Original subtitles

[Blood River]

[Based on the novel of the same name from Zhou Munan's Youth in Jianghu series]

[Available on fanqienovel.com & bkneng.com]

[Episode 23]

Go.

I heard

they're even stronger than those

of the Five Poisons Sect.

I've seen Wen Hujiu's Five Poisons.

His centipedes

had two heads.

What array is this?

The Five-Poison Array.

Ordinarily,

it's used to trap people,

penning them inside,

then unleashing the venoms.

It's our Wen clan's secret art,

not taught outside.

You're flipping it now

to isolate this floral poison?

That's right.

A toxin spread across the whole city...

I've never heard of it.

To pull off poisoning technique like this,

only three people alive could.

First that comes to mind

is the Wen clan head,

Wen Hujiu.

My uncle's poisons

truly top the world.

Three generations up,

three down,

you won't find his equal,

a genius of poisoning technique.

But he's allied

with Xueyue City,

and would never meddle

in Wushuang City's mess.

Besides,

this poison

was clearly laid years in advance.

My uncle's far too lazy for that.

The second

is likely from the Tang clan.

Right.

Their top poisoner,

Tang Linghuang.

But the Tang clan

is also allied with Xueyue City.

And besides,

Tang Linghuang

only favors

poisons that kill.

He even said,

"If a poison

can't kill the target,

it doesn't deserve the name".

On that point, his fixation

is practically

an obsession.

Then the third?

The Five Poisons Sect master,

the Poison Enchantress,

Luo Yandie.

Only she likes

floral-scented toxins.

She prefers people

to drift off in warmth and perfume,

dying without knowing it.

Poisoners like that

have twisted tastes.

Twisted or not,

don't you already know?

This Blossom Ash

only suppresses inner power for a while.

It doesn't kill.

Which means

they're holding a backup move.

Right now in Sihuai City,

quite a few top fighters have slipped in,

including...

Sword Deities.

So, Lu Yuzhai

refuses to work with us?

He says

his red line

is not harming his master.

[Night Crow, the Ghost Physician] So after he gets those two letters,

he'll report to his master.

I failed.

I couldn't intercept those two letters in time.

Sihuai's survival is at stake.

Lu Yuzhai

will surely tell Song Yanhui.

Liu Yunqi is dead.

Jian Shanyue has retired.

And Wushuang City now

has only Song Yanhui left.

Looks like

the City Lord's seat

needs a new occupant.

Your Highness means

the new City Lord of Wushuang City

should be...

Naturally, the Lunwu Hall chief,

Jian Wudi.

I've told you

I have no interest

[Jian Wudi of Wushuang City]

in the City Lord's seat.

Of course.

You can devote yourself to the sword.

The Peerless Sword Coffer I promised

will be delivered to you.

Much obliged, Your Highness.

You're a man

obsessed with the sword.

All who are obsessed,

if they never awaken,

their lives are ruined.

If they do awaken,

they soar through the clouds.

For you to come out of seclusion now,

you must have realized something.

I need a fine swordsman to test it.

It's long been prepared for you.

I'll track down Zhuo Yue'an

and have him

test your blade.

May you

ascend to the top

with one strike.

Go with him.

Perhaps

he will have use for you.

As you command.

What's wrong, Sir?

[Luoyang Tavern]

This guy lives for the sword.

Yet when it's time to cross blades,

he hesitates.

[Luoyang Tavern] Maybe...

he's scared of Zhuo Yue'an?

Luoyang Tavern...

Sir,

do you want a drink here?

To the west lies Muliang City,

home to the Lone Sword Deity.

He's said to be the strongest

of the Five Sword Deities.

His name

is Luo Qingyang.

Luo Qingyang

sealed his city long ago.

All these years,

he's never crossed swords with another Sword Deity.

How can you call him number one?

There's someone inside!

What a fearsome sword energy!

Not just fearsome,

what's most distinctive in it

is the killing intent.

It's so heavy,

and so dense.

Within that killing intent

surges a wrathful sword intent.

It's the strongest sword energy

I've ever seen.

You've seen that many?

A fair few.

I'm Chief of Wushuang City's Lunwu Hall,

Jian Wudi.

