Episode 8 (The Mystic Nine)

**Episode 8 (The Mystic Nine)** is the eighth episode of the television series The Mystic Nine.

## Synopsis

Lu Jianxun makes efforts to meet the nine families. Fo Ye, Jiu Ye, and Ba Ye try to get Er Ye's help by enlisting Ya Tou. They learn the truth about the medicine Ya Tou has been taking. They get information about a cure at the Xin Yue Hotel.

## Story

Lu Jianxun and Xie Jiuye continued their conversation on gathering the Nine Clan members. Lu Jianxun explained that if the he would help him then Jiu Ye would be a top meritorious individual. Jiu Ye laughed off the idea. He clarified that the Nine Clans were not so important and were just a citizen organization that made communications and gatherings more convenient. Each family had its own business and was operated separately. Lu Jianxun got straight to the point and told Jiu Ye he knew the Nine Clans participated in the underground business. Jiu Ye again laughed him off and told Lu Jianxun it was all just rumors. Although Lu Jianxun tried to press Jiu Ye for more information, Jiu Ye made an excuse that he was busy. Lu Jianxun made a fuss and said he got the message and tried to leave. Jiu Ye stopped him on his way out to make sure he returned the chess set that he was gifted earlier since he wasn't able to help Lu Jianxun.

Lt. Zhang was at Jiu Ye's home. Jiu Ye informed him that Fo Ye's prediction was right, Lu Jianxun was acting fast. The other's plan seemed to involve visiting the heads of the nine families. Jiu Ye thought the nine families had been united for generations and it wasn't something an outsider could easily mess with. The two left to meet Fo Ye.

Lu Jianxun was waiting in front of the Wu Manor when a subordinate came stumbling out holding his arm. He claimed the manor was full of fierce dogs. Next, Lu Jianxun went to De Xing Teahouse to discuss the success of his subordinates attempts to meet the other nine families. They were all refused entry and the one who visited the Li Clan did not return at all. Lu Jianxun became upset and thought the families were too arrogant.

Tanaka Ryoko reported on Lu Jianxun's failed efforts to Hendry Cox believing that Officer Lu was not useful to them. She thought the other was impatient and lacked good strategy. Hendry Cox thought the impatient Officer Lu could be useful as long as he was used in an appropriate setting.

Ba Ye met Fo Ye at the other's home and updated him on the situation in the surrounding areas in the mining mountain. Ba Ye believed there was a huge ancient tomb beneath the mining mountain. He talked about Li Er who accidentally went into the tomb and came out scared out of his mind. He also talked about what he observed when looking at the mine mountain from above and discovered that the tomb was in the shape of a human. The tomb was like a human with seven channels and eight pulses. It could be divided into a live human tomb and a dead human tomb. If it was a live human tomb, then the traps inside would be arranged in a definite order. If it was a dead human tomb, then the traps would not move and would be out of order. Ba Ye could not determine what type of tomb it was. He also remembered that the Japanese were asking about the tomb in the village. Fo Ye became agitated at this and knew they needed to enter the tomb again sometime soon before the Japanese made any movements. Ba Ye thought it was too dangerous and wished Er Ye would help. He thought the other was a person with deep affection and loyalty and thought about the time Er Ye saved Ya Tou.

In a flashback, Ya Tou had her hands bound and was being dragged by men claiming that she will sell well. Er Ye was watching her from afar and recognized her from when he knew her as a child. Er Ye intervened and told the men that he would pay her fee. They asked for a ridiculous price but Er Ye promised to pay and told them to come to the Hong Manor that night. Later, the men arrived at the manor where Er Ye and Chen Pi were waiting at the entrance. One of the men spoke up and told Er Ye he had heard of his reputation and that he should surely know the rules of their field. The man was introduced as Master Zeng and Er Ye asked to speak to him in private. Er Ye paid them the money and assured Ya Tou that no one would bully her anymore.

The flashback ended and Ba Ye said that Er Ye committed a big taboo at the time. He dug out a tomb not even three months old and stole a treasure to pay Master Zeng. Fo Ye smiled and thought that the story sounded like Er Ye's style. He also acknowledged that it would be difficult to get Er Ye's help. Ba Ye thought they should get Jiu Ye's help with the matter as the other had clever ideas and could think of something. Coincidentally, Jiu Ye arrived at Fo Ye's home. After some pleasantries, Jiu Ye told them that the Japanese were quite active around the mining mountain and they needed to get Er Ye's help. The three of them thought of ways to get Er Ye out of retirement and realized they needed to talk to the person he retired for, Ya Tou.

