Original subtitles

This drought looks even worse than I expected.

Right. The shops are all closed,

and the townsfolk can barely get by.

There's demonic energy from Han Ba everywhere.

He really is clever,

spreading his demonic energy all over the city.

Now it's impossible to pin down his exact location.

Bai Ze said

that as soon as Han Ba spoke,

the searing heat inside him would escape

and bring drought upon the land.

That's why he always kept his mouth shut

and cultivated alone.

Judging by the scale of this drought,

Han Ba's probably turned into a chatterbox by now.

By the way, did you tell You Chi about Ji Ling?

-Mother… -Not yet.

I'm hungry.

I'm worried that if he finds out,

every weasel in the streets will know too.

That'll be no different from posting notices all over the city.

See? We've only been apart for a while,

and Wu Shiguang already misses me.

Obviously, Wu Shiguang has ditched his friend

now that he has a loved one.

Why else did he dump you on me?

Nonsense.

I'm the unlucky one here,

getting stuck with a scary brute like you

to look for a place to stay.

Look at this fierce face of yours.

Even if we find an inn, they might not dare take us in.

-Have you heard of a saying? -What saying?

Weasel, meet your maker.

There's not a soul in sight.

How are we supposed to find a place to stay?

Let's look around first.

Here.

What,

you don't like it anymore?

It doesn't really go with what I'm wearing today.

And you think

it goes well with me?

Just hold it.

Besides, I haven't seen Ji Ling in a very long time.

Ji Ling…

-All you ever talk about is Ji Ling. -Ji.

Don't call me that in front of the others later.

You don't like it?

It's not that. It makes me sound like some half-grown kid.

But it's cute.

Fine. Call me whatever you like.

Fair's fair.

From now on, Ji, you can call me Wu too.

Wu?

Like the sound a fox makes?

Awoo!

Its name is Wu.

Sorry, but the name's been taken.

Master Dragon Deity,

that kind of joke doesn't really suit you.

Cut it out.

Did Jiu Ying give you a hard time back in the Formless Moon?

I'm fine.

On the other hand,

you used to be at each other's throats with Ji Ling,

but now you two are getting along pretty well.

A hundred years on the divine throne,

walking on thin ice,

pretending to be someone else,

and living like a shadow,

never able to speak the truth,

he doesn't have it easy.

He lived in loneliness for a century.

But now that he's met Wuyi,

he's got some youthful spirit back.

Even the way he dresses has gotten younger.

Wouldn't you call that an old tree coming back into bloom?

You and Lu Wuyi are both thousand-year-old foxes.

Compared to you two,

Ji Ling and I are the tender shoots.

You're siding with him already?

People always say fox demons are heartless,

but Wuyi takes love

more seriously than anything.

It's a blessing that he's won Wuyi's heart.

Even if it comes with misfortune, he should accept it without complaint.

Then what about you?

You're a fox demon too.

Where's your heart?

Vacant rooms!

Clean and comfortable rooms at fair prices!

Don't miss out!

A desert oasis and a spring in the wasteland.

-this is the perfect haven for travelers! -With the whole city this desolate,

someone's still drumming up business for an inn?

It's definitely a trap.

A trap?

The inn is brightly lit and spotlessly clean.

Don't go throwing that word around.

Times are unusual right now, so we're running a special promotion.

We're collecting curious stories from ordinary folk.

If you two can offer us a good one,

your stay is on the house.

On the house?

That sounds good.

-Where's your inn? Is it far? -Not far at all.

It's right here.

CHATTER INN

-Wangyan! -Wuyi.

You're here too?

What's going on?

I scared him.

Ji's all fair and pretty. How could he have scared anyone?

Didn't we agree you wouldn't call me Ji?

What's wrong, Ji?

Ji?

It seems the innkeeper knows Ji Ling.

Of course he does.

He is Han Ba.

Is that so? Ji…

I'm exhausted.

I can't do this anymore.

I can't.

My legs are about to give out.

You go find an inn.

I'll just curl up in some hole by the road.

-No way. -Then carry me.

Listen.

Walk on your own. I'm not carrying you.

What?

Listen. Don't turn around.

