Original subtitles

[Fate Chooses You]

[Episode 2]

Lu Huai.

You'll be executed the day after tomorrow.

Although your case

was tried by the Court of Judicial Review itself

and the verdict is already set in stone,

according to procedure,

I still have to ask:

Lord Lu,

do you have any grievances to declare

or any case to appeal?

No.

I was thinking

I might as well marry a death row prisoner

to dispel the negative energy around me.

I'd also offer some money

to compensate his family.

But unfortunately,

he has no family,

not even relatives or friends.

Actually, this Lord Lu

used to be quite decent.

Though somewhat lazy,

he was fair as an official.

He's been working here in Wei County for 5 or 6 years

and never oppressed any civilians.

I don't know why

he suddenly lost his way

and committed such a terrible crime.

I visited his residence.

It was very empty

and quite simple.

I just don't understand,

with no family,

what's the point of embezzling so much money?

What use could it be to him?

Who knows?

That's why I have a feeling that

he doesn't seem like that kind of person.

Don't overthink it.

You've already joined the immortal sect.

You shouldn't be involved in these

worldly matters.

You only had a few days of connection with him.

There's no need to know too much,

lest it brings you unnecessary trouble.

[Wei County Government]

This case

didn't need such a severe sentence.

It was only because

he insisted on getting Lord Liang involved

that it ended up like this.

If he'd be willing to submit a formal petition

and admit his mistakes,

then even if he'd be sentenced to

beheading,

it would still be far better than death by 1,000 cuts.

My Lord.

You are kind-hearted, My Lord.

It's Lu Huai who's being unreasonable.

Even if he's lucky enough to escape this time,

he won't escape the next.

Lu Huai

is an orphan.

His parents died early,

and he has no other relatives.

He came from the frontier army.

After earning several military merits

at the frontier,

he was recommended by someone

and then appointed to Wei County.

Why is it stated here that

he still has family?

This was newly recorded a couple of days ago.

He recently got married,

to a woman who's also from Wei County.

Her surname's Xin.

[Madam Lu, née Xin. The rest's unknown.]

Here's your dish, Sir.

Please enjoy.

Have you heard?

Lu Huai is going to be executed.

If you ask me, Lu Huai

brought it upon himself.

He leveraged those few military merits

to snag an official position,

yet he showed no gratitude.

Instead, he colluded with corrupt merchants

and drove up grain prices,

causing the deaths of countless people!

Money corrupts the heart.

For him to do such things,

who knows

how much he profited from it?

Thankfully, Lord Liang was wise

and sentenced him to death by 1,000 cuts.

It's truly

gratifying to see justice served.

It's truly satisfying!

Yes, indeed.

Attendant, the bill please!

You gentlemen are supposedly well-educated scholars,

yet you don't investigate the truth behind matters.

[Tang You]

You only repeat what others say,

barking at shadows like dogs,

and you still have the nerve to sit here

talking so shamelessly.

It's truly laughable.

Who are you talking about?

You guys, of course.

A bunch of fools ignorant of the law,

unable to tell right from wrong,

and incapable of discerning the wise from the foolish.

Who are you?

We're just having a casual conversation here.

What does it have to do with you?

What you're saying is wrong,

and I can't stand hearing it.

Can't stand it?

Could it be

you're a supporter of that corrupt official,

and since your boss is about to die,

you said that out of fear?

Corrupt official?

Just look at you guys—

ignorant, petty, jealous

good-for-nothings—

the fact that even people like you managed to

survive that flood

shows that

he still wasn't greedy enough.

You...

Ignore him.

Miss!

Let's have a drink together.

Please settle the bill.

Alright, alright.

Please come again.

Come take a look! Check out what we've got!

Who are you people?

Who are you looking for?

Are you Mrs. Lu,

Lord Lu Huai's wife?

Yes, I am.

Officers, may I ask

what brings you here?

The day after tomorrow

is his execution day.

According to the rules,

family members can visit the prison one last time

to say their final goodbyes.

It must be no later than 7 PM tomorrow.

Don't miss the time.

Final goodbyes...

Didn't you say you were leaving?

Yes, I am leaving.

I haven't finished the tasks my master assigned me,

and I can't delay any longer.

I've found the flower.

When I was there,

I ran into 2 young beggars.

They probably saw the house was empty

and moved in.

Want me to go and chase them out?

Don't bother.

The house's rented anyway.

When the time comes,

the landlord will take it back.

What kind of flower is this?

Hidden-heart Orchid.

Hidden-heart Orchid?

Never heard of it.

By the way,

I heard you're from the western border,

so I asked around about

some customs from your region.

