Original subtitles

♪Your silhouette in the twilight's glow♪

♪Awakens like snow, delicate and cold♪

♪Within your gaze, countless destinies intertwine♪

♪A lifetime, a world of illusion of just one person♪

♪As moonlight shimmers♪

♪Falling petals rest in my palm, it's your sacred promise♪

♪Cultivating amidst the fleeting time of this mortal world♪

♪To be as one, inseparable, like a shadow in rhyme♪

♪Grant me a lifetime of enchanting sights♪

♪I defy fate, turning it around♪

♪Fearless of heavenly decree♪

♪It is the courage that blooms for you, profound♪

♪Unafraid of the destined trials♪

♪I only wish to make a vow with you♪

♪Like our initial encounter etched deep within my heart♪

=The Longest Promise= (Adapted from "Zhu Yan" by Cang Yue)

=The Longest Promise= (Adapted from "Zhu Yan" by Cang Yue)

=The Longest Promise= =Episode 9=

My husband and I were engulfed by Power of Chaos

when we were traveling outside.

And now,

he has already passed away,

leaving me alone in this place.

It's been a really long while since I saw people.

There are fierce delusional spirits

roaming around here.

You two,

please go inside with me.

Granny, be careful.

Come on.

Young people,

you must be tired.

Wipe off your sweat.

Here, wipe off your sweat.

Thank you, Granny.

All right.

I've been searching for a way out desperately

for twenty years,

but to no avail.

Here, drink some water.

Finally, I met you here today.

You can keep me company from now on.

Granny.

Someone is waiting for us

outside.

Why don't you

come with us?

I don't see anything good out there.

The gentleman next to you

is someone with great ambition.

This is the only place

where the two of you

can stay together forever.

And so,

he'll only have his eyes fixated on you

and no one else.

Isn't that good?

Granny, you have mistaken us.

I'll never be with him forever.

Staying just half a day beside him is boring enough.

Right?

She's right.

We plan

to stay here.

Pardon?

Don't be shy, young girl.

It's exhausting

after walking for a long time.

Here, have a piece of pastry.

It's better not

to eat food from a stranger.

Since we've decided

to settle down here,

she's not a stranger to us.

Exactly.

He's right.

Come on, open wide. I'll feed you.

You two

will stay here with me for good.

Rest assured. It's safe.

They are all dust.

She's a delusional spirit.

We have to break her obsession

to deal with her.

Most people are cautious

and her desire can't be satisfied.

The more they reject her,

the more obsessed she becomes,

which arouses more anger in her.

Why did you give me the pastry

when you didn't eat it?

There are no chopsticks here.

I couldn't eat.

Fine.

You're the elegant one, and I'm uncivilized.

I simply deserve to eat dirt.

Exactly.

Now that you've tasted the dirt

and it's not delicious,

why should I eat it, then?

You!

What a way

you ruin my day.

This is it.

(The full moon wanes and overflowing water spills.)

(Extreme resentment breeds wrath and death leads to a new life.)

The full moon wanes and overflowing water spills.

Extreme resentment breeds wrath and death leads to a new life.

What does this mean?

Greed, resentment and delusion.

We've broken the three spirits.

This should be the way to get out of this place.

However,

I haven't fathomed the underlying meaning.

Have you ever thought that you'd

be trapped inside here with me forever

when you came in?

Priest of Grand Preceptor.

You're of noble status

and with decent behavior.

Yet you risk yourself in danger

for a clumsy and reckless person like me,

is it worth it?

I'm talking to you.

I don't have to answer that.

Because we'll leave this place.

Look, the exit.

It is, and it's not.

What do you mean?

If I push you into that hole

and sacrifice you to Power of Chaos,

I can leave this place unscathed.

What did you just say?

I came here

for the force of Chaos

to aid my cultivation.

So, you didn't mean

to save me?

Well, you should blame your own tough luck

for being engulfed by the Power of Chaos.

But

you're a godsend to me.

Anyway, it will be considered an accident

if something happens to you

during the disciple selection competition.

