Original subtitles

What are you doing, brat?

One black line, two black lines,

three, four, five, six, seven black lines.

The proprietor's restaurant has just opened,

with a great spread of delicious dishes.

I sing a tune, you tip me,

and guests come one after another.

The proprietor's restaurant has just opened...

Boss,

there's a beggar here.

How many?

Only one.

I sing a tune, you tip me...

One?

Don't bother with him.

Maybe you should go out and take a look.

And the guests keep rolling in.

The proprietor's restaurant has just opened,

with a great spread of delicious dishes.

I sing a tune, you tip me,

and the guests keep rolling in.

Sir,

congratulations on your opening!

He's bleeding!

He's bleeding!

What's going on?

Buy a pipe with an ebony stem.

Grab both ends—one black line.

Second Sister paints her brows and smooths her hair.

Look in the mirror—two black lines.

Write a character on the gatepost.

Three black lines, side by side.

Innkeeper,

congratulations on your opening!

[A Prophet]

[Episode 13]

-Dad! -Dad!

Let me see.

Tell me,

does it hurt?

Dad, it doesn't hurt.

Good boy.

I didn't raise you for nothing.

Quick, eat your noodles.

What father

wouldn't be heartbroken

seeing his own child hurt like this?

Look at him, all of you!

Look at your brother!

He's a real man!

A real man wears blood on his face!

Eat slowly.

Do you all want some?

Yes!

I want some!

I want noodles.

You want noodles?

Come here.

A real man has to be cruel to himself.

The crueler he is, the more money he'll earn!

And once he has money,

he'll have noodles to eat, right?

Don't wipe it off.

Keep it on your face and go sing at the Golden Pavilion.

Come on, kid.

This is all I can do for you.

You have to walk the rest of the way yourself.

Stop crying.

Go.

Go earn money.

Okay, Dad.

You all make me proud.

Master.

Home.

Master, you're back.

Please, Master.

Welcome back, Sect Leader.

Master.

Master.

Your bath is ready.

♪ On the fifth of May, in the summer heat ♪

♪ Amid scarlet pomegranate blossoms, she wears a white jade hairpin ♪

♪ How I love that rain at golden dusk ♪

♪ Lotus flowers rise from the water, swaying in the evening breeze ♪

Doggie!

Master.

You called?

What's this?

Master,

when I filled it,

the tub was spotless.

I swear on my parents' lives.

There was absolutely nothing

in the water to begin with.

Bullshit.

Do you even have parents?

This doesn't look like an ordinary fish scale.

I've never seen anything this rare either.

Put it away for now.

Okay.

Wrap it up.

Yes, Master.

Dad, I'm hungry!

Master, this is the new batch.

Whose kid is this?

What beautiful eyes.

Gouge them out.

Later, Dad

will get you a pair of glass eyes.

They'll sparkle and shine.

No.

Be good.

Dad will get you a nice sled later,

so you can slide around on it, okay?

No.

Chop off her legs.

Yang,

why are these kids still here?

Master Cao,

our tools are all rusty.

These kids are all infected.

Master, look, well...

Such fine tools.

Why don't you take better care of them?

If you'd sharpened them now and then,

the kids wouldn't have suffered so much.

I'm telling you, if it weren't for my father-in-law,

I wouldn't even use you.

Begging is

just like cooking.

Presentation matters.

Hearing that someone's pitiful

is nothing compared to seeing it.

When they see it, they should

feel it in their gut.

Look at what you've done.

Look at this kid. Why hasn't he moved for so long?

Is he dead?

If he's dead, carry him outside quickly.

He reeks.

You...

Can't you at least

create a decent living environment

for the kids?

Dad, save me!

Stop shouting!

Dad, save me!

Get him out quickly!

Yes.

Dad!

Dad, save me!

Dad!

Shut up!

Open your mouth!

Open it!

What are you doing?

Let go of him!

Sect Leader.

Dad.

These bad guys.

Come on.

Dad, I don't want to take the medicine.

I know.

But I'm doing this for your own good.

Tell me,

do you want to use your mouth to talk

or to eat meat?

Eat meat.

That's my good boy.

Drink this medicine,

and you'll have meat to eat every day.

You're the strongest.

One more mouthful.

You're the bravest.

Come on.

What a good boy.

Talking too much is no good.

It makes you hungry more easily.

Gently, gently.

Master.

No matter what you do,

it's all about the approach.

Cut off his tongue later.

Tomorrow morning, take him to Qiongxian Teahouse.

From then on, he'll work there.

