Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty III: To Chang'an]

[Episode 10]

I got here first

and already saw the body.

It was unbearable to look at.

The entire skin of the face had been peeled off.

What?

Ever-changing Master?

The deceased is a young woman, about 17 or 18 years old.

She likely died yesterday.

The age

and time of death both match.

We'll have to transport the body back to the county office

and have Chi Ying

identify it.

It sounds quite cruel,

but we have no other choice.

Wu Yang!

Wu Yang!

Who was so cruel

as to tear off your face?

It's my fault, Daughter.

I failed to protect you.

It's all my fault.

I'll go with you!

[Righteous and Upright]

-Wu Yang! -Auntie Chi Ying!

Wu Yang!

Huan.

Wu Yang...

You took quite a hard hit.

Let me check your pulse.

Madam.

Taking your own life

is meaningless.

We will catch the murderer.

He's okay. It's nothing serious.

I'll prepare

some medicine for you later.

Chi Ying.

Xue Huan may look tall and strong,

but he's actually 2 years younger than Wu Yang.

He just risked his life to save you.

I hope you can take his words to heart.

Wu Yang is gone.

How am I supposed to go on living?

When you identified the body just now,

did you see clearly?

I did.

It was definitely Wu Yang.

Her outfit

was what I told her to wear that day.

What about her build?

It also matched.

She's my daughter. I would know.

Wu Yang!

You two, get out!

Please.

Can I be friends with you two?

I don't have any friends.

My name is Wu Yang,

"Wu" as in dance, "Yang" as in sunshine.

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

On my first day of Circuit Trials around the City

in Shengye District,

though the well murder case was solved,

the disappearance case of Wu Yang

has ended like this.

As the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

how am I supposed to

show my face in Shengye District again?

I still feel there's something suspicious about this case.

Xijun, Yingtao.

I'll have to trouble you two

to stay with Chi Ying for now,

in case she tries to take her own life again.

Xue Huan,

how is your injury?

I've taken Fei's medicine.

I should be fine.

Tonight, come with me to the Ghost Market.

We must catch

that Ever-changing Master.

Yes!

They're all gone?

How long has it been

since we had a proper meal?

How about we have a drink?

Sure, let's.

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

We're just drinking like this?

You're not even getting me a chicken?

You're a scholar after all.

Just...

These roasted beans

pretty good actually.

At this hour every day,

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Wu Yang's mother

closes her shop and goes home.

And by now,

Zhuque Avenue and other main streets

are already under curfew.

Only within the districts

can people still move about freely.

That girl is already dead.

Why bring her up?

Woody.

Here to collect garbage?

Yes.

I know the skincare shop didn't open,

and there shouldn't be any garbage,

but this is my routine.

As a sanitation worker,

I should still come and check.

Good lad.

Gentlemen,

I heard

that Wu Yang died.

Yeah.

So pitiful.

I'll be going then.

Woody!

-You could've given me a heads-up. -Scholar Su.

Anything you need?

The clue you provided that day

was very helpful in solving the well murder case.

But young man,

you only did that because Auntie Ling

tricked you out of 20 cash, right?

Isn't that

a bit petty of you?

I... I was willingly deceived.

I never truly believed

she could summon my father's spirit.

But that day

was my father's birthday in this world.

I just wanted to give it a try.

After all,

it was the only way

I could show some filial piety.

And

I didn't lie that day.

She really did curse people.

I knew she was just running her mouth,

but I still provided the clue

because I hoped the officers

would investigate

her scam

and give her a lesson so she'd repent.

Auntie Ling often cheats people

by claiming she can summon spirits,

and I'm worried that if she keeps doing this,

she'll get into trouble sooner or later.

When you put it that way,

it makes me seem petty instead.

You're so young,

yet you have such foresight.

You truly are a fine young man of our Tang Empire.

Please accept my bow.

I don't deserve this, Scholar Su.

I also want to ask you,

since you're often in Shengye District,

among those who had contact with Wu Yang,

have you noticed

anyone suspicious?

I have, actually.

There's a white-haired wandering hermit.

He gave me money

and asked me to help him deliver

a letter to Wu Yang once.

This person has been captured.

