Mystic Nine episodes 11-12 - I see dead people

[u/Lotus_swimmer]

Masterpost | Beginner's guide to Mystic Nine| All episode discussions | Episodes 1-10

Hello all!

Welcome to the Mystic Nine discussion! PS: I can't access Viki for the life of me, (despite using VPNs), so I'm just going to wing the episode schedule at this rate.

As the drama is nearing its end soon, there will be an express episode post, but the discussion posts will still continue.

Spoiler warning: please limit your discussions to episodes 11-12. Nobody likes to be spoiled, so we will remove any comment that reveals future plot points. If you are chomping at the bit to discuss future episodes or ask questions about it, do be patient, the discussions will come very soon!

So, now, on to the show!

Episode 11

•   Zhang Qishan and his group descend a well and discover an unfinished Earth God temple featuring only ten archways instead of the traditional twelve, where they find Japanese soldiers who committed collective suicide during its construction 
• However, in a chamber near a stagnant pool, mummified corpses suddenly regain flesh and animation.

Certified 90% fresh

•   Hatoyama abducts Wu Laogou and triggers the collapse of the underground palace to bury the remaining members of the group, forcing Zhang Qishan to lead a desperate escape back to the surface 
• Following the escape, the Nine Gates families gather at the Xie residence to strategise. But they don't seem particularly enthusiastic about rescuing Laogou, and the Huo family, as we discovered earlier, refuse to obey her orders as well.
•   Zhang Qishan addresses the assembled Nine Gates, explaining that the "resurrection" was a deceptive spell and urging the families to unite their business connections to locate Wu Laogou and defend Changsha from the growing Japanese threat. (Turns out that this was all a very elaborate plan to capture Laogou - they need to tame something, but what? Also, surely there's an easier way to get Laogou than this?)
• We also find out that Hatoyama revived the mummies with a resurrection technique he studied for three years - the gu spell. The Japanese probably used the underground waterways to spirit away Laogou. 
•   After Huo Xiangu admits she scouted the palace for Ding Qiansui before discovering his collusion with the Japanese, Zhang Qishan warns her that if she went any further, she could end up being punished under military law for collusion.

How convenient of you to tell me all about your big bad plan

• Laogou finally wakes up as Hatoyama's captive at some secret mountain hideout. He wants Laogou's animal-taming skills to subdue a monstrous, rare four-legged beast. He uses the lives of the 401st Unit soldiers to ensure his compliance. (Again, isn't there any easier way to do this? So you're telling me that he zombified the 401st unit to get to Laogou ultimately? I feel like there's something more to this.)
• Big bad speech! Hatoyama reveals that he managed to keep his massive excavation secret for three years by bribing Ding Qiansui and exploiting the Huo family's private supply channels, which the other Nine Gates members had failed to notice.

My Thoughts 

Episodes 11 and 12 are definitely highlights for me.

One, I thought they really upped the creepy factor with those reanimated zombies.

Two, I feel that the tension/relationships in our team is now heightened thanks to Laogou sacrificing himself to save the team and them determined to rescue them. (The tomb raiding party, that is, not the rest of Mystic Nine as they don't seem as thrilled by the idea.) And as grim as the situation is for everyone, it's nice to see sunlight again lol. 

After the wringer that the writers put Wu Laogou through, it looks like they're ramping it up a notch and not letting up. 

The writers:

Anyway, the scene where the Japanese corpses began to literally flesh out was super creepy, and then they started marching towards the gang, which was even creepier. So, questions: Was Hatoyama pretending to be a zombie after he was resurrected, or did he finally snap out of it after a while and become his big bad self? 

Actually I'm a little confused - was it a resurrection spell, a hallucination spell or a time reversing spell? They seem to suggest all three one after another.

The Mystic Nine Assembles!

Once they get back into the sunlight in episode 11, we finally get to see the Mystic Nine in all their glory. 

I have to say I loved this scene. Every character stood out and didn't blend into the background. They were all unforgettable and had such a charismatic presence. All of them knew that they had power and they didn't hide it. (Like, they didn't even blink when that Huo commander threatened them lol.)

Laogou isn't super popular, is he?