Master,

why send him there?

Think about it:

you take your mistress to the opera.

You tip the performers on stage,

then glance over

and see a child—so cute, so pretty,

but with no tongue.

He can't speak.

If you don't toss him a couple of coins,

are you even human?

You're brilliant, Master.

No wonder people say

there's a lot to gain from following you.

Less sucking up,

more getting things done.

What's gotten me this far?

Two words.

Clear head.

A clear head in a muddled world.

I've been wronged!

You liar!

Liar!

Wu,

tell me the truth.

I've really been wronged.

Wronged?

Manager Wu,

if you don't tell me the truth now,

when San comes back,

you'll find out how harsh his punishment is.

Master Cao.

I've really been wronged.

Still claiming you've been wronged?

Isn't this Manager Wu?

Honey,

why did you beat him like this?

Is there a misunderstanding?

Yes, yes, a misunderstanding, San.

Misunderstanding, my foot!

Please stop whipping him!

He's my buddy!

Buddy, my foot!

He's just a fraud!

San,

you only grow older, not wiser.

You never learn.

Look for yourself.

Look at these things you bought.

Fake, fake,

they are all fake!

He's just a scammer!

How could you not know?

And you're still defending him?

Is there something wrong with your head?

Honey.

Please calm down, honey.

Don't I always say

we should be magnanimous?

Manager Wu must've been scammed

by someone else first.

Didn't we

have the renowned Master Lu

appraise them for us this time?

He said they're all

genuine treasures from the palace.

Master, my foot!

That "master"

is his cousin!

You freaking blockhead.

I can't explain it to you.

Eunuch,

please explain it to him.

I'm tired of all the talk and whipping.

I'm going to rest a bit and have some tea.

Blockhead, you freaking blockhead.

Stop calling me a blockhead!

Sect Leader Cao.

Eunuch.

I've carefully examined this item

Manager Wu sold you.

It's indeed fake.

Impossible.

Eunuch,

look, there's a reign mark on the back.

And what does the mark say?

Look: "Made in the Hongwu Era of the Great Ming."

When I served

Emperor Guangxu in the palace,

I studied Ming-dynasty porcelain quite a bit.

That's right.

Porcelain from every Ming reign bears a reign mark,

except the Hongwu era.

At that time, the dynasty had only just

been established and was still on the rise.

The porcelain of that period

mostly imitated Yuan-dynasty styles.

Therefore,

only Hongwu porcelain

bears no reign mark.

This one has a mark.

Oh, Hongwu-era pieces have no marks.

Eunuch,

Wu and I

would like to have a private chat.

Please go back to your room and have some tea.

Alright.

I'll take my leave.

Master Cao.

So that "Master Lu" really is your cousin?

As the old saying goes,

"Three times is the limit."

But this is your fifth time.

Well...

"I cast my gaze toward the moon,

yet the moon shines on the gutter."

Manager Wu, you don't respect me.

Please spare me, Master Cao.

I'll return all your money!

Please spare my life, Master Cao.

You'll certainly have to return my money.

But you cheated people out of that money.

That's dirty money.

What do you mean?

Making money requires brains.

Master Cao...

Master Cao, no, don't use this!

Please, don't!

Master Cao...

Bring that to me.

Master Cao...

Don't move.

Not a bad look, right?

As soon as

I see this look of yours, I want to give you money.

Wu,

from now on, you'll wear this

and go beg for money.

Thank you, Master Cao.

Thank you, Master Cao.

Come on.

Stitch that onto his head.

Master Cao,

please don't do this!

I was wrong, Master Cao!

The "past-life wealth" scam

hasn't been seen in the underworld for ages.

Chengming, you managed to pull it off.

Good job.

Shangguan Chengming,

you set up a scam for your friend.

I have no objection.

But the sect won't cover your losses.

I've picked a few good jobs for you.

Why don't you hear me out?

In Lijiatuo, south of the city,

there's a family.

The man is 49 and still has no heir.

Now his wife is finally pregnant,

and they're asking around

for a way to make sure it's a boy.

Go write them a prescription,

and you'll get a gold bar, no sweat...

Too little.

There's a Golden Pavilion in the west of the city whose owner is selling it,

claiming the feng shui is bad.

You go and check the feng shui for it.

Too tiring.

You either think the pay is too little or the work is too tiring.

What exactly do you want?

These days, who bothers hunting roe deer?

If we're going to hunt, let's hunt a real tiger.

Then who's the real tiger?

Cao San of the Beggar Sect.

Thank you

for helping me appraise those items this time.

