American Perspectives: Xuanji's Spirit Beast Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 32)

 

“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.

 

 

 

Little Silver Flower, Sifeng, and Xuanji are enjoying a tasty meal.  Teng She is sitting at a separate table with nothing, and he gives the three the death stare.

"Time to eat," says Xuanji.

Teng She rolls his eyes.

"You!" Says Xuanji.  "How can you be so violent when you're at fault?  Being insolent after making mistakes?  Starve yourself, then!  Do as you like!  Just leave your wound like that!"  She slams down her chopsticks.

Teng She sighs, Sifeng laughs.

Xuanji slaps Sifeng's hand.  "How can you laugh?  Why is your spirit beast so obedient, but mine is like that?"

Little Silver Flower giggles.  "Of course, not everyone can get a spirit beast as good as me, right?"

"Don't quarrel with him all the time," Sifeng advises.  "You should get along with him.  Look at him huddling himself there, refusing to eat and drink.  Doesn't he look like a stray puppy that you just picked up?"

Teng She is looking straight ahead, fuming.

"A little," Xuanji admits.

"You see," says Sifeng, "if you just pick up a stray puppy, wouldn't it bare its teeth at you?  It wants to bite you, but it can't.  Neither can it eat.  Isn't it quite pathetic now?  What do you think you should do?"

Xuanji smiles thoughtfully.  "I'll put it in my arms, and rub its head."

"That's right," Sifeng smiles.  "Treat him like a dog, and tame him.  He's not a human, so we can't train him like one.  If he doesn't behave well, just spank him on his butt."

Xuanji giggles.

"If he does, then give him a hug," Sifeng continues.  "He's not a human anyway.  We can't train him like a human."  He pulls out a leather bound book from his hanfu.  "Here.  This is a breed guide to spirit beasts.  I'm giving it to you now."

Little Silver Flower cautiously eyes the book, while eating her lunch.

"Do what the book says," Sifeng adds, "and you'll master it eventually.  You're so smart."

"Okay," Xuanji grins.  She opens the book, and thumbs through the pages.  She reads a page, and steals a glance at a very mopey, very hungry Teng She.

Xuanji takes a seat across from Teng She.  She places a burgundy colored vial in his hand.  He glares at her.  "This is Shaoyang's Secret Vulnerary," Xuanji explains.  "It's very effective.  Even though I'm very mad today, we still have to treat your wound.  Otherwise, it may get worse."

Teng She sighs, and rudely drops the vial on the table.  "Listen.  Don't ever think a small favor like this can make me give in.  I'm a heavenly beast.  I despise mortals' behavior."

"Who told you to give in?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Although you're my spirit beast, we can still be friends.  From now onward, I'll protect you."  She pats him on the head.

"Augh!"  Teng She jumps away in horror.  "What are you doing?  You treated me like a dog, and rubbed my head?  Only King and Heavenly Emperor can touch my head!"

"All right," Xuanji interjects quickly.  "Are you hungry?  I don't know what you like to eat, but Little Silver Flower said you like eating."

He gives her a pained look.

"Wait here, I'll get it for you."  Xuanji picks up a basket by her feet, and places it in front of him.  He glares at her hatefully.

In spite of his hatred, he quickly opens up the basket.  He recoils, and pushes it away.  "Put it away!  What are you doing?  Who do you think I am?"  He snakes his head around.  "I've been a god for thousands of years!  The stink rat snake that just crawled out from the snake nest, and I, are different!"  He snakes his head toward Little Silver Flower, who chuckles at him.

"That's not what I meant," says Xuanji.

"That's not what you meant?"  He impatiently taps his finger on the table, right next to the spirit beast book.  "What's this?  You want to tame me like a pet?  Chu Xuanji, I'm telling you!  It's better to die, than to be humiliated!"

"All right," says Xuanji.  "Don't be mad.  Let's bury the hatchet, okay?  What's done is done.  I'll reluctantly keep you as a spirit beast."

Teng She gasps, and then laughs bitterly.  "You'll reluctantly keep me as a spirit beast?  I'm obviously the one in agony here, okay?  Hurry and break the blood pact!"

