Mojin: The Worm Valley 2019

In a distant past, Princess Jingjue’s sinister Ghost Eye Curse wreaked havoc on her kingdom, sealing the fate of her subjects to perish by the age of 40. This dreadful curse not only claimed individual lives but also spread its dark legacy, ensnaring generations within a relentless cycle of anguish. The only hope for liberation lay in reuniting two legendary artifacts: the Dragon Bone Celestial Tome and the Mu Chen Orb. The former had been secured, yet the latter remained a tantalizing mystery.

Scholars Hu Bayi and Professor Sun, delving into the enigmatic lore of the Dragon Bone Celestial Tome, unearthed clues indicating that the Mu Chen Orb was ensconced within Emperor Xian’s Tomb, hidden deep in the ancient Longfeng Mountains of Yunnan Province. In pursuit of this lost knowledge, Bayi, Professor Sun, and Shirley Yang sought the assistance of the secluded translator Chen Yukou, whose disheveled exterior belied a profound mastery of ancient languages. Yet, Chen’s own tormented psyche provided little comfort, as he issued a chilling caution, “Never gaze into its eyes.”

Undaunted, Bayi, Shirley, Professor Sun, Zhou Linglong, Wang Kaixuan (Heng Yu, also known as Fatty), and Jin Ya (Gold Tooth) embarked on a treacherous expedition to the Yunnan Province. Their journey soon revealed a terrifying shadow, the Chongshu, a malevolent form of witchcraft that encased its victims in stone, home to ravenous insects. In this eerie atmosphere, they discovered Cai Yun’s modest hotel, where she and her daughter Kong Que offered them refuge and hospitality.

That night, the group gathered outside to admire Flameflies illuminating the darkness. Kong Que showcased a captured Flamefly Queen in a glass jar, explaining how these blind insects would follow her, igniting into flames upon death, returning to their queen’s side. In a moment of greed, Fatty snatched the jar from Kong Que, inadvertently setting into motion a series of events that would change their lives forever.

As Kong Que guided them through the serpentine tunnels of an underground waterway, they faced a harrowing gauntlet of perilous beasts. With each step drawing them closer to the Worm Valley, a deadly fog hung ominously, threatening to snuff out their very existence. Urged on by Kong Que’s warnings, they pressed forward, navigating the treacherous terrain and confronting formidable foes.

Their perilous adventure led them to fierce battles against schools of razor-toothed fish and an army of armored lizards, testing their courage and resolve. After a grueling struggle, they finally reached the sanctuary of the Floating Island, overcome with both relief and weariness.

With their spirits briefly rejuvenated, the group ventured into the unsettling Field of Skull Flowers before they arrived at a riverside cemetery, fiercely guarded by the formidable Deathless Crab of the Huo Clan. Bayi, rallying every ounce of strength and cunning, took on the colossal beast. But in the tumult, Linglong suffered mortal injuries, leaving behind a poignant legacy of sorrow and heroism.

As Professor Sun urged them to retreat while they still could, Bayi’s resolve only strengthened. Even as tears streamed down Professor Sun’s face, his departure did little to dim Bayi’s determination to liberate them from the curse. Climbing up the ancient Bone Ladder, they pushed through to the radiant halls of the Golden Palace.

There, they uncovered the Emperor Xian’s Tomb, sworn to protect by a relentless swarm of monstrous scorpions. Just as Bayi seized the coveted Mu Chen Orb, the palace’s bells began to toll, banishing the scorpions into oblivion. However, the cacophony heralded a disorienting haze and the ominous emergence of the Snake King.

Shirley Yang’s warning resonated in their minds: “Don’t look into its eyes!” - a harrowing tale rooted in Chen’s own madness. A choice lay before them: to submit to the Snake King’s mystique or to rally against its wrath. Inspired by Bayi’s unwavering courage, they steeled themselves for an epic confrontation.

In a bold strategy to harness the Flamefly Queen, currently within Fatty’s clutches, a chaotic battle unfolded. The jar shattered, liberating the Flamefly Queen and calling forth a swarm of fiery allies. Just then, Professor Sun returned, only to be engulfed by the bitter flames of the Queen. Determined to infiltrate the Snake King’s domain, he sacrificed himself as a vessel for the avenging flame, ultimately leading to the Snake King’s fiery demise. The creature’s last act of defiance unleashed a torrent of water, which crashed upon the landscape, compounding their trials.

In the tumultuous wake of victory, Bayi, Shirley Yang, Fatty, and Gold Tooth mourned the loss of their brave companion, Professor Sun. As they laid Lindlong’s lifeless body to rest and returned home, they united the revered Dragon Bone Celestial Tome and the mysterious Mu Chen Orb. Rather than granting them release from an age-old curse, these ancient relics unexpectedly beckoned them towards their next grand adventure, hinting at yet another odyssey awaiting on the horizon.