Original subtitles

♪Heavens strike with thunderous wrath♪

♪Mountains and rivers shatter before my eyes♪

♪Endless splendor cultivated through lifetimes♪

♪Turns to dust between my fingers in an instant♪

♪When the line between good and evil is clear♪

♪Countless souls drift into the boundless wilds♪

♪Carrying the spirit fire forward♪

♪I defy fate♪

♪Just to remain by your side♪

♪Falling into love's abyss♪

♪Like heavy rain pouring down♪

♪Drunk on romance♪

♪In a blink, love and hate vanish into illusion♪

♪Falling into endless love♪

♪Stirring waves upending a lifetime♪

♪Even if this life leads to ruin♪

♪I still choose to be entangled with you♪

♪Through all lifetimes♪

[When Destiny Brings The Demon]

[Based on the JJWXC novel "When Destiny Brings The Demon" by Fu Hua]

[Episode 32] [What I Gave You Is Yours to Do With as You Will]

The demonic energy in me has driven me to kill?

Madam,

may I come in to help you with your hair?

Wait outside for now.

Yes.

Liangchen,

have you heard anything about what happened in the palace?

I just heard

that all the birds in the harem died overnight.

Could it have been my doing?

Is my demon core

acting up again?

I have to see Master.

Father?

I heard you went to see Madam Yan?

I sent you letter after letter warning you

to stay away from her.

Why didn't you listen?

But you once told me

to win His Majesty's favor to keep him under control.

I just wanted to put Madam Yan

in her place

so she'd stop competing with me.

That was then. Things are different now.

This is not the time to fight for favor.

Just do as I say.

I only want to keep you safe.

This is an artifact I obtained from an immortal.

Keep it with you.

It will protect you.

Your Majesty, the demonic energy in your demon core

is indeed beginning to stir.

Those birds died

because of it.

Fortunately,

I have devised a prescription

that can temporarily suppress the energy.

What if it grows so strong

we can no longer control it?

What then?

You would need to give up all your cultivation.

Only then

would the demon core in your body become inert,

unable to control you.

But your cultivation

would vanish as well.

If I lose all my cultivation, I won't be able to protect Sima Jiao.

But if I fall under the demon core's control

and become You Yan's pawn,

I will kill Sima Jiao with my own hands.

That is You Yan's scheme.

Is there truly no other way

out of this trap?

The Spirit Fire and the demon core restrain each other,

but the demon core can break free one day

and completely suppress the Spirit Fire.

If you do not want to lose your cultivation,

you must instead strengthen the Spirit Fire within you.

How?

By burning it with your own blood as fuel.

But that would be like using poison as medicine.

And if you wish to suppress the demon core entirely,

I fear...

I fear it would take your very bones and blood as a sacrifice.

Your life itself would burn away.

Jiao told me

that you were a goddess descending to earth,

fated with him from a past life.

He also said that the canal

couldn't have been built without your help.

I couldn't help but wonder: could Jiao and I

also share a bond from a former life?

In your past lives, Your Majesty and His Majesty were also mother and son.

I believe his rebirth in this world

was to follow you here

so that he could be with you again.

Really?

What a sweet girl you are.

Seeing how fond Jiao is of you,

I am sure he will make you Empress once he completes

his coming-of-age ceremony.

After that,

you will both take part in the worship ritual,

and I can finally

put my worries to rest.

Your Majesty,

do you mean

that the empress may also enter the Hushan Hall for the rite?

Of course.

The Emperor and Empress must go together into Hushan Hall to perform the ritual.

It has been the tradition of the Hu Kingdom

for generations.

After the ritual,

Jiao will formally inherit

the jade seal kept in the hall

and truly become the emperor of Hu.

[Ziquan Palace]

Your Majesty,

must the worship ritual wait

until after the wedding?

The ritual can only happen

after the coming-of-age ceremony

and then the wedding.

This has always been the tradition of the Hu Kingdom.

Why do you suddenly ask?

Your Majesty, I helped you accomplish

something as great as the canal.

By merit alone, shouldn't I already be named Empress?

Could you name me Empress right after your coming-of-age ceremony?

Thank you, Your Majesty.

It will be you sooner or later.

Why are you in such a hurry?

