American Perspectives: Journey to Mount Gao Pt. 1 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 13)

 

"Love and Redemption" can be viewed on Viki or Youtube.  Dialogue adapted from English subtitle translations by "Destined Love Team at Viki.com." "Love and Redemption," is based on the novel "Liu Li Mei Ren Sha," by Shi Si Lang.  The writings presented here are based on observations from the television series.

 

Xuanji, Brother Liu, Linglong, and Little Six are enjoying a super tasty mystery meal at the Inn.  They have no idea who prepared it.

Sifeng enters the room, carrying an additional plate of food. "Why are you so quiet?  Is it tasty?"

Linglong sighs, feeling embarrassed, that maybe, this meal wasn't supposed to be for her.

Xuanji smiles.

"You scared me!" Brother Liu snaps.  "I thought you were here to ask us to pay!"

Sifeng places a plate of delicious fish, covered in vegetables, on the table.  "Don't worry, I'm the one who cooked these."

"Huh?" says Little Six, his mouth completely full.  "You are the one who cooked these?"

"No need to worry anymore!" exclaims Brother Liu. "When did you learn how to cook?"

"I learned it last night," says Sifeng.  "It's not hard."

Xuanji can't stop smiling.  "Sifeng, you are so awesome!  With Sifeng here, from now on, we'll have endless good food."

"Because you like to eat," says Sifeng.  "Now, you won't always have to think about the food made by Shaoyang's chef anymore.  Am I right?"  He picks up a vegetable with his chopsticks, and feeds it to her.

"Now I'm just thinking about you," says Xuanji.

Little Silver Flower is lingering in the entry way.

"You are here, Yan Ran?" asks Linglong.

Little Silver Flower slowly walks up to the table.

Linglong can't help herself.  She smiles at Little Silver Flower.  "Yan Ran, Sifeng cooked so much food for Xuanji.  You can have some, too," Linglong smirks.

"If you talk when you eat, you'll choke to death," Little Silver Flower snaps.

Linglong slams down her chopsticks and stands up.  "What did you say?"

"What's wrong?" asks Little Silver Flower.

"I invited you for food, but..."

"What did I do wrong?" asks Little Silver Flower.

"What kind of attitude is that?" asks Linglong.

"I think..." says Little Silver Flower.

"This dish!" Brother Liu dramatically interrupts.  "I'm going to take this back and let Yu'er taste it.  That brat has been ignoring me for two days.  Maybe I can make her talk with this dish."  He picks up a plate of vegetables.  "Have a seat!  Enjoy your food," he says as he quickly exits the dining room.

Sifeng knocks back some wine.  "Yan Ran, you already scared Brother Liu off.  Just sit down and eat."

Linglong looks at Little Silver Flower and smirks.

"Sit down, come on," Xuanji says to Linglong.

Little Silver Flower sits down, giving the sisters the death stare.

"Eat," Xuanji says to Linglong.  Xuanji grabs some food with her chopsticks, smells it, and remarks, "Although the pressured egg doesn't smell so good, it's exceptionally tasty."

Linglong looks at her with widened eyes.

"Ah?" asks Little Six, again with his mouth full.

"Xuanji?" asks Linglong.  "You have a sense of smell now?"

Xuanji grins broadly.  "Yesterday, Sifeng gave me a shard of the Mirror of Origin.  Now my sense of smell is back.  Besides, I've come around.  From now on, I'll keep searching for my six senses."

"But aren't you afraid that you'll fall into the traps of demons again?"  Asks Little Six.

Xuanji shakes her head.  "No, because I know that all of you will help me out."

Linglong puts her arm around Xuanji's shoulder.  "Come.  This calls for a celebration.  We'll go through all the difficulties together.  Cheers!"  They raise their cups.

The sound of dishes breaking is heard in the background.  "Yu'er!" Yells Brother Liu.  "Yu'er!  Where are you?"

Sifeng puts down his cup and heads toward Brother Liu's room.  Everyone else at the table quickly follows.

They walk into Brother Liu's room and see a broken plate of cooked vegetables on the floor.  Brother Liu is sitting on his bed, looking sadly at a piece of paper.

"Brother Liu, what happened?" asks Sifeng.

"Yu'er left this," Brother Liu hands the paper to Sifeng.

The letter reads: "I'm leaving, Old Fogey.  I don't need you to be my father.  I'd rather not see you again. Yu'er."

