[Ever Night]
[Episode 24]
Ning Que.
Ning Que, last night, three singular groups tried to kill you.
Since you knew, why not save me?
- Fu Zi's order stopped us going. - No loyalty.
If not for 2nd-Senior Brother, you'd be dead.
2nd-Senior came?
I said nothing. You heard nothing.
I knew the Academy wouldn't abandon me.
Quiet. Keep it a secret.
Who were those people?
They were Grand Prince's lot, Xia Hou's lot,
and a Xiling Cultivator.
Xia Hou.
Just who are you?
Why are so many people after you?
Just think of me as a bad guy.
One look tells me you're up to no good.
You barely did anything
and troubles follow you.
I believe
you'll be the scourge of Rear Mountain.
Tubby.
What did you say?
You...Little Bro, I only want to protect you.
I promise you,
now you've entered Rear Mountain, no-one will bully you.
Sure?
Sure! You entered Rear Mountain so it's your home.
We're your close family.
I, Chen Pipi,
am your Big Brother.
Brother, come here.
Why hit me?
I was orphaned young.
- Now I've found dear family! - What are you doing?
Sorry, Little Bro.
Who'd think this Tubby has such an impressive move!
Truly incredible.
Solemn. Scholarly.
Very important qualities here.
Got it?
Little Bro?
Mm.
I'll take you around to see Rear Mountain nice scenery
and introduce you to all our Seniors.
Okay.
What are you doing? Let go!
Let go of me!
Pipi greets 7th-Senior Sister.
Ning Que greets 7th-Senior Sister.
Little Bro, why not block it?
7th-Senior Sister's embroidery needle
had no intent to kill.
You're correct.
Little Bro is very impressive.
No wonder you passed through my Great Cloud Mist Array.
Pipi, now you have a Little Bro,
you can be lazy.
You!
7th-Senior Sister, I must take him to the other Seniors. I'll leave.
Ning Que takes his leave.
7th-Senior Sister is Mu You.
You climbed through her Cloud Mist Array.
Ancient sages created it
but she perfects and maintains it.
So her Cloud Mist Array tormented my climb.
Not just one Array. Also...ow, ow!
Hurry, go. Hotbed of trouble.
On flute is 9th Senior, Beigong Weiyang.
The zither player is 10th Senior, Ximen Buhuo.
They're from South Sea
and great at music.
As for Cultivation specialty,
I fear even they don't know.
They don't know?
What Cultivators don't know their specialties?
Their studies
were tailored by Fu Zi.
These past few years,
they hit a snag.
They're stuck on one tune.
Their speciality is unknown.
How boring it is.
How boring!
- Chen Pipi, what's up with you? - What about you?
This is...
Ninth Senior! Tenth Senior!
Let me off! I was wrong!
I know I was wrong! Let me off!
Tenth Senior Brother! I was wrong!
Let me go!
I know I was wrong! Tenth Senior!
Let me off!
Chen Pipi, who said I don't know
my Cultivation specialty?
9th Senior...9th Senior... 9th Senior!
9th Senior, why hit me?
Where'd your manners go?
You deserved it.
10th Senior, even you...
9th Senior and I are working on Grand Musical Path.
A layman like Pipi who only fights with nascent Qi
won't appreciate music's beauty.
I hope you're no such layman.
Little Bro, you were impressive climbing the other day.
Grandmaster Yan Se said you could become a Talisman Expert.
I assume you're good at music.
One day, come and learn with me.
Senior Brothers.
I know nothing about music.
Music and painting are two beautiful things.
Art is about
crossing disciplines.
You've never had the chance.
Now you've met me and Beigong, you won't know nothing.
Seniors, he must see 2nd-Senior Bro.
I'll take him with me now.
Down here, you'll pay respects to 11th-Senior Bro.
He is a saint.
- Pipi greets 11th-Senior Bro. - Ning Que greets 11th-Senior Bro.
- This is? - Swinging.
For an unpeaceful, ambitious heart,
swinging is disastrous.
For a calm mind and heart like still water,
swinging is blissful.
- I think... - You think what you think is what you think?
Is it objective observation or subjective imagination?
You still haven't told me
- what this is. - What is it?
