Original subtitles

Episode 17

Mei manor

Little Loach.

I'm not a loach.

Anyway, I bought fried loach for you.

The White Serpent said,

when a little demon is injured,

it needs to be nourished spiritually and physically.

It's as big as you. How are you going to eat it?

I don't care. Figure it out yourself.

How many times do I have to tell you?

I'm the Black Snake. Black Snake!

Yes. If you don't want to eat, then don't.

I'll eat it.

This is top-quality ink.

Luckily, it didn't get spoiled.

Mm.

This kind of ink is the best for painting.

I'm going to draw a demonic illustration book

and give it to Lady Liu as a gift.

All the demons you know are from that book on the table,

Demon Tales.

It's already been recorded.

What's there to draw?

It is nothing more than parroting others and gilding the lily.

You don't get it, do you?

This is the most comprehensive book on recording demons and strange creatures.

You can mistake me for a loach demon.

It's obvious that this book is not noteworthy.

- You… - Demons

are the creation of heavens.

They are ever-changing.

You mortals have never heard of it.

You've seen only one or two.

Unlike a great demon like me.

You're a great demon?

You must be very knowledgeable and aware of everything.

I don't want you to pester me with questions. I'm very troubled.

I'll just mention a few things to you,

which will also serve as a way to repay you for your recent kindness.

All right. Slow down.

I'll draw while you talk.

Hm.

Hmm.

The tiger is king in the mountains.

Today, I will first tell you about a tiger demon

that has been cultivating for 1000 years and has transformed into human form.

This tiger has sharp teeth and piercing eyes.

Due to its mastery of fire techniques,

it has a fiery mark between its eyebrows.

It is three feet tall,

but when its demonic power surges, it can transform into an eight-foot-tall demon.

Eh?

When does its demonic power suddenly surge?

When the Life Gate,

the spot between the eyebrows, is attacked.

Oh.

I see.

How's the drawing going?

How could you draw a tiger demon

that can fly through the skies and descend to the earth to occupy a mountain

in such a manner?

Overall, it's pretty good.

It has distinctive features.

What do you think?

It's really a nice drawing.

It's so lifelike.

No wonder I find that ink strange.

It's actually filled with evil magic.

It can cause trouble for the Demon Underworld.

This is bad.

It doesn't have demon elixir.

the Duke manor

Zhuyu.

I haven't seen you in Bureau of Mystic Investigations

for the past few days.

I've heard a lot of rumors.

I can't even tell which one is real

and which one is fake anymore.

- Huh? - What have you heard?

I heard everyone in town is talking about it.

Some say

that you were expelled from Chang'an by County Princess Qinghe,

and others say that County Princess Qinghe has found a new lover.

Still others say

that two young men have volunteered to move into the Duke manor.

It's like melons ripening one after another

in summer.

One after another.

I haven't even finished digesting the previous story.

However,

I heard about the Scented Duel.

It's said that the highly-skilled Young Master Mei

saved the county princess.

I thought to myself

that someone so outstanding and exceptional

could not possibly be Young Master Mei Si.

All right, enough with the flattery.

Why did you want to see me so early in the morning?

There's something. It's a serious matter.

Zhuyu, this case is indeed a bit tricky.

This…

This…

Little Loach!

What's the fuss?

There are bloodstains all over the room.

Why did it turn into ink?

There's no bloodstain.

It's probably because you didn't sleep well last night and saw it wrong.

Little Loach, look at my drawing.

Why has the tiger demon faded?

Perhaps your ink wasn't ground properly.

That's impossible. I've been grinding ink since I was a child.

There's nothing wrong with the ink.

Are you questioning me?

I…

I'm not.

Do you want to hear more stories about demons?

Yes, I do.

Today, we'll start with

the legendary pomegranate demon, Pi Ning.

Its head used to be a pomegranate.

But it disguises itself as a beautiful woman.

It hides its appearance with long hair.

