Original subtitles

(The tassel crowns the knight. The sword is snow white.)

(In the silver saddle, he rides like a shooting star.)

(He kills a man within ten steps. Invincible he is all the way ahead.)

(He would leave once it's done. No trace of him is to be found.)

=Sword Snow Stride= (Season 1)

=Episode 18=

(Solitary Central Plains)

(Xiangfan, Qingzhou)

Come and have a look.

(Xiangfan)

Hot steamed stuffed buns.

Hot steamed stuffed buns.

Bamboo ware.

Bamboo ware for sale.

Sir, buy some.

Umbrellas.

Miss.

Durable umbrellas.

Have a look.

(Solitary Central Plains)

Let's go over there.

Good tea.

Delicious rice cake.

Come and have a look.

What's wrong?

Vintage wine.

Nothing.

- The scene evokes your memories? - Come.

Let's buy some vegetables.

Why can it evoke my memories?

- If I remember correctly, - See you, sir.

- Xiangfan used to be a big town of Chu. - Come after you drink it up.

- You were the Princess of Chu. - What's this?

- Now you're revisiting this town. - Celery.

It looks good.

You must be touched.

It's indeed good.

- I'm no longer a princess. - This is good.

Come and have a look.

Broil it with some salt for dinner.

Now, I'm only a maid.

Welcome next time.

I visited this town when I was little.

At that time, people on the street

spoke the accent of Chu.

Not the accent is gone,

but people are gone.

Xu Xiao besieged Xiangfan for three years

with 100 thousand soldiers.

People of Chu vowed to fight until they died.

Even civilians guarded the town spontaneously.

When the town was broken into,

less than ten thousand people

were still alive

when there used to be 200 thousand people in Xiangfan.

Later, people from other towns migrated to Xiangfan

so that the town prospered again.

Xu Xiao came here after the war.

He said,

hundreds of thousands of ghosts were buried

behind the bustling streets

and they wailed mournfully every night.

Why did you say this?

To show off your father's invincibility

in attacking cities?

Xu Xiao didn't say that

to show off.

Why did he say that, then?

Actually, there's no such a thing as a ghost in the world.

The ghosts he talked about

weren't buried in Xiangfan,

but in his heart.

They've been haunting him forever.

Slayer Xu Xiao.

People only know his prestige.

None of them knows

how many ghosts are there in his heart.

Is he regretting it?

No.

He's on guard.

He's reminding himself.

He wants to tell himself

that he must stop the wars to break out again

at whatever cost.

He wants to protect the peaceful world.

So,

North Liang Army matters most to him.

What about you?

I'm different from him.

I won't be like him.

If I can't even protect important people around me,

what's the point

of the world

or the big plan?

Come and have a look.

Childish.

You're childish.

You're the most childish.

Who says childish will be childish.

You. Just you!

You're child...

Next,

where are we going?

I know where the henchmen of our family are hiding.

Let me take you to them.

Don't bother.

Why?

What kind of man is Lord of Jing'an?

I'm afraid

he has cleared away the henchmen of your family.

What are you going to do then?

Where's the best inn in Xiangfan?

Go straight

and turn right after two intersections.

We're going to the inn.

You're going to the Mansion of Lord of Jing'an.

Why am I going there?

To take revenge?

To take a message.

What?

(Xiangfan)

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an)

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an, Xiangfan)

Father.

Have you realized what mistake you made?

I didn't expect

that Xu Fengnian got so many masters around him.

That's not the point.

Behind him

is North Liang.

Take your seat.

I know killing Xu Fengnian

is like poking a hornets' nest.

But don't worry, Father.

I've arranged the scapegoat.

Even if I failed,

I wouldn't be in trouble.

That's why

you killed Commander Wei's son?

Wei Dong complies in appearance but opposes in the heart.

He's the spy planted in the navy.

When I killed his son for Xu Fengnian's case,

we can warn him

and frighten the navy.

I've been telling you

to read more Buddhist scriptures

and cultivate yourself.

