Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 14]

Was that monster in human shape?

No.

It got a head that was like a boar's.

Then why didn't you call it a boar?

It was…

thin.

It was thin.

It was much thinner than a boar.

And its legs were longer.

It could stand up?

Yes!

It could climb trees too?

Yes!

Then it must be a wild man.

How dare you, Liu Shiba!

How dare you eat a human!

I...

You have the face of a good man.

I don't think you dare eat human flesh.

Yes!

Yes.

Bring me to see

your trap tomorrow morning.

I want to see

the monster you mentioned.

Sure, sure!

Someone's coming.

It can't be.

It is already incredible

to have a general like you

in this deserted stage station.

How come there are other people coming?

But why did I hear

knocking?

Did you?

Yes!

It must be a passer-by who is trapped in the rain.

It's fate that we meet in the same inn.

Just take him in.

I'll pay for both of us.

Okay!

Ma Butong from Lingyun Temple in Nanzhou,

wishes to lodge in.

This stage station has been abandoned.

There is a new one ten miles away.

You can sleep there.

Wait.

To be honest,

the painting in my arms

is the famous painter in Chang'an,

Zhang Xuan's masterpiece,

the painting of the Stone Bridge.

This painting is priceless.

If it is watered by the rain,

I can't justify myself to Her Highness.

My head

is nothing compared to a little corner of this painting.

Please take me in.

You will be my lifesaver.

But this station is not clean.

It's okay.

I can clean it myself.

That's not what I meant.

Could it be...

haunted?

Yes.

Then I am more fearless.

In the temple,

I majored in subduing demons and ghosts.

I can help you get rid of evil spirits in the station,

and I won't charge you, okay?

Since you insist,

you can stay.

But a general came here before you,

and he has a weird temper.

You must be careful around him.

I understand.

Understand.

Ma Butong from Lingyun Temple.

Greetings, General.

Ma Butong?

A Taoist priest!

I take back what I said.

What does the general mean?

Nothing.

Would you like something to eat?

I don't eat after noon.

I'm not like some useless people whose minds are only on foods and drinks.

Who's useless?

I'm tired.

Is the right superior room empty?

I'm going to bed.

Stop!

How dare you!

I'm here.

How dare you sleep in the right superior room?

I'm on a mission to bring this painting

to Her Highness in Chang'an.

Who are you to fight over that room with me?

Her Highness?

I've been ordered to go north

to guard the border by His Majesty.

You can't scare me with a princess.

There are many soldiers guarding the border.

Can you reach the emperor?

Can you reach the princess?

Of course, I can.

I can subdue demons and ghosts.

Her Highness has promised me

to give me a high-ranking position.

If someone like you can be an official,

the court will be doomed.

Liu Shiba.

Yes.

Didn't you say this stage station

is not clean?

After I spill this priest's blood here,

your station

will be clean ever after.

Don't kill him, don't.

I-I'm scared.

You priest!

How dare you talk back to the general?

Fine, fine.

You win!

Can I stay in the left superior room?

You're just a priest.

You shouldn't stay in an official stage station.

How dare you sleep in a room the same level as mine?

Liu Shiba.

Yes.

Find a stockroom or a wing-room

for him.

Throw him out once the rain stops.

Yes, yes!

You, you...

Let's go, go.

You'll suffer losses

in front of a military man like him

with those snappy comebacks.

Tell me!

What is his name!

I'll go and tell

Her Highness.

Okay, okay.

I'll ask around for you.

I'll take you to the first wing-room on the right.

That room is very spacious.

It's not worse than the superior room.

Later, I'll bring some good wine

to warm you up.

Don't be angry.

You're a smart corvee.

If I become an official someday,

I won't forget you.

General.

Rest early.

Wait.

I'm tired from the trip.

Bring me a bucket of hot water

for my feet.

Okay.

You bring me wine too.

Can you join me for a drink?

I can't.

That general needs hot water to wash his feet

and asks me to serve him.

He is so domineering.

It's better to let him meet an evil spirit tonight.

General, it's all done.

OK. You can leave now.

Cover me with my quilt.

Okay.

Blow out the light too.

Yes.

After what happened to our second brother,

we agreed

to only let one person enter the station every day.

But this priest,

later here,

has a very expensive painting

in his hand.

We've made it.

As long as we take that painting

and sell it in Chang'an,

we don't have to

live like this anymore.

This one is rich.

Let's check if his wallet is full of gold or silver.

Stop, you bandit!

Su Wuming!

Su Wuming.

Stop yelling.

I'm not dead.

Don't you see I'm sleeping?

You didn't take

the medicine that Fed gave you?

Yes.

Then why did you sleep so soundly?

You look at him.

