Original subtitles

(Feud)

(Episode 14)

Beat him...

Scram! Don't ever let me see you again!

Thank you, kind sir! Thank you!

- It's nothing. - Thank you!

Thank you for helping us, noble sir.

Would you like to take in my wife?

If you're open to it, I can... I can sell her to you.

You're selling your own wife? Scum!

- Sir! - Please spare me!

Sir!

Sir, I know you have a good heart,

but we're desperate.

If we don't get food soon, my children will starve.

If selling me means they get to live a few more days, then so be it.

Times are hard. What mother

would choose this pain of separation

if there were any other way?

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

You're the eldest. Here, keep it.

Buy food, tools, whatever you need to survive.

Don't let your father get his hands on it.

Protect your mother.

Don't let him sell her again.

Stand.

- Thank you, kind sir! - Thank you!

Thank you, kind sir!

Thank you, kind sir!

It's because these times are hard,

so we must fight even harder to live.

Kind sir, what's your name?

Thank you, sir!

So, how was that? Pretty impressive just now, wasn't I?

But this heroism comes at a price.

Our feast of delicacies has now been

downgraded to steamed buns and pickles.

Wait, hero!

After witnessing your noble act,

I must say, you've got remarkable bones and an extraordinary aura!

You're cut out for immortal cultivation.

I happen to have a treasured blade called...

Xuanze.

Said to slay drought dragons and stop droughts, right?

Yes, I've heard the story.

That's right, sir!

Normally I sell this for 500 coins,

but seeing your immortal potential,

for you, just 300.

This is all I've got.

- Forget it then. - Hang on.

Since fate brought us to each other, I'll take what you've got then.

Take care now!

The treasured blade Xuanze, capable of slaying drought dragons!

Just 300 coins!

From what I just witnessed, you don't seem like a bad man.

How did you end up becoming a wanted man?

I used to be the county magistrate of Huai'an,

in charge of tracking down criminals and thieves.

Then a locust plague hit.

People were starving to death.

The government clearly had grain stockpiled,

and the wealthy families had plenty stored up too.

But none of them were willing to share.

I was furious.

So I made a deal with the prisoners

and formed a Grain Liberation Squad.

Grain Liberation Squad?

I released them,

then we raided the county office and rich households.

We seized granaries big and small,

distributing food to save countless commoners.

Impressed yet?

I wouldn't say I'm impressed,

but I will admit, for someone who looks so unreliable,

you're quite righteous.

Why aren't you walking?

Ahead is Songhe County. I can't go there.

Why not?

Well,

my grandfather serves as a steward for a wealthy family there.

He's an eccentric old man.

I mean, I was a county magistrate,

and my father is a well-known scholar.

My grandfather could've retired comfortably,

but he insisted on serving as someone's steward for life.

And now that I'm a wanted man,

I definitely can't go to him.

If I brought trouble to his master,

he'd beat me to death.

Where will you go then?

Where?

I don't know.

I will never forget that you saved my life.

If we ever meet again, I'll repay you.

See you again if fate allows.

Goodbye.

Stop right there!

Stop!

Fugitive Meng Chang Qin, surrender now.

You're to be taken back to the capital for execution.

Kill me if you must, but I'm innocent!

I'm not going back with you.

His Majesty has decreed your guilt.

Your protests mean nothing.

Corrupt officials twist the truth and call evil justice.

And truth means nothing to you lapdogs.

Come at me if you've got the guts.

Let's see if my blade is sharp enough for the likes of you!

By order of His Lordship,

arrest the fugitive Meng Chang Qin.

He shall be executed on the spot if he resists.

Since you're refusing to cooperate, Lord Meng,

we have no choice but to carry out the decree.

Get him!

- You... - Have you had your fill

of meddling in mortal affairs?

Did you see the paintings in Meng Chi's room?

A man who can't even distinguish colors,

and yet he created something so vibrant, so full of life.

It marveled even gods like us.

What does that have to do with you?

I was just thinking,

have we perhaps underestimated mortals all this time?

Even so, that's no reason for you to involve yourself in their affairs.

Sometimes, I really wonder

if your heart is made of ice.

I'm going.

And if I said I don't want you to go?

What would you choose?

Where is he?

How did he disappear?

Take a break and have some water.

Come on, just have some. It wasn't easy finding this water.

You're so ungrateful.

I'm meditating and regulating my energy.

Will you just stay quiet?

I'm just worried about you.

Besides,

are all cultivators as fragile as you?

