Original subtitles

[Blood River]

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

[Available on fanqienovel.com & bkneng.com]

[Episode 2]

That speech just now was meant

for the man outside.

Now, Su Muyu,

shall we carry out our plan?

Changhe,

I cannot betray the Patriarch.

Foolish.

This time, the Three Families are resolved to rebel.

I will pave the way for you.

You only need to be ready

to seize the Dormant Dragon Sword.

After so many years,

haven't you learned the truth?

You are always so innocent.

Both you and I are indebted

to the Patriarch.

Indebted?

They trained us

so we could do their killing for them.

We owe them

nothing.

Only you truly believe

that Blood River

is your home.

I can never

make myself believe so.

To me,

this organization

is merely a place to trade favors.

He gives us shelter,

and we kill for him.

The talk of family

is but hollow words.

Su Muyu,

Uncle Zhe is right outside.

If we strike at you together,

do you think you can survive?

If Uncle Zhe joins forces with you,

I am no match.

But one must try.

If I could talk sense into you,

you wouldn't be Su Muyu.

How foolish of me

to waste so many words on you.

Mu Bai,

do you enjoy eavesdropping in there?

[Mu Bai of the Mu family] How did you know I was here?

Because I was the one

who sent you the message

telling you to wait here.

We are of the same clan.

We should share what we know.

Nonsense!

Su Changhe,

just you wait!

Changhe.

Once the bow is drawn, the shot must fly.

The Patriarch must die this time,

and I will seize the Dormant Dragon Sword.

So,

think carefully

about the pact we once made.

Su Muyu,

[Four years ago] you shall become Blood River's Kui,

rise as the Patriarch,

and command the Three Families.

I shall remain with the Su family

and inherit its headship.

This carriage is quite something.

It's so large,

yet it moves so smoothly.

It's so heavy,

yet it travels 100 li a day.

It is the work

of the Ban family's third master.

Of course it is impressive.

He died

ten days

after finishing it.

He fell ill and passed.

If I cure you, Sir,

will I also "die of illness" myself?

You worry too much.

You are a miracle physician.

The Blood River upheaval has begun.

Within ten days,

we shall see an outcome.

Let the waters of Blood River

spread across the martial world

and surge into Tianqi.

Changhe,

perhaps this time,

we will really draw blades

against each other.

[Fifteen years ago]

[Young Su Changhe]

Over the years,

of all the Lamp Children,

he is the only one

to survive a mission.

Shall we bring him back?

No need.

This is the end for me.

No. 17,

I owed you a hand.

Now I'm repaying it with my life.

It seems you got the better deal.

♪How many hidden feelings sink in silence deep?♪

♪Searching through the endless nights, struggling on the edge...♪

No. 17,

what are you doing here?

I overheard your mission location

and ran off to find you.

Let me take you home.

Can that place

be called a home?

A home is where family waits.

[Young Su Muyu]

Your younger brother is still there.

♪Like fate, winding with the tide♪

♪Who can ford this river of night?♪

♪Where's the far shore...♪

So am I.

♪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♪

Why do you always

make such a mess of yourself?

You always

turn up in time anyway,

so a little mess

doesn't matter.

The trial at the Wailing Abyss

begins soon.

The family heads have summoned us home.

This day

has come at last.

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

♪Surrendering all hues for a glimmer of light♪

I believe you already know how this works.

When the hour strikes,

you will head for the Wailing Abyss.

Each group has ten people,

and only one will make it out alive.

[Sixty-Three]

Group one:

No. 86,

No. 18,

No. 74,

No. 42,

No. 34,

No. 26,

[Seventeen]

and No. 17.

The last of group one:

No. 63.

No. 63!

Who has offended you, Muqiu?

You seem very upset.

Mu Zizhe,

you know full well

we have our eye on those two.

Are you trying

to make the Su family your enemy?

Don't make such a big accusation.

I wouldn't dare.

I was only doing my duty

as the chief instructor.

Duty?

Not placing two strong fighters

in the same group

is an unwritten rule among the Three Families.

Aren't you afraid I will

report this to the Soul Reapers' Hall?

Let them grow close

and see each other as brothers.

Then set them to slaughter each other.

Stay close to me.

Don't stray away.

I don't think

I could even if I tried.

They're all here.

Everyone knows your swordsmanship is supreme.

Rather than fight you

one-on-one,

we will join forces

to kill you both first.

Then we'll fight among ourselves

for a chance to live.

Then let's fight.

Eightfold Trap Formation.

