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 34=

Master,

as long as I'm around,

I won't let you kill Yuan!

Zhu Yan!

Did you even listen to me?

I did!

Then why are you still defending him?

Get out of the way!

Because...

Because...

Because I like Yuan.

What did you say?

Don't spout nonsense.

I'm not spouting nonsense.

Master,

back then,

I felt extremely guilty

about the Crown Prince's passing.

Yuan was the one who told me

about the existence of the Time-reversing Spell.

When you finally acknowledged me

and took me as your student,

Yuan was the only one

who was willing to share my joy with me.

When you chased me out of Jiuyi Mountain,

Yuan was the one who stood by my side

during my lowest moment.

Without Yuan,

I would've given up long ago.

I would never come to this mountain,

encounter you,

or get to where I am

today.

Yan'er, you don't need to deceive your master

in order to save me.

Priest of Grand Preceptor,

the person Yan'er truly loves is...

It's Yuan!

My talent is limited.

I know I can't compare myself to you, Master.

I'll only

drag you down

and cause you to be hurt.

It was Yuan.

Yuan told me this.

Even if I could never

catch up to you,

he was willing

to stay by my side.

Master, if you don't believe me,

you can ask around in the Extreme Wind City.

Everyone knows

that the Azure Clan canceled their marriage

because they saw me having a heart-to-heart conversation

in the garden with Yuan.

So,

it was my wishful thinking all along.

Yan'er.

Master,

this was my personal matter.

I shouldn't have told you that.

However, I had no choice due to the circumstances.

Master, I just hope that you can let Yuan go.

Yan'er.

From now on,

Yuan and I will lead a reclusive life.

We won't let anyone take advantage of us again.

Yan'er, stop it.

It's already too late.

The Evil Star has already appeared.

I have to eliminate

Zhi Yuan, the Sea Emperor,

even if

he's the person you love.

Yuan!

(Sprawling Roots?)

(Yan'er actually mastered)

(Sprawling Roots for his sake?)

Zhu Yan,

your Sprawling Roots

cannot guard against my Celestial Assault.

Get out of the way!

Master, we'll know

when you give it a try.

I won't show you any mercy!

Fine.

If so, I shall perish together

with Yuan.

Fine.

You said

you wanted to perish together with him?

Yan'er.

Thank the heavens.

You're finally awake.

You had me for a second there.

Here.

Where's Yan'er?

Yan'er.

How's Yan'er doing?

When I arrived at the secret tunnel,

she was already lying on the ground.

You were also

physically drained.

You used your last ounce of energy

to tell me to send her back.

Naturally, I did so.

What about the Sea Emperor?

Their marine force was fierce and brave indeed.

They protected the Sea Emperor

and broke through Qing Gang's

and Bai Fenglin's encirclement by force.

Almost most of them were killed in battle.

But I have something to ask you.

What exactly happened on that day?

The Sea Emperor was clearly

no match for you.

How did he manage to escape

from you

and hurt you?

I was hurt

because Celestial Assault backfired.

Celestial Assault?

Are you saying

that your Celestial Assault

hit you instead?

Why did you take it back?

Could it be Zhu Yan?

So, Zhi Yuan is the one

Yan likes

all along.

She even protected him with her life.

What did you say?

Fine.

If so, I shall perish together

with Yuan.

So,

it was all my wishful thinking.

That's impossible!

They have an age gap of over 200 years old.

Moreover, that Merfolk

was already transformed to a man

for Chizhu Feili.

How could Zhu Yan

fall for him?

I'm sure this is a misunderstanding.

You don't need reasons

to have feelings for someone.

Just like the fact that I can't stop myself

from liking Zhu Yan even if I know

that the person she likes is Zhi Yuan.

I was just thinking

that I would surely eliminate the Sea Emperor once and for all.

But if I do so,

how can I face

Yan'er after that?

You should stop worrying about her.

You should think about

how to recover from your injury.

Although your life is no longer in danger,

you were seriously injured.

And,

you used your essence qi when we were at

the border of Western Huang.

