♫ You ask when I'll be back♫
♫On the wild road far and beyond,with the long knife in my hand I'd drink to my heart's content♫
♫ And I'd ride and laugh in the blowing wind♫
♫ The sadness of parting is everywhere♫
♫ Time elapses at the tip of my knife♫
♫ My heart hardens and your tears are like pearls♫ ♫ We have nonwhere to rest♫
♫ And the fading dream's like begonia in the fall♫
♫ The emptiness of life is everywhere♫
♫ Hewu! Don't ask where from and where to go♫
♫ Living in the troubled time♫
♫ I fight to control all my own♫
♫ Hewu! I'm lost in your love deep as the sea♫
♫ For all our cherished memories♫ ♫ I won't succumb to my fate♫
♫ I'll hold you hard in the next life♫
The Great ProtectorEpisode 1
The year of Xinhai （1911）Almanac indicates there'll be ominous catastrophe
It's said that the republicans in the South have risen in rebellionThe political situation becomes unpredictable
Just when I became the Lead Escort Master of Taigu Security Escort,Escort Master Ma ran into the territory of the bandits and lost the goods escorted
Once upon the time, with one single knife,
my master Dai Haichen set up the golden standard and reputation of Taigu Security Escort
The incident of losing the escorted goods has never happened before
And that day was the 60th birthday of Master Dai
He originally plan to retire on that day
- Thank you thank you! Thanks everybody!- Congratulations, congratulations!
Hey old man Qiao, what kind of novel thing is this?
It's the birthday present to Master Dai from the young lord of the money service, a car from the West.
Dai Rong
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by We, The Protectors Team in Viki
Father.
Knife is a weapon. It's an ominous thing.
Once you have anything to do with it, you lose your luck in peace and happiness all your life.
Father, this knife has been with you all your life.
Are you really willing to give up?
I'm getting older and afraid that I won't be able to carry it any longer
I've been escorting the silver ingot and bullion of the owner's money service for decades.
Like treading on thin ice, it's been sheer luck that nothing major had happened.
Now counting the dates, it should be about the time Anshun and his team return.
Father, Escort Master Ma lost the goods
and you sent my elder Martial Brother Anshun to lead Xiping and the team for rescue
- What if...- There is no what if.
I just appointed him as the Lead Escort Masters.
If can't even handle situation like this,
How can he be the Head of Escort Masters in the future?
Although what you said is true,
the bandit chief Piece of Cloud has the reputation of being reckless.
Many of our fellow Escort Masters got screwed up in his hand.
and my elder Martial Brother's temperament is quite staunch and not that flexible.
If there's any confrontation, I'm afraid...
Look, you're not married to him yet, and you're already worried about him?
Father...
To get back the lost goods and also to show some courtesy to the bandits,
I and the bandit chief followed the customs and made a bet on the Enclosed Carriage.
The bet on the Enclosed Carriage is the bet on courage.
Young fella, my name A Piece of Cloud...
Shoot!came from my experiences with the Enclosed Carriage.
I risked my life for it. You know, for 20 years,
nobody dares to bet on the Enclosed Carriage with me.
According to the rules of this bet, anyone who is intimidated
and escaped will lose.
I got this on my first bet. I survived.
It was my luck.
Then you can take it easy.
I'm the kind of person who never has luck.
That's all because your staff Escort Masters were not sensible
and intruded my territory.
It' has nothing to do with you.
I'm the Lead Escort Master.
Here I am and now it's my business.
Shoot... Shoot!
Then let's wait for the next shot.
I like you Liu Anshun just because of your staunch temperament.
In the security escort business, we are relying on building relationships and doing each other favors.
But whenever there's difficulty, we must have the courage and keep the momentum.
A Piece of Cloud is quite well known among the bandits.
He can't afford to lose because of his fame and reputation.
It favors Anshun from this standpoint.
So you think my elder Martial Brother and others will all be fine?
He would not be my disciple if there would be a problem.
Well, guess the one you really want to compliment is yourself.
Young fella, the underworld is complicated and treacherous.
To make a living, you can't rely on luck alone.
Later when they shoot from outside, I'll pull the trigger too.
Then people will just think that you are not lucky.
You're really something.
So staunch, now I don't even want to kill you.
Just get out.
Get out
Lord Cloud, no matter how fast you are,
people will hear two gun shots.
Once you pulled the trigger, the reputation of your name A Piece of Cloud
will be over. You don't want that to happen.
Your built that reputation with all your life.
Now that we are making a bet, I bet you won't pull the trigger.
