Original subtitles

[The Unclouded Soul]

[Episode 5]

And what are you here for?

To present a blade.

Sister, look. He looks like...

Be careful, miss.

This blade drinks blood.

He made it sound quite mysterious.

Hey, young man.

The precious blade the patron wants is here.

If you know what's good for you, get lost!

Miss, please take me to present the blade.

Stop.

This guy knows demonic arts!

Get that blade from him!

Can I present my blade now?

Hero,

the patron is waiting in the main chamber.

Hero,

you don't look like an ordinary man.

If this truly is a demon-slaying blade,

after you get your reward,

don't forget to let us

share a bit of your good fortune.

I heard you are offering a hefty sum to acquire a demon-slaying blade.

I have come to present mine.

Inspect it.

It's you?

Was it Hong Ye

who sent you to take my blade?

What did Hong Ye

do to you

to make you obey his every word

and even forget that you were once human?

Master Bingzhu,

let me be honest with you.

During my time in the Demons' Valley,

it was the demons who fed me, clothed me,

and gave me shelter.

Anyone with eyes, a heart, and a brain knows that

those minor demons who have just taken human form

and are newly sentient

are no different from human children.

They never leave the Demons' Valley,

cultivating and playing there.

Their nature is kind.

Not only have they never hurt me,

but they have also brought me joy.

Yet some people

judge all demons as guilty and deserving of death

because of the evil deeds of a few.

How is that fair?

It seems those demons have truly brainwashed you.

Fine, let me ask you.

Have you ever seen a demon devour a human with your own eyes?

I have seen such bloody scenes

many times.

Anyway,

if it weren't for that day

when you sent me to Qingyuan Mountain,

none of what followed would have happened.

Xiao Yao.

I know you're sharp-tongued.

But I also know you have a pure heart.

What exactly happened after you fell off the cliff

at Qingyuan Mountain?

I want you to tell me everything in detail,

without a single lie.

That day when I fell off the cliff,

I thought I was done for.

But suddenly,

a person appeared from the sky.

That's all?

Yes.

I have told you everything that happened

before you stepped into this room.

Just now while you were speaking,

my sword didn't move at all.

It shows it trusts you.

So I trust you too.

Why does this blade seem alive?

Did you cast a spell on it,

or was something added

when it was forged?

It's not a blade.

It's a person.

A person who was killed by a demon.

Her soul was bound to this blade.

She wants me to slay all evil demons in the world with her.

Tell me more.

Our family served in the military

for generations.

But my father was framed by villains,

reduced to a commoner,

and soon died of depression.

His greatest wish was for me

to return to the army,

clear our family's name,

and serve the court.

Since then, my sister and I have relied on each other.

Bingzhu.

I practiced our family's blade techniques every day,

hoping to fulfill my father's last wish soon.

Didn't you promise me you wouldn't go again?

Let's go.

But Bingzhu, there are so many taxes these days.

If I don't help you earn money,

when will you save enough to buy the blade?

Martial skills don't depend on the weapon.

Wait for me here.

Okay.

Give me your hand.

But Bingzhu,

every time you pass the blacksmith shop,

your eyes lock onto that...

that blade inside.

I've noticed it every time.

No, I don't.

The court requires

that you bring your own weapon

to be eligible to join the army.

Bingzhu,

with your martial skills,

you'll surely become a general if you join the army.

Consider this money

a loan from me.

Just pay me back double in the future, General.

When I become a general,

I'll buy you the finest clothes.

We'll live in the finest house.

Mm-hmm.

And by then,

I should also find you

the most virtuous husband.

Bingzhu!

You're home?

That's perfect.

Mr. Song?

We've already paid the rent and contributions.

Yes,

you paid the previous ones,

but new contributions have been assigned.

Spring plowing is coming,

but Heaven hasn't given a single drop of rain.

Our neighbors around the nearby villages

want to pitch in to find a bride for Lord Locust Tree

to pray for rain.

