Original subtitles

[Legend of Zang Hai]

[Episode 2]

Mayflies live for but a day, from dawn to dusk.

Cicadas mistake a single season for eternity.

The ancient past recedes into mist.

How many times has the wheel of time turned to reach the present?

You're awake.

Have some water.

Who are you?

I was an old friend of your father's.

Why should I trust you?

If I meant to kill you,

why would I have waited for you to wake up?

Misfortune befell your household last night.

You were the only one I managed to save.

The others

weren't so lucky.

Cry if you need to.

Once you've let it all out,

we'll talk.

We've arrived.

You've cried it out already.

You should be feeling a bit better now.

I'm sure you have many questions for me, right?

Before your father returned,

he and I exchanged letters and agreed

that I would help you leave the Capital.

But I arrived a step too late.

I will avenge them.

Do you know who your enemy is?

My father mentioned his name.

The one in charge

is Zhuang Luyin.

No wonder he's so capable.

It turns out he's the Marquis of Pingjin.

But your father had no feud with him.

Why would he do such a thing?

He came to my father

to ask for something.

What is it?

I don't know.

My father didn't say anything.

When your father returned to the Capital from Dongxia,

he brought something with him.

The Marquis of Pingjin

went so far as to annihilate your entire household over it.

Should he discover that you are still alive,

grave danger will follow.

What happened last night

can't be changed.

Are you certain you wish to pursue vengeance?

If I can't take revenge,

I'd rather be dead.

If you're willing to do as I say,

I have a way to help you.

Please tell me what to do.

The Marquis of Pingjin is a man of great status and authority.

If you want revenge,

it will take time.

You must lie low and hone your skills.

How long will it take?

At least ten years.

I'll send you to a place where you can hone your skills.

After that, it's all on you.

Hurry up!

Master is coming.

- Who is your master? - Hurry up.

The same person who will be teaching you.

The one who will be teaching me?

So, you're Kuai Duo's child?

Come down and let me take a look at you.

I'll say this upfront.

You'll get

no special treatment here.

If you can't handle the hardship,

you're free to leave.

I won't stop you.

I want to learn martial arts.

Your muscles and bones are weak,

and your talent is mediocre.

You're simply not cut out

for martial arts.

He has already devised

a revenge plan for you.

Just follow

that path,

and you will surely achieve your goal.

I want to kill my enemy with my own hands.

If it's not a powerful martial art,

I won't bother learning it.

Must revenge rely on violence?

What else could I rely on?

Conviction.

If you hold onto this belief,

any skill in the world

can be deadly.

Lucun.

Yes, sir.

His right sleeve is a cun shorter than the left.

Your work lacks precision.

No one in this room

is allowed to eat

for the next three days.

If it happens again,

your little finger will be snapped,

you'll be banished from the mansion,

and never allowed to return.

Please forgive us, Master.

Why are you so mean?

These are just trivial issues.

You're doubting things

before you've even learned them.

It seems your parents

didn't discipline you properly.

Don't you dare speak ill of my parents!

Lucun.

[Facial Structure Adjustment Plan]

[Cutleaf False Oxtongue]

What happened to my face?

Don't panic, kid.

I only made minor adjustments to your eyebrows, eyes,

and facial structure,

along with some skin repairs.

Now, you look

quite different from before.

In a few years, as you grow older,

you'll lose all resemblance

to your parents,

and your enemy won't be able to recognize you.

So, in a few years,

I won't look like

my parents at all?

Tell me.

When did you get that wound

on your back?

Just a few days ago.

Has your enemy seen it?

No.

That's good.

The wound on your back

is really deep.

All Xing Dou can do

is help it heal faster

and minimize the scarring.

Who is Xing Dou?

He

is the cranky fellow.

Who might you be, then?

My name is Gao Ming.

I'm your other master.

What could you possibly teach me?

You little brat,

don't underestimate me.

If you think you know everything,

try getting out of here first.

Your master Xing Dou is merciless.

If you can't get out,

you might starve to death.

Let me eat first.

Once I've regained my strength,

I'll come back to work on the joints.

You were born into a family of constructors.

