American Perspectives: Extracting Linglong's Primordial Spirit Pt. 1("Love and Redemption" Ep. 33)

 

“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 the Mortal Realm, Teng She is fully embracing his gluttony.  He may very well be enjoying Sifeng's cooking a little too much.  As he opens his eyes, he sees Sifeng give him a funny look.

They're sitting in the gazebo in the middle of a downpour.

"You won't do this without reason," says Teng She.  "I'm sure you have a favor to ask me.  Tell me."

"What's the relationship between King Bailing and the God of War?"  Sifeng asks, even though he's not sure if he wants to know.  "Are the tribulations of the God of War somehow connected to her relationship with King Bailing?"  This, especially, has been keeping him awake at night.  Where is he going to fit in all of this once the God of War does wake up?

"Honestly, I don't believe it, either," says Teng She.  Something about Si Ming's book had seemed terribly, terribly off.  "But everyone in the heavens believes.  So, I have no choice, but to believe it, as well."

"Her love turned into hatred?"  Asks Sifeng.  "I don't think she's that kind of person."

Teng She clears his throat.  "Don't worry.  King Bailing is only concerned about the three realms.  He won't snatch away your woman."  Teng She picks up his plate, and walks away from the table, laughing.  King Bailing is way too much of a narcissist to care about the God of War on a romantic level.

Sifeng, however, does not know this.  All he knows is that Xuanji is the God of War, the Lover's Curse is still very much active in his body, and his standing with her is potentially precarious.

 

 

 

Xuanji is on the patio in front of her room.  She's attempting to open the box that Sifeng gave her not too long ago.  The box containing Sifeng's secret.  "This is too hard.  How do I solve this?"  The box top is structured like a rubix cube type puzzle, and she's struggling with it.  "I can't solve it!"  She shakes the box, wondering if that will shift anything.

Sifeng observes her from a distance, questioning if it was ever a good idea to give her the box.

 

 

 

Hao Chen is standing in a dark and creepy cave, a perfect mirror of his personality.  He's so sure he can nab Sifeng for once and for all, but he ends up collosally disappointed.  "The hair didn't change at all.  Did I overthink?  Yu Sifeng wasn't a demon after all.  Maybe the demon in Qingmu Town is connected to the demon in Mount Buzhou.  That demon has a malignant aura surrounding it.  It's not an ordinary demon."

He closes his eyes and recalls his battle with Yuan Lang at Mount Buzhou.  He remembers a piece of metal falling from the demon during their scuffle.

He begins to feel nauseous, and his back begins to feel warm from someone applying healing energy.

Sect Leader Chu is behind him, applying the energy.  He pulls back his fingers, and Hao Chen turns around.

"Thank you, Sect Leader," Hao Chen bows.

"You wouldn't have been hurt if it weren't for Xuanji.  I should thank you instead.  You're too good for Xuanji."

"By the way, Sect Leader, I just remembered that something fell out of the demon's body when I fought him on Mount Buzhou.  Maybe I can find some clues."

"Eh," says Sect Leader Chu, in his guttural voice.  "You're injured now.  You shouldn't over exert yourself.  I think we should send our spirit beast, Hong Luan, to check it out.  You should go on a retreat and recuperate."

"That's a good idea," Hao Chen reluctantly agrees.  "Sect Leader, sorry for the trouble."  He bows.

 

 

 

Sect Leader Chu is thoughtfully making his way back to Shaoyang Hall, when he's met with an interruption.

"Master!"  First Senior runs up to him.  "Master," First Senior and another disciple bow.

"What's wrong?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.  "Why are you so anxious?"

"Some demons from Tianxu Hall are gathering at the base of our mountain!  And Sixth Senior is there, as well."

"What?" Asks Sect Leader Chu.

 

 

 

The Tianxu Hall demons are at the base of the mountain, standing beside the casket type mystery box that Wu Tong wouldn't let Little Six examine.

Little Six and Ruo Yu are at the end of the line.

"Don't worry," says Ruo Yu.  "Everyone will appreciate what you did in the future."

"I don't know why," says Little Six, "but I feel uneasy."  He looks at the box.  "I don't know what Wu Tong put inside this box.  We should be careful."

