Original subtitles

[Respect Copyright, Everyone's Responsibility]

[The Eternal Fragrance]

[Adapted from Shisilang's novel, The Eternal Fragrance]

[Episode 17]

Guard yourselves well

once you go inside.

Do not let the demonic energy

corrupt your minds.

This is a Linglong Talisman.

In times of danger,

you can use it to call nearby fellow disciples.

Remember,

never go off alone.

Set out now.

- Yes. - Yes.

Lifei, join my team.

I'll go with Zhaomin.

Let's go.

Zhaomin.

Alright. This mission is urgent.

Let's head in...

Looks like it's just the three of us

on this team.

Lei?

Fine.

Now we have four.

Let's go.

Everyone, don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Before I came, I performed a divination.

It said we'd turn danger into safety.

What's this?

Scratches.

It was bound by spirit-locking ropes.

It must have struggled desperately before death,

leaving marks that won't fade

for centuries.

It seems to be the Altar of Martyrs of Xingzheng Hall.

Even if they were demon scum,

this is a cruel death.

Why keep them

locked up here even after death,

humiliating them like this?

For centuries,

the immortal sects have known little about demons.

So the elders from the previous generation

captured many demons during the war

and imprisoned them here for interrogation,

hoping to find their weaknesses.

Did they find out anything?

They say demons fear not even death.

The elders got nothing.

Zhaomin, watch out!

Get down.

See? Danger turned to safety.

By the way,

have you heard about the Sea Calamity war

five hundred years ago?

I often hear the elders talk about it.

I've also read some books about it.

They all say our sects suffered heavy losses.

Didn't expect the demons to suffer just as badly.

Heaven and earth are indifferent,

treating all things like straw dogs.

The next Sea Calamity

is less than two years away.

It's a Linglong Talisman.

A fellow disciple is in danger!

Where are you guys?

Get away!

Lifei.

Lifei!

Help!

Yue?

Zhuyan?

How did this happen?

Oh no.

The disciples are still inside!

Guangwei!

Let's go.

You're awake.

Qin?

Lifei,

you were corrupted by demonic energy.

I'm healing you.

No.

No, thanks.

I have a Linglong Talisman.

A distant call won't help as fast as I can.

Let me help you.

Lifei, don't be afraid.

I really mean well for you.

You...

If you agree to be with me,

I'll treat you well.

When I become the head of Wuyue Court someday,

you'll stand above all others.

Get away!

Let go!

Let go!

Me?

Let go now!

I...

I want to...

Let go!

- I... - Let go!

I want to, but...

The Achillea Bead?

That's incredible.

Go!

Go now.

You were corrupted by demonic energy?

Wake up.

Wake up!

Xiuyuan.

Have you really fallen into demonhood?

Lifei.

Let's go.

It's Zhuyan! Found the source of demonic energy!

Lei!

Cailing.

Yue.

Too bad Zhuyan got away in the end.

It's okay.

Careful.

- Careful. - Go sit down.

Easy.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Everyone, move!

Get out of the way!

Jiang Lifei

is a demon spy!

Demon spy?

A spy?

She's a demon spy?

I knew it.

No wonder...

I could tell something was off about her.

Right!

Master,

I saw

Jiang Lifei resonate with the skeleton of that Lion-Eagle.

I thought she had been corrupted by demonic energy

and wanted to help her.

But she attacked me.

The technique was strange.

Nothing like what we practice here.

You're projecting!

If you thought something was wrong with me,

why didn't you use the Linglong Talisman to summon our sect members

instead of knocking me out?

Oh my!

You all heard that, right?

My disciple was knocked out by him!

Lifei,

are you still feeling unwell?

Yes, Master.

You have no idea.

My head is still spinning.

See?

Why

did you knock out Lifei?

What were you trying to do?

Elder Chongyi,

you can't trust

the words of a spy.

Qin's ability and character

are well known to everyone.

If he truly had feelings for Jiang,

he wouldn't need to resort to such tricks.

Perhaps someone was seducing him.

Guangwei, Baifu,

are you bullying us just because

we have fewer people on Zhuiyu Peak?

Qin,

how are you so sure that Lifei

is a demon spy?

She can absorb spirit energy.

