Original subtitles

Little one, you've got quite the appetite.

Here. Have something sour to cut through the grease.

Thank you, Mr. Yang. I'm full.

- Good. - Settle the bill.

Your father and I were like brothers. No need to pay.

Father is Father. I am me.

I don't like owing anyone anything.

I'm leaving, Mr. Yang.

WONTON SHOP

No. Take all of it.

This boy. Who knows what he'll be like when he grows up.

Sir, take care.

ALL-GOODS SHOP

The pageboy hid himself in the Cangshui River.

Is he all right?

All right? He was howling nonstop.

To keep me from getting out, he nearly chewed through the skiff.

Speaking of which,

you really mean to entrust something this important to him?

He's the only one who can pull it off.

He's not Huben.

He's someone who admires your junior sister.

I've seen him.

He serves at Yang Chuhao's side.

What did you just say?

He admires Xiaoqing?

With eyes like that,

he should see a physician.

Xiaoqing is a good girl.

Don't talk too much.

Xiaoqing was never skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting.

But she loves her food.

So you should cater to what she likes.

Then may I ask, sir, what she likes to eat and drink?

Could you give me some guidance?

I'm not sure about that.

But girls tend to like a bit of something sweet.

Thank you, sir.

You blockhead.

Thanks.

WONTONS

Sir, please come inside.

You are here.

Have a seat.

- All right. - I'll get you a bowl of wontons.

Take care, young lady.

Come again anytime.

Take care.

Have a look.

Here.

Good.

Boss.

For the past two weeks, you've been wearing that gloomy face.

Is it so obvious?

Of course.

Boss, Su came looking for me on purpose.

He said, you and I were old acquaintances,

so he asked if I had any way to ease your worries.

That boy.

Well, what advice did you, my old partner, give him?

None.

I told him the boss is not an ordinary man.

What troubles the boss can only be solved by Heaven.

Boss.

We've both lived several decades, one way or another.

When it comes to matters truly hard to decide, I think

this is the only way.

Sha is also one of the Liu faction.

You've been the one sheltering him.

So in some way, you are a man who remembers past ties.

A man of feeling.

I do not wish for him to die.

What happens next

I must leave to you, Mr. Yang.

At our age, we don't have many friends left.

You must not let anything happen to you.

Heads, and I enjoy wealth and peace.

Tails, and I repay my debts.

Stop.

This city wall can't stop me, and it won't trap you either.

Rest assured. Don't be afraid.

I had been thinking

that after you woke up, I wouldn't know how to face you.

You are the Emperor.

I am nothing more than a commoner.

Should I call you Wuyang,

or Your Majesty?

I don't know.

But now it's settled.

We're parting ways,

and you're still not awake.

But I still have other matters

and must leave Cangshui River for now.

From here on in, Mr. Long will send people to look after you.

Don't worry.

Wuyang.

If I come back alive,

I'll go on taking care of you.

If I die,

it will count as a valiant death for the realm

and I won't have disgraced our Xiao clan.

I'm leaving.

Wuyang,

when you're not holding a blade,

you're actually easy to get along with.

- Here. - Thank you.

Where is he?

Are you the lad from the salt shop?

Sir.

I'll take it.

So you still know how to show your face.

You've skipped work for days on end.

Are you planning to quit on me?

No, sir. Something came up at home.

You smell of medicine.

What is it?

Is your family member gravely ill again?

Do you have enough money for the medicine?

If not, I'll lend you some.

It's not that.

Forget it, go on in. Go inside.

All right.

Here.

Have some tea.

Drink a little. Warm yourself up.

You really don't seem short on money.

Look at you.

A whole new outfit.

New clothes.

All dressed up all of a sudden.

You must have someone you fancy.

That's not why.

This time I'm here to bid you farewell.

I'm going to Chang'an.

Before I leave, I want to admit a wrong to you.

This clothing is for you.

I noticed your clothes were patched up.