What is swinging?
What is it?
Swinging is swinging.
11th Senior, it's Little Bro's first day at Rear Mountain.
I still have to take him to meet the other Seniors.
Discuss this another day?
Little Bro takes his leave.
Little Brother!
Come and help me with my dialectic pursuit one day?
Okay. O-okay.
4th and 6th Seniors are here.
That Trail of Pains underfoot was 6th Senior's masterpiece.
Pipi pays his respect to Sixth Senior Brother.
Ning Que pays you respect.
Are your feet okay?
You're a craftsman.
He's the world's best,
especially with armour and weapons.
Many Generals
wear armour made by 6th Senior.
Bright Armour of Xia Hou, Northern Commander,
is 6th Senior's work.
And it's also my best work so far.
So what makes Xia Hou's Bright Armour unique?
You'd have to ask 4th Senior.
Pipi pays respects.
Ning Que pays respects.
Hardness 4 and thickness 4
take five years to form.
Bro, this turtle pattern
resists frontal impact.
What about lateral impact?
A warrior, body-shielded by Qi,
will find it hard
to activate armour patterns.
Let me think on it.
Hm.
Your Fourth Senior is studying armour patterns
to weaponize them
and create an armour better than Bright.
He's at a bottleneck
and won't chat. Don't take it personally.
They made Xia Hou's armour.
It's impenetrable.
Look at our pretty lakeside.
Glittering water, chattering frogs.
Bright Armour. Xia Hou's Bright Armour.
Ning Que, what's wrong?
Nothing. I bet 6th Bro never lets his workshop fire go out.
It was too hot.
No worries. Come eat pastry.
I'm not done.
5th and 8th Seniors are chess pals.
They were South Jin and Yue Lun chess masters respectively.
They tied for 10 rounds
before being Academy Bros.
They haven't given up.
When they have time,
they play chess under a pine tree for 10 days.
Rear Mountain is full of weirdos.
Okay. Let's go.
Just a minute!
Let's go.
You know 3rd-Senior.
She copies books in Old Library.
What food is this?
Don't ask me why she copies.
It's Fu Zi's instruction.
I didn't ask about her. I asked about the food.
Just eat.
Big Brother
is traveling with Fu Zi, so you won't see him.
We'll see 2nd Senior.
The other Seniors are eccentric
but they're nice. 2nd-Senior is serious and stern.
Watch your behaviour around him or get flogged.
What's proper behaviour?
Why ask me? You're such a showman.
Approach him like you did the other Seniors.
I never imagined
you're so good at acting.
A wise man adapts.
A loser doesn't.
2nd-Senior Bro has a peculiar quality.
He is proud. And he hates people more arrogant than him.
Am I arrogant? You're more so.
That's why he hates me!
Just watch yourself.
Let's go. See 2nd-Senior Bro.
This is tasty. What is it?
Toad cake.
Pipi pays respects.
Ning Que pays respects.
Get up.
How's the Academy?
Good. All the Seniors are great.
Thank you for aiding me the other day. Chen Pipi told me.
If not for you, I wouldn't be here.
My respect for you is deeper than sea, wider than sky.
Your sword stroke
was beyond this world!
Your reputation alone could overwhelm Liu Bai.
You're the best of the best swordsmen.
You were too weak, attacked by a nobody.
If you don't work hard,
you will end up
shaming Rear Mountain.
Please teach me.
Accessing Rear Mountain is never easy.
Now you've entered,
have you thought how you can exit?
Exit?
I just got here. Why would I leave?
The world is full of stupid people,
all wanting to associate with the Academy, not least Rear Mountain.
But if your heart isn't pure, Rear Mountain will disavow you.
Whenever it happens,
I'm the one who tells the world-
"disavowed".
Rear Mountain is also called Second Floor.
Cultivators granted access
are all hand picked by Fu Zi.
You are the thirteenth chosen.
This amber Token
was handmade by Fu Zi.
It contains his energy and mind power.
Cultivators consider it Fu Zi's embodiment.
One day it will be your token of status.
As you receive it, remember
you'll be the subject of the world's blind idolatry
and will carry responsibility
to protect the Academy and Empire. Got it?
