Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Episode 40]

One day, we'll break the shackles of opium addiction.

The men of China will stand up strong once again.

We'll see who's the sick man, then.

Let's go.

I told you.

Huo Yuan Jia will never accept your offer.

Would you say he's the best fighter in Shanghai now?

Probably.

He's a great showman with his Chinese kung fu.

Like a monkey,

he pleases the crowd, especially women.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with him.

Are you saying...

Huo Yuan Jia will not win fights in Europe?

Huo is just a clown compared to our mighty fighters.

Just you wait.

The real champion, Alex the Great...

is going to have his world tour where he'll win all his opponents.

He will reach Shanghai in a few months' time.

He will destroy Elite Martial Arts with one punch.

Once a sick man always a sick man.

The pompous Huo Yuan Jia...

will be reduced to a vegetable...

or a corpse.

[Elite Martial Arts]

[Wushu]

Chen Zhen.

Kneel down.

Brother Zhen Sheng, what have I done wrong?

You remorseless boy.

If you hadn't caused a ruckus,

the Westerner wouldn't have pointed his gun at Master,

and put him in danger.

You completely disregarded our rules.

What if the gun was fired?

Master, it's time for Chen Zhen...

to pack up and leave.

Liu Zhen Sheng,

you think of me as an eyesore.

You've been picking on me since the day I came here.

Mr Nong, help me out here.

How dare you plead to Mr Nong?

If you'd defeated the Westerners...

and brought glory to our school, fine.

But look what happened?

If Master hadn't bailed you out,

you would've been dead meat.

I defeated him.

But he cheated...

and struck while I wasn't looking.

I can attest to that.

I saw with my own eyes.

The Westerners may have broken my camera...

and ruined the photos,

but I can write a feature for Chen Zhen.

I even came up with a headline.

"Chen Zhen of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

"Chinese Martial Arts takes French Concession by storm."

Great title.

Long live Elite Martial Arts.

Down with the Westerners.

Great? Do you want to get us into trouble?

Ms He, I don't care what title you use.

Just leave Elite Martial Arts out of it.

Why not?

Because I said so.

And that's final.

We're having a private meeting.

You know the way out. I'll not see you off.

-You... -Zhen Sheng.

That's no way to treat a guest.

If you won't see her off, I will.

Ms He, this way, please.

For weeks, we've been getting word...

of people being injured in fighting rings.

Some of them were even beaten to death.

It cost me an arm and a leg to bribe the Indian doorman...

to let me in.

I wanted to do a feature on it.

The Westerners set up gambling dens...

and used Chinese people as punching bags.

Who knew...

Chen Zhen would show up...

and actually defeat Mariron.

With this interesting twist,

the story will surely alarm the whole of Shanghai.

Reporter He Ma,

you're as brave as any man I've known.

You risked your life for your profession.

You have my utmost respect.

Does that mean I have your approval to write the report?

You're the chief editor.

You have the right to publish any report.

It's just that...

Haishang Newspaper is based in the concession.

If you publish this story,

the Westerners might take revenge on you.

Think about that, Chief Editor He.

Chief Editor!

The camera's broken. Why are you so happy?

The camera's broken, but not the film.

We got the photographs.

What?

Look.

This is great!

Are we putting it on the front page?

It's the best shot I've ever taken in my life.

Sure.

Let's print an extra 2000 copies for this issue.

You got it.

Master, what shall we do with Chen Zhen?

Just say the word.

What's the big deal? Fine, I'll go!

Perhaps I should take...

my talent somewhere else.

Did you hear his tone of voice?

You're out of control!

Don't come crawling back!

Master, say something.

You've lambasted Chen Zhen ever since I walked in.

Do I need to say anything?

Chen Zhen did nothing wrong. I'll go after him.

There's no need to.

He won't be leaving.

This is unfair!

I stepped into the ring for Hai Sheng's honour,

not for my own.

I've defeated Mariron...

and preserved our reputation.

How could you kick me out?

Do I deserve to be looked down upon...

because I've joined the school later?

You're all a bunch of bullies!

I've been listening quietly.

I heard you talk about...

taking your talents elsewhere.

But I didn't hear Huo Yuan Jia chasing you out.

