Episode 9: The Hermit & The Monk, Part I

The group debates how best to locate an entrance to the Crystal Catacombs, the ancient ruins beneath Ba Sing Se, in order to find the hermit, Unyielding Zato, and Enji. They decide to check back in at the libraries at the University of Ba Sing Se, where they spend a lot of time scouring old maps and documents. They find some entrances in the southeast corner of the city, both in and outside the inner walls of the Lower Ring.

The group splits up to investigate the two most promising areas: an old city square, and an area outside near Lake Laogai. Kensaya and Taqqiq go to the outer area to investigate. There they meet a man who appears to be squatting in the ruins of a house. Kensaya gets a strange sensation and relives what appears to be a memory in that location: the Dai Li coming to interrogate the man and his family for daofei activities. With no other real entrance to the catacombs present, the two decide to leave the man alone, although Taqqiq offers help to the man.

Meanwhile, Po and Mayu investigate the old city square, finding a long-defunct fountain. Po earthbends it and discovers an old aqueduct below. They sense this could lead further beneath the city, path up their handiwork, and return to the Moon Peach Inn to inform the others. Upon arriving at the Inn, Po and Mayu are struck with a visible memory of Lei Fang, the Lower-Ring daofei leader, who is asking about Taqqiq (whom he knows as "Tak"). The innkeeper cover but says there is a waterbender staying at the inn.

When Kensaya and Taqqiq return, they share their notes and Po and Mayu ask Taqqiq about Lei Fang's interest in him. Taqqiq reiterates the encounter he had with Lei Fang and the burned study of Chona's master, Long. The group discusses their plan to go below the city, but also to shake off Lei Fang, who could be a dangerous enemy. Taqqiq agrees that they could leverage Lei Fang in their search for Zato and Enji. The group accompanies Taqqiq as he meets with Lei Fang, who's looking for help investigating a now-open passage below the city (thanks to Po...). Taqqiq agrees to join the crew, and the group watches from afar.

 As the group prepares for the descent, Taqqiq slips out in the night to return to the Blue Shell Parlor. He attempts to meet with Setua, but is met by Setua's right-hand lady instead, Ilya. Taqqiq is looking for help to hone his waterbending abilities,  and Ilya warns him of straying too far from his Water-Tribe roots. She agrees to train him...

The next day, as Taqqiq begins to descend with Lei Fang's group, he witnesses a memory of Enji, falling through a similar passage into the catacombs. Taqqiq is snapped out of it and helped up by Lei Fang, who takes his crew into the aqueduct tunnels, where the other companions wait to jump the Fanged Mercenaries....