Original subtitles

[The Vendetta of An]

Many years ago,

on the land of the Tiemo people,

a woman from Chang'an was captured.

The Tiemo believed

she was a shadow guard.

A shadow guard captured,

and more shadow guards would come for her.

Every shadow guard

carries invaluable military intelligence,

immeasurable in worth.

She was hung upon a turning pole,

used as bait.

Under sun and rain,

for seven days in full.

No one came to save her.

Even the Tiemo people

eventually lost interest in her.

Except for one patient man.

On the seventh night,

the soldiers guarding her abandoned her,

thinking she was dead.

And that man

had waited

for this very moment.

He loved to gamble

and was skilled in disguise.

He saw she was still alive

and knew a woman

who survived seven days

could not be a common shadow guard.

She might be of the Huben Army.

He helped her when her will

was weakest.

He drew out key intelligence

and after he got what he needed,

he then

killed her completely.

That man

was calm

and cruel.

That man,

back then in Tiemo,

was known as a brilliant conspirator.

The intelligence he obtained

turned the war in their favor.

And so,

he was awarded great military merit.

After that,

he rose to become the new King of Tiemo.

[Episode 23]

Wu Zhongheng.

I never truly knew the man.

He deceived my father,

and he deceived me as well.

The Huben elites who came to save her that year

had already advanced deep into Chen Valley.

I used the intel I coaxed out

of that woman,

I led a hundred Huben elites

straight into a granary,

and left them to slaughter each other inside.

What I never foresaw

was that one Huben elite

would make it out alive,

and return to Chang'an.

He grew in power afterward,

overtook me,

and killed your father, Liu Ziwen.

Then he reshaped the balance in Tiemo,

forcing my plans

to be delayed for fifteen more years.

Yan Fengshan.

A name one remembers

even at the brink of death.

Perhaps

this is simply karma.

White Hair.

Back then, when I lived under the name Wu Zhongheng,

I moved among your father's generation.

All those years,

not once did I hear

anyone mention your mother.

Where was she, I wonder?

A woman

for whom a hundred Huben elites would give their lives

must have held

a noble and rare status.

What a pity.

I cut her down from that pole,

yet she left not a single word behind.

Had she spoken even once,

it might have eased the longing

of a family somewhere in Chang'an.

My mother is in the north.

When all this ends,

she will return.

Is that so?

I hope you are right.

Truth is,

I never killed for pleasure.

I killed only to reach

my goal.

Nothing more.

The deposed emperor is in your grasp,

and so are my friends.

These past days,

you have been waiting for me.

Speak.

What do you want of me?

Kill Xiao Wuyang for me.

Why do you not do it yourself?

You endured fifteen years to stay alive,

playing the long game for vengeance.

And I endured twenty-five years.

Of course I will leave the greatest chance

for myself.

Very well.

Then tell me,

why choose me?

Because you plotted the death of Yan Fengshan,

which means you can

do it again

and bring me Xiao Wuyang's head.

You truly are my mentor.

I know one thing.

On that throne in Chang'an,

there will never be room for two.

As it stands,

Tiemo is at our gates.

I will help you kill him.

But after it is done,

you will release my friends.

Do not worry.

I

do not kill for pleasure.

I kill only to achieve a goal.

I took your friends only to force your hand.

I made a promise to Gu Yu.

He wished to die in his homeland,

and I granted him that.

If you kill Xiao Wuyang for me,

I will grant you the same,

your friends will be safe.

Everything's nearly done.

Dinner is ready.

Thank you, my dear.

Food is ready.

Father, Mother, let's eat.

Grandfather.

Qinghe,

Come eat.

Leave your grandpa alone.

You little kid.

Alright, Qinghe, no more fussing.

Let's eat first.

Here.

Sit down first.

Grandfather, I want meat.

Meat? Meat it is, have some.

Tasty.

Grandmother, I'll feed you meat.

Sit down first.

- Sit and eat. - Come on, have some soup.

What a handful.

I don't pay what I owe.

I'm shameless even when given face.

I'm shameless even when given face.

I'm no better than a beast.

I borrow and never repay.

I'm shameless even when given face.

I'm no better than a beast.

I owe and never repay.

Truly penniless.

So poor.

Then why gamble?

A poor man only gambles to rise again.

But alive and useless, what's the point?

Tomorrow,

go fish with Liang.

He's an honest man.

You'll be paid daily.

Thank you, Master Lu.

Thank you, Master Lu.

Master Lu,

you're like a second father to me.

Thank you, Master Lu.

I just worry you'll skip out,

and ruin my reputation.

You'll see me every day after work.

I'll take half your wages

until every debt is paid.

If you slack off,

I'll cut your flesh to settle the debt.

Your Majesty.

You're back.

The food is still warm.

Good.

Your Majesty.

You're still badly injured.

Why go out again?

You...

And those people, they…

They failed to kill me once.