We have no money.

It's a mandatory contribution.

There's nothing I can do.

Come on.

Bingzhu! Bingzhu!

What are you doing?

Bingzhu!

Don't move.

Don't do anything.

-You'll make trouble if you do anything. -Bingzhu.

Let Tan'er go!

Just a routine search.

Every household says they have no money.

How am I supposed to report to my superior?

Search.

Okay!

Tan'er, don't be afraid.

Yes, search that chicken coop.

Okay.

Bingzhu! Bingzhu!

Bingzhu! Bingzhu!

That's enough.

Alright, alright.

There's still some money?

Well, why bother?

Bingzhu! Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu, are you alright?

Keep it for firewood.

So it won't go to waste.

Let's go.

Does it hurt?

Did they hurt you?

Song!

Bingzhu!

Don't go!

Don't go!

Don't go!

I'm fine. I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Don't go.

Really, I'm fine.

It's me...

I'm the one

who put you through this.

No, no.

Bingzhu.

It's late.

Go get some sleep.

I need to prepare a few more goods

to deliver to Mr. Li's residence tomorrow.

You go to bed first.

We can always earn more money.

But if you hurt someone in a fight,

you'll never be eligible to join the army.

I won't get into a fight.

Get up.

Go to bed. Did you hear me?

Bingzhu.

Sleep well.

Be a good girl.

I'll finish those things

and then go to sleep.

Bingzhu...

Tan'er?

Tan'er?

Tan'er!

Your sister

came early this morning.

She paid 20 taels of silver

to buy this blade

and asked me to tell you

that she only signed a contract

to sell herself as a servant to the landlord

in East Village for 10 years,

with food and lodging provided.

And she said

you should take the blade and join the army,

achieve great things,

and not worry about her.

May I see the silver Tan'er used

to buy the blade?

Song!

Where is my sister?

Tan'er is a good girl.

She came to me this morning

and said she was willing to marry Lord Locust Tree voluntarily.

She took the betrothal money and has already been sent to the wedding.

You bastard!

Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Bingzhu?

Bingzhu?

-Tan'er. -Run!

Bingzhu, run!

Don't worry about me!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Tan'er!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Bingzhu!

Tan'er.

Tan'er!

Tan'er, don't be afraid.

I'm coming to save you.

Tan'er!

Tan'er?

Bingzhu,

I...

I... can stay with you forever now.

Tan'er.

Tan'er, don't go! Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Tan'er!

Tan'er...

Tan'er!

The last soul of Tan'er's three souls and seven spirits

was bound to this blade,

turning it into a demon-slaying blade.

Later, I joined the army,

was assigned to the Feiyu Guard,

and rose through the ranks to where I am today.

That is why my sister and I

have a blood feud with the demons.

My sister has quite a temper.

Only when she senses the demon she wants to slay

will she leave the sheath.

Once drawn,

she will not return until she has drunk her fill of demon blood.

But she's seen you several times

and never made a move.

That proves that even though you have become a demon,

your nature remains pure.

How touching.

What?

Nothing. Please continue.

So I've been thinking that,

since Tan'er trusts you so much,

you should take her with you

to find Hong Ye.

Only when her long-cherished wish is fulfilled

will Tan'er's three souls and seven spirits return,

allowing her to reenter the cycle of reincarnation.

What is her long-cherished wish?

To eliminate all evil demons in the world.

Once Tan'er encounters Hong Ye,

I will appear at once.

That will be the best chance

to kill the Demon King once and for all.

Hong Ye and the demons in the Demons' Valley are not evil demons.

Do you know what he did 100 years ago?

I don't know,

and I don't need to know.

You didn't witness

what happened 100 years ago yourself.

On what grounds do you conclude that Hong Ye is...

According to the records,

he once bewitched Princess Ning'an.

He killed many people back then.

The court had to expend the strength of the entire realm to seal him away.