Crimson King

won't blame me.

You must be lying.

I've deceived you before,

and I'm doing it again.

You're so predictable.

You...

Either I push you down,

or you jump down yourself.

Either way,

you're going to die.

You always fool me,

trick me, and look down upon me.

I hate you. I hate you!

How fantastic.

How did you identify the way to leave this place?

Isn't this

all within your plan?

The full moon wanes and overflowing water spills.

Extreme resentment breeds wrath and death leads to a new life.

The hole that's shrouded

by immense resentment

will only open

for those who are vexed with extreme resentment.

If I don't make her resent me,

how could she turn the death end

into an opportunity

and return to the mortal world?

But she'll never know

your kind will

when she jumped off here.

When she's passing through the hole,

she would only resent you, hate you,

and curse you.

Meanwhile, her strong resentment

will consume you

and trap you here.

You'll end up being like me.

Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan.

Qing Gang.

Where am I?

Qianyue Peak.

How long has it been?

Half an hour.

The black mist engulfed you.

But how did you manage to get out of that?

One day inside the hole is a moment in the world.

I'm still alive.

Once she realized

that you did that

to save her

but ended up being killed by her resentment,

she'll be in pieces.

And that's what I'm looking forward to.

What? A benign thought?

I've never seen

someone harbored a benign thought

when they jumped through the Hole of Life and Death.

When did you

hint at her?

The entire place is under your control.

I have no chance

to tell her about this.

You said

that her feelings

stem from me

and will backfire on me.

To your surprise,

it's a benign thought she holds.

Probably she has discerned

my real intention.

Be it the Crown Prince

or Priest of Grand Preceptor,

she has never doubted me.

I'm not good at gambling,

but my bet didn't fail me today.

At that time,

he was trying to save me.

I guessed it right.

Either I push you down

or you jump down yourself.

Either way,

you're going to die.

You always fool me,

trick me, and look down upon me.

I hate you.

I hate you!

(Strangely,)

(I'm still not convinced)

(that you'd do that to me.)

If so, how will you escape?

Where are you now?

Zhu Yan.

What's wrong with you, Zhu Yan?

We must set off

right now

for the Jade Bone.

I thought joining Jiuyi Mountain

was against your will.

Why are you so eager now?

(Maybe the Jade Bone)

(can find its owner.)

Stop asking. We should go now.

Your Supreme Majesty.

Is it worth risking your life

to save a mere princess?

Lang Gan, Emperor Xingzun, was once the great invincible

and even failed to get the upper hand

while mired in the Chaos.

But you just went into it

without hesitation.

I wouldn't have interfered

if it had been a natural disaster.

But the Power of Chaos

was coming after Qiong Qi.

And someone

deliberately provoked Qiong Qi

to attack them.

I just couldn't turn a blind eye.

That's my plan.

Qing Gang

is sent by the Consort Qing

to spy on you

with the intention to kill you.

I'll never let him off the hook.

He's not your match,

but the Azure Clan has exceptional poisoning skills.

You won't know

what trap he set against you

when he's in the mountain.

I wouldn't know

if Qing Gang intended to kill me.

But if I hadn't saved them,

kin of all six Clans

might lose their lives here.

Ever since the founding of Jiuyi Mountain,

there was no such tragedy happened

during

the disciple selection competition.

If such horrendous accidents were to occur

as soon as I ascend as the Priest of Grand Preceptor,

how would I

take in disciples in the future?

Nonsense.

The lives of the two aren't

even half as precious as yours.

Even if something happens,

don't worry.

I assure you

that no one will make a squeak.

Your Supreme Majesty.

We cultivate to protect all beings.

We can't take people's lives lightly.

If you want me to diverge from the teaching

and become a degenerate person,

I'm not going to take in disciples.

Fine.

I compromise.

I won't interfere with you in choosing the disciple.

However,

you spoke steadfastly just now.

I begin to be dubious about something.

Have you met Zhu Yan

before this?

And that convinces me why you saved her without hesitation.

