Mystery, Crime, & Detective Shows
Tomb of the Sea Side Story: Hua Mei
Liu Sang, sent by Wu Xie to watch over Wu Shan Ju, is targeted by vengeful staff and becomes entangled in the mystery of a haunting female portrait on the building’s wall
Rate This Show
About The Show
🍿 FORMAT
Movie (🎞️)
✨ TITLE
Tomb of the Sea Side Story: Hua Mei
🎭 ALTERNATIVE TITLE
沙海番外之画媒
🌎 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
China (Mainland)
🕵️ DETECTIVE(S)
Huo Daofu, Liu Sang
📕 MYSTERY SERIES
The Grave Robber Chronicles (aka The Lost Tomb)
✅ SHOW STATUS
Completed
#️⃣️ SEASONS OR EPISODES
N/A – Technically a side story in the Reunion: Sound of Providence series.
🗓️ AIRED / RELEASED
2018
⏳AVERAGE DURATION
1 hr and 11 min.
🔄 ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Chinese
Content Rating
🔥 OFFICIAL RATING
Not Rated
⚔️ VIOLENCE
Mild
🫣 FOUL LANGUAGE
Mild
💋 SEXUAL CONTENT
None
💯 OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Teen Friendly
Content ratings and notes provided on this site reflect personal observations and opinions only. They are not intended to be relied upon as the sole source of guidance when deciding whether a novel or other literary work is appropriate for children, sensitive viewers, or vulnerable adults. Always consult multiple reviews, official content advisories, and parental guidance resources before viewing.
Synopsis
Genres & Themes
Plot
The story follows Liu Sang, a young man with extraordinary hearing abilities, who is sent by Wu Xie to the Wu Shan Ju antique shop. The shop is plagued by unsettling events surrounding a mysterious ancient painting of a woman that seems to possess a life of its own. As Liu Sang investigates, he discovers that the painting is not merely an object but a “medium” or “matchmaker” (Hua Mei) that connects the living world to a deeper, darker secret hidden within the walls of the shop and a nearby mysterious cave.
The investigation quickly escalates into a race against time as the investigators realize the painting is part of a complex “puzzle” set up generations ago. To resolve the supernatural crisis, they must uncover the tragic history of the woman in the portrait and the specific reasons Wu Xie “arranged” for Liu Sang to be there. The film explores themes of fate and redemption while maintaining the suspenseful, occult atmosphere characteristic of the Daomu Biji universe.
Based On A Book
The Grave Robber Chronicles (盗墓笔记)
✏️ Author: Xu Lei (Nan Pai San Shu)
📅 Publication Date: 2007
This particular movie is non-canon and is not part of the original series. It is allegedly one of three side stories to the Tomb of the Sea but the main character Liu Sang does not appear in that series. Instead he is one of the more significant characters in Reunion: Sound of Providence (TV Show) / Chongqi – Restart (Novels).
The best place to find information about the original Chinese edition and the direct translation by Merebear is the translator’s website here. The first few volumes of the main story has been adapted into a series of English Translated volumes and one graphic novel.
⚠️ Please Note: The shows do not directly align with either the original Chinese or the English editions. Nor do the English editions directly align with the original Chinese. Parts are spliced together, cut out, or otherwise edited to create the various adaptations.
This post may use Affiliate Links. Any earned commissions come from the seller at no additional cost to you. 💗 These commissions generally go towards supporting Never Quit Looking, our database for missing persons, unidentified persons, and unsolved homicides.
Cast
Liu Sang
Played by Liu Chang
Huo Dao Fu
Played by He Long Long
Resources
Watch Now
Additional Information
This post may use Affiliate Links. Any earned commissions come from the seller at no additional cost to you. 💗 These commissions generally go towards supporting Never Quit Looking, our database for missing persons, unidentified persons, and unsolved homicides.
Join The Conversation!
The Suitcase Detective is a growing global archive of mystery and investigation content, including true crime case files, detective literature, films, television series, and radio and podcast storytelling. Follow us as we document, preserve, and connect the stories behind the mysteries.