Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Episode 28]

Me? Shameless?

A runaway bride.

You ran from the countryside to Shanghai.

You took the groom's dowry but escaped from the engagement.

And you called me shameless?

You're a woman who'd thought that just because you had a bit of education,

you could come to the prosperous Shanghai to become a reporter.

Is it that easy?

You're lucky I'm a kind man.

I took you in.

Shanghai has many newspapers,

but was there another that was willing to accept you?

Know your place.

I said you were fired...

as a reminder to you.

Of course.

If I had really fired you,

I'd feel bad about it.

So you...

can still continue to work here.

As for the request I made...

It's about time you said yes.

You'd better have more respect!

I do respect you.

I'm not taking you as a mistress.

I plan to marry you officially.

But for now,

you will be the second wife.

When my wife dies,

you will become the first.

How dare you hit me?

I...

Get lost.

I want you out of my sight!

This is an official notice.

You are fired from Haishang Newspaper!

I'd like to see which other newspaper would hire you.

A woman like you wants to make a living in Shanghai?

Well, your only option is at the brothel!

You better go quick.

Don't loaf around on the streets.

Huo Yuan Jia's disciples are looking for you right now.

To beat you up!

-You! -What are you doing?

I'll call the police if you hit me again!

-Hello. -What can I do for you?

[Reception]

I'm looking for He Ma.

News reporter, He Ma.

I'm an old friend.

It's been a long time since we met.

I read the paper today...

and saw the familiar name.

So I decided to come.

Can you help me?

Ma Li!

He's here for you.

An old friend?

I don't know him.

Please help me get the news reporter, He Ma.

The one just now is Ms He Ma Li.

She said she doesn't know you.

No, I'm not looking for He Ma Li.

I'm looking for He Ma.

Yes.

He Ma is Ms He Ma Li's pen name.

Let me go!

Let me go!

Let me go!

Why did you save me?

Why?

Calm down!

You deserve death,

but not like this.

If you die now,

the whole of Shanghai would think my master is scared of Old Weird Sun.

That's why he closed Elite Martial Arts.

You're from Elite Martial Arts?

Huo Yuan Jia's disciple?

A man should be proud of his name and never change it.

I'm the Huos' first disciple, Liu Zhen Sheng.

I remember now.

You pretended to be an old friend of mine...

and looked for me at the office.

Yes.

What about it?

That means you didn't come to save me.

You're here for revenge.

Did you bring a knife?

Stab me, slash my throat!

Why would I need a knife for a small thing like you?

I can knock you dead with my hand.

Then do it! Do it quick!

What made you want to take your own life?

I had thought...

I had found new hope in my life.

But it was destroyed in one quick moment.

What's the point of living?

Go ahead and kill me!

If you were a man and you defamed my master's name,

I would kill you, no questions asked.

A real man doesn't fight with women.

Better watch your back.

Then why did you save me?

Such a busybody.

You're still young.

Is dying worth it?

I was framed.

Why should I die?

If I die, that would mean the bad guy wins.

Right.

I can't die.

Are you going to avenge your master?

No?

Then I'll be off.

Brother Zhen Sheng, I'm exhausted.

One thousand five hundred times.

My wrist is about to come off.

Brother Zhen Sheng.

Brother Zhen Sheng!

Thinking about Sha Yan again?

What are you so happy about?

Tell me.

Let me be.

Did you do what you went out for, Brother Zhen Sheng?

What was it?

Come on, tell me.

[Martial arts]

Are you really going to see Sun Wu Ji?

We'll meet sooner or later.

No use trying to hide.

He is our senior.

You're going to visit him.

So you should bring some gifts.

I hope the things I prepared are okay.

This is great.

Appropriate.

Why didn't I think of it?

You need to be humble and obliging to get the senior's favour.

Then you'd be able to talk to him in a calm manner.

I know how martial artists are.

Their fists move faster than they talk.

You're right.

The gifts you prepared will be my stepping stone.

Thanks, Dear.

Make sure you stay vigilant.

Don't worry.

I had a dream last night.

What dream?

I dreamt that this baby...

is a girl.

I'm sorry, Yuan Jia.

Why are you saying sorry?

I know you like sons.

A son can inherit the father's business,

help build the name of Elite Martial Arts.

Who said I only like sons?

We already have Dong Jue.

This time, I actually do wish to have a daughter.

-Really? -Yes.

Just a few days ago, Mother said...

life is only complete when you have sons and daughters.

So if you give us a daughter this time,

you'd be doing a great deed.