Yes, 2nd-Senior Bro.
Thank you, 2nd-Senior Bro.
2nd Senior, I have a question.
I entered Second Floor to learn, but what shall I learn?
First, you're in Doubtless Realm.
Your nascent Qi is pitiful
so you can learn nothing here.
Second, Fu Zi decides what you learn here.
We're teaching ourselves
but we consult First Senior when we can't solve problems.
Fu Zi and First Senior are away
so make the most of it here.
So I've nothing to do till First Senior and Fu Zi return?
Wrong. You've a lot to do.
- For example? - A lot.
Ning Que, since you joined Rear Mountain,
do you see your life
in a new, blissful light?
Pipi, the one whose life has a new and blissful light
isn't him, but you, right?
Little Bro, don't be afraid.
Relax and embrace the new life.
That's an odd goose.
It eats the fish?
There's nothing odd. It's mine.
My goose.
Eunuch Lin.
13th Disciple. His Majesty seeks you again.
Outside the city, 10 miles away from this Palace,
is Azure Mountain.
In summer, the wind is cool through the trees.
It beats the throne,
listening to courtiers bickering
and plotting and scheming.
I wanted to build a palace outside the city.
But courtiers were tearful.
They cited laws made by my ancestors
as authority to stop me.
I'm the Emperor,
yet can't live where I want.
Who imagined an Emperor can be unhappy at times?
Some people would kill to be my friend.
But Old Chao kept his distance.
We had a good time.
We drank at Red Sleeves Club
and swore as youngbloods to be Brothers at Spring Breeze Pavilion.
I see! The Emperor is replacing Chao Xiaoshu with me.
Ning Que. I liked you the day I saw you
and I like the calligraphy you left behind.
"A flower blooms..."
I want to tell him about General Lin's household
but he's fondly talking about Brother Chao.
How can I stop him?
Today is not the day.
Look, you did handsome calligraphy work.
If I pay you money,
that's crass.
And I heard Grandmaster Yan Se made you his Student
to be a Divine Talisman Expert.
I happen to have something just right for you.
But I can't give it to you now.
You will have it one day
when you're initiated in the Talismanic path.
- Thank you... - Don't.
I told you, no formality.
Do you recall those
who tried to kill you the other day?
Did you see their faces?
Your assassins were sent by Xia Hou, Grand Prince,
and a Xiling Cultivator.
It was too dark for my eyes. I didn't see them.
And I didn't know them.
I see.
Some people live in darkness.
But in a way,
they help your Cultivation.
They make your a better Cultivator.
Thanks for your wise words.
It's such a blessing that I was granted
access to Second Floor.
I will cherish it as much as my life.
As for plots and schemes,
I believe dark clouds won't blind your eyes.
As for the truth?
You are a wise emperor,
so you will see it one day.
I get what you mean.
But you were flattering me,
calling me a wise emperor.
Come, let's go downstairs.
Young Master, what did the Emperor say to you?
This and that.
But he made me realize one thing.
My calligraphy is really worth a fortune.
If I'd known I could write on a sheet of paper for money,
I wouldn't have thrown away so many notes.
Think of the 'money' we threw away.
Do you think these will fetch a good price?
Didn't I throw these away?
You got them back?
I couldn't see them gone. They're yours.
Sang Sang, what would I do without you?
What do you think these are?
What?
Paper money!
So much paper money!
Grandmaster Yan Se.
Grandmaster Yan Se?
Grandmaster Yan Se.
It's not a day off, Great Scholar Wang. Why aren't you at Court?
You'd have a good reason to be here.
Truthfully, I had a big fight with Old Jin.
That's unsurprising. Do tell.
What do you want of me?
His Majesty gave Jin his 'Imperial brush' copy of 'A Flower'.
Old Jin won't let me see it, yet rubs my nose in it.
Your copy tried too hard to follow the original
and lost its authenticity.
The copy His Majesty gave Old Jin is better.
You're being unfair.
Experts know 'double hook' script is closest
to replicate an original.
Let's say it is. So what?
Wait till I get the 'Chicken Soup Note'.
I'll make Old Jin mad.
Hold on. You said Chicken Soup Note?