Otherwise,

I'd have been badly scammed

by that Wu guy.

Allow me to toast you, Eunuch.

Eunuch,

I should toast you too.

Thanks to you this time.

Behave!

If it weren't for you,

this fool

would've bought another pile of fakes.

A toast to you. Bottoms up.

Think about it: how could the palace

possibly have that many treasures?

And even if it did,

with so many imperial relatives,

how could they end up

in the hands of the Beggar Sect leader?

You should've figured that out yourself.

Honey,

you don't know.

The items from the imperial palace are the real deal.

They represent nobility

and status.

Later,

I'll buy you a Nine-Dragon Nine-Phoenix Crown.

You'll look beautiful wearing it.

Listen to you, getting carried away.

That crown is for the Empress.

I can't accept this toast.

Madam.

What?

Eunuch,

let me raise another toast to you.

I'll have to excuse myself for a bit.

I have some urgent matters to attend to.

You've caused me trouble again.

You've left me a whole mess to clean up.

You're such a headache.

Excuse me.

Let's go.

The one without balls

simply has no brains.

She can't keep a clear head like I do.

Eunuch,

please eat. Eat up.

Have one.

Come on, Eunuch,

have a beef pizzle. Freshest there is.

Come on.

Eunuch.

Eat this, and it'll strengthen that very part!

Sect Leader Cao,

I have to thank you, huh?

No need to be so formal between us.

Eunuch.

I have a little item,

and I'll have to trouble you to take a look at it for me.

Eunuch,

what kind of fish does this scale come from?

It's so big.

Sect Leader Cao,

where did you

get this?

Cao San

is the leader of the Beggar Sect.

We're all in the underworld,

minding our own business.

That's the rule of the underworld.

Since we're all in the underworld,

you must've heard about mutilating children to make them beg.

Of course.

The Beggar Sect picks up many orphans,

slashes their skin with knives,

and sticks animal pelts onto them,

turning them

into creatures that are barely human.

Then it throws them onto the street to beg and perform for money.

Over all these years,

Cao San has amassed

a great fortune through that method.

Shouldn't our Tianxiang Sect

act on Heaven's behalf—

robbing the rich to help the poor?

Cao San is notorious for being ruthless,

and he has hundreds of men under him.

How are you going to scam him?

What?

You're scared already?

Shangguan,

aren't you being a little too arrogant?

Cao San is considered a tiger.

We can hunt him.

Master,

that's Cao San we're talking about.

It's settled.

[Righteousness]

Shangguan Chengming is obviously trying to

drag our Tianxiang Sect down by pulling a scam on Cao San.

Yet Sect Master has ordered us to cooperate.

Third Brother,

if this goes wrong,

will we get dragged into it?

Although we Batous don't think much of him,

Sect Master rather likes the kid.

If the sect is all peace and harmony,

Sect Master won't see our talent shine.

Third Brother,

your skills

are practically on par with Sect Master's.

Don't say that again.

I was just joking.

Seventh Brother,

we both need to protect ourselves in this scam.

If it succeeds, we all share the credit.

If it fails...

let's muddy the waters

even further.

You mean back then,

Shangguan Chengming left Pangzhou when he was around 10?

Yes.

According to the villagers,

Hongmei sent him off to school by himself,

and he only came back once a year, at festival time.

Then one day,

Hongmei left the village.

After that, the villagers never saw either of them again.

Go to Pangzhou

and investigate her whereabouts over the years.

The more detailed, the better.

Then I'll go back and get ready.

I'll leave tomorrow.

Master.

Are we really going after Cao San?

First it was the Plum Blossom Sect,

then Fan Jialie,

and now Cao San.

I don't think Shangguan

is actually trying to scam them.

We're the roe deer to him.

Sixth Batou.

Here.

Let me ask you.

Who is the roe deer,

and who is the tiger?

Let me tell you,

a true master isn't after the roe deer

but the tiger behind him.

What we need to do is

use Cao San as the roe deer

to feed the tiger behind this.

Just doing someone a favor.

Who?

Guess.

I remember locking the door.

You did.

Looks like you've done your fair share of picking locks

and sneaking into places.

My skills might not be better than yours,

but I'm definitely braver.

If Yanzi hadn't specifically told me to,

I wouldn't even bother with you.

Which of these came from the imperial kilns?

The ones in front of you.

How much is this one?

One gold bar.

And this one?

Ten silver dollars.

The workmanship is just average.

If you're here just to pick a fight,

you know where the door is.

You expect me

to fool the Beggar Sect leader with these?

