Episode 49 (Tomb of the Sea)

**Episode 49 (Tomb of the Sea)** is the forty-ninth episode of the television series Tomb of the Sea. This episode contains information from the novels *Sand Sea, Tibetan Sea Flower,* and the extra *Three Days Silence*.

## Synopsis

Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan make their escape. Wu Xie tells Su Nan the story of Zhang Qiling and the Tibetan Sea Flowers.

## Story

While picking out more food, Liang Wan found a box with a phoenix symbol on it. It was something the Wang Clan left behind. One of the documents had Zhang Qishan's seal on it. It was a list of Wang Clan members and what they're old name was as well as the name they took after they became a Wang. One of the names was Wang Meng (汪蒙, not Wang Meng) whose original name was Li Meng. Liang Wan was confused why they had original names. Zhang Rishan explained that they are not related by blood but join the Wangs because they have the same purpose and beliefs. They believe Wang Zanghai left them a secret that could change the world and their whole purpose is to find out what this secret is. The people on the list were those that escaped from the Wang Clan because they sought help from Fo Ye. The same people said they could find out where Wang Zanghai's memories were. Fo Ye hid them in Gu Tongjing, but not long after they arrived, an accident happened. Fo Ye got them out of Gu Tongjing and they lived normal lives. Liang Wan thought that some of them could be her family. But they left no trace behind and could not be found. Suddenly, they heard the snake tree making noise from above and it started breaking the ceiling. Zhang Rishan was able to fend it off.

Wu Xie made boiled beef and Mapo Tofu for Su Nan much to her delight. Wu Xie continued to take care of her and later was taking care of her snow blindness. She tried hard to make her recover quickly, but she became upset. She didn't want to leave but live there peacefully. Wu Xie told her that they can't stay there forever and the roads will be clear soon.

Liang Wan and Zhang Rishan were still fending off the snake tree. It almost came in to kill them but retreated. The wind started blowing. They tried to leave but the door had been distorted by the snake tree and wouldn't open. They took a gamble and escaped through the opening in the ceiling where the tree broke in. They succeeded and traveled through the tunnels but hadn't seen the snake tree anywhere. The wind was blowing through the tunnels and they encountered the Black-Haired Snakes who slithered right past them. Zhang Rishan figured out that the snake tree and black-haired snakes were attracted to the music that must be playing now that there was wind in the tunnels. Liang Wan was excited that they could easily escape, but Zhang Rishan wanted to stay and listen to the secret of the music. Liang Wan eventually agreed to the two went to listen to it. As they were listening, Liang Wan seemed to recognize something, but Zhang Rishan stopped her and reminded her that she can't tell anyone about what she heard. The two ran out of the tunnels before the wind stopped and made it into the desert.

Once they got into the desert, Liang Wan was happy and said that they were meant to be together. But Zhang Rishan told her his life belonged to Fo Ye and he hadn't completed what he was tasked to do yet. Understandably, Liang Wan was angry and Zhang Rishan gave her back her mace. So she took the mace and sprayed him with it while he cried.

Su Nan regained her eyesight and Wu Xie helped her cook some food.

Wang Xiaoyuan celebrated Li Cu's birthday and even got him a present. Li Cu mentioned that he likes her more now than back then. But she asked him if she was just Shen Qiong, if he would like her more. He said he would, but she asked if he was willing to end his friendship with Su Wan and live a normal life. He said he would also, but she thought he was lying.

Su Nan was sweeping the floors of the temple when she came across a covered statute. She uncovered it and saw that it was crying. Wu Xie was walking by and explained that the person was crying because he stayed with the most important person in his life for three days. Su Nan correctly guessed that the statue was of Zhang Qiling. Wu Xie said that he went to Nepal five years ago to find him. On the way back, he saw an oil painting. He ended up at the temple and saw the statue. He looked at the statue fondly and commented that it had already been ten years but in his heart, it's like he never left. When Zhang Qiling gets back he knew the other has a bad memory and that when he sees Wu Xie again, it's likely he won't recognize him. He said it was okay, and he will definitely make the other remember him. To get him to remember, he, Zhang Qiling, and Wang Pangzi will set off on the same path. Su Nan envied Wu Xie and his friends because if one of them dies, they will still remember them. But when someone in the Wang Clan dies, they will be forgotten. Wu Xie remarked that Zhang Qiling had said something similar. When Su Nan asked what he had told the other, he told Su Nan that he will remember her.

Wu Xie wanted to tell her the story of Zhang Qiling. Zhang Qiling was the sacred infant at the altar. That year someone from the Zhang Family came to pick up Tibetan Sea Flowers. That person fell in love with Bai Ma who was to be sacrificed to the King of the Underworld. They had a child together and that child was Zhang Qiling. She knew that she was going to die soon but also knew that if she gave Zhang Qiling to the Zhangs, he would become an emotionless person. She pleaded for an extra three days' time for herself. The child was still taken away and given to the Zhang family once they learned of Zhang Qiling's existence. Bai Ma chose to be buried with the Tibetan Sea Flowers. She was not dead, but also not alive. She waited for the child to come back and wake her so they could spend her last three days together. Zhang Qiling finally discovered his identity and went to the temple to see his mother. But Bai Ma did not completely wake up and with the medicinal properties of the flowers fading, she only had those three days.

In a separate flashback, Zhang Qiling was in the field of tibetan sea flowers and he looks back to find Wang Pangzi and Wu Xie waiting for him. They walk together towards the mountains with Zhang Qiling arms around the two of them.

## Characters

* Liang Wan
* Zhang Rishan
* Wu Xie
* Su Nan
* Li Cu
* Wang Xiaoyuan
* Zhang Qiling (flashback)
* Bai Ma
* Wang Pangzi

## References

1. ↑ In Episode 2 of Ultimate Note, Zhang Qiling remarks that if he were to disappear, nobody would notice. Wu Xie told him that he would find out about his disappearance.

In the book *Deadly Desert Winds*, the scene was more detailed. Zhang Qiling said “I am a person with no past and future. Everything that I’ve done has

been to find the connection between me and the rest of the world, where I came from, why I’m here. Can you imagine being like me, with nobody to care one damn if I ceased to exist? I’d leave without a trace, as though I never was alive in the first place. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and wonder if I really am a living being, or am I just someone else’s shadow.” Wu Xie responeded that if he disappeared, he would find out where he went and what had become of him.