He looks like a demon. How scary!

If I hadn't pretended to be asleep,

he would have killed me.

Look at him yourself.

Besides,

I'm just a scholar.

Even if I'd got up,

I would've only distracted you.

We worked out fine.

Not at all!

One ran away just now.

What's the big deal?

We still caught one here.

It's good to have one for us to interrogate.

Help me up!

I'm the new Military Commander of Nanzhou,

Su Wuming.

What's your name?

Liar! Liar!

How is it?

Just as you expected.

Xue Huan,

get ready to fight the bandits with me.

Yes, sir.

Sheriff Su,

how have you been?

You are...

What?

Don't you recognize me?

We share the same surname.

I just shaved my beard,

and you can't recognize me?

Su Wuming?

It is me.

Since you have assumed your office in Nanzhou,

why are you back?

I always feel

that this Gantang Post is shady.

So I came back to investigate.

Why? Can't I?

Of course you can.

But...

This is my jurisdiction.

I know.

So I want to ask

how you

punished that Liu Shiba.

He is being held in the Gantang Post under arrest.

Did he confess

how many people he killed these years?

We have his testimony. It's none of your business.

Those people who were killed

should all be like that Colonel Yu.

Someone like them would always bring

a lot of money with them when traveling.

Where did their money go?

There was nothing.

The reason Commander Su returned to the Gantang Post

is just

for those gold and silver that don't exist?

Don't exist?

The Cui family of Qinghe has a piece of precious jade as their heirloom.

Cui Wuji who was killed by him

must have it on him.

Where is Liu Shiqi?

Why didn't I see

that jade they mentioned?

Sheriff Su,

I didn't know it was valuable,

so I didn't bring it to you.

Hurry

and kill those people.

We brothers can continue to serve you.

Shut up!

You are Liu Shiqi?

Then the monster in that room

should be Liu Shijiu.

I've been in Gantang County for days.

I also heard something.

Liu Shiba's father

was the headman of Sheriff Su.

He died in the Gantang Post three years ago.

The cause of his death is unknown.

Su Wuming.

You want to intervene in this case?

Can't I?

It's not your turn.

This case is weird.

This Su is even weirder.

His identity of military commander

must be made up.

Arrest all three of them.

Yes.

Wait.

In our Su family,

we actually have a rascal like you.

Tell me.

How much dirty money

did you make

with the three Liu brothers?

What are you waiting for?

I don't want to hear him talk anymore!

Kill them on the spot!

Magistrate!

What brought you here?

Hurry.

Take these people...

Shut up!

Commander Su,

if you hadn't returned to the Gantang Post,

I wouldn't have known

his real face.

Though this case falls in my jurisdiction,

I'd like you to hear it.

Thank you, Wang.

Please.

I believe your story

starts from your childhood.

Who wants to say it?

Me.

25 years ago,

my mother gave birth to the three of us.

They thought there were only two boys.

But later they found

there was one left.

My mother had fainted

several times from the pain.

But she realized there was still a baby in her.

So she asked the midwife to do her best to deliver the baby.

In the end,

he survived,

but my mother died.

He was born strange.

He couldn't talk even when he was five

or walk.

He crawled on the ground every day.

I don't know

who told my father

that he was a monster.

So he threw him away.

There were only two

left in the house.

Even two are too much!

It would've been much better

if he'd thrown you away too.

After that,

your old neighbors

told me some.

Liu Shiqi,

You've been a rogue since childhood.

A liar.

After you grew up,

you started to steal.

Your father worked in the county government.

Because of your theft,

he was constantly humiliated by others.

When you were 13,

he finally couldn't tolerate your behavior

and kicked you out of Gantang County.

That was because

I sold a few girls.

He was afraid if he didn't kick me out,

those little girls' parents

would come to me and beat me to death.

And he would lost his job too.

So that case of the abduction and trafficking of young girls

was done by you

when you were 13.

Yes！

I have a gift for that!

I impressed you, didn't I?

That case caused a sensation in Gantang back then.

So many families were ruined by you!

Liu Shiba,

do you know about this?

Yes.

I've been regretting

not reporting him to the government.

I'm your brother.

Report me?

Are you a monster?

You're the monster!

You stole all our savings.

Our father saved that money

for me to finish my education.

What's the use of education?

With a father like that,

you can't change your fate no matter how well-educated you are!

Wasn't he your father too?

He was a loser.

He didn't deserve to be my father!

He worked in the county government for half his life,

but our life was just as poor

as a beggar's!

If I were him,

I would've showered my family with riches!

Sheriff Su,

I found this just now.

It's the loot Liu Shiqi kept to himself.

He didn't give it to you

even though you saved his life.

There was an old corvee working in the Gantang Post.

