Original subtitles

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 once he had 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.

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 the Chen Valley.

I used the intel I coaxed out of that woman,

I led 100 Huben elites

straight into a granary,

and left them to butcher one another inside.

What I never foresaw

was that one Huben elite

would make it out alive, and return to Chang'an.

He later grew in power, overtook me,

and killed your father, Liu Ziwen.

Then he reshaped the balance in Tiemo,

forcing my plans

to be delayed for 15 more years.

Yan Fengshan.

A name one remembers even at the brink of death.

Perhaps this is simply karma.

White Hair.

Back then, living 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 100 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 from me?

Kill Xiao Wuyang for me.

Why do you not do it yourself?

You endured 15 years to stay alive,

playing the long game for vengeance.

And I endured 25 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.

It's nearly done.

Dinner is ready.

Thank you, my dear.

‪It's time for dinner.

Father, Mother, let's eat.

‪Grandpa.

Qinghe,

- sit and eat properly. - Grandfather.

- 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, have some meat.

- Sit down first. - Qinghe, sit.

- Sit and eat. - Let me serve some soup for you.

What a handful!

I owe debts and never pay them.

I'm shameless to the core.

I'm shameless to the core,

not even man enough to repay what I owe.

I'm shameless to the core,

not even man enough to repay what I owe.

Truly penniless.

So poor.

Then why gamble?

A poor man only gambles to rise again.

What good are you alive?

Tomorrow,

go fish with Liang.

He's an honest man.

You'll be paid daily.

Thank you, Master Lu. Thank you.

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 to me.

Have you heard anything about the Tiemo lately?

The Tiemo?

Your Majesty, we're in Chang'an.

How could the Tiemo 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 on 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 returned.

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.

Borrowing 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 would I 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 know some wealthy family,

fix me up a bit,

dress me like a boy,

send me as their younger brother.

You're dreaming way too big.

I didn't raise you for nothing.

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

IMPERIAL PHYSICIAN'S HALL

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 one's bones.

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 30 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

Come look, come take a look.

The wanted man is back.

He must have seen the shoes you gave me,

so he left the 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 brother is no ordinary man.

Someone is watching him.

You're even more intriguing.

You want someone dead.

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 bit 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 swarm the place,

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.

- Hurry. - Here.

Move.

Strike the cicada first,

‪then the oriole.