Original subtitles

"Ancient Detective"

"Episode 2"

It says here March 7.

The Hanyue Villa.

There's no inscription.

I never gave anyone an invitation card.

Looks like someone has invited our old friend here.

What will come will come.

Let's see which way the cat jumps.

I still feel uneasy.

Be it the Close Door Impermanence or the invitation card.

I smell a rat.

I want to personally investigate it again.

Alright.

Keep a sense of proportion.

Yes.

Someone, please come!

Someone, please come!

"Close Door Impermanence"

It's right here.

I searched everywhere, but I just couldn't find him.

I just found him kneeling here.

Who killed my brother?

Who did this?

How dare of him to kill in Hanyue Villa?

Jian.

I'll leave this to you.

He's the detective of Shenji Valley.

With him around, the truth will come to light.

I heard that Jian Jin Huan has a son.

I didn't expect it to be you, Jian.

Jian, what did you find?

There was only one stab wound on him.

It was fatal.

It pierced through him from the chest.

There are no other wounds on him.

I'm sure he didn't put up much of a fight.

There are two possibilities.

First.

The killer was very quick.

Ah Jie was killed before he could react.

The second possibility.

Ah Jie didn't guard against the killer.

The killer was someone he knew.

Whichever it is,

I can be sure that,

the killer...

is someone from inside our villa.

He's most likely one of us.

Also...

this is not the crime scene.

Where is the real crime scene?

That's right.

This is the crime scene.

The killer was in a hurry,

and failed to wipe the blood clean.

Who killed my brother?

Zhang.

Have you been here this morning?

Yes.

Well, tell us everything you saw and heard.

Don't miss out on a single detail.

Last night, he said that,

he wanted to offer incense to Eldest Master Li this morning,

and asked me to wake him up.

I knocked on the door at dawn.

No one answered and it wasn't locked. So, I went inside.

Where is he?

He usually loved to pop up out of nowhere.

So, I didn't bother.

Then, I looked everywhere for him.

When I got to the ancestral hall, I found him kneeling like this.

After that, all of you came.

But judging from the rigidity of the body,

he died late last night.

Where were you last night?

Who else came here?

Sorry.

I mean no offence.

But all of you have to tell me.

Yesterday, my master and I were at the medical hall,

sorting out the newly dried herbs,

and we worked till late at night.

That's right.

Of course I was sleeping in my own room.

What else could I do on my own...

in the middle of the night?

Jian, I slept early last night.

That's right. Everyone was in their room.

We didn't come here.

From the looks of it,

no one has a solid alibi.

Well, did you see anyone strange,

or hear any strange noises last night?

Yes.

Last night...

when I was meditating in my room,

I heard the sound of a flute.

Just when I was ready to go out and train my bugs,

the sound of the flute suddenly stopped.

Don't you find it strange?

-That was because Shen Lin... -Shut up.

These are two different things.

There's a murder case now.

-I have to tell the truth. -You...

Two different things?

Fine.

You want the truth? So be it.

I'll say it myself.

Last night, I did come here to find Ah Jie.

Hua Yuan said that he never sent the invitation.

The handwriting on the invitation,

and "Close Door Impermanence" that were written in blood,

belong to the same person.

This is bad.

We've been targeted by a ghost.

Why don't we run away?

Who is it?

I noticed the handwriting on the invitation.

Who was the one who asked us here?

I'd like to find out as well.

Could it be that Earthbound spirit?

Those who were involved in that incident are all gathered together.

Isn't that such a coincidence?

Don't bring that up again.

We took an oath.

Whoever brought it up would die.

Fine. I won't bring it up again.

I came here...

to talk about something.

For tomorrow's martial art competition,

you should just quit.

Why me?

You're no match for me.

In my opinion,

we're on the same side. Let's not turn against each other.

We should figure out a way to deal with Ms. Zhan.

I agree with Zhang Da Dan.

We're on the same side. Let's not turn against each other.

Who's on the same side as you?

All I want is this villa.

You want this villa?

Get through my zombie first.

