Tomb of the Sea Episode 17 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea 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.
