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Episode 9

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Series Name
Season 1, Episode 9
Air date April 3rd, 2022
Episode Guide
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Distinct (徴標, Chōhyō) is the ninth episode of Shenmue the Animation. It first premiered on Crunchyroll and Adult Swim on April 3rd, 2022.

Plot[]

Ryo finds a note with a symbol called the Chawan Sign and another that symbolizes one is a friend of Yuando Zhu. This triggers Ryo to be hunted by the group he had an encounter with called the Yellow Heads who are also searching for Yuando Zhu.

Summary[]

Ryo reads the book by Sunming Zhao and recalls that Lan Di once said to his father that he killed him. A note drops from the book, with a symbol that looks like four circles drawn in a check line-like pattern on it. Walking down a hallway with the book in hand, Ryo notes that Yuanda Zhu is the key to figuring out his father's murderer. Ryo then spots Lishao looking at a photograph of what appears to be herself and someone named Ziming.

The following day, Ryo and Fangmei finish their book drying chore together and Fangmei asks Ryo if he found the book on Wulinshu. Ryo then shows Fangmei the note he found in the book, but has no clue about its origin, she does, however, suggest he visit the owner of the Hong Kong Tea Market. There, the owner claims the symbol on the note looks like the Chawan Sign and suggests he visit Guixiang for information about it. Visiting Guixiang, Ryo learns that the symbol is indeed the Chawan Sign and is told what each circle represents and its placement. He then learns about the check-like symbol on the back that shows that a person is a friend of Yuando Zhu. Guixiang suggests that Ryo memorize the symbol and eat at restaurants and bars to find other friends of Yaundo. Ryo does this at his table at a street stall restaurant and he then waits until dusk, but is left discouraged that his efforts were futile. When Ryo tries to pay his bill, the stall owner passes a message to him to wait at the Man Mo Park at 9 pm. The moment he arrives at the scene, he's knocked out by an unknown assailant.

Ryo has a dream where he chases after Lan Di in a blurry dark void-like area and once he finally reaches him he's easily pushed back by him. Awakening in his room the following day, Ryo spots the photo that Lishao was crying over a couple of days ago. Upon inspecting the back of it, the names of Lishao's true name and the name of what appears to be her brother are written on the bottom right corner of it. Meeting with Fangmei, she informs Ryu that Lishao found and returned him to the Man Mo Temple; in turn, Ryo asks Fangmei about someone named Ziming. Sheepishly, Fangmei discloses Ziming's relation to Lishao as her elder brother and about them being raised in an orphanage. Afterward, Ryo encounters a man who informs Ryo more about the message that he's trying to convey to Yuando Zhu, and after learning he's a martial artist asks him to learn about Wude. Taken to his Barber Shop and it's there that he tests Ryo's reflexes, but although he passes, he cannot teach him about Wude. The reason why is, that Ryo isn't fit to learn about Wude. Outside of the shop, Ryo recalls the words of his father, Hanhui, and the barber, all of whom stated he's missing something. Deciding to follow the tip that the barber gave him about where he once found the symbol at a place called the Dou Jiang Diner. It's there that Ryo sets up the symbol again with four teacups and the waitress there informs him that he has a phone call for him. This was proven to be false as there was nobody on the other line of the phonebooth and when Ryo returns to his table finds that a message was left for him. The message said to meet someone there at 8 pm and back at the temple, Liashao learns from Fangmei that Ryo is out again.

At the designated time, Ryo meets with an associate of Yuanda Zhu, but before they could formally talk about Yuando, they're ambushed by members of the Yellow Head gang. The associate is captured by a member of the gang and Ryo deals with the others. After the member brings the associate to the leader of the group, but when he orders his men to attack Ryo, mysteriously they all faint. Panic-stricken, the leader flees the scene as the incognito Lishao disappears into the shadows. Ryo then helps the associate and after showing him his letter from Yuando, the associate introduces himself as Shuqin an aide to Yuando. As for his whereabouts, it's unknown as he's currently being targeted by the Chi You Men. Still wanting to find Yuandu, Shuqin suggests that Ryo seek out Ren of the Heavens gang and learned of his location.

Arriving at the Heavens gang hideout, Ryo is accosted by three members of the gang, but in the end, is knocked out again. Later, Ryo awakens in Wong's boathouse and is given a special lighter that only Heavens gang members have and a password that'll allow him entrance to Heavens hideout. Following Wong's advice, Ryo is allowed passage into the hideout and meets with Ren. After a brief test from Ren, he leads Ryo to the supposed location of Yuanda. In reality, he's led to a shady business transaction involving the Yellow Heads leader Ryo encountered the day before. The lights go off and Ren steals the money used in the transaction, leaving Ryo to fight against the men who accost him. Once they were dealt with, Ryo chases Ren to a construction building, where they end up falling from it and landing on a crate. When the two regain their composure, Ren spots the Phoenix Mirror by Ryo's side and is told of Ryo's motivation to find Yuandu. Interested in Ryo's gumption, Ren offers to help Ryo find Yuando. A comment made by Ren makes Ryo realize what he's lacking and the following day meets with the barber again and learns of the final Wude principle Dan. Furthermore, Ryo realizes what Lishao was trying to convey to him. He later confronts and tells her that he knows about the loss of her brother, in turn, Lishao asks him what he'll do when he finds his father's murderer. With the two at an impasse, Ryo announces that he's leaving the temple and Lishao acquiesces.

Characters and Cast[]

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