Original subtitles

[Fate Chooses You]

[Episode 18]

Welcome out of seclusion, Father.

Welcome out of seclusion, Father.

[Xia Xuanzi]

Gui is dead?

Father,

Gui's last message

was three months ago.

He'd been dispatched by the Qinghong Sect

to the capital to protect an official.

[Shou Gong]

The one who killed Gui has come to North Xiang.

I'm going to meet her.

Go.

Find her.

Prepare my clothes.

Yes!

Here.

Careful, it's hot.

Is it warm enough inside?

Senior, you eat too.

What are you up to this time?

The temperature difference between day and night here is huge.

At night, the cold wind cuts to the bone.

Immortals, you have to sleep in this sleeping bag

to rest well.

Immortals, look.

Open it up,

and it's an enclosed sleeping bag.

Sleeping inside,

it's windproof, cold-proof, and bug-proof.

How much is it?

It has no price.

Ever since Craftsman Zhu made it,

it's never been sold on the market.

Why?

The immortal sects forbid it.

Not just

this sleeping bag—

any novel and practical items

invented by our kind

are forbidden from

being sold on the market.

So

that's why you went to Lingji Mountain to steal books

to learn

the immortal sects' techniques?

That wasn't stealing.

We weren't

after the immortal arts.

We just went to copy the Qiandie Five-Fire Technique

from the Qiandie Scripture, which originally

belonged to our Artisan Clan.

Wasn't the Qiandie Scripture

created by Mr. Lin Ye,

the seventh-generation leader of Lingji Mountain?

When Lin Ye once came to the mortal world to cultivate,

he happened to encounter a master artisan of our clan

forging iron and casting swords.

He was struck by inspiration

and stayed for a few days

to learn this forging method

from our master artisan.

After he returned to Lingji Mountain,

it was through this forging method

that he came to comprehend the Qiandie Scripture.

Moreover,

without the master artisan's permission,

he recorded this method in detail

in the scripture.

You wandering swindlers,

there's no lie

you wouldn't make up.

Immortal, you don't know.

That master artisan's name was Zhu Qiandie—

the very grand ancestor of Craftsman Zhu.

We...

We did steal your money,

but we...

had no other choice.

This is the last one.

You eat it.

No need.

It's very good.

I guess neither of you has ever tried this before.

Indeed, we haven't.

This is called maize,

also known as Golden Tassel.

It can grow on dry hillsides

and needs only a little water to survive.

Moreover, the yield is high, and it's easy to store.

You can steam it, boil it,

or roast it.

It can also be ground into flour

and cooked into porridge.

Yuedong has suffered severe droughts in recent years.

That region is mostly mountainous.

If commoners could grow more of this,

so many wouldn't have died.

If it's really as good as you say,

why don't you grow it yourselves?

You'd have to

ask your immortal sects about it.

If you don't know how to speak properly,

keep your mouth shut.

She told you to shut up.

Immortal sects need spiritual energy for cultivation.

Besides

the naturally endowed blessed lands,

spirit rice

is one of the major sources of spiritual energy.

But spirit rice is rare.

A full mu of land barely yields a single bowl.

Instructed by the immortal sects,

the government encourages the commoners to grow more rice

while heavily taxing other crops.

Especially the Golden Tassel—

the government controls the seed supply

and keeps squeezing people at every turn.

There's no profit in it for the commoners,

so they simply don't grow it.

Then how did you get this?

Seeds buried in the soil

can sprout with just a little water.

Just like dandelions—

they take root

wherever they land.

The immortal sects may control the Central Plains,

but some grow in North Xiang.

Even if they manage to

control North Xiang in the future,

who knows—

somewhere in another remote ravine,

the Golden Tassel might grow again.

You can never wipe it all out.

Just like this tower ship,

everything leaves traces behind.

They can't be wiped out.

They can't be wiped out.

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother, where are you going?

Mother, where are you going?

Don't leave me behind.

I will be good.

Mother, don't leave me!

Mother, don't leave me!

Mother!

You monster—neither human nor ghost—

you should just die here!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Have you seen Xunmu?

Vajra Xunmu said the room was too stuffy

and wanted to go out for some fresh air.

Go find her

and keep a close eye on her.

Yes.

Didn't you see me today?

Why did you ignore me?

What do you want?

It's been so long since we

last saw each other in the capital.

I came to say hello.

We're not close.

Not close?

But I know

quite a lot about you.

For instance,

a certain female cultivator killed Mr. Gui,

provoking the Master of the Bishui Branch to seek revenge.

Right after that,

a man showed up at their door

and wiped out the entire branch.

