Episode 2 recap: Wu Xie Discovers the Secrets of the Training Ground
In Episode 2, through Jin Wantang's vivid storytelling, we learn that Ma Ping Chuan is a prominent figure in the village, who, after becoming wealthy, specifically chose a spot with good feng shui to bury his family. However, strange occurrences began—this burial site suddenly turned barren, as if cursed. Doubts crept into Ma Ping Chuan's mind, prompting him to consider relocating the graves. But when he dug three feet down, he found no coffins.
Even more bizarre, several other prominent families in the village also reported that their ancestral graves had vanished. His anxious subordinates rushed to inform Ma Ping Chuan, who initially dismissed it as superstition. That was until one day, he returned home to find a young man casually sitting on his rooftop, which sent a chill down his spine.
This young man was Zhang Qi Ling, a skilled individual who could move effortlessly along rocky walls. He revealed to Ma Ping Chuan that only he knew the whereabouts of the missing coffins and graves. Skeptical yet intrigued, Ma Ping Chuan followed Zhang Qi Ling to the burial site, where he noticed that the terrain resembled a scorpion. Zhang Qi Ling gravely stated that the ground had changed, and the coffins had been taken by an unknown entity. If not addressed promptly, the village would face dire consequences.
Despite his doubts, Ma Ping Chuan, under Zhang Qi Ling's "coercion," prepared ropes, quicklime, and a dark iron dagger. Before they set out, Zhang Qi Ling left a note, instructing that if anything went wrong, it should be sent to his home.
Days passed, and the village returned to its calm, but Zhang Qi Ling disappeared without a trace. Concerned, Ma Ping Chuan sent the letter. When Wu Xie saw the name on the letter, he was startled; he recognized it as Zhang Qi Ling. Jin Wantang revealed that Ma Ping Chuan later moved his family to a small border country and never returned. This became Wu Xie's only lead in nearly a decade, prompting him to set out immediately in search of Zhang Qi Ling. Jin Wantang begged to accompany him, and while Wu Xie outwardly agreed, he secretly planned to go alone.
Wu Xie inquired around the border country but found nothing. One evening, he took a break at a small restaurant, where old artifacts piqued his curiosity. After asking around, he learned that the Ma family had relocated to Moxiang. Wu Xie quickly made arrangements and headed straight for Moxiang. Upon arrival, he felt overwhelmed by the throngs of people.
At that moment, a painting on the wall caught his eye. It depicted a young boy gazing at mountains of red and gray—a figure he recognized all too well. Wu Xie hurriedly approached the painter for information, who led him across snowy plains and over mountains to a campfire. Inside a tent sat a wise old man with piercing eyes.
Upon seeing Wu Xie's phone with Zhang Qi Ling's photo, the old man spoke his name. Wu Xie eagerly inquired, and the elder recalled that when he first met Zhang Qi Ling, he was a handsome young man while he himself was just a child. Zhang Qi Ling claimed to be from beyond the cliff, a story that few believed until they discovered footprints at the cliff's edge.
Zhang Qi Ling asked the elder to show him the nearby rooms, claiming there were "impure objects" he was searching for. He seemed more familiar with the place than anyone else, ultimately finding the mummified body of De Ren in one room. Zhang Qi Ling buried De Ren and chose to stay at the temple, appointing the young elder to take over De Ren's duties, documenting everything that happened on the mountain.
Hearing all this, Wu Xie felt a mix of emotions—excitement for the lead on Zhang Qi Ling and sorrow for the hardships he had endured over the years. He knew he was one step closer to finding Zhang Qi Ling.
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