Pleasure to meet you.

Wushuang City?

Is it that impressive?

Still, your name

is quite something.

Jian Wudi...

Before me,

you dare claim you're unrivaled (wudi)?

Sir,

who on earth is he?

Among the Five Sword Deities,

he alone bears the word "fury".

He's the Furious Sword Deity, Yan Zhantian.

He wields the famed blade Breaker of Armies.

Of the five,

his slaughter aura is the heaviest.

A worthy opponent.

But it seems

he's trapped by the floral poison.

He's using his sword energy

to barely carve out

a pocket of space.

But he still can't leave this inn!

You think

such petty tricks can hold me?

In four hours,

this floral poison

will lose all effect.

Then I'll stride out, blade in hand,

and none of you will live!

Oh, right,

do you carry

the antidote to Blossom Ash?

I...

No!

Sir,

don't lose sight of the big picture.

If you let him out,

our plan could go up in smoke.

Let's find Zhuo Yue'an first.

Jian Wudi

really isn't right in the head.

Just to face a Sword Deity,

he'd hand Yan Zhantian the antidote.

What a crazy idea.

Forget it.

If you're not fighting,

then get lost!

No need to regret it.

I'll cross blades with him one day.

Why is that archfiend

in Sihuai City?

You think only one came?

You mean...

there's more than one master?

No.

I mean

more than one Sword Deity came.

Sword...

Set the Sword Deities aside for now.

Zhuo Yue'an

is in the courtyard up ahead.

You experts can fight it out.

No need for me to watch.

After you.

Come here!

Who is it this time?

Only two people alive

could wield a sword energy this freezing.

The Blizzard Blade won't come here,

so you must be...

Don't tell me my luck is that bad.

Why aren't you poisoned?

I don't know.

Because you and the poisoner

are in it together.

Hand over the antidote, now!

I...

I don't have it.

Then die now!

Wait!

I do...

I do!

My girl,

give me a pill.

I'll go see what's happening outside.

The Poison Enchantress told me

only a few can resist

this floral poison array.

Young lady,

though you look young,

you have quite the backing.

Who are you?

Dian Ye, the Flying Tiger General.

[Dian Ye, the Flying Tiger General] Not counting the Prince of Langya,

his standing in the Beili Army

is second only to Commander-in-Chief Ye Xiaoying.

A general...

what's he doing here?

Good question.

Why indeed?

Su Changhe,

Su Muyu,

Blood River's current leaders,

I'm here

for you, of course.

As a court general,

you're interested in Blood River?

What are you after?

You want this?

And this too?

Patriarch of Blood River,

you're clever.

How did the dragon-head hilt

of the Dormant Dragon Sword end up on your dagger?

I had Xie Qianji refit it.

I don't use a longsword,

and lugging the Dormant Dragon Sword around

is a pain.

Dian Ye

is First Prince Xiao Yong's uncle.

And Xiao Yong is a leading contender

for the throne.

Looks like they've planned this day

for a long time.

They want to take Wushuang City

and seize Blood River's treasures.

Su Muyu,

this revenge duel of yours

has been thoroughly used.

A sword is a noble weapon.

Those who exploit it

will die by it.

You know who we are,

yet you came alone?

You've got a death wish, huh?

He's a general, after all.

If you fight him openly,

head-on,

you'll only bring Blood River trouble.

Let me do it instead.

Anyway,

I'm just a free blade from Nan'an.

For you two youngsters,

I'll test

the general's golden axe.

That city

has begun to stir.

Tonight?

The news shouldn't spread so fast.

But by the signs before,

tonight is when they strike.

However,

what they didn't expect

is that Sihuai City today

is no ordinary Sihuai City.

They lured Blood River over,

while I invited

three Sword Deities

to watch the show.

Xiao Yong

meant to use this chance

to control Wushuang City

and grow his power.

But he never imagined

Su Muyu

would deliberately tip us off

that someone meant

to use him.

Su Muyu is a clever one.

In this Wushuang turmoil,

the final break

still rests on his choice:

whether to remain Su Muyu

or become Zhuo Yue'an.

Now that is a master.

Who goes there?

Jian Wudi.

What an arrogant name.

