Original subtitles

[Episode 11]

Zhang Yue! If you fail to capture those two,

I'll make everyone in Hanshui Palace be buried with them!

Huo Xiao Mei? You arrived just in time.

Use your advantage.

Lead her away.

Miss Huo. Be careful of the Love Longing.

We can't keep fighting like this. We must find a way to escape.

Capture Zhi Hua.

Use him as a hostage.

What a bunch of useless fools.

Is that all the power your 'Little Compassion Palm' has?

Did you and Zhi Hua share the same master?

I won't dodge this time.

Come on, hit me right here.

Love Longing and Yin Yang An are both forged from magnets.

Fighting like this won't benefit anyone.

Hanshui Palace has been secluded for years.

Why have you become Zhi Hua's accomplice?

This is not our intention.

You're being threatened by Zhi Hua?

Where's Xiao Di? How is he?

- Xiao Di-- - Everyone, stop!

If you don't stop now,

I'll slit the throat of this 'Little Compassion Palm'.

Zhi Hua!

What are you doing now?

If you make another move,

I'll really do it.

Zhi Hua!

If I die...

how will you answer to He Bo?

Exactly. How will you explain it?

Move aside!

Murder!

I didn't expect you to be so useful.

After them!

Stop right there!

It's all thanks to Shen Zhong Yuan.

I finally got to eat Linglong Honey.

Shen Zhong Yuan's Pili Palm is not just an empty reputation.

Don't use your inner strength for the next few days.

That kick of yours was quite brutal.

Tell me the truth. Was that a personal vendetta?

- Yes. - You...

Zhan.

Is your wound bandaged?

I'm fine.

It's just a superficial wound. Don't worry.

I'm hurt too.

Right here. He kicked me.

Didn't you just have Linglong Honey?

Did you see Miss Yu Lian?

Many girls are indeed locked up there.

But I didn't see Yu Lian.

I heard from one of the girls

that she's with He Bo, the owner of Zhongxiao Pavilion.

She doesn't appear often.

Are they all right?

They're trapped in a mire,

struggling to survive.

How did you find out that Zhan Zhao and I were in danger at Zhongxiao Pavilion?

Zhan, you were right.

Hua Chong is indeed suspicious.

[Fenglai Pavilion]

Master Hua, you're leaving?

- Leaving so early this time? - I'll come for you tomorrow.

- All right. - Come back soon!

[Ruzhen Embroidery Shop]

Has anything strange happened lately?

Well, three people with strange behavior showed up.

Two men and one woman.

They even broke into the backyard.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me?

What's wrong, Master Hua?

I'm unwell.

- Where exactly are you feeling ill? - Don't ask too many questions.

Keep a low profile for a few days.

I won't be bringing any girls here for now.

Can you be more careful?

Don't let anything else go wrong, okay?

Master Hua, may I ask...

who exactly were those three people?

You don't need to worry about that.

No matter who they are,

once they enter Zhongxiao Pavilion,

there is no coming back.

Damn. I really underestimated that Hua Chong.

If I catch him again, I'll skin him alive!

I've already tied him up.

Fan is watching over him.

Not bad, Huo Xiao Mei.

Once this case is closed,

you can follow Zhan Zhao and work at Kaifeng Prefecture.

Who are these masters at Zhongxiao Pavilion that could actually wound you?

After I was separated from Bai Yu Tang,

I was led into a secret room, and encountered three swordsmen.

They fought with perfect coordination,

and were all controlled by the bells in Zhi Hua's hand.

They attacked relentlessly.

Once they pin you down, it's hard to escape.

And the strangest thing is the sword techniques they used...

One was the Dragon Roar Swordplay of Bawang Manor.

Another was the Lone Shadow Swordplay of Shengyun Manor.

And also, the Soaring Cloud Swordplay of Linglong Manor.

It seems Zhongxiao Pavilion...

is indeed more than just a place of luxury and pleasure.

Lord Zhan.

Fan.

We have confirmed that Yu Lian was indeed taken to Zhongxiao Pavilion.

Then is she all right now?

She is fine.

Tonight, we really had no way to bring her out.

But don't you worry.

Since we've confirmed Yu Lian is in Zhongxiao Pavilion,

we will definitely be able to save her.

Well.

Huo Xiao Mei was quite rough on you.

You've got a lot of nerve,

trying to play tricks on me.

I failed to recognize your true color before.

What? Should I be calling you Master Hua as well?

Bai Yu Tang,

Be smart and let me go now. Do you hear me?

Otherwise... Ah!

What? You want to hit me again?

You've beaten me all night, crazy woman!

You're addicted to it, aren't you?

