Strange Tales of Changsha: The Evil Emperor Is Reborn

"The Nine Gates of Changsha haven't fallen apart yet?"

Wu Xie, back from the Sand Sea, watches young Wu Laogou fighting dogs on a street in the Republic of China era. His fingers tighten around a bronze fragment. A time-space disturbance has sent him back a hundred years. Before the opera's final note has faded, he meets Zhang Qiling's cool, clear gaze. But Zhang Qiling furrows his brow. "Who are you?"

This isn't the person who stood by his side in perfect understanding behind the Bronze Gate.

The fog around the mines grows thicker. Japanese spies prowl the streets, while the Wang family's ancestors weave a web in the shadows. Zhang Qishan sizes him up. "Outsider, what gives you the right to meddle in the affairs of the Nine Gates?" Wu Xie smiles, sharpness flashing in his eyes. "Because I know your regrets, and I understand the schemes of 'It.'"

He protects Yatou, stops Chen Pi from turning evil, and saves Hei Bei Lao Liu from tragedy. Drawing on the strategies he learned in the Sand Sea, he navigates the Nine Gates. He explores ancient tombs, fights zongzi, and battles powerful enemies, all while taking Zhang Qiling's hand. "This time, I'll help you fill in the holes of the past."

"Why are you helping us?" Er Yuehong asks suspiciously.

Wu Xie looks at Zhang Qiling, who is gradually lowering his guard beside him. His eyes hold an obsession that has crossed time and space. "So the Nine Gates won't fall, and so I can make up for the time we lost in the Republic of China era."

A century-old game links the Sand Sea with the Ultimate. When the shadow of "It" descends ahead of time, Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling stand side by side. "We're going to win this game!"