They'll try again.

I need to be ready.

Enough.

It's alright now.

Let's eat.

Come.

Come.

Sit and eat with me.

I have plenty.

Here, there is no emperor.

Only the shopkeeper

and the one he shelters.

Sit, eat.

Alright.

Yan Fengshan is dead.

Aside from that news,

is there anything good to hear?

The armies surrounding the city have withdrawn.

The forces of the regional commanders

are already returning to their feudal towns.

Many people went out recently,

they saw it themselves.

These days,

I walked along Cangshui River,

heard many talking

about the troop movements.

It matches what you said.

Why aren't you eating?

Eat.

Sir.

Come.

Sit here. Talk with me for a while.

Have you heard anything

about the Tiemo lately?

The Tiemo?

Your Majesty, we're in Chang'an.

How could Tiemo people get in?

The ones who ambushed me that night

were Tiemo.

I thought

they were sent by Yan Fengshan.

Huben guards kill with precision,

nothing like

the sweeping blade work

of open battle.

I fought in the northern front for years.

I know their ways well.

Those attackers that night

were Tiemo without a doubt.

Enough.

I met someone in Cangshui River today,

a young debt collector

named Lu Xiaobing.

Do you know of him?

I do.

Cruel, ruthless man.

Your Majesty, a life like gold,

must never deal with someone like him.

Sir.

You are a little late.

In your name,

I borrowed money from him.

I expect he will

come looking for you soon.

He will come here?

Your Majesty,

that exposes your location.

What should we do?

How do we handle this?

Enough, sir.

Do not worry.

I have my own way.

Several of my employers said the same.

The salt-shop keeper borrowed gold.

All added up,

it's about four liang now.

Old man,

think carefully.

Nine out, thirteen back.

If you can't repay,

I'll burn your shop down.

I will repay.

And this one,

the worn-out looking fellow here.

What's your story?

I look worn-out?

A little.

I'm the one who borrowed the gold.

Here.

Borrow so much money,

planning a business?

Or planning

to flee with it?

I want to pay you for your help.

For you.

Handle something for me.

[Warrant]

Who is he?

My brother.

He's wanted.

I believe

he'll show up around here.

I'm waiting to meet him again.

Keep an eye out for me every day.

If you hear anything,

tell me at once,

quietly.

Do it well,

and this gold

will be your reward.

Let me get this straight.

You borrowed money from several

of my employers,

then you handed that money back to me.

And when it's time to collect,

I'll have to chase you for payment?

We'll talk about repayment when it's due.

But for now,

I am your employer.

Do the job well for me.

Xiaobing is back.

Yes.

Xiaoding.

Xiaoding.

You haven't eaten yet?

Waiting for you.

Alright.

Perfect timing then.

We'll have something extra today.

Listen,

I met a really

strange fellow today.

He gave me four liang of gold.

That much?

Yeah.

Tell me, what brother

is worth four liang of gold?

Besides,

where am I supposed to find him a brother?

Xiaobing.

I think maybe it's time.

Time for what?

Xiaobing, you're not young anymore.

You should find a wife.

But dragging me along like baggage

won't help.

If you knew some wealthy family,

fix me up a bit,

dress me like a boy,

send me over as their little brother.

You're dreaming way too big.

Have I raised you for nothing all these years?

Besides,

if such luck really existed,

a rich family seeking a younger brother,

I should go first.

Do you even know...

Eat.

Come on, have more. More meat.

This is good meat.

Wuyang.

If I come back alive,

I'll keep looking after you.

If I die,

then let it be a death for the realm.

At least I won't shame the Xiao family.

Put this on later.

When Xiao Wuyang dies,

your friends will be safe.

[Wontons]

[Wontons]

[Taiyiji Clinic]

Morning, Mr. Sha.

Morning.

Mr. Sha.

Morning, Mr. Sha.

Grand Preceptor.

There is no Grand Preceptor anymore.

Here in Chang'an,

there's only Cen Pickles.

Your Majesty.

Many years ago,

Liu Ziwen

and Grand Preceptor Cen Weizong were both here.

I heard them speak once

of their vision for Cangshui River.

Had I not seen it myself,

I would never believe

it's true.

They said

it still isn't fully built.

But still,

it has sheltered many people.

I suppose everyone here

has some skills to survive.

Out there,

they could make a living too.

I wonder

why they choose to stay

in a place with no daylight.

Your Majesty.

People here are like duckweed.

When they first arrive,

each has their own reason.

Once duckweed takes root,

it becomes home.

Who

would willingly leave

their home again?

The boatman in charge said

only his skiff can get outside.

But that's not true.

If one day

Your Majesty decides to leave,

you may find

an unsealed tunnel on that cliffside.

It leads out.

Your Majesty,

if that day comes,

I

will guide Your Majesty through.

Me?

I cannot leave yet.

I must wait for Xie Huai'an.

