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Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely fictional.]
Episode 16
Your Highness,
what do you think about me?
The position of Prime Minister
is not for a mediocre person.
Since that,
do you think
I will support
a stupid one?
Prince. Think about it.
The King is your father.
As his son,
you lost to your father.
That’s not a shame at all.
Why do you say so?
I’m here
to tell you
the hardest time
is also the right time
to fight back.
As long as you
express your remorse and loyalty to the King,
I’m sure
you’ll be still promising.
But my father said
he wouldn’t forgive me.
Your Highness,
after all,
he is your father.
So,
Your Majesty supports the prince.
If that’s the case,
why did you repeatedly
appoint Ming Yefeng for missions
and let him develop power secretly
and end up
out of control?
Does my father really think so?
Yes, prince. Don’t miss the opportunity.
What a pity.
Yan Jisheng’s lifetime skills are ruined.
Master, what happened just now?
Don’t gloat.
You kept saying Yan Jisheng.
I’ll surely take on
Yan Jisheng’s mantle
and use his skills
to punish you.
You are just
an unenlightened girl.
You want to take on
Yan Jisheng’s mantle?
Taoist.
Given your disciple’s talent,
don’t you think
she’s unable to master
Yan Jisheng’s ultimate skills?
I...
I’m Lingnan Qiu’s descendant,
Qiu Xiaotong.
The Qiu is a family of demon hunters.
My ancestors made outstanding achievements.
How dare you insult my family?
Mr. Ji Qiu.
Don’t you want to
revive your ancestors’ fame?
That teenager we met today
is a talent one of a kind.
I believe
you discovered it, too.
Of course I did.
I deliberately did that
to lure him
so that
I can take him as my disciple.
Master. What did you say?
Xiaotong. Don’t interrupt me.
What? Do you want to take him as a disciple, too?
No, I don’t.
I just want to remind you
taking on disciples relies on fate.
The border isn’t peaceful lately.
Villagers died from strange causes,
only this baby left.
The adoption families were also killed.
If you help that teenager
solve the current predicament,
I think taking him as an apprentice
will be easier.
Murder is subject to the government.
What can I do to help?
Was it done by demons?
There is a beast in the mountain,
like monkeys,
with patterns all over the body,
always laughing.
They pretend to sleep once they see humans.
The name is You Yan.
Monkey demon?
The demon feeds on human’s bone marrow.
Take care of yourselves.
Master.
Who is he?
He seems to be capable.
He isn’t.
I was much more capable
when I was young.
My fan!
Master.
You said you would take on disciples.
What was that?
Disciples?
Yes, taking on disciples.
Why do you take on disciples?
Yes, I want to.
I’ll go to take on one right now.
One more handsome fellow
isn’t a bad thing.
How was your trip
to Li City this time?
Demons rise all around.
We don’t have much time
indeed.
That also means
our plan can be realized
soon.
The fake Taoist
can be used by us.
Only God Wood
is reluctant to accept it.
We must speed up.
Or else, it may
make us lose the whole game.
It’s time for God Water
to face the real challenge, too.
This cloud embroidery
has delicate patterns and brilliant colors.
Is it Shu’s weave?
Ma’am. You have a good taste.
I hired local workers in Shu
and made these Shu’s embroideries.
It took half a month.
The entire Ye City only has these.
Hongyi. Look.
How about using these embroideries
and ferret tail
to make a winter coat
for your brother?
But my brother said
embroideries are beautiful,
but not durable.
How about this one?
It’s Wei’s embroidery,
colorful and thick.
What do you think?
I think Hongshuo will like it.
Well, let’s make one for Hongshuo with this.
What about the belt?
Purple
or green?
Also a belt?
Both are good.
Purple then.
By the way, Hongyi,
how about we make a cloak
for Hongshuo?
After all, it's very cold in winter in Li City.
Hongshuo
will suffer coldness this winter.
I think black and bamboo blue
are good.
What do you think?
I believe he’ll look good in them.
Are you praising the fabrics
or Hongshuo?
No. I mean both are good.
I don’t know much about fabrics.
Don’t you know fabrics?
No. Mr. He
used to take care of these.
I didn’t.
You are a special girl indeed.
Leave this
and those embroideries here.
Take the rest away.
You may get money from the steward.
Thank you, ma’am.
I’m inconsiderate.
I didn’t know
you don’t like these trivial matters
and force you
to pick materials with me.
No.
It’s fun to see
these stuff with you.
Really?
How about we pick materials together next time?
I have some work to do.
