Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers @ Viki
Candle in the Tomb
Episode 6
Comrade Hu, since the people of the ancient times
used the mountains, waters, sun, moon, and stars to determine where to put their tombs,
if we want to find the lost tombs along the ancient Silk Road,
relying on Tian Xing Feng Shui [ Celestial Patterns Feng Shui. ]
is the most concise and effective approach. Right?
Professor Chen,
you sure know the ropes.
Thank the heavens
for sending us a genius like you.
Professor, you are too kind. This is all just fate.
Let's only speak about science, not of the heavens.
Okay, okay.
Comrades, I hereby announce...
Comrade Hu, what is your name?
- My name is Hu Bayi. - Good.
I hereby announce, Comrade Hu Bayi, starting now,
you will officially join our archaeology team.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Comrade Xiao Hu. Intellectuals like us are all Stinking Old Nines (stinking intellectuals). [ A contemptuous term for the educated during the Cultural Revolution. ]
During the Cultural Revolution, we spent too long working at the kiln that we've forgotten how to speak properly.
Please don't hold a grudge against me.
It's okay, it's okay. You are too kind, Professor Hao.
Nice job, Old Hu. You amazed them.
That's about all that I know. I'm just saying nonsense with a straight face.
- It's a special skill. - Comrade Xiao Hu, let me introduce everyone.
These three are my students. They'll be going together with us.
- Sa Dipeng, he studies archaeology, - Hello,
but his hobby is the investigation of aliens.
Brother Hu, are you interested in E.T.?
- E.T.? - Yes, E.T.
- A little. - Enough, enough.
- This is... - Oh, my name is Chu Jian. My specialty is mountaineering.
Also... your hairstyle is very suave.
He's new here.
This is Xiao Ye, Ye Yixin. She's one of our archaeology team's
rare female members.
Studying archaeology is my dream.
- Brother Hu, nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.
Mister Hu, you are very knowledgeable.
Let me introduce her. This is Miss Yang.
She's the investor of our event. She'll be coming along with us.
Although she's a girl,
she's a famous photographer for the American National Geographic magazine.
Wow.
Hello, how are you?
Mister Hu, we should speak Chinese. In the future, just call me Shirley Yang.
Her name is Relic. ("Relic" sounds like "Shirley")
Mister Wang, you came with Mister Hu, right?
What skills do you have?
This trip to the desert is very important.
We don't need ordinary people in our team.
The desert is a very dangerous place. My friend is good with a gun.
The desert is nothing!
In the past, I went to Xinjiang and fought bandits.
In Niya's oasis, I beat the bandits until they peed in their pants. [ Niya = ancient kingdom near Khotan in Xinjiang. ]
I even personally killed the bandit chieftain. This is the trophy.
Problems with Xinjiang bandits occurred during the country's founding. Comrade Xiao Wang,
when were you born? When did you join the army?
I was in the army a long time ago. I'm telling you, I...
Comrade Xiao Wang, can you let me see this piece of jade?
Sure. Take a look.
Don't break it.
Aiguo, take everyone outside to make preparations.
Okay.
- Let's go and make the necessary preparations first. - Okay.
Let Comrade Xiao Wang come along.
Comrade Xiao Wang.
We trust in your abilities.
The reward for this trip is $10,000 for each person.
If we can find the Ancient City of Jingjue in the desert, I'll double the amount. Any opinions?
If we find it, we each get 20,000 American dollars?
Yes.
Ancient City of Jingjue?
I'll tell you the details when we have time.
What do you think?
Okay. Both of you don't have to walk us out any further.
Then we won't walk you out.
In that case, I'll ask both of you to please go back and make some preparations.
- I'll inform you of the set off time later. - Okay.
Xiao Chu,
- walk Comrade Xiao Hu out. - Okay.
Goodbye.
The Guidong Language is carved on the jade. [ Guidong literally means ghost cave. ]
This is a language used by the Guidong Tribe. [ Guidong literally means ghost cave. ]
This ethnic minority group is from the ancient western regions.
