Tomb of the Sea Episode 23 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea 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.