His body hasn't been found yet.

He should have lost his life

to the serpents too.

Yeah.

I was very disappointed

when I just arrived at the Gantang Post.

I felt

there was no future for me there.

But later I noticed

that there were often

successful people from different places

taking a rest in the post.

I learned a lot

from their speeches and behaviors.

Some high-ranking officials

would treat me with respect

just because I offered them help.

I was really content.

But the situation went downhill soon.

Strange things happened frequently in the Gantang Post.

The old corvee said

that they had only happened

since I came there.

I had no idea at that time

that my brother

had been following me.

After he was dumped in the woods that year,

he didn't die.

He grew up

with a nest of serpents.

He knew the way home

and often sneaked back.

But he was afraid of our father

and never made an appearance.

After I came to the Gantang Post,

the old corvee found

that the chickens in the yard started to go missing.

He thought

it was the weasels.

But he later found out

that it was my brother.

He wanted to kill my brother,

but was attacked by the serpents.

That was the first time

I'd seen my long-lost brother.

It was also the first time

I'd seen him using his fingers

to tear off human flesh

bit by bit.

I rushed to stop him,

but he…

He bit off your finger.

He didn't mean it!

He regretted it immediately.

His eyes were bleeding.

I didn't dare to report it to the government.

I hurried back home to tell my father.

Father sharpened his knife

and was determined to kill my monstrous brother himself.

But Liu Shiqi killed our father.

Liu Shiqi found our brother first

and cajoled him into killing people.

You killed your father?

When I was 13,

I was too weak to kill him.

Otherwise,

that old thing would've long been dead.

You beast!

You just took office at that time

and was responsible for

this Gantang Post case.

Am I right, Sheriff Su?

I pitied these three brothers

so I said those two men

were killed by the serpents.

What's wrong with that?

You just wanted to use the Gantang Post

and the three brothers

to kill people and rake in fortunes for you!

Over the past five years,

all the money and goods

Liu Shiqi gave you

have been recorded on this.

Liu Shiba recorded them.

Sheriff Su,

do you know since when

I've been suspecting you?

Since the first time

we met.

It was late at night.

When you realized

that it was something about the Gantang Post,

you deliberately dismissed

the constables on duty

and brought with you your trusted aides,

those who are sitting

on the ground outside.

Magistrate,

I did it

because I had no better choice.

Gantang County is very poor.

Even you can't receive your salaries on time,

let alone me

and my men.

Everyone had a share of the money

I made in the Gantang Post.

That kept my men motivated

to investigate other cases.

Shut up!

You're supposed to catch criminals,

not become a criminal yourself!

Can't believe you have the balls to justify yourself.

Please rest assured, Commander Su.

I will never

let a scumbag like him

get away with it.

Liu Shiqi,

you already got so many treasures

behind Sheriff Su's back,

but you were too greedy

to escape before it was too late.

If you had run away

after Liu Shiba was arrested,

I would have no idea

where to find you.

Su Wuming,

I'm a fool

to not have recognized you sooner.

If I'd known that you were the man

who messed up with my plan last time,

I would've sent Liu Shijiu

to tear you into pieces and eat you alive.

You killed your father,

but Liu Shiba still

took you as his brother.

Although it was against his will,

he stayed with you

in the Gantang Post anyway.

He bore all the blame

himself

so that

you and Liu Shijiu could get away with it.

Have you ever felt indebted to him?

Did you talk with

Sheriff Su

to try to save him?

No.

He should have died long ago.

He was the favorite son

of that old prick.

I can't hate him more!

In the past years in the Gantang Post,

if he hadn't got in our way,

we could've killed more people

and looted even more

money and treasure!

My mother should've

only given birth to me.

I'm so smart.

I'm popular with women.

I would definitely be able

to live a rich and carefree life!

Sir,

among those three brothers,

who do you think is the most pitiful one?

Liu Shiba or Liu Shijiu?

You've been silent all this time

because you're thinking about that?

Yes.

I grew up in a poor family.

I never thought

that someone's life could be harder than mine.

Magistrate Wang is a kind-hearted official.

Liu Shiba didn't kill anyone.

Perhaps he won't be sentenced to death.

Commander Su, what's on your mind?

In less than ten days,

we'll arrive in Nanzhou.

By then,

if my beard hasn't grown back,

I'll be so embarrassed

when people look at me.

Then let's speed up

to reach Nanzhou in eight days.

I can't wait

to see how embarrassed you'll get.

Minister Lu.

What are you brooding over?

I don't think

I've written my thoughts on my face.

Prefectural Governor Xiong invited you back

to be the Minister of Justice again.

Both of us are happy for you.

Yeah.

It's our honor to be at your service.