Xiao Yao.

Have you got up?

Anyway,

Tan'er has never

trusted anyone but me.

Don't let her down.

Xiao Yao!

Xiao Yao,

look.

Do you notice any changes in me?

Well... It's...

My face.

My skin.

Softer and fairer.

Really?

It actually works!

Here's one for you.

Isn't this that blade?

Where did you get it?

Money can solve anything.

This blade looks quite impressive.

Oh my goodness!

Why is it so fierce?

Is it going to kill me?

You haven't done any evil.

It won't kill you.

Master Blade,

we bear no grudge,

and I mean no offense.

Let's get along peacefully, shall we?

Where's Luoluo?

Luoluo!

Luoluo!

We should go now.

What are you doing here?

Xiao Yao, he's here.

What's wrong?

What's wrong with Luoluo?

Yueyue is missing.

Yueyue?

Who is Yueyue?

My friend.

I've searched the building, the courtyard,

the woodshed, the kitchen—everywhere,

but she's nowhere to be found.

Even her scent is gone.

They all say she ran away,

but I know she wouldn't.

She would never leave behind the grasshopper I gave her.

Flower Lady,

I told you not to wander off.

Flower Lady,

you'll catch cold like this.

Flower Lady, don't be afraid.

Flower Lady,

where are you? Flower Lady?

Flower Lady?

Flower Lady, don't be afraid.

Flower Lady.

Don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid.

How's it going?

We couldn't find her.

Nothing.

Keep looking! Hurry!

-Yes. -Yes.

My Lord?

What happened?

Where is your blade?

I sold it.

Where's the cartload of gold?

Do you need us to help bring it back?

Cartload... and gold?

Put the words "cartload" and "gold" together and you get "slay".

The demon-slaying blade has gone to take the Demon King's head.

Once the deed is done,

the court's rewards will surely come to all of us.

What's going on?

Oh right.

My Lord, the magistrate's office...

The magistrate's office is in chaos.

The daughter of the Qionghua Sect's leader is missing.

They've stormed the magistrate's office demanding her.

They're about to tear the place down.

[Righteousness]

My junior sister disappeared in your Pingjiang Prefecture.

If anything happens to her,

I will make sure your entire Pingjiang knows no peace.

If she is not found today,

your magistrate's office

will be torn down.

Yes!

Tear it down!

Everyone.

Young heroes!

As you can all see,

right now, in this main hall of the magistrate's office,

there isn't a single constable left.

They've all been sent out to look for her.

I'm just a low-rank official.

Please don't make things difficult for me.

I've already sent someone to fetch the Demon Slayer of the Feiyu Guard

to take charge of this matter.

He'll be here soon.

Very soon.

Please calm down.

Calm down.

Please remain...

Don't try to intimidate me with an official.

It's the same whoever comes.

How dare you!

This is an official government office.

How dare you cause trouble here?

Are you the one in charge?

I am Bingzhu of the Feiyu Guard.

We are disciples of the Qionghua Sect.

Leader Jin's only daughter

went missing this morning in Pingjiang

without a trace.

We're here to report her disappearance.

The report should be filed by the family.

Whoever lost their daughter should speak for themselves.

All others,

get out!

Step back!

Take a seat.

No need.

Since we're here to file a report,

we'll do it according to the procedures of the magistrate's office.

Speak.

My Lord,

I am Jin Muqing,

leader of the Qionghua Sect.

This is my wife.

I have a daughter

named Yunyi

who has been blind since birth.

We came to Pingjiang with our disciples

to eliminate demons

and uphold justice.

Our daughter insisted on coming with us,

and we could not refuse her,

so we brought her along.

But unexpectedly, this morning,

her cat went missing from the backyard.

So she went after it

and has not returned since.

We've searched all of Pingjiang

and only found this.

Have you...

found the cat?

So far, we don't know whether the one

who abducted your daughter was human or a demon.

