Episode 9 (The Lost Tomb 2.5)

**Episode 9 (The Lost Tomb 2.5)** is the ninth episode of the television series The Lost Tomb 2: Explore with the Note.

## Story

Wu Xie, Zhang Qiling and Wang Pangzi continue forward but struggle with breathing and the rising temperature. When looking into a tunnel, Wu Xie sees an empty tunnel for a moment, only for Zhang Qiling to appear the next time he looks to the same direction. He tries to see if the same happens to Wang Pangzi but only starts worrying his friend.

They find a bigger cave with ponds of hot water and multiple murals on the wall. The murals show women in the sky, depicting them celebrating, singing and dancing. Wu Xie finds a hole leading deeper with hot air coming out of it. They decide to stay in the cave and get the others but before Zhang Qiling goes to get them Wu Xie confesses his hallucinations to his friends. Not finding answers, Wu Xie tells them it might just be exhaustion. Wang Pangzi tells Wu Xie to take care of himself, worrying about his friend.

Jason, Mark and some of their team make it to Ning's camp and, after losing their equipment, are told to return back to base. Jason refuses and tells her he wants to speak to Hendry Cox.

In the cave, Wu Xie feels guilty over Shun Zi's condition and takes care of him. They start thinking about the murals and Wang Pangzi notices that something might be behind the murals. After scratching at the picture, he is reprimanded by the others to not destroy the ancient mural. Zhang Qiling warns them that someone is coming near them and they find Pan Zi, who claims to have a map of the cave from Wu Sanxing. Chen Pi Ah Si voices his distrust in the new information but agrees to be led to the "real" Hot Spring Pit mural. After leaving, Pan Zi offers the same to Wu Xie but before they can leave as well, strange hissing noises sound around them. They realize Shun Zi is gone and find him on the walls with golden split pupil eyes, immediately attacking Wu Xie.

Wu Xie is pushed to the side by Pan Zi and Zhang Qiling apprehends Shun Zi. Seeing he was poisoned by the fox venom, Zhang Qiling notes the Hot Spring might be his only cure. Chen Pi Ah Si hurries them to follow and wonders why they are not coming. Knowing Shun Zi will be immediately killed if he is seen by Chen Pi Ah Si, they know they need to hurry. They put him in the Hot Spring and leave.

They follow Chen Pi Ah Si and Pan Zi to the actual murals and Wang Pangzi insists there is another layer behind the the first paintings. Realizing he is right, Wu Xie helps him reveal the painting underneath. Seeing that it's the same style as the murals in the Paracel Underwater Tomb, they figure these paintings have to do with the Heavenly Palace as well. Hearing them whisper about the Heavenly Palace, Chen Pi Ah Si sends his men to help them to find out more.

Under Hendry Cox' orders, Ning collaborates with Jason and Hendry Cox tells her not to worry. When he informs her of his arrival soon, she tries to persuade him not to come due to the harsh weather conditions but he refuses to stay away. She remembers the warning about Hendry Cox' secrets when she was talking to Wu Sanxing.

When analyzing the mural on the wall, Hua Heshang tells them it might portray people who are young even after death, stating they might be immortal, and Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi and Zhang Qiling immediately think of the connection to Zhang Qiling and his ability to stay young even after so many years. Hua continues telling them more about the history of Eastern Xia with its small population, only existing for 70 years before being killed in a massacre. The team discusses the possibility of the Heavenly Palace being the same as the royal tomb Chen Pi Ah Si is looking for but Wu Xie reasons it is impossible with the time differences in history. Hua reveals they found traces and proof of some inhabitants of Eastern Xia to have survived and lived in the mountains, making it possible that they built the Heavenly Palace including the royal tomb. To further prove their theory, Chen Pi Ah Si reveals the Snake Brow Copper Fish he got from Jing'er Palace and when Hua shines his flashlight on it, Jurchen words start appearing on the wall. After asking what the words might say, Hua admits that the records are incomplete. Finally knowing the secret of the artifact, Wang Pangzi stops Wu Xie from revealing their own Snake Brow Copper Fish. Chen Pi Ah Si shares information about his exchange with Wu Sanxing and Wu Xie and his friends try relieve the suspicions Chen Pi Ah Si has of them.

They decide to search for more clues for the Heavenly Palace, when suddenly Shun Zi turns up again. They start questioning him but he is unable to give them any answers. They reveal that they did not come to the mountain to take a hike after all. Before they can go further, his eyes turn golden again. He grabs the Snake Brow Copper Fish and tries to escape but is stopped by Chen Pi Ah Si. They start discussing how to proceed further with Shun Zi and Zhang Qiling reasons Chen Pi Ah Si's hurry to go forward resulted in Shun Zi not getting treatment when he needed it. Wu Xie tries to coordinate between the two sides and after Zhang Qiling states Shun Zi will only need two days to recover, Chen Pi Ah Si asks him how he knows so much about this place. Zhang Qiling reveals he had known about this place from the beginning, not saying anything more. Chen Pi Ah Si tells them he will accept the decision to take care of Shun Zi for now but if it happens again, even they won't be able to stop him.

The team discusses how to proceed further.

## Characters

* Wu Xie
* Wang Pangzi
* Zhang Qiling
* Chen Pi Ah Si
* Hua Heshang
* Lang Feng
* Ning
* Jason
* Hendry Cox
* Shun Zi
* Xie Yuchen
* Jia Sha

## Locations

* Changbai mountains
* Hot Spring Pit

## Items

* Double layered mural from Eastern Xia
* Snake Brow Copper Fish