Original subtitles

[Blood River]

[Based on the novel of the same name from Zhou Munan's Youth in Jianghu series]

[Episode 9]

Sir.

The Dormant Dragon Sword!

Why is the Dormant Dragon Sword here?

Each Patriarch of Blood River

holds two Dormant Dragon Swords.

The two blades

were forged from the same meteoric iron.

The only difference is,

the one in my hand

hides Blood River's secret.

The other one is in your hand.

If Su Jinhui can truly wield it,

we'll wait until he quells

the turmoil in Blood River.

Then,

I will hand this blade

to him as well.

If he cannot,

then that sword

will fully ignite

the three family heads' ambitions.

And those men

will in the end

be consumed by their own ambition!

Only when they step back

will the more promising young

have a chance to rise,

a chance

to break free.

[Luojiuxiao Inn]

Given he's that smart,

he must know this Fingertip Blade is missing,

and that I took it.

But...

he didn't ask for it back.

That's tacit approval.

Then...

does that make it a token of love?

You're awake.

What took you so long to get back?

You were gone forever.

I'm starving.

If you're fine, go down and eat.

Who says I'm fine?

I still need someone to look after me.

I haven't fully recovered.

How about...

you feed me?

Why are you so nice to me today?

Eat properly.

No talking.

Got it.

You...

you're leaving?

I was always going to leave.

Besides,

you're almost healed.

You're here.

You knew I'd come?

You're a lot like me when I was young.

When you were young,

were you already such a piece of work?

You seem

to hate showing

your truest self.

Afraid of being seen through?

Before,

I kept you down,

and you didn't dare raise your head.

Now that my edge is gone,

do you feel

your chance has come?

Since you so enjoy

reading people's minds,

why not take a guess

why I came

and what's my plan?

You want

the head of the Su family.

Su Changhe,

you're merely the Nameless.

Nameless Su Muyu

has no right to inherit the Patriarch.

You as well

have no right to inherit

the head of the Su family.

So you did look down on me.

The title of Su family head

doesn't interest me.

What I want is something

Blood River has never seen done

in past centuries.

What I aim to achieve

is a vow

no one in Blood River could even imagine.

I...

will change Blood River.

Good.

Changhe,

your Inch Sword

is impressive.

But beating me

won't be easy.

My sword may be broken,

but I

am still

Su Jinhui.

Just a declawed tiger,

a blind dragon,

nothing to worry about.

Nice moves.

Back then,

if not for the Su family's help,

you two would've been dead.

At Wailing Abyss,

Muyu carried me out on his back.

Patriarch took the strike,

and that was his choice.

We had no choice

entering Blood River.

But we'll step onto the other shore ourselves.

And you...

is a relic of the old era.

You're wounded inside,

no match for us.

Su Changli...

The tide in Blood River

is turning.

Uncle Qiu, are you thinking

it'd be better if the master showed up?

You've run

so many celestial-rank missions.

You never move

without a sure win.

I bet

you've waited long for this.

And this time,

the result will be the same as always.

You really do know me.

How touching.

I spent six full years

gathering this organization.

Its name...

is The Other Shore.

The Other Shore?

You want to change Blood River?

That's right.

Cross Blood River

and you reach the Other Shore.

There should be no endless night,

but light.

Stirring, isn't it?

You're one of this family,

raised from birth

as an assassin.

Would anyone truly choose

to be born

a tool for killing?

Why do others bask in sunlight

while our three families

must live in darkness?

Have you really never wanted

to change that?

When I was forced as a child

to learn the killing arts,

of course I asked those things.

But after all these years,

our hands,

are soaked in blood.

What right do we have

to talk of change?

Exactly.

Though I see you

as a fellow traveler,

I didn't give you this ring.

Because though you're awake to it,

you've long lost your nerve.

We're different.

We're still young.

As the storybooks say,

we're in our prime.

We haven't strayed far

from the age

when blood runs hot.

We still remember

that undimmed youth's heart,

youth's will.

So long as a young heart

still beats in our chest,

we know no fear,

no regret,

no surrender.

Did you kill Master Su?

Uncle Qiu,

you're a good man.

In this filthy, stained

Blood River,

you're one of the few

worthy of respect.

The new Blood River

has no place for Su Jinhui.

He isn't dead.

Take him and leave.

Live well.

Maybe one day,

out in the jianghu,

you'll hear "Blood River"

and be surprised.

All right.

I'll be waiting.

Farewell, Uncle Qiu.

[Sword Qi Soars]

Changhe,

the rest of the Su disciples are secured.