That was you,

wasn't it?

What exactly do you want?

Scared?

If I wanted to expose you,

I would've done so already.

Get to the point.

Those three burdens you're traveling with

don't look like cultivators.

Now that you're in North Xiang,

can you still act so tough?

How about we make a deal?

You help me kill Wenyin,

that big brute,

and I promise

I won't cause you any trouble in the future.

That's all?

What do you want then?

I want you to

help me find something.

Let's hear it.

Sunblock Banner.

I don't believe

there's anything in this world

that money cannot settle.

I'll give you 50 taels for your superior room.

No.

Then 100 taels...

for your entire inn.

A hundred taels?

That doesn't quite seem like enough.

Then that means there's room to negotiate.

Two hundred taels.

Two...

Money is a good thing—

so long as you live long enough

to spend it.

You can stay in my room.

Enchantress?

Sir?

Senior,

what are you thinking about?

I was thinking

how we've never heard of

any of the things they mentioned.

The flying tower ships,

indestructible mechanical puppets,

and cannons with a range

of over 100 zhang—

we've never heard of any of them.

Isn't that strange?

If civilization

among the Human Race

had truly reached such heights

over 1,000 years ago,

as they claimed,

then how could we have known

absolutely nothing about it?

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes,

I definitely would've thought

they were lying to me.

That's not strange.

Everything can be buried.

But as long as someone conceives of it,

someone will bring it to life.

Just like this desert—

it's buried far too many things.

Senior,

none of this has anything to do with us.

Doesn't it?

No.

Sheng,

I remember you once told me

that you're also from North Xiang.

Where was your home again?

I was wandering everywhere.

How could I have a home?

Senior,

go to sleep early.

Bite her.

Go on, bite.

Bite!

Don't be afraid.

Let my precious take a bite.

It won't kill you!

It bit you!

I've fed this Baihua snake

on poison sacs

for a full 100 days.

Just now I soaked it in pufferfish blood.

This is the moment

its poison is at its most potent!

How do you feel?

How do you feel?

The poison has taken effect.

Faster than I expected.

Much faster.

Great.

Great!

You have to hold on.

You mustn't die,

do you hear me?

You absolutely cannot die!

You must wait for me

to refine the Baihua Spirit-Nourishing Pill.

Father has not yet seen...

He'll never get to see it...

Sheng,

you'd better run faster.

If I catch you,

you'll wish you were dead.

She's been poisoned by Seventh Brother's snake.

She can't get far.

Split up and search!

[Yunhan Inn]

I remember your surname is Lu.

How about this?

From now on,

I'll call you Lu.

Lu,

why did you come to North Xiang?

Are you here on business for Chongling Valley?

What about you?

What are you doing here?

My father

sent me here to deal with a group of demonic cultivators.

Demonic cultivators?

That's right.

It's a cult

called the Wushuang Society.

They recently

stole from our family's Scripture Pavilion

and injured our disciples.

I heard that they've

fled to North Xiang these past few days.

Lu,

let me tell you a secret.

I've heard this group of demonic cultivators

is planning something big.

If they succeed...

things will become very troublesome.

Are those people behind you your friends?

Yes,

my friends.

I'm Lin Muhan,

Young Sect Master of Lingji Mountain.

Nice to meet you all.

-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.

Lingji Mountain... an immortal sect!

This buddy of mine aspires to join an immortal sect

and pursue cultivation,

but he lacks the immortal perception.

He's not destined to join you.

Immortal sect...

Why don't...

we move him next door

so as not to disturb your catch-up?

Right!

Let's go.

Let's go.

Come on.

Lu,

your friend

looks seriously injured.

Do you need any help?

He was accidentally bitten by something venomous.

My friends have gone to find medicine.

Medicine?

You can just ask me.

I brought some Yangyuan Pills.

No need.

But...

how did you get involved

with that enchantress?

This enchantress is leaving.

Don't forget our deal.

What deal?

Nothing.

Since we've crossed paths,

I ought to warn you—

she is one of

the Eight Vajras of the Qinghong Sect.

She may look harmless,

but she's actually perverse

and ruthless.

Think about it—

having survived in a place

like the Qinghong Sect

and reached that position,

could she be simple?

No.

You're too kind-hearted.

You mustn't be deceived by her.

I know.

Sir, feel free to look around.

Hey, attendant!

A bowl of noodles.

Take a look at this one.

Meat buns. We have them all. Take a look.

I'd like one.

Stop. Don't go.

Whose little buddy is this?

Are you lost?

Can't find your way home?

Don't rush off.

Where is your family?

