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[Heroes] [Episode 2]

Master,

you knew it, didn't you?

Then why did you promise him?

[Do you know why I became your sworn brother, Yuan Jia?]

[I do.]

[Are you sure?]

[You wish to get Lord Tan out of the prison,]

[yet I may not be as reliable, that's why you gave me this honour.]

[Nonsense.]

[I, Big Sword Wang Wu, am an honest man.]

[I'd never make you a brother just to gain your aid.]

[Is it not your intention to save Lord Tan?]

[I...]

[I wish you could do me a favour by saving Lord Tan.]

[What do you mean?]

[I'm getting more confused.]

Master,

I'm confused too.

What did Big Sword Wang Wu mean?

He didn't want to implicate you.

[Your disciple, Liu Zhen Sheng,]

[is a servant bought by Huo family.]

[If something happens to him,]

[you and Huo family will get involved as well.]

[But I have a perfect plan.]

[Please do enlighten me.]

[When we get into the prison,]

[take Lord Tan away with you.]

[What about you?]

[You got involved in this...]

[because of me.]

[Do as I say.]

Wang Wu wanted to die on Tan Si Tong's behalf?

Yes.

He hoped that I'd rescue Lord Tan,

and he'd make it look like Lord Tan tried to escape.

He wanted you to destroy his face and body with your knife...

so the coroner couldn't recognise him.

You could stay out of trouble and win an honour at the same time.

What?

Master, Big Sword Wang Wu is a hero.

If the martial world learned that I...

How would I live for the rest of my life?

I knew you'd say this, that's why I rejected his proposal.

[If you won't do it,]

[don't call me your big brother ever again!]

[You wish to exchange your life with Lord Tan's so as to not cause me trouble.]

[I admire and respect your courage and righteousness.]

[But I don't agree to this.]

[First, the imperial government would not be easily deceived.]

[If we were found out, all efforts would be wasted,]

[and you'd die for nothing.]

[Second, even if we were so lucky as to make it,]

[Tan Si Tong's death would be known by all.]

[Then what could Lord Tan do as a living man?]

[Third,]

[both of us are martial arts practitioners.]

[We should be guileless in our actions.]

[If we have to break into the prison, so be it.]

[There's no need to put up a show.]

[Yuan Jia,]

[have you ever thought that if...]

[You'll have to stay hidden for the rest of your life,]

[forever wandering as a fugitive.]

[Why don't you become a fugitive with me?]

[To roam the martial world you,]

[how delightful that'd be.]

-Master. -Zhen Sheng.

Will you take off the uniform...

and live the life of a vagabond with me?

Master,

I owe Huo family my life.

I'll follow you wherever you go, be it mountains of swords or seas of flames.

Good brother.

I'm sorry to drag you into this.

[Prison]

Master.

Come.

Lord Tan.

Wang Wu?

Don't worry, Lord Tan.

They can be trusted.

Follow us now.

My worst fears have transpired.

What did you say?

How dare you, Wang Wu. Get on your knees!

How are you break into such a place? What do you want?

Lord Tan, I...

I...

Lord Tan, Brother Wang Wu's here to rescue you.

Shut up!

I'm lecturing him,

who are you to interrupt?

Wang Wu,

on the night of the incident, I ordered you to leave the capital.

Why did you stay?

You're locked up in the prison,

how could I leave by myself?

You're a fighter.

You always resort to violence when things happen.

The government has shown its mercy for letting you off all these years.

Yet, you wish to rescue a prisoner?

Yes, I do.

Lord Tan, you have no idea...

that there are notices everywhere.

The imperial government is against you.

You'll be beheaded tomorrow.

You'd be dead if I don't rescue you.

Tomorrow is the deadline.

Of course I'm aware of that.

Lord Tan, you knew?

The 13th of August.

What an auspicious day.

Just remember to drink to me...

on every Mid-Autumn.

There's no need for a memorial ceremony.

Lord Tan, what are you talking about?

As long as I live,

I won't allow the imperial government kill an innocent man.

You stayed behind the other day...

because you still had faith in the emperor and the imperial government.

But His Majesty has been imprisoned by Ci Xi.

There's not a righteous man left in the imperial government.

Cut the nonsense.

Lord Tan, I know that you're loyal.

I can't reason with you.

But an uneducated fighter like me isn't afraid of the law,

nor being accused of rebellion.

My sworn brother risked his life to help me,

all for the sake of rescuing you.

I've entered this death row and I can never go back.

It's not up to you whether to stay or go.

Brother, let's do it.

Knock Lord Tan out and carry him out of here.

Very well.

Wang Wu, what a loyal person you are.