I've seen a lots of Escort Masters,
but haven't seen many who are as staunch and persistent as you.
Thanks for calling me Escort Master, I have to live up to that title.
All right.I definitely want to make friend with person like you.
Damn!
Release the goods and the persons held.
Li Xiping
Congratulations! Congratulation, Head Master Dai!
Looks like the young lord doesn't want to let me retire easily.
Oh, then I'll ask them to send it back to him.
Forget it. Whatever happens happens
Escort Master Ma, tell everything to the Lead Escort Master yourself.
Lead Escort Master?
Oh, Brother Anshun has just been appointed as the Lead Escort Master by the Head Master.
He's in charges of business for the headquarter and branches around the country.
Escort Master Ma, in front of this knife representing our escort business,
I want you to tell me the truth. Why did you choose this route instead of designated one?
Lead Escort Master, I'm getting old. I've been in security escort business all my life.
But I don't have any savings. I just want do some fur tradings
and make some money to buy a horse-drawn carriage for my retirement.
For a horse-drawn carriage...
You actually risked the lives of all your fellow Escort Masters!
Lead Escort Master, I accept the punishment.
It's not about punishment!
Escort Master Ma, you are a very senior escort master.
Don't you know to follow the rules of the escorting business?!
According to the policy of our escort service, without the official approval,
no one is allowed to take on a new route.
One accidental miss may lead to more failures. It may not seem to be a big deal that you lost the escorted goods this time,
but the outsiders of our business will look down upon us.
Those bandits may rob our escorted goods at any time.
You know all that
Escort Master Ma,
since you know all that, I don't have anything else to say.
You can't remain in the escort business any longer.
Lead Escort Master, I accept all you said.
Once we return, just issue me the document for dismissal.
Not necessary. This is the end of it.
- Missy-you are...- I'm the apprentice at Yutai Store around the corner.
Just then, a stranger asked me to give this to you.
He said it's a birthday present for Master Dai.
-Where is he now?-He's already left as he was afraid that Master Dai would accept it.
The present is from the Blindman's Ridge.
Blindman's Ridge?
Considering Master Ma's hard work all these years, can we do it this way?
Can we let him submit a resignation and treat it as voluntary leave?
Don't treat it as a dismissal.
Say something... Lead Escort Master, can you just forgive him this time?
I know the situation of his family. His child is sick and needs money.
- Can we just give him some due respect and let him fulfill his wish?- Xiping
These are the rules of the escort business. I can't change it.
Anshun, having a Lead Escort Master like you,
the future of our escort business is promising.
Father, we don't have any relationship with folks at Blindman's Ridge.
Why would they send you a present?
The person in charge at the Blindman's Ridge is an old acquaintance of mine.
Then why our escorting routes never go through the Blindman's Ridge if you are old acquaintance?
Sometime, the deeper the relationship, the more you are trying to avoid seeing each other.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by We, The Protectors Team in Viki
Father! there's poison on the cat's paw.
Trouble never comes alone. The biggest opponent of my life also emerged.
He plans to kill my Head Master with a cat.
Do you need some pens and recording books?
Oh, the pen and paper dealer. What's the price? Come on in and let's talk about it.
Lord
Tell me, when will Tailong Firm's silver ingot and bullion get on the road?
The people of the Security Escort Service are all tight-lipped
How tight?
The escort masters who come here to eat
never talks about their escorting trips.
They don't even know anything about it themselves.
Why the hell do I keep you here?!
Let me tell you, believe it or not, if you can't get the information, I'll...
Don't you believe?!
Young Lord,
Whenever the six big firms transfer large amount of silver ingot and bullion,
Dai Haichen will lead the escorting trip himself.
Folks in the business all know about Dai Haichen's outstanding Kungfu skills.
Once apon the time, all the Shanxi businessmen's trading routes to Russia
were established by Dai Haichen with a single knife.
Dai Haichen...
Young Lord, we can't really do anything as long as he's here.
Dai Haichen.
We'll talk about him again if he can live longer than this month.
I asked you to recruit some insiders.
But it looks like you two are enjoying life here.
Xiu'er
Uncle He, Xiu'er is not bad, isn't it?
What do you mean, young master?
I always think Xiu'er is your lady. I've never thought about that.
My lady.
Uncle He, you raised me since I don't have father.
I haven't really got a chance to repay your favor.
You know, you two have been together for so many years.
Living under one roof day and night.
Just because she's your young Lord's lady,
you think she is untouchable.
So suffocating.