It'll take at least

five months for you to fully recover.

Why don't we

request High Priest of Grand Preceptor to impart some essence qi to you?

No.

You mustn't let him know

that I used my essence qi.

But why?

Is there something

that I cannot know?

We were talking about...

It's about our private affairs.

Your Supreme Majesty, please forgive us.

How's your injury looking?

My essence qi protected my body.

Naturally,

I've almost recovered from my injury.

You're much more powerful

than the Sea Emperor.

Why were you seriously injured?

That Merfolk was sly and cunning.

In addition, I wasn't familiar

with the secret tunnel's layout.

That's why

I fell for their trick

and let them escape.

Your Supreme Majesty, don't worry.

They won't be as lucky

if I encounter them again.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

You should rest and recuperate first.

Since you were protected by your essence qi,

you should recover in a few days.

Yes, Your Supreme Majesty.

Chong Ming.

I will make sure no one knows about

Ying's injury.

Ying will rest and recuperate

for a few days.

Just tell the others that he's on a retreat.

Okay.

Ying,

I have some spiritual medicine

that can assist you in recovering from your injury.

It's good for your body.

I'll let Chong Ming to retrieve it together with me.

Ying was obviously injured

by Celestial Assault.

How did Celestial Assault backfire on him?

The secret tunnel was dark.

It was difficult to travel.

He said he recalled Celestial Assault as he didn't want

to hurt the innocent.

That's why the Merfolk managed to escape.

Hurt the innocent?

So, was there anyone else

in the secret tunnel

besides Ying and the Sea Emperor?

I think so...

Answer me!

It's Zhu Yan!

That dumb lass,

she barged inside and battled the Sea Emperor together

with Shi Ying as she was worried about him.

But Shi Ying was worried that he might damage her.

That's why he recalled

Celestial Assault.

She's a jinx indeed.

Back then, I thought she was useful.

I only allowed her to stay by Ying's side after placing

the Heart-crushing Curse on her in secret.

Once Zhu Yan

intends to kill Ying,

the curse will activate, and she will die.

So, Your Supreme Majesty, you knew

that Zhu Yan was Shi Ying's harbinger of doom all along?

There's nothing on Jiuyi Mountain

that I

do not know.

If so, why did you tell me

that Shi Ying's curse

was over?

Your Supreme Majesty, why did you lie to me?

Don't tell me...

Without her,

Ying will never

return to the worldly world.

Now,

my goal has been achieved.

Now, Ying has worldly desires.

He will stop his cultivation to ascend priesthood.

If Zhu Yan doesn't know what's good for her

and still pesters Ying

in the future,

I will have no choice

but to act.

I will eliminate her.

Ying's body is more important.

Take good care of him.

I will get some spiritual medicine for him

to assist him with his recovery.

Yes, Your Supreme Majesty.

So, you heard everything?

I'm sorry.

I would never

try to bring you and Zhu Yan together

had I known that it was all part of

the High Priest of Grand Preceptor's plan.

It's my fault

for fanning the flames.

That's why you were hurt both physically and mentally.

It has nothing to do with you.

It'll still happen without you.

It's just a matter of time.

Now,

the High Priest of Grand Preceptor intends to get rid of Zhu Yan.

What do you plan to do?

(Crimson Residence)

Yan'er is awake.

Yan'er!

Yan'er!

Father.

Yan'er!

Mother.

Father.

Yan'er,

how do you feel?

What are you guys doing here?

You were in a coma for several days.

I guess you became muddle-headed.

What do you mean by that?

This is our home.

That's right.

Yan'er,

Chong Ming sent you here a few days ago.

He said you fainted because you worked too hard on your cultivation.

What were you cultivating?

You're not allowed to do so anymore.

That's right.

(So, I survived)

(Master's Celestial Assault?)

(Could it be that Master spared me?)

(What about Yuan?)

Father,

Mother.

How's the Sea Emperor doing?

Look at you.

I was telling you

not to worry about it.

But you're worrying about it again.

You're a girl.

You should just stay safe.

