Original subtitles

Dragon Marrow incense

is made by combining sperm oil and Five Minerals Powder

with the help of heat.

A hallucinogen

could unleash a person's inner desires, turning them into devils.

Legends say that Zheng He's fleet

brought it back to Quanzhou from Malacca.

During Tianqi's reign,

Wei Zhongxian sent out alchemists

to seek out all traces of the incense

and create chaos around the Dragon Boat Festival.

So, that he may usurp the throne.

Among the Imperial Bodyguards,

an anti-eunuch group delivered Dragon Marrow incense

to a charity coffin home

and handed over to Lu Jianxing, the Northern Military Judge,

who will then deliver the evidence of treachery to the capital

and take down the eunuchs.

The eunuch's alchemists hunted down the group.

Lord Qi,

our bags

are just a deception.

Take the real package and go.

Hand it over.

The Master will compensate you well.

Thieves!

You dare use tricks to bring chaos to the court.

You should die!

If the Dragon Marrow's incense falls into Wei Zhongxian's hands,

the country will be in chaos.

Run!

Lord Qi,

will you hand over the Dragon Marrow's incense

or shall we take it?

Those who think with their eyes

will be blinded.

[Brotherhood of Blades]

Hmph.

I didn't think

the man actually blinded himself

to break the illusion and escape.

All of you,

split up and search for him.

Eunuch Wei will handsomely reward

the one who finds the Dragon Marrow incense.

Qi,

after we rob the next one,

let's have some fun at Enchanting Spring Pavilion.

Is this where you getting at?

These people are respectable.

No way.

Let's change spots.

Don't.

It took a lot to get up here.

Don't go back empty-handed.

Don't.

Come here, you!

They were cut down.

Let's go.

Ahh...!

Huh...!

Misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding.

We took a wrong turn.

A wrong turn.

This place

is mine now.

Scram!

Robbery is robbery.

Don't put on a free show.

Darn it!

You like to be a poop-stirrer

yet you complain that I stink.

You're fine now.

Some people

just don't accept fate.

They look like bandits

yet insist on being good.

Are you upset?

You stand no chance in this life.

Move on to your next reborn.

Over there!

Hurry!

Hurry!

It's the dogs from the courthouse.

You want to be a good guy, right?

Go tell them!

Tell them how you

actually broke in to save people.

Would they believe you?

I will be going now.

Hurry!

That scared me.

I see someone.

After them!

This group of bandits again.

Let's capture them.

Let's see if they dare to cause trouble

with a few more charges to their name.

Hurry!

[Charity]

Endless supply of cotton fabric.

There are only corpse shrouds here.

Search this place.

Yes.

Hurry!

Where is he hiding?

Where is he?

I don't know.

Let's go.

Let's go.

It stinks in here.

Let's go.

Who are you?

Not a person.

I'm a ghost.

This is Dragon Marrow incense.

Extremely rare.

A hallucinogen.

If it falls in the wrong hands,

peace will never be seen again.

How is that my business?

I'm dying soon.

Take this and wait here.

Someone will come for it.

A lowly bandit

can't afford to get into trouble,

especially with officials.

You are my last hope.

You are not someone

who will refuse to help a dying man.

Endless supply of cotton fabric.

Never satisfied.

Endless harvest of yarn.

Kill to set an example.

Remember,

those who think with their eyes

will be blinded.

Ah!

Hey!

At least everyone here is dead.

Otherwise,

I can never clear my name of this.

Crap.

I'm really stuck in a dead end.

Endless supply of cotton fabric.

Never satisfied.

Endless supply of cotton fabric.

Never satisfied.

Endless harvest of yarn.

Kill to set an example.

If it falls in the wrong hands,

peace will never be seen again.

It is very important.

Protect it well.

Everyone dabbles in danger.

This thing...

if left in the hands of elite alchemists,

is a drug that can control a man's mind.

Mission complete.

I'm heading back.

Liu Qiao.

I'm here.

Sir,

what are you doing here?

I'm here for the incense.

Hehe.

I saw it all.

I can't just let them die.

He's an alchemist sent by the eunuchs.

Lu,

take it and run.

Be careful.

Ignore it.

A lowly bandit

can't afford to get into trouble.

I didn't think

I would be the first

to find the Dragon Marrow incense.

From the first puff when the old man walked in,

our minds have been addled.

Your Majesty,

Vice Minister of War

reported that Yang Xun, the military counsel of Guanning,

has been embezzling.