Do you want to come back with us?

We'll help you find your home.

Look at him—

that face,

those eyes...

Perfect to sell to a wealthy household

as a servant boy.

Please stop, all of you.

Let go.

You're stirring up trouble.

Be careful you don't bring trouble upon yourselves.

Today, I'll show you

what real trouble looks like!

Get him!

This isn't over!

Go. Let's go!

You saved their lives,

but they don't appreciate it.

I walk my own path

and do as my heart sees fit.

Thank you, senior, for sparing their lives.

You're from Tianyin Mountain.

My cultivation is shallow.

I have not yet had the fortune

to pass through that gate.

Are you willing to cultivate with me?

No, thanks.

Since childhood, I've been determined to join Tianyin Mountain

and cultivate the Path of Detachment.

Why?

To attain the Great Way

and protect all living beings.

If you cultivate the Path of Detachment,

how can you protect all living beings?

Govern by law,

and judge all by the same measure.

The law spares no nobility,

just as a mirror does not hide flaws.

Whose law?

The righteous laws of the Heavenly Way.

Heaven knows no emotion

and sees all things as but specks of dust.

Since you follow the Heavenly Way,

you should conform to its nature:

the strong prey upon the weak, the fittest survive,

and all things live and perish in endless cycles.

What need is there for you to intervene?

Under the Heavenly Way,

the Way of Humanity has collapsed,

and injustice runs unchecked.

The powerful act without restraint,

fabricating justifications

to do as they please.

They treat human lives like weeds,

seizing profits for their own use,

making the strong stronger

and the weak even weaker.

The strong are infinitely greedy,

plundering by force,

while the weak struggle humbly to survive,

suffering unspeakably.

Therefore,

since I've chosen

to practice this path

and gained my power

through the teachings of the Heavenly Way,

I have the responsibility

to act upon it

and right what is wrong.

Naive!

Do you know that

although most of us cultivators

claim to follow the Heavenly Way,

in reality,

they practice the Way of Humanity?

What is the Way of Humanity?

The Way is a road.

When enough people walk it,

it becomes

the established order.

To go against it and forge a different road

will only bring harm to yourself and others.

Thank you for your guidance,

but I do not agree.

Your heart is not free of attachment.

The mortal world still has its hold on you.

Little do you know,

benevolence is a blade that cuts slowly,

and love is a poison that gnaws to the bone.

To seek gain and avoid harm,

and to act on one's desires—

that is human nature.

And yet you...

care about even just a few lives enough

for them to weigh on

your conscience.

How, then, will you ever grasp

the essence of the Path of Detachment?

If you can't see through this delusion,

it will one day devour you.

I thought too highly of you.

Where are you heading?

North Xiang.

We happen to be going the same way.

I still have matters to attend to.

I can only leave once they are settled.

The path I take is different from yours,

so we're not going the same way.

I'll be going now.

Guys,

look who it is.

We've met that little buddy again.

Murder! Murder!

One missing.

Please... Please don't kill me!

Please don't kill me!

Please don't kill me!

M-Murder!

Murder!

Murder!

[Xutuo City]

One tael of silver per draw!

Come on!

Pay first, then draw a ticket!

One tael of silver—

no tricks, no scams,

and it just might

tell your fortune for the whole year!

If you draw this slip for the grand prize,

this horse will be yours for free!

Come on!

Really? I'll give it a try!

One draw!

One draw—one tael!

Come and draw!

Slow down.

-How is it? -Don't rush!

Don't rush.

Did you win?

No.

Check quickly if you won.

There are draws for everyone.

Did anyone win?

Did you win?

Did anyone win?

No, no.

It's fine if you didn't win!

Give me another draw!

Buddy, no luck this time just means

the grand prize is still in there,

waiting for the really lucky one!

This is a horse!

It's a living horse!

A horse—

how much hard work

does it take to earn yourself a horse?

Isn't this a scam?

I've drawn several times

and never won once.

Listen to yourself!

This is definitely a scam!

Everyone here saw me

put the grand prize ticket in with their own eyes.

You didn't draw it;

that just means your luck hasn't come yet!

There are only so many blank slips!

The more blanks that get drawn,

the better

your chances!

Are you in or not?

In or not?

Come on, I'll draw five more!

Come on!

Come on!

One tael per draw!

Okay! Come on!

Okay, draw your slip!

Big win, big win!

Your chance to get rich is here!

Let's see

how this buddy's luck is.

I'll draw...

Okay.

Let's see if you won.

How is it?

Let's see. Let's see!

[Horse]

It has the character "horse" on it.

What does it mean?

