Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM ZHU YAN BY CANG YUE

My lady, are you awake?

Your mother is waiting for you.

All right.

Tell Mother

I will be there soon.

Yes, my lady.

Probably she's going to persuade me again.

This is it. I was blindfolded.

Because I was inside

my own spiritual barrier.

Naturally, I couldn't drive her away with spiritual power.

But

how did she intrude?

What's wrong with you?

I know you're diligent, but you look somewhat gaunter.

Did you stay up all night yesterday?

I'll go and get you some snacks.

Is it because there's the residual power of Gongshang?

Our spiritual powers are connected.

So she accidentally intruded?

But given her current ability,

she shouldn't be able to achieve that.

Have you reflected

on your mistake last time?

I failed my task last time.

Please forgive me.

General Qing, you're not young.

You should

decide on marriage now, right?

Elders of the Azure Clan and I

are very concerned about you.

Recently, the Crimson King is seeking a marriage alliance

for his only daughter, Princess Zhu Yan.

Princess Zhu Yan

is a lady of your age

and after your heart.

You should propose marriage to her.

Your Highness.

Why bring this up all of a sudden?

Both of you are of marriageable age.

Is there any problem with that?

Besides,

you've failed your task.

This time, you must make amends for it.

I hope

that you won't let the Azure King and me down again.

I heard you were close

with Princess Zhu Yan

when you were in Jiuyi Mountain.

Why?

Do you loathe her?

It's not that.

But Princess Zhu Yan and I…

Though the Crimson Residence is located at Western Huang

and lacks in strength,

Princess Zhu Yan

is the sole trueborn of the Crimson King.

She will ascend to the throne one day.

Both of you are of similar rank.

She can barely be considered worthy for the Azure Clan.

The marriage alliance between the two clans

is deemed a good thing

for the Azure Clan too.

Princess, General Qing is here.

General Qing, it has been a while.

What brings you here today?

Consort Qing just arranged a marriage for me

with Zhu Yan.

Congratulations.

Congratulations?

I heard you're marrying Prince Shi Yu soon too.

Yes.

Are you here to offer your blessings too?

No.

I came here to ask you.

Do you truly accept the marriage arrangement?

Even I know

that Prince Shi Yu likes Princess Xueying,

your little sister.

So what?

None of the noble descendants

have a say in their marriage.

Zhu Yan and you are going to engage too.

Is it because you like her?

General Qing, you like me.

Don't you?

You know that?

I've known it all along.

Be that as it may, you should be aware

that for people from a humble origin like us,

love isn't something we should ask for.

I don't seek love but interest.

As long as the marriage can get me closer to my goal,

I will do it.

So I advise you to think the same way too.

Marrying Zhu Yan

is a good thing for you, General Qing.

You come from a side branch of the Azure Clan

and came this far because of your own effort.

Zhu Yan is the only daughter of the Crimson King.

With her assistance,

perhaps you might aspire to the throne

of the Azure King in the future.

I don't want to listen to this nor do I care about them.

- I'm here to ask you-- - Hold it back.

You should know my answer.

I got it.

I shouldn't have asked.

Please take care of yourself.

I shall take my leave.

If there's a next life

where we're not born in the noble clans,

perhaps we can be together and enjoy our lives leisurely.

And maybe…

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Be at ease.

Your Majesty.

I have an important matter

to discuss with you.

Do you?

Is it a discussion

or have you already

made the decision?

I dare not.

I noticed

the state affairs have been keeping you busy.

Hence, I'd like to share your worries

about family matters.

Yu'er has come of age.

It's time to arrange a marriage for him.

Hence, I've chosen Bai Xuelu,

the Princess of the White Clan.

I wonder

if you're satisfied with this choice.

Of course.

Go.

Bring the Princess of the White Clan here.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Bai Xuelu, the Princess of the White Clan,

is indeed a beautiful and virtuous lady.

I believe you will approve of her

after meeting her.

Your Majesty,

two princesses of the White Clan are here.

