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Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely fictional.]
♔ Instagram @skysoultan ♔ Episode 11
How is it going?
Everything goes fine.
If Yi Jiumo sticks to the plan,
we’ll be one step closer to success.
Be more cautious.
Don’t let down your guard.
He Yao isn’t good at using strategies.
We can hardly depend on him.
You should teach him carefully.
And you must be alert at the crucial moment.
I see.
I’m going to Li City again
to make sure nothing goes wrong.
Ba Yin.
Why didn’t you
insist on killing them?
Their father Baili Haoyuan
killed thousands of our soldiers
in the past.
You knew it was in the past.
That was blood feud.
Don’t you remember?
Ba Yin.
We should make eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
They killed
many of us in the past.
And we must fight back.
But if we take revenge just to give vent to anger,
it’ll be bad bargain.
It’s a blood feud.
But you calculated it?
Only naive children
take revenge simply.
Because they don’t calculate.
Yi Jiumo
is the pontifex titled by ancestral god.
He has the highest prestige
in our clan.
You want me to disobey him
for two insignificant men?
Are you really not
being childish?
Yi Jiumo
is also from Baize.
Why doesn’t he consider for us?
Just because he considers for us,
he chooses to
restrain himself and bear patiently.
Baili brothers
have no real power in Yo.
But their elder brother
Baili Hongxuan
inherited from Duke Pingyuan in Yo.
He has great power
in his nation.
A dozen years ago,
we had a conflict with Yo.
We were weak.
So, Baili Haoyuan expelled us
to the north.
Right at this moment,
Yo has become
more powerful.
Do you really want to
infuriate Baili Hongxuan
and start a war?
If there’s a war,
I’m willing to sneak into their army
and kill Baili Hongxuan.
That’s not your job.
You’re a gorgeous girl.
You don’t need to
kill any enemy.
But brother…
Enough!
I don’t forget the blood feud.
In a few days,
you’ll understand me.
Sometimes, measuring, calculating and dealing
work better than fighting.
I just hope
you’ll live a safe lie.
The antidote is put
five miles downstream Qianling Lake.
The nearest water intake
is less than ten miles from Li City.
And sick people in Li City
drank the water.
I believe it won’t be long
before they recover.
Okay. Ask the doctors not to slack off.
They must observe carefully
and they can’t go home
unless all patients are fine.
Yes.
Commander, I’ll go to tell them in the clinics.
Go ahead.
Bai Yi?
Are you all right?
Hou Zhengze!
Commander.
You’ve got nothing else to do?
I have nothing to attend to.
Really?
Go to the stable
and wash all the horses.
Yes!
You had tea.
It means no more water shortage, huh?
Are patients
getting better
in a short time?
I’ll leave you alone.
I’m leaving.
You’re welcome.
What?
Don’t you come
to say thank you?
Who wants to say thank you?
It was not my fault anyway.
I did everything,
just for you.
Besides,
if Hongxuan was here…
He isn’t here.
I said if!
We’re different guys!
Why do you never notice me?
All right.
You’re my dear little brother,
Baili Hongshuo, OK?
I don’t want to be your little brother.
What’s wrong with you?
Are you really getting angry?
You know I…
Where’s my amulet?
What are you worried about?
Yi Jiumo has unimaginable experience.
We can hardly control him.
The pontifex shows the divination.
We’ll just do what we can do.
General Wanqi.
We’re just one step away
from catching all of Bai Nuo’s clan members.
But you are too anxious.
How disappointing!
Since the pontifex knows everything in the world,
he must know the importance of people’s support.
What if…
Just do what we can do.
I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong.
Ruo.
I hate you people!
Gee!
Stop!
Marquis, the falcon from Lang.
Ming Yefeng?
Go.
Gee! Gee! Gee!
Gee!
Stop!
Wait for me!
Yes.
General Wanqi?
Marquis.
His Majesty sent you to Li City to make up for the trouble.
Seems like everything isn’t going smoothly.
Before I arrive in Li City,
you knew
I would come.
Seems like
you know quite a lot
about our internal affairs.
I only care for what I’m interested.
Marquis.
You really did keep your promise.
What you want has been sent
to Liaoyuan Inn in the western suburb of Li City.
You can take it away with this token.
Such a secret.
How did you get it?
I have my own way.
With it,
you can wipe out all the trouble in Li City.
