Original subtitles

(Phantom Love)

(Episode 7)

The Deputy Minister of Revenue is missing.

I'm looking into it right now.

If he can't get over his son's death,

then he can go keep him company.

Also,

why did those two snake demons suddenly show up and get in the way?

Something's definitely off about this.

Understood.

I'll look into it right away.

Your Highness, what's going on?

I'll get the imperial physician right now.

It's nothing.

I fought those two snake demons yesterday

and got a bit banged up.

I feel a little dizzy, that's all.

Go look into both matters immediately.

Yes.

Li,

you've been entering dreams, and you were wounded.

Your spiritual power is exhausted.

If you don't devour the nightmares of evil people soon,

and keep up your cultivation,

I'm afraid you won't have the strength to look for the spiritual root.

Don't worry.

I'll find the right moment to devour nightmares.

By the way,

I need your help with something else.

Even though I've already broken into Shen Que's inner dream,

I still couldn't find the spiritual root there.

So you're saying

the spiritual root isn't in Shen Que's inner dream?

Yes.

He actually has a deeper layer, the core dream.

I've never seen anyone with three layers of dreams.

But I have no idea how to break into

the core dream.

According to the Bamboo Mirror,

the way to unlock the core dream

is for you to have a closer relationship with him.

Maybe

just being affectionate isn't enough.

You need to genuinely connect with him in real life too.

No way.

Li, I know you can't stand Shen Que,

but this is the only way we've got right now.

To retrieve the spiritual root, you must...

All my suffering began because of him.

I won't ever repeat the mistakes of my past life.

Given Shen Que's condition,

someone must've purposely hidden the spiritual root.

If you try to remove the spiritual root directly,

it'll damage his soul.

He'll die instantly.

He'll die instantly?

So this plan

might still come in handy.

(The snake venom is kicking in.)

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, what's wrong?

Your Highness.

Where were you?

I made something for you,

I embroidered a sword tassel by hand.

I then went to the temple

to offer my prayers.

I prayed for your safety

and successes.

If Your Highness doesn't like it...

Could you tie it on for me?

Your Highness, are you all right?

I'll go get someone right now.

It's just some poison.

It's not going to kill me.

(The key to unlock the core dream)

(requires an even deeper connection with him.)

(Today might be my only chance.)

Your Highness,

your forehead is burning up.

Are you still feeling awful?

When my mother was still alive,

she gave me a remedy.

It can detoxify and cleanse.

Will Your Highness trust me?

Are you feeling any better now, Your Highness?

It's really warm, isn't it?

Are you feeling warm, Your Highness?

I brought some tangerines to help you cool down.

Here.

Meeting you for the first time

feels just like

meeting an old friend.

Are you sure about it?

(I was intimate with him.)

(So why is the core dream)

(inaccessible still?)

(Li,)

(you've been entering dreams, and you were wounded.)

(Your spiritual power is exhausted.)

(If you don't devour the nightmares of evil people soon,)

(and keep up your cultivation,)

(I'm afraid you won't have the strength to look for the spiritual root.)

(Li, I've found a few truly wicked people for your cultivation.)

Did you find any truly evil people?

There are two options.

The first is Hu Zheng, owner of Yuman Restaurant in town.

He was head over heels for Man, the top courtesan at Luchun House.

He bought her freedom and married her.

Rumor has it they were deeply in love.

Their story became a local legend.

- Come. - With his wife's support,

his business kept blooming.

Once he got rich, he started resenting her background.

He beat her in private.

He even caused her to lose their baby.

Horrible being.

Logically, he should've been punished.

But why does it seem like

he's the victor now?

Only nobles can enter Yuman Restaurant.

It's guarded really tightly.

We need to find a way in.

The other person

often kidnaps kids.

He profits from human trafficking.

Many parents are devastated after losing their kids.

Some kids were tortured to death by him

before he even got to sell them.

Follow me.

Where am I?

Why am I here?

You did these awful things just for money.

You will feel double the pain

you caused others.

Stay away. I'll give you as much money as you want.

Don't come any closer.

From this moment on,

I am you.

Your Highness, Master's ceremony isn't over yet.

Please wait a moment.

(Demons Compendium)

(The Dream-Eater)

(is said to carry a glass dream lamp.)

(It has crimson eyes)

(and feeds on dreams.)

(This demon is skilled at seduction and deception,)

(lurking deep in its prey's heart.)

(It uses wickedness to punish the evil,)

(luring them into a web of nightmares.)

(It haunts dreams, making it impossible to guard against.)

(It kills without mercy,)

(and is the most wicked of all demons.)

(Meng Li, she...)

(She really is a demon.)