Original subtitles

Episode 27

You should sleep earlier.

Mm.

There are many guests tonight.

Night has also fallen.

With the crowd bustling about,

the sight is almost dizzying to look at.

Wouldn't that give the demons more places to hide?

Sinister happenings are rare in Chang'an.

And yet,

you seemed rather calm, Lady Wu.

Guangju Tavern

- What are you-- - What are you doing here?

I wanted to report back to the Bureau of Mystic Investigations this morning,

but I heard the injured weren't doing well.

I just found out about it as well.

The Emperor sent me to check on things.

I see.

Then what are you doing here?

You didn't come as promised.

I was bored,

so I came to watch the fun.

Everyone says she is proud and unruly,

yet to me,

she always seems to be hiding something.

Even Father and I

cannot see through her.

All these years,

she often came home late at night,

weighed down with worry,

sometimes even burdened by sadness.

Despite that,

she never said anything.

Tomorrow,

will you come get me after work?

Sure.

Bureau of Mystic Investigations

Commander Mei.

What is it?

It's time to go off-duty.

Feel free to leave.

There are still some papers I haven't reviewed.

Everyone's here.

Let's begin.

Leader, Shuang Jiang and Zhuyu aren't here yet.

Are we not waiting for them?

What?

Are you saying we can't proceed without them?

Must we wait for them?

That's not what I meant.

He's usually busy with work at the Bureau of Mystic Investigations.

He even got married recently.

It's normal for him to be occupied.

Let's stop giving him a hard time.

As for Shuang Jiang…

If we bring him with us,

not only will he be of no help,

but we'd even have to waste energy cleaning up his mess.

Enough.

Chi Hua, tell us what we should do later.

Mm.

I've looked into these four areas.

No one's there after sundown.

It'll be easier for us to make a move then.

We can prepare four array cores at the cardinal directions

to break through the ruined temple's barrier at the center.

For this array, I gave it a flashy name.

I call it the "Mighty Four Directions Array"!

There's one array core

for each of us to combine our strength.

All right.

Let's begin the preparations.

We'll make our move after nightfall.

Yes.

Young Master?

Are you done with work?

I'm here to pick you up.

Don't come here.

What's wrong?

You can have someone stand within the array.

If they're mortal, nothing unusual will happen.

Should they be a demon,

their true form will be revealed within the courtyard.

It's nothing.

Let's go home.

I'm sorry.

It's nothing.

This place isn't built very sturdily, is it?

I'll get someone to renovate it properly. Mm?

Let's go home.

All right.

Lord Hu Zhu, is that enough?

We still have more.

That's enough.

You may have a day off tomorrow.

After that, it's up to Zhu Ying and Ling Xiao.

How strange.

This is where that smell's coming from.

Why is there no one here?

What's going on?

It seems our plans were exposed.

We've walked into their trap.

If Shuang Jiang hadn't found the carriage and rushed over in time,

our scent…

would have been too conspicuous.

Shuang Jiang, you did great.

It wasn't me.

What do you mean?

Zhuyu told me to get a carriage and wait for you guys.

That reminds me.

Mm.

Zhuyu made this warding charm not long ago.

He said it's to thank Third Brother

for the repairs at the Bureau of Mystic Investigations.

He's worried the Demon Underworld might track your movements.

If you carry that with you,

the demons won't be able to spy on you.

It can also…

keep the smell at bay.

I have to admit,

it's a pity that Zhuyu left Changxi Palace.

A pity?

I don't think so.

So what if he gave us a talisman?

He slipped away and left us here to suffer.

He left Changxi Palace.

- Why should he save-- - That's enough.

Other than the fact that he left Changxi Palace,

Master said that…

Mei Zhuyu belongs to the Mortal Realm.

He's an ordinary man.

We shouldn't expect too much of him.

Oh.

What's this?

An address Zhuyu gave me.

It's a manor one mile southeast of the city walls.

The thought of those Celestial Masters being hated fills me with delight.

They dared to sneak into the Demon Underworld.

They deserve to sleep on the streets.

Let's see where they can hide now.

It's too early to celebrate.