I'll do as you say this time.

Lord Tan, you finally came around?

However,

you need to do something for me first.

What is it?

Go to my place.

There's a hidden drawer under my writing desk.

It contains a secret edict issued by the emperor...

which concerns the society.

Bring it to me, and I'll go with you.

But...

But this is quite impossible. We barely got in here.

It's now or never.

We may not be able to save you after this.

Why don't you come with us now...

and we can get the secret edict at your house...

before escaping from the city together. What do you say?

No.

Me escaping death row is a big thing.

The capital will become chaotic.

The whole city will be crawling with imperial guards.

Retrieving the edict would be nigh impossible.

Lord Tan, we're running out of time.

What's the point in keeping a secret edict by the puppet emperor?

How dare you!

The emperor's secret edict is more important than my own life.

I'm not going with you without it!

-Yuan Jia, do it! -No need to.

I don't have a sword,

but if you keep pushing me,

I'll ram my head into the wall until I die!

[West Street]

Have a seat.

I dare not.

I'll stand with you then.

You don't have to.

Lord Tan, please be seated.

I heard Wang Wu calling you Yuan Jia.

I'm Huo Yuan Jia from Jinghai, Tianjin.

You may call me Jun Qing.

Did you learn martial arts too, Brother Jun Qing?

Yes, since I was young.

How old are you?

I've been living for 30 years.

I'm about three years older than you.

Wang Wu said you are his sworn brother.

Thanks to Brother Wang's trust in me,

we became sworn brothers yesterday.

The famous Big Sword Wang Wu chose you.

You must be a hero yourself.

That's what people in the martial world say.

My knowledge about martial arts is limited,

but I know that those who are being called hero have a strong sense of justice,

and would go through fire and water.

You coming to rescue me from the death row with Brother Wang Wu...

shows that you are an honourable hero.

The Westerners call us...

"Sick Man of Asia", what do you think about that?

The Westerners are detestable and arrogant.

If they ever dare to challenge me,

I'll beat them all.

Good.

In fact, there's a reason...

why the Westerners are so arrogant.

During the First Sino-Japanese War,

after Beiyang Fleet had been defeated,

our nation was humiliated as part of our territory had to be ceded to the Japanese.

For so many years, I've spent sleepless nights...

ruminating in what way are we inferior to the Westerners...

apart from our technology and governance.

I concluded it's the decline of martial spirit.

The knights of the Westerners and warriors of the Japanese have been preserved.

But after Tang Dynasty,

the martial arts ban throughout the subsequent dynasties...

have contributed to the downfall of us Chinese people.

Today,

among our people,

there aren't many...

that are as physically fit and distinguished-looking as you, Brother Huo.

Moreover, many of our citizens became a bag of listless skeleton...

because of opium.

Therefore, in order to make our people strong again,

the reformation organized by noble families aren't enough.

We need men from all walks of life to rise and strive together.

For example, Brother Huo of the martial arts world.

In that case,

as a mere fighter,

I'm also able to do my part in reviving the nation?

Of course.

[Prison]

Lord Tan, here it is.

Thank you, Brother Wang Wu.

Lord Tan,

we've agreed that you can't call me Brother...

as you're an important official while I'm just an uneducated person.

That doesn't matter.

I had a nice chat with Brother Huo just now.

We've talked about the life of...

satisfaction and delight.

That's great.

Come.

We've also agreed...

to address you as Big Brother from now on.

This...

This won't do.

Yuan Jia.

Lord Tan, Yuan Jia is young and naive.

You...

[Prison of Ministry of Justice]

[Please let me live, great hero.]

[I swear I'll repent.]

-[Kill him.] -[Kill him.]

[Kill him, kill him!]

[Hero, please forgive me.]

Lord Lu, we've stood guard here for four continuous days.

I don't think Big Sword Wang Wu is coming.

[Execution Station]

-Lord Lu. -Lord Lu.

This is impossible.

Wang Wu is very faithful to Tan Si Tong.

He will rescue him!

Someone must have leaked the news.

I stayed at a stranger's house while escaping and was reminded of Zhang Jian.

Even before we die, we should be like Du Gen.

I took out my knife and laughed at the sky.

Dead or alive, we know we're as righteous and honourable as Kunlun Mountain.

[Brother Huo, frankly speaking,]

[I was the first person to learn...]

[that our reformation has failed.]

[Why didn't you leave the capital at once then?]

[I ordered someone to inform my teacher and Lord Liang,]

[while I stayed back on purpose.]

[Why did you do that?]

[A weakened China...]

[can't be reborn without reformation.]

[But from what I know,]

[reformations around the world begin by drawing blood.]