Working with you
to wipe out evil Lang people in Yo
is my duty.
And I can help Youngest Master.
Marquis, you look so angry.
I always regard you
as my friend.
I don’t know
when I offended you.
If you dare to
get in touch with my family again,
I won’t let you go.
You mean I invited Younger Master,
oh, no,
I mean, Miss Baili.
Marquis, don’t worry.
Miss Baili is safe and sound.
Youngest Master
solved the big problem in town.
That’s a risky way.
I’ve given much thought.
I believe you can understand.
Luckily, Hongyi is safe.
Otherwise,
you wouldn’t have stood here alive.
You really like your families.
Hongyi’s amulet?
Oh, it’s really
Miss Baili’s personal stuff.
How did you get it?
I just picked it up.
Hope you can give it back to her.
It’s a valuable thing.
Hope she won’t lose it again.
Dare you touch her again! Do you hear me?
Since I gave the necklace back,
I’m not going to stay any longer.
God blesses our clan.
Hope everything goes fine.
God blesses our clan.
Hope everything goes fine.
God blesses our clan.
Hope everything goes fine.
God blesses our clan.
Hope everything goes fine.
It’s the heaven-sent chance for Baize.
Ming Lai has been chosen
to be the new leader of Baize.
Congratulations, Leader.
Stop looking for it.
Give me more time.
It must be here.
Look. What’s this?
Why do you have it?
I didn’t find it.
Hongxuan did.
He came?
This is very important.
Don’t lose it again.
Let’s go and see Hongxuan.
Hongxuan!
I followed him secretly.
Hongshuo didn’t know.
But look!
Luckily, I came.
Or he wouldn’t have handled
so many problems.
Right?
You mean
I should praise you?
Just don’t criticize me!
Seems like
you two
have a lot to talk about.
I’ll leave you alone
and get you something to eat.
What do you come for?
Hongyi left.
What would you like to say?
All right.
You knew it, didn’t you?
What did you hear of?
Do I need to hear?
Informers are everywhere in Li City.
The rumors come to me
before I want to know.
If you’re in trouble again,
I can’t help you in Ye City.
Look at this.
So many secret letters.
How did you get them?
He Yao colluded with Bai Nuo.
You knew it?
I just guessed.
But I don’t have hard evidence.
I heard of it.
I asked my men to collect the evidence.
Now the water problem has been solved,
you can give the evidence
to His Majesty.
It’s capital crime to collude with another clan.
If it’s confirmed,
He Yao will die.
You’re worried about him?
Not really.
But I think
we can just dismiss him
if we want to pull him down.
Must we get him killed?
He’s intent on nothing but profit.
Such a man
is a disaster to our nation.
Since you have the evidence,
you’ll handle it.
You’re now the left cavalry commander.
You don’t need to ask me for everything.
You shall decide
if you want to hand it in
or when you will.
Thank you.
The water problem has been solved.
But you mustn’t make any mistake
in Li City.
Remember.
Our family has different ambitions from the He family.
I see.
Any confusion?
Please tell the His Majesty
we’re always loyal.
I will tell him.
And I won’t forget
my promise to you.
We both keep promises.
You must know it clearly
what you should do next.
I will lead Baize
to pledge loyalty to the new king.
Ba Yin.
Brother, I have something to tell you.
I remember when I was little
you taught me an essay
written by an ancient man.
He rode a leopard followed by a fox.
The wooden cart was made of lily magnolia with colorful flags.
Do you think
there is Mountain Ghost?
If there isn’t,
what did
the ancient man see?
What did you see?
It’s hard to explain.
It’s too weird and sudden.
There’s a Xuanming Temple in Li City.
It’s said that
an Illusion Maze is arranged
to trap the pontifex of Lang.
To get Hongyi out,
I visited Xuanming Temple.
I saw…
What did you see?
In fact, on your wedding day,
I saw it.
It was an altar,
surrounded by water.
And I saw
a man in white.
I didn’t see it clearly that night.
But I could feel
he was guiding me to something.
I drank some wine
and I didn’t pay much attention.
But in Xuanming Temple,
I saw it clearly.
Trapped in the formation,
I had no way to retreat.
He led me to the pontifex.
Hongxuan.
I often think
there are many things
in this world
that we haven’t heard or met.
They may be our friends,
or more likely to be our enemies.
