Original subtitles

[Fate Chooses You]

[Episode 21]

Yaoniang, why aren't you dancing?

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Hurry up and dance! Dance!

Dance! Dance!

Sir.

Yeah!

Why aren't you dancing?

No need.

Hurry up and dance, Yaoniang!

Hurry up and dance!

Yeah!

Dance! Dance!

Why is the lady I was just drinking with

dancing up there?

Nice...

She's not Yaoniang.

Oh no.

Yaoniang must have run away.

Go find her!

Okay.

I offer

5,000 taels

to have this lady

drink with me!

Sir, you've got good taste!

Yaoniang

doesn't just dance well.

She can really

hold her liquor too!

Romantic love

is stronger than diamond.

Wonderful.

Wonderful!

[Tianxiang Restaurant]

Why are you here?

Just now...

After you left,

my condition worsened

and I passed out.

The owner here found me

and brought me back.

Just now...

I had a bit to drink,

so they mistook me

for one of the dancers here

and pushed me onto the stage.

An immortal sect cultivator like you

got caught and brought to Tianxiang Restaurant?

Yeah.

I'm stupid and unlucky.

No matter where I go,

I get bullied and made a fool of.

Didn't you already know that?

What are you doing?

Checking your pulse.

No need!

There's nothing seriously wrong with you.

If you rest well,

you'll be fine soon.

What's your next move?

My next move?

I have no idea.

Are you going back to the Central Plains?

My junior sister left me a letter

and took off without saying goodbye.

I've sent my spirit bird

to find her.

I have to wait for her to come back.

How's...

your injury?

Injury?

There.

It healed a long time ago.

You know that

about me.

I could survive a thousand cuts.

This is nothing.

Lu Qianqiao.

Among the War Demons,

there must be some good ones, right?

Maybe.

The immortal sect has heretical cultivators.

The Human Race has villains.

So there are probably some good people

among the War Demons.

Xin Mei.

I'm not a bad person.

I'm a War Demon,

but I grew up among the Human Race.

I never took part

in that war back then.

Yes, I've killed people.

But only villains.

I've served in the Human Race's army

and worked as a minor official.

I have a clear conscience.

No matter how unfairly I was treated,

I have never

killed an innocent.

I know.

I shouldn't be telling you this,

but I don't want you to misunderstand me

or hate me.

I just don't know

how to face you.

You're a War Demon,

the sworn enemy of my kind.

You've lied to me,

but you've also saved me.

So I really don't know...

I'm sorry.

Lu Qianqiao.

Are you really not a bad person?

I'm not a bad person.

Can you promise that?

I promise.

Get some good rest now.

As soon as day breaks,

we'll find another place to stay.

Lu Qianqiao.

There are still some things

I haven't figured out.

Besides,

I need to wait for my junior in North Xiang.

So for now,

I won't be returning to the Central Plains.

Okay.

I understand.

Also,

I've been to Qinghong Sect's

Bishui Branch in Xutuo City.

I've also met the boss

of the camel caravan,

Lord Song of Wei County,

and the landlady of Safe Haven Inn.

On top of that,

there was the time I went up against Xia Xuanzi.

No matter who you are,

you're my savior.

I owe you my thanks.

You're welcome.

What's wrong?

I've been

feeling a bit weak lately.

I need to find a place

to go into seclusion for a while.

For the next few days,

take care of yourself.

If you're in danger,

just run.

Don't force it.

I know.

You take care too.

I'm off.

I know I was wrong.

Please.

Please!

I know I was wrong!

Here in Qianyan Cave,

we're all family.

Even though he went a little too far

joking around,

there's no reason to kill him.

No.

I was wrong.

I'll never do it again.

I was wrong.

I was wrong.

Sheng.

I was wrong.

Sheng.

Please.

Wake up.

Let me go.

Let me go.

Sheng.

Sheng.

Wake up.

No!

It's okay.

It's okay.

Since you said Yaoniang has already left,

then there's no need for us

to look for her anymore.

Sha Sanxing said

the dancer he was close to

once told him that

on that day, she was blindfolded,

put on a camel,

and taken west for three days.

Look.

West of Phoenix City,

there are three stops in total.

The first one

is Wushuang City in North Xiang.