[We failed because no one died for the cause.]

[In order to change this rotting regime,]

[and awaken the sleeping citizens,]

[someone must sacrifice his life.]

[I, Tan Si Tong have decided to give up my head...]

[to alarm the people,]

[and inspire our future generations.]

[But just now...]

[Brother Wang Wu is honest and upright.]

[I was worried that I couldn't persuade him within a short period.]

[So, I had to send him away...]

[so I could persuade you.]

[Persuade me?]

[I'm determined to sacrifice myself.]

[But I don't want to drag others into this.]

[So,]

[please help me.]

[West Street]

[Peace and prosperity]

[Be cautious and disciplined] [Be fair and just]

Lord Tan.

[Lord Tan, I will see you off tomorrow.]

[Okay.]

[But don't collect my body.]

[Don't cause trouble to yourself or your family.]

[You're loyal and you care for the people.]

[I want to give you a proper burial with a respectable coffin.]

[What is a man but skin and flesh?]

[So what if it's eaten by dog or crows?]

[Not only must you not collect my body,]

[you must stop Brother Wang Wu...]

[from collecting my body, too.]

[Why?]

[Brother Wang Wu is a renowned martial artist.]

[He hates injustice like poison.]

[In doing so, he has offended many people.]

[There are people who want him dead...]

[using this opportunity.]

[Yuan Jia, don't let those people win.]

Ying Si, do it now.

My lord, it's not time yet.

What are you searching for?

I'm searching for Wang Wu.

He's here?

It seems not.

[Order]

[Qing]

Lord Tan.

Lord Tan.

Let's wait no more.

It's so hot here.

I'm sweltering under the sun.

What a shame. Lord Tan was really kind.

He's going to be executed.

Lord Tan!

Huo Yuan Jia's here to send you off.

Lord Tan,

please say a few words to the people.

That's right.

Say something, Lord Tan.

-Lord Tan. -Lord Tan.

I wished to eliminate the evil-doers,

yet there's nothing else I can do.

My death is worth it.

How happy I am.

How happy I am!

That trouble-maker down there.

What did he say his name was?

[You used a hidden weapon? That's despicable.]

[I dare you to come and face me.]

Huo Yuan Jia.

Huo Yuan Jia?

Is he famous?

He's very well-known in Tianjin.

Well-known for what?

-Being a bandit? -A martial artist.

He practices fist fighting.

A fist-fighter, I see.

He has got some guts.

I suspect he's in league with Big Sword Wang Wu.

He's an accomplice of the rebel.

The Big Sword Wang Wu you mentioned before,

will he be here?

I think he will.

You have to be certain. Will he come or will he not?

He will be here.

Huo Yuan Jia!

We have to do it now, or these people will make trouble.

Rifles!

It's time!

Execute as ordered by the decree!

[Order]

[In order to make our people strong again,]

[the reformation organized by noble families aren't enough.]

[We need men from all walks of life to rise and strive together.]

[For example, Brother Huo of the martial arts world.]

Lord Tan.

Lord Tan.

Brother Wang,

Lord Tan died a martyr.

I saw him off on your behalf.

Brother Wang, I did you wrong.

But this was Lord Tan's idea.

He was worried you'd die in vain for breaking into the execution ground.

My foot!

You imperial dog!

You, along with those lackeys, caused Lord Tan's death.

I did not.

How dare you deny it.

You knocked me out...

and stopped me from saving Lord Tan.

You're with the imperial government!

-Master! -Master!

Master.

Liu Zhen Sheng, stay there!

Master! Stay out of this.

He's crazy.

He overlooked your kind intentions.

Gao Qi, Da You, Xiao Wu!

-Attack! -Don't you dare!

This is between me and my brother. Get back.

Brother Wang,

Lord Tan wished to awaken the people and inspire future generations...

with the blood he had lost.

Who are you to speak of Lord Tan's intention!

Huo Yuan Jia,

you were here at the execution ground.

Why didn't you save Lord Tan?

Lord Tan and the other five were ordered to be executed by the imperial government.

Rescuing him at the execution ground is a crime.

I couldn't do it,

neither could you.

If you are afraid to die, you shouldn't have promised me!

Not saving him after you've promised me...

makes you a traitor.

-Master! -Stay there!

Huo Yuan Jia,

why won't you fight back?

Lord Tan is dead.

You feel sad and angry.

If hitting me makes you less angry,

you may hit me as much as you like. I won't fight back.

But, Brother Wang, he's gone for good.

Please listen to me...

You deceived me,

and I've missed the opportunity to save Lord Tan.

How dare you lecture me?

Die!

-Master. -Master.

Senior.

