Original subtitles

XINGSHAN HALL

ZHAO QINRU, 15 YEARS AGO

The construction took five years and cost an enormous amount.

The hall is finally complete today.

It's all for the Blessing Ceremony.

I've done my utmost.

I can swear to the heavens.

After the ceremony,

you'll top the harem as you wish.

And your son, the Seventh Prince, will become the Crown Prince.

The future of the Zhao Family lies on you, Master Tao.

But it's just a ceremony.

Can it achieve such ambitious goals?

"Just"?

The ceremony needs one last and most vital sacrifice.

I wonder

if you can provide it.

What is it?

I'll give you anything for my son

to become the Crown Prince,

including my life.

You can take it.

No, Your Highness.

I need your daughter,

Princess Duanyang.

My daughter?

Slow down, Your Highness!

Be careful!

Careful now.

She was born on an auspicious day.

Her natal chart matches the formation perfectly.

She's the most suitable to be the Saintess.

I can't do that! I can't sacrifice my daughter!

I can't!

The formation won't take her life.

It'll transfer her lifespan and fortune

all to your son.

She's born royal, noble,

lucky and long-living.

With her at the core of the formation,

your son will be the Crown Prince for sure.

I can't let her go!

Your Highness, let me remind you.

If the Empress's son ascends the throne,

what will happen to your son,

his former biggest rival?

What about the long-lasting

and prominent Zhao Family?

XINGSHAN HALL

What will happen to Min?

She'll lead a miserable life.

She won't get anything she wants, or she'll lose everything eventually.

She'll never be happy.

Slow down, Your Highness!

Be careful.

Slow down.

Slow down.

Careful now.

Mother.

Are you crying, Mother?

Min.

If I want you to be the Saintess for the Blessing Ceremony,

will you do it?

What's a Saintess?

If I'm the Saintess,

will you get what you want and stop crying?

If so, I'll do it.

I'll be the Saintess, Mother.

Min,

I'll forever adore you and love you.

I'll give you anything you want.

You'll be the most-loved princess.

You're the best, Mother.

Your Highness, the Princess went in over an hour ago!

The wedding is about to begin!

Useless!

All of you wait here. I'll bring her back.

Chief!

Chief!

Keep your voice down!

Chief, Dowager Consort Zhao is here.

Why did she come?

It seems the key to solving this complicated puzzle is here.

Sister Mu.

However wild that demon is…

As long as we're back together…

Right now, in that hall…

We will solve it!

Yes!

XINGSHAN HALL

You look vigorous, General Li.

Chancellor, please look after my son at the Imperial College.

Sure, sure.

-Look at this fabric. -Mr. Liu.

-It's of top quality. -I'll have to rely on you.

I have some more at home.

You like it?

-I'll have it sent to your place. -No problem.

Thank you.

XINGSHAN HALL

Min!

Go back with me.

I won't.

It's been overdue for 15 years.

It has to be done today.

What are you saying? Let's go.

What am I saying?

Don't you know best, Mother?

Lu Jiu, Princess Duanyang is possessed.

Take her away now.

Lu Jiu!

Are you defying me?

Let's go!

Ruoshi!

-Min! -It's time.

Tao Ying?

It's you!

You're manipulating her with your witchcraft, aren't you?

You won't succeed!

Tao Ying died ten years ago.

Your Highness, did Mu Huaijiang not tell you

that Tao Ying was a mere puppet?

I am the mastermind behind everything.

Demon! Demon!

Guards! Catch that demon!

Help! Catch that demon!

Finally, this day has come.

Everyone in this hall will die a worthy death today.

Chief, the Life Suction Formation is about to be activated.

Stand by. Get ready to assist.

Stick to Cultivator Mu's plan.

Dowager Consort Zhao is there too.

If something happens to her, His Majesty will punish us…

Cultivator Mu has told me about the situation with a Message Charm.

Relax. It's fine.

Chief, the stakes are high.

-Do you really believe in those civilians? -Absolutely.

You evil demon. Do you think your plan is working?

Look around. Are those guests in a panic?

You look vigorous, General Li.

Chancellor,

please look after my son at the Imperial College.

Sure, sure.

-Look at this fabric. -Mr. Liu.

-It's of top quality. -I'll have to rely on you.

I have some more at home.

-You like it? -Sure, sure.