You helped Zhongxiao Pavilion harm so many girls.

You're lucky I didn't just kill you with my sword.

Kill me?

Do you dare?

What did that scholar call him just now?

Lord Zhan.

- You... - Lord...

You're with the government, aren't you?

An official...

cannot commit murder.

Help! Help--

It's all right.

I'm not.

An inn like this is not a convenient place to hide a living person.

Besides,

Shao Ji Zu already knows where we are.

We must find a new place to stay.

Lord Zhan,

I have a distant relative in this town.

He moved to the capital a few months ago.

His residence happens to be vacant.

We can move there.

I think that's a good idea.

Tomorrow morning, I'll prepare a donkey cart

to take Hua Chong and Fan out through the back door.

Huo Xiao Mei,

when the city gates open tomorrow,

go with Zhan Zhao out of the city.

Leave the city?

Master Bai,

have you caught a cold?

Yeah, a cold.

A cold?

After finishing our business tomorrow, go to the pharmacy for some medicine.

[Jing Yi Ming, Master of Shangqing Sect]

[He Bo]

[Jing Xing Ze, Shangqing Sect]

Father!

Zhi Hua didn't discuss tonight's plan with me beforehand.

He caused this mess on his own.

Do you know what kind of people come to Zhongxiao Pavilion for pleasure?

You took it upon yourself to dismiss guests,

causing panic and leaving a total mess!

And yet, you failed to catch anyone.

Father,

Zhi Hua doesn't just disrespect you.

Just now, he even tried to have me killed.

Bai Yu Tang's blade was at my throat,

yet he deliberately provoked him, hoping Bai Yu Tang would kill me.

Regardless, disturbing the guests tonight...

was my mistake.

Please punish me, Master.

Take your men.

Clean up Zhongxiao Pavilion.

Ensure it can open for business tomorrow.

Master, right now Zhan Zhao--

Father,

I just remembered, I still have some matters to handle.

I'll go take care of it now.

Wait.

The invitations for the birthday banquet were just sent out,

but Ding Zhao Hui arrived today.

I've arranged for him to stay at the manor.

His early arrival is a bit suspicious.

Take a few men to keep an eye on him.

I understand.

Do you think I don't know what you're planning?

Do you think having Si Ming's support allows you to walk all over me?

Zhongxiao Pavilion has only one master, and that is me, He Bo.

Those improper thoughts of yours,

you'd better put them away.

I told you not to use the Great Compassion Palm lightly,

yet you used it so recklessly.

You want everyone to know that I taught you the secret skills of the Shangqing Sect?

Ruining my reputation,

what exactly do you gain from it?

I-I never intended to ruin your reputation, Master.

It's just that...

the Great Compassion Palm is the only skill I have to protect myself.

I've journeyed through the world for ages.

Without the Great Compassion Palm's protection,

I would have died many times over.

In a moment,

go and tend to your wound.

As for today's matter,

don't blame me for losing my temper.

The birthday banquet is approaching,

yet you caused such a commotion.

I'm afraid you'll ruin my plans.

It was precisely for your plans...

that I decided to strike tonight.

Zhan Zhao found Zhongxiao Pavilion so quickly.

I feared he'd follow the trail and uncover even more.

If that happened, your decade of painstaking efforts...

would all go down the drain.

Good for you.

To be so considerate of me.

Fine. Zhongxiao Pavilion will make an exception and close for a day to reorganize.

You go and focus on dealing with Zhan Zhao.

Once the birthday banquet is over,

and I finish what I have to do,

this identity as the leader of a prestigious sect...

I won't mind casting it aside.

What you desire,

I will eventually give it to you.

I understand, Father. I understand.

I only wish to help you achieve your great ambition.

Leave through the back door. Don't let anyone see you.

Madam, what was that?

[Mrs. Jing, Shangqing Sect] It was just a stray cat. Don't make a fuss.

I will have someone clear out the stray cats tomorrow,

so they don't disturb your peace.

No matter.

That little cat often plays in the front garden.

It must have been greedy for food and couldn't find its way home.

The door to the corridor is open now.

It only needs to walk out,

turn a few corners,

and it will reach the front garden.

Is there anything unusual?

Sir, nothing unusual.

Did you...

see anyone just now?

My Lord,

I only saw a stray cat darting across the roof.

And you?

My Lord,

I also only saw a stray cat.

Please! Spare my life! Spare my life!

I didn't do it on purpose.

They held a knife to my throat and forced me to do it.

Did they also hold a knife to your throat

and force you into Zhongxiao Pavilion?

W-W-What Pavilion?

Don't play dumb. Start talking.