They say that a person must be buried in new clothes

to have a smooth journey to the afterlife,

avoid being reborn as animals,

and be able to live with dignity in the next life.

I didn't know

what colors and styles you like,

so I made a set

according to my own taste.

Thanks a lot.

Do you want to try it on?

No need.

In the end, I'll just be nothing but a pile of bones anyway.

As long as something wraps around me, that's enough.

Time to eat.

This is your last meal.

Eat well for your final journey.

Just routine.

Why aren't you eating?

I don't feel like eating.

Lord Lu,

is there truly no injustice

in your case?

Public opinion has spoken.

How could there be any injustice?

I just can't help feeling

you're not a bad person.

The Court of Judicial Review itself determined my crimes

and sentenced me to death by 1,000 cuts.

Over 100 memorials from censors

have been submitted

to impeach me,

and the common people out there

all curse me

as a greedy and treacherous man.

You've heard it all,

so why do you still think

I'm not a bad person?

Public clamor can confound right and wrong.

Give a dog a bad name and hang him.

Though we haven't interacted much,

I feel that you're not the same as

what's being said about you out there.

If you were truly

greedy and cowardly,

you'd have come asking me for help, right?

After all, in the eyes of the world,

I'm also a cultivator.

Don't you...

Want to live?

You can know someone's face but not their heart.

You've only known me for a few days,

so how much can you possibly know about me?

Don't trust others so easily.

The human heart is treacherous—

far more complex and unpredictable

than the matters of cultivation.

It's always better

to be cautious.

It's getting late.

You should go now.

[Xin Xie Manor]

[Sheng, Xin Xie Manor]

I still have some matters

to take care of here,

so it'll be a while before I can return.

Also,

Sheng is very obedient and well-behaved.

If you don't provoke her,

she won't give you any trouble.

You two get along well at home

and wait for me to come back.

I still have some matters

to take care of here,

so it'll be a while before I can return.

Also,

Sheng is very obedient and well-behaved.

If you don't provoke her,

she won't give you any trouble.

♪ The moon rises, bright and fair ♪

♪ A graceful beauty, soft and rare ♪

♪ She soothes my troubled, restless heart ♪

♪ So elegant and radiant ♪

[Madam Flower]

♪ Soft and swaying ♪

The Chongling Valley Pill-Tasting Competition

is still some time away.

So be it.

I'll take shelter from the rain at the inn tonight.

Wake up.

Wake up now.

Excuse me...

[An]

Leave.

Hurry up and leave.

It's about to rain outside.

Where are you going, Miss?

Could it be my humble inn is too shabby

to meet your standards, Miss?

I forgot to feed my horse.

I can send someone to do it.

How could I trouble you to do it yourself?

An,

go do it.

Please, have a seat.

Your hands are so cold.

Let me get you some warm wine

to warm you up.

Wine... Wine...

Wine!

Landlady,

2 more jars please.

Great wine.

It's him.

[Fulai Inn]

Come with me quickly.

Why? Where to?

Stop drinking and come with me.

I haven't finished my wine yet.

Come with me, you.

Sorry for the wait, Sir.

Fine wine's coming right up.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Sir.

Please enjoy.

Here comes the wine.

Thank you for your kindness, Landlady,

but I don't drink.

This wine only warms the body.

It won't make you drunk.

This wine doesn't make you drunk.

That's how you know it's good wine.

You hear that? Just take a sip.

I think I'll still pass.

Come on.

Who dares disturb my sleep?

[Lord of Rust-Sword, bounty guard of Dongzhou Prefecture]

Sir, if you wish to stay,

there are comfortable beds upstairs.

If you want to continue your journey,

we have raincoats and umbrellas to offer.

How come you went and slept on my beam

without saying a word?

That's hardly the conduct of a gentleman, is it?

I'm an official,

not a gentleman.

I don't like sleeping in beds,

nor do I enjoy going out in the rain.

I just want a sip of warm wine.

Landlady,

why don't you join me for a drink?

What's wrong?

Won't you give me this courtesy?

I have no intention of being your enemy.

Unfortunately,

someone has reported you to the Dongzhou Prefecture,

saying you got hungry at midnight

and devoured someone's husband.

I've come to claim the bounty.

I'm afraid this calamity today

is one you cannot escape.

You have a death wish?

You,

take that drunkard away!

Wake up!

Come with me!

Sit down for a bit.

I thought it was a snake or scorpion,

but it's just a red-headed centipede.

What are you doing?

Celestial stem Ding, earthly branch Si,

the five elements rotation requires yin fire.

Interesting.

I didn't expect that you're a cultivator.

It was actually an illusion?

It's dead?

Well, I stepped in.