They have become extinct now.
What is the content of the Guidong Language on the jade? [ Guidong literally means ghost cave. ]
It needs further research.
I think that jade
should be related to the mystery at the Ancient City of Jingjue,
but it's not certain right now.
We may perhaps only know the answer after finding that journal.
I hope that is so.
- Here, let's study the route again. - Okay.
- Boss. - Yes?
- Two bowls of tea. - Coming.
They didn't even give us water. I was so thirsty.
Old Hu, how many American dollars do you think I can get from her for this jade?
If we can find that ancient city,
we will each get $20,000. What a great deal!
I've never even heard of that city before.
Plus, she's not stupid. If it's an easy place to find,
would she easily give that much money?
You mean that we can't find this city?
Don't have too much hope. Just look at how old Professor Chen is.
He wants to go to the second biggest shifting sand desert of the world?
These intellectuals can't physically handle the harsh test of the desert.
I purposefully lowered the chances of finding it
so that when they can't find it and want to return home, they can't blame us.
That means, we're just going on a vacation for $10,000 each?
You just keep on laughing.
- Boss. - Yes?
- Here, give me another bowl. - Coming.
- Will you take it? - No!
- You won't even take a nine? - No! - Ten.
Aiguo.
- Two. - Teacher, you're here.
Are all of you playing card games?
Go ahead, go play.
Comrade Xiao Hu,
come here. I need to discuss something with you.
All of you, just continue. Continue.
Sit. Sit.
- I'll play a card first, okay? - Go, go.
- Three nines with a ball. - Hey!
Three K's and a nine. I'm done!
Do you even know how to play? Why would you play a triplet with a single?
It's just a game.
No, he's stupid. He knows that--
Xiao Ye, play one round for me. I'm going to the bathroom.
I'm not playing anymore. I'm doing so badly.
Kunlun Glaciers? Why didn't you notify us earlier of the route change?
We were discussing it the whole time, too.
What's wrong?
- Do you have a cigarette? - Yes.
Old Hu, what happened?
Tell me.
Professor Chen said that we're changing the route.
He wants us to go to the Kunlun Glaciers first.
Kunlun Glaciers?
It's so cold there.
- What did you say? - I'm not going.
Old Hu, actually, I think that
it doesn't matter. If we go to an extra place, we'll ask her to give us more money.
We can't get busier for nothing.
I've already said I'm not going!
What's wrong?
I've been there with the army.
I know how dangerous that place is.
During 1970,
I was new in the army.
The army sent us to the foot of Kunlun Mountains at Tibetan Plateau.
The whole division turned into a force of engineers.
Many strange things happened there.
I'm still unwilling to think about many of them.
In other words, I'm afraid to think about them
because, to this day, there is no explanation for what had happened.
One day, I was with one other comrade to deliver materials.
When we set off, the car was in good condition,
but halfway during the trip, an accident happened.
Xiao Luan, drive slowly.
It's okay, officer. It's going pretty smoothly today. I think we can make it before sunset.
Officer, what is that? Did you see it clearly?
No, I didn't see it clearly.
I think it was a blue light.
Why is there a live bug in this icy area?
Officer, what is this?
I don't know. It doesn't look like a firefly.
Wait.
Officer, it's quite pretty.
Let's go. We'll bring it back for the other soldiers to see.
- What happened? - I don't know.
Here, try the engine again
Wait, wait a bit.
- Xiao Luan. - Yes?
The pressure pipes burst
That's impossible. Before we left, I've checked them.
- Up ahead there is a military depot, I'll go and get help, you stay here and watch the supplies. - Okay.
Later, put on your coat, don't freeze.
Rest assured, squad leader
What in the world was that blue thing?
I don't know.
It looked like a type of ladybug, but no one can explain exactly what it was.
As soon as daylight came, I went back with others from the depot,
but what I saw...
For the rest of my life, I will never forget.
