Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Morgue]

[Linjiang County]

My Lord,

this is the place.

The former magistrate's body...

is being kept here.

My Lord,

why don't we just lea... leave?

Why are you scared?

I'm here, what's there to be afraid of?

[Respect]

My Lord, listen.

Snake!

Don't simply shout.

Come on.

My Lord, here it is.

What a tragic death.

Magistrate Zhong really died from a python's bite,

-did he? -Exactly.

The python has a head as big as this,

and eyes like a huge monster.

Ridiculous!

There's no such thing as a monster.

A snake!

[Magnificent]

[Su Can: Master of Dragon-strike Palms 2]

[During Qing Dynasty,]

[two magistrates of Linjiang County...]

[lost their lives to a python one after another.]

[Even the capital had been alerted by this.]

[The Capital]

Get lost.

Master Hou's here! Master Hou's here!

[Protection to the people]

Step aside, all! Don't stand in my way!

Hell is empty, all demons are here.

Stop.

Su Can.

Nice to meet you.

How dare you meddle in my affairs.

Hou Bing, you're such an evil-doer.

Today, I'll punish you on the spot...

on behalf of the great Qing and the Emperor.

Haha...

I'd like to see how you would punish me.

Get them back!

Don't worry, lady, Brother San's here.

Ah Can.

Ah Can,

leave him to me, you go over there.

Be careful.

Don't worry.

Brat, your Grandpa San, Tie Qiao San's coming!

Ah Can!

Give me a hand!

Pooh!

Ah Can,

that punk's ruthless, he sells girls to the brothels.

I heard that he contributed most ladies to Yichun House.

How do you know Yichun House so well?

Aren't you a regular customer?

Well,

Ah Can, don't be so blunt.

Hey, you must've made a lot of money using the beggar bowl bestowed by the Emperor.

The call back this time will make you the richest imperial guard.

Since you're so well off,

aren't you going to take your friend to Yichun House?

What's going on in your mind?

Yichun House?

Why would I visit such a place?

Haha...

Xiao Lan!

Xiao Hong!

Young Master Tie, you're finally here!

No, no, no!

Come on.

I've missed you.

Lao Tie,

I... I'll go see Xiao Lan.

Ah Can!

Don't touch me.

Young Master Su, I'll keep you company.

Xiao Lan!

Hmph!

-Xiao Lan. -Halt. Who're you?

The imperial guard's working. Move aside.

No passing.

Ah Can.

Why are you fighting?

Go to hell.

Xiao Lan!

Your Majesty, please don't be angry.

How dare you, Su Can!

You jerks,

always disturbing when I'm having fun.

Your Majesty,

I had no idea that you are here.

Listen,

you'd better keep your mouth shut about today.

-Well, that can be done. -That's right.

But we have a small favour to ask from you, Your Majesty.

Speak it out.

Your Majesty, please assign us a major case.

All this while,

we've been catching petty thieves...

and searching for the princess' cats and dogs.

If this goes on, it makes us look bad.

He's right, Your Majesty.

Let me think about it.

-Lao Tie. -Yes?

Whenever something happens in the capital,

where does it spread the fastest?

Isn't it here,

the Yichun House?

Oh, amazing.

That's for sure.

If the ladies in Yichun House were to learn that the Emperor's here...

Shut up.

I can grant your wishes.

But,

you have to promise me this.

Yes, Your Majesty?

Keep it low.

-Keep it low. -We sure will.

That's right.

Call all the ministers, right here, right now!

[Yichun House]

[Yichun House]

Look.

Lord Niu, Lord Yang, Lord Zhu.

They're all here.

Lord Niu,

how free of you to visit today.

Lord Yang, you're visiting again today?

Shh, don't let His Majesty hear this.

[Romance]

Long live, Your Majesty.

My beloved officials, as you were.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Today,

I conducted a spot check at this Yichun House as a commoner.

It turned out that...

two of the court ministers were having fun here.

This...

Dear officers,

how do you think I should punish them?

Your Majesty,

have them clean the toilets of the royal palace for one month.

Your Majesty,

the city's being infested by mice.

Make the both of them catch all the mice.

Your Majesty,

a python is seen in Linjiang recently.

Two magistrates had died because of it.

Have them investigate the case.

Great, this is a good idea.

Do you have problems with that?

No.

Good.

Su Can, Tie Qiao San, listen.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

You two shall head to Linjiang County...

and investigate the python attacks.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Be on your way at once.

Ah Can, is Linjiang far?

I didn't bring much money or clothes.

[No, it's not.]

[His Majesty said it's not far.]

[Linjiang County]

What a long journey.

