He claimed to have seen seven of the creatures.

He then asked to see the map engraved on Li Cu's back, hoping it matched what he had seen. Li Cu, however, grew suspicious, pointing out several inconsistencies in the old driver's story: the man's current physique contradicted his claim of being a skinny driver, suggesting he might be Brother Chui himself and had perhaps caused the skinny driver's death by cutting the rope.

Li Cu also noted that Brother Chui was dead before the trucks were circled, making the driver's claim that Brother Chui devised the strategy impossible. Finally, Li Cu questioned how the driver could have survived so long if all the trucks were buried before he and Wu Xie arrived, demanding to know his true identity. Meanwhile, back in the city, a large stack of packages had accumulated outside Li Cu's house.

The mailman, unable to deliver them, asked Su Wan to accept them on Li Cu's behalf since Li Cu was unavailable by phone. Su Wan moved the packages to his own home, noticing white sand clinging to some of them. His mother saw the pile and mistakenly thought they were Su Wan's study materials, advising him not to overstress and saying that "as long as it's gold, it will shine."

Su Wan reassured her he would get into a top university. Later, picking up a package, Su Wan shook it nervously, worried it might be a bomb. Upon opening it, he found an assortment of old, miscellaneous items, including an antique magnetic tape. He found an old tape player to listen to it, but heard nothing. He speculated it was either a blank tape or simply too old to work, but pondered why a blank tape would be so elaborately packaged.

Episode 16 Recap

As Li Cu confronted the mysterious man, he questioned how the man could claim Chui had asked him to encircle the trucks when Chui was already dead. Li Cu pressed further, highlighting that all the trucks were buried under the sand before their arrival and challenging the man's story about living down there. He called out the man's poorly faked Sichuan accent, demanding to know his true identity.

The man then dropped his pretense, remarking that "kids nowadays are no fun." The mysterious man revealed his true nature, his voice and appearance returning to normal. He explained that his previous stories were deductions based on the environment and clues found on bodies. Introducing himself as Black Blind, also known as Black Glasses, he admitted he had been following Li Cu and his group all along.

He confessed he was hired to protect Wu Xie, who had kidnapped Li Cu. Black Blind explained that after a difficult situation where the group ended up in the water, Wu Xie disappeared, leaving Li Cu as a burden. He also mentioned that he had contacted people to rescue the rest of Li Cu's group, including a "cripple" with a terrible temper who was cursing even as he was being saved.

Black Blind added that those rescued would be reported to the police, implying they would face consequences for their actions. Black Blind then offered Li Cu a custom-made, ten-year-shelf-life "Fired rice with pork and green pepper" from a Sichuan lunch box factory, noting that he had learned Sichuan dialect there.

He explained that he was in an awkward situation because of Li Cu's presence; his mission was to protect Wu Xie, but after a night in the water, he was exhausted and failed to keep track of Wu Xie and Wang Meng when they suddenly vanished. Black Blind proposed that if Wu Xie was confirmed dead, Li Cu could take his equipment and food to exit the desert.

He also revealed that Li Cu would have to undertake a very dangerous task the next day, and if he survived, he would surely trust Black Blind's words. After their discussion, Black Blind rendered Li Cu unconscious. Li Cu awoke to find himself suspended from a crane, realizing Black Blind was using him as bait to lure a desert plant known as the nine-head snake cypress.

The monstrous plant soon appeared, wrapping its tendrils around Li Cu's leg and dragging him downwards. Black Blind, attempting to save Li Cu, was also pulled into the depths below the sand. They found themselves in an underground factory, a strange structure where some walls were made of cement and others of iron sheets, indicating they were inside a protective iron box. Black Blind explained this structure was designed to protect against the nine-head snake cypress.

They discovered old documents written in Russian, marked "056." Black Blind confirmed it was the "Project 056" in GuTongJing, a secret operation that involved foreign excavation teams, hundreds of people, digging for something mysterious in the sand until 1945. After hearing sounds, Li Cu, fearing it was unsafe, urged Black Blind to move deeper into the complex. Inside one of the many rooms, a data room, Li Cu used a copper wire to pick a locked cabinet.

He found numerous archives, all bearing the name "Zhang Qishan." Black Blind immediately recognized the name as "Uncle Buddha" and speculated that Uncle Buddha had taken over the foreigners' project. Li Cu also discovered a snake skin with fur and a loaded gun in a drawer. Black Blind instructed Li Cu to return the documents and the snake skin but took the gun for himself.

As they continued, Li Cu, curious about Black Blind's sunglasses in the dark, tried to challenge him. Black Blind, annoyed by Li Cu's taunts about his fighting skills, demonstrated a technique he called "counter strike." Li Cu, seemingly impressed, then attempted a sneak attack, but Black Blind swiftly pulled out the gun and held it to Li Cu's head, prompting Li Cu to sarcastically declare he wouldn't fight with a blind person.

Meanwhile, Su Wan and Yang Hao were trying to understand the strange tape Li Cu had received. Su Wan took the tape to an antique shop, where the owner quickly identified it as being at least half a century old, declaring it unrepairable and worthless. However, he then offered to buy it, claiming his "father" enjoyed collecting old items. Su Wan refused and left with the tape.

Immediately after Su Wan's departure, the owner made a phone call to Pang Wang, excitedly telling him about a "good thing" he had just seen. Su Wan later met Yang Hao, who was frustrated that Li Cu was still missing. Su Wan explained he hadn't found Li Cu either but hoped the strange parcels would provide clues.

Yang Hao took Su Wan to another repair shop, where Master Li also examined the tape, deemed it valueless, but subtly inquired if Li Cu was willing to sell it. It was then that Master Kim, known as "the Gold Teeth in Antique City," and Pang Wang, arrived at the shop. Master Kim, after a thorough inspection and even sniffing the tape, authoritatively declared it was a specially encrypted scientific research tape produced in the 1940s by Western countries.

He emphasized that only ten specific recording machines in the world could decipher its contents, implying it contained information of immense importance. Master Kim then tried to pressure Su Wan into giving up the tape, threatening to use his influence in the Antique City to prevent anyone from repairing it. Su Wan, prioritizing any information about Li Cu, discussed with Yang Hao and agreed to surrender the tape, willing to pay Master Kim's undoubtedly high fee for decryption.

However, Pang Wang, moved by Su Wan and Yang Hao's deep loyalty to Li Cu, reminiscent of his own past friendships, intervened. He agreed that the physical tape would go to Master Kim but promised to decrypt its contents for them for free, telling them to return the next afternoon. Pang Wang later met with Xie Yuchen, whom he affectionately called "Hua."

Pang Wang complained about the current state of the Nine Clans, lamenting the absence of the good old days with Wu Xie and "Xiao Ge." Xie Yuchen concurred, stating the Nine Clans were "beyond saving." Pang Wang explained the situation with the tape, and Xie Yuchen revealed that one of the rare decoding machines was indeed located at the Crescent Hotel, having been left there by Uncle Buddha after his use.

However, Xie Yuchen clarified that only Zhang Rishan could now access it. Pang Wang then approached Zhang Rishan, who agreed to help decrypt the tape's contents on the condition that they shared the information, to which Pang Wang readily agreed, expressing his trust in anyone with the surname Zhang.

The ancient origins of the tape and its peculiar delivery to Li Cu, combined with the discovery of the Project 056 factory, strongly suggested a deep connection between the tape's contents and the secrets of the GuTongJing Project 056, foreshadowing a major revelation.

Episode 17 Recap

As Master Black held a gun to Li Cu’s head, Li Cu, trembling, pleaded that it was merely a friendly spar. Master Black advised him to get used to his weapons as he would his own hands. He recalled how he had chosen Wu Xie’s knife for him, instructing Wu Xie to keep it by his side and use it for all tasks, from peeling apples to chopping vegetables, to fully understand its characteristics.

Li Cu, noting the difference, pointed out that Master Black was holding a gun, not a knife. Master Black further elaborated on the importance of handling a weapon without fear, akin to a butcher who chops ribs without fearing self-harm because the tool has become an extension of their body. Realizing Master Black was trying to teach him about guns, Li Cu excitedly asked if that was the case, to which Master Black dryly replied, "You wish."

While exploring the factory, Li Cu complained about his worsening back pain and the increasing cold. They stumbled upon a broken staircase, making him realize they were trapped, and he lamented dying with an "inhumane guy" like Master Black. Soon after, Li Cu noticed a fresh footprint on the ground. Master Black confirmed it was recently made, indicating another person was active in the area.

Li Cu speculated it could be Wu Xie, but Master Black pointed out Wu Xie’s shoe size was smaller. When Li Cu worried Wu Xie might be dead, Master Black sarcastically asked if he wanted to leave, since his "kidnapper" was potentially gone. Li Cu readily agreed, prompting Master Black to scold him for his lack of loyalty and humanity, reminding him of Wu Xie’s efforts to protect him. They then discovered a well lid.

Master Black instructed Li Cu to descend, and when Li Cu hesitated, he unceremoniously pushed him down. After emerging from the well into another room, Li Cu’s back pain intensified. To Li Cu’s surprise, Master Black skillfully massaged his back. Li Cu inquired why he possessed such a skill. Master Black explained it as "planning in advance," stating that someone who knows they will eventually go blind must learn to perceive the world with their hands.

Li Cu mistakenly concluded it was "blind massage." Master Black continued his massage, remarking that Li Cu’s joint adhesion was only half of his own, a result of joint development rather than lack of exercise, and bluntly assessing Li Cu as having "no talent at all." In this new room, they found additional footprints, confirming that Wu Xie and Wang Meng were still alive, which greatly pleased Li Cu.

Master Black then spotted a peculiar handprint on the wall with unusually long, four-fingered digits, remarking on its "unusual bone structure" and deeming it "not normal." Li Cu discovered an iron box containing a stone identical to one Master Ma was searching for. He excitedly called it a "treasure," but Master Black confiscated it. With Li Cu’s flashlight, Master Black examined the stone and found a small snake coiled inside.

He then placed the stone into his bag, stating that "cultural relics should be handed over to the state," much to Li Cu’s annoyance, who claimed discovery rights. Nearby, Li Cu found a tape recorder. Master Black identified it as a "Bostan tape recorder," a "spy-exclusive" device "specially made by foreigners." Despite its age, Master Black was confident it still worked.

He produced a "micro electricity generator" from his bag, explaining its necessity for wilderness survival, and instructed Li Cu to crank it quickly to power the recorder. The device sprang to life, playing a recording dated August 4, 1945, detailing the 19th imaging experiment. Voices announced "Cold light fluorescence mode start! Aperture adjustment complete! Auto-focus is over! Request to start detection!" and confirmed detection was allowed. The recording continued with wavelength readings, spectrometer status, and cell activity percentages.

A voice reported, "Activity is close to the critical point. Request to stop detection." However, a person identified as Comrade Shen vehemently insisted on continuing the experiment, ignoring warnings of potential danger. The recording briefly stuck, and after Li Cu cranked the generator faster, it resumed with a report that "It has broken through the tin can" and was now in the pipes. Panic erupted as voices shouted for everyone to spread out and avoid being bitten.

Amidst the chaos, a person’s voice repeatedly demanded, "Give me the serum," followed by screams confirming, "The serum was robbed!" Li Cu and Master Black both clearly heard the disturbing events unfold. After listening to the chilling recording, both Li Cu and Master Black sensed they were not alone in the room. As they approached a cabinet, the floor suddenly gave way, plunging them to the level below.

Li Cu, seeing numerous shed skins, screamed about "monsters that will peel the skin." Master Black corrected him, identifying them as merely "a pile of snake sloughs," and surprisingly, asserted that "this place is safer than other places." He cautioned Li Cu that if he ventured back up alone, he might encounter "more thrilling things," referencing a "strange figure" they had seen earlier. Li Cu’s back pain suddenly flared up again with severe intensity.

Master Black observed that this indicated they were "closer and closer" to their destination. He then slapped Li Cu’s back, causing Li Cu to cough up "the tentacles of the snake cypress." Master Black jokingly called it a "limited edition" worthy of collection. Disgusted, Li Cu demanded to know how it got into his stomach, to which Master Black cryptically replied, "You should go ask Junior Wu."

As Li Cu shivered, complaining about the cold, Master Black remarked that the chill set "the right tone of horror stories." Shining his flashlight around, Li Cu discovered many pale, motionless human figures. Master Black instructed Li Cu to stay put and not move while he investigated. Examining the figures, Master Black noted their youthful appearance and how remarkably well-preserved they were after so many years, their skin as smooth "as freshly shed skin."

Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan, accompanied by Pang Wang and Master Kim, arrived at the Crescent Hotel. At the entrance, Pang Wang was stopped by a staff member who declared, "Crescent Hotel does not welcome you." Zhang Rishan attempted to intervene, stating they were his guests, but the staff maintained it was "the boss’ rule," and Pang Wang could not enter.

Undeterred, Pang Wang loudly called out to Sheng Sheng Man, playfully suggesting she had a crush on him but he refused her for peculiar reasons. He threatened to "shock you to death with my sound" if she didn't come out. He then cheekily implied that Yin Nanfeng had a crush on Master Kim. Eventually, Sheng Sheng Man’s master invited them inside, requesting they not make a scene at the front door.

Inside the hotel, Yin Nanfeng immediately confronted Zhang Rishan, accusing him of disrespecting her business by bringing Pang Wang, with whom she had a long-standing "beef." She pointed out Pang Wang hadn't even paid for tea on his last visit. Pang Wang, in turn, defended himself by claiming he had significantly contributed to the hotel's reconstruction.

Yin Nanfeng retorted with an insult to Zhang Rishan, calling him an "old mummy," and claimed she would have expelled him if not for her grand aunt Yin Xinyue's legacy. Zhang Rishan’s guards stepped forward, but he waved them off, acknowledging they were no match for Pang Wang. Yin Nanfeng then instructed her staff to retrieve Pang Wang’s account ledger.

Pang Wang confidently declared that all his current and even past debts, including those "on Hua's account," should be charged to Master Kim. Master Kim, initially agreeable, was aghast when he saw the total: "Two hundred and forty million?" He promptly sighed in dismay and tried to make a hasty exit, comically claiming he needed to "walk my bird."

Cutting straight to the point, Zhang Rishan informed Yin Nanfeng that he was aware she possessed an old, Western-made tape recorder, a gift to "Uncle Buddha" housed in the Crescent Hotel, which his friend wished to borrow. Yin Nanfeng pressed him, suggesting his friend possessed something belonging to Uncle Buddha, a detail Zhang Rishan confirmed.

She then laid out the traditional two methods for acquiring items from the Crescent Hotel: either "take it from the auction" or, upon death, "I'll bury it with you." She reminded them that this rule had been breached once before, when Zhang Qiling was with them. Pang Wang interjected, asserting his ability to take things twice, implying he could do it again.

Aware of his past exploits, Yin Nanfeng offered a third option: "share the information," proposing she bring out the machine for them all to listen together. Zhang Rishan hesitated, claiming he couldn't make such a decision. Pang Wang, however, readily agreed. He then proposed a meeting for 9:30 AM the next morning at Antique City, number 89, where he would bring the tape, and Yin Nanfeng the machine.

Yin Nanfeng initially balked at going alone into a "wolf's den," but Pang Wang conceded, allowing her to bring "Sticks," but not "Ears." As they departed, Zhang Rishan leaned in and whispered to Yin Nanfeng, "I will only leave when I want to." Outside, Pang Wang expressed doubt that Yin Nanfeng would come, but Zhang Rishan confidently predicted she would, precisely because "she thinks she's more planned" and superior in strategy.

As Pang Wang and Zhang Rishan drove away, they quickly noticed they were being followed. Pang Wang proposed a plan to "hide at the door of Crescent Hotel" and "rob the machine and escape" when Yin Nanfeng emerged. Zhang Rishan countered that the presence of "Sticks" would make it "hard to take action." Pang Wang then speculatively suggested that Yin Nanfeng might be secretly involved with someone from the Wang Clan, even brazenly encouraging Zhang Rishan to "take" Yin Nanfeng.

Unbeknownst to them, Sheng Sheng Man was listening in from her car. Hearing nothing valuable and deeming them easy to handle, she returned to the hotel. Back at the Crescent Hotel, Yin Nanfeng retrieved the old tape recorder from a hidden compartment. She then instructed Luo Que, who had been covertly observing Zhang Rishan, to bring the necessary items and follow her orders that evening.

However, after Yin Nanfeng left the room, Luo Que placed a tape onto the machine and began recording with a separate device. He then dramatically removed a mask, revealing himself to be Xie Yuchen in disguise. The following day, Yin Nanfeng arrived at the agreed-upon location, where Master Kim, attempting to be chivalrous, greeted her with elaborate gestures and a cake he claimed to have baked himself. Yin Nanfeng, however, brushed him off, and her guards promptly pulled him away.

She then joined Pang Wang and Zhang Rishan to listen to the tape. Pang Wang confidently announced that they were about to uncover "the biggest secret of Uncle Buddha." To their dismay, the machine only played music. Pang Wang, attempting to save face, suggested that Uncle Buddha was merely trying to "edify their sentiment," but Yin Nanfeng was clearly exasperated. Declining any further musical interludes, she departed, with Master Kim calling out after her about his forgotten cake.

That afternoon, Su Wan arrived at Pang Wang’s place, inquiring about the tape. Pang Wang, suspicious due to the tape’s mysterious nature, aggressively pinned Su Wan to a table, demanding to know his identity and the tape’s origin. Initially, Su Wan resisted, asserting his status as a "guest," but Pang Wang escalated his threats, vowing to "send you boy to God."

Terrified, Su Wan finally confessed that the tape belonged to his friend, Li Cu, whom he referred to as "Pear," and that he didn’t know who sent it to Li Cu, but he was searching Li Cu’s belongings for clues after his friend went missing. Pang Wang pressed on, asking if Li Cu knew about the tape, but Su Wan insisted he only knew "it’s not a good thing" and nothing else.

When Pang Wang threatened him again, a frantic Su Wan offered money, listing his family’s considerable assets. Pang Wang, unimpressed, dismissed him as a "coward" and handed him a carton of milk. After witnessing Su Wan's earnest declaration that a friend is most important and his unwavering insistence on finding even "only a small hint" about Li Cu, Pang Wang, deeming him loyal, agreed to let him hear the recording.

He explained that the large machine wasn't brought back, but he had recorded the audio on his cellphone. The recording began with the same chilling details Li Cu and Master Black heard: "4 August 1945, the 19th imaging experiment is ready to begin." It continued with technical readouts—"Cold light fluorescence mode start!" , "wavelength 850," "spectrometer is all right," and "cell activity 38. 4%" nearing a "critical point."

A request to stop the detection was denied by "Comrade Shen," who insisted on continuing the experiment despite urgent warnings. The recording then abruptly stopped with a shout of "What are you doing? Stop!" Su Wan, deeply unsettled by the content, inquired about the meaning of these "things." Pang Wang probed if he truly had no idea what happened, which Su Wan denied. Su Wan then requested to make a copy of the recording.

Later, Su Wan played the copied recording for Shen Qiong, specifically pointing out a segment where a voice called out, "Shen Qiong! Shen Qiong!" He questioned the coincidence of "Comrade Shen" in the recording sharing the same name. Shen Qiong became visibly flustered, attempting to dismiss it as a "coincidence" or simply a similar pronunciation. However, Su Wan remained firm, insisting that he believed the person in the recording "is you."

Shen Qiong hastily retorted that the recording was "more than half a century old" and "even my father was not born" at that time, attempting to deflect the topic. The revelations from the tape, coupled with Shen Qiong’s uneasy reaction, cast significant doubt on her true identity.

Episode 18 Recap

Li Cu observed the motionless figures around him, which began to stir slowly when he wasn't looking, their eyes appearing strangely eerie. Upon a closer look, he was startled to realize that Wu Xie and Wang Meng were among them. After relieving himself, Li Cu attempted to sleep but was soon awakened by Master Black, only to find that all the figures were now moving.

It turned out these individuals had been in hibernation, and the fire Li Cu and his companions had made had raised the temperature, causing them to awaken. During their escape, they accidentally knocked over the fire, rousing even more of these creatures. Wu Xie then appeared, urging them to return and extinguish the fire to prevent further awakenings. As they fought the blaze, Li Cu was touched by a snake, which then burrowed into him.

This triggered a vision of Uncle Buddha conversing with a scientist years ago, and the scientist eventually descending into madness. Master Black and Wu Xie, with Wang Meng's help, swiftly rescued Li Cu and fought their way out of the perilous area. Wu Xie led them to a hidden space—a rocky secret passage—where they could finally rest. Master Black briefly explained that the bizarre figures, known as Black Flyers, were people parasitized by Black-haired Snakes.

The toxins from the snakes affected their nerves and muscles, causing them to adopt strange postures. When a better host appeared, the Black Flyers would attack to transfer the parasite. Wu Xie confirmed that they had discovered the true GuTongJing. Li Cu, exhausted, asked if he could go home now that Wu Xie had found what he was looking for, but another wave of Black Flyers attacked, prompting Wu Xie to lead them further to see something "interesting."

Separately, Master Xie decided to purchase an old theater. He clarified to the owner that he wasn't buying it for profit but because he loved antiques and couldn't bear to see them fall into ruin. The current owner, planning to retire as his daughter was returning from Germany, was relieved Master Xie took over, ensuring his staff's long-term worker fees could be paid. Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan met with Liang Wan, still deeply suspicious of her identity.

Liang Wan remarked how quickly time flew when they were together. After dropping her off, Zhang Rishan's subordinate, who had been investigating Liang Wan, reported finding nothing suspicious, not even a connection to the Wang Clan. The subordinate suggested the totem on her back might just be a coincidence, but Zhang Rishan remained unconvinced, certain Liang Wan held secrets. Deeper inside GuTongJing, Li Cu pointed at a large, circular object, mistaking it for an abacus.

Wu Xie corrected him, identifying it as a QiongQi and explaining that it functioned like an eight-diagram abacus with fixed tapping numbers. Using a five-element incantation, Wu Xie manipulated the beads, forming a trigram, and a hidden door opened. Master Black explained that only the Zhang Clan could typically decipher such mechanisms. They entered an empty room. Wu Xie instructed Li Cu, Master Black, and Wang Meng to simultaneously light three lamps.

Symbols and images of figures in peculiar poses then appeared on the walls. Wu Xie, recognizing the symbols as the ancient script of GuTongJing, realized they matched the carvings on Li Cu's back. He asked Li Cu to remove his shirt, explaining that the picture engraved on his back and all he had suffered were meant to lead him to this door, which Huang Yan, a master of mechanisms, had designed.

The key was to press the stone symbols in the correct order. Wu Xie cautioned Li Cu against rushing, warning that a mistake could kill them all. Wu Xie directed Li Cu to mimic the strange poses from the images. Each time Li Cu adopted a pose, a small area on his back would ache, and a corresponding symbol would become visible. Wang Meng diligently recorded these symbols in sequence.

However, when Wu Xie attempted to open the door using the recorded symbols, many Black-haired Snakes erupted after he pressed the third symbol, indicating Wang Meng had made a mistake. Wu Xie instructed Li Cu to quickly re-do the third pose to get the correct symbol. The door finally opened, but not before both Wu Xie and Wang Meng were bitten by the snakes.

Beyond the door, they found a massive snake cypress statue, surrounded by traces of ancient worship, suggesting an ancient tribe had once revered it. Scaffolding built into the temple's ceiling indicated that modern humans had also visited, likely through an entrance at the top that had since been buried by sand over the past seventy years. Wu Xie speculated that these previous visitors intended to explore, develop, utilize, and protect the site.

As Wu Xie articulated these intentions, both he and Wang Meng began to repeat the phrase mechanically, their minds seemingly confused. Master Black slapped Wang Meng, who stopped repeating but remained dazed. Li Cu managed to snap Wu Xie out of his trance by yelling, "Go back home!" Master Black and Li Cu then realized that Wu Xie and Wang Meng’s strange behavior was a result of being bitten by the Black-haired Snakes. Suddenly, Wu Xie scrambled up the scaffolding.

Li Cu rushed to pull him down, while Master Black was held back by Wang Meng clinging to his leg. Wu Xie, believing he was poisoned and it was too late, attempted to jump from the high scaffolding. Li Cu grabbed him, but the old structure gave way. Master Black managed to catch Wu Xie as they plummeted, but Li Cu crashed through the fragile floor into a mine shaft below. Master Black quickly pulled Li Cu back to safety. Wu Xie, his eyes vacant, murmured "mine" and "Black-haired Snake."

Episode 19 Recap

Wu Xie, though still affected by the poison, managed to retain a flicker of consciousness. He instructed his companions to tie him and Wang Meng up for their safety. The only hope for their recovery, as they learned from a tape recording, was a serum taken by a scientist. They had to take their chances to find if the scientist, and the serum, were still within the facility.

Master Black and Li Cu set off to find the serum, with Li Cu taking Wu Xie's knife. They soon discovered a pipe system that Master Black cut open, allowing them to climb inside. As they ascended, they noticed many snake sloughs and distinctive four-fingered handprints. Li Cu lost his footing on a snake slough, but Master Black skillfully caught him with a rope, preventing a dangerous fall.

Once Li Cu was pulled up, he recalled seeing a person with slim, long fingers who had one finger shot off by a gun identical to the one Master Black carried. Master Black confirmed it was Uncle Buddha's gun and speculated this person might be the same individual. They continued their ascent and eventually reached an exit. Looking out, they saw a tall iron structure with numerous Black Flyers crawling on the ground below.

Instead of descending, Master Black calmly suggested they eat some fried rice with pork and green pepper, advising Li Cu to conserve energy for their primary goal: finding the serum. As they ate, the four-fingered mutated man flew past them. Master Black handed Li Cu a gun, telling him to protect himself. Soon, the mutated man engaged Master Black in a fierce fight on the iron frame. Attracted by the commotion, the Black Flyers below began to climb up.

Li Cu, wanting to cover Master Black, also jumped onto the frame to fend off the Black Flyers. When Master Black was cornered, Li Cu fired a shot at the mutated man, dropping his gun in the process. The mutated man paused, recognizing the gun as Uncle Buddha's, and muttered the name.

He then confirmed to them that he possessed the serum and that it was effective, responding to their questions with nods and shakes since he had lost the ability to speak. Li Cu was hesitant to retrieve the serum, fearing the mutated man might attack him. Master Black, however, insisted.

After Li Cu retrieved the boxed serum, the mutated man uttered, "Return it to Uncle Buddha," and then tragically leapt from the iron frame to his death, seemingly having made his peace with Uncle Buddha and realizing he would never escape. The Black Flyers below immediately swarmed and devoured his body. Master Black urged Li Cu that it was time for them to leave as well.

Upon their return, Wu Xie and Wang Meng were deeply poisoned and had visibly mutated. Li Cu quickly opened the serum box, only to find a single dose. Master Black stated there was no time to find another in the iron building and urged Li Cu to save at least one of them. As Li Cu wavered, Wu Xie swiftly snatched the serum and injected it into Wang Meng's neck. Wang Meng soon recovered, spitting out some blood.

When Wu Xie grabbed the serum, he left blood marks on Li Cu's hand, causing Li Cu to immediately faint. In his unconscious state, Li Cu had another vision, this time seeing Shen Qiong reporting experimental data in Uncle Buddha's office. Upon waking, Li Cu recounted this vision to Master Black. With his last remnants of clear thought, Wu Xie told his companions to evacuate. However, Li Cu, recalling Wu Xie's care throughout their journey, was reluctant to abandon him.

Wu Xie, his voice strained, shouted at Li Cu to "Get lost!" In a fit of anger and frustration, Li Cu retorted, "Fine! Wu Xie, thank you for accompanying me through all this experience. Find your serum yourself. Goodbye!" He then threw Wu Xie's knife away and turned to leave. Master Black provided Li Cu with a bag containing food, survival supplies, and Tianxin stone's powder to deter monsters.

He also gave him a phone, instructing him to call "them" once he returned. Li Cu departed without a backward glance. Meanwhile, after discovering her voice in a previous recording, Shen Qiong sought out Su Wan. Su Wan was overjoyed to see her. Shen Qiong expressed interest in Li Cu's numerous packages. The first one opened contained ordinary items, but the second revealed a work ID, causing Shen Qiong to react with fear, though Su Wan failed to notice.

While Su Wan went to fetch water, Shen Qiong quickly hid the work ID and produced a dagger from her bag, intending to attack Su Wan. However, just as she approached him, Zhang Rishan's figure appeared outside the window. Shen Qiong vanished, and Zhang Rishan was later seen leaving with a large suitcase. Despite his lingering suspicions about Liang Wan, Zhang Rishan wished to spend more time with her.

He took her to an antique shop, offering to buy her a piece of jewelry. Liang Wan was drawn to a ring, but the shop owner advised against it, explaining it was "from a tomb" and "infiltrated by blood," and potentially harmful to a living person. Zhang Rishan, complimenting her hands, suggested a watch instead, as it would "bring out her beauty more." Liang Wan initially felt disappointed, as she was told she could choose.

However, her mood brightened considerably when the owner revealed that the watch was one of a pair, with the other belonging to Zhang Rishan, making them a unique set. She immediately put it on. Separately, Xie Yuchen purchased a theater. He instructed the previous owner to leave the old artifacts untouched and to dismiss the staff, stating he wished to explore the theater alone.

The owner mused on the transient nature of human existence compared to the enduring house and its stone. Shen Qiong's actions and appearance further fueled suspicions about her identity, suggesting she might be the same Shen Qiong from seventy years prior, and that she also knew Zhang Rishan. This raised questions about a past event seventy years ago that allowed both of them to maintain their appearance and live into the present.

Episode 20 Recap

Xie Yuchen purchased the theater, which he had learned was for sale during his last visit. As the theater prepared for its final performance, he thoroughly explored the premises. In a restricted area, he discovered a room with a secret mechanism in the wall. Upon pressing a brick, a hidden chamber opened, revealing a trove of documents. Xie Yuchen retrieved an English document from a shelf, reviewed its contents, and then burned it.

When Li Cu regained consciousness, he found himself in a hospital. He vaguely recalled being rushed there for emergency treatment. Liang Wan, relieved to see him awake and seemingly unharmed, expressed her frustration, scolding him for not notifying her that he was safe. She had been worried sick, unable to eat or sleep.

Li Cu apologized, but when Liang Wan pressed him for details about what "they" had done to him, specifically mentioning Wu Xie, Li Cu clutched his head in distress. He claimed to remember nothing, asking where he had been and what was wrong with him. Liang Wan retrieved his medical chart, which confirmed a diagnosis of retrograde amnesia.

Li Cu’s father arrived, reassuring Dr. Liang that the doctor said Li Cu was fine and could be discharged that day, as he was back from his business trip to care for his son. Before Li Cu’s father left him to rest, he sternly told his son to inform him immediately if he remembered anything. Liang Wan was deeply troubled by Li Cu's diagnosis. She had encountered retrograde amnesia before, years ago, in a patient named Zhang Qiling.

