Original subtitles

[The Vendetta of An]

Huben Army's ambush

caused Chang'an to fall.

The Emperor, Xiao Wuyang, was attacked

and went missing.

Yan Fengshan rules Chang'an once again.

[Episode 14]

Master,

is this the only way out of the city?

Yes.

A few thousand people were mobilized from Hidden Soldier Alley.

They mainly focus

on the imperial court's secrets and city gates.

The canal is remote

so there is still a chance.

People say that Your Majesty

is kind in heart yet lacking in talent.

You ascended the throne only to govern in mediocrity.

You brought war back upon the land

and left the common people in misery.

They also added that in the end, you had let your ancestors down

and perished in disgrace.

But I beg to differ.

I have heard that under Your Majesty's leadership,

you granted the people time to recover

and returned the troops to their barracks.

You changed customs for the better

and brought prosperity to all.

The elderly had someone to rely on

and the children had someone to raise them.

Though your reign

lacked both the fierce valor of your late father

and the martial strength of the Marquis of Northguard,

you held compassion for the common folk,

and cared for the livelihood of the poor.

With such devotion to the state and its people,

you are not at fault.

They called you a scoundrel

whose disorderly governance

caused the northern army to rise

and seize the throne by force.

The court cowered in trepidation

and the martial world grew disheartened.

Fear stirred resentment

and bitterness took root against Your Majesty.

While Your Majesty might have lost your throne

and is wandering the world aimlessly,

your devotion

shouldn't be confined only to the palace walls.

Even far from the center of power,

you may still accomplish much.

In this life,

I fear I will have no chance to see Your Majesty again.

I pray only that Your Majesty

do not forget your original intention

for one day, it will surely

[From Han Ziling]

be heard

somewhere in the world.

So your name is Han Ziling.

For some reason,

the gates of the Imperial Jail

are opened.

I guess

White Hair has fulfilled his promise.

You've been sitting for a few decades.

You can finally stand up now.

I no longer have the right to sit.

To save you,

I hid the fact

that White Hair was in Hidden Soldier Alley.

This is unfair

to the Huben Army.

To protect myself,

I even gave away

the Huben Army's gold coin.

This is also a form of betrayal.

Mother,

like mother, like son indeed.

Right now,

the Huben Army

no longer has anything to do with me.

I think

I should leave.

I should have

left sooner.

[One Month Later]

Hot lamb soup!

- Yes. - Two?

It's fresh.

Sure.

Give me some.

Here.

Who are you?

It's me.

Don't you remember me?

Little runt.

You are a little runt.

Indeed.

I don't know who my parents are.

Perhaps I'm someone no one wants.

I was just kidding.

Give me two jin of pork shoulder.

My mother wants

to make stuffed flatbread tonight.

Oh, it's you.

I'm sorry.

I can't help you this time.

Why?

Didn't you go to the butcher's shop

to chop some meat for me last time?

That was the last time.

This time, it's different.

How so?

I'm different.

You still look the same.

Did you commit a crime?

A huge crime.

Then,

can you still go home and eat?

I guess.

However, I'm different.

I have to earn

my own meal.

That is why it's so meaningful.

General,

dinner is ready.

Let's wait for Wang Pu.

He has gone to the market.

He'll be slow with shackles on his feet.

You may go back first.

One more thing.

Secret envoys of Tiemo have departed.

Yang Chuhao

is in charge of taking care of them.

The Tiemo people are coming.

White Hair should also be appearing soon.

He won't let go of this opportunity.

Tell Yang Chuhao's men

to keep a close eye on it.

Yes.

Why hasn't Wang Pu come back?

I'll go and pick him up from the market.

You spoil him, General.

I captured Chang'an

but I didn't sit on the throne at Taiqing Hall.

I moved to the market instead.

However, if I have to eat alone,

I will

feel lonely.

I'll take two.

Give me a discount.

- General. - General.

- General. - General.

Keep drinking.

All of you may leave.

I have something to say to Mr. Wang Pu.

- Yes. - Yes.

When you're upset,

drinking makes you inebriated faster.

I dare not act recklessly before you.

You've acted recklessly many times.

Zhiying cooks for us every day.

She doesn't complain

yet you won't accept her kindness.