Is there anyone else?

Anyone else...

There's

the one who often delivers herbs to Chi Ying,

Physician Bai.

I've noticed he sneaked glances at Wu Yang quite a lot,

with a strange look in his eyes.

Alright. Take care.

We finally got it.

Yeah.

Miss Wu Yang, tell your mother

the herbs have arrived.

Ask her to collect them at the back yard.

Okay. Thank you.

Physician Bai...

Do you know where he lives?

He lives in Yongyang District,

right next to the Earth God Temple.

Next to the Earth God Temple?

Thanks a lot.

Master,

where are we heading to look for clues?

Do you think

I'm here to look for clues?

Then what are we...

Sometimes looking for clues is too hard.

We have to get them through

fighting.

[Huangquan Tavern]

Great wine!

Fill it up! Fill it up!

Fill it up! Smells wonderful!

Bring me wine!

Let's keep drinking.

Come on! Cheers.

Bottoms up! Feels great!

Move aside.

Can't you see I'm here?

Let's go!

Huan,

sit.

Do you need something?

N...

Nothing.

If it's nothing, then get lost!

Hurry up and bring me

the best wine and food!

This tastes terrible.

Is this chicken or some bird?

Do you have anything to say?

Yes!

Anyone daring to cause trouble here at Huangquan Tavern

must not fear death.

Someone will deal with him.

Let's endure.

And you?

It's nothing.

Nothing, nothing.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Now we have space.

Huan,

let's eat.

Master.

We're smashing up this place.

Is this appropriate?

Ever since Su Wuming took command of

Chang'an's secret agents,

we've received a lot of intelligence.

I've singled out all the information

regarding the Ghost Market

and analyzed it carefully.

The owner of this Huangquan Tavern

appears to be the one who has been hiding in the martial world for years,

Hell's Pursued.

Hell's...

Pursued?

This man is arrogant,

claiming even the King of Hell must pursue him,

hence the name.

What a bold claim.

Those who come here to drink

are either villains

or major criminals,

and what they discuss here

is mostly about murder and robbery.

Doesn't this place deserve to be smashed up?

I see.

Let's smash it up properly then.

He came rather quickly.

Huan,

are you full?

I am.

Ready for a fight.

[Boss of Huangquan Tavern: Hell's Pursued]

Who's so bold as to dare

cause trouble at my Huangquan Tavern?

It's me.

It's a kid?

Could it be that the Ever-changing Master

changed your face?

See?

We've come to the right place.

Cut the nonsense.

State your name!

Who do you think you are,

daring to ask my boss's name?

Do you wish to die?

Leave him to me.

Make it quick.

He looks too skinny

to make a decent pot of stew.

He's actually got some skill.

Hell's Pursued.

A toast from me to you!

Pretty boy,

which enemy paid you

to come for my life?

Looks like you've made

quite a few enemies, huh?

That's all in the past!

These years, I've been running this tavern in the Ghost Market,

making a living off selling wine.

I haven't offended anyone since.

Last year when the Demon Lord appeared in the Ghost Market,

you hid like a coward.

That Demon Lord rode a monster,

and he even dared to kill Imperial Guards!

Of course I had to hide from him!

Pretty boy,

I know the rules of your trade.

You won't reveal your employer's name,

but you should at least state your own name!

Even if I'm to die,

at least let me know who's sending me off.

[Huangquan Tavern]

I'm the former General of the Imperial Guard,

former Vice Minister of the Judicial Review Court,

newly appointed Yongzhou Judicial Official,

disciple of Master Di,

Lu Lingfeng from Fanyang.

So it's you.

Dying by your hand...

I can accept it.

These past years, have you really

committed no evil deeds

and killed no one?

I really haven't.

[Huangquan Tavern]

But this Huangquan Tavern of yours

harbors many criminals,

and they've disrupted the law and order of Chang'an.

How do you answer for that?

I...

If you spare my life,

I'll burn down this tavern!

That will do.

But I have one condition.

[Huangquan Tavern]

I know that many scoundrels

in the Ghost Market

rely on you as their backing,

including the Ever-changing Master you just mentioned.

I need to find him.

Now.