Of course I could take down a mere bug.

Since I can't bring back its head,

a hairpin will do.

You said you came to claim the bounty,

and you're in an official uniform.

Are you a government official?

I stand by my name and reputation.

I'm a bounty guard from Dongzhou Prefecture,

known as Lord of Rust-Sword.

I'm Xin Mei from Xin Xie Manor.

You're a mediocre cultivator with average talent

and ordinary martial skills,

yet you've got quite some nerve,

daring to enter a shabby little inn like this

in the middle of nowhere.

I just came in to take shelter from the rain.

I didn't think much about it.

So it was not bravery,

but rather foolishness.

You...

Anyway, thank you for your help, Warrior.

If you really want to thank me,

give me some money.

I've been chasing this centipede demon

for over 300 li,

and my boots are worn out.

You don't have money?

My master did give me some when I left the mountain,

but now

I've spent almost all of it.

Landlady, I've fed the horse and...

Now we know what to have for dinner.

Go get some firewood to start a fire.

This room is cold and damp.

I'm freezing.

This little rabbit demon hasn't harmed anyone.

How do you know?

It's been trembling with fear.

Go on.

Why did you let it go?

Whether human or demon,

there's always good and evil, right and wrong.

This little rabbit hasn't done anything wrong,

so you shouldn't hurt it.

Fine.

All that effort for nothing.

Miss cultivator,

can you mend boots?

No.

You have no skills whatsoever,

yet you dare travel alone?

Are you a cultivator too?

You've never heard of my name?

I'm ranked second on the List of Top Martial Artists,

known as "Lord of Rust-Sword."

I'm a human,

not a cultivator.

That's impressive,

being able to fight evil spirits

as a mere mortal.

Of course.

I aim to achieve sainthood through martial arts.

Once my divine sword is unsheathed,

no demons or monsters,

not even immortal sect cultivators,

will be a match for me.

You're awake.

Have some water.

Thank you, Miss.

I was drunk earlier.

I drank myself into a stupor,

and now my stomach feels bloated.

It feels really bad.

Mr. scholar.

Do you have any money?

Money?

Yes, I do.

I'm heading to the capital for the imperial exam,

and I brought some travel funds.

Look,

the road to the capital is dangerous.

You should get yourself a guard

to escort you to the capital.

That won't be necessary.

The money I brought

is only enough for myself.

I'm going to sleep.

Do as you please.

Thank you for the water, Miss.

You're welcome, Sir.

Actually,

this isn't the first time we've met.

That day at Heyan Restaurant,

we had a brief encounter.

What a coincidence.

To be honest with you, Sir,

I have something to ask.

That day I heard

from what you said

that it seems there's more

to Lord Lu's case.

Is that true?

You know Lord Lu, Miss?

Are you from Wei County?

Yes,

but I haven't been home for a long time.

I just returned recently.

Then what do you think

has changed in Wei County?

I think

there aren't many significant changes.

That's odd.

The great flood six months ago,

with 2 months of non-stop rain,

affected all 9 counties of Yong region.

Walls collapsed,

families wept, and countless people died.

In Caomen County,

Jiangping County

and Lishan County,

flat lands became rivers,

low areas flooded over 10 feet deep,

and countless homes of officials and commoners collapsed.

Even today,

there are still few signs of life,

just yellow sand and withered grass,

a vast wasteland.

How could Wei County remain so prosperous?

Perhaps

the flooding in Wei County

wasn't as severe as in other counties?

Wei County is located in a low-lying area

and borders the Cao River.

Its position is even worse

than the other counties.

So why did it remain unharmed?

Why?

It was because of Lord Lu.

Since Lord Lu took office,

he's always focused on repairing the dikes

and reinforcing the levees.

When the flood arrived,

he even led the able-bodied personally,

working day and night, and it was only through this effort

that Wei County's livelihood was preserved.

Then does that mean

his defiance of the imperial edict—

his refusal to control grain prices—

was all just an act?

That part was true.

Initially, the 9 counties jointly ordered

that merchants be forbidden from inflating grain prices.

Any grain priced above 100 wen per dou

could not be traded.

But Lord Lu

did the exact opposite.

He raised the price of grain

to 180 wen per dou.

The people couldn't afford to eat,

so naturally they resented him.

So why did he do that?

Is it true as people say

that he took...

That he took bribes from grain merchants?

At first, that's what I thought too.

But take a look at the other 8 counties

that restricted grain prices.

Merchants couldn't sell at high prices,

so they simply hoarded their grain

and refused to sell any,

let alone transport it to Yong region.

The people could only starve to death at home.

Among the 9 counties,

only Wei County allowed high-priced grain sales.

