Original subtitles

[The Unclouded Soul]

[Episode 21]

If your heart is not sincere,

your life will end.

But Exalted Immortal...

Without destiny for immortality,

it'll all just be a fleeting dream.

Even the Exalted Immortal cannot save you.

Why is that?

Those hundred maidens sent last time

had too much selfish desire

and too many distracting thoughts,

making you unworthy of the Yuli Spring.

Please, Exalted Immortal,

do not be angry.

Since ancient times, human hearts are hard to fathom.

If any wretched servant has offended Exalted Immortal,

I will punish them severely.

But everyone in the Tiansheng Dynasty

has been sincere to Exalted Immortal—

the heavens can be the witness.

If you claim your heart is sincere,

then cut it out and show it to me.

Didn't you believe that by drinking from the Yuli Spring,

you had already achieved immortality?

If what you drank was truly the Yuli Spring,

you wouldn't die.

Shall we test it?

I was foolish.

Please, Exalted Immortal, give me another chance.

I will surely show Exalted Immortal

my sincerity.

Though you've made a mistake,

there is someone truly sincere by your side.

He is the key to finding the Yuli Spring.

Please enlighten me, Exalted Immortal.

Bingzhu of the Feiyu Guard

is worthy of great purpose.

Where is Bingzhu?

Your Majesty,

Bingzhu is imprisoned in the Imperial Prison,

awaiting execution at noon as you commanded.

No!

My Lord,

it's already past 9 a.m.

We should escort the prisoner to the Meridian Gate now.

Haven't you found that demoness yet?

No.

We cannot allow any complications.

Let's just deal with him here.

Here?

I'm afraid

this goes against His Majesty's wishes, My Lord.

His Majesty's wishes?

His Majesty's wishes are unfathomable.

What's the point of following so many imperial edicts?

I spoke out of turn.

Forgive my impertinence.

It's all up to My Lord to decide.

What His Majesty wants to see

is Bingzhu

beheaded in front of everyone.

But Lord Bingzhu has drunk from the Yuli Spring.

I fear beheading alone

won't eliminate the root of the problem.

That would truly go against His Majesty's wishes.

Go fetch some mulberry paper.

Let's suffocate Lord Bingzhu

to death.

Yes.

A promotion to a first-class official

makes you worry-free about food and clothing.

With new titles bestowed,

may it be an auspicious omen!

Put another one.

The imperial edict has arrived!

By the mandate of heaven,

the Emperor decrees:

in consideration of

the many loyal years of service of the accused,

Bingzhu of the Feiyu Guard,

who devoted himself to slaying demons,

I wish for peace throughout the land,

and hope for his sincere repentance.

I hereby pardon Bingzhu and summon him to the West Garden for an audience.

So it is decreed.

I, your humble subject, receive this edict.

Lord Bingzhu,

your palanquin is ready.

Please come this way.

As long as the heart remains,

nightmares can still occur.

From now on,

at least no one can use nightmare techniques against me anymore.

Your brother will be safe now.

I have become a spirit.

Sooner or later,

you will kill me too—

just as you slaughter other demons.

There are too many things in this world that need to be judged as right or wrong.

But the rights and wrongs that don't concern me,

I no longer wish to argue about.

I will only care about the three of us from now on.

How's that?

My Lord always knows what's best.

What's best?

This, of course!

I told Xiao Yao and Dali before

that rolling in the mud feels wonderful,

but they didn't believe me.

What did you say, My Lord?

Did you get the directions?

Yes, I did.

We're still hundreds of miles from Mount Qingyuan.

Then let's keep moving.

My Lord,

the shopkeeper thought I was cute

and gave me a freshly steamed bun.

Would you like half?

No.

Walk faster.

Are we in such a hurry?

It's to make you stronger

so you won't end up as someone else's bun filling.

How thoughtful you are, My Lord.

My Lord,

are we still going on foot?

What else?

If you could conjure some silver,

we could buy a carriage

and walk less.

The shopkeeper just now also said

taking the water route is actually the fastest way.

Why didn't you say so earlier?

I just remembered it.

I shouldn't have let a pig ask for directions.

My Lord.

I just finished eating,

but I feel hungry again.

Can I—

Watch out!

-Luoluo! -My Lord!

Save me!

In broad daylight,

strolling through Black Wind Fortress like this—

do you think we're all fast asleep?

What do you want?

Leave...

Leave some toll money.