Xiao Luan!
Xiao Luan?
Burned to death?
The army's conclusion was that
while executing orders, he ran into criminals,
and they declared Xiao Luan a martyr.
But at the time, I thought
his death was related to that ladybug
and what happened after that, confirmed my thoughts.
After that, you guys ran into that bug again?
Mister Hu, Mister Wang,
can you come to my room? There's something I want to discuss with both of you.
This American was eavesdropping on us?
Come, come, come in.
Please sit, please sit.
Sit.
Mister Hu,
the bug you saw, was it this?
Xiao Hu, was that it?
Yes. That's it.
This type of bug is called the Beetle of Fire, in Chinese, it is called the Fire Ladybug.
So far, they are only found in the global records of explorers
and archaeologists.
This is only some scattered information, to most people,
it is only a legend.
Mister Hu, are you sure that you saw the Fire Ladybug with your own eyes?
Yes.
Xiao Hu, can you tell us about your experience?
That year, the soldiers in my squad,
were ordered to execute a top-secret mission.
We needed to go deep into the Kunlun Glaciers.
But during the journey, there was an accident.
One of my comrades with the surname Zhou, fell down the glacier.
Xiao Zhou! Xiao Zhou!
Xiao Zhou!
Careful!
To see with your own eyes, an alive person being burned to death,
was too cruel and horrible. Some of the younger soldiers subconsciously fired their guns.
Countless fire ladybugs, turned into blue fire balls and shot towards us.
We couldn't do anything other than fire our guns on the run.
As a result, it caused an avalanche.
Run!
When I woke up,
I was already lying in the army hospital.
All of my comrades died, except me.
I don't understand why we need to change our route and go there.
Didn't we agree to go to the desert?
Didn't we agree to just go and look for the Ancient City of Jingjue?
That's right. Do Americans like changing things like this?
Comrade Xiao Hu, it's like this.
That year's avalanche,
was caused by an earthquake,
not because of all of you firing your guns.
I found out through some restricted materials.
Later, the nation's geological bureau also confirmed it.
That earthquake also created a crack at the eastern foothills of the Kunlun Glaciers.
So, what does this have to do with our search for the Ancient City of Jingjue?
A few years ago, there was a foreign combined study group that went to explore in Xinjiang.
The leader was one of my old friends, he was obsessed with the culture of the western regions.
But this expedition group, while on their way in the desert in search of the Ancient City of Jingjue,
changed their route for some unknown reasons, and went to the Kunlun Glaciers instead
Then, they disappeared.
No one returned.
Then how do you know they disappeared there?
There last signal for help was sent from the eastern foothills of the Kunlun Glaciers.
So, after our anlaysis, their disappearance
has to do with the crack from the earthquake in the eastern foothills of the Kunlun Glaciers.
Then what are we looking for in the crack?
A notebook.
In the notebook is the diary of English explorer, Mister Walter.
In the diary, he detailed
how they found the Ancient City of Jingjue that year, step by step.
So, for the sake of our next step,
it is absolutely crucial, in order for us to find the Ancient City of Jingjue in the desert.
The reason why I want to go to the glaciers, is not only to find the data,
but also to complete the route that my father couldn't.
I want to find the reason they went to the Kunlun Glaciers,
and find the secret of the Ancient City of Jingjue.
The leader of that expedition team was your father?
This is a very rare opportunity.
If we can find the Ancient City of Jingjue,
complete the plans of our archaeology team,
a lot of the mysteries in history will be revealed
The studies of culture will flip to a brand-new page.
This...I understand now.
For one of you, it is for family, for the other, it is for scientific studies.
Then, this really doesn't have to do with the two of us, right?
But, this isn't really something we can easily refuse either.
Earlier, you have said,
this is indeed rather dangerous, right, Old Hu?
How about this, add some money.
Five thousand.
How about that?
Since it is like this, both of you can get off at the next stop.
I know it is pretty dangerous and this matter indeed doesn't have anything to do with the two of you.