Your master

and the two generals Qing and Bai

will deal with the war.

Don't tell me

you're doubting your master's ability?

That's right.

However, he was careless

to let the Sea Emperor escape this time.

What?

The Sea Emperor isn't dead?

(Master did spare him.)

(But that means he recalled Celestial Assault.)

If so, Master is...

Don't move around.

Lie down.

The Priest of Grand Preceptor is fine.

He's on a retreat right now.

Once he's done,

he will deal with everything.

He will kill the Sea Emperor

and annihilate his marine force.

His Majesty already issued an imperial edict.

Enough.

Our daughter just woke up.

Don't feed her with so much information.

Let her rest.

Okay.

Rest well.

I'll stop talking.

I'll go and check on

your medicine.

By the way,

don't interrupt

your master for now.

Just go already.

Okay.

All of us should leave.

Let Yan'er rest here.

It's because I like Yuan.

(I actually said that I liked Yuan)

(in front of Master.)

(How could I say that?)

(I told him such a huge lie.)

(And, I disrupted Master's plan.)

(I'm sure he's very angry.)

(I'm sure he doesn't want to see me again.)

(Master is definitely seriously injured.)

(But I have no way)

(to face him now.)

She's here.

Your Supreme Majesty,

let me explain myself to Zhu Yan.

I no longer want her

to appear in front of me again.

But what about your injury?

Ying,

if Zhu Yan keeps pestering you,

I can act on your behalf.

Master.

Why did you come here in the middle of the night?

Master,

it's all my fault.

I have no way to face you.

Are you okay?

Get up first. We can talk after that.

You must be happy that he didn't die

from my Celestial Assault.

Master, thank you for not killing him.

But Master,

you spared him back then.

Did you get yourself hurt

because of that?

You think you two

can injure me?

I'm glad to hear that.

Actually,

I had no choice but to say so

due to the circumstances.

I know

that His Majesty has issued an edict

for you to kill the Sea Emperor.

You had no choice too.

But Master, you stopped your plan

because of me.

That's not it.

I hope you can go back

and train harder.

Only then,

you'll be able to go up against me

when I try to kill him again

in the future.

Master.

I didn't kill you guys last time

because you saved me

in Cangwu Abyss once.

I don't want to become an evil mentor

who kills his student.

However, that won't happen again.

It's because

I'm severing my ties with you

as your mentor.

From now on,

it's ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Master,

you must be joking with me.

Why would you kick me out?

Master!

From now on,

I, Shi Ying,

don't have a treacherous student

who disregards her nation.

Master?

Master!

Do not call me that again.

From now on,

I'm not your master.

Go back.

Master!

Please return the Jade Bone to me!

Please don't

chase me out!

Scram!

Master!

Master!

Master!

Master!

Don't tell me you're abandoning me?

Open the door!

Master!

Master, don't do this!

Shi Ying!

Master, I'm begging you!

Where's His Supreme Majesty?

He left after he saw you retrieving

the Jade Bone.

Why did you resort to that?

Master!

She will never leave my side

if I don't do this.

His Supreme Majesty

won't let her off too.

And,

I will definitely kill the Sea Emperor.

Instead of letting her

suffer and despair in the future,

I would rather she hates me now.

Master!

It's raining.

I know.

But she's kneeling outside.

I'll tell her to leave.

Just let her kneel.

She'll leave my side naturally

after she gives up.

Master!

♪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♪

♪Like our initial encounter etched deep within my heart♪

♪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♪

♪Like our initial encounter etched deep within my heart♪

Priest of Grand Preceptor, you don't take food with heavy flavor.

I'm sure this peach juice

will be to your liking.

Princess Zhu Yan is still kneeling outside.

Why don't I send her back first?

As the only daughter of the Crimson King,

she's kneeling in front of the residence of Bai Family.

If news of this gets out,

our reputation will be ruined.

Suit yourself.

Priest of Grand Preceptor is a man of his word.

Do you think he'll change his mind

just because

you knelt under the rain for the entire night?

You don't understand

your master at all.

