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Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely fictional.]
Episode 23
After that
I can only come here alone.
And the sight here
is no longer as magnificent
as before.
Baili Hongyi.
Hongyi.
You killed her.
It’s you who killed her.
Baili Hongyi.
-It’s you who killed her! -What happened to you?
You killed her.
I need someone here!
Go find the witch doctor.
I need someone here.
Go find the witch doctor.
Look, what happened to the girl from Yo?
Go find the witch doctor.
Pontifex.
Her disease can’t
be healed by ordinary witch doctors.
Let me have a look at her.
Please.
General, please hold her arm.
Well done.
Me?
General Wanqi,
I’m surprised by your ability.
My ability?
Don’t you think
it’s you who let her calm down?
Me?
What happened?
Why did she fall ill suddenly?
Inside everybody,
there is the memory
of miseries.
However, the memory might fade
because of time
or other reasons.
There is only one reason
why she is like this.
Her body
wants to jog her memory.
Forgive my slowness,
can you make it clearer?
Inside her body,
there are too many secrets.
Someone doesn’t want
her to know about these secrets.
But she
wants to break
the limit on her.
So, there is a kind of conflict.
You mean that
she didn’t fall ill
but…
General, do you know her secrets?
What does that
have to do with her disease?
Everything in this world
is interconnected with each other.
If not so,
why did you
take so much efforts
to bring her all the way
back to Shuchi from Yo?
She has forgotten
what happened in the past.
I just want her
to remember some of it.
Is that so painful?
Physical pain
is a revelation
of the protection given by gods.
You mean
she will be more miserable
if she remembers her past?
If what happened today happens again,
General Wanqi,
what should you do?
You could help her calm down.
You can do it.
When I carried her in just now,
how did you know that
her disease can’t be
healed by ordinary witch doctors?
You knew she would
be like this, didn’t you?
Even if I knew it,
what does that matter?
You are the pontifex.
It’s not surprising
that you could predict the future.
I shouldn’t doubt you.
Of course you can,
right?
That’s all
what I’m gonna say.
Ruo.
Who on earth
took Bai Yi away?
The General said
he would prevent the marriage
at any cost.
Could it be that
Bai Yi was kidnapped by the General?
Holy crap.
If so,
could the General come back?
I…
If the General doesn’t come back,
what am I gonna do?
My god.
Please bless me
and General.
He really screwed me up.
Master?
Here.
Have a drink.
If you don’t, I will drink.
Hongyi.
Go find Mr. He.
I need some sleep.
Hongyi.
It’s me.
Hongshuo!
Shush.
Don’t let them hear you.
Why did you bite me again?
I thought it was a dream
and want to know if it hurts.
Then you should bite yourself.
It’s really you.
It’s me.
Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.
Why are you alone?
Where is our brother?
He…
He is also very worried about you.
But for
being in the heart of Lang land,
the less people, the better.
So, you came by yourself?
Of course.
You don’t believe I’m capable of doing it?
I believe you.
But this is the camp of Ming Yefeng,
which is heavily guarded.
How did you come in?
Look at this.
Look carefully.
With the power of gods here,
disappear anywhere.
How about that?
Isn’t this powerful?
What’s this?
Incantation to Walk through Walls.
Let’s go.
I’m taking you away from here.
I can’t.
You can’t?
What do you mean?
Do you know
why did Ming Yefeng
bring me here?
Why did you ask this question?
Don’t you know what kind of person
Ming Yefeng is?
Did he ever make any demands
to our brother
or His Majesty?
No.
But the Lang people
never knew about morality
and relationships.
He hasn’t made demands
because he waits for the highest bidder.
I think
this is not so simple.
Maybe
he is up to a bigger scheme.
Whatever scheme it is,
as long as you escape away,
his plan
will definitely fail.
Hongshuo, I can’t go.
Now,
since I’m already here,
I’m gonna find out
what he is up to.
Even if I’m the leverage,
I want to know
what he wants with me.
No.
It’s too dangerous here.
You can’t stay here.
Even for myself,
I will find out the truth.
What’s more,
this thing
might be relevant to Yo.
We can investigate
this later.
But now you must go with me.
There is no other chance
to investigate it.
If I miss this opportunity,
there won’t be a second chance.
Hongyi!
I really want to get to the bottom of it,
all right?
One day.
Just one day.
But you must promise me
that you will be very careful.
I will pick you up
at this time tomorrow.
OK, I promise you.
What else can I do with you?
Where are we going?
I’m gonna beg His Majesty
to marry you to me.
I don’t know since when
I had a crush on you.
But because I know I love you,
I must marry you.
-I gotta go. -The great ceremony is coming.
The inspection must be intensified.
Negligence is forbidden.
Hang on.
There are many guards outside now.
Leave when
they change shift.
OK.
What?
You must teach me
all what master teaches you.
I promise you
I will teach you all
after I learn it.
Master.
My dear apprentice.
Did you practice today?
Have you remembered
the lections I taught you yesterday?
Of course I did.
I learned so well.
Then I will test you.
OK.
With the sound of jades, all is cleaned.
Seas are quiet and mountains high.
Spirits are subdued and gods gathered.