Just now, I had Zhu Ying and Ling Xiao

search all through Chang'an.

There was no trace of the Celestial Masters.

None?

How can that be?

We thought that

if we cover the barrier with A Xiang's foul miasma,

we can find the Celestial Masters easily when the miasma gets on them.

We didn't expect those Celestial Masters to be so hard to deal with.

We have to think of a different approach.

No need to concern yourself with this anymore.

I'll handle the rest.

Why?

Since you have time,

you might as well worry about becoming a full demon.

I heard the pawn shop has found you a new body.

You can use it after coming out of seclusion 100 years later.

You're going to be busy these few days.

What?

Did you not know?

I heard that your current body

can no longer withstand the power of a full demon.

If you want to become a full demon, you have to give up your body.

Cat Lord.

Get out.

Yes, my Lord.

How did you know I'd be here today?

This spring

is ever prepared for you, through all hours of the day.

How meticulous of you.

Did you also go to the pawn shop

and get me a body?

Naturally, I'll prepare for you what I have to.

Why didn't you tell me

I'd be in seclusion for 100 years in order to become a full demon?

If you wish to wield the power of a full demon,

you must, of course, remake your body.

Did you not know, Xiaozhen?

You never told me about it.

There's nothing in the Mortal Realm

worth holding on to anyway.

For 18 years now,

our one common desire has been to become full demons.

Given the state of your body,

what difference would it make whether I told you or not?

Don't tell me

you're going to risk your life

for something so petty.

You know that…

you are a demon.

Human beings are born to age,

to fall ill, to weaken, to suffer, and to die.

They can't bear nor stop even the smallest thing.

Who can you even protect?

Your father?

Your sister?

Or is it Mei Zhuyu?

Eighteen years ago,

you and he were already fated to go separate ways.

It's an inevitable end.

Does it matter if it comes…

sooner or later?

As a demon lord,

you never should've kept all these useless people close to heart.

Shu

It's just a residual soul.

No matter how respectful you are toward it,

it won't understand.

Lord Infant's aspirations

are remarkable.

No creature under the sky can aspire to be like him.

It is the spirit that earns my respect.

Enough.

You've already prayed to it.

Since you're done here, you can leave.

I don't like having outsiders in my library.

Now that Mr. Chang Ming has descended the mountain,

Lord Shu, what happens from now on?

Since he wants to enter the Demon Underworld,

I'll help him.

It shouldn't be hard for you

to let someone in, Lord Shu.

No.

I don't like expected answers.

What I want is two armies clashing head-on,

blades drawn and bows ready.

Let there be a clash…

where coexistence is impossible, only slaughter.

Lord Shu, is this for your own sake

or our greater cause?

What is for me is for you

and for the greater cause.

Hm?

What are you doing?

You came back at the right time. Take a seat.

The meat will be ready soon.

Don't worry. It's not Furball.

Why the sudden thought of grilling meat?

I suddenly remembered

how my family grilled meat in the courtyard whenever winter came.

Grilling meat with your family…

sounds nice.

From now on, let's grill meat

every winter day.

We'll invite your father so that he can have a taste of my cooking.

What do you think?

Young Master.

What's the matter?

It'll be done soon. Give me a second.

It smells wonderful.

Of course.

Mm.

Don't worry, brothers.

This deserted manor is in a remote place.

I've also placed Zhuyu's talismans everywhere.

For the time being, the demons won't find their way here.

Any place to stay is the same.

Cultivators are indifferent to material matters.

It's just the smell…

It's a pity that my Mighty Four Directions Array

failed before we could succeed.

For some reason, we were attacked by this foul miasma.

This smell will only be gone

after at least two days.

Why do you think we were attacked?

Those demons from the Demon Underworld were taking their revenge!

It means that our way was correct.

We can open the Demon Underworld's barrier this way.

We should seize the opportunity and storm into the Demon Underworld.

Zhuyu said, if you had charged into the Demon Underworld,

we probably wouldn't have the chance to meet him again.

After leaving the mountain,

he has repeatedly defended the Demon Underworld.

What if he has long been in league with the demons?

