Original subtitles

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

[Episode 25]

Hurry up! Hurry up!

Second Master,

what took you so long?

You two!

You didn't come upstairs to save me!

Trying to keep the money for yourselves?

I should kick both your useless asses!

Wait, Second Master!

It's not what you think.

Second Master!

Second Master!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

We surrender.

You two useless fools,

hurry up and carry me out of here!

I can't run anymore.

I can't run anymore.

I need a break.

A break?

Do you have a death wish?

Waiting for officials to arrest us?

Now lift me and run!

You aren't the one carrying the chest.

Why don't you try it?

How dare you speak to me like that?

Dagger, dagger.

No, no.

-I dare you to say it again! -Second Master.

The old man in the chest

is just too heavy.

We've been set up.

The money in the exchange shop

can't be retrieved anymore.

Why don't we

kill that old guy?

That's right, Second Master.

Let's kill him

and take out what's inside.

We three can split it equally

and flee together.

Who am I?

And who are you two?

You think you can share equally with me?

You!

What are you trying to do?

You…

Don't do anything stupid!

I'm the Deputy Leader!

No, no, no.

We're like brothers.

Back then,

I was the one who took you two in.

Took us in?

You just wanted us

to be your slaves forever!

The treasure in the chest is all yours.

Spare me, please!

Spare you?

So you can kick our asses again?

Qilang,

open the chest.

Let me rest a bit more.

How dare you talk back?

Why don't you open it yourself?

I'm not your real brother.

Why do you order me around?

Are you an idiot?

You want me to kick your ass, don't you?

You want to kick my ass too?

That's why I keep you around.

Splitting the loot two ways

is better than splitting it three ways.

But it's even better

to keep it all to myself!

Go to hell!

Sir.

[Wine and Verses]

This is the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

Lu Lingfeng.

[Yuan Li, leader of the Xuanhuo Troupe]

I'm Yuan Li, leader of the Xuanhuo Troupe.

Greetings, Officer.

These two are poets.

That one is the owner of Ruan's Restaurant.

Thank you all, sirs.

If it weren't for you,

I would be dead by now.

Half a month ago...

Stop!

Stop!

[Xuanhuo]

I lied to those bandits

that I had a lot of money

stored in an exchange shop,

and only I personally could withdraw it.

That's why they didn't kill me.

[Wine and Verses]

They kept me in a chest

and gave me some food

and water at night.

They brought the Xuanhuo Troupe to Chang'an this time

to force me

to withdraw the money from the exchange shop.

Exactly.

They even threatened

to kill Mr. Yuan.

If we didn't obey,

they said they'd bury him alive.

Qilang also forced me

to be his lover.

I felt sick just looking at him.

I had no choice

but to submit to this fake leader.

I was terrified they'd go too far

and kill Mr. Yuan

and all the girls.

Sang.

Don't you have anything to say?

The girls have said everything.

Mr. Yuan survived a dangerous situation,

which is worth celebrating.

Those bandits had each

taken several lives.

Using a leopard to punish them

and letting the leopard return to the wild

achieves harmony between humans

and beasts.

It seems quite fitting.

It's good indeed.

I was also thinking of releasing that leopard,

but I'm curious how you

managed the switch.

If the leopard didn't wake up,

those bandits would

get away with their crimes.

Mr. Ruan,

don't worry about that.

[Wine and Verses]

If we weren't confident,

Official Lu would have gone after

those bandits already.

I'm also very curious.

I was tied up

and gagged.

Suddenly, I saw the chest lid open.

But...

for some reason, I felt very dizzy

and passed out.

How I got out afterward

and who exactly rescued me,

I never saw.

It was me, of course.

Besides me,

who else could carry you

out of that chest

and put the leopard in?

Thank you.

I must bow to you again, Official Lu.

[Happiness]

No need.

After such a busy night,

I'm hungry again.

Mr. Ruan,

do you have any wine and dishes left?

I was just thinking of throwing another feast

to celebrate your success in cracking another major case, Official Lu.

You caught these bandits

right here in my restaurant.

Mr. Wang, if this event

can be written into your poem,

I think the title

won't need to include

the words "Playfully Presented," right?