I'll have it sent to your place.

Thank you.

Look, your plan failed.

To gain immortality with this formation,

you'll need hundreds of lives.

But now other than us and Dowager Consort Zhao,

only the bride and the groom are here.

Who are you?

I always tell the demons who is going to kill them.

I'm a Mu from Huainan, Mu Yao.

One of the Mu Family?

Fifteen years ago, Mu Huaijiang ruined my plan!

Now, you!

At first, I thought it was the powerful Resentful Woman.

Turns out, you're only a Tier four Incubus Demon.

Making such an elaborate plan to catch you was a complete waste.

But that's fine.

It's worth it for the safety of the people.

The formation has been activated.

Your demon core will solidify and appear at the core of the formation.

It'll be so fragile that a little child

can easily break it.

Here it comes.

The dark energy is…

Resentment.

Fifteen years ago, over 400 people were killed here.

Lingering resentment, obsession, hatred

and other painful and twisted feelings

can be forged in the demon core to boost demonic power.

That explains it.

With such energy, his demon core is unbreakable.

It's a pity that the pain of those people's tragic deaths

is now fueling his evildoings.

Demon Catchers, you've underestimated me.

Even if I can't reach immortality today,

you can't do anything to me,

but you'll all die here!

How beautiful.

Your Highness, where are we?

I… I don't know.

Why are you asking me?

Of course you know.

We're in your dream.

Nonsense!

A Tier seven Incubus Demon can create a nightmare

and trap people inside it forever.

This one is merely Tier 4.

Normally, he couldn't do that.

But with the strong resentment in his demon core,

he's as powerful as a Tier seven Incubus Demon.

Resentment flows to its source.

Dowager Consort Zhao, we are in your nightmare.

Mother, this place is so beautiful and peaceful.

Why is it your nightmare?

Where exactly are we?

I don't know.

Stop asking me!

I know nothing about it.

A perfect habitat for demons in such a remote place.

This is Qilin Mountain.

Qilin Mountain?

Are we in Qilin Mountain?

Mother, isn't that you from years ago?

Level this evil mountain

with ten mountain talismans.

Let no demons go.

Yes.

Ten mountain talismans? Why?

It's a demon lair.

Do I need a reason to kill demons?

They were produced by natural energy. They never left here or did evil.

Demons are like beasts.

I'm a dowager consort.

I don't need to explain it to you!

I meant to protect the people before it was too late.

Liar!

That's the Qingyi Marquis Mansion.

It's the one from over ten years ago.

This is her second nightmare.

Father! Wake up, Father!

Take your young master away.

-Father! -Yes.

-Father! -Let's go, Young Master.

Please wake up!

You may leave.

-Father! -Qinghuan.

Sister…

this is probably my last night.

No.

You're still young. You'll recover soon.

Over the years, I've done what you said.

I've never tried

to find out the connection

between me and Qilin Mountain,

or why I don't remember about my trip,

or what happened to me.

But now I'm dying.

I have one last wish.

Tell me,

was I in love with someone,

even if…

even if she was a demon?

Why are you asking that

at this point?

Sister…

please

tell me.

Why do I always feel

there's a hole in my heart?

Did I lose someone I loved?

Sister…

You're the Seventh Prince's uncle

and the Master of the Zhao Family.

You're at the top of the pyramid.

You aren't involved with any demon whatsoever.

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

Qinghuan!

So

the late Marquis was away for a long time

before getting married

because he fell in love with a demon at Qilin Mountain.

And you covered it up at all costs

for the Zhao Family's honor

and for fear that your son couldn't become the Crown Prince,

right?

I did all that for you.

Min, Ruoshi, I had to protect the Zhao Family.

As the new Master,

Qinghuan was bewitched by a demon.

If I hadn't made that move, he would've ruined everything.

"That move"? Do you mean the Worry-Free Curse?

You killed so many innocent people,

but never did you know your brother would also die because of you.

No!

It was that demon! That demon killed him!

It had nothing to do with me!

The Worry-Free Curse can erase one's memory,

but not one's love or hatred.

The late Marquis died with regrets because of you.

It became your nightmare because even when he was dying,

you, who he saw as his intimate sister, were still lying to him.

I was his sister and he was my younger brother.

We were siblings. We grew up together. I'd never harm him!

