Original subtitles

[Moonlit Reunion]

[Episode 12]

We've had this grudge between us for a long time.

I've been thinking about how to end it.

These past few days, I've finally figured it out.

Let's do it your way, Elder Hui.

The winner takes all, and the loser loses everything.

What do you think?

Great.

Then do you dare open the Death Arena

and accept the Duel of Death?

If I win,

you'll no longer be

the leader of the Hui Sect.

This is the Duel of Death?

The Demon Lord and an elder opening the Death Arena?

It's unheard of.

A life-and-death duel on the night of the new moon,

regardless of the outcome.

Once the challenge is issued, the entire Demon Market will know.

What, are you afraid to accept it, Cat Lord?

They're really going through with it.

If you ask me,

no one stands to gain from this.

Will the Cat Lord accept it?

Whichever one dies,

it won't be a small matter.

Don't talk nonsense.

I accept.

Accept my foot!

Snake Lord.

What is the Duel of Death?

Zhu Ying, you're young

and not often in the Demon Market.

It's normal that you don't know.

The Duel of Death was established by the first two Lords.

It was meant to be the last safeguard

to prevent the Demon Market from falling into the hands of evil demons.

The Demon Lord and elders hold supreme status in the Demon Market.

If any demon defies authority,

they can issue a Duel of Death against them.

In the battle,

identities and backgrounds don't matter.

It's all about fighting with skill.

Once the Duel of Death is issued,

there's no turning back.

But the Duel of Death hasn't been seen for a hundred years.

A life-and-death fight between a Demon Lord and an elder

is unprecedented.

This does

seem rather rash.

That's why I've come to you, Lord Snake.

Is there any room for compromise?

There's nothing I can do.

Snake Lord.

But

if Cat really dies,

I'll take her place

and kill that old rat.

Ms. Wu, what are you doing?

Fishing.

You have quite an appetite.

Sent by Huzhu.

She's indeed kind-hearted.

A last meal, after all.

Might as well make it a good one.

What?

Nothing.

Ms. Wu, is something on your mind?

I was thinking, if I had the chance,

I'd a golden house for you in my mansion.

And then have me sing "Lament of the Changmen Palace" inside?

You actually know that unofficial history.

Just finished reading it.

Duke of Wu's Mansion has an extensive library.

Quite extensive indeed.

You've learned all sorts of things from it.

Well, that's not all.

Now you compare me to a faithless man.

You're the one who's always talking nonsense and teasing people.

That doesn't sound like you.

What I mean is,

don't say things you haven't thought through.

And don't make promises you can't keep.

Young Lord, do you never blurt out nonsense?

Senior Zhuyu,

have you forgotten after being down the mountain for so long?

Those from Changxi Palace are not allowed to have feelings.

I haven't forgotten.

Then you two...

You two won't have a future.

I never intended to marry her.

I do have feelings for her,

but I have reservations.

I'm not expecting it to work out.

I should go.

Aren't you going to ask me?

Ask what?

Ask where I'm going.

May I ask where you're going, Ms. Wu?

I have plans with another man.

Then

come back early.

I'll be back.

[Mei Mansion]

On the night of the new moon,

all demons roam.

Spirits and monsters emerge,

shrouded in mystery and strangeness.

Why the night of the new moon?

Why are you reading this

so obsessively?

Isn't it good that I enjoy reading?

But aren't you mortals

supposed to be afraid of this stuff?

True.

Well, not exactly.

Ms. Liu

is just fascinated by strange and anecdotal tales.

So just because she likes it, you have to like it too?

What kind of logic is that?

You just don't get it.

When you like someone,

you naturally want to understand everything about them.

Think what she thinks.

And like what she likes.

Little Loach,

tell me about it.

Please, I'm begging you.

Just tell me.

I want to see if this book is accurate.

You're a newly-formed

little snake demon.

You don't know about these things, do you?

White Snake is much more knowledgeable.

Isn't it just the night of the new moon?

On the night of the new moon, the moon is unseen.

The yin energy is extremely heavy.

And the aura of evil and malice grows most intense.

That's why battles among demons

are often scheduled for the night of the new moon.

Naturally, there are eerie winds

and strange phenomena.

I see.

But

you're all demons.

Why do demons kill each other?

Demons are like humans.

They also have desires

and evil thoughts.

Did you know

that we Obsidian Serpents have another name?

Chang Chong? [*Sounds like "worm" in Chinese pinyin]

What Chang Chong?

It's Ying Long. [*A kind of loong]

A Obsidian Serpent can transform into a Ying Long

after a hundred years of cultivation.

Commanding water and thunder, gathering wind and clouds.

Soaring through the heavens, invincible in battle.

And I've already cultivated for over a hundred years.

You're over a hundred years old?

You're so old

but still so small.

Haven't you been eating well?

I... I mean,

why haven't you turned into a Ying Long yet?

Because the Obsidian Serpent race is at its weakest

before transforming into a loong.