Chen Zhen, when you maligned Huo Yuan Jia...

of killing your late master, Mr Sun,

how did Yuan Jia respond?

What?

Can't take small suffering in return?

Chen Zhen,

you shouldn't have said that.

You may have joined the school later than us,

but we never looked down on you.

Master even went out of his way...

to give you private lessons.

Do you call that bullying?

Master,

how did you know Chen Zhen won't leave?

Chen Zhen,

what did you do after you knocked Mariron out ?

Nothing, really.

He Ma Li called out to me from the crowd...

and took a photo of me.

Nothing else.

Barging into enemy's territory...

all by yourself...

without any plan or tactic.

How careless can you be?

Yeah!

I was too careless.

Otherwise, Mariron wouldn't have been able to sneak up on me.

In the fighting ring,

what tricks did Mariron use...

that you couldn't even retaliate?

I was surprised, too.

It's as if he had me locked down from behind.

I couldn't move a muscle.

Even I was frustrated.

He made you look like a rag doll,

not a martial artist.

Looks like there's more to Western Boxing...

than just brute force.

I have crossed fists with Westerners before.

But Mariron...

seems more formidable than anyone I've met.

"Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories."

To beat the Westerners,

I'm afraid...

we must first understand Western Boxing.

Master,

if we let Chen Zhen off easy this time,

how will we instill discipline in the other pupils?

-I'm more concerned about Ms He. -He Ma Li?

Once Haishang Newspaper publishes what happened today,

Ms He will be in a dire situation.

You two get along quite well.

Why don't you spend some time with her?

Watch over her on my behalf.

-I can't. -Why not?

Are you mad at her for featuring Chen Zhen in her paper...

and making him look better than you?

Master, I'm not that petty.

She scares me.

I'm not sure if she's serious, but she said...

she wants to marry me.

Really?

Zhen Sheng, you lucky man.

Ms He is an outstanding young lady.

Yes, I agree.

But...

what does it have to do with me?

What? Do you want to stay single your whole life?

Let me tell you,

your madam and I had been so worried about your love life.

Think about Da You.

The only reason he hasn't married Xiao Lian...

is because you, his elder, is not married.

Master, even if I'm going to marry someone, it won't be her.

I just...

Why?

You have a crush already?

I knew it.

Zhen Sheng, I've known you since you were a boy.

You make that face whenever you're embarrassed.

Tell me.

Who's the lucky girl?

I'll ask your madam to set you two up.

Sha Yan.

Master, don't laugh at me.

Ever since I first laid eyes on her at Shisanli Mound,

I've loved Sha Yan.

I never had the chance to tell her after all these years.

When I heard she's coming here,

I could hardly sleep at night.

Master,

will you and Madam pull the strings for me?

All right. I'll inform your madam right now.

Sister has been grouching about this very matter.

She's introduced three girls to him, but none of them struck his fancy.

Turns out, he only has eyes for Sha Yan.

But I thought Sha Yan rejected him?

She did. But she was immature then, and undiscerning.

Zhen Sheng is a man of honour.

His feelings for Sha Yan are as true as steel.

They are a match made in heaven.

You're his master. Of course, you'd say that.

But...

let me test the waters.

Brother Zhen Sheng?

Are you kidding me?

Didn't I make myself clear to him?

It goes to show how crazy he is about you.

Among Yuan Jia's disciples,

he's the most steadfast and honest.

That's true. But...

Sister, I don't want to get married.

I've been there.

You're saying that because you haven't found the right man.

I guess you're right.

I know how you feel.

And it's not just me.

Even Grandma sees it this time.

See what?

You've been calling me "sister".

And Yuan Jia is a hero of an indomitable spirit.

How about serving Yuan Jia with me...

as his second wife?

It never crossed my mind!

I did admire him before...

But later,

after I got to know you,

I realised I'm no match for you...

in every aspect.

Besides, Master is an upright person.

How can I let my selfish desires...

taint his reputation.

Sha Yan, is that how you really feel?

You're an honest woman.

How can I lie to you?

Since you no longer have feelings for Yuan Jia,

Zhen Sheng...

Sister, let it go.

He'll always be a senior to me.

Be patient.

Have some tea.

Madam, thanks for helping.