It's a place

with all kinds of people.

Lots of shady deals

go on here.

The second one

is Baibu Slope.

It's mainly a stop for caravans.

Most of the long-term residents here

are merchants doing business.

The third one

is Qianyan Cave.

Qianyan Cave

seems to be a place of cultivation.

It's quite isolated,

so we can't get much information on it.

Why do you want to know about this?

I came to North Xiang to renew my blood.

I know.

You want to become human.

Yes.

But as I renew my bones, my blood,

and my heart,

my Cultivation will drop significantly.

After I finish renewing my blood,

I'll be at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

I won't be able to defeat anyone then.

So,

before I renew my blood,

I have to eliminate that young cultivator.

But that person

has probably reached the Void Stage.

Even without the blood renewal,

you can't beat him, right?

I fell from above

after all.

I still have all the techniques I should have.

Don't worry.

After a few more days of rest,

I'll go to these three places one by one

and find him out.

Noodles are here!

I'll go with you then.

No.

It's too dangerous.

That's exactly

why I have to go.

This is the trouble I caused.

I have to handle it myself.

This trouble

was caused by me after all.

That's why I didn't refuse your help.

But I still have to do something.

It's settled then.

By the way,

when can you help me

fully restore my memory?

Your memory was erased by Chu Ying.

He's not here,

so there's nothing I can do.

Chu Ying?

Is he the senior who helped bring you back

from Chongling Valley that day?

Yes.

But he's not from Chongling Valley.

His best technique

is Ghost Covering Eyes.

It can erase anyone's memory.

But he has

some physical problems now.

So he found a safe place

and went into seclusion to cultivate.

When will he be back?

I don't know.

Attendant.

Look at him.

He doesn't even look like a good person.

If Master Zhou

comes back,

please let me know.

My house is on the left side of Pilin Alley.

It's the third one.

Will do.

But to be honest,

Master Zhou

is a traveling merchant.

He only comes to restock once a year.

I'm afraid

you won't be seeing him anytime soon.

Please don't get your hopes up.

How dare you sell the painting?

Do you know

how important it is?

Tang You,

calm down.

I told you we shouldn't have brought her along.

But you insisted she was pitiful

and wanted to take her in.

Now look at this mess.

She's caused a huge disaster.

Who's going to take responsibility for her?

Who?

What are you yelling about?

It's just a painting.

So what if it's sold?

Just a painting?

It's not just a painting.

It's a masterpiece by Master Buquan!

Do you know

how much money and effort

we spent

on that painting?

We came to North Xiang

to handle some important things,

and that painting was the key!

Now it's gone.

Everything we've done is wasted.

What's the point of coming to North Xiang?

Give me back that painting!

Enough.

She didn't sell the painting for herself.

She did it to get money

for Lyu Changyuan's treatment.

Treatment? I...

If I'd known

the painting would be used for treatment,

I would rather...

I would rather kill myself!

Enough.

Alright, alright.

Just let it go.

He's a lunatic.

Why don't you let it go?

You're wrong, and you're still acting like that.

What do we do now?

All we can do is to wait for Chen Fen and the others

to come back with news.

One step at a time.

Master Lu.

You're back.

I'm sorry.

Alright.

I, Lord of Rust-Sword,

have traveled far and wide for years.

There's hardly a masterpiece

I haven't laid my eyes on.

When I see...

Master Buquan's paintings,

I'll bring you one.

Simple as that.

That'll be too late.

Zhanying,

did you find that person?

Lu.

Miss Xin.

The teapot is broken.

Hope you don't mind.

Looks like I was too quick

to call you guys frauds before.

You three came from the Central Plains,

acting innocent

the whole way.

Yet you still got all the schools of the immortal sect

to hunt you down together.

You're obviously organized.

And you've splited into two groups.

Tell me,

what exactly are you here for?

You worry too much, Immortal.

We're just a bunch of ordinary folks.

We're too weak to even tie a chicken.

What could we possibly be up to?

We just

want to copy a few books.

What books?

Unparalleled Secret Magic.

Unparalleled Secret Magic?

There was once a deity in the Human Race

who ascended through Craftsmanship.

She was known as Goddess Wushuang.

She created

many exquisite crafted objects.