When fighting, it would shake its head wildly

to shake off its long hair.

Hmm?

The pomegranate seeds inside are endless,

like darts, making them excellent hidden weapons.

Huh?

Shaking its head during a fight?

Little Loach, are you fooling me?

Why would I fool you?

Just like that thing you guys have in the Human Realm.

A rattle.

Oh!

I once fought with a deer demon.

It has eyes on its back.

Its eyes dart around,

able to see in all directions.

It has four sharp antlers on its head.

It is said that it likes to sharpen its horns on poisonous tree bark.

Over time,

it has developed a powerful poison

that is extremely difficult to neutralize.

In this world,

not only flowers, fruits, and animals can turn into demons.

If objects come into contact with blood,

they'll become more bloodthirsty.

There is a demon

that is the transformation of a jade dice from a gambling house in the Human Realm.

It's said that one day,

in the gambling house, someone who lost money went berserk

and started slashing with a knife.

Blood splattered on the dice,

giving rise to evil spirits.

The dice demon is small in stature

but extremely vicious.

It has six sides and 21 eyes.

They are all red.

The more blood there is, the more excited it becomes.

I remember there was a temple

that was abandoned for many years.

There was a broken water tank in the front yard.

Although it couldn't be filled with water,

it can use leaks to ride the wind forward

and make sounds with the wind to attack.

The sky is full of stars, and the moon is dim.

On Earth, there are many strange and unjust happenings.

Last night,

an evil demon appeared in Chang'an.

Its form is like ink and smoke,

ever-changing.

It seems that Chang'an is about to be thrown into turmoil.

Have you heard? A demon appeared in Chang'an.

I heard from the wine seller that it's a pig demon.

Nonsense. It's a fox demon.

May I ask where you heard

about the demon you're talking about?

Everyone in the city is talking about it.

- Let's go. - Who are you calling a pig?

Aren't you a flying sow?

Your whole family is a pig.

Zhuyu, what are you talking about?

I heard that many people in Chang'an

began discussing strange and mysterious happenings.

That's impossible.

We repeatedly warned the local residents

- not to talk about it outside the village - Mm.

for fear of causing unrest.

It took less than a day for the news to spread to this extent.

It's not just a few rumors.

Do you mean…

that someone is behind this?

It's possible.

Zhuyu, so you want me to check the ink shop's register?

I think the ink is the key.

And the power in the ink isn't demonic.

It's more like evil magic.

Evil magic?

What's that?

Have you heard of the Oppression Spell?

- Mm-mm. - No.

Simply put, it's a forbidden spell.

The practitioner did not undergo years of spiritual training

but instead learned this technique at the expense of his own body.

Zhuyu, how did you figure out it's the Oppression Spell?

Yes.

Every demon will turn into its original form when it dies.

It won't vanish into thin air.

It's not a demon if it has no physical form.

That's how the Oppression Spell works.

It integrates part of its consciousness

into an object,

thus achieving the goal of manipulating the object.

The traces of the tiger's death

are the external manifestations of the Oppression Spell.

I see.

Can you give it to me now?

Here you go.

How should we find out this caster?

Shall we start from the ink shop?

Now, we can only use the crude method.

Moke Ink Shop

Bureau of Mystic Investigations is on a case.

Please show me the account book.

The account book is confidential to my shop.

Your bureau can't…

All right. Please come with me.

Bureau of Mystic Investigation? I'm not going.

I'll take it for you. Hold on.

Please take a look.

Goodbye.

Eh?

Boss,

may I have a look at the account book that person was looking at just now?

Which bureau are you from?

My account book isn't some big deal

that everyone who passes by has to take a look at. Leave.

Please take a look.

Please take your time.

This is it.

Mei manor

Mei Si.

Mei Si!

Mei Si.

Mei Si!

Mei Si.

It turns out that the ink demon

of Chang'an came from these drawings.

Mei Si!

Get up.

Enough, get up!

Mei Si!

