Original subtitles

[Fate Chooses You]

[Episode 3]

Miss.

This road is difficult,

and there are landslides.

This road is full of potholes.

You're all alone.

If you fall, there's no one 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?

The restaurant owner said

there was an inn nearby.

Why haven't we reached it yet?

There hasn't been a single place

to rest along the way.

Is it red or green?

The book says colors

should appear after the flesh is replaced.

Why isn't it working yet?

It should be soon.

[Outskirts of the capital]

Who dares block the road? Move aside!

Is that the Head Clerk of the Central Secretariat,

Song Qingbao, in the carriage?

How dare you block the road

when you know full well who's in the carriage?

I have questions for him!

[Liang Wenjing, Chen Zhi, Zhou Yifu, Zhao Qian]

Are these names correct?

Yes!

Yes, exactly!

It's them!

I have noted all the names.

Go back and tell them:

if they have any final wishes or last words,

let them settle their affairs quickly.

When the time comes,

I will come for their lives.

All right.

Please let me down!

Finally here.

There are officials.

He's in a bounty guard's uniform.

Halt!

Do you

come from Wei County?

What can we do for you, Sir?

What's your business here?

We're merchants.

Merchants?

Merchants in what kind of trade?

I travel with our boss,

buying and selling goods.

We sell turbans, colored garments,

seasonal flowers and fruits, boots, shoes, bowls, and dishes.

If you're itinerant peddlers,

where is your carriage?

The Ghost Festival is approaching.

We plan to go to the next town

to buy peach and willow branches,

cattail leaves, and five-colored plague papers for resale.

As for the carriage,

we'll arrange that when we reach the town.

Do you have further business, Sir?

Here's the situation.

I'm a bounty guard from Dongzhou Prefecture.

I took on a bounty

and came here to arrest someone.

But the target

holed up in that inn

and won't come out.

I can't make a move inside,

so I've been stuck waiting out here.

The longer this drags on,

the more I've burned through my funds.

I can barely afford meals now.

Gentlemen,

could you lend me some silver?

I'll repay you in full

once I complete the mission and claim the bounty.

Here,

this is all I have.

Too much, too much!

Half of this would be plenty.

Let me help you with that.

[In Perfect Safety]

Come on.

Alright then.

Landlady!

Come and attend to guests!

Coming, coming!

Sir,

do you have money for a meal today?

[Mrs. Li]

Money is the least of my worries.

I'm more concerned that your little establishment

might not have what I'm craving.

As long as you pay enough,

even if you want dragon meat from the heavens,

I'll slice you a portion.

And who are these two gentlemen?

They are big merchants from Wei County,

top-tier patrons.

And they're my friends.

What may I address you, gentlemen?

Are you here for a meal or accommodations?

Accommodations.

Give us a quiet prime room.

The heavy rain last night

leaked into the rooms on the second floor.

How about a room on the 1st floor?

I'll give you

a discount.

A discount sounds great.

Then make it on the 1st floor.

Landlady,

also bring steamed buns, meat pies,

noodle sheets, sliced soup,

strong liquor, and beef.

Make it quick, please.

We're starving.

Right away!

Come, buddy,

let's sit inside.

Is that the guy you mentioned?

Yes,

that's exactly him.

He committed murder in the Prefectural City,

and the authorities ordered me

to bring him to justice.

Go ahead and arrest him, then!

Don't you see what's

written on that plaque?

[Safe Haven Inn: Your Safety is Guaranteed.

Do you know why this place

is called "Safe Haven Inn"?

This inn has a rule:

whether you're

a ruthless fugitive,

a court criminal

on the run,

or a notorious bandit

roaming the seas,

once you enter this inn,

no fighting is allowed,

and no one is to be harmed.

And we're just supposed to obey whatever the inn says?

If they dare make such a claim,

they clearly have the means to back it up.

Did you see

that delicate-looking Landlady by the door earlier?

Her twin blades are swift and impenetrable—

utterly masterful.

It is said

that she's a disciple of Swift Blade Hu Chuan.

You know Swift Blade Hu Chuan, right?

He was ranked 8th on the List of Top Martial Artists.

Though I heard he has passed away.

Order up! Coming through!

Gentlemen,

here are your wines, dishes,

steamed buns,

meat pies,

and beef.