"No!"  Xuanji says sharply.  "You know that will be useless, unless you cut off my arm, this blood pact can't be undone."  She smirks.  "It is what it is now, and there's no room for us to regret."  She rubs his head.

"Enough!" Teng She growls.  "I don't care!  Let me tell you.  Chu Xuanji, no matter what, I will leave."

"Little Snake," says Sifeng, "catch it."  He throws an orange in Teng She's lap.

Teng She glares at him. 

"You're not a fool.  Now that the blood pact has been made, why still throw a tantrum?  Besides, she won't embarrass you as an owner," says Sifeng, "and this is more intriguing than staying in the heavens.  I know you sneaked into the Mortal Realm."

Teng She looks at him in shock.

"You said you passed by the Mortal Realm and set the woods on fire," says Sifeng, "but most likely, you caused the accident.  I know you're worried the heavens will look into it.  That's why you did it.  However, Xuanji got you out of a fix."

Xuanji gently pulls on a strand of Teng She's hair.

"Zzsh!  Mind reader!"  Snaps Teng She.  "You can read minds!"

"Of course, I don't know how to read minds.  But the heavens never interfere with mortal affairs.  You said you came for the God of War.  So, it appears that Lord Teng She is such a wild and unruly god."  Sifeng walks back to his table.

"You!"  Teng She stands up abruptly.

Xuanji laughs, and pats Teng She on the head, before joining Sifeng.

"Ugh," says Teng She.  "You're all dismissed," he gasps.  "I'm tired."  He promptly sits back down.

 

 

 

Sifeng, Xuanji, and Little Silver Flower meet up in Brother Liu and Ting Nu's room.

"Did you get the ring from Tianxu Hall?"  Asks Ting Nu.

Xuanji shakes her head.  "We searched everywhere, but found nothing.  They seem to have been more careful now."

"The trip isn't utterly fruitless," says Sifeng.  "Xuanji got herself a spirit beast."

"Spirit beast?"  Asks Ting Nu.

"Spirit beast?"  Asks Brother Liu.

Xuanji looks from side to side.  "Why isn't he coming in?  Teng She?"

"Niiii!"  Yells Teng She, running into the room, as if an invisible force is pushing him.  He looks at Ting Nu.

"Let me introduce you," says Xuanji.  "This is my best friend, Ting Nu.  This is Liu Yihuan.   Eldest Brother Liu, this is..."

"Lord Teng She," Ting Nu bows.

Xuanji and Sifeng exchange glances.

Teng She glares.  "You're quite knowledgeable.  "At least you know me."  He adjusts his hair.  "You," he looks at Brother Liu.

Brother Liu looks at him anxiously.  He immediately covers the Celestial Eye mark on his forehead.

"You stole the Celestial Eye?"  Asks Teng She.  "How dare you!"

Brother Liu awkwardly lowers his hand.  He stands up and points at Teng She.  "You're from the heavens?"

"I'm the most promising officer in the heavens.  If I report to the heavens about what happened here, all of you would be in serious trouble."

Brother Liu slowly sits down, landing on his chair with a thud.  "I've been on the run for so long to avoid being caught by the heavens.  I'm doomed."  He begins to cry.  "I'm so scared."

"If you're scared, quickly tell the woman to let me go!"  Teng She shouts.

"Do you take me as a fool?"  Brother Liu's fake crying turns into laughter.  "You are Chu Xuanji's spirit beast now.  There's no way you can tell on me!  It's even more dangerous to let you go.  Little Xuanji, well done!  Don't ever let him go, for my sake."

Xuanji and Brother Liu high five.

Teng She points at them with disgust.  "You people..."  He points directly at Ting Nu.  "You!  I remember you now.  You're the merman medic banished to the Mortal Realm, aren't you?"

"Lord Teng She," says Ting Nu.  "It's very kind of you to remember an insignificant merman like me."

"Shut up!"  Ting Nu hisses.  "You're all demons.  Where did you keep Wu Zhiqi?  I want to fight with him!"

Xuanji's eyes widen.  She pulls his hair.  "Teng She, you're too noisy!  Treat my friends better!  And also, why do you want to fight with everyone?  Hmm?"

He hisses.  "One day, I'm going to arrest each and all of you!  Sss!"  He hisses in Xuanji's face.