It's not that I don't want her kindness.

I feel guilty

and dare not eat.

Do you not feel guilty

eating meat and drinking wine

in this eatery, then?

When I was managing Hidden Soldier Alley,

I gave him lots of benefits.

Of course, I don't feel guilty.

On the contrary,

I failed to solve your problem

and almost caused you to lose your life.

I feel guilty.

You won't win against White Hair.

I might not even be able to do it either.

Zhiying said I spoiled you.

I don't treat you

like how a general treats his subordinates.

However, you served me since you were young.

I've never regarded you

as my subordinate.

If a subordinate makes a mistake

and I kill him,

many more people are available

to obey my command.

When you make a mistake

and don't come home to eat,

I come out to find you.

I endure the night breeze,

as if I am looking for my own children.

It's time to go back.

You're paying for real?

Of course.

I won't kill you

just because you charged me.

The reward is quite high.

I know, right?

Have you seen this person before?

If I've seen him, I would've...

Let's go.

Let's go.

[Warrant]

It doesn't look like him.

Master,

I'm back.

It's time to go back.

It's going to rain soon.

We're going back when I just arrived?

Let's rest for a while longer.

The air is good here,

unlike the gloomy and depressing Cangshui River.

It's stuffy there.

Master,

what is the story

behind Cangshui River?

I've been keeping watch from inside for a few days.

And I noticed

some suspicious people.

You are always keeping an eye on others.

They will think you are the suspicious one, too.

I have to do that.

You know

who I'm protecting.

Huai'an's father, Liu Ziwen,

is a rare talent.

He spent his whole life

protecting Chang'an.

Hidden Soldier Alley

is the last line of defense.

When it fails

and Chang'an falls,

the people and the government

have to move to Cangshui River.

Unfortunately,

before Cangshui River was built,

he was killed.

Does Yan Fengshan

know about this place?

Or is there anyone in the Huben Army

who knows about this?

I am the manager of Cangshui River.

Do you think I'm foolish enough

to let Yan Fengshan

and the others know about it?

I know you are the manager.

Aren't we just having a friendly chat?

Moreover,

looking at you now,

you are just a boatman at most.

I manage everything

from this boat.

You can only reach Cangshui River

on this boat

using this river.

Cangshui River

only houses refugees now.

All of them have their lips sealed.

No need to be wary of them.

All right.

With you as the manager,

I'm relieved.

I'm leaving.

Take care.

Go on.

Just leave it here.

Give it to me.

No.

Your salary.

It's my turn.

Pile them up.

Slow down.

Sir!

I'm done moving the goods.

You've worked hard.

Young men are indeed strong.

With you around,

I can have it easy.

Sir,

have you noticed

someone looking

at the shop all the time?

They are just staring

from right outside the shop.

Although

they don't stand there for long,

do you think

there's something

in this shop that attracts attention?

Young man,

how long have you

been working here?

I've been here for quite some time.

I was working in other shops

and you were hiring.

I came here

because you paid more.

You are lying.

I...

I'm not lying.

It's all right.

Everyone who comes here

is a person in misfortune.

Everyone has it tough.

It's normal

to keep everything to yourself.

I'm sure

that you just arrived at Cangshui River.

Why don't

you tell me

what time it is now?

They are here

to look at this.

Along the streets,

there are many of these.

I wonder

which smart guy invented this.

Anyway,

when I acquired this shop,

it was already here.

That's right.

From tomorrow onward,

you must scoop up the salt that leaks out

and pour it back in.

But I still need to move the goods.

Not anymore. Just watch the shop for me.

Really?

Tomorrow.

Sure!

My back is sore

from moving the goods every day.

My shoulders are sore.

You look delicate.

You must have been a noble.

But I don't have a noble's fate.

I was just a pageboy.

A pageboy?

Look at my chicken.

Weigh your medicine first.

You're back?

How's your brother?

Just like that.

I worked many jobs

and I still can't make a lot of money.

This is tough.

You've only worked for a few days

and you're already complaining.

Listen.

This is life.

Life?

Life also needs...

That's right.

Starting tomorrow,

I'll be taking care of the salt shop.

Someone needs to move the goods.

If you go there,

we'll have two people

working two jobs

and earning two salaries.