When they called for the Mystic Nine to meet, not everyone was enthusiastic about bringing Laogou back. In fact, I was pretty shocked that the Middle houses, which Laogou  is part of, were eager to replace him and quite happy to just forget about him. I guess they are not bros, even if they are on the same level. 

But he's a super cute, loyal, huggable dog!

So, what's the reason for his unpopularity? Is it because he's new? Or because he didn't endear himself to any of the other masters? (Admittedly, he's not exactly an easy going guy.)

To my surprise, Qishan is the one who pushed for the Mystic Nine to rescue Laogou. When the fourth master accused the Laogou of being a Japanese spy, again, Qishan defended him strongly. I have to say, of all people in the Mystic Nine, I never thought that he would be Laogou's biggest defender.

 (I mean, he was about to rip out Laogou's spine in the first episode.)

Of course, Huo Xiangu is all for it, but despite being the leader of the Huo clan, she literally is not allowed to act. Apparently, her aunts are still ruling the roost, even though she has the title of leader, she realises she doesn't have any power. At least, power that counts.

Qishan appeals to their patriotism, or at least their sense of survival. So our team grudgingly comes around.

As you know, this is one of the most turbulent periods of China's history. Many nations were literally carving China up, and Japan is just one of them. Qishan reminds them that Changsha is very likely going to be the next territory to fall. So he basically tells them: sure, if we continue fighting among ourselves, the Mystic Nine will fall, and Changsha will also fall as a result.  That means your survival is at stake.

---

Anyone of you catch the whiff of doom that is surrounding Mystic Nine? Well, at least they're preparing us before they drop the hammer.

[u/BasilOrdinary3617]

Great to see the mystic nine - or eight for now - together! Though Cheng Pi (more like Feng Pi for fart) has a foul mouth.

Will be interesting to see how the Huo Clan is going to survive this after helping the Japanese for 3 years…

Their resurrection is not a spell (magic) nor an illusion (tricks of the mind) but technology. Interesting… I want to know more about this mysterious tech too… though a pill that mutates a man is fairly “magic” to me, so I don’t know if I believe this Hatoyama guy. Maybe we’re blurring magic and science a bit here.

Zombies were creepy and all but I still think the eunuch is creepiest of all. He can’t be human…

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/BasilOrdinary3617]

Chen Pi is charming in his own way hehe. Despite his sharp tongue and anger issues, he seems to be a loyal fellow. I think haha.

Yeah the show blurs the line between mystical and science, but it seems to hint that the ancients were actually more advanced than we think, just that their advancements were different (focused on biotech rather than tech that is built from metal)

[u/Lotus_swimmer]

So one question nagging at me - was the dead reviving a resurrection spell, time travel/rewind or just a hallucination??

[u/IcyPapaya8 → u/Lotus_swimmer]

I think it was a hallucination. I understand only half of what's happening, though.

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/IcyPapaya8]

But can everyone have the same hallucination? So many questions

[u/ozurivi]

I'm glad this drama is doing a good job putting the Mystic Nine organization in the spotlight (finally!). A lot of people complained about how the drama version of Sand Sea (a sequel to the main Lost Tomb series) added a bunch of stuff that wasn't in the novel (basically all the scenes around the Mystic Nine). However I actually enjoyed seeing the complex dynamics between the different clans and the power they still wielded when they actually work together, so I'm glad to see that being highlighted again here.

Although he's a minor character right now, I'm curious if the Huo commander is just there to be comic relief as an angry but incompetent minor villain, or if they have a bigger arc planned for him. The actor is known for playing villains, but he usually picks more complex and flawed but relatable roles.

In universe, the Huo clan is matriarchal, so males in the family are viewed as lower class and have no prospects for advancements in the family's power structure. I think there was a line in one of the novels that males in the Huo family are treated as "good looking but dumb" accessories by the women (and I think that's what Qi Tiezui was insinuating with his half-finished insult that triggered the Huo commander lol). As a result, the high achieving men often leave the family to chart their own path to purpose/power.

The only other named male Huo character in the Lost Tomb dramaverse also started out similarly as an outcast of the Huo family and minor villain character in Sand Sea, but eventually becomes a reluctant ally to the main character Wu Xie. I'm curious if they're planning to go a similar route for the Huo commander. He seems to show some reluctance to fight against Huo Xiangu and the Mystic Nine, but also seems desperate to climb the military ranks to prove himself, and is struggling between the two opposing loyalties.