I'd have to thank you handsomely.

Right, my daughter?

It's that way, Master.

We're almost there.

There.

[Wine]

This place is really secluded.

But to live in seclusion in a wine house...

is not something a normal person would do.

A weirdo.

That's why he's Old Weird Sun.

When we see him later,

make sure you don't call him that.

In the martial world,

Old Man Sun is a level above us.

You must be respectful.

Okay.

Anyone in?

[Who is it?]

Is Old Senior Sun in?

I am...

I came unannounced.

I hope you don't mind meeting with me, sir.

[No need to be so polite.]

[The door is not locked.]

Sir, I am Huo Yuan Jia.

Let me go! Let me down!

Despicable!

Master, I got one.

I heard you.

Huo Yuan Jia has some quick reflex.

You managed to avoid the trap I had set.

It means you've had at least 20 years of training.

My boy.

Tie it up tightly, then go check the surroundings.

Check how many men he's brought.

Huo Yuan Jia is a cunning man.

We have to be extra careful, got it?

Yes, Master.

Untie it! Let me go!

Despicable!

Crazy old man!

If you're a man,

let me down...

and we'll real fight face to face!

Zhen Sheng.

Don't be rude to the senior.

Old Man Sun,

I came with my disciple, Liu Zhen Sheng, today...

to pay you a visit.

I must say your welcoming gesture is quite special.

Visit me?

It's like the weasel paying its respect to the hen.

Not with the best intentions.

Why would you say that, sir?

Did you think I'm blind and deaf?

I'll tell you.

I'm well aware of everything that happens in the martial world.

That day, you were able to recognise me in front of Elite Martial Arts.

Why did I look for you?

I'm guessing you already know the reason.

Since I'm here now,

I'm not going to hide anything.

Okay, then tell me.

My fourth brother, Lu Si Ying...

Yes, I killed him.

You admitted that quickly.

How many men did you bring with you?

Are you sure you're able to kill me?

I told you.

Today, I'm here for a visit.

Why do you keep talking about killing?

I won't bother you with him.

I'll let him down myself. Okay?

I brought some gifts today.

They're caught in the net.

If you don't untie the net,

I won't be able to give you the gifts.

Huo Yuan Jia, did you think my wine cellar is the Elite Martial Arts?

You don't get to have your way here.

I wouldn't dare.

Crazy old man.

You're already in your sunset years.

But other than using tricks and traps to harm others,

what else can you do?

Put me down right now.

I'll turn your eagle claws...

into chicken claws!

Zhen Sheng!

You're Liu Zhen Sheng?

What?

You're pretty thick-skinned.

After leaving the stage that day, I had wanted to stay a while in Shanghai...

and enjoy some good wine.

But you decided to follow behind me.

So I had to put on an act...

and headed straight to the pier.

I've been surviving in the world for a long time.

And you thought you could tail me so easily?

You should've used your brain.

On the boat,

my disciple and I sat in the front while you sat at the back.

Did you think I wouldn't recognise you with a hat on?

I just didn't want to bother with you.

We changed to an awning boat at Songjiang Pier.

We went in front, you were at the back.

You gave the paddler double the fee, right?

And asked him to keep quiet.

Want to play games with me?

You're no match.

Since you followed me,

I knew Huo Yuan Jia would come soon.

Brother Si Ying,

your eldest brother will avenge you today!

Open your eyes wide and watch.

Please halt, Old Man Sun.

There's a valid reason why I killed Lu Si Ying.

Despite being a government official, he committed countless evils.

He was a scum through and through!

I didn't kill him for personal vendetta.

A few years ago, the Huos of Tianjin met with some trouble.

Your father, Huo En Di, died an untimely death.

I've heard the news about it.

But if I remember correctly, that happened in the Gengzi Year.

It was a time of chaos, overrun by Western guns and cannons.

You had ruffled their feathers in the capital...

and brought tragedy upon your family.

It's wrong to push the blame...

onto Ying Si!

But you had gone on a killing spree at the Ying Villa.

You took tens of lives!

They included five of Eagle Claw's best fighters.

You then burned down the villa to destroy all evidence.

You're wretched, Huo Yuan Jia!

That incident has become the biggest martial world massacre...

of the past 10 years.

It is also the biggest embarrassment Eagle Claw Sect...

had to be put through.

Huo Yuan Jia.

I will never forgive you for what you've done!

Sir, Ying Si colluded with the Westerners.

He not only harmed the scene,

he also killed innocent people!