Then turn left when you leave

and go buy some real ones.

Let me tell you something:

there are quite a few experts in the Beggar Sect.

So don't

expect them to miss the fakes.

I'll take everything I just looked at.

I'll take this one too.

Put it down. Don't touch it!

That one's genuine.

A proper Ming-dynasty imperial kiln piece.

You said yourself that

there are experts in the Beggar Sect.

If I don't have a few genuine treasures on display

and everything is fake,

how would I ever lure Cao San into the scam?

Don't give me that.

Selling fakes is called a scam.

Selling genuine goods is just business.

Don't worry.

I promise to bring it back without a scratch.

Besides, you'll be there too.

If you don't trust me,

keep a close eye on it yourself.

This one is good.

You can even fake a Forbidden City piece.

Ten gold bars,

paid on the spot.

Since when do we pay on the spot for a scam in our sect?

Your scam

is different.

I can pay upfront.

But you'll have to lend me that Xuande Jar.

Fine.

That's extra—

100 gold bars.

General Longxiang wins!

Why does this cricket of yours

look so dusty and grimy?

Did you just dig it out

from under the stove?

How can yours fight my General?

Take it home and feed it to the chickens!

Feed it to the chickens!

Bring out my General Chishui.

Let's go.

Don't go.

Here are your silver dollars. Please take them.

Miss, you have such good luck.

And even better taste.

[General Longxiang]

It's all thanks to you.

May I ask your name, Miss?

You don't sound like a local.

I'm new here.

My surname is Jiang.

My surname is Cao.

Where are you from, Miss Jiang?

The north.

The north.

I wonder if you'd do me the honor

of joining me for a meal?

Maybe we could become friends.

Unfortunately,

I have important matters to attend to.

Goodbye.

Miss Jiang,

what important matters might you have?

Not to brag,

but in this place,

there's nothing I, Cao San, can't handle.

See that?

Let me tell you how powerful my master...

Mr. Cao, would your General Longxiang

be for sale?

Miss Jiang,

that's my undefeated champion.

Frankly, it's dearer to me than my own son.

So, Miss Jiang,

please don't ask me to part with what I treasure.

Never mind then.

Miss Jiang.

May I ask

why you're so set on buying my General?

Mr. Cao,

to be honest,

I've always loved keeping crickets myself.

My Little Swallow

was an undefeated champion

just like your General,

but unexpectedly,

it was bitten to death yesterday.

That's a shame.

Otherwise, my General

and your Little Swallow

would've made a perfect pair.

So,

I must find the fiercest one

to defeat Fifth Master's

Marshal Tianbao.

Fifth Master?

Which Fifth Master?

He's also...

from the north.

How about this?

I can't sell my General,

but

since you've asked, Miss Jiang,

I'm willing to lend it to you.

Pal,

I'm so nervous.

My whole body's shaking.

Liang,

take a deep breath.

It's not often you get to play the lead.

Don't screw this up.

Well...

you really think I can pull this off?

No one else

can do this but you.

I'll stay calm.

[Yuzhong Grand Hotel]

What are you doing?

Master.

What does this mean?

Wait here then.

Mr. Cao.

Come in.

Hello, Miss Jiang.

Hello.

Mr. Cao,

they're

all acquaintances of mine.

No need to be so stiff.

Relax.

Miss Jiang.

Mr. Zhao.

Pleasure to meet you.

Mr. Kui,

this must be your Mighty Dragon.

I just can't put it down.

Back then, President Cao Kun of our Cao clan

stayed right here in this Yuzhong Grand Hotel.

Miss Jiang,

forgive my asking,

but what do you do for a living?

Me? Nothing, really.

I just like having a bit of fun.

Mr. Cao,

what are you looking at?

Look at the jar in that man's hand.

That's a piece by Zhao Ziyu,

a rare treasure from the fallen dynasty.

Looks like you really know your stuff.

That gentleman over there is Mr. Kui.

He's from Peiping.

His family

served in the palace for several generations.

Plain White Banner.

P-Plain White Banner?

Lingyu.

Mr. Kui.

My respects to you.

Alright.

And this is?

This is Mr. Cao.

This is Mr. Kui.

Mr. Kui.

Lingyu,

you've been out for a while.

Did you find any treasures?

No need to ask.

I said so long ago.

What good stuff could we possibly find in a little place like this?

Later,

I'll have my Mighty Dragon

avenge your Little Swallow.

Thank you, Mr. Kui.

Actually, you know what?

I

really did find a treasure.