Young Lord...What about that,
I'll give Xiu'er to you
as a gift.
Lead Escort Master
Lead Escort Master, you are back.
Mr Li, would you mind going to meet the escorting team outside of the town?
- Also by the way...- What...
Never mind.
- Lead Escort Master, the Head Master is sick.- Sick?
What's the problem?
I don't know either.
Miss Dai just came to the Huixian building and told everyone.
She said it's an old problem.
Old problem? I don't remember Master Dai has any chronicle disease.
Maybe some kind of internal injuries of Fungfu practitioners.
That's impossible. Even though he doesn't want to have birthday celebration,
- he wouldn't have used the sickness as an excuse.- I agree.- Something is strange.
No, I have to go to take a look.
But young Lord, Miss Dai has said that
Master Dai needs to rest in reteat. He won't see anyone. She was very firm.
We can't afford the Master to have any problem at this time.
The Master is all right.
Lead Escort Master, finally you are back. Please help me asking everybody to just leave.
What exactly is the problem with my Master?
The Master is fine.
Rongrong, what happened to the Master?
Just some chronicle problem. Nothing serious.
Sorry that you're all anxious about his health. Don't worry and please just leave, everyone.
- Let me take a look.- Father said,
Lead Escort Masters of all the branches, please return to you positions
He wouldn't be able to take care of the business for a while.
Lead Escort Master Liu will be in charge of the business in the headquarter
and all the branches should follow his orders.
- Rongrong...- Close the door
Just let us in to take look...
- Master Dai!- Elder sister-in-law
- I'm taking Ma Kui to see you- Elder sister-in-law, elder sister-in-law...
-He wouldn't close his eyes...- Please don't shout. I beg you.- without you saying something.
You must set things straight for Ma Kui.
What's going on? What happened?
Elder sister-in-law,
Lead Escort Master Liu, please don't call me sister-in-law!
- Brother Ma - Brother Ma- What happened?
Anshun, I can't let you down and be ashamed of me.
Anshun, having you as the Lead Escort Master, our escort business is promising.
I can't let you down and be ashamed of me.
In the security escorting business, is there anyone who's never carried the smuggled goods?
How do we escort masters make a living without doing some trades on the smuggle goods.
To the outsiders, we all dressed up quite decently
and they call us Masters.
But we all know clearly how our lives are.
It may take 6 months to do one escorting trip.
We're not getting paid much and may need to rest for 6 months if get injured.
Then you'll lose all the income and to make it worse, you'll need money for the treatment.
And for all the folks here, anybody never got injured before?
Uncle He, I asked to to recruit some insiders here.
But you made some much money for me.
Looks like you're not the material for being a bandit.
You should be a business owner. Huh
But that's fine. Seems that Xiu'er can live a good life.
I just want to tell everyone here. I carried smuggled goods before.
Furs from Inner Mongolia, herbal medicines from the Northeast,
silk, tea and tobacco from the south of Yangtze River. I smuggled all these goods.
Why? To make a living.
What Escort Master said is true. I did that too.
Now the security escort business is slow,
we can't make a living without doing some trades on smuggled goods.
People say that Taigu Security Escort is holding a pot of gold working for the Money Service business.
True, we're holding the pot of gold. But still,
we're only living the most basic and meager life.Exactly.
Lord, people are saying that Dai Haichen is sick.
Sick?
- Young Lord- Uncle He, do you know anyone from Dai's household.
His housekeeper Duan Wu came to eat for a few times. I should be able to chat with him.
Try to find out from him
whether Master Dai is having a fever? got cold?
or scratched by the cat.
If he needs a coffin, we can send one to him.
Master Ma is dead.
I'm more heart-broken than any one of you.
As my senior，he was the Master who led me on my first ever escorting trip,
All the rules and customs of our business that I know
were taught by him.
And you think I'm not grieve-stricken now that he's dead?
Wouldn't I wish to make a decent arrangement for his funeral?
But I can't because I'm the Lead Escort Master.
Master Ma made some mistakes when he was alive.
What is wrong is wrong.
I can not break the rules of the escort business.
No rules are more than human relationship.
Folks are bitterly disappointed by what you did.
OK. OK.
Since you all feel that I've been unfair in handling this,
and now everybody is here,
let's open the Hall to discuss and straighten everything out.
If I did anything wrong,
I'd accept any punishment according to the rules of the escort business.
The Head Master is not here, how do we open the Hall.
Besides, he's grant you his permission to marry his daughter.
Sure he's gonna be on your side.