"Lord Teng She, would you like me to pick a room for you?"  Asks Ting Nu.

"I'll take whichever room I like!"  Teng She explodes.

He runs outside, and attempts to fly away.  Like a bird slamming into a window, or a dog crossing the limits of an invisible fence, he is blocked by a transparent barrier.  He flies up again, only to be pushed back down.

"Zzzahhh!"  He growls, flying back up.  The barrier shoves him down to mid air.  He realizes he's stuck, and with grave reluctance, he lowers himself to the ground.

"Aah," says Little Silver Flower, who had witnessed (and laughed at) the whole debacle.  "You silly snake, you can't get out this way.  How about this?  Since we're of the same species, I'll give you a hand."

"What can you do?"  He scoffs.

"You can't cast a spell to hurt your master, but I wonder if you can use poison."

He snaps his head around.

Little Silver Flower holds up a brown vial.  "Here is a bottle of Soul Entry that I stole from Liu Yihuan."  She holds out the palm of her hand.  "Do you want to give it a try?"

"This is a great idea!"  Says Teng She.  He hesitates.  "No.  That stinky woman is the God of War.  If I stealthily poisoned her to death, isn't that a dirty trick?  Besides, if I kill her," he leans in to whisper to Little Silver Flower, "who else can I fight with?"

"That's why I say you're stupid.  I didn't tell you to kill her with poison.  She won't die if you control the amount of poison you use.  When she passes out, you can just cut off her arm."

Teng She clears his throat.

Little Silver Flower tilts her head.  "Never mind.  I think I shouldn't give you the poison."  She begins to walk away.

Teng She chases after her.  "I want it!  I want it!"

"Okay.  Remember, don't tell anyone that I helped you.  Otherwise, if my master knows about this, he'll never forgive me."

"Don't worry.  Since you went all out to help me, I, Lord Teng She, am not an unfaithful person."  He winks at her.

"Okay," she hands him the vial.

"Sss!"  He hisses at the vial with joy.

"Go, then," Little Silver Flower gestures.

"Ughhh," Teng She walks away with a flip of his hair.

Little Silver Flower folds her hands and smirks.

 

 

 

Teng She sets out a green pot of wine, and two cups for him and Xuanji. 

"Teng She, why aren't you sleeping yet?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Ai ya, Stinky woman, this is such an exciting moment.  How can I fall asleep?"  He flips his hair.  "You have such a powerful spirit beast now.  Let's have a drink or two to celebrate."

"Have you decided to stay?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Ummm...Drink it first!  Perhaps I'll feel happy after two cups, and decide to stay."  He pours the drinks.

Xuanji smiles.  "Cheers."

"Cheers."

She drinks her wine in one gulp while Teng She tosses out his.

"Nice wine," says Xuanji.  "One more."

"One more cup."  Teng She giggles as he watches her drink the poisoned wine.

"It's really good," says Xuanji.

Teng She is delighted.  "Drink some more!"  He can't believe his luck.  "You can have the whole jug!"

She drinks straight from the jug, while Teng She can't stop laughing.  "Why isn't she drunk yet?"  He says through clenched teeth.

As Xuanji continues to drink, she notices something peculiar.  Teng She looks as if he's been stung on the face by several bees.  Lips are swollen, cheeks are swollen, eyes are red.

"Teng She," says Xuanji.  "What happened to your face?"

"What happened to my face?"  He smugly runs his hand through his hair.  "It's very handsome."

"Handsome?"  She puts her hands on her cheeks.  "Your..." She pats her cheeks rapidly.

"What?"  Asks Teng She.

She puffs out her cheeks.

Teng She pats his cheeks, and winces, as they feel quite tender.  He gets flustered, and continues to feel his face.  Something doesn't feel right.  He shrieks, and runs to a mirror.  He gets a good look at his reflection, and screams.  "My handsome face!"  He drops the mirror, and runs out of the room in terror.

"Teng She!"  Xuanji chases after him.

He runs into Brother Liu's room, only to find him sleeping on the chair.  Teng She shakes him.  "Wake up!"