Killing him was to rid the martial world and society...

of a vermin!

I wouldn't call that a massacre.

Let alone calling it an embarrassment to Eagle Claw Sect.

I know about Ying Si.

Even if he committed crimes,

it is not up to you to punish him.

Don't you know the martial world rules?

Rules?

Which one might you mean?

The martial world was in its infancy during the Song Dynasty.

Schools were in disharmony.

The predecessors had the foresight.

They knew agreement and discord were inevitable.

And so they created the rules to prevent bloodshed.

No matter the sect or school,

when it comes to an official disciple,

their own school is responsible to punish or correct any wrongdoing.

Since the establishing of Eagle Claw Sect,

no other sects dared to claim the top spot.

During Guangxu's rule,

the nine disciples of Eagle Claw ruled the martial world!

You killing Ying Si...

meant you have no regard for the great Eagle Claw Sect.

My animosity towards Ying Si started in Gengzi Year.

But I did not seek immediate revenge.

Unfortunately, after some years,

he hadn't mended his ways and continued doing evil,

abetting the Westerners.

I dare say he caused the deaths of many more martial artists.

I was able to track him down,

because my second disciple betrayed the school.

He committed many bad things under Ying Si.

I was doing my own housekeeping.

But I chanced across something bigger.

I found that they were keeping women locked up at Ying Villa,

for the pleasure of Ying Si and Westerners.

Ying Si has basically lost all his sense of morality.

He is a heinous crook!

If I didn't kill him,

how could I have saved those poor women?

Judging from that alone...

is enough reason for me to disregard the rules.

Besides, for a long time,

Eagle Claw Sect had turned a blind eye towards Li Si Ying's wrongdoings.

Did the predecessors not determine...

that every school and sect needs to discipline their own pupils?

If you must talk about rules,

your own sect had broken them, not me.

You've got some great reasoning skills, Huo Yuan Jia.

So you were trying to save the poor women?

Why should I believe you?

I'll be frank.

After killing Ying Si,

it did cross my mind...

that I'd have to meet with the Eagle Claw seniors sooner or later.

So I tracked down the women who were held captive.

These are their testimonies.

At first, they were reluctant to talk about that incident,

but for the sake of proving their saviour's good deed,

they agreed to sign their names on the document.

Please take a look.

How can I be sure that this is real?

When I was younger,

my father had mentioned an old rule.

When a degenerate appears in the martial world,

and their own school fails to discipline them,

the other schools have the responsibility to punish and correct the wrong.

That fateful night,

I had broken into Ying Villa for this reason alone.

Huo Yuan Jia.

I see that you're indeed sharp-tongued.

Now, this rule you brought up has a latter half.

Do you know it?

If the degenerate is killed by other schools,

no matter the reason,

the punisher must present himself to the head of the school...

and relay the whole incident clearly.

If they killed and did not report it,

they are then disrespecting the school.

Huo Yuan Jia.

Did you report the matter to the Eagle Claw Sect?

That is even less of a reason to resent me.

I heard that ten years ago,

the great former leader of the sect,

your master's brother, passed away...

and the sect fell apart.

There hasn't been a new sect leader appointed up till now.

You can't blame me.

If the leader's seat is vacant,

you should explain it to the eldest disciple of the school.

Did you do that?

It's a little late,

but I'm here now, aren't I?

What do you mean?

We all know about the Eagle Claw's nine disciples.

The eldest disciple among the nine...

is you, Old Sun Wu Ji, is it not?

Are you saying you came today...

because you wanted to explain why you killed my brother?

Not only that.

I'm hoping you'd explain to the other heroes of the sect.

Lu Si Ying had harmed the martial world,

harmed the people.

He deserved death.

I killed an evil man.

I wasn't trying to begrudge Eagle Claw.

You made it sound so proper.

So according to you,

should I be thanking you instead?

Master, I swept the surroundings.

It's just Huo Yuan Jia.

He didn't bring help?

No, I found nobody.

This is the perfect chance. We'll take him together...

and dispose of him!

Go, keep watch outside.

What happens inside here doesn't concern you.

Old Senior Sun, my visit here is sincere.

Except for my eldest disciple who led the way,

I didn't bring other men.

I've told you everything that happened.

I hope you can believe me now.

Huo Yuan Jia,

if you had brought some ten disciples here,

I would've most likely been done and over with you.

But you...

You don't know your place.

Are you underestimating me?

What do you mean?

You know about my disciple, Chen Zhen.

You've had a taste of his kung fu.

But you came all this way with only one disciple?