"I'll go back and get her now," says Sifeng.

Brother Liu stops him from leaving.  "Forget it.  I'm such a failure as a father. Yu'er hates me.  It's pointless to force her to come back.  Besides, if I bring all of you with me, she'll be even angrier.  I better get her back myself.  Little Phoenix," he puts his hand on Sifeng's shoulder, "when I opened the Celesital Eye before this," he whispers, "I saw a shard of the Mirror of Origin on Mount Gao is Zhongli City.  If you have the chance, go and find it together with Xuanji.  Remember to seize the opportunity.  If you can really marry Xuanji, I will toast you to a drink."

Brother Liu turns to address everyone else.  "All right everybody.  We'll part here today.  See you again." He bows.

The rest of the group returns his bow.

"Sifeng, where are we going next?" asks Xuanji.

"Zhongli City," answers Sifeng.

"Zhongli City?" asks Little Six.

"Zhongli City?" asks Xuanji.

 

The disciples walk through the gates of the bustling Zhongli City.  The location is rather foggy, green, and mountainous.  The marketplace is alive with activity.

"Lu Yan Ran," says Linglong, "what is it?  Since you are uninterested in the thing we want to find, why did you follow us?"

"That's up to me to decide," Little Silver Flower smirks.  "None of your business."

"What do you mean?" asks Linglong.  "You..."

"Linglong, forget it," says Xuanji.  "Forget it.  We've gone through so much together.  Let's just travel together."

"I..." says Linglong.

"Yes," Ruo Yu adds.  "It's difficult to train alone.  With Yan Ran here, we can take care of each other."

"You are like an annoying leech that we can't get rid of," Linglong says to Little Silver Flower.

"Huh?" Little Silver Flower gasps.  The sisters walk past her before she can say or do anything more.

"Excuse me, where is Mount Gao?" Sifeng asks a vegetable seller.

"Mount Deity is the only mountain in Zhongli City," she responds.  "It's where Goddess Gao lives.  We don't have a Mount Gao.  Look.  There are so many people here.  They are all here to watch Goddess Gao descend to the earth."

"Where is Mount Deity, then?" asks Sifeng.

"It's over there," she points, "but mortals can't go up there."

"Okay, thank you," says Sifeng.

"Sifeng, could it be that this Mount Deity is Mount Gao?" asks Xuanji.

"Let's go and take a look, then," says Sifeng.  "Let's go."

 

The six are walking along a trail when they come upon a mountain with a huge cave entrance.  Further into the cave is a wooden door.  The six stop in front of it.

"Deity Gao resides on this mountain," reads Little Six.

"This is where the auspicious ray of sun hits," reads Linglong. 

"Deity Gao.  Mount Deity," says Sifeng.  "This is Mount Gao."

"Let's go," Linglong says to Little Six.

"Wait," says Sifeng.  With an elegant movement of his hand, he brings forth his magic arrow.  He spins it around a few times before forcefully pushing it forward.  It hits an invisible barrier.  With his index and middle finger together, he points to the arrow, emitting fiery energy.  The barrier looks like it's going to crack.  The barrier rejects the arrow, and Sifeng quickly catches it.  "Ruo Yu, Minyan."

Little Six summons his sword.  Ruo Yu summons an arrow.  The three shoot their weapons into the barrier.  It again looks like it's going to crack, but the barrier again rejects their weapons, returning them to their rightful owners.

"What a strong barrier," remarks Little Six.

"No normal person can build this kind of barrier," says Sifeng.

"Could it be that there's really a deity here?" asks Ruo Yu.

"But I don't feel the aura of a deity here," says Xuanji.  "It makes me uncomfortable instead."

"No worries," says Sifeng.  "Goddess Gao is descending to the earth today.  When she does that, the barrier will be opened.  Let's stay in Zhongli City for awhile.  When Goddess Gao descends, we'll find a way to get in."

"We are going into the city?" asks Xuanji.

Linglong grabs Xuanji's hand.  

"Can we..." asks Xuanji

"We can have some good food now!" exclaims Linglong.  The two sisters run off, giggling.

 

"Linglong, what is this?" Xuanji points to a pastry on a cart.

"This one?" asks Linglong.  "This is red bean cake.  This is green cake, yellow cake, and purple cake."