You dare to rob me?

Have you really thought this through?

Boss.

I don't know what

this guy is up to.

Let's all attack together,

cut him into pieces,

and be done with it.

He's just a weak scholar,

and you're all scared?

Step back.

Let me handle him.

If we kill him, how can we sell him for a good price?

I am a merchant's son.

The one you've captured is my personal attendant.

I was passing through with a family treasure

when I unfortunately got separated from my family.

If you release my attendant,

this treasure

will be yours.

No, no!

I was wrong!

I'm not fighting anymore!

I'm sorry!

-Release him! -I'm sorry.

Release him! Release him!

Release him.

Get lost.

My Lord, you're amazing!

Luoluo,

are you alright?

I'm fine.

My Lord,

why didn't you just use your power to fight them

instead of making up stories?

Among humans,

we should use human methods.

We should adapt to our surroundings.

Hong Ye!

That makes sense.

Luoluo!

Xiao Yao?

Where are you going?

Back to Demons' Valley.

Are you done with your business?

You're leaving without saying goodbye again.

In my current state,

I can't protect you properly.

This trip to Demons' Valley

will be extremely dangerous.

I don't even know if I'll return alive

or be able to stand by your side again.

If you come with me,

it will only bring you more danger.

So you just left me there alone?

I never wanted to leave you

or abandon you.

I only want to find

a safe place for you.

So I made a decision of my own accord.

Yes—of your own accord!

That's only what you think!

Do you know what I think?

Did you ever ask me?

You don't have the right to decide whether I'll stay or not!

We've been

through life and death together.

What's there to fear?

Hong Ye, I'm asking you once.

In this life,

shall we never see each other ever again

or go through thick and thin together,

moving forward hand in hand—

make your choice.

For me,

my answer has always been only you.

Let's go,

back to Demons' Valley.

This is what you chose, right?

I wish for your heart alone,

and to never part until we're old and gray.

I, your guilty subject, Bingzhu,

pay respects to Your Majesty.

Rise.

Be seated.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

My dear minister,

do you still resent me?

This guilty subject

would never dare.

I have always valued talent.

Otherwise, the court

would not have loyal ministers like you

who come from humble origins.

However,

the position of Feiyu Guard Demon Slayer is no ordinary role.

On a smaller scale, it concerns my personal safety.

On a larger scale, it bears the responsibility for all people's lives.

I had to be

extremely cautious.

Do you understand?

This guilty subject

understands.

I have investigated.

This sea voyage,

although it failed to locate Yuli Spring,

the fault

was not yours.

As the Emperor,

I have the wisdom to judge character.

Sending you to the Imperial Prison

was your final test.

The Yuli Spring is crucial to the empire.

I need someone like you who can withstand such trials

for me to feel at ease.

As of today,

I have no more doubts about you.

You need not address yourself

as "guilty subject" anymore.

Considering your years of loyal service

and excellent character,

I hereby name you Bulwark Duke.

In accordance with your noble rank, I'll reward you with 100 acres of land,

and a thousand stones of grain.

How does that sound?

I

thank Your Majesty for your generous grace.

Long live

Your Majesty!

Whether I can live long or not depends on

if you find the Yuli Spring or not.

Come.

Tell me everything in detail.

When you met the Exalted Immortal,

what did you talk about?

What does the Exalted Immortal prefer?

Your Majesty,

I

have only met the Exalted Immortal once.

The rules on the island were strict.

I was not allowed to move around freely.

So I

don't know the details.

Enough.

It's useless

to talk about the past now.

Since you are favored by Exalted Immortal,

you should quickly find a way to ask Exalted Immortal

what else I need to do

to be granted the Yuli Spring.

I

dare ask Your Majesty,

is the Exalted Immortal you speak of

still the one in this painting?

The Exalted Immortal

has many incarnations.

As long as she is still willing to reveal herself to me,

immortality is still possible.

[Residence of the Bulwark Duke]

[Distinguish right from wrong]

Welcome home, Bulwark Duke.

My Lord!

I know my crime is unforgivable,

but considering our many years

of fighting side by side,

I beg for your mercy, My Lord.

My Lord.

I know I cannot escape death.

I have failed you.

Whether you kill me or not,

I submit to your judgment.

But I want to say,

those who wanted to kill you

were never us brothers,

but the imperial edict!

Please, My Lord,

don't make things difficult for the brothers.