Fine, fine. I'll talk.

Where do you want me to start?

Start with Yu Lian's disappearance.

Your County Magistrate,

though he took the case,

he was just going through the motions.

Did he already know about the goings-on in Zhongxiao Pavilion?

Yes.

Lord Li frequented Zhongxiao Pavilion.

So he knew Yu Lian had been abducted into there.

But he never intended to investigate.

He even warned us not to be meddlesome.

The trade market official is also a regular at Zhongxiao Pavilion.

Yes.

That trade market official often delivers intelligence to Zhongxiao Pavilion.

He is also an honored guest there.

That day, he went to see Lord Li in a panic,

saying the secret letter for He Bo had been stolen.

Lord Li was gloating at first,

until he realized his own token for entering Zhongxiao Pavilion was also missing.

So he...

So, so...

So he thought of Liu Hong Yi.

Liu often opposed him and went against him.

Liu's whereabouts were uncertain during those days,

so Lord Li concluded that Liu had secretly taken on Yu Lian's case,

and used it to investigate Zhongxiao Pavilion.

So Lord Li set a trap to arrest Liu Hong Yi.

He also planted the missing token in Liu's house,

along with...

along with the letters he exchanged with you.

Afterward, Lord Li handed him over to He Bo.

To save his own skin,

Lord Li didn't mention that it was his own negligence regarding Yu Lian's case

that led Liu Hong Yi to Zhongxiao Pavilion.

He simply said the trade market official got drunk

and talked too much at the court,

which drew Liu Hong Yi's attention and led to the theft of the secret letter.

Lord Li is quite clever.

He knew Liu would never refute his story

to protect Yu Lian and Fan.

You're quite clever too.

With your smooth talk,

you've cleared yourself of all blame.

I...

Liu Hong Yi was investigating Yu Lian's case...

you were the one who told the Magistrate?

That's why you became an honored guest there today.

Yes.

I was the one who told Lord Li

that Liu Hong Yi had rescued the scholar who reported the case.

That's why he gave me the token,

so I could enjoy myself at Zhongxiao Pavilion.

This... this is the token?

I've really told you everything I know.

I've held nothing back.

You haven't explained everything yet.

Keep talking.

I told you! I've told you everything I know! I really haven't held anything back!

Do you think you can hide the truth just because the victim can't testify?

Even if poison was used to interrogate Liu Hong Yi,

how did he get...

all those external injuries?

- I... - If you could find out the secret letter,

wouldn't that be a great achievement for you all?

But Liu Hong Yi kept his mouth shut no matter how much you tortured him.

That's why you were willing to hand him over to He Bo.

I...

You worked in the same office,

yet you were so cruel to Liu Hong Yi.

Was it truly because you had no choice under your superior's authority,

or can you simply not distinguish right from wrong?

Sir! Sir! I'm just trying to make a living at the magistrate's office.

Please spare me!

Zhan!

Don't be impulsive.

Zhan,

we will definitely find the truth and clear Constable Liu's name.

Within Xiangzhou's jurisdiction,

there must still be many honest and upright officials.

I'm afraid it's already rotten to the core.

Master Bai.

This way.

You're working so hard on the case,

yet you have to stay in a place like this.

Sorry for troubling you here.

This room has everything we need.

Besides,

People like us who drift around treat the sky as our blanket and the earth as our bed.

Don't worry about it.

Master Bai.

The pharmacy is open.

Go get some medicine quickly.

I'll brew them for you.

You certainly have many skills.

Not only can you make hangover soup, but you can also brew medicine.

Yu Lian and I lost our parents early.

We've supported each other since childhood.

But come to think of it,

as an older brother...

I've been quite inadequate.

Yu Lian suffered a lot because of me.

I really owe her so much.

It's a blessing for Yu Lian...

to have a brother like you by her side.

Don't talk about owing her anything.

Alright, Master Bai.

Go and get the medicine quickly.

Otherwise, Lord Zhan will scold you when he returns.

Fine.

[Ruzhen Embroidery Shop]

Master Bai.

Why are you here?

Shen Zhong Yuan's crazed state after being poisoned...

looks familiar, doesn't it?

The poison he has...

is the same one you used on my two sworn brothers, isn't it?

How many others have you controlled with this poison?

It is called Yemotian Poison.

Yesterday, I intended to use it on Zhan Zhao.

Unfortunately, I don't know what's so odd about him,

but he didn't succumb to it.

But no matter.

I still have your two sworn brothers in my hands.

Are my bargaining chips...

enough to you?

What do you mean?

If your two sworn brothers don't take the antidote soon...

I'm afraid they'll end up just like Shen Zhong Yuan.