That is precisely

why I came to the authorities.

We've learned that

several young women have gone missing in Pingjiang these past few days.

Do you really have no leads at all?

Recently, the Feiyu Guard wiped out the Demons' Valley.

We cannot rule out the possibility that surviving demons

have returned for revenge.

My Lord,

we have placed talismans and seals

throughout Pingjiang.

If any minor demons are causing trouble,

they will not escape the Qionghua Sect's swords.

We will handle this case

with full commitment

and give the Qionghua Sect and the people of the city

a proper explanation.

It had better be so.

Prefect.

Please close the city gates

and post notices.

Until this case is solved,

women, children, and the weak

are not to go out alone.

As you command.

Her scent is here!

Luoluo!

Luoluo!

This place is so far from Pingjiang.

Yueyue wouldn't come here.

-She's in the water! -Luoluo.

-How could a person be in the water? -Get up.

Luoluo!

-Did you smell it wrong? -Get up. Get up!

Yueyue!

Get up!

Yueyue!

It's Yueyue!

Yueyue!

It's Yueyue!

I need to save her!

Luoluo!

Get up!

Luoluo, get up!

Get up now!

I heard that in cases like this, it's a water ghost looking for a replacement.

What should we do?

I'll go down.

No, no, Xiao Yao.

You just said there's a water ghost in there.

It's fine. I'm a good swimmer.

No!

Here, take this.

I'm afraid to hold it!

Watch it carefully.

Alright.

♪ A thousand years have flowed by ♪

♪ Turning into tears that brim over my eyes ♪

♪ And the moonlight to heal sorrow ♪

♪ The sweetness of the world always tastes like the first time ♪

♪ The joys and sorrows in my dreams ♪

♪ Transformed into a farewell song, stirring the soul ♪

♪ And into wind and rain, drifting and swirling ♪

♪ The ship of fate always faces the waves ♪

Why is there no sound?

♪ From now on, someone will share all my love and hatred ♪

♪ Together, we explore mountains and rivers with one heart ♪

Come here, Luoluo!

♪ From now on, someone will share all my dreams and my drinks ♪

What's happening?

It's trying to get out of the sheath.

♪ With an extra pair of eyes, we admire the sun, moon, and stars together ♪

Xiao Yao!

♪ From now on, the moon fears waning, the waves long for the returning tide ♪

♪ I carry an extra touch of care in my heart and on my brow ♪

♪ From now on, with reckless courage and mutual longing ♪

♪ We forsake three lifetimes of marriage, only to fulfill our wishes ♪

♪ Our wishes ♪

Xiao Yao?

Oh my goodness.

Is she awake?

Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao, you're awake?

It was Lord Bingzhu who just saved you.

Are you alright?

How is it you?

Who else would it be?

I received Tan'er's signal.

Tan'er told me a great demon had appeared.

And I promised you

I would keep you safe.

Did you see...

Yes, I did.

The lake is full of water ghosts,

souls of those who died unjustly.

Tan'er couldn't bear to slay them.

We've already sent boatmen to retrieve the bodies.

Xiao Yao,

did you see Yueyue?

Not just her.

There were other girls too,

six in total.

It's alright. It's alright.

There, there.

Don't be sad. Don't be sad.

It's alright, Luoluo.

You know

those bodies?

Yueyue was my friend.

She was just as kind as Xiao Yao and Dali.

It's alright.

Then you should step aside for now.

I'm afraid once the bodies are brought up,

seeing them will be too much for you.

Go back now.

Yes, Xiao Yao.

Hurry. You're soaking wet.

Yueyue...

Get up.

Let's go.

I clearly saw Hong Ye.

How did it end up being him?

Wait a moment.

Lord Bingzhu.

Don't be afraid.

May I ask

how you saved me?

Didn't they already tell you?

I... What I want to ask is...

well...

did you...

give me...

mouth-to-mouth...

in the water?