Attendant,

I'd also like a room,

right next to his.

His?

Well, he ran out of lodging money days ago.

Now he just eats plain noodles.

With 1 bowl lasting 3 hours,

he takes 4 bowls a day.

The noodles have turned to mush,

yet he's still clinging to that bowl.

If that's the case,

I might be able to return and report success soon?

Really?

Order a signature dish

to celebrate then!

Let's just skip that.

Your signature dishes are

a bit too rich for my blood.

That attendant

is as skinny as a twig.

His nickname is Cloud-Sweeper,

coming from his indestructible iron palms.

A few years back,

he was a renowned master in the martial world.

And in the kitchen,

there's a hefty cook.

He's a master of external martial arts.

His body is so tough,

as if it were impervious to blades and spears.

Even when facing ordinary cultivators,

he can give a good account of himself.

How is it

that you know all this so well?

A few days ago,

I tracked my target here

and came in after him.

Just like you, I didn't believe in their rules either,

and I ended up getting into a fight with them.

Did you lose the fight?

Well, it wasn't that I couldn't beat them.

I was still recovering

from a demon toxin

I had been exposed to while hunting a fiend a few days earlier.

You're a bounty guard,

yet you handle demon hunts too?

I've picked up bits of all trades.

Let's go!

Autumn Crimson Blade!

I've searched for you all these years,

and you've been living it up!

Autumn Crimson Blade?

So you're the one they call

Autumn Crimson Blade, the Hellreaver—

the No. 1 on the List of Top Martial Artists!

Quite the reputation!

Who are you then?

Eight years ago,

at Lei Fort,

you took 27 lives.

Autumn Crimson Blade,

I might not have seen your face,

but I remember

your voice clearly.

You can't deny it.

Lei Fort?

It's that bandit den.

Did you just admit it?

Yes, it was indeed my doing.

Great!

At least you have the guts to admit it—

that makes you a real man.

What do you want?

I've hunted you for 8 years.

Naturally, I intend to use your blood

to appease the spirits of my fallen buddies.

You can't kill me.

Why is that?

Do you think I'd back down

just because you have 2 lackeys by your side?

Can you read?

What does it read there?

Safe Haven Inn—

Your Safety is Guaranteed.

The rule of this inn

is that regardless of identity or

background,

no violence is permitted in this inn.

Break it, and you'll regret it.

Am I right?

He's correct!

How dare you mock me?

Table: 10 taels of silver each.

Spoons and teacups: 1 tael apiece.

Plates and bowls: two taels each.

Liquor jars: four taels each.

Teapots: six taels each.

The rest is undamaged,

so I won't charge you.

The bill sums up to 36 taels of silver.

Who's paying?

Landlady, you are as beautiful as a blooming flower,

but you don't seem too bright.

Go ask around—

since when do bandits

pay for anything?

Others' rules don't concern me.

But here,

you follow my rules.

What I sell isn't just food—

it's safety.

If any of you want bloodshed or revenge,

you'll wait until this guest

finishes his meal

and steps outside

that door.

What kind of damned inn is this?

Are you lecturing me about rules?

What if I slaughter everyone

in this shabby place today?

What then?

What then?

Landlady,

what's the verdict?

Don't kill them.

We need compensation.

Understood!

Autumn Crimson Blade,

you got lucky today.

Next time we meet,

I won't go easy on you!

Pay up.

Why should I pay?

You took shelter here to avoid disaster.

Did you think it was free?

So many people took shelter here.

Why am I the only one being charged?

You bear a striking resemblance

to someone

I once knew.

His surname was Lu,

and he was a painter.

Might you be acquainted with him?

Many people in this world

share similar features.

True.

Eleven years ago,

he looked exactly as you do now.

By my reckoning,

he should be

considerably older these days.

The total was 36 taels of silver,

but I'll only charge you 30 taels.

Autumn Crimson Blade!

Do you confess your crime?

I am the commander of Jinming Camp,

the General of the Swift Cavalry personally appointed by the Emperor!

How dare you raise a hand against me?

Do you confess your crime?

I do.

The negligence in the Wei County famine case—

it was that scoundrel Liang Wenjing

who ordered me to do it!