How's that even possible?

Even if anyone were to conspire with the demons, it wouldn't be Zhuyu.

He has yet to avenge his parents.

Now that he's married, he must've turned into a coward.

Since you're so brave, Fourth Brother,

why don't you attack the Demon Underworld yourself?

Go ahead and die for honor.

You--

Shuang Jiang, that's enough.

Fourth Brother must share the same urgency to wipe out the demons.

Let's not let these things come between our brotherhood.

Anyway, all I know is that

if it weren't for Zhuyu,

we probably wouldn't be here now.

In other words, he knew…

that we would fail.

Mm.

Zhuyu said he knew our plan would fail.

He wanted me to tell you all that

if we want to succeed, we should follow his plan.

Just…

consider it.

Where are you going?

Are you not staying?

Zhuyu already got me somewhere to stay.

Furthermore,

I can't stand the smell.

It seems he wants us to trip up

so that we will listen to him.

What a clever scheme.

I may not be faster than Fugui, but I'm certainly faster than you.

Stop right there!

Hold still!

Stop!

I told you to stop!

Stop running!

Why don't you keep running?

Try running again, and I'll turn you into

a roasted goose! A steamed goose! A boiled goose! A fried goose!

You're a man,

but you keep bullying the weak.

What?

Me? Bullying the goose?

That's Lady Wu Zhen's Feathers.

Feathers?

This one?

Lady Wu Zhen's feathers?

Wait. Lady Wu Zhen's feathers?

What am I supposed to do with it?

Where are you going?

Of course, I'm going to wake Her Highness and Young Master Mei up.

What time is it already? This is unacceptable.

Wait…

Hold up!

They've been having fun outside these two days.

They only went to bed around midnight last night.

Won't you get yourself in trouble if you disturb their rest now?

It'll be so bothersome.

You're right.

In that case, you'll go wake them up.

Huh! Why me?

- I refuse. - You're going!

No, I'm not!

You are!

Am not! I'm not going!

- Go wake them up! - Help me! Help!

- Go! - I'm not going!

Stop that noise. Be quiet.

Your aunt and her family have returned to Chang'an.

There will be a banquet at Duke Wu's manor.

I know.

There's no rush.

Mei Si.

Mei Si!

So this is where you are.

Why are you here?

That's not nice.

I came to see you

right after work.

Recently, I heard that

you did something that brought great joy.

How surprising.

You actually refused to marry Lady Liu.

As expected of my brother!

You did great rejecting her!

That's manly of you!

Xiaosi, don't worry.

She's just some woman.

Now that Wu Zhen is married,

I can stop introducing her to eight men every year.

I've decided to devote myself entirely to you.

At worst, from now on, we'll meet 18 women a year.

We'll eventually find someone…

you're happy with.

- No need-- - No need to thank me.

These here

were carefully selected by me for the past days.

Different faces, all sorts of styles.

There's every type you could ever want.

The Protector-General's younger sister

is spirited and unrestrained.

She's as passionate as fire.

Are you happy with her?

She is passionate, indeed.

I had the pleasure of meeting her once before.

She was talking so much, I couldn't get a word in.

I still think…

I prefer someone more reserved and cold.

I got one here.

The Crown Prince's Tutor's niece,

the famously reserved noble lady

who lost her voice to sickness as a child.

Is that cold enough for you?

It's frigid.

I--

You sure have a lot of demands.

Someone slender

with a cold demeanor.

Speaks with measured calm,

yet her words cut sharp.

Why do I feel like

I know someone like that?

Huh?

Who is it…

You're still talking about her, aren't you?

Duke Wu manor

The last time it was this lively…

was during Zhen'er's wedding.

Right.

It's a pity that I was sickly,

and I started my journey here late.

I couldn't make it to Zhen'er's wedding.

Please don't worry about it.

Health always comes first.

Yes, yes.

You've come back at just the right time.

Chang'an is in its finest season.

- Yes. - Everyone!

Let's all share a drink.

Please, enjoy.

My good son-in-law.

Quickly, offer your aunt a toast.

Ah!