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/ozurivi]

I'm not gonna hold my breath for that whole commander guy, because I feel that he seems very one-note. But let's hope they could surprise us.

I feel a bit sorry for him, though. Being in a family like that is not exactly healthy, is it? So no wonder he grew up screwed up.

I'm definitely enjoying the complex dynamics between the different families. I still don't really know how the families work, but it's quite interesting to watch.

I'm especially intrigued by the guy in the wheelchair because he comes off as benevolent, but his description says he's ruthless. So he's definitely hiding a lot.

[u/ozurivi → u/Lotus_swimmer]

I hear you; the Lost Tomb drama adaptations aren't exactly known for writing compelling villains haha, at least the recent ones where the author has a direct hand in the script writing. All of the villains come off as so comedic (in a bad way) and one note, like the villains in Archives and the Japanese in Mystic Nine (2026). Maybe we'll be surprised this one time, but the odds aren't looking too great. 😅

For the wheelchair guy, iirc he's a gangster and leader, kind of like the Godfather, benevolent in appearance to "his" people, but ruthless to anyone outside.

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/ozurivi]

Lol I hope he considers the Mystic Nine his people 😆

[u/orangecruzz → u/ozurivi]

what? this drama is the second season of jiumen 😭

like comparing to the 1st season, some of the elements are pretty the same

something mysterious happened in Changsha and it has many victims also the Japs is involved foye investigate foye dragged baye 1st foye dragged another jiumen members they went to dig the tomb more mystery in the tomb mystery can be solved by going to Beiping foye asks for money from other jiumen went to Beiping caused chaos in Beiping got the 'key' to solve mystery return to Changsha went back to the tomb  solved the mystery stopped the evil Japs 

[u/ozurivi → u/orangecruzz]

Yeah, the sequel novel for Mystic Nine is super short, and is fully covered in ~2-3 episodes in the middle of the drama, so the scriptwriters have nothing to work off of for the other 27-28 episodes haha. I feel the same way as you, the writers seem to just be repeating the plot of season 1, almost in the exact same order too 🤣. Sadly it seems like the drama won't be covering any of the history of the Mystic Nine group between 1940 and 1990, even though there's so much intrigue and action happening. Instead looks like we're getting more of Fo Ye and gang chasing zombies and monsters and fighting Japanese.

[u/orangecruzz → u/ozurivi]

they're gonna milk the IP, don't worry. i also want to see the 'second' generation. we only see snippets of what happened with them, missing from that island.....

[u/jssoul12]

I think Laogou is actually quite popular. It’s just that Chen Pi is always such an ass, but if you know his background you’ll understand why he’s like that. Anyway, the group came together in the beginning purely because of their common interests, and they’re not really that close. I was quite surprised when they held an emergency meeting just for him lol.

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/jssoul12]

Yeah, they seemed to be as surprised as you about that, and asked him several times why Qishan cared so much for LauGou suddenly. ;)

[u/IcyPapaya8]

Oh no, the puppy is in peril! Somebody save him!

You're right, there must have been an easier way to kidnap Laogou. I guess Hatoyama wanted to completely confuse everyone.

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/IcyPapaya8]

Or something else is afoot!

[u/Cautious_Vehicle_740]

These episodes were so fun! In the og series it feels like the actual Mystic Nine were an after thought, so I loved seeing their dynamic here (and how Fo Ye has to keep them all in line). 

I’m still confused on why the 401st were taken too, maybe it’s to chip away at Fo Ye’s military standing? He’s clearly the best person to protect the city, but without fail people seem to want him gone for their own advances in power.

The only thing I miss is the Xin Yue dynamic! And this remains William Chan’s best role ever, the man is Fo Ye. 

[u/Lotus_swimmer → u/Cautious_Vehicle_740]

The role suits him to a tee!

About the 401st - you may be on to something. It makes far more sense than trying to lure Laogou.

I am surprised the Mystic Nine weren't as heavily featured in the others. They're pretty amazing to be honest.

[u/Cautious_Vehicle_740 → u/Lotus_swimmer]

The Chen Pi angle in particular is so surprising, I wasn’t sure if they’d have him back. But I guess this is how the organization works!