I’ll go back to my room first.
Hey.
Make way.
Let us go in.
Don’t make noise here.
Leave.
We come here on purpose.
How can we leave?
Knowing oneself and the enemy can be invincible.
Knowing the environment can ensure the victory.
What nonsense is that?
How dare you come in
Li City’s barracks?
We’re here to see the General.
Get away.
Or I have to
give you a lesson.
What will you do to us?
What’s wrong?
General is at a meeting.
We’re here to see the General.
Do not stop us.
If you delay my master’s matter,
he will cast a spell
to turn you into monsters.
It’s you!
What?
Go get your General here.
Hurry up.
You...
General is looking for
you two frauds.
You dare to come here.
Just you wait.
Watch them over. Don’t let them run away.
Yes.
General. Look.
This and that place
used to threaten
Li City’s northeastern and northwestern routes.
They are peaceful lately.
They lost He Yao’s protection,
and don’t know our details.
They dare not act rashly.
The new year is approaching.
How about I wipe him out
for Li City’s safety?
New year is approaching
Waging a war is improper.
Continue strengthening the fortification.
Plus, tell soldiers
to keep alert.
Lang is sly. Do not lower your guard.
Yes.
What about the caravans?
The traveling caravans
have increased.
Perhaps because new year is coming,
the transactions get more.
Commander.
Just say it.
Why are you so close to me?
Commander. Those two people come to you.
Who?
Those two.
Who?
Make it clear.
Those you failed to capture
last time.
Two Taoists.
Them?
Let them come in.
Yes.
Commander. What Taoists?
The ones deal with demons.
The tailors have finished
their work
as per the patterns.
As for the embroidery,
it needs all the people in the mansion
work together.
Needlework
is no more difficult than riding and shooting.
You are good at riding,
you can surely learn needle work, too.
Rest assured.
I’ll teach you
all my skills.
when a boy’s family picks daughter-in-law,
they’ll check
the girl’s moral, words, look, and needlework.
As for moral, words, and look,
you are good undoubtedly.
But for the needlework...
Please follow me.
Commander. They are here.
Master. It’s him!
It’s him.
You have guts
to come to my barracks.
I’m here
to take you as my disciple.
Hurry up. Kowtow to your master.
I’ll tutor you my ultimate skills.
Old man.
What skills
do you have?
How dare you
let my Li City General be your disciple?
Because he needs my assistance now.
Many murder cases occurred
at the border. Right?
Listen.
It isn’t that simple.
That wasn’t man-made,
but by demons.
And your general
will need my help to hunt demons.
If I help him,
I will naturally be his master.
Tell me.
What demon is it this time
in Li City?
I can figure it out with my finger.
That is monkey demon, You Yan,
feeding on human’s bone marrows.
Can you capture him?
Of course.
Anahoi hasn’t been punished.
Will the king forgive him?
The Elders
are muddleheaded
and no one brings it up.
They’re just waiting to see
how it will develop.
Most tribes
have showed their allegiance to you.
You don’t have to fear the Elders.
To avoid any troubles,
we’d better take the initiative.
Have you ever heard
All clans will be annihilated once Qianshan acts?
General, do you mean Qianshan Order?
The one that can command
the ancient secret clan, Youwu?
The Youwu are highly skilled and mysterious.
Their movement is swift and erratic,
adept at fierce surprise attacks.
I thought
Qianshan Order is merely a tale.
That's why
the King fears me.
Do you have Qianshan Order?
Don’t be pretentious
in front of me.
If you can really catch the demon,
I’m willing to be your disciple.
Listen up.
My master is the Legit Disciple of 8th Generation
of Yan Jisheng,
who could listen and know people
thousands of miles away.
Being my master’s disciple
is your luck
and bliss.
Your master is crazy.
Are you also out of mind?
You are the crazy one.
My master is very capable.
Xiaotong.
Hey!
Stop looking at me.
Your master is so capable,
yet I am
just a common man.
Why does he
take me as his disciple?
What are you doing?
Step back.
Mu Qi.
Chap. You are smart
and discerning.
I think you are
a meticulous and wise man.
You are strong, aglow,
and energetic.
Your steady breath
is attributed to your internal power.
You are born
with the talent of demon hunting.
Demon hunting again?
Old man.
This is General’s camp.
Do not talk nonsense here.
There’s no demon
or deity things in the world.
I don’t believe that.
You are weird.
You said no
because you haven’t seen any.
How do you know
there’s no demon or deity in the world?
You are demon hunters.
Let me ask you.