You won! You won!

Congratulations!

You won! You won!

This little buddy,

one look at you and I can tell you're a man of great fortune!

Would you like the horse,

or would you prefer to cash it out?

I can cash it out too?

Of course!

Whatever the market price of the horse is,

I'll give you the amount in silver!

Then I want silver!

Okay! Okay!

You've struck it rich!

Congratulations, buddy.

You're a man of great wealth and fortune!

-Thank you. -Congratulations on your windfall!

This is the money.

We're even now!

Okay.

Okay.

Come on.

I'm returning the horse to you.

And here is the money we promised you.

We're settled.

Thank you. Thank you.

Take care!

The water pouch is filled.

In the bag,

there are 20 flatbreads.

Enough for 10 days.

Thank you.

What is this?

I forgot to tell you.

These are tamarind candies from our shop,

our specialty.

Have a piece when you're feeling drowsy—

it can sharpen the mind and clear the head.

Thank you.

Senior, try one.

It's so sour.

Spit it out. Be careful not to ruin your teeth.

How can it refresh your mind if it's not sour?

You two enjoy.

I'll get back to work.

Call me if you need anything.

Let's go.

You can give it a try. Come on.

Come on, let's go.

Done shopping. Let's head home.

Freshly baked meat buns, piping hot!

You said earlier there was only one road

into the heart of North Xiang,

and that's why we traveled together.

Now we're in the city, and there are roads everywhere.

Why are you still following us?

What?

You really want to die?

No, no.

We owe you both

a great deal for looking after us along the way.

We made some money,

so we'd like to treat you to a meal.

You scammed the money.

We want no part of it.

How is that a scam?

It was all voluntary.

Make way, make way!

-Out of the way! -Move aside!

It's those scammers.

They cheated me out of a lot of money!

You chose to play— and now you can't accept the loss?

What are you standing there for? Run!

After them!

Get them!

They're the ones who cheated me!

After them!

Senior.

No need to stir up trouble.

Let's go.

Bishui Branch has started seizing people again!

They took the leader

of the Fengyuan Camel Caravan earlier

and still haven't released him.

I can't get my goods transported out.

Who knows when this will end?

Don't wait for him. He's not coming out.

How would you know?

Last time he was helping me move cargo

when someone from the Bishui Branch came

and said something about "water."

Then he acted like he was possessed,

abandoned his camel caravan, and ran away.

He only came back recently,

saying he'd been to the Central Plains

and brought back a slaughterer

who wiped out

the entire Bishui Branch.

Really?

Please wait, you two.

Miss,

do you need something?

I'd like to ask

about the caravan leader

you just mentioned.

What does he look like?

I'll go.

You wait for me here.

Let's go together.

Another day,

and still nothing for us.

Come on, let's drink!

Cheers!

It's you...

You saved me.

I have something I want to ask you.

Okay.

And then,

he let me go.

But I heard

that later that night, someone

killed everyone at the Bishui Branch.

That's a branch

of the Qinghong Sect.

They usually had over 100 people

stationed there,

all highly skilled in martial arts.

Legend has it that the Branch Master

had reached the Golden Core Stage.

However,

they all died.

Every last one of them.

That person

should be your friend, right?

He traveled thousands of miles

to avenge you.

He must value you very much.

Senior,

are you okay?

I'm fine.

♪ Spending a lifetime, I ask myself what I first sought ♪

♪ What is it my heart truly desires? ♪

♪ Step by step up the immortal stairway ♪

I was under a Spell of Utterance before—

♪ Paved with countless lost souls ♪

every time I drank water, I'd vomit.

♪ Who would dare destroy the ladder to immortality and end the path? ♪

But that day, it suddenly lifted.

Suddenly lifted?

Then there's no need to take your pulse.

♪ The sun blazes over the earth ♪

So you know how the spell was lifted, Divine Doctor Su?

How else?

It must have been pure luck.

♪ Yet it cannot warm every cold home below ♪

Don't overthink it.

When Lu Qianqiao comes back,

he will tell you

what really happened.

♪ I've heard cries that rend the heavens ♪

The Spell of Utterance can only be cast by someone of a higher cultivation rank

♪ I hear the shame of parting ♪

upon someone of a lower rank.

You're not very high-ranked.

♪ This immortal path admired by all ♪

It's normal you didn't sense it.

♪ Can exist, or not exist ♪

Since you consider me your senior,

I won't let you die.

♪ Once again I see the world's cold indifference ♪

I have matters to attend to and must leave the valley for a while.

♪ Bending what I've cherished all my life ♪

I won't be able to look after you.

