Original subtitles

♪As flowers bloom and wither♪

♪May we pass by the magnificent scenery♪

♪Contemplate the vastness of Heaven and Earth♪

♪Could it be that both of us are filled with desolation?♪

♪As flowers bloom and wither♪

♪May we lead such a life♪

♪Contemplate the vastness of Heaven and Earth♪

♪Turning back, you and I♪

♪Seize the current moment♪

♪The sky is painted with a gentle pallet of pastel colors♪

♪Let's walk together♪

♪Even if♪

♪The snow in front of us♪

♪Will dye our hair white♪

♪In an instant♪

[Joy of Life Season 2]

[Adapted from Mao Ni's Joy of Life on Yuewen Group's Qidian platform]

[Episode 36]

If you do it without his permission,

I'm afraid Father will

be enraged.

If you wish to achieve great feats,

you can't afford to be indecisive.

I don't think this path will turn out well.

But I will pretend I know nothing

or hear nothing about it,

nor will I secretly report

to Father.

Thank you.

But I really don't hold with it.

What about you?

Me neither.

You don't hold with this too?

No, I don't.

Superficially,

it seems to harm the imperial family and benefit the populace.

He's the royal,

it's understandable he doesn't hold with it.

But why did you think the same too?

To be honest,

I don't quite understand what you have said

but I believe the choice you made

must be right, Master.

Then why do you disagree?

It doesn't really matter what is right or wrong

in this world.

The path you chose

will affect many people's interests.

I'm worried you will make enemies

down the road

and many obstacles might await.

People always say

that right and wrong aren't important.

But if people always carry this thought

and no one tries to make a change,

the fire in the Three Great Workshops

and the Shijia Town

will never cease.

Master,

though I disagree with this path,

I'm willing to accompany you

even if I will be burned to ashes.

I won't regret it.

I think the same as Chanli.

Is that really what you think?

I knew you were crazy.

But I didn't expect you to be this crazy.

You are even dragging the prince along with you.

You were eavesdropping on us.

I didn't mean to.

Master,

we will take our leave.

Let's leave.

We haven't played the Go yet.

Sit.

Why? What's the matter?

Just checking on you.

I'm worried Yun Zhilan might come back again.

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

I'm afraid the path you mentioned

is very likely to lead you to death.

There would be more than just Yun Zhilan.

That's why I would like you

to stay here for a few more days.

With your skills,

except for grandmasters,

other ninth-level won't be able to kill you.

After the assassination at the Hanging Temple,

my qi flow burst the meridians

and scattered across my body.

It hasn't recovered until now.

So I need you.

Finally, you are admitting this.

I never wanted to hide it.

It was a different case in your letter, though.

Well, the letter will be read by many people.

There are things I can only tell you face-to-face.

Why didn't you hide it from me?

I feel sorry.

Why is that so?

You are my friend.

We only met a few times.

You never know.

Wondrous things happen between people.

Some you know for life

can only be no more than an acquaintance.

For some whom you briefly meet,

you would entrust your life to them.

You probably think this is sentimental.

I have encountered many people in my life,

but only a few can be considered friends.

You are one of them.

This is indeed sentimental.

I think so too.

I won't say that anymore.

So you demand for One Heaven Manual

to recultivate your qi?

I'm grasping at anything.

Bring that over.

What are you doing?

Grind ink.

Keep on. Don't stop.

[One Heaven Manual]

What did you change?

Master did something to it.

Is this manual fake?

Not entirely.

Most of it is real.

Only a few parts are altered.

What would happen to me

if I followed the altered one?

You could regain your qi

but wouldn't reach the ninth level.

You might even become an idiot if accidents happen.

Evil!

Didn't Ku He say this is given by my mother?

It is.

How could he return an altered version to the owner?

After all, you are an important official of the Qing State.

Please understand.

Hold on. You know about this.

Of course I do.

Why didn't you remind me?

Trust goes both ways.

I wouldn't dare be frank with you if you didn't be honest.

You figured that something was wrong with my qi flow.

You wrote to demand the manual.

Even a fool would figure

that you are in trouble.

If you hide the truth from me

and become an idiot, blame yourself.