[Wang Wu]

Where is Lord Tan's body?

Three men, Liu, Hu and Luo from Liuyang Association,

they've collected Lord Tan's body.

That was Liu Feng Chi, an old footman and Luo Sheng,

Hu Li Chen.

They were very close to the late Lord Tan...

and are men of honour and loyalty.

Listen, all three of them...

wished to be my sworn brother,

but I rejected them.

How could I be so blind?

I let the three dignified heroes down...

just to be a sworn brother to a traitor like you.

-Big Brother! -Don't you call me Big Brother!

We became sworn brothers yesterday,

but today,

I, Big Sword Wang Wu, am breaking off our relationship.

From today onwards,

we will go our separate ways.

I, Big Sword Wang Wu,

have nothing to do with you anymore.

"We've parted for some time,"

"but now I've received this shocking news."

"How could you not bring your 20-year-old friend..."

"to the netherworld with you?"

"I have to travel and fight alone."

"Even the flute music is grieving."

"It was only recently that you approached the supreme ruler,"

"yet you were framed by the evil and died,"

"leaving 400 million people behind to live as slaves..."

"in this living hell."

"And the three scholars of Fusang..."

"felt so empty."

Uncle Yuan Jia, did I read it right? All 72 characters.

You're right, 72 characters.

After Lord Tan Si Tong died,

his close friend, Mr. Tang Cai Chang wrote a couplet to mourn his death.

All the 72 characters...

carry strong grievance and hatred.

I told you to teach him to write,

but what nonsense are you teaching him?

Father. Father.

Why are you coughing again?

Is the medicine prescribed by the physician not working?

I'm coughing because of you.

You've been writing this couplet for countless times these two years.

Why do you have to keep writing this couplet...

instead of the many beautiful poetry?

Father, I'm just cherishing Lord Tan in my mind while showing my respect to him.

Tan Si Tong died at a young age.

Tan family has no more descendants.

He's an unfilial son of Tan family.

What's the point of cherishing or respecting him?

A wise man foresees and mitigates risks.

My son, befriending this kind of people...

will bring trouble to our family, do you know that?

I do.

When the Old Buddha wanted to execute The Six Martyrs of Wuxu.

Uncle Yuan Jia offended the officials by making a scene at the execution.

If Grandfather hadn't sold all our land and bribed them,

he would've been taken to prison.

Dong Fang, go and play.

Uncle Yuan Jia and I need to talk.

-Prepare the ink. -Yes, Father.

[Endure]

Yuan Jia,

from now on,

practice only this character in the study room.

Father,

the Westerners bombed Taku Forts...

and entered our land.

When they passed by our house,

they shot and killed people.

Yet, you kept holding me back.

I stayed inside so you wouldn't get angry.

This...

Why do you still want me to endure?

The war with the Westerners...

is the imperial government's problem.

You want to get shot?

Don't you learn from Tan Si Tong.

Of the three unfilial sins, having no posterity is the worst.

The day has been chosen.

The eighth day of next month is an auspicious day.

Auspicious day for what?

For marrying your wife.

The marriage was decided five years ago.

But you keep postponing it.

What shall I say to the in-laws?

Father, I'm still learning martial arts.

I wake up at 3 a.m. everyday to practice.

I've no time for a wife.

Moreover, it's too early for me to...

Early?

You're over 30 years old and you say it's early?

You have tons of disciples,

yet no wife to speak of.

How inappropriate.

Before I die,

marry Ms. Wang as soon as possible...

and bear children for Huo family.

[Huo Residence]

Congratulations.

-Congratulations. -Here you are.

-This way please. -Long time no see.

-Long time no see. This way please. -Congratulations.

-Congratulations. -Congratulations.

-Here. -Okay.

-Congratulations. -Congratulations.

-This way please. -Okay.

[Wedding]

[Wedding]

The best part about three-section staff is its range.

It an offensive and defensive weapon.

This space is narrow.

If you want to seize victory with a surprise attack,

you have chosen the correct weapon.

However,

I am getting married today!

It's my big day.

You have broken the water vessel.

What should be your punishment?

If you wet the groom's shoes...

you will receive a greater punishment!

Master, I have made a mistake.

I shall get a new water vessel...

as your wedding gift.

Just a new water vessel?

That's too easy for you, Young Master Huang.

Master, what else do you want?

Rise.

How long since you left?

Six years.

You've grown so tall in just six years!

I was surprised, too.

Mother thinks it was your martial training...

that has stretched my bones and made me taller.

Does that mean every time I go out...

I'll have a giant like you following behind me?

I will look shorter in comparison.

What should I do?

I know!

When we go out together, I shall walk like this.