After I leave,

♪ Illusions and vanity blind the eyes, how could one still care ♪

you must keep practicing the Fish Drinking Technique.

Don't slack off.

I will.

♪ To let all walk ♪

Mr. Lu.

♪ The road to immortality ♪

Is what you're going to do

♪ I fear not defying immortal laws and sacred precepts ♪

dangerous?

Not dangerous.

♪ Let sin be punished, let desire be destroyed ♪

♪ Yet the heart must never be forsaken ♪

I have to find him.

I need to see him.

Master Lu,

how is Changyuan's injury?

The wound has festered,

and the poison has spread to the vital organs.

If the Lord of Rust-Sword and Lu Zhanying

do not return with the Dragon Subduing Grass

before sunset,

I'm afraid

he won't make it through the night.

A black sandstorm has risen outside.

God knows when it'll pass.

I'm worried that even if they find the herb,

they won't be able to find their way back.

No.

I'll go find them.

Don't make things worse!

The storm is too strong!

No one can move through it!

Where are you going to find them?

Then what do we do now?

Found it!

Found it!

We found the Dragon Subduing Grass.

See if this is enough.

Take five qian and boil it into a decoction.

Boil three bowls down to one.

Then take some more, mash it,

and apply it to the wound.

Okay, I'll go.

I-I'll go with him.

[Caiyuan Inn]

Please have some tea.

Immortal,

do you need me for something?

I once heard you say

that you joined Dongting Mountain when you were young

and studied under the Crazy Taoist.

Is that true?

Absolutely true.

It's just

that you don't believe it.

Among the War Demons,

there is a technique called Descent,

which allows one to control another from afar.

As far as I know,

the Crazy Taoist also has

a similar secret art

called Spirit Projection.

As long as you've seen a person,

you can use this secret art

to project your spirit and will

onto them

and talk to them.

Then,

do you know how to do that?

Yes.

I use it on Craftsman Zhu and Shi Wen

all the time.

It's very convenient.

But it only works on

Zhu Dajian and Shi Wen when I use it.

It doesn't work on anyone else at all.

Why?

The first principle of Spirit Projection is that,

to use it,

one must find the gate to the other person's divine sense

within one's own spiritual sea of divine sense.

Understand?

No.

Simply put,

you have to

find the other person's

Gate of Divine Sense

within your own spiritual sea.

And

your divine sense must pass through that gate

and enter the other person's spiritual sea

before you can establish a connection with them.

Everyone we've ever encountered

leaves an imprint

upon our spiritual seas.

That's the so-called gate.

If you can identify

which gate belongs to whom,

you can perform Spirit Projection

and easily

find the person you're looking for.

But

the people we've met in our lives

are far too many.

Strangers count too?

They all count.

People you know and people you don't,

including street vendors,

pedestrians on the road,

and guests next door—

anyone you have ever laid eyes on

leaves a gate in your spiritual sea.

Think about it—

how many would that be?

Would you try them one by one?

It'd drain too much of your energy.

You simply couldn't endure it.

But

you've used it

to contact Zhu Dajian and Shi Wen before.

That's because I know them

very well.

And

I have the tokens

they usually use.

Besides,

they're usually not far from me,

so it's easy.

But your case is different.

Do you know the person

you are looking for well?

Do you know where he is?

I don't know him well.

Not at all.

And I have no idea where he is either.

But I must find him.

He's very important to me.

Can you help me?

Since you have no token

and don't know

the person's location,

we can only initiate

the Heaven-Offering Ritual.

The Heaven-Offering Ritual?

Yes.

Five jars of wine to honor the ancestors and offer to the gods.

Five cups of tea to clear the mind and sharpen sight.

Burn incense to offer to the heavens.

Borrow the power of the Five Elements

to project your spirit across thousands of miles.

Immortal, are you ready?

I'm ready.

I, Tai Shiqian, disciple of Dongting Mountain,

hereby solemnly declare to Heaven! I draw upon Heaven's power,

using the Five Elements as a medium to project the spirit across thousands of miles!

The ebb and flow of Yin and Yang are wondrous and infinite.

The solstices return to the Nine Palaces.

Should you fully grasp the principles of Yin and Yang,

heaven and earth shall be held in the palm of your hand!

Open!

Three to the left, seven to the right.

Nine crowns above, one treads below.

Two and four are the shoulders,

and six and eight are the feet.

Five rests at the center,

filling the core and making it whole.

[Xin Mei's Spiritual Sea]

Immortal, please remember:

you must remain calm and focused

and safeguard your primordial spirit.

If you truly cannot find the gate,

do not force it.