Do you have to be so ruthless?

Given our identities,

being friends is beyond us.

What are you going to explain to Ku He

if you change this back?

I don't have to explain anything.

Disciples don't always follow the master's order.

I really appreciate it.

There are more good folks in the world.

How sentimental.

Give me the brush.

Why?

I will draw some paintings for you.

What paintings?

The Dominant Qi manual I gave you earlier

was missing some paintings.

If you force the cultivation, you might bleed from every orifice.

When can this world

be less deceitful?

Same for you.

Let's try to be kind.

Mr. Fan,

look who's here.

I, Deng Ziyue of Imperial Inspectorate First Division,

greet you, Inspector.

Deng, we have known each other for long.

There's no need for that.

Come on and sit.

We should observe formalities.

Qinian.

Where is your mustache?

Well, Mr. Fan ordered me

to investigate the Ming family in Jiangnan.

Since this is an undercover mission,

I think I need a complete disguise.

Come. Have some water.

Thank you, Qinian.

Let's get to the business.

As per your order,

I disguised myself as a refugee and went to Jiangnan.

The Ming family recruited me as expected.

However, they were very suspicious.

I was working tirelessly in the first month.

I suppose they were investigating my identity.

The First Division and Fourth Division

crafted this identity for you.

It should be flawless, right?

Indeed.

By the second month,

the guard loosened.

I found one chance

and showed them my skills in accounting.

Hence, they began to accept me.

Finally,

I entered the Three Great Workshops.

So the Three Great Workshops still exist.

Of course.

Mr. Fan,

the Ming family has secretly transferred the Three Great Workshops,

the secretaries and builders

out of the city long ago.

I knew they swapped it.

So many innocent lives were killed.

Mr. Fan, look at this.

[20 li southwest of Hangzhou City] The latest location of the warehouse.

Mr. Fan,

I reckon

the Ming family set the fire and killed the people

is the worst sin.

They must be punished.

The Ming family must be punished,

but not now.

The Ming family isn't our only concern for now,

but also the peace of Jiangnan for the future decades.

Mr. Fan,

what should I do next?

Did anyone notice you

when you left the warehouse?

Head back now

and pretend nothing happened.

The undercover mission has begun.

Continue to conceal yourself.

We wouldn't know

what variables will await the Three Great Workshops.

As you command,

Mr. Fan.

Qinian,

please protect Mr. Fan.

Don't worry.

Deng,

you ought to keep yourself safe.

You may go.

No need to send me off.

Did Shadow turn up afterward?

After his fight with Yun Zhilan,

he is nowhere to be seen.

Never mind him, then.

Tomorrow, we are leaving the city

to reclaim the Three Great Workshops.

You see,

your qi is gone, right?

I can only run.

Why don't we

bring Miss Duoduo along?

No.

She is the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi.

If she is there

when I reclaim the Three Great Workshops,

people might make a fuss about it.

Wang,

we can only rely on ourselves when it really comes down to it.

As you say.

Fan Xian left the city on horseback?

The news just came in.

The direction they are heading

is the current warehouse of the Three Great Workshops.

The location of the warehouse

should be highly confidential.

Someone must have leaked the information.

Only the two of them left the city?

Initially.

They are cavalries too?

It's the Black Cavalries of the Imperial Inspectorate.

Didn't Xie Bi'an guarantee

Fan Xian's death in two days?

Two days are up.

Even Yun Zhilan failed,

who else could kill Fan Xian?

Yun Zhilan

isn't a grandmaster.

A grandmaster is stepping in?

That's why Li Yunrui personally invited

the grandmaster.

There are four grandmasters.

Which one

is involved?

Mr. Shadow.

I thought you would keep avoiding me.

We will deal with that later.

You should go back now.

We can't go back now.

We are getting close to the Three Great Workshops.

Ye Liuyun is heading to Suzhou now.

Ku He is in Northern Qi,

while Sigu Jian doesn't want to meddle.

Only one person is left.

Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun is the grandmaster of the Qing State.

Why would he attack someone on his side?

After the assassination at the Hanging Temple,

the Ye family was expelled from the Capital.