I...

What's wrong?

You're burning up.

No need to worry, Your Majesty.

I only need a little rest.

I once dreamed

of fire

raging in my body.

It looked exactly like you now.

Back then, I couldn't truly understand your pain.

It was only after I carried

the Spirit Fire refined from your soul

that I finally understood

how deep your suffering had been.

How did I

ease the pain at that time?

I would do this.

And once,

I even brought snowfall for Your Majesty.

Speaking of which, it's been so long since I last saw snow.

When it snows again,

I will be there with you.

Great.

When it is only

the two of us,

may I stop calling you

"Your Majesty"?

I think

that "you,"

"me,"

and "us"

sound much more beautiful.

I agree. [*speaking formally]

I agree. [*speaking plainly]

Does it still hurt?

You kissed me first.

And I'm done kissing you.

You don't decide when it ends.

Don't be difficult.

Time for bed.

Are you upset?

No.

Isn't it nice to just chat under the quilt

like this?

If you touch me again,

I can't promise

it will only be talking under the quilt.

That's fine.

I will make sure it is.

You're cheating.

Why won't you let me get close to you?

I have my reason.

Then why can't you tell me the reason?

It isn't time yet.

Then when will it be time?

Tell me,

do you know what a Soul Manor is?

I don't.

Then just sleep under the quilt.

After the worship ritual,

you'll know.

"Meet me at the lakeside at the Chou hour.

Nianjiu."

Nianjiu would never send me a note.

This is obviously fake.

At least learn from real scammers before trying this.

Next time, send me a message first.

Don't just barge into my chamber.

I once told Nianjiu to send me a message first

if he found You Yan's trace.

Did he really find it?

That demon, Liao Tingyan,

has bewitched His Majesty,

and now she's even used sorcery to deceive the world!

What... what's that?

"Come to the Ziquan Palace lakeside alone at the Chou hour,

[Come to the Ziquan Palace lakeside]

or your entire clan will be killed."

This is outrageous.

Go.

Fetch my cloak and Demon-Revealing Mirror.

Madam, you mustn't go.

With the mirror, what do I have to fear?

I will make His Majesty and the Empress Dowager

see that demon's true colors!

Listen,

if I haven't returned within two hours,

take people to look for me.

Do you understand?

Yes.

How did I fall asleep?

Where is Nianjiu?

There she is!

Blood...

So much blood!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

we found Noble Consort Si Xian's body

in Madam Yan's palace.

Her blood was completely drained,

and her flesh looked as though it had been eaten clean by a beast.

Can you determine the time of death?

Roughly during the Chou hour.

That matches the testimony

from her maid and guards.

Your Majesty,

all signs point

to Madam Yan...

Chen Tang,

you compared the handwriting on these two notes yourself.

Can't you see this is a deliberate frame-up?

Your Majesty,

if this is a frame-up,

why was there blood

on Madam Yan's clothing?

That is what you should be investigating.

Your Majesty,

to uncover the truth quickly,

I beg Your Majesty

to order Madam Yan held in detention pending trial.

Chen Tang,

have you grown tired of being Minister of Justice?

As long as I serve in this position,

I will carry out my duty to the fullest.

Your Majesty,

in order to clear my name,

please grant Minister Chen's request

and allow me to be held in custody.

No.

I will not let you be thrown in prison.

My mind is made up.

Minister Chen, please lead the way.

This cell is cleaner than I expected.

Is this really the time

to care about that?

Hongluo.

Nianjiu.

Tingyan,

why did you ask to be imprisoned

over Noble Consort Si Xian's death?

All the evidence

points to me now.

If I let Sima Jiao defend me,

it will stir resentment among the ministers

and give the Marquis of Nanyan an opening.

By choosing imprisonment myself,

I at least lessen suspicion.

Besides,

I fear You Yan may try something

to make my demon core lose control.

It's safer for Sima Jiao if I stay away.

That must be Sima Jiao.

You two should go.

You came just like this?

No guards at all?

What if I really were an evil demon?

If you truly were a monster who kills and drinks blood,

why would you target others?

Wouldn't the Heaven's chosen sleeping beside you

be far more delicious?

Come.

Let's go back together.

