Original subtitles

[A Moment But Forever]

[Episode 31]

Watch your step.

In the Fragrant Grove,

there's a friend of mine

who specializes in spatial barrier techniques.

We can take shelter at her place

for a while.

Stop hiding.

Come out now.

If you don't,

I'll tear your place

down.

[Youhu Clan, Curly]

Yuanzhong, what brings you here?

We came as guests,

and yet you don't even offer us tea?

Tanyin,

this is my childhood friend.

Just an acquaintance.

You can call her Curly.

She was born with curly fur.

When she was little,

she once stole Dingxu's Heaven-Turning Seal

just to straighten her fur

and almost got crushed to death by it.

I didn't steal it. I just borrowed it.

Why did you laugh?

I laughed because it was funny.

Is laughing

not allowed here?

After that, she caused some trouble

and couldn't stay in the clan anymore.

I gave her the Fragrant Grove

so she'd have a place to live.

She once told me

she owed me a favor.

She promised to repay me no matter what,

even if it meant going through

extreme challenges.

Now,

it's time for her to make good on that promise.

So that's why

you asked me to bring you here?

Curly's other spells

are mediocre at best,

but when it comes to spatial barrier techniques,

she is exceptionally skilled.

When she was a kid and got into trouble,

she'd always hide,

and no one could find her.

She really had some skills.

What does that mean?

Are you here to take my life?

Not to take your life.

Just to stay for a few days.

That's basically the same as taking my life!

This place is so cramped,

with three people living here,

constantly bumping into each other.

How could we possibly live like that?

What?

We can't stay?

No.

I can tell you're hurt,

so you must be going through something.

But you're more than

capable of

finding a safe spot.

Why must you...

Why must you put someone else in a tough spot?

Right?

Since I'm here,

I have my reasons.

I don't care about your reasons!

You simply can't stay here.

What about the favor you owe me?

I'd go through

any extreme task for you,

but you can't stay here!

You know me.

I just can't tolerate it.

Alright.

Then we have no choice

but to return to Fangwai Mountain.

Oh, by the way,

your three elder sisters

miss you very much,

especially your second sister.

She's been longing to see you.

Your second sister

is really blessed.

She has a happy marriage and a flourishing family.

She now has eight children.

The youngest still hasn't mastered transformation.

If they find out you're here

and all come to visit,

the Fragrant Grove

will be bustling.

Wait!

If you want to stay here,

you'll have to follow my rules.

You're just temporary guests here,

not the owners.

You'll have to take care of

your own food, clothes, shelter, and transport.

Don't expect me to serve you.

I'm not in the habit of waiting on anyone.

Oh, by the way,

you're Yuanzhong's servant girl, right?

Take good care of him

and make sure he leaves as soon as possible.

Is this your kitchen?

Yes.

It's very clean.

Even the stove is spotless.

Do you never cook with fire?

Lighting a fire to cook is too troublesome,

and the dust is hard to clean.

I always eat fresh fruits

and raw food.

We prefer cooked food

and hot meals.

These are all medicinal herbs.

There's so much of it.

Really?

I thought it was just some wild greens.

I gathered them from the forest.

They taste awful.

Extremely bitter.

Yuanzhong is seriously injured;

he needs medicine to recover.

Do you have any tools

for decocting herbs?

I wasn't done speaking yet.

Well,

the two rooms on the east side are for you.

That loft is my bedroom.

I usually

eat, rest,

read, train, and meditate there.

All of that is important to me.

If you have nothing urgent, don't disturb me.

Even if you do, it's best not to.

So, if we

ever need to find you,

what should we do?

Write a letter.

See that mailbox

in the courtyard?

If you need something,

just put a letter in there.

I'll check it once a day at 7 p.m.

If I need anything,

I'll contact you the same way.

Looks like you won't be leaving

in just a few days, huh?

Then let's set some rules now.

No one disturbs anyone,

and we each keep to ourselves.

Sounds good?

I wasn't finished talking.

Let me tell you about

my daily routine.

