Original subtitles

[Chang'an]

Legend has it,

hidden in Chang'an lies a place

known as the Demon Market.

It's ruled by the Cat Lord and the Snake Lord.

They're elusive.

Apart from the two lords and their four deputies,

all other demons are forbidden from entering the mortal realm,

thus avoiding their sworn enemies.

That's right.

Those are the Celestial Masters of Changxi Palace.

They helped the court establish the Xuanjian Division,

which investigates supernatural cases.

Their goal is to eliminate all evil.

They were locked in a fierce rivalry.

In the end, Changxi Palace declined and went into seclusion.

From that point on, the Demon Market began to balance the two realms,

maintaining peace between humans and demons.

[The Xuanjian Division] The Division became a hollow shell,

and was looked down upon by everyone.

With spirits passing through and shadows lurking,

trouble will eventually rise again.

I urge

all residents of Chang'an

to leave home only after sunrise,

and return before midnight.

[Moonlit Reunion]

[Episode 1]

There's a demon.

Where do you think you're going?

Who's there?

Let's split up.

- Yes! - Yes!

Stop!

After them!

[Ruyi Pavilion]

[Ruyi Pavilion]

Excuse me.

Another two liang of beef.

Coming right up!

What?

Where did that cat come from?

[Wu Zhen, Princess of Qinghe County and Demon Market's Cat Lord]

- My Lady. - My Lady.

Search the place.

[Huang Yi, Commander of the Left Jinwu Guard]

Mr. Huang.

Ms. Huzhu.

[Huzhu, Manager of Ruyi Pavilion and Cat Lord's deputy]

Mr. Huang, are you here for a drink?

I'm here on business.

I suspect a scoundrel got in here.

A scoundrel?

There are only beauties here,

not scoundrels.

But I saw someone just now!

I don't care about your usual tabs,

but I have a VIP guest today.

Don't ruin my business.

More important than me?

The young marquis of Yu'an Mansion

paid a fortune to reserve this place today,

so he could propose to Ms. Wu

on her birthday.

Finally, I got away.

Who were you hiding from?

[Gu Changhuai, Young Marquis of Yu'an]

My Lord?

You can hide from anyone,

but not from me.

I've been here waiting for you.

My Lord, what do you want with me?

I heard

tomorrow is your birthday,

so I prepared a gift for you.

Where is it?

What's this?

A marriage proposal.

What kind of gift is this?

I offer myself as a birthday present

to you.

So many carts of jewels!

Those are the young marquis

of Yu'an Mansion's fine horses.

Who's this betrothal gift for?

Mei,

[Mei Zhuyu] our shift's done.

[Superintendent of Xuanjian Division] No need to dig deeper.

Look!

We've just caught Ms. Wu

[Nieli Shi, Coroner of Xuanjian Division] at her grand betrothal celebration.

[Ruyi Pavilion]

Excuse me. How much is it?

Three wen.

Thank you, sir.

Aren't you going to see the spectacle?

What's so interesting about it?

Is this your first time in Chang'an?

I've been here just over a month.

Been a month,

and you still don't know about

the talked-about story of Chang'an?

Ms. Wu, named Wu Zhen.

Daughter of the Duke, sister of the Empress,

and Princess of Qinghe County, personally granted by the Emperor.

A famously rakish and indulgent figure.

Being an older, unmarried woman in Chang'an

has given me a bad reputation.

We've only known each other for a little over a month,

and you're already here to propose.

What a stroke of luck for my family.

Ms. Wu, you must be joking.

What a woman truly wants

is simply to be a wife and a mother.

From now on,

you won't be the odd unmarried one in Chang'an anymore.

This is my true birthday gift to you.

How about a token in return?

I don't believe that would be appropriate.

Everyone knows we're both wild and unruly,

never ones to care for formalities.

On this joyous day of our engagement,

we can hardly restrain ourselves.

A brief passion,

nothing to regret.

Indeed.

My Lord.

Come here.

[Ruyi Pavilion]

You!

Here, have a peach. It'll give you some energy.

You're really something.

How could you kick him out the window like that?

You didn't hold back one bit.

You even smashed my window.

You greedy little fox.

I've helped you earn so much

from the young marquis.

Money's never too much, right?

Huang Yi and those Jinwu Guards

didn't suspect a thing, right?

With the trail gone, they're left twiddling their thumbs.

I've already had them seated with drinks.

The smell of blood.

You fought with a demon?

The very same demon that's been causing all the trouble.

And that demon?

It got away.

But the fight

gave me some clues.

That demon might be like you,

a greedy one.

