Tomb of the Sea Episode 10 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea 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.