For instance, palm-sized houses

that could fit an entire city,

known as Linglong Houses.

And tower ships

that could soar through the sky without using spiritual power.

There were also cannons, waterwheels,

crossbows, and sharp swords.

They were all fine weapons.

Sir,

you're quite knowledgeable.

Sir, may I ask,

are you also from the immortal sect?

I don't belong to any side.

You've told me all this before,

but it doesn't prove anything.

Immortal, you don't believe me?

Immortal,

you're a good person,

but also very stubborn.

If I don't tell the truth today,

I'm afraid you won't let it go.

In that case,

I'll be honest with you.

We

are all from the Wushuang Society.

The Wushuang Society

is an organization formed spontaneously by the Human Race.

Its purpose

is to restore Goddess Wushuang's

Craftsmanship

and find a new path

for the Human Race.

Over a thousand years ago,

Craftsmanship

spread among the Human Race.

At that time, the Human Race

could possess power

comparable to an god

simply by learning Craftsmanship.

No need for the help of immortal perception.

If such power really existed,

why has it disappeared now?

About that...

you'd have to ask the immortal sect.

The immortal sect?

Sir, don't you know

that it's precisely the immortal sect

that protects and blesses the Human Race?

Deities bless the people

but expect incense offerings.

Dynasties protect the people

but expect taxes.

The immortal sect is the same.

There's no free lunch in the world.

However,

when the Human Race became so powerful

that it rivaled

the immortal sect,

would the immortal sect

still be willing to protect them?

It seemed that overnight,

all the techniques of Craftsmanship

were destroyed,

and the ancient texts vanished.

The craftsmen and scholars

who held that knowledge

were all perished too.

The strike came like thunder,

too powerful for the Human Race to withstand.

The civilization and technology of the Human Race,

were wiped out

in the blink of an eye.

Therefore, a thousand years later,

we came to North Xiang.

In ancient times,

a great monk traveled west for a scripture

and brought blessings to the Human Race.

We're here for a scripture too.

A sacred scripture

that can benefit the Human Race.

The powers of the immortal sect

can indeed help some people

awaken their immortal perception

and possess powers

beyond ordinary people.

But for ordinary people,

it's a disaster.

The gap between them

is getting bigger and bigger.

No matter how hard the ordinary people work in their lifetime,

they can never cross that high wall.

Perhaps,

the moment cultivators awaken

their immortal perception,

they're already a different species

from the Human Race.

A different species?

Aren't cultivators

still a part

of the people?

Sure, cultivators have the power strong enough to destroy mountains.

But don't the masters

from the martial world

have strong power too?

In my opinion,

the common people live in cities,

and immortals live in forests.

Other than that,

there's no difference.

That's just your opinion, Immortal.

Can you guarantee

that every member of the immortal sect

thinks the same way as you?

We don't have

the power to summon wind and rain,

so we have to find our own way.

We invented irrigation

to assist in farming.

With Astronomy and Calendar,

we can tell

when the wind will blow

and when the rain will fall.

Arithmetic enlightens our minds.

Poetry and painting build our characters.

And Craftsmanship

is the most

practical skill.

It allows us to fly and burrow,

and live

a more ideal

and convenient life.

Compared to practicing immortal arts,

this is the path

the Human Race should take.

Therefore,

we must bring the Unparalleled Secret Magic

back to the Central Plains.

The Unparalleled Secret Magic

originally had 46 volumes,

all written by Goddess Wushuang herself.

Later, many craftsmen

were inspired by it

and created many

wonderful inventions,

which were all added

to the Unparalleled Secret Magic.

Astronomy, Calendar, Arithmetic,

Craftsmanship, and Poetry

are all recorded in it.

In total, it now consists of 120 volumes.

But the ancient texts in the Central Plains

have long been lost,

and the Unparalleled Secret Magic is nowhere to be found.

The only remaining copy is kept

in the Sihe Library in Phoenix City, North Xiang.

It could be said

that thousands of years

of the Human Race's wisdom and heritage

are all contained in this book.

Unfortunately,

the Sihe Library

has strict rules.

No paper or writing tools are allowed inside.

You can only read.

And it opens only once every five years,

for just ten days.

It's also very hard

to get in.

Hard?