A vivid memory resurfaced of her telling two men to quiet down in Zhang Qiling’s room. One of the men, who introduced himself as Wu Xie, pulled her away. Driven by her unease, Liang Wan went to the archives to re-examine Zhang Qiling's case files. There, she confirmed his diagnosis. As she reflected, she realized that Wu Xie had been at Zhang Qiling's bedside.

Liang Wan grew increasingly suspicious of Wu Xie, finding it strange that he was connected to both Zhang Qiling and Li Cu, both of whom suffered from retrograde amnesia. She also recalled Zhang Qiling’s tattoo, which, like her own hidden tattoo, only appeared when heated. Pondering the connection, Liang Wan became overwhelmed. She desperately tried to distract herself, vowing to focus on work, life, and dating to lead a normal life.

She decided to go on a date with Zhang Rishan, and he promptly appeared to take her to dinner. Despite her efforts, Liang Wan began to hallucinate, seeing Wu Xie in ordinary people she encountered, a sign of her growing obsession and fear. Back at school, Li Cu, though still a poor student, was noticeably changed. As Master Black had warned him in GuTongJing, he could no longer live a normal life.

He demonstrated a newfound confidence, actively flirting with Zhang Weiwei, a girl he used to admire from afar. However, Zheng Yi, the leader of a small gang who also liked Zhang Weiwei, took offense. Their first confrontation ended with Li Cu being beaten. Later, Li Cu tried to use the phone Master Black had given him, calling the number.

However, the person on the other end curtly stated they already knew about Wu Xie’s situation and instructed Li Cu not to call again. Li Cu bitterly cursed Master Black and his associates, feeling that his life was no different, still attending classes and getting beaten, wishing he had truly lost his memory. Li Cu’s apparent amnesia was a ruse; he had deliberately withheld information from Liang Wan.

He revealed to Su Wan that he remembered everything, and he suspected that the person sending him the packages wanted him to return to GuTongJing. When Li Cu visited Su Wan’s house, he found it overflowing with packages addressed to him. Su Wan explained that Li Cu’s own house was buried under them, so he diverted the deliveries to his home, only to receive dozens more daily. As they opened the boxes, they found equipment for desert expeditions.

Amidst the white sand that spilled from the packages, Li Cu identified a crossbow, emphasizing its close-range lethality, comparable to a pistol. The two friends playfully tried on some of the gear, even wearing it to school the next day, which earned them a punishment of standing outside the classroom from the teacher. Li Cu, now equipped, confronted Zheng Yi’s gang. Using signal flares, Li Cu intimidated Zheng Yi, who quickly conceded defeat.

That evening, Li Cu returned home to his father, who, while drinking, questioned his whereabouts. Li Cu defiantly opened a beer for himself, sparking his father’s anger. But Li Cu was no longer afraid, telling his father he was not who he used to be and to stop hitting him. Seeking solitude, Li Cu went outside to drink, looking at Shen Qiong’s window. When the light suddenly came on, he rushed over, only to find her apartment empty.

Determined, Li Cu used a wire to pry open Shen Qiong's door. Inside, he noticed drag marks on the floor, leading to a wardrobe. Behind the wardrobe, he discovered a hidden compartment filled with women's underwear and a concealed passage to another room. In this secret room, he found an iron box and, conspicuously, the white sands of GuTongJing. He realized Shen Qiong must be connected to his experiences, especially since she had also returned from the desert.

As he left, he sensed someone fleeing. He gave chase but lost them. Unbeknownst to Li Cu, this individual was an operative sent by Zhang Rishan, tasked with ensuring Li Cu discovered Shen Qiong's disappearance. Li Cu immediately rushed to Su Wan's house to explain the mysterious findings at Shen Qiong’s place. However, Su Wan also had alarming news to share. Li Cu's experiences had profoundly altered him. He had developed a formidable aura, becoming more powerful and confident, yet also displaying a strange intensity in his gaze towards classmates and maintaining secrets from Liang Wan.

Episode 21 Recap

When Li Cu arrived at Su Wan's house to share his experience at Shen Qiong's, he found Su Wan in an even more serious predicament. That evening, Su Wan had received a large package containing a desiccated corpse. Li Cu, with his recent experience in the desert, calmly analyzed that the body, though preserved in its clothing, had been wind-dried, indicating it died in a very arid environment like the desert.

Su Wan discovered a business card in the corpse's pocket, confirming Li Cu's suspicion that it was related to GuTongJing. The corpse was numbered 487, suggesting that at least 487 similar bodies might be involved. Su Wan worried that his home would turn into a morgue and noticed on the shipping label that the package was sent from an online shop called "WuShanJu."

Li Cu advised him to be psychologically prepared and suggested finding Yang Hao, who had many connections, to help dispose of it. After Li Cu left to find Yang Hao, Su Wan, while guarding the corpse, found the name "Saint Scott Machinery Factory" on its clothing. He quickly researched online and discovered news about the factory's involvement in "project 056" in Mongolia from 1941 to 1945, with no records after 1945. This timeframe coincidentally matched the incidents at GuTongJing.

Suddenly, the corpse sat up, terrifying Su Wan, who screamed for Li Cu and Yang Hao. The two arrived and armed themselves with sticks. In their panic, Yang Hao accidentally struck Li Cu. They then realized the "corpse" was just a model that had sat up due to an internal bracket, but Li Cu's hand had become impaled on it. Since his hand was stuck, they carefully took the model to Liang Wan's apartment for help.

Liang Wan was getting ready for a date with Zhang Rishan, and upon opening the door, she was horrified by the sight of the "corpse." Su Wan quickly explained it was just a model, and Li Cu, still attached to it, entered the apartment. Liang Wan, frightened, retreated to the bathroom, trying to convince herself it was an illusion. After composing herself, she professionally used a tool to extract Li Cu's hand.

Seeing an item from Li Cu’s pocket, she pressed him for details about his recent whereabouts. Su Wan inadvertently blurted out that Li Cu had been to the desert, but Li Cu quickly silenced him. Annoyed, Liang Wan tried to make them leave. Just then, the doorbell rang—it was Zhang Rishan.

Liang Wan hastily pushed Li Cu, Su Wan, and the model into her bedroom closet, warning them that the man at the door was her future husband and threatening to dissect them with a scalpel if they interfered. Zhang Rishan, noticing some sand near the door and Liang Wan’s flustered state, asked to use the bathroom and then began subtly searching the apartment. He tried to inspect the bedroom closet, but Liang Wan blocked him, claiming it held her underwear.

Although he didn't expose them, Zhang Rishan was aware of their presence and discreetly sent a text message stating, "The two kids are at her house." Meanwhile, Yang Hao arrived and called a taxi. The three friends, with the model, headed towards a reservoir. In a remote wooded area, the taxi driver, who was actually working for Zhang Rishan, claimed it was too dangerous and forced them out. They soon found a pre-dug pit and buried the model.

Unbeknownst to them, the pit had been dug by Luo Que, another of Zhang Rishan's men, who photographed their actions and sent the pictures to an unfazed Zhang Rishan. Zhang Rishan then took Liang Wan to the Crescent Hotel, explaining it was his workplace. Liang Wan commented on a female employee's "unruly" appearance. He then asked Liang Wan to examine a female patient, a member of the Wang Clan, to test Liang Wan's connections.

Liang Wan expressed annoyance, expecting a date rather than a medical consultation. After a professional examination, she diagnosed multiple traumas and contusions, noting that the injuries had been well-treated. She inquired if the patient was Zhang Rishan's employee, and he seemed surprised that Liang Wan didn't recognize her. Outside the room, an associate listened to Liang Wan's heartbeat, confirming it was normal, which satisfied Zhang Rishan that she was not involved with the Wang Clan.

Following this, Zhang Rishan and Liang Wan had dinner and watched an opera, with Zhang Rishan appearing much more relaxed and even serving her food. He pointed out a woman at another table as a member of the Huo family, a rival family with a long, hostile history. Liang Wan interpreted this as a hint about his many powerful female connections. Feeling used, she confronted him, questioning his true identity and the deliberate nature of their encounters.

Zhang Rishan responded vaguely, implying she wouldn't have to experience such "traps" in the future. Sensing a farewell, an emotional Liang Wan embraced him. After she left, Zhang Rishan immediately deleted and blocked her number. Heartbroken upon discovering she couldn't reach him, Liang Wan wept at home while searching for information about him online. Simultaneously, Su Wan and Yang Hao were searching online for "WuShanJu."

They, along with Liang Wan, found an identical photo depicting Wu Xie at the opening of the WuShanJu store. This photo had been intentionally placed online by Zhang Rishan as a clue. Seeing the picture, Liang Wan immediately booked a flight to WuShanJu. Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao also made plans to go. Zhang Rishan too was heading there, continuing his intricate plan to guide Li Cu back to Wu Xie.

Episode 22 Recap

Having found a clue leading to WuShanJu, Li Cu shared the information, including a picture of the place, with Su Wan and Yang Hao. Su Wan, though offering financial and spiritual support, expressed reluctance to accompany Li Cu physically, stating he couldn't handle more after their previous harrowing experience of disposing of a body. Yang Hao also declined, claiming he had many "bros" to look after and lacked connections in that area, concluding that going was Li Cu's destiny.

Feeling bad for Li Cu, Su Wan suggested they all go together, but Yang Hao, reminding Su Wan of the dangers they'd faced and the nature of Wu Xie, insisted it was too risky and like "going to die there." When Su Wan expressed guilt, Yang Hao changed his tune, asserting he had arranged for people in WuShanJu to secretly protect Li Cu, as he himself was tied up with a major business deal.

Su Wan found this explanation unconvincing, but Yang Hao brushed off his doubts, confidently stating that since Li Cu had survived the desert, handling WuShanJu would be "a piece of cake" for him. Upon his arrival at WuShanJu, Li Cu found himself in a bustling antique market, a stark contrast to what he had envisioned, leading him to call it "catfish" – a term for online misrepresentation.

He was immediately swarmed by aggressive vendors hawking their wares, from "Yellow glazed cloud dragon sunflower" bowls to "a Great Jade Cong from Liangzhu period." Li Cu made it clear he wasn't there to buy anything but to find someone. One vendor confirmed that WuShanJu was "the biggest antique market in Xiao."

As Li Cu attempted to open a closed gate leading to a quieter area, the vendor pulled him back, explaining it was a private residence and directing him to another section. The vendor then led Li Cu towards a scar-faced man known as White Boa. Li Cu approached White Boa, who immediately demanded a consultation fee. When Li Cu spoke Wu Xie's name, the previously bustling crowd fell silent. White Boa, however, claimed to know no one by that name.

He then engaged Li Cu in a shell game, which Li Cu lost, costing him a hundred yuan. Just as Li Cu was about to leave, Liang Wan suddenly appeared. She told Li Cu to stay, confidently declaring she would win his money back. Despite her boast that years of surgical experience had sharpened her eyes, Liang Wan also lost the game.

White Boa then offered her a red rope, claiming it was "prayed for in Daoguang" and would bring "hell many admirers," hinting at her "ashy skin" and "extremely grumpy" nature indicating a "bad relationship." Liang Wan, initially skeptical, became interested at the mention of admirers. He also offered Li Cu a red rope, asserting it was "Wisdom God's hair" that would ensure academic success, guaranteeing he'd pass his college entrance exams and get into top universities.

Though the ropes were initially priced at 666 yuan each, White Boa offered two for 398 yuan. They pretended to walk away due to the high price, but White Boa quickly called them back, ready to negotiate. After their encounter at WuShanJu, Li Cu and Liang Wan went to a restaurant, where they bickered about who would pay the bill, using a familiar "old joke of the 1980s."

Liang Wan, disillusioned, declared WuShanJu a "trap" and its "ghost house and legends all nonsense," merely designed to fleece "stupid travelers" like themselves. She announced her plan to leave the next morning, a sentiment Li Cu echoed. Before parting ways, Liang Wan handed her red rope to Li Cu, remarking, "I see that you might need it."

Unable to shake off the unsettling quietness of a particular courtyard he'd seen earlier, Li Cu secretly returned to WuShanJu that night by climbing over its wall. To his surprise, Liang Wan was also there, stuck in a tree, and called out to him for help. Despite her fear of the height and doubt that his small frame could catch her, Li Cu urged her to jump.

After some hesitation and a quick prayer, she leaped, and he managed to catch her, though he complained his knees were almost "going to break." Inside the quiet compound, Li Cu and Liang Wan spotted a man dragging something into a room and then heard continuous chopping sounds, leading them to suspect dismemberment. Despite Liang Wan's fear, Li Cu urged her closer, but she accidentally kicked something, making a noise.

The man emerged, revealing himself to be White Boa, now holding a knife. They quickly retreated, sneaking into a room where they encountered a large dog. The dog's barking alerted White Boa, who came running after them. They fled, hiding briefly in a rockery, but White Boa pursued them relentlessly. Liang Wan's legs gave out from fear and exhaustion, making her unable to run.

They eventually reached a locked gate, and Li Cu, remembering a trick, asked for Liang Wan's hairpin. He expertly picked the lock, and they finally escaped. Outside, catching her breath, Liang Wan wondered if WuShanJu was akin to "the Chinese Chainsaw Massacre." Li Cu then pressed her for the real reason she had come to WuShanJu.

She revealed a picture of Zhang Rishan, proclaiming him "my future husband," and declared that she never wanted to set foot in that "darned place" again. Meanwhile, Su Wan was distraught, calling Yang Hao to ask if his supposed "people" in WuShanJu had located Li Cu. Yang Hao initially feigned assurance that his men were protecting Li Cu, but under pressure, he admitted his men had "lost him."

He then dramatically expressed guilt for not accompanying Li Cu, causing Su Wan to believe his newfound commitment to their friendship. The next morning, Li Cu sent a WeChat message stating, "WuShanJu is so terrifying!" followed by an emoji. Yang Hao quickly interpreted the emoji as a sign that Li Cu was "fine" and "very safe," calming Su Wan's fears.

Li Cu and Liang Wan, both exhausted from the night's ordeal and looking like "pandas," were at a restaurant, where Liang Wan had already booked a car to the airport, intending to leave. They were startled when a platter of raw meat was served; neither had ordered it, and they recoiled in disgust.

A woman from a nearby table, Huo Youxue, a member of the Huo family whom Liang Wan had previously seen with Zhang Rishan at Crescent Hotel, announced that she had ordered the dish. Recognizing Li Cu as "the kid that Wu Xie sent out," Huo Youxue presented him with two options: either disclose information about Wu Xie immediately or accompany her back to her place for a more detailed discussion.

Unaware of Liang Wan's whereabouts, Zhang Rishan, who was on his way to WuShanJu, made a detour to the hospital hoping to find her. A nurse informed him that Dr. Liang had taken leave for "relaxation," and when asked if he was her boyfriend, Zhang Rishan denied it. As Huo Youxue's people attempted to take Li Cu and Liang Wan, White Boa, the scar-faced vendor from the market, unexpectedly reappeared.

He created a diversion, fighting off Huo Youxue's women, and urged Li Cu and Liang Wan to "be quick to WuShanJu," where his dog would guide them. Despite White Boa's brave intervention, he was overwhelmed by the Huo family's forces and did not manage to return with Li Cu and Liang Wan. At WuShanJu, Li Cu and Liang Wan were met by an old lady, Old Mrs. Wu, who seemed to be the head of the establishment.

Shortly after, Huo Youxue and her retinue arrived, with a captive White Boa in tow. Old Mrs. Wu quickly instructed Li Cu and Liang Wan to hide behind a screen. From their hiding spot, Liang Wan surmised that the old lady was indeed the leader of WuShanJu.

Huo Youxue immediately complained that Li Cu had been snatched from her people by WuShanJu's men while they were merely trying to question him, and then accused Wu Xie of breaking the Nine Men Association's rules regarding GuTongJing. Old Mrs. Wu retorted, comparing Huo Youxue's "cunning face" to her grandmother, Huo Xiangu, and ominously reminded her of Huo Xiangu's "bad end."

She then issued a veiled threat, mentioning her old age and having "seen more than one or two young men dead." Huo Youxue cut to the chase, declaring her sole purpose for being there was "just for GuTongJing." Old Mrs. Wu explained that the rule, established by Uncle Buddha after the Nine Men were greatly "hurt" in GuTongJing, explicitly forbade anyone from touching it again. Huo Youxue argued that Wu Xie had broken this rule.

Old Mrs. Wu defended Wu Xie, stating that the rule was "for stopping the loss not for prevention," and as Wu Xie was their "only successor," they had decided to "let it go." Huo Youxue challenged this, asserting that "GuTongJing is not yours," and if Wu Xie could access it, others from the Nine Men Association should also be allowed.

She then demanded that Li Cu, "the person sent from GuTongJing by him," be handed over immediately, threatening to use force if her request was denied. In response, Old Mrs. Wu activated a hidden recording device, playing loud dog barks, and declared that while WuShanJu might not have many men, they "have kept a lot of dogs."

She then brought Li Cu forward and, instructing him to call himself "Wu Xiaomao" and claim to be a Wu family child, made him greet her as "Grandma." When Huo Youxue, enraged, called this "calling white black" and threatened violence, a male voice from the doorway interjected, demanding they "Wait a second!"

Episode 23 Recap

As the Huo family attempted to cause a scene at WuShanJu, Zhang Rishan appeared, asserting that this was WuShanJu's territory and not a place for Huo Youxue to act wildly. Walking towards Liang Wan, Zhang Rishan unexpectedly instructed Kanjiao to help her wash off something. He then confronted Huo Youxue, questioning if she had consulted QiongQi Company before claiming to represent the Nine Clans. He dismissed her objections, declaring it was two against one and she would gain nothing.

Defeated, Huo Youxue and her group left, but she warned that if anyone broke the rules, she would eventually dismantle everything. Wu Erbai then approached Zhang Rishan, accusing him of being too late and demanding to know what he and Wu Xie had been doing. He threatened to expel Li Cu and Liang Wan, whom he called an "immoral couple," if Zhang Rishan didn't cooperate. Li Cu quickly denied knowing Liang Wan, asserting his innocence.

Zhang Rishan retorted that expelling Li Cu would be a loss for the Wu family, stating he was merely doing Wu Xie a favor. He pointed out that Wu Xie's whereabouts were unknown and the Wu family was in peril, questioning if Wu Erbai truly intended to take such action. Wu Erbai, however, remained indifferent, claiming that if a nephew died, another could be born. As Wu Erbai moved to grab Li Cu, Wu Grandma intervened, telling him to stop.

She lamented that Wu Xie's Third Uncle (San Shu) hadn't returned and she needed her grandson back. She chided her son for being too lenient with Wu Xie, saying her three sons, though raised similarly, each had their own destiny. Wu Grandma, who believed Li Cu was Wu Xie's illegitimate son, then kindly asked Li Cu his name. After briefly joking that he was "Wu Xiaomao," Li Cu revealed his real name.

Grandma instructed Li Cu and Liang Wan to stay at WuShanJu for a few days to avoid trouble. Zhang Rishan, however, asked Li Cu to stay behind as he had something important to discuss, much to Liang Wan's disappointment. Wu Grandma led Liang Wan to Wu Xie's Third Uncle's room, which had been empty for a long time. Noticing Liang Wan's sadness, Grandma gently advised her not to grieve too much over a man, saying there were plenty of others.

Liang Wan feigned ignorance, but Grandma, despite her age, saw clearly that Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan shared a connection. She explained that having witnessed generations of worldly affairs, Zhang Rishan found it difficult to express his emotions easily, and that he was struggling with himself, not with Liang Wan. This emotional release caused Liang Wan to shed tears, which she quickly blamed on "spiciness."

Zhang Rishan then turned his attention to Li Cu, remarking on his uselessness and suggesting he should have chosen Su Wan and Yang Hao instead. Surprised, Li Cu asked if Zhang Rishan knew his friends, to which Zhang Rishan replied they were very familiar. Li Cu then realized Zhang Rishan was the one who made the skin-masks.

Zhang Rishan handed Li Cu a bank card, explaining it was the final payment, with the password being the date Li Cu emerged from the desert. Following a strange drawing on the back of the card, Li Cu later found a hidden room in WuShanJu, where Zhang Rishan appeared and took him to a secret laboratory. Inside, Li Cu recognized specimens of black snakes and snake trees, realizing the iron barrels from GuTongJing had been delivered there.

Zhang Rishan revealed Wu Xie's grand plan: a clandestine Tenth Family, known as the Wang family, had been secretly monitoring and infiltrating the Nine Clans for generations, and was responsible for the mass deaths at GuTongJing. To counter this, Wu Xie intended to use an "outsider" – Li Cu – to initiate a "purging plan" against the Wang family. Zhang Rishan warned Li Cu that from this point forward, he must trust no one.

Later, Li Cu thanked Wu Grandma for her help, but she brushed it off, saying she had a personal feud with "that little vixen" (presumably Huo Youxue). She then startled Li Cu by asking if Wu Xie was his father, as she thought he resembled him. Li Cu, bewildered, confirmed that while she was his grandmother, Wu Xie was definitely not his father. As they walked, Li Cu marveled at the size of WuShanJu.

Grandma explained it had grown from a small house over generations as the family prospered. She took Li Cu to Wu Xie's room, showing him a wall covered with a "ten-year calendar" outlining Wu Xie's life goals. She wanted Li Cu to understand Wu Xie better. Grandma shared that Wu Xie used to be happy, but had become troubled in recent years.

She showed Li Cu a photo album, pointing out a picture of Wu Xie with his two best friends, jokingly calling them the "Iron Triangle" who had caused much mischief. Li Cu worried if he would see Wu Xie again, but Grandma assured him he would, believing Wu Xie had sent him to WuShanJu to come home on his behalf.

She told him to rest and gave him a piece of paper with "Tian Zhen Wu Xie" (innocent and pure) written on it. That evening, Wu Grandma led Li Cu to a hidden room, explaining that Wu Xie had instructed her to bring anyone he sent to this place. It was the ancestral hall of the Nine Clans, filled with spirit tablets. Li Cu, curious, asked about the Nine Clans.

Grandma explained they were nine powerful families, known as the Old Nine Clans, who once dominated Changsha. After the founding of the People's Republic, they went their separate ways, establishing companies but maintaining a fragile relationship out of respect for their elders. Li Cu noticed all the spirit tablets bore the same date: August 4, 1945, and only surnames, no given names. Grandma explained that the incident happened so suddenly there was no time to compile full names.

She recounted that Buddha Zhang (Zhang Dafo Ye) had led hundreds of Nine Clans members to GuTongJing overseas for a project, but none returned, leaving the place a permanent mystery, sealed in the desert. The ancestral hall served to commemorate those who perished. Consequently, GuTongJing became a taboo, with a universal agreement that no one should ever disturb it.

Grandma expressed her disbelief and sorrow that Wu Xie, despite the strict prohibition, had become involved with GuTongJing, now facing condemnation from the Nine Clans Association. She worried how much longer WuShanJu and QiongQi Company could endure the ensuing storm. Grandma then humbly bowed to Li Cu on Wu Xie's behalf, asking him to help Wu Xie, making Li Cu feel a heavy sense of responsibility. Meanwhile, Su Wan, still at home, was concerned for Li Cu's safety.

He called Yang Hao, asking if his "brothers" at WuShanJu were helping Li Cu, unaware that Yang Hao had no such connections and was merely boasting. Later, Su Wan received another phone call from the courier, reporting that more "coffins" had arrived. Panic-stricken, Su Wan immediately called Li Cu, reporting the new deliveries. Li Cu instructed him not to move anything or let anyone discover them until he returned.

The next morning, Liang Wan was ordered by Bai She to sweep the courtyard as payment for her stay. Bai She casually ate sunflower seeds, spitting shells and mocking Liang Wan's efforts. Liang Wan, frustrated, declared she wouldn't sweep anymore. Bai She, however, grew serious, warning her that if the "lady from JinShangZhu" (referring to the Huo family) learned of her connection with Zhang Rishan, they would not let her off lightly. This information slightly improved Liang Wan's mood.

However, when Liang Wan next encountered Zhang Rishan, she was still resentful. She feigned not recognizing him, but Zhang Rishan initiated conversation, asking if her eyes still hurt. She replied that her eyes were fine, but her heart ached. Zhang Rishan, lacking emotional sensitivity, suggested she, being a doctor, should prescribe medicine for herself. Angered, Liang Wan turned to leave, but Zhang Rishan swiftly pulled her back, much to her secret delight. He then asked for a favor.

After some playful resistance, Liang Wan agreed to hear him out. Zhang Rishan revealed he needed to be absent for a few hours and required her to impersonate him in a room at LouWaiBai. He would use a skin-mask to make her look exactly like him, and she simply had to remain silent to avoid revealing her identity. Donning the skin-mask, Liang Wan found herself transformed into Zhang Rishan's spitting image.

She spent the next few hours admiring her reflection, practicing his demeanor, and whispering playful declarations of love to herself. Suddenly, Luo Que entered the room, having heard a woman's voice. Liang Wan, unable to speak as instructed, maintained a conflicted facial expression, which Luo Que found awkward. He simply informed "Zhang Rishan" that lunch was ready. As Liang Wan, still in disguise, was about to begin her meal, the Huo family, led by Huo Youxue, burst into the private room.

Episode 24 Recap

Liang Wan, impersonating Zhang Rishan, arrived at a private room in a restaurant. Luo Que had informed her that lunch was ready. On her way, Liang Wan relished the attention from women who admired "Zhang Rishan's" handsome appearance, privately finding it pleasant to impersonate him as she could "just eat and drink, accompanied by a young pretty boy. Nice." As she settled down to eat, Huo Youxue burst in.

Liang Wan, unable to speak without risking exposure, wrote the character 'love' with a pen. Huo Youxue, misinterpreting this as Zhang Rishan lacking female companionship, attempted to seduce him. She then provocatively asked why "President Zhang" was silent today after speaking with such justice yesterday. Huo Youxue angrily accused "Zhang Rishan" of trying to monopolize GuTongJing's treasures with the WuShanJu people, asserting that her organization, JinShangZhu, was determined to go to GuTongJing.

Agitated, Liang Wan tripped over a chair, accidentally touching Huo Youxue's chest, creating an extremely awkward situation. Liang Wan quickly retracted her hand. Huo Youxue, feeling humiliated, declared that JinShangZhu would be at absolute odds with Zhang Rishan from that moment on. After Huo Youxue left, Liang Wan returned to the room, realizing she might have caused trouble. She muttered about "GuTongJing, Nine Clans, and that Huo woman" being "what the hell are these?"

She decided that "retreat is always the best answer!" She then changed her clothes, intending to escape. Before leaving, she noticed an iron box on Zhang Rishan's table. Inside, she discovered the medical records of Li Cu and Zhang Qiling. She recalled having crumpled and discarded these very records earlier, wondering why they had reappeared. Just then, Zhang Rishan returned, stating the records were hers. Liang Wan angrily confronted him, accusing him of investigating her despite her helping him.

Zhang Rishan reminded her that from her first contact with Li Cu, to knowing him, and even following him to WuShanJu, she could no longer stay out of these affairs. Liang Wan declared she didn't understand and didn't want to get involved with the "breakdowns of Nine Clans and GuTongJing." Zhang Rishan then asked why she investigated Zhang Qiling. Liang Wan paused, then explained it was because they were all patients at her hospital.

Zhang Rishan confirmed he knew Zhang Qiling but could not reveal his location. He then asked Liang Wan for another favor. He presented two identical ancient architectural design drawings: one from the Eastern Han Dynasty, specifically the twelfth year of YongPing, and another related to GuTongJing, dated to 1945 and made by a genius class. Zhang Rishan challenged her to memorize all these complex drawings overnight, promising to tell her Zhang Qiling's whereabouts if she succeeded.

Liang Wan attempted to photograph the designs with her phone, but Zhang Rishan stopped her, emphasizing their importance and forbidding them from leaving the room, except in her mind. Liang Wan struggled with the memorization, eventually falling asleep at the table. The next morning, Liang Wan woke to find Zhang Rishan had prepared breakfast. She was delighted, and flirted with him, realizing he could cook.

Zhang Rishan explained that living alone for a long time made one learn things to pass the time. He avoided living with someone because, as an immortal, he didn't want to witness them leaving before him. Liang Wan assured him she wouldn't leave first, even claiming her fortune-telling predicted a long life. Zhang Rishan advised her not to seek Zhang Qiling if she truly desired a long life.

Liang Wan insisted Zhang Qiling was very important to her, not because she liked him, but for "other reasons." Zhang Rishan told her that if she truly wanted to find Zhang Qiling, he needed to ensure her survival, warning that the more she knew and the closer she got to him, the more dangerous it would become. He instructed her to go home after breakfast, promising to arrange a meeting once she completed her task.

As he turned to leave, Liang Wan embraced him from behind, tearfully asking if he was forcing her to confess her love. She pleaded for another chance, acknowledging the difficulties of their world and promising to become stronger. Zhang Rishan turned to her, leaning in as if to kiss her, but instead whispered that he trusted her, yet if that day truly came, she wouldn't want to be with him. He then left without looking back.

Frustrated, Liang Wan cursed Zhang Rishan as a "jerk." Meanwhile, Li Cu returned to school to ask for a month-long leave, but his teacher angrily refused, reminding him of the upcoming GaoKao and demanding his father come to school. Sitting at his desk, Li Cu's mind drifted back to his experiences. He recalled Master Black's words about him being unable to return to an ordinary life and eventually looking down on his peers.

He stood up, interrupting the teacher, and delivered a mature speech. He recounted his near-death experience a month prior, which made him realize his value and that there was something urgent only he could do. He told the surprised teacher he had compelling reasons to take leave, thanked her for granting it, and playfully promised to bring health care products for her temper when he returned. Li Cu then walked out of the classroom, seemingly having secured his leave.

Li Cu's mature demeanor quickly faded as his legs felt weak upon seeing Su Wan outside the school. Su Wan informed him that a truckload of packages had arrived, and another was on its way, totaling about sixty boxes. Li Cu decided to rent a warehouse in the suburbs. He paid the deliveryman extra to transport the packages there.

The deliveryman initially expressed fear upon seeing what appeared to be a hand in one of the boxes, but Li Cu quickly covered it up, claiming they were props for a rich friend's party. Seduced by the extra payment, the deliveryman agreed to transport the "props" but refused to unload them. At the suburban warehouse, truckloads of refrigerated fresh bodies arrived.

Li Cu intended to open them with Yang Hao and Su Wan, but they were too terrified, leaving Li Cu to do it alone. Despite his own fear, Li Cu rapidly unpacked several boxes, only opening them without daring to look inside. The packages continued to arrive in increasing numbers for Li Cu, and more individuals were becoming entangled with GuTongJing.

Wu Xie remained trapped in GuTongJing, awaiting Li Cu's rescue, and these numerous packages were undoubtedly deeply connected to GuTongJing. Zhang Rishan, Luo Que, and others arrived at the China-Myanmar border, noticing extensive signs of mountains being blasted and trees burned. Luo Que noted that it was man-made, not a natural disaster. Zhang Rishan deduced that someone was quarrying stones from mountains to extract something.

