Original subtitles

[Fate Chooses You]

[Episode 25]

Can we go in now?

Y-Yes.

Of course.

May I ask, sir,

if you have any more extremely rare surviving ancient texts?

I do have a few more at home.

Why?

The Sihe Library

would like to borrow your texts for transcription

and will provide books of equal value in exchange.

What do you think, sir?

Maybe next time.

So you agree, sir?

I agree.

Thank you, sir.

The Sihe Library welcomes you anytime.

Before you enter, sir,

there are a few rules

I must remind you of.

I know.

No noise,

no copying,

and no soiling or damaging the books.

Right?

Exactly.

Please come in, sir.

Thanks.

[Sihe Library]

Did you bring everything?

Yes.

Senior,

didn't we tell Senior Bai the other day

that we'd only be destroying the Unparalleled Secret Magic?

That was just to fool him.

You believed it too?

Those so-called Heavenly Talents

are too rigid.

They'll never amount to anything.

I don't know why Master

values him so much.

Alright.

You go handle the killing.

I'll take care of

the rest myself.

-Yes. -Yes.

Look,

Volume 124.

Yes, we finally found it.

How much have you memorized?

Two volumes.

I've only done three.

Need anything?

Nothing.

Coated with ash

between the seams...

As the hammer falls again and again,

the ash scatters like feathers.

Am I disturbing you?

How about

I move somewhere else?

No need.

I heard you reciting and got curious.

I've never read it before.

You're from the Central Plains?

Indeed.

This is the forging chapter

from Unparalleled Secret Magic,

written by the Goddess Wushuang before her ascension.

It's long since been lost in our Central Plains.

It's normal that you haven't read it.

I see.

It's ironic when you think about it.

The collection from the Central Plains,

lost there

yet only found again here,

thousands of miles away in North Xiang.

This collection is very important?

Of course.

It records in detail

the Goddess Wushuang's forging techniques.

If we can bring this collection back to the Central Plains,

our craftsmanship

will surely advance further.

It seems the rule of the library is

that you can only read it,

not copy it.

Rules are fixed,

but people are not.

It's all stored up here.

May you persevere, sir.

I hope you can bring this ancient text

back to the Central Plains soon

and restore its former glory.

I will.

All fine copper and pure gold,

before smelting and forging,

are unbalanced in hardness and softness,

and their properties are not yet settled.

Only when melted

and quenched in cold water

do they become tempered copper

and tempered gold.

Every joint shall be coated

with ash between the seams.

As the hammer falls again and again,

the ash scatters like feathers.

Drawing on its refined essence as a binding force,

the piece is then melted and cast.

The immortal sects are here.

Run!

The immortal sects are here.

Run!

Let's go!

That gives 344.

Then it comes out to 3,784.

Six times six

yielding...

Run!

Murder!

Murder!

Run! Run!

Stop memorizing!

The immortal sects are here!

Grab the books and run! Run!

Stop memorizing!

Stop memorizing and run!

The immortal sects are here!

Take the books and run!

Otherwise, it'll be too late!

Hurry, run!

Murder! Murder!

Help! Help!

Murder!

Run! Go!

Open the door!

Murder!

Open the door!

How did the immortal sects get in?

I don't know either.

Hurry.

Go open the door.

Okay.

Go open the door!

Otherwise, no one can leave!

What about you?

Hurry! Go!

Can you open the door?

I need something hard.

Do you have a dagger?

A hairpin or wood will do.

Will this do?

Okay.

I thought

you were my father's age,

so I was going to give you a quick death.

I didn't expect you to be this stupid!

You think they could survive

after going downstairs?

The main door is already locked.

Today,

no one is leaving this library alive!

We will.

We will.

We will get out of here

with the books

and return to...

the Central Plains.

In your dreams!

Shi Wen!

Hey, buddy.

Me?

Sorry.

It's fine.

Just keep it down.

As an apology,

how about I tell you

a little secret?

No need.

Those who violate the rules are to receive 80 strokes of the cane.

Have you heard of Miaojiang's

bonfire festival?

I'm trying to memorize here.

Can you be quiet?

People gather together,

singing and dancing to celebrate the festival.

The blazing fire

lights up half the night sky.

The flames leap taller than a man,

brighter than the sun,

and redder than blood.

In a bit,

this library will be engulfed

in the same flames.