If you want to read the books there,

you have to trade something

of equal value.

They only accept books and paintings.

Even money won't work!

The painting, Pair of Wild Geese,

was the key to our entry.

But now, An has sold it.

And we can't find the buyer to get it back.

The opening is almost here.

If we don't get in now, it'll be too late.

The Unparalleled Secret Magic

has 120 volumes.

Even if we get in,

there's no way to learn it all.

But we still have to go in!

After all,

we may not get another chance!

We split into three groups this time.

There were 36 of us in total.

One group was ambushed,

leaving only twenty.

And I'm not sure

if these twenty will make it back

to the Central Plains.

Is there any other way?

Right and wrong

can't be settled just by arguing.

Actually, there are many things

I can't figure out.

But if we just stay here,

we'll never figure them out.

So let's take a bold step forward.

Maybe we'll discover

something new.

If you need it,

I can help.

Maybe the only way to settle all arguments

is to get inside the library

and see the sacred scripture

with our own eyes.

That painting

is a masterpiece by Wu Buquan,

who's also known as Master Buquan.

In his early years,

he taught at the Imperial Palace.

He was the current emperor's mentor.

That ink painting of his

is unmatched in this era.

His brushstrokes are bold, and his energy flows like the wind.

He's the greatest ink painter of all time.

But his works are rarely seen.

Most of them

have been collected by Emperor Zong Ding

and kept in the imperial treasury.

Only a few pieces have made it to the outside world.

But they cost a fortune.

It's impossible

to find a replacement

in just a few days.

I happen to have a few pieces

by Wu Buquan, the Master Painter.

Sir, is that true?

To be honest,

I love collecting paintings

by famous masters.

When I was traveling

in the capital,

I happened to buy three

at a pawnshop.

Master Buquan has painted

only about fifty pieces in his life.

Each one has a title

and a date.

Which three did you buy?

One is Luoxi Landscape,

one is White Cranes Flying South,

and the last is Sunset on an Autumn Sandbank.

Isn't Luoxi Landscape

supposed to be in the imperial treasury?

And I've never

heard of the other two.

The one in the treasury is the horizontal version.

Mine is the vertical.

There's such a thing?

Anyway, I'll deliver the painting

at this time tomorrow.

Whether it's true or not,

we'll find out.

Do you think

they're telling the truth?

You're neither from the immortal sect

nor the Human Race.

You've lived a long life and seen a lot.

I want your honest opinion.

At a time like this,

whatever I say

will affect your judgment.

It's better not to say anything.

I don't believe it anyway.

I can't just take

their one-sided story.

Besides, they're scammers.

They stole the secret manual of Lingji Mountain

and my money.

They also cheated the common people of their money

and blamed everything

on the immortal sect,

washing their hands clean.

What are you laughing at?

Since you think that way,

why don't you

just capture them

and hand them over to the immortal sect?

The road is beneath my feet, and the path is in my heart.

I need to walk further.

I haven't figured everything out yet.

However,

you still have to give them the painting

you promised.

You can't go back on your word.

Of course.

Then where do we get it?

Here we are.

What can I get for you two?

Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

[Zhiyan Studio]

Okay.

Just a moment, please.

Your method

is just to paint it yourself?

Yes.

Are you forging it?

How is this forging?

Come and grind the ink.

In my early years of painting,

I preferred sharp, bold brushstrokes.

I drew towering peaks and jagged cliffs,

along with trickling streams.

Later,

I left the Imperial Palace

and could no longer use this identity.

So I changed my painting style.

My brushstrokes became softer,

and the touch lighter,

focusing on the contrast

between black and white.

The paintings you saw

in Wei County

were all done

after I changed my style.

Smoother,

but lacking edge.

What I like most

are still the sharp, bold brushstrokes.

Master Buquan, Wu Buquan...

That's you?

How many other identities do you have

that I don't know about?

The wind and mist are gone. The sky and mountains share one hue.

The sun is setting,

leaving behind a wisp of afterglow.

Now I finally understand

why the ticket to the Sihe Library

had to be your painting.

Isn't it a pity for the afterglow

to miss the final touch?

Done.

You're awake?

Here.

Take it easy.

You saved me.

Why are you in North Xiang too?