Just like that traitor's evil spirit-draining technique.

Elder Cuixuan,

if Lifei were truly a demon spy,

would she have risked her life

fighting Zhuyan?

Yue was there too.

Please tell everyone

what happened, Yue.

I was knocked unconscious by Zhuyan.

When I woke up, Zhuyan had already fled.

I don't know

what happened in between.

You...

Here's the thing.

Lifei's techniques

were all taught by me.

Some of them are indeed a bit unconventional.

As for absorbing spirit power,

Qin,

you must be mistaken.

Ever since Lifei absorbed

the Achillea Bead's spirit power,

she's had trouble controlling the energy inside her.

So Qin was likely injured

by the Achillea Bead's power.

It's a misunderstanding.

Since both sides stick to their own stories,

let's take this to the punishment hall.

Truth

will reveal itself then.

Cuixuan.

I have a way

to find out the truth.

Are you willing to try?

I am.

So...

So am I.

I recently came across a Lingzhi.

It has a peculiar effect.

It makes people speak the truth.

Lifei, you go first.

Lifei,

how did you meet Qin Yangling?

Qin said he wanted to heal me.

I wanted to use the Linglong Talisman,

but he tried to knock me out.

And he said

if I agreed to be with him,

when he became the head of Wuyue Court someday,

I'd stand above all others.

I tried to fight back, and he ran off.

Elder Dongyang,

Master,

I was wrong.

But I really was trying to heal Lifei.

Somehow, I was overcome by dark thoughts.

I don't know what came over me.

And I don't know why

I have come to covet Lifei.

What did you do to Lifei?

Speak!

Speak!

You admit you assaulted Lifei?

I...

I don't remember.

You wretch!

I'll strip your cultivation right now!

Cuixuan, calm down!

Qin has always been upright.

It must be the overwhelming demonic energy within the valley

that made him lose his mind.

This could be the work of the demon spy as well.

Demons are cunning and deceitful.

Before we get to the bottom of this,

we must not fall for their tricks

and weaken our own ranks.

Fine.

Very well.

Let's

just pretend Lifei

was never wronged

or mistreated.

Let's just drop it!

Your resolve was weak,

so the demons took advantage!

Go to Yunhai Peak now

for punishment and reflection!

The demon beast Zhuyan has escaped.

Notify all nine states' sects

to spare no effort in tracking it down!

Who's there?

Lei Xiuyuan?

What are you doing?

I said

anyone who dares to hurt Lifei

will die by my hand.

Lei, I didn't mean it.

If you kill me,

the elders won't let you go.

And it'll drag Lifei into it.

Shut up!

You don't deserve to say her name.

How do you have demonic energy on you?

No.

You were tainted by demonic energy

and went berserk,

and I was forced to kill you

to root out the demon spy.

Die!

You dare bully my disciple?

You're asking for it!

He deserves to die.

Sir, why are you stopping me?

Cuixuan is already suspicious

of you and Lifei.

Just don't stir up more trouble, alright?

Did you pick up

some demonic energy in Lilie Valley too?

Go back and expel it with your cultivation.

That snake Qin Yangling.

He hid his true colors so well all along.

Elder Cuixuan is obviously protecting his own.

And worst of all,

they even accused Lifei of seducing him.

Come on, look at Lifei,

who could she even seduce?

Lifei, take it easy.

Drink slowly.

There's more in the kitchen.

Appearances are deceptive.

Lei Xiuyuan is a good one, though.

He stood up to protect you just now.

If Lifei were truly a demon spy,

would she have risked her life?

Lifei,

how did you and Lei run into Zhuyan?

And how did it escape later?

We just ran into it.

Then, when everyone showed up,

it ran off.

Have you ever considered this?

Without a spy helping from the inside,

how did that scumbag Zhuyan escape?

You all know Zhuyan, right?

It's one of the four great demon beasts.

With it on the loose,

who knows how many sect disciples will suffer?

Peaceful days are over.

Xiuyuan.

Lifei?

I came to ask you something.

Don't overthink it.

Go ahead.

Are you hiding something from me?

That time in the academy's forbidden area.

And this time too.

Every time you're corrupted by demonic energy,

you react strangely.

And

your eyes

turn golden.

And at the Altar of Martyrs.