On the night of the new moon, all demons roam.

Spirits and monsters emerge, shrouded in mystery and strangeness.

In the end,

it's just the ancient rule of the demon realm.

The strong prey on the weak,

and the victor becomes king.

Another night of the new moon.

I wonder

who will emerge as the strong

and who will become king tonight.

Elder Hui has cultivated for a thousand years.

While the Cat Lord has only cultivated for over a decade.

Isn't the outcome

obvious?

Not necessarily.

Though the Cat Lord is young,

she possesses the power of the Cat Lord.

If she can master it,

the outcome is uncertain.

Do you think

the Cat Lord stands a chance?

Only eighteen years.

You still have a long way to go.

That old rat has gone mad.

He actually broke the barrier to draw the power of the nine heavens.

Even if he wins, he'll be punished.

Is he out of his mind?

If he defeats the Demon Lord,

no one can control him anymore.

You actually broke the barrier,

violating the foremost rule of the Demon Market?

So what if I broke the rules?

Just to deal with me,

you'd risk chaos in both the Demon Market and the human realm?

What does the temporary chaos matter?

As long as I can get rid of you,

it's worth it.

The strong become king.

A half-human, half-demon freak like you

shouldn't even exist in the world!

That scared me to death.

Oh no, it's over.

The Cat Lord is probably...

Is the Cat Lord alright?

Is it over so soon?

I can't bear to watch.

It's useless.

Until the outcome is decided,

the life-and-death duel continues.

Zhen.

Are you alright?

♪Eyes the world has cast aside♪

♪Yet they pierce through truth and lies♪

♪Battles in bustling towns or desolate hills♪

♪Don't hold me back from surging ahead♪

♪Wandering through a world so cold♪

♪Who would trade their soul to die unknown?♪

♪Brave the storms till break of day♪

♪Calling stars to light my way♪

♪My soul stains the edge of the clouds♪

♪Born to rise, not crushed by scars♪

♪Don't ask why I won't belong♪

♪I won't obey. I seek what's been lost♪

♪Midnight turns to phantom light♪

♪If right and wrong begin to blur♪

♪Just wait for my command to sound♪

♪And fate itself will unravel♪

♪Reborn, pure, unbound♪

- Good! - Great!

The Cat Lord won!

How is this possible?

You've only cultivated for eighteen years.

Elder Hui,

you admire the strong

simply because you consider yourself one.

But did you ever imagine

that one day

you would fall at the hands of someone stronger?

Like right now.

At the mercy of others.

Will you still proclaim

this world belongs to the strong?

Zhen.

Still, you were right about one thing.

In the demon realm, the strong become king.

But to be king

is not about holding power over life and death

or wielding authority.

It is about protecting both the human and demon realms,

ensuring that the weakest beings

are not preyed upon by those stronger.

Cat Lord.

Elder Jin,

do you have something to say?

Elder Grey broke the barrier

between the human realm and the Demon Market.

He deserves to die for his crime.

But he is, after all, very old.

Exactly.

Since the founding of the Demon Market,

he has served alongside the first two lords.

He's been loyal all these years.

His hard work should count for something.

Cat Lord,

given Elder Hui's many years of service,

and that this was a momentary lapse of judgment,

please spare his life.

Me?

I'm fine with whatever.

Well then, spare his life.

Letting him live is easy enough.

Strip him of his thousand years of cultivation.

Leave him with only his mortal form, and banish him to the human realm.

Since you enjoy separating the strong from the weak,

you'll be punished to live as a weak rat.

Experience for yourself the suffering of the weak.

Let's go, Elder Hui.

Elders, is there any objection to this?

- We obey the Cat Lord's orders. - We obey the Cat Lord's orders.

How are you?

Can your body hold up?

I'm fine.

Good thing you didn't die.

Will you miss me?

Not really.

I regret it.

I acted on impulse that day.

I said if you died,

I would avenge you.

After all, he's an elder demon.

Quite formidable.

You got the glory,

but the demon realm has paid a price for it.

This battle

has just created a lot of extra work.

The barrier Elder Hui broke

will keep us busy for a while.

I've already sent Zhu Ying to check on

the condition of the barrier.

Zhen, your half-demon body is already unstable.

And you went through this battle.

Why not come to my place to rest?

I should go home.

In this state, yet you're still in a hurry?

I have to keep my word.

Mr. Mei, why aren't you resting yet?

I'm waiting for Ms. Wu.

It's almost midnight.

She hasn't returned yet.

I'm a little worried.

Mr. Mei, don't worry.

Ms. Wu enjoys having fun.

She often returns late.

Sometimes she stays overnight at Ruyi Pavilion

and comes back in the morning.

But she said she'd be back

before leaving.

I...

I'll wait a little longer.

I don't know why,

but I have a bad feeling about this.

Mr. Mei, you're overthinking it.

No one in Chang'an

would dare bully Ms. Wu.

