Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month,

there is a folk custom of burning incense and ghost money to pay homage to the dead.

The living need to avoid,

so as not to collide with

and attract evil spirits.

The Fifteenth Ghost Festival

is when people pray for the divine fire

of the phoenix to drive away evil spirits.

Folks.

It's 7 pm now.

-Please go home. -That's enough.

Let's go.

It's 7 pm now.

Please go home.

Phoenix God

will bless your family.

Thank you.

Folks.

It's 7 pm now.

Please go home.

We're closed.

Come back tomorrow.

Paint

me.

Okay, wait a moment.

It's done.

Sir,

take a look.

Boss.

What's wrong with you?

Keep your voice down.

I met a ghost.

A ghost?

I was so scared.

It's okay.

I already got rid of it.

You are so paranoid.

It's so hot.

You didn't get dizzy from the heat, did you?

I'll get you some watermelon.

Have something cool.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

What's wrong today?

The baby keeps crying.

Is it that delicious?

Let me try it too.

Honey.

Honey.

Honey.

My cry attracted a travelling Taoist Priest.

He got me out of danger.

Who are you?

Audacious Sparrow Demon.

How dare you let the evil spirits harm the mortal world?

You'll be punished by Heaven.

Today,

I'll make you disappear.

You are mere mortals.

How dare you compete with me?

Do you want to die?

Lingbao's order

will bind ghosts, suppress evil spirits,

and eliminate hundreds of ghosts.

Obey orders presto.

Forbidden.

Those who stop me will die.

Set up the formation.

I hereby request that

the burning fire at the peak of Kunlun

can attract the Phoenix God with the edict.

An auspicious sign descends from heaven to kill demons.

The divine army will be on my command.

Phoenix, come.

The auspicious scene is here.

Disperse!

Phoenix.

Sparrow Demon.

You brought disaster and turmoil to the world.

People won't tolerate you.

Then I'll absorb your Phoenix power

and become a god.

From now on,

people and demons

who disobey me will die.

You're just a sparrow.

So what if you're a phoenix?

You want to kill me?

Not that easy.

Oh no!

The Sparrow Demon has escaped into the land of demons.

It is bound to cause demons

to make trouble in the world.

Now,

I can only seal the entrance with my body.

I hope there won't be any demons in the world.

The priest saw that my parents had died,

so he took me away and raised me

until I grew up.

[Liaozhai Painting Wall]

[26 years later]

Since I can remember,

I often dreamed of a woman.

My hands would also be on fire.

It burned a lot of things.

No.

What is this?

The beauty I painted is very pretty and has a beautiful smile.

I captured both her spirit and her form.

Xiaolian.

Look, which one of us paints beauties better?

-Do you know how to do it? -Can you do it?

Look.

I painted this one.

Beauty is in the bone, not in the skin.

Your painting is glossy on the surface,

without any charm.

I almost forgot.

He is the best painter in the south of the Yangtze River.

We asked for it.

But the best painter in the south of the Yangtze River

can't paint people.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

It's not that I can't paint people.

I have no one to paint.

I only paint for the person I like.

Oh no!

It's the girl in my dream again?

You're having a relapse again.

I told you to paint a beauty but you refused.

I even suspect that you like painting men.

Love at first sight once in a lifetime.

With every stroke, a portrait will be drawn.

I'll only

paint beauty portraits

for one person in my life.

Come on.

When you're done,

it might not be as good as

that beautiful mural.

What mural?

The beauty painting on the stone wall of Lanruo Temple

at the foot of the mountain in the east of the city.

It's lifelike.

I asked people from the Academy of Painting to go to see it with me.

Do you want to come?

There is nothing to consider.

I'll come to you tonight.

Today is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.

Are you scared?

I'm not.

[Painting Wall Fantasy World]

My lord.

Today,

men in the mortal world are coming.

After mortals and fairies sleep together,

the Yin and Yang energies will form a soul print

for you to eat.

Very good.

Dongfang.

Do you know

why I like you the most?

Because

you never let me down.

Your trainings

made me who I am today.

That Phoenix

thought she could seal me here forever.

But unexpectedly,

the human she protected

is the key to helping me get out of the mural.

Tonight,

when I successfully

cultivate the power of the phoenix,

I will be able to

break out of this mural.

But...

Are you worried about something?

When I absorb souls

is the time I'm the weakest.

You are the person I trust the most.

You must protect me

behind me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You scared me.

Legend has it that 26 years ago,

this was a painting of a hundred birds flying to the phoenix.

But one day,

the birds on it

turned into beauties.

An erotic painting!