- Greetings, Your Majesty, Consort Qing. - Greetings, Your Majesty, Consort Qing.

Your mother suggested you take a consort.

You may choose your principal wife

between them.

Why are you hesitating?

Choose the lady you like.

Choose one out of two.

How hard can it be?

Father.

Are you sure I can choose myself?

If you don't,

your mother will step in.

I'll choose.

Father.

I choose Bai Xueying to be my consort.

Please grant my wish.

Good. Very good.

I've heard

that both of you are on intimate terms

and met a lot in secret.

Those rumors seem to be true.

This is marvelous.

I will grant your wish.

- Thank you, Father. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

Get up.

Yu'er.

Life is short.

You shouldn't refrain from yourself

and devote yourself

to being with your loved one.

If you fail,

you may end up

like a living dead.

I was born into a cold imperial family.

I wasn't given a chance to stay with my beloved one.

How pathetic.

Fortunately,

you're luckier than me

as you can be with your loved one.

Do cherish her well

and don't let her down.

Yes, Father.

Brilliant, Your Majesty.

I didn't know

there was such a story behind this.

I almost shoved the wrong pair together.

You may leave.

Yes.

Qing Yun.

Stay here.

Your Majesty,

what's the matter?

I think there's something

you haven't told me.

If you don't,

I'll let it pass.

Now that Yu'er has chosen his wife.

I implore you to appoint him

as the Crown Prince.

I can have someone issue a decree

to confer the title of Crown Prince on Shi Yu.

However,

after this,

you should stop harassing the person in Jiuyi Mountain.

Understood?

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

You're wise.

Xueying, you're finally back.

- I've cooked bird's nest for you. - Father.

Come.

I've heard about it.

Good job.

Though it's just an engagement

and the wedding is still a few days away,

His Majesty is a man of his word.

You shall wait for the decree of your conferment.

I carefully picked this precious delicacy

- and cooked it for two hours. - This is such great news.

I suppose Father has a lot to say with Xueying.

I shall take my leave first.

Congratulations, Xueying.

Xueying.

Come and try your favorite bird's nest.

Come on, Xueying. Have a taste.

Princess.

Are you laughing out of frustration?

Of course not.

Do you believe in destiny?

I'm predestined to be the Empress of Kongsang.

But

His Majesty has already appointed Princess Xueying

as Prince Shi Yu's consort.

I knew since the day Preceptor managed to escape

the trap set by Consort Qing.

He's of immeasurable prowess

beyond our expectations.

However, when Consort Qing presented Shi Yu

who's an easier path before, I couldn't bear to leave

the initial choice behind,

but I had to.

But the current situation is right up my alley.

Prince Shi Yu

was appointed as the Crown Prince.

So what?

He's merely a good-for-nothing who failed to escape a marriage.

He won't achieve anything big

despite the conferment.

YING

I no longer have to hesitate.

This must be the guidance from heaven.

Shi Ying

is my only path.

YING

My lady.

Didn't you say that your master is the former Crown Prince?

Now that His Majesty has appointed a new Crown Prince,

it should be bad news.

Why do you look happy instead?

My master never cares about being the Crown Prince.

He's happier if no one brings up the past ever again.

Concerning the latest conferment,

no one will bother him with that again.

Master won't be worried if I'll be dragged into trouble.

Maybe…

Forget it. You don't have to know about this.

Princess, Her Highness is urging you to have dinner.

All right.

Yufei, have you received any letters

from Jiuyi Mountain?

No.

My lady, it's only been just over a month

since you returned home.

You've already sent 30 batches of our local specialties over.

Yet there has been no replies from Jiuyi Mountain.

Do you think

it's because…

What?

Because Preceptor doesn't like the gifts you sent?

It's impossible.

Master hasn't replied to me

because he's in trouble now

and he doesn't want me to get involved.

As of now,

a new Crown Prince is designated.

He probably won't have any worries.

Maybe he's already on his way to Extreme Wind City.

I might be able to see him tomorrow

or the day after.

