Original subtitles

Episode 12

We have had a long-standing feud,

and I've been thinking about how to end it.

I've finally figured it out.

I'll do as you said.

The winner takes all, the loser admits defeat.

What do you think?

That's great.

So, do you dare to engage in a life-and-death duel

and accept this survival challenge?

Huh?

If I win,

you will be required to resign from your position

as leader of the Hui Faction.

Hmm.

This is the survival challenge.

A life-and-death duel between a Demon Lord and an elder?

It's truly unheard of.

It's a life-and-death duel on the night of the new moon.

The challenge has been issued.

Everyone in the Demon Underworld knows about it.

What? You don't dare to accept it, Cat Lord?

Hmm?

He's really determined.

If you ask me,

no one has the upper hand in this round.

Will Cat Lord accept it?

No matter who dies,

- it's not a trifle. - Don't talk nonsense.

I accept it.

Accept it, my foot!

Snake Lord.

What's the survival challenge?

Zhu Ying, you're still young.

You rarely go to the Demon Underworld.

It's normal that you don't know.

The survival challenge was first created by Second Master.

It was intended as a final safeguard to prevent the Demon Underworld

from falling into the hands of evil demons.

Demon Lords and the Elders of the Demon Underworld

hold supreme positions.

If any demons refuse to obey,

they can be issued the survival challenge.

Hmm.

Both fighters,

regardless of identity or background,

battle it out in the arena based solely on their skills.

Once the survival challenge is issued, there's no turning back.

But the survival challenge hasn't been seen for 100 years.

A battle between a Demon Lord and an elder was even unprecedented.

Indeed…

this is too hasty.

That's why I'm here to plead with you, Snake Lord.

Is there any way we could work something out?

Nothing I can do.

Snake Lord.

However…

if Little Kitty really dies,

I'll take her place

to kill that old rat.

What are you doing, Lady Wu?

Fishing.

You have a good appetite.

Hu Zhu delivered it here.

Lady Hu Zhu is so kind.

It's my last meal.

It has to be sumptuous.

What?

Nothing.

Lady Wu, do you have something on your mind?

I was thinking if there's a chance,

I would build a golden house for you to live in at the manor.

And I'll sing the Song of Changmen in there?

You actually know this kind of folk tale?

I've just finished reading it.

Duke Wu's manor has a rich collection of books.

Yes, that's true.

You've studied them all and mixed them up, right?

It doesn't matter.

You're even comparing me to a heartbreaker.

That's because you keep talking nonsense and making fun of people.

That's not what you usually say.

What I mean is…

don't say anything if you don't understand it,

and don't make promises you can't keep.

You never make empty promises?

Little Senior,

have you been away from the mountain for too long that you've forgotten

that those who are from Changxi Palace must not fall in love?

I haven't forgotten.

Then you two…

It won't work out.

I don't plan to marry her.

Although I like her, I'm entrusted with duties.

It is merely seeking the cause without seeking the result.

I should go now.

Aren't you going to ask me?

What should I ask?

Ask me where I'm going.

Where are you going, Lady Wu?

I have an appointment with another man.

Well…

come back earlier.

I'll be back.

Mm.

Mei Residence

"On the day of the new moon,

demons roam the night,

ghosts and spirits abound,

and waves of mystery and intrigue arise."

Why is it the night of the new moon?

Why are you reading this?

You're even reading so diligently.

Is it wrong that I like reading books?

But aren't you mortals fear these things the most?

Yes.

Not all of them.

Lady Liu is most interested in such anecdotes.

So if she likes it, you have to like it too?

What kind of logic is that?

You don't understand.

If you like someone,

you have to know everything about her.

Thinking what she thinks, enjoying what she enjoys.

Hey.

Little Loach, tell me more about it.

I'll call you Big Brother, okay?

Tell me

if what's written in this book is correct.

You, Snake Demon haven't been a spirit for long.

So you don't know about this, do you?

White Serpent knows a lot.

Isn't it the night of the new moon?

The moon isn't visible on the new moon day.

The yin energy is very strong.

The malignant aura of evil is also the strongest.

That's why demons usually fight each other

on the first day of the new moon.

Of course, with the winds of evil blowing, eerie phenomena will rise.

Oh.

I see.

