American Perspectives: The Golden Feather Pt. 1 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 36)

 

“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.

 

 

 

Sect Leader Chu regally walks out of the Shaoyang Sect entrance, and stands at the top of the steps, looking out at his disciples and elders.  This Hairpin Tournament is undoubtedly more politically charged than the last.

Everyone, except Teng She, bows.  Teng She crosses his arms.

"Sect Leader, all the disciples are here," says Aunt Hong.  "We can depart now."

"Okay," says Sect Leader Chu.  "Let's get ready to depart."

"Father," Linglong and Little Six approach Sect Leader Chu.  They have a really good idea of what he's getting himself into.

"Master," Little Six bows.

Sect Leader Chu looks at him warily.

"Linglong?"  Whispers Xuanji.

"Although we are no longer Shaoyang's disciples, you need as much help as you can get to fight the enemies now," says Little Six.  "Please let me and Linglong go to Dianjing Valley with you.  We don't mind if we can just tag along.  No matter what, we want to help Shaoyang."

"You are no longer disciples of Shaoyang," Sect Leader Chu says pointedly.  "You have no right to participate in the Flower Session.  Both of you better stay here."

"Father," says Linglong.  "The demons of Tianxu Hall isolated my primordial spirit from my body.  I vow to seek revenge.  I really want to help you."

"Master," says Little Six.  "Linglong and I have fought a long time with Tianxu Hall.  We know them best.  To know one's own strength, and the enemy's, is the sure way to victory, right?"

"Father!"  Xuanji interjects.

Sect Leader Chu sighs.  Just like old times.  "Fine.  Both of you can join the Flower Session with me in Dianjing Valley.  But remember, don't act recklessly.  Do you understand?"

"Thank you, Father," Linglong bows.

"Thank you, Master," Little Six bows.

 

 

 

The disciples enter the lush, green Dianjing Valley, and are promptly welcomed at the Sect entry way.

The Dianjing Valley disciples welcome them with a bow.  The vibe is completely different from the last Hairpin Tournament four years ago.  Four years ago, it had a summer camp vibe when Sifeng and Xuanji were still teenagers, pulling a prank or two.

"Sifeng, look," says Xuanji.  "Dianjing Valley is so beautiful."

"What is this?"  Teng She snorts.  "Any door in the heavens is prettier than this place."

"If the heavens are so good, why did you come here?"  Asks Xuanji.

"Let me tell you," says Teng She.  "Being kicked out, and sneaking out, are different.  You're kicked out.  We are at different levels."

"We are indeed different," Xuanji agrees.  "I'm the master.  You are the spirit beast.  We are indeed at different levels."

Teng She gives her the death stare, and shudders.

The Shaoyang sect steps in front of Valley Master Rong and his disciples.

Valley Master Rong bows.  "I've been discourteous."

Sect Leader Chu and Aunt Hong bow.  "What are you talking about?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.  "You are too kind."

The Fuyu Island sect comes filing in.  "Sect Leader Chu, how are you?"  Asks Dongfang, who looks like he experienced a glow up.  He acknowledges Sect Leader Chu with a bow.

Sect Leader Chu returns the bow.  "Hello, Brother Dongfang."

Dongfang looks over at Linglong.  "It's great that Miss Linglong has returned to normal."

"Thank you, Uncle Dongfang," says Linglong.

"Old Man, are you done yet?"  Asks Teng She.  "When are we going to eat?"

Xuanji nudges him sharply.  "Keep quiet."

Valley Master Rong laughs.  "Please, come in, then.  I've prepared some drinks to welcome all of you."

"Valley Master Rong," says Sect Leader Chu.  "I need to talk to you in private."

"Ah," says Valley Master Rong.  "My fellow elders, please entertain the others."

"Okay."

"This way, please," says Valley Master Rong.

Teng She rolls his eyes and sighs.

Xuanji grabs Sifeng's hand.  "Let's go," she whispers.  The two run ahead.

"What does he mean by drinks?"  Asks Teng She.  "Aren't we eating?"

"Shut up," says Xuanji.

 

 

 

Teng She is out on the deck, enjoying a piece of chicken.  He tosses the chicken bone, and hits a Dianjing Valley disciple in the face.

The disciple looks up in surprise.  "You food thief!  How dare you steal from Dianjing Valley?  Come down, now!"

Teng She snorts derisively.  "I'm showing respect by eating your chicken drumstick.  So many people are burning incense for me, and I don't even want to eat their food."

"Tell us who you are, if you dare.  I'll teach you a lesson!"

Teng She licks his fingers and smiles.  He stands up.  "Listen carefully.  I am Lord Flying Snake from the heavens."  He snakes his head around.  "Zzz..."