Why not kill him?

Yeah.

Why not?

What's our next move?

head to the Mu family,

and strike when we can?

Where did Su Muyu go?

He returned to the Spider's Nest.

Then we'll go to the Spider's Nest.

Mu Ciling took the Dormant Dragon Sword.

It's in Mu hands now.

What good is the Spider's Nest then?

The Xie family

has already ringed the Mu compound.

Why don't we wait

until they bleed each other,

and snatch the Dormant Dragon Sword?

Since The Other Shore formed,

we've prepped for this day.

As our leader,

you shouldn't play favorites now,

saving your brother's life.

What did you say?

War is upon us.

Stay calm!

If you kill me,

what "new Blood River" is left?

Do you plan

to leave the Patriarch's position

to him?

Listen closely.

With Su Muyu's nature,

unless he's dead,

he'll stop at nothing

to run that sword down.

Since he chose

to return to the Spider's Nest

instead of chasing Mu Ciling,

that means

there's a problem with that sword.

Only a fool like Xie Ba

will fight the Mus

to the bitter end.

If you're that stupid,

then go and join him in death.

Since that's so,

the air's clear now.

Why make a scene?

- Changhe! - Besides...

You were right about one thing.

I'm keeping

Su Muyu's life.

Anyone else can die,

but not him.

No means no, unless...

I die.

Wait for me at the Spider's Nest gate.

Yes.

[Luojiuxiao Inn]

Yin the Tiger.

Sir.

If things turn dire,

take the miracle physician

and get out first.

Understood.

Sir,

do you think

Su Muyu can't handle

the ones outside?

With his sword,

Su Muyu is unstoppable.

But in this world,

one man and one sword

can't change everything.

But...

We have a visitor.

Who is he?

Tang Lianyue of the Tang Clan.

At last, we meet,

Blood River's Patriarch.

Xuanwu Guardian of Tianqi City,

the honor is mine as well.

Why does everyone

call me

the Xuanwu Guardian of Tianqi City?

I just came to kill you

to avenge my second uncle,

not for Tianqi City.

You're still too young.

Your second uncle, Second Master Tang,

left the jianghu long ago.

He wouldn't even stay with the Tang Clan.

He hid alone

in bleak, remote

Liaoluo City.

Such a man...

why would anyone

ask me, Blood River's Patriarch,

to personally kill him?

Who hired you?

Assassins don't name clients.

That's the rule.

I can only tell you one thing.

Second Master Tang

is who backs you most

in the Tang Clan.

They summoned you to Shuzhong,

but you refused.

Among the elders,

only he

stood with you.

I see.

Thanks for the reminder.

But I'm still here to kill you

to avenge him.

Then by all means,

take my life.

Sir,

you're in no shape to fight.

If it's Blood River business,

so be it.

But this one

is only my enemy.

So I must answer personally.

Besides,

the Twelve Zodiacs aren't his match.

Even a tiger near death

has its pride,

and a Patriarch

his duty.

No one move!

Stand down.

Show me your skill,

Blossom...

Shower!

Someone acted before us.

Do we go in now?

Watch and wait.

We'll move when Changhe returns.

Truly my good brother.

You do know me.

Right before I do

the most important thing,

you asked to meet.

I have something for you.

If I may choose,

I hope it's the Dormant Dragon Sword.

Go to Tianqi City.

Set foot there

and someone will come for you.

With your skill,

you can slip past them

and reach where your secret lies.

Give these keys

to the one who guards your secret.

He will open the boxes

meant for you

and Su Changhe.

From then on,

your names

within Blood River

will be erased forever.

Also,

the secret you seek,

the fall of No-Sword City,

is inside.

Is that truly what you want?

To leave Blood River

and claim real freedom.

You fought so hard

to shield the Patriarch

just for these two keys?

The three families' chaos is beyond repair.

We can dissolve Blood River in the turmoil.

Then we gain freedom

and everyone

gets a choice.

So that was your plan.

Use their infighting

to drain the power-seekers,

and finally,

leave Blood River

with those who think like you.

Su Muyu.

You're sharper than I thought.

But...

I have a gift

for you too.

The Other Shore?

Cross Blood River

and you reach the Other Shore.

There should be

no endless night,

but light.

Remember back then,

when we finished a mission

and passed the Canglan River,

you stared at the water

and asked me

a question:

when would we reach the Other Shore?

I want to tell you now:

it's tonight.

But this night

will be Blood River's night of blood.

Blood is where change begins.

Su Muyu,

you're too kind.

Everyone has a bottom line.

