The Bronze Conspiracy

Lao Qi, maybe we should call it a day?

Stop scaring yourselves. Everyone to the safe zone, prepare to blast!

Could there be gold and jewels inside?

Nobody move, I'll go check it out.

How much would this be worth?

Sacrifices, all of you! Hahahaha!

I know you're a retired scout and highly vigilant.

Who are you?

You know about my father.

Remember, they didn't die. They were chosen.

Bronze artifacts eat people. The mountain ghost is waking up. Don't go, Qingtong!

It's not sleepwalking. It's a mark.

Right. H-how do you know?

But I bet he's hiding a lot.

Aren't we here to survey the ancient tomb?

Your father survived back then, right?

Welcome!

If we want to get in, this is the only way.

Who told you to come here?

That old guy has quite a temper.

Master, what's worrying you?

This isn't a path, it's a death trap!

Get down!

Is this... an upside-down tower?

That gap looks sealed. Can we pry it open?

Land softly. Don't make a sound.

Keep it quiet. Watch your surroundings.

Why does it smell like blood?

What the hell is this place?

This isn't a path, it's a death trap!

Get down!

Is... is this an upside-down pagoda?

That gap looks sealed. Can we pry it open?

Land softly. Don't make a sound.

Keep it quiet. Watch your surroundings.

Why does it smell like blood?

What the hell is this place?

Master, help! There's nothing under my feet!

The space is completely inverted. We're dozens of meters underground.

About 100 meters to the bottom. Take the plank path down.

This net catches the corpses falling from above.

These reliefs look eerie. Why do their eyes seem closed?

Master, could there be something inside their eyelids?

Quiet, hold your breath!

Press against the wall, don't move. Wait till they get close.

Use Yang fire! Who has cooking wine?

Grab him!

Yin energy got in him. Apply the sticky rice!

There's a platform below. Let's hide there first.

This hole is kinda weird.

Xiaotian.

Give me a glow stick from your bag.

It's a cast layer of pine resin and corpse oil.

They're the missing miners from back then.

How did they get inside the wall?

You knew there was a gap behind the wall?

Zombie! No, a reanimated corpse! Ah! Fall back!

Damn, these things won't die!

There are corpse beetles in their brains. Break their spines.

Attack the back of the neck.

Master, save me!

Such a strong smell of blood. There must be an altar below.

W-Why is the ground so cold?

It's alive!

Is this the Tomb Guardian?

Find cover!

I-Is it human or a machine?

It's slow, aim for its weak spot.

Master, watch out!

It's no use, this thing is a hunk of iron!

Zhu Tiesheng, do you have any explosives?

Give it to me. I know how to deal with him.

Catch! Careful!

Go to hell!

How do you know the key is on him?

What are you looking at?

This is the place.

Careful, everyone!

What's that?

People are hanging from that tree.

That's a corpse array. This tree gathers Yin energy.

Master, I see it clearly. Those... those aren't fruits.

I've seen similar records in Soviet archives.

This is where those sleepwalking kids are heading.

This tree sits right on the mute gate of the Qinling dragon vein.

Exactly, infrasound.

Now that we know how it works, it's easy.

You seem in a hurry to get over there.

What, Captain Qin doesn't want to save them?

It's the missing miners from back then.

Master, what's inside?

August 14th. Xiao Zhou led the right way. We made it.

But something's wrong here. Old Zhao went crazy.

Found some treasure?

You don't think I'm that Xiao Zhou, do you?

I came here to collect his remains.

Is it an earthquake?

It's infrasonic resonance. Open your mouth to balance the pressure!

Look at the pillars!

Master, what do we do?

They're going to crush us in the middle!

Master, we're gonna be crushed to a pulp!

Get under the tree! It's the only blind spot. Run! Run! Run! Watch out!

This is going to push us all off!

This kind of mechanism always leaves a way out!

Found it!

What's happening?

Master, the spears are getting closer. They're almost touching us!

What kind of liquid?

It's a blood plate.

That would kill someone!

Since you led us here, you go first.

That's your excuse?

We'll all die if we don't bleed!

Women's blood is too weak to suppress this Yin array. Let me.

Master's blood works!

Don't move. I can hold on. Right. Hold on, it's almost full.

Master, don't let go! You'll die!

How do we get down?

It's a vertical shaft, but there are bronze maintenance handles on the wall. We can climb down.

It's too high, at least 50 meters. Without a safety rope, one slip means death.

I have a rope. Just one, 50 meters long.

Secure the rope. Let Xiao Tian go first.

Because I don't trust you. Fine, let him go first then.

Master, it's so dark down here, and the wind is strong.

I'm at the bottom. There's water, not deep, and a shore.

Alright, Xiaoyue, you go second.

Captain Qin is injured and weak. I'll go down first to catch you.

Seventh Master, keep an eye on him.

Come on down, I'm ready to catch you.

Master Seven.

Xiaotian!

Xiaoyun, first aid kit!