Brother Liu opens his eyes to a huge swollen face with platinum blonde hair.  "Ghost?"  He shrieks.  He slaps Teng She, and tries to run away.

Teng She grabs him, and throws him back into the chair.  "Look at me.  It's me, Teng She.  Quick!  Give me the cure for your Soul Entry."

"Soul Entry?"  Brother Liu points at him sharply.  He abruptly stands up.  "You're poisoned with my Soul Entry?"

"Yes.  Hurry, and give me the cure!"  Teng She panics.  "I'm so hideous!"

"Impossible," says Brother Liu.  "If you're poisoned by Soul Entry, you would be dead by now.  Besides," Brother Liu feels around the top of his hanfu.  He pulls out a yellow vial, and breathes a sigh of relief.  "My Soul Entry is right here."

Teng She points at him in disbelief.

"But my Seven Venoms Face Wrecker is gone," says Brother Liu.  "Ah...Have you mistaken my Seven Venoms Face Wrecker as Soul Entry, and consumed it?"

"No.  I don't care whatever it is!"  He tries to feel around Brother Liu's hanfu.  "Give me the cure!"

Brother Liu pushes him away.  "The Seven Venoms Face Wrecker is the first bottle I made.  There's no cure for it."

"Teng She?"  Xuanji and Sifeng come running in.

"No cure?"  Asks Teng She.

"But don't you worry!"  Says Brother Liu.  "My Seven Venoms Face Wrecker is made up of the stingers of seven different poisonous wasps."

Little Silver Flower is hiding behind the door, listening in.

"Those poisoned will only have a swollen face," says Brother Liu, "festered wound, which will form scabs."  He pokes Teng She's face, "and become uglier and uglier, but it's not fatal."

Teng She recoils.

"But you won't die.  If you really die, it's caused by the shame of your ugliness."

"You..." says Teng She.  He sits down in Brother Liu's chair, panicking.

"But, Teng She," says Xuanji, "why would you steal a bottle of poison and drink it?"

"I guess he intended to poison you," says Sifeng, "but stole the Seven Venoms Face Wrecker instead.  And he never expected that the spirit beast would suffer the backlash."

Xuanji gasps.

"He has truly shot himself in the foot," says Sifeng.

Xuanji puts her hands on her hips.  "Is that really what you wanted to do?"

"So what if I have done it?"  Asks Teng She defiantly.  "It's all because of you, stinky woman!  If you didn't rack your brain and conspire to make me your spirit beast, would I end up like this?"

Xuanji turns away from him, thoroughly disappointed in this man child of a spirit beast.

"I, Lord Teng She, used to be the most promising and handsome officer in the heavens."

Brother Liu laughs.

"But now, I'm being tortured by mortals, and have become so hideous!"  He dramatically points to his face.  "I want to die!"

"There's a song about secret arts in the heavens," says Sifeng.  "You can sing it, too, right?"

Teng She looks up at Xuanji.  She gives him a sharp look.

"You've become Xuanji's spirit beast," says Sifeng, "because fate brought you together.  I thought you were a god who was willing to accept failure, so I showed you some respect.  But, never had I expected you to think of such a cheap shot.  I see you in a different light now."

Brother Liu nods in agreement.

"Xuanji, since he won't die, just leave him alone," says Sifeng.

"Eldest Brother Liu, is there really no way to help him?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Uh..."  He looks over at Sifeg. "It's not completely impossible."

"Zzz!" Snaps Teng She.  "Quickly tell me how you can cure me!"

"와! That depends on whether your master is willing to save you or not," says Brother Liu.  "You're Xuanji's spirit beast now, and you share a blood pact.  So, Xuanji's blood is certainly the best cure.  If Xuanji is willing to use her blood to force out your poisonous blood, then your poison will be cured."

"Don't do it, Xuanji," says Sifeng.

Little Silver Flower covers her face.

"A spirit beast that hurts its master deserves some kind of punishment," says Sifeng.

"Chh," Teng She flips his hair.  "Don't worry.  I won't beg her to save me.  If I beg her to save me, I'll be admitting her as my master.  I would rather be ugly forever."

With a sharp motion of her hand, Xuanji emits blue energy, and stops Teng She in his tracks.  She removes her silver hairpin.