Why do you always have

such a strong intent to kill?

I've killed his son already.

The court

always thinks highly

of North Liang.

The legal son of the Lin family assassinated Xu Fengnian.

How did they end up?

They were exterminated.

You think

the case can be over

when Wei Dong's son is dead?

What do you think I should do?

Wei Dong

has only one son.

He always cares for his son.

His son died before him.

How miserable!

Why not

let them die all together

so that they can

take care of each other in heaven?

You're saying...?

So far,

Wei Dong's family has been dead

with his son.

You've killed all his family?

Only in this way

can we

close the case.

The Wei family is pitiful.

I have

given an order.

Someone

will hold the funeral

for them.

I'm kind of doing a good deed.

So,

I've told you before.

You must

always be merciful.

You,

learn more

and think more.

My Lord,

a guard from Xu Fengnian

has sent a message at the gate.

What is it?

Xu Fengnian

invited you to the inn.

Tell him

that I'm too busy reading scriptures and practicing Buddhism

to go out of home for the moment.

Yes.

Also,

the guard who has sent the message

is Third Graduate Lin.

He isn't dead?

Mm.

I wondered why the guard looked so familiar

who used Chixia Swordplay.

Father,

they're deceiving His Majesty.

His Majesty ordered to exterminate the Lin family.

We can deal with North Liang with it.

Pretend we don't know this.

See him out of our mansion.

Yes.

Father,

even if we don't arrest Lin,

you should at least check out what Xu Fengnian will say.

He represents North Liang, after all.

If you don't go see Xu Fengnian,

arrest Lin, first.

Ignore him.

Young Master of North Liang is here in Xiangfan,

but we're going to ignore him?

Where's the student

who offers advice to you?

He said he would come and visit me.

Sit and wait, then.

Let's wait until he comes.

At this moment,

Xu Fengnian is more important.

Why must you wait for a student in Shangyin Academy?

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an)

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an)

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an)

(Mansion of Lord of Jing'an)

I came by appointment,

to relieve anxiety

for His Lordship and His Highness.

I didn't see Lord of Jing'an.

I was told that he was busy reading scriptures

to come out of home for the moment.

It doesn't matter.

Let's just wait.

Will we just live in Xiangfan like this

until Lord of Jing'an comes to us?

We can just visit the town.

You're indeed not afraid of death.

This is the lair of Lord of Jing'an.

He can kill you whenever and wherever possible.

He won't kill me for the moment.

Zhao Heng is cunning.

He's waiting for news.

What news?

News from the capital.

What does it have to do with you?

Read it.

Still one coin for a word?

Always the fair price.

Greetings, My Lord, Your Grace,

and Your Highness.

We've met once.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Let's just get to the point.

Yes, My Lord.

You want to kill Xu Fengnian by my hand?

Let me correct it.

I will help you

to kill Xu Fengnian.

Why must I kill him?

I explained last time.

If Xu Fengnian is killed, Xu Xiao will rebel without doubt.

Only when the world falls into chaos

can you bring order out of chaos

and take back the supreme throne.

I know.

Han Diaosi is your master.

As the commander of eunuchs,

he's proud and insolent.

But he instructed you

without reservation.

He even gave you Fujiang Armor

which was his shield.

Why?

I guess

you know the answer.

Because your family name is Zhao.

Your mother died early.

After that, Han Diaosi sent you

to the capital.

Then, he sent you to Shangyin Academy.

The Academy always strictly investigates the family background of students.

You're the only exception.

No one has asked who your father is.

Who do you think

my father is, My Lord?

The Emperor.

Speaking of it,

you should call me Uncle.

I'm not recorded in the ancestral temple.

I'm not

one of the royal family.

Right.

If the world is in peace,

you will never be admitted to the capital.

But once the world is in chaos,

you'll have a chance.

Zhao Kai,

you don't want to kill Xu Fengnian

for me,

but for yourself.

There're benefits for you and me.

Like I said,

only when the world falls into chaos

can you return

to the capital.