I should've brought more money with me.

What's the point of ranting now?

Hang in there, I'll get something to eat.

Why do you have to do so?

Let's just have the people at the County Office entertain us.

We can't go to the County Office yet.

I have a plan.

I miss the roasted duck at Huixiang Restaurant already.

Forget the roasted duck.

I'm more than happy to get a mere bun now.

The Bun Beauty, Mei Niang is here!

We can have buns.

The Bun Beauty?

One for me, thank you.

Thank you, Mei Niang.

Give me one, Mei Niang.

It's good, it really is.

There actually is free bun?

[Little did I expect...]

[that there's such refined look in this world.]

Hey.

Hey!

Ah Can, my bun is stolen!

Stay there! Stay there!

Move aside! Stay there!

Hey, watch where you go!

Halt!

Keep on running. Aren't you good at it?

You little punk.

Of all the things, you chose to steal Lord San's love token?

Today,

Lord San is going to teach you how to behave!

Don't go too hard on him.

Chief, they wanted to beat me up.

Hmm.

Stay there! Halt!

Lao Tie, run!

Stop running!

Where are they?

You guys, go there.

The others, this way.

Those stinky beggars,

we finally got rid of them.

Let's go.

-Go that way. -This way.

Calm down, guys.

I, Mr. Qu, am always compassionate and harmless.

Aren't you good at running away?

Come on, let's break their legs.

Ah Can, fight back or we'll die here before we get to investigate the case.

I can't bring myself to hit them.

Haha.

You have some slick moves,

don't you?

I'm the leader of Beggars' Guild, Qiao Ba.

Who are you?

Great judgment.

We came from the capi...

We're heroes in distress passing by,

who just wanted to know how can we join the Beggars' Guild from the young man.

But look how it turns out.

You wish to join the Beggars' Guild?

Yes, we do.

Okay.

As the saying goes, "All in this world are friends,"

"spare no effort to help our brothers."

From now on, you're the Guild's brothers.

Thank you for accepting us, Chief.

Branch Master Qu,

register the two of them.

Brothers, follow me.

-Brother Lu. -Here I am.

Register them.

Sure.

Xiao Jin Gang, register them.

Both of you, follow me for registration.

Come on.

This is where the brothers of Beggars' Guild are staying.

Find any corner...

and take a rest.

Wake up and start work early tomorrow.

Go on.

In the blink of an eye,

I swung my little hand and...

bang!

they were all smacked to the ground.

When I turned around,

there was one more left.

I used the long lost Jiuyang Divine Power...

and kicked him hard.

He flew over 10 miles away.

This is the County Office you were looking for.

[Clear mirror of honest official]

Ah Can, Ah Can.

Ah Can, why do we join the Beggars' Guild?

Why didn't you let them know who you are?

You're the renowned Su Can in the capital.

Even Chief Qiao has to show you some respect.

There's nothing bad about being a beggar.

It's not like I've never been one.

What's good about this?

Low position gives you the opportunity to see the truth.

All right, then.

What should we do next?

We examine the body.

Exa... examine the body?

They're dead for a while now, how do we examine?

According to the "Case Record", the dead...

can also talk.

From the look of it,

the person's not wounded, but looked terrified.

He must've been scared to death.

Judging from the smell,

it smells weird.

The deceased had had contact with drug-related stuff.

The bodies are stiff and muscle tense to the touch.

It's even more certain that they died from fright.

The taste of it...

shows that the deceased hasn't taken a bath for half a month.

What do I care.

Who's there?

Trying to run away? I'll go after him.

Lao Tie!

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

[Respect]

Hey, this is your workplace from now on.

Famine and poverty are inevitable since ancient times.

[Python God Temple]

Mr. Tao Yuan Ming was right about it.

Stinky beggar, save it.

Who are you calling stinky beggars?

We're beggars, okay? Come on.

Do you think the python killed the magistrates?

I was lucky I didn't die yesterday night.

I'm going to treasure my life for the rest of it.

Ah Can, I have decided this.

I'll make a new plan for my life.

Hey, brothers, sisters.

Please be merciful.

All in this world are brothers. Spare us some money, please.

Even if you don't have any, a bun will...

Bun?

Bun.

No, this is fishy.

Lao Tie, why don't we also worship...

Where's he?

Useless thing.

It's all your fault.

I should've just died.

Why are you trying to do such a silly thing?

My father said that worshipping the Python God...

may help him heal his crippled legs.

But now,

not only his leg did not recover,

he even went missing.

People are saying that the Python God took and killed him.

I'm all alone at home now.

I don't want to live on.

