We continue our exercises with the universal $R$-matrix based on the Khoroshkin and Tolstoy formula. Here we present our results for the case of the twisted affine Kac--Moody Lie algebra of type $A^{(2)}_2$. Our interest in this case is inspired by the fact that the Tzitzeica equation is associated with $A^{(2)}_2$ in a similar way as the sine-Gordon equation is related to $A^{(1)}_1$. The fundamental spin-chain Hamiltonian is constructed systematically as the logarithmic derivative of the transfer matrix. $L$-operators of two types are obtained by using q-deformed oscillators.