They encountered a local, who explained that the entire village was mining petrified wood for their chief. Luo Que's keen sense of smell detected the scent of fresh blood on the villager, realizing he was not a simple country folk and was skilled in kung fu. Zhang Rishan warned his team to be cautious, as they only had three days to complete their mission.

Episode 25 Recap

The three high school students were terrified by the boxes filled with human body parts, but despite their fear, they knew they had to deal with them. Su Wan was clearly shaken, exclaiming, "I'm dying! I'm dying!" He moaned like a cicada, prompting Yang Hao to tell him to stop. Yang Hao, though scared, suggested they unpack everything and then call the police, accepting that the warehouse was rented in his name, which meant he couldn't simply walk away.

Ultimately, Li Cu took the initiative, rapidly opening one box after another. The contents, however, were not human remains but ancient wooden puppets, though they emitted a strong, foul odor. When Li Cu pulled out what appeared to be a head, he confirmed it was a wooden puppet. He pointed out names carved on some of the puppets, like "Wu Zhongxie." They decided to open all the boxes and piece the puppets together, hoping for clues.

As they continued, they speculated about the purpose of the puppets, whether for performance, sacrifice, or burial. Li Cu believed they were burial objects, but he couldn't understand why names were carved on them. He noticed that the puppets were unusually heavy and suspected there was something inside them. Su Wan and Yang Hao jokingly suggested that Wu Xie and Master Black were perverts who sent the packages to scare Li Cu.

Li Cu dismissed this, arguing that Wu Xie wouldn't send so many things just to scare him. He deduced that all these items were elements of an expedition, possibly sent from GuTongJing. However, he remembered that when Su Wan first received the packages, both he and Wu Xie were still in GuTongJing, making it impossible for Wu Xie to have sent them.

Li Cu concluded that someone had prepared these things in advance, and they were either directly related to GuTongJing or to Wu Xie's next plan. As Li Cu continued unpacking, a black-haired snake suddenly sprang out of a box. Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao quickly killed it.

Li Cu explained that black-haired snakes were exclusive to GuTongJing and could attach to and control human bodies, adding that it was normal to find such things if the boxes were indeed sent from GuTongJing. Their unsettling discoveries continued when they found a puppet with "Shen Qiong" carved on it. Li Cu initially tried to dismiss it as a mere coincidence, suggesting there were many people named Shen Qiong in the world.

However, his attempts at reassurance failed when they subsequently found puppets bearing the names "Shen Shiyang" and "Zou Jing," identified as Shen Qiong's father and mother. This made it impossible to be a coincidence. Su Wan, remembering Shen Qiong's unexplained disappearance, grew distressed and accused Li Cu of getting Shen Qiong involved. Terrified by the implications, Su Wan decided he couldn't take it anymore and wanted to leave.

Li Cu, wanting to keep the matter secret, threatened Su Wan, telling him he couldn't leave and listing past incidents where Su Wan had taken the blame for him. Su Wan retorted angrily, reminding Li Cu that he was taking the blame for him and accusing Li Cu of being responsible for Shen Qiong's involvement. Realizing his words were harsh, Li Cu told both Su Wan and Yang Hao to leave, stating that the matter didn't concern them.

Yang Hao initially stayed to express their loyalty, saying other friends would have already run off, but eventually left to try and persuade Su Wan to return. Left alone, Li Cu brought in large freezers and refrigerators to re-freeze all the puppets, preventing the foul odor from spreading. As he placed the puppet with Shen Qiong's name into a freezer, he silently vowed to uncover the truth for her. Meanwhile, Su Wan, still deeply disturbed, walked home.

He started seeing store mannequins as the grotesque puppets from the warehouse, startling him. Upon arriving home, he found a small package addressed to Li Cu on his table. At the same time, Yang Hao called the warehouse owner to extend the rental, only to be told the price had increased. He reluctantly agreed to pay the higher fee. Shortly after, a subordinate of Zheng Yi arrived at Yang Hao's house.

Zheng Yi's men had seen them moving goods into the warehouse and assumed they were involved in a profitable venture, wanting a share. Yang Hao tried to get rid of the subordinate, but the man, feeling provoked, brought up Yang Hao's father's past crime of murder and tried to sow discord between Yang Hao and his friends, calling Yang Hao a "coward" and suggesting Li Cu and Su Wan were just using him.

Enraged, Yang Hao grabbed the subordinate by the collar and threw him out, but the man's words deeply unsettled him. Back home, Li Cu discovered his father was gone, leaving a note explaining he had urgent matters to attend to for a few days, along with a stack of money. Searching his father's bookshelf, Li Cu found a business card for The Giant Wind Express.

Comparing it to the courier slips and searching online, he made a startling discovery: Shen Qiong's father was the general manager of The Giant Wind Express's city-west branch. He immediately sent a WeChat message to Su Wan, planning to visit the company the next day, hoping to find clues about Shen Qiong's whereabouts. The next day, Su Wan went alone to The Giant Wind Express's storage center.

He asked a courier about packages sent to Li Cu, and the courier's demeanor immediately changed, trying to dismiss him. When Su Wan insisted on seeing the detailed information about the sender and origin, citing that the tracking number didn't show it online, the couriers became aggressive and attempted to force him out. Su Wan then mentioned that their manager's surname was Shen, further escalating the tension.

Concurrently, Zhang Rishan and his team arrived at the China-Myanmar border to investigate issues that the Xie family had caused. An old man, "Lao Tie" from the Hong family, greeted Zhang Rishan and explained that strange things had been happening since Master Xie of the Nine Clans visited last month. Lao Tie led them to a large pit.

He explained that local villagers, who made a living mining tree-shaped jade, discovered a strange copper door during their work the previous day. When they tried to open it, an earthquake struck, causing the ground to collapse into multiple large pits. Zhang Rishan noted that the holes didn't look like they were naturally formed by an earthquake. Luo Que descended into the pit and found several mummified corpses, all buried alive and choked to death.

Zhang Rishan inspected the bodies and found digging tools among their belongings. He concluded that since their objectives and causes of death were identical, the problem lay in the specific digging locations. He decided to go down into the pits himself, but acknowledged that they were in Clan Chen's territory and needed to inform them first to avoid breaking any agreements.

The coincidence of The Giant Wind Express delivering the mysterious packages to Li Cu, coupled with his discovery of Shen Qiong's father's business card in his own home, strongly implicated Li Cu's father. His frequent and sudden business trips now appeared highly suspicious.

Episode 26 Recap

Su Wan, who had been forcibly removed from the Jufeng Storage Center for inquiring about a package and mentioning Manager Shen, believed the company was hiding something due to the employees' suspicious behavior. He covertly boarded a delivery truck and snuck into a warehouse, where he discovered numerous illicit goods. He immediately called Li Cu, but during the call, he was found and apprehended by the company's staff.

Bound by the illicit deliverymen, Su Wan cleverly bluffed, claiming intimate knowledge of their operations and even the whereabouts of their missing "Manager Shen" – supposedly in a refrigerator in his boss's warehouse. He knew details about Shen Shiyang, Shen Qiong's father, including his past and family, which unnerved the men. One junior employee panicked and revealed that Li Cu's package was encrypted and only their boss knew the password.

Realizing Su Wan knew too much and suspecting their own boss was also in trouble, the head deliveryman decided to kill Su Wan and abscond with the valuables. As they moved to attack, Yang Hao, driving a hearse, crashed through the warehouse doors with Li Cu, rescuing Su Wan. The deliverymen blocked their escape route with shelves.

Thinking quickly, Li Cu grabbed Su Wan's exercise book, ignited it with Yang Hao's lighter, and threw it into a box of firecrackers, creating an explosive diversion that cleared their path. They sped away as police arrived, leading to the arrest of many deliverymen, though their leader escaped. The trio interrogated a captured employee, who confirmed that the parcels were shipped from Mongolia. He also revealed that a "Mr. Li" had visited Manager Shen shortly before Shen's disappearance.

Li Cu realized this Mr. Li was likely his own father. After getting the information, they stripped the deliveryman, tied him to the door, and Li Cu took a picture of him. After the rescue, Li Cu left to contact his father's friends, as his father's potential involvement was critical. Yang Hao and Su Wan returned to the warehouse to secure it. As they approached, they heard a voice inside repeatedly calling "Li Cu."

Fearing it was a lingering threat, they decided to bluff, mimicking the voices of the apprehended deliverymen and pretending a large crew was with them. They entered cautiously but found no one. However, the disembodied voices continued, first seemingly scolding Yang Hao, then speaking about the mysterious puppets from Li Cu's packages, and eventually chanting a haunting Buddhist funeral prayer. Frustrated and terrified, Yang Hao began furiously searching the boxes.

He uncovered a black snake, which startlingly started to speak, then summoned many more black snakes. The talking black snake was aggressive, and soon more emerged, overwhelming Yang Hao and Su Wan. Yang Hao retrieved a fire extinguisher and used it to incapacitate the snakes, allowing them to kill them one by one. Su Wan, relieved, observed that the snakes didn't seem to bite. However, a particularly cunning black snake then appeared behind him and bit him on the neck.

Yang Hao swiftly drove it off with a shovel and rushed the unconscious Su Wan to the hospital. When Li Cu finally arrived, Yang Hao, furious and distraught, unleashed his anger. He rebuked Li Cu for his delayed arrival, emphasizing the mortal danger they faced, stating that he and Su Wan could have both died.

Exhausted and burdened by his grandmother's care, Yang Hao declared he was done with their perilous endeavors, asking Li Cu not to involve him in anything further once Su Wan recovered, promising only to keep silent about what transpired. Meanwhile, Huo Youxue confronted members of the Li and Qi families, holding them accountable for the severe damage her family had suffered.

She revealed that seven of her businesses had been shut down, a direct consequence of their collective actions against Zhang Rishan and their disloyalty to one another. The Li and Qi family members, claiming financial hardship, promised to compensate Huo Youxue for her losses after they profited from their next venture into GuTongJing.

Huo Youxue agreed but set a strict condition: once inside GuTongJing, both their families and their subordinates must follow her command, emphasizing the historical unity of the Nine Clans and the greater gains from cooperation. After they agreed, one of the bosses bragged about getting ahead in GuTongJing, leading to a physical altercation between the two men.

Zhang Rishan sought a meeting with Ma Ye, the representative of the Clan Chen, to negotiate access to GuTongJing, indicating he only needed to retrieve one specific item and was willing to pay any price. Ma Ye, however, challenged him, stating he would only agree if Zhang Rishan drank an entire pot of wine. Unfazed, Zhang Rishan swiftly flipped the table, dousing the room and Ma Ye's men in alcohol.

He then produced a lighter, ignited the spilled wine, declaring it his "greeting," and walked away while the Chen family scrambled to extinguish the flames. The escalating dangers surrounding Li Cu, particularly the revelations about his father's connection to the Shen family and his meeting with the missing Manager Shen, continued to mystify Su Wan and Yang Hao.

They struggled to comprehend why Wu Xie had drawn an ordinary high school student like Li Cu into such a complex and perilous situation, suggesting that Li Cu's own family history might be far more significant than it appeared.

Episode 27 Recap

Yang Hao rushed Su Wan to the hospital, departing only after Li Cu arrived. Li Cu found Su Wan in his hospital room, out of immediate danger, but his entire body felt numb, and his tongue was so swollen it felt as if it had been soaking in peppercorns. Feeling deeply remorseful for causing Su Wan’s injury, Li Cu apologized. Su Wan, however, reassured him, saying he was fine and that as best friends, it was no big deal.

He mused that life was like an electrocardiogram, full of ups and downs, and confidently stated that he would be back to normal after finishing a box of XinYangDao Zero Lactose Milk. Then, Su Wan shared a secret with Li Cu: he had hidden the last package, which arrived last night, in the flower bed on the left side of their backyard.

He urged Li Cu to go retrieve it while his parents were still at the hospital, explaining that the situation felt too complicated and he wasn't sure if they should continue investigating. Following Su Wan's instructions, Li Cu climbed over the back wall into Su Wan's yard. He dug up the package from the flower bed, finding a note and a memory card inside. The note was marked with "AShanDong" and "Mongolia."

To access the memory card's contents, Li Cu went to an internet cafe and found a secluded corner. The memory card contained a video of Shen Qiong and her parents being forced into the desert by Huang Yan. In the video, Shen Qiong's father questioned when they could return, to which Huang Yan calmly replied that it would be soon and not to worry.

Shen Qiong's father then confronted Huang Yan, accusing him of deceiving his logistics company and kidnapping his entire family, including his young daughter, calling his actions despicable. Huang Yan countered that without bringing his daughter, Shen Qiong's father wouldn't have cooperated. He revealed his goal was to find something, promising safe return if it was found, but threatening to let them all die with him if it wasn't.

Huang Yan also implied that Shen Qiong's father knew more about their current location than he pretended, referencing his past profession before the logistics company. The video then captured a moment of panic as something dangerous emerged from below ground. Shen Qiong then recorded a message directly to Li Cu, expressing uncertainty if he would ever see it.

She explained that Huang Yan had kidnapped her and her family, taking them to GuTongJing, a truly terrifying place where people were falling ill and snakes were burrowing into their bodies. She stated that "the special person" they were looking for was Li Cu, and warned him that his father seemed to be involved in the matter, urging him to be careful.

Huang Yan had left them, knowing they were sick, and the return passage wouldn't open for another month, a time she doubted she would survive. She concluded by saying that "they" were out and would certainly find Li Cu. Alarmed, Li Cu rushed home and called his father’s friends, including Uncle Wang, Uncle Li, and Uncle Zhu, but none of them had seen or heard from his father.

He found a business card, and with these combined clues, he concluded that his father was likely in AShanDong. Meanwhile, Yang Hao received a phone call from Manager Zeng, informing him that the warehouse lease had expired. Manager Zeng explained that Master Qiang needed the warehouse back for his own large shipment and demanded that all of Yang Hao's goods be cleared out by that afternoon.

Yang Hao's polite request for a few days' extension was flatly denied, with Manager Zeng warning that Master Qiang would have his men clear out the warehouse if Yang Hao didn't comply. Yang Hao then went to find Li Cu, only to discover him packing a suitcase, seemingly preparing to leave. Yang Hao angrily confronted Li Cu, accusing him of disloyalty and trying to abandon them after getting Su Wan and him into trouble.

Li Cu, desperate to find his father, explained that he had an urgent matter in AShanDong and asked Yang Hao to stall Master Qiang for him, which he said with a harsh tone due to his anxiety. Yang Hao reacted poorly to Li Cu's tone, asking "Is this how you talk?" and emphasizing the severe risks of the black-haired snakes and other dangerous items hidden in the warehouse.

He yelled that even if Li Cu’s father had died, Li Cu should stay and deal with the situation. Li Cu retorted with similar anger. Li Cu eventually admitted that he couldn't think of a solution either and expressed regret for involving his friends, but reiterated that he had no choice. Yang Hao pointed out that moving the foul-smelling puppets in broad daylight would be impossible without being caught.

They both agreed that under no circumstances could they allow anyone to enter the warehouse. Later that afternoon, Master Qiang arrived with his men, demanding immediate eviction. Yang Hao pleaded for more time, first offering double rent, then a hefty 100,000 yuan in cash, hoping to persuade Master Qiang to grant an extension and prevent him from entering the warehouse. However, his offer only intensified Master Qiang's curiosity about the contents.

In a desperate attempt to scare them off, Yang Hao grabbed a brick and smashed it against his own head. Unfazed, Master Qiang stated he was a businessman, not a barbarian, and announced that he had already called the police to handle the eviction through proper channels. When the police arrived, they ordered Yang Hao to open the warehouse door. Yang Hao hesitated, knowing the dangers inside, but had no choice but to unlock it.

As he pulled the door open, bracing himself for the worst, both he and the police were surprised to find the warehouse almost empty, containing only a few plastic mannequins. Finding no illegal items, the police instructed Yang Hao to clear out the remaining mannequins as per his contract and advised him to get his head wound checked at the hospital.

Unbeknownst to Yang Hao, Xie Yuchen had previously arranged for Wang Pang to move the actual contents of the warehouse. Wang Pang was later heard on the phone confirming to Xie Yuchen that he had "covered his ass." Meanwhile, Liang Wan continued her investigation, searching the archives for information on the 1945 genius class. After much fruitless searching, as the archives were nearing closing time, a stack of documents fell, revealing a hidden door behind a curtain.

She used a bank card to pry open the door, discovering a secret room filled with files on "Project 056." She finally found records for the 1945 genius class and confirmed that the architectural drawings were indeed made by those students. However, she noticed that records for the fifth and sixth semesters were missing, and all completion dates and responsible individuals for the Project 056 blueprints ceased after July 1945, making her question what profound event occurred in 1945.

She also saw the name "GuTongJing 1945" in the archives, confirming a connection. Going through personnel files, Liang Wan recognized the name Huo Zhongshu, recalling it from the business card on the mummified corpse Li Cu had brought her. She discovered that Huo Zhongshu, along with other classmates like Qi Kaifeng and Huo Qiling, were all recorded as "missing" in August 1945, indicating that the entire class had vanished simultaneously.

Before the archives closed completely, Liang Wan quickly jotted down Huo Zhongshu's address: Xing'er Hutong 043, Quanfu Road, Shunjing. Liang Wan then traveled to Huo Zhongshu's address, inquiring with several locals, but none had heard of him. Fortunately, she found a small eatery named "Zhongshu Snack" at the location, offering a potential lead. Inside, the shop was rather chaotic, run by an elderly woman who seemed a bit confused, repeatedly forgetting the items Liang Wan tried to order.

Liang Wan explained that she wasn't there for food, but to ask about Huo Zhongshu, claiming to be a distant relative who had received a parcel of his old books to deliver. The old woman was visibly moved by the name. She sadly informed Liang Wan that Huo Zhongshu hadn't lived there for a long time and that her journey was in vain. She also expressed her own long-standing desire to know what had happened to him.

Liang Wan asked if he had gone missing. The old woman confirmed that they were childhood neighbors, and one day Huo Zhongshu simply vanished. His parents refused to speak of it, and her attempts to find him were fruitless; he had seemingly vanished into thin air. Later, Huo Zhongshu's mother fell gravely ill, constantly muttering terrifying phrases like "Don't go, don't go! He was possessed!"

Even more frightening, neighbors who visited her would suddenly die horribly upon returning home, leading everyone to shun the family. Eventually, Huo Zhongshu's father took his mother away, and the old woman never heard from them again. She had named her shop "Zhongshu Snack" as a way to hold onto hope.

She revealed that she knew Liang Wan wasn't a distant relative but believed she was a good person because she was the first to seek out Huo Zhongshu in years. She earnestly requested Liang Wan to uncover the truth about what happened to the Huo family and to inform her of any news, dead or alive. Liang Wan then asked if Huo Zhongshu's old house was still standing; the old woman confirmed it was, and currently vacant.

Liang Wan proceeded to the old house, which was dusty and covered in cobwebs but largely untouched. After a thorough search, she discovered an old notebook hidden in a secret compartment within a drawer. It became clear that the disappearance of Huo Zhongshu and the entire genius class in 1945 was directly linked to the events that transpired in GuTongJing that same year.

Episode 28 Recap

Liang Wan repeatedly called Zhang Rishan, but his phone was off. Frustrated, she left him a voicemail, stating she knew all the secrets of a certain matter and threatened to expose everything if he didn't contact her before 8 PM that night. Upon returning to her hotel room, she found her belongings neatly packed, along with a train ticket to AShanDong. On the train, Liang Wan immersed herself in Huo Zhongshu’s notebook.

The entries revealed that Huo Zhongshu, a distant relative of Clan Huo, was taken by members of the clan to build a monumental structure abroad. His parents were reluctant, arguing he was too young and unsuitable for work in enclosed environments. However, Clan Huo insisted his age was perfect for a project expected to take thirty years.

They warned his family that if this structure was not completed before a rival group, the Wangs, arrived, not only Huo Zhongshu and his parents but the entire Nine Clans would face destruction. Huo Zhongshu, a clever boy, was told the building's design already existed from nineteen hundred years ago, and he would receive professional training to construct it.

He was warned that failure would result in the death of his family and himself, as he belonged to the Nine Clans, and the rivals were the Nine Clans’ biggest secret. Meanwhile, Li Cu showed Su Wan the video of Shen Qiong, which worried Su Wan greatly. Su Wan wanted to call the police, but Li Cu cautioned against it, explaining that it might endanger Shen Qiong.

Li Cu pointed out that Shen Qiong in the video claimed Huang Yan took her, but Huang Yan was already dead. This raised the question of who the "later" Shen Qiong was. Su Wan realized the timing of Shen Qiong's appearance did not align with their actual interactions, leading him to believe they were caught in a vast conspiracy.

Li Cu decided they had to go to AShanDong to investigate the hotel, believing the key they possessed would lead them to clues. Despite Li Cu’s reluctance due to Su Wan’s recent snake bite, Su Wan insisted on joining, claiming the snake venom had made him even stronger.

Yang Hao also demanded to go, arguing that if Li Cu and Su Wan left, he would be left alone to take responsibility for the mysteriously emptied warehouse, which he believed to be problematic. Ultimately, Li Cu relented, and the three brothers embarked on their adventure. On the train to AShanDong, Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao were startled to find Liang Wan also aboard. Their fears were confirmed when she entered their compartment.

To avoid her, they quickly covered themselves with blankets. Su Wan and Yang Hao managed to sneak out to find another compartment, but as Li Cu attempted to follow, Liang Wan’s foot accidentally brushed against him, revealing their presence. Liang Wan was surprised to see them, and after some playful banter about showing tickets, she suggested they travel together since they had met by chance.

When the train neared its terminal, they realized all four of them were still on board, implying they might share the same mysterious destination. Concurrently, Zhang Rishan and his team prepared to descend into an underground palace. Zhang Rishan identified it as a Solitary Mausoleum, a type of palace he had read about in ancient texts, built to prevent entry by outsiders with only one safe entrance, a “cover door.” Entering from anywhere else would be fatal.

He noted the eerie sight of bodies with heads buried in the ground, suggesting they were victims of traps. After carefully finding the correct entrance, Zhang Rishan warned his team to be cautious. Inside, one of his men stumbled and was immediately pulled down, his head seemingly sucked into the ground. Zhang Rishan quickly grabbed Luo Que’s fishing rod to rescue him, but as he did, he experienced a vivid hallucination.

He saw Uncle Buddha, who sternly questioned his failure to protect GuTongJing and threatened him with military punishment. Zhang Rishan's subordinates called out to him, breaking his trance. He recovered and pulled the man to safety, then ordered his team to exit by following their footprints, declaring he would proceed alone. Outside the underground palace, Luo Que and Waistcoat stood guard.

Waistcoat tried to amuse Luo Que with a joke in Sichuan dialect, calling him a "little sparrow," but Luo Que simply dismissed him as a psycho. Suddenly, several masked attackers ambushed them. Despite their formidable skills, the two were overwhelmed by the sheer number of assailants and were captured. Alone in the underground palace, Zhang Rishan was suddenly confronted by Chief Chen, the owner of Clan Chen, who appeared with the captured Luo Que and Waistcoat.

Chief Chen feigned displeasure at Zhang Rishan’s unannounced visit and expressed concerns for his safety, while subtly alluding to the dangers within the palace. He mentioned how many of his own men, including seasoned veterans like Xiaotian and Xiaoyi, had died mysteriously in this place, their bodies appearing with heads buried. Zhang Rishan asked for lime, revealing that the deaths were caused by soil lice, which release a hallucinogenic toxin upon death.

His men had likely accidentally killed these bugs while digging, inhaling the poisonous gas. Chief Chen ordered his men to clear the area of the soil lice and suggested he and Zhang Rishan proceed further. Zhang Rishan agreed, instructing Luo Que to accompany them while sending Waistcoat back to report to Yin Nanfeng that everything was going smoothly. As Chief Chen, Zhang Rishan, and Luo Que ventured deeper, they passed numerous corpses.

Chief Chen mused that such a strong presence of "corpse gas" must indicate significant treasures within. They soon encountered a section covered by what appeared to be a dense, maze-like barbed wire net. Many of Chief Chen’s men were cut, even though the wire seemed distant. Zhang Rishan’s arm was also scratched. Chief Chen’s men began to panic, realizing the area was "sucking blood" and they were becoming lost.

Zhang Rishan, however, discerned that the barbed wire was an illusion, a trick of light and shadow created by distant candlelight. He declared, "What you see may not be real," and led Luo Que through a different path. Recognizing Zhang Rishan’s understanding of the mechanism, Chief Chen quickly followed with his remaining men. They passed through the illusory barrier to reach a grand statue surrounded by more bodies.

Chief Chen immediately recognized it as the statue commissioned by Uncle Buddha before he entered GuTongJing. Overjoyed at this discovery, Chief Chen ordered his men to begin searching the statue for treasures. However, as they approached, his men suddenly fell into a trance, their faces expressionless, walking forward mindlessly.

Episode 29 Recap

In the underground palace, the Chen Clan members, seemingly enchanted, marched forward blankly. Zhang Rishan and Luo Que intervened swiftly, using kicks and shoves to snap them out of their trance. Zhang Rishan surmised that the stone statue was placed there to suppress something beneath. Chen Jinshui, now rescued, changed his tune, inviting Zhang Rishan for a drink as a welcoming gesture. However, the ground suddenly collapsed, crushing several of Chen Jinshui’s men and trapping the group.

Chen Jinshui was eager to dig their way out, but Zhang Rishan warned him against touching the unstable rocks, fearing further collapses that would reduce their living space. Zhang Rishan questioned Chen Jinshui, as the supposed master of the place, for having no clues. Chen Jinshui admitted that only Chen Pi A'si knew these matters.

He revealed that after becoming the chief, he learned of a secret deal between Grandpa Si (Chen Pi A'si) and Zhang Qishan (Fo Ye) many years ago, where Grandpa Si was to build an underground maze for Zhang Qishan. They had no idea the maze was located beneath these ancient trees. Grandpa Si remained tight-lipped and warned that even after his death, no one should touch these items or approach the trees.

Zhang Rishan scorned Chen Jinshui for immediately seeking the underground treasures after Chen Pi A'si's death, calling him an unfilial descendant. Chen Jinshui retorted, refusing to believe Chen Pi A'si left nothing behind after achieving so much, asserting the treasures must be inside. He admitted to sending many men down, all of whom perished. Growing impatient, Chen Jinshui challenged Zhang Rishan to a fight, only to be swiftly subdued by Zhang Rishan.

Realizing he was outmatched, Chen Jinshui relented, proposing that Zhang Rishan focus on finding a way out while his men searched for the treasures. Zhang Rishan agreed, stating he had no interest in their underground belongings. As time passed, Chen Jinshui grew agitated by Zhang Rishan's silence regarding an exit. Finally, Zhang Rishan declared the exit was on top of the statue, explaining that he had been listening for subtle sounds of air and temperature changes indicative of cracks.

Luo Que confirmed this by retrieving a candy wrapper he had dropped at the entrance, proving the top connected to the surface. However, mutated corpse beetles, affected by the tree-like jade, could bite through stone, making a direct climb impossible. Zhang Rishan devised a plan: he had Luo Que capture several corpse beetles, instructing Chen Jinshui's men to smear their juice on their bodies. Then, Luo Que extinguished all lights.

As they proceeded in darkness, the corpse beetles indeed ignored them. Zhang Rishan then guided Luo Que to attach a fishing line to the statue, using Chen Jinshui’s men as stepping stones for a boosted climb. Zhang Rishan and Chen Jinshui ascended successfully. When it was Luo Que's turn, the fishing line snapped, but he quickly secured himself to the wall with a backup line.

Meanwhile, the scent on the Chen Clan members faded, and the corpse beetles began to attack. Zhang Rishan, despite Chen Jinshui's callous indifference towards his own men, ordered Luo Que to use the fishing line to rescue the two remaining Chen Clan members. Though rescued, they ended up in different locations: Zhang Rishan and Chen Jinshui at their initial landing spot, while Luo Que and the two injured Chen Clan members were on another part of the statue.

Chen Jinshui dismissed his injured men as having "completed their mission," but Zhang Rishan insisted they would be treated once they were safely out. The underground palace then shook violently again, causing the two injured Chen Clan members to nearly fall, but Luo Que pulled them back up. Their wounds continued to bleed, and the draining condition persisted. Meanwhile, Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao arrived at Ashan Dong.

They were surprised to find Liang Wan was also heading to the same destination. Li Cu initially wanted to abandon her, citing how she almost made him a criminal, but Su Wan and Yang Hao playfully suggested Li Cu liked her, leading Li Cu to begrudgingly allow her to join. At the hotel, Liang Wan cunningly secured a king-size room at Li Cu's expense, then left him and his friends to share a smaller triple room.

Li Cu confirmed with the front desk that all hotel rooms were opened with key cards, not physical keys, deducing his original key and two copies were for a utility room or a safe. While Liang Wan pondered over a mysterious hotel map given to her, trying to decipher its meaning, Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao split up to search the vast hotel.

After much effort, Li Cu finally located a garage in the hotel courtyard that the key opened. Yang Hao and Su Wan quickly joined him. Inside, they discovered a rugged vehicle perfectly suited for desert travel, along with a hidden envelope containing car keys and expedition supplies. The supplies were notably in sets of four, indicating that Liang Wan was an anticipated member of their group.

Li Cu, suspicious of how they were being coerced, searched further and found a map wrapped around a photo of his family. He then played a video from Wu Xie on a DV, who half-threatened, half-guided Li Cu to Gu Tong Jing. Wu Xie admitted to orchestrating everything, stating it was the best way to protect Li Cu and that all his recent experiences had purpose.

He warned Li Cu not to doubt his innocent father, explaining their involvement was a matter of destiny. Wu Xie said he could protect Li Cu's father but only if Li Cu followed his instructions. He revealed that another map was in the driver's seat, and Li Cu would meet someone in the desert who would give him a second map, which, when combined, would lead to the true Gu Tong Jing.

Wu Xie concluded by saying he might be dead by the time Li Cu saw the video, but his plan would continue, and Li Cu must follow his clues to protect his father. Enraged by Wu Xie's manipulations and the threat to his father, Li Cu furiously smashed the DV. He quickly ordered Yang Hao to test the car and Su Wan to inventory the equipment, while he packed, determined to leave immediately and ditch Liang Wan.

However, as they gleefully sang while driving out of the garage, Liang Wan was waiting directly outside the door, offering them two choices: take her with them, or drive over her.

Episode 30 Recap

Zhang Rishan and his group found themselves still struggling on the slippery stone statue, which continued to drain their blood. Luo Que quickly distributed gauze for everyone to bandage their wounds, emphasizing the danger and the difficulty of climbing the tile-like surface. Chief Chen, noticing a hidden box beneath the statue's hand, believed it to be a valuable item left by Chen Pi. Unable to reach it, he used a weapon, causing the underground palace to tremor even more.

He declared his determination to retrieve it, even if it meant dismantling the statue. Zhang Rishan suggested they try to reach the object from below. Chief Chen, fearing for his own safety, ordered Zhang Rishan to go down, promising to secure him with a chain. Zhang Rishan questioned Chief Chen's sudden lack of concern about him coveting the Chen family's treasures, to which Chief Chen confidently retorted that Zhang Rishan's life was in his hands and warned against any tricks.

