Ultimate Note Episode 27 Recap
> Ultimate Note Recap
Jin Wantang recounted his three years spent working with Fairy Huo, restoring and identifying ancient texts. The work was mind-numbingly tedious and time-consuming, carried out under immense pressure with little interaction among the team. He admitted he would have broken down had Fairy Huo not been constantly by his side. By the Dragon Boat Festival of the third year, the delivery of ancient books abruptly ceased. Curious, Jin Wantang secretly followed a team led by Fairy Huo to the mountainside.
He was astounded to find the cliff riddled with caves, extensively rigged with ropes and cable systems, which he deduced were used to transport the ancient texts. The partial dismantling of these cables suggested the operation was nearing its end. However, on the third day after the festival, disaster struck: over a dozen stretchers, bearing individuals soaked in blood, were carried out of the mountain. Shortly after, a large roll of blood-drenched silk manuscripts was delivered to his tent.
He instantly recognized them as the invaluable Yellow Silk, for which many lives had clearly been sacrificed. Fairy Huo’s intense focus and continuous presence throughout the deciphering process confirmed to him that this was indeed the object of their prolonged search. Jin Wantang explained that the specific Yellow Silk discovered was exceedingly rare and notoriously difficult to decipher.
He successfully translated the texts into modern Chinese characters, but could only grasp the surface meaning, unable to unlock the deeper, coded message within. Ten days after completing the restoration of the Yellow Silk, he was overwhelmed by greed. The documents were priceless, and even clear rubbings held immense value. Despite the potential for severe repercussions if caught, he couldn't pass up what seemed like a unique opportunity.
He secretly took some fragments of the Yellow Silk, rationalizing that the original documents were already incomplete, and a few missing pieces would go unnoticed. He then informed the team that all the Yellow Silk had been fully restored, believing his deception was foolproof. However, his actions were discovered the very next day. Jin Wantang was escorted to a tent where approximately ten individuals, led by an imposing stranger he had never encountered before, awaited him.
The leader immediately demanded the whereabouts of the hidden silk manuscripts. Jin Wantang vehemently denied any knowledge, but the man applied a light pressure to his head with his finger, causing a skull-splitting pain that terrified him. Convinced he was on the verge of death, Jin Wantang confessed everything. To his profound relief, Fairy Huo intervened and saved him, an act he attributed to the bond they had developed over three years and her gratitude for his deciphering work.
After this harrowing experience, Jin Wantang left the operation. He later realized, however, that Fairy Huo never visited his shop again after his departure. Upon his return from Sichuan, Jin Wantang found himself struggling financially, often going hungry. One day, a foreigner approached him, inquiring about the Yellow Silk. Despite having sworn to Fairy Huo to keep the information secret, the foreigner’s offer was so exorbitant that Jin Wantang, desperate for money to sustain his business, couldn't refuse.
He described this as the second major risk he had taken in his life. He meticulously recreated the Yellow Silk from memory and sold it to the foreigner, but swore he remained silent about the events that had transpired on the mountain, as he himself had been discovered mid-operation and never witnessed its conclusion. He noted the extreme secrecy surrounding the entire affair, which meant no rumors ever circulated in their circle.
He advised Wu Xie that to uncover more details, he would have to speak directly with Fairy Huo, and jokingly asked Wu Xie to pass on his regards, mentioning he was still single. Wu Xie sought out Mr Zheng, an architectural expert, to examine the Lei style architecture drawing.
Mr Zheng observed that while the structure appeared to be a Ming or Qing dynasty residential house, the windows were designed poorly, placed too close to the eaves to provide adequate light. He concluded that such deliberate avoidance of light suggested the building was uninhabitable for the living, as proper lighting is crucial for residential homes. Mr Zheng then recognized the design, stating it closely resembled a "mortuary," a place specifically for storing dead bodies.
Wu Xie explained he had found the rare drawing by chance while cleaning his house, noting that most Lei style architecture designs were for royal palaces, gardens, or grand mausoleums, making a private mortuary design highly unusual. Intrigued, Mr Zheng offered to acquire the drawing for research.
Wu Xie, more interested in the story behind the drawing than the drawing itself, proposed that if Mr Zheng could use his professional connections to uncover more information, Wu Xie would gladly give him the drawing. Mr Zheng readily agreed. After their encounter with Jin Wantang, Huo Xiuxiu and Xie Yuchen discussed the Mystic Nine's past operations.
Huo Xiuxiu noted that her grandmother had not participated in any operations after 1965, suggesting either the Mystic Nine had found what they sought or their collaboration had ceased. Xie Yuchen believed the latter was true, pointing out that second-generation members, including Huo Ling and Chen Wen Jin, continued their investigations, even venturing to the Paracel Islands, implying the Mystic Nine's mission persisted.
He marveled at the mysterious leader capable of organizing such large-scale, secretive operations without a trace, something Huo Xiuxiu's grandmother had never mentioned. Xie Yuchen then pondered "It," a phenomenon Chen Wen Jin frequently referenced in her diary without fully identifying it. He theorized that "It" had continuously influenced the Mystic Nine's operations, predating even the expeditions to the Paracel Islands and Banai.