The Shaoyang Sect disciples, dressed in shades of beige, and very light gray, meet them at the base of the mountain.  Sect Leader Chu and Aunt Hong lead the way.

"Master," Little Six whispers, as he sees them approaching.

"You scum!"  Growls Sect Leader Chu.  "How dare you come back!"

Little Six's heart drops.  This was not the reception he was expecting.  He and Ruo Yu approach Sect Leader Chu.

"Master, Aunt," Little Six bows.

"Shut up!"  Snaps Sect Leader Chu.  "You traitor!  You betrayed us and joined Tianxu Hall!  I don't have a disciple like you!"

"Minyan, how could you join the demons?"  Asks Aunt Hong.  "You better kowtow and apologize to your master right now!"

"Master.  Aunt Yinghong.  I'm not here to beg for Master's forgiveness.  I'm here to represent Tianxu Hall today."

Sect Leader Chu looks at him with disgust.  "What did you say?  Say that again!"

"Master, please calm down.  Don't think that you don't need to worry about us because you got back Linglong's primordial spirit.  Actually, you only got half of it back."

Sect Leader Chu's eyes widen.

"Half of it?"  Asks Aunt Hong.  "What do you mean?  Explain yourself!"

"Linglong is still unconscious, right?"  Asks Little Six.  "You should think of the reason why, and cooperate with our superintendent.  Only by doing so, will you be able to save Linglong."

"Sixth Junior, what do you mean by that?"  Asks First Senior.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Explain yourself!"

"Everyone has their own ambitions," Ruo Yu interjects.  "Everyone, you all don't need to be angry."

"How dare you say that!"  Says Sect Leader Chu.  "You came to my sect when you were eight years old, and I raised you until you became an adult.  But only now did I finally understand what your ambition was.  Fine.  Hero Zhong, why are you here?  Do you want to threaten me with Linglong's primordial spirit again?"

"Hero Zhong," says a Tianxu Hall disciple, "you better accomplish the mission our superintendent gave you!"

"Master," says Little Six.  "Our superintendent commanded me to send you a gift.  As the leader of the Five Great Sects, we hope that you won't create trouble for us anymore.  And we'll reward you for your cooperation."

What is astounding is Sect Leader Chu's willingness to throw Little Six away, even though he has gone above and beyond to save Linglong.  Which is also interesting, because Sect Leader Chu was willing to throw Linglong away for "the greater good."  It's not hard to see why Yuan Lang, Wolf, and Lize Palace Master think he's full of shit.

The Tianxu Hall disciples bring the wooden box forward.

"How could demons such as you order Shaoyang Sect around?"  Asks He Yang.  He runs forward, and strikes the demons with ice blue energy.  The demons spin in the air, and hit the ground on their backs.  The box tips over and falls open.  To Little Six, Ruo Yu, and Shaoyang Sect's horror,  Minjue's body falls out.

"Minjue?"  Asks an astounded Aunt Hong.

"Second Senior!"

"Senior!"  The sect members rush over to his body.

Aunt Hong checks his pulse, and shakes her head.

"You beast!"  Sect Leader Chu yells at Little Six.  "How dare you harm your fellow senior!"

"Master!" Gasps Little Six.

With a burst of blue energy, Sect Leader Chu sends Little Six flying, hitting the ground on his back.  Little Six begins to vomit blood.

Ruo Yu helps him sit up.  "Minyan, are you okay?"

Little Six feels completely betrayed, as he had thought Sect Leader Chu had told him to do what ever it takes to save Linglong.  And now, Sect Leader Chu is throwing him away, and publicly humiliating him for doing just that.

"Impossible!"  Says Little Six.  "Master, I didn't kill Second Senior!  You know I wouldn't do this!  I don't know why he's dead!  I thought he was still in the cell!  How could this happen?  Master, you must believe in me!"

"I didn't expect myself to raise an ingrate like you!"  Says Sect Leader Chu.  "Today, I'll slay you for justice's sake."  Ironically, Minjue was another person Sect Leader Chu threw away and forgot about for the "greater good."  Killing Little Six would absolutely prove Yuan Lang, Lize Palace Master, and Wolf's point about the hypocrisy of the righteous sects.