There's a girl following me and sneaking looks at me.

Hey!

Get back here. What are you doing?

She's following me.

What nonsense.

She's not blind.

It's obvious which of us is more handsome.

Miss, I'm You…

Are you the one who used to be by Master Chi Wen's side?

I'm Li Jie.

Do… Do you still remember me?

Master Chi Wen,

please… please watch over my great-grandmother.

Please let her get better soon.

Please… please let her recover quickly.

Please.

Master Chi Wen sent me to pass a message on to you.

Your long vigil and prayers here

show a devotion heaven and earth can witness.

But birth, aging, sickness, and death

are the ways of the world.

Every mortal life has its end.

The Dragon Deity's Power

cannot be used to reverse the laws of nature.

Instead of wasting your time

kneeling here in prayer,

you should spend more time with your family

and cherish the days you have.

Does the Master Dragon Deity know

about all the suffering in this world?

He does.

Then does he just ignore it all?

Master Dragon Deity said

what carries us through suffering and helps us overcome evil

is not the protection of the gods,

but the hope and courage

that never fade

from our hearts.

He asked me to return this to you.

Do you remember this?

I do.

Master Dragon Deity,

have you come to take back the Dragon Deity's Power?

And you're telling me this man is a dragon,

and these two are foxes over 1,000 years old?

This is too much for me.

I only wanted to run a small business and keep an inn.

Why send such a force to come after me?

Luo'an is parched with drought. Why do you think?

Why did you run into the inn and hide?

Did you think that door would keep me out?

Why's the inn door busted?

Did some bandit barge in and start looting and killing?

Don't be scared. I'll take care of them!

You're all here?

You beat us again.

My eyes are quite alluring.

What are you all doing? Why is the mood so tense?

Forcing…

asking someone to hand over the Dragon Deity's Power.

Are you afraid that once you hand it over, you'll die?

These extra years I've lived, propped up by the Dragon Deity's Power,

were stolen to begin with.

I'm not afraid of dying.

What I'm afraid of

is that once I hand over the Dragon Deity's Power,

the searing heat inside me will spiral out of control,

and drought will break out

across the whole world.

Once we gather all of the Dragon Deity's Power,

he can become a true dragon, summon wind and rain,

and end the drought.

Helping him become a dragon

was also Master Chi Wen's wish.

Master Chi Wen?

Is everyone talking about themselves in the third person now?

So you're the Tenth Dragon Son we've all been waiting for?

That's right.

What is it? Don't I look the part?

I wouldn't dare say that.

I just didn't expect

the Tenth Dragon Son to look so utterly ordinary.

You've hidden it well.

See? I told you.

You should've bought some nicer outfits.

Look at Ji Ling. He dresses so flamboyantly every day.

I heard that.

Both of my ears heard every word.

These past years,

my injuries have only worsened.

The only thing that can suppress

the searing heat inside me is the Dragon Deity's Power.

I didn't take back my power to break the oath,

but to suppress the searing heat.

Are your injuries

really incurable?

That's why

this drought befell Luo'an.

I see.

But Luo'an was doomed to drought.

Even if you had kept your mouth shut,

it wouldn't have changed anything.

I only started talking

to fulfill a young girl's wish.

She's the girl I was talking about.

Her name is Mu Long.

These are all stories she and I collected by waiving lodging fees.

I want to help Mu Long finish her story collection.

All that's missing now is an ending.

I've watched Mu Long grow up.

Since childhood, she's had a stutter, kept to herself,

and struggled to get along with people.

The only thing that can make her speak

is when it concerns this collection of stories.

I have to help her finish it.

Masters and madams, please give me one more day.

Just one more day.

Tomorrow, I will return the Dragon Deity's Power.

Do you…

Do you really have good stories?

All right!

Based on how good your stories were,

I've assigned your rooms.

From the most luxurious to the most modest,

they're divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human tiers.

Sleep well, everyone.

Han Ba, how dare you put Master Dragon Deity in a Human-tier room?

An Earth-tier room?

Got a problem?

-We need two rooms. -Yes.

As I recall,

this lady didn't tell a story just now.

Are you planning to sleep on the street tonight?

I only tell my stories to the one I love.