You have overthought.

I have never met Zhu Yan.

Besides, given her aptitude,

I doubt I'll let her stay

in the mountain

and teach her.

Ying,

I know

you harbor a kind heart

and don't want others to suffer for you.

But you should know

that if you've met her before,

she would be that cursed lady who will do harm to you.

I won't allow her to live.

So, I believe

you won't keep her in the mountain.

Right?

Since my explanation

isn't going to put your worries to rest,

I will do whatever you say.

(Qianyue Peak, Jiuyi Mountain)

(His artifact is moving freely.)

(Probably he has already escaped)

(from the Power of Chaos by now.)

Qing Gang, please.

Both of us arrived at the peak at the same time.

After retrieving the Jade Bone,

let's have

a fair and open competition.

You don't have to hold back.

Xuelu, walk slowly.

Yan.

Yan.

(Why didn't Bai Xuelu be bounced back?)

(This enchantment)

(is set by the person on my side.)

(The Jade Bone is mine.)

(The first team to reach the top of the hill)

(and take this Jade Bone,)

(the winner of that team)

(will be the first disciple)

(of Jiuyi Mountain in the future.)

(Drats!)

(I've forgotten the enchantment)

(set by the Priest.)

Xuelu.

Xuelu.

Xuelu.

Xuelu.

Bai Xuelu!

Xuelu!

Princess Xuelu!

Bai Xuelu!

Everything is initiated by the Jade Bone.

Destroy it now.

No, the Jade Bone is mine.

I'll be the first disciple.

I'm not going to let go of it, no matter what.

Xuelu, please let go of it.

Qing Gang.

Qing Gang.

Xuelu.

Xuelu.

Xueying.

Bai Xuelu.

Destroy the Jade Bone now.

You're dragging everyone down.

Don't you ever think of taking this from me.

Do you hear yourself?

You're killing yourself.

Even so,

I'm willing to die with the Jade Bone.

Bai Xuelu.

Xuelu.

Yan.

It was just an illusion.

I got it.

This is the second assessment, wisdom.

Yan.

You'd rather destroy the Jade Bone

and sacrifice yourself

to save us.

This is a great kindness.

Great kindness is wisdom.

Priest of Grand Preceptor is looking

for a kind person

as his first disciple.

And the Jade Bone chose you.

Congratulations, Yan.

I got the Jade Bone first.

Give it back to me.

Why should I?

Judging from your aptitude and character,

you're not qualified

to be the first disciple of the Priest.

Qing Gang got injured

because of you.

Qing Gang should have the Jade Bone instead.

Give it to me.

Xueying.

Are you all right?

Where are Xuelu and General Qing?

Princess Xuelu, hang in there.

Xuelu.

Bai Xuelu.

Hold on tight.

Xuelu.

This is foolish.

(He escaped from the Power of Chaos.)

(After the ceremony ends,)

(I'll leave without worries.)

According to the rules of the competition,

anyone who managed to reach Qianyue Peak

is eligible to join Jiuyi Mountain

and become the nominal disciple

of the Priest of Grand Preceptor

and study magic techniques for one month.

Yes.

Thank you, Priest of Grand Preceptor.

The winner of the first team that obtained the Jade Bone

will be taken in as the Priest's first disciple

and is allowed to stay

to learn from the Priest of Grand Preceptor

after the one-month period.

I have limited abilities

for this position.

I'll withdraw from the candidate of the Priest's first disciple.

Xueying.

In this case,

Bai Xuelu

will be my first disciple.

I, Xuelu, am grateful for your grace.

Hold on.

Greetings, High Priest.

Your Supreme Majesty.

I have a different opinion.

Princess Zhu Yan

gave up on the Jade Bone that was within her reach

to save her friends.

Besides, she wasn't equipped with any tools in the mountain

and she drove Qiong Qi away.

She's brave and wise,

and she shouldn't be passed over.

I wonder what you say.

I know

you harbor a kind heart

and don't want others to suffer for you.