Since the day I got married,
they were ready to make trouble.
Maybe they’re up to something.
You saw it, too, didn’t you?
On the wedding day?
It’s a huge puzzle.
As far as
I’ve known,
I can’t solve the puzzle yet.
Hongshuo.
We must know one thing.
Whoever that man is,
we must be cautious.
And we mustn’t easily trust anyone.
What do you want to say?
You said
I shouldn’t kill the enemies.
The violence stuff
isn’t your duty.
What do you think I should do then?
What are you laughing at?
What you want
was on your face
when you saw Ming Yefeng.
Brother.
Ming Yefeng is General Wanqi.
He recaptured all tribes for Shuchi.
He must have many beautiful girls around.
Are you sure
you want to be with him?
I want to do what I can do
for our tribe.
I mean it.
I can be the messenger
for you and General Wanqi.
All I hope is that
you can live a happy life.
Fighting and calculating
are what men
should do.
I’m as good as men!
I don’t want to be protected
for all my life.
Besides,
you can’t protect me
for my whole life.
I must
strive for my own happiness.
Ming Yefeng
is manipulative.
You want to
be happy with him?
Not so easy as you thought it to be.
I have my own way.
Brother, I like him.
And I can help you.
Why don’t you get a double advantage?
Brother, let me go.
Except training and solving the water problem,
what else have you got?
Li City lies in the border.
Different nations trade and keep balance.
It seems to be quiet, but it’s rather complicated.
Even a sign of disturbance
could break the balance
that has been kept for long.
The most terrible undercurrent
lies in somewhere we can’t see.
In this case,
you can’t go back to Ye City
in a short time.
So, you must entrench yourself
in this place
and always keep alert.
I understand.
We don’t simply develop our power
to attack our enemies,
but to enable ourselves
to do what we must do.
I see.
Commander, General He asked to see you.
Mu Qi, leave us.
Yes, Commander.
Please.
Finally, we have such leisure days.
Thanks to you.
The water problem
has puzzled Li City for years.
And it’s finally solved.
Thank you for your help.
It’s just my luck.
The tea was just made.
Please enjoy some.
As your uncle,
I’ll still criticize you.
I had fun that day.
But why did you leave alone
without me?
Sorry, Uncle. Sorry.
I saw you having fun
with the dancing girl.
I didn’t want to interrupt and I left.
If you want to blame me,
so be it.
Why will I blame you?
You’ve just been here for days,
but you’ve solved so many problems
one after another.
You really impressed me!
Don’t worry.
I’ll tell Her Highness
to reward you!
Thank you.
Oh, by the way,
how did you solve the pestilence
in the water?
Didn’t I tell you? It was just my luck.
I really had good luck.
And I solved it by chance.
You’re wrong.
Luck only goes to
whoever is powerful enough.
You must have clever moves
or someone must be behind you.
Right?
You don't have to tell. I know it already.
We’re both good at
cramming for problem.
We went to the same school.
Whenever the teacher gave homework,
we went to pray for help.
But I didn’t expect you
to go to Xuanming Temple.
I only know people in Li City
go to the Dragon King Temple in the east of town.
Oh, they like to
visit the Dragon King Temple?
I just asked casually.
I heard King Xuanming
was the God of Water
and he was efficacious.
But Uncle,
you really stint on that place.
I even failed to go there to pray.
You failed to go there?
Yeah!
Some officious guards
rushed out of nowhere.
They were too violent to let me in.
They didn’t let you in,
even if they knew you were the commander?
Yeah.
How unreasonable they are!
I’ll punish them
for you!
That’s OK.
Hongshuo, anyway,
you’re the lucky star of Li City.
Li City
isn’t a capital,
like Ye City.
But
it has its own significance.
If you like it,
we can work together
to give full play to our talent.
What do you think?
Uncle, things are different in Li City.
Be specific.
In Ye City, I’m the youngest master of Baili family.
You’re the young master of the He family.
Your father and my elder brother are there.
Even if
we make great trouble,
they can defend us.
But in this place,
we are soldiers,
sent to defend the frontier.
I don’t dare to be reckless
as I used to be in Ye City.
What you said
really impressed me!
If you weren’t sitting in front of me,
I thought you were some other guy.
Water problem in Li City
isn’t caused by the Mountain Demon.
I have conclusive evidence that
someone poisoned the water.
What do you mean?