Aunt, let me honor you with this cup.

My son-in-law, don't worry. I understand.

I've had your wine changed to juice.

Cheers, Aunt.

How wonderful.

- I can tell that he's a sensible man. - Mm.

Sensible indeed.

Ling Xiao and the others are still tracking down the Celestial Masters.

If they stay silent and fade away, fine.

But if they stir up trouble again,

it will truly be a fight to the death.

Don't worry.

We won't give them the chance.

Rumor has it that

you and your husband have been rather intimate these days.

You're not even keeping it discreet in front of others.

What's the matter?

Are you feeling reluctant, now that you're leaving soon?

I heard that after Xiaosi turned down the marriage,

Minister Liu has been eager to find you a suitor.

Don't even talk about it.

When we first came to Chang'an,

neither of us was married.

Still, we had company.

Now that you're married,

and everyone knows how happy you are,

that old man couldn't help asking me.

What did he ask?

He asked if I also prefer someone like Young Master Mei…

since I didn't want someone like Young Master Mei Si.

It seems like he's worried

there isn't another Mei Zhuyu in Chang'an City.

Minister Liu has good taste.

What did you tell him, then?

That I didn't.

Well, did he ask about your type?

He did.

I told him

I like someone

who is the male version of you.

How flattering.

Your eldest cousin has made something of himself now.

The frontier keeps him busy.

If not for today's banquet,

it would probably be years before we saw him again.

Cousin, I offer you a toast.

Thank you.

Wu Zhen.

Is your waist sore?

What's the matter?

Is juice no good as well?

Wait, Wu Zhen.

I was just… concerned.

Why don't you get a doctor?

Be careful. Don't fall.

It seems that Young Master Mei is quite tentative when the sun is out.

But at night,

he's quite the brute.

It's not just at night.

So why are you still here wasting time with me?

Where's your husband?

Hurry up and go to him.

He thinks the women and kids in the yard make too much noise.

He's keeping to the back garden to enjoy some calm.

I don't want to play with you anymore.

Me neither!

It is a lot of noise.

There are a lot of people here. Stop your tears now.

No!

I said no! No!

Stop crying.

Hush, now.

You…

Stop crying. Come here!

- I don't want to! - Stop crying!

All right, now.

You!

Seriously.

My apologies, ladies.

My son is a bully at home.

He's been a little tyrant from birth.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

I'll go get my boy.

I want to go home!

I want to go home!

I want to go home!

I want to go home!

Are you Cousin's son?

I want to go home!

I want to go home!

Is that my son?

Mm-hmm. It is your son.

Really?

Young Master Mei actually knows how to deal with children.

I sure don't see that a lot.

How did he do it?

No clue.

That's amazing.

Exactly.

How unexpected.

A young man like Young Master Mei actually knows what to do with children.

It seems like Young Master Mei will be a good father.

What's wrong?

I thought that…

going through this once would be enough for me.

I didn't expect…

how greedy a human heart can be.

Snakey.

I regret it.

"Think it through."

That's what she said.

After some careful consideration these past few days,

she decided to put this matter aside for now.

In order to become full demons, she and I have worked hard for 18 years.

And now, she wants to "think it through"?

She's not completely wrong to act this way.

Before knowing why

her body showed those strange symptoms,

she wouldn't stake her own life on this.

Ridiculous.

- I'm going to see her-- - Wu Zi Shu.

Wu Zi Shu.

I don't care what you're thinking.

But as Wu Zhen, she still has decades of years before her.

She still has a life of her own.

This means the world to her.

I hope you respect her wishes.

The flame has already taken hold.

Certain truths…

will eventually come to light.

Were you able to locate those from Changxi Palace?

Snake Lord has commanded strict defense of the Demon Underworld.

There's heavy vigilance throughout Chang'an.

Those people have also

noticed that it's not safe in Chang'an City.

That's why they found an abandoned manor in the outskirts of town.

They are currently recuperating.

What about Chang Ming?

Has there been anything unusual?

If we're able to track down those people,

we have Mr. Chang Ming to thank for it.

What do you mean?

Translated by Scarlet