American Perspectives: 10 Reincarnations Pt. 1 ("Love and Redemption" Ep 26)

 

“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.

 

 

"After that," says Fox Demon, "Wu Zhiqi locked me in the grape garden."

She is remembering herself when she was in her purple and white fox form.  She would go into Wu Zhiqi's grape garden, jump around, and attempt to steal the grapes.  Once he caught her in the garden, he wouldn't let her leave.

"He kept playing tricks on me."

Wu Zhiqi uses his powers to send Fox Demon zooming through the air.

"And I tried to escape every day, but I always failed."

Fox Demon falls on the ground, and Wu Zhiqi laughs.

"So, it became a routine.  I would run, and he would catch me.  Then, we unknowingly spent a few hundred years together."

Wu Zhiqi laughs as he spins the purple and white fox demon through the air, before dropping her.   He waves a grape in her direction before throwing it.  Like a dog catching a frisbee, she grabs it in her mouth while jumping high.  He grabs a handful of grapes and throws them.   As she catches them all, he uses his power to send her flying to him.

 

 Fox Demon remembers spying on Wu Zhiqi through the trees while he is out by the stream near his manor.  He sees an attractive woman washing clothes.  "Pretty lady, how old are you?"  He asks. "Do you have a husband?"  

"That macaque is good in everything," Fox Demon tells the Five Disciples at their campfire, "but he had a bad habit."

"How about a drink together?  I have everything."  Wu Zhiqi persists.

"He loves pretty ladies," Fox Demon continues.  "He always left me behind for a pretty lady.  So, I cultivated myself for 500 years to be able to take human form.  I wanted to let him know that the most beautiful lady was right beside him."

Wu Zhiqi is napping while Fox Demon is finally in human form as a gorgeous woman dressed in purple.  She kneels beside his chair, ready for a pleasant surprise.

"Wu Zhiqi, wake up.  Wake up and see who I am."  She stands up, very enthusiastic about her new look.

He opens his eyes and looks over.

She smiles at him.

He awkwardly stands up.  "Pretty lady, how old are you?  Do you have a husband?"

Fox Demon feels discouraged that he doesn't recognize her.

"What do you mean by 'Pretty Lady?'" Fox Demon asks.  "It's me, the little fox."

Wu Zhiqi's smile drops.

"Can't you recognize me?" asks Fox Demon.

Wu Zhiqi looks down.  "Little Fox?  You are that Little Fox?"

Fox Demon smiles.  She summons a grape from the tree, tosses it up in the air, and catches it in her mouth.

"You really are that Little Fox."

Fox Demon nods.

He grabs her arm.  "Where is your fur?  Where's your tail, Little Fox?  You..."

"You like pretty ladies, right?   So, I turned into a pretty lady.  How is it?  Am I beautiful?"

He glares at her.  "You gave me a fright, Little Fox."

Her smile vanishes.

"I..."  says Wu Zhiqi.  "You looked better before this.  You were so furry and cute, and you warmed me up when I hugged you."  He grabs her arms.  "Can you turn back into a fox?"

"You stupid monkey," says Fox Demon, "you make me so mad!"

 

 

 

Fox Demon stares at the campfire sadly.  "Just like that, I spent 500 years with him.  I finally appeared in front of him in the form of a beautiful lady.  But before I could make that macaque fall in love with me, he left.  Back then, Asura was leading the Demon Clan to wage war against the heavens.  Wu Zhiqi had a friend named Yuan Lang.  He invited him to become Left Lieutenant of the Demon Clan.  This macaque is a very loyal friend.  I couldn't stop him.  He was so impressive back then.  I heard that they were winning, but suddenly, the Devil Star was killed by the God of War, and the Demon Clan was defeated.  From then on, the Demon Clan was exiled from Mount Buzhou, and they were dispersed into the human realm.  Wu Zhiqi was captured by the heavens and chained at the bottom of Fenru City under Mount Buzhou with the Dimension Chain.  It has been 1,000 years.  It's my fault.  If only I could have stopped him back then."  Fox Demon pauses, teary eyed.  "So, I have to save him."

"I never thought that you were a sentimental person," says Ruo Yu.  "Wu Zhiqi has never given you any promise, and you've loved him for 1,000 years.  Was it worth it?"

"I don't care if it's worth it or not.  I love him.  So, this is what I want to do.  I'm happy with my decision."

"I think it's great to be so decisive in love," says Xuanji.  "It's way better than the relationship between Lord Dongfang and his wife."

"Why do you need to hesitate when you like someone?"  Asks Fox Demon.  "As long as I can save Wu Zhiqi, I'm willing to do anything."

 

 

 

Fox Demon is sleeping alone at the fire.  Sifeng and Xuanji are ten feet away, sitting down and talking.

"Sifeng," says Xuanji.  "I never thought that demons could love so deep and true as this Purple Fox, too."