As long as we avoid

using the same space

for the same things

at the same time,

we won't run into each other

or cause any trouble.

I usually wake up at 9 a.m.,

wash up at 10:15 a.m.,

eat at 10:45 a.m.,

and train at noon.

Are you done yet?

Not yet.

That was just the fifth rule.

There's still the sixth.

This place originally belonged to Yuanzhong, didn't it?

Yes.

But now I live here,

so it's mine.

We had no choice but to come here,

but we won't stay long.

I'll do my best

to follow your rules,

but if I can't,

I hope you can be understanding.

I haven't finished it yet!

Write it down.

I haven't mentioned the sixth rule yet.

Curly isn't a bad person.

She's just a little reclusive.

It's not a big deal.

Are you still bothered by what happened in Yandu?

I'm not upset.

I just don't get it.

Don't get it?

You're not a villain,

and you haven't hurt anyone.

Why did they

treat you like that?

Humans are treacherous,

and easily swayed by the crowd.

And when divine forces

come into play,

their choices seem inevitable.

This shouldn't have happened.

You're too clever

to not understand this.

You just feel that...

I feel sorry for you.

I feel that you are treated unfairly.

Leaving aside the War Demons,

at the very least, the humans and the Youhu Clan

should've been grateful to you.

They should have remembered your kindness.

It shouldn't have turned out this way.

Throughout this long journey of escape,

you've endured so much.

You've mentioned it countless times already.

I must say it again.

No matter how many times I say it, it's never enough.

Actually, over the past few days,

I wasn't entirely unconscious.

I woke up a few times,

feeling disoriented and confused.

Each time I woke up,

I could hear your voice.

I thought to myself,

heaven hasn't been too harsh with me.

At least I met you.

There's something

I haven't told you.

Actually, back then,

what you saw in my sea of consciousness

wasn't the whole picture.

They call me the demon,

and that's not entirely untrue.

During the forty years I was locked away,

I had a thought.

I believed the world was full of sin,

that human nature was inherently evil.

Always hungry, seeking to be filled;

when cold, yearning for warmth;

when warm, craving pride, luxury, and indulgence;

always desiring more.

So,

I wanted to use the Divine Left Hand as a sacrifice

to pass judgment on all the sins in this world.

Those who bore the Five Sins

would be consumed by Heavenly Fire.

I believed that, given how corrupt the world was,

once the judgment was made,

everything would be purified and transformed into a clear, bright place.

From the moment I was freed,

I was resolute in carrying out this plan.

I thought, since the world had wronged me,

I would repay its evil with vengeance on all.

But,

fate had me meet you.

Ji Tanyin,

you have always treated me with genuine sincerity,

never pretending,

and saving me from danger over and over again.

At first, I doubted you.

I couldn't believe someone like you

could exist in this world.

And I couldn't believe that heaven

would show any favor to someone like me.

But gradually,

I started to like you.

My heart became attached,

and I felt a sense of longing.

I was afraid,

afraid that I might falter.

So, when we were at Orange Lake and Yandu,

I pushed you away

because I was afraid that, because of you,

I would lose myself.

In the battle at Yandu,

even though the whole world criticized me,

even though I was cornered,

I never regretted it.

When you gain something,

you will inevitably lose something.

I gained the Divine Left Hand,

and with it, the power

to rival the gods.

So naturally,

I lost the simple life of an ordinary person.

And I gained you,

so whatever else I lose,

I wouldn't care.

They say the Mute Lady of Wu Mountain

guides all living beings,

neither a god nor a deity, yet greater than one.

Ji Tanyin,

you truly transformed me.

You saved the world

and me.

Yuanzhong,

there's something I...

I, actually...

What happened?

I was hurt by Master Yan before,

sustaining some internal injuries.

It's nothing serious.

Glad to hear that.

Glad to hear that.

Sorry.

Why are you apologizing?

Sorry, Yuanzhong.

Sorry, Yuanzhong.

You're worried about the High Priest.

Right now, everyone in the world

is searching for Yuanzhong.