However, you're all demons.

Why do demons kill each other?

Demons are the same as humans.

They have desires and evil intentions.

Hmm.

Do you know

the Black Snake has another name?

Uh…

Long Worm.

What Long Worm?

It's Winged Dragon.

The Black Snake can turn into Winged Dragon

after 100 years of cultivation.

It stores water to summon thunder, gathers clouds and winds,

crouches in the sky, and is invincible in battle.

Now, I've been cultivating for over 100 years.

Hmm?

You've been cultivating for over 100 years?

You're so old, yet you've grown so little?

Did you not eat well?

Huh?

I mean…

why haven't you become a dragon yet?

Because before the Black Snake turns into a dragon,

it's the weakest.

Oh.

On the day of the new moon, demons roam the night.

ghosts and spirits abound, and waves of mystery and intrigue arise.

To get to the bottom of it,

it's just a rule of the Demon Realm for thousands of years.

Survival of the fittest, the winner takes it all.

It's the first night of the new moon again.

I wonder who will be the strongest tonight.

Who will be the victor?

Hmm.

Elder Hui has been cultivating for 1,000 years.

Cat Lord has only been cultivating for over a decade.

It's obvious who will win.

You can't say that.

Cat Lord may be a kid,

but she has the power of Cat Lord.

If she can master it,

we don't know who will win.

In your opinion,

does Cat Lord have a chance of winning?

It's only been 18 years.

You still have a long way to go.

The old rat is crazy.

He dared to break the barrier to harness the power of the Nine Heavens.

Even if he wins, he will be punished.

Are you an idiot? If he really defeats a Demon Lord,

no one will be able to stop him.

How dare you break the barrier?

It's a taboo in the Demon Underworld.

So what?

Just to deal with me,

you don't care about the disorder in the Demon Underworld and Mortal Realm?

So what if there is a brief period of disorder?

As long as I can get rid of you, it's worth it.

The strongest shall be king.

There should never have been a half-human, half-demon creature

like you in this world.

That's scary.

Goodness, no. I'm afraid Cat Lord is…

Is Cat Lord all right?

It's going to end so soon.

I don't dare to look.

There's nothing we can do. The outcome hasn't yet been determined,

and this life-and-death duel has not yet ended.

Xiaozhen.

Are you all right?

Well done!

Cat Lord won!

How is that possible?

You've only been cultivating for 18 years.

Elder Hui.

You worship the strong

just because you consider yourself strong.

But have you ever thought

that one day,

you'll die at the hands of someone stronger?

Just like now…

you're at the mercy of others.

Will you still raise your arms and shout

that this world belongs to the strong?

Xiaozhen.

You're right about one thing.

The strong in the Demon Realm are kings.

But kings do not rule to wield life and death

or hold absolute power.

Rather, they rule to protect both the Mortal and Demon Realms,

to safeguard the weakest creatures

from being oppressed by those stronger than them.

Cat Lord.

Elder Jin,

do you still have something to say?

Elder Hui broke the barrier

between the Mortal Realm and the Demon Underworld.

Of course, he deserves to die.

But he's old, after all.

That's right.

Since the establishment of the Demon Underworld,

he has been following the Second Master.

He's been loyal all these years.

He may not have done anything commendable, but he's certainly worked hard.

Cat Lord,

considering Elder Hui's years of service,

he was just momentarily confused,

please spare his life.

Me? Uh…

I'm fine with anything.

Well, just spare his life then.

It's easy to spare his life.

Abolish his thousand years of cultivation,

leaving only his physical body, and put him back into the Mortal Realm.

Since you like to distinguish between the strong and the weak,

I'll punish you to be a lonely rat

to experience the suffering of the weak.

Let's go, Elder Hui.

Elders, do you have any objections?

As you command, Cat Lord.

Are you all right?

Is your body still holding up?

I'm fine.

I'm glad you're not dead.

You can't bear to part with me?

That's not it.

I regret it.

I was too impulsive that day.

I said that if you died, I would avenge you.

He is an old demon of our grandfathers' generation after all.

He's quite capable.

You're quite impressive, Little Kitty.

It's just that the Demon Realm lost more than it bargained for.

This battle…

has given us a lot more work to do.