Whether I add them or not depends on

how sumptuous the feast is.

That's so you, Wang Youbo.

Lang!

Yes.

Set up another feast

with the finest wine

and all our signature dishes.

Yes.

Mr. Yuan.

I wonder what other skills

your Xuanhuo Troupe has.

Show us now.

Well…

I hope being tied up in that chest

for half a month

hasn't ruined all your talents.

How could that be possible?

Just give me and the girls a moment to prepare.

Go ahead.

[Ruan's Restaurant]

Official Lu, sirs,

the Xuanhuo Troupe humbly presents our performance.

[Drink to the Melody of Songs]

Lu, Daxiong.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Let's drink together.

[Drink to the Melody of Songs]

[Drink to the Melody of Songs]

Great!

Wonderful!

Excellent!

Excellent!

Excellent!

Here.

Here.

All right.

Thank you.

-Come on. -Cheers.

Come on, fill it up.

Good wine.

Cheers.

Good wine!

Where is Yingtao?

Come to my arms and get drunk with me.

Lu,

here's to you.

Come on.

Good wine.

Su Wuming, watch out!

Sang!

Don't help the wicked do evil!

It's too late!

All of you have to die!

Screw you!

Fei Yingjun?

So you still recognize me.

We're old friends.

Why are you messing with my business?

You old crook!

I don't have a friend like you!

Lu Lingfeng!

He's the one

you want to catch—the Black Fire!

Seize him!

Lu Lingfeng, don't be afraid!

It's just an illusion.

Don't just focus on the bridal chamber.

You must watch in all directions

and listen to everything around you.

Understood.

There's a bigger catch.

-Mr. Yuan! -Mr. Yuan!

Catch the assassins!

Ladies, put down your swords.

Don't force us to fight you.

Do you want to test

the strength of a Tang poet?

Be good.

Let's fight our way out!

Why?

We were

forced by that old man.

We're accomplices at most.

You few,

come pick up these things on the ground.

Master Fei.

I've been worried

you'd get drunk and mess things up.

I'm not drunk at all.

Su Wuming didn't

even let me drink.

I've been busy all day.

Time to reward myself

and drink my fill.

Fei, there's an important task

for you.

You must not drink.

What could be so important

that it keeps me from drinking?

According to our secret agents,

the long-hidden Black Fire

has sneaked back into Chang'an.

His target should be

Ruan's Restaurant.

This guy has killed countless people.

His methods are extremely cruel.

If you drink and ruin things,

the consequences would be unimaginable.

Who's back again?

The moment I heard that name,

I knew it was an old acquaintance.

20 years ago, when I was at the Ghost Market,

he was hunted down by his enemies

and was almost bleeding to death.

It was I

who dragged you back from death's door.

And yet,

in order to get a magical elixir,

he murdered

four young disciples of the Medicine King.

Those children

all called me Uncle Fei.

Today, I'll avenge them!

I...

Give me your sword.

Mr. Fei, why stain your hands

with this old scoundrel's blood?

Today, I must eat his flesh

and drink his blood. I...

-Mr. Fei. -Fei, enough!

His crimes are numerous.

We must question him thoroughly

to bring justice for all those he killed.

Black Fire,

you've been hiding for 20 years,

yet you dare name this theater troupe

the Xuanhuo Troupe.

"Xuan" means black.

"Huo" means fire.

You're challenging the county office!

Lu Lingfeng.

Su Wuming.

You two are Master Di's disciples.

I heard about you a long time ago.

I never expected

to run into you here.

Guess I'm unlucky.

You didn't run into us.

We came to

Ruan's Restaurant

specifically to wait for you.

You…

I just don't understand

how someone with your skills

could possibly be

captured by Gou Mengchang's gang.

If they hadn't outnumbered me,

I would never have suffered such humiliation.

You're lying!

The Black Fire

is known for his cunning.

If he can trick his way out,

he will never fight head-on.

His specialty

is killing with illusions.

If it had been a fight with real weapons,

you would have been

hacked to death in the wilderness long ago!

Let me ask you.

After hiding for 20 years,

why have you reappeared to commit crimes?