Somebody!

Take him

to the dungeon.

Wait.

If someone from the martial world kills Xu Fengnian,

Xu Xiao will have no reason

to blame you for that.

I witnessed the masters around Xu Fengnian.

I've gathered martial artists

who are able to kill him.

I'm just waiting

until you make up your mind.

Father,

he made sense.

If the world is in chaos,

you'll have a chance.

We can't risk our lives

simply for a small gain.

It's not a small gain.

We're not in a hurry to decide whether we'll kill Xu Fengnian.

Let's wait for the news.

What news?

Xu Xiao has been traveling at top speed.

He's arriving in the capital soon.

When he heads for the capital alone,

isn't he seeking his doom?

So,

don't be impatient.

If Xu Xiao is killed in the capital,

we can kill Xu Fengnian

to make perfection still more perfect.

If Xu Xiao isn't killed,

why do we bother

sticking our necks out?

The royal family treats Xu Xiao as the one to cause chaos.

Once he arrives in the capital,

he will be killed.

If he's sure to be killed,

why is he rushing to the capital?

Calm down

and wait for the news.

(Official Posthouse, Capital of Liyang)

(Zhang Julu, the prime minister of Liyang)

Grand Commander,

what a coincidence!

Prime Minister Zhang.

Long time no see.

You came all the way to the capital.

Why haven't you entered the town?

I just saw the tree.

It reminded me of the old days.

How can the tree

remind you of the old days?

When my wife and I came to the capital for the first time,

we rested under the tree.

We even made a mark

on it.

So,

you're missing your wife?

She's been dead.

Luckily, the tree is still here.

It's kind of

a souvenir to me.

Cut it down.

It's such a precious tree.

You'd better take it back to North Liang

so that you can see it every day

and miss your wife.

Prime Minister,

you travel with axes?

I only take some axes today.

Isn't it a coincidence?

It is.

It's quite a coincidence.

Let's get into the town.

Don't stop

until you cut it down!

(Zhang Julu provoked...)

(Xu Xiao gave way.)

I'm all right.

This is Xu Xiao?

News just came

that outside the city gate,

Prime Minister Zhang prevailed over him.

This is the capital,

not North Liang.

It's the imperial palace.

I don't think he dare to be aggressive.

Go.

I'm Xu Xiao.

I ask to meet His Majesty.

Grand Commander, please wait here for a moment.

You came to the palace with your blade and horse.

How arrogant you are!

In such an important place,

you'd better behave yourself.

Who are you?

Grand Master for Splendid Happiness,

(Liu Tiren, third-rank master of Liyang) Liu Tiren.

Oh, sub-third rank?

The old system is adopted!

The Grand Master for Splendid Happiness

is sort of the third rank!

Oh, sort of?

You're indeed powerful.

Powerful.

I'm not talking about power,

but etiquette.

Oh.

Come on.

It's not only about the robe.

You shouldn't carry the blade, either.

What's this?

The python pattern, clearly.

Python pattern?

How many claws?

Five claws?

According to the etiquette,

who dare

to wear a five-claw robe?

Relatives of the royal family.

The blue robe is usually for lords

with a different surname.

Can a lord with a different surname

carry a blade to the court?

Bestowed by His Majesty,

I can take the blade to the court.

It's an imperial favor from His Majesty.

As a third-rank official,

you want me to take away my blade?

Here it is.

I...

I was just reminding you.

Reminding me?

When a third-rank official

meets a lord,

should he kneel?

You keep talking about etiquette,

but you behave against it.

Mr. Liu, you're having greater authority

than the favor from His Majesty.

Ridiculous!

Don't talk nonsense!

How dare you beat me!

I just want that.

Somebody!

Help!

Somebody!

Help!

Liu Tiren.

He fishes for fame.

He wants to get an upright reputation by using Xu Xiao.

How sinister!

Does he really think

Xu Xiao is scared of me?

Have a message sent to Qingzhou

to Lord of Jing'an.

