Tomb of the Sea Episode 44 Recap
> Tomb of the Sea Recap
Li Cu found himself in an unfamiliar location, restrained by a group of foreign nurses who administered sedatives whenever he resisted. Upon waking, members of the Wang Clan appeared, informing him, "Welcome to join us." A Wang Clan member handed Li Cu a uniform and dining card, and presented him with a manual.
Li Cu read that "Zhang Qiling" was a title for leaders of the Zhang Clan, not a specific individual, and implied responsibility for entombing deceased clan members in the Zhang Clan’s ancient building. The Wang Clan leader assigned Shen Qiong to instruct Li Cu, noting they were old acquaintances, and confined him to the building, where his actions would be under constant surveillance. His primary duties were studying and taking tests.
Li Cu, wary since learning Shen Qiong was a Wang Clan member, was not friendly towards her. He attempted to leave the building, but she stopped him, even pushing him away, reiterating that he could not exit and that he was not well enough to stay outside for long. Li Cu confronted her, demanding to know if her surname was Huo or Wang.
She initially said that her name "here" was Huo Xiaoyuan, but then confessed her true name was Wang Xiaoyuan, though Li Cu could still call her Shen Qiong if he wished. He pressed her about the whereabouts of the "real" Shen Qiong he grew up with, but Wang Xiaoyuan claimed not to know.
She recounted a story of people getting sick, snakes entering their bodies, and their parents falling ill, concluding that Li Cu was "the one" and that Huang Yan had abandoned them, knowing they were ill. Li Cu persisted, asking about his location and what was expected of him. Wang Xiaoyuan explained that every person in the Wang Clan had an "odds" ratio determining their survival; a 30 percent ratio meant elimination. Li Cu was at 29 percent.
She reassured him he wouldn't be killed yet, blaming Wu Xie for his involvement and asserting that the Wang Clan had saved him from GuTongJing. She elaborated on "white lessons" for learning and "black lessons" for testing, with rehabilitation also part of his training. She informed him there was no phone, TV, signal, or Wi-Fi, but they had an intranet, and she offered to chat if he felt like it.
Remembering Wu Xie's message, Li Cu decided he must join the Wang Clan, earn their complete trust, infiltrate their core, and control their actions, acknowledging that the cost would be living with snakes. He silently wondered about Wu Xie’s current location. Meanwhile, Wu Xie remained stranded in the snow mountain. He surveyed the terrain and determined it would take two weeks to travel northeast to return to their original location, with no supplies available during that time.
He and Su Nan discussed their limited food, how to find water, and their insufficient clothing, deciding to stitch together cloth for a temporary tent and take shifts sleeping with two bonfires for warmth. As they prepared to leave, Wu Xie, lying on the ground, challenged Su Nan, remarking on her lack of conscience and his awareness that she intended to kill him once they were out of the snow.
He presented three conditions: first, his ashes were to be taken back to WushanJu so he could "return to his roots." Second, on August 17th of the following year, she was to deliver a message for him at Changbai Mountains, simply stating he "couldn't pick him home." His third condition was that if the Wang Clan ever lost trust in her or she faced danger, she could "come down to hell and be my company."
Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan were still trapped inside the room, blocked by snake cypress. Liang Wan retrieved some small objects and, after blindfolding Zhang Rishan, began to transform the room. When Zhang Rishan removed his blindfold, he found the room decorated warmly. Liang Wan excitedly declared that her lifelong wish of living with a handsome man, especially one who wouldn't age, had come true.
She prepared a bed for Zhang Rishan, urging him to rest while she kept watch and mended clothes. Zhang Rishan later observed her, a feeling of contentment washing over him as he noticed the intricate patterns she had embroidered onto his clothes. When Liang Wan awoke, she was embarrassed to find Zhang Rishan watching her, fearing her sleeping posture was unsightly. He simply told her to rest on the bed.
He also lightheartedly teased her about her "childish" romantic gestures, to which she insisted it was "romantic." Liang Wan also clarified that she would stand guard and wouldn't touch him without his consent. At home, Yang Hao was overcome with grief over his grandmother’s death. He lashed out at Su Wan, blaming Li Cu for their involvement in GuTongJing and the misunderstandings they faced in the desert.
He expressed that he was fundamentally different from Li Cu and Su Wan, declaring he would go his own way and sought out Huo Daofu. Su Wan tried to intervene, warning Yang Hao that Huo Daofu and his people were not good and not to be trusted, but Yang Hao angrily dismissed his concerns, feeling misunderstood and insulted.
He told Su Wan that from now on, they would walk their separate paths, saying that Su Wan wouldn't understand his desire for fairness, as Su Wan was "born in Rome." Yang Hao arrived at Huo Daofu's residence, offering to work for him and expressing his desire to become stronger. He emphasized his willingness to start from the most basic tasks, including cleaning, laundry, cooking, and any dirty work. Huo Daofu, however, responded with scorn.
He meticulously critiqued Yang Hao's appearance, from his cheap sneakers to his ripped jeans, likening him to a "pitiful stray dog" trying too hard to be different. Huo Daofu disparaged Yang Hao's background, suggesting he grew up in a slum, lacked discipline, and was destined to be a "useless and stupid" social outcast. When Yang Hao protested, Huo Daofu insidiously suggested that even Li Cu and Su Wan shared these negative opinions, though they wouldn't voice them.
Huo Daofu then revealed his own tragic past of being orphaned and smuggled abroad, living in constant fear. He claimed the only difference between them was his complete distrust of others and his lack of "conscientiousness," prioritizing only himself. Huo Daofu concluded by saying that from this point forward, Yang Hao would appear to be working for him, but in reality, he would be working solely for himself.
