Original subtitles

[The Mutations]

[Episode 1]

In the third year of Tianqi,

the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong cleared wasteland and built a fortress to defend the border town of Ningyuan,

which was quite effective.

However, there were many voices of opposition in the court.

Coincidentally, a rumor about a strange disease in Ninghai Fortress started circulating.

Officials submitted one letter after another

saying that the construction of a fortress in Liaodong violated God's will.

In a short time,

the relationship between the imperial court and Liaodong

became unpredictable.

The 29th day of the winter

was the first day I came here,

outside the Shanhai Pass in Liaodong.

I've to rush to the front garrison to deliver documents.

Are you heading the same way?

Delicious.

I have wine.

Have a sip.

So you're going to Ningyuan City.

Military Advisor Long ordered us to go to Shanhai Pass

to purchase medicinal herbs.

We have to hurry.

Sir.

Don't tell me you're transporting the medicinal herbs

for the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress

in the east of Ningyuan City?

Exactly.

I pray every day in hopes that

they won't make us deliver medicine to Ninghai Fortress.

If we really get infected, I will...

You talk too much.

I heard that Commander Sun

building a fortress in Ningyuan

provoked God's will

and the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress is a bad omen.

Bad omen?

That is, the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress

is caused by demons.

Do you believe it?

Of course not.

But

what is the truth?

It's true that there's a rumor about demons.

They also said

everyone who has this strange disease

is treated as prey by demons.

They will be eaten by demons.

They're treating us like we're three year olds,

aren't they?

Ridiculous.

Believe it.

I heard that some patients have disappeared.

Their whereabouts are unknown.

Patients have disappeared?

Buddy.

I have a hometown friend from Zhending

surnamed Yang.

Well,

he works as a servant for Military Inspector Yan.

I wonder how he's doing.

Someone from Zhending surnamed Yang?

Yang Lin?

He caught a cold a few days ago.

He's suffering.

That's right.

Yang Lin...

died last month.

Buddies, calm down.

Let's just talk it out nicely.

What's there to talk about?

Look at this.

A warrant?

This guy's an Imperial Guard.

No wonder he's been trying to get us to talk.

It turns out you're Eunuch Wei's lackey.

I'm an Imperial Guard, [Captain, Chu Sijing] the captain of the Investigation Bureau, Chu Sijing.

I was ordered to come out to investigate the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress.

I ran into you so I just had a chat.

I have no other intention.

I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything

and didn't meet you.

What do you think?

How do we trust you?

You're sent by the eunuch

to harm Commander Sun, right?

You even got us to talk so much.

You can't leave.

Kill him!

Everyone,

let's not push each other into this.

Kill!

You didn't hurt your vital organs.

You just need to rest for a few days.

Why are you doing this to me?

We will die.

We will die.

Everyone will die.

It's too late.

Everything will happen.

It's another illusion.

It's been two years.

[Be upright and lawful] [Ningyuan City's council hall]

Mr. Chu.

The commander hasn't returned from the inspection with General Yuan. [Major general, Long Cheng] The city is currently managed by me

and the military inspector Eunuch Yang sent from the capital. [General, Yang Zan]

The end of the year is coming.

It's freezing outside the Pass.

What strange disease can there be?

I'm just doing my job according to orders.

I hope you'll assist me.

Mr. Chu.

The Imperial Guards never head out for errands alone.

Why did you

come here alone?

The plague may be a rumor,

but it concerns the construction of the fortress.

It would be too much of an interference,

so I came alone.

I suppose you two also know

the opinions in the court.

What opinions?

There are opinions in the court against

Commander Sun's construction of the fortress.

Mr. Chu.

Eunuch Wei sent Eunuch Yang here to inspect the army.

If the rumor is true,

how could they have hidden it from Eunuch Yang?

Mr. Chu.

What are your thoughts

on this rumor?

I only know to do my job.

I report my findings as they are.

I'm neutral about it.

That's good.

So,

how should I proceed with my investigation?

Mr. Chu.

The rumor started at Ninghai Fortress.

I'll send the officer Bo Yan

to you tomorrow morning

to help you with the case.

Mr. Chu, I hope you can find out the truth,

if there are evil spirits

in Ninghai Fortress.

[Officer Bo Yan]

Mr. Chu.

Mr. Bo Yan.

I'm the military officer Bo Yan from Ningyuan.

I've been waiting for you.

It's my pleasure to serve you.

Thank you.

Sir has ordered that

since this is a patient who died of typhoid fever,

we need to burn it competely.

Died of typhoid fever?

Didn't you see the scar on the body?

Which typhoid fever patient

dies like this?

Just follow orders.

If you ask too much,

you might lose your head.

Xu.