Whether the past events were true or not,

his Divine Left Hand

truly has the power to destroy the entire world.

You're afraid now.

Back then, Yuanzhong punched

through Pinghu.

They tried every possible method

to seal him.

Now that they know he has the ability

to destroy the entire world,

they'd want to bring him down even more.

Now that you're the Lord of Yandu City,

with such an identity,

it's really inappropriate for you to be here.

That's exactly

why I should come.

Not because of you.

The High Priest isn't a bad person.

We can't just try to

eliminate someone

because they have power and we're afraid.

If that's the case,

then there would be too many people in this world

who deserve to be killed.

What are you talking about?

It doesn't concern you.

Then let's talk about something that does concern me.

I've brought back the food.

It's your turn to take care of the rest.

The river is over there.

Go take care of it.

I'll go.

Let him go.

I'll go with you.

Fu Jiuyun said Taihe is a demon.

What exactly happened during the war between gods and demons?

Why did Hannv stop me

from meeting the gods

from Thunder Division?

Did she know something?

I don't know why, but the Ascension Platform

can't be opened.

I need to think of another way

to return to the Divine Realm.

But I've lost my divine bone.

What should I do?

How are you?

Are you alright?

I'm fine, don't worry about me.

Your eyes will definitely heal.

I know.

Are you trying to drink some water?

I'm thinking of going for a walk.

I'll come with you.

Alright.

Come on.

Be careful.

Watch the steps.

There's a water wheel on the right ahead,

do you remember?

There's a beautiful little garden ahead

on the left.

There's even a swing inside.

♫Too many old dreams♫

What are you laughing at?

Nothing.

♫Where did the snow fall to?♫

Why do I feel

♫Going to face a catastrophe♫

you're laughing with a smug expression?

Well,

♫No one is irrelevant♫

I suddenly remembered when we were at Fangwai Mountain.

Back then,

someone was

so clumsy

♫A slight ripple in my gaze♫

and not as careful as now.

♫Who knows the warmth and cold of my fleeting life?♫

Who is "someone?"

Just name me directly.

It's fine to say it's me.

♫If staying together is difficult, it's not worth it♫

How can I do that?

After all, I'm blind now,

and still need your care.

♫I'll return what's left of my life♫

What if I upset you

and you ignore me?

What should I do then?

♫Falling into the mortal world♫

♫Wandering through the clouds and rivers♫

♫Being by your side is like finding the shore♫

Let's go for a walk.

Go out?

♫If between oaths♫

♫I hold onto the longing for just one more glance♫

It's fine.

At night, the Fragrant Grove is shrouded in mist,

♫Unwilling to bid farewell for good♫

which acts as a natural protective barrier.

Even if we go out now,

it won't be so easy to be discovered.

♫Tears grow cold in a single cup♫

♫Longing fades in half♫

Then let's go early and come back early.

♫Like flowers in a mirror, or the moon in the water♫

♫The lonely guest can't sleep, destiny can't be undone; speechless♫

♫Falling into the mortal world♫

♫Wandering through the clouds and rivers♫

♫Being by your side is like finding the shore♫

What's wrong?

♫The moon falls by the riverbank♫

There's a tree ahead,

♫The light finally dims♫

a big pear tree.

♫How can my heart be at ease?♫

I feel like I've seen it somewhere before.

♫Tears grow cold in a single cup♫

♫Longing fades in half♫

♫Like flowers in a mirror, or the moon in the water♫

♫The lonely guest can't sleep, destiny can't be undone; speechless♫

Come on.

This place is so beautiful.

No wonder Curly likes it.

Do you like it too?

I do.

Then let's live here too,

how about it?

But Curly will be so angry.

Then we'll

find an even more beautiful place,

build a house,

plant a tree,

dig a pond,

and raise some fish.

Xue and I

can cook,

so we'll take care of you.

As for you,

when you're free,

you can do some carpentry work,

sell it at the nearby market,

and make some money.

How about

we live a simple and peaceful life

like that,

Tanyin?

You say you can cook,

but I don't believe it.