Is it because you think you can defeat my Eagle Claw...

with your Deceptive Fist?

Seems like you're very confident.

What is your level and what is mine?

You barely trained a few days...

and you dare disregard my skills that I've honed my entire life?

You're belittling the whole Eagle Claw Sect!

I'll show you!

Master, watch out!

Sir!

I came to visit you to pay my respect.

Not to fight to claim superiority.

Why must you be so fight so seriously?

Why did you come if not to claim superiority?

Please don't be mad.

Hear me out.

Your skills are indisputable.

You and I are of different levels.

Wanting to defeat you with my Deceptive Fist...

is merely wishful thinking.

I do have the self-perception to know.

You realised you can't beat me,

so now you're trying to butter up to me.

Listen up.

I'm not so easily deceived.

Believe as you wish, sir.

But I admit that my visit today...

is with a purpose.

Okay.

I'll allow you to ramble some more.

After killing Ying Si,

I was prepared to wander the world.

To live under the radar the rest of my life.

But while I meandered,

I saw how the Westerners bullied my countrymen.

The people were possessed by drugs and opium,

they weren't allowed to practise martial arts.

Their physique and spirits deteriorated.

We were labelled as the sick man of East Asia.

The phrase became a favourite of the Westerners.

They used it without consequence.

But to me, those words pierce my heart like a dagger.

So, I made up my mind to take my chances in Shanghai.

I opened the Elite Martial Arts.

I didn't do it to challenge the old martial arts establishments...

as a newcomer.

Through Elite Martial Arts,

I hope to break the bad habits surrounding the scene.

I'd like to advocate a new and more beneficial trend.

My dream is hoping that martial arts would prevail in China one day.

Every man would be strong and capable.

Men, women, young and old would be uplifted.

The Westerners wouldn't dare call us the sick man of East Asia again.

If Chinese martial arts...

could change the mentality and spirit of a nation,

wouldn't that be the greatest accomplishment?

You are so oblivious.

Do you think you're the emperor?

I may be only a commoner,

but I'm ready to do my best to help make the country stronger.

In Wuxu Year,

I was lucky to have heard Lord Tan Si Cong's teaching.

Later, luck had once again allowed me to become sworn brothers...

with the respected patriot, Big Sword Wang Wu.

Presently,

even though I have yet to make any big contributions to the country,

but the late warriors' heart and spirit...

have become my compass.

Sir.

I spoke with the utmost sincerity.

Please take it to heart.

Good, good.

After hearing that flowery passage,

a born martial arts practitioner like me...

could almost see a vast, bright future ahead.

But after all that talk,

I still don't know why you came to see me.

If I wish to create a new trend,

the key is to remove the borders between schools.

Don't mind me asking.

I'd like to invite you to teach at Elite Martial Arts.

What did you say?

Of course, there's a more personal agenda.

When you go to Elite Martial Arts,

I'd have the chance to learn from you...

and hone my skills.

Elite Martial Arts is your school.

Inviting me to teach...

Did you think I couldn't earn my keep because I'm a beggar?

If I do go,

what would the thousands of Eagle Claw disciples think of me?

I had turned down the role of Eagle Claw Sect leader.

Do you think I'd teach for you?

You're basically trying to shit on my head.

You've really overstepped the line!

Fine! I'm going to use the Eagle Claw Method...

to destroy your Deceptive Fist!

Sir, are you okay?

There can never be too much deception in war, you know?

Sir.

Your Eagle Claw Method is superb.

I admit defeat.

No.

It's been years since I had a proper fight.

The victory is undetermined.

You can't admit defeat, Huo Yuan Jia.

It is my honour to be able to fight you, sir.

I'll be honest.

Since meeting you,

I've been hoping to get a chance to spar with you like today.

You held nothing back just now.

My wish has been fulfilled.

Fulfilled?

Not for me!

Today, it's either you die by my Eagle Claw,

or I die by your Deceptive Fist.

Sir!

What about we fight again tomorrow?

What do you mean?

I'm really quite tired right now.

I need some proper rest.

You're the senior.

Shouldn't you allow your junior time to recuperate?

All right.

We'll fight tomorrow.

Also,

this is where you live.

We made a mess of it today.

That's not proper.

Let's meet at a good spot tomorrow,

where we can fight without worry!

What do you say?

Sounds good to me.

Out the door, to the North,

there is a good spot on the hill.

We'll fight there tomorrow.

Understood.

Well then.

As for this pitiful disciple of mine,

could you let him down?