Wishing Tree, I'm here again.

Why is there a barrier?

Why is it blocking me?

Let me in.

Why are you stopping me?

Let me in.

Let me in.

What's going on now?

Why can't I enter this fantastical realm?

My lady.

My lady, something bad has happened.

My lady, wake up.

The Azure Clan came for a marriage proposal.

Marriage proposal?

What are you talking about?

What? Marriage proposal?

Yes, my lady.

Please put them inside.

- All right. - Come on, follow me.

Come this way. Hurry.

General Qing.

Greetings, my lord.

Greetings, my lady.

Please have some tea, General Qing.

Thank you, my lady.

Qing Gang?

Why are you here?

Princess Zhu Yan.

It has been a while.

Yan'er, speak gently.

Behave yourself.

- Don't embarrass yourself. - I…

I apologize, General Qing.

We've overly pampered Zhu Yan at home.

But don't worry.

Before she gets married,

- we'll teach her etiquette. - Me? Getting married?

Please don't be.

Princess Zhu Yan and I

have known each other in Jiuyi Mountain.

We're close.

There's no need to be so courteous.

True.

It's good that you've become acquainted.

It'll be easier for you

to get along in the future.

That's right.

Since you haven't met each other for some time,

you should spend some time alone to catch up.

Exactly.

The weather is good today.

Yan'er, take General Qing

to the garden for a walk.

Yan'er, come on.

- Hurry. - We…

The nature of this marriage

is that Consort Qing intends to win over the Crimson Clan

by sacrificing your happiness

as well as mine.

How could you accept this without a squeak?

As the kin of the Azure Clan,

I shouldn't defy

the order of the clan chief.

Have you ever thought that your obedience

is actually harming yourself

and me too?

We're buddies.

It's absurd for us to get married.

As long as you disagree,

I can return to report to duty.

But I'm afraid Consort Qing

will have other plans.

Consort Qing is hard to deal with.

But instead of worrying about this,

shouldn't you be concerned that your negligent decision

will leave you with regrets in life?

I do hate Bai Xuelu.

She's also not a good match for you.

But you like her.

If you like her, how could you give up on her easily?

Don't mention her.

What?

Did she reject you?

So you turned to me

after you became disheartened?

All right, I promise you.

I'll marry you.

Good. Come on.

Look at me.

Can you imagine

living together with me for a lifetime?

You can't, right?

Me neither.

That's why I say,

life never goes in the way we want.

When we confront pressure,

we should bravely fight against it for our loved ones.

Otherwise, it's all in vain.

Qing Gang, you're a dignified man,

yet you're not as good as a woman like me.

You're right.

Thank you for enlightening me.

I'll return now and tell Consort Qing

I can't obey this order.

That's right.

But it can be more complicated than you imagine.

If the marriage alliance fails,

I'm afraid Consort Qing won't give up easily.

I can handle it.

In time,

this strange huge tree will wither

and my spiritual barrier

may return to peace.

Wishing Tree.

You look like my master.

When he is in deep thought,

he always frowns.

Master.

- What's going on now? - Master.

The residual power of Gongshang has depleted.

And I completely expelled her from my spiritual barrier.

How could she come in again?

I didn't have a chance to take a closer look at you.

You're a dead ringer for him.

Your eyes are moving.

Wishing Tree, thank you.

I've seen the Illusionary Master again.

Wishing Tree.

Why did you wither

just after a few days of not meeting?

Your branches have fallen off.

How did she manage to come in here?

Illusion.

I'll see you as my master.

Here, give me your hand.

You promised me

you would come to see me.

But you never show up.

Do you want to break your promise?

Now tell me how many spankings you deserve.

Well…

You can hit me

three times.

All right?

If so, as your teacher…

As your disciple, I'll hit you three times.

You must remember this well.

This is so fun.

I'm going to do things I wouldn't dare to do to Master

on the Illusionary Master.

Illusionary Master.

My master never laughs happily.

Can you laugh?

Master?

You're not an illusion?

You're Master.