As a result,

grain merchants flocked to Wei County.

Scarcity increases value.

With more grain available,

the price actually came down.

Only those who took the trouble

to investigate closely would notice

that Wei County's high-priced grain

was only sold for less than 2 months.

So you're saying

he actually did a good thing?

It was a good thing indeed.

But people only remember

that he drove up grain prices at first,

causing them to starve,

without understanding the bigger picture.

As for the imperial court,

with so many people starving to death in this disaster,

they needed someone to blame.

But...

I still feel that Lord Lu's punishment

was determined too hastily.

In the past, the Court of Judicial Review

had sentenced officials to death by 1,000 cuts before,

but such an inhumane and cruel punishment

normally had to be reported step by step—

from the prefecture and county up to the capital,

until the Emperor approved it.

Yet...

Yet Lord Lu's crime was determined

in less than half a month.

That really was too fast.

If everything you said is true,

then why didn't Lord Lu

appeal or proclaim his innocence?

The 9 counties are in collusion,

all speaking and acting from the same playbook.

No flaws can be found.

At a time like this,

anyone who acts differently

becomes the one that sticks out—

the scapegoat.

Who could he turn to

for justice?

If that's really the case,

how much injustice

must Lord Lu have suffered?

Lord Lu,

is there truly no injustice

in your case?

Public opinion has spoken.

How could there be any injustice?

Don't trust others so easily.

The human heart is treacherous—

far more complex and unpredictable

than the matters of cultivation.

It's always better

to be cautious.

Lu Huai,

it's time to go.

♪ Caught in fate's design, I search my soul ♪

♪ What should I do to avoid living my life in vain? ♪

♪ My blade stays clean, untouched by dust ♪

♪ Yet it's sparked thousands of wars ♪

♪ Soul consumed, bones remade— I accept it all ♪

♪ Embracing pain as home, reborn like a phoenix ♪

♪ Just to trade the rest of my days for one true life as a human ♪

It's truly satisfying to see justice served!

♪ Let strong wine carry me into drunken nights till midnight ♪

♪ Let my soul blaze in brilliant colors ♪

♪ Let the agony of a thousand cuts ♪

♪ Stand as proof that I have lived ♪

♪ Let me taste a life of flesh and blood in full ♪

♪ Let me savor the many flavors of the mortal world ♪

Execute him! Execute him!

♪ Let me face the world's warmth and cold alike ♪

♪ To live and perish with it, daring to go mad, daring to dream ♪

Hurry up and execute him!

It's the 3rd quarter of noon!

♪ Don't live in vain ♪

Execute!

♪ Let strong wine carry me into drunken nights till midnight ♪

♪ Let my soul blaze in brilliant colors ♪

What's wrong with this girl?

♪ Let the agony of a thousand cuts ♪

Are you okay?

♪ Stand as proof that I have lived ♪

♪ Let me taste a life of flesh and blood in full ♪

♪ Let me savor the many flavors of the mortal world ♪

♪ Let me face the world's warmth and cold alike ♪

♪ To live and perish with it, daring to go mad, daring to dream ♪

♪ Let strong wine carry me into drunken nights till midnight ♪

Make way!

♪ Let my soul blaze in brilliant colors ♪

Make way!

Let me through!

♪ Let the agony of a thousand cuts ♪

♪ Stand as proof that I have lived ♪

♪ Let me taste a life of flesh and blood in full ♪

♪ Let me savor the many flavors of the mortal world ♪

♪ Let me face the world's warmth and cold alike ♪

♪ To live and perish with it, daring to go mad, daring to dream ♪

♪ Don't live in vain, have a pleasant journey of life ♪

He was truly a man of steel.

He endured the execution for so long

without uttering a single word.

How many cuts did he take?

Did you count?

Don't you know about

Executioner Wang's skills?

No one could have a good end under his blade.

There must have been

at least 1,000 cuts.

1,000 cuts?

Could someone so strong-willed

really be a corrupt official?

Who can say that for sure?

But the high grain prices were real,

and the fact that people starved to death was also real.

Stop looking. Let's go.

[Wei County]

This...

Snowing at this time of year?

When snow falls at such a time,

it means there's been a grave injustice.

It shouldn't be snowing at this time of year.

What's going on?

Indeed.

Snowing at this time of year must mean a great injustice has occurred.

That's right.

So heavy.

Look how heavy the snow is.

He must have been wronged.

Even heaven can't bear to watch.

It's snowing.

Have something to eat.

The authorities ordered his body to be exposed for 3 months

to appease public anger.

This night

is going to be long.

Do you think

Lord Lu was wrongfully executed?