The barrier Elder Hui broke

is definitely giving us a lot of work.

I've asked Zhu Ying to check out

the condition of the barrier.

Xiaozhen,

your half-demon form is already unstable,

and now you've been through this great battle.

Why don't you come to my place to rest first?

I should go home.

You're in this state, yet you're still rushing to go home?

I have to keep my word.

Why aren't you resting yet, Young Master Mei?

Oh. I'm waiting for Lady Wu.

It's almost midnight.

She's not back yet.

I'm worried.

Don't worry, Young Master Mei.

Lady Wu Zhen likes to have fun.

She always comes back late.

Sometimes, she stays at Ruyi Pavilion.

She only comes home early in the morning.

But before she left the manor, she said she would be back today.

I…

will wait a little longer.

I don't know why…

I have a bad feeling about this.

You worry too much.

No one in Chang'an is capable of bullying Lady Wu Zhen.

Mingzhuang,

Commander Mei is worrying unnecessarily.

What do you mean by "unnecessarily"?

Look at Commander Mei.

Doesn't he look like the Longing for Wife Stone in the storybook?

Shh!

Watch your manners.

No matter what, he's a guest.

I think this guest is about to become our master.

Is it impolite to visit someone at this hour?

It's the middle of the night.

What are you doing?

Waiting for you to come home.

Luckily, I'm back.

What happened?

I got into a fight.

I'm exhausted.

Why did you get into a fight again?

Because I don't like to get involved with others.

What you say always sounds untrustworthy.

It's true.

He's quite old.

I still fancy…

young men.

Is your leg better?

I'm recovering quickly.

It shouldn't be a problem for you to send me back to my room.

Lady Wu.

Can you get up first?

It's not good to be seen like this.

Zhuyu, what are you doing?

What are you doing, then?

I…

What are you doing here in the middle of the night?

I'm looking for you urgently.

Don't worry, Zhuyu.

I know it's the middle of the night.

So I climbed over the wall. I didn't knock.

I'm afraid people will say we're rude.

Why do you want to see me?

It's nothing serious, actually.

I just remembered something.

Speak.

On the morning of the Sky Lantern Festival,

I ran into Young Master Mei Si.

He said he saw a demon-like shadow.

I thought it was ridiculous.

Now that you think about it, do you find it strange?

Well, I'd rather believe it.

Anyway, I didn't find it strange at that time.

Do you find

tonight's celestial phenomena somewhat eerie?

Eerie? Is that so?

No.

Forget it.

You go back first.

We'll probe further tomorrow.

All right. Finally, we have something to do.

Hey.

The door is over there.

Don't climb over the wall again.

All right.

Hmm?

Lady Liu. Uh…

It's so late now.

Did you just come back?

Or are you going out?

What are you doing here?

Uh…

Oh.

It's the night of the new moon.

The evil and murderous aura is at its most intense.

I'm afraid you won't be safe. I'm here to watch over you.

You've been here for half the night?

Uh…

Not really.

I fell asleep just now.

I'm fine.

You don't have to stay here.

If someone sees you,

they'll spread rumors again.

Since you're fine, I'll get going then.

By the way…

What do you want to say?

"On the night of the new moon,

the evil and murderous aura is at its most intense."

- How did you know about this? - Ah…

It is mentioned in the Demon Tales written by White Serpent.

If you're interested, I'll show it to you later.

There's no need. I was just asking.

Hmm.

I'm really leaving.

Is that what I wrote back then?

What a strong resentment.

Bone Relic.

It's a demonic transformation caused by the Bone Relic.

Mei Zhuyu.

Mei Zhuyu.

Young Master.

What's going on?

Why does she look exactly like me?

Celestial Master,

if you can spare me,

I'll tell you the secret of the woman traveling with you.

Since it's a secret,

you should keep it.

Let's seal it away along with your life.

A sudden fire fell from the sky in Chang'an,

and even water couldn't extinguish it. Its source was unknown.

The government office investigated

and learned that several citizens had seen a demonic shadow darting about.

Pingde Pavilion was suddenly hit by fire from the sky

Chang'an has always had a legend of the Demon Underworld.

It has never waned.

Demons, monsters, and evil spirits…

must be eradicated completely,

exterminated without mercy.

Translated by Teo SY