American Perspectives: 10 Reincarnations Pt. 2 ("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.

 

 

 

In a chamber down below, Ting Nu is passed out on a huge, circular platform.  Wu Tong's piece of the Mirror of Origin is suspended above him, draining Ting Nu's energy.

Fox Demon, Sifeng, and Xuanji run in to the chamber, discovering him in this vulnerable state.

"Mirror of Origin?"  Asks Fox Demon. "What happened to Ting Nu?"

Fox Demon examines the scene a little more closely.  "Ting Nu's heart blood was used to build this formation. This will kill him."

"Let's try to break this formation first," says Sifeng.  With a movement of his fingers, golden flame energy bursts forth, and an arrow emerges.  With a push of his hand, the arrow and energy hit the mirror shard.

The mirror fragments Xuanji and Fox Demon had, eject from their bodies, joining Wu Tong's piece.  Snow white energy is drawn from the three as the pieces of the mirror become one.

As the fragments finally connect, the energy turns from white to gold, shooting through the roof, and into the clouds.

Fox Demon looks up, and the mirror shines like a bright sun.  Wu Zhiqi's smiling face materializes.

"You stupid fox, why aren't you here yet?  Huh?"

Fox Demon looks scared and confused before she is rendered unconscious.

The burst of energy makes Xuanji gasp for air, sending a convulsion through her body.

Sifeng convulses from the intensity of the force, as well.  They are hit with a bright light, and in the Heavenly Realm, Xuanji's life pillar fractures further.  The top is completely shattered, the ice blue, crystalline pieces distancing themselves from the pillar.  Si Ming looks at it nervously before walking away.

Xuanji and Sifeng are on a frozen lake, shattered crystals floating through the air.

Xuanji taps him on the arm.  "Sifeng, are we inside the Mirror of Origin now?"

"I think so."  Sifeng studies their surroundings cautiously.

"Why would we be in the Mirror of Origin?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Where is the Purple Fox?"  Xuanji runs ahead to investigate.

 

 

 

Hao Chen is standing in his room at an Inn, looking highly displeased.  He, Sect Leader Chu, and Aunt Hong planned to intercept Xuanji and Little Six, but their plan has gone sideways.

"King Bailing, this is bad!"  Si Ming arrives in a burst of golden energy.  He turns to Hao Chen and bows.  "King Bailing, this is bad.  The Life Pillar of the God of War is flickering again.  I'm afraid that Chu Xuanji has entered the Mirror of Origin."

"She just left me for a few days," says Hao Chen, "but she has already run into the Mirror of Origin.  This is not as simple as it looks."

 

 

 

Xuanji and Sifeng walk together, trying to figure out what to do next.  They are seeing a jagged circle in the sky, surrounded by shattered glass.  It descends in front of them, the pieces of glass filling it in.

They both study it carefully, seeing the back of the God of War.  She is standing at the steps below the entrance to King Bailing's palace in the Heavenly Realm.

"You are the God of War, right?"  The God of War turns around, and Xuanji and Sifeng are completely taken aback by who it is. 

"She's the one I keep seeing in my dream!"  Xuanji points excitedly at the mirror.

"Do you mean that female general?"  Asks Sifeng.

Xuanji nods.

"Xuanji, she looks exactly like you."

"She looks like she has a lot of secrets in her heart.  What does she want to tell me?"

 

 

 

"Where is she now?"  Hao Chen growls at Si Ming.

"Uhh...No matter if it's about Xuanji or the Mirror of Origin, this is a matter of the Human Realm.  The heavens can't interfere with the matters of the Human Realm.  I can't find out where she is."  He bows cautiously.  "I can't stay here for long.  Goodbye."  Before he can disappear, Hao Chen uses his silvery energy like a rope, and binds Si Ming.  "Deity Binding Spell?  King Bailing!"

"I used my energy to cast this spell.  If you break this spell forcefully, you'll break my spirit.  Then you'll be committing a grave crime, Si Ming.

"Ai yo," says Si Ming.

"Just this once.  Tell me where Xuanji is."

"Why do you have to do this, King Bailing?  The key memories of the God of War have already been wiped away by you from her Life Pillar, right?  Even if she enters the Mirror of Origin, she'll just see some fragmented memories.  Even if she awakens, she won't be able to remember the past."

"In this life," says Hao Chen, "I can't let her be anymore."

Si Ming sighs impatiently.  He jumps toward Hao Chen.  "King Bailing, everyone has their own destiny.  No matter how much you want to save the God of War,  we can't go against the laws of God.  By the way, it's considered prying into the prophecy if mortals go into the Mirror of Origin.  When they do that, there'll be lightning."