If you have met with her before,

she'd be that cursed lady who will do harm to you.

I won't allow her to live.

So, I believe

you won't keep her in the mountain.

You're right, Your Supreme Majesty.

I had poor judgment.

In this case,

I'll take Princess Zhu Yan

as my first disciple

and teach her magic techniques.

It's stipulated

that the winner is the one who retrieved the Jade Bone.

Don't change the rule easily.

This is not a child's play.

How about this?

You don't have to take in the disciple as of now.

You may take some time

to observe

their character and aptitude

and select your first disciple

after the one-month learning.

And this will be impartial

and rightful.

How does that sound?

I obey you, Your Supreme Majesty.

Thank you, High Priest. Thank you, Priest.

Grant them immortal tokens.

(Use this brush)

(to verify the identity of the Priest.)

(If he turns out to be the Crown Prince, exterminate him.)

(The destiny of the Azure Clan)

(falls on your shoulders.)

Yuan.

It must be boring waiting down the mountain.

Why did you come down?

Did you pass the selection?

Cut that off.

These Chinese's rings

are interlocking.

But what I've encountered

was more complicated.

Care to share?

You know what,

the Lord Immortal Official

I ran into before

is the new Priest of Grand Preceptor.

Are you surprised

when you hear this too?

So, what's your next plan?

I passed the preliminary selection

by accident.

But I won't...

I don't want

to become his disciple.

Are you all right, Yuan?

I'm fine.

Perhaps I'm tired lately.

Yuan.

I've learned

a soul-soothing magic technique

from Jiuyi Mountain.

Let me try it out on you.

What's this?

The water realm.

I've never thought of seeing it again

in my life.

This...

How did it emerge from the air?

When a foreign spiritual power

penetrates merfolk's scales,

a transient illusion will manifest,

namely, the Mirage Spell.

Inside it,

one can feel the water flowing.

But it's a hallucination,

so they won't drown.

This is amazing.

Is this your first time

seeing the Mirage Spell?

Certainly.

I don't allow anyone

to touch my scale.

Do you?

You don't believe it?

The Water Thrust is a weapon

that comes along when merfolks are born.

It only comes to being

as the Mirage Spell

first manifests.

And this Water Thrust

is created by you.

If that's the case,

this thrust is now yours.

Also, I hope I'm the first one

and the last

to see your Mirage Spell.

Princess.

I'm sorry.

Yao Yi.

I have no clue

why I can't refuse Princess.

I don't want to disappoint her.

Thank you, Yuan.

I wanted to solve your trouble,

but it ended up

that you comforted me again.

I did feel calm

and have a peaceful mind

in the water.

And I came around

to something that annoys me.

Human feelings

are like the flow of water.

They can't be forcibly controlled.

They should go the way

based on their will.

And that's freedom.

Feelings are like the flow of water.

So, I must follow

my inner voice.

I'll express my gratitude to the Priest.

Regardless of what upsetting words

he has said to me,

he saved my life

this time.

Although I'm reluctant

to return to Jiuyi Mountain,

I still have to do

what must be done.

He saved you? Are you all right?

I didn't know the selection

could be so dangerous.

No, it's nothing.

Yuan.

The danger is over.

I'm now going back to the mountain.

You should

take care of yourself too.

After I offer my gratitude to him,

I'll come back.

Princess...

That cursed lady

is staying for lessons?

I shouldn't have

let her off.

Because of me,

she even teamed up with Qing Gang.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have

arrived at the peak

after you took her out of the Power of Chaos.

I bitterly regretted it now.

I'm so regretful

that I have more wrinkles now.

If you were to die

in the hand of that girl,

I wouldn't have anyone

to display my dashing looks to.

Forget it.

I won't bother

to smooth the wrinkles out.

In about a month,

she'll leave.

But the High Priest said

she'd be your first disciple.

Because

he's dubious about

why I saved her

and said that purposely before me.

And hence, I agreed.

And you saw that,

he went back on his word immediately.

What if

such miraculous things happen

that Zhu Yan

becomes your first disciple?