Sect Leader Chu extends his palm, making it face sideways.  Ice blue energy generates from his hand.  Little Six closes his eyes, bracing himself for the worst.

Ruo Yu glares at Sect Leader Chu, and pulls a black talisman with gold writing out of his hanfu.  "We have no time for explanations!  Let's go!"  In a blue flash, Ruo Yu and Little Six disappear.

"Where are they?"

"Where are they?"

"I didn't really expect them to posess the Teleportation Charm," says Aunt Hong.

 

 

 

Ruo Yu and Little Six are teleported to a forest.  Little Six can't stop vomiting blood.

"Minyan," says Ruo Yu.

"Second Senior!"  Little Six screams.

"Minyan."

"Why didn't you let my master kill me?"

"Both of us know that Minjue's death has nothing to do with you."

"It's Wu Tong!"  Little Six growls.  "He killed Second Senior!  He did it on purpose!  And I actually became his accomplice!"  He repeatedly punches a tree trunk.

Ruo Yu grabs him.  "Minyan!"

He continues to beat up the tree.

"Minyan!"

"Second Senior is dead because of me!"  Little Six swings his arm, and knocks Ruo Yu over.   "I deserve to die!"

"Zhong Minyan!  You can kill yourself if you want to!  But what about Linglong?  Who will save her?  Who will retrieve her primordial spirit?  We still have many things we need to accomplish.  You need to pull yourself together.  We still have many tasks to complete.  If not, your Second Senior will have died in vain.  You mustn't spoil our plan because of your impatience."

Little Six wipes his tears.  "Wu Tong, I will seek my revenge.  You will pay for this!"

 

 

 

Xuanji and Sifeng walk up an arched wooden bridge in front of the inn.  Xuanji is carrying a basket full of leafy greens.

"You two have finally returned," says Teng She, like a child who misses his parents.  "What will you cook today?"  He runs after them eagerly.  "Hurry!  I'm starving to death!"

"Food is the only thing that's on your mind," says Xuanji.  "It's a secret."

They three walk into Xuanji's room to find Ting Nu and Brother Liu waiting for them.

"You two have finally returned," says Brother Liu.  "Something huge has happened."  He shows them some papers.

"We received a notice from Shaoyang Sect," Ting Nu explains.

Sifeng takes the basket, while Xuanji studies the papers.

"How could this happen?"  Asks Xuanji as she skims over the documents.  "Second Senior is dead?  And Sixth Senior is the murderer?  Sixth Senior has been kicked out of Shaoyang Sect.  Impossible.  I don't believe it.  Sixth Senior is a kind person.  He wouldn't resort to such despicable acts!"

Sifeng takes the papers and meticulously examines them.  "I'm sure there's something behind this."

"The spirit beast of Sect Leader Chu sent us a letter," says Ting Nu.  He holds up the palm of his hand, and a folded piece of paper appears.

Xuanji snatches it out of his hand.  "Father said that Sixth Senior has joined Tianxu Hall," she summarizes.  "He wants us to be careful, and he wants us to return to the sect earlier.  He even said that...He said we only brought half of Linglong's primordial spirit back from Mount Buzhou.  And Linglong is still unconscious."

Sifeng takes the letter.  "We were cheated by Wu Tong."

"This Wu Tong...In order to exchange for Linglong's primordial spirit, five of us went into Mount Buzhou, yet only two of us came back.  Sixth Senior joined Tianxu Hall because of this," says Xuanji.  "But in the end, we still couldn't retrieve Linglong's primordial spirit."

"Although, we didn't completely save Linglong," Ting Nu interjects, "she would've been dead without the primordial spirit you brought back."

"Ting Nu, please make some Birth Candles for me," says Xuanji.  "I want to enter Mount Buzhou once again.  I want to save both Linglong and Sixth Senior."

"It's not that easy to make Birth Candles," says Ting Nu.  "We need rare ingredients to make them.  I'm afraid Dragon Scales are too hard to find."