Were those skulls

and black demon spirits

summoned by you?

Fine, don't tell me.

Anyway, after Lilie Valley,

we're even.

Let's just stay out of each other's way

and keep our distance.

I've been a spirit magnet since childhood.

I'm not like others.

My master said

that no two people are exactly alike.

No need to force everyone to be the same.

Watch out for yourself.

Lifei.

Leave with me.

What did you say?

Let's leave together.

Go back to Qingqiu.

The Sea Calamity and the demons

have nothing to do with us.

You're talking nonsense. Let go.

Lifei, you said

you didn't want to be bullied.

You want to sleep soundly and live freely.

But we're not living freely here.

Your senior brother isn't here.

Your master isn't here.

Why stay?

Let's leave together.

I won't hurt you again.

We'll leave now.

Let go...

How dare you, you wretch!

Are you trying to follow in Hu Jiaping's footsteps?

Well,

sir,

Elder Dongyang's medicine for Lei

has been delivered.

I'll be leaving now.

You're blinded by lust

and refuse to learn.

I'd rather strip your cultivation myself

than let you betray the sect

like Hu Jiaping.

Reflect on yourself here.

Can't you control her?

First, she messed with Qin

and got him banished to Yunhai Peak.

Now she is targeting my disciple at Yaogang Peak

and nearly talked him into eloping!

Guangwei,

how can you say that?

She was just visiting him out of concern.

Spare me!

I'm telling you,

tell Jiang Lifei

to stay away from Yaoguang Peak!

I can't control that.

Young people's affairs are beyond me.

I can't just lock my disciple up

in Danxue every time like you do.

Your disciple can be content with mediocrity.

But Lei Xiuyuan carries great responsibility.

I don't want to see him expelled!

Then expel him.

I'll take him.

He's here often enough anyway.

Chongyi,

the Sea Calamity is coming.

How long can you shield them?

Have you forgotten what happened 500 years ago?

When we're gone,

who will protect them?

Only through dedicated cultivation

can we truly help them.

Jiang Lifei has a unique constitution.

She's your disciple.

It's fine if you want to protect her.

But can you really not see

that she's different from others?

When the Sea Calamity comes,

creatures across the sea will invade the Central Plains.

Suspicion

will spread among the people.

Who will be able to protect her then?

Across the sea?

Golden eyes?

Spirit-attracting?

Are there such constitutions across the sea?

Gelin.

Why aren't you training?

Why train?

Might as well end it all.

Why waste the time?

Since you haven't made up your mind,

live each day

to the fullest.

Whether life is long or short,

it should be lived without regret.

What are you talking about,

Lu?

I'm still young,

and you're cursing me to die?

You're not going to try... again?

I mean, I can already summon spirits.

More training is just a waste of time.

Spirit summoning is the hardest technique of the Sea Sect.

You really mastered it?

You don't believe me?

How about this?

Let's make a bet.

If I've really mastered it,

you give me something.

Deal.

Lu,

that pendant of yours is nice.

Give it to me.

Are you sure you want it?

I...

I was joking.

Oh, Lu,

do you know if anyone

across the sea has golden eyes?

Or a spirit-attracting constitution?

I don't know about spirit-attracting.

But golden eyes...

They say the Demon Lord Yecha

had golden eyes.

Demon Lord Yecha?

Wait,

the Demon Lord is hideous.

How could Lei Xiuyuan be him?

Gelin probably got it wrong.

Forget it.

I'll look it up myself.

Oh, right,

Master has a book about the lands across the sea.

What's that sound?

Cuixuan, the Pangu Bell is ringing.

Has something big happened?

The disciples tracking Zhuyan report

that it has broken into the Outcast Tomb at White Cliff.

I knew

that Outcast Tomb across the sea

would eventually bring disaster.

If only back then...

Don't bring up the past.

The Outcast Tomb has been sealed for centuries,

and no one has set foot there.

Even those who stumbled in

never came back.

No one knows

what's inside to this day.

After all that effort to dodge the immortal sects' pursuit,

Zhuyan fought its way into the Outcast Tomb.

Why?

The Outcast Tomb is full of traps.

Perhaps the most dangerous place

is the safest in the entire Central Plains.

That

could be the demons' stronghold.