Zhang Rishan then undertook the difficult task of retrieving the item from below. Chief Chen impatiently urged him to hurry and throw it up. After much effort, Zhang Rishan brought the box back up. Chief Chen immediately snatched it without a word of thanks. Upon opening the box, Chief Chen was disappointed to find only an old book, calling it a "crap book." Zhang Rishan recognized it as something related to GuTongJing.

Chief Chen's ambition for GuTongJing became clear as he spoke of its treasures and how even Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen sought it. He vowed to conquer GuTongJing now that Grandpa Si, who had forbidden the Chen family from touching it, was no longer alive. Zhang Rishan scoffed at his lack of ability, but Chief Chen, holding the book, insisted he could succeed. Without warning, Chief Chen placed explosives on the statue.

During the ensuing explosion, he climbed to the top of the statue, then detonated more explosives, which caused two of his men to fall to their deaths. He then escaped, mockingly telling Zhang Rishan and Luo Que that he was sending them to "meet Uncle Buddha and Chen Pi." Zhang Rishan and Luo Que were left behind, struggling to climb the treacherous stone.

Zhang Rishan injured his hand again while climbing, and as he bandaged it, his thoughts turned to Liang Wan. Realizing that the path to the statue's head had collapsed and was impossible to climb bare-handed, they sought another way. Meanwhile, Liang Wan, Li Cu, Yang Hao, and Su Wan were on their way to the desert.

Su Wan asked Liang Wan why she was joining them, and Liang Wan explained it was her annual leave from the hospital and her personal dream to visit the desert, hoping a "matchless hero" would come to marry her. Their car broke down mid-journey, and Li Cu got out to inspect it. Soon, another vehicle approached. The male driver rudely criticized Yang Hao's driving and demanded they move.

Yang Hao was about to retaliate when the female passenger politely apologized for her companion and asked them to clear the road as they were also in a hurry. Impressed by her demeanor, Yang Hao agreed to move their car, much to Li Cu's annoyance. They reached the supply point marked by Wu Xie, located at the edge of the desert.

Li Cu urged caution, recounting his previous perilous trip with Wu Xie, where dozens entered the desert but fewer than five returned alive. Liang Wan tried to reassure him by mentioning her medical skills, but Li Cu dismissed it, stating that a nurse on their previous trip had proven useless. The owner of the station, Chegaliba, greeted them. He informed them that eating and staying required first purchasing a whole roasted lamb for 5,000 RMB.

He then strongly advised against venturing into GuTongJing without a local guide, warning that no one had ever returned alive. He cited a recent example of a villager named Marera who went to find the seas and never came back after being lured to GuTongJing. Li Cu, having survived a previous trip, was not intimidated and initially refused a guide. However, Su Wan, Yang Hao, and Liang Wan insisted on hiring Chegaliba, offering the price of ten sheep.

Chegaliba initially refused, citing the extreme danger of GuTongJing, but quickly changed his mind when he heard the offer was for ten sheep, which equated to 50,000 RMB. He explained he needed the money to buy a house in China for his wife, expressing his actions were "for love." Yang Hao still suspected they were being overcharged.

Chegaliba then revealed that they were his second group of guests that day, the first being the man and woman they encountered on the road. He assured them the other group was only there for desert recreation and not heading to GuTongJing. Li Cu, applying Wu Xie's lessons, surmised that the woman was likely the real leader of the other group, judging by how the man's aggressive demeanor softened in her presence. Liang Wan, however, disagreed.

During dinner, Yang Hao noticed carvings on their stone table. The woman from the other group approached, identifying the carvings as "seas" in the desert and the stone as a historical tablet from ancient Juyan City. She recounted a tale from a thousand years ago when a defeated central army, dying of thirst in the desert, was led by local herdsmen to these three seas. Drinking the water, they became extraordinarily brave and vanquished all the bandits.

Liang Wan, a doctor, challenged her, mentioning she had read a book about the ancient Juyan City desert. The woman then introduced herself as Lan Ting, the author of that very book. Chegaliba interrupted, stating he had found the "mere stone" in a dry sea and offered to sell it, but then promised to show them the exact spot the next day on their way to GuTongJing, at no charge.

Upon hearing Li Cu's group was headed to GuTongJing, Lan Ting, who had arrived with a film crew (including a host, illustrator, photographer, and scriptwriter) to explore the desert, decided to change her group's plans to accompany them to GuTongJing as well, offering to pay Chegaliba in full. Later that night, Li Cu and Liang Wan sat by a campfire. Liang Wan questioned why Li Cu had returned to the desert after surviving his previous ordeal.

Li Cu confided that before meeting Wu Xie, he had drifted through life without purpose. Meeting Wu Xie had awakened him to a different way of living, making him feel a deep responsibility to save Wu Xie and the Jiu Men. He also admitted that this trip was motivated by concern for his father and his desire to understand Wu Xie's true agenda.

Liang Wan observed that Li Cu had matured significantly, no longer the "kiddo" he once was, and expressed her relief, saying she would no longer need to worry about him. She then announced she was going to get her "beauty sleep."

Episode 31 Recap

On the second day at the inn, Li Cu and his companions were urged by their guide, Chegaliba, to set out on camels, with Lan Ting's film crew joining them. The vast desert stretched before them, familiar to Li Cu from his previous journey, but a daunting challenge for the others who struggled with riding camels.

Li Cu shared the survival tips Wu Xie had once given him, advising them to write posthumous papers because in the deep desert, even the smallest incident could be fatal. He stressed the importance of including a body collector's contact information prominently, ensuring their families could afford the retrieval fee, or they would be buried on the spot. His friends, initially skeptical and thinking he was exaggerating, grudgingly complied.

Soon, they arrived at a dry sea, a place Chegaliba claimed was where he found the broken stones he displayed at his inn. Li Cu felt a strange familiarity with the area, though Liang Wan thought all desert seas looked alike. Su Wan discovered another stone tablet, similar to the one they had seen the night before, also bearing indecipherable patterns. Lan Ting, unexpectedly appearing nearby, identified the inscriptions as ancient Altaic script, a language from which Mongolian originated.

She explained that these tablets were part of a larger set, revealing a more sinister twist to the story she had told last night. The central army, having previously celebrated a victory in GuTongJing, had asked a local herdsman to lead them back to the sea, unaware he had become a ferocious ghost intending to lead them to their doom.

The soldiers, upon reaching the sea, celebrated, removing their armor and weapons by a bonfire, but failed to realize it was all a trap. By moonlight, every soldier vanished overnight, leaving only their empty armor and weapons behind. This chilling tale deeply affected Li Cu, who found himself recalling his own harrowing experiences in the desert with Wu Xie, involving figures like Surige, Galu, Marera, and Master Ma.

He began to see his own group as mirroring the doomed soldiers, caught in a grand conspiracy. His friends, however, dismissed it as merely a ghost story. As they prepared to leave, Lan Ting asked Li Cu to take a group photo.

Upon seeing the developed image, Li Cu was startled; he recognized the faces from photos he had found in buried cameras during his first desert trip—the missing tour group Wu Xie had spoken of, who had met with an accident. Shocked, he dropped the camera. Lan Ting picked it up and gave him an unsettling smile, confirming Li Cu’s growing suspicions about her and her crew.

Li Cu immediately urged his friends to leave, convinced that Lan Ting's group was dangerous and they couldn't stay with them. Chegaliba, initially unwilling to abandon them, was quickly swayed when Lan Ting's group announced they would not proceed to GuTongJing and would remain in their current location. Observing their strange behavior, Chegaliba agreed they were problematic and spurred Li Cu's group to depart. Chegaliba then expressed his reluctance to continue to GuTongJing, viewing the encounter as a bad omen.

Li Cu, however, gave him an ultimatum: either refund half their money and leave them the remaining camels, or continue as their guide. Unwilling to incur such a loss, Chegaliba agreed to take them but insisted on a quick in-and-out visit to GuTongJing. He also pointed out that their earlier delay meant they couldn't reach their destination before nightfall and suggested resting.

Li Cu, determined to press on, offered an additional payment equivalent to two more lambs to ensure they traveled through the night, which Chegaliba reluctantly accepted. During this exchange, Yang Hao and Su Wan noted Li Cu's growing intensity and how he had changed since entering the desert. As they walked through the dark desert, Li Cu noticed their route deviated from the map. He angrily confronted Chegaliba, accusing him of not following the agreed path.

Chegaliba claimed he was taking a shortcut, insisting that the map showed a detour. Their argument escalated, nearly turning physical, before Liang Wan, Su Wan, and Yang Hao intervened. Liang Wan urged Li Cu to trust their guide, but Li Cu, frustrated, retorted that he never wanted a guide in the first place and was now wasting precious time. He adamantly insisted on following his map.

After continuing for a while on Li Cu's chosen path, Liang Wan expressed concern that the landscape seemed unchanged, making her doubt their direction. Li Cu, brandishing the map, assured her that both the map and their direction were correct. Yang Hao, however, voiced skepticism about Wu Xie's map and reliability, sparking another heated argument with Li Cu. Liang Wan once again stepped in to calm the situation.

Su Wan consulted his watch and, after checking the map, estimated their destination was only about ten kilometers away. He conceded that Chegaliba's shortcut might have saved them effort, but Li Cu remained resolute in his decision to follow the map. Liang Wan, though weary, expressed a hopeful sentiment that Li Cu was making the right choice.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan and Luo Que remained trapped in the underground palace, their food and water supplies critically low, barely enough for one more meal. Zhang Rishan knew that three days had already passed, and the underground river was about to appear, a crucial deadline for his agreed rendezvous with Wu Xie, making escape imperative.

He pondered the connection between the stone statue and the items Chen Jinshui had taken, realizing that the area's abundance of silicified woods meant that some, buried for extended periods in low oxygen and cold, had mutated into blood silicified trees. These trees contained black stones that could resonate with the iron in blood, drawing it out. Luo Que, concerned for Zhang Rishan's safety, offered to sacrifice himself, believing Zhang Rishan's life to be more valuable.

Zhang Rishan rebuked him, asserting that unlike some members of the Clan Chen, he valued every life equally. A withered tree root then fell from the statue's head, which Zhang Rishan identified as belonging to the sacred tree of the Clan Chen, noting that such dead foliage should not simply fall. Luo Que discovered that the black stones not only affected human blood but also absorbed plant cells.

This realization gave Zhang Rishan an idea: he would use the stones to corrode the tree branches blocking their exit above. Zhang Rishan directed Luo Que to cast a fishing hook and rope upwards towards the roots, aiming blindly due to the darkness. Despite the hook being worn and difficult to maneuver, Luo Que persevered through several attempts until it finally caught. Zhang Rishan took the lead in climbing.

They successfully ascended the rope and then navigated through the hole created by the roots, emerging from the burned Chen family house. Zhang Rishan remarked that he had worried he might not make it out this time, but Luo Que replied that he had always felt Zhang Rishan was not one to die easily. Luo Que affirmed his loyalty to Zhang Rishan, stating that he was Zhang Rishan's man now, regardless of his past affiliation with Yin Nanfeng.

Luo Que further commented that despite Zhang Rishan's public stance of allowing the younger generation to stumble and not intervening, he could sense that Zhang Rishan secretly wished for Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen to succeed in overturning the corrupt Nine Clans, a sentiment that brought a subtle smile to Zhang Rishan's face.

Now free, Zhang Rishan instructed Luo Que to go and greet Xie Yuchen, who should have arrived by now, assuring Luo Que that he would be fine alone. Back in the underground palace, where the scriptures were hidden, red, eerie sprouts began to grow silently, nourished by Zhang Rishan’s blood. As Li Cu journeyed further, he grew increasingly confident in his own desert experience, almost to the point of arrogance. He dismissed his companions' opinions, adhering strictly to Wu Xie's map and advice. While his trust in Wu Xie deepened, his own demeanor became noticeably more irritable and short-tempered.

Episode 32 Recap

Li Cu and his companions continued their arduous journey through the desert from dusk until dawn, enveloped by a thick fog that reduced the sun to a mere white dot. Liang Wan expressed her surprise at the heavy fog in such a dry desert, but Chegaliba explained that the desert is full of wonders where anything can happen.

Liang Wan, having missed her beauty sleep, fretted about the intense desert UV rays damaging her skin and revealing crow's feet, to which Su Wan playfully confirmed her fears, irritating her. As the fog lifted, the desert became scorching hot, prompting the group to rest. However, a sudden cool breeze was quickly followed by Chegaliba's urgent shouts for them to move, warning that a "fire wind" was approaching.

He explained that anything in the path of the fire wind would be incinerated. They hastily grabbed their water, mounted their camels, and sped away, frantically whipping the animals. Liang Wan's camel was particularly disobedient and slow. When the camels became exhausted, the group abandoned them, taking only essential equipment, and continued their escape on foot.

The exhaustion of their desperate flight began to take its toll, especially on Liang Wan, who, drained of energy, fainted and rolled down a sand dune. Chegaliba quickly assessed her condition, noting her high body temperature and lack of sweat, indicating heatstroke. He instructed Li Cu to remove her coat and then fed her a salt cake that a camel had licked. Fortunately, Liang Wan soon regained consciousness.

As she stirred, her heated skin revealed a distinct tattoo on her back. Yang Hao lightheartedly remarked on it, teasing Liang Wan about being a "gangster girl" with her drinking, perming, and tattoo. Li Cu, however, felt a deep sense of unease, recognizing the same tattoo from Surige. Liang Wan's strength remained low, and after a few more steps, she fainted again.

Despite his suspicions about her true identity, Li Cu refused to abandon her and carried her on his back. Half-conscious, Liang Wan babbled deliriously about her "matchless hero" who would arrive in golden armor, treading on colorful auspicious clouds. Li Cu wondered if she spoke of him, but she bit him, affirming her hero would come. As Li Cu struggled on, his own strength dwindled, and he began to fear they wouldn't make it out.

He worried he was overconfident due to his past desert experience and wondered if his companions blamed him. He stumbled repeatedly but held onto Liang Wan tightly, refusing to let her fall. During their escape, Su Wan continued to pester Chegaliba with his peculiar questions, irritating the guide. Su Wan, Yang Hao, and Chegaliba walked ahead, with Li Cu bringing up the rear, carrying Liang Wan. Chegaliba came back to check on Li Cu and realized he was hallucinating.

In his altered state, Li Cu saw Lan Ting's film crew approaching and confronted them, frantically asking about Wu Xie, demanding if they knew him or any other name he might have used. He accused them of being dead, having seen their photos, and questioned if they were ghosts or haunted by GuTongJing. To his companions, Li Cu appeared to be talking to thin air.

Su Wan, exasperated, splashed a face full of water on Li Cu, finally bringing him back to his senses. The precious water used to revive Li Cu further depleted their already scarce supply. Just then, Yang Hao shouted, having discovered a "sea" (oasis). The sight of water invigorated everyone, and they quickly set up camp there. Li Cu gently placed Liang Wan in a tent, wiping her forehead with a wet towel until she awoke.

Having escaped the fire wind only to find a refreshing sea, everyone was overjoyed. However, Liang Wan's discovery of camel bones by the water's edge rekindled their worries. Chegaliba explained that some desert seas contain poisonous water, which the camel likely drank before dying on the shore. He added that a kind person had then thrown its bones into the water to save its soul, as souls of those who die in the desert are said to be trapped.

This explanation brought some relief to the group. Li Cu asked Su Wan to check their progress. Su Wan, looking at his watch, revealed that despite walking all night and running for a long time, they had only covered five kilometers. While the group enjoyed splashing in the water, a subtle change in the sea went unnoticed. They also dug a ditch to allow the water to evaporate, providing a much-needed cooling effect.

As night fell again, Li Cu sat alone keeping watch. Liang Wan emerged from the tent to join him, first confirming he was the one who carried her earlier. They began to chat. Li Cu subtly probed Liang Wan, asking if she liked "dog people," explaining that netizens refer to dog lovers as "Wang Clan." He then asked if she was one of the "Wang Clan."

Liang Wan, taking his words at face value, affirmed she supposed so and asked about him. Li Cu identified as a "cat person." Li Cu then asked about her tattoo. Liang Wan revealed she had no idea about its origin, having had it since she was a child. She explained she was an orphan and hoped that finding her birth parents would provide answers.

She told Li Cu that everyone spoke of GuTongJing being eerie, and she truly felt it that day, thanking him for saving her, believing she would have died without him. Moved by his actions, Liang Wan offered to cooperate with Li Cu and presented him with an engineering design drawing of GuTongJing. Li Cu was thrilled, realizing this map would greatly assist their journey.

He noticed a route on the map he had never seen before, a path he remembered as nonexistent. Liang Wan suggested that if no legends hinted at this route, it was likely not that simple. Suddenly, Li Cu observed the sea water rising and submerging the ditch they had dug earlier. He warned Liang Wan to stay still while he rushed to wake Su Wan and Yang Hao. Chegaliba was nowhere to be found.

As they frantically packed their belongings, the sea continued to swell, glowing with an eerie blue light, flooding their camp. Liang Wan, stranded on a patch of sand in the middle of the rising water, desperately shouted not to enter, warning that something in the water would bite. Yang Hao's leg was already submerged, and he quickly pulled it out, covered in blood.

Su Wan identified the creatures as "fairy shrimps," which locals harvest for prawn farming, but admitted his books didn't explain why they bit. With Liang Wan increasingly engulfed by the water, Li Cu, in a moment of desperate inspiration, asked Su Wan for some adhesive tape. He wrapped the tape around his legs and waded through the water. Although the tape protected him, it broke upon reaching Liang Wan.

He asked Su Wan to throw him the remaining roll, but Su Wan misthrew it, landing it out of reach. Undeterred, Li Cu remembered another solution: cold fireworks. He instructed Yang Hao to throw the cold fireworks into the water. As the cold fireworks ignited and burned in the water, the fairy shrimps scattered. Using the cold fireworks to clear a path, Li Cu carried Liang Wan and waded towards the shore.

Just as they neared safety, the last cold firework fizzled out, and Li Cu was attacked by swarms of fairy shrimps. Enduring the painful bites, he pushed Liang Wan to the safety of the bank. Meanwhile, in a parallel plot, Luo Que met Xie Yuchen on a train, as instructed by Zhang Rishan. After confirming Luo Que's identity as Zhang Rishan's envoy, Xie Yuchen stepped away to make a phone call to Wu Xie.

He informed Wu Xie that Luo Que was with him, he had secured the name list, and he was currently en route to meet Wu Xie, advising Wu Xie to also be careful. Reflecting on her journey, Liang Wan, who had always envisioned Zhang Rishan as her "matchless hero," realized that in the harsh reality of the desert, it was the "little brat" Li Cu who had unexpectedly embodied that role.

Episode 33 Recap

Huo Youxue arranged a discreet meeting with Yin Nanfeng at a coffee bar, as many of her own stores had been shut down and she wished to avoid bringing trouble to Yin Nanfeng's Crescent Hotel. However, Yin Nanfeng, aware of Huo Youxue's business troubles, mockingly asked if Huo Youxue needed help, before expressing curiosity as to why Huo Youxue was inquiring about Zhang Rishan, who had reportedly left Crescent Hotel for an unknown destination.

Huo Youxue asserted that if Zhang Rishan's whereabouts were connected to GuTongJing, then it concerned her. Yin Nanfeng mockingly asked if Huo Youxue intended to plunder GuTongJing for treasures to offset her business losses. Huo Youxue stated she was merely taking back what rightfully belonged to her. Yin Nanfeng then criticized Huo Youxue's companies for their "outlandish tactics," hinting at her knowledge of misdeeds by several families, including Huo's.

She warned Huo Youxue that such methods wouldn't last and that "if you play with fire, sooner or later, you will get burned." Annoyed by Yin Nanfeng's lecture, Huo Youxue left the coffee bar. She vented her frustration to a subordinate, complaining about Yin Nanfeng's audacity to teach her how to conduct business and expressing her hope that Crescent Hotel wouldn't last.

The subordinate suggested that Yin Nanfeng’s evasiveness and accusations might be a deliberate distraction, implying that Zhang Rishan’s absence was indeed linked to GuTongJing. Huo Youxue, determined to acquire GuTongJing's treasures, acknowledged the urgency of her company's immediate financial liquidity. She pondered taking over an existing Nine Clans business, specifically Xie Yuchen's Baosheng Company, which she viewed as a valuable asset, despite Xie Yuchen's shrewdness making cooperation difficult.

After gathering their gear in the desert, Li Cu, Liang Wan, Yang Hao, and Su Wan heard a peculiar sound. Li Cu identified it as the singing sand, a sign of intense geological activity within the sand dunes. Suddenly, Chegaliba, who had previously disappeared, reappeared, explaining he was drawn by another unusual event. He led the group to a hilltop where they discovered a river flowing through the desert.

Chegaliba explained it was a "ghost river," normally flowing underground, but a tributary had unexpectedly surfaced due to recent geological movements; he had never seen such a thing before. Liang Wan, reflecting on the earlier "fire wind" and the lake they found, theorized that all these strange phenomena were caused by powerful geological activity, pushing underground water to the surface and altering local climates.

Li Cu confirmed her suspicion by checking his map, revealing that the river's winding path perfectly matched a black line on the ancient GuTongJing diagram. Realizing this might be a path into GuTongJing, they decided to construct a boat before the ephemeral river vanished. Su Wan produced an assortment of colorful life buoys and floating mats from his bag. Initially, they manually inflated the items, but soon realized they needed an air pump.

Despite the exhaustion, Su Wan proudly described his "Swan Lake"-themed design, claiming the flamingos' vibrant colors would create a dreamy atmosphere in the golden desert. After some humorous debate about who should test the flimsy vessel first, they devised a plan: one person would board while two pushed it into the current. Yang Hao bravely volunteered, and soon they were afloat on their makeshift, pink boat fashioned from the inflatable items.

As they drifted down the river, Li Cu asked Su Wan and Yang Hao how they felt about their adventure so far. Yang Hao admitted it was far from what he imagined; instead of being invincible, they were vulnerable, making it "more real and funner." Su Wan, however, confessed he missed his grandma. Chegaliba probed Liang Wan on her reasons for joining the young men.

She explained she had simply met them on the road, found it entertaining, and appreciated the mutual support. Chegaliba then pulled out a bottle, touting its contents as "something nice." Intrigued, Su Wan tasted it first, declaring it delicious, prompting Li Cu, Yang Hao, and Liang Wan to all take a drink. Soon, they began to feel dizzy, realizing too late that Chegaliba had drugged them.

With a chilling smile, Chegaliba revealed his cynical philosophy: "When you guys come out to travel around next time, you shouldn't always think of water monsters, nor fire wind, and one thing you need to know is. . . Actually, there is something even scarier in the world. And that is human." With that, he unceremoniously pushed each of them into the river, abandoning them to the currents.

Upon waking, Li Cu, Liang Wan, Yang Hao, and Su Wan found themselves scattered across an expanse of white sands. Yang Hao and Su Wan quickly regrouped and began searching for Li Cu and Liang Wan. Li Cu soon appeared, discovering Liang Wan dangerously close to an area known to harbor attacking snake cypresses, which were highly sensitive to sound and vibration. He quickly warned his friends against using signal flares, which would only attract the creatures.

Yang Hao and Su Wan were initially at a loss for how to reach Liang Wan safely. Su Wan, always prepared, retrieved a saxophone from his bag, proposing to use its ability to mimic human voices and resonate with the desert sands to transmit a message to Liang Wan. Li Cu instructed him to tell her it was unsafe, to stay put, and that they would rescue her.

Su Wan’s attempt at communication, however, had an unintended consequence: the saxophone’s sound, resonating with the sand, made the snake cypresses believe living things were abundant across the dunes, causing them to become active. As Liang Wan tried to escape towards their position, she tripped, and a snake cypress quickly ensnared her leg, dragging her into the white sands.

Li Cu immediately rushed to her aid, while Su Wan, at Li Cu's frantic urging, continued playing his loudest tunes to distract the monstrous plants. In a desperate move, Yang Hao launched a signal flare, startling the snake cypress and forcing it to release Liang Wan. Yang Hao followed up with several more flares, finally driving the creatures away.

Overwhelmed with relief and terror, Liang Wan rushed into Li Cu's arms, weeping, as he comforted her, noting that she could cry and that he also felt like crying, and that Li Cu was no longer the little brat he once was, but a mature man. Though Yang Hao and Su Wan also claimed credit for the rescue, Liang Wan, still shaken, insisted they leave her alone for a moment.

Meanwhile, Xie Yuchen and Luo Que were traveling on a train. Their compartment was suddenly surrounded by members of the Wang Clan, who confronted Xie Yuchen. The Wang Clan leader declared that they could interfere with and disrupt all of Xie Yuchen's plans, stating that in this era, only Master Xie and Master Wu were capable of secretly setting such elaborate mazes.

He warned Xie Yuchen that they could not allow him and Wu Xie to meet that day, and demanded that Xie Yuchen hand over whatever he had found. Xie Yuchen, undeterred, engaged the numerous Wang Clan members in a fight, with Luo Que quickly joining him. Despite being outnumbered, their skills, combined with the narrow train aisle, made them formidable. They effectively fought off the initial wave of attackers.

However, as Xie Yuchen pressed forward, he was ambushed from behind, a rope suddenly tightening around his neck and pulling him to the ground. Luo Que, momentarily stunned by the sight, then saw a dagger flying directly towards his forehead. News of Xie Yuchen's defeat at the hands of the Wang Clan quickly reached the Huo family.

Huo Youxue, viewing Xie Yuchen as less capable than she once thought, saw his company, Baosheng, as a lucrative target, acknowledging that other Nine Clans members also coveted it. Her subordinate suggested that Xie Yuchen's demise was merely the beginning, anticipating chaos among the Nine Clans once the full news spread. He reminded her about someone else located beneath GuTongJing and speculated on Wu Xie's reaction to Xie Yuchen's death, noting that without an heir, the Xie family was vulnerable.

Huo Youxue asserted that she would only claim what rightfully belonged to her, implicitly stating that others had already initiated these aggressive actions and that her family would not be the first to act. Her subordinate also mentioned the return of Huo Xiuxiu, dismissing her potential impact. He believed Baosheng could not be saved, especially with Wu Xie absent and having already garnered widespread animosity. He concluded that it was time for the Huo family to assert themselves.

Huo Xiuxiu, a seemingly harmless young woman who had aligned herself with Wu Xie and shared a close relationship with Xie Yuchen, was secretly feared by Huo Youxue due to their shared surname and potential influence. Huo Xiuxiu arrived at the airport and called Pang Wang. She soon spotted him and his companion, whom Pang Wang introduced as a "master." Her first question upon seeing Pang Wang was about Xie Yuchen, who had promised to pick her up. Pang Wang, however, hesitated, unable to deliver the devastating news of Xie Yuchen’s fate.

Episode 34 Recap

Li Cu and his companions found themselves back in the white sands, at what Li Cu believed to be the entrance to GuTongJing, though he was unsure where to go next. Liang Wan grew increasingly reliant on Li Cu, while still acting like an elder sister to the other two. Noticing this, the other two quickly made excuses and left, leaving Liang Wan and Li Cu alone.

Liang Wan confided in Li Cu, asking him to stay close to her the following day, regardless of what dangers they might face, before retreating into her tent. As Li Cu sat by the campfire, Su Wan joined him. Li Cu expressed his profound fear and the immense pressure he felt, noting that previous adventures with Wu Xie had been different, as Wu Xie always took charge.

This time, with everyone relying on him, he felt overwhelmed, especially after several close calls. Looking up at the sky, they noticed mysterious lights. Su Wan immediately recognized them as phosphorescence, suggesting that countless dead bodies were buried beneath the sand, their decomposing matter causing the light. Li Cu observed that the phosphorescence formed outlines of varying density, resembling a pattern. Su Wan deduced these were the contours of immense ancient structures hidden beneath the desert.

Comparing the patterns to Li Cu's architectural drawings and maps, they confirmed they were indeed at the entrance of GuTongJing. Suddenly, a mysterious figure emerged from the distance. Su Wan, fearing it was a ghost, woke Yang Hao, believing him to be their most capable fighter. The three knelt in fright, even preparing paper money to appease what they thought was a spirit.

Li Cu bravely threw the paper money towards the figure, who then removed his mask, revealing himself to be Wu Xie. Li Cu was astonished to see Wu Xie alive and well, questioning how he had survived the black hairy boa’s poison. Wu Xie revealed that he had merely been acting; he was never poisoned because he had Tianxin stone powder on him, which repelled the snake cypress and black hairy boas.

He explained that Master Black had previously put the same powder in Li Cu's bag, enabling his safe escape. The underground trucks, originally used to transport Tianxin stones, were later used to form a defensive perimeter around the lake, as the snake cypress avoided them.

Wu Xie sat with them by the fire and clarified that he had orchestrated everything, including the events with Huang Yan, to protect Li Cu from becoming a target due to the marks on his back. He also confirmed that Li Cu's father was now under his protection, but claimed he knew nothing about Shen Qiong. Wu Xie explained that the true purpose of their journey was to reach an ancient city at the core of GuTongJing.

Centuries ago, a skilled geomancer of the Han Dynasty had depicted its underground structure, and this ancient map was now contained within Liang Wan's memory. Previous attempts by ancient people and even Grandpa Buddha Zhang 70 years ago to restore GuTongJing for its treasures had failed, leading Grandpa Buddha Zhang to personally seal it. Wu Xie emphasized that Liang Wan's map was crucial for their survival and instructed Li Cu to survive the next three days.

During this time, he was to accomplish one task: join a specific group of people they would encounter in three days and locate their headquarters. With these instructions, Wu Xie departed. Following Li Cu's previous markings, the group descended into an underground space unfamiliar to Li Cu. Liang Wan, consulting her memory, identified it as a ventilation chamber, part of an air conditioning system, with a sand filter tank.

She located a door on her mental map, but it was rusted shut. She explained that this was not a sealed room, implying another exit. Suddenly, Su Wan cried out, having been bitten by something in an "indescribable place." Liang Wan quickly administered medication, confirming the presence of snakes. Yang Hao discovered an open barrel filled with black hairy boa eggs, realizing these were the items the trucks had been transporting. Recognizing the danger, Liang Wan analyzed their environment.

She noted they were deep underground and situated on the central axis of what she believed to be an ancient city, prompting Li Cu to deduce this was no coincidence, given Wu Xie's deliberate placement of them. The rusted door led to a sand-proof passage 20 meters away, but it was choked with white sands. Two ventilation systems were present, but their pipes were only 30 centimeters in diameter, too small for them to pass through.

She theorized that another exit existed within the water pool, a channel leading to another area, but its precise location was unknown. Convinced that Wu Xie would not lead them to a dead end, Li Cu volunteered to search for a way out. He soon returned, having found an exit, but reported it was infested with black hairy boas and a large white boa.

