What took you so long?
I grabbed some peanuts.
Wei Wuxian,
the liquor is really good.
Of course.
Here in Gusu, we drink the Emperor's Smile,
fragrant and mellow,
refreshing but not aggressive, smooth and powerful.
Just drink the liquor. You make it sound like it's a person.
Jiang Cheng, I disagree.
I think Wei Wuxian is making an excellent point.
As a wise man said,
"Fine beauty is just like a great wine."
Cheers.
If that is true,
you shall find your partners by following the fragrance of liquor.
I will be fine as long as I have wine.
I don't know how the Lan Clan of Gusu can put up with you.
Hey, I am adorable.
It's just you.
No one can match your standards.
Wei Wuxian, what standards?
Wei Wuxian, I dare you!
Beauty.
Natural beauty.
Hey!
Wei Wuxian!
Virtuous and caring.
-Wei Wuxian! -And comes from a good family.
-Stop it. -She should not be too chatty
-and should have a gentle voice. -Stop running, Wei Wuxian.
-Be careful. -Stop running, Wei Wuxian.
But not too capable.
There is more.
She should not burn through money.
-You talk too much. -Hey, it is okay.
Wei Wuxian!
Jiang Cheng, get up.
What are you guys doing?
What a nice coincidence.
Since you are here,
why not join us for a drink?
Let's have a chat.
Here at Cloud Recesses, alcohol is forbidden.
Lan Zhan, don't be so rigid.
We successfully exorcised the Aqua Demon today.
We made an accomplishment.
Let's celebrate.
You three, go to the punishment chamber to be disciplined.
Where?
-What chamber? -What?
Lan Zhan, you see...
They are too drunk to walk.
What if you sit down with me?
Let's have a drink and talk.
Lan Zhan!
If you refuse to come with me, I will ask for help and force you to.
Lan Zhan?
Lan Zhan, come here.
Sit and drink the wine.
See, I am not fooling you. Doesn't it taste great?
Lan Zhan?
Lan Zhan, you have thick skin.
You won't even blush.
Lan Zhan?
Can you please go back to your room?
Please do not sleep here.
I bet no one imagined that
someone high and mighty like you would one day follow my lead.
Second Young Master Lan, call me Brother Wei.
Brother Wei.
What's wrong?
Finally, some reactions.
Your headband is tilted.
Tilted?
Let me help.
Go away.
It is still not right.
What?
I am just trying to help you adjust it.
Why are you so nervous?
The headband is sacred.
No one can touch it except for parents and significant others.
Significant others?
What are you laughing at?
I am laughing at the Lan Clan.
You have so many rules that are so rigid and pretentious.
Women would not marry you.
You are going to be alone forever.
That's fine.
Hey, is every member of your clan that vapid?
Your father is as vapid as you.
Your mother must be so bored.
I don't have a mother.
That's impossible.
You can't be born out of thin air.
My parents died when I was four.
You may think I would remember things then,
but I don't.
The only thing I remember is being chased by wild dogs.
I don't remember
what my parents looked like.
But I recall a scene.
I was riding on a donkey with my mother by my side.
My father was right in front of us.
It might be that my mother cracked a joke
and my father laughed.
Lan Zhan,
here's to you.
No. Here's to us.
May we never forget what is worth remembering
or remember what is best forgotten.
Bottoms up.
Grand Master, you must be exhausted from all the traveling.
How did the Cultivation Conference go?
We met with Clan Leader Nie.
As expected,
the same demonic event has been happening in Qinghe.
The same red cracks showed up on those people's necks.
Have they found any clues?
Clan Leader Nie is looking into it.
Is everything okay in Cloud Recesses?
Lately, the Wen Clan has been quiet.
However, a demonic event was witnessed on Biling Lake.
Tell me more about it.
I was just about to tell you.
A few days ago, some students and I went to perform an exorcism
on Water Ghosts at Biling Lake.
Yet, we found that the spirits in the lake
have been demonized and turned into the Aqua Demon.
That has never happened before.
Young Master Wei suspected
that it might have something to do with the snatched spirits.
Young Master Wei?
Wei Wuxian.
He is the elder disciple of Clan Leader Jiang.