How did it go?

Zhen Sheng,

the...

The talk was fruitless.

She doesn't want to?

That's impossible.

She came all the way to Shanghai with her brother.

She must've realised that I'm the only man for her.

She's a smart girl.

Zhen Sheng,

you can't force matters of the heart.

Sha Yan only sees you as her senior.

Isn't that a good thing?

Better a senior than an outsider.

Am I right, Master?

Your madam has tested the waters for you.

Give her some time.

Let Sha Yan think about it.

No, Master. I've waited long enough.

If I wait any longer, nothing will come of it.

Madam, I bet she was just embarrassed...

when you spoke to her.

Thanks anyway. I shall ask her myself.

Well...

Sha Yan's heart belongs to someone.

But...

it's not Zhen Sheng.

[Fair and Forthright]

Are you still angry?

You're so sensitive.

Master didn't even reproach you,

and you left in a huff.

You even threatened to take your talents elsewhere.

Those were pretty harsh words.

I'd never disrespect Master.

I know you'd never do that.

It's Zhen Sheng, isn't it?

Don't blame him.

He's not jealous of you.

He's just loyal to Master.

Someone pointed a gun at Master because of you.

How do you think he felt?

Actually, I'm not mad at Brother Zhen Sheng, either.

So what's your problem?

I'm mad at myself.

Master spent so much time teaching me.

But when it comes to crucial moments,

I couldn't do a thing.

You mean when you were seized by Mariron from behind?

Yes!

Everything I've tried has failed.

How could I be so stupid?

You are stupid.

He's one of the strongest men in Europe.

And he had you right in his grasp.

What makes you think you could outpower him?

What should I do, then?

Did you forget?

Use leverage.

Yeah.

How do I use leverage?

Come, let's try it.

Okay.

I was standing like this.

Come on.

What are you doing?

You're so big. How am I suppose to lock you down?

What shall we do?

Come here.

Stay there.

I'll be you, you'll be Mariron.

Come.

I...

Don't dilly-dally. Come on.

Come at me.

Put more strength into it, will you?

All right.

Sha Yan...

You two...

Brother Zhen Sheng.

Chen Zhen.

-I'll kill you. -What are you doing?

What were you two up to?

We were just practising.

Didn't seem like it.

You've brought shame to our ancestors.

Chen Zhen, how could you, in broad daylight...

I'll kill you and restore order to Elite Martial Arts.

-Step aside! -Zhen Sheng...

Brother Zhen Sheng, put down the sword.

Out of my way.

Brother Zhen Sheng.

-Brother Zhen Sheng. -Let go!

Let go!

Chen Zhen, you too?

Drop the spear!

What are you standing there for?

-Brother Zhen Sheng... -Hands off!

Brother Zhen Sheng...

Liu Zhen Sheng!

Sha Yan, get out of my way.

Brother Zhen Sheng,

you misunderstood us.

Sha Yan, stop defending him. I'll kill him.

Can't you see that's the move Mariron used...

to hold Chen Zhen down?

Chen Zhen and I were trying to come up with a counter move.

Did you have to press up against each other?

-You two... -You're jealous?

You got that right.

Since that trip across Shisanli Mound,

I've loved you.

Didn't you come to Shanghai to see me?

To save our master,

my brother and I lost our home.

We came to Shanghai for Master, not you.

But... after all these years...

We have so much in common.

Sha Yan, you've changed.

I know you're good to me.

But...

I've made my feelings clear to you.

We'll only ever be senior and junior.

-I won't marry you. -That's just an excuse.

Do you think I'm stupid? I know everything.

You had a crush on Master.

Everybody knew it was impossible,

yet you never gave up on him.

Liu Zhen Sheng, what nonsense are you talking about?

It's not because of Master!

Then it's Chen Zhen!

You're impossible!

You're the eldest disciple,

yet you dislike Chen Zhen.

Why?

You're right, I just hate him.

Now that he's stealing my wife,

-I hate him even more! -Who's your wife?

You!

I never agreed to marry you.

I'd rather marry Chen Zhen...

than to marry you!

So it really is Chen Zhen.

So what if it is?

I've been training with Chen Zhen,

laughing together,

growing on each other.

Forget about me.