I knew Lord Lu was a good official.

He only used extreme measures

to save the people.

But I had no choice!

That old brute Liang Wenjing

forced me!

Guilty.

Execution is hereby decreed!

♪ I point to the sky, I question the moon ♪

♪ I'd rather be a wandering immortal in the mortal world ♪

Lu,

do you know that Landlady?

Yes,

she used to be my neighbor.

Neighbor?

How come I don't remember that?

You weren't around during that time.

Then where did I go?

How should I know where you were?

Where was I?

But still,

I think Xin is wonderful—

good-natured,

genuine,

and most importantly,

the two of you are married.

It wasn't a real marriage.

We just did that

to form a blood pact.

That truly sounds like

an ungrateful scoundrel

who abandons others after using them.

You're a hybrid of War Demons

and the Human Race,

burdened with the Five Deficiencies Curse.

To escape this divine punishment

and be reborn as human,

you must pass five trials:

shedding skin, replacing flesh, renewing bones,

purifying blood, and transforming the heart.

Each trial hangs by a thread between life and death.

You must find a blood relative

to form a blood pact with you,

linking your consciousnesses as one,

so when you stand at death's door,

that bond may grant you a lifeline—

a chance to cheat death.

You have no family,

so you had to marry someone

to establish this blood pact.

So what?

So, the marriage is real—

even heaven recognizes it!

By what right do you deny it?

Besides,

Xin is a good woman.

Why are you rejecting her?

Who's there?

Where did they go?

She's in love with someone else.

She claimed she was cursed to bring misfortune to her husband

and wanted to marry a death row prisoner

to dispel the bad luck—

so she wouldn't harm

the one she truly loves.

I wasn't aware of that.

This marriage

was merely a deal.

We each got what we needed.

She and I will

never meet again.

It's rare to meet

such a fine woman.

What a pity.

But she's a cultivator—

she will live a long life.

Perhaps after you pass the remaining trials,

fate may bring you together again.

What's the plan now?

You've lost your memory.

Obviously, we go to Chongling Valley for the bone renewal.

Right.

Bone renewal.

Master Autumn,

are you awake?

Would you honor me

with a cup of cold wine?

Master Autumn—

he's calling for you.

Come, Master Autumn,

let me properly introduce myself.

I am Lord of Rust-Sword,

ranked No. 2 on the List of Top Martial Artists.

I was blind earlier—

I failed to recognize your esteemed status.

I heard you had enlisted

and were stationed at the western frontier,

and I thought

I'd never have the honor of meeting you in this lifetime.

To encounter you here today

is truly a privilege.

Master Autumn,

let me offer you another toast.

You are Lord of Rust-Sword, right?

Exactly.

The second on the List of Top Martial Artists,

Rust-Sword Peak—

that would be me.

Are you Master Rust, then?

I'm not Master Autumn either.

"Autumn Crimson Blade"

is just an epithet.

No wonder it sounded so awkward.

Then you're Master Blade.

Let us drink another cup.

And you, sir—

since you're a friend of Master Blade,

you must possess

considerable skill yourself.

Might I ask what your ranking is on the list?

I am Chu Ying.

Haven't you ever heard of me?

I have not.

Then that is as it should be.

My abilities are modest—

I hold no rank on the list.

Great.

Master Blade,

to be frank,

in all my years roaming the martial world,

I've encountered many exceptional talents.

Even those from esteemed cultivation clans

never struck me as particularly remarkable.

But you alone are different.

I regard you

as my lifelong role model,

my fated rival,

and my only worthy opponent!

Feel free to say such things—

but let's not actually cross blades.

Charging solo into Ma Fort,

eliminating the Eight Villains at Yanhui Mountain,

executing the tyrant Xu Ling in Taizi Village—

and

my favorite—

storming the immortal's manor at Yunmen Pass,

toppling the alchemy furnace, and slaying the demonic cultivator.

Each of these deeds

is something I've dreamed of accomplishing

but never could.

Those were all in the past.

I've left the martial world behind.

Whether you've retired or not

is your affair.

But in my heart,

my goal remains to surpass you

and become the Human Race's No. 1 martial hero.

Great!

Though I may lag slightly behind you,

I too possess uncommon talent.