You're exhausted after just summoning a little gust of wind.

If you ever had to use one of those resurrection spells or something,

you'd probably just...

Pass out on the spot.

Controlling wind is basically seizing the power of nature itself.

You went against nature's order.

Of course your energy drained. I get it.

We should get moving once you recover.

What's the hurry?

You don't get it,

those soldiers are like bloodhounds.

They'll track us from a whiff.

You can relax.

We're in northern territory now,

a thousand miles from Huai'an in the south.

Even if they had four horses each, they couldn't catch up.

A thousand miles away?

You are pretty powerful, Master!

Since when did I become your master?

Just now. You drank my apprenticeship water.

Apprenticeship water?

That's right.

Where I'm from, when you want to take a master,

you choose an auspicious day, present an official request,

serve tea to your master, and then perform the ceremony.

But given our situation, we've had to cut some corners.

So I offered you a bowl of hot water as my heartfelt tribute.

You never said that was apprenticeship water.

I...

I didn't?

Even if I didn't say it,

you should've known.

Aren't you a powerful cultivator?

I've heard

that you people can sense someone's thoughts with just a flicker of intent.

Since you drank my water,

it means you agreed to take me as your disciple.

You don't seem like a former official,

more like a street rascal.

I don't care.

You drank the tea, so now I'm your disciple.

No take-backs.

I'll go find food for you, Master! Wait here!

Meng Chang Qin?

Meng Chang Qin?

He's not back?

Meng Chang Qin?

Master.

Why are you sitting there?

Didn't you say you were going to find food?

Where is it?

This village was hit by a drought.

There haven't been any living souls here.

I searched the whole place, and I didn't even find a single grain of rice.

Just rats and corpses everywhere.

Given how bad the disaster was, they probably fled.

Fled?

It's the same everywhere.

Where can they flee to?

It's just escaping one hell,

only to end up in another.

Don't!

Most of the people here

were just poor folks working the land.

With this drought destroying everything,

they had no money, no grain.

Even if they fled elsewhere,

they'd have no shelter, and nothing to eat.

Rather than die as strangers in a foreign place,

they chose to starve at home.

At least their souls could return to their homeland.

The dead are gone, and the living go on.

Master, let's try somewhere else.

If we're lucky, we might catch a rabbit.

Alright.

What are you doing?

It's too stuffy inside. Thought I'd let it soak in some sunlight.

Take care.

Today wasn't a lucky day.

All I found were some mushrooms.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven.

Master, can I ask you something?

Do cultivators

really become immortals?

Of course.

As far as I know, there are at least a hundred

ascended cultivators in the Nine Heavens.

A hundred? That many?

Where do they live?

They've transcended the Six Realms and left the mortal world behind.

Naturally, they reside in the realm of immortals,

the Nine Heavens.

The Nine Heavens?

What's it like there? Is it different from our world?

Do those gods

worry about food and shelter like we do?

Immortals have divine power to protect them.

They don't need to worry about basic needs.

Most of their troubles probably

revolve around how to pass the endless years of life.

That's just unfair.

Immortals have divine protection,

they can go without food or drink.

But we mortals are flesh and blood.

We feel pain, we get hurt, we get sick, we die.

Do you know how hard we fight, just to stay alive? And yet they...

Master, you're a cultivator.

Tell me, we burn incense and kowtow to them everyday to pray,

do the gods hear us?

Each deity in the Nine Heavens has their own duty.

If you pray sincerely, they will hear it.

So that's how it works.

They really can hear us.

But if they can,

why aren't they helping us?

Why do they let us suffer like this?

Drifting from place to place, living such hard lives?

What kind of messed-up world is this?

We're human, aren't we?

But why do we have to eat scraps and live like dogs?

If gods really exist in this world,

surely drought dragons do too, right?

If the gods can't save the people,

why should we keep believing in them?

From this day on,

I'll only believe in myself.

Master,

you're up so early.

We've stayed here long enough. It's time to return.

I'm still sleepy. I have to take a nap.

So I won't be seeing you off.

Are you sure you won't come back to Songhe County with me?

I said no, and I mean it.

Your grandfather's master is a wealthy man.

If you sincerely ask, he might be kind enough to take you in.

Still not going.

You haven't seen your grandfather in years.

Don't you want to see him again?

When my father died,

I was battling locusts

and never got to see him one last time.

As for my grandfather,

I've barely seen him since I was a child.

Guess I'll never get to be a dutiful son in this life.

