Ultimate Note Episode 8 Recap
> Ultimate Note Recap
A heavy downpour began, bringing with it a swarm of ticks that stung Wu Xie's group, leaving them with itchy wounds all over their bodies. With the rain showing no signs of stopping, they sought shelter. A Ning, observing Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi, wryly advised them to remove their pants to check for bites in sensitive areas, warning them of severe consequences if the ticks went unchecked.
Wang Pangzi, whose pants had ripped earlier when they first entered the mountains, complained of intense itching. Wu Xie confirmed that both he and Wang Pangzi were covered in parasitic ticks, far worse than A Ning. They painfully extracted the ticks using a heated knife tip, their screams echoing through the shelter.
Meanwhile, Zhang ventured out to find medicinal herbs, and A Ning recounted a terrifying experience in Africa where she witnessed a giraffe succumb to a tick infestation, its body covered in blood tumors, emphasizing the danger of these tiny creatures. In a separate part of the treacherous underground, Hei Yan Jing and Xie Yuchen continued their journey, their usual banter and sarcastic remarks serving as a coping mechanism.
Hei Yan Jing commented on the sheer number of stairs, noting the stamina required to be considered a guest of the Heavenly Queen Mother. Master Hua’er (Xie Yuchen) scoffed, claiming he was not superstitious and only believed in himself, a remark that prompted Hei Yan Jing to caution him against speaking too soon about returning home, as such talk often preceded misfortune. They mused about the unusual absence of traps, a thought that immediately jinxed them.
Hei Yan Jing stepped on a hidden mechanism, causing the stone staircase behind them to explode. They desperately scrambled upwards, barely escaping. Master Hua’er quickly grabbed Hei Yan Jing, preventing him from falling to his death. Exhausted, they collapsed, realizing the destroyed staircase had become a sheer cliff, cutting off any retreat. However, Wu San Xing's trail markers indicated he had continued forward, suggesting an unnoticeable exit. They meticulously searched for clues, but after a long time, found nothing.
Master Hua’er grew increasingly agitated, concluding that the entire palace was merely a ruse, a deceptive facade to deter intruders. His suspicion was confirmed when he inadvertently triggered a final trap: kerosene began dripping, followed by fire, effectively burning all their escape routes. With no other option, they leapt off the cliff, fortunately catching onto vines that broke their fall, landing them in a dense rainforest. Back with Wu Xie's group, Zhang returned with herbs to repel the ticks.
Wang Pangzi, impressed, remarked that despite Zhang's reserved nature, he was incredibly thoughtful. As the rain subsided and evening approached, Pan Zi pointed out the unique geography of their location—the lowest point of the desert basin, where all rainwater and groundwater converged, nourishing the rainforest and creating a fertile "fengshui treasure land." They decided to make camp there for the night. By morning, only Zhang remained energetic.
He and Wu Xie then discovered the skeletal remains of a gigantic snake, its massive body surprisingly filled with thousands of ticks. Zhang then took out his dagger, cut his palm, and smeared his blood on Wu Xie's clothes, explaining that his blood repelled dangerous creatures. Wu Xie, startled by Zhang's unexpected action and the sight of his blood, screamed, attracting Pan Zi and A Ning. Upon inspecting the snake's carcass, they realized the ticks had completely drained its blood.
Further investigation inside the snake's remains revealed human bones, identified as belonging to a woman. Among her belongings, they found a large flashlight and a metal belt buckle dating back to the 1980s or 90s. A Ning was visibly shocked, recognizing the buckle as identical to those customized by her company for employees before 1997. She insisted no one from her company had ever been to Tamutuo.
The discovery became even more perplexing when they found seven Dangshi Copper Coins near the skeleton, eerily similar to A Ning's own unique collection. The possibility that the dead woman was A Ning herself crossed Wu Xie's mind, a thought instantly dismissed as A Ning stood alive before them. As Wu Xie pondered this perplexing mystery, a gigantic snake, precisely like the one in his dream, appeared before him in the nightmare.
Wu Xie abruptly woke up, gasping, realizing the entire terrifying sequence had been a nightmare. He stared intently at A Ning, who was resting nearby, until she, unnerved, sharply asked him what he was looking at, finally bringing him back to reality. In the waking world, Zhang, Pan Zi, and A Ning were indeed examining the discovered skeleton.
They found not only the human remains but also a grenade and a fully functional pistol, an item Pan Zi excitedly declared a "treasure." Wu Xie asked Pan Zi about his past military experiences, to which Pan Zi proudly stated he was a war veteran who always survived.
Their conversation was suddenly cut short as Zhang and A Ning motioned for silence, their gazes fixed on a massive snake in a nearby tree—the very same giant python from Wu Xie's nightmare. Recognizing the immense danger, the group bolted, running for their lives. During their panicked escape, Zhang valiantly fought the giant python but inadvertently lost his Black Gold Sword. The group eventually found refuge in a narrow cave.
Wang Pangzi lamented the loss of Zhang’s invaluable Black Gold Sword, blaming the giant python and vowing to kill it later for soup. Wu Xie quickly retorted that Zhang lost his sword while saving Wang Pangzi. Wang Pangzi, ever the opportunist, then took Zhang’s sword sheath for safekeeping. Inside the seemingly safe cave, they heard a distinct sound. Zhang identified it as a "tiger keelback," explaining it was the most venomous type of snake and highly territorial.
He revealed that the giant python had been scared away by the tiger keelback’s presence. Realizing the extreme danger of staying, they cautiously exited the cave, relieved they hadn't provoked the deadly creature. They concluded that while the area was a dangerous "snake den," it also indicated they were drawing closer to Wu San Xing.