Sifeng looks over at Fox Demon.  "Demons are like humans.  They are living beings in this world, and they have real feelings, too."

"I've never thought about it before," Xuanji admits.  "I thought that Purple Fox was just a frivolous demon.  I never thought that she'd be so loyal.  I even like her a little bit now."

"Yes," says Sifeng.  "She took the Mirror of Origin because she wanted to re-live the moments between her and Wu Zhiqi."

Xuanji sighs.  "I want to look at the female general in that Mirror of Origin, too.  What is her story?  And how is she related to me?"

"You and your Senior Hao Chen are already destined to be together," says Sifeng.  "He has been pursuing you for 1,000 years.  Maybe the person in the mirror is him."

Xuanji looks at him sideways, and laughs.  "Sifeng, can I say that you are acting jealous now?"

"You are quite a fast learner of things that I didn't teach you," says Sifeng.  "Your father has never wanted us to be together.  Now that you've run away with me, he might be putting me on a search warrant tomorrow."

Xuanji laughs.  "He won't.  Although my father is a little bit old fashioned, I know that he dotes on me.  As long as it's not a demon, he will be able to accept anyone.  Don't worry, I'll convince him."

 

 

 

The Five Disciples and Fox Demon are walking through the sunny forest.   Fox Demon is sniffing the air, much to Little Six's discomfort.

"Hey, we've been walking for so long," says Little Six.  "What's wrong with your nose?  You couldn't even smell him.  Can you really find him?"

"Ting Nu's scent disappeared around here last time," says Fox Demon.  "It's the same this time."

"Huh?"  Little Silver Flower rushes to the front.  "You old woman!  Don't play any tricks on us!"

Fox Demon faces Little Silver Flower.  "I'm not playing tricks on you.  Are you dumb?  If I could smell him myself, why do I have to ask for your help?"

"How can we find Ting Nu, then?" Asks Little Six.

The six are all contemplating the next move.

"Eldest Brother Liu has a celestial eye, right?"  asks Ruo Yu.  "If we can find Eldest Brother Liu, we'll be able to find Ting Nu."

"Yes," Xuanji agrees.  "We just need to find Eldest Brother Liu.  Purple Fox, you can't smell Ting Nu, but can you smell Eldest Brother Liu?"

Fox Demon crosses her arms.  "I don't know him.  How do I know what he smells like?"

Xuanji sighs.

"I have something Eldest Brother Liu left for me," says Sifeng.  He pulls a light brown pouch out of his hanfu.

"What is it?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Show me."  She tries to grab it, but he promptly takes the pouch away.

"You can't look at this," he puts the pouch behind his back.

"Why not?  Show me."

"No."

"Why not?"  Asks Xuanji.  "I showed you my book last time.  Why don't you show me yours?"

Fox Demon is trying not to laugh.

"No means no," says Sifeng.

"Why not?  Show me."

"Don't tell me that you are reading that kind of book?"  Asks Fox Demon.

Xuanji looks at Fox Demon in horror.

"Nonsense!"  Sifeng says quickly.

"What kind of book is that?"  Xuanji asks Fox Demon.

Before Fox Demon can answer, "Stop it!"  Interjects Sifeng.  "Stop fooling around.  We should find Eldest Brother Liu now."  He throws the pouch to Fox Demon.  "Smell this.  Find out where he is.  Let's split up and find him now.  Let's go."

"Show me," Xuanji insists.  "Show me.  Sifeng!"

 

 

 

The six arrive in a bustling city.  Fox Demon leads the way, following her nose, which takes them through a rundown alley.

"Don't tell me that the one we are looking for is here," says Little Six.

"Huh?  Huh?"  A beggar gets in Sifeng's way.  "Oh my goodness.  Oh my goodness.  Where does this handsome man come from?  Come, play with me."  He tries to touch Sifeng's face.

Sifeng strikes him with a wave of energy.

"It's painful," the beggar winces.

Sifeng retracts the energy, and the beggar falls.

"Hurry up, and let's go," the beggar says to his friends.

"This is Qingyang City," says Ruo Yu.  "How do you know that Eldest Brother Liu is here?"

"My nose has never failed me," says Fox Demon, "except when someone purposely covered up the smell, like Ting Nu.  Here we are."  They stop in front of a fairly nice looking home.

"Let's go!"  Says Xuanji, darting ahead.

Fox Demon smiles as the rest of the group excitedly follows Xuanji, like a bunch of elementary school kids on a scavenger hunt.

"Come on.  Come in," says Brother Liu.  "Don't be shy.  Just treat this like it's your own home."  He puts his arm around Sifeng.  "Little Phoenix, as the saying goes, people meet out of fate.  Come, have a seat."

"More like out of money, right?" Asks Sifeng.

Brother Liu gives him a funny look.