Today is my first bout since leaving seclusion.

Anyone not fighting,

clear out.

General Dian Ye,

you can just watch.

Seems

you have some right

to be arrogant.

Xiao Yong promised me

a fine "sword"

to test my skills.

Looks like

you're the "sword" I came for!

I've always accompanied Su Muyu

to these duels,

finding them silly.

He liked them,

so I played along.

But now...

Suddenly it feels

like it means something?

No.

It suddenly feels even sillier.

Because Su Muyu seems

unable to beat that man.

A fine "sword" indeed.

In you,

I see my father's shadow.

Zhuo Yuluo, Lord of No-Sword City.

With a pure sword-heart,

he's an absolute devotee of the Sword's Way.

Other than my father,

I've never seen

such pure sword intent.

One who wields the sword

must keep a single mind.

Seems that battle at Wushuang City

no longer matters.

It's my honor

to cross blades with you.

My last stroke

held intent, no technique.

You blocked it beautifully.

But every stroke that follows

won't be like the last,

only growing stronger

and harsher.

All the better.

True masters of the Sword's Way

each bear their own sword intent.

His intent

is pure,

without a speck of impurity.

A decade honing one blade,

that is true purity.

Do you feel it?

As if rain is coming.

There's a chill.

His sword energy

carries a trace of rain.

Fine "sword"!

Looks like a brilliant duel.

It is.

Truly brilliant.

You're here.

So from now on,

the jianghu will have six Sword Deities?

♪Watch the flames across the river...♪

Seems Su Muyu

has met a worthy foe.

He even spent

his trump card.

You called my sword intent

the purest

you've ever seen.

But yours

is the most complex

I've seen.

Your sword intent carries

too many feelings:

anger,

defiance,

forbearance,

compromise,

even gentleness...

almost the full range

of a human heart.

What have you lived through

to swing

so complex a blade?

♪This battle is mine alone, against myself♪

♪The path lies beneath my feet. I see muddy prints...♪

And then

all falls quiet.

You lost?

I won.

Not good.

Very not good.

If you won,

why is it not good?

Because Su Muyu

used his strongest strike

yet didn't kill him.

And the opponent

hasn't gone all out.

That last strike was excellent.

May I have its name?

Rain Surge.

Rain Surge...

I call myself Jian Wudi,

yet in my first fight out of seclusion

against my first opponent,

I lost.

But from

that strike just now,

I've gained new insight.

With the next stroke,

you will lose...

and die.

My turn.

Let me try again.

None of you are getting away.

Indeed...

Pure sword intent

is rare in this world.

But when anything

pushes past

the point of return,

the utmost good

turns to utmost evil,

the utmost evil

becomes utmost good;

and the brightest light

is nothing but darkness.

He's about

to go fully demonic.

If going demonic makes my sword stronger,

why not?

If you don't turn back

and keep wielding the sword like this,

within a year,

your sword intent will turn on you.

Your inner channels will snap and you'll die!

My father was devoted to the sword too,

but he never ignored

his family or his people.

You can treat the sword

as the most important thing,

but it

must not be the only thing.

People may betray you,

but a sword...

won't!

After all this time,

you still follow

such an extreme Way of the Sword.

It's you.

Our duel

will have to wait.

If so,

let's join hands against him.

A fortunate turn, perhaps.

Senior Wudi!

Long time no see!

All these years,

why are you still

at the same realm?

The longer you hold the bottleneck,

the stronger the breakthrough.

I've been waiting for the moment,

one strike to divinity.

One strike...

to divinity?

A pity.

You won't get that chance!

Senior Wudi,

seems you've joined the chaos too.

Since you've betrayed Wushuang City,

don't blame me

for putting duty over kin!

Before he went demonic,

he was close to a Sword Deity.

Now, fully demonic,

his power is immeasurable.

As City Lord of Wushuang,

I can't best anyone after all?

At the peak comes decline.

A demonic body looks mighty,

but it's hollow.

Find the weak point

and one strike will kill!

Someone steeped in obsession

is going demonic here.

It's from the Scholarly Sword Deity.

One Stroke Cuts Water!

Swallow Turns Back!

I have a strike too!

