The Mystic Nine: Qing Shan Hai Tang/Content

## Story

### The Zhang Family

*"There is a mysterious family that lives near Changbai mountain in Dongbei. They are known as the Zhang family who live outside the pass. It's said they had a strange encounter during a tomb raid. Their bodies changed, making them stronger than ordinary people."*

### The Awakening

Around the beginning of the 20th century, Japanese soldiers guard a camp of Chinese workers at Jilin Nanman Railway. One soldier comments on how workers from part 6 have not finished their work for three days and goes to confront their warden. Disappointed with the incomplete work, the soldier pushes the man to the ground while the rest of the soldiers prepare if any of the others thinks about revolting. The warden vehemently claims it is not because he is a lazy worker but because he has been working in the rain continuously and has gotten sick. Still not satisfied with the excuse, the soldiers let their dogs have a go at the worker.

Using the tumult as a shield, a young Zhang Qishan runs to find his father in a cell all alone. Despite Zhang Qishan claiming he will get his father out, his father vehemently tells hims he needs to flee alone and protect the family secret as it is more important than their lives. Zhang Zezhuan warns his son that there are many unusual master fighters among the soldiers, further trying to prevent his son from revolting. Soldiers come to take Zhang Zezhuan away and he asks his son to hide. Zhang Qishan hides but is enraged when he sees them take him away.

Filled with rage and worry for his father, Zhang Qishan starts fighting against the soldiers, trying to free his father. He manages to defeat them while being shot at when suddenly a mysterious man appears. Fire Breather, who uses machines on his arms to throw fire around himself, fights against Zhang Qishan. With his shirt burned away and his body heat rising, Zhang Qishan's Qiongqi tattoo appears. Zuo Qianzhi, the boss of the workers' camp, sees the tattoo and signals for Fire Breather to take Zhang Qishan out.

Zhang Qishan is taken to the laboratory and Zuo Qianzhi highlights how is fascinated with the Zhang family and their mysterious powers. When Zhang Qishan asks for his father, he is told by Zuo Qianzhi to make tea for him. He does so but the commander pours the hot water over Zhang Qishan instead of drinking it. When the tattoo doesn't appear, Zuo Qianzhi becomes enraged and reveals that Zhang Zezhuan is already dead. Trying to further elevate his blood pressure and body heat, Zuo Qianzhi shoots the young boy multiple times, seemingly with no success of awakening the tattoo. A later comment by a grown Zhang Qishan implies he was left for dead at a graveyard afterwards.

### Return to Changsha

A grown Zhang Qishan walks up to a man in a public bath and starts making conversation. He claims to know the man who then becomes confused as to where they are supposed to know each other from. While the tattoo did not show in the beginning, Zhang Qishan reveals it, asking if the man remembers the tattoo. The man, Fire Breather, recognizes the tattoo and immediately grabs for his weapon but Zhang Qishan hides from the fire in the water and manages to kill Fire Breather in the ensuing fight.

Getting his military uniform back on, he is joined by Zhang Rishan and they ponder over the next steps of taking down Zuo Qianzhi.

Arriving back in Changsha with the military commanders, Zhang Qishan and the rest are riding down the street when Er Yuehong shows up, trying to catch his cat. He almost collides with the commander's horse when he manages to sidestep on a trader's wagon and onto Zhang Qishan's shoulder before lifting himself up to a balcony. He thanks Zhang Qishan for the assistance but leaves without introducing himself. Zhang Qishan comments on how Changsha really seems to have many hidden talents. He then orders Zhang Rishan to visit the Jiang family who has collected information on Zuo Qianzhi for them secretly before.

Qin Weijun, their secret agent in the Jiang family, knows about the arrival of Zhang Qishan but before he can do anything, Zuo Qianzhi and his men appear, searching for the account book that is supposed to have the proof of Zuo Qianzhi's evil deeds. They find it in the remembrance altar of the Jiang family. Zuo Qianzhi orders his men to prepare tea who then pour the hot water over Qin Weijun and his daughter. Zuo's henchmen, Yan Sanxing, kills them before their torture ends, receiving criticism from his boss. Zuo Qianzhi then orders Sanxing to clean up the bodies, as someone will come looking for them.

Yan Sanxing is shown to have a disappearing tattoo just as Zhang Qishan but on his face. When he asks Zuo Qianzhi why he does not destroy the incriminating ledger, Zuo Qianzhi claims he has his own use for it.

At the theater house, Er Yuehong is getting ready for his performance and confides in his cat. While he knows he has to help his father who wants to make the Hong family lead Changsha, he admits he is personally not interested in leading. When he has to leave, he hides the cat in a wooden cabinet to keep her out of sight.