"Miss," a merchant says to Little Silver Flower.  "Look at my conch.  It's beautiful, and you can hear the sound of the sea."  She hands it to Little Silver Flower.  "Buy one."

Little Silver Flower holds it up to her ear and smiles.  She puts it next to Ruo Yu's ear.  "Listen."

"Ruo Yu," Sifeng joins them with some bags of treats.  He hands Ruo Yu two bags.  "Give this to everyone."

"What did you buy?" asks Little Six.

Sifeng doesn't answer.  He joins Xuanji at a merchant's cart.  "Xuanji, you have a sweet tooth.  I bought you qingtuan."

Xuanji takes the bag.  "Thank you."  She pulls out a green dumpling, and takes a bite.  "Mmm!" she says.  "This qingtuan is really tasty!  I've never tasted something like this before.  You should have one, too."

"I'm fine," says Sifeng.  "It's the Cold Food Festival today.  You can only find qingtuan during the Cold Food Festival.  It's very lively over there.  Let's go."

Little Silver Flower sees Sifeng and Xuanji walking away, and she's preparing to follow.

Linglong immediately blocks her by stepping in front of her and handing Ruo Yu a cup.  "Ruo Yu, drink some pear blossom soup."

"Move aside," says Little Silver Flower.

Linglong repositions herself in front of her.  "Seems like someone is feeling sour enough, so I won't invite you to drink any."

Little Silver Flower keeps trying to move past Linglong, but it isn't working.  She crosses her arm.  "Looks like someone is venomous enough that I don't want it."

"Seems like someone is jealous because Sifeng treats Xuanji so well," Linglong claps back.  "You are not as cute as my sister."

Little Silver Flower's eyes are smoldering.

"You are ill tempered and a trouble maker," adds Linglong.  "Sifeng won't like you."

"You are criticizing me?"  Little Silver Flower smirks.  "Two days ago, you were so close with Sifeng.  Now, you can't be apart from your Sixth Senior.  How interesting."

"You--"  Little Six interjects.  Ruo Yu stops him from saying anything further.

During all that arguing, Sifeng and Xuanji climbed the stairs to another level of the city.

Linglong gloats.

"You--" Little Silver Flower points at Linglong as she walks away.

"That's enough," says Ruo Yu.  "There are so many people here.  Won't you feel embarrassed?  Later, Sifeng will lecture you again."

Little Silver Flower pouts and walks away.

 

Little Six and Linglong are exploring the shops.

"Why do you have to argue with that Lu Yan Ran?" asks Little Six.  "She's so spoiled.  She'll just ruin your mood."

Linglong doesn't answer.

"Eh?" Little Six notices a fortune teller's shop.  "Linglong, let's have our fortune told to see our luck."

"Okay."
"Let's go." Little Six approaches the teller at the table.  "Store Owner."

"Have a seat," says the Fortune Teller.

Little Six hands him some money.  "We want to have our fortune told."

"The goddess is descending to earth today," says the Fortune Teller.  "It'll definitely be lucky for you."  He holds out a canister of sticks.

"I'll do it," Linglong grabs the canister and shakes it.  A stick falls out onto the table.  She hands it to the fortune teller.

He carefully examines it.  It reads, "Patricide."  He pauses before saying anything.  "Miss, what do you want to know?"

Linglong smiles.  "My luck for this year."

"You got the patricide lot.  This is the worst lot.  You'll be in a lot of trouble.  And they will come in waves.  This is a bad omen."

"Little Six, they are just here to cheat us out of our money.  Let's go," says Linglong.

"Linglong," says Little Six, "I'm the one who wanted to do this.  I should shake it.  Your's doesn't count.  Let me do it."  He reaches for the canister, shakes it, and a stick falls out.

It reads, "Recruit Marriage."  

"The Recruit Marriage lot just means that you'll have moderate luck, if you are asking about luck," says the Fortune Teller.

"I'm not asking about luck," says Little Six.  "I'm asking about my relationship."  Linglong looks at him in surprise.

"Your relationship?" asks the Fortune Teller.  "Then this is the best lot you can get.  It means that all shall be well.  Jack shall have Jill."

Little Six looks at Linglong and smiles.  Linglong runs away.  Little Six hands the Fortune Teller an extra piece of silver before chasing after Linglong.

He catches up to her, and shows her the stick.  "This is for you.  All shall be well.  Jack shall have Jill.  So auspicious.  When I propose our marriage to Master, you can show him this lot.  We are destined to be together.  Master will definitely agree."