Is he...
the son of...
Right. He is the son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren.
No wonder he has such mischievous ideas.
Just like his mother.
Excuse me.
Grand Master Lan.
Zewu Jun.
What is the problem?
Wei Wuxian sneaked in some liquor,
got drunk with a couple of students, and got caught.
And Second Young Master Lan was with them.
Wangji was with him?
How dare they!
SONGFENG SHIYUE PAVILION
I am at fault.
Grand Master, Zewu Jun, I shall be punished.
Grand Master and Zewu Jun.
It is true that we disobeyed the rules and got drunk,
but Lan Zhan, he is not--
Nonsense!
Wei Wuxian.
Your confinement as punishment has not even ended,
yet here you are, causing trouble again.
How far do you want to take this?
Are you trying to ruin Cloud Recesses?
Do not think that just because your mother is Cangse...
Grand Master.
Do you know my mother?
Grand Master.
Shut up.
Wangji.
Young Master Wei is not a member of the Lan Clan.
But you are. And you're fully aware of the rules.
I recognize the mistake that has been made.
Zewu Jun...
It was all on me. I made him drink the liquor.
It was against his will.
I recognize the mistake and shall be punished.
What is wrong with you? Why are you asking for punishment?
Wei Ying, as the head of the group,
you shall be hit by the bastinado 300 times.
The same punishment goes to Lan Zhan.
The rest shall be hit 50 times.
Let this be a warning.
Three hundred times?
Those bastinados are monstrous!
Am I going to survive this?
Do it.
It hurts.
ELEGANCE ROOM
Jiang Cheng,
you are close to Wei Wuxian and have always disciplined him.
Why did you fool around with him last night?
Yanli, can we not talk about it anymore?
The fact that I got 50 hits, please keep it a secret from our parents.
The 300 hits for me should also be kept secret.
You caused everything.
But no one forced you to drink the Emperor's Smile.
That's enough. Do you two want to continue to fight?
Yanli.
It hurts everywhere.
Let it be a lesson for you.
Just endure it.
Wait until the class ends,
I will make you danggui soup.
Yanli.
I should have more protein to promote rapid healing.
Danggui soup with lamb should do the trick.
You two.
-Zewu Jun. -Zewu Jun.
Zewu Jun, did I break the rules again?
You guys indeed went overboard last night.
Grand Master may be a bit harsh,
and so is the punishment.
The bastinado is quite heavy.
It probably will take weeks
for the wounds on your back to heal.
Weeks? That's a long time...
Let me point to you a place to go
to heal a bit faster so you won't be behind in your studies.
Thank you for the support, Zewu Jun.
Zewu Jun.
My mother...
Young Master Wei.
Back in the day, Cangse Sanren was classmates with Grand Master.
Grand Master's behavior was strictly mannered,
and your mother...
How should I say this?
She was just like you.
I hope you do not hold a grudge against Grand Master.
It is true that he was being extra harsh on you.
It was just...
Well, let's just say it was difficult for him
to keep his beard looking good back then.
Biling Lake.
The Aqua Demon.
Grey pupils appear.
It all makes sense now.
The Yin Iron is in the water.
Lan Zhan.
How come you never told me about a place like this?
Why didn't you share it with me?
That's not how a good friend should act.
How did you get in?
Zewu Jun let me in.
This is cold.
It's really cold.
Bone-chilling.
It's freezing.
Stop fumbling.
I know.
But the spring is freezing cold.
If I do not move around,
my blood will freeze,
so will my extremities.
Lan Zhan.
Hey, you...
All right.
You are somewhat rigid, pedantic, depressing,
and a little bit boring.
And I did not think too highly of you at the beginning.
But I changed my mind after our fights ended in a draw.
You are one of the people I approve of.
And I want to be friends with you.
That won't be necessary.
You are no fun. Let me share something with you.
A lot of benefits come with being my friend.
What are you doing?
Getting undressed to start healing properly.
Please do not leave me here.
I will stop undressing.
Lan Zhan, have you ever been to Yunmeng?
There are lots of fun things to do there. There's great food.
How about this?
If you ever visit the Lotus Pier, I will pick lotus for you,
the seedpod, along with water chestnuts.