"There will be lightning?"

"Smart," says Si Ming.  "If you think along this line, you might be able to find Chu Xuanji.  If you can seek her out yourself, it'll be by your own effort.  I didn't say anything."

"Go back to Siming Hall at once," says Hao Chen.  "If things go wrong with her life pillar, seal it up, even if you have to deplete your power to do that.  We can't let her power awaken yet."  He retracts the Deity Binding Spell.

Si Ming bows.

"Go now.  If you fail me, I won't forgive you."

Si Ming looks up and smiles uncomfortably.  "Yes, King Bailing."  He disappears in a sweep of golden energy.

 

 

 

"What place is this?"  Asks Sifeng, as they observe the Heavenly Realm.

"This is..." says Xuanji.

"Could it be that this is the heavens?" Asks Sifeng.

"You can fight, right?  Come fight me," a man is heard saying to the God of War.

"I don't want to fight you," she calmly says to Teng She.

"Chh..." says Teng She.  "Are you afraid of me?  If you can't even defeat me, how can King Bailing send you to lead the army against Asura?  You are not stronger or better than I am."

Lord Green Dragon and a friend descend from the sky.  

Lord Green Dragon grabs Teng She, and puts him in a headlock.  "King Bailing's order.  Nobody is allowed to disturb the God of War."

Teng She hisses.  He struggles to get out of the headlock, but fails.

"Don't mind him," says Lord Green Dragon, still holding Teng She.

Teng She frantically slaps Lord Green Dragon on the torso.

"God of War," Lord Green Dragon's friend steps forward and bows.  "I'm here to issue a military order on behalf of King Bailing."

"Say it," says God of War.

"King Asura has lead his right and left lieutenants with two Dark Knights to attack the shore of Life and Death Sea.  You are to go into battle at once."

"King Bailing thinks that this is our best chance to kill King Asura," adds Lord Green Dragon, still holding Teng She in a headlock.  "And defeat the army of the Demon Clan."

"King Bailing said that he'll await your triumphant return," Lord Green Dragon's friend bows.

"After defeating the Demon Clan's army, the war will end, right?  After that, does it mean that I don't have to fight anymore?"

"Well," says the friend.

"Let's go," says God of War.

"Can you stop creating trouble for me?"  Lord Green Dragon asks Teng She.

"King Asura?"  Xuanji asks, feeling more confused than ever.  She turns to Sifeng.  "The Demon Clan's army?  Could it be that this is the war between the heavens and the Demon Realm 1,000 years ago?"

"I think so," says Sifeng.  "You can see the past through the Mirror of Origin.  This happened in the heavens 1,000 years ago.  I think it's related to you."

"But 1,000 years ago.  Who is she?"

"They call her the God of War.  Could it be that she's the legendary God of War who defeated the Demon Clan's army, and destroyed King Asura?  Xuanji, she looks like you, and often appears in your dreams.  She is probably you in the past."

"Really?"  Xuanji asks nervously.  "In the past, I'm not a devil who killed without batting an eye, but a God of War from the Heavens?"

Sifeng chuckles.  "Look.  You always thought so badly about yourself.  Do you understand now?  She's an outstanding person."

Xuanji looks back at the mirror, and sees a huge staircase leading up to the palace.

The God of War is putting on her armor.

"She stayed here?" Xuanji asks.

"It's too cold and desolate," Sifeng observes.

The God of War descends the staircase, Dingkun Sword in hand.

"That is Dingkun Sword!" Xuanji exclaims.

"Yes, it's Dingkun Sword," Sifeng agrees.  "No wonder you're the only person who can awaken it."

Ting Nu floats through the heavens in his wheelchair.

"It's Ting Nu," says Xuanji.  "He told me he was once a medic in the heavens.  He was punished and sent down to the Human Realm because of something."

God of War walks up to Ting Nu.  He bows.  "God of War, you haven't fully recovered yet, and you are leading the battle again?  Do you want me to tell King Bailing about it, so that you can sit out this battle this time?"

"My injuries are nothing," says God of War.  "The Demon Clan's army are gathering their forces.  If I don't go, nobody else can fight them.  No need to worry King Bailing because of this."

Ting Nu looks at her with sincere concern.  "The most worrisome thing for a medic is a patient who doesn't take care of herself.  After this battle, I'm afraid that you'll add new injuries to your old ones, until I won't be able to treat your wounds."

"I'll try to get injured less," says God of War.  "Don't worry about me."  She walks past Ting Nu.