What do you mean?

Do you still remember the previous attacks?

The first one involved Madam Cui, the wife of Vice Minister Ding.

That day, she was returning home for a family visit,

decked out in gold and jewels.

The second involved Ms. Tian, the daughter of Vice Minister Tian.

A regular at the city's jewelry shops,

she loved dressing up lavishly.

The third was a merchant from the Western Market.

Who hailed from the gold-rich lands of the Western Regions,

and was covered in gold.

And the woman attacked this time

was wearing a pair of gold earrings.

Looks like

we'll have to set a trap to lure it out.

Ms. Wu.

[Mingzhuang, maid of the Wu Mansion]

What a surprise, Mingzhuang.

Tomorrow's your birthday,

and the Empress sent me with a gift for you.

My sister's birthday gift arrived early.

Yes, Ms. Wu.

The Empress also said that for your birthday every year,

she would carefully select the calling cards

from twenty eligible young men in Chang'an.

But she could never find one to your liking.

So this year, the Empress won't bother with such a tedious task.

She's ordered all noble families to submit

the birth scrolls of every eligible bachelor,

believing that with a larger selection,

you'll find a good husband.

Naturally, my sister only has my best interests at heart.

Well then, let them all come.

Mingzhuang, pass the word:

tomorrow, I'll be

holding a grand birthday banquet at the Ruyi Pavilion,

inviting all the young noble ladies and talented gentlemen.

Yes, Ms. Wu.

Do you really want to meet them?

Go and tell them:

I won't be accepting any gifts.

However, all guests must come

in their finest clothes and jewelry.

[Xuanjian Division] Mei, help me out.

Every time I go to Mr. Xu,

I always get scolded.

I'm just a coroner,

yet I'm always stuck copying case files.

If this keeps up,

I'll be demoted to cleaning latrines.

How pathetic will that be?

I don't really know

the matters you handle,

so I'm afraid I can't be of much help.

Of course you can.

I've heard a lot about you.

You're quite talented.

If you hadn't missed three questions in the exam,

and ended up seventh by chance,

you wouldn't have been unlucky enough to land in the Xuanjian Division.

It's strictly business. I really can't help you with this.

But today is truly different.

I heard someone ridiculed Xu

at a banquet yesterday,

saying the Xuanjian Division is full of freeloaders.

If I go to him now,

he'll probably send me straight to the Records Repository.

What?

You'll be sent to the Records Repository?

Yes.

That place is really creepy.

All the senior clerks who used to manage the Records Repository

have inexplicably resigned

and gone home.

Xu's short-handed right now.

Are you sure

that angering Mr. Xu will get one sent to the Records Repository?

Exactly.

Alright, I'll help you out this once,

as a colleague.

Let's go!

[Xu Luan, Chief of Xuanjian Division]

The clerks at the yamen,

all timid and uneasy with this strange affair,

avoided it like the plague.

The Jinwu Guards

searched the city for days

but turned up nothing.

When the city buzzed with rumors,

the case was finally handed over to us.

What good are you?

You're completely useless!

Mr. Xu.

You. Come here.

You seem quite capable.

Speak

without fear.

What's on your mind?

Devoted and upright,

surely you won't stand idly by

while thefts and strange crimes plague Chang'an.

You strive to do what the common folk cannot,

to solve cases the common folk cannot solve.

That is your true intent,

and the aim of the Xuanjian Division.

Well said.

I believe

we cannot rely solely on interrogations

and archived records.

We must truly hunt down the culprits.

You'll be the first to arrive at the crime scenes,

I'm sure.

By then,

whether cunning thieves or demonic fiends,

none will escape your grasp, Mr. Xu.

You...

This way,

you won't be gossiped about as a freeloader

every time you go out,

and you'll no longer be shut away,

nursing your discontent.

You...

You...

You...

Get out of my sight and go to the Records Repository!

Yes, Mr. Xu.

I... I'll take my leave too.

- We're leaving too. - We're leaving too.

[Records Repository] After all, you're from the Mei family.

How can you be a lowly official in a place like this?

- How...? - What does it matter?

Everyone has their own way of life,

and their own karma.

How marvelous.

The moment I walked in,

I was treated to such an opinion.

It's truly righteous and awe-inspiring.

Si.

[Mei Si, the fourth son of the Mei family]

I figured your shift would be over by now.

What brings you here?

Nothing important. Zhuyu,

how about you come with me to a banquet?

Not interested.

Zhuyu.

Please, just help me out!

If you don't, Father will break my legs!

You wish for my help? Very well.

First,

tell me exactly what this is all about.