"What should we do, then?"  Xuanji tearfully asks.  "I...Teng She."  She turns around.  "Teng She, come here.  Aren't you a heavenly officer?  You can help me enter Mount Buzhou, right?  Please take me there, okay?"

"Kss," sys Teng She.  "I can enter that place with no difficulty."

"Bring us there, then," Xuanji insists

"Sure," says Teng She.  "Wait!  We have a problem.  Now, I'm your spirit beast, and you're a useless mortal.  Because of that, my powers are restricted, and I can't enter Mount Buzhou."

"You!" Says Xuanji.

"How about you chop off your arm?"  Teng She suggests.  "I'll be free by then, and I can help you enter Mount Buzhou."

"Fine.  You can chop off my arm, if it means that I can save Linglong and Sixth Senior."  Xuanji extends her arm.

"Sss!"  Says Teng She.

"Wait!  I have an idea," Sifeng interjects.

Teng She lowers Xuanji's arm.

"The pieces of primordial spirit can save each other," Sifeng continues.  "Teng She, you should be able to bring back the rest by using the primordial spirit residing in Linglong's body."

Teng She sighs, and touches a strand of his hair.  "You know quite a lot.  But only I, the greatest heavenly officer, am capable of such powerful feats."

"This is great,"  Xuanji says softly.  "Let's return to Shaoyang Sect immediately."

"Okay, let's go," Sifeng agrees.

"Daa, what's for dinner tonight?" Asks Teng She.

 

 

 

Ruo Yu and Little Six have returned to Tianxu Hall.  Linglong is sitting on Wu Tong's lap, drinking wine, and carrying on like a gisaeng.

"Here," says Linglong.  The two lovers clink cups.

"Fill my cup," says Wu Tong as Little Six and Ruo Yu approach them.

"My Lord, we've sent your gift to Shaoyang Sect," Little Six says as flatly as he possibly can.

"What?"  Asks Wu Tong.  "It's such a big gift.  Didn't your master ask you to stay for dinner?  Oh, I almost forgot.  You've been kicked out of Shaoyang Sect.  Now, everyone knows that you belong to Tianxu Hall.  You will never be able to return to Shaoyang Sect."  He laughs obnoxiously.  "Reward him with some wine!"

Little Six feels sick to his stomach.

"After you drink this, you should just work for me with all your heart.  Naturally, I won't treat you badly."

Little Six takes the cup.  He squeezes it, and defiantly throws it on the floor, splashing wine every where.

Wu Tong glares at him.

"Minyan!"  Gasps Ruo Yu.

"Wu Tong!"  Little Six growls.

"What?"  Asks Wu Tong.  "You can't continue your act anymore?  You're far worse at acting than me.  In the past, when I worked for our leader, I always followed his every order, and acted obediently.  I would never let him notice that it was all an act.  But you?"

"Why?"  Asks Little Six.

"What do you mean?"  Wu Tong asks innocently. 

"Why did you kill Second Senior?  He's no threat.  And he has never offended you!"

Wu Tong laughs.  "I didn't kill your Second Senior.  Don't stare at me like that.  My beloved Linglong was the one behind your Second Senior's death."  He affectionately touches her chin.

"Me?"  Asks Linglong.

"Did you forget?"  Asks Wu Tong.  "You gave Chen Minjue the poisonous glutinous rice cake yourself last night."

Linglong looks up at Little Six.  She feels horrible.

Wu Tong laughs.  "Why are you staring at Linglong like that?  Are you perplexed?  Are you raging inside?  Or are you wondering why your beloved Linglong became like this?  You don't even understand her well.  You don't even know what her favorite food is."  Wu Tong sneers.  "Come, let me help you out.  Someone!"  A servant approaches them with a plate of glutinous rice cakes.

Little Six looks at the plate tearfully.  He already had to deal with being disowned by his sect, seeing the corpse of his childhood friend, watching Linglong act like a gisaeng with a man she normally hates; and now this.

"Give Minyan your favorite glutinous rice cake. Go," says Wu Tong.

Linglong grabs a cake from the plate, and walks over to Little Six.  She looks at him apologetically.  Wu Tong is watching them closely, as he's beginning to question Linglong's loyalty.

