Treasure at Dawn Episode 21 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
The wise ruler of Jibei convened three elders to discuss the successor to General Dou's position, and they unanimously recommended Dushang for the important role. In Xichuan, the weather was oppressively hot for several days, making work difficult for the locals who noted that even rats avoided the deserted streets due to the high temperatures.
Amidst the scorching heat, Lieutenant Guo Sishui of the 5th Battalion of the North Division arrived at the Jibei Chamber of Commerce with her subordinate, Yin Lie. Yin Lie initially behaved aggressively towards the Chamber of Commerce men but was quickly reprimanded by Guo Sishui, who instructed him to be friendly. Guo Sishui introduced herself as the new Vice Chairman, appointed by the border army.
She revealed that the previous appointee, Liu Yunting, had been executed for incompetence, but had saved the current Chairman, Sun Siming, from a similar fate. She sternly warned Sun Siming that if he ever did anything groveling or damaging to Jibei's reputation, she would kill him. Sun Siming, despite his initial offer to let Guo Sishui take his place, pledged to manage the Chamber of Commerce well.
Guo Sishui then expressed her immediate desire to meet Che Hujue, the Ma Gang leader, whom she considered their biggest enemy, emphasizing the military principle of swift action. Sun Siming promised to arrange a meeting for the next day. Concurrently, Fu Sheng and Wen Jue arrived at the Chamber of Commerce. Fu Sheng noticed the Jibei Army soldiers wearing masks, which sparked his suspicion, indicating that Xichuan might face renewed turmoil.
Wen Jue, Xichuan's Young Mistress, however, found it unremarkable, suggesting the masks were merely for protection against the wind and sand after their long journey through various environments. Gu Tian, who was also with them, confirmed that border troops often wore masks for sandstorms.
Fu Sheng, intrigued by the mask's potential for protection against poisonous mist, decided to return to his clinic to test an idea he had, while Wen Jue went to inform her father, Lord Wen, about the border army's unprovoked entry into Xichuan. Gu Tian, exasperated, felt like he was constantly indebted to his companions. Later, Sun Siming complained to his elder brother about Guo Sishui, calling her a "treacherous woman" who had hurt his wrist.
He vowed to kill her eventually, distinguishing between those he could kill now and those he would kill later, with his brother being the only one he could not bear to harm. The next day, Sun Siming introduced the Ma Gang Leader to Guo Sishui. The Ma Gang Leader, Che Hujue, initially offered a drink but then scoffed at Guo Sishui, telling the "little girl" to "try to survive for a year."
Guo Sishui retorted that she would drink to him when he died by her sword, making him the one-hundredth Xiangshui Gang man she had killed. Che Hujue boasted about Ma Gang's victories over the Chamber of Commerce but conceded that Guo Sishui might be his next opponent. Guo Sishui retorted that he should focus on living long enough to face her. Che Hujue then ordered his men to leave without eating.
Guo Sishui then demanded to know why her intelligence indicated an even match with Ma Gang, when in fact they seemed to be losing. Sun Siming explained that Ma Gang's people were brutal and fearless in battle. He revealed that a highly skilled physician named Fu Sheng had opened a clinic in their territory, capable of reviving anyone still breathing.
This made Ma Gang's members unafraid of death, leading them to fight like "mad dogs" and causing the Chamber of Commerce heavy losses. Sun Siming advised avoiding conflict for now, but Guo Sishui was determined to meet Fu Sheng, despite Sun Siming's warning that Fu Sheng's clinic was owned by Wen Jue, Lord Wen's daughter, who was a formidable figure. After the tense meeting, Sun Siming's brother, who had witnessed the exchange, asked if they would eat.
Sun Siming, now seeing the confrontation as a spectacle, suggested they stay to watch "the fox spirit fight the old mad dog." Meanwhile, Che Hujue, reflecting on the encounter, acknowledged that Guo Sishui was not an easy opponent. His subordinate offered to eliminate her, but Che Hujue advised caution, stating they needed to understand her methods first.
He emphasized that accumulating strength was paramount for Ma Gang and that they should not act preemptively if she had not yet made her move. Guo Sishui then met with Lord Wen, who was practicing archery. She praised his soldiers for their discipline but quickly cut to the chase, questioning why his daughter's clinic was so closely aligned with Ma Gang, thereby upsetting the balance in Xichuan.