My life belongs to Blood Drop.

I had no choice.

You received a Blood Drop Order?

I'm going to die anyway.

Don't expect to get

any information from me.

Arrest them all!

Official Lu, I'm not too late, am I?

Just in time.

Take these people in the courtyard

and Gou Mengchang inside

back to the county office.

Yes.

Get up.

Be gentle!

Move!

Tie him up tightly.

He knows illusion techniques.

Yes.

Mr. Su.

Something's not right.

You just said

you came here specifically

to wait for them.

Yet wasn't I the one who invited you all

to my place to make sushan?

You've confused me!

Sometimes, it's better to stay confused.

Right, right.

Miss Sang,

I could tell from the beginning

that you were coerced.

You stopped in time earlier

instead of helping them.

That proves it.

You're truly observant.

Help me! Help me!

They're already helping us.

So stop yelling.

Did you forget those girls before you?

Xiaopa and the other two

are all accomplices of that so-called leader.

They kidnapped

several other girls.

Because they were disobedient,

they were either strangled or buried alive.

So...

Under such threats,

you still managed to find a chance

to reveal

the name Black Fire.

Yes.

Although I was held captive for years,

I refused to accept my fate

and kept looking for a chance to escape.

I accidentally overheard Xiaopa

talking with that old scoundrel.

I learned his alias was Black Fire

and that he was an extremely wicked person.

If the county office got the news,

they would surely come to arrest him.

Then I would be saved.

So I deliberately leaked the information.

It was because of your tip

that the secret agents were able

to get crucial intelligence.

Only then could we connect the Xuanhuo Troupe

with the Black Fire.

In that case,

I've managed to avenge

those few girls

they murdered.

You're registered as a slave?

Yes.

You've done a great service to Yongzhou Prefecture.

As a reward,

the Yongzhou Judicial Official's office

will find a way to remove your slave status.

That's wonderful!

Miss Sang, you'll be free soon.

Really?

You're not lying to me, are you?

I'm the Chief of Secret Agents in Yongzhou

and also a disciple of Master Di.

I will certainly keep my promise.

Thank you very much.

Today,

I've proved to be a qualified secret agent!

If it weren't for me…

if it weren't for me,

you'd have all been knocked out…

Let me do it.

By that Gou guy.

Xijun,

before they drink later,

let them eat sushan first.

Make sure

everyone finishes theirs.

Alright, Fei.

Look at you,

always bragging.

But you managed to get that leopard

into the chest.

That does take some skill.

From what I know,

30 years ago, the Black Fire

had already killed multiple people.

But the troupe leader, Sai Mengchang,

and Lang Yehu—

their ages don't match his at all.

I will…

find an opportunity to uncover the truth.

Come on. Fill up the cups!

It's been 20 years

since I last saw that old crook.

So when I first saw him,

I wasn't sure right away.

But then I thought,

with Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming here,

even if I let him out,

there was no way he could escape.

Therefore…

You knocked the guy out

and revived the leopard with incense

and made it obey you.

You are like a divine being!

In the past, when I treated migraines in Nanzhou

and cured mute slaves in Yunding County,

they called me that too.

Since you are friends of Leng Ji,

there's no need to be so polite.

Where is Leng Ji?

Have him come drink with me.

I've gone a whole day without meat

and wine.

Leng Ji!

Mr. Fei.

Mr. Fei.

We can set up another feast,

but today

is Leng Ji's wedding day.

The wedding night is priceless.

So don't call him out

to drink with you.

Though

I'm not much of a poet,

Mr. Gao and Mr. Wang here

are famous poets.

How about we drink with you

instead?

As long as I'm drinking, anyone will do.

Lu Lingfeng.

I made great contributions today.

You're the Judicial Official.

You'll have to

toast me a few more times later.

Su Wuming!

You've been ordering me around all day,

so you need to toast me too.

No problem. I'll toast you too.

Yingtao, you're on duty.

You can't leave your post.

The task you assigned me…

Drinking will mess things up.

Hurry up and go keep watch for me.

The lights in the bridal chamber are already out.

What's there to watch?

Wait.

Master Fei, I'll go with Yingtao.

A little drink won't affect the task.