As he spoke, the massive white boa appeared behind him, terrifying the group and flinging Su Wan aside. Li Cu, recalling that snakes feared fire, ignited a makeshift torch, driving back the white boa. However, more black hairy boas emerged from the water, and the white boa reappeared, forcing Li Cu to continue fighting as Su Wan grew weaker from his injury and the overwhelming situation. The fire soon died, plunging them into darkness.

Li Cu then found himself in an illusory space where Su Wan was mesmerized by glittering treasures. A white-clad stranger appeared, explaining that this space operated on a principle of exchange: to take anything from it, a sacrifice was required. A spinning dial would point to an organ that one must leave behind in exchange for the riches. Li Cu refused to participate.

Realizing this was a hypnotic dream induced by the white boa, Su Wan pricked himself awake, warning Li Cu about the snake's wicked, hypnotizing nature and pricking Li Cu to keep him alert. Li Cu then instructed Su Wan to play his saxophone to lure the snake cypress, which quickly arrived and engaged in a fierce battle with the black hairy boas.

As Li Cu and Su Wan watched from behind a rock, Su Wan's watch chimed, startling the snake cypress, which seized Li Cu. Just then, Master Black and Su Wan arrived. Su Wan explained that he had been caught by a snake cypress above ground and Master Black had rescued him, after which they came down the hole to find Li Cu. Master Black then revealed he had been waiting for them below all along.

Sent by Wu Xie, Master Black announced that he was there to protect them and convey some critical information. Meanwhile, in a separate development, many prominent figures from the Jiu Men, including members of the Huo and Chen families, gathered for Xie Yuchen's funeral. Chief Chen expressed surprise at Zhang Rishan's presence, wondering how he had so quickly escaped the underground palace.

Despite the official news of Xie Yuchen's demise at the hands of the Wang Clan, many attendees, including some from the Huo family, harbored doubts, speculating that his death might be part of a larger scheme.

Episode 35 Recap

Master Black, after rescuing Li Cu, informed him and Su Wan that the large white boa they had encountered was not an ordinary snake but an albino candle dragon, a dominant creature among monsters. This candle dragon, for which even snake cypresses provide sustenance, secretes a volatile information chemical called pheromone. Li Cu, having inhaled these pheromones, experienced vivid hallucinations. Su Wan, displaying his knowledge, correctly identified the substance as pheromone.

When Master Black inquired about the information Li Cu perceived, Li Cu described a chaotic mental state but distinctly recalled seeing a golden, treasure-filled cave rife with traps and a young man dressed in white. Master Black revealed that Li Cu was the second individual he had met capable of interpreting pheromone messages, noting that only three people were known to possess this unique ability.

He explained that Wu Xie, the first, developed this heightened sense of smell after his own was severely impaired from extensive pheromone absorption. Su Wan, concerned about protecting his "precious knowledge" from the snakes, playfully offered to pay Master Black for his protection, asking how much Wu Xie was paying for Li Cu.

Master Black accepted Su Wan as his "small employer" and equipped him with a "black eye" device, but warned that while he could offer protection, complete safety was not guaranteed, and Su Wan must follow his instructions. Su Wan then asked Master Black if he knew Shen Qiong and her current whereabouts, noting that Wu Xie did not know her.

Master Black assured him that they would meet her soon, but first, he would provide them with self-defense items and teach them essential skills. Before moving forward, Master Black commenced their training to evade Black Hairy Boas, using his belt to simulate the snakes' attacks. He deemed Li Cu and Su Wan too slow, despite their protests that his movements were "anti-human."

Master Black countered that he had witnessed someone, "not a human," who could effortlessly dodge even more dangerous attacks and deliver a fatal blow. He then commanded them to follow his lead as they retraced their path. They soon arrived at the location where Liang Wan and Yang Hao had jumped into the water. Master Black stated that they would need to enter the water to find them, acknowledging the uncertainty of their companions' survival.

Su Wan expressed fear of underwater snakes, but Li Cu insisted they must save their friends and that they must enter the water. Master Black urged them to stay close, promising that their previous experiences would suffice for what they were about to face, and that they would emerge into "another world." As they submerged, Li Cu mentioned another cave entrance teeming with Black Hairy Boas and the large White Boa. Master Black merely glanced at him without speaking.

Su Wan's leg wound began to ache, and he cried out in distress. Upon reaching the cave entrance and emerging from the water, they discovered the Black Hairy Boas and the White Boa were inexplicably gone, a fact Li Cu questioned, though Master Black offered no answer. Observing footprints, Master Black deduced that Liang Wan and Yang Hao had separated. Li Cu proposed he rescue Liang Wan while Master Black and Su Wan went for Yang Hao.

However, Master Black insisted they remain together, as he couldn't split himself to save them both. After Li Cu, recalling survival shows, identified smaller footprints as belonging to a woman, they decided to rescue Liang Wan first. Su Wan noted that another day had passed, emphasizing the urgency. Further on, they discovered a sign inscribed with "North Second District, Sixth Yong Road." Su Wan immediately recognized the inscription, connecting it to markings previously found on Huo Zhongshu's mummified body.

Concurrently, a funeral for Xie Yuchen was underway, attended by numerous Nine Clans elders and juniors, including Zhang Rishan, and representatives from the Chen, Li, Qi, and Huo families. Many doubted Xie Yuchen's death, speculating it might be a carefully orchestrated deception. During the ceremony, Master He and another elder calmly played Go, preferring it to feigning sorrow. Master He also voiced concerns about the potential complications of Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen's elaborate plan.

Chief Chen, anticipating the power vacuum, met with Huo Daofu, a Huo Clan relative from Europe with expertise in logistics management and anatomy, to discuss seizing Baosheng's assets. Huo Daofu suggested exploiting the chaos to take over Baosheng's business, regardless of Xie Yuchen's true state, believing it would cripple Wu Xie's efforts in GuTongJing. Huo Ruxue, a formidable presence, also analyzed the situation, identifying the Chen family as the primary obstacle.

Meanwhile, other family members, including an "Auntie Huo," noted the conflicting reports of Xie Yuchen's death from sources like Chen Dingju and Shuangcheng, while the general skepticism at the funeral left many baffled. After Master He concluded his offering of incense, the Li, Qi, Huo, and Chen families openly began disputing control of Baosheng's business. They also declared their intention to travel to GuTongJing, not just for treasure, but to capture Wu Xie.

Despite Zhang Rishan's repeated assertions that GuTongJing contained no treasures, these families remained convinced. Master He recognized their objective: to use Wu Xie's life as leverage to acquire Baosheng. Master He was about to announce a temporary joint management of Baosheng by JinShangZhu (representing the Huo family) and Master Chen. However, before Master He could finalize his decision, Huo Xiuxiu, clad in red, dramatically entered with Wang Pangzi and others.

She presented Xie Yuchen's private USB drive and declared herself Baosheng's new CEO. The other families immediately challenged the authenticity of the USB drive and attempted to accuse Huo Xiuxiu of Xie Yuchen's murder. Huo Xiuxiu vehemently refuted this, stating that Xie Yuchen had died at the hands of the Wang Clan.

She then revealed that members of the Wang Clan had infiltrated the Nine Clans Association, criticizing the other families for prioritizing immediate profits over the security of the entire Nine Clans. She urged them to focus on finding these infiltrators and leave them no opportunity to act. Meanwhile, from a distant location, Wu Xie and Wang Mang monitored the funeral via surveillance.

Wu Xie, who chose to go to Motuo instead of attending the "fake funeral," was initially disappointed by the absence of any discernible Wang Clan members. Wang Mang speculated that those who were most convinced of Xie Yuchen's death were likely Wang Clan operatives. Wu Xie concurred, explaining that the Nine Clans Association members would not openly provoke conflict unless instigated by the Wang Clan.

He concluded that the funeral's objective had been met, and it was now a race against time. While this unfolded, Xie Yuchen was also present at the funeral, disguised. However, whether the plan to identify Wang Clan members was successful remained unknown, as Wu Xie observed for a long time but did not find a single one, suggesting the Wang Clan members were very well hidden.

Episode 36 Recap

Master Black, Li Cu, and Su Wan navigated the Third Yong Road, North Sixth District, searching for Liang Wan. Li Cu asked if they remembered Huo Zhongshu, to which Master Black deduced that Huo Zhongshu's body had been discovered in this very area, suggesting he might have worked there. Su Wan questioned which of the two available paths Liang Wan might have taken, considering options to "go in" towards the central area or "go out" towards the external area.

Master Black, analyzing footprints, determined that Liang Wan and Yang Hao had run ashore with a time difference, indicating something was chasing them, which forced them to split and run without pausing at the numerous forks. He speculated that Yang Hao had likely covered Liang Wan's retreat, vividly recalling a brief moment when Yang Hao urged Liang Wan to run while he faced an approaching threat.

Su Wan complimented Master Black’s keen perception beneath his sunglasses, which Master Black dismissed while lamenting that his current mission was less enjoyable than his past adventures with Wu Xie. Master Black then urged Li Cu and Su Wan to follow his pace quickly and without fear. However, Su Wan soon tired and stopped running. Li Cu insisted they could not stop, but he was tripped by an unseen force and found himself disoriented.

After struggling to stand, he discovered that he was surrounded by desiccated corpses, Su Wan was gone, and he had returned to the initial fork. Frustrated by being pushed to such extremes, Li Cu prepared Composition C-4 explosives. Declaring himself a "Semi-Professional Master of Counter Strike" ready for a practical application, he taunted the unseen creatures, challenging them to face the C4.

When the monsters swarmed within range, Li Cu detonated the explosives, causing a powerful blast that knocked him unconscious. Meanwhile, in an adjacent tunnel, Liang Wan was startled by the explosion. A falling stone from the partial collapse struck her, and she felt her arm was badly injured, though she was relieved her face was unharmed. She used her map to try and pinpoint her location relative to where she and Yang Hao had separated.

Confronted by multiple pathways, she decided to choose one randomly when a phone suddenly began to ring. Following the sound, she entered a room and answered the phone. Despite her repeated "Hello?" , there was no sound from the other end. Simultaneously, Wang Meng reported to Wu Xie that Liang Wan had reached the designated location but the call was cut short before she could convey any information.

Wu Xie deduced that the phone line had been intentionally cut, confirming their arrival, although he found their method of announcing their presence by cutting the line to be foolish. He also observed several vehicles pursuing them, initially suspecting them to be from the Clan Wang, but then dismissed it, noting the Clan Wang typically reacts slower. Back in the room, Liang Wan noticed a clean, dust-free spot on a chair amidst thick dust, indicating someone had been there recently.

Feeling a presence, she screamed and fled the room. Liang Wan ran until she was disoriented, eventually finding herself in a room with a sink. She washed her hands, then tended to her injured arm, questioning the worth and meaning of her perilous journey. Exhausted, she eventually succumbed to sleep. In a troubling dream, she was plagued by memories of her mother’s distress.

Her mother had once begged a doctor to remove a tattoo that appeared on Liang Wan's body whenever she had a fever, deeply ashamed and worried about her daughter's behavior. Liang Wan, however, maintained she had no idea where the tattoo came from. Startled awake by a faint singing, Liang Wan discovered Master Black carrying an unconscious Su Wan.

Master Black introduced himself and explained he was Su Wan's bodyguard, although Liang Wan expressed skepticism, noting Su Wan had never mentioned him. She then urgently inquired about Li Cu. Master Black, calling Li Cu "crazy," explained that Li Cu had detonated two kilograms of Composition C-4 in an extremely confined space, blowing them up and causing Su Wan's injuries.

He grimly predicted that Li Cu, being at the epicenter, would have severe internal organ damage and would not survive long, dismissing any hope of a miracle. As a doctor, Liang Wan fiercely disagreed, stating that no conclusions could be made before all vital signs disappeared, and demanded to know Li Cu's location so she could help him.

Master Black insisted she check on Su Wan first, which she did, finding he only had minor skin trauma and had merely passed out. Still concerned for Li Cu, Liang Wan asked Master Black how he found her, to which he replied that he had followed her light, which was sufficient for his vision. He commented on Li Cu's unusual way of thinking and said Wu Xie was fortunate.

Liang Wan then asked if Master Black worked for Wu Xie, which he denied. She pressed him about Li Cu's importance, and Master Black, after some hesitation, revealed it was connected to Wu Xie. He recounted a past expedition where he and a large group discovered traces of a tropical snake in ruins in the Western Regions near Central Asia. He explained the harsh conditions and heavy losses incurred during the search before they even reached the underground tunnels.

During that expedition, he conversed with another man who complained about the lack of snake skeletons, worrying about returning empty-handed, while Master Black sarcastically dismissed his concerns. The man also questioned Master Black about a deal with Middle Eastern buyers for a snake specimen and playfully commented on Master Black's superior hearing. Master Black then revealed his theory: either the snakes didn't exist, or they were still alive. Suddenly, black-haired snakes appeared, and Master Black yelled for everyone to run.

He continued his story, explaining that he ultimately brought a live specimen back to Wu Xie, but the snake unexpectedly shattered its glass container and bit Wu Xie. Liang Wan then understood why they sought Li Cu: only he possessed the ability to read the snake’s information and uncover the truth, which was now critical since Wu Xie had been bitten. She questioned why they needed to know the full story and why Wu Xie himself didn't come.

Master Black, implying they were trapped, offered to tell her the "truth." However, Liang Wan suspected he was merely reciting a pre-made story, to which Master Black, with characteristic bluntness, confirmed his direct style, telling her to listen or not, as she pleased.

Episode 37 Recap

Master Black continued recounting his stories to Liang Wan, but she found his narratives suspiciously convenient, believing he had fabricated them for her. Master Black, however, remained firm, asserting he was simply that straightforward. He explained that although Wu Xie only absorbed the pheromones of the black hair snakes for a few seconds, the side effects were enormous, causing one to experience decades or even hundreds of years in mere moments.

Master Black said that when he later saw Wu Xie, he felt as if Wu Xie had lived for thousands of years, having reached his limit and being unable to interact with such substances again. He declared Li Cu their only hope, expressing concern that Li Cu was dying. Liang Wan vehemently disagreed, insisting that Li Cu would be fine, as would Yang Hao, who had bravely lured away the snakes to save her.

She believed in the children's loyalty and principles. Master Black had also mentioned Su Wan was severely injured by Li Cu's bomb, but Liang Wan, after examining him, confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening. Master Black then told Liang Wan to find Li Cu and instruct him to hold on for three more days, offering to guide her out of the tunnels using the map.

Liang Wan realized he did not intend to accompany them, and Master Black revealed he had been bitten by a black hair snake and feared he wouldn't survive the journey. Despite his protest that the last remaining dose would be more useful for the others, Liang Wan, a doctor, quickly administered the serum to him, refusing to let him die. Master Black, seeing her resolve, declared he would change his plan and fight to the end.

He then located their position on the map, noting that the path they came through was blocked by the explosion and suggested a connected tunnel to find Li Cu. When Liang Wan asked if he could walk, Master Black affirmed his newfound determination. Meanwhile, Li Cu, severely injured internally and with a badly hurt leg from his own bomb, found himself captured by Clan Wang members. They used a pink snake to bite his neck, forcing him to interpret pheromones.

In his vision, Li Cu saw Wu Xie's Third Uncle. Third Uncle, addressing Wu Xie through Li Cu's vision, apologized for the suffering Wu Xie would endure, stating that if Wu Xie was receiving this message, it meant Third Uncle was no longer alive. He began to explain the grand scheme, recounting how the old Jiu Men lived harmoniously, dedicating themselves to treasure appraisal and protection. This peace was shattered by the emergence of a tenth clan, Clan Wang.

Members of Clan Wang bore phoenix tattoos and systematically infiltrated Jiu Men, manipulating their plans and inciting conflicts that turned the families against each other. Wu Xie’s grandfather, Old Dog Wu, was the first to uncover Clan Wang’s conspiracy, marking the beginning of the Wu family’s multi-generational fight. Both Wu Xie's grandfather and Third Uncle failed to resolve the conflict, passing the heavy burden to Wu Xie.

Third Uncle and his team were undertaking a highly dangerous mission, venturing into a perilous cave where the water required special tablets for consumption, their dwindling supply signifying a point of no return. They were prepared to die to find the truth. Third Uncle emphasized the need for Wu Xie to abandon his experience and become unpredictable to escape Clan Wang's control. He also introduced Black Blind to Wu Xie, informing him that his payment had already been settled.

Black Blind, observing this, remarked that Third Uncle was the most formidable person amongst them, and that if Wu Xie understood the underlying meaning of these words, it would be enough. Li Cu's hallucinations continued, now featuring Wu Xie himself, who, anticipating Li Cu's predicament, addressed him as a stranger caught in his struggle.

Wu Xie foresaw Li Cu being taken to a sunless prison and forced to decode lost information for Clan Wang, a task that should have been Wu Xie's. Wu Xie outlined an escape plan: he would ensure his grandfather’s ashes were scattered on Li Cu, so all Wu family dogs, recognizing the scent, would treat Li Cu as family and rescue him.

Wu Xie gave Li Cu two choices before he woke up in half an hour: either reveal all the information to Clan Wang or execute their plan, which involved joining Clan Wang, gaining their complete trust, penetrating their core, and seizing control of their operations, though this would mean living perpetually among snakes. When Li Cu eventually awoke, Clan Wang pressed him for details.

Li Cu selectively reported that he saw a group entering a cave led by a middle-aged man, and that Wu Xie said Clan Wang was running out of time, withholding the full truth. Outside GuTongJing, Clan Wang had launched a three-pronged attack on Jiu Men. The first front was in GuTongJing. The second front involved infiltrating Jiu Men itself, stirring animosity between Clan Chen and Clan Xie.

Chief Chen (Chen Jinshui), driven by greed, sought to forcibly acquire a USB drive from Huo Xiuxiu, accusing her of being too young and unqualified to manage Xie Yuchen's vast assets. Huo Xiuxiu retorted that every family in Jiu Men coveted Xie family's wealth. Huo Xiuxiu then pointed out a Clan Wang member hiding among Chief Chen's associates, an accusation Chief Chen vehemently denied. Fortunately, Pang Wang was prepared.

Feigning drunkenness, he brandished a bundle of fake detonators and a lighter, threatening to ignite them. He deliberately highlighted the presence of a Clan Wang member, stating they would wait to see if anyone came to rescue him, thereby confirming his identity. Amidst the chaos, Pang Wang and his helper subdued the Clan Wang member.

Pang Wang then lit a "detonator" and tossed it into the crowd, causing widespread panic, allowing him and his helper to escape with the unconscious Clan Wang member. Once they were out of sight, the other families realized the detonator was fake. Pang Wang sped away in a car with his companions. He admitted his drunkenness was an act, and the detonators were indeed fake, much to Huo Xiuxiu's relief.

However, Clan Wang soon caught up, leading to a high-speed chase. When their vehicles drew parallel, Pang Wang again produced a bundle of fake detonators, lit them, and hurled them into the pursuing Clan Wang vehicle. Terrified, the Clan Wang members abandoned their car and dove for cover, only realizing the deception after Pang Wang had long disappeared. The third front of Clan Wang's attack targeted Wu Xie, led by Su Nan.

Her convoy had deliberately bypassed Wu Xie’s group earlier, waiting ahead to ambush them on the high plateau road. Upon seeing Su Nan's vehicles, Wu Xie drove directly through their encirclement without hesitation, with Su Nan and her people quickly giving chase. The old Jiu Men had once existed in harmony, a time when Huo Xiuxiu and Xie Yuchen shared a close and serene relationship. However, Clan Wang’s infiltration and conspiracies had shattered this peace, turning the once allied Jiu Men families into bitter enemies.

Episode 38 Recap

After reading the snakes' pheromones, Li Cu awoke and was immediately interrogated by the Clan Wang leader about what he had seen. Li Cu recounted seeing a group of people entering a cave, led by a middle-aged man, and then he saw Wu Xie, who declared that Clan Wang's time was running out. The Clan Wang leader pressed Li Cu, demanding to know Wu Xie's true intentions and if he had revealed any other information.

Li Cu denied knowing anything further. Unconvinced, the Clan Wang leader decided to take Li Cu with them, splitting their forces into three teams for their mission. Later, at a network of pits, the Clan Wang members noted that the area appeared to be a significant mineral resource and ordered some of their men to investigate. While his subordinates were in the pits, the leader continued to interrogate Li Cu, who openly criticized their slow pace and inefficiency.

The leader questioned Li Cu, pointing out his proven ability to read snake pheromones and suspecting he was withholding information about Wu Xie. Li Cu admitted to keeping one thing to himself, unsure if it was relevant. The leader, stating his dislike for being deceived, warned Li Cu to choose his words carefully, threatening that if he ever lied, nothing he said afterward would be believed.

He added that before Li Cu's unique ability faded, he would be forced to disclose everything he knew. The leader then initiated a cruel method of torture, threatening to paralyze Li Cu's lower body, starting from the waist, and eventually crushing his spine to his chest if he did not cooperate. During this brutal exchange, the Clan Wang leader discovered the Seven-Fingers Map on Li Cu's back.

Although the map was faded and difficult to read, making it hard to identify the many diverging paths in the cave, the leader now completely confirmed that Li Cu knew the significance of their mission and the true path through the seven passages of the cave. Continuing their journey into a cave, the Clan Wang members observed the walls and ceiling were covered in snake sloughs.

One member speculated that these snakes had been there even before the rock formations and that the fresh scales and skin indicated the snakes were likely still alive. Li Cu, recalling the black hairy boas he had encountered before, tried to caution them, explaining that these dangerous snakes could inhabit human bodies, emit toxins to control nerves and muscles, causing strange gestures, and eventually turn people into monsters by seeking new hosts.

He urged them not to proceed, but the Clan Wang leader dismissed his warnings, stating their purpose in being there was precisely to find these snakes, implying Wu Xie must have known this. The Clan Wang members' lack of interest in the ordinary black hairy boas, despite their dangerous nature, further confirmed that their true objective was a more significant serpentine entity, likely the "Snake King" hinted at earlier.

Meanwhile, Master Black, Su Wan, and Liang Wan followed a trail marked by snake cypress powder. Su Wan was surprised by the extravagant amount of valuable powder used, but Master Black noted that the more Clan Wang wasted, the less they had left, which was to their advantage. He assured Su Wan that while fighting was his weakness, he had an advantage in the dark, allowing them to escape swiftly.

As they progressed, they heard Li Cu’s distant shouts of pain, after he had been thrown by the Clan Wang leader due to his leg injury and the difficulty in deciphering the route. Su Wan shouted back in response, inadvertently attracting the Clan Wang members, who began to pursue them. Master Black led Su Wan and Liang Wan into a hiding spot, expressing the need for a gun.

Liang Wan scoffed at the idea of finding a gun in such a place, but to their surprise, Su Wan produced a bomb from his bag, effectively deterring their pursuers. Elsewhere, Wang Pangzi and Huo Xiuxiu brought a captured Clan Wang member, Chen Haisheng, to a luxurious mansion. Wang Pangzi attempted various tactics to wake him, eventually pouring high-proof Vodka on him and igniting it. Chen Haisheng finally opened his eyes.

After intense questioning, Chen Haisheng revealed his name, but Wang Pangzi demanded his clan name. A Kangbaroian accompanying Wang Pangzi then revealed a large tattoo on his arm, larger than the one on Chen Haisheng's back, identifying himself as a Kangbaroian. He explained that Clan Wang's ancestors, during their time in Kangbaro, learned Zhang family secrets and later adopted Kangbaroian imagery as their totem, establishing Clan Wang. According to Clan Wang's ancestral rules, they must unconditionally obey Kangbaroians.

Under this pressure, Chen Haisheng finally divulged his true clan name: Wang Can. Wang Pangzi acknowledged Wang Can’s efforts to conceal his identity but attributed his failure to a lack of experience and his ingrained Clan Wang demeanor. Huo Xiuxiu then discovered that their phone lines had been cut. Realizing they were under attack by a large contingent of Clan Wang members, Wang Pangzi instructed Huo Xiuxiu to cut the power, plunging the mansion into darkness.

Armed with a baseball bat, Wang Pangzi engaged the Clan Wang attackers, who were equipped with crossbows. Overwhelmed by their numbers, Wang Pangzi and Huo Xiuxiu fled. The Kangbaroian pursued Wang Can, leaving Wang Pangzi and Huo Xiuxiu to face the remaining assailants alone. Wang Pangzi, finding a lighter, poured alcohol throughout the room, placed the lighter in a microwave to raise the temperature, and then set a timer. As the room exploded, Wang Pangzi and Huo Xiuxiu were thrown through a window into an outdoor swimming pool, escaping the blast.

Episode 39 Recap

Liang Wan, Su Wan, and Master Black found themselves cornered in a dead end by the pursuing Clan Wang members. Su Wan, feeling his strength wane, fretted about dying before being admitted to college, finishing his mock examinations, finding Shen Qiong, or seeing Li Cu and Yang Hao. Liang Wan tried to console him, but admitted her own fear of dying unmarried.

Master Black chimed in, saying it wasn't easy to die and jokingly asked Su Wan if he had ever seen a dead man talking. Su Wan then let out a sneeze, revealing their hiding spot and causing the Clan Wang members to chase them again. Master Black admonished Su Wan for the sneeze, and Su Wan blamed the fragrance of Master Black's hair.

Seeing no other escape, Master Black began singing a song about "fried rice with green peppers," then grabbed Su Wan and Liang Wan and leaped off the cliff. Believing no one could survive such a fall, the Clan Wang members decided to retreat and cease their pursuit. Liang Wan eventually regained consciousness, finding herself on white sands. She struggled to crawl towards Master Black and Su Wan, relieved to find them alive, though Master Black was severely injured.

His arm had a large chunk of flesh missing due to corpse beetles. Master Black explained that these beetles burrow into flesh upon seeing blood and needed to be burned out with smoke. Liang Wan, being a doctor, used tweezers to extract the visible corpse beetles. Each extraction pulled out some flesh, causing Master Black intense pain, but he endured it without anesthetic, impressing Liang Wan with his resilience.

When Master Black asked Su Wan for food, Su Wan, despite carrying a large bag like a "Doraemon," only had adult diapers, which he offered to Master Black or Liang Wan. Liang Wan became nauseated by the sight and had to step away to vomit. Meanwhile, another group of Clan Wang members led Li Cu deeper into the area. They observed snake scales growing progressively larger, indicating the snakes ahead were massive.

Their path was soon blocked by a massive rockfall. They detoured into another chamber where a map of snake nests was plastered. As they removed the map, a large snake eye was revealed behind it, causing Li Cu to faint once more. The Clan Wang leader ordered his subordinates to drag Li Cu forward and warned them that if Li Cu resisted, they should dislocate all his soft joints, but keep him alive.

One subordinate questioned Li Cu's importance, bringing up a woman who had once claimed to be "born for Wu Xie" but had gone missing. The leader revealed the woman was his comrade and a Clan Wang member, whose predictions about odds were never wrong. He believed that if she died, she would have killed Wu Xie before her demise.

The leader then confronted the unconscious Li Cu, stating that whatever Li Cu was thinking, his choices of going up or down ultimately didn't matter, as the outcome would always be in their control. As the Clan Wang members continued, they detected activity above them and smelled barbecue, deducing it was the Nine Clans holding a party. The Clan Wang leader dismissed the Nine Clans, claiming they were no longer formidable like in Uncle Buddha's time.

He scoffed that the new Zhang Qiling was missing, the talented February Red had no successor, the Huo Clan only had a few women left, and the Chen Clan was merely a joke. He stated that eliminating the Nine Clans was a means, not their primary goal; their objective was to bring the "achievements" back to Clan Wang, specifically the snakes.

He planned for his team to rest for three hours, using special breathing techniques to minimize energy consumption, then move silently, knowing that the Nine Clans would be exhausted from their revelry. However, a dog's barking from the Nine Clans' camp alerted them, leading to a surprise attack that caught the Clan Wang members off guard. Unable to win the fight, the Clan Wang leader ordered a retreat, abandoning Li Cu.

Li Cu later woke up in a tent, finding Yang Hao beside him. Yang Hao explained that he had helped Liang Wan distract the black hairy boas below and was subsequently captured by these new people, who forced him to reveal details about the lower levels. Yang Hao claimed he only shared "some information" and no critical details, only what Li Cu himself had told him. Li Cu retorted that those were precisely the critical details.

Yang Hao described their captors as being even crazier and more psychopathic than Wu Xie's enemies. Huo Daofu entered the tent and asked Li Cu what the Nine Clans were after, stating that whatever was under GuTongJing, he would take, and that the most valuable things there were not treasures. Li Cu initially tried to deflect with a story about a fake ID, but then blurted out that "under GuTongJing, it's all snakes."

Unconvinced by Li Cu's earlier evasiveness, Huo Daofu pressed him further, demanding to know what he had seen in GuTongJing, why Clan Wang wanted him, what the drawing on his back meant, and Wu Xie's whereabouts and intentions. Li Cu, remembering Wu Xie's strict instructions, insisted he would only disclose the events of GuTongJing to Bro Man. Meanwhile, Wu Xie was still being pursued by Su Nan and her Clan Wang team.

Su Nan spotted a snow mountain in the distance and correctly surmised that Wu Xie was heading there to seek protection from Clan Zhang, making it his ultimate destination. She ordered her team to encircle him. Wu Xie, however, remained calm, telling Wang Meng that they had just 24 hours until they reached the ancient temple and everything would conclude. He then instructed Wang Meng to prepare to "fly."

Despite the rugged terrain and a bumpy ride, Wu Xie accelerated their car onto a narrow, winding mountain road, eventually driving it off a section, effectively evading Su Nan's pursuit. Huo Xiuxiu, unable to reach Wu Xie, worried he might be dead. However, Pang Wang reassured her, saying Wu Xie wouldn't die so easily.

He stressed that Wu Xie was the last hope of Old Dog Wu, and even if he entered the gates of hell, Pang Wang would drag him back. He dismissed their own recent injuries from the villa explosion as minor, confident in their resilience. Unheeding warnings, the Nine Clans, focused solely on the "treasures" of GuTongJing and unaware of the lurking dangers, continued their descent into the desert. They were prepared to claim everything beneath GuTongJing, believing the treasures were the most valuable items to be found.

Episode 40 Recap

Wu Xie instructed Li Cu to discuss the events of GuTongJing only after seeing Bro Man. Li Cu was surprised to find that Bro Man was a dog, the same one he and Liang Wan had encountered at WuShanJu. When Chief Chen opened its cage, Bro Man displayed great affection for Li Cu, baffling onlookers who were unaware that Li Cu carried the ashes of Old Dog Wu, which explained Bro Man's recognition.

The Wu family immediately treated Li Cu with immense respect, offering him a seat and referring to him as "Master Wu." Huo Daofu, however, expressed his disdain, calling them crazy for treating a mere kid like a VIP. A Wu family member named Little Star explained Bro Man's loyalty, stating that Bro Man, having been raised by Old Dog Wu, recognized its true master and would perceive Li Cu as Old Dog Wu.

The Wu family prepared to take Li Cu back to WuShanJu, but Chief Chen intervened, asserting that no one would take Li Cu away. Master Yin, representing the Crescent Hotel, urged them to avoid conflict that would turn the Nine Clans into a laughingstock, suggesting Li Cu decide his own fate.