Comminuted fracture and concussion. We must get him out ASAP, or it'll get infected.

Why did the rope break right at that spot?

Then what's that?

Careful, Lao Qi's wound can't take another hit. Mm.

Lao Zhou, tie the stone coffins together. We'll float down.

We have to try. It's the only way.

Master, are you done?

Xiao Tian, help Lao Xu up first.

The wound's infected. Too much bacteria here. We need to stop the bleeding and give him a shot ASAP.

Lao Qin, your blood?

What's wrong?

Whatever it is, shoot if it comes out! Why?

What's that sound?

Whatever it is, shoot on sight!

What are you doing?

Iron-wire Corpse Vines! They eat flesh and the living. Pull your limbs in!

If the rope snaps, we're done for!

Don't shoot!

Get away! Get away!

Ah! Move! Get down if you want to live! Ah!

Get down if you wanna live!

Silly boy, why so polite with me?

If we run into danger again, we'll have no fuel left.

Let's be more careful from now on.

Lao Zhou, what happened to your arm?

I'm fine. Just got splashed by some corpse beetle slime. Allergic reaction, itches like crazy.

This is from the 70s.

The roots are moving. He's awake.

Master, what... what is that?

What do you mean?

Turning his bones into porous slag.

Lao Zhou, what's wrong with your arm?

Did you just say your arm itches?

You don't scratch eczema this much. Let me see.

If caught early, you can get a detox shot.

I thought it was just a bruise.

Lao Zhou, how long have you had these spots?

Brother Zhou, what... what's wrong with you?

Turns out it was all a lie.

Master Seven, you're awake!

Old Seven, look at this place. Notice anything?

This is a sealed space. Where's the wind coming from?

It blows downward, smelling of sulfur and rotting flesh.

Pack up. Let's move.

Time's running out. Back to the raft.

Bai, are we at the bottom?

A ghost wall. We're going in circles.

This is a fucking illusion trap!

Are you guys having trouble breathing?

If it fills up, we'll be pushed to the ceiling and drown.

Lao Qi, you got a plan? I have another way. What's this?

I have another way.

What's Lord Seven doing?

Shut up. Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand.

The water's still rising. If we don't find a way out, we'll drown here.

Over there.

Hold on tight! Don't let go no matter what! We're rushing in!

Xiao Ding, give me the Flying Tiger Claw.

Climb up!

Let's see what's down there.

Oh my god!

Or an upside-down city growing from tree roots?

That's not for the living. It's a ghost market.

Lao Qin, look over there.

Master, the roots are covered in moss. Can we even stand on them?

Are we really going down?

Xiao Tian, don't be scared. Stay close to me.

Brother Zhou, you're always reliable in a pinch.

Lao Qi, you up for this?

It's slippery. Stay low on the way down, and avoid stepping on thick moss.

Shit, is this even a path?

It's an air battle! Don't panic, stay low!

Is everyone okay?

Watch your landing spot and jump with the momentum.

Strong wind!

Master, I can't hold on! It's too slippery! Don't let go!

Master, I can't hold on, it's too slippery!

Ngh! Ah!

It's okay now.

There's no path ahead.

I'll go first. If I make it across, you follow one by one.

This is dried blood.

Watch out!

Gao Qian, are you okay?

Qi Yan, hold on! Once past this, there's a foothold ahead.

Don't worry, these old bones won't fall apart.

Bai Jinqi, be careful!

Brother Zhou, what are you doing?

Master Seven, grab the rope! Hold on tight!

The wind's too strong! Pull the rope tighter!

Ah... Mom, bless me. Don't look down, look straight ahead.

What is this?

Or are humans being used as parts?

Stop playing archaeologist, find the exit! This cage could fall any second.

What a pain.

Hurry, think of a way out!

Did you hear that?

There's a path here.

They're way too lifelike!

Even the wrinkles on their faces!

Casting what?

This is carbonized human tissue.

My wrath shall strike them down!

That Taoist said this is Yuhua's only path. Lao Zhou, don't touch anything!

This black smoke might be toxic, let's go down!

Look, what are those things up there?

Those are the same monsters from before!

Get to the side!

We're screwed, the way out is blocked!

Let's hide over there.

If you have a death wish, don't drag us down!

Then what do we do?

The 3rd group on the left has a 4.5s swing cycle. The big one on the right has 1.2s hang time.

There's a pattern. It's chaotic, but there's a tiny time gap between them.

Can we make it?

Staying here is suicide. I'll go to the opposite control ladder. If I get a rope across, you can slide over.

You're gonna step over these damn things?

Qin Yue, careful. Mhm. Ah! Master, watch out!

Sit up high!

Master, we can't hold on much longer!

Secure the safety ropes, I'll pull you up! Steady, stay steady.

Boss, pull us up!

Careful!

Reach out.

Pull Lao Zhou up! The winch is giving out!

Take care!

Don't be afraid, Lao Zhou! We'll pull you up!

Is everyone okay?

No matter what's ahead, there's no turning back!

What is this?