I did what I did for his sake!

I'm a sister too. I also have a younger brother.

Zhao Qinru, you don't know what siblings are for.

Mu Yao,

easy for you to say.

The Mu Family is widely respected as all of you are Demon Catchers.

Were your brother with a demon

could you still remain untroubled and lenient?

Could you do that?

Xingshan Hall?

It's the one in her dream.

Finally, your dream has led us here.

XINGSHAN HALL

Is that me in childhood?

Your Highness, we followed your orders

and finally found this civilian girl, Yu.

Her birthday and natal chart are similar to the Princess's.

Very well.

Her figure and looks match Min's too.

The Blessing Ceremony is tomorrow.

Use her to see how it goes.

We've been warned of the importance.

We shall tread carefully.

The Saintess should be pious for the prayer to be answered.

Do you want to be the Saintess?

Yes.

I really do.

I want to be the Saintess,

so Your Highness will give us money to pay for my sister's treatment.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I think I know who she is.

I once saw that rattle-drum.

Peiyun carried it with her all the time.

She said it was left by her sister, Peiyu.

So this girl is her sister, Peiyu!

Peiyun?

She…

Did she come to the palace

and work for Min and me,

all for…

for revenge?

You're vicious, but not too dumb.

I remember it.

You also wanted me to be the Saintess.

Mother, did you mean to sacrifice me too?

No!

I love you the most!

You know that, Min.

I'd never sacrifice you.

So you sacrificed another girl?

She was from a poor family.

I paid her family way more than that of 100 girls.

In your eyes, demons are nothing.

So are humans, I guess.

-I… -You used another girl.

Used her instead of your daughter to be the Saintess.

Did you already know there'd be a fire

that'd kill everyone at the Blessing Ceremony?

I built this hall to pray for the people's welfare and well-being!

That wizard Tao Ying

colluded with that demon and fooled me.

I knew nothing about their plot, really!

At this point, you're still defending yourself

as if you've done evil for a good reason

and it's another's fault.

It is their fault!

I didn't know anything. I swear!

I didn't do it. I didn't know. Stop asking me!

They lied to me. I didn't know…

I swear I knew nothing at all!

Mother,

are you hearing it?

This is the scene after the fire.

Your Highness, 15 years ago,

over 400 people came for the ceremony.

No one survived except you. Why?

That was an accident.

The court concluded the case.

An unfortunate accident.

You keep lying to us.

Twenty years ago, to break up your brother and his love,

you had the Astronomical Bureau level Qilin Mountain.

I've checked Tao Ying out.

He and his daughter had been living in seclusion there

until you gave that order,

causing his daughter to be killed in that catastrophe.

That blood-stained wooden doll was left by her.

Tao Ying wasn't a demon.

He and the Incubus Demon who used him came to you for revenge.

You did evil for your selfish desires.

To cover that up, you did it again,

leading you to a vicious circle, the depths of vice,

and eventually, the massacre by fire.

Zhao Qinru, do you think you can atone for your sins

simply by playing a philanthropist?

If you don't tell the truth,

we'll forever be trapped in the nightmare.

Resentment is a personal feeling.

It should've left with that person.

But now it's being used by the Incubus Demon.

Only if you confess can we break out.

Otherwise,

your daughter, your nephew and even you

will all die here.

Chief, the formation has been running for over a quarter hour.

Cultivator Mu and the others…

I think they're acting as planned,

using themselves as bait

to be lured into the Incubus Demon's Boundless Nightmare.

A Tier seven Incubus Demon's Boundless Nightmare?

If they're trapped inside for an hour,

they won't be able to get out.

Don't I know that?

They're well aware of it too.

And they have a solution.

Make Dowager Consort Zhao confess.

I've done nothing wrong.

Not before, not now, not ever!

You're setting them off.

Watch out, Your Highness!

Ruoshi!

Aren't we in a dream?

How come they can hurt us?

The dream isn't real,

but the victims' resentment is.

Be careful, everyone!

We're in Xingshan Hall in the dream and in reality.

They've overlapped,

so their resentment has sneaked in.

It can't hurt people in reality,

but we're in the dream.

Dreams come from one's mind.

So the resentment here

can kill us!

Your… Your Highness…

Ruoshi!

Ruoshi!

Ruoshi!

Ruoshi!