Your Majesty.

You gave him four liang of gold

just so he could

wander around here every day?

I'll think of him as my second pair of eyes.

You saw it too, didn't you?

He's wearing the shoes I gave him.

Anyone observant will notice.

Through him,

news will find its way back to me.

All for Xie Huai'an.

Yes.

The Tiemo assassins,

and Yan Fengshan's death,

all happened that same night.

Six days have passed since then.

Xie Huai'an still hasn't appeared.

He leaves no trace when he acts.

If he is late,

it means something went wrong.

It seems even here,

meeting him may not be easy.

That child

has suffered too much.

Child?

Sir.

He even killed Yan Fengshan.

This child may well be

the most terrifying person

in the empire.

Your Majesty.

When he was born,

I was already working in the Liu household.

I watched with my own eyes

as his white hair turned black again.

In my eyes,

he is still just a child.

Do not worry.

I will protect him well.

You may live to see

his hair turn from black to white.

Xie Huai'an,

you should be here by now.

Have you ever thought about how you might die?

Mr. Huai'an looks gentle and refined,

but when you speak,

your words could chill a man to the bone.

Gentle and refined, am I?

You are smart enough.

You should know how this ends for you.

I do not.

Then please, enlighten me.

You

will die long before you reach the summit.

Why not at the summit?

Had it been thirty years earlier,

you might have stood a chance.

Back then, the founding emperor rose from nothing,

and my father

was still studying in the countryside.

The Grand Preceptor first made a living

selling pickled vegetables.

But in the end,

they both reached the peak.

Envy.

No need to envy them,

you simply chose the wrong road.

Did I?

Yan Fengshan, that great mountain, has already fallen.

Xiao Wenjing is already in our hands.

Looking at the situation now,

only the Tiemo people

still have a chance to reach the summit.

As for me,

I was born a Tiemo man.

You are mistaken.

Yan Fengshan never reached the peak,

and the Tiemo never will.

[Warrant]

The wanted man is back.

He must have seen

the shoes you gave me,

so he left that umbrella there on purpose.

What is that supposed to mean?

This umbrella

once appeared

in a very large plot.

Back then,

he lost his only family.

This is a warning to me

that there is a trap ahead.

So

what does it have to do with you?

Enough.

You did what I asked.

You may go.

The four liang is yours.

As for the rest,

I will repay the lenders gradually.

Four liang for running an errand?

It was not just an errand, it was risky.

Four liang, well deserved.

I am not blind either.

Your younger brother is no ordinary man.

Someone is watching him.

And you are even less ordinary.

You want someone dead, do you not?

I, Lu Xiaobing, collect debts in Cangshui River.

Everyone knows I keep my word.

Not a coin short,

not a credit stolen.

You paid me four liang,

I can do a little more for you.

No need.

I know you have family.

When young men try to be fearless,

they should think of home.

Live well.

Go on.

The King of Tiemo is in the open now.

We will face him this way.

This blade of yours,

can it kill Xiao Wuyang?

Of course not.

Mr. Huai'an must know that already.

No need to pry from me.

As for others like me who hold blades,

how many there are,

or where they stand,

I know nothing of it.

So you do not know

the final killing move.

You are not at the core of this.

Does Mr. Huai'an know it then?

Think a little more,

and the answer comes naturally.

Set head against head,

we can never match Xiao Wuyang.

According to the plan,

there is a teahouse by the mudflat ahead.

That's the best spot for us to wait

for Xiao Wuyang.

Even if shadow guards crowd the area,

he will not win

by ambush alone.

As for my mentor,

he wants to take down the King of Death.

I find myself truly curious

about what move he plans to use.

"Play the prey first.

[Play the prey first. Then kill the hunter.]

Then kill the hunter."

♪Who pulls our strings♪

♪To stage the pain of parting?♪

♪Love and hate once surged between us♪

♪But time has turned it all to nothing♪

♪Perhaps I should forget♪

♪Forget our mingled breaths♪

♪And forget your eyes♪

♪A beauty beyond imagining♪

♪Love is a long journey♪

♪Marked by wounds that stir the hand of fate♪

♪At every perilous pass♪

♪What forces lie in wait?♪

♪We once made a vow in the wind♪

♪To seek each other in the sea of faces♪

♪If fate allows, though far apart, we will meet again♪

♪In life and death, our promise stands♪

♪Through the harsh years that remain♪

♪You are my warmest obsession♪

♪When all things face destruction♪

♪I take your hand♪

♪Without fear or regret, we face it together♪

♪Meetings and partings♪

♪Are written by fate♪

♪After countless voyages♪

♪When seas run dry and stones decay♪

♪I ask only that you stay by my side♪

♪We once made a vow in the wind♪

♪To seek each other in the sea of faces♪

♪When all things face destruction♪

♪I take your hand♪

♪Without fear or regret, we face it together♪