Mystic Nine Episode 3

The adventure begins

Everybody is meeting up and Wu is doing his best to divert Zhang’s attention from Huo. He notes her presence but chooses to let it slide. My first dog was a black masked peke so I have a bias for the dog Wu carries. I like the change to leather uniforms. I was wondering if they were going to continue with the pristine dress ones. 😝 The old wretch in the pleasure house sent off two letters. One saying now was prime opportunity to replace Zhang in mystic nine and the other to an unknown gentleman that he was about to see what he’s been wanting to see. They do another slow glide down the ropes 😝 and head for the site. It is discovered that there are two lever blocks that serve as counter weights. He has the peke take bullets one by one to each block til the weights are balanced and they lower to reveal a very intricate folding of bricks to make an entrance. An offering location is found where the peke found some snacks. Qi’s services are now required to discover next clue. They head for what looks to be a shrine entrance and the only one that has discovered anything is Huo. She notes the mortar from Tongzhi era and not a simple thing to create. The upper wings don’t match so she speculates much bigger inside than appears from from outside. Zhang and Wu’s men are antagonizing each other but Zhang kinda started that aiming his gun at Wu’s face.😝Fortunately Zhang’s guy manages to unlock the door which shuts them all up. Rejuvenation, No way to live, No way to die are words on sealed doors. The wall carvings imply raising from the dead and time intervals. Huo shares a clue location and Wu cleans up the sign that says Otherworld Tower. Qi starts telling the tale of the otherworld patriarch who legend says could role back time and change fates. The emperor coveted this skill and sent 100k troops to Changsha to get the patriarch, but his spell was cast before they ever arrived and every face was blurred in Changsha so the men could not find him, to include the emperor. Zhang hushed him up to say walk and talk while Wu mocked that Zhang got annoyed with Qi too. 😝It is now speculated that unit 401 was looking for the Xumi realm that was supposedly filled with riches to entice people away from the patriarch. The peke has found the men and signals back. Zhang and Wu groups are racing each other to arrive first while Qi finds himself left alone in a dark creepy place lamenting being left behind.🤣 They reach what should have been the destination, but the peke and the men are still 800 meters ahead just like before. They take a water break before continuing. It’s like they run circuits to arrive at same place with same conclusion. Ai catches up and warns them that things will go awry if they separate, but both leaders too determined to have their own way. Huo would actually be the best leader. She is the calm mind of reason while the hotheads have at it. 😝🙄 she is leaving a trace of morning glories for Qiansui to follow later. The three finally find the dog but the men are still not in sight and they are all tired from the spurts of 800 meter dashes. They discovered that the troops always kept 800 meters ahead so a test was done to see if they moved with the dog following. The dog returned with a bloodied 401 patch. It was decided to backtrack and make the troops follow them back. It was a test to see if the 401 had to keep that distance between them. It was seen that depending on the direction the murals welcomed or were demons chasing. In spite of the warning Zhang chose to keep backtracking and set markers with candles. The candles did fall and it was learned that they paced 800 meters from furthest front person. Zhang continues to backtrack planning to drop down with them at the point where they are directly above and below each other. He tossed a grenade and jumped down behind them. Even issuing direct commands they moved as a unit with bowed heads keeping the distance but no other response. Zhang manages to get them to turn around as a unit by turning himself. The group above try to determine the faces but their lights collectively go out. Zhang uses a candle and gets to see the faces close up. It is very quiet and eerie. It is interesting how they are forced to work together and pay attention to their surroundings. I am now wondering if anything is happening with the guys and dogs left behind.

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