Have you ever met

Princess of Qinghe County from the Duke of Wu's family,

Wu Zhen?

I've heard of her.

The Empress has ordered all families to submit

birth scrolls from all the eligible bachelors

for Ms. Wu to review.

You know how much

she dotes on her younger sister.

- Two years ago... - Get to the point.

Well, since every family has to submit the birth scrolls,

that pretentious Xie family

actually gathered nineteen eligible young men.

Naturally, my family wouldn't back down.

So I

went back and forth,

- trying to find more candidates. - Get

to the point.

With you and me, that makes twenty.

Zhuyu,

you're just here

to make up the numbers

and get a free meal.

Zhen will absolutely not

take an interest in you.

I swear,

it's nothing

more than

just a perfectly proper banquet.

[Ruyi Pavilion]

By the way, Zhuyu,

the Metal element

in Zhen's birth chart is weak.

Those attending the banquet are asked to wear some gold ornaments.

Take this.

Put it on.

Come on! Let's have a drink!

What a lively gathering today.

Come on!

Such a grand spectacle!

The Duke of Wu is really rolling in wealth!

In the realm of pleasure,

Ms. Wu has always been second to none.

As expected from the Xiangsi Pavilion.

The dancing is quite good.

Zhuyu.

Stop looking. You've finished your shift.

Put down your case files.

- Mr. Xie. - Mr. Xie.

[Xie Loubai, the fifth son of the Xie family]

Mr. Xie.

Mr. Xie, the talented scholar.

His poems are truly exceptional.

Some people will even spend a fortune just to get a poem from him.

Zhuyu,

that's the worst of the Xie family.

He's the fifth son, named Xie Loubai.

Four years ago, he even tried to court Zhen.

Si.

I'll go take a look over there.

OK.

[Xie Yao, lady of the Xie family]

You're from the Mei family.

Which branch are you from?

How come I've never seen you before?

Since when do young men from my family

have to report to your family?

I must say, this young master is quite good-looking.

Could it be that just to put on a show,

Mei Si found him somewhere to make up the numbers?

I'm afraid he might be a male courtesan from some house.

Exactly!

What did you eat for lunch

to make your mouths so foul?

I'm from a side branch of the Mei family.

Si and I share the same great-grandfather.

A side branch of the Mei family?

It seems

a young master did come to Chang'an a while ago.

You're the one who passed the exam to enter the Xuanjian Division?

Precisely.

Who would have thought there was someone even more ill-fated in the Mei family?

What are you talking about?

The Xuanjian Division has been a sham for decades.

Since you've entered there,

make sure you don't ruin your prospects.

He has to have prospects for them

to be ruined.

I hope bringing this kind of person to the banquet

doesn't displease Ms. Wu.

I'd hate for her to think your family

is only pretending

to be friendly with the Wu family

that you'd dig up someone so disgraceful

from some corner just to deceive her.

What is that supposed to mean?

You scoundrel!

Watch your mouth.

If the Mei family isn't trying to fool Ms. Wu,

then this young master must have his own agenda.

He wants to

use his looks to trick Ms. Wu

into sleeping with him for a couple of days,

just to take advantage of her.

Speaking of which,

since you're all enjoying

Ms. Wu's hospitality today,

you'd better keep some decency in what you say.

A mere distant relative from a side branch of the Mei family,

how dare you speak to us like that?

It seems your family is truly lax in disciplining its children.

Well,

my family is willing to do it for them.

Wait a minute!

Scoundrel! What are you trying to do?

You... Let go of me!

You.

Give him a lesson.

Me?

Mr. Xie, what do you think you're doing,

bullying others at my birthday banquet?

Ms. Wu, you make it sound so serious.

We were merely talking.

Unfortunately,

it seems this young master is a bit unsophisticated.

He has a guilty conscience, so he lashes out with hurtful words

and shows no respect whatsoever.

Why should he give you any respect?

The man I've taken a liking to naturally doesn't have to show you any.

Ms. Wu, what kind of joke is this?

I'm not joking.

Didn't you just say it yourself?

The young master I've chosen is better looking than you.

I didn't say that.

So you do know you're no match for him.

Now apologize to Mr. Mei.

Apologize?

Why should I?

What?

You want to get kicked out

just like the young marquis?

This servant took matters into his own hands.

He's no concern of mine.

I'll leave him in your hands.

Come here.

Mei Si,

who would have thought your family's graceful young master

would be the one to catch Wu Zhen's favor?

Zhuyu

has really found his way to the top, hasn't he?

Mr. Mei.

My Lady.