All worldly laws born of fate are like dreams,

like shadows in bubbles,

like dew and lightning.

We should look at everything in the world like this.

In my opinion,

it seems like

a fairyland in the mortal world.

What fairyland?

I think it's an erotic painting.

How can they wear such revealing dresses in a fairyland?

What's wrong?

It's her.

She's moving.

What? What is moving?

Where is this?

What's going on?

Where is this?

What is this place?

-I can't see anything. -It's not a dream, right?

Xiaolian.

Did we come in from the mural just now?

Is this a fairyland?

Guys, don't be afraid.

This is the fairyland of Phoenix Hill.

You are all the chosen ones.

You will

spend the night

with the fairies.

Hurry up.

Hurry!

Come on!

Come on, Xiaolian!

Isn't she the woman that often appears in my dreams?

Why is she here?

Who is she?

Why is the scent so familiar?

Why do I feel

I've known her for a long time?

Miss.

Miss! Miss!

Miss.

Miss.

Miss, please wait.

Miss.

Excuse me.

I'm Zhu Xiaolian,

a painter.

I want to paint a portrait for you.

Why do you want to paint me?

I don't think

it's appropriate this way.

We...

Miss.

Miss.

I don't know your name yet.

My name is Wei Sheng.

This place is huge.

Go wherever you like.

Stop following me.

Wei Sheng.

What a nice name.

What's the rush?

Blue sky.

Land with yellow flowers.

The west wind is pressing.

Wild geese fly south.

So handsome.

He looks like the Mr. Zhang I like.

Come on.

Your most handsome Meng Longtan

is mine now.

The demon in the mural will turn into an evil spirit after death.

It has been purified for many years.

The power of the evil spirit is saturated.

It's time.

Lord Phoenix.

You've suffered a lot.

You used your life

to get the vitality of evil spirits to help me.

I was a string of spirit in the mural world.

Without your help,

how would I know right and wrong?

I don't know

what's right and what's wrong.

Back then,

when the Sparrow Demon was sealed,

I left the Phoenix Feather in the mortal world.

Without power,

I can only stay by her side.

Mortals came here year after year.

and died in the lust traps set by the Sparrow Demon.

I was also in a trance.

What was I holding on to?

Actually, you've made your choice.

Tonight

is my only chance.

It's you.

Who do you think it is?

Did you paint a beauty?

I just finished painting.

I finally found someone to paint.

I'm going to give it to her

and let her have a look.

Are you still thinking about this?

Let's go.

Let me show you the world of fairies.

Young master.

Come and taste the wine from the fairyland.

Bro.

Where is the person you drew?

Young master, slow down.

Young master.

Don't be too fast.

I didn't see her.

She's not here.

It doesn't matter.

Look.

There are so many girls here.

Why do you only concern yourself with her?

Are you stupid?

The point of flirting

is to dally with more girls.

Let me tell you.

As long as I crook my finger,

many fairies will come to me.

Don't go.

We're not suitable for each other.

This. This.

We're not suitable in any aspect.

Why are we not suitable?

I love you.

You are mine.

Love?

Do you know what love is?

The storytelling scripts say

if you love someone,

you have to hold on to him.

If you really love me,

you should listen to me on everything.

And no matter what I do,

you'll wish me good luck.

Now,

I hope you can stay away from me.

Do you understand?

Is this love?

Of course.

Although I

fall in love with

every girl I meet,

you're the one I love the most.

So you should

listen to me.

Don't leave!

These people are so energetic.

I wonder

if they can be alive later.

Excuse me.

May I ask

if you have seen a girl named Wei Sheng?

Young master.

Young master.

What are you doing?

Don't hold my hands.

All fairies, stop laughing.

It's almost evening.

Have you chosen your husband?

Tonight,

you'll get married with the Lord's blessing.

I won't choose.

You won't?

I think

this is really inappropriate.

Why?

Miss.

I think

the passion triggered by the appearance

will finally fade.

It won't last long.

If two people want to get married,

they must love each other deeply.

They should have made the decision

to spend their life with each other.

If you don't choose,

you have to leave.

I'll

choose him.

Dharma Dongfang

has learned to grab a man from the fairies.

It's interesting.

It's interesting.

Why did you do that?

He didn't choose you.

No.

I'll choose her.

Okay.

All fairies.

Please follow the rules

to take your loved ones back to your rooms.

You'll get married tonight.

Yes.

Come with me.

What's wrong?

Shut up.

Make a sound.

Miss.

I think

before the wedding,

it is not appropriate for us to...

Miss, don't go.

