Morwen

All those answers are in "Adventure Behind the Bronze Door", but I admit I would have to watch it myself again first because I can't remember all the details anymore.

But this condition of forgetting everything and only living for the mission is something that only the patriarch of the Zhang family has to suffer through. That's why ZQL—being the last patriarch—has it, too.

I think that's the beauty of the Iron Triangle's relationship.
No one really made the effort to stay friends with ZQL for long (because of the constant memory losses) until Wu Xie came along and tried again and again and again, until he became such an integral part of Xiaoge's life that he didn't forget him even when he lost all other memories again later.

It is explained, yes. And he's not exactly immortal, he just ages very, very slowly. Also, he's not the only Zhang to do so, there are at least half a dozen of them (some of them will only appear for the first time in the upcoming dramas).
The only one who's more prominently featured is Zhang Rishan (played by Zhang Ming'en), who's had at least a cameo appearance in most DMBJ adaptations (including UN). He's been around since the beginning of The Mystic Nine.

This drama is a weird one, indeed.
It's not an official part of the DMBJ universe, but it kept enough story elements of it that it could very well be one.
The fandom also seems to be divided over this.

Oh, three? I only know of their cameo appearances in "Southern Archives" and "The Mystic Nine 2", but considering where "Time Raiders" ends, I have good reason to believe we'll get at least another season with them.

Yeah, his story is super depressing. You'll get to see glimpses into his childhood and youth, and those were not fun for him. But "Adventure Behind the Bronze Door" also has the best last episode ever of any of these dramas. Not going to spoil it here but it was SO good.
Zhang Kangle plays ZQL, while Wu Xie is played by Zhang Luyi. And the ever wonderful Chen Minghao plays Wang Pangzi in this yet again.

The beginning maybe, but the main story takes place around the same time as The Mystic Nine. Fo Ye/Zhang Qishan is already a well established name in Changsha at that time.

I made only one payment for the entire drama on the day it was released and I've been able to watch all the daily express episodes since.

I don't see that happening with the Ultimate Note cast, although I think (?) they were planning sequels back then and just never got around to actually filming them in the end. =/
I really hope they keep these boys here long enough to actually make it to the end of the main book series this time.

I get the frustration with the actor changes but I'd still like to recommend watching them in spite of that, because they're still really good. I also wouldn't bet on those sequels ever getting remade.
My personal favorite of the series is Tomb of the Sea, which sees both Qin Hao and Chen Minghao as my favorite older versions of their respective characters (Wu Xie & Pangzi). This one is dark though and Wu Xie is (has to be) pretty ruthless here.
I liked Adventure Behind the Bronze Door a lot as well, this one is for you if you want to know more about Xiaoge's background story. I cried my eyes out repeatedly watching that one.
Reunion is also a fun watch and a lot of people absolutely love it. It wasn't my cup of tea, personally, but the acting is top-notch.

Absolutely agreeing with you here.
That would also solve the constant confusion about what comes when.

It's a new - and more faithful, imo - adaptation of the book series and covers the events of "The Lost Tomb (2015)" as well as the beginning of "The Lost Tomb 2".

As far as I understand it, it was made with heavy involvement of the original author himself and the plan is to adapt the novel series once again but with a fixed cast of actors—and, if we're lucky, to close the currently existing gaps in the narrative (like what happened after Ultimate Note/the 10 Year Promise/etc).

No to the first, but yes to the second.

Yes. It's mostly an adaptation of that one.

Did anyone else cry their way through the first 10 minutes of episode 9 or was that just me.
But seriously, I love this drama for showing how traumatic and impactful these adventures are for the survivors. This is a very human story and we're constantly being reminded of that.

It's going to have bromance in it, too, I'm pretty sure of that with all the promotional and behind-the-scenes stuff I have seen so far. I have a lot of faith in Ding Yuxi and Zhang Xincheng.
Also, the two protagonists were very close in the novel as well. :)

Sadly, my favorite Wu Xie never really got to interact much with "his" Zhang Qiling, so I'd choose Zeng Shunxi & Xiao Yuliang as my favorite combo as well.
My favorite Iron Triangle would be the one from Reunion though.

And yeah, WX and ZQL don't interact much with each other in the first few story arcs. Their friendship and trust builds over time, which is why these two already have a well established relationship by the time Ultimate Note happens.
But! If it's true that they want to adapt the whole books series once more with a fixed cast of actors, then we'll maybe get to see more of that chemistry between Xu Zhenxuan's WX and Cheng Xiang's ZQL as well. :)

Yes. It takes place mostly in Malaysia and tells the story of two members of the Zhang clan (the same clan that Zhang Qiling belongs to, just a different branch) who we haven't met before.

Episode 8 was so, so, so good. My god. The end almost broke my heart. Poor Wu Xie. Baby's first adventure and it's already a tragedy.

One story arc over now, can't wait for the second one (one of my favorites in The Lost Tomb 2, it was so wonderfully creepy).

Thanks. 🥲

As a gif maker I also have to add that the video quality is very uneven; the resolution is not great at times. To me it's hard to work with.

Ah, good to know. :)