Ultimate Note Episode 24 Recap
> Ultimate Note Recap
Jade servants, an upgraded version from the Palace of the Heavenly Queen Mother, emerged increasingly from the stone wall, each containing a snake. These snakes could sense human body temperature, awakening and controlling the jade servants to attack. The more Wu Xie, Zhang, and Fatty fought, the higher their body temperature rose, causing the jade servants to move even faster. Realizing this was unsustainable, Wu Xie decided to go against the current.
He led Zhang and Fatty into the mezzanines where the jade servants were appearing, hoping to find an exit. Fatty complained about the endless layers and Zhang family's unusual design, which seemed to trap themselves. As they pressed on, Zhang, who had been leading the charge, showed signs of exhaustion and was injured by a jade servant. This, however, led Wu Xie to a crucial discovery: Zhang's Qilin tattoo was a living map.
Wu Xie quickly studied the tattoo, noticing its resemblance to the jade cave they had just been in. He realized that if they solved the puzzle presented by the tattoo, they would find a way out. Wu Xie instructed Fatty to fend off the jade servants while he deciphered the path, calling out directions based on Zhang's tattoo. They eventually found an exit, a breakable amber-like surface.
Fatty, severely injured while covering their escape, urged Wu Xie to take Zhang and leave him behind. Wu Xie refused, vowing to bring both of them back alive. After they barely made it to safety, Wu Xie fired a signal flare given to him by Cox Hendry before collapsing from exhaustion. Meanwhile, Cox Hendry had been closely monitoring Xie Yuchen and Black Glasses.
He had already had his men capture them, stating that only Wu Xie and Zhang could find the Zhang family's ancient buildings, and he couldn't risk others interfering with his plans. Despite Wu Xie's signal disappearing, Cox Hendry was confident he was safe, deducing that Wu Xie had entered an area where signal transmission was impossible—precisely the place Cox Hendry was searching for. He even provocatively invited Wu Erbai, who had just arrived with a large contingent, for tea.
Wu Erbai, Wu Xie's Second Uncle, strode in, revealing his men had already taken out Cox Hendry's perimeter guards. Wu Erbai, while seemingly gentle, was known for his ruthless resolve. He plainly stated that while he generally ignored Mystic Nine affairs, Wu Xie was an exception, and if Cox Hendry dared to obstruct his search for his nephew, he would sink Cox Hendry's entire team into the lake, granting them "immortality."
Cox Hendry's subordinate questioned Wu Erbai's authority, only to be met with a chilling threat to have his lips sewn shut. As the tension escalated, Wu Xie's signal flare was spotted by both teams, alerting everyone to his location. Back at the camp, a weakened Wu Xie confronted Cox Hendry, questioning if the intention behind sending him into the illusion was to lead him to his death.
Cox Hendry remained evasive, suggesting that because Wu Xie had been deliberately cultivated by the Mystic Nine, he was uniquely capable of entering the Zhang family's ancient buildings. Wu Xie dismissed this, asserting he had not truly entered the ancient buildings and was not the person Cox Hendry sought. He recounted seeing the top of the ancient buildings underwater, protected by a bell formation that created illusions, and confirmed that Cox Hendry's previous teams had failed there.
Later, discussing their harrowing experience, the group recognized the sophisticated defense mechanisms of the Zhang family's ancient buildings. The jade servants, though similar to those from the Palace of the Heavenly Queen Mother, were different: green, amber-like, and contained Black-Haired Snakes that hibernated in cold and awakened with heat. Wu Erbai confirmed he had heard of the "Mi Luo Tuo" and "Black-Haired Snakes" from his grandfather, acknowledging that their awakening inadvertently created the escape passage.
They concluded that the underwater village's bell formation led to illusions, and the siphon passage subjected them to Mi Luo Tuo attacks. It became clear that the path they had taken, even with Zhang's Qilin tattoo, was merely a defensive mechanism and not the true entrance to the Zhang family's ancient buildings. Wu Xie noted that fragments of the Mi Luo Tuo found on them melted with strong bases, indicating they were not invincible, but finding the entrance remained elusive.
Wu Xie pressed Wu Erbai for the truth, suspecting he knew more about the real entrance. Wu Erbai initially feigned ignorance but was soon cornered when Wu Xie pointed out that Third Uncle's valuable research materials, long thought missing, were now in Wu Erbai's possession. Wu Erbai admitted to hiding them to protect them from theft.
Wu Xie then theorized that since he saw the top of the Zhang family's ancient buildings underwater, its main structure must be submerged, connected to the mountains by a network of maze-like, man-made tunnels. He concluded these elaborate structures were all defensive, designed to protect the true Zhang family's ancient buildings. Wu Erbai sighed, acknowledging that Wu Xie had uncovered the truth.
He revealed that generations of the Wu family, from his grandfather (who died at Biaoziling) to his father (who insisted on an iron coffin for burial to prevent future complications), had been deeply entangled in this secret, often meeting tragic ends. He expressed profound concern for Wu Xie, who, despite being the "purest" child the Wu family had produced in years, was now the most deeply involved.
Black Glasses then asked why Wu Erbai had paid him to protect Xie Yuchen. Wu Erbai revealed that Xie Lianhuan, Xie Yuchen's adoptive father, had requested it, as he cared for Xie Yuchen deeply. Wu Erbai even mentioned a flower pot stolen by Xie Lianhuan, inscribed with a line of poetry, hinting at Xie Lianhuan's continued concern for Xie Yuchen. Wu Xie then brought up a photograph from the stilt house, suspecting Wu Erbai had burned it.
Wu Xie argued that neither Sloped-shoulder (who had protected the area for years) nor Cox Hendry (who sought to enter the ancient buildings) would have burned it, leaving Wu Erbai as the most likely culprit. Wu Erbai confessed, stating that while Third Uncle wanted them to continue the investigation, he feared they would repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. Wu Xie accepted this, assuring Wu Erbai he would not be forced to reveal anything he wasn't ready to share.
Wu Erbai, in turn, accepted their determination to continue, but imposed one condition: they must report any danger they encounter. Finally, Wu Xie asked what lay within the Zhang family's ancient buildings that drove so many, including the Mystic Nine and Cox Hendry, to seek it.
Wu Erbai confirmed it was related to immortality, explaining that ancient emperors had sought such secrets in tombs, and clues found during those investigations led to a hidden truth that no one wanted outsiders to discover.