The antidote that day was fake!

I never said that what you found on me...

was definitely the antidote.

You've been away from Xiankong Island...

for quite some time now, haven't you?

The poison should be flaring up again.

When you returned to Xiangzhou, you wrote to Xiankong Island to let them, right?

Your sister-in-law has already replied.

I passed by the inn just now.

So I picked up the letter for you.

Master Bai, you can't be so stupid as to think that teaching me a lesson on the street...

will get you the antidote.

What do you want me to do...

to get you to give me the antidote?

I want to know...

what Zhan Zhao has found out.

If you tell me,

I might consider...

giving you the antidote.

Of course, you don't have to answer now.

Come to Fenglai Pavilion at this time tomorrow to find me.

Then tell me...

if you'll agree to my terms.

Lord Zhan, Miss Huo.

You're back.

This man is a clerk from the Yicheng County office.

You should have met him before.

He revealed a lot of inside information about Zhongxiao Pavilion.

I'm afraid he'll be silenced if he returns,

so I brought him here to hide for a bit.

What are you doing?

Don't bother.

I won't say a word.

Are you keeping quiet...

because you think the people from Zhongxiao Pavilion will come to save you?

After tonight, if I don't show up,

they will definitely send someone for me.

Is that so?

You don't seem to be that important to them.

I am very important!

Without me helping them scout so many pretty girls,

I--

I'm afraid even if they come,

it won't be to save you.

Then... you mean...

they will silence you.

If I were them,

I wouldn't believe that you were beaten,

yet didn't reveal anything.

Then... then...

Then I'll tell you everything you want to know.

Can you save my life?

Whether your life can be saved isn't up to me.

But I do know...

that if you don't say anything now,

and wait until you're in court to speak,

it will be too late.

I'll speak.

I will.

What do you want to know?

Why does Zhongxiao Pavilion...

have two separate entrances?

Any differences between the guests entering from Fenglai Pavilion and the shop's backyard?

If you speak clearly,

it might help mitigate your crimes,

and lessen your suffering.

Fine.

I'll talk.

Those entering from Fenglai Pavilion hold iron tokens and are martial artists.

Those entering from the shop's backyard mostly arrive in sedan chairs.

Few people ever see their true faces.

So I'm not sure about their identities.

I only know they are distinguished guests of Zhongxiao Pavilion.

The tokens!

Even their tokens are different from everyone else's.

Their tokens are divided into three types: gold, silver, and bronze.

Of course, the gold tokens are the most prestigious.

Every time...

these guests show up,

they spend very generously.

So most of those girls...

are bought by them.

Do you know who these people are?

I'm not sure.

The seating in the hall is assigned by gold, silver, and bronze.

Those of us with ordinary tokens

never get a chance to speak with them.

You've been kidnapping girls...

so brazenly in Xiangzhou,

yet you were never caught?

Zhongxiao Pavilion forbade me from targeting girls from the local area.

They were afraid that if it was too close,

their families would come looking for them.

Originally, I would go to Jiangnan.

Kidnapping girls and bringing them here.

But I had bad luck and ran into Master Bai.

After he gave me a beating, I didn't dare go back there.

But Zhongxiao Pavilion was pressing me hard.

That's why I scouted two girls nearby to finish the job.

One of them...

was Yu Lian.

You kidnapped my sister--

Fan.

Shameless!

The relatives of those two girls all came to the embroidery shop looking for them.

I was scared to death back then.

However,

after so much time has passed...

I haven't heard of any major commotion.

- What's wrong? - Don't talk.

What's wrong with you?

It's nothing.

I'm checking how your wounds are healing.

By the way,

when I went to get the medicine just now,

I saw that Ruzhen Embroidery has closed its doors.

I'm afraid it's not just the shop.

After yesterday's incident, Zhongxiao Pavilion will likely suspend operations too.

If so, it will be even harder to investigate.

Even if they suspend operations,

the people from Hanshui Palace won't be able to stop.

They must be busy dealing with the fallout these few days.

We'll stake out the embroidery shop.

Watch their movements.

As for you, don't go.

Take your medicine and rest well.

Keep an eye on Hua Chong,

and take care of Fan.

[Hanshui Palace]

- Greetings, Granny. - Greetings, Granny.

Emissaries of Sun and Moon.

You said you had something to report.

What exactly is it?

Last night, we encountered Zhan Zhao at Zhongxiao Pavilion.

Zhan Zhao?

He's actually not dead?

Not only is he alive,

but he had help.

Zhan Zhao's courage is indeed second to none.

He even dared to barge into Zhongxiao Pavilion.

He Bo has operated in Xiangzhou for years.