Never.
All right.
Let me tell you a big secret.
There are a lot of cuties in Yunmeng, pretty ladies.
Lan Zhan.
Do you feel something strange happening?
Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan, what is this place?
Why is there a swirling tunnel beneath the Cold Spring?
What is this place? It's so weird.
The water is extremely cold, but it's not frozen
Lan Zhan, wait up.
What is this thing?
The Chord Assassination Technique.
The Chord Assassination Technique?
Isn't that a peculiar trick of your clan?
What's happening?
Why are they all coming for me?
The engraving on this guqin is the Lan Clan's seal.
It will not attack me
probably because it senses that I am a member of the Lan Clan.
How come these rabbits are wearing the Lan headband?
I heard that every member of the Lan Clan
wears a headband starting from their childhood.
The headband recognizes the owner and has a special power.
How come the rabbits wear the headband as well?
Power...
Headband.
Lan Zhan, the headband, hand over your headband.
Hurry.
I want to take a closer look and see what it is.
It won't allow strangers to get near it.
Do not touch it.
This guqin is a rare masterpiece
and it is enhanced by power.
It will attack anyone who is not a member of the Lan Clan.
It must belong to an ancestor of the Lan Clan.
I just want to take a look. I swear not to touch it.
Drop it.
Be respectful to the heirloom.
How can I get a good look without picking it up?
I have my way.
Ask the spirit.
I have heard of the sorcerous act,
a unique skill that only the Lan can execute.
Talking with the deceased through strings.
It is her.
Who is it?
The Wen Clan of Qishan.
The Lan Clan of Gusu.
The Jiang Clan of Yunmeng.
The Jin Clan of Lanling.
The Nie Clan of Qinghe.
Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron.
-What are those voices? -Kill the gentry
-and destroy the Yin Iron! -I do not know.
-Be careful. -Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
-Xue Chonghai, hand the Yin Iron over. -Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
-It sounds like the Five Clans. -Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
They were trying to eliminate a certain faction.
-Yin Iron? What is that? -Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
-I have never heard of it. -Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
Kill the gentry and destroy the Yin Iron!
The Yin Iron is cursed, not worth mentioning.
LAN YI LAN CLAN OF GUSU
SONGFENG SHUIYUE PAVILION
Grand Master.
It's possible that Wangji and Wei Wuxian are fine and that nothing happened.
I have sent people to look for them.
Wangji has always been diligent since he was a boy.
He would never fool around like Wei Ying.
Yet now, both of them disappeared in the Cold Spring.
I am worried that...
Grand Master, what worries you?
A storm is coming.
-Second Young Master Lan! -Young Master Wei!
-Second Young Master Lan! -Second Young Master Lan!
-Young Master Wei! -Young Master Wei!
-Second Young Master Lan! -Young Master Wei!
-Second Young Master Lan!
-Young Master Wei!
-Second Young Master Lan!
Yanli.
You stay here and take a break.
I will bring some help and look over there.
-Young Master Wei! -Second Young Master Lan!
-Young Master Wei!
-Second Young Master Lan!
-Young Master Wei!
Jiang Cheng, please find them.
Be assured, Yanli.
I will find him and break his legs.
Watch out, Lady Jiang.
Master Lan Yi.
I am Lan Zhan, a descendant from the Lan Clan.
So, she is the one?
The only female clan leader of the Lan Clan of Gusu,
who created the Chord Assassination Technique.
Lan Yi.
I am Wei Ying, a disciple from the Jiang Clan.
Master Lan Yi.
Master Lan Yi,
so these rabbits with headbands
were raised by you.
They were here to keep me company.
But my energy has been fading away throughout the years.
They are too fond of playing and thus often come out.
Master Lan Yi.
The rumor was that you had passed away years ago.
How come?
It must have something to do with the Yin Iron.
It was my biggest mistake
in my lifetime.
And I paid the price.
With all my power,
I kept the Yin Iron in confinement.
Master Lan Yi,
what is the Yin Iron,
and where are the shouting and pounding noises coming from?
The seal is beginning to crack as the power gets weaker.
My energy is weakening.
And here you are.
It may be destined.
Master Lan Yi?
