[Ever Night]
[Episode 22]
Uncle. Despite your Xiling rank
and very high seniority, this is an Academy issue.
Arguing is useless.
Tang Academy is under Heaven. Anyone can express opinions.
This Academy is Tang's.
As Dao South Gate High Priest, I object.
You said I can't argue?
I do object.
Young soldier, Ning Que, can't enter Second Floor.
See this? See this?
This is State Preceptor's Token of Authority. All I said today
represents all Dao South Gate.
Whether Xiling or Tang Emperor,
this needs to be respected.
Uncle, why come here today?
Make a request.
Let's discuss it.
You said 'discuss'.
If we can't conclude satisfactorily,
I won't let it go.
Speak first.
In cultivation,
Ning Que is far below Long Qing.
But with other skills of lesser degree,
he has a little potential.
He's unsuited for Second Floor.
He's more suited to be my Student.
You're saying
Ning Que could become a Divine Talisman Expert.
So what? I saw him first.
Uncle.
Since you found a Divine Talisman candidate,
- why not inform Xiling? - Rot.
If I'd told you, would I still get him?
Uncle.
Did you feel, if the Academy found out,
we wouldn't let Ning Que go?
How despicable you are.
You said 'discuss'; or why'd I tell you?
Sure we can discuss it.
If conclusions are pre-determined,
why discuss it?
Shameless! Scoundrel!
I'm learning from you.
In my life, I met only one such excellent talent.
I'll be hostile to anyone opposing me.
Even if I die, I'll grind their bones to dust.
You sound ruthless.
Without Academy backing, I'd be fearful.
Ning Que can't be yours.
You want that kid.
So won't we want him?
Besides me, the only one suited to Divine Talisman Daoism,
who can be his Teacher?
How are only you qualified?
We could find two or three Academy Talisman Experts.
I found him first. You can't have him.
Uncle. You're a moral person.
Stop behaving shamelessly!
I hug girlS in bordellos all day.
Which bit of my body shows good moral standing.
I can't see it on me.
Uncle.
You threw away self respect, humiliating yourself.
This won't work.
You might persuade His Majesty, State Preceptor or Xiling Hierarch,
even Grand Priest.
But we
at the Academy won't listen.
This is stinking crap, oh my.
It really stinks. I can't stand it.
I'm going to faint.
It was laughable.
I was short on demeanour but couldn't accept it.
If I were you, I won't accept either.
I really don't see.
I extinguished all desires.
My heart is fixed on the Dao.
So why's my heart still in shackles?
There's no way to extinguish all feelings.
There is fear from birth on.
Your fixing on the Dao is only your own judgement.
I've seen Eternal Night. I believe in Light.
I came thousands of miles,
only to be defeated by a nobody kid.
A loser in cultivation with no faith.
If there's no way to extinguish all feelings,
how'd Ning Que conquer his fear?
If I couldn't do it,
how could he do it?
And Ning Que
has no faith, I fear.
Why'd Fu Zi choose him as his Disciple?
Fear is greater or lesser.
You conquered your lesser fear.
As to big fears like the moment before death,
or impending Eternal Night...
I'm afraid you can't bear them.
Fu Zi established the Academy under Heaven.
The term 'personal Disciple'
has a false reputation.
Anyone who seeks to learn wholeheartedly
can become his Disciple.
You're not Ning Que.
How can you know he lacks faith?
He's not as lucky as you.
You studied the Classics from childhood.
You had great teachers and tutors.
Everything he has is within his heart.
Within his heart.
What has he kept in here?
I really want to see it.
May I know who you are?
It's easier to ascend a mountain than to descend.
In future, watch yourself.
I found him. You can't have him.
You can't be the only one qualified to teach him.
What's there to fight over?
The way I see it,
Ning Que relies on self-confidence.
Long Qing is far above.
So Long Qing should enter Second Floor.
Then Great Master Yan Se takes Ning Que as his Student.
This way, both Tang and Xiling will be satisfied.
Ning Que will stay a student of the Front Courtyard.
Then the Academy has two students
of great potential at the same time.
Such an outcome is elegantly complete.
That's doable.
If the Academy's limitations prevent this decision,
Ning Que may withdraw voluntarily.
That's right. Let him withdraw to settle this matter.
Why should Ning Que forfeit?
Great Master Yan Se, I wish to know,
if Ning Que is your Student,
learning under Dao South Gate,
how will State Preceptor and you treat him?
We'll treat him like a son and nephew, and teach him all we can.
Great.
We're aware State Preceptor has no outstanding disciples.
Great Master Yan Se has no successor.
If Ning Que is under South Gate, learning sincerely,
along with Great Master Yan Se's expertise,
maybe he'll be future Tang State Preceptor.
Why won't he want that bright future?
Right, right. Why won't he?