Returning back to his mansion, the residence of Changsha's Defense Officer, Zuo Qianzhi gets ready to meet and old acquaintance who is also Zhang Qishan's teacher and recommends him for a post under Zuo Qianzhi. While talking, Zuo Qianzhi directly asks Zhang Qishan if he plans on leading a plan against him. Zhang Qishan claims he only has an important question for his new commander. Zuo Qianzhi tells him now is the perfect time to ask and Zhang Qishan asks him about what he did for the Japanese army before, creating monsters out of humans. Zuo Qianzhi does not claim innocence but states that the higher ups have decided to let it rest, asking Zhang Qishan to do the same. He then continues asking where Zhang Rishan might be at this moment, evidently worrying Zhang Qishan.

After realizing he was set up, Zhang Qishan apologizes to Zuo Qianzhi. Zuo Qianzhi is ready to forgive him for his accusations but orders him to make some tea, making Zhang Qishan remember when he asked for tea when he was young and was hit by the hot water to make his tattoo appear. Overcoming his memories, he makes tea for Zuo Qianzhi.

At the Jiang family mansion, Zhang Rishan is attacked by Yan Sanxing and almost killed. Zhang Qishan who excused himself early from the meeting in Zuo Qianzhi's house, manages to arrive in time to shoot Yan Sanxing who then flees. Knowing the Jiang family and Qin Weijun are in danger, Zhang Qishan runs after him.

### New friends

Following Yan Sanxing leads Zhang Qishan the Hong family's theater. He investigates inside and enters Er Yuehong's quarters. Afraid Zhang Qishan might hurt the hidden cat while Zhang Qishan thinks he is harboring a fugitive, Er Yuehong and Zhang Qishan fight. When Zhang Qishan manages to reach the hidden compartment, Er Yuehong takes the cat in his arms. They are interrupted by Er Yuehong's father who reprimands Er Yuehong and asks him to apologize to the military officers.

Frozen in shock, Er Yuehong does not react and his father orders the cat to be thrown out. Zhang Qishan takes the cat and pretends it to be his. After stating that the fugitive entered the theater, Master Hong claims that many military men often try to enter the backstage of the theater to spy on the actors, successfully ending the search through the theater and making Zhang Qishan and his men leave.

Zhang Qishan explains to his men that there is probably a secret tunnel out of the theater as the family and many of the people inside the building seem to be tomb raiders. He then reveals a note from Er Yuehong, ordering to meet him at 9pm at Xiangjiang pier.

Er Yuehong takes back his cat but the two of them decide to strike a deal: Zhang Qishan will take care of the cat while Er Yuehong will help him catch Yan Sanxing and prove his family's innocence.

By dressing up as a prostitute, Er Yuehong manages to bait Yan Sanxing. In the ensuing fight, Er Yuehong is able to subdue Yan Sanxing and Zhang Qishan stops him from killing himself. He later feeds him his blood, as it can counteract the poison Yan Sanxing took.

### Uncovering secrets

Instead of revealing where Zuo Qianzhi's account book is, Yan Sanxing keeps baiting Er Yuehong. Zhang Rishan asks to speak privately to Zhang Qishan and reveals that the eight local families, especially the Hong family, are all colluding with Zuo Qianzhi. Zhang Qishan admits he already knew this fact and just wanted to make it clear to Er Yuehong who still believed in his family's innocence. Yan Sanxing reveals the truth to him, before his is hit by Er Yuehong and dies of his wounds.

Zuo Qianzhi meets with Master Hong and they ponder whether to let "the monster" out to deal with Zhang Qishan. Zuo Qianzhi orders for more human organs to be brought to it. He reveals to Master Hong where the account book is and then suggest for Er Yuehong to work for him in the future, as he is Master Hong's son and already grown up and talented enough to do so. Master Hong agrees and Zuo Qianzhi suggests for him and Zhang Qishan to watch Er Yuehong's performance the next evening, making it clear to Master Hong that he expects Zhang Qishan to not leave the theater alive the next day.

Zhang Qishan and Zhang Rishan find Yan Sanxing's body and wonder who he is that he has a disappearing tattoo like them. Zhang Qishan explains that Zuo Qianzhi has not stopped his experiments into the tattoo and their power.

At the theater, Er Yuehong is confronted by his father and he asks him if he is working for Zuo Qianzhi. Master Hong does not give a clear answer but tells him to not interfere this evening, if anything happens. Er Yuehong pleads with his father to support Zhang Qishan instead of Zuo Qianzhi but Master Hong refuses. Angry at his son, he kills the cat and when Master Hong realizes his son might warn Zhang Qishan, he ties him up and orders the servants to get him ready for the opera performance.