Laughing together?

Growing on each other?

Master let you two train together on purpose...

to bring you two together.

I...

How can he be so unfair?

I'm going to ask him!

Liu Zhen Sheng!

You've known Master for years.

Don't you know he's a fair teacher?

Why would he favour Chen Zhen?

Liu Zhen Sheng!

You're the eldest disciple here.

You should be helping Master with his problems.

If you are falling out with Master because of me,

I'll never see you or talk to you again.

Sha Yan.

I'm a female bandit.

I mean what I say.

Chen Zhen,

wake up.

Where's Zhen Sheng?

I haven't seen him all night.

Yeah, where is he?

Who knows?

Sha Yan feels sorry, too.

She thinks she may have spoken too harshly.

Yuan Jia, Zhen Sheng has been gone for a long time.

What if...

Don't worry.

If he acts foolishly over such trifles,

I wouldn't be a very good teacher, would I?

A real man...

should take things as they come.

A little rejection...

isn't necessarily a bad thing for Zhen Sheng.

Hey,

another jug of wine.

Coming right up.

Sir, you've been drinking for six hours all by yourself.

Why don't you call it a day?

I don't need anyone.

I'm going to drink...

and drown my sorrows.

But...

Happy now?

Sure, give me a minute.

Come. Great job.

Great job.

Great job, everyone.

Here's to you, Ms He.

Today's headline,

"Disciples of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

"Chinese martial arts takes French Concession by storm."

Ms He, that was some brilliant writing.

-Yeah! -Now, now.

It's nothing special.

I merely wrote what I saw.

There's no need to praise me.

Mr Xu, you're too kind.

You're being modest. Here's to you...

Come...

Sir, here's your wine. Enjoy.

Ms He, one thing puzzles me.

The headline was...

"Chen Zhen of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

Why did you change it to "disciples" instead?

There are two reasons.

First, although Chen Zhen defeated Mariron at first,

Mariron struck back...

and put Chen Zhen in grave danger.

If his master, Huo Yuan Jia hadn't intervened,

he might have died.

Second,

during my investigation of the Songjiang Murder Case,

I learnt that Huo Yuan Jia has other disciples besides Chen Zhen.

All of them are great fighters in their own right...

with outstanding character to boot.

"Disciples" gives a more complete picture compared to just Chen Zhen.

-Yes... -Yes. Well said.

Ms He, there's a third reason.

What is that?

It's in your news report.

"During my dangerous encounter,"

"it was Liu Zhen Sheng of Elite Martial Arts who saved me."

Well...

It's the truth.

I was there myself.

Liu Zhen Sheng's heroic act...

is worthy of further coverage.

I also have a feeling...

there's more to the big hero and Ms He...

than meets the eye.

You could see the love in their eyes...

as the hero rescued the damsel.

Stop it.

I was going to give you a reward for that photo.

But now you get nothing for being a smart mouth.

Please don't. I'm sorry.

Here's my apology.

-Come, everyone. -Come.

Cheers.

Cheers.

-Try the food. -After you.

Who's that?

Liu Zhen Sheng?

Here's to you.

I'm taking my hat off to you.

Disciples of Elite Martial Arts...

Chinese martial arts...

Brilliant!

Did you hear it?

They were all just joking.

He Ma Li...

you look good.

Master Liu...

-Liu Zhen Sheng. -Are you okay?

Are you okay?

Ms He.

Chief Editor He.

Great article today.

"Disciples of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

"Chinese Martial Arts takes French Concession by storm."

Isn't that something?

Thank you for supporting our paper.

With headlines like this,

I'll support you every day.

How about an annual subscription?

I'll give you a discount...

and have the papers delivered to your doorstep.

-What do you say? -Sign me up.

The only female chief editor in Shanghai,

right in my neighborhood.

I feel so proud.

The pleasure's all mine.

I thank you on behalf of my team at Haishang Newspaper.

No problem.

"Disciples of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

"Chinese Martial Arts takes French Concession by storm."

Taking his fight to the concession?

Huo Yuan Jia's really something.

I suppose they've ramped up the presses?

I don't know how many copies were sold today,

but I do know...

Haishang Newspaper has been lucrative.

But He Ma Li is getting out of hand.