Mouth-to-mouth?

Yes.

Absurd!

You... you...

You weren't out of air.

There was no need for such contact.

That's good then.

I was just asking.

If you didn't, then you didn't.

Why are you getting angry?

Why so fierce?

Come back.

Tan'er still needs to be with you.

Hong Ye,

was it really you who saved me?

Does this pendant stop working once it touches water?

One more time.

Isn't this a scam?

In my travels,

I only trick people out of small change and food at most.

But you actually trick people out of their lives.

I...

Come on.

Do you think you're still human?

You're a demon yourself.

Why do you still persecute the demons so relentlessly?

Tan'er,

please don't move without reason.

[Pingjiang Prefecture Office]

My Lord,

they're all the same.

Their blood has been completely drained.

If it's only the blood that was drained,

why have their pupils turned black,

and why is their skin still elastic?

This is...

Soul-binding Spell.

My Lord.

My Lord, the victims' families are here to identify the bodies.

Yue...

Keep your voice down.

Down there are all Feiyu Guards.

We can only

take one last look at her here.

Yueyue was the only one

who ever treated me that well besides my mom.

My child!

My daughter! My daughter!

I can't even cry for her openly

like the people inside.

Alright, Luoluo.

We'll be good to you too.

My daughter died unjustly!

My Lord, please find the culprit

and avenge my daughter!

My condolences, everyone.

We will capture the culprit as soon as possible

and bring you justice.

My Lord.

I'm begging you.

Master,

Junior is not here.

Are...

Are you sure?

Yes.

Feiyu Guard,

are you absolutely certain

no other bodies were found in the lake?

We've searched the whole lake.

There were indeed no other bodies.

Well...

So we still have a glimmer of hope, right?

These bodies cannot remain overnight.

They'll transform if exposed to moonlight.

Arrange for cremation immediately.

Take the bodies away.

Family members,

please follow me.

My Lord,

Just now, I noticed that

although the bodies were submerged in the lake,

[Justice of the World]

there was no sign of decay,

and their skin was still elastic.

It's...

These girls

all died after the blood in their bodies

was completely drained.

How incredibly cruel.

The murderer not only drained their blood

but also cast the Soul-binding Spell

before throwing them into the water.

That is why their bodies

neither rotted nor sank,

were neither dead nor alive,

are unable to enter reincarnation,

and are difficult for the living to find.

They are suspended forever between the three realms.

The Soul-binding Spell

is extremely complex

and very hard to perform.

It has not appeared for over 100 years.

My Lord,

are you certain of this?

It is recorded in the secret archives of the Feiyu Guard.

Because this spell is so vicious,

it left a deep impression on me.

If not for the overwhelming resentment of these women,

who died unjustly, breaking through the spell

and drawing people there,

we might never have found them.

Such cruel methods,

and the ability to use a forbidden technique from a century ago—

other than the Demon King Hong Ye,

I can't think of anyone else.

Since our daughter has not yet been found,

there should still be

a sliver of hope.

My Lord,

we earnestly ask the Feiyu Guard to capture the culprit as soon as possible.

Please.

Of course.

Sir.

Sir,

what should we do now?

Mr. Liu,

Pingjiang Prefecture is under your jurisdiction.

With such a major case having occurred,

as the local magistrate,

shouldn't you do something about it?

Do something?

Catching demons

is simply beyond my abilities.

Mr. Liu,

would you be willing to use your two daughters as bait

to lure out the Demon King

and rid the people of this menace?

Absolutely not!

I...

With the Feiyu Guard here,

you have nothing to fear.

We will ensure their safety.

This great demon has grown far too rampant.

If we don't find a way to slay it...

Xiao Yao,

let's go.

That's still not acceptable.

I only have these two precious daughters.

I cannot watch them be sent to their deaths.

And how do you know the next victim won't be your family?

It absolutely won't happen to my family.