What is demon?
Demons rise because of human.
Demon won’t appear without human’s aggression.
Demons rise when humans lose rules.
Demons perish when humans keep rules.
What is God?
Sun, moon, stars, wind, rain, thunder, lightning,
mount, rivers and seas are all in Gods’ charge.
You and I can also be Gods.
Why do some humans
also have magic power,
the non-human capability?
Are they demons?
Whether possessed by monsters
or incarnated by Gods,
they are all human beings in essence.
No so called magic power without human beings.
Some humans
own some
capabilities that others don’t have.
They aren’t born
with the distinctive power,
just some power
existing in their spirit
and being induced out.
Enough.
Stop talking nonsense here.
Leave.
Interesting.
General.
Invite them to the meeting room.
Come with me.
Please.
Conquering the land
relies on surprise attacks
by military forces.
But for ruling the land,
military forces
are not enough.
The king
knows it well
I’m close to many clans,
yet he stays calm.
Do you know why?
Because the King
is backed by the Pontifex and the Elders.
He has their support.
That is
his balancing strategy.
What do you mean balancing?
Anahoi ends up imprisoned,
because he was too rash
to implement his plan.
So we must wait and see.
But Anahoi is still alive.
He will still
be a threat
and make troubles for us.
The King orders Xilidu
to watch over Anahoi
and interrogate him.
In fact, he did it to protect him.
If we act rashly,
we’ll get in danger.
What you said is mysterious.
Can you tell me
the difference between demon and God?
I have said
demons and Gods all rise because of humans.
Your duty
isn’t just safeguarding
the people in Li City.
General.
How powerful can humans’ greed
and unfairness be?
It’s said principles are invisible.
Although principles are invisible,
they are divided in to right and wrong ones.
If you can’t be objective,
principles are just a mess.
Only the objective ones
can tell right from wrong.
General. You are
the objective and talented one.
We met in a coincidence.
I’m just the guider who teaches you
to tell right from wrong.
Understand?
No,
but it seems
to be amazing.
You are talkative,
but I’d like to see
your skills.
My master’s skills
are for demon hunting,
not to amuse you.
OK.
Please come with me
to deal with
the demons.
If you can do nothing
but deceiving,
then...
To hunt demons,
I need the right time, place and people.
These three are indispensable.
Now isn’t the right time.
When is it OK then?
Three days later.
Is three days enough?
Yes.
Don’t you believe me?
Yes, three days.
You’ll see it after three days.
I’m a man of my word.
Three days later,
you’ll be convinced by me.
Great.
If you
and your disciple
let me down,
then our grudge
in the past
needs to be settled.
I’m the legit line of the God.
I won’t disgrace my master’s reputation.
Farewell.
Wait.
Are you leaving now?
My master needs the altar
for demon hunting.
He needs to prepare it.
Em.
Now that you come here,
we shall extend our hospitality.
Mu Qi.
Free up a room
for them.
Yes.
Hou Zhengze.
Take good care of them.
Yes.
Soldiers in the barracks are rude.
Be careful
not to be hurt by them.
No, thanks.
We know Li City well.
Right.
I’m humble.
Sorry for bothering.
We’re leaving.
-Wait. -Let's go.
Now that our General has said so,
please stay here.
Please.
General Wanqi.
-Does he still have fun? -General. You can’t go in.
General.
Let them guard the door?
I may give you
some of my mastiffs.
Gao Qiantong. What brings you here?
General Qiantong.
You want to give me mastiffs.
Thanks for your kindness.
General Wanqi
must be talking
something important
and didn’t want me hear it.
Help! Bad news.
Help!
Help! Come here!
Bad news!
Go check it.
Even if I don’t hear it,
I can guess
what you will do.
Really?
General Qiantong, tell me
what I will do.
Kill.
I have no grudge with others.
Why will I kill?
Because if you don’t,
he will kill you one day.
And he will
always be a threat
for you to move ahead.
General Qiantong.
Who are you talking about?
I’m confused.
General.
Say it.
Anahoi is dead.
He committed suicide out of guilt.
Anahoi is dead?
General Qiantong.
Why aren't you surprised?
He deserved to die.
I’m not surprised at all.
What?
Do you suspect his death
is related with me?
What do you want?
You don’t have any opponent
in this grassland anymore.
I’m curious
what you will do next.
Will the throne
be yours?
I’ll take the wine.
General.
Did he kill him?
The King
handed Anahoi over to his father.
So, those who could access Anahoi
were all his clansmen.
But
why did he do that?