I will not let you stay in this filthy place.

No.

If I leave,

the ministers will protest.

Noble Consort Si Xian's death could never have been Madam Yan's doing.

For all your learning,

you still cannot read people,

and you imprisoned her?

Your Majesty,

it was...

it was Madam Yan who asked to be imprisoned.

Nevertheless, this has indeed

helped prove her innocence.

The schemers

will not set aside their hatred

just because of that.

Do you understand?

Yi Huo,

visit the Marquis of Nanyan's manor more often these days.

I fear

he will put all the blame for Noble Consort Si Xian's death

on Madam Yan

and try something rash.

I will. Don't worry, Your Majesty.

Chen Tang,

keep investigating Noble Consort Si Xian's death.

Yes.

Also,

see to it that the prison food is well prepared,

and that her bedding is clean and comfortable.

Understood.

- Let go of me! - Let go!

Let...

Quiet!

Let go of me!

Noble Consort Si Xian has only just died,

yet you have already gathered so many boys and girls.

Thank you for your efforts.

I never thought my daughter

would die at the hands of that demon, Liao Tingyan.

If only I had acted sooner.

Now, she has died with hatred in her heart.

I must eliminate that demon, Liao Tingyan,

and avenge my daughter.

I will bring you as many children as you need.

Rest assured, my lord.

Just wait and see.

The Hu Kingdom is about to fall into great chaos.

When that time comes,

you will be the sovereign who restores order.

Then I shall make Sima Jiao and that demon lady pay with their lives

for my daughter's death.

I await your good news, Madam.

Liao Tingyan,

this is the great gift I've prepared for you and Sima Jiao!

[Dushan County, Hu Kingdom]

I took the medicine Master gave me,

and the demonic energy was suppressed.

Why did it suddenly lose control?

Mother!

This sudden drought and famine

must be You Yan's doing.

He did it to strengthen my demon core through resentment,

and to undermine Sima Jiao's throne.

The Spirit Fire and the demon core restrain each other,

but the demon core can break free one day

and completely suppress the Spirit Fire.

If you do not want to lose your cultivation,

you must instead strengthen the Spirit Fire within you

by burning it with your own blood as fuel.

But that would be like using poison as medicine.

If you wish to suppress the demon core entirely,

I fear it would take your very bones and blood as a sacrifice.

Your life itself would burn away.

Your Majesty,

a severe drought has struck Dushan County.

Many people have starved to death.

In several towns, bodies of boys and girls

were found in rice fields, gnawed upon.

It seems the starving people have begun

to exchange children for food.

Exchange children for food?

What a convenient excuse, General.

Your Majesty,

I have investigated.

Those boys and girls

had already gone missing before the drought.

They appeared in the fields out of nowhere,

and their manner of death is exactly the same as that of Noble Consort Si Xian.

This must be the work of a demon.

Your Majesty,

I have been observing the heavens these days.

A demonic star has appeared above the palaces.

This drought stemmed from that star.

If left unchecked, it could bring the downfall of the kingdom.

I implore Your Majesty

to burn the demon lady, Liao Tingyan,

and rid the people of this disaster.

The imperial palace

is not inhabited by Madam Yan alone.

How do you know that this demonic star does not represent me?

Your Majesty, your coming-of-age ceremony is imminent.

How can you still speak such nonsense?

Doesn't my foolishness

all the better highlight your wisdom?

Your Majesty,

have you grown so blinded by that demon lady

that you can't even accept well-meaning advice?

As I recall, just a while ago,

all of you praised Madam Yan as a goddess descending to earth

and a blessing to all.

Now you revile her as a demon,

condemning her as a curse to the nation.

You take salaries

and occupy high positions,

yet place the rise and fall of the Hu Kingdom

on the shoulders of one woman.

And you still dare tell me that you are

giving well-meaning advice?

General of the Household.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Open the granaries in Dushan County and distribute grain.

Strengthen the defenses of the borders

to prevent bandits from causing trouble.

Understood.

Chen Tang.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Investigate the deaths of the boys and girls as well.

Understood.

Marquis of Nanyan.

You have just lost your daughter.

You should rest more.

For the next few days, you need not attend court.

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.

You are so weak as a Soulshift cultivator.