I must say,

I think you treated her

slightly differently...

Concerning her aptitude,

she's far from

being my first disciple.

Indeed.

Crimson Clan is in the back of beyond.

Even though the Crimson King

hired mages with a handsome reward,

they wouldn't stay long either.

The most they do

is to briefly teach her

a few moves.

Her strength may be decent in the Western Huang.

But compared

to the other Six Clans of Kongsang,

she's barely

an amateur.

Yes.

Me? An amateur?

How dare they demean me!

Forget it.

I only came here

to speak my true mind.

It doesn't matter how you see me.

Why are you here?

I came to ask

how did you

escape from the Power of Chaos.

I manage to get off the place

when you discerned my intention.

If I didn't realize

that you were saving me,

wouldn't you

lose your life there?

Do you really think

that I'd put my life

on the line

to save you?

Since I could enter the Power of Chaos,

needless to say,

I have a way to leave there unscathed.

I see.

Very good.

No matter

why you saved me,

it's true that you got me

out of the Power of Chaos.

I, Zhu Yan,

am a sensible person.

So, I came here

to express my gratitude.

Thank you.

Secondly, I came here

to bid farewell.

Jiuyi Mountain is a revered place to acquire magical techniques in Kongsang.

So, you must boast incredible skills.

Since you think

I'm not bright, and I'm reckless

and with limited knowledge,

I don't think

I should insist on staying in Jiuyi Mountain.

The world is vast outside.

Though I'm less capable,

I'll surely find a mentor

who approves of me

and teaches me advanced magic techniques.

(Zhu Yan, Jiuyi Mountain)

(The High Priest is still suspicious of her,)

(if she leaves at this moment,)

(it might enhance his doubts.)

(She can't leave.)

As the ancient teaching of Jiuyi Mountain says,

"Don't give up the pursuit of knowledge,

and disciples shouldn't leave their master on their own accord."

If you're determined to leave,

you may leave one month later

after the lessons end.

But you're not allowed to go now.

The enchantment will stop you

even if I don't,

let alone the High Priest.

"Don't give up the pursuit of knowledge,

and disciples shouldn't leave their master on their own accord."

You said this is the rule.

So, do the rules allow Lord Chong Ming

to intervene in the selection?

You...

Well.

That's my own behavior.

He isn't related to this.

Besides,

he has already punished me for that.

Well. But he did say

that he wasn't allowed

to meet people

when he was the immortal official

in the Emperor Valley.

But he met with me again.

And that tells me

the rules

aren't rigid.

That's different.

You swore

that you wouldn't tell anyone

that you met him before.

I, Zhu Yan,

am a person of my word.

I will make good

on my promise.

It would be great.

But you

reneged on the promise

by taking me as your first disciple

because of the High Priest.

I, Zhu Yan,

am not someone

you can summon

however you want.

You little brat...

Your Supreme Majesty.

♪How fateful was our encounter♪

♪How tragic, destined by fate's decree♪

♪How fragile, like glass and snow's embrace♪

♪Love and hate entwined, indistinguishable♪

♪How prophetic, a single word spoken♪

♪How transient, the rise and fall of destiny♪

♪How balanced, each sip and bite, no debts owed♪

♪Tears well in eyes with jade-like brows♪

♪The drop of blood in your heart♪

♪Has dried into a lock that binds me♪

♪Securing my path, thousands of miles long♪

♪Never apart from you♪

♪The drop of blood in your heart♪

♪Has dried into a lock that binds me♪

♪Even if our hearts and guts are torn apart♪

♪Our gazes forever intertwined♪

♪The drop of blood in your heart♪

♪Has dried into a lock that binds me♪

♪Securing my path, thousands of miles long♪

♪Never apart from your side♪

♪The drop of blood in your heart♪

♪Has dried into a lock that binds me♪

♪Even if our hearts and guts are torn apart♪

♪Our gazes forever intertwined♪

♪How fateful was our encounter♪

♪How tragic, destined by fate's decree♪