You can call me Ms. Wu.

I just helped you out.

Aren't you going to thank me?

I appreciate your help, Ms. Wu.

But he was also acting under duress.

I hope you won't make things difficult for him.

Well, that's kind of you.

Fine, I'll consider it a favor.

What?

That group of fools from the Xie family loves to talk nonsense,

but one thing they said

actually makes a lot of sense.

A pretty face like yours

could certainly beguile others.

Too bad I have plans tonight.

I'll find you for tea another day.

Ms. Wu, that's not...

I won't see you out.

Well, what is your name?

I'm Mei Zhuyu.

Mei Zhuyu.

Did I say you could leave?

That young master just said

I was forced to do it,

and he wouldn't hold it against me.

He won't,

but I will.

Today's grand banquet

was all for you.

I don't understand what you're saying.

I have to go.

Stop pretending.

I've been observing this whole time.

Among all the guests,

your expression was the most peculiar.

I drew my bow, nocked an arrow, and shot toward you all at once.

An ordinary person

would instinctively dodge,

but you were

completely calm.

I was just scared stiff.

That's because you knew

the arrow couldn't hurt you.

Aren't you curious why I would notice all of this?

I might as well tell you

I'm more than just Ms. Wu.

Yesterday, we crossed paths, and I let you get away.

That's why at today's banquet,

I ordered the guests to wear all their finest jewelry.

The whole point was to lure you out.

That was not me.

Still playing dumb?

Don't even think about escaping today.

Zhuyu,

nice wine today, huh?

Think you'll still join me for a banquet after this?

Slow down.

What's that noise?

Mr. Mei, are you so impatient?

You couldn't even wait for another day?

No.

I thought I heard...

Ms. Wu, are you alright?

Couldn't be better.

Then please excuse me.

Mr. Mei.

Why are you here?

So you have a taste for this?

Care to join her?

[Mei Mansion]

- Mr. Si. - Mr. Si.

Why so much to drink tonight?

I'm not drunk.

[Records Repository]

No wonder everyone says the Records Repository is so gloomy.

It turns out they're infested.

The specters and fiends in Chang'an

are truly a lively bunch.

When divine might appears,

all wickedness must yield.

This one's pretty good.

Have a look.

[Fu Zhao]

Welcome to

Chang'an's Demon Market.

Chang'an is not a place for you to run amok.

Don't even think about stirring up trouble again.

Since I've come here,

I have never harmed the innocent.

You can still say that?

I saw you hurt someone with my own eyes the day before yesterday.

That wasn't me.

It wasn't you?

Was I hallucinating, then?

I know there have been people in Chang'an investigating her,

and I have also been searching for her traces.

Her?

Explain yourself clearly.

My Lady, do you know what my true form is?

Come out.

[Wuzishu, Cat Lord's deputy]

Every time you're in a bad mood,

you just hide up there.

It's getting old.

Well, you're the one with the fresh take.

You're out there catching demons

and you don't even bother to tell me about it anymore.

Tell me.

Why didn't you hand over that bat demon?

The culprit is someone else.

Check this out.

Earrings?

Earrings come in pairs.

These bat-patterned earrings also come in a male and female pair.

The one who attended the banquet was the male bat,

and the one who committed the crimes was the female bat.

The female bat attacked those

who were wearing gold jewelry

to find her missing other earring.

Such small earrings,

and yet they can transform into spirits and develop souls.

According to his story,

they were forged as earrings

in the previous dynasty

and worn by people.

It was the nourishment from human spiritual energy

that turned them into spirits.

That's right.

For a hundred years, we've been inseparable,

two halves of one whole.

Half a month ago,

we first arrived in Chang'an.

When I saw its prosperity,

I had the idea to have some fun.

It wasn't until the recent eerie events in the city

that I realized Fu Xi was trying

every way she could to find me.

Previously, I only speculated

that the demon might have an obsession with gold.

So it turns out she was looking for you.

But last night,

why did you appear at Ruyi Pavilion?

Bats have sensitive hearing.

I heard the sound she was making

near Ruyi Pavilion,

so I wanted to persuade her in person

not to look for me anymore

and not to harm people.

That's why I transformed into a servant and snuck into the banquet.

I'll re-examine all the guests from the banquet.

There's no need.

I'm afraid that the female bat has already possessed someone else.

When I think back to the day we crossed paths,

she had probably already been consumed by her obsession.

If we don't find her soon,

there's bound to be more trouble.

Now that this demon has been corrupted,

we must tread with utmost care.

Zhen,

you are a half-demon

with no power in the daytime.

I know.