But it's rainy every day

in Nanzhou.

There's nothing to keep me occupied.

I get it.

You found the rainy weather annoying?

Don't worry.

It'll end in half a month.

What?

One month at most.

It's the monsoon season after all.

It'll keep raining for another month?

In the monsoon season,

one should just

drink, sleep, and dream.

I feel like

I'm getting moldy.

Why don't we go find a tavern

and have a drink?

Good idea.

Do you know that guy?

Who is that?

He's Dong Lang.

Yes.

It's him.

Who is he?

A beggar.

He's been begging on the streets of Nanzhou

since he was a boy.

Was he ever convicted of theft?

No.

[Dong Lang, a Beggar]

Dong Lang!

Catch him!

He didn't steal those things.

They

were hidden in the walls.

I guess they were put there

by someone building the Confucian temple.

Yes.

That Confucian temple is quite magnificent.

Who built that temple?

The Anonymous.

Here's the story.

Ten years ago,

someone spent a large sum of money

in building a Confucian temple

at the foot of the Minor Stone Bridge Mountain

in the city of Nanzhou.

But that man

wouldn't reveal his identity,

so everyone simply called him The Anonymous.

It's said to be an old man

who died a long time ago

and had no offspring.

Does that temple have many worshippers?

It did in a while after the temple was built,

but few people visit it now.

There have been a few students

studying there for the exam in recent years.

I've asked them.

Those things don't belong to them.

Although Dong Lang didn't steal,

he attempted to take

things that didn't belong to him.

So despicable.

He blamed it on the rainy weather,

saying that he couldn't beg on the streets when it rained.

Hunger must have addled his brains.

Perhaps he had dreams

which made him believe

those valuable things

belonged to him.

Total nonsense.

He's gotten twenty strikes by the wood stave.

He's learned his lesson.

Please bless my husband, Confucius.

Please help him

pass the exam this time.

Stop nagging.

Come here.

Drink with me.

I can't hold my liquor.

Besides,

how am I going to go home

if I get drunk?

Go home?

After going home,

you'll still be alone.

Behave!

You've been studying with him.

Aren't you afraid that he'll find out?

There's nothing to be afraid of.

He's gone east to buy books.

I counted the time.

He won't come back

in a while.

Lad,

you have an umbrella in your hand.

Why haven't you opened it?

Even if you don't mind getting soaked,

you should shelter the books from the rain.

Was that

just my illusion?

[Dugu Xiashu, a student in Nanzhou]

It's you.

Why are you home?

[Qinghong, Dugu's Wife]

Where do you expect me to be?

What was that sound?

When you are not home,

I put it on the bed

when I sleep.

If a thief comes in,

I can kick it off the bed

and scare the thief away.

I heard some noise and thought…

So the thief was you.

When did you come back?

I didn't hear you at all.

I just arrived.

So you know you have home.

Why don't you

stay in the Confucian temple forever?

That way, you won't blame me again if you fail the exam next year.

Dear,

don't be angry.

I've come back to see you.

Glad to know

you haven't forgotten me.

Tonight,

I'll stay home with you.

Dear,

didn't you go out

this afternoon?

It's been raining all day.

I couldn't go anywhere.

I've been sleeping at home.

But…

I seemed to have a nightmare.

I'll buy you

a peach wood sword

and hang it on the bedpost.

No evil spirits

will dare to approach you then.

You are so sweet.

But...

I didn't dream of evil spirits

or monsters.

I dreamed

that an obnoxious person

threw a pile of books at my head.

Really?

Yeah.

I dreamed

that I went to send you clothes

but you weren't in the temple.

So I went to the ancestral hall

to pay my respects to Confucius.

I prayed to him that you could win tops marks

in the imperial exams next year.

But some crazy guy

threw books in through the window

and hit my head.

It still hurts.

♫The storm rises with no reason♫

♫In the night of illusions♫

♫I go into the maze♫

♫In a world of prosperity♫

♫A heart burns with obsession♫

♫With the darkness rising♫

♫I can't stop wandering through the night♫

♫With light in my heart, I'm not afraid of the storm♫

♫It's because of justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there is a fog♫

♫Even if there are invisible waves♫

♫I'll tell the story of the fate♫

♫Tell the love of the world♫

♫For the memory of grace♫

♫And the resentment is not yet over♫

♫The rivers and mountains are immortal, the clouds are overturned♫

♫To be consoled by the truth, even with thorns on my back♫

♫Only for justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there are a thousand sails, it's not a waste of time♫

♫What I am afraid of is the unrighted wrong♫

♫The spirit of righteousness♫

♫I'll paint the sunshine into the landscape♫

♫The spirit of righteousness♫

♫Exists for the one I care♫