I really can.

I studied it seriously.

This place is quite far from Fangwai Mountain.

How did you

find this place?

It wasn't me,

it was my father who found it.

Your father?

Since the day I was born,

the Youhu Clan and the War Demons

have been in constant conflict.

My father, worried that our clan would not prevail,

found this place,

believing that in times of danger,

he could bring the clan here to seek refuge.

This place is like a paradise,

and the mist serves as a natural barrier.

It truly is a perfect place to seek refuge.

What about you?

How did you grow up?

Were your parents nice to you?

Would you prefer not to talk about it?

I was thinking,

how should I put it?

My mother's health was always poor,

and she passed away when I was young.

Since I was little,

it was just my father who took care of me.

But it's been

so long now.

His image in my memory

has already become blurry.

My father was an incredible craftsman,

and he had very high expectations for me.

If I made a mistake,

I'd get a slap on the hand.

But even when I did things right,

he would always complain,

saying, "If only

you were a boy."

It felt like

no matter what I did,

no matter how hard I tried,

he was never satisfied.

Then later, I went up the mountain

and began learning the craft from my master.

When I really think about it,

the time I spent with my father,

as his daughter,

was actually quite limited.

Maybe it's because your craftsmanship is so remarkable

that

he's so strict with you.

Shouldn't he praise me for that?

Most humans

tend to favor sons over daughters,

always hoping for a son

to take over the family business.

Is that the case with the Youhu Clan?

It's a bit better here.

What's wrong with having a daughter?

Well, you've asked the wrong person.

I can't say anything positive about it.

Don't tell me you share that view.

I don't favor sons over daughters.

It's just some personal grudges.

Personal grudges?

I have an elder sister.

She's mischievous

and loves to fight.

Whenever

she gets into trouble outside,

my parents always compare me to her,

constantly speaking ill of her.

But you're not

much different from her.

Compared to her,

I'm still a bit better.

Whenever my father

scolded her,

she would always find a way to take her frustration out on me.

I was beaten by her

since I was little.

So, you just tolerated it?

No.

After I got up,

I went to complain to my father.

And then,

I got beaten again.

Tanyin,

that day in Yandu,

how did you save me?

Just like that.

Like what?

I fought my way out.

You've forgotten.

I have a mechanical bird that can fly.

No one can stop me.

I remember,

before I fainted,

your mechanical bird

had already been destroyed.

It... It was destroyed after I saved you.

Really?

It's quite cold here at night.

You're still injured.

Let's go back first.

Alright.

Come on.

You've forgotten.

I have a mechanical bird that can fly.

No one can stop me.

Heaven and Earth are the primal source, from which all energies arise.

Born of deep wisdom, all things return to their origin.

Yandu, gather!

How are you feeling? Better?

Much better.

After applying the medicine a few more times,

your eyes

will recover soon.

I'll head back now.

I woke up early this morning

just to avoid Curly.

Don't worry.

Actually, Curly is even more timid.

Her personality is a bit strange.

Has she always been like this?

I suppose so.

Curly

was born into a large family.

We've known each other since childhood.

While others could transform in about 10 years,

it took her

50 years.

We all thought

she wouldn't be able to transform at all.

The Youhu Clan

is generally laid-back in personality,

with our fair share of bad habits,

but Curly's habits

seem even stranger.

Reclusive?

Yes, and her fur is different.

While others have smooth, straight fur,

hers

is curly.

Because of this,

she's often the subject of ridicule.

As for her,

she couldn't fight back,

always getting the short end of the stick.

Over time,

she developed the habit of avoiding people whenever possible.

But her skill in barrier magic

is impressive.

She's the type who learned it all on her own, without a teacher.

She often uses her barrier magic

to hide herself away.

The whole family will search for her for days,

but she just won't come out.

It might be because she's upset or angry.

Sometimes that's true,

but most of the time,

it's simply because there are too many people,

and she finds it annoying.

I see.

So after she transformed,

she stopped talking.

It wasn't until she got a pet

that she gradually started to improve.