Instead of giving Little Six the cake, Linglong walks back to Wu Tong.  "Wu Tong gege, why don't we just forget it?  I'll treat glutinous rice cake as my favorite food, okay?"

"Are you trying to disobey me?"  Wu Tong snaps.

Ruo Yu gets on his knees.  "North Superintendent, although Minyan committed mistakes, he doesn't deserve to die.  North Superintendent, please give him another chance."

Wu Tong tilts his head, and some guards arrive.  Two are holding Little Six, and one grabs a cake and forcefully shoves it into Little Six's mouth.

Ruo Yu gasps.  Little Six gags.  Wu Tong smirks.

"Wu Tong gege," says Linglong.

Little Six spits out the cake.

Wu Tong slaps the table and laughs.  He approaches Little Six.  "Zhong Minyan, you're getting more stupid.  Do you think I will poison you?  I don't want my entourage to die on me, you know.  But you better listen up.  I hate it when people touch my stuff.  You better not come up with tricks under my watch!  Linglong is mine.  If you do something you shouldn't, I'll send Shaoyang Sect more gifts.  By then, it'll be more than just Chen Minjue."  He puts his arm around Linglong.  "Let's go."  All this drama has heightened his bedroom excitement.

 

 

 

"Stinky woman, I'm the best heavenly officer there is," Teng She insists, as they journey through the forest.  Xuanji is walking beside him, like a high school best friend roaming the hall; and Sifeng and Little Silver Flower follow behind.  "How dare you make me do such cowardly things?"  Teng She asks.

"We still need to save Sixth Senior after we retrieve Linglong's spirit," says Xuanji.  "If my father knows about this, he won't let us leave Shaoyang Sect.  We can only use this path.  Hurry!"

 

 

 

Little Six is drinking wine in the kitchen, alone.  He's feeling very displaced and dejected.  What's the point?

Linglong quietly walks through the kitchen entrance.  "Zhong Minyan, accompany me to the gate of Fenru City.  I'll visit Shen Shu and Yu Lu."

Little Six is feeling very wary.  The last time he did anything with Linglong, Minjue died, and he got kicked out of his sect.  No thanks.

She smacks him on the shoulder.  "Ah, I'm talking to you.  Why aren't you responding?"

Little Six remains silent, and takes another drink.

Linglong rolls her eyes and grabs the jug in the middle of Little Six's next gulp.  "I know.  You're angry at me because of your Senior's death.  But, you can't blame me for this.  I didn't know that the glutinous rice cake was poisonous.  Just forget it.  It's only one death.  There are so many disciples in Shaoyang Sect.  I'll capture another guy, and let him accompany you, okay?"

Little Six is astouded by her lack of remorse.  "Scram!"  Little Six glares at her.  This thing does not deserve to be recognized as Linglong.

"Zhong Minyan, you better know what's good for you.  No one has ever spoken to me, Linglong, in that tone."

"Don't call yourself Linglong in front of me!  You're not Linglong!  You don't even deserve to mention her name!"  He gets up to leave.   Just being in the presence of this sociopathic thing makes him want to barf.

"Stop!"  Linglong yells.  She stands in front of him.  "Explain yourself, then!  What do you mean by I'm not Linglong?  All of you told me the same thing!  Although I don't understand your words, I'm not stupid!  That person you spoke of, how is she connected with me?  So what if we look exactly the same?  Why am I inferior compared to her?"  She even senses she doesn't measure up to this mystery woman when Wu Tong looks over her while they're making love, and drones on and on about her at length.

"Fine," says Little Six.  "Since you want me to speak, I'll tell you everything.  There's only one Linglong in this world.  And that Linglong is in the Shaoyang Sect.  It's more than a coincidence that you look exactly the same.  Wu Tong made you because he couldn't obtain her.  Wu Tong stole Linglong's primordial spirit.  He extracted half of your primordial spirit, and inserted half of Linglong's primordial spirit into your body.  He made you his puppet.  And you will only adopt an appearance and a personality to his liking!  You're wearing red because that's Linglong's favorite color.  Wu Tong is treating you well only because he wanted the real Linglong.  You're not a flower demon, and you're not Linglong.  You're just a monster who resembles no one!  One's heart is the hardest to imitate.  You only have Linglong's appearance, and her demeanor.  But you're not her!  No matter how willful the real Linglong is, she always has a kind heart.  A person like you, who aids evil, will never become her!"