"Stinky woman!  What are you doing?"

She uses the pin to draw blood from her arm.  She lets it drip into a small, green bowl.  "You're still my spirit beast.  I told you I would protect you."  She hands him her bowl of blood.

"Hmm.  Even if you give me your blood, I still won't accept you as my master."

"I'm not saving you to make you stay.  I just can't bear to see your ugly face!"

"I'm warning you, stinky woman!  Don't force me!"

"Hurry!  Open your mouth!  Finish it, and return to the heavens," says Xuanji.

"What did you say?"  Asks Teng She.

"Since you're unwilling, I don't want to force you, either.  I have a lot of things to do everyday.  I don't have time to bicker with you.  But if you really want to cut off my arm, I'm unwilling to do that, as well.  How about this?  I allow you to leave me indefinitely.  A mortal's life is very short.  A day in the heavens is a year in the Mortal Realm.  Stay there for a dozen days, and you can regain your freedom."

"Are you really willing to let me go?"

Xuanji nods.

"So, if I let you save me," Teng She flips his hair, "wouldn't I lose my face, then?"

"Face?"  Asks Xuanji.  "You've lost your features now.  What face do you want?"  She pushes on his face, causing him to yelp.  "Think carefully.  At first, I kept you as my spirit beast because I wanted to save my friend.  I didn't expect you to be so unwilling.  Perhaps there's no fate between us.  I can't insist on it.  After all, you're not the only one in the world who can be my spirit beast.  You don't want me, I don't want you, either!  Hurry up, finish your cure, and go back to the heavens happily."  Xuanji turns away.  "Let's go, Sifeng."

Little Silver Flower sneaks away.

Xuanji and Sifeng leave Teng She alone with Brother Liu.

 

 

 

Sifeng dresses Xuanji's wound in their room.

"It's just a minor injury," says Xuanji.

"Don't move," says Sifeng.  "Had I known earlier, I wouldn't have helped you get Teng She."

"I didn't know it would be so troublesome."

"I don't mind your troubles.  I just regret that you put all your attention on him."

"Ohh...you are jealous of a spirit beast?"  She tweaks his nose.

"Jealousy is jealousy.  It doesn't matter who the other person is."

There's an awkward pause.

"Aren't you going to comfort me?"  Asks Sifeng.

Xuanji smiles and rubs his hair.  "Is this okay?"

He grabs her hand.  "I don't want this kind of comfort."  He leans in and gives her a kiss.  "I want this kind of comfort in the future."

"Sifeng.  Teng She is leaving soon anyway.  Nobody will disturb us anymore."

"You really gave up on him?"

"There's no point in forcing him."

"What if he's willing to stay?"

"How is that possible?"

"I've heard some rumors about Teng She.  Perhaps, I know a way to help you," says Sifeng.

"What is it?"

"Both of you have similar interests."

 

 

 

Teng She is in bed, admiring himself in the mirror, his face back to its original form.  He smells something delicious, jumps out of bed, runs out the door, and almost trips down the steps.  He walks and sniffs the air, finding himself in a room with a table full of food.  Very delicious food made by none other than Sifeng, that is.

With a flourish of his hanfu sleeve, Teng She leans over to grab a bite.

"Teng She, aren't you leaving?"  Asks Xuanji.

He straightens himself up, and clears his throat.

"I won't ask you to stay for a meal, then.  Hurry and go."

Teng She can't stop looking at the food, his mouth watering.  "What's this?  It smells so nice."

"It's just a dish made of old hen soup simmered for a dozen hours," says Sifeng.  "I added some pickled bamboo shoots, abalone, and sausages."

"Sifeng, I want to eat that," Xuanji points to a plate of food.

Teng She reaches for some meat, and gets his hand slapped away by Sifeng's chopsticks.

"Mmm..." Says Teng She.  "And what is this?"

"This is a specialty here, spring carp.  I used perilla to remove the fishy smell, and added some veined rapa welk."  Sifeng picks some up for Xuanji.  "Taste it first."

"Mmm..." Says Xuanji.  "Delicious."

"Pssh," scoffs Teng She.  He sniffs the air.  "What else is in there?"