Elder Martial Brother
What's going on? What do you want to do?
Xiping
How is everything with Sister-in-law Ma?
She said that if there isn't an official explanation from the Escort Service,
she would not bury Master Ma.
Uncle Wu
Oh, lady boss
You haven't stopped by our place for a drink in a while.
Got something to take care of at home.
Come in for a drink. It won't take that long.
No no, I have to go back now.
Just for a sip, we have the new wine.
The business is OK?
Thanks for thinking about us. It's all right.
Uncle Wu, anybody is sick back home?
Something minor, no big deal.
Thanks for asking.
The autumn is coming and with the turn of the seasons and a lot of people caught cold.You'd better take care of yourself.
You are right.
Oh, we just got some newly brewed wine.Would you like to take some home with you?
No, thank you. I'm in a hurry to go back home.
It's too kind of you.
It won't take that long. Wine is brewed by ourselves and doesn't cost much.
- Oh, lady boss, that is too mcuh- That's OK. Just take it.
- Young Lord - Hmm...
It's a prescription for detoxication
So they think this can relieve my toxicant?
Uncle He,
you can have some fun with Xiu'er.
But don't forget what we come here for when you're having fun.
I just know that. I just know that.
How old are you? Still can't be teased a bit.
OK, OK, OK. Everything is all set except that one more strike.
I'll be at the top of the mountain waiting for the you.
Please. I beg you.
- I'm leaving - Young Lord， take it easy.
Watch out.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by We, The Protectors Team in Viki
Elder Martial Brother, please leave. Father is not going to see you.
I'm really concerned if I can't see him.
Is that something is wrong with him?
Not at all. What could be wrong with him?
Rongrong, you are not telling the truth.
Elder Martial Brother...
Elder Martial Brother, don't...
I did not lie to you.
Just come in.
Don't ask about my illness.
I'll be fully recovered within three months.
Three months?
You must be extra careful in the next three months.
Take good care of everything in the Security Escort Service.
If the young lord has any goods to be transferred,
you can lead the escort trip on my behalf.Not confident?
Not really.
You've been doing the escorting trip for 10 years
and have never made any mistakes. I'm not worried about you.
What I'm concerned about is the dispute and conflict among our own.
Master, as to what happened to Escort Master Ma,
it was all because I was too impetuous.
If I didn't handle it so bluntly, Master Ma wouldn't have...
Ma Kui had been in the escorting business all his life.
It was all his own fault.
He didn't figure it out even till the end.
You can never get the best of both sides.
I appointed you to this positionbecause I expect you adhere to the rules of the security escort business.
There are honors whereas there are rules.
I understand.
Anyhow, you still need to visit Ma's family.
I'll ask Rongrong to send a message.
They shouldn't have embarrassed you too much.
Yes, I'll go tomorrow.
Now go home.
Go home. I'm fine.
Xiu'er, what are you doing?
Didn't Shanmao say that I was given to you?
Uncle He, what's up?
Nothing.
Uncle He, don't lie to me.
I know long time ago that you like me.
Uncle He, is that because that I had a relationship with Shanmao before
and worried that he would punish you when he regretted later?
Let me tell you. He wouldn't at all.He doesn't care for me long time ago.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have left me here for six months and longer.
Let me tell you something else.When Shanmao came to Taigu this time,
he stayed in Lord Guo's place temporarily. He plans to rob for the escorted goods, but conceals his intention from Lord Guo.
I think he want to seize Lord Guo's territory.
As the kind of person he is, the young lord could have done something like that.
He won't succeed.
Why?
Because Lord Guo has already found out his intention.
Lord Guo is treating me with some late night snacks?
This is really a fat duck.
Just eat to your heart's content.
Lord Guo, do you want to talk to me about anything?
You mentioned you got the information that a retired official is returning to his hometown.
With his life's savings accumulated by bribery,
he's passing by my territory on his way home.And you want to use my place as the base
to carry out a robbery.
When it's done, we'll split the prize.
Therefore, I let you stay in my place,
right?
Oh, yes yes yes.
But to my surprise,
the goods you plan to rob are from Dai Haichen.
Why don't you think hard! Think hard! Think hard! Think hard!
Think about who you are
What are you capable of doing?
People says that others can't see your eyes.
You'll start killing once you open your eyes.
OK. Open your eyes and let me see.
Actually you are a mixed-race bastard!
Is your mother a foreigner or that is your father?
Answer the question.
The female.
Then I admire your father. Hahaha.
Surprisingly you dare to cheat me in my territory.