It has nothing to do with Mr. Fan.

That's His Majesty's order.

Right.

Ye Liuyun is taking revenge against the imperial family.

Mr. Fan, let's go back to the city.

Ye Liuyun won't attack us with many people around,

right?

If not,

let's take a ship and leave Jiangnan.

The grandmaster's strength is far above ordinary people's.

Those behind you are unable to stop him.

If I were to go back to the city now,

the Ming family would transfer the Three Great Workshops again.

If they learn from this lesson,

they will dismantle the Three Great Workshops

and scatter them across Jiangnan.

Which means

if I want to reclaim the Three Great Workshops,

I have to act fast.

And now is the only chance.

But who will handle Ye Liuyun?

How soon will he arrive?

He is still far away from here.

But with a grandmaster's skill,

it only takes a few hours.

It's my mother's property,

I must reclaim it.

Mr. Fan,

I should've asked for more salary.

You are getting yourselves killed!

Who are they?

Be careful.

Over here.

I got it.

Don't move! Stop!

- Don't move! - Stop!

Everyone stops!

Don't move!

Stop what you are doing!

You go over there.

Who's out there?

Who are those people?

Come with me.

Come on.

Where are they?

What people? Where are they?

They are at the entrance.

What's the matter?

Move.

Move.

Hurry up.

Come on. Quick.

Don't move.

Don't move.

Nobody moves.

Don't move.

Stay still first, everyone.

Put it down.

You...

Who are you?

This is the private property of the Ming family.

How dare you trespass riding horses!

Have you no respect for the law?

How dare you ignore the law!

What did you just say?

I don't quite follow.

What is this place?

I made it very clear.

This is the property of the Ming family.

Wang.

Imperial Treasury Transportation Bureau Case.

The secretary of the Imperial Treasury Transportation Bureau's First Workshop,

Xiao Jing, is it you?

It's me.

This records all your crimes

from the first year of the Qing State until now.

What?

You are imposing crimes I didn't do.

Just shut up and listen.

In the third month of the second year of the Qing State,

Xiao Jing concealed the death cases of the copper mining accident

and embezzled the subsidies of the dead for five years.

The total is

13,700 taels.

On the ninth day of the seventh month of the fourth year of the Qing State,

Xiao Jing bribed the chief clerk of Suzhou

and procured 700 mu of fine crop field at an extremely low price.

In the first month of the sixth year of the Qing State,

Xiao Jing led the other two secretaries

and other treasurers

owe workers over ten thousand taels.

This caused a commotion

that resulted in 14 deaths and more than 50 injuries.

You!

Embezzlement of dead subsidies and bribery are negotiable.

But death cases

are unforgivable.

According to the Qing State's law,

you should be executed.

How could you convict me

without evidence?

This is the statement and evidence.

Read it yourself.

[Statement]

If you want to convict me,

take it to the court...

The Imperial Inspectorate's inspector has a duty for judgment and execution.

With the witnesses and conclusive evidence,

criminals are to be executed according to the law.

No trial is needed.

Can anyone

tell me

what place this is?

Mr. Xiao is dead.

The Imperial Inspectorate is as advertised.

Sir,

this is...

this is...

The personal property of the Ming family.

The secretary of the Imperial Treasury Transportation Bureau's Second Workshop,

Ma Xiongjian, is it you?

It's me.

Listen carefully.

Ever since you began your service,

out of your twelve concubines,

nine were abducted,

and two were widowers whose husbands you killed.

In addition, the riot in the sixth year of the Qing State

was planned by Ma Xiongjian and Xiao Jing.

According to the Qing State's law,

you should face concurrent sentences of execution.

Sir!

Sir, please spare my life!

Sir, please spare my life!

I won't do that again!

Sir, please spare me!

Sir!

Execute him.

Everyone, listen carefully.

I just arrived in Jiangnan,

but that doesn't mean I know nothing.

Nothing in this world

can be hidden from the Imperial Inspectorate.

There is another

chief clerk with the surname Hu. Where is he?

Here. I'm here.

I, Hu Jinlin, secretary of the Third Workshop,

greet Mr. Fan.

Mr. Hu, right?