Really?

Look.

This is Mr. Cao's General Longxiang.

I've seen it.

It's fought its way through every match

without a loss.

It's truly formidable.

Is that so?

Mr. Kui!

I knew you'd be here.

Manchuria.

A letter came for you from Manchuria.

The letter from Manchuria

says...

Miss Jiang.

Mr. Guo.

Mr. Cao, feel free to look around.

I'll go say hello.

Okay.

Go ahead. Go.

Liang.

Hand me the jacket.

Still dawdling here?

When are you going to make an appearance?

Just a bit later.

You'd better think this through.

You can still back out.

Once I walk out that door,

the 10 gold bars

are as good as given away.

You don't trust me?

Still, Cao San isn't someone to be trifled with.

Before,

some people scammed him out of a lot of money with fake antiques.

Afterward, they were

all maimed and turned into beggars.

I know.

No matter what we sell him,

he'll have an expert appraise it.

He won't bite unless there's something real on the hook.

So,

what are you planning to sell him?

A beautiful dream.

Greetings.

What era are we living in,

and you're still kneeling like this?

Get up.

In your presence, no show of respect is too much.

Please.

Mr. Cao.

Miss Jiang.

Who's that?

To you.

All I can tell you is

that his surname is Aisin Gioro.

His brother

is the one in Manchuria.

Oh my goodness.

How about this?

I'll take you over to meet him.

How should I address him?

Just call him Fifth Master.

Fifth Master? Fifth Master...

Fifth Master.

Greetings, Fifth Master.

This is Mr. Cao.

So this is...

the master player you spoke of?

Fifth Master,

yes.

Mr. Cao.

Mr. Cao?

Greetings, Fifth Master.

You're interested in this item?

I am.

Isn't this a Xuande Jar?

I've only heard of them but never seen one.

Today, I've truly seen something special.

Please hold this for me.

Since you're here,

enjoy yourself.

Of course.

How about

we let them...

have a little fight?

Let them fight?

Okay.

Let them fight.

Mr. Cao,

please place your bet.

Fifth Master,

you decide

how much we bet.

A little gambling is harmless fun.

Let's say...

10.

Ten of what?

Fingers?

Is this guy from the countryside?

May I ask, Mr. Cao,

how much do you normally bet?

I usually bet 10 silver dollars.

Ten silver dollars?

Let me put it this way.

Ten silver dollars

isn't even enough for my Mighty Dragon's

daily feed.

Around here...

the starting stake is 10 gold bars.

Ten gold bars is nothing.

Why don't we just get started?

If I really lose,

you can come home with me to get them.

There's never been such a rule, has there?

How about this?

You

go home and get the gold bars first.

We can play after that.

Why so impatient, Mr. Kui?

Here are the gold bars.

Miss Jiang, what do you mean by this?

Mr. Cao,

you lent me your beloved champion,

and I'm not an unreasonable person.

How about this?

If we win, we split it half and half.

If we lose,

it's all on me.

Miss Jiang,

you're certainly generous.

I, Cao San, am clear-headed

and not the kind to haggle.

Win or lose, we split it half and half.

Fifth Master.

Let them fight?

I won!

High five!

Mr. Cao,

your General Longxiang

is truly extraordinary.

It's won several rounds in a row.

It really is something.

Miss Jiang, it's all because of you.

You're my lucky star.

Look, just by standing here...

With you standing by my side,

I crushed him.

You flatter me.

I should be thanking you

for helping me get my revenge.

Fifth Master, let's keep fighting.

Come on, let's have another round.

Are you stupid? Kneel!

Kneel down now!

I'm done playing.

Alright, clear out!

Go back and soothe him.

Well...

Look at this...

Such...

such a pity about the Xuande Jar.

Mr. Cao, it's alright.

I'll go out and calm him down.

Go ahead.

Fifth Master, calm down!

Is his temper that bad?

Wearing a hat.

Not very tall,

so you use that hat to make up for it.

Fifth Master?

And I'm your Second Brother.

I'll tear you apart.

Why am I so happy today?

Where is my General?

[In the next episode]

Sir,

what you see may not be real.

What you see is precisely what is real.

If you wish to glimpse the hidden mystery,

the hidden dragon will reveal itself.

This scam

is called the Golden Hook.

Golden Hook?

She's the bait meant to hook me?

If she's out to hook me,

I'll turn her into a human dog!

You've

planted a dream in him.

When the Tianxiang Sect sets up a scam,

isn't it about planting

one dream after another in people's hearts?

Long live Your Majesty!