It must not feel good in the net.

He's been squirming.

It would affect your rest.

This brat.

Okay, you can let him down.

Okay.

Crazy old man!

Zhen Sheng!

Present the gifts.

I shall take my leave then.

Master, why did you let them go?

Master, what's wrong?

Help me sit down.

Master.

-Get me some wine. -Okay.

Here's wine, Master.

Did Huo Yuan Jia hurt you?

I'll kill him!

Hold it!

That mere Huo Yuan Jia...

couldn't hurt me even if he tried.

It has nothing to do with him.

Master, then why are you...

It's just an old disease of mine.

If I was in good shape, I'd have killed him like a chick.

Don't go after Huo Yuan Jia.

If he found out that I'm injured,

and decided not to go all out tomorrow,

what would be the point of fighting then?

The fight just now was so good.

It was amazing!

It's been ages since I met a good opponent.

Master.

That Huo Yuan Jia...

is really strong.

Master, isn't he the one who killed the Fourth Uncle?

Why are you still praising him?

Who are you calling Fourth Uncle?

I meant Lu Si Ying that Huo Yuan Jia mentioned.

He admitted it just now, didn't he?

You little brat.

I told you to keep watch.

Why were you eavesdropping?

Master.

I... Yes, I did eavesdrop.

So you're the eldest disciple of Eagle Claw Sect?

That means you're not without a trace.

Since I'm your disciple, that makes me an Eagle Claw disciple too.

I've suddenly just gained a whole lot of brothers.

Master, we travelled across mountains and rivers for many miles...

for a year in search of Huo Yuan Jia.

All for the sake of avenging Fourth Uncle.

What a loyal and dependable elder brother you are.

Enough nonsense!

Listen up.

Yes, I'm Eagle Claw's eldest disciple.

But you are not related to the sect.

You are from the Traceless Sect.

Be content.

In the future,

don't get yourself involved with them.

Do you hear me?

Also...

Lu Si Ying was my junior.

Even 20 years ago,

I had known he wasn't a good person.

He doesn't deserve any respect from you.

Enough talk.

No need to think so much.

Hurry up and cook for me.

I need to replenish my energy.

Or else I won't be able to beat Huo Yuan Jia tomorrow.

Go on.

Master.

That old man's Eagle Claw Method had started to crumble just now.

Why didn't you go for the final blow but bowed out instead?

Not bad.

You managed to catch the gist of the situation from up in the net.

Sun Wu Ji is a formidable enemy.

We should get rid of him.

Zhen Sheng.

That is an outdated way of thinking.

It needs to change.

What...

Stop with wanting to get rid of this or that in the future.

Old Man Sun's upright nature...

is masked by his jester.

He is a true hero.

After the fight just now,

I can deduce that...

he has a chronic disease, and it's serious.

Otherwise, with my skills,

forget about beating him.

It'd be difficult to last 100 moves.

Really?

Go and find out where is the best pharmacy in the area.

Pharmacy?

Oh, right. You're hurt.

-I have medicine. -Forget it.

My injury is minor.

I recall a famous doctor in Tianjin, Sai Bian Que, Mr Fan.

He wrote a prescription for my father.

That prescription should be effective for Old Man Sun too.

Master, are you asking me to get him medicine?

What about it?

Master.

Why don't we go back there tonight?

What for?

That Old Weird Sun is evil.

See what happened today?

He sprung a trap on us the moment we stepped through his door.

I worry that he's pretending to be sick to buy time.

Now, he can get backup from his sect.

You'd be in trouble then.

Sun Wu Ji has been a long-time famous character.

He is well known for his weird behaviour.

But he is a righteous man.

He often maintained peace without aggression.

There is much public opinion about his character.

What you thought is improbable.

You should just go to sleep so you're well-rested.

You'll have to protect me tomorrow.

Since when do you need my protection?

You were always the one protecting me.

But I had my fair share of getting punished because of you.

What are you doing, Master?

My clothes ripped during the fight so I'm mending it.

Come now, you don't have to do this yourself.

-Let me do it. -It's okay.

I'm almost done.

Master.

Your sewing...

It's detailed and even.

I've been with you for so long,

but I never knew you could sew.

Martial arts is not just about raw strength.

You need deft hands and good sense.

Otherwise, you won't be able to master the complicated moves.

When I was younger,

I repaired the clothes behind your backs.

I didn't want you guys to know because it was embarrassing.

These past years, your madam has been taking good care of me.

I no longer have to do such things.

I've almost forgotten all my skills.