So I bought new ones for you.

All this for the salt you always sneak off with?

This fine clothing will settle the debt.

So you knew all along.

But this time, it isn't just because of that salt.

What are you doing?

Because

I know you're Zhang Mo's father.

And because you knew I was the killer yet never blamed me.

You even let me stay here, letting me work to earn money.

And when I nodded off in laziness,

you covered me with your coat.

You sewed the old family letters Zhang Mo wrote into that coat.

When I patched it up,

I learned who you were.

It's fate.

It's truly fate.

If you'd stabbed me a few times,

I might have felt better.

But instead you kept taking care of me,

leaving me ashamed.

I came to Cangshui River

with hatred in my heart.

Before you came to work in my salt shop,

I had already watched you for many days.

But I found…

I found you were just a foolish lad.

Always complaining with your mouth,

yet in your heart always thinking of others.

Caring for the sick at home,

hoping

a lost friend would show up again soon.

You…

The less you seem like a bad person,

the harder it is for me to hate you.

If only you had never learned who I was.

You did not know, and I would not have exposed it.

Day after day, life could have just gone on like that.

Forget it.

It felt as if

Zhang Mo were still here by my side.

You may pour the salt back into the funnel,

but time cannot be turned back.

I truly wanted to kill you.

But child, what use is it if I kill you?

Zhang Mo will not come back to life.

Zhang Mo

was ordinary to begin with.

In this world,

nothing is ever that perfect.

Listen well.

If you can do something great to help restore the realm,

to support the state,

then Zhang Mo will not have died in vain.

Get up.

Sir.

Sir.

I am sorry.

Get up.

Remember.

From this day on,

you must live an honest and upright life.

All right.

WEI HOUR

Then, I will say something unpleasant.

The human heart always carries its darkness.

You have it.

I have it too.

But do not be afraid.

No matter how dark it becomes,

just like this Cangshui River,

your heart must always

hold a single light.

I understand.

All right.

Go on.

Take this.

Eat it on the road.

Go on.

You are going to Chang'an to do something important.

Do not delay it.

Go.

I have seen you now.

My heart is settled.

We part here.

Go.

Sir.

STONE-BAKED FLATBREAD

ZUIFENG TOWER

THE MERRY HOUSE, SKYWAY

Mr. Yang.

This street has suddenly gone quiet.

Have you thought it through?

What Yan Fengshan plans to discuss with the Tiemo people

is no small matter.

If you stir up trouble now, kidnap the Tiemo envoy,

and something unexpected happens,

it is not only Yan Fengshan who will come after you.

Even Tiemo assassins

will travel all the way to Chang'an to kill you.

What Yan Fengshan wants to discuss with the Tiemo people

is nothing more than persuading them to send troops

to attack the Baiwenhu Army.

He plans to trade away northern territory,

right?

The north is Xiao Wuyang's fief.

It is difficult to conquer.

So why not give it to the Tiemo people

and let them burn it barren?

This scheme of Yan Fengshan is not hard to guess.

As for my plan,

I only want the Tiemo envoy to meet with me once

before he meets Yan Fengshan.

After that, he can return wholly unscathed to Yan Fengshan's side.

You want to negotiate with the Tiemo envoy?

Can you bear the cost?

Naturally I cannot.

But someone can.

SILK AND SATIN

CHANGXING WORKS

Chen Zhiying of the Huben Army welcomes you here, Mr. Wuyin.

Sir.

I recognize her.

She is indeed from the Huben Army.

Thank you.

Given the hour, I should take my leave.

You?

Surprised?

A man who lays the plan must step forward himself,

or else who would follow him in?

But I heard that you do not know any martial arts.

I have a stubborn life.

I am not meant to die yet.

This street is not the same as usual.

Be extra cautious.

Be on guard.

It is fine. Genghui is here. No petty villain can get close.

Sir. All is well.

Then I will send men to deal with those ruffians.

Do not send too many.