Curly's life is very structured.

Four,

three,

two,

one.

She doesn't want to learn

the clan's methods of cultivation.

While she excels at Barrier Spell,

no one else in the clan can do it,

which is why

she relies on

breathing techniques

to absorb spiritual energy

at noon.

The midday sun holds the essence of fire,

containing the sun's true flames.

It's the purest, most potent energy, burning through everything.

Especially at noon,

when the sun is at its peak.

If she continues

to absorb its energy,

she may eventually

achieve enlightenment and become a god.

How do you know all of this?

I... My master taught me.

You know, he's really powerful.

Maybe.

She always says

the spiritual energy she absorbs at noon

is the sweetest

and the most comfortable.

By the way,

she wrote a letter to us.

I can't read it.

I'll read it to you.

I'll wake up at 9 a.m.

Before then, I'll be asleep,

so please keep quiet.

At 9 a.m. sharp,

I'll wash up and come out to fetch water.

At 9:30 a.m...

Enough.

I know her routine well.

She's reminding us

not to come out carelessly,

to avoid running into her.

She was the same

back at Fangwai Mountain,

but no one really paid attention to it.

Still, you don't need to worry about her.

That's not right.

After all, we're at her place,

and we should

respect her rules.

Besides,

she mostly stays in her room

and doesn't come out.

Honestly,

it's not an inconvenience at all.

Alright.

Is that the reason

she left Fangwai Mountain?

The situation back then

was much more complicated.

At the time,

the War Demons and the Youhu Clan were already in conflict.

Curly's father was a general in the War Division.

Even though he knew about Curly's condition,

he still forced her

to join the battlefield.

It wasn't due to a lack of soldiers,

but because

he wanted her to be an example

for the clan.

As you can imagine,

Curly's condition only worsened.

If I hadn't secretly

rescued her,

she might have

already lost her sanity by now.

I should have been more considerate toward her.

Why aren't you following the rules?

It's noon now,

which means it's clearly my time

to be out and about.

How's it going?

Look,

the float is broken.

It should be 1 p.m. now,

not noon.

I knew it.

I've been feeling

a bit off lately.

I thought I was getting sick.

Don't worry.

I can fix it for you.

You?

Of course.

It's all fixed.

It's fixed?

That was quick!

Quick indeed.

You're amazing!

Here, take it.

What's this?

It's a bamboo dragonfly I made.

Does it actually fly?

Of course it does.

What book are you reading?

"Legend of Immortals."

It tells the story of a remarkable woman

who, on the fifteenth of July at 7 a.m.,

with purple clouds swirling in the sky,

flags and banners waving,

and everyone watching,

saw her soar towards the heavens,

rising higher and higher,

until she entered the Divine Realm

and became a god.

But this is just a fictional tale,

dreamed up by someone.

It shouldn't be taken literally.

Why can't it be true?

It clearly describes

how she ascended

to become a god.

The Divine Realm is not in the sky,

and the difference between the Divine Realm and the Mortal Realm

is not a matter of distance,

but of entirely separate worlds.

Have you heard of the Heavenly Ladder?

In the past, the Heavenly Ladder

was the passage between the two realms.

But now, the passage has been destroyed,

and the two worlds can no longer connect.

To travel from one realm to the other,

you must cross the Sea of Flux.

What is the Sea of Flux?

I've never heard of it before.

You can think of the Sea of Flux

as a barrier,

a wall that separates the heavens from the humans.

So,

if I can find a way

to cross that wall,

I can reach the Divine Realm

and become a god?

Theoretically, yes.

But you shouldn't think about it.

It's incredibly dangerous.

Even gods,

attempting to cross the Sea of Flux,

face a life-or-death struggle.

Why?

Because it's a realm beyond the world,

untethered by the laws of heaven and earth.

How do you know so much about it?

Can you see it now?

Is it better?

How does it feel?

Are you alright?

It's fine,

just a little sting.

I've just applied the medicine.

It'll feel better in a couple of days.

Today, I checked your wound.