Since we can't reach an agreement,

you're all on your own.

After that, I went back to my room. If you don't believe me, ask...

I have nothing to do with Ah Jie's death.

After I left last night, Zhang Da Dan was still here.

He should be the killer instead.

Nonsense!

-I'll chop you off. -Hold it right there.

Look.

Just now, I saw blood on Ah Jie's right index finger.

I was thinking to myself...

if he wanted to use his blood,

to leave us some clues.

True enough.

Maybe this is the name of the killer.

But he didn't finish writing it.

Forgive me for asking.

What character is that?

-You jerk! Return my brother to me! -Wait.

What now?

What's the matter?

That's the character "Shi".

It's "Zhan" if he finished writing it.

The one who killed my brother goes by this last name, Zhan.

It can't go wrong. A murderer must pay with his life!

Zhang.

This is just a lead.

Besides,

you need to wait for me to find all the clues before drawing a conclusion.

No, I won't hear it.

I'll provide another clue.

You must have heard of,

the largest assassination organisation in the martial world.

What is it?

The Ten Killing Gate.

One of it known as Zhan Division, specializes in assassinations.

The assassins don't have names.

They use "Zhan" as the last name, and their ranking as their names.

The weapons used are modified daily necessities.

If I'm not mistaken,

Ms. Zhan...

must be the assassin of Zhan Division.

You know that too?

The wooden club.

I've extensive knowledge since I got married to many people.

Ms. Killer, surrender yourself.

Ms. Zhan.

I'm indeed the assassin of Zhan Division.

I'm called Zhan Shi Qi.

Guys, I was right.

So what?

I'll admit to killing if I do it.

But if I didn't do it,

I would kill those who framed me.

Do you have the guts to do it?

The Ten Killing Gate?

You regard human life as grass.

Anyone has the right to kill her.

Who sent you here?

How did Ah Jie die?

I don't know.

Who knows if not you?

It must be you.

Excuse me!

Master Hua.

Zhang, stop fighting.

Screw you!

Master Hua.

Jian.

Zhao.

Jian.

Have you forgotten about me?

Thank you.

Whoever dares to make a move on Jian,

has to get through me first.

Jian...Jian Bu Zhi!

To think that my brother considered you his own buddy.

Why are you taking the killer's side?

Given the lack of evidence,

it's still too soon to draw a conclusion.

What difference does it make,

as to whose side I take?

Jian, don't forget.

This lady is an assassin who kills without hesitation.

She's indeed an assassin.

But assassins are not the only ones who can kill.

All of us don't know what's happening.

But it's obvious that all of you...

want to hastily close the case...

by killing Zhan Shi Qi.

That's the most suspicious thing.

Aren't you a little too anxious...

to get rid of Zhan Shi Qi?

I suspect that the killer is probably among the four of you.

What nonsense is that?

Jian Bu Zhi, you're out of your mind.

You must have been bewitched by her.

Are you here to mess things up?

She made a fool out of you,

at yesterday's match and you're holding it against her.

Although I grew up in Shenji Valley alone,

and am new to the martial world,

I don't know much about the ways of the world.

But I can still see clearly what's at stake.

Mr. Shen Lin.

Ah Jie should be your opponent in the next competition.

Now that Ah Jie is dead,

the person who benefits from it...

should be you.

I...

Jie and I were good friends.

-How could I? -Really?

You had a fight yesterday.

I...

It's the same thing.

Hua Yuan.

If you kill Zhan Shi Qi,

you'll have another strong opponent eliminated.

Right?

Jian.

You have no evidence supporting your suspicion.

No evidence?

That's exactly what you're doing now.

Nonsense!

Hua Yuan, he's making specious argument.

Believe it or not. I'll smash your head with the stick.

What?

Jian.

Do you really want to sacrifice your life for the sake of an assassin?

To me, whether I die or she dies,

makes no difference.

That's because we're very likely to be falsely accused.

I'm a detective. I don't know martial arts.

My only ability is to seek the truth.