Everyone joined the Feiyu Guard— a job so tough—

all for the sake of their families.

We're all risking our lives

in exchange for a salary.

If they have offended you in any way,

they were only following orders.

If you have grievances,

direct them at me, Ji Yan, alone.

The brothers have a hard life.

I beg for your forgiveness.

If that's the case,

I, Ji Yan,

am willing to cut off my own hand

to appease My Lord.

I submit myself to your judgment!

Everyone, get up.

Get up!

When did you

start colluding with the demons?

What kind of deals have you made?

Tell me everything in detail.

If you hide even the slightest detail,

I will show no mercy.

Thank you for sparing our lives, My Lord.

[Distinguish right from wrong]

My first encounter with the demons

began after Miss Xiao Yao

was captured and taken to Demons' Valley.

Back then, you had just been appointed as the Demon Slayer of the Feiyu Guard

and posted bounty notices

to lure out the great demons.

That very night,

a demon calling himself Heiwu

approached me.

He offered to help the Feiyu Guard

eliminate the Demon King Hong Ye.

Now, on the first and fifteenth of each month,

the demons

offer up some minor demons.

We escort them to the Elixir Refining Chamber

in the West Garden to create elixirs.

With this arrangement,

we also earn rewards for our brothers

to support our families.

I never imagined

the Feiyu Guard has fallen so low.

My Lord!

Forgive my boldness.

But what we have between the Feiyu Guard and the demons

is already the best we can have.

What are you talking about?

Only when soldiers

don't eliminate bandits completely,

will the court keep the soldiers employed.

My Lord.

Demons can never be completely eliminated.

The current arrangement,

where demons provide some insignificant minor demons

for the Feiyu Guard to report as captures—

isn't this the best solution?

Besides you,

no one wants the demons completely exterminated.

Since you became the Demon Slayer,

you've pushed everyone too hard.

Each of us

risks our lives day and night

without receiving any benefits.

We had no choice

but to join forces with the demons against you.

My Lord,

the feud between humans and demons

ultimately means less than the lives

of our families.

We just want to protect those close to us.

If everyone were like you,

saving the world

while suffering the tragic deaths of loved ones

and the torment of souls unable to reincarnate,

what would be the point?

Even if all these brothers were gone,

and replaced with new ones,

the result would be the same.

I speak

from the bottom of my heart.

Please reconsider, My Lord!

Please reconsider, My Lord!

Last night,

that woman who fought with you,

has she appeared again?

The Feiyu Guard and Imperial Guards

have searched the entire city but found no trace of her.

However, that woman has exceptional martial arts skills,

and she has the demon-slaying blade with her.

She should be fine.

When you recover your power,

you must conjure lots and lots of silver for me.

Okay.

I'll give you anything you want.

Xiao Yao.

I want to ask you something.

Yes, go ahead.

Dali...

is not coming back, is she?

You've been avoiding the subject

and I've been afraid to ask.

But the closer we get to Demons' Valley,

the more I think about her.

Dali...

has become the most beautiful flower among all blossoms.

That's good.

She always loved beauty.

Dali has gone far away for cultivation.

I'm sure we'll see her again someday.

Yes.

My Lord,

are you all right?

I suddenly feel uneasy.

I just need to rest here for a while.

You all go ahead.

Yes, sir.

Yes.

If one is not a spirit,

can they still use spirit arts?

No.

You've been carrying the Exquisite Heart you brought back

from the Realm of Mist and Void.

It's right here.

I was so arrogant.

I kept saying I would take care of you.

But in the end, because of me,

you've taken the same path as Lu Tong.

I, Bingzhu,

carry the empty title of demon slayer,

but in the end, I couldn't save anyone.

What's wrong with you?

Why do I still feel heartache?

Wasn't replacing my heart with the Exquisite Heart

supposed to make me feel nothing?

You were originally a kind person.

Even if you changed your heart,

it wouldn't change who you are.

No!

I am a demon,

a spirit...

I used spirit arts to bewitch people.

Humans can be good or bad—

same goes for spirits and demons.

What corrupts both humans and demons

is desire.

Half of my life has been in vain.

I no longer care about right or wrong in this world.

My only wish is

for the day when we

stand against each other to never come.

If that moment truly comes,

I beg you...

Promise me,

will you?

Promise me,

please?

A-Aren't we going back to Demons' Valley?

Where is this place?

The barrier at the riverbank

must have been destroyed.