The others are healing well,

but the knife wound on your chest

hasn't fully healed yet.

I heard from Qian Lin about that knife.

It's called

the God-Slaying Dagger,

and it's quite sinister.

You need to take extra care of yourself.

Don't worry,

I have the Divine Left Hand.

I can heal any injury.

I'll go prepare the medicine for you now.

Thank you.

If it hadn't been for you,

I honestly don't know

what I would have done.

You're saying this all of a sudden.

I'm not quite used to it.

What's so strange about it?

I'm simply telling the truth.

I'll go prepare the medicine now.

Can you still hold on?

Where is Taihe's body?

Didn't you see it?

That was just an illusion from the Luofu Sea.

It wasn't Taihe at all.

Where exactly is Taihe?

Did you scheme against Tanyin,

causing her to lose her divine bone?

Shut up!

Don't mention her to me.

That good-for-nothing,

worthless girl,

for the sake of some man,

she not only abandoned Taihe,

but also neglected herself.

Tell me,

why has this happened?

She has practiced for so many years,

with such great talent.

She could have focused on her cultivation,

made further progress,

and lived a peaceful life,

doing what she loves,

enjoying longevity with the heavens, earth, and sun.

But instead,

she chose to become

a despised mouse,

chased by others,

burned in blazing flames,

hated by all!

If you truly care for her,

why did you hurt her?

It's not me!

I didn't hurt her!

It's her fault!

She's always been like this.

No,

I should have realized it earlier.

What are you trying to say?

They're all the same.

She can't remember

how I worked day and night for her.

How

I nearly

exhausted myself

to make her live a comfortable life,

so she could smile.

She only remembers those men,

their few words,

their empty promises,

and their appearances,

which,

in the blink of an eye,

were destroyed.

In the end,

they brought themselves to this pitiful state.

They should regret it.

They should all die!

Hannv,

Tanyin and Chu aren't the same person.

They're all the same!

They're all fools

who only get deceived by men!

What do you want to do?

Where exactly is Taihe?

What do you want to do?

Don't rush.

You'll find out soon.

Everything

will end soon.

Hannv!

Hannv!

The medicine today is very bitter.

I made a soup.

Try it.

It's a mix of sour and sweet,

with a hint

of fresh floral fragrance.

That's the pear tree flower.

It's delicious.

Actually, the Fragrant Grove is quite nice.

♫Listening♫

♫Toona leaves knock fireflies into a vase♫

It's much better than

any place I found in Yandu.

It's perfect for a family to live together.

♫Ripples faintly spreading♫

Do you like it here?

♫In the pavilion in the clouds♫

Yes, I like it.

♫Warm wine brews to the sound of the zither♫

♫The fragrance lingers like brush strokes, sketching out your form♫

Now,

it should be dusk, right?

♫Tonight♫

♫In a light intoxication, I feel the longing in the crystalline snow♫

It's already night.

Are there

♫I cannot bear to think of you♫

stars in the sky?

♫I only wish♫

♫That the years would remain ever sunny♫

♫So that, within the drifting light, I could share the breeze with you♫

Yes, many of them.

They're beautiful.

♫The wind blows♫

♫It stirs the scenery♫

♫It awakens our heart♫

♫It makes me certain that you are my destiny♫

Your eye injury is only temporary.

♫The closer we get♫

♫The more it feels like a dream♫

♫And the more I look intoxicated♫

♫I cannot fully express my yearning for you♫

When I was at Tianqu Peak,

whenever I looked up,

♫The wind blows♫

♫It blows away the shadows of the clouds♫

I could only see a tiny patch of sky,

♫It makes the moon seem even brighter♫

no bigger than the size of my palm.

♫It makes me wake up from a dream♫

I used to think that

♫The wind blows♫

once I was free,

♫It reddens my eyes♫

I'd finally be able to truly gaze at the stars.

♫It warms the promise we made♫

♫In the wind, we gently♫

But who would have thought

it would take forty years for me to escape?

♫Drift into a better place♫

By the time I did,

I had already lost the desire

to admire the stars.