Chief Chen agreed to let Li Cu make his choice but reminded him that Yang Hao was still in their custody, implying they would harm Yang Hao if Li Cu did not cooperate. Li Cu, remembering Wu Xie's instructions, began to recount his entire story to Bro Man, starting with his personal struggles. However, he was quickly interrupted and told to focus on GuTongJing.

Li Cu then described his perceived "golden cave" underground, which he said was filled with gold and treasures, and drew a topographic map for them. Initially, some dismissed him as an "outer" who couldn't provide useful information, but Chief Chen's men later confirmed the map was accurate and even more detailed than one previously provided by Yang Hao.

Seeing their plans materialize, Li Cu requested to be sent home, but the Nine Clans intended to take him with them, fearing he might have lied. Master Yin reminded them that Li Cu was from his company and not subject to their orders, suggesting they take a different guide if Li Cu refused. Li Cu, however, declared he would lead the way to protect Yang Hao, taking responsibility for involving his friend.

Chief Chen mockingly asked why Li Cu hadn't thought of that sooner. Huo Ruxue then stated that if Yang Hao wasn't going down, keeping him here was a waste. Huo Daofu approached Yang Hao, cunningly claiming that Li Cu had recommended him to go underground with the group.

Li Cu tried to warn Yang Hao about a large snake he might encounter, but Yang Hao, fueled by anger and misinterpreting Li Cu's words as further deceit, snapped and violently kicked Li Cu to the ground. Members of the Nine Clans, already biased against Li Cu, further instigated Yang Hao, questioning Li Cu's trustworthiness and influence over them.

Huo Daofu then advised Chief Chen that Li Cu was too softhearted to be useful, suggesting he be harsh with Yang Hao and train him well, as Yang Hao's usefulness would depend on who controlled him. Chief Chen decided they would embark when it was dark. To provoke Yang Hao, Chief Chen’s men taunted him, questioning his courage and comparing him unfavorably to Li Cu, before handing him the heaviest bag and ordering him to join the expedition.

Despite his anger and the physical confrontation, Yang Hao secretly wished for Li Cu to survive. Meanwhile, Li Cu, confined to a tent, was startled by the appearance of Shen Qiong. Overjoyed to see her alive, Li Cu explained that he and Su Wan had ventured into the desert searching for her. Shen Qiong, however, revealed that she was now known as Huo Xiaoyuan, confirming his suspicion that she was part of the Huo family.

When Li Cu questioned her, she simply provided him with a walking stick for his injured leg and promised to explain everything when the time was right. Concerned for Yang Hao, Li Cu confronted Huo Xiaoyuan about her family taking him underground, fearing for his friend's life. Huo Xiaoyuan assured him she had asked her elder sister in the Huo family to look after Yang Hao, stating it was all she could do.

Li Cu, feeling betrayed and confused by her identity and secrecy, demanded she leave his tent, stating he no longer recognized her, just as Yang Hao no longer recognized him as a friend. Left alone, Li Cu lamented that Su Wan had not met the transformed Shen Qiong. Elsewhere, Master Black, Su Wan, and Liang Wan were still trapped at the bottom of the cliff, starving.

Master Black roasted corpse beetles for sustenance, but both Liang Wan and Su Wan refused to eat the insects. Master Black urged them to face reality, reminding them they were isolated and had no other food. Liang Wan vehemently refused, while Su Wan worried about Li Cu, wondering if he was looking for them. Su Wan then realized the medicine for his insect bites was gone, taken by their captors.

They were then alerted to the presence of snakes nearby, prompting a hasty escape. From above, they heard noises, recognizing them as the Nine Clans. Su Wan defiantly refused to call for help from these "enemies," preferring to die rather than be captured. Soon, the Nine Clans group emerged from underground, many injured and having suffered heavy casualties, furious at Li Cu.

They reported that the "treasure" cave Li Cu described was a trap, filled with collapses, rubble, and mechanisms, leading to a snake nest where more than half of their remaining men perished, with only a worthless stone tablet salvaged. Returning to the camp, they discovered Li Cu was missing from his tent and frantically searched for him. When they found him, Yang Hao, who had now formally joined the Chen family, tackled Li Cu.

Yang Hao confronted Li Cu, expressing his hatred and stating that he had returned alive solely to witness Li Cu's downfall. Li Cu, despite Yang Hao's aggression, expressed relief at seeing him alive and remorse for involving him, asking Yang Hao what they had truly encountered underground. Yang Hao dismissed his questions, declaring he had completely changed because of Li Cu and reiterated his desire to see Li Cu suffer.

Meanwhile, Wu Xie, pursued by the Wang family, decided to sever ties with Wang Meng. He gave Wang Meng all his accumulated salary and bonuses, firing him to prevent him from risking his life further. Wu Xie left his car for Wang Meng and proceeded on foot. Initially furious and feeling betrayed, Wang Meng quickly understood Wu Xie's intentions.

He accepted Wu Xie's old shop, promising to manage it diligently so Wu Xie would always have a place to return to, even joking that he would support Wu Xie. As Wang Meng drove off, he unknowingly passed Su Nan's vehicle. Su Nan, receiving a call confirming Wu Xie's location, quickly deduced he was ahead. Wu Xie soon reached the base of the snow mountain, where Su Nan and her men confronted him.

Su Nan brandished a knife, intending to kill him. However, Wu Xie had anticipated this and had planted explosives. He detonated them, sending everyone, including himself and Su Nan, plummeting down a cliff. At the bottom, Wu Xie and Su Nan regained consciousness, but Su Nan's men were all dead.

Su Nan still intended to complete her mission and kill Wu Xie, but he warned her that the treacherous cliff ahead could only be navigated by two people working together, a realization that temporarily stayed her hand.

Episode 41 Recap

Master Black, Su Wan, and Liang Wan found themselves trapped at the bottom of a cliff for two days, without food or water, their bodies nearing exhaustion. Master Black, feeling he was the last of his family, gave his beloved glasses to Su Wan, instructing him to take them to a specific optical shop for repair and to clean them every three months.

Su Wan believed it was too early for such final arrangements and asserted that they must save themselves rather than just waiting. He reflected on his life, which had been uneventful before coming to the desert with Li Cu, but now he understood that life itself was a miracle, giving them reason to hope.

Liang Wan, however, questioned their unwavering faith in Wu Xie, pointing out that his involvement was the very reason they were trapped, and doubted Li Cu's ability to rescue them, believing he was likely in grave danger. When asked why she came, Liang Wan shared that she was adopted and knew nothing of her birth parents beyond a phoenix tattoo they left her.

This tattoo, which Su Wan found pretty, had caused her much trouble, even attracting a past lover who was only interested in it. She had hoped coming to GuTongJing would reveal its secrets, but now it felt like a cruel joke. Meanwhile, above ground, the Nine Clans consulted an elderly professor about a recently recovered stone tablet. The professor identified it as a green pine stone from Qilian Mountain, covered in ancient script.

Although a full translation would take time, he recognized a character representing wealth, confirming the tablet's connection to GuTongJing's treasure. This discovery ignited the Nine Clans' greed, with Chen Jinshui immediately claiming the treasure for his family, citing the lives lost to retrieve the tablet. Yin Nanfeng of the Crescent Hotel intervened, reminding them of the Nine Clans' agreement to share discoveries and suggesting they focus on extracting information from Li Cu and Yang Hao.

As Yang Hao was being severely beaten by the Nine Clans members, Li Cu stepped forward to protect him. He threatened to withhold all information about the treasures if they did not ensure Yang Hao's recovery, promising to find as many stone tablets as they desired if Yang Hao was unharmed. The elderly professor then remarked to Li Cu, questioning if he now understood Wu Xie's determination to change the Nine Clans.

To everyone's astonishment, the professor removed his human skin mask, revealing himself to be Zhang Rishan. Huo Xu, from the Huo family, expressed his anger, reminding Zhang Rishan of his previous pledge not to get involved in this matter. Ignoring the accusation, Zhang Rishan demanded that all Clan Wang members present step forward. When no one moved, he began calling out names, including Chen Dingju, Qi Shuangcheng, Li Qingnian, Huo Xu, Xie Mingxia, Zhao Jun, Jin Lei, and Zhu Kuang.

He announced that this list, which he stated was obtained from Xie Yuchen, was Wu Xie's "gift." Some of the accused Clan Wang members vehemently denied the claims, accusing Zhang Rishan of trying to incite infighting so he could claim the treasure for himself. Zhang Rishan then revealed the "list" was blank, exposing those who had reacted with outrage as genuine Clan Wang members.

Next, he presented a USB drive, stating it contained all of GuTongJing's secrets and entry methods, with the password known only to him. He informed the Nine Clans that all other Clan Wang members outside had been dealt with, and if they eliminated those present, the USB and its password would be theirs. The Nine Clans immediately turned on each other, a chaotic battle ensuing between them and the exposed Clan Wang members.

Amidst the pandemonium, Li Cu located Yang Hao in a tent. Yang Hao's previous anger towards Li Cu had subsided, and they both yearned to survive. Li Cu instructed Yang Hao to run to the sand dune where he was originally captured and not to wait for him, as he had to find someone else. Just then, Luo Que appeared, grabbing Li Cu and pulling him away.

Luo Que blew a whistle, alerting everyone to the bombs hidden around the tents by the returning Clan Wang members who had heard the commotion. Li Cu urged Yang Hao to run before being taken by Luo Que. Seconds later, the area erupted in explosions. Before losing consciousness, Li Cu faintly saw Shen Qiong approaching him. When the Nine Clans members regained consciousness, a small group of Clan Wang members attacked again.

Zhang Rishan, now enraged, tore off his shirt and fought mercilessly. The intense combat inadvertently awakened the Viper, a massive snake cypress, which emerged and dragged many people underground. Below, the Viper continued its assault, binding Nine Clans members to the walls. Though they had Tianxin stone's powder, there wasn't enough for everyone.

Zhang Rishan, explaining that the Viper had previously been deterred by trucks beneath their camp which were displaced by the explosion, led the survivors in an escape, muttering incantations from the Taiyi Mystery Numbers, suggesting a connection between the ancient divination system and GuTongJing. They soon arrived at the entrance of GuTongJing's ancient city. From a vantage point, Zhang Rishan allowed them to behold its full scope.

He revealed that he had been there long ago and his purpose now was not to help them find treasures, but to guide them out, as the outer perimeter was collapsing, leaving the ancient city as their only path. He confirmed that treasures indeed lay within, but insisted they could not be taken. Chen Jinshui scoffed, believing they could take whatever they wanted by force.

Zhang Rishan elaborated, explaining that the city had co-existed with the Viper for centuries, and its doors were coated with Tianxin stone's powder as protection. He pointed to a gate bearing the characters "Hui Si," explaining that "Hui" was an ancient word for a type of dragon, and "Si" meant snake, thus the city was named after dual snakes. Inside, all of GuTongJing's steles and statues were gathered, their translated and reorganized inscriptions revealing the city's entire history.

He described a subterranean Yellow Spring River nourishing the city, home to "snake eyebrow copper fish," which harbored snakes in their eyebrows. The ancient people of GuTongJing revered this phenomenon, extracting these snakes and implanting them into their own eyebrows. These snakes possessed incredibly long lifespans, consuming their human hosts after death to continue growing into larger serpents.

This human-snake co-existence, spanning thousands of years, led to a unique ability: the snakes' venom could transmit all observed information directly into the minds of specific individuals, essentially making them living biological archives capable of revealing millennia of history. One of the Nine Clans members dismissed this as an impossible fantasy. Meanwhile, Li Cu had been captured by Clan Wang members and brought to an elevated position overlooking GuTongJing.

A Clan Wang member informed him they were on top of GuTongJing. Li Cu asked about the others, but the Clan Wang member dismissed his concern, telling him to focus on himself. Li Cu thanked the Clan Wang member for some previous act, but the Clan Wang member retorted that she was only keeping Li Cu alive because he believed "two people can get out of here alive," and threatened to eat him if they ran out of food.

As they walked, Li Cu tried to take the lead, questioning the Clan Wang member's sense of direction, but was told to trust her. The Clan Wang member then told Li Cu that Wu Xie had deceived him and was merely using him as a pawn due to their lack of shared belief.

She contrasted this with Clan Wang's unified purpose, which allowed them to fulfill their inherent mission, asserting that the self-serving Nine Clans could never comprehend Clan Wang's elevated ideals, while Clan Wang continuously progressed and Nine Clans remained stagnant. Li Cu expressed doubt, but the Clan Wang leader confidently declared that he would soon achieve his goals, stating that the Nine Clans could not stop them. Li Cu countered that someone would, but the leader dismissed his threats and abilities, inviting him to test them, promising to respond with decisive action.

Episode 42 Recap

Wu Xie and Su Nan trudged through the snow mountain, their strength failing as they searched for an exit. Su Nan, exhausted, lamented that she'd rather have died at the cliff if she'd known their struggle would be this difficult.

Wu Xie reminded her that he only kept her alive because she claimed two people were needed to cross the snow mountain, and he promised to tell her the story of the Zanghai flowers if they made it out and she didn't kill him. Su Nan, equally weary, retorted that she knew he planned to kill her once they were safe.

Wu Xie persistently urged her on, claiming they would reach safety in "five minutes" repeatedly, much to Su Nan's annoyance. Eventually, they discovered a cave filled with a fragrant aroma, which Wu Xie identified as a place where Lamas might have practiced Zen. Wu Xie noticed distinct carvings of Zanghai flowers on the walls, a species unique to the region. Zhang Rishan tried to lead the Nine Clans members out of the ancient city, warning them of the grave danger.

However, Chen Jinshui angrily refused, stating he wouldn't leave empty-handed after losing so many men for what he believed were treasures, even pulling a gun on Zhang Rishan. Zhang Rishan easily disarmed him, reminding them of his surname, Zhang. Huo Ruxue, also skeptical, insisted on going inside to verify if these were truly Uncle Buddha's treasures.

Witnessing their greed, Zhang Rishan expressed his disappointment in how the Nine Clans had devolved, a sight neither Uncle Buddha nor he wished to see. Despite their internal struggles, he acknowledged their shared identity as Nine Clans members and stated he wouldn't interfere with their decision, only reiterating the extreme danger of the ancient city.

Huo Daofu tried to persuade Chen Jinshui not to enter, but Chen Jinshui remained resolute, leading his men deeper into the ancient city to make a fortune for Clan Chen. Huo Daofu, seeing the futility, left the ancient city with Yang Hao. Inside, Huo Ruxue denounced Zhang Rishan as a liar before instructing her people to grab as much as they could. Soon, the Nine Clans members discovered a vast trove of gold, porcelain, and jewels.

Blinded by avarice, they gleefully began collecting the riches, with Chen Jinshui proclaiming all the wealth as his. Their excitement over the treasure was short-lived as countless snakes suddenly swarmed the room. Without their weapons, the Nine Clans members were helpless. Despite the immediate danger, Chen Jinshui and Huo Ruxue were slow to react, still attempting to snatch more treasures even as they tried to defend themselves.

Huo Ruxue was quickly attacked, and Chen Jinshui was carried away by a giant white candle dragon. In a tragic turn, Chen Jinshui was inadvertently shot and killed by one of his own panicked subordinates. Shortly after, the main beam of the treasure room catastrophically collapsed, burying nearly everyone inside. The violent collapse sent tremors that were felt by the Wang Clan members and Master Black.

Below the cliff, a rock with a distinct pattern identical to Liang Wan's back tattoo broke off. The falling debris, surprisingly, opened a new path. Master Black remarked that the collapse might be a "blessing in disguise" as it offered an escape route. Following Liang Wan's map, they identified the correct direction. However, Liang Wan refused to leave, explaining to a worried Su Wan that there were too many secrets she needed to uncover and she wouldn't leave GuTongJing empty-handed.

She spotted more stones with the same tattoo patterns, fueling her desire to stay and find the truth about her identity. Before Master Black and Su Wan left, Liang Wan entrusted Master Black with a small container, asking him to deliver it to the Crescent Hotel's manager if they made it out alive. She added a message for the manager: Liang Wan had not forgotten their agreement, even facing death.

Liang Wan persisted in her search, following the patterns on the stones, even as GuTongJing continued to collapse, sealing off the path behind her. Undeterred, she pressed onward through the increasingly large stone debris, sensing she was nearing the truth. As she attempted to fit pieces of stone together, Zhang Rishan suddenly appeared. He questioned why she hadn't left, expressing his confusion as to why her identity was more important than her life.

Liang Wan passionately declared that her identity meant everything to her, challenging him by asking if he would have ever approached her if she didn't have her distinctive tattoo. Recognizing her determination, Zhang Rishan finally decided to tell her. He revealed that a clan named Wang, whose totem was a phoenix, had occupied GuTongJing for centuries, implying Liang Wan was a descendant. Stunned, Liang Wan realized this meant she was a member of the Wang Clan, his enemy.

Zhang Rishan conceded that the Wang Clan was indeed his enemy but suggested she might only be "a drop in the ocean" of the clan. Just then, a large stone fell from above, and Zhang Rishan quickly pulled her away, urging her to flee. Instead of leaving with the others, Zhang Rishan guided the Nine Clans members to a secret tunnel left by Uncle Buddha, allowing them to escape while he remained behind.

As they parted ways, Yin Nanfeng, the manager of Crescent Hotel, confessed her feelings, urging him to return alive, as Crescent Hotel needed a male master. Zhang Rishan quietly resolved that this ordeal would soon end for Uncle Buddha. During his search for Liang Wan, Zhang Rishan encountered Master Black and Su Wan, who were trapped and facing imminent death.

Su Wan, in despair, pleaded with Master Black to remove his sunglasses so he could see his face before they died. Just as Master Black prepared to fulfill the wish, Zhang Rishan appeared, rescuing them. Zhang Rishan then sent Master Black to take Su Wan to safety, instructing them to exit through Uncle Buddha's secret path, as he intended to find Liang Wan.

Master Black attempted to deliver Liang Wan's message and the container, but Zhang Rishan interrupted, stating he wished to hear it from Liang Wan herself. Eventually, Huo Daofu, Yang Hao, Yin Nanfeng, Master Black, and Su Wan, along with other surviving Nine Clans members, reached the surface, where GuTongJing had become a massive crater. Despite their escape, a somber mood prevailed as they worried about those still trapped underground, including Li Cu and Liang Wan.

Meanwhile, inside GuTongJing, Wang Clan members located a special stone. When exposed to fire, a small snake emerged, whose venom was used to decipher the memories of the Wang Clan ancestors. Li Cu was revealed to be the key, the only one capable of reading these memories encoded in the snake venom. The Wang Clan leader informed Li Cu that he was merely someone Wu Xie had "barely chosen," and would become "useless" once a suitable replacement was found.

Li Cu defiantly retorted that he would eliminate any such replacement before that could happen, impressing the leader with his quick wit, though the leader dismissed any potential replacement as mere "broken stone." The leader emphasized Li Cu's importance for his unique ability, not to find the memories, but to read the snake poison fluid that contained the ancestors' recollections.

The Wang Clan protected Li Cu fiercely, and upon feeling the tremors of the collapse, they swiftly brought him to the surface. There, Li Cu once again saw Shen Qiong, whose true identity was revealed to be a member of the Wang Clan, not the Huo family as previously thought. Zhang Rishan, observing the Nine Clans' descent into greed and internal strife, understood that Wu Xie's unconventional actions, though seemingly against the Nine Clans' traditional ways, were necessary.

Far from opposing Wu Xie, Zhang Rishan covertly supported his plans, seeing this as an opportunity to purge not only the insidious Wang Clan but also the corrupt elements within the Nine Clans itself.

Episode 43 Recap

The exit for Zhang Rishan and Liang Wan was blocked by fallen rocks. Liang Wan exclaimed, "It's blocked. What now?" to which Zhang Rishan responded, "Save it. It's the only exit." Liang Wan expressed despair, asking if they were just going to die there, but Zhang Rishan urged her to relax. Although Zhang Rishan stated he was fine, Liang Wan noticed his injured arm and quickly offered to treat it with her medicine and gauze.

She couldn't help but ask why he was smiling in such a critical situation. Zhang Rishan mused that since they were going to die anyway, it was better to face it with a smile, and that it was good to die in her company. Liang Wan pointed out he didn't even know who she was, but she had asked him many times before, and he never told her.

For her, he was her love at first sight, and that was enough. She then questioned his reaction, wondering if he disliked her. Taking the opportunity, Zhang Rishan decided to reveal his identity. He told Liang Wan he was the lieutenant of Uncle Buddha Zhang, from the upper three clans of the Old Nine Gates. Liang Wan was surprised, saying "Buddha?" and remarking that he sounded like a character from a TV series.

Zhang Rishan explained that Uncle Buddha, Dog Master Wu, and Grandma Wu were all from the same generation. Uncle Buddha was born in 1910, served as Changsha's Protection Officer, and fought against the Japanese. He had been Uncle Buddha's lieutenant, going through thick and thin with him. Liang Wan, trying to make sense of the timeline, realized Uncle Buddha was from the last century.

Calculating, she inferred that Zhang Rishan must be over a hundred years old and accused him of trying to fool her, calling it a strange way to flirt. Zhang Rishan insisted he had no reason to lie at such a moment. He then noticed Liang Wan's own injury, a skin deep cut on her arm, and insisted on bandaging it himself.

Zhang Rishan then pulled her into a hug, making Liang Wan feel that no matter how old he was, she had made up her mind about him. Liang Wan also noted that Zhang Rishan's tattoo was still present, asking if he had a fever because of it. He confirmed he had been having a fever ever since entering GuTongJing. Liang Wan admitted she needed time to process all the information.

Zhang Rishan thanked her for her hard work these past few days. Liang Wan affirmed that she didn't care if he was a manager or a lieutenant; his identity didn't matter to her. Zhang Rishan reciprocated, adding that it didn't matter to him if she was from the Wang family. Liang Wan insisted she was not connected to the Wang family at all and asked why he had come to GuTongJing.

Zhang Rishan replied that she knew why—because he wanted to be with her. Liang Wan confirmed that his wish had come true, and they were together now. Suddenly, a sound interrupted their sweet moment. Liang Wan asked what it was, and Zhang Rishan identified it as the snake cypress. Fearing its entry, he urged them to leave. They found another path with a door. Zhang Rishan said it was useless, as the door couldn't be opened without a key.

Liang Wan wanted to check it out, but then hesitated, explaining her poor physical condition and asking if they were just to be eaten by snakes. Zhang Rishan reiterated that he knew the structure better than anyone, and the door was indeed locked. Frustrated, Liang Wan, despite his warnings, decided to try and ram the door open herself but stopped halfway, realizing she couldn't do it alone. As she leaned back in defeat, the door surprisingly opened.

Inside, they found a room filled with provisions. Zhang Rishan explained that these were specially made canned foods that wouldn't spoil. He then offered her a "good news, bad news" scenario. The good news, he revealed, was that there were enough supplies to last them forty years. The bad news, he added, was that once the supplies ran out, they would starve to death.

Liang Wan realized this meant they would both starve after forty years, but she would age while he wouldn't. Zhang Rishan clarified that time worked differently there than outside. Liang Wan asked why they had initially come to GuTongJing. Zhang Rishan explained it was because Uncle Buddha wanted to uncover a secret, though they themselves didn't know what it was and hadn't found it. He clarified they didn't build GuTongJing, but merely repaired it.

He recounted how, years ago, they found a corner of GuTongJing with confusing paths. Uncle Buddha led a team to explore it. Strangely, despite it being autumn when they entered, there was no wind inside the ancient city. Liang Wan scoffed, saying it was natural for an underground place to have no wind, but Zhang Rishan corrected her, implying it was indeed unusual.

As they ventured deeper, a continuous wind appeared, and with it, intermittent music emanated from the entire ancient city. They couldn't make sense of the fragmented tunes but were certain it was music. Liang Wan wondered if it was a collective hallucination. Zhang Rishan admitted they thought so too until they found a map of GuTongJing, which depicted a vast ancient city.

This made them realize the entire city was a gigantic musical instrument that would play music when the wind blew through it. Since the ancient city was incomplete, the music was fragmented. Uncle Buddha then ordered them to fully repair GuTongJing according to the map, hoping to hear the complete music. He believed the music held the secret. Zhang Rishan confirmed this, but lamented that after all the repairs, the wind hadn't returned, and something unexpected happened instead.

Liang Wan felt they had worked in vain. Zhang Rishan also expressed regret, explaining that the wind followed a pattern, blowing at fixed intervals. Based on previous cycles, the complete music was due to play in two weeks, but they were now trapped and couldn't bring the information out. Meanwhile, Wu Xie and Su Nan had found refuge in a cave. Wu Xie caught a fish from an ice field river outside and offered it to Su Nan.

He noticed her eyes were troubling her. Su Nan initially dismissed it, but Wu Xie later realized she was suffering from snow blindness, a temporary condition that eating fish would help. They ate the unseasoned, bitter fish for three days, with Wu Xie teasing her about the limited cooking options. Su Nan, now recovered, awoke to find Wu Xie shivering from the cold, draped in the clothes she had been wearing.

She felt their roles had reversed and began to care for him. She joked that his grilled fish seemed to have worked. She promised to cook him his favorite dish, poached sliced beef in hot chili oil, every day once they got out. Wu Xie cautiously asked if she still planned to kill him, and Su Nan replied that she wouldn't kill him before they got out of there, to which Wu Xie gratefully responded.

Wu Xie revealed he knew she had been faking her blindness and still possessed her knife. Su Nan, no longer pretending, demanded her knife back, threatening to kill him if he didn't return it. Wu Xie, however, refused to return it, reminding her that she wanted to kill him even when she could see, and now that she was blind, she still did. He stated he would keep the knife for her.

Back in the city, Master Black accompanied Su Wan home. Su Wan expressed concern for Li Cu and Liang Wan, and Master Black reassured him that Li Cu would return soon and Liang Wan would be safe, as he had already called the police on those in GuTongJing. He urged Su Wan to focus on his studies.

When Su Wan self-deprecatingly described himself as a useless rich kid, Master Black gave him his sunglasses, reminding him that the address on the frame was a glasses store where Su Wan could find him if he ever felt his life was too boring. Su Wan, surprised, asked what Master Black would wear, unaware that Master Black carried multiple pairs of sunglasses.

Yang Hao was taken home by Huo Daofu, who offered him a business card and invited him to join him, seeing potential in Yang Hao. Yang Hao, however, recognized Huo Daofu's manipulative intentions and refused, though he kept the business card. Upon returning home, Yang Hao searched for his grandmother, only to find her memorial tablet on the table.

He called Uncle Zhu, who informed him that his grandmother had suffered a heart attack and passed away after some troublemakers visited their shop. The neighbors had pooled money to arrange her funeral. Yang Hao was distraught, feeling like an an abandoned child and blaming himself for being away. He knelt before her memorial tablet and harshly slapped himself. Meanwhile, Li Cu awoke from a nightmare in an unfamiliar place surrounded by medicine bottles.

Injured, he painfully used a crutch to walk outside, encountering Russians speaking a language he couldn't understand. He stumbled, and the bright sunlight caused him to pass out again. Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao have all returned to the city, but their futures are now diverging, particularly Yang Hao, who has become increasingly volatile under Huo Daofu's influence.

Episode 44 Recap

Li Cu found himself in an unfamiliar location, restrained by a group of foreign nurses who administered sedatives whenever he resisted. Upon waking, members of the Wang Clan appeared, informing him, "Welcome to join us." A Wang Clan member handed Li Cu a uniform and dining card, and presented him with a manual.

Li Cu read that "Zhang Qiling" was a title for leaders of the Zhang Clan, not a specific individual, and implied responsibility for entombing deceased clan members in the Zhang Clan’s ancient building. The Wang Clan leader assigned Shen Qiong to instruct Li Cu, noting they were old acquaintances, and confined him to the building, where his actions would be under constant surveillance. His primary duties were studying and taking tests.

Li Cu, wary since learning Shen Qiong was a Wang Clan member, was not friendly towards her. He attempted to leave the building, but she stopped him, even pushing him away, reiterating that he could not exit and that he was not well enough to stay outside for long. Li Cu confronted her, demanding to know if her surname was Huo or Wang.

She initially said that her name "here" was Huo Xiaoyuan, but then confessed her true name was Wang Xiaoyuan, though Li Cu could still call her Shen Qiong if he wished. He pressed her about the whereabouts of the "real" Shen Qiong he grew up with, but Wang Xiaoyuan claimed not to know.

She recounted a story of people getting sick, snakes entering their bodies, and their parents falling ill, concluding that Li Cu was "the one" and that Huang Yan had abandoned them, knowing they were ill. Li Cu persisted, asking about his location and what was expected of him. Wang Xiaoyuan explained that every person in the Wang Clan had an "odds" ratio determining their survival; a 30 percent ratio meant elimination. Li Cu was at 29 percent.

She reassured him he wouldn't be killed yet, blaming Wu Xie for his involvement and asserting that the Wang Clan had saved him from GuTongJing. She elaborated on "white lessons" for learning and "black lessons" for testing, with rehabilitation also part of his training. She informed him there was no phone, TV, signal, or Wi-Fi, but they had an intranet, and she offered to chat if he felt like it.

Remembering Wu Xie's message, Li Cu decided he must join the Wang Clan, earn their complete trust, infiltrate their core, and control their actions, acknowledging that the cost would be living with snakes. He silently wondered about Wu Xie’s current location. Meanwhile, Wu Xie remained stranded in the snow mountain. He surveyed the terrain and determined it would take two weeks to travel northeast to return to their original location, with no supplies available during that time.

He and Su Nan discussed their limited food, how to find water, and their insufficient clothing, deciding to stitch together cloth for a temporary tent and take shifts sleeping with two bonfires for warmth. As they prepared to leave, Wu Xie, lying on the ground, challenged Su Nan, remarking on her lack of conscience and his awareness that she intended to kill him once they were out of the snow.

He presented three conditions: first, his ashes were to be taken back to WushanJu so he could "return to his roots." Second, on August 17th of the following year, she was to deliver a message for him at Changbai Mountains, simply stating he "couldn't pick him home." His third condition was that if the Wang Clan ever lost trust in her or she faced danger, she could "come down to hell and be my company."

Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan were still trapped inside the room, blocked by snake cypress. Liang Wan retrieved some small objects and, after blindfolding Zhang Rishan, began to transform the room. When Zhang Rishan removed his blindfold, he found the room decorated warmly. Liang Wan excitedly declared that her lifelong wish of living with a handsome man, especially one who wouldn't age, had come true.

She prepared a bed for Zhang Rishan, urging him to rest while she kept watch and mended clothes. Zhang Rishan later observed her, a feeling of contentment washing over him as he noticed the intricate patterns she had embroidered onto his clothes. When Liang Wan awoke, she was embarrassed to find Zhang Rishan watching her, fearing her sleeping posture was unsightly. He simply told her to rest on the bed.