In the mortal world,

many people begged me

to draw their portraits,

but I never drew for them.

This is my first time

to draw a portrait for someone.

I want to

give you a complete portrait.

Is that him?

The newcomer.

Take the light and stand in the back.

Meng Longtan is here too.

What should I do?

The propitious time is coming.

Yin and Yang are integrated.

All couples live and die together.

When you die,

on the way to the netherworld,

we'll welcome you.

It's not me.

It's just me in your imagination.

Why doesn't it look like you?

I have to ask her.

Where are they?

You did well this time.

I smell the scent of power.

Mr. Meng.

Mr. Meng.

Mr. Meng.

We’ve been good friends for ten years.

Don't ruin my plan.

Keep your voice down.

How dare you guys

go against me!

Dongfang.

It's you.

I underestimated you.

You betrayed me

for a man?

I didn't do it for him.

I already wanted to kill you.

You destroyed the creatures brutally

and sucked people's energy.

You should have died long ago.

That's right.

You two are useless.

Leave!

Kill them!

Lord Phoenix, go!

A phantom.

Who is it?

You failed in the end.

What's going on?

Who are you?

Will Wei Sheng be alright?

I'm Wang Chuan.

Wei Sheng is my master.

Back then,

the Sparrow Demon was sealed

in the land of demons by Phoenix.

She had strong power

and ruled the demons.

Over the years,

she used female demons to seduce mortals

so as to suck their power.

She tried to break through the mural world

and plague the earth again.

Granny.

How can we

get out of this world?

The exit

is at the center of the plane tree.

As long as you kill the Sparrow Demon there,

you can get out.

But who can kill her?

Only Phoenix,

Wei Sheng.

What are you waiting for?

Wake her up quickly.

Wei Sheng lost the Phoenix Feather.

She couldn't use the Power of Phoenix.

I'm afraid her power now is less than

a tenth of what it used to be.

What should we do?

With our power,

we can't compete with her.

Maybe there is another way.

What is it?

Wei Sheng.

You're awake.

I've felt the scent of the Mayfly Clan.

The sealed book of their clan

can help us know the past

and get the secret.

Maybe it can

tell you how to find the Phoenix Feather.

The Mayfly Clan lives and dies every day.

It takes 50 years for them to reincarnate.

They can also enter the mural world.

They are not controlled by the Three Realms.

Where there are demons,

we can go with the mayflies.

They have come to the edge of the mural.

It is said that before each morning,

one will be chosen

to enter the Mayfly Land.

But the way this person is chosen

is unknown.

We may fail.

Even so,

we still need to have a try.

Tonight,

we'll rest here.

I found you.

You're in the palm of my hand.

I'll see how far you can run.

Lord Phoenix.

Did you save him because you love him?

I saved Meng Longtan

because I love him.

I'm sure you're the same.

Because your eyes can't lie.

No.

I've read half of

the Story of Yingying.

Zhang Sheng fell in love with Cui Yingying

at first sight.

They wrote poems to express their love.

They were finally engaged under an apricot.

Cui Yingying also loved Zhang Sheng deeply.

I envy them very much.

If they loved each other for a moment,

they dared to face the indifferent world.

If I were one of them,

I would cherish my lover and not miss her.

It's just a fabricated story.

That's right.

There's no such deep love.

If we can only love one in our lifetime,

few people will end up well.

All their memories

were worth remembering.

If they only cared about the result,

they wouldn't love passionately.

If the ending is doomed to be desolate,

how could the two lovers

face such an ending?

Then they could

say goodbye with a smile.

How to deal with the traitor Dongfang?

Of course you can

eat her up one bite at a time.

All these years,

you must have been very tired, right?

As Phoenix,

this is my destiny.

I left Kunlun and sealed the mural

to make the world peaceful.

But it was the desire of mortals

that helped the demons to scourge the world.

Is this what you want?

What I want

is not in this world.

What I want

is to return to Mount Kunlun,

500 li from here to the east.

There is a lush plane tree.

In the day,

the flames drift in the sky

and the scent of irises can be smelled.

At night,

the scent of breeze is in the air.

At that time,

as I sat under the orange tree,

I could often hear messages from the wind.

They said

Wei Sheng

should go far away.

Go far away.

Are you homesick?

You can be not alone.

You keep following the destiny.

I'll protect you.

Zhu Xiaolian.

Zhu Xiaolian.

Where am I?

Zhu Xiaolian.

Wake up.

Don't sleep.

It's too late.

Now that he fell into my spell,

he can only die in this illusion.

You know it can't be changed

unless you kill me.