Back in the day, several immortal sects

sought to take me as a disciple,

but I refused every offer.

Why?

In this era, cultivators dominate the scene.

Both court and commoners revere the path of spiritual practice.

From birth,

those who lack immortal perception

are deemed inferior.

I find this deeply flawed.

A simple, mundane life is valid.

Secluded mountain cultivation is valid.

Farming, trade, peddling, and labor—

all are valid ways to live.

Since when does a way of life have a hierarchy?

I aim to shatter this notion.

I want to ascend to sainthood through martial prowess

to show the world

that cultivation isn't the only righteous path.

If your dream is to be a martial hero,

why did you become

a bounty guard serving the court?

Being a martial hero isn't easy.

Food, lodging,

bowls, plates, and everything else on the road—

nothing comes free.

If I didn't take on side jobs,

I couldn't afford to keep myself alive.

Is a bounty guard that profitable?

Absolutely.

Look at him—

seems like a pathetic fellow,

yet his head is worth 50 taels of silver.

What crime did he commit?

He's a hopeless gambling addict.

Short on money,

he killed the landlord's entire family,

who had kindly taken him in,

totaling 7 people, young and old.

The youngest was just 3 years old.

Then he truly deserves death.

It won't be long.

He's almost out of money.

Hey,

time to pay for today's noodles, isn't it?

Alright...

I... I know.

Who's there?

Don't be afraid, My Lord!

It's not that madwoman!

Good, good.

Halt!

Don't move!

I am Lord of Rust-Sword, a bounty guard of Dongzhou Prefecture,

acting under orders from Lord Xu, the Director of the Palace Administration,

to apprehend the criminal Chen Gong.

Given your official uniforms,

I presume we are allies, not enemies.

Inside the palanquin is the Head Clerk of the Central Secretariat,

Lord Song,

passing through this area

and seeking a secure place to rest.

Do you know any?

A secure place?

Follow me.

Safe Haven Inn—

Your Safety is Guaranteed.

Great.

This is bad.

That Song Qingbao is here,

and he recognizes you.

With one of us being a constable

and the other supposed to be dead,

wouldn't that be a shock

if he finds out?

It's fine.

We'll keep our backs to him.

He won't notice.

Alright.

My Lord,

what would you prefer to eat?

Anything is fine.

Bring a few side dishes,

two plates of steamed buns, and a pot of wine.

Be quick.

Right away!

Rest assured, My Lord.

This place is clean.

We'll leave right after the meal—

there should be no issues.

Assign 2 guards to keep watch outside.

Rotate shifts for the meal!

Understood!

Enjoy your meal, My Lords.

Attendant,

could you preserve this for me?

Don't let it spoil—

I'll collect it tomorrow.

You think this is a pickling jar for garlic?

Of course, Sir.

Whatever you say.

My Lord,

even if you have no appetite, please try to eat something.

We still have

a long journey ahead tonight.

My stomach is in knots—

I can't swallow a bite.

You all go ahead.

Please, eat.

My Lord,

are you facing some difficulty?

I am Lord of Rust-Sword,

a bounty guard from Dongzhou Prefecture,

specializing in cases others cannot resolve.

Simply draft your case as a formal petition,

file it with the Dongzhou Prefecture,

and set a bounty.

I collect the payment,

and the task accomplished.

If Dongzhou Prefecture

could handle this matter,

I wouldn't be so troubled.

How could there be something even Dongzhou Prefecture

cannot manage?

To be frank with you,

I am ranked second

on the List of Top Martial Artists,

and my sword arts have reached perfection.

As long as the compensation is right,

any matter can be negotiated.

This isn't a matter of money.

It doesn't matter if you're the No. 2 on the List of Top Martial Artists.

Even if the top-ranked warrior himself,

the Autumn Crimson Blade, were here,

he would fall in one move against this opponent.

Alright, alright.

How much farther is it

to the Xihe Camp?

It's less than 100 li.

If we travel through the night,

we'll arrive by morning.

Once we reach Xihe Camp,

My Lord,

you will be completely safe.

My personal safety is trivial.

Lord Liang

ordered troops of the Xihe Camp

into the city.

The problem is, he didn't seem to understand

that it was utterly useless.

If even Xihe Camp is useless...

could it be that you've offended

someone from an immortal sect?