One block and you failed it.

Grandmaster, do you want to have some?

Too sweet.

Stop pretending. I can tell you want them.

If you crave them, I'll let you have your fill.

Zou Yan, stop slacking off.

Why did I dream such strange things?

It worked.

The Spirit Fire has suppressed the demon core in me.

What was so urgent you had to summon me?

Sit.

I want you to help Sima Jiao.

Take some demonic cultivators

and help ease the drought and famine in the mortal world.

Those mortals all think you are an evil demon,

and you still want to help them?

They have only been blinded by You Yan.

The common people are innocent.

Besides,

if rain falls from the heavens,

it will silence the rumors that I am an evil demon.

Fine.

You are the Immortal-Demon Ruler.

I will do as you say.

But why do you look so pale?

Are you saying my skin

has become smoother and softer?

One more thing.

The deaths of those innocent boys and girls

must be connected to You Yan.

If you trace the aura

left on them,

you may find his whereabouts.

I will leave this to you and Nianjiu.

Got it.

Don't worry.

If it doesn't rain soon, not only the crops

but also the people will die.

Right.

His Majesty has been bewitched by that demon lady,

and in the end, it is we commoners who suffer.

This overwhelming resentment really is You Yan's doing.

It's raining!

- It's raining! - It's raining!

It's raining!

Heaven has sent sweet rain!

Wonderful!

It's raining!

Heaven has sent sweet rain!

Finally it's raining!

- It's raining! - We're saved!

- It's raining! - Thank goodness!

- It's raining! - It's raining!

Finally it's raining!

Finally it's raining!

Your Majesty,

today's heavy rain has eased the drought.

Also, as you decreed,

relief funds have been distributed to the affected regions.

And thanks to the completed canal,

relief grain and supplies

reached the drought areas quickly.

Good.

Make sure inspections and audits are strict.

If there are any false disaster reports

or officials exploiting the people,

punish them severely.

Understood.

And what did you find out

about the dead children?

Your Majesty,

I found that they were all

abducted

or kidnapped.

I have already arrested the trafficker,

but he insists

that he delivered them all to...

Madam Yan.

Absurd.

Please calm down, Your Majesty.

Clearly, whoever is behind this

is targeting Madam Yan.

This won't be the last attempt.

Search the kingdom from top to bottom

and find whoever is responsible.

Yes.

Your Majesty,

I heard from the Marquis of Nanyan's servants

that they sometimes hear

children crying at night.

Could this have something to do with him?

I understand that the Marquis of Nanyan might want to frame Madam Yan,

but would he really have gone so far as to kill Noble Consort Si Xian?

Chen Tang,

keep following that lead with the Marquis of Nanyan.

There may be things we don't yet know.

Yes.

Tomorrow is the coming-of-age ceremony.

Has Madam Yan

been told of this?

What did she say?

Madam Yan said that since she was under suspicion,

she would rather remain in prison.

First capping.

On this auspicious day,

you don the headpiece of adulthood.

Leave behind childish pursuits

and embrace virtue.

May you live long and prosper,

and may great blessings be yours.

Second capping.

In this favorable month and hour,

the headpiece is renewed.

Uphold your dignity

and guard your virtue with prudence.

May your years be countless

and your blessings enduring.

Third capping.

In the rightful year

and in the blessed month,

you don the third headpiece of adulthood.

With your brothers beside you,

your virtue is fulfilled.

May your life be endless,

and may heaven bestow its grace upon you.

This is the royal crown passed down from emperor to emperor in Hu.

Once His Majesty dons it,

he may worship the gods,

taking upon himself the well-being of all his people.

When I get out,

I'll kill you all!

If you are in such pain,

why don't you just kill me?

I have no reason to.

There's no grudge between us.

I told you,

if I don't want you to die,

you won't die.

Boss...

Don't waste such a handsome face looking so gloomy.

Tingyan!

Tingyan!

Tingyan!

Your soul must still be here.

I will find it.

You can treat today

as our first encounter.

From now on,

I will create new memories for us,

memories that belong

only to the present.

Why did you give me all your cultivation?

What I leave you

are the people and things you love.

Wherever you are,

I will always find my way back to you.

Long live the Emperor!