Grand Prince is correct.
Fu Zi isn't here right now. 2nd Disciple is in charge.
I'll look for him to discuss this.
Uncle. Uncle.
Who said ice and fire can't be combined?
Fu Zi, please.
I want this ice, and this fire.
Combined ice and fire truly satisfies beautifully.
2nd Disciple.
You're the proudest among Fu Zi's Disciples.
I'm far older than you.
I don't want to duel, or I'll be bullying a younger one.
I must take Ning Que.
I'd be the same with Fu Zi.
Don't destroy my legacy.
No need for excuses if you want to fight.
Age is no problem. Seniority
is also no problem.
Academy people say you're a stickler for rules.
I'm not the one who follows rules the most.
I talk about logic the most. It's just that
logic in the Academy means rules.
The strongest sets the rules.
Okay. Then
I'll see Second Disciple's strength.
(Well Sign Talisman)
'Well Sign' Talisman can't trap me.
I met you here today
to reason with you.
A duel is meaningless.
Rear Mountain is your area. I won't fight anymore.
You let me win.
What virtues of that kid
caused 2nd Disciple to come on his behalf?
Great Master Yan Se. Come back to the topic.
Do you seek a successor for Divine Talisman expertise
or for State Preceptor of Dao South Gate.
I want both.
You can. Even ice and fire can combine.
I believe old master Fu Zi is magnanimous.
You mean I'm narrow minded?
I'm not saying that.
Victory Restaurant spread these words-
- 'You look beautiful'. - 'You think too beautifully'.
But...we can take a step back.
Your suggestion is?
In my view, your Divine Talisman successor
is more important.
Or else, when you face your end,
isn't it a pity your skills will turn to dust?
As to Dao South Gate,
unless Tang is destroyed,
candidates for State Preceptor will never lack.
Sounds reasonable.
So you mean...
Fu Zi will let Ning Que
become your Student after he enters Second Floor.
To cultivate Talisman Art.
But...
Fu Zi also said
we can't decide for Ning Que.
What's most important
is to respect Little Junior Bro's choice.
Fu Zi is worthy of his title.
I'm ashamed to be inferior to him in moral standing
and repute.
In this world,
taking no account of family or nation, fostering talent and ability,
is only in the Acdemy.
[Tang Academy]
Where am I?
I reached the peak.
I've entered Second Floor.
Sang Sang. Sang Sang!
Is it an illusion after all?
Young Master. Young Master. Big news.
Sang Sang.
What are you doing?
It's real, not illusion.
Sang Sang, I reached the mountain peak.
That's right. Congratulations.
But that's yesterday's news.
Great. So great.
I've finally climbed to Second Floor.
What did you just say?
- Oh yes, big Academy row. - Let's look.
Young Master, can you pinch your own face next time?
12th Disciple, 2nd Disciple said Ning Que is to see Grand Prince.
Grand Prince will see him?
Grand Prince.
Ning Que pays respects.
Right now, you're not yet a Second Floor Disciple.
So you can still back out.
Grand Prince
was the one Yan Suqing named before dying.
The main culprit I seek is actually here.
You'll soon die. Telling you is fine.
The one handling Lin Guangyuan's case that year
is the Emperor's brother.
Great Master Yan Se
ranks highest of world Divine Talisman Experts.
He wants you as his Student.
I give you an assurance.
If you work for the Court,
and enter Knowing Destiny Level,
you'll be Divine Talisman heir.
It is within reason
you'll be next Tang State Preceptor.
Strike!
No.
Now isn't the time to kill him.
Grand Prince, I'm an Academy student.
Regarding my future,
Fu Zi's opinion is foremost.
If you have no other matters,
Ning Que will take his leave.
Thanks, 12th-Senior Bro.
Don't be fake.
Didn't you bring me good food?
Isn't this Victory Restaurant flatbread?
I clearly did a good job.
True.
But the secret recipe leaked.
So Victory Restaurant got it.
How'd you know?
They asked me to be Chief Chef.
This genius reluctantly turned them down.
Fine.
I'll invite you home for a meal.
Sang Sang can make you spicy sour noodles.
Her skills aren't below North Town stalls.
I normally don't tell anyone this secret.
Let's talk seriously.
Want to be Fu Zi's Disciple?
Or Yan Se's Disciple?
Don't mention that. It gives me a headache.
Can't your rigid brain think of a flexibly practical idea?
How to be flexibly practical?
A girl can't have two husbands. How can I have two Teachers?
You're no girl. Why complicate it?
Help me think of a way.
You can be Fu Zi's Disciple
and Master Yan Se's Student.
Tubby.
Don't ruin me.
I ruin you?!
Didn't I help you enter Second Floor?
Didn't I give you my Pill?
Didn't I save your life? I-
You saved my life.
- What are you doing? - You saved me.
