Tomb of the Sea Episode 30 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea 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."
