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 27]

Elder Tang,

I'll give you three moves to think it over.

Within three moves,

Blood River is still willing

to befriend the Tang Clan.

After three moves,

we settle it by life and death.

Su Muyu's here...

He's here!

You folks from the Tang Clan

are really something.

You shout before you strike.

Even your hidden weapons are used so openly.

Shout or not,

I'm just as confident I'll beat you.

Su Muyu,

you finally showed up!

Xuewei...

Xuewei was taken by them!

Why did they take her?

Seems

they want the poison in her.

We'll talk after we're back.

You're not leaving!

For our companion in your hands,

you'd better keep her

safe and sound!

I hate to admit it,

but it's the truth:

we simply can't stop

this Su family head

from doing whatever he wants

right in front of us.

[Refined Brew, Serene Mind]

Are you dead?

You jinx.

I'm just exhausted.

I'm the head of a house.

I don't die that easily.

Qingyang,

what happened?

Where's Xuewei?

Why didn't she come back with you?

Xuewei...

Xuewei was taken.

The one who took her

is the one Mr. Su mentioned,

the physician who refines drugged puppets.

Ghost Physician Night Crow.

So she's in Jin City too.

How interesting.

Anyway,

we need a plan

to get Xuewei out first.

Night Crow took Xuewei

for the poison in her body.

With her methods,

Xuewei will be put through hell.

And the two of them now

are surely inside the Tang Clan.

Looks like our betrothal

has to be put on hold.

We should check the Tang Clan first.

Here in Jin City,

you still let him get away?

Blood River's arrival

has shaken a board

once settled.

We have to hold them in check.

Don't let them ruin our plan.

But, Madam,

Mu Xuewei is in Night Crow's hands.

And Night Crow...

This is the Tang Clan.

Do we really have to take our cues from her?

If she wants to do anything,

she has three days to finish.

After that,

hand Mu Xuewei over intact.

As you command, Madam.

Please be very careful, Madam.

I hear Blood River's Su Changhe

is a nasty opponent.

They say

he's a schemer,

putting profit first in all things.

I'm not afraid of men like that.

I only fear people who reason.

After all,

Su Changhe and I

are the same kind of man.

He's just luckier than me

and took the top seat of Blood River.

But soon,

the Tang Sect's seat of power

will be mine to claim.

[Tang Lingzun of Tang Clan]

Senior,

this is the poisonous person

our Master once mentioned.

I searched the world

and never met a single one.

Who knows,

here in Jin City,

I'd run right into one.

If I pair a poisonous person

with my drugged puppet craft,

what a terrifying thing that will make.

Senior,

in medicine,

you're far above me.

But in the dark arts,

you're nowhere near me.

Look, Senior.

These two drugged puppets

were Vajra Mortal-Stage masters in life.

Refined into puppets,

they don't die or feel pain.

And now,

with toxins from this "Poisonous Blossom",

I'll reforge them

into poison-laced drugged puppets.

One hit from them

and anyone

won't last a stick of incense.

You...

Ms Night Crow.

What brings you here all of a sudden?

The Madam wants

to invite Blood River to meet,

and...

offer a meeting gift.

A meeting gift?

Seems that gift

has something to do with me.

Yes.

The gift is Mu Xuewei herself.

Ms Night Crow,

Blood River isn't easy

to negotiate with.

So...

we ask for your understanding.

Understanding?

Without me,

could you have subdued Tang Linghuang?

And now you ask me to "understand"?

Is Blood River so fearsome?

Once,

I nearly killed

that Su family head.

Per the Madam,

she doesn't wish to clash with Blood River yet.

So she wants

Mu Xuewei handed over

safe and sound

three days from now.

Within those three days,

she hopes...

you'll finish whatever you intend.

Sir,

Master Su,

these Tang Clan people

are something else.

Force first, courtesy after.

This morning

they chased our folks to kill,

and by night

they sent a handwritten letter to sue for peace.

Have they found us here?

Not quite.

The Tang Clan knows

Blood River has people

in Jin City.