Guanning's counsel

is one of the last pupils of Sun Chengzong, Commander in Liaodong.

He should be punished.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please send out the edict

and punish the criminal.

Your Majesty.

I am tired.

Let's discuss this later.

Let's discuss this later.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Once I have the Dragon Marrow incense...

Hmph.

It won't be your choice then.

That old man

a bug-maestro from Qimen.

When it comes to physical combat,

he's weaker than us.

Qi,

you know a lot about the alchemists of Qimen.

I have heard of them.

Last night,

I finally meet one.

Qi,

we were lucky to have you last night.

Are your injuries bad?

I'll be fine after a few days of rest.

I'll be leaving.

A test?

Lu,

that wasn't necessary.

When on a mission,

prudence is key.

Please pardon me.

Be extra careful

when traversing the road ahead.

Qi,

officials in Nanjing are all idle.

It is a waste

of your skills.

Why not go back to the capital with me?

You will be needed

during this journey.

It won't even be a problem

to become Company Commander

under the Northern Military Judge.

Qi,

what will your path be?

Think on it.

I leave that horse to you.

Imperial Bodyguards?

What even is that?

Don't forget.

We are lowly bandits

who swore an oath of loyalty.

Do you still remember

the person to first bleed

on your blade?

Kill him

to swear your oath of loyalty.

Do you still want to be a respectable citizen?

It's a rare chance.

Change of skin.

Change of lifestyle.

Making him Company Commander?

Who even is he?

We'll take a break at this inn

and be back on the road in a few.

Keep your eyes open.

Waiter.

Waiter.

No one is here.

Lu,

we are in the middle of nowhere.

There should not be a big inn like this.

We'll rest for a while.

Be very cautious.

Wei Zun.

It looks like

it's a blood burial from Qimen.

A blood burial?

That's right.

Rumors say

the victim will die in an imaginary sea of blood.

What trick is this?

It is just an illusion.

Blood.

It's real blood!

Run out of here!

Sir!

Guard the Dragon Marrow incense.

Careful! We are now in a sea of blood.

Another man dead.

These evil eunuchs!

It looks like we fell into an illusion

from the moment we walked into the inn.

From our past two experiences,

the illusion is only broken

when we kill the alchemist inside it.

Are we still in the illusion?

Come out!

It's another illusion again.

Of course!

Can you tell which is real and which is fake?

If my guess is right,

this is a mud golem of thousand hands.

Just how long must we keep fighting?

It swallows its victims whole.

Guard the incense.

Move aside!

It went straight for the box.

Give me the box.

What are you doing?

No time to explain. Just give it to me.

Hold on.

Qi Yinchuan,

you tricked me!

I might be late.

But the Dragon Marrow incense

is in my hands after all.

You're always the hero, aren't you?

You nearly killed me.

Yi Ding,

brothers are those who stand by each other through thick and thin.

Around 50 li from here,

there's a military transit post for transporting prisoners.

We'll go there.

Once we're there,

let's not start any trouble.

Change the horses

and head straight to the capital.

We cannot delay any further.

I, Wei Zhongxian, deserves death.

What is your crime, Eunuch Wei?

Your Majesty,

Wu Minzhi has gathered a group of rebels

in an attempt for revolt.

I advise the group be wiped out

to set an example.

Hasn't Wu Minzhi been kicked out of the capital?

It's my fault for not being harsh enough.

It allowed him to continue his plot

and bothered his superiors.

Your Majesty,

last night,

Wu Minzhi committed suicide by disembowelment.

The shift of his intestines caused him to die in his own home.

[Loyalty and respect]

The way he died looked like...

Looked like, what?

Looked like

he was punished in hell with his entrails pulled out.

Your Majesty,

it must be a divine punishment.

What about Wu Minzhi's wife?

By the will of fate,

she should be punished.

Your Majesty,

she has returned to her hometown

to arrange his funeral.

Wu Minzhi's wife should abide by the will of fate.

She deserves death.

The task at hand

is for the alchemists to find the Dragon Marrow incense.

Why is this military transit post

darker than prison?

The darker it is, the easier to pull tricks.

Do you know of a man

called Shadow Man

among the Qimen alchemists?

It is that guy who excels in ambushes from the shadows.

We need not fight him.

Let's head to the back now.

Change horses and move ahead.

Scoundrel!

What trick is this now?

Wei Zun!

Wei Zun!

Come out!

Come out!

Are you mad?

You attacked me!

Be careful.

He's hiding in the shadows.

Qi Yinchuan!

Qi!