"If it wasn't because we needed your help," Sifeng explains, "I wouldn't admit that I know you just now."

Brother Liu laughs awkwardly.  "You paid for me, so you are my master now.  Come, master, have a seat."

"It's fine.  I want to stand," says Sifeng.

"Eldest Brother Liu, why are you at Qingyang?  Have you found Yu'er?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Uh," Eldest Brother Liu says awkwardly.  "Well, Yu'er?"

"Half a month ago, Yu'er brought me to Tianxu Hall's hideout.  She said that she wanted to stay in Tianxu Hall," says Little Six. 

"It was chaotic back then.  I couldn't convince her to leave with me," says Sifeng.  "I saw her leaving with people from Tianxu Hall, and I didn't have the chance to tell you about it."

"That Yu'er is really naughty!" Brother Liu pretends to be angry.  Fox Demon looks at him sideways.  "How can she spend time with demons from Tianxu Hall?"  Brother Liu continues.  "I really can't do anything about her.  Forget it.  I don't care anymore."

"Who is this beautiful lady in purple?"  Brother Liu awkwardly changes the subject.  He circles around the Fox Demon, getting a really good look at her.  "God is really treating me well.  I even met this beautiful Fox Lady who is 1,000 years old."  He grabs her hand, feeling it, until he gets a good look at her thick, white, claws.  He gasps and jumps back.

She shows off her Wolverine like claws (but they are just a bit shorter and thicker).  "How is it?  Is my hand nice, you scoundrel?"

He smells his hands.  "You are indeed an old Fox Demon."  He waves his hand in front of his face, as if he's trying to get rid of an unpleasant smell.

Fox Demon glares at him.  "How dare you say that I'm old!"

Brother Liu recoils.

"We are all friends," interjects Ruo Yu.  "Be kind to him."

"Eldest Brother Liu," Sifeng steps forward, "we are here this time to ask for your help.  I have a friend named Ting Nu.  He went missing. We can't find him or smell him.  Can you help us?"

"You want to find someone?"  Asks Brother Liu.  "It's easy."

"Great," says Little Six.  "Eldest Brother Liu, let's not waste any time, then.  Open your celestial eye now to help us look for Ting Nu."

"Ah?" says Brother Liu.  "Now?  First of all, it's not a problem to help you find him with my celestial eye.  Unfortunately, I just opened it two days ago.  You know that if I open the Celestial Eye again within such a short time, it'd be adverse to my health."

"You opened the celestial eye?" asks Sifeng.

Brother Liu nods.

"Then we won't be able to save Ting Nu now," says Xuanji.

"Calm down," insists Brother Liu.  "Although I can't open my celestial eye, I can still feel a faint trace of him.  How about you stay at my house for two days first?"

Sifeng looks at Brother Liu suspiciously.  

"I'll find a way in two days," says Brother Liu.  "There must be a way."

"We'll have to trouble you, then," says Little Six.

"It's no trouble, it's no trouble," Brother Liu insists.

Fox Demon rolls her eyes.

 

 

 

After everyone has settled in, Brother Liu cracks open a window.  He recalls his daughter's torture in Tianxu Hall.

"Such a bright young lady," says Wu Tong.  "It'll be a pity if she dies."

"OId Fogey!"  Yells Yu'er.  "Save me!  I can't take it anymore!"  A red hot chain is burning around her neck.

"Don't hurt her!  Yu'er!"

Wu Tong laughs.

"Don't touch her!"  Shrieks Brother Liu.

Wu Tong tightens the chain.

"What do you want?"  Asks Brother Liu.

"I need you to do something for me,"  says Wu Tong.  He takes a mirror fragment out of his black hanfu.  "This is the Mirror of Origin.  Bring this mirror to Chu Xuanji.  Let her back into this mirror to remember her past, so that she can awaken the God Of War's power."

"Xuanji?"  asks Brother Liu.  "You want me to betray my own friend?  Impossible."

"Fine," says Wu Tong.  He tightens the burning chain around Yu'er's neck.  Yu'er screams.

"Yu'er!" 

Wu Tong laughs.

"Old Fogey, save me!"

"Fine, I promise you.  Stop!  Stop!"

Wu Tong relaxes the chain.  "You should've agreed earlier.  I'm just asking you to jolt her memories, not kill her.  Think about it.  Our Hall Master wants to reawaken the God of War.  But I heard the God of War was the one who killed Devil Star back then.  Who can win?  Our Hall Master, or the God of War?"

"You are a lunatic," says Brother Liu.

Wu Tong laughs.

I really don't know what Tianxu Hall is plotting, Brother Liu thinks, as he peers out the window.  Little Phoenix cherishes Xuanji so much.  If Little Phoenix and Xuanji are hurt because of me, it'll be such an unfaithful thing to do.  I can't do that.