But they don't know

this teahouse

is our stronghold.

So,

finding Blood River folk

won't be easy,

but getting a letter

into Blood River hands

is hardly difficult.

What does the letter say?

"From Chief Tang Fulu of Execution Hall:

We invite Blood River's Patriarch

Su Changhe

and Su family head Su Muyu

to meet at Dengjin Tower

in Jin City

for urgent discussions".

Chief of Execution Hall?

How interesting.

Since when does an Execution Hall chief

get to invite Blood River's Patriarch

and family head?

Looks like

Tang Linghuang is either dead

or trapped.

Behind Tang Fulu,

there must be someone

of very high rank

inside the Tang Clan.

What do you think?

Factions in the Tang Clan are tangled.

Aside from Second Master Tang and Tang Lianyue,

Blood River has no ties

with the rest of them.

With no feud between us,

why'd they fight us to the death?

Besides,

Blood River's Patriarch

is here in Jin City in person.

They naturally feel

this clash isn't necessary.

That's not thanks to me.

I'm guessing they don't know I'm here.

This handwritten letter is a probe.

After all, for years

we've always shown up together.

What made them decide

not to be our enemy for now

was the force you showed

outside Jin City.

Will you go

to this banquet?

Of course.

We'll have to meet them anyway.

Besides,

we need to ensure Xuewei's safe.

Muyu,

in the Tang Clan's eyes,

is Blood River

nothing but profit-driven?

If they choose to meet us,

does that mean

they think we can ally with?

Then do you think

Blood River is profit-driven?

Sure.

Shameless, even.

But what counts as "profit"

and how to seek it...

everyone's standard

is different.

Right, Master Mu?

Me?

Sir,

why bring me up all of a sudden?

Don't worry.

I don't suspect you.

I've been

watching you play mahjong lately.

You could've won early,

yet you didn't.

Because there was bigger gain ahead.

And...

I've never feared waiting.

Night Crow,

don't keep making the same mistake.

The dead are gone.

That wasn't a mistake!

How many times have I said it:

I'm doing this to benefit the world!

You still think I'm blindly clinging

to reviving my dead husband?

No.

I've found something

far more interesting.

Something makes the living

unharmed by blades

and the dead rise as before.

The drugged puppet art

is far more interesting

than those blasted blades and love!

Your obsession has turned you insane!

Senior,

how about a deal?

We join forces

and turn this miss

from a poisonous person

back into a normal person.

And...

I'll tell you

how I forge the living

into drugged puppets.

After that,

you can study yourself

how to undo my drugged puppet art.

Given that you're brilliant,

you'll crack it one day!

As for me,

I won't stand still.

I do want to be normal.

But if you use this

to do filthy things,

I won't mind using my last strength

and every poison in me

to die together with you.

Hasn't Blood River

done enough filthy deeds?

In this world,

why care so much

about right and wrong?

Besides,

you don't get to decide.

Senior,

it's your call.

If you obtain

my improved drugged puppet art,

perhaps

you will stop me sooner.

Don't you

want that?

You know as well as I do,

given time,

I can surely

remove the poison from this girl.

As for how...

Senior,

your help would be

nothing more

than saving her life.

[Library]

So you're General Dian.

Never thought

I'd meet you

here of all places.

Indeed.

[Grand Master Tang of Tang Clan]

A man who shouldn't be in Tianqi

appearing in this city

would strike anyone as odd.

Grand Master Tang,

the First Prince

has been waiting.

This way, please.

Very well.

This is the Tianqi Library.

Open flames are forbidden.

Your Highness,

aren't you worried about a fire?

I am the First Prince of Beili.

Wherever I stand

must be full of light,

seen at a glance.

Grand Master Tang.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I've long heard

you're quite interesting.

Meeting you today,

it proves true.

Your Highness

dragged me here from the Tang Clan,

surely not

just for "interesting", right?

I want

an alliance with the Tang Clan.

Many want alliance with us.

But the Tang Clan

already has a Xuanwu Guardian,

a friend to the Prince of Langya.

Prince of Langya

never meddles in factional strife.