Show yourself.

You dare ignore my words now,

you foolish snake?

Grandmaster, you've remembered everything?

Have your powers returned as well?

I'm still only mortal flesh and blood,

capable of a little magic.

That's why I need you

to do something for me.

At your command, Grandmaster.

I want it to snow.

Ever since I started feeding the Spirit Fire with my blood,

I've been having strange dreams like this again and again.

What could it mean?

Madam Yan,

the true killer of Noble Consort Si Xian has been found.

You are free.

Did His Majesty find the culprit?

Did he capture You Yan?

Impossible.

Why not

ask His Majesty yourself, Madam Yan?

This way, please.

Why is it suddenly snowing?

Sima Jiao conjured the snow.

Has he regained his memories?

♪Mountains and rivers shatter before my eyes♪

♪Endless splendor cultivated through lifetimes♪

♪Turns to dust between my fingers in an instant♪

♪When the line between good and evil is clear♪

♪Countless souls drift into the boundless wilds♪

♪Carrying the spirit fire forward...♪

Tingyan.

♪Falling into love's abyss like heavy rain♪

♪Pouring down♪

♪Drunk on romance. In a blink♪

♪Love and hate vanish into illusion♪

♪Falling into endless love. Stirring waves♪

♪Upending a lifetime♪

♪Even if this life leads to ruin♪

♪I still choose to be entangled with you...♪

The rejuvenation spell?

♪Through all lifetimes♪

You remember now?

Are you finally done keeping secrets from me?

Yes.

In the years I lost my memory,

I came to know

the bitterness and pain of being left in the dark.

Only after living this life

did I realize how unbearable it felt.

So today, I prepared this snowfall for you.

Take it as my apology, will you?

No.

You have no idea how much I suffered.

You left me tormented day and night after losing you.

You secretly refined the Spirit Fire

and gave it all to me.

Weren't you afraid I would take it and leave,

leaving your soul to scatter into nothing?

That was the choice I gave you.

If you chose to endure pain just to keep me,

I would stay.

If not...

♪I believe in each life we'll fall in love again...♪

I would turn my soul into a guiding light for you.

What I've given you is yours.

You are free to do with it as you will.

♪For you, my tears still burn like fire♪

♪Destiny leads where my heart belongs♪

♪Awakened memories will never fade again♪

♪Guiding the hope of love♪

♪The tale of fate keeps winding on...♪

You're always like this.

Even when the pain

is killing you,

you bear it alone,

never letting anyone see.

I didn't understand before,

but now I do.

If the past was only pain for you,

why should I force you to remember it?

You once said you wanted to live freely and happily.

Then why not live

as an ordinary man, safe and at peace,

in this life?

Compared to losing my memories of you,

all the pain of the past

means nothing.

♪Longing runs wild in endless void♪

♪Then wish upon the stars♪

♪Reborn beyond souls♪

♪May this chain of enduring fate♪

♪Never replay heartbreak again♪

♪Autumn winds sigh♪

♪Moon and stars dapple the sky♪

♪Brushing the loneliness of bygone days♪

♪Candlelight flickers low♪

♪Shadows sway♪

♪Shimmering in the night♪

♪With a brush I draw♪

♪The color of light♪

♪To warm your frozen soul♪

♪Memories anchor here♪

♪Longing is engraved♪

♪Yet cannot be touched♪

♪Following♪

♪The veins of gravel♪

♪I turn into spirit fire♪

♪Burning away♪

♪All these karmic ties♪

♪To save you♪

♪To save me♪

♪To cross over all suffering, I'll break through♪

♪The laws of heaven♪

♪The vortex of reincarnation♪

♪What of life and death?♪

♪To save you♪

♪To save me♪

♪To redeem all beings, I'll let pass♪

♪Right and wrong♪

♪Rumors and tales♪

♪To seize fate♪

♪With my own hands♪

♪For you♪

♪For me♪

♪For the healing of wounds♪

♪I'll stir the murky seas♪

♪And strive against the heavens♪

♪To protect the vastness♪

♪For you♪

♪For me♪

♪For the light of dawn♪

♪I'll face promises♪

♪Like a moth to a flame♪

♪And use my body to shine♪

♪On even more♪