Lady,

just leave this to me.

I'll find out where your father is.

You?

Lady,

I'm the imperial guard of His Majesty.

An imperial guard?

I'm here to investigate the python attacks.

If you really are an official,

please find my father for me.

You can count on me.

But you have to promise me one thing.

Go ahead, please.

Stop trying to do stupid thing.

What is your name, sir?

Su Can.

Thank you, Young Master Su.

May I know what's your name?

I'm Chun Xiao.

Chun Xiao.

What's wrong with you?

Mei Niang, we want some buns.

Hey, Mei Niang.

These are not the buns we're looking for.

What we want are your buns.

Come over here.

Smile at me.

You brat.

Don't be afraid.

Who's this? You dare intervene with my business?

Get him.

Hero, its our fault.

It's all our fault.

Get out of here!

Are you crazy?

Ah Can, how did it become you?

I thought it was...

Come on.

I'll see you again.

Argh.

Chief,

what's wrong with Brother Lu?

I wonder what's wrong with him too.

Here you are. Brothers from the capital,

is this illness familiar to you?

-Brother Lu. -Brother Lu.

He seems poisoned.

Poisoned?

I think he's cursed.

Cursed?

The... the pill.

What? Who's doomed?

He's talking about the edible pill.

Brother Lu,

what pill is that?

The Python God Temple's a place of worship during the day,

but it sells pills at night.

I'll be able to meet the Python God after consuming the pill.

The Python God?

Place money in... into the Python God's mouth.

Brother Lu.

Brother Lu, what were you talking about?

-What did he mean by placing money? -What's that?

Brother Lu, Brother Lu.

Chief Qiao, we'll find it out at the Python God Temple.

Spare no effort to help our friend. Let's go.

[Python God Temple]

Chief Qiao, borrow me a tael of money.

No way.

To find out the truth.

Spare no effort to help Brother Lu.

Want to escape?

How dare you hit me, beggar!

How dare you target the Beggars' Guild member! I'll kill you.

Hold on, Chief.

Someone must be behind this.

Allow me to interrogate him,

and we'll know who this person is.

Thank you, then.

You must find out the murderer.

I want to avenge Brother Lu myself!

[Clear mirror of honest official]

Who do you get order from? Speak!

[Selling fake pills]

Stinky beggars,

acting like you're morally better?

-I... -Hey, Ah Can.

Calm down.

There's a certain way to deal with this kind of person. Watch me.

Brother, who's the one controlling all this?

I don't know.

All right, you don't know.

Look, what's this?

What do you want?

Tell us now,

or I'll send you to the Pure Land.

-Okay, I'll talk. -Tell us.

He is...

He's dead. I'll go.

I'd better not.

What happened? What's the noise?

So, I get it now.

This is why you were so eager to interrogate the seller.

You two are the ones behind everything.

I'm so going to beat you up.

Get them!

Stop.

Chief.

He's dead!

What is this?

Chief Qiao,

he was murdered, but the murderer got away.

The guild is heavily guarded,

outsiders can never enter.

Could it be someone from the Beggars' Guild?

How dare you spout nonsense.

Hmm.

I'll let you get away with the murder,

but you insulted the brothers of Beggars' Guild.

That's unacceptable!

Get them.

Attack.

Ah Can.

Get out of here.

Ah Can, let's go.

After them!

[Strict law enforcement]

Ah Can, those beggars are behind us. Do something.

Where are they? Search properly.

This way.

Hurry up. How can you walk slower than someone without shoes?

Hey, you...

It's me.

I said I'd see you again, but this is sooner than expected.

This must be destiny.

Stop talking, they might catch up.

Take a look over there.

They really did.

-Look carefully. -After them.

Hey, where are you taking me?

Oh.

Now I remember.

She was the lady who gave us buns, right?

May I know what is your name, lady?

What a pity, a lady as kind as her happens to be a mute.

What do you mean by mute? She just lost her voice.

Isn't it, lady?

Hey, Lao Tie,

seriously,

you're even kneading dough already?

What an extraordinary Bun Beauty...

for taking your breath away.

I've found my new direction in life.

I want to be with my Mei Niang,

spend our days selling buns and watching stars.

What is going on in your mind?

Are we here to find a woman or knead dough?

We're here to solve a case as instructed by His Majesty.

To solve a case?

We don't even know how to do that!

When we were in the capital,

we either visited the brothel with the Emperor or search for the princess' pets.

When did we ever deal with real business?

Lao Tie,

as long as we put effort into it,

the truth will come to light.

Moreover,

we have this.

[Veritable Records of Qing]

As the saying goes, "In the Veritable Records..."