He looks out the window and sighs.  He carefully closes the shutters, as he feels like something is watching him.

 

 

 

Brother Liu approaches Wolf in the middle of the dark forest.

"Just like the Hall Master has expected," says Wolf.  "They've asked you to help save the Merman.  Now, everything is ready.  It'll be up to you next."  He tosses Yu'er's blue pouch to Brother Liu.

"Yu'er!  How's Yu'er?"

"Don't worry.  The North Superintendent knows that you'll miss your daughter.  So, he sent me to give you this.  After your mission is done, you'll be able to see her." 

Before Brother Liu can respond, Wolf disappears in a poof of red and black smoke.

Brother Liu squeezes the pouch.  Maybe it's not a bad thing to reawaken the God of War's memories.  She'll have to know the truth sooner or later.  I'm sorry, Little Phoenix.

 

 

 

The Five disciples and Fox Demon walk into Brother Liu's main room.

"Why aren't you letting us sleep?"  Asks Fox Demon.  "You better have something important to say."

Brother Liu looks at her incredulously.  "Of course, I have something important to say.  Let me tell you.  I tried everything I can, and used up all my power to finally be able to feel where the Merman is.

 

 

 

It's the middle of the night, and the seven find an old house with two guards posted in the front.  

"Ting Nu is locked up here?"  Asks Xuanji.

"There's a demon guarding the door," says Little Six.

"It's fine," says Brother Liu.  "Later, we can climb over the wall.  We can save him without alerting anyone."

Sifeng isn't so sure.  "Wait," he stops Brother Liu.  "This doesn't feel right.  What place is this?  We don't know who our opponents are, or what they want.  It's not wise to just rush in."

Fox Demon steps forward.  "I've lived for 1,000 years without fearing anything.  If you are afraid, I can go in myself."

"Ah," says Xuanji.  "We'll save Ting Nu, for sure, but we have to be careful."

"Be careful, then.  Let's split up and search the place," says Brother Liu.  "Let's go."

Xuanji, Fox Demon, and Sifeng walk onto a deck at the back of the house.

"I smell Dang Kang," says Fox Demon.

"Dang Kang?" Asks Xuanji.  "What is Dang Kang?"

"Ting Nu's spirit beast," Fox Demon leads the way.

Dang Kang is a tiny pig hybrid, and he's flipping through the air.  He lands in the leaves, and happily wades through them.

Fox Demon kneels.  "Dang Kang."  The tiny pig approaches them.  "Don't just purr.  Tell us something useful.  Where is your master?  Bring us to him."

Dang Kang squeals happily.

"It said that Ting Nu is trapped by the Demon here," says Sifeng.  "It just managed to break the barrier and come out to ask for help."  Sifeng extends his hand.  "Come here, little guy."  The little pig runs to him, and jumps in his hand.

"Sifeng, you can communicate with it?"  Asks Xuanji.  "You can understand it?"

"I learned some beast language before," says Sifeng.  "If you want to learn, I can teach you in the future."

Xuanji nods.

Dang Kang makes some more noise.

"What did he say?" Asks Fox Demon.

"He said that Ting Nu is locked inside a secret room.  It wants to bring us to him."

Dang Kang does a flip and darts away.

"Let's go," says Sifeng.

 

 

 

Ruo Yu and Little Silver Flower are walking through a thicket of bamboo.  They reach the side entrance of the eerie house.  Little Six and Brother Liu are a few feet away.

"There are so many rooms here," says Little Silver Flower.  "How long will it take?"

Little Six and Brother Liu run up to them.

"We are here to rescue him, we can't rush it," says Brother Liu.  He points to a window.  "We haven't checked this room, right?  Let's go in."

"Okay," says Little Silver Flower.

Brother Liu leads the way.

They walk through an opening in the creepy house.

"This doesn't look like a place to hold someone in," Little Six observes.

"Maybe there's a mechanism in here," says Brother Liu.  "Let's look for it."

Brother Liu observes their actions before he makes the next move.  He stealthily slides his foot onto a tile.  A circle of bright white light emerges under his foot.  Little hints of fire energy float up around him.  "Eh, eh, eh!"  The energy forms an entrapment.  The others are walled off in flame energy entrapments of their own.

Little Silver Flower anxiously tries to push hers away.

Ruo Yu looks at the barrier, curious and confused.

Little Six tries to aggressively push his way out, only to be aggressively pushed back.

Brother Liu pretends to be confused.  "What is this?"

"What is this?"  Echoes Little Six.

Little Silver Flower also tries to break the barrier, only to be thrown back.  "They are trying to lock us in."

"This is a restrictive formation," says Ruo Yu.  "We won't be able to get out now."

"This is bad," says Little Silver Flower.  "Sifeng and the others are in danger.  We have to find a way to get out!"

Brother Liu pretends to be completely confused.

 

 

...To Be Continued...