Good idea.

Working two jobs

and earning two salaries.

We even have money for wine.

As expected of you.

No, thanks.

Who was the one who said

this was life just now?

I said

that was your life.

I don't like your job

and you can't do

my job.

I wonder

how Huai'an is doing now.

[Xuandu Temple]

If you weren't transferred out of Chang'an,

we wouldn't have this opportunity

to have tea so casually.

Yet coming here

only fills me with disappointment.

You've been in Chang'an for so many years.

Don't you have any other ways?

Ways?

After Yan Fengshan

captured Chang'an,

the whole situation changed.

What ways do I have?

But I heard

nothing has changed in the imperial court.

General Fengshan

doesn't even enter Taiqing Hall.

He even brought someone from the Xiao imperial family

to be the Emperor

to preserve the legitimacy of the Xiao dynasty.

Do you really think

that young emperor

is from the Xiao family?

Whether I believe in it or not isn't important.

The important thing

is when you can be

transferred back to Chang'an.

I'll be honest with you.

On the surface level,

I was only an Imperial Guard.

In truth,

I was actually serving Chancellor Gao.

Now, Chancellor Gao

is doing worse than I am.

What makes you think

I can make a comeback again?

Nothing is absolute

in life.

It's full of ups and downs.

Don't dwell on it.

When your next wave of fortune

comes,

you might

even go to further heights.

If your temple

has more devotees,

I might believe you a little more.

Look at it now.

It has more flies than people.

It's not a popular area.

It's not a popular area.

Enough.

Just stay here.

When I come here tomorrow,

I'll get another cup of tea.

- Take care. - Farewell.

Take care.

[Xuandu Temple]

Zeng,

it's getting windy.

Remember to sleep with an extra blanket.

Yes.

It's getting windy.

No need to worry about me.

I can protect myself.

Thank you

for guarding the temple.

I was able to go home for a few nights.

If you need anything,

just tell me.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Thank you for letting me stay here.

You will be blessed for your kindness.

[Xuandu Temple]

You're here.

It has been a long time.

However, this move is too dangerous.

Last time,

we lost badly.

A visitor this late at night?

An acquaintance is here to visit.

We exchanged a few words.

I see.

I've returned to retrieve some lamp oil.

Has your friend left?

He has.

He left in a hurry as well.

You look

very tired.

You must rest more.

Sure.

Give me more time.

I will soon give you an explanation.

Liu Zhi,

I don't need an explanation.

I just want you

to live on.

Live on?

What's the point of living?

[Changle Outpost]

Sir,

instead of sleeping at night,

you stare at this warrant.

[Warrant]

Do you know him?

Your opportunity to return to Chang'an

is here.

It's the middle of the night.

Don't try to fool me.

Last month,

I gave someone shelter.

He said his name was Zeng.

He came to Chang'an to do business

and all his money was scammed.

[Warrant] He asked for a place to stay.

I told him

to work at the temple as a night guard

so that I can sneak out

at night

to gamble.

Sir,

do you know how much money you lost?

Why do you still gamble?

But now,

I think

he looks

like this person.

Last month?

Why didn't you say it sooner?

Is your vision so bad

that you only noticed yesterday?

Of course, not.

I had recognized him long ago

but I also heard

about what he did

in Chang'an back then.

He is the man

chosen by Xiao Wuyang.

I need to determine what's the right thing to do.

In the future,

if Xiao Wuyang rises again,

then I shouldn't

offend this person as well.

How unexpected.

You are quite thoughtful.

Today,

he looked all dazed

like he was talking to ghosts.

He

no longer has a future.

It's better to turn him in

and make us both rich.

We'll get 1,000 liang of silver.

You can take the credit.

But I have been

unlucky recently.

Your bad luck probably rubbed off on me.

I even owe a lot of debt.

I just need a way back to the Capital.

You can

take all the reward.

[Warrant]

Okay.

Move.

Move.

Give me two.

Vegetables! Come and take a look!

Fresh lamb meat!

Sir,

two bowls of mutton.

Sure.

Sir, enjoy.

Mother,

I want some.

Pick it up, quick.

Come and take a look!

They are fresh.

They are delicious!

- How about two? - Come out and eat some meat.