"A roasted leg of lamb, cooked until golden brown on one side," says Sifeng.  "Then I cut off the entire side, and put in star anise and orange peel.  I add in a pinch of red chile, and a pinch of cumin.  I'll grill it over a low flame.  We can eat it tonight."

"Ai ya," says Xuanji.  "But someone can't eat it."

"Why?" Asks Teng She.  "I can leave after I eat."  He grabs Xuanji's soup.

"Aren't you going back to the heavens?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Hurry and go then."

"So delicious," says Teng She.  "Is everything in the Mortal Realm as good as this?"

"Certainly!"  Says Xuanji.  "Only a few mortals can cook so well.  Sifeng is one of them."

"Hmm," says Teng She.  "It seems like the Mortal Realm is nice, too."

"Aren't you going back to the heavens?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Go on your way."

"Ai," says Teng She.  "Will I just leave because you tell me to?  Something is wrong with me.  I like to do the exact opposite of what others tell me to do.  You want me to leave, I won't leave, then."  He grabs the chopsticks from Xuanji's hands, and takes some meat from a plate.

"You're really staying?"  Asks Xuanji.

"After all," says Teng She, "you mortals only live for several decades.  I'll play with you for a period of time.  What harm is there?  But you have to promise I'll have delicious food every day.  If there's no delicious food, then I might just leave."  He wolfs down the soup.

"You're really staying?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Ai ya.  Why do you have so much to say?  I won't repeat my words!"  

"Okay, then.  Since you're staying, enjoy yourself."  She hands him a piece of shrimp.  "Here."
Sifeng clears his throat.  Xuanji takes the shrimp from Teng She.

"Sifeng, you should have some, too."

Sifeng gladly takes the shrimp.

"You!"  Says Teng She.  "Zzz!  You two...Enough!"

"Just a normal routine," says Sifeng.

"Suit yourself, then.  Continue," says Teng She.  "Just leave me the good food.  Food in the mortal realm is good.  Food in the heavens is not.  It's like eating mud, and it's tasteless."

"Yes," says Xuanji.  "Pretty things are usually fake."

"That's right," Teng She agrees.  "You know the saying, too?  The king often says that those who look pretty and alluring are usually unreliable."

"Bailing?"  Asks Xuanji.  "When I was in the Mirror Of Origin, I saw the king, too.  But who is he?"

A silence falls over the table.

"So, you're really that stupid that you don't even remember the king?"  Asks Teng She.

Xuanji takes his chopsticks.  "Tell me!"

"You're ignorant!"  Exclaims Teng She.  "The King is King Bailing.  If he didn't plead for you, you would've died long ago.  How could you be sitting here, asking me who the king is?"

"The King pleaded for me?"

"Yes.  At that time, Old Guy said you were madly in love with the king.  But after you fell through the heavens to go through trials, did you leave everything behind?  You found this pretty boy in an instant, and forgot about the king?"

"Bai...I love the king?"  Xuanji has doubts.  "Who is the Old Guy?  He made it up, right?"  She doesn't recall anything of that nature occurring in the mirror.

"Tsk, tsk," says Teng She.  "It's because it was an unrequited love, so you got mad, and hated the entire heavens.  You even plotted a rebellion.  That was why you were banished, and have to go through the trials again.  Have you forgotten all of these?"

"Are you saying that Xuanji was sent to the Mortal Realm, as she fell in love and broke the rules?"  Asks Sifeng.

"Why?  Are you jealous?"  Asks Teng She.

Sifeng doesn't answer.

"The King is a god," says Teng She.  "He can't be compared to a mortal like you."

Xuanji slaps Teng She's hands.  She takes a seat right next to Sifeng.  "So what if he is a mortal?  If I wasn't banished to the Mortal Realm, I wouldn't have met Sifeng.  I don't care who he is."  She rests her head on his shoulder.  "In this whole world, Sifeng is the best.  If you look down on food made by mortals, stop eating, then!"

Teng She snorts.  "Whatever.  As long as you promise he'll make good food for me everyday.  Whether you love the king or the pretty boy, it's none of my business.  As for the matter of saving your friend, I can force myself to do you a small favor."

Xuanji giggles.

"Give me the food, it's all mine!"  Shouts Teng She.