Candle in the Tomb (鬼吹灯之精绝古城)

Based on your experience, are there a lot of foreign tomb raiders?

Yes, there are a lot.

Especially before the Communist victory.

Our country was politically unstable and in war for many years.

A lot of tomb raiders from imperialist countries.

came one after an other, taking advantage of the chaos.

Take the western regions for example.

Because these natural conditions are awful and deserted

this is a good place for tomb raiders.

The Xinjiang tombs and historical remains were widely ransacked.

It was before World War II.

Loulan in Eastern Taklamakan Desert, Niya on the southern edge

and the Mogao caves in Dunhuang, Gansu...

Many historical relics were stolen.

Many historical remains were ruined and completely destroyed.

The owner of Miss Yang's notebook

also came to Xinjiang from England.

Hu, I'll put it this way.

At the time, the foreigners all said they were explorers.

But in fact, they were here after our historical relics.

Think about it. The journey is long, and the transportation is inconvenient.

Why would they put their lives in danger for this?

What are their financial backers hoping for?

There are true cases of what you're talking about

but there were real explorers as well.

Hu, having been an archaeologist for half my life

and having to fight with tomb raiders all that time...

Although I don't fight with them face to face

I'm always fighting against time.

Although there is no smoky battleground

in the battle between archaeology and tomb raiding

we're excavators, researchers, and protectors

while they're thieves, destroyers, and profiteers.

We hate them passionately.

I don't hear any difference.

Hu.

What is it? Is something wrong?

There's a problem with my compass.

No problem. I have one.

It's not broken.

It's been like this for half the day.

My watch also stopped.

It's been hours.

What's going on?

Stop!

Everyone should rest here.

We won't be able to find anything now.

Miss Yang, did something happen?

What time does your watch say it is?

It stopped.

Mine isn't running either.

- Look. - But I've had my watch winded.

Look at this.

What's so exciting about that?

An Li Man, tell everyone your bad news.

Bad news?

Tell us. You've never had any good news to share anyway.

Old Gentleman, what is it?

I was just looking.

We've left the range of the Zidu subterranean river.

We won't be able to find any traces of the river.

When was the last time we were able to find traces?

Probably half a day ago.

Let's not keep going forward.

If we keep going forward, I really won't be able to find the way back.

So everything it said was true.

Hu, what's the connection? That was completely unrelated.

Miss Yang, did your brain stop working or is it working too fast?

I thought all of this was coincidence but right now, everything fits together.

This notebook says

"In the depths of the desert night, we lost sight of the lonely river."

Miss Yang! Miss Yang! Speak in Chinese.

Okay. This notebook says, "In the depths of the desert night"

"we lost sight of the Zidu Subterranean River."

"In the vast land of death, two enormous magnetic mountains"

"stood opposite the afterglow of the setting sun"

"as if they were two ancient warriors dressed in black armor"

"that were silently protecting ancient secrets."

"After going through a valley that was like a huge entranceway"

"a city that the legends talk about appeared before our eyes."

Wait. What mountain are you talking about?

A magnetic mountain.

- Magnetic... mountain? - Yes.

Then since so many of our things are having problems

does that mean we're near the magnetic mountain?

Yes!

If there were two big mountains nearby

then Zidu subterranean river was probably cut off.

So it's normal that we can't find any traces of the river above ground.

That makes sense. Keep talking.

That's all.

Fatso, well said!

What did you call me?

That's not important.

We have to focus our attention on finding the magnetic mountains nearby.

Because once we find the magnetic mountains

we'll have found the entranceway to Jingjue Kingdom.

Here, binoculars.

Where is it?

Miss Yang, are you sure the contents of your notebook are complete?

Yeah, there aren't any missing pages or anything, right?

I"m sure there aren't any.

This is the most critical moment.

You must help me find it. I'm begging you.

Okay, I'll do my best.

Xiao Ye! Xiao Ye, what's wrong?

- Xiao Ye! Xiao Ye! - What's wrong?

- What's wrong, Xiao Ye? - What happened?

- Xiao Ye! - Xiao Ye!

What's wrong with Xiao Ye?

She's burning

Hurry and give Xiao Ye some water.

- Chu Jian, did we bring antipyretics? - Yes.

- Hurry and go get it. - Okay.

Drink some water.

How could this have happened?

I was careless.

I didn't even realize Xiao Ye was this sick.

Don't worry.

Actually I knew about it all along.

Xiao Ye insisted that I didn't tell anyone.

You're so stupid, Xiao Sa!

How could you keep this from us! She could die!

I didn't think it would be like this.

Professor, I'm fine.

Xiao Ye, don't say anything.

Don't mind me. I'm really fine.

After we find Jingjue Kingdom, I'll be fine after I get some good rest.

What nonsense are you saying?

As teachers, to not care about our student's well-being makes us fascists.

Can you make it to Jingjue Kingdom in this condition?

If you're in any danger, none of us should go.

Ai Guo, control your emotions.

Don't, Professor.

Everyone went through so much to get here.

I don't want to hold everyone up because I'm like this.

I just felt especially tired all of a sudden.

But I'm fine now.

Really. I know my own condition.

I won't be in any danger.

Xiao Ye, we're glad you would think that, but you're still young.

No matter what you do, you must not sacrifice your health

and definitely not your life. Do you understand?

Professor, I...

Here's the medicine.

Water. Slowly...

Xiao Ye.

Are you sure you're okay?

I'm fine.

Good. Then get some rest.

Xiao Sa, take care of her.

Professor Chen, Miss Yang, let's discuss something over there.

Okay. Get some rest.

Xiao Sa, take good care of Xiao Ye.

Sa Di Peng, what are they discussing?

Is it because I've become a burden for everyone?

Xiao Ye, don't think that.

Get some rest.

Professor Chen.

From the looks of it, our watches and compasses all have problems.

It is probably because of the magnetic mountain.

According to what Miss Yang's notebook says

we are near the magnetic mountains.

If we can find the magnetic mountain

we will have found the entranceway to Jingjue Kingdom.

But the problem is that even though we're so close

we can't see where that magnetic mountain is.

What Hu says is theoretical.

The magnetic mountain could be a few hours from Jingjue Kingdom

or it could be a few days.

Or it could be even further.

With the amount of water we have now

we can scrape by and get back to the well in Gumo Prince's tomb.

If we keep going forward, we definitely won't have enough water.

But all ancient cities in history were built near a water source.

The subterranean river in Gumo Prince's tomb is an example.

I believe that a once-flourishing kingdom like Jingjue

definitely had an underground water source.

That's right. I believe that too.

But the problem is if we don't find it

on our way back, we'll have to eat the camels

and drink the water we get from moist sand as we go via route 11.

And that's only if we don't run into any sandstorms.

What do you mean by via route 11?

It means walking on your own two feet.

I get it.

There are two paths before us.

The first is to go to Jingjue Kingdom, but it's rather dangerous.

The other is to go back to Gumo Prince's tomb, which is relatively safer.

- That's what you mean, right? - Yes, that's right.

But the more important thing is Xiao Ye.

She fainted and has a fever.

If we keep going forward, she could die.

I wanted to lay all this out for you and hear all your opinions.

Now, everyone's opinion is important.

Professor Chen.

What do you think?

I've been searching for Jingjue Kingdom my whole life.

I'm so close to it now.

I'm really reluctant to give up.