Can you tell me

what place is this?

Answer me.

Mr. Fan,

this is the Three Great Workshops' warehouse of the Imperial Treasury.

All goods of the Transportation Bureau are stored here temporarily.

I see. This is the Three Great Workshops.

Yes, the Three Great Workshops.

Inspector Fan Xian of the Imperial Inspectorate

takes over the Three Great Workshops under the imperial decree.

His Majesty sends me for this duty.

Everyone,

do you have any objections?

Do you have any?

Mr. Fan, you are acting according to the imperial decree.

The Imperial Treasury Three Great Workshops

will hand over control as decreed.

Count yourself lucky that you didn't kill lives.

Are there any iron smelting tools

in the Three Great Workshops?

Yes.

They are all gathered in a warehouse.

Show me the way.

Yes.

Move aside.

Move.

Move.

Mr. Fan.

Fan Xian entered the warehouse

and hasn't come out since then?

Yes.

The door is closed.

But they heard

the sound of hammering iron

and furnace burning.

But they can't figure out what he is doing inside.

It's fine anyway.

Even if the Three Great Workshops are surrendered,

as long as Ye Liuyun takes action,

Fan Xian

will die.

What if he doesn't?

The person he is against is a grandmaster.

You are the head of the family.

You need to know this.

Do not lay hope on others.

What will happen

if Fan Xian doesn't die?

The entire Ming family will be executed

for competing for the Three Great Workshops.

Who says it's the Ming family?

Right.

The Ming family is a victim.

Someone betrayed the family.

If that's the case,

even if we adopt another kin,

I'm afraid we can't cope

with a serious crime like this.

You have lots of blood brothers.

You can sacrifice them

one by one!

Calm down, Mother.

Whether they were

to sacrifice one by one

or all together depends on you.

Be that as it may,

we can't cope with the charge.

That's easy.

Between you and me,

one will be chosen to sacrifice.

Needless to say, it will be me.

Even though

how much I cherish my life,

I'm still human.

How could I sacrifice

my compassion and charitable mother?

My good son.

Don't make the choice just yet.

We will see if Fan Xian survives.

Mother, you are right.

But this time, Fan Xian

will have to die.

It has been quite a while.

I don't understand.

How can he manage

to create a powerful weapon to attack a grandmaster

in such a short time?

Mr. Fan.

Attention, Black Cavalries!

Defend the Three Great Workshops.

Without my order, no one is allowed it.

Yes!

Has Ye Liuyun arrived?

Are you that eager?

He's almost here.

I will go and greet him.

Mr. Fan.

Mr. Fan.

I have never seen someone rush to greet a grandmaster.

Mr. Fan

is not anyone.

You actually complimenting him?

Are you insane?

Being insane once in a while

can be quite thrilling.

Mr. Fan, wait for me!

They are insane.

Waiter, a pot of tea.

Mr. Shadow?

You came here too.

It's pretty good to join the fun.

If you don't know what to say,

then don't say.

I'm nervous.

I have to say something.

Mr. Fan,

do I have time to go to the loo now?

I don't think so.

What's wrong?

What's wrong with the horse?

Ye Liuyun is here.

♪An instant bloom of waves♪

♪Has no difference♪

Don't follow me.

I will handle it myself.

Going alone is suicidal.

♪From millennia stone♪

Well.

If you die,

I will pick up your body.

I beg to differ.

If I really die,

there won't be any remains.

Mr. Fan.

♪Just like the drifting cloud♪

Wang,

you are always smart.

You can run fast.

If anything happens later,

don't do silly things.

Mr. Fan.

What does that mean?

I might not defeat Grandmasters even with this?

Exactly.

Grandmasters are human.

How can they possibly dodge an advanced weapon?

Grandmasters

aren't held back by the usual limitations.

Doesn't that make them monsters?

♪Has no difference♪

What's going on?

Over there.

It's coming.

Amazing.

[Ye Liuyun, grandmaster]

[Ye Liuyun, grandmaster] Fan Xian.

Greetings, Mr. Ye.

I owe someone a favor.

I won't kill you if you leave Jiangnan.

Sorry,

I don't really take advice.