Fortunately, bats are nocturnal.

I'll just wait until evening.

It's all my fault, too.

My power is so weak.

I can't help you much.

Of course you can help me.

Shu,

could you go to the Xuanjian Division with me?

Of course.

[Xuanjian Division]

This spring tea is truly wonderful. Do have a taste, My Lady.

It's alright.

Nieli,

do you really think the Princess came here

because she lost her valuables?

Well,

it's hard to say.

I have a feeling

her real motive is Mei.

Then what on earth does she see in him?

Maybe his pretty face?

Mr. Mei, are you avoiding me?

My Lady, you're overthinking it.

How could he dare to be so disrespectful to you?

Come here.

Come here.

We only met last night,

but the connection between us is undeniable.

But you're actually quite cruel.

You knew I lost my valuables,

yet you didn't even offer a word of comfort.

Then please explain the full story, My Lady.

We will do our best.

So

you think a single, dismissive remark

is supposed to be comforting?

Move.

My Lady, your grand presence today

has brought glory to the Xuanjian Division.

Your matter is his top priority.

He will certainly spare no effort

to ensure your satisfaction, My Lady.

[Bitao of the Xiangsi Pavilion]

Xiangsi Pavilion.

Ms. Wu, what are you doing out here?

Just came to keep you company.

Perfect timing.

Oh? Were you just thinking of me?

Since you reported

that you lost valuables last night,

according to regulations,

you need to submit a written complaint.

Can't you just write it for me?

The rules state the victim must write it themselves.

I need to find a way

to get him to leave.

I'm a little hungry.

Could you make me something to eat?

What would you like?

Anything is fine.

Something complicated.

All the recent bizarre cases

have piled up at the Xuanjian Division.

Perhaps we can find some clues

in the case files.

Shu, go.

What are you doing, Ms. Wu?

I am taking a look at where you work.

Ms. Wu,

this is an official workspace.

I'm afraid that might be a bit inconvenient.

How about you go eat in Mr. Xu's office instead?

I am sorry

for staining your clothes.

My hunger makes me dizzy.

No matter. You might as well eat now.

You've changed?

Ms. Wu, since you're in the room,

why didn't you open the door?

Too lazy to get up.

The complaint

is all written out for you.

You just need Mr. Xu to seal it later.

Didn't you say

the rules stated the victim must write it themselves?

I suppose you didn't feel like writing it yourself,

so I'll make an exception this time.

My sister once reminded me

that in life,

one must never take the wrong step.

Do you know why?

Why?

Once a person makes a mistake,

they start a downward spiral.

Once you break the rule,

there will be a second time.

I'll let this be the last.

On my way here, I heard

that the path to your home is a broken one,

so long, narrow, and muddy

that even a carriage cannot pass.

Your donkey cart, in fact,

had to be left with a neighbor at the crossroads.

I am very curious.

The Xuanjian Division has neither money nor a future,

so why are you still willing to stay here?

To uphold justice

and cast out evil.

Wherever one stands, the duty remains the same.

Do what is right, and that will suffice.

To uphold justice

and cast out evil.

It seems you wish to be a man of honor.

Unlike me

who only lives for pleasure and transient delights.

Everyone in Chang'an fears

and reviles me,

gossiping and pointing at me behind my back.

I couldn't care less about them.

How can one so easily judge what is right and wrong

when they know nothing

of another's hardships?

♪A sigh for mortal dust♪

♪As blossoms burn to dusk♪

♪Memories tint the heart♪

♪Carved in silence, fading unseen♪

♪Candle shadows carve through grief♪

♪Seasons turn in silent thief♪

♪Night rain murmurs, faint and slow♪

♪Tears fall quiet, lost below♪

♪I drift away with scattered stars♪

♪Glancing back at time's worn scars♪

♪You're the longing that defies the end of days♪

♪If the tale could turn anew, and reshape the skies♪

♪I would spend my life on you, in patient sacrifice♪

♪Let fate rise through the storm, as love begins again♪

♪Never could I forget♪

♪When oaths dissolve into oceans, drifting through the years♪

♪Memory walks beside me, ever close, forever clear♪

♪A will that never falters♪

♪Fading beneath time's quiet hush♪

♪If the tale could turn anew, and reshape the skies♪

♪I would spend my life on you, in patient sacrifice♪

♪Let fate rise through the storm, as love begins again♪

♪Never could I forget♪

♪When oaths dissolve into oceans, drifting through the years♪

♪Memory walks beside me, ever close, forever clear♪

♪A will that never falters♪

♪Fading beneath time's quiet hush♪