Those who think with their eyes

will be blinded.

Those who think with their eyes

will be blinded.

Qi Yinchuan!

Qi!

Qi!

Qi!

Qi Yinchuan!

I misunderstood you just now.

Thanks.

Yi Ding, Jiu.

Give Wei Zun a proper burial.

We travel through the night

and arrive at the capital tomorrow.

Yes.

Oil-paper umbrellas. Miss, have a look.

Big items.

Small toys.

Come have a look.

Hot steamed buns.

Have a look.

Doesn't it look nice?

Snacks and drinks.

Have a look.

- Let's see how long - Have a look.

this outfit of yours can last.

Snacks and drinks.

Big items, small toys.

[Northern Military Prison]

Qi,

from today onward,

[Platoon Commander of Northern Military] you serve the Northern Military Judge.

[Qi Yinchuan]

If it falls in the wrong hands,

peace will never be seen again.

Who will the Dragon Marrow incense be handed to next?

Qi,

do you know who's chasing us?

The eunuchs' hunting dogs.

That's right.

The eunuchs are extremely powerful.

But they all obey one man.

Wei Zhongxian.

The only thing he needs to achieve all hail

is the Dragon Marrow incense.

Have you ever wondered

how great our futures could be

for the rest of our lives

if we hand the incense to him?

Lu,

when the time comes,

what rank can I achieve?

Putting aside your career,

just the money alone

is worth centuries of pay.

It looks like

you've made up your mind, Lu.

You saw it too.

The eunuchs may be ruthless,

but if you join them,

you'll rise to the top.

But those who fought

for the people's rights

were all left destitute.

A talented person chooses a patron of integrity.

Qi.

Then...

I don't want the hundred years' worth of wages.

Preferably a python robe.

Then we'll be the dogs of the eunuchs.

Tomorrow at noon,

by the Qingye river,

we'll give the Dragon Marrow incense to Lord Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue.

He's the last loyalist

to bring down the eunuchs.

Wei Zhongxian's crime of bewitching the emperor

is well documented.

I brought back the fish you wanted.

With this fish,

my table

will be complete.

Tomorrow's treat is on.

Countless people

have waited too long for tomorrow's banquet.

At this moment,

I believe

I can make my own decisions about my life.

Be a person of integrity.

Open and honest.

Getting rid of evil with a band of brothers.

The world

will soon see the light.

[Ziwei Herbarium]

I have one more request.

Handle this letter

to my younger sister.

[Pale compared to yellow flowers] Capital's Ziwei Herbarium.

Qi Yinling.

Younger sister.

Qi.

Qi.

Is that you?

Qi.

Is this the Suzhou wind chime you wrote about?

Qi.

Qi.

Why don't you say something?

Come.

This way.

Here.

Alright.

Come on.

Qi.

How are things at the courthouse?

I'm...

What's wrong with your voice?

I'm not...

It must be the heat in the south

that's causing your body to be hot.

Here.

Drink this.

Qi.

It's a nice day, isn't it?

Did the tree bear any fruit?

When will you come to see me again?

I've been transferred back to the capital.

As long as you're happy,

I'll come to see you every day.

Eliminate the eunuchs.

Success or failure hinges on this one action.

Who are you?

My lord.

It's getting late.

Get some rest.

Lord Lu.

Lord Lu.

Lord Zhou's affairs

will be managed by the Eastern Depot.

For Lord Zhou's death,

I, the judge of the Northern Prison, shall find out the truth.

Lord Zhou colluded with the feudal lords.

It was soon discovered.

Lord Zhou

has committed suicide.

That's unfounded!

Lord Lu,

you can't talk nonsense.

Harboring a traitor,

treason,

are offences punishable by death.

Eunuch Xu!

Kill him.

If you don't kill him,

we'll starve tomorrow.

Don't make me do it.

Eunuch Xu.

Don't throw your hat into the ring.

Lord Lu.

Please return.

About this,

the Eastern Depot will find out the truth.

Don't get yourself into trouble.

The Dragon Marrow incense

still returned to Wei Zhongxian's hands.

[Northern Prison]

[Discuss about incense in Goldfish Alley by midnight, Ji Ming]

Qi!

Eunuch Feng.

You're now...

the Chief Judge of the Northern Prison.

Please tell me about it, Eunuch Feng Quan,

Eunuch Director of Brush-writing of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Seven years ago, when I did a robbery and came to the capital,

I realized

that the main culprit of the world's suffering

is Wei Zhongxian, who is just under one person.