Go on. I don't mind being the one you love.

But I do.

I already have someone I love.

He is the one I love,

and that's settled for life.

I already have someone I love.

He is the one I love, and that's settled for life.

Then the most comfortable Heaven-tier suite belongs to you.

Thank you, sir.

Here.

I don't accept charity.

Drop the act.

Could you show me some respect?

Hey you!

What are you doing?

Someone's unhappy. I need to cheer him up.

I'm good.

Why are you being petty?

I am broad-minded.

I just think this wine tastes

very sour.

Sour?

How is it sour?

You're way sourer.

Well? Is it sweet?

It is.

I think it's sweet too.

A Heaven-tier room.

Yunjin brocade, silk bedding, and incense.

Who would've thought

that gaudy, flashy stuff like this

would be enough to make you so happy?

Back at the Shilin Sect,

someone prepared all this for me too.

Who was it?

And I remember someone saying…

-I don't accept charity. -I don't accept charity.

Don't think you can wear down my resolve

-…with fine clothes and good food. -with fine clothes and good food.

Who was that?

Why do you know everything?

Does everyone in the Shilin Sect have special sight and hearing?

Take a guess.

Take a guess?

You tell me.

Are you going to tell me or not?

It won't tell me.

Then don't force it.

Then you tell me.

Then go on and ask it. I don't remember either.

Tell me!

Yes, you. Say it!

May I have a look?

No. Not even Mr. Yan has read any of these.

No one gets to read my stories until I've finished all of them.

Why do you like writing stories?

My great-grandmother used to tell me stories all the time.

She… She always said that since I stuttered,

writing stories suited me better.

Too bad

she… she'll never get to read them.

Everything in this world fades away eventually.

But there's a saying,

"Writers never truly die."

As long as their stories are read,

the days they wrote down can be relived again.

Your great-grandmother must be in your stories, right?

Then she will always exist in this world.

She said that too.

Stories can weave the wishes

people dare not speak of

and their regrets

into dreams of fiction.

The people in stories

never die.

I wonder whether my regret

will ever have a happy ending.

Here, Miss Mu.

Th… Thank you.

Your regret?

Do… Do you mean

the girl in your story today,

the one who made you a bracelet?

Yes.

It's a pity.

My bracelet broke.

I'm waiting for her.

And I hope that one day,

she'll be willing to make me another bracelet.

No… No, that's not right.

Why not?

Because this is your story.

You… You can't just wait.

You need to write it yourself to get the ending you want.

You… You can make a bracelet yourself.

Ji Ling, you've really got a petty streak.

I shared good food and wine with you, and you're still ignoring me.

Big drumstick. Big drumstick.

Big drumstick.

Miss Mu?

She's asleep.

Let me take a look.

"The Great Demon and Little Pomegranate."

What kind of writing is this?

It's so ugly.

-Miss Mu Long… -What are you doing? You…

-You've stained my manuscript! -I'm sorry.

I forgot my hands were covered in grease.

Don't worry…

Hey, don't cry.

I know. I'll go find Wangyan.

She knows magic. I'll go get her right now.

Wangyan! Help, Wangyan!

Wangyan, where are you?

Wangyan, help! Wangyan!

Wangyan!

Wangyan!

Wangyan!

Wangyan…

Ji Ling,

why did you do this?

You can go kill Chi Wen now.

Wu Shiguang is under Jiu Ying's control.

You really did keep your promise.

Now you can sit

on the Dragon Deity's throne forever.

You killed my sister.

I'll never forgive you.

It was a dream.

Mu Long.

How?

Not even the Dragon Deity's Power could…

This person doesn't seem to fear magic.

Who was that?

Why did they know my bladework so well?

They didn't know it,

but they could predict every strike you made.

What in the world is going on?

There's only

one person I know

who's capable of that.

Where are Ji Ling and Lu Wuyi?

Master Dragon Deity.

Master Dragon Deity?

Wuyi.

Wuyi?

Master Dragon Deity isn't in his room.

Is Lu Wuyi gone too?

Li Jie, what are you doing?

Were you two

in the room the whole time?

Wangyan…

Wu,

what in the world is going on?