Yours is even higher than my ceiling.

It vexes me,

and has for years.

If you still mean to stop me,

then let's fight.

Winner calls it.

If you win,

I'll dissolve Blood River with you.

If I win,

you'll walk with me to the other shore.

Changhe,

no one knows you better than I do.

You may lead Blood River to the light,

but your ambition

will also drive many into the abyss.

And Blood River

is not as simple as you think.

Behind the Patriarch and the Soul Reapers' Hall,

there's a stronger hand.

Stronger?

Yes.

Even if we become

Patriarch and head of the Su family,

we won't rule it all.

Even the Patriarch

is just a blade in someone else's hand.

If we can found a new Blood River,

then that Blood River

belongs only to the two of us.

That hidden hand

and those stubborn family heads

will be cut down in the end.

Su Muyu,

when did you grow so timid?

To stand against them,

many will die,

and the price will be heavy.

I want them

to survive.

As you said,

I'm an ambitious man.

Unlike you,

a free spirit.

Su Muyu,

we've always walked

different paths!

You say you'll be a good man

in Blood River.

That's naive.

Those you won't kill, I'll kill.

The sins you won't bear,

I'll bear.

Even if you want to leave Blood River,

I'll pave the road for you.

But if you die,

I won't see you off,

even if they call me the Undertaker.

Do you remember

what I told you

when we escaped Wailing Abyss?

If you're strong enough,

you earn the right to be naive.

And now,

aren't I naive in my own way?

Sword Deity Xueyue,

what do you think?

City Lord Li.

Long time no see,

Su Muyu.

My junior says

a new Patriarch in Blood River

will shake the jianghu,

so he invited me to judge.

He says

you're the best choice

for Patriarch.

Once I kill Mu Mingce,

take the Dormant Dragon Sword,

and unite the three families,

he'll take it, want it or not.

I believe you.

Cruel as you can be,

you keep your word.

You've got a good eye.

Hold him off for me.

I'll handle business.

But now I see

an even better end.

What?

What Su Muyu said:

dissolve Blood River.

A jianghu without Blood River

is truly best.

Excellent.

Trouble at the Nest.

Changhe,

your men acted?

Without me,

they wouldn't dare.

It was Tang Lianyue.

He's got his own vendetta.

Skywrath Thunder!

Shame the sky's clear tonight,

or I'd call lightning down,

and Sir,

you'd already be dead.

Sir.

A blade is forged by grinding,

and plum scent by bitter cold.

That poison

has one distinct trait:

a resilience

like the plum blossom.

Even with antidote,

if you stir inner force too soon,

it'll surge back.

Looks like

the poison has relapsed.

No need for me to strike,

you'll die soon anyway.

Freshly cured,

after this fight,

not even deities can save you.

In that case,

I'll take my leave.

Sir, fare well

on your way to the Underworld.

Sir,

we must treat it now.

No need.

I can feel

my end is near.

Even an immortal

can't reverse it.

Miracle physician,

is there any other way?

Freshly cleared of poison,

he shouldn't have stirred the inner force.

He could've lived a few more years.

But just now...

No need to blame yourself.

My sins run deep.

Even in the Underworld,

before Yama,

he'd judge me

beyond saving.

Sir...

Muyu,

Changhe,

come with me.

I have words for you.

The rest of you,

wait here.

Understood.

Muyu,

I always thought

you risked everything to protect me

because of the Life-Death Contract.

What contract?

No matter.

It's already undone.

I used to think

the world had cast me aside,

until the day I learned

you'd already cured the Life-Death Contract.

I suddenly realized

I'd underestimated you

and myself.

These years, I stayed by you

because I believed

you were worth guarding.

Good.

Very good.

When I was young,

Kewen and I were like brothers,

like you and Changhe.

Later, fighting for the Patriarch's position,

I lost much.

And Kewen alone

came to this Spider's Nest.

I thought

he'd abandoned me too,

yet in the end

he gave his life

to save me.

Sadly,

some things

don't change,

ever.

Muyu,

you have your own plan, don't you?

Your ultimate aim

is to dissolve Blood River,

right?

Yes.

If I leave alone,

those of the Spider Shadow won't meet a good end.

I don't want them

living in killing every day.

Only by disbanding Blood River

can they gain real freedom,

live like ordinary folk

and walk in the sun.

If Blood River scatters like rain,

no matter how strong those powers are,

it won't matter.

And you,

Changhe?

You want to command Blood River

to change it,

right?

There's much I want to change.

This is only a start.

I can hand you this sword,

though I'd rather

give it to Muyu.