He must have his reason
to do it.
He didn’t say it. It’s more suspicious.
He is ambitious.
You should be always alert.
Yes.
borrow him a hand to kill his enemies.
Is it what you want?
That’s what he should do.
Let him admit his ambition,
so that he would give in
and have no way to turn back.
That’s a good move indeed.
Marquis.
Jinyang. What’s the matter?
Did you see Hongyi?
Hongyi?
Isn’t she in her room?
What’s the matter?
Nothing important.
I embroidered with her,
and she went away suddenly.
If she doesn't want to learn it,
don’t push her.
Not all girls
can embroider.
But...
I don’t blame you.
You take care of the whole mansion.
I know the work is heavy.
Empress Dowager will hold a banquet for new year.
Do you prepare the gift?
I’m making a piece of
Flowers Embroidery in person.
What do you think?
Nothing
is better than a gift
made in person.
Her Highness also asks Hongyi to attend it.
Does she know it?
I’ll tell her later.
Well, I have something
to tell the workers.
I’ll take my leave.
Go ahead.
[Yiwang Hall]
Come out.
You are awesome, brother.
Don’t you get mad
on her now?
No.
I think
having a hostess in the mansion
isn’t that bad.
She can do the things
that I can’t.
You are right.
Man should marry a dutiful wife.
I think she is dutiful.
Have you heard that?
Her Highness ordered us
to attend the banquet for the new year.
Prepare for it properly.
You used to go
with Hongshuo.
Hongshuo isn’t here this year.
You may go
with Jinyang.
It is different this year.
No way.
I don’t like banquets.
Her Highness ordered you to attend it.
What to do?
Why?
I don't know.
I’ve prepared the gift for you.
You don’t have to
worry about anything.
You are usually careless,
yet you need to
practice the royal etiquette.
Let Jinyang teach you tomorrow.
Brother.
Don’t you feel strange?
Her Highness hasn’t summoned me
to the palace for years
for the new year.
Why does she summon me this year?
I don’t know.
You have to.
I’m just worried.
Brother,
you rest at home lately.
I stay at home, too.
She suddenly orders me to go to the palace.
I’m afraid
it’s for something else.
Banquet in the palace
is to treat the royal family
and enhance the relationship.
Maybe Her Highness
misses you.
Remember.
Less talk. Be forbearing.
OK.
Be forbearing.
Taoist.
Please.
My spells are top secrets.
How can there be
so many people here?
Mu Qi.
General.
Pass my order.
Taoist will prepare for it.
Let all men leave the wood.
No one
is allowed to access here.
Punish those who disobey accordingly.
Yes.
You... you need to leave, too.
Yes.
You isn’t a disciple yet.
You are also an outsider.
You shall not watch our skills.
Taoist, take your time then.
It’s your fault.
Why do you take him as disciple?
They have besiege
here.
How to run away?
Cut it out.
I’m your master.
Master. Think of a way.
I don’t want to be locked up again.
Alright.
I’m thinking.
Hurry up.
It will be too late.
I have one.
What?
Our best skill.
Your Highness.
Please escort the prince to Heaven.
Ming Yefeng. Come with me.
General. He is here.
I thought you couldn't do it
and tried to run away.
We didn’t run away.
General Baili. It’s the right time.
Please.
Do not take too many men.
Mu Qi. Take them away
and guard the barracks.
Yes.
Lead the way.
Did you kill him?
Not you.
No way could you get in.
Your Highness. You lost your son.
I’m sorry.
Time flies.
That teenager who dared to
confront wolves with a stick
has grown up,
being
a true man.
Your Highness, thanks for your care.
I remember you and Anahoi are of the same age.
I’m elder than him a little.
You were his best friend
in Shuchi back then.
Yes.
We used to
fight side by side.
I didn’t enjoy
family happiness this lifetime.
I had 14 sons.
Sadly, all of them
left me one by one.
Anahoi
left me, too.
Ming Yefeng.
You are more capable and resourceful
than any of my sons
indeed.
The future of Lang
is on your shoulder.
Your Majesty is the best warrior of Lang.
I dare not
to compare with you.
That has been the past.
I’m old now.
The future is yours.
Afterwards, we have to
rely on each other.
Understand?
I’ll do my duty.
I hope you can understand.
You and I work together
to maintain
the peace of our grassland.
That’s the best choice.
I’m tired.
You may leave.
High mountains
have unnatural power.
Human can gather it when inside.
Baili Hongshuo.
Now you see
my skill of Bathing in Fire?