I've failed in my filial duty.

But right now,

there's something more important I need to do.

Master, what are you...

Since you've made up your mind,

I'll press no further.

The road ahead is long and uncertain, take care of yourself.

Master!

Changed your mind?

I just wanted to ask this.

Drought dragons really do exist, don't they?

Perhaps.

Lady!

Lady!

You're finally back.

Where is Bai Jiu Si?

He left a message for you.

He said since you refused to do that important thing,

he's finding someone else to do it.

I don't understand.

Did you have a fight?

Where is he?

I think he headed north of the city.

Sniff this. It smells nice.

And this too.

- Let's pick some more. - Alright.

Young man, what is your occupation?

Where is your residence?

How many servants do you employ?

How large is your retinue when traveling?

Do you ride horses or take sedan chairs?

I run a small shop.

I live in the Wangshu Lane area in the east of the city.

I keep few servants and travel without attendants.

Wangshu Lane in the east?

That's so remote.

That's practically the outskirts.

The property there can't be worth much.

Lady Wang, Young Master Bai simply prefers peace and quiet,

hence the eastern location.

While remote,

the scenery is exquisite.

And it's a magnificent seven-courtyard estate!

I went to take a look just yesterday.

Even just glimpsing it from afar,

the landscaping, the rockeries, the streams,

it's no less impressive than the homes of wealthy landowners.

They say good feng shui nourishes beauty.

And your daughter is already so lovely.

With the spiritual energy of such a blessed place,

she'd become even more radiant and charming!

Have you held an official post?

No.

Young Master Bai is quite young,

yet he's built up such wealth without even entering officialdom.

That's a true testament to his abilities!

Lady, just look at him.

He's handsome,

well-mannered, and has a refined presence.

Not just in Songhe County,

even in the capital,

with that bearing, that posture, and that face,

he'd still be one of the finest young men around.

Can looks put food on the table?

Besides, even the lowest sons of noble families in the capital

go out with three to five attendants at the very least.

A seven-courtyard estate?

Well, it means nothing without prime location.

Real nobility have three generations of officials in their lineage.

Such men

need no handsome features

to be considered exceptional.

Don't you agree, Young Master Bai?

Matchmaking requires mutual willingness...

Why are they arguing?

They're not arguing. That gentleman's meeting a potential bride.

Though how any mother

could disapprove of such a handsome suitor.

Potential bride?

Now, let's not be hasty.

In all my years as matchmaker,

I've always made sure the couple is well-matched

in both looks and family background.

You'll never see me pairing nobility with paupers,

or officials with butchers.

Lady, let's talk this through.

These things need time to blossom!

Don't you agree, miss?

What kind of nonsense is that?

How can you compare men and women equally?

I raised my daughter to be beautiful and well-mannered.

She's skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

She's also proficient in needlework and managing a household.

With all her talents, if she had strong family backing as well,

not just son of a noble family from the capital, she could marry royalty!

Yes! Of course she could!

And here I thought you had something important to take care of.

Turns out, it was matchmaking.

Even if you're planning to find someone new,

shouldn't you at least inform your wife, me, first?

Unbelievable! This is a scam, huh?

You're trying to trick me into making my daughter his concubine?

Mother...

No! This is a huge misunderstanding!

I just found out myself!

Young Master Bai, why didn't you tell me first before the meeting?

Now you've put me in a tough spot!

You pretty-faced scoundrel,

just looking at you, I can tell you're no good!

Scoundrel! Come on, let's go home.

I'll find you a better match.

Lady Wang!

Thanks to you, my reputation as the top matchmaker in Songhe County

is probably ruined now.

You never said anything about taking a concubine.

That's completely different from a proper marriage.

I'm not taking a concubine.

Well then...

That's even more reason to be clear from the start!

For a marriage like this,

you've got to ask the girl herself if she's fine with it.

Besides,

you should sort out your own affairs before coming to a matchmaker.

No wonder Lady Wang is furious with you.

Young Master, your situation is quite a tough one.

- So you can't help me? - No, I can!

But it'll just cost more.

Don't worry, Young Master.

Just leave it to me.

I guarantee you'll get a perfect fairy maiden!

Tomorrow at the Lanyue Pavilion, don't be late!

What are you looking at me for?

After all these years of knowing each other,

I have to help you screen potential matches.

At first glance, everything seems just right,

but look a little closer,

and somehow something still feels a bit off.

Now remember,

you're the precious daughter of a wealthy household.

Carry yourself with grace.