Come on.

Go away.

- Stop it! - Don't come over if you want to save him.

Young Master Mei Si.

Are you all right?

Little Zhuyu.

Are you conscious now?

Why am I here?

What's wrong with me?

Why did you kick the table?

No. I didn't kick it.

Didn't you see something pass by?

What?

Are you seeing things?

Eh?

I'm talking to you.

What are you looking at?

I'm not in the sky.

Why are you looking at the sky?

What did you say?

I want to ask you,

which one do you prefer, the young master from the Pei family

or the young master from the Mei family?

You sent me an imperial edict specifically to come to the palace

just to ask me about this?

Young Master Mei

risked everything to save you.

He's a good man.

It's just his background is not good enough.

Pei Jiya's background is similar to yours,

and you two grew up together.

Too bad, if you marry him,

you'll probably have to move to Kunzhou.

Be patient.

Choosing a husband is an important matter in life.

We have to think carefully.

There's no time to take her time choosing.

Zhen'er,

you're getting old. It's time to get married.

If it drags on any longer,

no one will want you anymore.

If I can't meet the man I want to be with,

I'll be happy on my own.

Where are you going?

We're not done talking about this.

I've heard you say this so many times

that my ears are sore from listening to it.

If I cannot find a soulmate who is right for me,

I won't get married.

You…

Sis, don't be angry.

I really have something to do.

I'll go back first.

Eh?

Look at her.

Look at her.

She's always fooling around.

Sis, don't be angry.

Take a look at these little bits.

- Can I try it? - Sure.

I'll try it next time.

Aunt Zhen!

Be careful.

I was just telling him that you came to the palace today.

What did he say?

He's thanking you

for curing him last time.

Really?

Isn't it just the wind blowing the trees?

I can't hear it at all.

Aunt Zhen!

Little Loach, I'll protect you.

Hide well in my arms.

It's just an ink demon.

I don't need you to protect me.

I can't believe my demonic power hasn't recovered yet.

What a shame.

Aunt Zhen!

Is that you, Hua'er?

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

No.

Hua'er!

Hua'er!

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Your Highness.

Hua'er.

What's wrong with you?

Thank you, Your Highness…

for giving me a name.

I'm Yuanzhen. What about you?

I don't have a name.

How can that be?

Everyone in this world should have their own name.

But I'm not human.

Camellia.

Hua'er.

How about calling you Hua'er?

Hua'er.

I was once a dead tree stump.

But because I met you,

flowers blossomed.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er!

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

Hua'er.

These ink demons are all over the city.

I must first lure them out of Chang'an.

They came quickly.

Young Master.

The ink demons… The ink demons were crushed.

How is that possible?

If my benefactor finds out

that I failed to do what he asked me to do…

Young Master…

What… What exactly went wrong?

Boss, traces of the ink demons have been spotted in the city again today.

Did you encounter it during the day?

I did. But don't worry.

I sent you to investigate in the west of the city. Did you find any clues?

I think…

I know where the ink demons came from.

Mei manor

Xiaosi.

Xiaosi?

Why are you here?

I'm here to see Mei Si.

I'm here to see Xiaosi.

I heard you beat up Xiaosi.

Mei Si was not in his right mind.

I was just helping him sober up.

Not in his right mind?

What's wrong?

Oppression Spell.

Oppression Spell?

What are you two doing?

Why are you here?

Where have you been?

I went to listen to my father's scolding.

He said that I've been neglecting studies

and only reading strange books, which is why I got possessed.

Young Master Mei, how did you find out that Xiaosi was possessed?

I happened to visit him.

That's when I found out something was wrong with him.

By the way, Mei Si,

do you still have the ink you used to draw?

Let me check.

I think it's used up.

If you're fine, I'll get going.

Goodbye.

Hmm? What is it?

Lady Wu, can you come with me?

Xiaosi, I'll get going too.

Okay, Wu Zhen.

Translated by Teo SY