He also lightheartedly teased her about her "childish" romantic gestures, to which she insisted it was "romantic." Liang Wan also clarified that she would stand guard and wouldn't touch him without his consent. At home, Yang Hao was overcome with grief over his grandmother’s death. He lashed out at Su Wan, blaming Li Cu for their involvement in GuTongJing and the misunderstandings they faced in the desert.

He expressed that he was fundamentally different from Li Cu and Su Wan, declaring he would go his own way and sought out Huo Daofu. Su Wan tried to intervene, warning Yang Hao that Huo Daofu and his people were not good and not to be trusted, but Yang Hao angrily dismissed his concerns, feeling misunderstood and insulted.

He told Su Wan that from now on, they would walk their separate paths, saying that Su Wan wouldn't understand his desire for fairness, as Su Wan was "born in Rome." Yang Hao arrived at Huo Daofu's residence, offering to work for him and expressing his desire to become stronger. He emphasized his willingness to start from the most basic tasks, including cleaning, laundry, cooking, and any dirty work. Huo Daofu, however, responded with scorn.

He meticulously critiqued Yang Hao's appearance, from his cheap sneakers to his ripped jeans, likening him to a "pitiful stray dog" trying too hard to be different. Huo Daofu disparaged Yang Hao's background, suggesting he grew up in a slum, lacked discipline, and was destined to be a "useless and stupid" social outcast. When Yang Hao protested, Huo Daofu insidiously suggested that even Li Cu and Su Wan shared these negative opinions, though they wouldn't voice them.

Huo Daofu then revealed his own tragic past of being orphaned and smuggled abroad, living in constant fear. He claimed the only difference between them was his complete distrust of others and his lack of "conscientiousness," prioritizing only himself. Huo Daofu concluded by saying that from this point forward, Yang Hao would appear to be working for him, but in reality, he would be working solely for himself.

Episode 45 Recap

Li Cu, now at Clan Wang's facility after his return from GuTongJing, found himself under the care of Shen Qiong, whom he was instructed to call "Sis" when others were around, though she preferred Shen Qiong. She revealed that members of Clan Wang rarely ate well unless they were on a mission. Li Cu spent his days in classes, where an instructor recounted an ancient tale of immortality.

Three thousand years ago, King Mu of Zhou, traveling in the Kunlun Mountains, received the Elixir of Life from the Queen Mother of the West. Though it promised immortality, it came with a severe side effect: the user would awaken only after three millennia. Before taking the elixir, King Mu commissioned two jade cocoons; he sealed himself in one and an unformed infant from a dissected pregnant woman in the other.

His plan was to achieve eternal life when the infant matured. However, after three millennia, it was the infant, Zhang Qiling, who gained immortality, not King Mu. The instructor identified Zhang Qiling as Clan Wang's eternal enemy and asserted that without Zhang Qiling, their ancestors would not exist. Li Cu questioned the story's plausibility, particularly the existence of an elixir, concluding that it was merely a symbol, with Zhang Qiling serving as a ruling idol.

The instructor acknowledged his independent thought. The instructor then showed a video about Clan Zhang, a family that guarded the secret of immortality for generations, unbeknownst to outsiders. This secret was eventually discovered by a geomancer named Wang Zanghai. He realized Clan Zhang not only possessed the secret of eternal life but also controlled the lives of ordinary people. Wang Zanghai sought to resist them, believing people should live freely.

Unable to achieve this alone in his lifetime, he encoded his plan to defeat Clan Zhang on snake eyebrow copper fish, hoping future generations, known as Clan Wang, would carry it out. Li Cu jokingly wondered if he would have to change his surname to Wang, while the instructor clarified that their connection was through shared ideals, not blood. Shen Qiong (who had identified herself as Wang Xiaoyuan) also made a passing comment about her own name aligning with "Wang."

Shen Qiong informed Li Cu that her own ratio, which determines their fate within the clan, was "infinity approaches zero," a number she was born with. She warned him never to leave the building as snipers were on the rooftop. Li Cu expressed nostalgia for his home rooftop, where he and Su Wan used to drink and discuss life, including Shen Qiong. She humorously recalled them peeping at her showering from there.

Li Cu asked when he could go on missions like her, to which she replied, "When your ratio drops to zero." He confided in her, hoping Su Wan would never learn about his current circumstances. The instructor declared Li Cu's "white lessons," focused on wisdom, were complete, and he would begin "black lessons" the next day. These "black lessons" involved combat training.

To prepare him, Shen Qiong took Li Cu to an outdoor arena and attacked him, instructing him to fight back. She easily defeated him, demanding dumplings as her prize, and promised to continue training him daily, stating it was for his own good. She explained the "black lessons" rules: a badge-grabbing game for four people divided into two teams, with three badges available. Each participant had a one-minute countdown to acquire a badge, or face elimination.

Avoiding elimination meant securing a badge, and teammates could not fight each other but could yield a badge. She warned that many students were eliminated in the first class and never seen again. When Li Cu tried to find a weapon, she told him it was useless. Shen Qiong specifically told Li Cu to choose her as his partner for the upcoming black lesson.

However, when the black lesson began, led by Mr. Wang (Wang Xiansheng), Li Cu chose a stranger instead. He did this after observing glass jars with Clan Wang members' names, noting Wang Zanghai's jar was empty, and because he didn't want Shen Qiong to take care of him, believing he could manage on his own.

Mr. Wang reiterated the rules, adding that hatred could be a source of strength, and that this brutal selection process had been a Clan Wang tradition for years. Meanwhile, Su Wan followed the address on the glasses given to him by Master Black to an optical store. The owner initially denied knowing anyone by that description but eventually directed him to Master Black at a nearby food stand.

There, Master Black was enjoying his usual fried rice with pork and green pepper. Su Wan informed him that Yang Hao had joined Huo Daofu. Master Black, unfazed, explained that it was human nature for people, like gamblers, to pursue their losses, and Yang Hao desired more than just money. To ensure a better outcome, Master Black suggested Su Wan also join, much like Wu Xie chose to remain with his companions despite an opportunity to leave.

Su Wan, determined to stand by his brother, knelt and asked Master Black to accept him as an apprentice. Master Black agreed to test him but first collected a hefty tuition fee using a portable POS machine, also making Su Wan pay for his meal. The next day, Su Wan struggled in school, unable to answer his teacher's questions after his experiences in GuTongJing, earning him a stern reprimand.

Later, for his training with Master Black, Su Wan was told to pick a knife. He chose an "ugly" dagger, which Master Black insisted he keep and use for all future cutting tasks, instructing him to master it as if it were an extension of his own hands, and to overcome any fear of being cut by it. Su Wan named the dagger "Small Apple."

Yang Hao, now known as Manager Yang under Huo Daofu, was actively engaged in nefarious activities. He led a group of people to kick open the Nine Gates' shops, smashing and grabbing. He was seen on the phone, confirming the successful "handling" of the LiCai company, before dismissing his subordinates. In the snow mountains, Wu Xie and Su Nan fought against the relentless blizzard. Su Nan eventually succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed.

Wu Xie, despite his own fatigue, struggled to help her up, but both eventually collapsed again. Fortunately, lamas from a temple deep within the mountains discovered them and brought them to safety. Su Nan awoke to find Wu Xie had prepared a plentiful meal. He explained that the supplies were brought in monthly by local herdsmen who trekked for a week through the mountains. Due to the extreme cold, the food remained preserved, though not entirely fresh.

Wu Xie noted they were still trapped in the snow mountains and not yet at "the time neither of them wanted to face." Su Nan, still antagonistic, expressed a desire to kill him, criticizing Clan Wang's values. Wu Xie, undeterred, advised her to rest her eyes to prevent snowblindness. Su Nan retorted that she would rather be blind than see him, but Wu Xie pointed out they were fortunate to have shelter.

Su Nan questioned Wu Xie's familiarity with the temple, especially the three constantly burning pots of fire with a raven perched above, noting that only the Manchu people worship ravens. Wu Xie recounted a legend about a lama who, trapped in the snow, was guided by three lights that turned out to be a three-eyed raven.

After the raven circled him three times, his surroundings transformed into a wonderland of fruits and hot springs, allowing him to survive four months until the snow melted. The lama then gathered people to build the temple, with the three fire pots symbolizing the raven's eyes and offering hope to other stranded travelers. Su Nan expressed skepticism, believing such legends merely served to conceal unpleasant truths.

Wu Xie, acknowledging the vast number of so-called supernatural occurrences throughout history, agreed that many "miracles" were crafted to hide ugly truths and guilty consciences. They both admitted that talking to each other was tiring, with four months still to endure. Meanwhile, Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan were trapped in a room by snake vines. Liang Wan felt that being with Zhang Rishan made even death worthwhile, and she even considered "doing the deed" with him there.

She took this opportunity to confess her deep feelings for Zhang Rishan, wishing to be with him. However, her directness startled Zhang Rishan, who could only feign ignorance to muddle through. As a woman, Liang Wan then felt too embarrassed to be overly proactive.

These three individuals, Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao, each took different paths under different mentors: Li Cu committed to Clan Wang for the survival of the Nine Gates, Su Wan endeavored to rescue his friend, while Yang Hao ruthlessly sought personal power, oppressing others along the way.

Episode 46 Recap

During the black lesson, Li Cu chose a stranger as his partner, despite Shen Qiong's earlier request for him to pick her. The instructor explained that the test results would be official: winners would stay, and losers would be eliminated. As the competition began, two other participants quickly secured two badges. Li Cu then handed the last badge to Shen Qiong before moving to challenge Shen Qiong's teammate. Shen Qiong's attempt to intervene was blocked by Li Cu's partner.

Despite his initial weakness, Li Cu, having learned much from Wu Xie and Master Black, skillfully snatched a badge. He then restrained his partner from attacking Shen Qiong. When the countdown ended, Shen Qiong's teammate was eliminated and taken away. After the test, Shen Qiong asked Li Cu why he hadn't chosen her, probing if he understood the gravity of the eliminations.

She questioned if his actions were driven by affection, which Li Cu implied by asking, "Do you like me?" Shen Qiong promptly denied it, telling him, "I won't fall in love with you before we can share the same ideal." She apologized for calling him "Pear" and added a stark instruction: "If something bad happens, you can choose not to save me."

Their conversation was abruptly cut short by a Clan Wang member who dismissed their "romance," reminding them that "The black lessons are not over yet." Suddenly, Shen Qiong was seized by Clan Wang members. Another member informed Li Cu that he had entered the second phase of the black lessons and that Shen Qiong would be safe only if he cooperated.

Clan Wang had recovered snake ore from GuTongJing, believing it contained Wang Zanghai's memories, including the crucial final step of a plan Wang Zanghai devised to fight Clan Zhang. They needed Li Cu to extract these memories, as the snake ore contained too many pheromones for them to differentiate. Li Cu demanded Shen Qiong's release, but he was told he had no choice.

He was given only thirty minutes to read Wang Zanghai's memory, or Shen Qiong's life would be forfeit. After being given the snake poison fluid to inhale, Li Cu began to experience visions, suffering greatly as tube after tube of pheromones failed to yield useful information. Finally, in the last dose of snake poison fluid, Li Cu saw a memory, but it was not Wang Zanghai's.

Instead, it was Wu Xie, who explained that the markings on Li Cu's back, supposedly indicating Wang Zanghai's memory points, were actually his own doing—a trap designed to lead Li Cu into Clan Wang. Wu Xie congratulated Li Cu on successfully infiltrating Clan Wang, signifying half the success of his overall plan.

Wu Xie revealed that the true memory of Wang Zanghai was buried under a tree in Clan Chen's territory, sternly warning Li Cu never to disclose this location to Clan Wang, as it was his only leverage for survival. He also warned that Clan Wang's Algorithm Department could detect any lie Li Cu told, so Li Cu should tell them all the fake information Wu Xie had planted to gain their trust.

Upon waking, Li Cu boldly declared that everything was Wu Xie's design, that there was no memory of Wang Zanghai in the snake ore, and that Wu Xie had visited the snake mine long ago. Connected to a lie detector, his words were verified, much to Clan Wang's surprise. Li Cu, confident, challenged them to check the lie detector if they doubted him.

He then negotiated for Shen Qiong's freedom, stating that he knew where Wang Zanghai's memory was but would only reveal it after Shen Qiong was released. Clan Wang, convinced by the lie detector, agreed, freeing Shen Qiong but keeping Li Cu under strict guard until his claims could be verified.

Before Li Cu began guiding them, he secretly listened to a recorded message from Wu Xie on his phone, which reminded him that his true mission in Clan Wang was to locate their Algorithm Department and send its coordinates back to Wu Xie using a special method. Clan Wang dispatched teams to Clan Chen's territory, where they discovered an underground palace. With equipment prepared, Li Cu remotely guided the expedition.

As the underground signals were poor, Clan Wang deployed repeaters at every turn to maintain communication. Li Cu meticulously directed them, starting from a Tusi statue, specifying directions, distances, and turns through various tunnels. He warned them that a single wrong step would trigger deadly mechanisms, leading to irreversible doom, and that they would encounter a fishhook trap with a hidden iron ring to deactivate it, sarcastically adding, "You guys are so skillful. Suppose you can do it."

Meanwhile, Master Black continued Su Wan's unconventional training, combining theory with practice. One evening, in a hotel, Su Wan was made to solve complex equations until he reached his limit. Seeing his frustration, Master Black suggested a game of golf, not the traditional kind, but with a simple stick for a golf club and a tea bag for a ball. Su Wan, initially confident, failed repeatedly.

Master Black then urged him to apply the mathematical functions he had just been studying to his swing. With this insight, Su Wan struck the tea bag perfectly. Master Black immediately moved on to the next lesson: bartending, which, to Su Wan's dismay, first required studying the chemistry of alcohol fermentation. Master Black wisely told him, "Learn maths, physics and chemicals well, and you will be unconquerable." Separately, Yang Hao continued down a path of increasing aggression.

He and his crew brazenly pillaged various establishments, including those affiliated with the Huo and Li families. During one such raid, a manager desperately pleaded with Yang Hao not to take a treasured vase, explaining its sentimental value due to a connection with Boss Huo. Yang Hao, admiring the vase, mockingly agreed to "leave it all" to the manager, before quickly ordering his men to hurry to the next store, demonstrating his growing ruthlessness.

In the snow-bound temple, Wu Xie and Su Nan discussed their precarious situation. Su Nan, despite her past threats, seemed to care for Wu Xie's survival, suggesting they avoid talking about killing or death. She recounted the lama's warning that more snow could trap them for months and proposed making a wish in the temple for an earlier departure. Wu Xie declined, claiming he didn't know how to make wishes.

Su Nan, asserting Clan Wang's control over destiny, was challenged by Wu Xie to make it snow if she was so powerful, highlighting the futility of such claims. She then revealed a tragic past, where she survived Clan Wang's harsh training at the cost of many companions' lives.

Su Nan proposed a way for both of them to survive: Wu Xie joining Clan Wang, offering to be his referrer on the condition he disclose his current plan and dedicate himself entirely to Clan Wang. Wu Xie, with a wry smile, responded that his plan had no "off switch" and could not be stopped by anyone, including himself. He acknowledged he held no personal prejudice against Clan Wang but was born to be their adversary.

Later, Su Nan led him into a room within the temple, asking him to remove his clothes for a "great worship" ritual, explaining it was to prevent them from getting dirty. Wu Xie, momentarily flustered, complied. Despite their opposing affiliations, the shared ordeal in the snow mountain had visibly deepened their bond.

Episode 47 Recap

Clan Wang, guided remotely by Li Cu, reached the mechanism of the underground palace. They navigated the dangerous area, carefully avoiding deadly fishhooks. Despite sustaining severe injuries, the Clan Wang members successfully pulled down the mechanism. Immediately after, they were subjected to a barrage of flying arrows but managed to dodge them with swift movements. After these obstacles, they finally arrived at the main gate.

Several Clan Wang members simultaneously pulled the four door rings, and an instructor above them opened a small door, revealing the snake ore containing Wang Zanghai's memories. The instructor extracted the snake poison fluid and presented it to Mr. Wang, but Li Cu refused to interpret it. Li Cu stated that he would only agree to interpret the memories when Clan Wang fully trusted him, believing it would be beneficial for both sides.

Su Nan and Wu Xie had been confined in the temple for a considerable time, experiencing constant anxiety. One day, the Lamas in the temple loudly announced that "The mountain pass is open!" Su Nan was startled, her attention diverted as the water she was pouring overflowed her bowl. Later that evening, Su Nan was discovered by Wu Xie searching through his room, prompting her to leave awkwardly.

The following morning, Su Nan sat by the entrance, staring at the distant snow mountain, her spirits low. She expressed her longing for the snow to melt and the mountain pass to open, asking Wu Xie how long it would take. Wu Xie advised her not to stare at the snow mountain for too long, warning that while one instance of snow blindness might be fine, repeated exposure could lead to permanent blindness.

He informed her that the mountain would remain closed for a while longer, but not for too long. Master Black's training methods for Su Wan were unusual. When Master Black offered Su Wan tea, Su Wan remarked that tea now reminded him of wine, and wine reminded him of his chemistry tests. Master Black found this amusing, seeing it as proof that his curriculum was effective.

Su Wan, however, was wary, fearing more strange lessons and even mentioning that his college entrance exam didn't require history or sports. Master Black reassured him, explaining he wanted to tell a story about the Jiu Men. He recounted how the Jiu Men of the past, despite internal conflicts, would always unite and fight alongside each other under Uncle Buddha's leadership when facing external threats or major crises. However, after Uncle Buddha's passing, the Jiu Men changed.

The president of the Jiu Men Association, Zhang Rishan, diligently followed Uncle Buddha's instructions, but it was all in vain because the times had changed, and the Jiu Men could no longer find their place. Master Black also elaborated on how the emergence of Clan Wang had driven the current Jiu Men to its end, suggesting that perhaps being eliminated by the era was a good thing.

Yet, he noted that one person, Wu Xie, refused to accept this fate and insisted on fighting against the current era. Wu Xie, once innocent, had his life changed by meeting Zhang Qiling. Even after Zhang Qiling's departure, Wu Xie chose to stay and actively seek him. Traveling to many places, Wu Xie eventually formulated a comprehensive plan on the snow mountain to uproot both the current Jiu Men and Clan Wang.

Su Wan deeply empathized with Wu Xie's feelings for Zhang Qiling, relating it to his own bond with Li Cu and Yang Hao. He confessed his shame for not doing enough when Li Cu disappeared and vowed to follow him to the desert this time. However, he lamented that he had now lost Yang Hao, who had joined Huo Daofu.

Su Wan noted that Master Black seemed less cruel that day, and Master Black declared their conversation a "courtesy demands reciprocity." But this brief respite ended abruptly when Master Black announced it was time for Su Wan's third lesson. Master Black started the new lesson by demonstrating how Su Wan's joints hindered his movements. He then challenged Su Wan to attack him, emphasizing that enemies wouldn't wait for class to start.

Su Wan, despite his best efforts, couldn't land a single blow, marveling at Master Black's speed. Master Black explained that his speed wasn't the key; rather, it was Su Wan's slowness. He demonstrated how his wide range of joint motion and ability to predict movements allowed him to react without physically moving much. He further elaborated that relying on sight in a critical situation was a fatal flaw, and one must anticipate actions before seeing them.

Master Black, in a rare generous gesture, offered Su Wan his Fired rice with pork and green pepper for supper, but immediately added that training would continue afterward. He highlighted Su Wan's poor close-quarter combat skills, suggesting his speed and joint mobility were huge problems. Su Wan suggested keeping his distance, but Master Black countered that anyone skilled in throwing could eliminate him within ten meters. Su Wan, disbelieving, stood ten meters away.

Master Black then demonstrated his point by casually throwing the Fired rice with pork and green pepper, which landed squarely on Su Wan's head. Covered in rice, Su Wan declared he was quitting, expressing frustration at being constantly hit, unlike how his parents treated him. Master Black indifferently told him not to come back.

Su Wan, realizing his mistake, immediately knelt and apologized profusely, citing traditional proverbs about diligence and hard work, such as "endure hardships first, enjoy later" and "those who plant trees provide shade for those behind." Master Black remained unmoved until Su Wan mentioned wanting a tuition refund. Master Black instantly changed his tune, laughing and saying he was "just kidding," agreeing that Su Wan could return and assigning him to train for a full month.

Meanwhile, Yang Hao was working under Huo Daofu, having successfully handled matters involving Licai and BaMianHengTong, and dealing with some "scumbags." Huo Daofu praised his rapid development, but Yang Hao remained sullen. Huo Daofu remarked that Yang Hao still cared for his past friends and warned him that lingering attachment to the past would make him less ruthless. Yang Hao asserted that while he would follow Huo Daofu's orders, his personal affairs were his own business.

He stated that he had been on his own since abandoning Li Cu. Later, Su Wan, while walking alone and mumbling his English vocabulary, spotted Yang Hao drinking at a small street restaurant. Su Wan approached him, urging him to leave Huo Daofu, warning that his grandmother would not rest easy knowing his current path.

Yang Hao grew angry at the mention of his grandmother, accusing Su Wan and Li Cu of merely using him, and arguing that Huo Daofu at least gave him what he wanted, unlike the "worthless" way his former friends treated him. To test Su Wan's sincerity, Yang Hao demanded he drink all the beer on the table before he would even consider leaving JinShangZhu.

Despite having an exam the next day, Su Wan reluctantly agreed after suggesting other activities like karaoke. As Su Wan drank bottle after bottle, vivid memories of his and Yang Hao's shared past flashed before Yang Hao's eyes. Seeing Su Wan's struggle, Yang Hao, feeling remorse, finally intervened, grabbing the bottle and telling him to stop drinking.

Su Wan, in his drunken state, poured out his heart, expressing how useless he felt for failing to help Yang Hao and Li Cu, and wishing they could return to their old days of studying and playing together. Yang Hao, taking the heavily intoxicated Su Wan back to his lodging, simply told him to go home.

The next morning, Su Wan, having sobered up, pleaded with Yang Hao not to return to JinShangZhu, reminding him of Huo Daofu's true nature and suggesting he come along to Master Black. Yang Hao, however, reminded Su Wan that he had lost their drinking bet. Su Wan proposed other competitions, like video games or a duel, confident in his improved skills. Yang Hao, looking dejected, refused, stating they were fundamentally different.

He contrasted Su Wan's happy family and Li Cu's support with his own life, which was plagued by "all the bad lucks." Su Wan questioned Yang Hao's transformation, recounting his own ordeal in GuTongJing—being hunted, forced to jump a cliff, and bitten by snakes—and how his thoughts were always of his companions, of them. Dismissively, Yang Hao simply asked if Su Wan had an exam. Su Wan, due to the previous night's drinking, failed to complete his exam paper.

Afterward, a girl, who was Zheng Yi's crush, approached Su Wan, pressing him for Li Cu's whereabouts. Su Wan evasively replied that Li Cu was "maintaining world peace," to which the girl playfully asked if he had joined S. H. I. E. L. D. On their way home, they encountered Zheng Yi, who immediately physically attacked Su Wan, accusing him of taking Li Cu's place. However, Su Wan, hardened by Master Black's training, was agile.

He easily dodged Zheng Yi's attempts, cut Zheng Yi's bracelet with a knife, and quickly made his escape. Despite his deep bond of brotherhood, Yang Hao couldn't overcome his ingrained low self-esteem, perpetually feeling inferior to Su Wan and Li Cu, which was the core reason he refused to rejoin them.

Episode 48 Recap

After a month of intense training, Su Wan felt invigorated, especially after his first real fight against Zheng Yi. He proudly displayed his improved skills to Master Black, who informed him that their training was over for now. Master Black handed Su Wan a business card for "Huo's Tea House" and announced they would go there once the rain stopped.

Meanwhile, at the Huo family's establishment, Yang Hao was reporting to Huo Daofu on his successful completion of several company takeovers. Huo Daofu praised Yang Hao, stating he knew he had chosen the right person. Master Black arrived with Su Wan. Yang Hao walked past Su Wan without a glance, seemingly ignoring him. Su Wan, feeling disregarded, pursued Yang Hao, asking why he wouldn't speak to him.

Yang Hao questioned Su Wan's presence there, but Su Wan insisted he came specifically for him, having become Master Black's apprentice. Su Wan passionately argued that they should team up, acknowledging that their lives changed after Li Cu led them into the desert and that there was no turning back. He believed that even though the Jiu Men no longer formally existed, they could forge a new path together.

Yang Hao, however, corrected him, asserting that it wouldn't be just the two of them, but three, as he was certain Li Cu would return. He expressed his hope that the three of them would be reunited. Master Black observed their reconciliation with a relieved smile. Back at the Wang Clan base, Li Cu was undergoing another demanding black lesson alongside Shen Qiong and a third Clan Wang member.

The challenge was to secure two badges, but their formidable opponent proved difficult to overcome even when Li Cu and Shen Qiong teamed up. In the final seconds, Li Cu, recalling Master Black's "block and hit" technique, gave his badge to Shen Qiong and single-handedly confronted the opponent. Despite taking some blows, he managed to snatch a badge and hold it until the timer ran out, securing a victory for him and Shen Qiong.

Li Cu then commented on the Wang Clan's penchant for self-destruction, earning a warning from the instructor that such remarks would raise his odds. Mr. Wang summoned Shen Qiong after reviewing footage of the black lesson. He suspected Li Cu had developed feelings for her and hoped she could leverage this emotion to fully integrate Li Cu into the Wang Clan.

However, he also gave her a chilling directive: if Li Cu ever became a liability, she was to eliminate him. Shen Qiong, clearly troubled by this order, tried to appear unconcerned as she later approached Li Cu. Li Cu, anxious about his own status, confided in Shen Qiong that he had disclosed all his knowledge to the Wang Clan, yet the Algorithm Department's mysterious "odds" still dictated their trust in him.

He knew the Algorithm Department held absolute authority but was a place few Wang Clan members ever entered, only accessible to those with a zero-ratio. Li Cu, desperate to reach this critical zero-ratio, pressed Shen Qiong for details, asking about the department's rules and if she had ever been there. Shen Qiong could only confirm that entry required a zero-ratio and warned Li Cu that he was asking too many questions, an unusual trait for a true Clan Wang member.

Later, while Shen Qiong was occupied, Li Cu secretly retrieved a book and notebook from a drawer. These contained information from Wu Xie on how to pinpoint locations using details encoded in snake poison. Li Cu collected fallen leaves from the base's courtyard and used a plant encyclopedia to identify them, thereby narrowing down the probable location of the Wang Clan base.

He received further pheromone injections, which caused severe physical overload, but he persevered, determined to reach the Algorithm Department. A voice message from Wu Xie within the snake poison data also instructed Li Cu to locate the Algorithm Department and transmit its coordinates using the method Wu Xie had taught him. Shen Qiong observed Li Cu collecting leaves, and he explained that seeing fallen leaves reminded him of his father's returns.

He asked Shen Qiong about his father's whereabouts, and she assured him that Wu Xie was likely protecting him. Li Cu then provocatively asked Shen Qiong what she would do if their next black lesson pitted them against each other. When she asked if he would attack her, Li Cu stated he would simply destroy the badge. Shen Qiong reminded him that only by passing these tests and becoming a true Clan Wang member would the trials end.

With only Li Cu and Shen Qiong remaining in the black lesson tests, their training intensified. Li Cu's combat skills had advanced considerably, and he was now capable of defeating Shen Qiong. During a sparring session, Li Cu knocked Shen Qiong to the ground, reminding her of their earlier playful wager: a kiss if he won. As Shen Qiong leaned in with a smile, Li Cu, momentarily distracted by his triumph, was caught off guard as she launched a counter-attack.

He quickly regained the upper hand, pinning her again, asking if she was reneging on their agreement. She responded by kicking him, sending him reeling in pain. Later, Mr. Wang presented Li Cu with photographic evidence, claiming it proved Shen Qiong, whom he referred to as Wang Xiaoyuan, was a spy planted by Wu Xie. Li Cu was incredulous, but Mr. Wang asserted that the Algorithm Department's comprehensive data supported this conclusion.

He noted that Wu Xie had never mentioned Shen Qiong's alleged role to Li Cu, suggesting a lack of complete trust. Mr. Wang clarified that Shen Qiong was indeed a Clan Wang member, but Wu Xie had exploited this, positioning Li Cu by her side to gain entry into the clan. This strategy, Mr. Wang explained, diverted all attention to Li Cu, allowing Shen Qiong to covertly transmit information.

He accused Wu Xie of deceiving and using Li Cu as a mere pawn. Offering Li Cu an alternative path, Mr. Wang presented him with a dagger and instructed him to kill Shen Qiong; doing so would instantly reduce his odds to zero, thereby making him a true Clan Wang member. Recalling that only individuals with a zero-ratio could enter the Algorithm Department, Li Cu accepted the task.

Li Cu arranged to meet Shen Qiong, ready to carry out the deadly order. He confronted her, accusing her of betraying the Wang Clan as Wu Xie's spy. Shen Qiong refuted this, asserting her loyalty to the Wang Clan and reminding Li Cu that he himself had acknowledged the Algorithm Department's infallibility, implying the current situation was a test.

Li Cu then declared that regardless of the circumstances, he knew her only as Shen Qiong, and promised to take her with him. As he leaned in to kiss her, an instructor interrupted them, holding Li Cu's phone. To everyone's surprise, Li Cu's odds displayed a zero-ratio. Shen Qiong, bewildered, questioned how his odds could drop to zero without him killing her.

The instructor explained that Li Cu's developing feelings for Shen Qiong, a member of the Wang Clan, confirmed his allegiance, thus signifying his true integration into the clan. Li Cu was then escorted to the Algorithm Department, an underground facility beneath the Wang Clan's training base. Inside, he found a network of servers. An instructor explained that this department collected and analyzed vast amounts of information to deduce the truth and outcomes of events.

Using Li Cu as an example, the instructor pointed out twenty "coincidences" in his life before joining the Wang Clan—such as Huang Yan carving the map on his back before dying, his innate ability to read pheromones, and his accidental discovery of the real GuTongJing despite being destined for death in the fake one. These events, the instructor asserted, were too improbable to be mere chance, indicating Wu Xie had orchestrated Li Cu's entry into the Wang Clan.

However, with Wu Xie's presumed death, the "conspiracy odds" had decreased, prompting the Wang Clan to trust Li Cu, especially given his commendable performance during training. Li Cu questioned if these were merely probabilities. The instructor elaborated on the concept of the butterfly effect: with sufficient data, they could predict event outcomes. By subtly altering a small detail at the beginning of an event, they could drastically change its entire course.

He drew an analogy to Skynet in "The Terminator" sending a robot back in time to prevent the birth of a savior. The instructor confirmed that the Wang Clan's ultimate goal was to control the world and achieve their every desire, explaining that Li Cu, being young, would gradually understand the full scope of their ambitions. Meanwhile, Wu Xie was still trapped in the snow mountain. Although the mountain's opening day was approaching, Su Nan's snow blindness recurred.

Wu Xie felt deeply pained by her condition. He painstakingly obtained goat milk from the temple's master, which could be applied to the eyes to treat snow blindness, and also prepared a black eye mask for Su Nan. Bored with the eye mask, Su Nan asked Wu Xie to tell her a story. Wu Xie recounted a childhood memory of playing hide-and-seek with Xie Yuchen.