Are you him?

It's an illusion.

I know you're an illusion.

That's great. I thought you were him.

Master will never laugh like this.

Do you know?

I like the illusion in this fantastical realm.

I can feel the warmth

and heartbeat.

Sadly,

you're just an illusion.

My master

will never allow me to hug him.

Illusionary Master.

Can you sit with me for a while?

Will you?

Come with me.

Please sit.

Illusionary Master.

Do you know?

My parents are forcing me to marry someone.

They asked me

what kind of man I wanted to marry.

What kind of man do I want to marry?

I first saw the Crown Prince

when I was little.

And I thought he's the guy

with the most dashing look.

Afterward, I met with Master

and I thought

he's a clear moon in the sky

and an immortal shrouded in light.

And these two perfect men

turn out to be the same one.

Well,

after meeting such a man who lacks nothing in the flesh,

naturally,

I'll have high expectations, right?

Tell me.

Can anyone be compared to my master?

Wishing Tree,

you're blooming with red flowers too.

There are two colors of flowers at the same time.

That's beautiful.

Wishing Tree, please keep blooming

until the day my master comes to fetch me.

No.

You must bloom

until the day my master and I grow old.

All right?

This is beautiful.

Shi Ying.

You shouldn't let her enter

your spiritual barrier again.

Xiaoyingzi.

Regarding the Ice Clan's assassins at Nvluo Creek,

my bird has brought back some clues.

Among the three sorcerers that turned up that day,

the sturdy one with two blades

didn't die under the Celestial Assault.

He went back to Jialan to Consort Qing.

But I've lost his trail again.

The survivor should be the chief of the Ten Sorcerers, Wu Xian.

The Ten Sorcerers

are led by Wu Xian.

If Wu Xian doesn't die,

the nine can resurrect

even though they die.

I can't believe he managed to survive the Celestial Assault.

This is indeed suspicious.

Ice Clan launched an attack on the Emperor's Valley and Nvluo Creek.

I believe the Azure Clan is behind these too.

But I have no idea

what kind of deal they have made.

Azure Clan provides Ice Clan

with convenience into Kongsang,

while Ice Clan helps Azure Clan

to eliminate you, the major threat.

If the Ice Clan intended to kill me,

they could send out the Ten Sorcerers.

Both Zhu Yan and I wouldn't stand a chance to survive.

But they didn't seem to kill you.

What exactly do they want?

This matter is serious.

I must get to the bottom of it.

Especially the identity of the Sage

Wu Xian mentioned that day.

We must look up this clue.

But where should we start from?

Jiuyi District.

This is a place

the Ice Clan can't avoid

when they enter the Emperor's Valley and Nvluo Creek.

I guess the people in the district must have seen them.

It seems

that Wu Xian left these when he fled in a hurry.

This is the map around Jiuyi Mountain

and Nvluo Creek,

and the solution to the maze outside the Emperor's Valley.

Could there be a turncoat in the mountain from the Ice Clan?

This map contains many details

that an ordinary cultivator of Jiuyi Mountain wouldn't know.

You're right.

I don't even know

about this shortcut.

Is it the Grand Preceptor…

Don't be absurd.

Why not?

I've been perching on Jiuyi Mountain for thousands of years

and been to every corner of it.

Yet I didn't know about this shortcut.

Unless this map is left by someone who has deep connections

with Jiuyi Mountain in the ancient past.

No. This scroll looks new.

Does the person who created this scroll live longer than me

and has a pair of exceptionally keen eyes?

Isn't that immortal?

The one who gave Wu Xian this

might be the Sage.

Chong Ming.

Rally all the birds

to search around the realm for the whereabouts of Ten Sorcerers.

We must find the Sage

as soon as possible.

All right.

Your Supreme Majesty.

Chong Ming and I

have discovered some clues about the whereabouts

of the Ice Clan in Jiuyi District.

I suspect

that the person who knows all the secret realms

is the Sage behind the Ice Clan.

What do you say, Your Supreme Majesty?