Someone poisoned the water.
Next time,
he may
do something more vicious.
I’m the commander
sent by His Majesty.
I pledge my life to defend the city.
If someone wants to damage it…
If someone wants to damage it,
I will take inescapable responsibility
as General Zhenbei!
Good!
Don’t do the crime
if you can’t do the time.
General.
Please take care of the people in Li City
above everything else.
Baili Hongshuo.
As your uncle,
I’d like to tell you
what you just said.
Things are really different in Li City.
In Ye City,
my father and your brother can help
even if we make great trouble.
But in Li City,
I reign!
Seems like he feels something.
He came uninvited,
just because he wanted to sound me out.
You want to take him to the right path.
But he doesn’t want to change.
There’s what a man can do
and what a man can’t do.
I won’t use dirty tricks
just as he does.
You’ve grown up.
You have your own judgement.
You’re the commander.
You call the shots.
Chief Ming Lai
sent me to see you
with ten boxes of gold,
a hundred bolts of brocade
and a hundred good horses.
He’s being too kind.
After handling the trifles in our tribe,
Chief Ming Lai
will come to meet you himself.
We pledge ourselves
to be loyal to you.
Good!
Go back and tell him that
we’ll have the great scenery at that time,
and he must stay for days
and go hunting with me.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You had a long trip.
I’ve got everything ready.
You can relax yourselves in Shuchi.
Thank you.
See you then, Your Majesty.
General Wanqi.
You did a great job
in recapturing Baize.
I’m very satisfied.
It’s because you managed to
see through Bai Nuo
that I could complete the mission.
It’s so wise of you, Your Majesty.
Don’t be modest.
For the gifts Baize just sent,
you’ll have half.
I won’t shabbily treat
whoever works for me.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
What does Baili Hongshuo know?
What does he have
on me?
Who are you?
When did you get in?
With a shaky heart, you can see nothing through.
When you were little,
you were so naughty that you fell in a pond.
Your feet were twined by water weeds.
Luckily, your father Marquis Anxi
cut off the water weeds with the sword.
And you survived.
With a shaky heart, you can see nothing through?
My aunt sent you?
But why?
To help you.
Are you worried
because Baili Hongshuo let go of the criminals
and solved
the water problem?
How do you know?
You have too limited information.
Baili Hongxuan and Baili Hongyi
are also in Li City.
I guess you don’t know.
They’re here, too?
Because of you.
Why?
They want to take the chance
to get you killed.
What? In Li City,
they’re not authoritative enough.
Baili Hongshuo
has the evidence
to get you condemned to death.
Baili Hongxuan came here
to bring such evidence
back to Ye City.
The garrison general
colluded with Lang people for private interests.
He ignored the local people
and the dignity of Yo.
With such evidence,
even your families shall be killed.
If Baili Hongxuan
gives the letter you sent to Bai Nuo
to the Supervision Agency,
what do you think they will do?
Even if they impeach me,
my aunt won’t believe them.
It doesn’t matter if she believes you or not.
But the evidence is certain.
Her Highness must do something
to convince the officials.
Think carefully about it.
Which matters more,
your life or the country?
My aunt already knew it?
Her Highness is more farsighted.
She knew you were too short-sighted
to be successful.
What did she say?
She can’t just
watch Baili Hongxuan kill me
and do nothing.
She won’t
just watch you die.
That’s why I’m sent to help you.
Have you thought of an early plan?
Early plan?
However hard Baili Hongxuan wants to pull you down,
he can’t think of a careful plan
before he goes back to Ye City.
What if he can’t go back?
You mean?
Her Highness
never thinks highly of Baili brothers.
You know that.
You mean
let Baili brothers die in Li City?
You must do something to kill them
and let no one suspect me.
When Lang people come to attack us,
Baili brothers will fight them
and die in battle.
Yeah.
When we’re invaded,
people will die.
Baili brothers are overambitious and arrogant.
So, they get themselves killed!
But
who can do that for you?
Uh…
Bai Nuo died.
Even Baize has some other killers,
I can’t use them.
In the army,
few soldiers are as strong as
Baili Hongshuo.
Baili Hongxuan
and Baili Hongyi are also here.
I’m afraid…
Please.
You've instructed me once.
I’m sure you have better ideas.
I certainly do
since I’m here.
I’m wondering
if you're willing to accept it.