So,

the fastest way to get to him

is to get castrated

and enter the palace.

You're now Wei Zhongxian's best man.

He's got eyes and ears everywhere.

It's not easy

to gain his trust.

Sigh!

You're now the Chief Judge of the Northern Prison.

The two of us can work together.

I'm sorry, but I can't agree.

Qi.

Do you know the danger of the Dragon Marrow incense?

It can be grinded into powder

and burned.

The smoke

can cause hallucinations

and insanity.

The hallucinations

catalyze a man's nightmare

and plunges him into endless torment.

It's like a nightmare you can't escape from.

Tonight,

the incense will enter the capital from the south-west barbican

into Wanggongchang Armory.

Open the coffin!

In the morning,

the Wanggongchang explosion

will turn the Dragon Marrow incense into smoke.

The capital will become a purgatory infested by evil.

This is the beginning

of Wei Zhongxian's plan to bewitch the emperor.

Wanggongchang explosion?

Lu.

There's only four hours left

before morning comes.

Lord Zhou and the brothers

can't die in vain.

Lu!

It's a trap!

Why didn't Qi come in?

Lord Xu.

What's the meaning of this?

That's for you to say.

Thanks to Lord Qi Yinchuan!

Lu Jianxing and the others,

engaged in conspiration,

secretly plotted a rebellion.

Feng Quan, Commissioner-in-chief of the Eastern Raid Depot ordered

to destroy the rebels!

No!

Don't!

You...

You're

Feng Quan's man.

It's not what you think it is.

Lu Jianxing.

He is

Eunuch Feng Quan's sworn brother.

His real name is Ji Xian.

I knew you weren't Qi Yinchuan.

I didn't realize

you were a dog of the eunuchs.

It's just a mistake

to believe you.

Guard.

Take Lu Jianxing

into Ministry of Justice's jail.

Show the rest of the rebels

the ending of a treason!

Yes.

Don't let me see you again

in my next life.

You are Wei Zhongxian's dog!

Why did you kill the Imperial Bodyguards?

Why are you trying to ruin me?

You're wrong.

I'm definitely going to destroy Wei Zhongxian.

He was just a pawn in my game.

Qi.

I'm just trying to help you.

In Tianqi's sixth year,

Left Vice Censor-in-chief, Yang Lian

accused Wei Zhongxian of twenty-four offences.

The report was clear as day.

But what happened?

Yang Lian died.

Zuo Guangdou died.

Gao Panlong and others of the Donglin faction died!

Worthless deaths!

These people are doing it for the sake of Taoism.

For the sake of the world's livelihood.

They advised the word with their lives.

And yet, even with their lives, they haven't moved a single inch.

It's because they mistook Wei Zhongxian as the culprit.

I respect these people.

And I respect you too!

Qi,

you can't follow their footsteps.

Where is the Dragon Marrow incense?

It's time.

The Dragon Marrow incense

will be sown from the explosion of Wanggongchang

to all parts of the capital.

Let Zhu Youjiao look at this shaky kingdom.

Let the people release the demons in their hearts.

Devine wrath is upon us.

Gathering all the officials.

The emperor make an imperial edict against himself.

Ming's days

will be ended today.

He will be executed by the people together with Wei Zhongxian.

Do you want to change the world?

Qi.

You and I,

we're brothers together.

We'll live differently

in a different world!

You're turning this world

into purgatory.

It's been a purgatory of a world for a long time.

I'm just setting a fire

for everyone to have their nirvana.

Ji Xian.

If you walk out of the door,

don't blame me for what I'll do.

Xu Chun.

Send both of them on their way to the afterlife.

Yinling!

Yinling!

Yinling!

The dust is toxic.

Chew on this for relief.

I knew you're not my brother.

But you resembled him.

Thank you for coming to see me.

I really have to go to find my brother now.

Yinling!

Yinling!

This girl

is a pity

because of you.

The capital

is like a ghost town.

It's not fun at all.

Come on.

Let's get back.

Gentlemen of Donglin.

The sacrifices you made in the past

will come to fruition today.

Follow the river

and you'll be out of town.

Look at you.

What a long face.

Being a rogue

was not fun for you.

Being an Imperial Bodyguard

was no fun too.

I thought

a change of clothes,

a change of identity,

would change my life.

You can change your skin.

But and you change how you live?

You live the way however you want!

Just look at me.

How many rogues

are as dashing as I am?

With wine,

and meat,

and a brother like you.

A man

has got to make his own luck.

What?

Was I wrong?

Yes.