When I was young,

I thought as you do.

But for now,

you don't yet know.

The cause you seek to achieve

will be far harder

than you imagine.

The ones you must defeat

aren't just Su Jinhui,

nor only me,

but ones stronger than us

and many times more fearsome.

Together, Su Muyu and I

have yet to lose.

The Soul Reapers' Hall

isn't worth a mention.

The Soul Reapers' Hall

is only a puppet

they planted in Blood River.

For centuries,

all know

Blood River is the most fearsome

under heaven.

But the truth of it

is hid even from its

own killers

Then what is the true face

of Blood River?

The truth

can't be told in a few words.

The secret hides

in the secret passage in my room.

After I'm gone,

you're free to see it.

But even if you don't,

when you finally wield

this Dormant Dragon Sword,

they'll come for you.

The sword's here.

I leave it to you two.

Sir...

Muyu,

I've always felt this way.

Since I became Patriarch,

I held

Blood River's highest power

and glory.

But I was like a ghost

cast aside by the three families.

Only days ago,

seeing Kewen die for me,

seeing you

choose to shield me

even after my poison was cleared,

did I realize

I was never alone.

Muyu,

thanks for staying by my side

all these years.

If not for your kindness back then,

the two of us

would never have left Wailing Abyss.

Back then,

I only meant to use

the strength you two had.

Your original aim,

our ending,

and the final choice,

they're not the same thing.

I learned skills in Blood River,

and how to be a man from my father.

My father taught me

loyalty comes first.

Loyalty...

When I was young,

I also wanted to found

a different Blood River.

But later I found

I was turning

into one of them.

And you,

Su Muyu,

you're someone

who never changes.

Leave.

Leave.

Once you're gone,

I'll set a great fire

and burn myself and this Nest

to ash.

Say no more.

This is my choice.

Sir...

may you find bliss beyond.

I thought you'd urge me

to seek the miracle physician again.

Everyone has

their choice.

And every choice

has its meaning.

I'll surely fall into hell,

so I hope

we never meet again.

It's been a while. No action yet?

Could the boss have...

Someone's heading in.

Changhe said, wait for his word.

Then whatever happens,

we don't act on our own.

In this world,

you're the only one

I'll give this sword to.

Honestly, I think

you'll find it easier

to win support.

The Twelve Zodiacs of Spider Shadow

can die for you, after all.

While The Other Shore lot

only draw steel on me.

As we agreed:

you be Patriarch,

and I'll head the Su family.

Figures.

Even if I yield to you,

you still won't take it.

Every moment

you want to leave this place,

cut ties with Blood River.

Why do you insist on staying?

Because not everyone

is wantless like you.

Some want to be heroes,

some, knights-errant.

Some want

great wealth,

some want a famous name.

Blood River is strong.

Together,

we can make and change so much.

I have ambition,

and they have desires.

Better than wandering the world,

grip the sword in your hand

and fight to the end

against those bad guys

who'd rule our fate.

Well said!

Kill them all,

and you'll purge this poison for me?

Yes.

They're the Su family's

two strongest:

Su Muyu

and Su Changhe.

You're Water Official

of the Soul Reapers' Hall?

Your speech just now was well put.

Only a pity.

What's the pity?

A pity...

you aren't the one we chose.

Don't worry.

I won't step in.

As one of the Three Officials,

I prefer to watch

from the sidelines.

Strong as you are,

you still won't

be a match for Mu Ciling.

I disagree with much

of what Changhe said,

but one thing

was no empty talk:

together, the two of us

have never lost.

Eighteen-Sword Array,

activate!

♪Like fate, winding with the tide♪

♪Who can ford this river of night?♪

♪Where's the far shore we chase all our lives?♪

♪Surrendering all hues for a glimmer of light♪

♪Through joy and sorrow♪

♪Still I can't let go♪

♪Longing keeps me awake at night♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪

♪How many hidden feelings♪

♪Sink in silence deep?♪

♪Searching through the endless nights♪

♪Struggling on the edge of love and pain♪

♪Shadows crossing shadows♪

♪Whose name hides in your eyes?♪

♪When the wind blows, ask not when I shall return♪

♪Ask not when I shall return♪

♪Like fate, winding with the tide♪

♪Who can ford this river of night?♪

♪Where's the far shore we chase all our lives?♪

♪Surrendering all hues for a glimmer of light♪

♪Through joy and sorrow♪

♪Still I can't let go♪

♪Longing keeps me awake at night♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪

♪My heart no longer my own♪

♪No one can escape from love♪