The Prince of Langya?

He's from the last generation.

Back then,

Lei Fortress and the Tang Clan

made the right choice.

They backed the Prince of Langya and my father,

and won in the end.

But now,

it's a new era.

You should

make a new choice.

A new choice?

To beat Lei Fortress for good,

or rather,

make Lei Fortress

vanish from the world.

Dangling Lei Fortress's destruction

to tempt the Tang Clan

is quite the offer.

But...

why should I choose you,

Your Highness?

What do you mean?

We're allied with Xueyue City.

If we ally with you too,

it'll surely clash

with Xueyue City's plans

and run against them.

You know,

crossing Baili Dongjun

isn't easy.

In short,

you're talking terms.

Guards!

Wait.

Your Highness,

you haven't understood me.

What I mean is:

just no.

Why not?

Because today,

the moment I saw you,

I was disappointed.

Disappointed?

Disappointed.

Years ago,

when the Prince of Langya

took Tang Lianyue from the Tang Clan,

I was delighted.

Though

I don't like Xiao Ruofeng,

he's truly exceptional.

He won't take what he could claim,

always yielding and yielding,

even...

the throne itself.

When Lianyue left with the Prince of Langya,

I truly thought

they'd win renown across the land.

And indeed,

my judgment was right.

However,

today,

seeing you,

I don't see

that promise in you.

Xiang,

let's go.

Very well.

Fine.

Grand Master Tang,

it's fine if you don't choose me.

Because I'm not

choosing you either.

You're too old.

When a man's too old,

his eyes blur.

When vision blurs,

he makes the wrong choice.

What do you mean?

The Tang Clan today

is about to change hands.

And you, Grand Master Tang...

you will

die here.

Grand Master!

It's fine.

Setting a trap for me, huh?

I can't tell if you're foolish

or just plain foolish!

You think because this is Tianqi City,

with so many people,

you can kill me?

Xiang,

this idea of theirs

is foolish, isn't it?

Far too foolish.

Since it's foolish,

they'll pay the price.

Even the Tang Clan

can't afford the crime

of killing a prince, can it?

We can't afford it?

Even if the juniors can't,

Grand Master Tang will weigh it himself!

Well said.

Grand Master Tang,

you're seriously underestimating

Tianqi City.

Outside,

there's an entire army encircling us.

Unless...

you can kill

everyone here tonight,

otherwise,

the whole Tianqi will hunt you down.

Looks like...

tonight, you're set

on a fight to the bitter end.

Grand Master,

we shouldn't keep fighting.

Find a chance and break out.

Since they want to die,

I'll let them die.

Furious Sword Deity

Yan Zhantian.

Grand Master Tang,

it's been a long time.

You fiend,

why are you in Tianqi City?

Surely not

for those useless fools!

What,

you want a fight?

But I don't fight. I just kill.

You all...

are you ready?

Furious Sword Deity,

why have you come

to Tianqi City?

None of your business!

Grand Master Tang,

let's go.

Are we on the same side?

Perhaps...

my disciple is, at least.

Since when did you have a disciple?

Why are there

so many questions in this world?

And must every question

have an answer?

Move.

[Xiao Chong, Second Prince of Beili]

They're here.

Much obliged, Grandmaster.

This is the Second Prince, Xiao Chong.

Seems I'm easy to recognize.

The Second Prince, Xiao Chong,

was harmed as a child

and lost his sight.

That's hardly a secret

in Tianqi City, is it?

Correct.

I am Xiao Chong.

Greetings, Grand Master Tang.

Greetings, Your Highness.

On hearing you're here in Tianqi,

we should've

prepared more properly

before inviting you to the residence.

But tonight's events

happened too suddenly,

so I troubled the Grandmaster

to arrange this brief meeting here.

Please don't take offense.

Quite an unusual prince.

But...

this humility,

and this easy manner

is a bit deliberate, isn't it?

Besides me,

Registrar Jin Yu

is also his master.

He learned my swordplay

but Jin Yu's temper.

So in swordplay,

he hasn't improved at all.