Mingzhuang,

Mr. Mei is such a worrywart.

What are you talking about?

Look at Mr. Mei.

He's like someone from those stories, forever waiting for his beloved, right?

You all have no manners.

No matter what, he is a guest.

I think

he's about to become the master of the house.

Is it rude for me

to visit so late at night?

What are you doing here

in the middle of the night?

Waiting for you to come back.

Good thing I came back.

What happened...?

Got into a fight.

I'm exhausted.

Why did you fight again?

Because I hate getting tangled up with others.

The things you say

always sound so unreliable.

I'm serious.

That man is a bit older.

I prefer

younger ones.

How's your leg?

It's healing fast.

Then it should be fine to take me back.

♪If we had never chanced to meet♪

♪How would I know this feeling sweet♪

♪Could grow more tender with each beat?♪

♪Like plum rains guarding every bough♪

♪That fleeting bloom still lingers near♪

♪Its glow reflected crystal clear♪

Ms. Wu.

Maybe you should get up.

♪Past peaks and streams, our spirits roam♪

It wouldn't be good if someone saw us like this.

♪Veiled in mist, we wander slow♪

♪Two hearts adrift where stars run high♪

♪In passion's glow, longing blooms in light♪

♪In a heartbeat, glances stray♪

♪Yesterday drifts far away♪

♪Moments once wrapped in gentle haze♪

♪Still stir within where feelings stay♪

♪Let me vow beneath midnight's grace♪

♪May you return with a smiling face♪

♪My heart, once whole and true♪

♪Becomes the stars and endless blue♪

♪True hearts meet as fate aligns♪

♪Love walks in step, like mirrored light♪

♪Together bound for all our days♪

♪Through every year, in love we stay♪

Zhu...

Zhuyu!

What are you doing?

And what are you doing?

I...

What are you doing here in the middle of the night?

I came to you urgently.

Don't worry.

I know it's late.

So I climbed over the wall to get in.

I didn't knock,

afraid people would call me rude.

What do you want from me?

Nothing much.

I just suddenly remembered something.

Go on.

On the morning of the Sky Lantern Festival,

I ran into Mei Si.

He said

he saw a shadowy figure, like a demon.

I thought it was nonsense at the time.

So now, looking back,

do you think something was off?

Well...

Better to believe it than not.

Anyway, I didn't feel anything eerie at that time.

Did you notice

anything eerie about the sky tonight?

Eerie?

Really?

No.

Never mind.

You should go back.

We'll investigate more tomorrow.

Alright.

Finally got some real work to do.

The door is over there.

Don't climb over people's walls again.

Understood.

Ms. Liu.

It's so late.

Are you just getting back,

or are you heading out?

What are you doing here?

Tonight is the night of the new moon.

The aura of evil and malice grows most intense.

I was worried for your safety.

So I stayed here to watch over you.

You've been standing guard here for half the night?

Not exactly.

I accidentally fell asleep earlier.

I'm fine.

You don't need to stand guard here.

If someone sees you later,

rumors will start again.

Since you're alright,

I'll leave.

By the way.

Ms. Liu, what did you want to say?

On the night of the new moon,

the aura of evil and malice grows most intense.

Where did you learn that from?

It was mentioned in White Snake's

Chronicles of the Uncanny.

If you're interested,

I can show it to you sometime.

No need. I was just asking.

I'm really leaving now.

Did I really write it that way?

Such intense resentment.

The Wight.

So it was the Wight that caused this demonic transformation.

Mei Zhuyu!

Mei Zhuyu.

Young Lord.

What's going on?

Why does she look exactly like me?

Celestial Master,

if you spare me,

I'll tell you

the secret of the woman traveling with you.

Since it's a secret,

you should keep it to yourself.

Just seal it away along with your life.

A celestial fire suddenly fell upon the land of Chang'an.

It couldn't be extinguished by water, and its source was unknown.

Upon inquiry by the Yamen,

it was learned that several commoners

had vaguely seen demonic shadows flitting about.

Chang'an has long been rumored to have a Demon Market,

a tale that persists through the ages.

Demons, monsters,

and all manner of evil spirits

must be eradicated completely

and exterminated without mercy.

♪Blossoms drift, and the world grows pale♪

♪Memory brews a bitter tale♪

♪Vows of forever fade in the breeze♪

♪Without you, all fades into nothing♪

♪Past joys and sorrows tangle in dreams♪

♪The deepest pain is parting's gleam♪

♪A lifetime vowed to share with you♪

♪Yet still beyond my reach, it flew♪

♪Petals drift, then fade from sight♪

♪How is falling for love not right?♪

♪Moonlight chills the breath I keep♪

♪I hold you close, but silence runs deep♪

♪Petals drift, then fade from sight♪

♪How is falling for love not right?♪

♪Your glance flickers, memories bloom♪

♪How can I find you through the gloom?♪

♪What hope survives beyond the doom?♪