There is neither dirt nor demons.
Good.
You do put much efforts into it.
I taught you well.
Let’s keep learning.
OK.
I will teach you
how to control fire.
To control fire,
it starts from the inside to the outside.
Tell me
what does it mean to start from inside.
It means
that the fire
burns from the inside to the outside.
How can you be still in the mood
to drink here?
The most dangerous place
is also the safest.
No one would know
Baili Hongshuo could be here.
Besides,
it took me so much efforts
to come here to save you.
I haven’t had any food
and I’m starving.
These are all what I have here.
After finishing eating,
just go.
How about Li City recently?
I have been guarding Li City
and it couldn’t be better.
Is it OK that you’re away for such a long time?
His Majesty allowed you
to take so much time off?
Of course he didn’t.
There is another Baili Hongshuo
who is in Li City now.
Do you still remember
Hou Zhengze?
The one who is talkative
and fraternized with you.
The one who
is meant to be with you?
Meant to be friend
with me.
Anyway.
Nonsense.
Why are you so cruel?
Go ahead.
Hou Zhengze
not only speaks of weird things
and has weird thoughts,
he also has
a weird skill.
By touching
someone’s face, he could change
his own face into that of the one he touches.
Like this.
That’s impossible.
I didn’t believe in the beginning.
But I see reality as it is.
How long are you gonna keep doing this?
Could it be that
he is the demon
our brother talked about?
Demon?
I don’t think so.
Maybe it’s
just his talent.
You just drink by yourself?
Why don’t you pour me some wine?
Here.
My apprentice is so great.
You even could understand
such words with profound meaning.
It’s because you teach well.
You are so smart
and different.
Come on.
Let’s keep learning.
I have been
teaching you lections.
Do you think it’s boring and prefer that
I can teach you the pinching incantation?
No.
The pinching incantation
is all about pinching.
What if I hurt myself?
Besides, the most important thing for learning
incantation is to lay a solid foundation.
You are
such a good boy.
I will follow what you taught me.
Your teaching plan
must be properly organized.
Great. Great.
I’m so moved
and will tell you everything I know.
As long as you read and remember these,
I will teach you all.
OK.
Master, I’m really good at this.
I promise you
that I will remember all these.
Good.
Let’s continue.
Here.
To control fire,
it must start from the inside to the outside
with fire sign.
Thunder on the left symbolizes heaven fire.
Thunderbolt expels demons.
Thunder on the right symbolizes earth fire.
Come on!
Thunderbolt that expels demons.
Even I can understand that.
As long as you remember it and keep practicing,
you will succeed.
Great, great.
Here, look at this sentence…
I can’t believe he is so much fun.
When I go back,
you must take me to see him.
He is just
a talkative old man.
When you go back to Li City,
I will take him to see you.
Deal.
But I’m afraid I can’t go to Li City
after going back.
After I get you out of here,
we will go to beg His Majesty.
Your marriage
can be changed.
I won’t let you marry someone else.
It’s getting late.
Just go.
I haven’t finished.
Just go.
One more thing.
Go ahead.
Ming Yefeng is sophisticated
and cunning.
You mustn’t play hardball.
I got it.
I’m leaving.
Wait for me.
With the power of gods here,
disappear anywhere.
Young Master.
Is that the confidential letter from His Majesty?
His Majesty has urged us.
He ordered us
to find Miss Baili
within seven days.
Now
more than seven days have passed.
The only solution
is to admit our mistakes
and ask His Majesty to give us more time.
Do you plan to report the truth?
We can’t let His Majesty know that
my sister was kidnapped by Lang people.
Could other troubles crop up
if we hide the truth?
Our family would be put at a disadvantage
if we tell the truth.
About the high censors sent by His Majesty,
I have had them spread around.
I told them it would be more effective this way.
Actually, I did it to separate their force.
They won’t know the truth.
Reply to His Majesty
that we are still investigating.
The one who took Hongyi
is highly skilled
and it’s hard to find his trace.
Therefore, it’s difficult to track him down.
OK.
Young Master.
The Youngest Master ran away.
I will go get him.
Can you?
Get out of here.
Yes.
Young Master.
It’s time for me
to meet Ming Yefeng.
You’ll go to meet Ming Yefeng by yourself?
Do you think I will
let my brother
go die?
Prepare me some guards
and I will set off immediately.
Remember
to call the most trustworthy.
Yes.
Sorry.
I didn’t bring your owner here.
She is too strong-willed.
Bring me more food today.
Yes.
Where is Ming Yefeng?
Tell him I want to see him.
I have something important
to tell him.
General, Miss Baili asks to see you.
OK, I got it.
Where is Ming Yefeng?
I want to see him.
Ming Yefeng!
Get out!
You coward!
Who do you think you are?
How dare you be so rude in Shuchi?
It’s you again.
It’s truly a small world, isn’t it?
Baili Hongyi.
Lucky for you the last time.
Now
in the land of Lang,
you can’t do as you will.
Why not?
What are you going to do?
Ming Yefeng, get out!
Get out of my way.
Ba Yin!
I want to ask you about something.
Why did you avoid me?
What do you want to ask?