Su Nan, however, showed a detailed knowledge of the scene, revealing she had noticed him even when they were children. Wu Xie then shared stories of his adventures with his Third Uncle, admitting that he used to be clumsy and often, in his attempts to save someone, ended up harming another. With Wu Xie's company, Su Nan felt less lonely.

After walking Su Nan back to her room, she traced the carvings on the wall, counting the days that had passed. Unbeknownst to Li Cu, the Wang Clan's aspirations extended far beyond what Wu Xie had ever imagined, aiming to control the entire world, not just the Jiu Men. Li Cu's newfound trust within the Wang Clan was fragile, built entirely on the premise of Wu Xie's death. If the Wang Clan were to discover that Wu Xie was still alive and had emerged from the snow mountain, Li Cu's life would be in even greater peril.

Episode 49 Recap

Liang Wan, still trapped in the underground room, discovered a mysterious box containing old files while sorting through canned goods. Zhang Rishan identified them as belonging to the Wang Clan. Liang Wan recognized the name "Zhang Qishan" on one file, and Zhang Rishan clarified that it was Uncle Buddha's name. Liang Wan was puzzled by other names like "Wang Meng, original name Li Meng" and "Wang Lingjuan, original name Chen Lingjuan," asking why Clan Wang members had original names.

Zhang Rishan retorted that she knew nothing about Clan Wang, explaining that they weren't bound by blood or family names but united by common purpose and belief in a world-changing secret left by Wang Zanghai. He explained that the individuals on the list had escaped Clan Wang and sought Uncle Buddha's help, promising to aid him in finding Wang Zanghai's memory. Uncle Buddha then hid them in GuTongJing.

Liang Wan realized the box's presence meant these people had been in this very room. Zhang Rishan elaborated that an accident occurred shortly after their arrival, leading Uncle Buddha to arrange for their evacuation to the city, where they would live ordinary lives while still bearing their phoenix totems.

Liang Wan wondered if any of her relatives were among them and asked if there were any contact details, but Zhang Rishan informed her that all their information had been destroyed, making their current whereabouts unknown. He reassured her, however, that she had no connection to the Wang Clan. Their conversation was interrupted by the re-emergence of the snake cypress, attempting to breach the room from above.

Zhang Rishan quickly handed Liang Wan the last of his Tianxin stone's powder, instructing her to apply it to prevent the snake cypress's attacks. Liang Wan, concerned for his safety, refused to take it all, but Zhang Rishan insisted, saying he didn't need it and that she needed to be able to run two kilometers first. As they argued, the snake cypress broke through the roof.

Zhang Rishan fended it off with a torch and a knife, getting tangled momentarily but managing to escape danger as only one tentacle had breached the roof. Liang Wan watched in admiration, exclaiming how handsome he was. More snake cypress tentacles began to invade through the enlarging roof crack, and Liang Wan despaired, believing they would surely die. Zhang Rishan reassured her that he wouldn't let that happen. Unexpectedly, the snake cypress retreated.

Zhang Rishan realized the wind had picked up, bringing with it the distinct sounds of the ancient city. He informed Liang Wan that the door was now deformed and impassable due to the snake cypress's assault, but opening it would be futile anyway, given the dangers outside.

He presented her with two stark choices: either they rush out and gamble on their survival, taking advantage of the wind which would open all tunnels in GuTongJing, despite the perilous path ahead filled with black-haired snakes and snake cypress that could lead to dismemberment; or they remain in the room, living indefinitely but trapped forever. Zhang Rishan gave Liang Wan the final decision.

After a moment of contemplation, she declared that they had "died once already" and should take the gamble. Though admitting she was "scared to death," she reasoned that he wouldn't be attracted to a woman who feared taking risks. As the wind swept through GuTongJing, they climbed out through the hole in the roof. Initially, the path was quiet, but soon, black-haired snakes and snake cypress appeared. Strangely, the creatures ignored them, seemingly drawn by an unseen music.

Zhang Rishan explained that both the black-haired snakes and snake cypress were mesmerized by the melodies. Liang Wan was overjoyed, believing they could finally escape GuTongJing alive. However, Zhang Rishan wanted to seize this rare opportunity to hear the "full secret" embedded within the music. He first offered to send Liang Wan out to safety, but she insisted on accompanying him to listen to the "concert."

After listening to the complete secret, Zhang Rishan cautioned Liang Wan never to reveal what she had heard to anyone outside. They then resumed their race against time, needing to reach the main gate before the wind subsided and the tunnels sealed again. Liang Wan soon grew exhausted and could run no further, suggesting Zhang Rishan leave her behind. But as the snake cypress closed in, Zhang Rishan scooped her onto his back and sprinted towards the gate.

Just as the gate began to close, he forcefully pushed Liang Wan through, leaving himself trapped inside. Liang Wan cried out his name in anguish, convinced he was lost forever. To her overwhelming relief, Zhang Rishan suddenly appeared behind her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Having finally emerged from GuTongJing, Liang Wan was ecstatic, believing they were "meant to be together" and could now live a normal life as a couple.

However, Zhang Rishan gravely stated that his life was devoted to Uncle Buddha, and his mission remained unfinished. He expressed a desire to leave "everything here," including their shared experiences. Liang Wan, heartbroken, reminded him that Uncle Buddha had been dead for many years. She accused him of missing out on a good woman and warned him about a woman's vindictive nature, to which he simply replied, "I know." She then angrily sprayed him with a can of spray.

Meanwhile, high in the snow mountain, Su Nan's snowblindness showed no signs of improvement. Wu Xie diligently made a meal for her, serving her Poached sliced beef in hot chili oil and Stewed beancurd with minced pork in pepper sauce, urging her to eat. He also patiently tried to apply goat milk to her eyes, explaining its preciousness and the master's kindness. However, Su Nan grew frustrated, violently knocking over the goat milk.

She tearfully expressed her desire to remain in the peaceful mountain, away from a world where she couldn't make her own choices, having never lived for herself. Wu Xie gently but firmly reminded her that the snow was melting, and the path would soon be clear, making it impossible for either of them to stay there indefinitely.

As Su Nan's eyesight gradually returned, she attempted to cook for Wu Xie but proved clumsy with a kitchen knife, despite her usual skill with other blades. Wu Xie playfully teased her before taking over, expertly slicing potatoes and revealing his college major was architecture. While sweeping the temple courtyard one day, Su Nan discovered a statue that appeared to be weeping.

Wu Xie explained that the statue depicted Zhang Qiling, his friend from the Zhang family, with whom he had spent three crucial days in that very temple. He recounted his five-year journey to find Zhang Qiling, which led him from Nepal to this remote location. Wu Xie reflected on Zhang Qiling's decade-long absence, noting that in his heart, it felt as if Zhang Qiling had never left.

Remembering Zhang Qiling's poor memory and concern that he might forget him, Wu Xie vowed to make him remember by embarking on a new expedition with Fatty, the "Iron Triangle" revisiting their past routes. Su Nan expressed envy for their bond, lamenting that in Clan Wang, departed members were quickly forgotten due to the prohibition of excessive personal feelings.

Wu Xie acknowledged that Zhang Qiling had made similar remarks and promised to remember Su Nan, regardless of whether she was the "Su Nan of Clan Wang" or the "teammate in the expedition," asserting that she would remain in his memories. Wu Xie then shared the tragic story of the Zanghai flower. Long ago, a young man from the Zhang family came to the snow mountain to collect Zanghai flowers.

He fell in love with Bai Ma, a local woman destined to be sacrificed to the King of Hell, and they had a child: Zhang Qiling. Knowing her death was imminent and fearing that Zhang Qiling would become emotionless if returned to the Zhang family due to their fate, Bai Ma desperately begged the master for three more days. Her worst fears were realized when the Zhang family discovered Zhang Qiling's existence and took him away.

Bai Ma chose to be buried beneath the Zanghai flowers, neither fully alive nor dead, waiting for her son to return, awaken her, and spend her final three days with her. Eventually, Zhang Qiling learned of his true identity and returned to the snow mountain. He was told by the master that his mother had awaited him for a long time. However, Bai Ma did not fully awaken.

As the Zanghai flower's medicinal properties faded, she had only three days left before true death, and she never regained consciousness. Wu Xie solemnly concluded that while some emotions may be fleeting, they are cherished for a lifetime. Meanwhile, Li Cu celebrated his birthday within the Wang Clan's base. Shen Qiong had specially decorated his room and brought him a cake from Mr. Wang, expressing that they were "finally family" and calling Mr. Wang thoughtful.

As Li Cu made a wish over the lit candles, he had a vivid hallucination of Wu Xie, who sternly told him, "Never forget where you are," and promised further instructions once he located his position, adding, "Don't forget who you really are." The sudden burst of celebratory fireworks jolted Li Cu, causing him to flinch.

Shen Qiong then presented him with a gift she had secretly purchased from a nearby village during Mr. Wang's absence, noting its rarity within the Wang Clan. Shen Qiong then asked Li Cu a poignant question: if she were "just Shen Qiong," would he like her? Li Cu hesitated, eventually affirming that he would. She pressed further, asking if he would be willing to break up with Su Wan and live an ordinary life, to which he also responded affirmatively.

However, Shen Qiong called him a liar and urged him to truly reflect before answering. Examining the gift's packaging, Li Cu spotted an address. This address triggered a memory of Wu Xie's earlier command to "Memorize it," causing him to mentally recite coordinates—East longitude 123, Northern latitude 53—before exclaiming "Bingo! Found it!" He had finally pinpointed the location of the Wang Clan base.

Episode 50 Recap

After discovering the location of Clan Wang's base, Li Cu secretly built a hydrogen balloon transmitter in his room and successfully sent out a telegram. Wu Xie received the information, though he was still trapped in the snow mountain. In the snow mountain, Su Nan packed her luggage, preparing to leave. Wu Xie asked why she was leaving so suddenly and suggested they stay two more days, but Su Nan insisted she had to return.

Wu Xie made her dinner and observed how happy she appeared, then asked her to go for a walk with him. They walked to a beautiful field of Zanghai flowers. Wu Xie asked Su Nan why she joined Clan Wang. Su Nan revealed that it was all because of him.

She explained that Clan Wang’s Algorithm Department, which predicts the future, had foreseen Wu Xie’s influence on the Jiu Men and their clan since his birth, particularly his entry into GuTongJing. A plan against him was put into motion then, and she was its executor, having been trained for this encounter since her birth. She pointed out that his monitored fate was just as pathetic as the 'Holy Baby' she had spoken of previously.

Wu Xie urged Su Nan to resist and leave Clan Wang, but she firmly refused, stating it was impossible. She explained that he couldn't comprehend what it meant to dedicate thirty years of her life to a single goal, and she was unwilling to abandon it now that her plan was nearing completion. Wu Xie expressed his desire to create a lasting memory here, as he believed they might never meet again. He then collapsed among the flowers.

Wu Xie revealed that he had anticipated this, having discovered Su Nan tampered with the Tibetan incense in her room earlier when he was making a wish. Su Nan, in tears, asked why he hadn't stopped her. Lying in the flower field, Wu Xie remarked that dying this way wouldn't be so bad. Su Nan was visibly heartbroken, crying as she left after Wu Xie collapsed.

Upon returning to the temple, while looking at Wu Xie’s belongings, she discovered a telegraph transmitter hidden under the bed, which contained Clan Wang’s coordinates. Su Nan immediately transmitted this information to Clan Wang. Mr. Wang received the message and, furious, called Li Cu a liar.

He ordered Wang Cen to capture Li Cu at once, stating that Li Cu had obtained their base’s address and relayed it to Wu Xie, and that Su Nan's intervention had prevented them from being completely deceived. Meanwhile, Li Cu was still on the training ground, looking at the sky, when he was swiftly incapacitated by a tranquilizer dart. Su Nan returned to Clan Wang’s training base and reported to Mr. Wang that she had successfully killed Wu Xie.

Mr. Wang inquired about her long absence and asked for details of the mission. Su Nan explained that she and Wu Xie had fallen down a cliff and then crossed a glacier, and she had poisoned his food. She attributed the prolonged duration to needing Wu Xie's assistance to navigate the treacherous glacier. Although Mr. Wang expressed some skepticism about her account, he welcomed her back and told her to rest.

Meanwhile, Wang Cen and Wang Fatty were drinking and chatting. Wang Cen expressed his enduring frustration, complaining that all he ever wanted was for Wu Xie to settle down at home and manage his shop, instead of constantly running off on adventures. Wang Fatty countered that if Wu Xie were to follow Wang Cen's wishes, he wouldn't be the Wu Xie they knew.

Wang Cen then worried about the current dangers, but Wang Fatty lightheartedly assured him that Wu Xie would be back soon, joking that the exact timing depended on how many meals Wang Cen would treat him to. Separately, Xiuxiu asked Xie Yuchen if their actions were truly worthwhile. Xie Yuchen responded that he trusted Wu Xie implicitly, just as she trusted him, and assured her that everything would soon come to an end.

That night, Su Nan was awakened by nightmares, haunted by Wu Xie’s words about living for a goal for thirty years and what purpose she would have once it was achieved, as well as his revelation that he knew about her tampering with the incense. She went to the training ground to vent her emotions, aggressively chopping down wooden dummies. Wang Cen approached her, noting she had destroyed 132 wooden figures.

He began to probe her, questioning her loyalty and reminding her of their past as teammates and her ten years spent monitoring Clan Wu. He challenged her about her prolonged period of no contact and how Clan Wang’s coordinates were transmitted under his watch. Wang Cen directly stated that her demeanor seemed "not right" since her return, but Su Nan brushed off his concerns, telling him his feeling was wrong.

The next day, Wang Cen reported to Mr. Wang that his attempt to probe Su Nan yielded nothing. The Algorithm Department presented its findings, stating Su Nan’s suspicious degree was 5%. However, Mr. Wang pressed Wang Cen for his true opinion. Wang Cen admitted that despite the low percentage, his long-standing familiarity with Su Nan led him to believe her state was "a little bit weird" since her return.

Mr. Wang concurred with this assessment and decided to arrange a confrontation between Su Nan and Li Cu, indicating that Li Cu should be awakened. Su Nan confronted Li Cu. Li Cu, having just awakened, greeted Su Nan, exclaiming that she had finally woken up and he had rushed back after receiving a message from her.

Su Nan immediately accused Li Cu of being Wu Xie's spy within Clan Wang, presenting the telegraph transmitter found on Wu Xie's body as evidence, as it contained Clan Wang's coordinates. Li Cu vehemently denied the accusation, demanding proof and highlighting that all signals within Clan Wang’s base were supposed to be shielded. Li Cu remained calm and skillfully turned the accusation back on Su Nan.

He questioned why she had taken so long to kill Wu Xie, asking if she had been with him all that time and demanding to see Wu Xie's body, which she could not produce. Wang Cen also expressed doubt about Su Nan's story, noting it was only her word. Li Cu further argued that the telegraph transmitter she presented could not be opened without a special key belonging to Clan Wu, implying she couldn’t have opened it.

He then suggested that Su Nan was unwilling to kill Wu Xie. As their argument progressed, the suspicion ratios displayed on a large screen showed Li Cu's percentage dropping and Su Nan's rising. Finally, Li Cu presented a crucial motive: as the only person in Clan Wang capable of interpreting the ancestral pheromones, he was a target. He asserted that Wu Xie and his spy would want him eliminated, leading Su Nan to frame him as the mole.

During the ensuing vote, two members voted to eliminate Su Nan, while one voted for Li Cu. With the majority vote against her, Su Nan reacted by taking Li Cu hostage. She declared that if they considered him so important, then they wouldn't get him, and dragged him into another room. In the new room, Su Nan declared their situation to be "burn my boats."

She then confessed to Li Cu that she was Wu Xie's spy and urged him to reveal his own true identity, claiming they had no escape. Unbeknownst to them, snipers were positioned outside the window, and their conversation was being monitored by Mr. Wang and Wang Cen. Mr. Wang explained to Wang Cen that Su Nan’s confession was a ploy, a staged act designed to ascertain whether Li Cu had truly betrayed Wu Xie.

If Li Cu's previous claims were accurate, then Su Nan would be exposed as the spy. Li Cu maintained that he was indeed a former spy for Wu Xie, but now considered himself a member of Clan Wang, with Wu Xie and Su Nan as his enemies. He questioned Su Nan’s loyalty, leading to a heated exchange where both accused each other of being the real mole.

The Algorithm Department then reported that both Su Nan and Li Cu now had a suspicious degree of 30%. Fearing that Clan Wang's base location might have been compromised, Mr. Wang ordered an immediate evacuation and instructed the snipers to eliminate both Su Nan and Li Cu. Meanwhile, Zhang Rishan and Liang Wan returned to the city. Liang Wan, sensing no future with him, expressed her desire to say goodbye, indicating she wouldn't see him again.

She walked away, but then turned back, intending to scold him, only to find he had disappeared. As she continued walking, Zhang Rishan suddenly reappeared in front of her. When Liang Wan demanded to know what he was doing, he retorted by asking if he had given her permission to leave. Liang Wan, frustrated, called him bossy and accused him of taking advantage of her feelings.

Zhang Rishan then swept her into a "princess carry" and carried her into the Crescent Hotel, much to the visible jealousy of Yin Nanfeng, who was watching at the entrance. Inside the hotel, Yin Nanfeng questioned Zhang Rishan about his intention to leave first thing in the morning. He affirmed that he must complete the mission that Uncle Buddha had left unfinished.

Yin Nanfeng then remarked to Liang Wan that taking care of an elderly man like Zhang Rishan would be challenging, but Liang Wan declared her willingness to do so. Liang Wan asked if his departure was truly unavoidable. Zhang Rishan explained that the long-standing feud between Clan Zhang and Clan Wang needed to be resolved, and he had to be the one to do it, for the sake of Uncle Buddha and Clan Zhang.

He then gave Liang Wan a bracelet, a token of love, recalling that Uncle Buddha had instructed him to give it to someone he loved. Liang Wan accepted it, expressing her understanding.

Episode 51 Recap

The Algorithm Department confirmed that Li Cu and Su Nan both had a 30% risk rate. Mr. Wang immediately ordered snipers to open fire, targeting Su Nan first. She narrowly dodged the shot, and the two managed to escape the room. Wang Cen, an instructor, quickly assembled Clan Wang members, issuing a mission to "hunt down Su Nan and Li Cu," emphasizing that they must be brought back "dead or alive." Meanwhile, Mr. Wang requested to see Shen Qiong.

Li Cu and Su Nan fled through the forest with Clan Wang members in pursuit. Su Nan cleverly shot down a surveillance camera on a tree, diverting their pursuers in the wrong direction. However, Li Cu's movements inadvertently revealed their position to a Clan Wang member. Su Nan quickly shot the man, but the gunshot drew the pursuers back. Su Nan sustained a knife injury, slowing their escape.

They cunningly created false trails to mislead Clan Wang, who eventually realized they had been set up. Li Cu and Su Nan found temporary safety. Suddenly, Mr. Wang's voice crackled over Li Cu's walkie-talkie. " Li Cu, I know you are listening now, and you have only one road ahead," Mr. Wang stated, instructing him to kill Su Nan.

If he complied, Clan Wang would "let bygones be bygones," allow him to return, and even replace Su Nan in her position. Li Cu remained silent. Mr. Wang then introduced Shen Qiong, believing she was the only one Li Cu would listen to. Shen Qiong pleaded with him, using his nickname "Pear," saying, "I have lost so much. I don't want to lose you. Come back." When Li Cu still didn't respond, she continued to urge him.

Li Cu finally broke his silence, saying, "I dare not, my lady." Overhearing, Su Nan questioned if Li Cu was "insane," warning that "we're all going to die if you do this." Li Cu, still on the walkie-talkie, expressed confidence, stating that while Shen Qiong was a Clan Wang member, "she won't kill me at least." Mr. Wang's team quickly traced Li Cu's location to the northwest and ordered Wang Cen to apprehend him.

Shen Qiong interjected, asserting she found Li Cu and wished to capture him herself. Mr. Wang agreed, handing her a gun and instructing her to bring Li Cu back alive, but if she couldn't, he should be killed. Su Nan, on the other hand, was to be killed on sight. When Shen Qiong and Wang Cen's team arrived at the coordinates, Li Cu and Su Nan were gone.

Moments later, Li Cu dropped down from a tree, tossing what appeared to be a bag with Su Nan's head inside. He addressed Shen Qiong, claiming he had killed Su Nan, adding, "I didn't kill her to go back with you. I wanna take you away with me." As Clan Wang members inspected the fake head, they were ambushed by gunfire. It was a ruse by Li Cu and Su Nan.

With Shen Qiong now on their side, the three quickly fled Clan Wang's encirclement. Shen Qiong provided a route, telling them to "go straight along the iron net, and you'll find a hole there, you can get out from there." She volunteered to distract the numerous pursuers. Li Cu initially refused to let her take the risk.

As they rested for the night, Shen Qiong asked Li Cu if he had lied to her, specifically if he was Wu Xie's spy. Li Cu denied it. She then asked, "If Su Wan didn't like me, would you like me?" Su Nan interrupted, jokingly complaining, "You are talking too loudly. Really loudly." She then warned Shen Qiong, "Good-looking boys all lie." Li Cu responded, "Although I'm good-looking, I don't lie. I don't."

The next morning, Li Cu woke to find Shen Qiong gone. Su Nan informed him that Shen Qiong had left to distract Clan Wang. Frantic, Li Cu ran to find her. He tried to convince her to come with him, saying, "We have to go together!" Shen Qiong urged him to use the escape route she provided at District Ding, No.6. Li Cu confessed, "Shen Qiong, I wanna tell you. I lied to you.

From the moment I went into Clan Wang, I've been using you all the time, and I'm the spy sent by Wu Xie. I have been lying to you all the time. I'm a liar, just go! It's not worth it." Just as Shen Qiong absorbed this shocking confession, a sniper, seizing an unguarded moment, shot her in the head. Devastated, Li Cu collapsed in grief. Su Nan rushed to him and pulled him away to continue their escape.

Outside Clan Wang's base, Wu Xie, Zhang Rishan, and other Jiu Men members had been watching. It was revealed that Wu Xie had not died but had been poisoned by Zanghai flower. Pang Wang had helped him detoxify at a temple, and they had then set out for Clan Wang's base with their companions. Xie Yuchen, though not physically present, called to assure them of his external assistance, promising to "help you out there."

Coincidentally, Wu Xie's group and Li Cu's group converged in the same forest. Wu Xie's team encountered strange statues that disoriented them, making them wander for a long time before finding their way out. Wu Xie sent men to plant explosives on Clan Wang's city walls. Upon hearing news of the base's invasion, the pursuers hunting Li Cu were recalled. Li Cu realized that Jiu Men had arrived.

Instead of meeting up, Li Cu and Su Nan seized a car and drove away. Wu Xie's team split into two: Wu Xie, Pang Wang, and Master Black set off to find the Algorithm Department, while Zhang Rishan led his men to confront Clan Wang. Following Li Cu's information, Wu Xie's group soon located the entrance to the Algorithm Department. Curiously, such a vital department was unguarded, leading Master Black to suspect an ambush.

His suspicions were confirmed when an explosion ripped through the elevator as they tried to open it, causing the shaft to collapse. Mr. Wang, watching Wu Xie on surveillance, was furious to discover he was alive. Su Nan, hearing the news, also turned her car around, intending to help Wu Xie, aware that Clan Wang's underground was filled with poisonous gas and he might die there. Meanwhile, Wu Xie, Pang Wang, and Master Black surveyed the building's layout.

Wu Xie deduced that the current floor, designed with rooftop waterproofing, was originally the top floor of a previous structure, implying another entire floor lay beneath them. He instructed Pang Wang to "blow a downward channel out." Pang Wang, finding a suitable spot, set the explosives, causing a powerful blast. Zhang Rishan's group then joined them, jumping through the newly created hole. Pang Wang placed more explosives on a door before also descending.

Soon after, Clan Wang sealed all the doors of the underground corridor, attempting to trap them. Waistcoat discovered a ventilation shaft and, after squeezing through, found the mechanism to control the doors, allowing Wu Xie's team to escape. Underground, Wu Xie's team was ambushed by Clan Wang members. Wu Xie went alone to find the Algorithm Department, while Master Black, Pang Wang, and Zhang Rishan covered his retreat.

Witnessing Wu Xie's actions, Mr. Wang immediately ordered "all teams" to execute "Plan B," which Su Nan recognized as a full-scale retreat order. She sped up her vehicle. Wu Xie located the door to the Algorithm Department and, after searching the wall, successfully found the opening mechanism. Although Su Nan declared she "just wanna leave here," her deep feelings for Wu Xie compelled her to turn back, perhaps even unbeknownst to herself.

Episode 52 (Ending) Recap

Wu Xie successfully navigated the mechanisms to reach the Algorithm Department, where he encountered a mysterious young man in white. The young man told Wu Xie, "This is the end of your journey," and when asked his identity, responded, "It doesn't matter who I am. The important thing is that I know you want to know Clan Wang's secret. And I can tell you that. . . What you see is not necessarily true."

He explained that Clan Wang had obtained a fragment of the Changbai Mountain bronze gate, a small bronze meteorite, and used it to "predict everything in the world." Wu Xie retorted that if it were so divine, he wouldn't be standing there. The young man insisted that Wu Xie and Clan Wang were locked in a stand-off, stating, "Only if you guys restrain each other can the balance be kept. Without us, you'll become us.

By the time, there will be someone who is gonna fight against you." Wu Xie accepted this truth, remarking, "Alright. It would have to be so. But not everyone is like you, who love to control fates." A fierce battle ensued. During their fight, the young man taunted Wu Xie, believing he couldn't be killed and would lose. He emphasized that "Sometimes what you see is not necessarily true. There is a boundary between the truth and the illusion.

And I know where the boundary is." Wu Xie, however, recognized the figure as merely an illusion, a "Blue-eye fox corpse," and declared, "I won't make the mistake that I made ten years ago." He then proceeded to destroy the Algorithm Department with explosives. Meanwhile, Su Nan and Li Cu arrived at the Clan Wang base. As a bomb on a door exploded, an alarm blared, announcing an imminent five-minute countdown to the release of toxic gas.

Su Nan urgently told Li Cu, "We need to find Wu Xie immediately. He must have gone to the Algorithm Department." Upon finding the Algorithm Department's entrance destroyed, Li Cu worried, but Su Nan reassured him, "There is no blood or body here. Wu Xie should be fine." Su Nan explained Clan Wang's protocol: "When Clan Wang built the base, they installed some gas devices in the buildings.

If there is an invasion by the enemy, they will leave a small group of men to pin down the enemy." They rushed to the control area and found Wang Can, who was activating the gas system. Su Nan's leg was injured by Wang Can, and she was pinned under a cabinet. Li Cu also became embroiled in the struggle with Wang Can. Trapped, Su Nan still managed to ask Li Cu, "Why do you help them?"

She answered her own question, "Just for myself." When Su Nan finally struggled out from under the cabinet, she continued to fight Wang Can, instructing Li Cu to focus on the password, realizing it required one. Wang Can mocked Li Cu, "You can't save anyone. Everyone will die because of you." Recalling that Wang Cen had previously operated the password, Li Cu desperately tried, "Wang Xiaoyuan! Try it!"

The password worked, and the gas release was halted just in the final seconds. Enraged, Wang Can, though injured by Su Nan, pulled out a grenade, threatening, "I'll bury you with Clan Wang." Su Nan quickly threw Li Cu out a window, shouting, "Li Cu! Go! They should be out by now," but she was caught in the ensuing explosion. Outside the base, Wu Xie and Master Black found an unconscious Li Cu.

Wu Xie carried him, lamenting, "I'm sorry for coming late." The Jiu Men regrouped, with Xie Yuchen arriving, visibly relieved to see Wu Xie alive. Xie Yuchen optimistically declared, "It will be over soon," but Zhang Rishan cautioned that "The conflict between Clan Zhang and Clan Wang won't end so easily. It's just a beginning." Wu Xie placed Li Cu in the car and reflected on his arduous journey.

He recalled a conversation with his Third Uncle, who had apologized, "Everything you've been through is my fault." Third Uncle had explained the long-standing conflict: how the Old Nine Clans lived happily as treasure appraisers and protectors until a "tenth clan," Clan Wang, emerged, "break[ing] our rules and interfer[ing] with our plans." He revealed that Wu Xie's grandfather first discovered Clan Wang's conspiracy, burdening the Wu family with this fight.

Third Uncle admitted, "Your birth made us come up with a wonderful plan to fight against Clan Wang. You would carry out the plan. But I'm not going to tell you the details. Because I want you to act like an irrelevant guy and get out of their control. From now on, I want you to forget your experience to make yourself uncontrollable." Wu Xie, remembering his younger self's response, silently uttered, "Goodbye, Master Junior Third."

Li Cu later awoke on a train, where he coincidentally met Weiwei, a former classmate. She recounted her stressful school semester and shared that she had ended things with Zheng Yi, a statement that made Li Cu think of Shen Qiong and her poignant revelation, "My real name is Wang Xiaoyuan." Li Cu returned to his city, where Su Wan and Yang Hao eagerly awaited him at the school playground. Su Wan joyfully exclaimed, "I knew you'd be fine!"

but their happiness turned to sorrow when Li Cu somberly announced, "Shen Qiong was dead." He expressed his deep remorse, saying, "I couldn't save her. She died in front of me to save me. She died because of me. I'm sorry." Su Wan, tearfully, comforted him, "It's good to see you alive. It's good to see all of us alive."

After diligent study for four months, Li Cu remarkably scored 666 on the GaoKao, earning him high praise from his teacher. Meanwhile, Wu Xie and Pang Wang visited Pan Zi's tomb. Pang Wang, in his typical garrulous fashion, pondered if Zhang Qiling, or "little bro," might have already left on his own. Wu Xie offered a cigarette to Pan Zi, stating it was Pan Zi's favorite, adding, "It has nothing to do with money. That's the real brotherhood."

As they prepared to depart, Pang Wang appealed to Pan Zi's spirit to bless them in bringing Zhang Qiling back safely, hoping for the "Best Triangle" to be reunited. He also urged Wu Xie to "smile and get back to the innocent you" so Zhang Qiling would recognize him. Wu Xie simply replied, "Let's go, bro," as they began their journey to find Zhang Qiling.

Liang Wan, having returned to her career as a doctor, was in her office when a patient reported a "cooker bombed when I cooked." Hearing these specific words, Liang Wan smiled, recognizing it as the memorable phrase from her first meeting with Zhang Rishan, and knowing he had returned safely. Moments later, Zhang Rishan appeared, and Liang Wan ran to embrace him romantically. The overarching conflict, however, remained unresolved. Clan Wang members, including Wang Cen, were shown planning their resurgence.

As Li Cu sat by the window in his classroom, he suddenly heard a mysterious voice call his name, "Li Cu, Li Cu," hinting that the battle between Clan Zhang and Clan Wang, a struggle between righteousness and evil that maintained the world's balance, was far from over, and a new adventure awaited him.