I'll go with you.
Didn't you say you weren't going? Why did you change your mind?
What are you thinking?
When I heard them talking about it, I realized there was a problem.
I thought that after so many years have passed,
I could face my comrade's sufferings and pain.
But no, there is no way.
Old Hu, they would already be very happy to know that you are living well.
I understand the concept,
but I feel so sorry for them.
Every single one of them had a definite reason to be alive.
But, in the end, I was the fortunate one who survived.
My life was in exchange for the deaths of all of my comrades.
I don't even have the courage to go and see them.
I can't do it, so I think I should go.
I understand.
If you say we are going, then we will go.
But, Fatty, listen to me.
This matter has nothing to do with you, you shouldn't go.
Old Hu, what do you mean?
I don't mean anything. It's too dangerous. I can't get you involved in this.
- You're looking down on me, right? - Of course not.
I know you aren't afraid of anything, but I still can't let you go
Stop talking nonsense!
We are already here, no matter how big the problem will be, we will go through it together.
I'm telling you, in '70, you left to join the army.
Do you know what I was most afraid of?
I was afraid of the beginning of a third world war,
when you'll go onto the battle field, and we will never see each other again.
In between the years, we didn't communicate for a little bit.
On the Niuxin mountain, I almost couldn't stay there anymore.
'79, you went to the front line of the battle. I didn't say anything on my letter did I?
It wasn't because I didn't have anything to say.
I had a whole stomach of things I wanted to say, but didn't know how to say it.
I was scared that it would be unlucky if I said it, that you wouldn't be able to come back.
You don't know,
when you were kicked out by the army, I was so happy.
I was as happy as your father was.
- Fatty. - Old Hu.
Chairman Mao said,
to fight with the heavens, to fight with the earth, there is endless joy.
A little Kunlun Glacier is insignificant.
I'm telling you Hu Bayi, if you want to leave me behind,
there's no way.
Fatty,
you asked for too little money.
- Professor Chen, be careful. I await your victory. - Let's go. - Thank you, thank you.
Be careful on the road.
- Be careful. - Okay, okay.
Accomplish the task, okay?
Goodbye.
We're leaving.
Be careful! Come back soon!
Keep up.
Giant, let everybody rest.
Everyone, let's rest here.
Comrade Ga Wa, how far do you think
this place is from the ice cave that we're searching for?
Professor, don't try to stump me.
Three hours ago, we passed beyond our patrol range,
but the instructor said that the path we're taking
was established by the lives of the elder generation in order to build a secret base.
Now, it's useless.
Ga Wa.
What are you saying? You can't just talk about the secret base casually.
Comrade Giant, don't worry. We won't say nonsense.
That's right. It's not a secret, anyway. Plus, Professor Chen isn't an outsider.
Then, do you mean that you also don't know
whether that ice cave exists or not, right?
Don't even mention me.
Giant is an old soldier here and not even he knows. He's never even traveled so far out before.
We're all following Brother Hu.
[ Serving the People. ]
This is your previous comrade's remnant?
Watch your step.
Here.
Look.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers @ Viki
♫ Walk forward and pass through a gap ♫
♫ I want to see it more clearly ♫
♫ My courage and fragile sensitivity are together ♫
♫ Some secrets are hidden at the bottom of my heart ♫
♫ I’ve never mentioned it to anybody ♫
♫ Fate beckons, but doesn’t care about the result ♫
♫ Because of capricious changes, I’m trapped in the moment ♫
♫ An unknown river flows up, but the river current goes down ♫
♫ The bigger your desires, the higher price you must pay ♫
♫ My stomach is filled with words, but I close my mouth ♫
♫ Fate has once given promises, but it can also go back on its words ♫
♫ One side offers loving words, while the other side offers lies ♫
♫ You’re supposed to climb to heaven, but you flee to hell ♫
♫ You were given a youthful face, but it transformed all into grey hairs overnight ♫
♫ Sail downstream with the current ♫