What were you looking at just now?

A powerful weapon.

Why aren't you using that?

I thought to myself

and figured

that I didn't need it.

How so?

You won't kill me.

I gather you are known for your Drifting Cloud Hand Techniques.

Swords

can kill faster.

Why won't I kill you?

Because you daren't.

All over the world,

unless someone ruthless like Sigu Jian,

no one

dares kill me.

Are you sure?

The Ye family is ousted from the Capital,

but it still stands,

hasn't collapsed yet.

If you really kill me,

the Ye family

will fall apart.

So this gives you

confidence?

You are like a drifting cloud in the sky.

Without constraints.

But for so many years,

you have left an attachment down here,

which still makes you human.

And so,

you are attached.

Waves bloom in an instant

but they are no different

from a millennia rock.

So it is with you, Mr. Ye.

Who told you

I care about the Ye family?

What was that?

Continue to eat the dishes.

Mr. Ye,

I win the bet.

You are a grandmaster,

but you are still human.

What a gambler.

This is insane.

I wonder who you take after.

Thank you, Mr. Ye.

Just this one time.

It won't happen again.

I thank you for showing me

that even a grandmaster can still be human.

In my life,

I pursue politics and martial arts.

If both of them lose humanity

in the end,

it's pointless for me.

You are so different from your mother.

You are sentimental.

You knew her?

She is not like you.

Smart.

But not too smart.

What does that mean?

I'm human,

but that doesn't mean other grandmasters

see themselves in the same way.

Mr. Fan,

everything is over, right?

We won.

How did you know he wouldn't kill you?

I bet my life on that.

Congrats.

You won.

One more question.

Since he didn't kill you,

why did he

wield the sword?

To show the Capital.

The Ye family was exiled,

which upset him.

He expressed his attitude with that slash.

But when he wielded at me,

I felt an earthquake.

At that moment, I thought I was dead.

Unexpectedly,

he just cut my hair.

What is this happening?

Why?

What... What is going on?

Splitting a building with a slash.

That's what a grandmaster can do.

Grandmasters

are truly not human.

It sounds like an insult.

You said that wrong.

Actually, they are

still human.

Do you think this could happen for us?

I might.

What about me?

Mr. Fan,

only your qi recovers.

I'm back.

[End of This Season]

It's not over yet.

Don't tell me

I have to wait for years again for the end.

Library is closing.

Please take your personal effects and exit in an orderly manner.

Shadow hurt Fan Xian so badly, and he's not doing anything?

What about Yuan Meng?

Lives are killed because of her.

What exactly is the relationship between Emperor Qing and the Divine Temple?

[May all the endurance be worthwhile] Spend things up,

[May hardships not diminish your spirit] please?

[Fan Xian chose a path without compromises. We hope the same for you.]

[Having you all along has been a joy in life. See you in Season 3.]

♪The youth raises his head♪

♪As he moves toward his moon♪

♪People tease him for being delusional♪

♪Wondering why he is so unconventional♪

♪Wearing a white robe when crossing a muddy pond♪

♪How could it remain unstained?♪

♪If silver tael has a value♪

♪Who can truly be carefree?♪

♪All of you are right♪

♪He said: "Please"♪

♪"Make way"♪

♪"Let me drink until I drop"♪

♪On the court♪

♪I recite several verses♪

♪Let me wear a white robe♪

♪And cross the alley filled with insanity♪

♪To scoop up the moon's reflection in the muddy pond♪

♪Sirs, please forgive me♪

♪Your words of advice♪

♪I understand, but I don't want to pretend♪

♪People search for the golden land♪

♪While I search for the moon♪

♪Why should we travel together?♪

♪Thank you♪

♪Excuse me♪

♪You are you♪

♪I am me♪

♪Thank you♪

♪Excuse me♪

♪You are you♪

♪I am me♪

♪Wearing a white robe when crossing a muddy pond♪

♪Remarkably worldly-wise yet hopelessly romantic♪

♪Know what you love♪

♪Don't change♪

♪If one has witnessed both light and shadow♪

♪Yet retains their innocence♪

♪They shall be cloaked in moonlight♪

♪As they journey through the night♪