You saved me.
You really saved me?
- You really saved me? - Let go.
Little Bro, are you okay?
This is how you saved me?
You're now at Second Floor.
You can't call me Chen Pipi, Chen Pipi, Tubby, Tubby.
Be careful or I might destroy you for the Academy.
Yes, 12th-Senior Bro.
[Tang Academy]
Congratulations.
I rarely let friends down.
Congrats to Ning Que for winning
and becoming Fu Zi's new Disciple.
Congratulations, Ning Que.
Lin Chuan's brother,
got something to tell Ning Que?
Ning Que, Wang Ying apologies.
Not because you won
nor entered Second Floor.
Why I'm apologizing is simple.
I was wrong.
I shouldn't have doubted your morals
before I knew the truth.
All my grievances since childhood were greater than this one.
Junior Bro, never mind.
Nanjing prodigy. Got something to say?
Ning Que. I return to Nanjing soon.
You're the only one I admired
while here.
For times I offended you, forgive me.
Thanks, Young Master. You're too kind.
Chu Zhongtian.
Shouldn't you say something too?
Ning Que. If you won't accept our apologies,
I've nothing to say.
You entered Second Floor and defeated Long Qing.
You used real action
to humiliate us.
First, that's not humiliation.
Second, your apology
isn't accepted.
You're all my classmates
so I won't humiliate you.
My goal was Second Floor.
Prince Long Qing wasn't my target,
let alone all of you.
Since this truth incidentally humiliated you,
I gladly tell this truth.
Pride
is Tang's precious attribute.
Therefore,
I hope it's preserved.
Well said.
Scholar Huang He.
Great Master Yan Se.
Ning Que. He's your Dao South Gate Teacher.
T..Teacher.
Now this outcome is
joyful.
From now, you'll follow me and learn to draw Talismans.
To learn with Great Master Yan Se
is my honour.
Looks like Second Floor
hasn't yet suffocated you with the smell of pride.
But Great Master Yan Se and I never met before.
How can you be certain
I have potential for Dao Talismans.
I fear you may be disappointed.
Disappointed?
You defeated Prince Long Qing
and entered Second Floor.
What would disappoint me?
Enter South Gate temple tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Uncle, why the hurry?
I'm already very old.
I'll come.
Great Master Yan Se.
Is Eunuch here
with an Imperial decree?
- His Majesty wishes to meet someone. - Which person?
Ning Que.
He is Ning Que.
Young Master,
were you in Imperial Study?
I was.
It's indeed you.
For caution,
I'll ask you a question for His Majesty.
Eunuch Lin, please ask.
His Majesty asks
what came before 'A flower blooms under sky on the other shore'?
'A fish leaps across the sea'.
You're really the author of A Flower Blooms Note.
- Flower Blooms Note. - He's the one.
Why hesitate?
Come quickly to the palace.
Expert Ning.
His Majesty wants to meet me.
Magistrate pays respects to General.
No need for formality.
How's the investigation on suspects
in Yan Suqing and the others' murders?
General, there's
a setback.
How?
You may be unaware the suspect Ning Que
defeated Xiling's Prince Long Qing and entered Second Floor.
He's now a Disciple of Academy Rear Mountain.
Great Master Yan Se of Dao South Gate also has eyes on him.
He made him his Student.
This guy has such skills.
Also, this Ning Que wrote A Flower Blooms Note.
He's been taken to the Palace by Eunuch Lin.
Eunuch Lin, may I trouble you to take my maid, Sang Sang, home?
Then I'll come along.
- Where's your home? - Old Brush Shoppe, Lin 47 Street.
To Old Brush Shoppe.
Quick, catch.
Here, quickly.
I say, Sang Sang.
From now, protect my calligraphy like you guard Big Black Umbrella.
Calligraphy goes, or we die.
These aren't paper.
- They're cash. - Right, cash.
I'll go.
You prepared things to say to His Majesty.
Want to rehearse?
No, it's in here.
I'm off.
Li Peiyan.
You betrayed Hierarch's trust.
This outcome
is unacceptable to Hierarch.
I also can't accept it.
Who'd believe
Long Qing would be defeated by a nobody?
If he can't be Fu Zi's Disciple,
Xiling wouldn't have let Prince Long Qing
come to Tang to be humiliated.
Do you think
he really came to be a hostage prince?
Of course I didn't.
But
this is the Academy's decision.
The Academy.
The Academy always looked down on Xiling.
What they've abandoned
isn't just Prince Long Qing,
but all Xiling.
Priest Cheng.
Never speak like this again.
At this stage, Prince Long Qing
can't stay in Tang.
Crown Prince Chong Ming returned to Yan.
Prince Long Qing should stay as hostage prince.
But since I promised Hierarch to fully protect Long Qing,
you won't be disappointed again.