(Yes.)

(She's right.)

(Master chased me out)

(because)

(the conflict between the Kongsang people and Merfolk Clan)

(cannot be resolved.)

(Master will forgive me)

(as long as he sees that Yuan can bring peace)

(to both clans.)

(That's right.)

(I should look for Yuan.)

Someone.

Yes, ma'am.

Get her a cup of ginger tea.

Get her a set of my clothing.

You want to leave like this?

Do you want people to think badly of your master?

I'll send you back to the Crimson Residence first.

Don't feel burdened.

I'm doing this for the Priest of Grand Preceptor.

I want him to know how gentle and generous I am.

Thank you.

Send the ingredients I've selected

to the kitchen.

Remember,

the soup needs to be stewed for a long time.

-Yes, ma'am. -Yes, ma'am.

Princess, the things you sent to him

will be returned untouched

every time.

Even so, are you still willing to continue?

It doesn't matter if he takes them or not.

I just want him to know

that I never gave up.

I want others to know

that I'm the best partner for him.

You didn't give up, huh?

So, you were lying to me

back then.

You guys may leave first.

I need to speak to General Qing in private.

Yes.

General Qing,

can't I have the privilege to regret my words?

I lost

an important document.

Did you take it?

You came to my room all of a sudden

and told me all of that.

I'm sure Bai Fenglin told you to do so

in order to steal that document from me.

The person

who was relaying our intel to the Merfolk marine force in secret

was actually your elder brother.

General Qing,

you don't have any evidence.

You mustn't frame him.

Xuelu,

if you admit it right now,

I can still save you

from your elder brother.

I didn't do it.

If that's the case,

I'll tell you this.

The document you took

was just a copy.

The document your brother wrote

is still in my hand.

Once the Priest of Grand Preceptor comes out of his retreat,

I will hand the original document to him.

Don't do it.

I knew it was you guys.

This is?

When you returned my scarf to me

on Jiuyi Mountain,

there was a piece of leaf

inside.

This Leaf of Love,

it trapped me here until now.

It was a sweet experience for me.

However, I, Qing Gang,

have a bottom line.

You used my feelings for you

to manipulate me time and time again.

I don't blame you for that.

I did so willingly.

Because

it was between you and me.

However, since you've chosen

to help a traitor of Kongsang,

that means I was wrong about you.

From today onward,

I can no longer keep you company.

Don't do it.

Please return

my jade pendant to me.

Who cares about your jade pendant?

I threw it away long ago.

Princess Xuelu,

no matter what reason,

treason

is a heinous crime.

If a Merfolk uses Dream Creation excessively,

they will fall into a deep slumber.

I never expected Ruyi

to wake up.

Maybe your master

is the only person who can achieve such a feat

in Kongsang.

So, Master saved Ruyi?

Yan'er,

you shouldn't have

gotten yourself involved.

You lied to your master

and said that you loved me in order to save me.

You knew your master was...

This is not the time for this.

I had no choice back then.

Now, I have no way to face Master again.

I came here today

to ask you about your plans.

I went to find you a few days ago.

Initially, I wanted to bid farewell to you.

However,

you were in a coma.

Bid farewell to me?

Judging from the current circumstances,

bringing the Merfolk back to Biluo Sea

is my best choice.

That's right.

That's the best choice.

This way, the war will die down.

Master won't be able to capture you.

You won't be killed

because of your identity as the Sea Emperor.

And, Master won't be

put on the spot

because of me again.

Yuan,

are you leaving too?

Naturally.

I'm the Sea Emperor.

Okay.

I support your decision.

Thank you for the support.

However, please only support me mentally.

Yan'er,

you have to

stay out of this.

Priest of Grand Preceptor, you ended your retreat already?

Priest of Grand Preceptor.

The Sea Emperor hasn't been captured.

We should act as quickly as possible.

The Sea Emperor managed to escape

due to my negligence.

Generals,

it must've been tough.

It was tough on General Qing.

He slew over ten

of the marine force's elite troops.