Ruoshi!

-Him dying in the Boundless Nightmare. -Ruoshi!

-Means he will die in reality too. -Ruoshi!

Zhao Qinru, confess now. We can't hold it any longer.

You can't get away with it.

Such resentment won't stop until it devours its source.

Stop denying it!

Mother! I'm scared, Mother!

Mother!

What have I done wrong?

All that I've done is for the Zhao Family's glory.

I've done my best for the ancestors and the descendants.

Let the resentment devour me! Come at me!

You're incorrigible!

The resentment will not only harm you!

Come on! Devour me!

Do it now!

I've done nothing wrong! Nothing at all!

Min!

Min!

Min!

Mother…

If you

want me to be the Saintess

and you can be happy,

I'll do it.

If I'm the Saintess,

will you get what you want and stop crying?

If so, I'll do it.

I'll be the Saintess, Mother.

Min!

Tao Ying lost his daughter,

so he wanted you

to kill your daughter as revenge.

He was killed by that fire.

His resentment is not only towards you. It'll devour your daughter too.

I'm losing it!

It's my fault.

It's all my fault!

I was deluded into

setting up this evil formation out of greed.

I couldn't sacrifice my daughter,

so I replaced her with another girl.

Seeing the hall on fire,

I thought if word got out,

the Zhao Family and my son would be in trouble,

so I had them close all the doors,

causing hundreds of deaths.

-Your Highness! -Help!

-Help! -Help!

Open the door!

Your Highness!

Let us out!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

Can't let them out…

I'm guilty.

I'm the most sinful!

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry!

Punish me alone!

Like mist entangling with time

Fate feels like a nightmare

Who understands the black lotus

Before I met you

The years were chaotic and speechless

Each glance at you makes me willingly

Annotate the years with my life

Darkness cannot devour all hope

Gazing at the light on the other shore

Even if I'm battered And facing endless storms

I'm grateful to have you by my side

Min…

Min…

Etching my name in joy and sorrow

Finally.

My body was numb lying there.

Just to protect you

You're unforgivable,

but your daughter and Marquis Zhao are innocent.

Don't worry. They're safe.

The nightmare is dissipating.

We did it.

No!

No!

The capital holds over 100 Imperial Demon Catchers,

and it's guarded by the supreme Crescent.

Even Tier seven demons are intimidated.

Yet a lowly demon used a woman's greed to stir up huge trouble.

How ironic.

Brother Liu, are you going to purify him?

No.

I believe we should give bad demons another chance.

But this Incubus Demon did all kinds of evil for his selfish desires,

leading to dreadful consequences.

Even if he ended up in my tower,

he'd fall on the eighth floor and live in hell.

It's better to let Yao end him to spare him the suffering.

I think so too.

I've waited for so long

and gone to extreme lengths,

only to see that my plan almost worked, but failed twice.

You… You Demon Catchers keep getting in my way!

Immortality is no longer possible for me.

But this formation cost me everything.

It cannot go to waste!

The sky in my eyes Is always a dazzling blue

The departing ship raises its sails Waiting for the wind

It says breaking Through layers of obstacles

Will lead to the stars and the sea

The fledgling bird at the cliff's edge Spreads its wings

How high must it fly To meet expectations

The waves say The breeze will come naturally

So fly

Even if I encounter storms And crash into flames

Even if the thorns cover me

I was meant to

Embrace every surging wave

This world

Has both spectacular and ordinary moments

Giving it my all is brave enough

The next stop

Is calling me from ahead

A flower breaking through the stone Pure and soft

Open up an umbrella on a long journey

No matter where the wind comes from I'll look forward to it

So fly

Even if I encounter storms And crash into flames

Even if the thorns cover me

I was meant to

Embrace every surging wave

This world

Has both spectacular and ordinary moments

Giving it my all is brave enough

The next stop

Is calling me from ahead

As the wind blows open the folded Crane-shaped letters

The yellowing paper Reflects forgotten wishes

I want to talk to The passionate persistence I had back then

Thank you for not retreating

Thank you for always guarding your beliefs

So fly

Even if I encounter storms And crash into flames

Even if the thorns cover me

I was meant to

Embrace every surging wave

This world

Has both spectacular and ordinary moments

Giving it my all is brave enough

The next stop

Is calling me from ahead