Tomb of the Sea Episode 22 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea 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!"