If you can't even unlock

the simplest mortise and tenon joints,

I'd say your father Kuai Duo's reputation

is undeserved.

You're not allowed to speak ill of my father.

You promised my benefactor

you'd teach me the way of vengeance.

I don't think

you'd actually let me starve to death.

I did promise him

I'd teach you the way of vengeance.

But you look different now.

If necessary, I'll just find

another kid

to take your place.

You!

You want to test me?

My father has already taught me everything.

I'll get out and prove it to you right now.

The kid has just undergone facial transformation surgery

and is still very fragile.

If he actually dies,

how will you explain that to his benefactor?

If he can't even endure

hunger and pain,

maybe it's better if he doesn't seek revenge at all.

At such a young age,

his resilience is remarkable.

He's got great potential.

Let's leave.

If you don't come out today,

you'll starve to death.

You dislike me

because you resent my father.

My father is an expert in the study of the Yijing

and the finest geomancer in the world.

Your skills don't measure up,

and you're bitter about it.

You claim your father is an expert in the study of Yijing.

There was a great master of Yijing in the previous dynasty

named He Menggui.

Have you heard of him?

Of course, I have.

Then recite his poem

"To Yin Xunzhai on the Numerology of Yijing" to me.

Guan Lu was a master of winnowing divination,

while Yang Xiong's Taixuanjing remains peerless.

Guan Lu loved studying the stars from a young age.

Yang Xiong was a devoted learner in his youth

and wrote the classic Taixuanjing.

Yijing

holds profound insights into the universe.

Master it,

and you could become

just as extraordinary.

Now,

let us continue reciting.

Where does the rising wind come from?

The answer lies in the Xun hexagram.

The storm begins with the softest stir atop the green duckweed.

A man of wisdom

seizes the moment

and moves with the tide.

If you seek revenge,

first learn the wind's ways.

All things grow and flourish, hidden within primordial chaos.

Who was it that unlocked the secret gate and unveiled the mysteries of creation?

He's quite good.

Yijing preserves the wisdom of the great sages.

It embodies the three cosmic principles of transformation.

Guan Lu was a master of winnowing divination,

while Yang Xiong's Taixuanjing remains peerless.

Where does the rising wind come from?

The answer lies in the Xun hexagram.

Let's go.

Come.

Come here.

Half a month from now,

you will study geomancy and construction with me in the mornings,

and learn strategy and diplomacy from Gao Ming in the afternoons.

You are to rise at the hour of Mao

and rest at the hour of Hai.

No slacking off.

Kid,

you must be hungry.

Let's go

and eat.

Careful.

By day, they toil in the fields. By night, they spin the flax at home.

In the village, every man and woman tends to their own household work.

Though the young ones have yet to learn farming or weaving,

they still sit beneath the mulberry shade, learning to sow seeds.

Geomancy studies the way

of Heaven and Earth.

[Mount Longkou] We observe the stars above

and examine the land below.

This is the essence of geomancy.

Mountains wind and coil

like dragons upon the earth.

To choose the right site,

you must know the direction of the wind,

the flow of water,

and the state of the soil.

Hold out your hand.

Master,

may I ask where I erred?

The dougong is off by one li.

It's merely one li.

A tiny slip can lead

to a massive mistake.

That little error could one day

cost you your life.

Master.

You have a beard now.

Today,

I'll show you what I'm truly capable of.

What are you all doing?

Clear the way. Move aside!

Are you blind?

How dare you block the county magistrate's path?

Write it down.

You can't even manage

a small county properly.

Look at the mess

you've made at this place.

Officials like you only know how to grease palms

and line pockets.

Sooner or later, you'll be smothered by the very silver you took.

Yes, sir.

If I hadn't arrived

before the Imperial Censor,

and your misdeeds had been reported,

you'd have lost your head

several times over by now.

- Yes, sir. - Come here.

I'll give you a chance

to make things right.

Return everything you've embezzled.

As for those beyond saving,

whether they're to be arrested or executed,

you know exactly what to do.

Don't be afraid.

You've got support.

Yes, sir.