Isn't this my buddy Bo Yan?

It's been a while since we met.

Why are you here instead of building the city wall in Ningyuan?

Are you a deserter?

You and your nonsense.

Who is a deserter?

You are the deserter.

Let me introduce you.

An Imperial Guard from the capital, Mr. Chu.

[Chiliarch, Xu Zongqi] Please pardon my manners, Mr. Chu.

I'm the captain of Northern Investigation Bureau, Chu Sijing.

I'm here on an order.

I'm Xu Zongqi, the chiliarch here.

This is

the deputy chiliarch, Lei Sui. [Deputy chiliarch, Lei Sui] Greetings, sirs.

The rumors of a plague here

are running rampant in the capital.

Mr. Xu.

I wonder what the truth is.

It's late.

Please take a rest.

You'll find out after you survey the place tomorrow.

Sir, this way please.

This place is not as nice as the capital.

The barracks are just like this.

Please make do with it.

Sir.

Where do you want to sleep?

Sirs.

Time to eat.

In recent days, there has been a shortage of food.

I'm sorry.

Please enjoy.

Wait.

Sir.

What kind of meat

is this?

Sir, it's bushmeat.

We all eat this here.

Thanks.

Don't be so particular. Eat up.

I once was trapped in the mountains during an investigation

and also had this kind of meat.

The meat is tough

and has a gamey taste.

What kind of meat is this?

This is wolf meat.

Follow me tomorrow and act accordingly.

It's too late.

It's too late.

Don't trust anyone.

No one!

You have to go the island.

Go to the island.

Wumu Island.

Thunder god vine?

This is the so-called plague.

The winter has arrived.

A typhoid fever outbreak in the barracks is typical.

Even this can be rumored to be a plague.

There's nothing I can do about it.

Mr. Chu, you even know how to practice medicine?

His pulse is weak

and thin.

It's indeed a symptom of typhoid fever.

See?

I'm right, aren't I?

Someone must be up to no good.

Mr. Chu.

Typhoid fever is infectious. We shouldn't stay here for long.

What is this?

This man has had a skin disease

for a long time.

Are all the patients here?

The typhoid fever is a common disease,

but it's troublesome when it spreads.

We are very cautious.

Anyone who has symptoms will be isolated here.

They can only leave after they've recovered.

Are there any deaths?

Yes.

But just a few people.

They were all wounded from the war.

This disease is not fatal.

I think the deaths were all caused by war injuries.

Xu is right.

There are many wars at the border.

It's normal to have a few casualties every once in a while.

Is the typhoid fever the only illness in the barracks?

Yes.

Sir.

I'm here to accompany you

for the investigation.

If you find anything strange,

for example,

someone saying it's a disaster

caused by the construction of Ningyuan's defense line,

please be discerning.

We haven't found anything yet.

Why are you feeling guilty?

Sir, why would I be feeling guilty?

At this time,

you know better than me who in the court

is a patriot

and who is a traitor.

I don't care if you have an ulterior motive,

I'll say it again.

Building Ningyuan's defense line

is a national plan.

If someone deliberately sabotaged it,

they are a country traitor.

Don't worry, Bo Yan.

I'm here on a mission.

I won't interfere with your fortress building.

Thank you.

It's cold. Why do you go to the sea?

Do you usually see this kind of fish?

Fishes in this season are hard to catch,

but

there are still some of them.

It's just that we...

It's common.

It's common.

It's common.

Do you

have fish to eat normally?

No.

Why not?

Please don't mind, Sir.

Mr. Lei ordered

not to let us fish for fish to eat.

If it weren't for Mr. Bo Yan's order,

we wouldn't have touched this fish.

As for why,

we have no idea.

Don’t worry.

I won’t tell Mr. Bai about this.

One more question.

When the arrest warrant was issued?

Well...

I don't remember.

We're just following orders.

Sir,

all the army provisions are here.

Sir,

the army provisions here are the same as the provisions at Nine Garrisons.

There's nothing special.

Why don't I take you to investigate something else?

What's strange about it?

Mr. Bo Yan,

how frequent do you eat meat in Ningyuan City?

Every seven days.

Mr. Xu.

It's near the sea here.

They're even eating the gamy and tough wolf meat.

Yet why is there no seafood?

You're right.

Xu.

Don't you eat fish?

You often go fishing.

Where is the fish?

It's the cold winter now.

There are no fishes in the nearby seas.

There are only a few of them left.

There's no need to send people to catch them.

When the fishes were abundant, why didn't you fish and marinate them

in case of hunger in winter?

W-We did that before.

It's just there's a lack of reserve.

We ate it all.

Is it strange?

This fish is so fat.

[Ninghai Fortress outer forest]

Who are you?