Hundreds of years ago,
when the Yin Iron was not in fragments and still a whole...
The Yiling Burial Mounds back then was a celestial land
and Xue Chonghai
was the most powerful grand master back then.
A hundred years have passed,
still, nobody knows
why someone like Xue Chonghai, who had everything,
would use the Yin Iron to absorb grievance and resentment,
and use living people as sacrifice.
He controlled an ancient monster, The Tortoise of Slaughter.
Blood was shed.
Lives were taken.
It was a great tragedy.
So the Five Clans united.
They killed Xue Chonghai.
You are as smart as I expected, Young Master Wei.
Xue Chonghai was executed and the Tortoise of Slaughter was put down.
Dead bodies were everywhere.
And Yiling, this once celestial land, became a massive burial ground.
Master Lan Yi.
What happened to the Yin Iron after that?
The Yin Iron has snatched and absorbed too many living spirits,
their grievances were too heavy to be dissipated.
Snatching spirits?
That is right.
The Yin Iron was a rare treasure that has grown naturally.
It was able to absorb energy from the universe.
Yet Xue Chonghai fed it
with living spirits, even gentries with power.
So the Yin Iron was filled with grievance and resentment.
The change was irreversible.
Hand over the Yin Iron.
Wen Mao,
you will end up like me.
Just like me!
Later on, the Five Clans decided to suppress it,
and thus broke the Yin Iron into pieces
and placed it in different locations that are full of good energy.
To avoid anyone following the same fate,
the Five Clans made an agreement
and never spoke of the Yin Iron again.
With all due respect,
if the Yin Iron can truly absorb natural energy,
we may be able to turn it into something to put to good use.
Wei Ying.
I am surprised.
What you just said is the same
as what I had thought.
Being a woman,
even after I became as the leader of the Lan Clan,
people never stopped criticizing me.
We were experiencing a reconstruction of the clan.
For years, I tried to break the old rules
and find ways to innovate.
All my life, I was fighting to revitalize the Lan Clan,
yet I faced so many impediments and obstacles.
Then one day,
when I was having a chat with my friend, Baoshan Sanren,
she mentioned the Yin Iron by accident.
Baoshan?
Master Lan Yi, are you an acquaintance of Baoshan?
She was my best friend, the dearest to my heart.
But I...
failed her.
Why do you say so?
Ever since I learned about the Yin Iron,
I could not sleep.
I dived into the Lan Clan's book collections.
And I was able to put the clues together.
I found the place
where the Lan Clan's ancestors stored the fragment of the Yin Iron.
Cold Spring Cave is full of natural energy.
Cold streams of air from all directions merged
and condensed into a pond of cold water that will never freeze.
It was not only the source of the Cold Spring,
but also the best place to seal the Yin Iron.
So this is the place
where you found a fragment of the Yin Iron.
If the Yin Iron cannot be neutralized...
Why do you want to find it?
I thought the way you did, Young Master Wei.
I was young and naive.
I ignored the warnings.
The fear was it couldn't be controlled, it might control you instead.
Baoshan told me the same thing.
But I had always done things my way
and thought to have a clear conscience.
I thought I was doing the right thing.
I wanted to promote the Lan Clan's sorcery and heirloom.
I ignored her warning
and entered into the forbidden ground.
Unfortunately...
At the end of the day, I was wrong.
What happened?
Did Master Baoshan know about this?
BAOSHAN SANREN
Lan Yi, do you know what may happen because of your decision?
I am not doing this for myself.
I am doing it for the clan.
Why are you trying to stop me?
The Yin Iron is extremely malicious.
No one has successfully purified it before.
Have you ever thought about it?
If you can break the seal but cannot control it, what then?
As the leader of the Lan Clan,
I created the Chord Assassination.
Just because no one has done it before, doesn't mean I cannot make it happen.
You...
You can probably tell what happened next.
I could not neutralize the Yin Iron.
Not only that,
I also made a terrible mistake.
Once the seal on the Yin Iron breaks,
it can never be redone.
I tried countless times,
and they were all failures.
As a result,
I was badly injured.
The Yin Iron was sealed here temporarily with all my energy,
and I can never leave this place.