What...

What are you talking about?

I said,

I will

blow up this library in a bit.

By then,

all the books will be reduced to ashes.

And your flesh and blood...

will become

the fuel for the fire.

I'm quite curious—

you demonic cultivators

love reading so much.

Do your books teach you

how to save yourselves

in desperate situations?

You...

You're from the immortal sect.

You're sharp.

I heard scholars like you can

compose a poem in seven steps.

Alright then.

I'll take seven steps now.

Let's see if you can make it out of

this library

in that time.

-Run! Run! -One.

-Grab the ones we haven't memorized! -Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Run!

Six.

Immortal sects are here!

Seven!

Something's happened at the library.

Let's go!

Run! Run! Run!

Run!

Run!

The library exploded!

Run!

I'll go with you!

You stay here

and do what you should do.

Make way!

Out of the way!

Make way!

Sir,

did you open the lock?

What can I do to help?

Books.

Go find the books.

The Unparalleled Secret Magic.

Remember, take as many as you can.

Okay!

Quick, let's find the books!

Volume 32.

I found Volume 32!

I found Volumes 7 and 15.

Volume 2!

I found Volume 2!

Volume 27, found it!

I found Volume 14 here!

Volume 3 found!

I found Volume 28!

Volume 42!

The stairs are broken.

The fire's coming up.

What should we do?

How many volumes have you memorized?

Ten volumes.

Good.

You've memorized more than I have.

Remember,

you must bring the Unparalleled Secret Magic

back to the Central Plains.

You must.

He opened it.

Great!

I can't get it open! What do we do?

Look for the keys!

Go!

Take the books and go!

Hurry! Let's go!

Hurry and open the door!

Go!

Hurry! Let's go!

Let's go.

Be careful.

Dajian!

Follow me, hurry!

Save others first!

Okay.

Here!

Here!

Be careful.

Hurry.

Changyuan? Changyuan?

Changyuan!

Changyuan...

Go!

It's too late!

Take the books.

These books

were bought with the lives of Changyuan and the others.

Let's go!

You evil heretics,

killing you with one strike would be too merciful.

We should make you

suffer every torture in the world

before chopping you to pieces and feeding you to dogs!

To hell with your so-called evil heretics!

To hell with your so-called "demonic manuals"!

Go to hell!

Even if I die in battle today,

I won't tarnish the name of the Tianyuan Sect.

My fellow disciples

will definitely avenge me

and slaughter every last one of you...

The library has exploded.

Randeng's plan failed.

Guhong,

take some men and guard the main routes.

Yes.

Everyone else, split into two groups

and surround the library!

No one

is allowed to leave alive.

Yes!

Did I say you could go?

How did you get in here?

Those useless fools

couldn't stop you, huh?

You're also one of the demonic cultivators.

You were already acting strange back in Chongling Valley.

But I didn't expect you to have

such a hidden identity.

At a time like this,

don't keep siding

with them.

Explain.

With me here today,

don't even think about laying a finger on them.

The immortal sects are closing in!

We need to go, now!

We can't go!

So many books have already been burned!

We have to transcribe the books

we lost from memory,

or we'll forget them!

Volume 18.

Who has Volume 18?

I'm reciting it from memory.

Volume 93...

Who has Volume 93?

-Open the door. Open the door! -Volume 93!

I have it!

Volume 93.

Volume 104.

Volume 104!

Here.

Volume 71.

71...

It was burned.

Only half remains.

Who can recite it from memory?

I can.

I can recite it.

I thought you were

some tough guy.

Turns out you're just a mortal.

A mortal?

Have you ascended to the Heaven Realm,

or were you born of an immortal woman?

You're still standing on two legs like the rest of us.

What's there to be so proud of?

You overestimate yourself.

Lord of Rust-Sword,

hurry!

Take the books and go.

No wonder even you're

wary of him.

He really does have some skills.

Lu?

Go in first

and guard the door.

Okay.

Those demonic cultivators have their tricks.

We were ambushed

and had to resort to Thunderfire Talismans,

yet they still managed to escape.

They're all at the teahouse.

Split into four groups and attack!

Destroy the demonic manuals

and cut off any chance of the demons' revival!

Yes!

Make way!

Make way!

Out of the way! Hurry!

The immortal sects are on a mission.

Disperse now.

The Sihe Library is a sacred place in North Xiang.