"What proposal?" snaps Linglong.  "We just resolved our misunderstanding.  I won't necessarily marry you.  Take away your marriage lot."

"Are you really not going to take it?  If you don't take my lot, my heart will not be able to settle down.  Aren't you afraid that I'll give it to another lady?"

"You can give it to whoever you want.  I don't want it."

"Are you really not going to take it?" 

Linglong doesn't answer.

"I'll give it to another lady, then," says Little Six.  He begins to walk away.

Linglong's eyes widen.  "You.." She turns around.

He's smiling at her, waving the stick.  She glares at him.  He walks back to her.

"Linglong, I was just joking," says Little Six.

"Fine!" snaps Linglong.  "Give your marriage lot to whoever you want.  Don't give it to me!"  She runs off.

 

Sifeng and Xuanji are watching the fire breather. Xuanji is amazed.  "Look, Sifeng!"

The fire breather blows alcohol onto a flaming stick, and the fire momentarily grows bigger.  Xuanji loves it.

"Wow!" exclaims Xuanji.  The fire breather blows on the fire again, causing an even bigger explosion.  Xuanji falls back, but Sifeng catches her.  They gaze at each other for a moment, and she smiles.  She notices his hair is stuck on an ornament on her hanfu. 

As she's getting ready to remove the hair, he says, "Don't move."  He pauses.  "Don't break the hair.  It'll be a bad omen.  Let me get it out."  He meticulously unwinds the strand of hair.  "Wait for me there.  Your hair is in a mess.  Let me buy you a hairpin."

Xuanji self consciously feels her hair, making sure nothing is out of place.  "It's not in a mess."

"I'm in a mess," Sifeng blushes.  He leaves before she can respond.

She decides to explore a little bit while waiting for Sifeng.  She turns the corner and walks up some stone stairs.  Two young noblemen approach her.

"Miss, you are not from here, right?" asks the young nobleman dressed in purple.

Xuanji smiles.  "How do you know?"

"I know every girl in Zhongli City.  I am a local here.  If you don't mind, how about I volunteer myself to show you around?"

"Do you have any ancient treasures in this city?" asks Xuanji.

"Of course," he responds.  "I have a house full of treasures.  If you are willing, how about we go there and take a look?"

"Do you have an ancient mirror in your house?" asks Xuanji.

He slaps his yellow fan against his hand.  "Yes.  I'm an ancient mirrors collector.  I have a lot of mirrors."

"Great.  We'll go together with my friend when he comes back, then," says Xuanji.

"Let's go, Miss.  Don't miss out on this chance."  He grabs her arm.

A bolt of yellowish orange energy hits the nobleman in the hand, taking him by surprise.  Sifeng hurls him in the air, and envelopes him in a yellowish orange bubble.  His friend is horrified.

"Sifeng," says Xuanji.

As Sifeng moves closer, the other nobleman, dressed in brown, tries to move away.  Sifeng ignores him and goes to Xuanji.

"Xuanji, are you okay?"

Xuanji nods.

"This is the hairpin I chose for you," says Sifeng.  "Do you like it?"  He hands the golden hairpin to her.

"This hairpin is so beautiful!" she says enthusiastically.  "Put it on for me."

"Okay."

The nobleman in the bubble is struggling to get out, while the nobleman in brown is up against the wall, paralyzed with fear.

Sifeng gently puts the pin in her hair.  Xuanji smiles.

"Immortal Master.  Immortal Master," the nobleman in the bubble begs.  "Immortal Master, can you put me down first?"
Sifeng slowly turns toward him.  "Did no one ever tell you not to make a move on the ladies?"

"Immortal Master, I was just trying to be a good host just now.  Please forgive me, and let me down."

"Since you want to be a good host, great," says Sifeng.  "Help us check out the scenery from above, then."  With a point of his fingers, he makes the bubble move at high speed.  It goes sailing over the rooftop.

"Well...Sifeng," says Xuanji.  "Why are you angry?  Isn't he a kind man?"

"I'm flying him up there to repay him," says Sifeng.  "So he can climb high and gaze far."

"But just now, he said that he might have the Mirror of Origin," says Xuanji.

"How could a mortal own an immortal object?" asks Sifeng.  "He was just lying to you."

"He was lying to me?" asks Xuanji.  "Lying is not good."