Sit properly.

And this outfit must go.

I got it.

You're even naggier than my mother.

Tell me,

what kind of girl does this man like?

Is he into the quiet, gentle type?

Or the bold and fiery kind?

He only had one request.

He said he wanted the kindest,

most beautiful, most pure-hearted woman in the world.

Now, I understand "kindness,"

but this "beautiful and pure,"

what do you think he means by that?

You don't need to understand.

Every man says that in brothels.

Looks like he'll be mine for the taking.

Fresh flowers!

Young Master, come!

Please wait here. She'll be here soon!

Come.

You're here too, miss. Please sit there.

Come. Come on.

Don't mind me. I will just watch and sit here in silence.

Alright.

She's here!

I went to fetch the wine. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Allow me to pour for you as an apology.

Please don't take offense.

I can do it myself.

Please enjoy, sir.

Miss, are you alright?

I'm terribly sorry, sir.

Miss...

Miss, you must be really weak.

You can't even stand steadily, you should sit down right away.

Here, sit here.

Let's eat and talk.

Come on now, have some food.

Here.

- Try this, sir. - I can help myself.

Enjoy it.

Is the meat not fresh?

Should I get the waiter to replace it?

It's fine. It's fresh.

Have some more then.

Young Master.

Wan'er?

Let me go check on her.

Wan'er?

Waiter!

Yes, ma'am.

What's wrong with your food here?

My girl got sick from eating it!

Ma'am, you can't make baseless claims.

Our restaurant has been in business for years.

There's no way our food made her sick.

Baseless?

She took one bite of meat and vomited!

If it's not your food, then what is it?

Fine, deny it,

let's report it to the authorities.

We'll see in court who's really to blame!

Please don't. I just need a moment to rest.

Nonsense!

It's clearly the food!

You need to rest? Or are you just feeling guilty?

Maybe you folks are new to town and don't know how things work here.

Every day, we get people trying to get a free meal.

This little trick of yours is just embarrassing.

Just pay your bill,

and your names won't end up in the official records.

Excuse me?

What did you just say?

You think we're trying to scam a meal?

Ask around, see what people say about Madam Li the Matchmaker!

As if I'd stoop to dining and dashing in your place.

Go fetch a physician now!

If he proves that your food made my girl sick,

I'll sue you and ruin you!

- Fine! I'll go now! - Go!

Waiter, don't bother.

What do you mean, "don't bother"?

Go, go fetch a physician now!

Fine, as you wish!

And I'll report to the authorities too!

- Come on! - How dare you!

You're ruining this for my client!

You're ruining my business!

You think I'd let you bully me?

You're hitting me! We're definitely settling this in court!

Fine, let's do it! Go ahead!

Trying to play the victim, huh?

Let go of me!

Stop.

Stay out of this.

I said stop.

There's nothing wrong with the food.

It's me.

What do you mean, "you"?

I'm pregnant.

Young Master Bai!

Young Master Bai...

Please don't be upset.

I didn't know she was with child.

And besides, just like how I didn't know

you already had a wife before either...

I'm not angry.

I just think you can't find me the one I'm looking for.

What kind of woman are you looking for then?

Why don't you describe her in detail?

Do you prefer someone elegant and dignified,

or delicate and demure?

Do you want someone gentle and tender,

or lively and spirited?

What kind of family background are you looking for? What sort of figure?

And would it matter if she's had past ties with someone else?

I don't know.

But when the right person appears,

I'll know it in a single glance.

Let me be honest with you, Young Master Bai.

I've been matchmaking for ten years now.

Through my efforts, I've brought together dozens,

no, maybe even over a hundred couples.

And I have never met someone as picky as you.

You have no accompliments.

You're not the son of a noble family,

you don't have parents or siblings to support you,

And yet you want the most beautiful, the perfect woman in the world?

Where do you get

such audacity?

This is good. I'll take this.

How much is this?

If you ask me,

neither of the girls that matchmaker found for you are worth considering.

That courtesan faking a pregnancy, well, clearly not a good match.

As for Miss Wang from the teahouse,

yes, she's gentle and lovely,

but she has a mother who's extremely difficult to deal with.

Even if you did marry her, you'd be in for a lifetime of headaches.

Here!

- Be careful. - Thank you, sir.

Let's keep playing!

Pass it to me!

Didn't you just help a mortal too?

So why was it wrong for me to save Meng Chang Qin?

It's not the same.

How is it not the same?

Meng Chang Qin would put you in danger.