Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West Episode 1

Killer art

Season 2 jumps right in on murder and weird case to solve. A famous painter is commissioned by the royals to paint a scene of the defeat of Mara. He has completed everything but the eyes and everybody is anxious that he can’t seem to finish it. He is at the Cloud tower drinking wine when he has a run in with the chief musician. When the artist talks about his painting he asked them how it would be if the art came to life and killed them? They were taken aback but brushed it off as a joke. After the musician mocked him the painter said when Mara came to life that he would be the first one killed. On his way home the musician was still mocking the painter. He hears something and turns around. He is found dead with his liver removed. Lu heads to XiJun to draw the suspect and she for the first time says no. She is an avid fan of the muralist and wanted to watch him complete his work. Lu shames her and she agrees to draw it. She is very surprised at the description and has drawn aver good rendering of the Mara in mural. Lu thinks the witness has been mesmerized by the mural but then comes to find out the poor don’t have the luxury of even seeing it. So what she drew, he swore was what he had seen with his eyes. He was less than 20 feet and had no trouble seeing it. When examining the body, Lu notices black balm behind the ear. He sends his friend searching to find out where it is sold. In the interim, he questions the artist. He sees XiJun’s drawing and said she is so talented he would teach her his skills for free. Somehow I doubt Lu will convey that message. A series of bodies have shown up with Mo sword wounds. It is a very specific blade reserved for combat and they are trying to find out who would even have one to use. He tracks the general down but he is not home. His wife is quite beautiful and shows him the horses. Lu tries to ride a very specific breed of tempestuous horse and gets thrown twice. When she finds out Sun Wang is dead she faints and Lu carries her into the house. He is gimping down the road later which is kinda funny since he is usually ramrod straight walking proudly about. His friend finds where the black balm is sold. There is a new store in ghost market and to talk with the owner you have to drink a jug of wine. They complete the task and his friend passes out. He is trying to purchase the balm but she doesn’t offer to sell it but her sisters to give it. He is in a drunken haze when Mara and steed show up. It is a pretty intense battle. His friend saved him from a fatal blow but resulted in him getting one.😭The general is knocked unconscious and we do not know if he is dead or not. Su WuMing receives a demand from the Emperor to come back. The Princess corners him to find her son. He tries to play dumb but she tells him he went to ghost market and has been gone for two days. She wants him back safe. Both royals have offered him an official position. But his concern is finding his friend. He examines the bodies and notes all of them are scared to death or struck with Mo blade. They all have their livers removed. It is really weird and we want him to find Lu ASAP.

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