This stuff could buy half of Beijing, right?

This is a modern person.

Zhou Datie, the legendary leader who vanished in the 50s exploration.

Dad? Is that you, Dad?

Hahahahaha!

This is the immortality elixir?

That's not medicine, don't touch it!

Bullshit!

This is my only way to live. My dad traded his life for it.

You're courting death!

It worked!

I want to live! Don't drink it, stop right now!

Where's my elixir?

What did you say?

Impossible! He did it for me!

Lao Zhou, wake up!

You lied to me! You lied to me too!

Lao Zhou, don't do anything stupid!

Master, is he crazy?

No medicine?

Old Zhou, what are you muttering about?

Go where?

Since you're here, all of you stay, even without eternal life.

I want immortality too!

Let's go to hell together!

Watch out!

Ah! There's only one path. I'll go alone.

Let's go to hell together!

Zhou Tiecheng, I'll haunt you even after I die!

Press against the wall, don't roll, brake with your feet!

Master, how deep is this?

Put your backpack in front, protect your head!

My clothes are almost scraped off!

Master, aren't you gonna ask if I'm alive?

So thirsty. Water, I need water.

I'm fine. I'll go check on Lao Qi first.

Is this hell?

Hang in there, almost done.

I remember! I remember!

This is a terrible omen!

Doesn't look like breathing, more like feeding.

Don't go!

I get it! I get it!

Those aren't biological scales. They look like bronze mechanisms.

The magma's heat isn't rising naturally. It's being sucked in by the massive negative pressure it creates.

You mean this tree is a machine?

It's a miracle built by an ancient civilization.

You mean there are no gods or mountain spirits? It's all man-made?

Right. No miracles, just science.

What did you see?

Who would blast the sacred tree in a place like this?

It was the miners from back then.

He detonated explosives down there back then.

He wanted to blow up this bamboo pole.

If the main root was blown, the entire Qinling underground structure would collapse. Why would he do that?

What's Earth Kill?

Master, I feel like I'm being roasted into jerky.

That's the only shade. The sacred tree releases heat, creating a condensation layer around it. Cross the bridge.

What's wrong?

Something's really wrong. The frequency is off. It's shaking.

Give me the binoculars.

That scar wasn't an accident!

20 meters left!

Th-this green thing is Zhou... Zhou Tiesheng, stay back!

Old Zhou, look at yourself. You're poisoned. That's heavy metal radiation. It has nothing to do with where we're going.

It's the plan. I heard it. He's calling me. He said if I merge with him, I'll live, just like my dad!

You're all lying to me!

Hahahahahahahahahaha!

My head is killing me, my brain's gonna explode!

Get down, stay flat on the ground.

What does that mean?

Around 7 hertz. It's a lethal resonance.

If it doesn't stop, it'll shatter our organs.

If the frequency keeps rising to its peak...

This madman has no idea what he's doing.

Master, is he... is he really crazy?

The escort is here!

Lao Zhou, come back!

Mortal, stay out of my way!

Xiao Tian, help! Drag him back if you have to!

Okay, back to the platform.

I can't hold it! I can't hold it!

Can he still walk?

The source of all this is that crack in the main root.

Now the crack has spread to the core.

Three long, two short. That's the entrance, the entrance to immortality. Dad went in, so I'm going in too.

Hahahaha... Brother Zhou is laughing. It's so creepy.

Ignore him. Just keep watch.

Part of the bridge collapsed. Can we still cross?

Then let's take one last gamble.

Old Qian, I'm done messing around. I want to live too. Get me out of here.

I'll go first. Move fast, don't look down!

You want to plug that hole?

Don't even think about it!

That cuts off my path to immortality! That's immortal qi. Plug it, and how will I become immortal?

Get back, all of you!

Dad, I'm here! No one can stop us now. Old Zhou, don't do anything stupid!

No one can stop us father and son now.

Zhou Tiansheng, are you crazy?

This is mine! It's all mine!

Mortals can't touch my immortal aura!

Dad, the door's open.

You're waiting for me inside, right?

I'm an immortal! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

The magma is about to erupt!

No, that's not a blast crack. That's the sub-gate!

What gate?

How do we seal it?

It's him!

That's him!

Master, h-how do we get across?

There's a gap between each breath.

Wind at Qian, gap at Dui.

That's it!

Brother Qin, let's bet our lives. Hang from the rope up there. When the thermal rises, jump.

You want me to swing across like a swing?

Wrap the rope around that black rock.

On my command, jump when I say jump. Only one chance! Wind rises, jump!

My life is in your hands!

Wind's up!

Get in there! Pull the rope tight, quick!

Pull the rope tight! Hurry!

Pull him up, damn it!

Seventh Master, let go! My hand's breaking!

One, two, pull!

Master! Master!

What's that sound?

Underground water pipe burst! Cooling water flooding in!

Move! Get to higher ground!

We finally made it out alive.

Does your arm still hurt?

Any regrets?

That sounds great! Hahahahaha!