Combining knives and swords

in both offense and defense,

it cuts off every chance of escape.

To break this formation,

there is only one way:

lure them in with bait.

I will be the bait!

To break the formation,

one must be sacrificed

to find the point of escape.

What's the point of us

striking together?

I know.

Let me do it!

Madman.

Then I'm leaving!

♪I look back to see peaks in clouds. I close my eyes and the scene comes alive♪

The weak point!

♪I burst into the world, and the realm is forever changed♪

♪As dawn breaks in the east, I rise by my own strength♪

♪The path lies beneath my feet. I seek no roots♪

♪In this borrowed life, I neither love nor hate♪

♪I cross the wide river with a leap of faith♪

♪My eyes filled with tears♪

♪Against the current, I glimpse my reflection♪

♪Forget who I am, for I am part of us all♪

♪Mountains dance in silver grace, but every season heroes rise in the jianghu♪

♪In my chest, the torrents never cease to surge♪

♪No matter the age, I rise with the wind♪

♪Though born a common man, I reach for the sky♪

♪The river on my back shimmers with waves of endless weight♪

♪Through mud and sand, I carry the great river for thousands of li♪

♪Swords gleam as the common man cries to the heavens♪

♪Cultivation is like walking on thin ice. Who dares to sigh?♪

♪From darkness comes the gift of light. I walk unafraid across the barren land♪

Only the two of us remain.

So...

Are you insane?

You lunatic,

stop it!

I told you

I would repay

the debt I owe you someday.

I don't need your repayment.

When you took my place

as a Lamp Child,

you already repaid me.

Blood River has its rules.

In each group of ten, only one

walks out of the Wailing Abyss

and joins one of the Three Families.

If you don't take this favor,

we will both die!

There must be another way.

I'll talk to them.

They want the finest assassins,

and the two of us

are the best

they've found in years.

They would never

want to lose us both.

You...

you're too naive.

Let go!

Let go!

Those who are strong enough

have the right to be naive.

You're awake?

I had a long, long dream

about things from long ago.

Fiends and heretics,

keep away from me.

- If we are the fiends and heretics... - If we are the fiends and heretics...

- Is Blood River... - Is Blood River...

- Righteous? - Righteous?

You are but demonic illusions.

I will slay you at one stroke!

- Give us back our lives! - Give us back our lives!

Oh, no.

Sir...

When a person is weak,

evil finds a way

to seep in.

Nightmares are normal.

Sir,

you need not worry.

Sir, are you well?

Rabbit.

Yes.

Miss Bai,

how many lives

have you saved in your life?

Well...

I never kept count.

Including Second Master Tang,

I

have slain

832 people.

I've forgotten

many of their faces,

but a voice

always tells me

those are the ones I killed.

I was never afraid of such dreams.

When those people appeared,

I'd take my sword

and cut them all to pieces.

I killed them once,

so of course

I could kill them twice

and thrice,

whether in dreams

or in reality.

But just now,

when I drew my sword,

I saw that it had

already broken.

I want Muyu

by my side at once.

Aren't you worried

he might

betray you now?

He won't.

After sitting in the carriage for so long,

I'm truly tired.

Changhe,

in this state, can you really catch up to them?

What's your plan really?

I will catch up.

The Patriarch went north

only to buy time.

Knowing what he's like,

I can't be sure if the Old Man

will be safe,

but he will surely move

to wipe out us errand boys.

So as far as I'm concerned,

the Patriarch must die.

And?

My arrangements for Su Muyu

should be in place.

He will run into a few old acquaintances

so he won't

catch up to the Patriarch so soon.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

[Su Changli of the Su family]

Changli?

Yu,

long time no see.

Did Changhe send you?

Yes, he did.

He told me to stop you,

and if all else fails,

to cry until you relent.

Does he think

I won't kill you?

I...

He thinks he can read my mind,

but I have killed so many

that there are times I can't

hold back the urge to kill.

If I'd wanted to kill you,

you'd already be dead.

Hyah!

Yu!

[Su Zhi of the Su family]

Teacher.

You flatter me. I'm hardly worthy

of being called "teacher"

by you.

Mr. Su Zhi.

It's been a long time,

Su Muyu.

So Changhe even got you involved

just to stop me.

Don't blame him.

I came of my own will.

After this,

we might never

meet again,

so I volunteered to see you once more

and play

a game of weiqi with you.

I'm heading somewhere. I don't have time.

If there's another chance to see you,

I will visit the library

once I return to Blood River.

If I fail

to make you finish this game,

Changhe may

kill me.