We don't do something because we're forced to,

but because we want to.

Help me!

Do you know

why I didn't make a fuss

with Zhang Julu?

Because he's the Prime Minister?

It's not because of his position.

Zhang Julu

serves His Majesty,

regardless of his own life.

I have

a little admiration for him

more or less.

As for you,

you're simply asking for trouble.

Come on.

Let's continue.

Come on.

Grand Commander.

Grand Commander.

(Fengtian Hall)

(Monk Yang Taisui) Greeting, Grand Commander.

Yang Taisui.

Grand Commander,

what are you doing?

I was bored waiting.

I just beat him for fun.

Beating a third-rank official for fun?

He...

He was brave.

Grand Commander,

His Majesty is feeling unwell

and he can't see you for the moment.

Oh.

You,

walk me out.

Come on.

Yang Taisui.

Look at you.

I'm increasingly admiring you.

Kings and bears often worry their keepers.

But you've kept His Majesty company for decades.

If you live for another twenty or thirty years,

you will have served three dynasties.

Then you'll be the real Grand Abbot.

I'm an ordinary monk

without an official position.

Monk?

There's no ordinary monk like you.

Think about it.

How long has it been since we last met?

Yeah.

It's been many years since you came to the capital last time.

I'm getting old

and I'm getting more cowardly.

You? Cowardly?

Mm.

You beat a third-rank official in front of Fengtian Hall.

If you were cowardly,

no one in this world

could be bold.

By the way,

is His Majesty

really sick

or does he not want to see me?

Don't you know?

Tell me.

Well,

how long do I have to wait

before he wants to see me?

It depends on

how your son leaves Qingzhou.

You old pal.

You told me the truth!

So,

among millions of people in the capital,

you're my only friend.

I can be your friend

as long as you don't touch my head.

Right.

It's said

that two things can't be touched.

The buttocks of a tiger

as well as

your head.

Here it goes again.

Go, go, go.

Let's go play chess.

Go.

(Zhang Julu provoked outside the capital. Xu Xiao gave way.)

Zhang Julu provoked outside the capital.

Xu Xiao gave way.

Prime Minister Zhang...

Everybody knows

that he's very ambitious.

What he wants to do most

is to dethrone the lords.

How dare he!

Royal clans like us are not his first target.

North Liang is the first

he wants to handle.

Xu Xiao?

Zhang Julu provoked Xu Xiao outside the capital,

to force Xu Xiao to fight him.

Once Xu Xiao kills the Prime Minister,

His Majesty has no choice,

but to execute him.

Doesn't Zhang Julu care for his own life?

He will risk his life for fame.

That's what intellectuals do, isn't it?

However,

even though

Zhang Julu has different political views,

Xu Xiao and I

kind of admire him.

Xu Xiao has been in the capital.

Why hasn't His Majesty killed him yet?

His Majesty?

My second eldest brother...

He's far-sighted.

If Xu Xiao dies in the capital,

North Liang Army will rebel.

He wants Xu Xiao to die of old age

so that the playboy Xu Fengnian will take the throne.

When there's civil strife in North Liang,

he'll draw some generals over and drive a wedge.

He doesn't need to send even a single soldier

before North Liang breaks down.

So, His Majesty disagrees with Zhang Julu?

Yes, or why would Zhang Julu

provoke Xu Xiao outside the capital

when he was always calm?

He did that

to drive Xu Xiao into the impasse.

No wonder

Xu Xiao didn't fight Zhang Julu.

Xu Xiao is quite crafty.

He won't easily be tricked.

Xu Xiao arrived in the capital a couple of days ago.

Why does His Majesty still refuse to see him yet?

He's waiting for our action.

Our action?

This is a message

from Zhang Julu.

We don't do something because we're forced to,

but because we want to.

What does it mean?

There are five kinds of rites.

The sacrificial rite is the most important.

We offer the sacrificial rite

not because we're forced to,

but because we want to.

It's about the sacrificial rite.

Not because we're forced to, but because we want to.