It's called...

Mountain Rain at Dusk!

After fresh rain on empty hills,

autumn comes with the evening chill.

You live for the sword,

but a sword is a dead thing.

Living for dead things

will get you hit a dead end.

But the only thing that stays with me

is my sword.

Everything else

leaves me.

Senior Wudi.

I didn't win...

but you

didn't really either.

General Dian,

we'll spare you this once.

From now on, be careful.

And stop scheming

against Blood River.

We didn't duel today,

but after this fight,

I have no regrets.

Never thought

Blood River

would have a swordsman like you.

What?

Should everyone in Blood River

be like me?

You two, don't just stand there.

You burned through a lot of sword moves today.

Sit right now

and reset your breath.

Remember:

after a fight,

you must promptly regulate

your breathing.

Awesome!

Yeah, really awesome!

Senior, your strike

was crisp and commanding.

No wonder Master says

you're the most gifted

among our generation.

Right.

If the City Lord watches training,

he might take a shine to you

and accept you as a personal disciple!

That's not enough.

My force isn't enough.

I still need work.

You're ever striving for perfection.

In time,

you'll be Wushuang City's backbone,

the pillar we all rely on!

The City Lord is here!

Greetings, Sir!

Enough.

Yanhui,

this place

is the practice ground

of Wushuang City.

By day, I handle affairs.

In the meantime,

you can come here

and spar with the brothers.

At dusk,

return to the City Lord's manor

to work your forms.

His name is Yanhui.

You lot,

look after him.

- Got it! - Got it!

Senior Jian,

you okay?

Again!

Come on!

Senior Jian,

I need to get back and train at the manor.

See you tomorrow.

I will beat you.

I will beat you!

Even if you have the strongest master

and practice the finest sword art,

I will beat you!

I, Jian Wudi,

don't yield!

I, Jian Wudi,

am meant to be unrivaled!

Senior Wudi,

at first light tomorrow,

I'll have people see you buried.

As for our brotherhood...

let's carry it to the next life.

How did you avoid this floral poison?

A Sword Deity

trapped by a petty floral poison,

isn't that ridiculous?

Truly ridiculous.

So,

how did you break free?

Teach your brother here.

Naturally...

with an antidote.

Third City Lord gave it to you?

No way.

Xueyue Sword Deity,

you're Xueyue City's Second City Lord.

Yet you act

so rough

and rude,

truly...

a "heroine among women"!

Hand over all your antidote.

My antidote for this floral poison

is worth a fortune.

It's not something for charity.

Who are you trying to save now?

Me.

Wait, who are you?

I'm Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan...

Any antidote left?

Yes... yes!

Right here.

Much obliged, good sir.

By the way, City Lord Li,

In the city,

there are still many jianghu folks

poisoned by this floral poison.

As Sword Deities,

we should lend a hand.

There's plenty of antidote in this vial.

This floral poison

seems weaker than before.

How do we save them?

Grind the antidote to powder

and spread it across the city.

Since the toxin came from flowers,

let flowers end it.

In this world,

only you can bring a city of blossoms

with a single sword.

All right.

This...

this is the fabled...

The Floral Sword Art!

[Luoyang Tavern]

No more waiting!

I actually cleared the poison thanks to that woman.

How vexing.

Your swordwork

is still as beautiful.

On my way here,

I ran into some folks from Baixiao Hall.

They asked me a favor.

I hate that kind of thing.

However,

my mother and he both serve

among the Four Guardians.

Since Mother asked me to help him,

of course I will.

Good thing

I ran into you.

I see.

So Ji Ruofeng gathered us here

not for a show,

but with his own designs.

But Baixiao Hall came to you.

What's that to me?

I cleared your poison just now.

- I... - I did you a favor.

You owe me.

I suppose

your sages' books

teach that too, no?

You speak true.

What do you need from me?

Take us to your master.

Sword Deity, you jest.

If I take you, I'm dead.

Just leave a little early

before we arrive.

If you don't take us,

- you die right now. - I...

Hey!

I can't help anyway.

Lead on.

This way, please.

Driver,

we'll borrow your carriage.

It's dangerous in the city.

Wait here.

At daybreak,

we'll be back.