There will certainly be many Feiyu Guards stationed there.

I once set

a hidden barrier here

that only I can open.

I thought

I'd never need to use it.

My Lord, your foresight is formidable.

In that case,

we can rush in

and kill them all,

catching them off guard.

Then after that...

Kill what?

If we fight,

there will be casualties.

My Lord is indeed amazing,

but he is a lord

who truly cares about the demons.

He would hope

to take back Demons' Valley without any bloodshed.

Although I don't quite understand,

I think that makes sense.

What should we do next?

Let me check the situation.

We can discuss it later

after figuring out their formation.

Take His Lordship

and hide somewhere safe.

Hide?

Yes.

Not hide.

It's rest.

My Lord has been working hard these days

and needs to rest first.

Just find a place

where no one will discover you.

But even I don't feel tired.

You've been eating, drinking, and sleeping the whole way,

why would you be tired?

That's true.

I'll go ahead and wait for you.

Xiao Yao.

As the Demon Lord,

I have my responsibilities.

Though I've lost my power,

no one knows Demons' Valley better than I do.

I don't want to hide.

Besides, Heiwu fears me the most.

The Feiyu Guard has been searching for the Kunlun Mirror.

As long as they want something,

we can find a way

to defeat them one by one.

But...

It's here!

We're back!

Let's go back and fight now!

We'll kill them all—

Oh no,

today is the first day of the month.

I...

Mr. Wu Huan!

Look, there's a donkey.

Go!

As a bamboo stick,

you can't even escape in a bamboo forest.

You deserve to be caught and made into mats and baskets.

Go ahead.

Keep running.

Stop!

My Lord?

My Lord!

My Lord, you're finally back!

My Lord!

He wants to capture us

and hand us over to the Feiyu Guard.

Did you not die from poisoning?

It was the Dreamshard Immortal who died.

Why should I fear poison?

You previously framed Xiao Yao

and led the Feiyu Guard to massacre Demons' Valley.

I was too busy to kill you then,

which allowed you to harm your own kind with Heiwu today.

This is truly a capital offense.

Go back and tell Heiwu.

I never wished to see our kind harm each other.

I'll give him one chance.

Release our kind immediately,

leave Youning Cave,

and get out of Demons' Valley.

But if he dares to persist in his folly,

I will show no more mercy.

I will make sure your evil deeds

are paid back a thousandfold.

Wu Huan.

The count is off today.

These few minor demons

are far from enough.

Are you underestimating the Feiyu Guard's abilities?

There are more.

They're all behind.

Go.

That looks like the Demon King Hong Ye.

Are you sure?

Are you certain it's the Demon King?

Yes.

I've seen him before

when I raided Demons' Valley

with the Demon Slayer.

Luoluo.

Bamboo.

Are they the ones who have been coming to Demons' Valley

to capture demons?

-Yes! -Yes!

Very well.

With My Lord here today,

are you going to make them pay for their crimes in blood?

I'll count to three.

If I can still see you then,

you'll have only your bad luck to blame.

Three.

Go!

Two.

Go.

Run!

Run! Hurry!

W-Why?

Hong Ye, let's go.

Captain!

Captain.

Why are we running?

Don't be stupid. You said it yourself.

That's the Demon King.

But he didn't chase us.

Last time we saw him, he was formidable.

Flying through the sky, burrowing underground,

killing anyone in his way.

But just now he seemed

somehow different.

He was all talk.

He didn't use his power at all.

If that's the case,

his power might be...

Gone.

This is our chance to defeat the Demon King

and achieve great merit!

What kind of hunter runs away

after spotting his prey?

Let's go back!

Let's see what powers he really has.

Let's go!

Go!

Move!

Go!

Move!

Let's go!

W-Wait.

W-Why are we running?

Didn't His Lordship say when he counts to three, we would...

Take our revenge?

Yeah.

Xiao Yao.

Take Bamboo and Luoluo

and leave first.

I'll deal with Wu Huan.

Wait!

Don't worry.

I have a way to lure him away.

Go quickly.

No.

This is the only way.

Otherwise all of us

will be trapped here.

You still can't go.

I have a plan

that can both repel the enemy

and keep everyone safe.

He's gone indeed.

He must've gotten injured when fighting

the Dreamshard Immortal,

which depleted all his power.

Everyone spread out and search carefully.

Capturing the Demon King

brings far greater merit than catching thousands of minor demons.

Go now!

Yes!