If I disregard the truth,

I might as well just die.

Well said.

That's Master Jian's son.

The things you said are perfectly reasonable.

But who's the killer if not her?

Last night, I was with my master.

You can rule both of us out as suspects.

The statement from close relatives doesn't count.

Jian is right.

Those who are closely related...

will cover up things for the bad guys.

Since everyone wants to know the truth,

we should put our emotions aside.

I'm the owner of the villa.

Jian.

You have my support to carry on with the investigation.

One can't outrun the long arm of the law.

What do you think?

I agree.

I'll go along with my master.

I agree as well.

I have no problem with that.

Zhang Da Dan, what do you say?

Fine.

I'll just follow.

It's the same anyway.

Alright. If there are no objections,

throughout the competition,

before the candidate for the young master is chosen,

if any of you kicks up a fuss and try to kill anyone...

I won't go easy on you.

Thank you, Second Master Li.

Please don't leave the villa.

Give me two days.

I'll surely find the real culprit.

What if you fail?

If I fail, you can kill me.

Jian, you went a little overboard.

Everyone, the next match...

will be carried out after we get to the bottom of things.

Please go back and rest.

You're bleeding.

Thank you.

Look. Zhang Da Dan...

made such a mess at the crime scene.

Zhao, look.

During the competition,

Hanyue Villa went into a complete lockdown.

There is no way for the outsiders to come in.

I suspect that the killer...

is someone from inside the villa.

But before Ah Jie died,

what was he trying to tell us,

with the word that he wrote?

Now that we have narrowed down the scope,

if Ah Jie wanted to write a name...

could it be the character "Zhan" like what Zhang Da Dan said?

Not necessarily.

Why not?

Take a look.

Ah Jie died...

when he wrote this much.

If he continued writing it...

"Zombie"

the character is read as "Shi".

That would be "shi" for "zombie".

If it were "zombie",

we could also conclude that it's Shen Lin, the corpse walker.

Jian.

That's really crafty of you.

When you put it that way,

I could sense that Shen Lin is bad news.

There's one more.

Zhang Da Dan.

Do you know what's Zhang Da Dan's name?

What else could it be if not Zhang Da Dan?

Zhang Da Dan is just a nickname that people give him in the martial world.

Zhang Da Dan's real name...

is Zhang Yuan Min.

Zhang Yuan Min?

"Zombie, Min"

If these two strokes are removed,

it becomes "shi" as well.

Is it possible that Zhang Da Dan killed his own brother...

and threw the blame on others?

Why didn't you say it just now?

Lack of evidence.

I can't simply say it.

A detective must know the whole truth before disclosing the outcome.

You're right.

There's one more.

Eldest Master Li's real name is Li Chi.

Li Chi?

"Zombie, Min, Chi"

Could this late Eldest Master Li...

be the Close Door Impermanence?

Those were some bloody handwriting yesterday.

Could this be...

some departed spirits back to demand vengeance?

There's no such thing.

It is the doing of the living.

There are more suspects now.

Those who don't have this character in their names,

can't be ruled out as suspects too.

We can't continue...

chasing down this lead.

When you put it this way,

it makes me more confused.

It makes me feel like anyone can be the killer.

Tell me.

Could it be Wu Ling Er?

Or Hua Yuan?

Both of you are talking behind my master's back.

That seems a little rude.

It's even ruder of you to eavesdrop on us.

Jian.

Master Hua.

If you want to know anything about Hanyue Villa,

you can ask me directly.

There's indeed a lot that I want to ask you.

Let's talk somewhere else, then.

Why did you cast a glance at me?

Let me tell you. I'm not going to excuse myself.

I'll be following you wherever you go.

Zhao.

Alright. There's a garden behind the mountains.

This way, please.

Please.

It's so beautiful.

Eight years ago,

the late Eldest Master brought back the seeds of a cotton tree,

and planted them around the mountains.

It's a shame that he passed away before he could see them bloom.

And this single-log bridge...

was built back then, too.

What happened to your hand?

I was accidentally hurt by Shen Lin's poison powder.