His influence is not to be trifled with.

If Zhan Zhao wants to solve this case,

he'll have to suffer quite a bit.

In He Bo's territory,

if Zhan Zhao wants to investigate,

he is truly fighting a lonely battle.

- So I want... - You want to help him?

It's not that I want to help him.

I just want to help Hanshui Palace.

For a century, Hanshui Palace has been renowned.

Now we've stooped to associating with the likes of He Bo.

Risking our lives for his filthy business.

Over time,

people out there will surely mock us for aiding and abetting a villain.

Zhang Yue, do you feel mistreated

that I'm making you do these things?

Zhongxiao Pavilion is in the flesh trade.

They victimize women.

As a woman myself,

- how can I be their accomplice? - Impudent!

You are insulting me as well.

I wouldn't dare.

In the past,

someone like He Bo wouldn't even be worth a second glance from me.

But...

Chang Hong Bi is still missing.

Zhang Yue, you should know what would happen if we don't cooperate with He Bo,

what would become of Hanshui Palace?

Hanshui Palace's lifeblood is in someone else's hands.

We have no choice but to be at their beck and call.

As things stand,

in this contest between Zhan Zhao and He Bo,

there is no chance of Zhan Zhao winning.

If you help him recklessly and He Bo finds out,

it won't just be your life at stake.

The entire Hanshui Palace will be implicated because of you.

Zhang Yue,

do you understand?

I understand.

Everything has its priorities.

We must not lose the big picture for the sake of small gains.

Zhi Hua.

You called for me so urgently.

Is it because you have a lead on the matter I assigned to you?

Yes.

We have already discussed it.

To deal with Zhan Zhao, we must find out exactly what bargaining chips he holds.

There is one more thing.

I find it suspicious.

Liu Hong Yi is dead.

When Zhan Zhao arrived this time,

he didn't go to the Yicheng County Court.

But how did he follow

the clue of the secret letter

and find our Zhongxiao Pavilion in such a short time?

These two...

are the embroidery shop's shopkeeper and servant.

According to their confession,

in the past two months, Hua Chong kidnapped two girls near Xiangyang,

and sent them to our Zhongxiao Pavilion.

[Fan Yu Lian] Coincidentally,

their families both went to the embroidery shop to look for them.

You mean this Yu Lian,

and this...

[Hui Dai] Her stage name here is Hui Dai.

She's from Qingyuan County.

That Fan Yu Lian is from Yicheng County.

I've been to the courts of both counties.

Their families had both reported the disappearances.

The Qingyuan County Magistrate was quite efficient.

The person who reported it was silenced on the spot.

But the Yicheng County Magistrate...

So slow and indecisive,

allowing Liu Hong Yi to pursue the case.

My Lord!

Spare us, My Lord!

My Lord! My Lord!

Spare our lives, My Lord!

My Lord!

My Lord, spare us!

My Lord!

Well, this Yicheng Magistrate.

It seems he fooled us all.

I'm afraid Liu Hong Yi followed Yu Lian's case

all the way to Zhongxiao Pavilion.

Exactly.

He has already confessed to this.

After Liu Hong Yi died,

he sent men to stake out Yu Lian's house and Liu Hong Yi's house.

He wanted to silence the informant,

but he never caught anyone.

I believe this person has already been found by Zhan Zhao.

It was also this person who led him to the embroidery workshop,

causing us all this trouble.

Hua Chong has disappeared.

I'm afraid he has fallen into Zhan Zhao's hands.

Xing Ze.

Take some men and search all the ruined temples and abandoned houses in Xiangyang.

I don't believe we won't find those people.

- Yes, sir. - Zhi Hua.

Interrogate Yu Lian.

Find out if she has any relatives nearby.

Zhan Zhao might be hiding there with the others.

Yes, please hand Hui Dai over to me as well, Master.

I have something to ask her.

Why are you here?

Is something wrong?

I'm here to take over for Huo Xiao Mei.

I'm not tired.

Why do you look paler and paler?

You haven't been taking your medicine?

I...

What are they carrying?

Let's follow them.

Judging by the figure,

it looks like a woman.

This fell out of that girl.

Before that, if anyone picks you,

give them this.

You're not afraid of me anymore?

No.

I'll wait for you to come back and save us.

Hanshui Palace used to be quite reputable.

Now you've been reduced to doing He Bo's dirty work.

Harming an unarmed girl!

If I don't kill you today,

justice will not be served!

This girl wasn't killed by our Hanshui Palace.

Don't waste your time fighting with us.

He Bo already knows how you found the embroidery workshop.

The people you should protect...

must be hidden well.