Linglong has a sinking feeling mixed with intense anger and fear, as she realizes she's a place holder to the woman Wu Tong will never get over.  The woman she will never live up to.  "Impossible," Linglong shakes her head.  It's a complicated reality she doesn't want to face.  If she does, she has nowhere to go.  "Everything you said was a lie!"  She says tearfully.  "They're not real!  I'm the real Linglong!  You're lying to me!"

"Am I lying to you?"  Little Six asks sternly.  "If so, why did you cry when I was hurt?  Why did you space out when you saw my dagger?  Why do you feel familiar with every word you said to me?  Am I lying to you?  Or is it because the Linglong inside of you is trying to remember me?  Tell me!"

"Fine," Linglong weeps.  "All of you are up to no good.  I'll ask Wu Tong gege to kill you right away!"

Before she can run away and tattle, Little Six grabs her arm.  "Fine.  Go now.  Ask him to kill me right now.  This is better.  You don't need to find out the truth.  Just do your part, and be his puppet.  And lose your own identity in the process."

"Scram!"  Linglong breaks away from his grasp, and runs out of the kitchen.

She runs down the steps leading outside Tianxu Hall, and into the comparitively bright daylight.  She stops in front of the boulder where Wu Tong had found her in Lily form, and she was undergoing her tribulations.

"This is where I first grew upward and cultivated."  She closes her eyes and remembers the moment Wu Tong found her.

"I saved you because you were destined to be mine."

She remembers her flower petals circling Wu Tong in a flurry before she transformed into Linglong.

"I have a name for you, as well.  You will be Linglong."

She remembers Little Six examining her wrist.  "What are you doing?  Let me go!"

"It's not there," says Little Six.

"She's not Linglong," says Xuanji.

"How is it?"  Asks Wu Tong.  "The clone looks exactly like her, doesn't it?  Even you don't know who the real Linglong is, right?"

"You're wearing red because red is Linglong's favorite color," says Little Six.  "Wu Tong treats you well because he wants the real Linglong!"

I remember now, Linglong thinks.  Yellow is my favorite color.  She examines her red hanfu.  Yellow is my original color.  Everything here was familiar to me.  But now, it feels like I'm in unfamiliar territory.  Don't tell me it's because I'm not the original me anymore?  She spins around, and her hanfu turns light yellow and white.  "What if Wu Tong gege doesn't like this?  I'll just change it back."  She nods and runs back up the steps.

Linglong finds Wu Tong sitting alone in the kitchen, wearing the quintessential sullen man glare. 

"Wu Tong gege," Linglong says nervously.

He says nothing.  She touches his arm.  "Wu Tong gege, what's on your mind?"

Wu Tong sighs.  "Our leader asked me to prepare some troops for him.  Tianxu Hall will hold a major operation soon.  I was wondering if I should help him.  What's wrong?  Do you need anything?"

She looks down at her hanfu.  "Look."

He notices the colors on her hanfu, and chuckles.  "When did you change your clothes?"

"Do you like it?"  Linglong asks uncertainly.

Wu Tong says nothing.

"If you don't like it, I can change it back."  Linglong says quickly.  

"As long as you like it," Wu Tong finally says.

"Really?"  Linglong says excitedly.  "So, are you saying that I can wear anything I like?"  The real Linglong would have had a huge case of the ick right about now.

Wu Tong nods.

"Wu Tong gege, are you saying that I can choose my own appearance?"

"As long as you're happy," says Wu Tong.

"I..."

"Linglong," Wu Tong interrupts.  "I'm busy now.  Go out and play."

Linglong smiles and runs off, the power dynamic and obnoxious condescension completely going over her head, whereas, with the real Linglong, no way in hell would Wu Tong get away with it.  Not without a fight, at least.

 

 

...To Be Continued...