Cut the crap about "in the Veritable Records".

Only you'd treasure this stupid book!

[I'll be able to meet the Python God after consuming the pill.]

[What exactly is the Python God?]

[In order to solve the case, I have to do it myself.]

Chun Xiao.

Su Can!

Leave.

Go and solve your case.

What are you doing?

Please give me an Ecstasy Pill.

-Dirty beggar. -Give me an Ecstasy Pill.

Let go, you dirty beggar.

I'm begging you, give me an Ecstasy Pill, please.

[Veritable Records of Qing]

[Python God Temple]

Ecs... Ecstasy... Ecstasy Pill.

Young Master Su.

You're awake.

Where am I?

You fainted at the Python God Temple. This is my house.

Your house?

Do you have Ecstasy Pill in your house?

Ecstasy Pill?

-You're addicted in the Ecstasy Pill too? -Chun Xiao.

Give me an Ecstasy Pill, give me one.

Please, just one.

My body's itching, it's itching.

Young Master Su, hang in there,

you can't let yourself sink in deeper.

Your father worshipped the Python God.

Your house must have Ecstasy Pill.

-There must be. -Young Master Su.

[Veritable Records of Qing]

I couldn't find him.

You're...

Ah Can.

-Ah Can. -Young Master Su.

Ah Can, are you all right?

Ah Can.

Why did you take the Ecstasy Pill?

I'll be able to meet the Python God after consuming the pill.

You did that to solve the case.

I'm sorry, Ah Can.

I've misunderstood you.

I... I...

I can't keep this up anymore.

No, Ah Can.

Have faith in yourself.

You're an imperial guard with a begging bowl bestowed by the Emperor.

You'll get better.

By then, let's investigate the case together.

I've lost everything.

How do I solve a case in this condition?

You haven't lost everything.

Look what I've got you back.

[Veritable Records of Qing]

Take a look.

You still have me, your brother.

Young Master Su.

Young Master Su.

I'm feeling much better.

Thank goodness, you've finally recovered.

I'll make you something to eat.

Chun Xiao! Chun Xiao!

Chun Xiao.

Chun Xiao.

[I'm Chun Xiao.]

This is outrageous.

He wouldn't even spare an innocent lady's life.

Ah Can, what's next?

The smell of Ecstasy Pill.

Let's go to the Python God Temple.

Okay.

[Python God Temple]

Ah Can.

Ah Can, look at this.

-This is the stuff... -Don't touch it.

There are so many of it.

Who's there?

Ah Can. Ah Can.

He got away.

I've destroyed all Ecstasy Pills.

Ah Can,

look there.

Something's there, what is it?

Something's moving.

Lao Tie, watch out!

Lao Tie, go after the black-clothed man.

Leave this to me.

Ah Can, you be careful.

[County Office]

Such a thief. The Chief will teach you a lesson.

Let the trial commence.

Keep silent!

[Clear mirror of honest official]

Tell me.

Who do you get orders from?

I don't know.

Hey, hang on.

Chief Qiao, I really have no idea who the mastermind is.

Still trying to act tough?

You won't be as tough in a moment.

Mei Niang.

Mei Niang, are you all right?

I admit it.

I'm the person behind all this.

Don't hurt Mei Niang,

I'll admit anything.

Haha...

Take him.

Ah Can!

Ah Can, help.

Ah Can, save me.

Haha...

Su Can,

your friend has admitted...

that you people are the mastermind behind the Ecstasy Pill case.

You'd better let us arrest you without putting up a fight.

Oh? We're the mastermind?

We're the imperial guards ordered by the Emperor himself to investigate the case.

Chief Qiao,

aren't you the real mastermind?

Nonsense!

How dare you tarnish our chief's reputation!

Get him.

Hold on.

Even if you're the imperial guard,

framing others is also a punishable serious crime.

Think it through.

I've examined County Zhong's body at the morgue,

and found that it was destroyed beyond recognition.

That isn't Magistrate Zhong's body.

Hmph. Ridiculous.

Chun Xiao said before...

that her father's leg was crippled.

The same goes to the body.

And her father was a victim of the Ecstasy Pill.

Judging from this,

that was the body of Chun Xiao's father.

What... what does that have to do with me?

Because you...

are Magistrate Zhong.

Chief, how could you become Magistrate Zhong?

It was all nonsense.

How do you prove it?

Aren't you the man outside the morgue...

when we were examining the bodies there?

You accidentally dropped your waistband.

Hmph.

A waistband one can find anywhere?

Chief Qiao.

Poison-making and disguising are the tricks of evil cults.