"This is not what I meant."

God of War stops.

"Take care," says Ting Nu.

 

"How can King Bailing break his promise?"  Asks King Asura.

"You Asuras are cold blooded killers," says God of War.  "Today...Today, I'm going to kill you, just like how I killed the Demon Malificent Star."

"You are the God of War of the heavens?"  Asks King Asura.  "You are the one who killed the Devil Star?"  He laughs.  "This is such a joke."

"What's wrong?"  Xuanji is shocked by the scene playing out in front of her.  "What does King Asura mean?"  She asks Sifeng.  "Why can't I see anything?  What does he mean by 'such a joke'?"

"Calm down, Xuanji," says Sifeng.  "Let's go through the fog."

They attempt to run through the fog in front of them together, but they are pushed back.

"God of War, you are so vicious," they hear King Asura's voice.  Xuanji covers her ears.  The noise is too much.

"What's wrong?"  Asks Xuanji.  "The mirror already let us in.  Why won't it show us the rest?"

"This is indeed strange," agrees Sifeng.  "As if something has covered it up."

"Why did you lie to me?"  The God of War cries.  "Why?"

Xuanji clutches her heart and drops to her knees.  Sifeng kneels beside her.

"I'm just a sword for you to kill with!"  God of War shouts.

"Xuanji!" says Sifeng.

"Why did you do this to me?"  God of War shouts.

"What's wrong?" asks Sifeng.

"Why do I feel so upset when I hear her voice?"  Asks Xuanji.  "In the past, I thought that we were two entities.  She and I were different.  But now, I can clearly feel her anger and helplessness, but I don't know what happened.  Why can't I see anything?"

"When I read an ancient scroll regarding the Mirror of Origin," says Sifeng, "someone mentioned that if a person's past is sealed, it'll affect the Mirror of Origin.  Looks like your past has been sealed up.  That's why you can only see fragments of it."

"It has been 1,000 years," says Xuanji.  "Why do they still want to seal it?  Why?  Why do the heavens want to wipe away my past?"  She stands up, and gets ready to walk.

"Xuanji!"  Sifeng grabs her arm, and pulls her back.  "Don't be obsessed with it.  You might get lost within these memory fragments."

"Wu Zhiqi, how dare you steal the Juntian Hoop and Chehai Hook?"  King Bailing's voice is heard.  "God of War, I want you to arrest Wu Zhiqi.  I want to eradicate the Demon Clan from the three realms."  However, instead of King Bailing appearing in the mirror, it's just a cloud of black smoke talking to Xuanji.

God of War and a masked Wu Zhiqi are fighting.  A rain storm of arrows are fired at him.  He deflects with the Juntian Hoop.  She uses her power to block the hoop from harming her.

With her power, she turns the Dingkun Sword into many Dingkun Swords. She fires them at Wu Zhiqi.  He skillfully deflects  with the Juntian Hoop.  A mass of swords fill the sky, like a swarm of hornets, going every which way.

"Wu Zhiqi, surrender now.  Return the Juntian Hoop and Chehai Hook to the heavens."

"Do they belong to the Heavens?"  Wu Zhiqi laughs, continuing to deflect the oncoming swords.  "You killed the Devil Star, and steal his weapons.  I'm just getting his things back for him!"

God of War crosses her arms and brings her many Dingkun Swords back into one.  She raises her arms above her head, positioning her sword in a kendo style men strike.  She aims for the hoop, but he absorbs it in his body.

"God of War," says Wu Zhiqi, "King Asura asked me to send you a message."  He brings forth a poof of blue and black smoke.

The God of War finds herself in the Demon Hall.

"God of War, I was killed by you," says King Asura.  "I kept my last breath to give you a present.  Take a good look at what secret King Bailing hid in his celestial hall.  You brought this upon yourself!"

She backs away.

"Why is it gone again?"  Asks Xuanji.  "What happened?  Why won't it show me?"  She angrily summons the Dingkun Sword.  She attempts to slice through the fog, but her sword disappears.

God of War descends into the Heavenly Palace grounds.  "Bailing, come out!"

A distorted King Bailing is seen walking down the stairs.  "Are you trying to revolt?"

"How long are you going to keep lying to me?"

The soldiers attempt to charge at her, but she knocks them down with the Dingkun Sword.

"Bailing looks so familiar," remarks Xuanji.

"You lied to me, and made me into this God of War.  I trusted you so much.  How could you and the whole of Heaven use me like this?"

God of War is surrounded by guards.