A man has to make his own luck.

Hey!

Hey!

I'll leave you alone if you leave again.

Near the Wanggongchang Armory,

from the street at the city gate in the east,

to the street of Ministry of Justice.

Within a radius of thirteen li,

thousands of houses collapsed,

20,000 people died,

and the smell of filth was overwhelming.

Eunuch Wei.

What is that floating in the sky?

It's a bad omen.

I fear that the country's fortunes may falter.

Please take refuge outside the city, Your Majesty.

I'll stay here to guard the capital.

Your Majesty.

I'm afraid it's not fair

to leave the city.

The only way

is to gather all the officials at the Hall of Imperial Supremacy

to read out the imperial edict of sin.

Lord Feng.

Calling all the officials

will cause a state of panic.

Where's the decency?

What kind of decency is there

in the capital now?

I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

How can I abandon the Imperial City?

Let's do as Eunuch Feng said.

At your Imperial majesty's

command.

The Ming Dynasty

is devastated.

It's time for a change in the world.

Lord Lu.

Since we can't be

on the same side,

I'm sorry.

This is the bitter herbs to cure the Dragon Marrow incense toxic.

Why did you come back?

Come back to see if you're dead.

If you're still alive,

do you want to join me?

Why?

Again?

Just because you saved my life once

doesn't mean I'll trust you again.

To solve this crisis,

we must find Feng Quan.

At this moment,

the people are already confused by the smoke of Dragon Marrow incense

from the explosion.

Inside the Imperial City with all the officials,

Feng Quan used the opportunity to poison the officials

to make the court rain blood.

There will be chaos inside

and outside the Imperial City.

Feng Quan is the main culprit.

Okay.

I'll take a loss

and trust you again.

Kneel.

Feng Quan

You're being reckless.

The gods and the people are furious.

Still pleading not guilty?

You...

I'll kneel.

I'm going to kneel.

Your Majesty.

I'm scared

and I don't know what to do.

I've been neglecting my duties to the gods.

I disregarded the Ancestral Laws.

My governance is a mess.

I let the villains hold power,

hide the sages and unable to distinguish between good and evil.

Wrongful imprisonment and abuse of the innocent

without rightful judgement between the right and the wrong.

I will

fast at this moment

and visit the temple

to pay my respects.

Central and local ministers of all levels and workers

are to be clean and pious.

Wash their hearts to do the work.

Stop the tortures, slaughters and other sinful actions.

You must inform the Minister of Ceremony

for self-reflections.

To work together with respect and professionalism,

and to understand my heart.

A terrible crime was committed.

Tonight,

many people will die.

And you

should be buried with them.

Eunuch Feng!

This is...

What's going on here, Eunuch Feng?

Feng Quan!

This is all

for the two of you.

Pay for your sins!

Your Majesty!

You're so heartless.

I've been left behind on every mission.

The girl

is mine.

Do you know him?

He's my friend.

Your Majesty!

Quickly, Your Majesty!

Hurry up!

Run quickly!

Run!

Run away!

Hurry up and run!

Let's go!

Close the door!

The door's stuck.

Go away!

Fight a way out!

I can't hold out much longer.

Ji Xian!

In our next life,

come and have a drink with me.

We're going!

You take His Majesty and go first.

- I'm going to find Feng Quan. - Alright.

Endless torment.

is the worst of the eight torments.

Interruption non-existence.

Suffering is endless.

Time is endless.

Life is endless.

Body is everywhere at all the time.

This world

is just

the endless torment.

Come on!

Kill me!

Try and kill me!

Kill me already.

Kill me.

Kill me and you'll never have peace.

Qi Yinchuan succeeded in eliminating traitors

and protected the Emperor.

To be promoted to Northern Prison's

Right Commander.

Granted a python robe.

Respectfully yours.

After all, it's about the skin.

Ji Fei?

Stop pretending to be a good person.

You killed the boy.

This is the purgatory!

No one's getting out.

It's all ghosts.

It's all ghosts!

Delude the people with heresy.

Lord Qi,

you can't keep him.

He should be killed.

For this skin,

you killed me too.

No more games.

Come on.

Kill me.

Commander Qi.

Kill him.

Don't force me.

Don't push me.

Don't force me.

Don't push me.

Don't.

I didn't do it.

I didn't kill that boy.

It was you!

In your heart,

it's always been you.

You can't get away with it.

One moment, it's purgatory.

One moment, it's nirvana.

If you want to turn the purgatory

into a pure land,

you have to do it yourself.