Let's go.

You...

T-They…

If I remember correctly,

this should be the fourth time

we've reset the feast.

Come on, let's drink.

Cheers.

Everyone.

Tonight,

this bright moon hanging in the sky

is both the moon of the Tang Empire…

and the moon of poets.

Unfortunately,

I, Ruan Daxiong,

can help the Yongzhou Prefecture Office catch criminals

but don't know how to write

better poetry.

Mr. Ruan, please sit.

The bright moon

can actually make a man like you

suddenly feel sentimental.

This shows

that Chang'an is filled with poetic inspiration.

Writing good poetry

is just a matter of time for you.

For a long time,

I believed

that poetry came from the poem itself.

That fine language was enough.

But traveling sorrowfully south,

then westward,

wandering the world made me realize

that to write good poetry,

you must love the vastness of the world

and embrace the life within it.

Only then can one have a poetic heart.

Poets should be like this.

Heroes too.

Well said!

Lu is modest

and claims he's not a poet,

yet he summed up

the essence of poetry.

"Hero" is a great word.

Mr. Ruan, didn't you complain

that your restaurant's name was too common?

In my opinion,

you can rename it "Hero Restaurant."

What do you think?

That's a wonderful name!

I'd be honored

to inscribe it for you.

H-How can I possibly thank

you two?

No need to thank us.

Come on.

Let's drink.

Sure.

Let's drink.

Let's drink.

Let's drink.

Come on,

let's drink!

Cheers!

[Happiness]

I agreed with Leng Ji to meet at 9 AM.

It's time now.

Why is there no sign of him?

I'll go knock on the door.

Mr. Leng.

Leng Ji!

Yingtao,

you didn't drink too much and fall asleep,

letting him leave without noticing, did you?

-I… -No.

I was with Yingtao the whole time.

Neither of us even blinked.

Oh no!

Last night, they said

they'd commit suicide together.

Have they…

Move aside.

Ruan Daxiong!

What happened?

Look.

Explain this.

I drank too much.

This room—

to prevent intruders,

a tunnel was dug under it.

How could I have forgotten?

Since the three talents of Nanzhou died one after another,

I've been the loneliest man alive.

This journey north,

first to Luoyang and then to Chang'an,

was all to find you.

Today, my wish has finally been fulfilled!

Having been reunited for one night,

I have no regrets in this life.

Why do you insist on taking me away?

Aren't you afraid of being pursued by the authorities

and losing a poet's freedom

for the rest of your life?

Staying by your side forever

is the greatest

freedom

for me.

It's just that we've put Gao Da and Wang Youbo in a tough spot.

They'll

survive it.

I'll thank them properly another day.

What about those two disciples of Master Di?

They'll really have trouble with this.

They'll have to rack their brains

to find a way to clear your name.

Otherwise, they'll be held responsible too.

You can still laugh?

Thinking about every day from now on,

I want to laugh heartily.

Tell me.

Where do you want me to take you?

My hometown is in Nanzhou.

If you want to go, I'll take you there.

If you want to return to Luoyang,

we'll go together.

In short,

I once let you down, but I'll use

the rest of my life to make it up to you.

What if I prefer a simple life

and want you to spend every day

being a normal couple with me?

How will you be a poet then?

Who says a poet cannot live

among the rising smoke of common households?

Perhaps my best poems

will be born

in the simple days spent with you.

My strange yet familiar poet,

let's go.

My familiar yet strange assassin,

where are we going exactly?

It's up to you.

Wherever you want to go,

I will go with you.

Official Lu.

I am the guarantor.

I'm ready

to accept the punishment for covering for Leng Ji.

Do you need to tie me up?

Go ahead.

How can I possibly

be left out of this, Mr. Gao?

Besides, didn't we

agree to travel beyond the Great Wall together?

At worst,

we'll leave after serving our sentence.

This way, I can write

more magnificent poems.

Well, well, you two—

you had this planned all along.

Even Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng

got fooled.

What's going on?

I was drunk just now.

I know nothing.

The mess still needs to be cleaned.

It's all on me.

We caught the assassin Black Fire

and the bandit Gou Mengchang.