### At the theater

Knowing the performance to be a trap, Zhang Qishan still goes and meets with Zuo Qianzhi. They exchange threats before Zhang Qishan is attacked by the waitress and other incoming intruders. He manages to defeat them all without leaving his seat, asking Zuo Qianzhi if this is all he has. A trap is activated, tying him to his seat but he manages to escape. He is confronted by Master Hong himself and restrained. Seeing his new friend in trouble, Er Yuehong throws his spear, without disrupting his performance, and saves Zhang Qishan. Zhang Qishan then follows Zuo Qianzhi and Master Hong to catch them.

Zuo Qianzhi orders his men to release the monster, despite his men's warnings that it is hard to control. Zhang Qishan catches up with them and is ready to shoot Zuo Qianzhi, when Zuo Qianzhi starts threatening Master Hong. Arriving at the scene, Er Yuehong puts himself between Zuo Qianzhi and Zhang Qishan trying to save his father. Zuo Qianzhi and Master Hong manage to escape. Er Yuehong claims he could not act any other way but offers to still help Zhang Qishan to get rid of Zuo Qianzhi and make him become the Defense General. One of Zuo Qianzhi's officers, Liu Pingyang, was shot but is still alive and offers to tell them where the account book is as long as they save him.

### Infiltration

Back at Zuo Qianzhi's residence, Zuo Qianzhi ponders over him seeing the edge of Zhang Qishan's tattoo appearing. He thanks Master Hong for his services who instead is worried about Liu Pingyang telling their enemy about the account book. Zuo Qianzhi claims Liu Pingyang would never betray him.

When Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong start infiltrating the residence, soldiers come to warn Zuo Qianzhi and Master Hong, the former already being aware that they will come. Master Hong pleads for Zuo Qianzhi to give his son another chance, with Zuo Qianzhi agreeing and reassuring him that his son will return to his side. While going to confront the intruders, Master Hong sees the special commissioner enter the residence.

Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong manage to enter the secret tunnel but are confronted by Master Hong who states that as long as Zhang Qishan dies, their family can survive this. Er Yuehong stalls his father while Zhang Qishan goes to open the safe containing the account book. To their surprise, a trap is triggered and gas fills the room. Zhang Qishan struggles to stay upright and Er Yuehong is overcome by his father's skills. Realizing the account book is not where it is supposed to be, Master Hong is confused.

They are attacked by a horde of imprisoned members of the Zhang family, having gone insane from experiments. Zhang Qishan reveals his heritage to Er Yuehong while they try to fight of the men. Master Hong regains his senses and helps them. When trying to escape he realizes he was poisoned by Zuo Qianzhi and when Zuo Qianzhi's men come shooting at them, he sacrifices himself to allow Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong to escape. Er Yuehong watches in shock as his father is shot by the soldiers. Knowing Master Hong wants his son to be safe, Zhang Qishan pulls Er Yuehong away and they escape.

Zuo Qianzhi is confronted by the special commissioner, his old acquaintance, and warned that the government has received an account book from Zhang Qishan, containing incriminating evidence. He warns him that there will be an inspection but reassures him if there is nothing wrong within the residence nothing bad will happen. After he leaves, Zuo Qianzhi learns that Zhang Qishan is still alive and orders his men to find him.

### The monster

Worrying about the news he heard, Zuo Qianzhi enters a secret door and underground lair. He gets the real account book and is planning to burn it when he is suddenly shot in the arm by the special commissioner. It is revealed that the Zhang Qishan at Er Yuehong's side is actually Zhang Rishan in disguise while Zhang Qishan disguised himself as the special commissioner, so Zuo Qianzhi would reveal the location of the account book.

Claiming he won't kill Zuo Qianzhi as he needs him to suffer for his crimes, Zuo Qianzhi claims some things were out of his hands as he was working for others. Seeing no way out, Zuo Qianzhi injects himself with a serum, transforming himself into a monster.

Zhang Qishan fights against the monster but is weakened from another wound. When he finds a machine gun in the room, he shoots at the monster. Thinking it is dead, he is again attacked. Er Yuehong joins his side and together they manage to fight the monster and defeat it.

### Aftermath

The special commissioner and his soldiers come to residence and Zhang Rishan presents the account book to him, proving Zuo Qianzhi's crimes.

After becoming the Defense Officer in Changsha, Zhang Qishan ponders over what happened and what lies in the future while petting a cat on his lap and watching Er Yuehong perform.

### After credits

In the after credits scene, Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong are talking on the pier about their future in Changsha. After Zhang Qishan reassures him of his decision to stay in Changsha, Er Yuehong informs him that politics in Changsha might become complicated as there are a lot of special individuals with unique talents. Zhang Qishan smiles and states he is looking forward to meeting them.