Lord Wen dismissed it as his daughter's hobby and warned Guo Sishui against making threats. He then performed a coin magic trick, making a Wuzhu coin disappear and reappear, to illustrate that "seeing is not believing" and that "you don't have to stand out when you do something." He advised Guo Sishui that only smart people survive in Xichuan, implicitly reminding her to use business acumen rather than military tactics.
Guo Sishui, recognizing the subtle warning, noted to Yin Lie that Lord Wen was a "treacherous old fox" who understood the dynamics of business and politics. As they left, Fu Sheng approached Guo Sishui, surprising her. He introduced himself as the physician from Wenfu Hall and requested to borrow one of the border army's masks. He explained that Hole Ghost had stolen a child a few days prior, and he had been impeded by poisonous fog in the West Woods.
Guo Sishui, without asking further, gave him a mask. Back at the clinic, Fu Sheng examined the mask, noting its ingenious layered construction of different fabrics, from coarse burlap to fine silk, designed to filter out sandstorms while allowing free breathing. He pondered if the same principle could be applied to poisonous mist. He tried an initial experiment with the mist, but it proved ineffective, making him cough uncontrollably. He wondered what material could block the toxic fog.
Meanwhile, Hulu accidentally discovered that charcoal could purify toxic water. Inspired by this, Fu Sheng integrated charcoal into his experimental mask design. He asked Gu Tian to test the improved mask in the mist. Initially hesitant, Gu Tian eventually agreed. The new mask proved effective, allowing Gu Tian to breathe freely, and Fu Sheng was elated. The next night, Fu Sheng, Gu Tian, and Wen Jue returned to Hole Ghost, searching for answers and the stolen Mountain-shaped jade.
They heard the cries of babies coming from deeper within the cave. Inside, they discovered a community of disabled people. The witch doctor, Qin Miao, was performing a ritual over a baby. Gu Tian swiftly intervened to rescue the child, but they were immediately surrounded by the villagers.
Wen Jue revealed her identity as the Xichuan Princess, attempting to assert authority and warn against harming them, but the villagers still claimed Qin Miao was saving the child, not harming it, presenting their act as a divine blessing. Despite Fu Sheng's concern about administering medicine without proper diagnosis, Qin Miao gave the baby a liquid, which seemingly calmed it. Fu Sheng remained skeptical about the medicine's immediate effect.
Following the incident, the Chief of the tribe, Tian Xiu, explained their origins as the "Tianyi tribe," descendants of abandoned, sickly infants who struggled to survive in the forest. He stated they only took in abandoned, sick children from outside, claiming it was to save them from death and prevent the spread of toxins to their own people.
He clarified that children from outside had to stay with the witch doctor for seven days to have "Heaven Soup" remove toxins, and only survivors would be integrated into the tribe. Fu Sheng expressed a desire to meet the witch doctor and requested to stay longer, which the Chief reluctantly allowed, warning them not to offend the masters. Fu Sheng also inquired about the Mountain-shaped jade, but the Chief evaded the question, telling them to rest.
Later that night, Gu Tian secretly observed Qin Miao boiling soup. He overheard the witch doctor speaking impatiently and threateningly towards a crying baby, suggesting he might boil it next. Gu Tian quickly imitated a cat's cry to escape detection. He later recounted his experience, expressing deep suspicion about the Chief's claims of detoxification and Qin Miao's true intentions. Fu Sheng, Wen Jue, and Gu Tian decided to remain to uncover the truth behind Qin Miao's actions.
The following day, while being hospitably hosted by Tian Xiu, who apologized for the lack of refined food but insisted on its originality, Tian Yu, one of the villagers, suffered a sudden and severe asthma attack. Fu Sheng immediately attempted to examine him, but Qin Miao arrived, and his men restrained Fu Sheng, claiming Tianyi tribe members were treated by their own witch doctor and that outside interference would anger the gods.
Qin Miao then administered his "magic water," but it had no effect, and Tian Yu's condition worsened. Fu Sheng broke free and quickly stabilized Tian Yu, teaching him breathing exercises and advising him to avoid dusty environments, cooking smoke, reduce salt intake, and exercise to prevent future attacks. However, Qin Miao, seizing the moment, declared that Tian Yu had been cured by divine intervention, not Fu Sheng. Despite Wen Jue's protests, the villagers credited the gods. Gu Tian, during the commotion, secretly collected a sample of Qin Miao's "magic water" for further investigation.