Even if you...

If you have any issues,

take them up with your prefect.

If you dare take another step,

there will be consequences.

Why is this taking so long?

Show me your travel permit!

Take it out!

Travel permit.

Go.

Sister-in-law,

they said something happened in the city.

Most of the soldiers

have rushed there,

so they're short-handed here.

But I've already paid them off.

The seal for the pass

should come through soon.

Please be patient and wait a bit.

What happened in the city?

You don't know?

They say cultivators from the Central Plains immortal sects

burned down the Sihe Library

to hunt down demonic cultivators.

Those immortal cultivators...

Senior,

are you going?

Master is still waiting for us at the sect.

Once you go,

you'll be standing

against the immortal sects,

making enemies of everyone.

Besides, they're

not some good people either.

They swindled your money.

You can't trust them

so easily.

Next in line!

Move through!

Sister-in-law,

the stamp is done.

We can go now.

Next!

Senior.

I'm so sleepy.

I want to sleep for a while.

Wake me

when we get there, okay?

Get some sleep.

Haven't seen you for a month—

you've improved quite a bit.

And in just a month,

you've gotten much weaker.

Still enough to kill you.

Ink.

I'm out of ink.

♪ With tear-filled eyes, we face the desolate wilds ♪

♪ A thousand piles of withered bones ♪

♪ The lowly, in mortal flesh, march first ♪

♪ All offered up in sacrifice ♪

♪ To build the stairway to the heavens ♪

♪ Forging an undying obsession ♪

♪ The blade is stained with blood, and with countless tears ♪

An!

Brush!

♪ Sparks boil over, and demons run rampant ♪

Tang!

♪ Heaven and earth are destroyed together ♪

♪ Deeply knowing that the common people ♪

♪ Are an untouchable weakness ♪

♪ Do not turn back to the pain of the past ♪

♪ Mindless killing must not be done ♪

♪ With a clear conscience, a grand spirit overpowers the majesty of heaven ♪

Hurry!

Hurry up and copy!

I know you.

A bounty guard from Dongzhou Prefecture.

How much did they pay you?

I'll give you double.

No,

10 times.

To kill you scum,

I'd do it for free.

You do have some skills.

But killing you is just a matter of time.

I've been running around all day,

and I'd rather save some effort.

Why not simply oblige me?

You're that certain I'll lose?

My master once told me

I must travel 60,000 li in my life,

raise my sword against enemies 99,000 times,

and draw blood 36,000 times

before this blade

can shed its rust

and reveal its divine brilliance.

Today,

I'll sharpen my blade on you.

Big talk for someone

so weak.

I'm not just talk—

I'm hard to kill!

When masters duel,

the outcome is decided in a brief clash.

Your swordsmanship is too weak—

sharp enough, but lacking steadiness.

You can't beat me.

Cut the crap.

Are we fighting or not?

Actually, I don't quite understand.

You filthy demons

should've just stayed curled up

in the gutter where you belong.

How dare you show yourselves in the open

and make trouble for us?

Two mortals.

I want them dead

within half an hour.

Young Sect Master,

should we move?

Wait!

Wait a bit longer.

The tower ship can fly without wings,

powered by a spiral at its stern,

forged from refined iron,

measuring approximately...

approximately...

Do you have any pills left?

I need a Mind-Awakening Pill.

I have some.

Okay.

You can't take any more.

You've already had three.

There's no time!

An!

Paper!

Coming!

Still not backing down?

It's you.

It's been almost half an hour now.

I'm really curious.

Why do you demons

always like to wear cloaks?

What?

Afraid of the light?

Enough.

Just kill him if you want.

No need to insult him like this.

Look at that.

An ugly thing like you,

yet someone still speaks up for you.

You demonic cultivators,

do you become uglier

and more like demons

the deeper your cultivation goes?

Wei Chi!

Go in

and kill them all.

Come at me together.

No matter how many of you there are today,

none of them can protect you.

What?

Want to meddle in other people's business again?

Or

have you fallen into the demonic path too?

"Fallen into the demonic path?"

You keep throwing those words, "demons"

and "fallen," around.

But what is a demon, really?

Didn't your sect ever teach you?

Then I'll kindly

tell you once more.

Those who defy the sacred authority of the immortal sects

and harm their disciples

are demons.