But I don't think you have the chance.

Let me eat you.

Ghost!

The traitor

should die!

You can't get out of here!

Just let me eat you.

What are you hiding from?

Hey. Wait, wait.

I won't scare you anymore.

Flame Ghost!

Bah!

I'm not a ghost.

If I could take the initiative to leave,

do you think

I want to stay inside you?

You are...

Yes.

You are...

I am...

So you're the one

who screwed me up,

got me into so much trouble,

and left me alone

and bullied.

I'm your great benefactor who comes out to help you

every time you're in danger.

This man

made you disown who raised you?

How come I can see you?

Because you're dying.

What?

Well...

What should I do?

You can ask me to save you.

Bah!

Since you've asked me,

I'll help you.

Do you think

that's all?

You're so good. You should have told me.

Loser!

You're

really good.

But why do you smell

so strange?

Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng.

Good for you.

You finally got the hang of it.

Why didn't you protect yourself?

You think everyone has to play with you?

You get your ass in the house!

No need.

I'm the one who should leave.

I followed you

to get him out of here.

Bei Fang.

Yes.

Don't be merciful.

Or,

you'll end up just like them.

Yes.

The Phoenix flew away,

never coming back.

I'm deeply missing her.

My wish never came true.

I only have endless suffering.

When will it fly back?

Zhu Xiaolian.

Time's up.

Where are you?

Zhu Xiao...

You were just talking about it

the other day.

Although I can't draw the scenery in your mind,

I've tried my best.

I thought

the color of the Heaven Realm must be otherworldly.

But I don't have any paint with me.

I can only grind the flower juice

and borrow the bamboo color.

Thus,

it can be worthy of you.

You draw very well.

Wei Sheng.

I've never seen you smile.

So this painting is not complete.

When we get out of here,

can I draw you for the rest of my life?

When this is all over,

I'll tell you the answer.

There's no need to wait.

When we get out,

I'll show you

the hustle and bustle of the mortal world,

the rivers,

the lanterns,

and the Peach Blossom Land.

You can take me to Kunlun

to see

the clouds,

okay?

You wait here.

Bei Fang.

You're no match for me.

But you look so weak.

It seems the Lord was right.

Once people have feelings,

they will become very weak.

Her doppleganger?

Zhu Xiaolian.

He's dead.

You can turn back now.

You really fell in love with him?

I can't believe you didn't see through my illusion.

I was ordered by the Lord,

so I must come.

I can't kill you,

and the person you love.

What happened?

Zhu Xiaolian.

I promise to let you draw me for the rest of your life.

You can't miss one day or even one hour.

Let's go to Kunlun

and do whatever you want in the mortal world.

I saw nothing.

Bi Luo.

Bi Luo.

You knew to come back?

I've been to the Mayfly Land.

This is the seal of the entrance to Mayfly.

Lord Phoenix.

Come with me and you'll find out the truth.

So you were the one Mayfly chose.

You can't enter

the Mayfly Land.

Dongfang!

So you are the Phoenix.

You!

You're great.

This time,

I'll show you

what the real fear is.

Bi Luo.

You pretended to leave

to help us find the way?

When the feather gets back

and helps me get Meng Longtan out of here,

then everything I've done

hasn't been in vain.

Here we are.

What are you here for?

Where is my feather

now?

It's a secret.

You can see by yourself.

So what if you're a phoenix?

You want to kill me?

It's not that easy.

When Zhu Xiaolian dies,

the feather will get back.

It can kill the Sparrow Demon

and give you freedom.

Since the promise has been made,

you can never regret it.

Wei Sheng.

How's it going, Wei Sheng?

Have you found the feather?

Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng, what's wrong?

Wei Sheng.

You should leave here.

Leave?

Where should I go?

Anywhere.

Stop following me.

Wei Sheng.

What's wrong?

Didn't we come all this way

to find the feather

and defeat the Sparrow Demon?

Then...

We can leave here.

You can go anywhere you want.

I can take you to Kunlun.

I can take you home.

Who do you think you are?

You're just an ordinary person.

Kunlun is so high

that you'll freeze to death before reaching the height of a layer of clouds.

And your paintings.

I don't want them.

You imposed them on me.

And you

know nothing.

Wei Sheng.

No!

You don't even have the courage to accept love.

You're the weak one.

Hey...

You still know to come back?

Do you like me?

How's that possible?

The sunset is so beautiful.

The sun is about to go down.

Can I give you a hug?

Oh, gross.

Bi Luo.

The blue sky fleeting with white clouds, the earth covered with yellow fallen leaves.