Unless there are some mythical creatures

who have been living for thousands of years like Chong Ming

that joined the Ice Clan.

The trickiest and most sinister Hundun in the mountain

has been subdued by you

It won't be able to rise again in a hundred years.

This matter remains mysterious.

You should keep investigating.

Yes.

There's one more thing.

Consort Qing has ordered Qing Gang

to propose marriage to Zhu Yan.

If you think this is inappropriate,

I can stop their marriage with an excuse,

saying that their star signs are in disharmony

and might bring harm to the two clans.

What do you think?

I have no interest in worldly matters.

The union among the Six Ministries

don't concern me.

Now that Zhu Yan has left,

I'm not concerned

about who's she going to marry.

But you look

more concerned about this.

Do I?

This is the spiritual power I extracted from my barrier during cultivation.

As expected, it belongs to you.

I've been curious

about how Zhu Yan managed to intrude

into my barrier several times.

It was you who enhanced the residual connection of Gongshang

with your spiritual power.

Why did you do so, Your Supreme Majesty?

Yes.

It was me.

Because both you and Zhu Yan

were being alone together

and were willing to risk yourselves for each other.

That's why I became suspicious of you

and wanted to test your faith in cultivation.

Zhu Yan and I

are disciple and mentor.

Your Supreme Majesty,

please don't presume.

But what are you afraid of?

If you have no feelings for Zhu Yan,

why are you afraid of meeting her in the dream?

The reason why I asked Zhu Yan to leave

because I want to cut ties with her.

If you insist on doubting us,

I'll erase all memory and spiritual power

that are related to her.

I'll cut ties with the past

and start my cultivation anew.

Stop!

I'll withdraw my spiritual power.

From now on,

she won't intrude

into the barrier again.

If you still hear her voice,

you may drive her out.

Yes.

I shall take my leave.

Preceptor is so resolute.

If so, your plan…

His suppressed emotions

might explode one day

and jolt him into worldly desires.

And all of the occurrences

will be beneficial to his cultivation.

Didn't you realize something?

He brought the spiritual power out of the barrier.

A lot of progress in such a short time.

The light leaking through cracks

is the most precious one.

GREAT COUPLE

Xiaoyingzi.

What are you writing early in the morning?

"Desirable marriage.

Great couple."

Don't you think you're too cruel?

You know she's not willing to marry Qing Gang.

She's opposed to marriage

because she still thinks of coming back to Jiuyi Mountain.

But if she has any connection with me,

both she and the Crimson Residence will be dragged into trouble.

This wedding congratulatory letter

is meant to severe her thoughts

and urge her to move on.

But

don't you want to see Zhu Yan again?

DESIRABLE MARRIAGE

Detachment in the mountain

while attachment in the mortal world.

Qing Gang is an upright man.

As her master,

I'm reassured

that she can marry Qing Gang.

Greetings, my lord, my lady.

It must be a tiring journey to travel from afar.

Princess.

Where's my master?

Did he send you over?

Are there any letters for me?

Did he say when he will come to pay a visit?

Princess.

Upon knowing your marriage with General Qing,

Preceptor sent me over to deliver congratulatory gifts and a letter

to celebrate your union with General Qing.

He wishes you all the best.

He…

Did he wish me well?

Yes.

These are his congratulatory gifts and a letter.

Please have a look.

DESIRABLE MARRIAGE, GREAT COUPLE

How can this be?

He knows

that I have no feelings for Qing Gang.

Why…

Why did he congratulate me?

Yan'er, keep your manner in check before the divine envoy.

Are you sure this is directly from him

and not from someone

who acts on his behalf?

Preceptor wanted me

to relay a message to you.

Tell me quickly.

Preceptor said,

"I dedicate myself to cultivation, leaving worldly matters behind.

Ice and fire are incompatible.

Please don't dwell on the past."

What…

What does that mean?

TO SHI YING

He hopes

you can embrace the joy of mortal life

and forget about what has happened in the mountain.

GREAT COUPLE