She's forgotten...

who is the boss of Haishang Newspaper.

What do you mean?

Huo Yuan Jia holds you in low regard,

yet Haishang Newspaper lauded him as a hero.

This...

I see no problem with that.

Huo Yuan Jia may not be on my side,

but he's brought glory to all Chinese people.

Ever since Shanghai began printing newspapers,

there's been nothing but stories of western oppression.

This is the first time...

Huo Yuan Jia dominated the French Concession.

I like it!

Mr Rong, you're really magnanimous.

But, Huo Yuan Jia's going to have a hard time from now.

He's offended the Westerners.

Yes. The Westerners won't take it sitting down.

The Westerners are one thing,

the government is another.

The government fears nothing more than tension with the Westerners.

"Disciples of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion."

"Chinese Martial Arts takes French Concession by storm."

There he is...

Chen Zhen...

Chen Zhen, you made the headlines.

Come on. The credit goes to Master.

No way.

It's all there in the article.

You ventured into the enemy's territory.

Yeah. Besides Hai Sheng, you even saved...

another guy who was also made a punching bag.

Tell us, Chen Zhen. What kick did you use...

to knock the Western boxer out?

Yeah, tell us.

Tell us...

I used what Master me, that's all.

Stop asking me.

It's embarrassing.

Get back to practice.

Yes. Back to practice.

What are you doing?

Brother Da You.

Where did Brother Zhen Sheng go?

-Yeah. -Where's Brother Zhen Sheng?

The papers even mentioned him saving the female reporter.

We should ask him how he did it.

Yeah...

I heard that the reporter, He Ma, is a woman.

See how she called Brother Zhen Sheng.

"Hero, Master Liu Zhen Sheng."

She used the same title for Zhen Sheng as she did for Master.

Chen Zhen, you should ask her why didn't she...

call you a hero, too?

-Yeah! -Yeah!

I'm no hero anyway.

Get back to practice.

Chen Zhen, wait...

Wait...

Silence.

Get practising.

Back to your places.

Come...

Let's practise...

[Disciples of Elite Martial Arts beats Western boxing champion.]

Zhen Sheng will be pleased to read this article.

Yes.

If you read between the lines,

you can see Ms He's admiration for him.

Yesterday,

Zhen Sheng told me...

He Ma Li wants to marry him.

Really?

Then, why did you ask me to...

Zhen Sheng said he doesn't like her.

Sha Yan is the only girl for him.

Romantic love is a complicated thing.

I say we stop trying to play the matchmaker.

Master, you wanted to see me?

Why do you seem listless?

I...

Today, Haishang Newspaper...

wrote about your victory against Mariron.

You should be happy.

Master, I've led you into trouble.

How can I be happy?

I don't blame you for what happened between you and Zhen Sheng.

Brother Zhen Sheng stayed out all night because he's angry with me.

Aren't you mad at me?

He's a grown man.

He'll be fine.

He probably went drinking.

He'll be back once he sobers up.

But I have an errand...

that I wanted him to do.

I'll have to let you do it instead.

How can I help you? Just name it.

Do you know the way to Haishang Newspaper's office?

Yes. I've been there.

He Ma Li is an honourable person.

But I fear today's newspaper...

will bring her trouble.

What... what did I do?

"Master Liu, you snore like a storm."

"I've washed your clothes."

"They're drying on the balcony."

"Don't let the neighbors see you when you pick them up."

"Ma Li?"

It's still wet. How am I going to wear it?

Did she do it on purpose?

She thinks I'll stick around until my clothes dry.

Perhaps even spend the night.

What a cunning woman.

I haven't seen you around.

Which unit do you stay in?

I don't live here. Just passing by.

Kid, do you have a copy left?

No, they're sold out.

They're sold out.

Extra! Extra!

Disciples of Elite Martial Arts...

One, please.

Thank you, Sir.

Do you have Haishang Newspaper?

Yes.

One, please.

It's going to cost extra.

That's fine.

I became a hero?

That silly brat spins a good yarn.

No, I shouldn't call her a silly brat anymore.

Last night...

I need to find out what happened.

[Haishang Newspaper]

No.

Master gave me an order.

I must protect He Ma Li.