"How dare you!"  Shouts Lord Green Dragon.  "God of War, you are disobedient and revolting against your superior.  It's unforgiveable."

"What did I do wrong?  You are the one who was wrong!"  She shouts at King Bailing.  "I want to see the Jade Emperor.  Or else, I'll destroy all of Heaven."

"No matter how courageous you are," says a guard, "you can't just charge into the Celestial Hall and scream at King Bailing!"

"I can guard the heavens," says God of War.  "And I can destroy it."  She draws her Dingkun Sword.

"How dare you!  Arrest her!"  As the guards attempt to get near her, a wave of blue energy pushes them back.

Her sword lights up, and she ascends.  She does a Kendo style Dol strike, sending forth a surge of gold energy that knocks the soldiers down again.

"Bailing, you have to give me an explanation, today!"  Shouts God of War.

King Bailing hurls energy at her, sending her to the ground.

"Bailing, I won't forgive you.  I will kill you.  I'll kill all of you, and avenge myself!"  As she attempts to ascend, King Bailing strikes her again.

As she attempts to get up, the soldiers fire energy at her, which turns into chains.  She is bound at her wrists and ankles.

"King Bailing, why won't you come out and talk to me?  Are the heavens full of cowards?"  She jerks on her electrified chains, jerking the guards right along with her.

"You want to see me?"  King Bailing asks.

"What did I do wrong?  You are the one who did wrong.  You used me, and turned me into the heavens' murder weapon.  You used me to kill people whom I shouldn't kill.  You made me do something evil and vicious.  And in the end, I am the one who did wrong?  This is not right!"  She pulls back on her chains.

Xuanji is frightened by what she is witnessing in the mirror.  "Let her go!"  Xuanji shouts, running to the mirror.  The mirror vanishes.

"You hate me for betraying and lying to you," King Bailing is heard saying.  "So, you want to exact revenge on the heavens?"

The God of War is seen free-falling among the black clouds.

"I will uphold justice," says the God of War, "even if it costs me my life, or brings me to hell forever."

"Please forgive her!"  A unknown man is heard shouting.

"I'll send you down to the Human Realm to go through ten reincarnations," says another male voice,  "to get rid of your resentment.  As for how it'll turn out, it'll all depend on you."

"Why?"  Xuanji shouts.  "Why do I have to be punished?  I didn't do anything wrong!  Why do I have to be punished?  Why?  Why did you seal up all of my memories?  Why won't you tell me anything?"  She bumps into Sifeng.

Sifeng grabs her shoulders.  "Xuanji, look at me.  Pull yourself together.  You are not the God of War, you are Chu Xuanji!  They are still waiting for us outside.  Don't be dragged into it anymore."

"I have to get to the bottom of this," insists Xuanji.  "I have to get to the bottom of this!"  She runs away from Sifeng.

He tries to chase after her, but many shards of glass fly toward him, and block him from her.  "Xuanji!"

The Mirror of Origin materializes in front of him.  He tries to push it away, so he can get to Xuanji, but the mirror pushes back.

"Xuanji?"  He sees Xuanji in the mirror, as a Tang Dynasty Courtesan.  She is dancing, and wearing a beautiful pink and green hanfu.  Her hair is decorated with beautiful flowers.

Sifeng is in the background, playing the zither for her.

"Why am I there, too?  This is the memory of my trial.  Could it be that Xuanji was in a trial with me?"

She spins while he continues to play the zither.  He watches her, mesmerized by her appearance.

A man hanging out on the stairwell notices her, and he pushes the two women beside him away.

After Xuanji and Sifeng's work is done for the evening, they are up in Xuanji's room.  Sifeng is applying ointment to her ankle.  "It's done now."  He puts her sock back on.  "With the injury on your ankle, you shouldn't have forced yourself to dance.  If you can't recover well, I'm afraid that you can't even walk properly in the future."

"I never thought about the future," says Xuanji, "and I don't believe that there is sincerity in this world.  I won't leave with you.  I'll only wait for one person to come and get me."

"Lan Yue, Mister Qiao is here to bring you back to Qiao Residence.  Pack your things," says a servant for the courtesan house.

"See, I knew that he would come," says Xuanji/Lan Yue.  She gets up, and Sifeng grabs her arm.

"You said that you don't believe in sincerity, but you believe in him.  Do you know what kind of man Mister Qiao is?"

"I know what kind of person he is,"  says Lan Yue.  "And I never said that I'd trust his sincerity.  I don't trust anybody.  I only trust myself."

"I remember now," the present day Sifeng says anxiously.  "No.  Xuanji.  Don't go, Xuanji!"