You tricked me into coming with you

to Yongyang District with just a few roasted beans,

crossing half of Chang'an

and passing through

all those curfew patrols.

I was almost scared to death.

If I were to lose my life for this...

The house next to the Earth God Temple...

This should be it.

I'm exhausted.

Do you think I'm not?

This is Criminal Scholar of Yongzhou investigating a case.

I'll let myself into the inner room directly.

Who's that?

I heard you call yourself

the Criminal Scholar of Yongzhou?

Is that even real?

I've never heard of

this official position before.

Get up and answer me.

Yes, yes.

The crying seems to have stopped.

Physician Bai.

Officer.

Did you hear

a woman crying just now?

There's crying every night.

This place

has strong yin energy.

There's a female ghost here.

That's why it was so cheap

and I could afford it.

Did you know

that the owner of Meixiu Skincare Shop,

Chi Ying's daughter, Wu Yang, went missing?

No way.

I just saw her a few days ago

when I went to deliver medicine.

That's...

She's really missing.

Do you have any clues?

Like when you were delivering medicine,

did you run into any strange people

or notice anything unusual?

Now that you mention it,

I actually did.

Tell us about it.

That'll cost 3 gold coins.

Three...

That's way too expensive.

The reason I'm asking for 3 gold coins

is because this information

is very important

and

not easy to come by.

It's because it requires flaying a person alive.

It's not easy to come by.

Ever-changing Master?

Who are you calling?

I'm calling you.

I've seen you before.

You must have another face,

or even more than one.

You're...

He's the Ever-changing Master?

Are you sure?

I trust you.

Your hearing is the best.

Listen, old man,

we used to hang out together in the Ghost Market.

I'm the Ghost Market's miracle doctor,

Fei Qiao, Fei Yingjun, also known as Chicken Fei.

Come on,

show that dead‑pan face of yours.

It...

It really is you!

You, Su something,

I know you're Master Di's disciple.

But judging by today,

you're nothing more than

a fool who doesn't know when to quit.

And you useless piece of trash.

Have you gone senile or something?

Have you forgotten

all my martial skills?

There are two of us.

It's two against one.

No need for the two of us to take action.

The Three Chang'an Constables

have already led dozens of men

to surround this place tightly.

You,

surrender immediately!

When you came in just now,

didn't you hear

a woman crying?

That was the Night-Wandering Lady I kept.

If there really were constables outside,

it would have flown in

to warn me already.

I think

it's you two

who should surrender.

Don't push me!

Su Wuming!

Fei Yingjun,

claiming to be the Medicine King's disciple

and the Ghost Market's miracle doctor.

Your medical skills

are nothing but trivial tricks,

not worth mentioning at all.

Today I'll show you

how to flay a face alive.

Criminal Investigation Scholar of Yongzhou Prefecture,

soon this face of yours

will be mine.

First thing tomorrow,

I'll go to the Yongzhou Prefecture Office

and become a scholar myself.

Wait!

Let me die knowing the truth.

Let me ask you:

it was you killed Wu Yang, wasn't it?

We found the body in the Ghost Market.

Her face

had been skinned off while she was still alive.

That

wasn't Wu Yang.

I don't believe you!

There's a householder at Chengfo Temple called Chenkong.

He bought two birds from me.

He's truly wealthy.

What he gave me were actually

gold coins.

I was curious and followed him secretly.

Then I discovered

he was making the Chengfo Temple seem haunted

all for this Wu Yang.

Until one day,

when he was about to kill Wu Yang

in front of the Great Buddha,

I realized

that this little girl

actually resembled

Empress Wu Zetian in her youth.

I thought I could make a fortune out of it.

Just think,

the Empress's face

should be worth at least 500 gold coins, right?

So

I knocked Chenkong unconscious,

hoisted Wu Yang onto my back,

left Chengfo Temple, and entered the back mountain.

But I hadn't gone far

when I was ambushed.

I even got hit in the butt.

Where is Wu Yang now?

Of course she was

kidnapped by the attacker.

Then whose body was it found in the Ghost Market?

I, the Ever-changing Master, roaming the martial world,

had never failed before, you know?

That really made me furious.