I came here with some other disciples from the immortal sect

to handle a few things.

Right after I met with Jiang Ji

and Nangong Guhong,

I heard something had happened to you,

so I came to find you.

Where are we?

In a cave.

When I found you,

you were already unconscious.

Half of your body was buried in the sand,

and you were losing heat.

I was afraid you might get worse,

so I took you

to the nearest place for treatment.

How far is the nearest city

in the Central Plains from here?

You want to go to the Central Plains?

Lingji Mountain and Sun Moon Cavern

have sent many disciples to look after you.

If you enter a city now,

you'll be an easy target.

Well,

the wound on your shoulder...

If you don't mind,

I'll take care of it for you.

It might hurt a bit.

Just bear with me.

Didn't you just see it all?

I was saving a life.

To a healer, there is no difference between men and women.

But now...

Now,

why did you stop?

Now what?

Why did you stop now?

This is Tianyin Mountain's

Infinite Heart Purification Spell.

I've heard

Tianyin Mountain forbids desires and lust.

Whenever someone is about to cross the line,

they use spells to clear their minds

and restrain themselves.

What?

Are you about to cross the line?

Fine.

I'll stop teasing you.

What was that golden lotus

you used to heal me?

Is it a Tianyin Mountain divine artifact,

like your bracelet?

You mean this?

Yes, that's the one.

I told you about it before.

I don't remember.

It transformed from the golden lotus in the pond

and then flew right between my brows.

You were born on September 9th,

and you bear a golden lotus.

Maybe

you really are the compassionate

and merciful savior of the world.

Weren't you also

born on September 9th?

How did you know?

I guessed.

You tricked me.

So do you think

you could be the savior?

It could be anyone, but not me.

Why?

Because I'm not a good person.

I have no interest in saving the world.

I just want to go back

to Xin Xie Manor with my senior sister

and live a quiet life.

You're good to your senior.

She's the one who's good to me.

She's the only person in this world

who's truly sincere with me.

Besides her,

there's no one else.

And there never will be.

I'll be good to you too.

I told you.

I've got cold blood, cold lungs,

a cold heart.

Nothing can warm me.

Don't think that just because you saved me,

I'll be grateful to you.

Why are you laughing?

My master once told me

a story.

In the forest of Tianyin Mountain,

there was a hedgehog.

One day,

its belly

got cut by poisonous grass.

My master tried to heal it,

but it was so scared

that it curled up tightly.

Eventually, it died.

My master said

its spikes

were a protective shield,

but also an isolating wall.

When one curls up inside,

it's hard to see what's truly in his heart.

Sounds like you're subtly criticizing me.

I wouldn't dare.

When we just got here, it was night.

Pitch-black.

I couldn't see a thing.

I didn't expect the scenery here

to be this beautiful.

Where are we?

What's wrong?

Where are we?

On my way here,

I ran into an old woodcutter.

He said this place is called Qianyan Cave.

It was carved out through countless hardships,

scorched by raging fire,

and finally chiseled into a cave.

It's actually a good name.

It's the real thing.

It's really a masterpiece

by Master Buquan!

Lu is the number one martial hero in the martial world.

Every word he says is rock solid.

He would never lie to you.

Awesome, Lu!

These two

are genuine works of Master Buquan.

That one is fake.

How's that possible?

Take a closer look.

It can't be wrong.

Immortal Xin, you may not have noticed,

but when Master Buquan paints,

he only uses thick ink, just black and white.

He never uses any other colors.

So this painting of sunset

must be fake.

If you don't want it, I'll keep it.

Master Lu.

Master Buquan's masterpiece

is worth a thousand gold.

But we've spent all our travel money

on the way here.

We have nothing valuable on us,

only a few copper coins left.

We were planning to buy some food

later to eat in the library.

I guess you wouldn't want them anyway.

No need to pay me.

These paintings are my gifts to you.

Well, look at that...

Can you be any more fake?

On behalf of the Human Race,

thank you, Master Lu!

How about

we treat you to a meal, Master Lu?

No need to go through the trouble.

No way!

A gentleman always returns kindness.

Master Lu, please wait a moment.

The food will be here soon.

Let's go.

Okay.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Hurry.

Let's go.

Let's go.