Those who steal the demonic manuals,

bewitch the people,

and attempt to undermine the foundations

of the immortal sects

are demons.

Those blessed by heaven and earth

with immortal perception,

yet who obstinately oppose

the immortal sects,

are the greatest demons of all.

So,

you've also become a demon.

And demons

all deserve to die.

You must guard...

guard the door.

Guard the door...

Zhanying.

Zhanying!

Zhanying!

Zhanying!

You ought to know what it feels like

to be mocked before you die.

You're a disciple of the immortal sect,

yet you keep breaking the rules

and helping these filthy demons.

What?

Have you forgotten everything

your master taught you?

The first rule of the immortal sects:

all disciples

shall never use their powers

to interfere in mortal affairs

or disrupt worldly order.

I always thought

the rules were right

and that I was the one who was wrong.

But I don't think so anymore.

What you just said was wrong.

Those who stand against the immortal sects

are not demons.

Those who try to seize power,

enslave the people,

oppress the weak,

and commit countless bloody crimes are the real demons!

The rules of the immortal sects

are not always right.

Rules are fixed,

but people are not.

I didn't understand before,

but now I've figured it out.

Right and wrong, good and evil—

I have to judge for myself.

Today, I question my own Dao heart,

and I put this same question

to you and all the immortal sects—

when good and evil stand opposed,

and I punish evil and uphold good,

how is that wrong?

You're crazy.

When disciples of the immortal sects bully the weak

and oppress the powerless,

I step in to help—

why is that not allowed?

Every person I have saved

is innocent

of any crime.

Those I have sought to kill

are steeped in blood and sin,

yet they still walk free!

If that is so,

why have I always felt guilty

and adrift?

You've had a breakthrough on the spot,

reaching the Golden Core Stage.

♪ Pointing to the sky, questioning the moon ♪

♪ I'd rather be a wandering immortal in the mortal world ♪

♪ Right and wrong, truth and lies ♪

♪ I'll face them all, then walk this sky again ♪

♪ In all the world, I choose first the people ♪

♪ How could the powerful lie drunk in golden halls ♪

♪ Even if memory shatters ♪

No,

it's the Nascent Soul Stage.

♪ I will still break into this mortal realm ♪

♪ To demand a rightful ending ♪

At this very moment,

someone actually advanced.

♪ I lash the darkness with a furious strike ♪

♪ Fall into the abyss, then awaken once more ♪

Nascent Soul Stage.

♪ If you refuse injustice, then open your eyes ♪

You're one of us.

Why are you helping them?

♪ To save this world of mortal fire and smoke ♪

They all say I'm hard to kill.

Come at me again if you dare.

You deal with him.

Why are you here?

How do you feel?

Never been better.

I'm managing.

You've taken too many pills.

You need to rest.

No.

I haven't finished reciting it.

Mind-Awakening Pills.

Give me some more Mind-Awakening Pills.

Stop taking them.

You'll die if you take more.

If the books are gone, it's truly over!

Get out!

The Young Sect Master ordered

all the books to be burned.

Yes!

Get lost.

Let's go.

What do we do now?

Almost finished.

Go back.

Go back now.

Someone has to get the books out.

I need you.

Go.

We can hold them off.

Okay.

There are 120 volumes of Unparalleled Secret Magic.

The ones we brought out of the library

and the ones we've copied from memory

make up exactly 64 volumes.

The remaining 56 volumes

are still being written from memory.

Let's

split into two groups.

You take the 64 volumes

and head west.

Cross three ridges,

and you can return to the Central Plains.

I don't know the way.

I'll go with you.

Okay.

Tang You!

The remaining 56 volumes

are in your hands!

Let's go.

Go.

One volume short.

Almost done.

All 56 volumes,

complete!

-All done. -That's great.

Miss,

can you lead us on the north route?

Which way?

Follow me.

Let's go!

Hurry!

They are escaping.

They have all the demonic manuals!

Books! My books!

Sheng, you go first.

Be careful, Senior.

Let's go.

Why do you

get tangled up with the demonic cultivators again?

Your sect ordered you to hunt down

people from the Wushuang Society,

and you just blindly obeyed.

Have you ever read that text?

Have you ever spoken

with your so-called demonic cultivators?

Do you know why they wanted to

copy those books?

Someone like you

will never understand

what they truly want,

nor will you ever know

what you've destroyed!