A west wind blows, and wild geese fly southwards.

It's hard to meet.

It's easy to get separated.

Meng Longtan.

I've finished reading that book.

In the end, Zhang Sheng abandoned her

and left.

But Cui Yingying loved him to the end.

If nothing good comes of it,

I'll leave everything in my memory.

I don't regret it.

What happened?

Only those with a strong heart

can enter this place.

We guard the Book all our lives,

but we can only get one day of life.

If you want to see the secrets of the Book,

you have to trade your life for it.

You only have one day of life.

Don't you feel sad?

The one-day life

even makes us cherish every moment.

If one more day is given,

we can explore what we love.

This is the value of our lives.

Have you found what you love?

Since I traded my life with Mayfly,

I will die when the sun sets.

What are you talking about?

I did what you said.

To love someone

is to give him freedom.

Bi Luo.

But being cautious

seems to make me sadder.

Meng Longtan.

When you leave this world,

love someone sincerely.

Don't be like this anymore.

Bi Luo.

Come back!

Bi Luo!

Don't go, Bi Luo!

Come back!

You're the one I like.

Come back!

Bi Luo.

You've been with me for years

and always dreaming of rushing out of the mural

to return to the mortal world.

Now,

it's time to

show your loyalty.

So he has the Phoenix feather.

You are not going to kill him?

I want to absorb the power of Phantoms.

Unpurified Phantoms

include the desires of all demons.

If you can't control it,

you'll only hurt yourself.

I won't regret it.

Sparrow Demon.

It's time to come to an end.

End?

Now I have absorbed the power of demons.

How could you beat me?

By virtue of my belief.

Granny!

Granny!

Granny Wang Chuan.

Where is Wei Sheng?

Every beginning

and every end,

everything is destined.

You two stars

will eventually gather.

Go now.

I will become a Phantom

to help her.

So you are the Phoenix.

What if you've been with me for years?

After killing you

and taking the Phoenix feather from that mortal,

then I'll be the Phoenix.

You're just a sparrow.

I've been a demon

and carried the demon bones for a thousand years.

I must get what I want.

I will turn into the Phoenix.

Go to hell!

You cruelly killed people.

You have numerous evil thoughts.

Heaven and earth cannot tolerate it.

Even if my soul vanishes,

as long as I still have strength,

I'll kill you

for the people.

A mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Nether Claw!

Do you think you can defeat me

by absorbing the power of Phantoms?

You're getting more and more impatient.

I'm fighting for the person I love.

You will never understand that.

Your so-called love

makes you too weak.

You could have found the real body,

but you gave up

for this man's life.

So today,

only I

can become the Phoenix.

I'll kill you first

and then go to find your lover.

It is your so-called love

that kills you.

Sparrow Demon.

I'll never let you hurt her!

Wei Sheng.

Sorry.

I'm late.

Zhu Xiaolian.

Leave here.

Your lover is here.

You are such an incompetent man.

You might as well

watch how

I'll eat her

bite after bite

and ascend.

I'm here.

I won't let you hurt her.

Sparrow Demon.

Everything you dream of will not go your way.

You don't deserve the power of the Phoenix!

Flame Ghost!

Come on!

The power of the Phoenix feather

is really strong.

Give it to me!

Oh no!

Wei Sheng.

Don't hurt her.

Wei Sheng.

This time, it's my turn to protect you.

No one can separate us.

Go to hell together!

Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng.

The Phoenix feather

finally belongs to me.

Naughty Ghost.

Help me.

I can't help you.

Unless

the Phoenix feather is back in its place.

Where is it?

If I'm back in my place,

you will die.

But she can be alive.

Zhu Xiaolian.

Stay alive.

We made a promise.

I can't make that promise.

Lady.

He...

I choose him.

Zhu Xiaolian.

You're different from other men.

Zhu Xiaolian.

I promise you can draw for me forever.

You can't miss one day or even one hour.

Let's go to Kunlun

and the mortal world together.

How dare you!

I am the Phoenix.

With the fire of my feather,

I'll burn you up

and sentence you to hell forever

without reincarnation.

So what if you get the power of the Phoenix?

No one can kill me.

Only I can kill myself.

So stubborn.

I've been one with the world of mural.

If I die,

the power of demons will leak.

It will destroy the world you want to protect and your lover.

You dare not kill me.

You dare not kill me.

Your so-called love has trapped you,

but not me.

No.

Love gives me more freedom

and makes me stronger.

[The End]

The Phoenix flew away,

never coming back.

I'm deeply missing her.

[See you again]

My wish never came true.

I only have endless suffering.