Those cultivators from immortal sects

rarely emerge—

they devote themselves to secluded ascetic practice in the mountains.

How did you cross them?

About 6 days ago,

I was ordered to return to the capital to report my duties.

On the way, I was abducted by a female cultivator.

She said

that we had worked together

to frame her husband,

Lu Huai, leading to his wrongful death.

Oh no.

He couldn't be talking about Immortal Xin, could he?

I heard about the Wei County case.

Everyone claimed

Lu Huai colluded with grain merchants,

calling him a corrupt official and vile villain.

But I've always believed

that to govern, one needs a bodhisattva's heart—

yet also a thunderbolt's resolve.

Moss seeds don't blossom.

If Lu Huai were truly bent on corruption,

how could the people of Wei County

have ended up faring well at all?

You speak wisely.

But if that were true,

then the cultivator would have

slaughtered everyone she could in Wei County.

Why pursue it all the way to the capital?

And who exactly are the "they"

you mentioned earlier?

My Lord,

wine may lift spirits,

but it cannot drown guilt.

If you drink any more,

you'll be drunk.

About half a year ago,

a heavy rain fell over Wei County.

All nine counties in the Yong region were destroyed.

Everyone believed

it was a natural disaster.

In truth,

it was man-made.

Corruption?

Yes.

They replaced the stones with straw

and coated them with mud,

then built them into the riverbank.

Once such heavy rain comes,

nothing can hold it back.

Every dam in the nine counties

around Wei County collapsed.

Countless fields of grain were destroyed.

It's despicable!

Absolutely despicable!

Those damned officials

pinned all the blame

on Lu Huai,

who was stationed

near the dams at the time.

There was no other way.

The commoners demanded answers,

while the powerful

sought to control public sentiment

and stabilize the situation.

Someone had to

shoulder the blame.

And Lu Huai had disobeyed orders—

he refrained from

immediately controlling grain prices

to attract merchants and ensure supply.

Tell me,

if you were in that position,

would you side with officials

who feigned

compliance with regulations

or with Lu Huai,

who lost public support

yet drew all the attention?

I would choose neither.

I would do as that cultivator did—

take the fight to the capital.

Take Lu Huai to prison.

Lord Lu,

this way, please.

- Kill him! - Kill him!

-Corrupt official! -Kill him!

Go to hell!

-May you die a terrible death! -Die a wretched death!

Kill him now!

Kill that corrupt official!

Kill him!

Kill him!

Kill that corrupt official, now!

Take the fight to the capital?

You're not a cultivator—

how could you possibly defeat them?

Should inaction be the answer just because the task seems impossible?

Where there is injustice, we must intervene!

Even if I break my head and bleed,

even if my feet

never cross the capital's gates—

so long as I act,

someone will witness it.

One tells ten, and ten tell a hundred.

If among those hundred,

one person emerges who shares my resolve,

they will storm the Imperial Court.

If another rises,

they will stand before the Emperor himself.

I refuse to believe

such monumental injustice

can simply be crushed into dust—

I refuse to accept it will never be overturned!

Such noble righteousness, Warrior!

I am not your equal.

Indeed,

when I was captured,

I too felt resentment.

When I revealed those 4 names,

I was filled with dread.

But today,

hearing your words, Warrior,

my heart has found peace.

Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor.

Those who frame the innocent

will surely meet a wretched end!

She said when she previously went to the capital

to plead Lu Huai's innocence,

every appeal sank without a trace.

Are these names correct?

And then?

Then...

I raced back

to the capital at full speed

and reported the matter to the court.

But no one

believed me.

They refused to accept

that a cultivator would interfere in mortal affairs.

Even more, they couldn't believe

that anyone could

behead officials

under the capital's

heavy guard.

Until that night,

Lord Zhao

was hosting a birthday banquet at his residence,

with countless officials in attendance.

After several rounds

of drinks,

a sudden surge of sword energy flashed,

and Lord Zhao's head

was gone.

Sword energy without a trace of the attacker—

it was the work of that cultivator.

But that was only the beginning.

In less than 2 hours,

news came from the northern district:

Lord Zhou,

protected by layers of imperial guards,

had his throat slit by a single sword stroke.

Who goes there?