It is clearly a ploy to lure us away.

You all.

Yes.

Mr. Wuyin is unharmed. Bring out two horses.

Sir. The carriage is broken. We should switch to horses.

Very well.

Let go of him.

Let go of him now.

If you do not want your master to die, step aside.

Tell them to move aside.

- Stand down. - Fall back.

Out of the way!

You are no ordinary servant.

As long as you cooperate, I will not harm you in the slightest.

Young man, which way is the exit?

Are you Tiemo people?

The meteor iron from the altar of Mount Shiluoman

obtained through ritual, is worn only by Tiemo nobles.

Even if you changed into Han clothing,

the meteor iron on your chest is far too obvious.

You know of Mount Shiluoman's altar.

Are you Tiemo people as well?

Lately Tiemo people are not very welcome on the streets of Chang'an.

Explain as we walk.

Can you take me to Yankang Ward?

You will be well rewarded.

There are too many patrols at night.

I dare not escort a Tiemo noble down the street.

Then take me in for the night.

Send me there at dawn.

Young man, just for one night.

I will not treat you poorly.

Chang'an is vast.

Why dwell in such a shabby alley?

For Tiemo people in Chang'an, there are not many ways to make a living.

Most days we sell a few leather goods, and that's barely enough to get by.

Times are unsettled now, so we moved here.

We are almost there. Come on.

Heads means enjoying wealth and honor.

Tails means paying off the debt.

I am Yang Chuhao of the Huben Army.

I greet you, Mr. Wuyin.

Do not fear, sir. You know me.

I know you are Yang Chuhao.

But you cannot appear out of nowhere.

Anyone would be frightened.

Who is he?

He is with the people who tried to seize you just now.

A linked scheme.

I almost fell for it.

Sir, this place may not be safe.

I should escort you away first, then send people to eliminate them.

It is fortunate you arrived in time.

To protect you well, I would give my life without hesitation.

- Sir, please. - Let us go.

What is this? Did you bring a blade?

No, no.

- Yang Chuhao. - Come.

- Help me quickly. - All right.

So heavy.

WARRANT

This…

All along the way you kept telling me to be cautious.

Chang'an truly sits in turmoil.

Anyone who can set themselves against the Huben Army… is him?

It looks like…

Yes, it must be him.

This man has been wanted by the Huben Army for 15 years.

Mr. Wuyin, this time you have made great merit.

Genghui.

Sir, this is…

Say no more. Give me the blade.

Since he is wanted by the Huben Army, I shall claim this merit first.

Sir, wait.

Sir, he is Liu Ziwen's son.

He is remarkably gifted.

To kill him would be a waste.

Alive, he is far more useful to us.

General Fengshan still wants to see him.

Yan Fengshan bears deep hatred for him, and has him wanted across the city.

Then take it as my gift to Yan Fengshan.

Come.

Sir, you were frightened.

The carriage is here.

I promise that from now on you will not be disturbed again.

Please, sir.

- Carry him away. - Yes.

Was this also part of the plan?

I do not know.

When you read this letter, I will likely already have been seized.

But do not worry.

The plan is still under control.

As for why I arranged this,

first, it is for my acquaintance Yang Chuhao.

The old debt he bore is repaid.

He should not be implicated any further.

By using this plan,

I can win him some time to break away from Yan Fengshan.

Second, it is because of Ye Zheng.

Your martial skills are strong, but you lose your calm when you care.

If you knew the entire plan,

you would try to stop me.

Third,

when the Huben Army seizes me,

the secret I carry can hold Yan Fengshan's attention for a while.

And that will be our best chance to negotiate

with the Tiemo envoy.

The one going to negotiate is already on the way.

This plan may be dangerous…

SPRING WINDS RISE. THE SWALLOW RETURNS. THUNDER STIRS. LIGHTNING BEGINS.

…but it is exactly what I wished for.

To confront Yan Fengshan face to face is,

in all my life, the meeting I have anticipated most.