He suggested that from the very inception of the Mystic Nine, regardless of their chosen path, all members' destinies had been shaped by "It," with generations of their families meeting strange ends. He questioned what the older generation, including his master Er Yue Hong and Wu Xie's grandfather Wu Lao Gou, were truly doing, and whether it was now their turn to unravel the mystery.
Reflecting on Wu Sansheng's past words about breaking the cycle, Xie Yuchen wondered if their current investigation was merely part of a pre-arranged scheme. He concluded that "It" might not be a physical force, but a constant, pervasive psychological or spiritual influence. He then requested to meet Huo Xiuxiu's grandmother, learning she would be visiting the Xin Yue Restaurant, where he decided to await her.
Mr Zheng arranged a meeting with Wu Xie at his friend's modest but secure shop, introducing him to Mr Ruan, who expressed interest in purchasing the Lei style architecture drawing. Wu Xie, reminding Mr Zheng of their earlier agreement, reiterated that he sought information about the drawing's background, not to sell it. Mr Ruan, using subtle hand gestures common in antiquarian circles to negotiate, offered a substantial sum, enough to sustain Wu Xie's business for three years.
Wu Xie, however, clearly signaled his refusal by holding his teacup firmly. Wang Meng, always keen for an easy profit, interjected with playful remarks about Wu Xie's salary and his own desire to join the seemingly lucrative business, earning him a threat of a salary cut from Wu Xie. Wu Xie pressed Mr Ruan to reveal why his "master" desired the drawing, stating his interest in the motive outweighed any price.
Mr Ruan stated his master was a powerful individual who rarely met outsiders. Wu Xie, leveraging the Wu family's status as part of the Mystic Nine—a renowned force in Changsha's antiquarian world during the Republican era—asked if Mr Ruan's master would extend them some courtesy. Mr Ruan agreed to convey Wu Xie's request to his master, promising a reply before noon the next day.
Before leaving, Mr Zheng advised Wu Xie to bring more people if a meeting was granted, emphasizing the importance of not appearing vulnerable in front of powerful figures. Back in Guangxi Banai, Cox Hendry's advanced scanning drone and equipment, imported from abroad, finally arrived. These instruments could map the entire mountain, detecting solid and hollow sections, and identifying mineral compositions, far superior to manual digging. With this, Fatty was told he could stop digging.
Restless and grieving for Yun Cai, Fatty struggled with inactivity. Just then, Wu Xie called, informing him that he had a lead that required a visit to the Xin Yue Restaurant in three days. Recognizing the dangers of the Xin Yue Restaurant, Fatty decided he and Zhang would return to Beijing the next day to accompany Wu Xie. Before their departure, Fatty resolved to honor Yun Cai.
Despite the intense pain, he got her name tattooed on his back, a local tradition where men tattoo the names of their beloved as a symbol of eternal devotion. Wu Xie's assistant, Wang Meng, initially offered to accompany him to Xin Yue Restaurant, but Wu Xie reassured him that Fatty and Zhang, whom he considered his sworn brothers, were dependable and would be there. He sent Wang Meng back to Hangzhou.
The next day, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang reunited in Beijing. During a meal, Wu Xie discovered Fatty's new tattoo and couldn't help but laugh at its diminutive size, comparing it to a green bean. Fatty, explaining the tattoo was a local custom signifying eternal devotion to his beloved, insisted on acquiring new attire for their visit to the prestigious Xin Yue Restaurant.
He elaborated that Xin Yue was an exclusive, member-only auction house, far grander than ordinary antique markets, dealing only in high-value, meticulously screened items. Upon arrival, they were initially barred from entry by security for lacking an invitation or proof of assets. Zhang, however, produced a black card he had been "keeping" for Xiao Hua, which Fatty had "found" in Guangxi. This card, bearing Xiao Hua's name, granted them entry.
The use of Xiao Hua's black card at Xin Yue Restaurant immediately sent an authorization alert to him, letting him know Wu Xie and his companions were there and anticipating some excitement. Inside the lavish Xin Yue Restaurant, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang settled in the lobby, observing the crowd but unable to pinpoint the buyer of the Lei style architecture drawing.
Fatty expressed shock at the exorbitant prices, particularly a 7000 yuan pot of tea, prompting a waiter to offer a more "affordable" 1800 yuan option with free snacks. Soon after, Xie Yuchen arrived, having been alerted by the card usage. While they were conversing, a pompous man named Liu Li Sun swaggered in, openly asking if Wu Sansheng was dead, which instantly enraged Wu Xie.
Before a confrontation could escalate, a waiter discreetly informed them that a VIP wished to see them upstairs. Prioritizing their mission, Wu Xie, Fatty, and Zhang ascended to a private room. To Wu Xie's astonishment, the buyer of the Lei style architecture drawing was Granny Huo. The meeting was tense; Granny Huo immediately brought up Wu Xie's grandfather, Wu Laogou, with bitterness, hinting at a past grievance.
She demanded to know if Wu Xie would sell the drawing and stated that if he truly wanted to uncover the secrets of the Lei style architecture, his grandmother should come to her directly. As the atmosphere thickened with unresolved history, an announcement for the start of the auction was made.