You weren't wearing an official's robe,

nor did you arrive in a carriage.

Why would he believe you?

Didn't you also address me

as an official just now?

What you must do

is make others believe

what you want them to believe.

What matters most

is not how well you act,

nor how convincing your costume is,

but knowing

what the other party fears most, and what they most desire.

The art of strategy and diplomacy

encompasses the knowledge of the world.

You must be well-versed

in every field.

With but a silver tongue,

one may prove stronger than an army of a million.

Master.

This kid's got the construction skills

to work

independently now.

Your apprentice

is about to outshine you.

Doesn't that bother you?

Master.

Master.

This is the pigeon post

I just received.

Good job.

We'll have a celebration for you tonight.

[Liuchu is coming] Heat up a pot of fine liquor.

Master, what does this note say?

Your new master

is about to arrive.

There's a new master for me?

Now that you're twenty,

it's time for her to come.

There's something strange about you two today.

Is this new master

that impressive?

You'll know once you two meet.

Tonight,

the two of us will enter seclusion

and won't return until tomorrow.

You should stay at the mansion.

Yes, Master.

You

should go to town and buy a jar of fine liquor

for your new master.

Preferably, osmanthus liquor.

All right, got it.

Well, I'm still worried.

Maybe I should stay with you?

Gao Ming.

I...

All right.

I'm leaving.

Don't worry.

No need to worry.

A new master.

Close the door.

So, you

are my third master?

Why?

You didn't expect

your new master to be a woman?

I'm Liuchu.

Greetings, Master Liuchu.

By the way,

Master Gao Ming asked me

to bring this to you.

Set it aside for now.

What are you going to teach me?

Oh?

They didn't tell you?

They seemed a bit strange when speaking of you.

I thought

maybe you were really scary.

So, do I seem

scary to you now?

I'm here to teach you

about the matters between men and women.

Today,

there's only one thing you need to learn:

how to resist

a woman's sweet affection

and tender allure.

I'm talking to you.

But

if you fail to learn it today,

that's all right.

After all,

few are granted

a glimpse of me like this.

I'm sorry.

What's the matter?

I thought

you were here to teach me how to take revenge.

You know how to use pain to suppress desire.

Not bad.

Though you resisted

temptation this time

by staying true to yourself,

next time,

if you truly fall

for a woman,

it may not

be so easy.

In the future,

you'll meet many people:

men,

women,

enemies,

and friends.

Men are like stone,

strong and unyielding,

bound by duty.

Women are like water,

gentle yet resilient,

with love as deep as the sea.

There's much to learn

in the words "duty" and "love."

But

the hardest thing to guard against in this world

is genuine sincerity.

Genuine sincerity?

Even genuine sincerity needs to be guarded against?

The last time you saw your parents

was ten years ago, right?

Do you still remember

what they looked like?

Actually,

I'm the same as you.

I was an orphan

from a very young age.

Though I remember the day they passed vividly,

I just can't seem

to recall

their faces clearly.

Tell me.

Does that make me unfilial?

No, not at all.

You...

You just can't bear to remember.

I remember

as a child, I loved pomegranates.

So my father

planted

a pomegranate tree in the yard.

He'd pick the fruit,

my mother would peel it,

and I'd eat it.

Those

were such happy times.

I'm the same.

I loved eating roast duck.

Whenever my father received his salary,

he would go into town to buy some for me.

Yet little did I expect

that those would be

my final moments of happiness.

If I had the chance,

I would truly want to see my parents once more,

so I could remember their faces

more clearly.

I guess

you feel the same way,

don't you?

If I were your enemy,

you would be dead by now.

Resisting the temptation of desire is not hard.

What's truly difficult

is resisting the temptation of emotions.

This...

This isn't fair.

This world

is hardly fair,

and second chances

are few and far between.

I understand now.

I have to lock my heart up tight,

letting nothing in,

and never reveal true feelings to anyone.

But that's not enough.

You have to not only

mask yourself

but also control your emotions

so well

that people believe

your tears are real

and your smiles genuine.

That way,

no one will notice

that I'm hiding my true feelings,

and there won't be any slip-ups to give me away.