Zhang Julu is reminding me

that we shouldn't take action forcibly,

but spontaneously.

What action?

He's urging me

to kill Xu Fengnian spontaneously.

What?

His Majesty doesn't meet Xu Xiao,

because he's waiting to see

what Xu Fengnian will suffer in our place.

North Liang and we

have been at a stalemate for a long time.

If Xu Fengnian

leaves Xiangfan so easily,

His Majesty will suspect

that we've joined hands with North Liang secretly.

If we kill Xu Fengnian,

His Majesty will be relieved.

We offer the sacrificial rite...

The sacrificial

refers to the death of Xu Fengnian.

So,

Zhang Julu made sense.

Shall we kill Xu Fengnian?

If we kill Xu Fengnian,

North Liang will certainly rebel.

By then, His Majesty is very likely

to apologize to Xu Xiao

with my life.

Prime Minister Zhang

has got a good plan.

He wants me to kill Xu Fengnian.

When Qingzhou and North Liang are both destroyed,

his plan to dethrone lords

will proceed without hindrance.

Zhang Julu is quite vicious.

Doesn't he fear he'll be involved?

He just sent us a message

without a distinct saying.

He won't be involved.

What a man!

We're stuck in a dilemma, aren't we?

We should neither kill Xu Fengnian nor keep him alive.

What do we do?

Now that

all parties are watching me,

let me do something.

Get the carriage ready.

My wife and I

are going to meet Xu Fengnian.

She's going, too?

(Solitary Central Plains)

(Yuelai Inn)

What's wrong?

Someone unkind has come.

He's waiting in the backyard.

Go tell His Highness.

Miss Chudong, why did you come alone?

Where's Uncle Wang?

Your Highness, you've got enough beautiful girls.

I'm not good enough for you.

Please let me go.

What?

You want her?

No.

It's none of my business.

My father said so, too.

You don't believe me?

If you were me, would you believe it?

If you hadn't asked for me,

why would my father had made me leave with you

after he met you once?

Lord of Jing'an has arrived.

He's waiting for you in the back room.

At last.

Did he come alone?

He came with his wife and his son Zhao Xun.

A lot of guards, as well.

All right.

I'll be right back.

Don't worry.

When I'm back,

I'll explain to you.

I'll be waiting here.

I hear Lord of Jing'an loves his wife most.

Does it bother you?

It's very important.

Exactly.

Everyone in Qingzhou knows

Lord of Jing'an treats Consort Pei Nanwei as a treasure.

Everybody in Qingzhou knows that?

Yes, everybody.

Pei Nanwei is his second wife, right?

His first wife died many years ago.

Now, Pei Nanwei is his consort.

I see.

Hey.

Would you like to go and meet Lord of Jing'an?

What's the fun of that?

When I don't need to read,

I would rather go out for a stroll.

Let's go.

His Lordship is expecting Young Master Fengnian.

Irrelevant persons should stay away.

Wait.

Why are you closing the door?

Ning Emei,

don't be rude.

♪ The flower of pain ♪

♪ Blooms in my heart ♪

♪ I made a bet with the dawn ♪

♪ That you'll answer ♪

♪ Forgive this tragic end ♪

♪ Moved by the moment we met ♪

♪ In spite of thunder and lightning ♪

♪ In spite of my falling ♪

♪ When we are apart ♪

♪ I'll collapse ♪

♪ Capture an image of the memory ♪

♪ After all these ups and downs ♪

♪ The vanity ♪

♪ Who will open it again ♪

♪ It's worth it ♪

♪ It's enough ♪

♪ Drowned in sadness ♪

♪ Just to see through ♪

♪ I will whisper love to you ♪

♪ For a lifetime ♪

♪ End the worry in the world ♪

♪ It's worth it ♪

♪ I'll be there for you all my life ♪

♪ After the moments of beauty ♪

♪ You are my reason to be ♪

♪ If there is a way ♪

♪ To start over ♪

♪ Will you still remember me ♪