So

I found

a girl of similar age

and flayed her face

to thoroughly vent

the anger in my heart!

This is where I did the flaying.

Then I took the corpse

and dumped it in the Ghost Market.

Bet you didn't expect that.

You're just a monster!

Your crimes are unforgivable!

But

the one facing death now

is you.

Taste my blade.

It'll be quick,

slitting your throat and bleeding you out.

I promise

you won't feel any pain.

Lu Lingfeng!

What took you so long?

Where is he?

Help!

Help me!

It's Fei!

Help! Help!

Hurry up! Help!

Help!

Hurry!

You're finally here.

Quick!

He's dead.

-Help me up! -He's dead?

The lead I'd finally obtained

was ruined by a single kick.

What should we do now?

Give me a break.

If you had kicked any later,

your face would've been flayed!

You're really something.

Fei,

examine his wounds immediately.

If he was telling the truth,

then Wu Yang is still alive.

This...

Xue Huan, quick,

help me pull down his pants.

This wound on his buttock

is very similar to the one

on Liu's shoulder.

The armor-piercing awl?

[Yongzhou Prison]

Hurry!

Move!

Who are you?

Didn't you claim

you could only fall asleep

under the Great Buddha?

You know what,

since I was thrown into the Yongzhou Prison,

the food has been good,

so I've been sleeping well.

What did you do to Wu Yang?

Wu Yang?

Wasn't she kidnapped?

How would I know what happened to her?

Torture him.

What kind of disciples of Master Di are you,

torturing an old man?

You claim I killed Wu Yang.

What evidence do you have?

That day,

after Chenkong kicked you out of Chengfo Temple,

you didn't leave.

Soon after, you saw

Physician Bai carrying Wu Yang,

leaving through the back door of the Chengfo Temple

and heading toward the back mountain.

You ambushed him,

wounded him with an armor-piercing awl,

and took Wu Yang away.

Since you've figured it all out,

I'll confess.

I, Li Fengjie,

will go down in history eventually,

because

I've drowned that demon empress

in the Qu River,

never to be reincarnated again.

Old man.

Why are you doing this?

The only thing to blame is that you look too much like that demon empress.

I, Li Fengjie,

am merely atoning for my past sins.

All because of that woman

who I've never even met?

No remorse at all

yet full of excuses.

Someone as shameless as you

is not worthy of calling yourself a Tang citizen!

You're a bad person—

a bad person who's gotten old.

Lu Lingfeng!

If you can't hold it anymore,

just come up!

I must learn how to swim.

The one underwater now

shouldn't be Master.

You still have a lot to learn.

Don't rush.

It's been two days.

Even if we find the iron cage,

Wu Yang must have...

He's out!

-He's come out! -Lu Lingfeng!

Master!

Be careful.

Quick,

put this on.

He's alright.

He's alright.

No one's in there.

Could she have been eaten by fish?

Near the iron cage,

I didn't find any body,

only these items.

This rope

appears to have been cut by a knife.

This is good news.

Perhaps Wu Yang is still alive.

Someone rescued her

and then abducted her again?

This is just unbelievable.

She's just an ordinary woman.

Come on.

Chief Administrator Du.

Have some tea.

Forget the tea.

When will the case be closed?

It will take some more time.

I can't wait anymore!

You...

This is all your fault.

How is this my fault?

I'm just a humble scholar.

Even my monthly salary

isn't paid by your Yongzhou Prefecture.

You dare say

that bringing judicial officers into the district for case investigation

wasn't your idea?

If you, Chief Administrator Du, say so, then it must be.

Wasn't that a good idea?

You call it good?

A woman went missing in Shengye District,

and now all of Chang'an knows about it!

If the officials hadn't come to the district for case investigation,

would this have happened?

[Discipline and Service]

-Isn't that because... -Also,

you went to

the Great Buddha Hall at Chengfo Temple

in the middle of the night

to clean the murals.

And what happened?

You released all the demons

that were sealed away

behind the dust and cobwebs!

My dear Chief Administrator Du,

you actually believe that?

I don't have to,

but the common folks are all spreading it.

And once a rumor spreads long enough,

won't it eventually be heard by His Majesty?