Did you come

to persuade me to join forces with Changhe?

The two of you are the most remarkable pair

Blood River has seen in the past century.

You've overcome countless crises together.

I believe

you can

do it again this time.

I heard from Changhe

that you

made a pact four years ago

that he'd become head of the Su family,

and you'd rise as the Patriarch,

the new master of Blood River.

Then did he tell you

that I never agreed to that pact?

Does the Patriarch

truly deserve such loyalty from you?

Does the answer to that question matter?

Muyu,

when you answer

a question

with another question,

it means you haven't

made up your mind.

But some questions have no right answer,

only choices to make.

I've stayed with the Su family for nearly a decade.

Changhe and I

emerged from the same Furnace

as martial brothers.

To be precise,

we are all family.

A man like Changhe

would never consider the family head

his family.

He only

sees you as family.

But now I am the Kui.

My father once told me

that a promise is more important

than a life.

As you yourself once said,

if an assassin doesn't

honor their promises,

they can kill their patron

for richer pay.

In the end, order will collapse.

Assassins will lose their reason to exist.

And Blood River will also fall apart.

You are clever,

but sometimes too stubborn.

I'm already a pawn for killing.

If I don't hold onto certain beliefs,

living will feel

no different from dying.

Sir,

you have lost.

Farewell.

Yu,

you will never win.

The heads of the Three Families have coveted

the Patriarch's seat for years.

They will not

let this opportunity pass.

Even if the Patriarch

recovers,

they will

stop at nothing to kill him.

You're fighting a losing battle.

If so,

what is Changhe

trying to do?

He wants to change Blood River.

Cross the "blood river,"

and we will reach the other shore.

On that shore,

there will be no more darkness.

Instead,

light will prevail.

Join us.

Changhe plans

to have the Patriarch die

at the right time

and pass the Dormant Dragon Sword to you

before he dies.

You will command Blood River,

while he will

clear the obstacles

and become its new head.

Then, if the other two families

resist,

you two will join hands to purge Blood River.

Yu?

Sorry.

I've made my choice.

Changhe said it.

If you don't cooperate,

he will make himself

the Patriarch.

When he does,

he will kill

whoever stands in his way,

including you,

the dearest friend he's ever had.

Muyu,

the road will be long and perilous.

Walk,

and I shall reach the destination.

You intend to get poisoned before finding

the antidote?

I must say,

that's really bold.

There's one thing I don't understand, though.

Would you really risk your life

for a few silver notes?

Of course not.

I'm not a fool.

But I know a way

to feel

the poison in you just as you do

while keeping myself alive.

And what is that?

The Soul-Swap Technique.

Medicine King Valley's secret technique,

the Soul-Swap Technique.

But

with this technique,

the target's five senses,

their past, and their present thoughts

are shared

with the practitioner.

If the target's will is weak,

their mind may even

be seized entirely.

When I first learned of it,

I thought:

this is no medicine;

it is sorcery.

True.

A physician

treats the body's ailments,

but the Soul-Swap Technique

can heal the mind.

However, my aim with you

is to purge you completely

of the toxins

using this technique.

As for the thoughts

you have,

I will try to ignore them.

If you

use this technique,

then my life...

Naturally, it will be

entirely under my control.

At any moment I wish,

I could end your life.

I will try it.

Let the Patriarch

live as long as he can.

Our priority now

is to hurry and find a chance

to kill

that young miracle physician.

The Patriarch and that physician

are protected by the Twelve Zodiacs.

Why do you seem so confident?

I had a letter sent

to the imperial city in the north.

A man there was born of the Tang Clan,

famed and renowned.

He's Second Master Tang's

closest disciple.

In the Pipa Pavilion of Jiujiang,

with three hidden weapons, he stunned the world.

He is a martial arts expert on par

with Sikong Changfeng

and Baili Dongjun.

Tang Lianyue?

[Tang Lianyue of the Tang Clan]

I don't know

why the Patriarch killed Second Master Tang.

But I know

Tang Lianyue would be

the one most driven

to avenge Second Master Tang.

Escort the Patriarch away.

Hurry!

- Understood. - Understood.

We barely had time to catch our breath,

and now we are on the run again.

Once you heal me,

no one will dare come after us.

Found you,

Blood River.

Dragon Beard Needles?

You're from the Tang Clan.

Tang Lianyue

of the Tang Clan.

Tang Lianyue?

I see.

You are the Xuanwu Guardian, one of Tianqi City's

Four Guardians.

You are not the one I seek.

Where is your Patriarch?