You've been following me the whole morning.

Nothing can be hidden

from you, Mr. Wang.

Let's talk while we eat.

I'll help myself, then.

In the past,

I was an Imperial Guard on the surface

but I was actually serving the chancellor.

Chancellor Gao?

How are his legs?

Compared to yours,

they are a little worse.

Continue.

Xie Huai'an was stabbed previously.

Chancellor Gao ordered me to protect Xie Huai'an,

Ye Zheng, and Zhang Mo.

I was with them for a few years.

Other people

don't recognize them

but I do.

Who did you find?

The Taoist temple outside the city.

Xie Huai'an.

I speak the truth.

If I lie to you,

I don't think it'll be difficult for you

to kill me,

Mr. Wang.

However,

your former master, Chancellor Gao,

is very protective of Xie Huai'an.

When the ship sinks, everyone jumps.

In recent times,

one's wealth

is more important than one's reputation.

Being loyal is not as practical

as having some lamb meat to eat.

Sir.

Coming.

That's too much.

Buy a knife

with the extra change.

Let's go.

Stop.

Mr. Wang Pu.

What's wrong?

The weather is changing.

[Xuandu Temple]

Just

one person?

Shut up.

Do you know who he is?

Mr. Wang Pu

is the most capable person

under General Fengshan.

Apologies for not recognizing you.

Forgive me.

That's enough.

Where is he?

He's in the hall at the back.

He said his name was Zeng.

He has been staying here

for about a month.

Don't follow me.

I'll go inside alone.

[Awakening and Returning to Purity]

You're here?

Yes.

I'm cooking dumplings.

I made some for you too.

Sure.

I'll dine with you.

I know you want to earn merit

and regain your dignity

in front of Yan Fengshan.

Thus,

I asked Commander Wang to lure you here.

He serves me.

I know that.

He acts quite well.

Right.

I can't hide it from you for too long.

You're here.

It has been a while.

I've been waiting for you to summon me.

Another move has to be made

to hit back against Yan Fengshan.

I will never forget

what the chancellor did for me.

As long as I can avenge the chancellor

and kill the Huben Army,

I will do your bidding.

I'm a criminal.

The general had a few men around me

to prevent me from escaping.

But after Commander Wang appeared

and I left the city with him,

they stopped appearing.

That means

your men in the city

removed those sentries.

You are indeed the smartest tactician

under Yan Fengshan.

The dumplings

will be done soon.

Be patient.

Stop flattering me.

I was completely outwitted by you

at Hidden Soldier Alley.

In that case,

you know

I am your opponent.

You also know that this is a trap.

Why did you still come here?

Why not?

When I found out

you were keeping an eye on me,

I couldn't wait to appear before you

and see what tricks you have up your sleeves.

♪The wind never rests♪

♪How much pain does it scatter to nothing?♪

♪The rain knows no calm♪

♪How much love does it cool into silence?♪

♪All my life amid blades and shadows♪

♪I live beside life and death♪

♪In a landscape veiled in smoke and fire♪

♪I can only live under a hidden name♪

♪Even my sighs must fall softly♪

♪The heart is unsteady♪

♪How much hatred does it leave unnamed?♪

♪The dream will not end♪

♪How many lives does it bind to fate?♪

♪Bearing my family's fate♪

♪I can only stand firm♪

♪I let my vows ring true♪

♪So the common folk need not wander♪

♪I have faith in it♪

♪So I choose♪

♪To cut off the past, to part in life♪

♪Across thousands of li♪

♪Who makes me vanish without a word?♪

♪I seek refuge deep in the mountains♪

♪Playing a game that spans ten long years♪

♪At last I step out from every secret♪

♪Standing opposed to both grace and grievance♪

♪Without the slightest fear♪

♪Along the ancient road, I spur my horse♪

♪And ride away♪

♪So I choose to cut off the past♪

♪At sunset, beacon fires rise♪

♪But I fear no bloodshed♪

♪In the mortal world, I carry my pride♪

♪News reaches me from Chang'an♪

♪Along the way, I endure disgrace and set my schemes♪

♪My blade falls upon my foes♪

♪Then I leave the jianghu behind♪

♪Traveling to the ends of the earth♪

♪Disappearing into the wide world♪