It's a little itchy.

But he said that it will recover in three to five days,

as long as it doesn't get in the eyes.

Look.

Right now, the place across us has turned into a garden now.

Wang Xiao Shao just planted it.

This bridge is called "Letting Go Bridge".

The Letting Go Bridge?

Can this bridge be let go?

What a weird name.

The late Eldest Master was a strange man to begin with.

He said we had to let go if we wanted to reach the other side.

That's why he built this bridge that only one person can cross.

But even if it's just for one person,

we can't carry heavy things.

So, we need to cross it one by one.

-Mr. Zhao. -Yes?

Your sword is too heavy.

You can't carry it over.

I'll put it down, then.

Jian, hurry up.

-It's not scary at all. -Alright.

I'll go over now.

Jian.

Xiao Shao comes here every morning,

to build the fence.

Right, Hua Yuan.

This is off-topic.

Do you know how the late Eldest Master Li died?

The late Eldest Master's death is a mystery.

Back then, he wielded his Anti-Hand Sword,

and master wielded his Hand Sword.

Both of them joined forces,

to challenge powerful martial artists.

After that, Hanyue Villa was founded.

The late Eldest Master was a loner. He didn't want to take disciples.

But he was a generous and selfless man.

Many martial artists were indebted to him.

No one would have thought...

that he would be murdered in cold blood eight years ago.

The same year as the Shenji Valley massacre?

That's right.

It was shortly after the Shenji Valley massacre.

The late Eldest Master didn't like doing meritorious service.

He loved to travel.

I remember on that year,

he was already fatally poisoned when he returned from travelling.

But it didn't seem to affect his mood.

He still dragged himself here,

to plant flowers, trees, and build the bridge.

Where did he get poisoned?

As for where he was poisoned,

and whom he met,

he had never told us.

So, we don't know either.

After that, he received an invitation from Master Jian Jin Huan...

to invite him and master to Shenji Valley.

to stop Ban Jiang Gu Ye, Wang Hua.

That's right.

Second Master Li told me...

that late Eldest Master Li was seriously poisoned then.

There were frequent episodes.

He couldn't leave the villa.

So, he could only send Second Master Li to Shenji Valley,

to fight the battle.

Not long after master left,

the late Eldest Master was killed.

I had to observe mourning in my hometown.

When I returned, he was already laid to rest.

Did the late Eldest Master Li know Ah Jie?

Are you suspecting that the Close Door Impermanence,

is related to the late Eldest Master's death?

That's right.

Ah Jie and the late Eldest Master didn't know each other.

But the master was in contact with his armed escort agency.

Ah Jie wasn't quite right in the head.

He didn't make sense in the things he did,

be it doing good deeds or killing people.

In the end,

his death didn't make sense too.

I think his death makes sense.

How so?

Not everyone who knelt before the altar-niche,

did it for the sake of honouring the dead.

What else could it be?

For atonement.

Ah Jie was killed by an acquaintance in his room.

The killer wiped away the blood,

moved his body to the ancestral hall,

and made him kneel before the late Eldest Master Li.

It's obvious,

that killing Ah Jie isn't the killer's final wish.

He has other motives.

What could possibly...

make him perform such a strange ritual after killing people?

Only hatred will explain it.

The killer wanted Ah Jie to atone for his sin.

You're saying that...

Ah Jie had sinned against the late Eldest Master Li?

The late Eldest Master Li was killed by Ah Jie?

The fatal wound on Ah Jie...

wasn't made with any ordinary sword.

It's three inches wide.

That happens to match the Li family broadsword.

That's why I said that...

his death makes sense.

Mr. Hua.

Besides Hanyue Villa,

is there any faction in the martial world,

that uses the Li family broadsword?

I'm afraid it's only Hanyue Villa.

As of now,

only master and I use broadsword.

That means both of you aren't cleared of suspicion.

Judging from the wound on Ah Jie's body,

the way the sword cut through...

is indeed Li family's swordplay.

That...

I couldn't refute.