You transformed into Chief Qiao through your disguise trick,

remnant of evil cult.

Haha... Su Can,

what a good story-teller you are.

I'll show you!

Wait, we don't know who's telling the truth.

Let's see how it goes.

Chief! Chief!

Ah Can.

Let's take a look at him.

Chief.

Ah Can.

Chief. Chief.

Chief. Chief.

-Chief. -How's he? Chief!

Mei Niang, you've suffered.

This won't do.

The culprit is found,

but we still need the Ecstasy Pill's formula.

Otherwise,

the people will still be in harm's way.

Without the formula,

we still can't solve the case and return.

What is it, Mei Niang?

You mean...

you know the formula of Ecstasy Pill?

That's awesome.

We can solve the case then.

Are you happy?

Let's go.

Mei Niang.

I mean, Magistrate Zhong.

You're celebrating too quickly.

Mei Niang!

Hmph.

Aren't you too eager to close the case?

Hmph.

Me and Su Can, we purposely put up a show for you.

Ah Can, what's going on?

One look in the eye and Chief Qiao and I had understood each other.

You are the mastermind, aren't you?

Ah Can, Ah Can, you must be mistaken.

That's Mei Niang, she can't be...

She's the remaining evil cult supporter.

She ran to Linjiang and became the magistrate.

The evil cult uses a sorcery to communicate with and control the python.

But the sorcery requires a man to become a woman.

Only you evil cult people know the formula of the Ecstasy Pill.

Those who won't come under the influence of the pill will be killed mercilessly.

Chun Xiao's father happened to be one of those.

Furthermore,

it was your man who...

tailed us at the morgue, killed Chun Xiao and blamed it on Chief Qiao, right?

You played a good game.

Not only can you use us to eliminate Chief Qiao,

but also we'll be tricked into returning to the capital,

so you can take over the Beggars' Guild...

and continue selling the Ecstasy Pill...

to rebuild the evil cult.

Mei Niang,

this isn't true, is it?

You won't lie to me. Tell them that it's not true now!

You're over confident.

Survivor of the evil cult, be gone!

Hmm.

Qu, you...

You were the murderer and the block-clothed man at the poison factory.

Haha... Yes, it was me.

Traitor.

Old fart.

Don't you blame me.

How do I become the chief and lead the Beggars' Guild if you stay alive?

You... you...

Dirty dog.

I knew that you're the imperial guards for a long time.

I even told Lord Zhong about it.

I've let you lived...

because I wanted to keep the imperial court out of this.

But you just walked into your own death!

-Stop it. I've killed your precious snake. -What?

Hell is empty, all demons are here.

You killed Chun Xiao and her family, you'll have to make up with your blood.

Die!

Ah Can.

Chief.

Chief, that was a misunderstanding. Please forgive me, Chief.

Spare all your effort to help your brother?

It's a lie!

Ah Can!

-Lao Tie. -Mei Niang.

Ah Can!

Mei Niang!

Why?

Why I'm still no match for Dragon-strike Palms?

Evil can never prevail over good.

Ah Can, let me do it.

Hurry up or I'll hit you.

Your Majesty.

What's that?

What on earth is that?

Some... Somebody!

Help! Save me!

Somebody, sa... save me!

That wasn't real.

Your humble servants are paying respect to Your Majesty.

You brats.

All you know is ruin my good deeds.

You've solved the case, haven't you?

I heard you did a good job investigating.

Well done.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I heard that there's another murder case in Yangzhou.

Governor of Huguang was killed at Lihong House.

This could be a conspiracy.

So, I want both of you to check it out.

Any problems?

Your humble servants are at your command.

Get up.

Your Majesty, I have another favour to ask.

Yes?

The people of Linjiang have suffered a lot due to the evil cult.

I wish that Your Majesty would grant fund and help the people of Linjiang.

[Sigh, had other Qing ministers are like the both of you,]

[all the people would've made a good living.]

[I play around because I need to ease my concern toward the country's fate.]

[How I wish my country to be prosperous and peaceful too.]

[I will let my people live in a comfortable and peaceful country.]

Approved.

[Chun Xiao.]

You wouldn't have ended up dead if it weren't for me.

Why are you lamenting too?

Thinking about Mei Niang again?

Mei Niang is already in the past.

Don't bring her up anymore.

Well, Lao Tie, do you know why is this book so important to me?

[Veritable Records of Qing]

Isn't that a mere criminal case record of Qing granted by the Emperor?

Actually,

there's something you don't know about it.

-Is it so? -Yes.

What's it that I don't know? Show me.

[Veritable Records of Qing]

[Director Chen Sun]