That's because I lack talent

in the sword.

Still, you are remarkable.

You and the Prince of Langya

are nothing alike.

However,

I can see in you

something intriguing.

[Dengjin Tower] This way, please.

I've been to this restaurant often.

This way, please.

The ways of the world are curious.

Days ago, Tang disciples

were out for my blood.

Today, they host me here.

So what?

Back when the Demonic Sect marched east,

no one imagined

Blood River would aid the defense.

Sometimes, enemies and friends

are a single thought apart.

Can those bound by profit

still be called friends?

I'm Tang Lingzun

of the Tang Clan.

You must be

the Patriarch.

I only glimpsed Master Su

in passing last time.

Back then,

you were the Umbrella Ghost

sent to kill Liu Yilong.

Years later,

you're still this handsome.

Madam,

are you married?

No.

Understood.

Understood what, Sir?

Nothing.

How did you know

I'm in Jin City too?

Everyone knows

Blood River's Patriarch

and the Su family head

are inseparable,

always together.

He wouldn't come alone.

Alone?

Our Mu family head

came as well,

nearly died at your hands,

still not fully recovered.

Otherwise,

he'd be here today for an answer.

Just a misunderstanding.

Now,

let's talk business.

Business?

Madam, you do get straight to the point.

Where is Tang Linghuang?

Master Su,

you're just as direct as I am.

Because this is an answer

we must have.

I really can't tell you

where Tang Linghuang is.

But I can tell you this:

he won't appear again.

In the Tang Clan, only I am qualified

to negotiate with you.

You?

Of course.

Fine.

As for me,

I'll talk to anyone

so long as we get

what we want.

What can you offer us, Madam?

Muyu,

since it's a negotiation,

let's show Blood River's good faith.

Go settle the bill

for this banquet.

Today,

Blood River treats the Madam.

All right.

The Su family head himself

goes to pay the bill?

Only a handful of us

came to Jin City.

We're here to make an alliance,

not pick a fight.

Why isn't the Spider Woman here?

Yumo isn't the family head.

She came for other business.

Don't mind it.

Other business?

Blood River does seem

quite interested in Jin City.

We're interested in plenty.

For instance,

our family.

By "family",

do you mean her?

I mean her safe and sound.

What counts as "safe and sound"?

Are you not afraid to die?

Blood River's "Poisonous Blossom"

used to kill with a single touch.

But now,

she's just an ordinary lady.

If such a person

still counts

as your family, Sir?

You stripped the poison from Xuewei?

Is that

still "safe and sound"?

Whatever you did,

now that she's

in front of me,

you can't lay a hand on her again.

The Blood River Patriarch

is so loyal and true?

That doesn't match my intel.

And what does your intel say?

Anything in there

about my looks?

Like...

handsome with a roguish edge,

and a touch

of uncommon charm?

The Blood River Patriarch,

Su Changhe,

codename Undertaker,

is a profit-driven man

with sentiment, no ethics,

and a cruel hand.

Not a bad summary.

Yet it seems

you do know sentiment and ethics.

Everyone in Blood River

wears a mask.

Under the mask is the true self.

Believe it or not,

I'm actually

a loyal, stand-up man.

Sir,

you are interesting.

Pity, though...

Pity what?

You're not as good-looking as Master Su.

That tongue's pure poison!

Naturally.

I'm the Tang Clan's Inner Hall Chief,

the most poisonous one of all.

Since you've seen

your "family",

as for our business...

Sir...

I...

Rest up for now.

I'll speak for you.

We can talk.

Go on.

Master Su isn't back yet.

Shouldn't we

discuss this with him too?

With me here,

he needn't say much.

We've always thought

the same way,

always have.

Something's off.

What's off?

I hear Master Su

and Mu Xuewei go way back.

The "Poisonous Blossom" is right here,

yet he left first.

Everything about this seems off.

He probably figured

the food here wasn't to his taste,

so he went to find lighter dishes.

In Jin City,

where can you find light dishes?

Perhaps

the Tang Clan?

♪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♪