This is a serious matter.

Whether it's a stronghold

or a trap,

I'm going there myself

to get to the bottom of it.

Lifei.

Lifei?

Lifei?

Enjoy reading it?

Can't read a character of it. What is all this?

Master.

Silly girl.

What book is that?

You were so absorbed

that you didn't even notice me come in.

I picked it up by the roadside somewhere.

The demons across the sea are about to invade.

So I'm doing some research.

You can read this?

I can read anything.

You know, this book

is quite detailed.

It even covers secret histories

like the Outcast Tomb across the sea.

Outcast Tomb?

What place is that?

That's actually why

I came to see you today.

Remember that Zhuyan who escaped

a while back?

That scumbag

has holed up in the Outcast Tomb at White Cliff.

Cuixuan wants to

take a group of elite disciples there.

Do you think you'd be left out?

So

I think you need to fall sick starting today

and stay sick until they get back.

Get it?

Master is tied to the world across the sea.

I should take this chance to find out more.

We are facing a massive threat.

How can I pretend to be sick and hide?

What's with the outburst? Have you lost your mind?

Last time it was for the Achillea Bead.

What is it this time?

Master,

you just said

all the disciples are going.

So Lei Xiuyuan will be going too.

How can I miss that?

I feel like I'm losing control over you.

Fine.

I'll give you a protective sword.

White Cliff is dangerous.

Be careful in everything.

If you run into something you can't handle,

don't push yourself.

Run straight back

to Zhuiyu Peak.

Remember,

once you're back here,

no one can hurt you.

Still won't admit you're wrong?

Do you really want me to destroy your spirit root

and strip your cultivation?

I'm not wrong.

Why should I admit it?

Zhuyan has fled to White Cliff.

Go with Cuixuan

and make up for your mistake.

Come in,

Lei.

Why did Zhuyan head to White Cliff?

How would I know?

You let it out.

How can you not know?

Zhuyan's chains were deliberately cut.

You called for help,

but your breathing was steady

and didn't falter for a second.

And that last whistle

was you too.

Yue,

what are you after?

What am I after?

You, of course.

Who are you really?

When you reach White Cliff,

you'll know everything.

Aren't you afraid I'll tell Master all of this?

I know

you won't.

He's here too.

What a pain.

He's done reflecting already?

He's trying to make up for his mistake

and make this all go away.

No wonder my divination last night warned me

about a backstabber on this trip.

[The Eternal Fragrance]

[Adapted from Shisilang's novel, The Eternal Fragrance]

♪I trade all the mortal world's splendor♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Our fates intertwined, embracing yet fighting♪

♪The hardest bond to balance♪

♪Obsessed and struggling, a thousand thoughts arise♪

♪Love sprouts again in this lifetime♪

♪No calamity can rival the lingering thread of a fragrance♪

♪With you, through mountains falling and seas turning to sand♪

♪Withered branches burst into bloom♪

♪Hand in hand on the Naihe Bridge♪

♪Past the pagoda, in fine robes on galloping horses♪

♪Always, at the very end of obsession♪

♪Comes that one moment of softness♪

♪Betrayed by all, I still reign supreme♪

♪With you, we melt into mist and haze♪

♪I trade the highest heaven and endless clouds♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Pierced by countless arrows, pain and illness pile on♪

♪Yet I remain silent♪

♪Deep love and long yearning, a kiss falls into a dream♪

♪In the distant night, bitterness blooms♪

♪The grand chapter is rewritten, startling the whole world♪

♪With you, through mountains falling and seas turning to sand♪

♪Withered branches burst into bloom♪

♪Hand in hand on the Naihe Bridge♪

♪Past the pagoda, in fine robes on galloping horses♪

♪Always, at the very end of obsession♪

♪Comes that one moment of softness♪

♪Betrayed by all, I still reign supreme♪

♪If the seal can't be broken, then let it go♪

♪Where the heart finds peace, there is home♪

♪Side by side, we fly through seas of clouds♪

♪Break through the waves; the heart's ocean knows no shore♪

♪Always, at the very end of fate♪

♪Comes that one moment of defiance♪

♪In the human world or above, like flowing water and falling petals♪

♪Let this fleeting life be whatever it may♪