The disciples laugh.

"You can kowtow now," says Teng She.

Xuanji walks in on the debacle.  She pulls out the Blood Soul Pearl, points her finger, and applies energy.

"Kowtow now," demands Teng She.

He is taken by surprise when the energy generated by the Blood Soul Pearl knocks him off the deck, and leaves him rolling on the ground.

Xuanji runs to him.

"Food thief!  Beat him up!"

Teng She rises, ready to fight.

"Stop!" Yells Xuanji.  She stands in front of Teng She.  "My seniors and juniors.  This is just a misunderstanding.  He is here to participate in the Flower Session, too.  But since young, he has been mentally challenged."  She points to her head.

Teng She glares at her.

"Eating is the only thing he knows," Xuanji explains.  "So, sorry.  He's too pitiful."

Teng She is about to say something, but Xuanji gently pushes him back.

"Fine then," says the Dianjing Valley disciple.  "Let's not fight with a dummy."

"That's right."

"Let's go."

Teng She takes a sharp breath.  He flips his hair, and snakes his head toward Xuanji.  "You stinky woman, what is the meaning of this?  Are you humiliating me on purpose?  I'm such a powerful being in this world."

She shoves a drumstick in his mouth.  "You--"

He takes the drumstick out.  "I'll let you off the hook this time."

Xuanji nudges him, and goes to Sifeng.  "Sifeng, can I return my spirit beast?"

Before Sifeng can answer...

"Lize Palace is here!"

Sifeng darts away, while Xuanji chases after him.  Meanwhile, Teng She is savoring his chicken.

 

 

 

The Dianjing Valley disciples escort the very dark and distinctive Lize Palace Sect down the courtyard.  Palace Master is up at the front.

Sifeng makes it a point to greet them.  Xuanji and Teng She are behind him.

"Greetings, Master," Sifeng bows.

Palace Master gives him the death stare.

Xuanji bows.

"You left without saying good bye on Fuyu Island," says Palace Master.  "I thought you didn't want to be a disciple of Lize Palace anymore."

Teng She rolls his eyes and walks away.

"Of course, I wouldn't do that," says Sifeng.  "I left Fuyu Island because I had to do something.  Master, please forgive me."

Yuan Lang smirks.

Palace Master looks at Xuanji suspiciously.  Without another word, he walks away.

"Hero Yu, you just left and came back as you please," says Yuan Lang.  "How impressive."

"Sifeng left to save someone," Xuanji interjects.  "Even if he did wrong, his merits can offset his faults."

"Heroine Chu, you are too much of a busy body," says Yuan Lang.  "I heard that you are going to participate in this Flower Session, too.  You better pay more attention to the competition.  I'll look forward to your performance."

"This way, please, Vice Palace Lord," says a Dianjing disciple.

"Seniors and Juniors, this way, please," says another disciple.

"Sifeng, I'll ask my father to put in some good words for you," says Xuanji.

"Lize Palace dislikes the intervention of outsiders the most," says Sifeng.  "I'll find a way to ask for my master's forgiveness."

 

 

 

Sifeng is humbly kneeling in Palace Master's room.  His white hanfu is in stark contrast to Palace Master's indigo blue.

Palace Master takes a sip of tea.  "Back then, you left without saying good bye.  Now, you come back to find me again.  Are you thinking that you are the same as them, after spending so much time together?  They are very cunning.  They've never treated us kindly.  You are so close with them.  I'm worried that you'll end up getting hurt."

"Master," says Sifeng.  "The friends that I've made are different from others.  They've never hurt me before.  Please rest assured."

Palace Master isn't sold on it.  Culturally ingrained biases and prejudices die hard.  He stands up and walks down the steps.  "Does 'them' include Chu Xuanji, who activated your Loveless Curse?"

"I was the one with obsession back then.  It was not Xuanji's fault," says Sifeng.

"She is just lying to you!"  Palace Master yells in frustration.  "If it was mutual affection, why would you be separated because of an obsession?"

"Xuanji even gave up her life in order to save me.  She is sincere towards me."

"Sincere?"  Palace Master growls.  He paces.  "Sincere?"  He points at Sifeng.  "Then tell her who you are.  Do you dare do that?"

The whites of Sifeng's eyes redden.  "I'll tell her when I find the right time."

"The right time?  I want to see when the right time is.  When the time comes, don't regret it."

Sifeng wants to cry.  At this point, there is no right time.

"Why are you still here?"  Asks Palace Master as he sits down.

Sifeng rises.  "Master, I want to ask you something."

Palace Master pours himself a cup of wine.

"A few decades ago," says Sifeng, "did the death of Shaoyang Sect Leader's wife have anything to do with Lize Palace?"