I'm Li Huang, the Captain of the Northern Office Capital Guards.

I'm here by the Emperor's order.

May I ask if the one in the carriage is Lord Zhou?

My Lord,

it's the Northern Office Capital Guards.

My Lord?

Lord Zhou?

That serves him right! A well-deserved death!

Compared to death by a thousand cuts,

a single blade was too merciful for him.

The individuals on the list

died one by one, in order.

The third official, Lord Chen,

grew frantic.

Without even waiting for an imperial decree,

he fled the city

under heavy guard

and took refuge in the Jinming Camp.

Guilty.

Sentence: execution.

When the court fails in its duty,

the blade of justice shall restore righteousness.

You, as an official,

withheld appeals and suppressed the truth—

you are unworthy to share wines with me!

How dare you!

Let it be... let it be.

50 taels per jar.

Still drinking?

That expensive?

This inn sells safety.

You sought refuge here after

stirring such turmoil—

of course the price is higher.

Why would My Lord

need your protection for his safety?

That woman,

as a cultivator meddling in mortal affairs,

has broken her Soul Oath

and will inevitably suffer backlash.

Whether she survives it

remains uncertain.

Even if she does,

the court has already

dispatched letters to the major immortal sects—

they will not stand idly by.

Once their representatives arrive,

her life will reach its end.

Enough.

If you ask me, these cultivators

are nothing but trouble.

The Emperor should issue a decree

forbidding commoners from practicing cultivation.

That way, everyone remains on equal footing.

Even if problems arise,

they wouldn't escalate beyond control, right?

My Lord, be careful!

The table costs 10 taels.

If you cannot pay for the damages today,

you will not

leave this inn.

A loose tongue

[Jiang Ji, Lingji Mountain]

invites disaster.

Don't go.

You're no match for her.

My sincerest apologies.

My junior sister is impulsive

[Lin Muhan, Lingji Mountain]

and has little experience confronting mortals.

She lacks restraint—

I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her, madam.

I will cover all damages.

She's not wrong, is she?

You cultivators

truly are a source of trouble.

Does that strike a nerve?

Are you ashamed enough to kill over it?

Zuo Yingying, since you're here,

why not show yourself?

What's the point of meeting

when all you do

is threaten violence?

We walk

different paths.

I merely heard

the righteous path

had produced a bold junior,

daring to storm the capital alone,

and came to see the spectacle.

Who knew the first thing

I'd witness was

this tigress biting?

Lin Muhan,

she has such a terrible temper,

yet you stick to her every day.

Do you just have the hots for her?

You vile wench!

[Zuo Yingying, Qinghong Sect]

Lin Muhan,

you ought to keep her in check.

Otherwise,

someone will die.

[Jin Lun]

Immortal Zuo,

it's been a while.

Jin Lun,

instead of cultivating at Tianyin Mountain,

why do you linger

with them?

Has your master

decided not to accept you as a disciple—

barring you from the Path of Severing Emotions?

Even better!

Abandon this ascetic practice.

Return to the desert with me

and indulge in freedom.

Enchantress!

You're all here.

Where is Nangong from the Solar and Lunar Cavern?

Can't you hear?

That poser has been

playing his flute outside for ages.

[Nangong Guhong, Solar and Lunar Cavern]

All that pride,

yet so petty.

Enough, all of you.

Rein in your auras—

we have business to attend to.

Are you an official from the capital?

We've been dispatched by our masters

to apprehend the cultivator in the capital

who broke the rules.

But having been in seclusion for so long,

we've forgotten the way.

May I ask

how far the capital is from here?

Make way, please!

So you're

all cultivators

from the Lingji Mountain?

I am Lin Muhan,

young master of Lingji Mountain.

Beside me is my junior sister,

Jiang Ji.

I am Jin Lun, an unaffiliated cultivator.

And the one outside

who wields music as a blade

is Nangong Guhong of Solar and Lunar Cavern.

It's rather impolite

to ask a lady's name

so abruptly.

This immortal lady is called Zuo Yingying,

from the Cyan-Rainbow Sect of North Xiang.

Now that all you esteemed cultivators have arrived,

I feel somewhat reassured.

Could you please

take that rogue cultivator away quickly?

That way,

I won't have to live in fear any longer.