This trip has been quite fruitful.

As for the rest…

actually, I was drunk too.

Great. Then let's go.

Go where?

How can we

let them off so easily?

Then what do you want?

I can't release them anyway.

Unless...

Unless what?

Unless they run away on their own.

Wuming, you mean

we'll let them crawl out from there?

That's a good idea!

Those arrogant poets

should be taught a lesson.

Balancing emotion and law is tough,

but today's matter still has to be reported.

I'll head to the office first.

The rest is yours to handle.

[Hero Restaurant]

[Hero Restaurant]

[Hero Restaurant]

Mr. Gao personally inscribed this plaque.

Lang. Let me hang it myself.

[Hero Restaurant]

Please be careful.

Mr. Su, you came?

How can we let Mr. Su

hold the ladder?

Lang, go

bring Hou out here

to hold this ladder.

[Hero Restaurant]

Okay.

Mr. Ruan,

you and Leng Ji are old acquaintances, aren't you?

Don't deny it.

I'm not the Judicial Official.

Mr. Su.

Come.

[Hero Restaurant]

No lies in front of an honest man.

Leng Ji and I

were old friends back in the Divine Capital.

Or rather,

I admired him even then.

I once witnessed

the love between him and Jiaonu.

A month ago,

I met Leng Ji in Chang'an

and promised him

that once I found Jiaonu,

I would do whatever it took

to help them reunite.

[Hero Restaurant]

A few days ago,

Lang told me

that Hou was up to something.

He warned me to be careful.

So I pretended to go hunting

and secretly followed him.

I discovered he was hiring an assassin.

And the one he hired

was none other than Jiaonu.

I told you to hurry up.

Hurry!

Then why do you still dare

to let him hold the ladder for you?

He used to be a servant

working under my father.

I lost my mother young

and grew up on his back.

He is

disappointed in me because he cares a lot about me.

If he really wanted me dead,

he wouldn't need an assassin.

He prepares my meals every day.

One dose of poison,

and I'd be dead already.

[Hero Restaurant]

What are you standing there for?

Hold the ladder!

[Hero Restaurant]

You wastrel. It's a century-old family business.

You've even changed its name.

What are you muttering about?

I wish I could push this ladder over

and let you fall to your death!

Come, take the ladder away.

In the past,

this place was called Ruan's Restaurant.

The boss had to be me, Ruan Daxiong.

But now,

it's called Hero Restaurant.

From now on,

the boss here

is you.

That…

Daxiong.

Hou, you care more about

this business of mine than I do.

I can entrust it to you

with peace of mind.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

[Hero Restaurant]

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Who's going to pay for the sushan?

He is the boss. He'll pay.

[Hero Restaurant]

Ruan Daxiong!

The poets were invited by you to help?

You're the one who deceived Lu Lingfeng

and me?

[Hero Restaurant]

However, you truly deserve

to be called a hero.

We're finally going beyond the Great Wall.

It's a pity Mr. Leng

can't join us.

What do you think of Ruan Daxiong?

One can't judge a book by its cover,

nor judge someone by their profession.

This man who runs a restaurant

has the spirit of a poet.

Why don't we

go back and ask him to come along?

You think so too?

My poet friends!

Wait for me, my poet friends!

I've finally caught up with you.

I've heard

that in the north, snow falls even in August.

I wonder if you two brought enough clothing

for the journey to the north.

Also, here are some Sesame Bakes,

some meat, and wine.

These two gourds contain sour cabbage soup.

You can take it on the road.

Mr. Ruan,

would you be willing

to go beyond the Great Wall with us?

Youbo is asking

if you'd like

to head beyond the Great Wall with us.

I would love to!

Of course I would!

Do you have family to bid farewell to?

I have no family left,

and I've already entrusted the restaurant

to Mr. Hou to manage.

I'm free as a bird now.

Then what are we waiting for?

The three of us...

No.

We three Tang poets

will head west together

and go beyond the Great Wall!

A poet...

I've actually become a real poet?

Poet Ruan, don't hesitate.

Ride fast and join us!

Ruan Daxiong, poet of the Tang Empire,

sets off today

beyond the Great Wall!