All right.

What was that all about?

We came all this way,

saw no good fight,

and now we're cleaning up

Baixiao Hall's mess.

Pretty frustrating, huh?

Fair enough.

Once we're done,

let me cross blades

with the Scholarly Sword Deity.

Then it's worth the trip.

They say Song Yanhui

crossed swords with you

and lost badly.

How come you're still keen on his swordwork?

Song's swordwork is indeed good,

but

Wushuang City holds him back.

Also,

I want to see

Su Muyu's swordwork.

Weren't you together

in the siege on Ye Dingzhi?

Didn't you see his swordwork?

He once said

his "sword"

is no sword...

it's a killing tool.

Only when he returns under a new name

will you see his true swordwork.

He's powerful.

If not for him back then,

we'd never have wounded

Ye Dingzhi so badly.

This Blossom Ash

isn't as thick as before.

I'll pack up

and we can leave this courtyard.

Mr. Zhuo.

After this fight,

our test duel

will likely be delayed.

Someone wants to use our bout

for trouble.

If it stirs up chaos

and innocents die again,

the trial loses its point.

Besides,

fighting side by side,

I've felt your sword intent.

It's good.

Had my father met you then,

perhaps

it wouldn't have ended that way.

Wushuang City owes No-Sword City,

and owes you.

I trained in Blood River,

but I'm here

to carry my father's Way.

I only meant

to avenge him

and restore No-Sword City's name,

not to wreck Wushuang.

Push it

and I'd be another Liu Yunqi.

My master was mortally hurt

and has passed.

He was my enemy

and your master.

Now vengeance is done,

I'm pleased.

But such joy should not be shown

before you.

I understand.

Mr. Zhuo,

until we meet again.

If there's a chance,

I'd like to see your sword

shine even more dazzling.

I fear that won't be me.

But Wushuang City

will have a finer "sword"

to meet you.

Farewell.

Let's go too.

He took a mortal strike

from you two.

He can't be alive!

No pain,

no fear,

only the will to kill.

That's not something "going demonic"

can explain.

Could it be...

What?

It's Xichu's drugged puppet art!

It makes the dead

rise and fight.

Back when Xichu

fought Beili,

they used it

to drag the war on.

It defies heaven's order.

But its power was so strange

the Scholarly Deity of Xichu

couldn't bear to destroy it,

and passed it to Medicine King Valley,

hoping the Valley

could find a way

to turn this evil art

to the right.

So your Valley

ended up with it.

Did you fix it?

No.

It's so perverse

that even Xin Baicao

couldn't grasp it.

I have a martial niece,

Xin Baicao's junior sister,

named Night Crow.

Her husband died early,

so she grew obsessed

with "revival" arts,

and kept studying

the drugged puppet craft.

Later,

she betrayed the Valley

and took the manual.

She's now

the only one who knows it.

How to break it?

Thirteen Glances Back!

Freshly made a drugged puppet,

his foul blood circulates poorly.

I pinned him.

Su Muyu,

shred his heart with one stroke!

That ends it, right?

My girl!

What went wrong?

His poisoned blood

is already in me.

Troublesome.

Su Muyu,

there's a jade vial at my waist.

Take the pill inside

and give it to me.

Are you fine now?

The puppet poison

isn't that easy to cure.

♪Like fate, winding with the tide♪

♪Who can ford this river of night?♪

♪Where's the far shore we chase all our lives?♪

♪Surrendering all hues for a glimmer of light♪

♪Through joy and sorrow♪

♪Still I can't let go♪

♪Longing keeps me awake at night♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪

♪How many hidden feelings♪

♪Sink in silence deep?♪

♪Searching through the endless nights♪

♪Struggling on the edge of love and pain♪

♪Shadows crossing shadows♪

♪Whose name hides in your eyes?♪

♪When the wind blows, ask not when I shall return♪

♪Ask not when I shall return♪

♪Like fate, winding with the tide♪

♪Who can ford this river of night?♪

♪Where's the far shore we chase all our lives?♪

♪Surrendering all hues for a glimmer of light♪

♪Through joy and sorrow♪

♪Still I can't let go♪

♪Longing keeps me awake at night♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