Sir.

We are from Wumu Island.

The people of Wumu Island?

It's so late.

What are you doing here?

We have an appointment with Mr. Lei.

Chu...

Stop!

Sir. -Sir.

Move.

These are fishermen.

We are officials.

We can't disturb the people.

How dare you?

If we fight with all our might,

you may not be my match.

Stop!

Lei Zui.

What's the matter?

Mr. Bo Yan.

It's just a misunderstanding.

Mr. Lei and I found

the walls outside the castle are not strong enough.

Especially...

You may leave now.

Mr. Chu.

Mr. Lei told me about the situation just now.

Those people were just local people.

You misunderstood.

Mr. Lei is impatient and doesn't speak much.

He didn't make it clear.

It's all his fault.

I apologise to you.

Mr. Lei.

Those who come from afar are all guests.

Is this how you treat guests?

Sirs,

do you have anything to tell me?

If you have any questions, just go ahead.

We'll tell you everything we know.

Okay.

Mr. Xu.

What kind of place is Wumu Island?

It was originally a deserted island.

More than a hundred years ago,

when Emperor Taizu took over Yuan,

a group of remnants from the north wandered to Liaodong

and obtained this region,

settling here

for many generations.

They became a group of outsiders.

To appease the people,

Commander Sun ordered our army to donate grain to the island regularly

to relieve the famine.

But...

But the people of Wumu Island

are still very wary of our army.

Thank you.

Mr. Bai,

the people of Wumu Island said they had an appointment with you.

What is it?

Mr. Qian said

the islanders are wary of us.

They won't let outsiders go to the island.

They are here to collect grain.

You look unfamiliar.

I was afraid that you'd scare the islanders.

If I had offended you,

please forgive me.

Who is the girl you've been protecting?

Why did she run away as soon as she saw me?

Who else could it be?

She's a child on the island.

She's shy.

Your official statements

are really well said.

In that case,

I'll investigate on my own.

I've already told you.

The people of Wumu Island do not allow outsiders to go onto the island.

You are here to investigate the plague.

I think

we've completed our investigation.

Why won't you let go the people of Wumu Island?

I was assigned to investigate the case.

I just met a few patients with cold.

And here you are saying the investigation is completed?

How do I write the report?

Should I write with little care

or should I say the two of you didn't cooperate?

How powerful, Sir.

Not at all.

Mr. Lei.

We will do our best

to cooperate with the Imperial Guards' investigation.

You can investigate whatever you want.

But

you have no idea.

A few days ago, there was a hurricane.

All ships were damaged.

But don't worry.

I'll send someone to fix it right away.

I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a few more days.

I'll wait for your news.

Sir.

Stop thinking about it.

Although you're a capital official

and an Imperial Guard,

a strong dragon can't suppress the locals.

You don't believe me?

Even I can tell.

Look at the excuse Xu Zongqi

has come up with.

It's so well written.

They'll stall you for the next two days.

Then find a new way in a few days.

Anyway,

you can't go up to Wumu Island.

What's your relationship with Xu Zongqi?

We

came to Liaodong together.

We are comrades who has gone through

thick and thin together.

But he is

meticulous

and cunning.

All he wants to do is to climb up.

Unlike me,

who's so straightforward.

And this Lei Sui

is not a good guy.

I think

they are the same.

To investigate the plague,

we must go onto the island.

Sir,

I advise you to eat more.

How can you go to the island without strength?

Do you have a way to enter the island?

Sir.

You are going onto the island

to investigate the epidemic?

Of course.

You saw the warrant.

It's written clearly.

Bo Yan.

Don't worry.

I have nothing

against you.

Besides,

do you believe the rumors about the plague and demons?

Me?

I don't believe it.

Neither do I.

Let me go to the island and find out the truth.

Rumors

will unravel themselves.

At midnight,

I will bring you to the beach on the north.

The tide has the biggest difference today.

In the afternoon,

when I was walking by the beach alone

I found a shallow beach.

When the tide subsides,

the shallow beach shows itself.

We

can swim over there.

We should tie it tight.

Otherwise, when we get to the island,

we won't have any clean clothes.

Did you go to the island like this before?

No.

Why?

Are you afraid of water?

That's not true.

Mr. Chu.

Let's go!

Follow me closely.

Bo Yan!

Bo Yan!

Bo Yan!

Bo Yan.

Mr. Chu.

I thought you wouldn't be able to swim up.

If you hadn't sent me a signal,

I would have died in the sea.

Signal?

I didn't send you any signal.

You didn't send me any signal?

Then why did I see a light just now?

It's in the middle of the night. Don't be crazy.

Let's start the fire.

We will go to the island tomorrow morning.

[Ninghai Fortress]