And, he almost

snatched the Sea Emperor

from their hands.

This is my duty.

General Bai, you don't need

to offer such unnecessary kindness.

Lately, I heard

that the Merfolk had ceased their fight

as they prepare to retreat to the sea.

You guys

have destroyed plenty of such entrances.

I had dealings with the Merfolk for many years.

They have to use the sea entrances

for them to return

to Biluo Sea.

If they don't do so,

they'll get lost

in the deep sea

even if they're adept at swimming.

That's why I interrogated

the prisoners we captured.

Because of that, I found out about

the sea entrances.

Thus, General Qing and I destroyed them

to cut off their escape route.

There's no need to exterminate the Merfolk.

Allow them to leave

if they wish to return to Biluo Sea.

We just need to keep an eye on the Sea Emperor.

He's the main culprit here.

But His Majesty's order was for us

to exterminate all of them.

A prairie fire cannot burn all the weeds,

they grow again when the spring breeze blows.

If we capture the Sea Emperor early,

the Merfolk won't have a leader to lead them.

They won't achieve anything.

General Qing, you're right.

Priest of Grand Preceptor, if you can draw

a portrait of the Sea Emperor,

I can send my men

to post wanted posters of him.

This way,

I believe it'll be much more

convenient for us.

If we can capture the Sea Emperor

with just a portrait,

what makes him

any different from the normal soldiers

he commands?

These spots

might be sea entrances.

Generals, please send your men

to investigate them.

The Sea Emperor will surely attempt to escape

using one of these entrances.

According to my understanding of him,

the Sea Emperor won't leave

before all Merfolk

retreat to Biluo Sea.

We just need to capture him alive.

So,

we don't need to

harm the innocent Merfolk.

We don't need to destroy the sea entrances too.

Generals,

do you guys have anything else to say?

General Qing,

I think my cousin's plan

is already clear enough.

Why don't we

execute it immediately?

General Bai,

you're worried that I might report to him

that you're relaying intel to the Merfolk, right?

General Qing, no need to trouble yourself.

I will confess and apologize

to Priest of Grand Preceptor when the time is right.

General Bai, you're just finding an excuse

to stall time, right?

That's not true.

I didn't intend to commit treason

by doing so.

I just wanted

to stall the war

so that I could render more merit.

But now, the situation is clear.

The Merfolk are retreating to Biluo Sea.

It's no longer necessary for me to do so.

Don't worry.

I made preparations for it long ago.

The day we return from the battle

will be the day

I confess my crime.

Did you persuade him?

It was just an act to stall time.

If he insists on reporting me,

I have no choice but to get rid of him.

Qing Gang is a military commander.

And, the war between the two clans will break out soon.

It's nothing out of the ordinary

if he dies on the battlefield.

Brother,

we've already committed too many mistakes.

If we keep this up,

I'm afraid

the consequences will be irreversible.

What nonsense are you saying?

Since it has come to this,

we have no way to back down now.

I've committed treason,

which is a heinous crime.

If I lose my foothold now,

the White Clan

will never rise to glory again.

But we can't just...

But what?

Don't tell me

you're taking pity on that brat?

Let me warn you.

You're a member of the Bai Family.

You better don't side with outsiders.

If not, not only will you not be able to save him,

but you will also

be sacrificed instead.

(Xinghaiyun Pleasure House)

Lord Yuan.

How did it go?

The elderly, weak, women, and children

have retreated according to our plan.

Bai Fenglin's Valorous Cavalry

is still pursuing us.

However, it appears as if Qing Gang's Shadow Warriors

are letting us leave.

If so, we should do all we can

to retreat from Qing Gang's territory.

Understood.

But my lord,

the sea entrances to Biluo Sea

are limited.

And, Qing Gang might be willing

to spare innocent Merfolk,

but he might not

spare us.

In addition,

the security in the city

is getting tighter.

I'm afraid

the Kongsang people will locate

all of our sea entrances

before we could retreat in time.

If the Sea Emperor must be dead for the issue to be resolved,

I will die on his behalf.

♪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♪