That's the theory.

But can you actually do it?

I'm certain I can do it.

You're still young.

Though smart,

you're a person

ruled by your emotions at heart.

This might become

your biggest obstacle

on the path of revenge,

but it could also be the key

to your victory.

I'll leave now.

Master Liuchu,

have I passed

today's test?

What I teach

is different from that of your other two masters.

When it comes to feelings,

some are born knowing them,

while others

just can't figure them out even in a lifetime.

Remember,

you've only passed

half the test today.

Be vigilant in the future

and don't fall for someone easily.

Master, you tricked me again.

Master Liuchu didn't drink it at all.

I bet it's you craving the drink.

Your Master Liuchu

has seen a lot in the Capital.

It's no surprise she's not impressed

by our local liquor.

Shouldn't you be worried about me?

I only passed half

of Master Liuchu's test.

It takes talent to master one's emotions.

You've passed half

of Liuchu's test,

which makes you second only to me.

Look at your Master Xing Dou.

His heart

is like a stone.

Otherwise, why would he hide away

in these remote mountains?

I wonder if he ever gets bored.

No one can fool

a man like him.

But you, on the other hand,

value your bond with others,

which makes you easy to deceive.

When will I be able

to complete my training?

You silly kid,

in our line of work,

you never

stop learning.

It seems that I'll never

catch up to you

since you're older than me.

You little brat,

who are you calling old?

Stop right there!

I wouldn't dare, Master.

I just want to learn your skills

as soon as possible.

Please, Master.

You know what they say:

"Haste makes waste."

One day, you'll understand

that the most powerful skill in this world

is to deceive others with truth and honesty.

When I was your age,

I also found this principle very deep.

It was only after suffering many losses

that I came to comprehend it.

What you mean

is that I still need more training?

What I mean is,

you got fooled again.

I am exceptionally gifted

and innately skilled in deception.

How could anyone

ever make me suffer losses?

You're still too naive.

Come here.

This is for you.

Sir.

Sir.

It's been years since I last came to see you.

You've grown so much.

See if you can unlock it.

General's Lock?

I see that you've been doing pretty well

these past years.

My masters have treated me well.

They say

you've learned a lot.

I rise at the hour of Mao

and rest at the hour of Hai each day,

always maintaining my discipline.

Don't you find it

suffocating and boring?

When I'm bored,

I just count the bricks and tiles in the pavilion.

So,

how many bricks are laid on the ground?

Three thousand three hundred and eighty-one bricks.

How many tiles are on the roof?

Forty-eight thousand three hundred tiles.

How many people in your household

died that night?

My household had ten disciples,

all killed by those men in black.

I saw my senior Gousheng's neck

being snapped.

My sister and mother

were both slain by the sword.

That night,

fourteen lives were lost in total.

It's been

3,325 days since then.

I didn't expect that after all these years,

your resolve would stay unshaken.

Your hatred hasn't faded one bit.

Since you lead a carefree life here,

I thought

that one day you'd eventually let it go.

My master taught me

there's no need to show hatred on your face.

Keep it in your heart

as your heart is yours alone,

unseen by others.

But your face is out in the open,

and everyone can see it.

This is your birthday gift this year.

See if you like it.

This...

He is your enemy,

Marquis of Pingjin,

Zhuang Luyin.

That's right.

It's him.

[Zhuang Luyin] I'll remember him

even if he turns to ashes.

The Marquis of Pingjin has fought in countless battles,

his hands stained with blood.

Not only is he a formidable warrior,

but he is also naturally cautious and suspicious.

He always wears

[Gather knowledge and cultivate wisdom] a piece of golden-threaded soft armor,

and his guards are impenetrable.

Killing him is nearly impossible.

You'll have to rely on your wits.

Then how can I get close to him?

You must find a chance

to serve as his aide.

That's why Master has been teaching me

the art of strategy and diplomacy.

There are three individuals by the Marquis of Pingjin's side

who stand between you and him.

If you truly wish

to approach the Marquis of Pingjin,

you must first overcome

these three challenges.

[Qu Jiao] This person is named Qu Jiao.