"From now on, don't talk to any male strangers.  Understand?"

Xuanji nods.  "Okay."

 

A brilliant purple streak of smoke is flying through the sky in front of Goddess Pavilion.   The townspeople are pointing and watching in amazement.  The purple streak of smoke winds itself around a goddess statue.  The townspeople get on their knees and kowtow.

Xuanji and Sifeng are standing behind some bushes.

"Right on time," says Sifeng.  "Let's see how this goddess descends from the mountain."

A purple satin scroll drops on the ground.  The disciple for that temple picks it up.  "The Goddess has shown herself," she reads.  "This is the name list of the people that she wants to take in for this year.  Later, I'll send it to every family.  Everyone, bow now.  Thank her for bringing prosperity to this land and protecting the people from danger."

"Thank you, Goddess!" The people kowtow.

"Open the door," the disciple instructs.  The doors are pushed open, and the people rush in.

"So, this is what they mean by the goddess descends," says Xuanji.

"The goddess just used her power to send a piece of note here," says Sifeng.  "She didn't open the barrier at all."

Xuanji sighs.

"We can't go in," says Sifeng.

 

Sifeng and Xuanji enter the dining room of the inn.   

"Xuanji," says Sifeng, "are you saying that when the goddess descended, there was a demonic aura inside that purple smoke?"

They both sit down at the table.

"Yes," says Xuanji.  "Besides, it's the same demon that caught Elder Ling Shi.  I still remember it.  I won't be wrong."

"Immortal Master, help us!"  The nobleman in purple, followed by several other noblemen, runs in.

"Please save us," beg the others.

They kowtow to Sifeng.  Sifeng puts down his teapot.  "Why is it you again?"

The nobleman in purple begins to cry.  "Immortal Master, I'm Fang Yizhen.  I was born and raised in Zhongli City.  I've offended you before this.  Please be magnanimous and save me.  That goddess Gao wants to kill us.  Immortal Master, save us."  Fang Yizhen kowtows again.

"Please save us," the men beg.

Xuanji kneels down.  "Get up first, and let's talk."  She helps them up.  "Stop kneeling.  Get up."

"What's happened?" asks Sifeng.

"Goddess Gao will choose four men every year to go up there to serve her.  This year, she chose the four of us.  We have to go up tomorrow," says Fang Yizhen.  "But we'll definitely lose our lives.  We have no other choice.  I saw how capable you are.  You must be very powerful.  You must be from the cultivator sect that saves people from evil.  So, please save us."

"I beg you," says the other men.

"Besides," Fang Yizhen continues, "that goddess is not a deity.  It's a demon."

"How do you know that?" asks Xuanji.

Fang Yizhen nervously squeezes his hands together.  "Well...I was once curious about what the Goddess looked like.  So, I followed a wedding sedan going into the mountain, to spy on her.  That goddess is definitely not kind.  But everyone here looks up to her as a goddess.  They won't believe anything I say.  At first, I wanted to ask those grooms after they come back.  But who knew that nobody would hear from those chosen grooms anymore?  We've never gotten a letter from them.  All of them must be dead now."

"There's a barrier on that mountain," says Sifeng.  "How did the grooms go up the mountain?"

"All the chosen men will wait for her outside of the mountain gate every year.  When the time is right, she will send someone to bring them in.  Immortal Master, please save us.  I beg you.  Please save us."

"Please save us," they repeatedly bow.

"Okay," says Sifeng.  "Tomorrow, Minyan, Ruo Yu, and I will pretend to be her grooms.  That way, we can save those men and go up the mountain to search for what we want.  Killing two birds with one stone."

"Thank you, Immortal Master," they bow.

"Wait," says Xuanji.  "But there are only three of you.  Do we need to find another man to make up for the missing one?"

"I can't," says Fang Yizhen. "I'll faint when I'm nervous."

"I can't, too.  I'll vomit."

"They are too cowardly," says Sifeng.  "They'll just create trouble.  How about I ask Linglong or Yan Ran to dress up as men to fool her?"

"If that's the case," says Xuanji, "let me go with you."

"No.  It's too dangerous for you."

"It's all right.  I've mastered all kinds of spells.  I'm confident that I can defeat those demons.  Don't worry."

"Okay," Sifeng reluctantly agrees.  "I will protect you."

Xuanji nods.

The noblemen breathe a collective sigh of relief.

 

...To be continued...