Yes. The Note you took from Red Sleeves Club.
With 13th Disciple's fame,
everyone knows you have this valuable piece.
Won't it be great if you can let me have it?
Rumours travel faster than Fu Zi's Talismans.
Bluntly, I, who served three emperors,
came for your Student's writing. Isn't that a big honour?
Grandmaster Yan Se, please don't reject me.
Or we'll both look bad.
I see a popinjay in front of me.
It's not a good look.
I've known you decades.
I don't expect a senior Official
to go nuts over a triviality.
I'd let anything else go.
That old jerk Jin pushed me too hard.
How can I set foot in Court unless I sort him out?
Name your price.
30,000.
10,000.
20,000.
15,000.
Grandmaster Yan Se.
Take it!
Hurry!
Here.
Now you're looking good?
- Old Master, where to? - Head home now!
Invite everyone to my birthday party tomorrow
to see Chicken Soup copy.
Sir, you had your 60th birthday last month.
Then my eldest son's second girl
has a birthday this month.
Invite that lass, Jin Wucai, too.
Above all, don't forget her stupid dad.
Well...
What if Elder Jin doesn't come?
Then I'll personally invite him.
- Even if we drag him. - Yes.
This way, Master.
(Lin 47 Street, East Town)
Teacher, good morning.
Good morning, my Student. It's your first day learning.
- What's for today? - Follow me.
Where? Not in the carriage?
Carriage, my butt. You're so far from basics
of Talismans, you don't merit a carriage.
Let's go.
Mister Ning! Mister Ning! Open up!
We're here to buy your calligraphy.
We have a lot of money. Please open the door.
Open up! Mister Ning.
We have money. Open up!
Open it! We have money!
Open up!
Please open the door, Mister Ning!
Come on, open it!
Open the door! Open the door!
Teacher, Talismans do this?
Want to learn?
Making a fire in winter is no worry if I can do this.
'Xihai Xueshan are instrument strings'
is a decent metaphor. But I think
Talisman drawn lines are strings.
Cultivation plays a tune Heaven and Earth appreciate.
A Talisman lets Heaven and Earth see the wonder,
passing beyond the message
to reach the idea.
Hand.
Hey, no, no.
It's all wet.
Different mindfulness and different lines
create different melodies
with different effects.
This is the Dao of Symbols I'll teach you.
Despite my good calligraphy,
I can't write an article and haven't read any Classics.
What do I do?
You'll write with ideas to share.
If you live mindlessly,
you won't be able to write,
even soaked in ink.
Dao of Symbols
takes talent to deliver the final touch.
Few are lucky enough.
Teacher, am I lucky enough?
First Dao Symbol was a coincidence,
but listen well.
It can only come from deepest primal heart.
Again, your deepest primal heart.
Understand?
The tea is boiling. Why sit there?
Okay! I'll go!
Xiao Cao, I've a question.
Sang Sang, it's been awhile.
Ning Que's to blame.
Jian Daijia told him not to come so he'd focus on study.
So you stopped coming.
Young Master got drunk at his class's party.
He wrote a Note here.
Know where it went?
Sister Dewdrop had it.
After so long, who'd know where it is?
Then I'll go ask Sister Dewdrop.
- Let me in. - Let me in!
Don't know me? I'm Marquis Anle's bro-in-law.
My lord offers 20,000 taels.
My bro-in-law offers 30,000.
What are you on about?
I don't have whatever it is. Men, show them out.
- Go, go, go. - Miss Dewdrop, I confirmed it.
You have Chicken Soup original.
Said who? Which scum is it?
Don't be mad.
There are things you simply can't keep secret.
13th Disciples's note is worth 1,000 taels per word.
To rich people like us,
everything has a price.
30,000.
It's not for sale!
Sang Sang?
Why not?
Sell the copies.
Copies?
Truthfully, copies will fetch good prices in future.
But for us rich people,
we want what's unique.
What if Young Master signs Grandmaster Yan Se's copies?
Grandmaster?
I can stamp them.
That...
- It's 13th Disciple's personal seal! - Personal seal!
How much?
500 taels, each.
Deal.
I want 60 copies.
[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 up 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 nears, 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~