Guess you don't want to live any longer.
I don't want people to say that I am not treating friends fair and well.
Eat all these ducks.
I'll let you die with a full stomach.
Eat!
Eat with your mouth full.
Keep biting and chewing.
Back then when Shanmao were with you,
I was really happy.I thought he finally found a good woman
and could settle down.
Xiu'er, you know what I mean, right?
Uncle He, I understand.
One day when you're old, I'll take care of you.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by We, The Protectors Team in Viki
Lord Guo is vicious and cruel.Shanmao would not live pass tonight.
What a pity. You've been a bandit all your life.
But you still haven't figured out.
There are loads of silver ingot and bullion passing by the foothill of your territory.
And you haven't even thought about appropriating it to yourself.
It only proves that you are useless, you old man
Bastard! Drag him out and chop him up!
You want to revolt?
Cui Jiu,I haven't been bad to you all these years.
Not bad,
but not that good either.
With the piles of gold and silver in front of you, you didn't even dare to touch it.
It only means that you are a coward.
So, a weak soldier is only his own problem,
but a weak leader will bring down the team.
If everyone follows me to launch an assault, what we get will be enough for us and generations to come.
Take guess.Whom will they choose.
Eat! East with your mouth full!
Lord Guo has been good to me. Don't torture him anymore.
I like the kind of person who is conscientious.
Your knife moves fast.
Master Liu, all metal objects
have some sort of physique, like bones and muscles.But look at your knife.
This knife, the bone is broken.
Even if I have it repaired, it won't be able to bear any hard hits.
Master Liu, don't blame me if I'm telling the truth.
This knife is useless.I know. This is the knife I used on my first escorting trip.
Even though it's useless, please repair it for me.
I can keep it as a memorabilia.
Lead Escort Master,I've been looking for you.Didn't expect to find you here.
Mr. Qiao, what can I do for you?
The young Lord is asking you to stop by.
After Escort Master Ma's funeral,
there will be a very important escort trip.
When the time comes, I'll have to bother you to take on it.
Don't worry, young Lord.
I'll order the escort team to get ready. Good bye.
When you were fifteen years old,
your father died on an escorting trip.
The Escort Service sent us this horse-drawn carriage.
This carriage was in return of your father's life.
When I look at it sometimes, I feel that your father is still here.
Get your peace of mind with a horse-drawn carriage.
It's worth it.
Anshun,feed the horse with something good.
Clean up the carriage and send it to Master Ma's family.
Get your peace of mind with a horse-drawn carriage.It's worth it.
I've been in security escort business all my life.But I don't have any savings.
I just want do some fur tradingsand make some money
to buy a horse-drawn carriage for my retirement.
For a horse-drawn carriage,
you actually risked the lives of all your fellow Escort Masters!
Isn't that your own carriage?
Is this on behalf on the Escort Service or from yourself?
Sister-in-Law Ma,the escort business has its own rules.
This horse-drawn carriage is from myself.
Ma Kui did the fur tradings in order to buy a carriage.
He died because of the carriage.
And today You sent over your own carriage.
What the hell do you mean?Are you trying to humiliate Ka Kui?
Lost his life for a Carriage. Or you are being sarcastic on the dead?
Sister-in-law Ma, that's not what I mean.
Everybody, drive this ruthless thing out of my door.
Lead Escort Master, please say something. Master Ma died on line of duty.
This carriage is granted by the Escort Service.
Just say it, please.Yes, say it please.
Just say it.
Still like I said before, the escort business has its own rules.
Whether you accept my good-willed intentionor you think I'm hypocritical,
This carriage,I'll leave it here.
Liu Anshun!
Liu Anshun, your good-willed gift...I accept it on behalf of Master Ma.
Siste-in-law Ma!
Master Ma! The horse from the Lead Escort Master! Please take it.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by We, The Protectors Team in Viki
Do you see, everybody? He's crying.
In his eyes, my husband's lifeis not as valuable as a horse!
Elder Martial BrotherElder Martial Brother
Sister-in-law Ma, my father is sick so he can't come himself.
He asked me to come and pay respect to Master Ma.Sister-in-law, please take my advice.
He's already gone. It's better to put him to rest as soon as possible.
He'd been in the escort business all his life. and did his job rain or shine.
He was expelled when he was still alive,
and the patron deity would not accept him after his death.
Of Course Master Ma is a member of the escort business.
Is this what you think or the words from Master Dai?
That's what my father said.
Liu Anshun, this is what Master Dai said. Do you hear?!
Brother Shun