I need to see him.

Even if you are the Xuanwu Guardian,

for one, we are not in Tianqi City,

and for another,

Blood River

answers to no imperial orders.

The Patriarch is not someone you can

demand to meet.

I didn't come

as Tianqi City's Xuanwu Guardian.

I came as a disciple of the Tang Clan.

Your Patriarch

killed our second master.

I have come

to settle that score.

How did you

learn about this?

What if it's

all a rumor?

I suppose your Patriarch

left long ago,

leaving you behind to cover the retreat.

All this talk

is just to stall for time.

You're not leaving.

Rise!

What a masterful command of hidden weapons.

Is this the skill of a top-ranked master

on Baixiao Hall's Roll of Legends?

Fiery Paper Butterflies and Netherworld Spiders?

You are the Spider Woman

of Blood River's Mu family.

I don't like that code name.

What a petty trick.

Did you think I wouldn't notice

you using

Fiery Paper Butterflies as cover

to let Netherworld Spiders

sneak up and ambush me?

You think you're clever, but you're a fool.

What did you put inside the Netherworld Spiders?

Naturally, Thunder Orbs

from the Lei family of Thunder Hall.

How did you

get those?

Years ago, when I passed

by Thunder Hall on a mission,

quite a few young men

from the Lei family

fell head over heels for me.

Of course, they offered them up with both hands

to please me.

Anyway,

why am I even telling you this?

♪A son need never learn to read♪

♪Cockfights and horse races serve him better indeed♪

♪The Jia boy, only thirteen years old♪

♪Has more wealth than most nobles♪

♪He calls the bets and wins with pride♪

♪In silken white, with a gilded carriage by his side♪

♪His father lies dead far away from Chang'an...♪

When the children light the lamps,

the ghosts come to claim lives.

Do you remember

that back in the day,

you nearly became one of these Lamp Children as well?

Mu Yinzhen of the Mu family.

[Mu Yinzhen of the Mu family]

You dare fight me?

Do you mean to betray Blood River?

Interesting.

The reports I received

say you plotted against the Patriarch

and planned to rebel.

I came to kill you

on my family's orders,

to rescue the Patriarch.

It seems

the Mu family is truly loyal.

I have long heard that Su Muyu, the Umbrella Ghost,

is famed

for his Eighteen-Sword Array.

Yet looking at your stance now,

you seem to think

I don't deserve

to see

your 18 blades all at once.

You don't.

It should've been you back then,

but Su Changhe took your place

as a Lamp Child.

According to my plan,

they should've all died,

yet he

was saved by you.

I think I see now

why he stood in for you.

Had you been one of the Lamp Children,

you would've surely died.

I never expected

the Su family's famed Umbrella Ghost,

the Nameless who crawled

from the corpse-strewn Furnace,

the current Kui, and the leader of the Spider Shadow,

to be a man

with a merciful heart

who cannot strike a child.

Your sword

is not as swift as I imagined.

Is that so?

Impossible.

I clearly blocked that strike.

There are few

I truly wish to kill in this world,

but sadly,

you are one of them.

Don't be afraid.

Find a place

and hide with your companions.

This conflict

will probably last a long time.

It seems the Xuanwu Guardian of Tianqi City

is not so hard to deal with after all.

Our Tang Clan does not fear the Lei Fortress.

Likewise,

I'm not afraid of your Thunder Orbs either.

Move again,

and I will have no choice but to kill you.

I heard there was once the blood of a prince

on your Fingertip Blade.

Why are you now

so hesitant to kill?

I don't wish to kill,

even if you are from Blood River.

I thought

it was your love of beauty

that held you back.

Silly.

I've long heard that the Mu family of Blood River

excels in trickery.

Today I see

that it is true.

In the Pipa Pavilion of Jiujiang,

you, Tang Lianyue of the Tang Clan,

became famed across the land with three hidden weapons.

I have

long admired you as well.

I shouldn't have shown you mercy earlier.

Now I'm caught in your bewitching spell.

Bewitching spell?

What do you mean?

You know

I rose to fame in Jiujiang's Pipa Pavilion

with three hidden weapons,

but do you know

which three they are?

Rumor says

you forged all three yourself.

But I haven't heard

what they are exactly.

No need to know beforehand.

You will see them soon enough.

Don't move.

If you move again,

my spiders

will turn you

into an ice statue.

If I add in a few Netherworld Spiders,

you will be blown

to nothing.

I'd like to see you try.

This is the first

of those three hidden weapons,

Cries of 1,000 Birds!

♪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♪