His confessions are all signed and sealed,

written in black and white.

There can't be any injustice.

But it's snowing at this time of year.

Even heaven is protesting his innocence.

Do you think Lord Lu

was truly wronged?

Watch your words.

This case was personally investigated

by Lord Song,

and the punishment was set by the Court of Judicial Review.

Whether it's right or wrong,

the higher-ups will decide.

We just need to follow orders without question.

Who's there?

Where's the body?

[Tomb of Lu Huai]

Master said

that as someone from the immortal sect,

to achieve the great path,

I must remain steadfast,

untainted by the mortal world,

and free from karmic entanglements.

But this time when I came down the mountain,

I broke my vows

and forcibly tied a marriage bond with you.

I regret it in my heart,

but the consequences are already set

and cannot be undone.

All I can do now is stride forward.

Lord Lu.

I really must leave now.

I need to get medicine for my master.

But don't worry,

I'll burn plenty of paper offerings for you

so you can live

comfortably and peacefully in the underworld.

Also,

those buried around here

are all my relatives.

They're all kind and gentle,

and I believe they'll

treat you well

and get along with you.

[Wei County Government]

Take care.

Take care.

Chu.

You were doing so well here.

Why are you quitting?

Indeed.

People out there

are all competing to get in

and become a bailiff.

It's a secure job, you know—

steady for life.

How...

How can you just

decide to quit like that?

Life

has different paths for everyone.

I'm too restless.

I'm not cut out for this job.

Then what job are you cut out for?

Can't you tell?

With this face,

I should be living off women.

Alright then.

I'm leaving.

Alright.

Take care.

Take care.

Chu! Chu!

Chu!

Don't go, Chu! Don't go!

Chu, don't go!

Chu, don't go!

Don't go!

[Tomb of Lu Huai]

How long have you been awake?

About 3 days.

Since I was quitting the job,

there has been one drinking party after another.

What can I say? I'm just popular.

For a demon,

you're really committed to acting human, aren't you?

Of course.

What are you waiting for? Let's keep going.

Do you think the Wang family of Jinqiu

is truly a family of cultivators?

Is the young master of the Wang family

really a cultivator?

Of course it's true.

I've heard their ancestors

included a Nascent Soul cultivator.

That's incredibly impressive.

A Nascent Soul cultivator?

Isn't that close to ascending to godhood?

You clearly don't understand.

Cultivators in the immortal sect

are divided into 10 realms:

Qi Cultivation, Foundation Building,

Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Cave Void,

Soul Projection, Integration,

Great Completion, Tribulation Crossing,

and Deity Transformation.

But since the God-Demon War,

the heavenly ladder collapsed,

and spiritual energy in the world has become increasingly scarce,

making cultivation more difficult than ever.

Not to mention Tribulation Crossing or Deity Transformation,

even Cave Void and Soul Projection cultivators

are hard to find.

These days, if there's

a Nascent Soul cultivator in a sect,

they can dominate an entire region.

The Wang family of Jinqiu used to be so prestigious

that they wouldn't even bother with people like us.

It was only after

their Nascent Soul ancestor

passed away

that their family declined like this.

I've also heard that

this generation of the Wang family

has no descendants with immortal perception.

Even the young master of the Wang family

is also just an ordinary person.

That I don't know.

Anyway, all the War Demons are dead,

and the Youhu Clan won't descend from the mountains.

The Twelve Immortal Sects have all the power now.

Even the Emperor himself

has to show them respect.

Gentlemen,

here's your wine.

Please enjoy.

Want one?

Nah.

Just drinking, no food?

Yep,

just drinking, no food.

You know me.

So you still don't feel like eating.

Hu.

Take a break.

Come and have some water.

Okay.

The road is rough. Be careful.

This uneven road needs to be leveled.

Otherwise, someone might fall and break their teeth,

and no one's going to take care of them.

I have my wife to take care of me.

Xin Mei.

Thank you

for agreeing to marry me.

Lord Lu.

Do you have any other wishes?

As your wife,

is there anything I can do for you?

I still feel that

Lord Lu's punishment

was determined too hastily.

In the past, the Court of Judicial Review

had sentenced officials to death by 1,000 cuts before,

but such an inhumane and cruel punishment

normally had to be reported step by step—

from the prefecture and county up to the capital,

until the Emperor approved it.

Yet...

Yet Lord Lu's crime

was decided in less than half a month.

No.

This matter cannot end like this.

Miss.

This road is difficult,

and there are landslides.

This road is full of potholes.

You're all alone.

If you fall, there won't be anyone to help you up.

You should find an easier path.

Come on, let's get back to work.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Could you please tell me

how to get to the capital?