One matter still needs your decision.
Speak.
Whosoever humiliates Xiling must die.
Men.
Here.
- Get rid of Ning Que. - Yes.
Eunuch Lin.
What's His Majesty like?
Court gossiping merits death. Want me to die?
Forgive me. I'm ignorant.
If others gossip, the penalty is death.
You're 13th Disciple, however.
Your Majesty. 15 years ago, General Lin Guangyuan was framed.
Every member of his family was executed.
If His Majesty asks who I am, how do I respond?
His Majesty is the most sagacious ruler,
the kindest good person.
Remember, when you see him, say this.
Act today. That guy must die.
General. General Xia Hou instructed us
not to act without his order.
Is it your place to say so?
Okay. We'll obey your order.
Tang's territory must exceed other nations.
Your Majesty. 13th Disciple arrived.
Enter.
13th Disciple may enter.
- Greetings- - No, no. It's not Heaven.
No need to kneel. All of you, leave.
Yes.
Come.
Reporting, Your Majesty-
13th Brother. Don't be formal.
One year, I wished to be Fu Zi's Disciple.
But he arranged for me to inherit the throne.
I had to give up my lifelong dream of the Academy.
So when I see Fu Zi's Disciple,
he's my Brother.
Since Fu Zi chose you for Rear Mountain,
it's your great fortune.
Now you're non-secular.
Fu Zi's ruled that Disciples may not interfere in politics.
So when you see me, no need for formalities.
But if one breaks Fu Zi's rule-
If you break Fu Zi's rule,
you'd lose your Academy place
and be viewed by Tang as an enemy.
I can no longer raise those two unjust cases.
Come, sit.
Thanks, Your Majesty.
Here, tea.
Thanks, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, Princess has arrived.
Let her enter.
Looks like Father truly likes him.
Greetings, Father.
Father looks in high spirits.
What caused Father to be so excited?
Father truly misses Fu Zi.
But seeing Fu Zi's new Disciple is like seeing my mentor.
Yu'er, do you know,
if Fu Zi had accepted me into Tang Academy,
today I and 13th Disciple would be Brothers.
Junior Bro, sit. Yu'er, sit.
Yes.
Yu'er, 13th Disciple-
Father, he and I count as old friends.
From Wei City to Northern Pass, scary events
united us for life or death.
Actually, I wanted to introduce him to you
because the first time I saw him,
I felt he was different from others.
Yu'er, good eye.
You take after your mother with her discernment.
Thanks for the compliment. You love talent
so it's my duty to help you find talents.
Look. "A flower blooms under sky on the other shore".
With my "A fish leaps across the sea",
it makes a perfect couplet with deeper meaning.
And the 'flower blooms' sentence is my desired state.
Before finding him,
I pored over this.
I wondered who understood my heart.
Today, seeing you, I understand something.
We should create this flower under the sky.
Yes, Father.
Fu Zi has good luck
to get a good disciple. I'm envious.
Yes. The writing mirrors the writer.
But Ning Que doesn't just write well.
Father, know what Ning Que is best at?
Then tell me quickly.
Ning Que, can I tell Father?
Just say it. He agreed tacitly. Quickly.
If I say it, you must promise me something.
What won't I promise you? Hurry, tell me.
Ning Que in Wei City is called Blue Lake Woodcutter.
Do you know what kind of wood Ning Que cuts?
Cuts useless firewood.
Father, so you knew.
13th Disciple is famous in the capital. It's no secret.
Actually, Huiyuan and 13th Disciple have fate.
Right, Ning Que? They were Academy classmates.
Huiyuan learned a lot from 13th Disciple.
So that's it.
Huiyuan is training in the army. I think
we should let Ning Que teach Huiyuan more.
Ning Que, Huiyuan is hard to discipline.
If he doesn't heed you, smack him for me.
Don't worry. Under Ning Que's teaching, Huiyuan will improve.
Come. I haven't used this inkstone yet. Try it.
Useless firewood.
[Ever Night]
~Hey, I can only say sorry~
~You, who've forgotten time, look a bit lost~
~You seem faraway, in front of me~
~Time blinks by~
~Take it easy~
~Life is still the same~
~Hey, let me change the ending~
~Yet I can cover it only a short while~
~Don't obsess or say sorry~
~Winner just treats loser~
~Better not meet rather than cry on parting~
~Night is long and dark~
~Don't leave regrets~
~I've seen right, wrong, gratitude, grudges, words, acts~
~I risk danger, desperate for you~
~Umbrella in old Chang'an~
~Night is nearing, talismans burn~
~Fight till all is gone in chaos and darkness~
~See us blaze through darkness, changing Heaven and Earth~
~Spur the horses forward~
~Geese fly south before snow~
~Get drunk at a warm coast~
~Under slashes of the sword, we love each other still~