What are you trying to do?

Mu Long?

Mu Long?

If Mu Long can't go back to normal,

none of you are getting the Dragon Deity's Power.

Are you threatening us?

I know.

There's no way I can beat

two foxes from the Formless Moon and two dragons.

But I've already hidden away the Dragon Deity's Power.

If you don't save Mu Long…

We will.

I can try.

She's under Word Magic.

Master Dragon Deity,

a person in black attacked Mu Long just now.

Go investigate with Wu Shiguang and the others.

What about you?

Don't you need me with you?

I have something more important to do.

Understood.

I can't wake her.

Whoever cast the spell is stronger than I am.

But Word Magic is the Formless Moon's specialty.

Besides someone from the Formless Moon,

who would know this spell?

Xiaowei.

Xiaowei?

You mean Ji Ling?

How dare you suspect Master Dragon Deity?

He can use Xiaowei's spells through his Spirit-Binding Ring.

Of course I suspect him.

But didn't you just say

Ji Ling was with your sister?

Maybe Wuyi was helping Ji Ling cover it up.

With all that fighting in the front courtyard,

how could the Dragon Deity

not have heard anything?

Wangyan, why do you suspect Ji Ling so much?

Do you know something?

No.

I just think the person in black was too strong.

Even together, we couldn't beat them.

Commander Li, aside from Ji Ling,

who else knows your bladework that well?

Why don't you suspect Lu Wuyi?

You said she was covering up for Ji Ling.

Why couldn't it be Ji Ling covering for her instead?

You also said to me…

There's only

one person I know

who's capable of that.

Were you referring

to Lu Wuyi?

Listen. Is it possible

that both of you are wrong?

What if the two of them were working together

and covering for each other?

What secret is hidden in the first chapter of this manuscript?

Why would the person in black go to such lengths over it?

I haven't read it either.

Mu Long said no one was allowed to read it until it was finished.

Maybe it has something to do with my memories.

Do you know me?

So you're finally willing to talk about this.

I thought you were pretending not to know me

because there was something you couldn't say.

I even played along with you.

You really don't remember?

Jiu Ying tampered with my memories.

Any memories I had of you are gone.

Little Pomegranate…

Little Pomegranate…

Little Pomegranate?

What did Miss Mu say?

Little Pomegranate?

-What was it again? -What,

itching for a beating again?

Want me to scratch you with my blade?

Be quiet.

I'm almost remembering it.

Let me show you a place.

Maybe it will clear things up.

And maybe

it'll help you remember something too.

Thank you.

Sister, higher.

Sister, higher!

What is it?

Nothing.

This used to be Mu Long's great-grandmother's home,

where she lived as a child.

Where she lived?

I remember now!

You scared me.

The manuscript! The first chapter of that manuscript

was Little Pomegranate's story.

The moment I heard the words "Little Pomegranate",

I felt like I'd seen them somewhere before.

"The Great Demon and Little Pomegranate."

What kind of writing is this?

It's so ugly.

The handwriting was all crooked. It was ugly.

Really ugly.

But still, I recognized the words "Little" and "Pomegranate".

But

Mu Long's handwriting is very neat.

How could it be crooked?

She had too much to drink.

Shut it.

Little Pomegranate.

Little Pomegranate?

Why does Little Pomegranate look like she's crying?

Isn't that Wangyan?

This…

This really is me.

But why would I be in this painting?

And that tall, handsome fellow in the back

is Mr. Yan.

The painter is Cui Jun.

Who's Cui Jun?

Maybe

I can try something.

Where did Wu Shiguang and Wangyan go?

How did they disappear in the blink of an eye?

They've gone into the painting.

Why did they leave me behind?

What good would you do?

What good would I do?

I figured it out already.

The girl in the painting is Little Pomegranate.

And this story must have something to do with Mr. Yan.

As for the great demon,

that's you, Han Ba!

Am I right?

Pretty sharp, aren't I?

Good for you.

You've figured out what everyone already knows.

Your story with Little Pomegranate

must've been full of longing and heartbreak.

Come on, tell us already.

My name is Su Jian. What's your name?

Why won't you say anything?

You won't even tell me your name?