About my parents
killed by people of Lang.
You know who killed them,
don’t you?
Follow me.
The woman from Yo
screams in the camp
and is out of control.
It’s…
Let me go. I can walk on my own.
Without my permission,
you are not allowed to go out.
If I didn’t go look for you,
will you come out to see me?
There is no one else.
You can tell me now.
You wanted to tell me the other day,
but you stopped saying.
What is it?
You met my parents?
You were there when they died,
weren’t you?
Or,
it’s you who killed them.
Not me.
Then what happened?
It’s not a good thing for you
to try to remember
what you have forgotten.
Maybe you can’t
even sustain it.
Whether I can sustain it
is my own business.
Just tell me.
What can you do even if you know?
It’s over.
Why don’t you let it go?
Maybe sometime in the future
you will remember it all.
Don’t wander around again.
I don’t want you to be in trouble.
Ming Yefeng!
Ming Yefeng, come back!
That way.
OK.
Hey, bro,
I think you have had enough water.
It’s time to set off.
You will meet your owner
tonight.
I miss your owner too,
just like you.
But we need to be patient.
It’s not easy to save your owner.
But you must trust me.
Let’s go.
General.
Get out.
I don’t want to see anyone.
What?
You don’t want to see me?
Your Majesty.
That woman from Yo
made quite a scene today.
You came for this?
It’s my fault that I didn’t
keep her under control
and I’m sorry for disturbing you.
I heard she
talked about her parents.
She is not the biological daughter of Duke Pingyuan,
and she was adopted.
Do you really
have a crush on her?
Will she listen to you obediently?
I will handle this properly
and won’t let her disturb you again.
The issues
between Lang and Yo have remain unsolved
for hundreds of years.
You know what would happen to those
who are against the will of the majority.
What happened is vivid to me.
Then why don’t you dial it back?
You know what,
the reason that Lang
could take control of the prairie
is that every Great King
has been so brave and wise
and all tribes bend the knees
and all people are loyal.
If the head of Lang is not convincing,
it would be a disaster for Lang.
And you
take the will of the majority as dirt.
Your Majesty.
Please be at ease.
I have no intention to marry her.
But other people don’t think so.
They only know
that you as the General Wanqi
keep that woman from Yo in your camp
and care nothing about
our rule and people.
Do you know
that to ignore our rule is to give up your future?
Since you mentioned the rule,
I also want to talk
about with you.
Back then, Lang and Yo
were always at war with each other.
Hundreds of years of wars
have brought endless disasters.
All those years,
we have to settle down in the north.
Maybe only by letting the hatred go,
can Lang
become truly powerful.
If you continue to be so stubborn,
even I can’t
protect you.
Your Majesty.
I know quite well
what I should do
and should not.
As to the outdated rules,
there are always doubts
if you change them.
Some people will even oppose that.
I’ve prepared for this.
So stubborn!
You don’t possibly think
that you are now
in charge of Lang, do you?
However, do you understand that
better an open enemy than a false friend?
Those who are against you
may not oppose openly.
But they will
talk about obeying the ancient rules,
which is the best reason to attack you.
Since I’ve brought her
back here,
I’ve prepared for the worst.
If anyone wants to
stop me by using ancient rules,
I will fight with them.
For the woman from Yo,
you not only ruin yourself,
but put Lang in trouble.
If I can’t even protect
the one I want to protect,
how can I lead Lang?
Protect the woman?
She is the daughter of Duke Pingyuan.
Do you want to protect her?
She is mine.
Your Majesty, since you are so busy,
please don’t bother yourself
with this.
Fine.
You decide which
is a higher priority.
I can’t go back.
Why?
I killed someone, Ling Jun.
There is no way
for me to go back to Marquis.
The reason why I wanted to become human
is that I hope
Marquis could accept me.
But now after killing someone,
the nature of me as a demon can’t be changed.
Now,
I have become a true demon.
Marquis
will definitely not accept me.
You must go back to
Baili Hongxuan.
Did you forget
your original intention?
You became human
to stay with him.
All what you are doing now
is for him.
And now it’s the time
when Baili Hongxuan
needs you the most.
You can’t give up.
What does he need me for?
He needs you
to be by his side
and help him get through this.
But I have become like this
for many days.
Is it because I killed someone
that I can’t
restore my previous appearance?
You can’t look like before
because you are upset and worried.
Humans are weak and fragile,
unable to control the energy of demons.
Besides,
it’s the year of the primordial yang
with scorching fire.
This is the hardest year
for all demons
that cultivate their spirit of wood.
I have tried my best
to help you.
But I also had a lot on my plate
and your nature of demon was revealed.
Since I know
I’m a demon that kills people,
how could I be at ease?
It’s not our fault
to be born a demon.
Jinyang, calm down.
You will be who you were.
Don’t worry
and go back to Baili Hongxuan.
Everything is gonna be fine
when you learn how to control.
Before that,
I will be right here with you
and stay with you.
Thank you, Ling Jun.
Without you,
I would be so lonely.
You told me that
demons could live for a very long time.
But once they have friends,
they won’t be lonely.
I’m going to bring her back.
Wait for me.