Fo Ye and Jiu Ye went to the Hong Manor to talk to Ya Tou. Fo Ye told her about the danger that Changsha was in. Specifically, that the Japanese wanted something in the mining mountain that could put Changsha in danger. Their goal was to get the object before them but the mining mountain was dangerous and they needed Er Ye's help. Ya Tou didn't understand why they would need Er Ye's help. They told her that since his family went down into the mining mountain, he had some knowledge about it. Ya Tou was not convinced and reminded them that none of Er Ye's family came out alive. Fo Ye assured her with his life that Er Ye would come back safe. She still wasn't convinced and did not want Er Ye involved for his safety. She started violently coughing and her servants got her medicine. After being injected with the medicine, Fo Ye and Jiu Ye spoke with her about her illness. They thought they should call a doctor just to be safe. Jiu Ye asked how frequent her attacks were. The medicine initially provided relief for 2-3 days, however, recently it did not seem to be that effective. Jiu Ye asked who prescribed the medicine and a servant told them that it was a western doctor invited by Chen Pi. The servant also told them the name of her illness, chronic fatigue syndrome. Jiu Ye seemed skeptical about the diagnosis while Fo Ye interrupted to tell Ya Tou that they would come back another time.

Fo Ye and Jiu Ye returned to Fo Ye's home where Ba Ye was waiting for them. Jiu Ye thought getting Er Ye's help was now impossible because of Ya Tou's worsening illness. He also thought Er Ye loved his wife too much and that once she died the other would not be able to live without her. Fo Ye agreed since Er Ye always gave himself over to blind emotions. Fo Ye thought of the medicine Ya Tou used earlier and asked what it was. Jiu Ye told them that it was a western drug called morphine. On the outside the drug appeared to have controlled the pain but it had no effect on the real illness. The drug was also highly addictive and once an individual became addicted the consequences were unimaginable. Opium also contained morphine. Jiu Ye admitted to using morphine to relieve his headaches and that the Japanese would be the only ones to have access to that kind of drug at the time. They then realized that to get Er Ye out of retirement they needed to treat Ya Tou's illness. It wouldn't be easy since even Hua Qian Dao from Jiangnan couldn't cure her, however, it was because he didn't have the ingredient Live Deer (Lu Huo) herb. During the Song dynasty, Liu Bing of Qing Zhou shot a deer. He removed its organs and used the live deer herb to fill the space. The deer was then suddenly able to stand up. Fo Ye asked Jiu Ye to look around for the herb.

Er Ye was informed of Jiu Ye and Fo Ye's visit and was also told about Ya Tou's coughing fit. He went to the ancestral hall and gave offerings. The next day, Ya Tou was worried her illness was getting worse. She was also worried about Er Ye since he would be inclined to help Fo Ye if something bad were to happen to him. But because of Ya Tou he wasn't not coming out of retirement and felt conflicted. Chen Pi was worried about Ya Tou and asked how the drug was working. Ya Tou tried to assure him that it was working but wasn't a miracle drug.

Jiu Ye visited Fo Ye and told him that the Live Deer herb was being auctioned off next week at the Xin Yue Hotel in Beiping (Beijing was known as Beiping during this time). Fo Ye wanted to discuss it with Er Ye, so he left to go to him and asked Lt. Zhang to send for Ba Ye. Once Fo Ye arrived, he told Er Ye of the morphine that Ya Tou was taking. Since the drug was restricted by the government, Fo Ye wanted to ask Chen Pi about it. Er Ye agreed but he also wanted to ask what Chen Pi was up to. Fo Ye also came by for another reason. He told Er Ye about the special herb being auctioned in three days. Er Ye wanted to go alone but Fo Ye insisted on accompanying him because the hotel had a lot of rules like only invited guests were allowed in. Fo Ye was going to enlist the help of Jiu Ye and Ba Ye the next morning to scout the hotel. Er Ye agreed but wanted Fo Ye to know Chen Pi likely did not know about the morphine and hoped the other could be lenient. Fo Ye assured him that he would investigate the matter appropriately and they parted ways.

Lieutenant Zhang found Chen Pi buying food at a vendor and informed him that Fo Ye wanted to speak to him. Chen Pi tried to brush him off but Lt. Zhang insisted. Chen Pi put the food in his pocket and impulsively started fighting Lt. Zhang. During the fight, Chen Pi dropped the food and Lt. Zhang was able to get the upper hand by pointing his gun at Chen Pi's head. He ordered soldiers nearby to arrest Chen Pi but the other insisted he needed to go back right away. The food he got for Ya Tou was trampled by the soldiers why Chen Pi looked on in worry.

Ya Tou was waiting for Chen Pi to return when Er Ye arrived to discuss with her about his trip to Beiping. Ya Tou wanted to join them but Er Ye refused her telling her that her health was weak. However, Ya Tou pleaded that she did not get to accompany Er Ye much anymore and wanted more chances to be with him. Er Ye acquiesced and allowed her to come but warned her that they needed to keep a low profile.

## Characters

* Xie Jiuye
* Lu Jianxun
* Lieutenant Zhang
* Tanaka Ryoko
* Hendry Cox
* Fo Ye
* Ba Ye
* Ya Tou
* Er Ye
* Chen Pi Ah Si

## Locations

* Wu Manor
* Hong Manor
* Changsha Chamber's Commerce of USA
* Fo Ye's Home
* Xin Yue Hotel (mentioned)