Although the ages don't match,

the missing woman

has still been wildly rumored among the townsfolk

to be the reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian.

Yin,

what do you think?

Can a person really be reincarnated?

Perhaps.

Otherwise,

how could I have dreamed of

you and me in our next life?

When I was little, I was terrified of seeing the Empress.

I was even

afraid to enter the palace because of it.

Now,

although I've become the master of the palace,

I'm restless day and night because of

an ordinary woman from Shengye District.

Aren't I, as Emperor,

somewhat pitiful?

Your Majesty is worrying too much.

Tonight, I'll prepare an extra portion of

gastrodia powder

to help Your Majesty sleep.

I once said

I wanted to meet that woman called Wu Yang

and take her in as my adopted daughter.

But unexpectedly...

It's said that woman was targeted

all because of her looks.

However, there's a rumor

that she is the reincarnation of the Empress

—that she didn't actually die,

but simply ascended to heaven.

Do the people of this world

love my mother

or

hate her?

Even a perfect person

will have people who envy them,

and some may even

turn love into hatred.

Mother encouraged agriculture,

imposed light taxes,

promoted irrigation,

and established the military farm system.

During her reign,

although there was intrigue in the palace,

the common people lived in peace,

and the granaries were always full.

The population of our Tang Empire

grew by well over a million!

Mother also perfected the imperial examination system,

giving commoner scholars the chance to enter officialdom.

At that time, it could truly be said that all nations came to pay tribute.

Such a great Empress,

yet some people hated her.

Could it really be

just because she was a woman?

This case must be closed no matter what!

Fine, fine, fine.

Close the case, close the case.

Su Wuming.

What are you talking about?

[Discipline and Service]

My dear Official Lu.

The murderers, Li Fengjie and Shen Yu,

have been captured.

They've confessed to all their crimes.

The notorious Ever-changing Master

has also been brought to justice.

Of course the case can be closed.

This will also serve to give His Majesty and Her Highness

an explanation,

so that Chief Administrator Du can

[Discipline and Service]

muddle through.

[Map of Chang'an City]

Su Wuming!

I misspoke.

Not "muddle through,"

but "report properly."

Report properly.

Lu Lingfeng!

You and I are Chief Administrator Du's right-hand men.

We must act in Chief Administrator Du's best interest

at all times!

Alright, alright.

Let's not talk about me now.

Just close the case,

so Guangxiao from Chengfo Temple

can finally be relieved.

Now the townsfolk are spreading the word

that Shen Yu

was never Empress Wu Zetian's lover,

but a demon raised by Guangxiao.

Some even say

Qin Xiaobai was possessed when painting the wall,

which is why he painted so many demons.

And Guangxiao was behind that too.

Some even claim

that the abbot of Chengfo Temple is the murderer

who has killed many young women

and flayed all their faces.

Right, right.

I've heard about these rumors as well.

What started as

an ordinary murder case

has now

become a threat

to the capital's safety and stability!

Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming!

You two

must find a way

to silence all these rumors

circulating in the district!

Chief Administrator Du, please take care.

What should we do?

I...

[Chengfo Temple]

Quick! Close the gate!

Hurry!

What's going on?

Open the gate for me!

It's Official Lu.

Quick! Open up!

[Chengfo Temple]

Official Lu.

It's broad daylight.

Why did you close the temple gates?

Those who come to the temple now aren't pilgrims.

They're all here to insult Master.

Besides closing the door,

what else can we do?

How is

your Master doing?

He has been fasting for many days.

He won't take any food or water.

He won't listen to anyone.

I'm afraid he intends to...

Attain parinirvana.

Buddhist Guangxiao,

why are you doing this to yourself?

In this life,

I've accumulated merits, done good deeds only,

and devoted myself to Buddha.

I've never done anything evil.

All I wish is to achieve complete spiritual merit.

But who would have thought

I'd end up being accused as a murderer by the public

and be reviled?

What's the point of my meditation

and worship of the Buddha anymore?

I might as well

remain here in quiet extinction

and go to the Western Paradise

to meet the Buddha sooner.

My mind is made up.

Please don't try to persuade me, gentlemen.