He is the personal bodyguard of the Marquis of Pingjin

and also the commander of his household troops.

He is the Marquis's executioner,

known for his savage cruelty.

He's the one

who killed my family.

[Chu Huaiming]

Chu Huaiming?

He used to work under your father.

Because of his mediocre abilities,

he had little chance of being promoted in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

So he betrayed your father

and joined the Marquis of Pingjin.

After your father died,

the Marquis of Pingjin

helped him rise to the position of Imperial Astronomer.

This man is two-faced

and despicable.

Given your knowledge of geomancy,

he will inevitably

see you as a thorn in his side.

[Yang Zhen]

This man is named Yang Zhen.

He is the chief aide to the Marquis of Pingjin.

Back then, he was the one

who made the massacre look like a random bandit attack,

a clever cover-up for the Marquis.

He is quite cunning

and is highly valued by the Marquis of Pingjin.

He's also got the other aides

in the Marquis's Mansion under his thumb.

If you enter the Marquis's Mansion

and start to stand out,

you will certainly face his suppression.

This is the list of everyone in the Marquis's Mansion,

Everyone there is sharp and calculating.

[Jiang Xiang] The Marquis's Mansion

[Female head of the Marquis's Mansion] is a web of complex power dynamics.

[Zhuang Zhifu, Marquis's Eldest Son] You must proceed with utmost caution.

[Register of Marquis's Mansion]

[Zhuang Zhixing, Marquis's Second Son]

[Zhuang Zhixing, Marquis's Second Son]

Sir,

since you've shown me these,

does that mean it's time for me

to return to the Capital?

Zhinu hasn't completed his training yet.

Isn't it a bit too soon for him

to return to the Capital?

Something significant has happened in the Capital.

The Empress Dowager passed away three days ago.

The court and the people are in deep mourning.

I see.

This opportunity is fleeting

and might not come again.

Zhinu,

the hidden dragon,

must dive deep now.

Tomorrow,

you shall depart.

I've spent years honing my craft,

waiting for this very moment.

Beyond fully mastering and integrating

all that you've learned over the years,

you must also remain exceptionally vigilant

and strike only when the time is right.

Only then can you survive

in the Capital, a place

of ever-shifting intrigue,

and slowly lay the foundation for your revenge.

I've prepared

a new identity for you.

Etch it into your heart.

From this day on,

you have only one name:

Zang Hai.

[Stranded in Qingquan Town, Jiangning Prefecture]

[Well-versed in the art of geomancy.]

Are you wondering

what your benefactor and Xing Dou

are discussing

and why the Empress Dowager's passing

is considered a perfect opportunity?

Master,

will you go to the Capital with me?

Certainly.

Really?

Just the thought of having to be with you

all the time

really annoys me.

I'm not annoyed.

Master,

have some ribs.

That's more like it.

Now, you are showing some real respect.

Master.

Have you finished packing?

We need to leave now.

Master Xing Dou,

where is Master Gao Ming?

He's already left with your benefactor.

He asked me to tell you

not to trust others

just because of your feelings.

Otherwise, you'll only end up disappointed.

Zhinu.

Master,

who are you calling?

My name is Zang Hai.

From this moment on,

there is no more Zhinu in this world.

♪Conceal the ambition in my eyes♪

♪In my palm, I hold a dangerous desire♪

♪Turbulent waves hidden in my sleeves♪

♪Silent thunder echoes around♪

♪However cunning you are♪

♪I can see♪

♪Right through you♪

♪Schemes are my armor♪

♪Overt plans are my weapons♪

♪With restrained fury♪

♪I purge the world's corruption♪

♪The night is not dark♪

♪Because♪

♪My heart burns bright♪

♪I control the shifting clouds♪

♪I command the falling rain♪

♪The compass of the human soul is unpredictable♪

♪There will always be ups and downs♪

♪I hold the power of life and death♪

♪I grant and I take away♪

♪When faith burns like the scorching sun♪

♪I will sing aloud with you♪

♪I am the sowing season♪

♪I am the autumn harvest♪

♪I am the world♪

♪I am the people♪

♪And you are also me♪