Palace Master takes a drink.  "Lize Palace has killed many people.  How can I remember?"

Sifeng grips the side of his hanfu.  "So, we've really killed someone before.  Why?"  He has become quite livid.

Palace Master rises.  "If we didn't kill them, were we just going to let them find out our identity and kill us?  Sifeng, you are too young.  You don't know them well.  Or else, why do you think Lize Palace would set the No Love rule?  I remember that around 20 years ago, a disciple of Lize Palace was once in love with the daughter of the old Valley Master of Dianjing Valley.  They could've had a happy life together.  They even had a child.  But they found out his identity by accident.  The disciples from those sects took away the old Valley Master's daughter by force, and pressured her to reveal our secret.  In the end, she committed suicide."  He sighs.  "Only by doing so, could she protect the secret of Lize Palace."

Sifeng turns around to look at him.

"Look," says Palace Master.  "There is nothing that these people won't do.  No matter how devoted the lovers are toward each other, once they find out about our identity, there will be no good ending for the lovers."  Palace Master touches Sifeng's arms.  "Sifeng, listen to me.  Leave Chu Xuanji as soon as possible, so that you won't get hurt."

Sifeng pushes Palace Master away.  "No!  We owe her this.  I have to set this right for her.  And then, I'll bring her away.  Lize Palace has kept this secret for so long.  Nobody has ever found out about our secret.  I can't keep this from her forever."

"When we want to keep a secret, of course we can," says Palace Master.  "But when we don't want to do it, do you think we'll care about those who are weak?"

 

 

 

"During the Flower Session, the twelve people who were there when the Demon Whip broke were all here in Dianjing Valley," says Hao Chen.  He addresses Sect Leader Chu and Valley Master Rong.  "Besides the three of us, the spy must be among the rest of the nine people."

"Yesterday," says Valley Master Rong, "I already let out the news that we'll move our spirit key from our underground palace to the West Hall today.  And we've applied the blood of merman on the door.  I'm sure that he'll come forward with the spirit key as bait.  This colorless merman blood will turn red once someone touches it.  And that person will be the spy who we are looking for."

"Is West Hall safe?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.

"Don't worry," says Valley Master Rong.  "The door of West Hall is Dianjing Valley's special vault door.  Not even a fly can enter.  Our armored warriors move when they smell demons.  They are the best opponents of the demon clan.  It'll be ideal if we can catch that rat today.  But if he manages to escape, we'll still know who he is."

"I'm just afraid that there's more than one demon among us," says Hao Chen.

"What do you mean?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.

"Everything is still speculation for now," Hao Chen says carefully.  "I'll report back to you when I have a definite answer."

 

 

 

Xuanji is walking through the courtyard late at night.  She is continuing to work on the puzzle box containing Sifeng's secret.  She shakes it, hoping that will crack it open.  She fiddles with it again.

Sifeng quietly stands behind her.  He feels emotionally exhausted and torn up.  Palace Master's angry words invade his mind.  "If it is mutual affection, why would you be separated because of an obsession?  She is just lying to you!"  He so badly wants to tell Xuanji the truth.  "Xuanji gave up her life in order to save me.  She is sincere towards me."

He slowly walks up behind her.  She continues to work on the puzzle.  He grabs her wrists, and embraces her from the back.

Xuanji is happy to feel him behind her.  "Sifeng.  How did it go with your master?"

Sifeng holds her tighter.

"Sifeng, someone might see us."

"I don't care," whispers Sifeng.  "No matter what happens, I want to be with you."

"Okay," Xuanji smiles.  "I promise you that I won't go anywhere.  I'll stay here with you, okay?"  She enjoys the warmth of his embrace.  "By the way, Sifeng.  I've been trying to solve this Lugong Puzzle, but it's too difficult.  I still can't unlock it.  But I really want to know what you wrote for me.  Can you tell me about it?"

Sifeng's heart races.  "Maybe it's best if you can't unlock it."

Xuanji turns around.  "Sifeng, what's wrong with you?"

"There are some things that I need to settle in person," Sifeng says softly.  "If anything happens, no matter what you hear or see, don't let your imagination run wild.  Wait for me to come back, and I'll explain it to you, okay?"

"Sifeng, what's wrong with you today?  Your master still doesn't agree to us being together, right?"

He embraces her again.  He's not ready to talk about the complicated history of Lize Palace tonight.

"I'm just..." says Sifeng, "too afraid of losing you."

"After we capture all those demons in Dianjing Valley, I'll go to Lize Palace with you to beg for your Master's blessings."

He hugs her tightly.  Xuanji, I'm sorry.  He suspects the road ahead of them is going to be very long, turbulent, and at some points divided.  I'll set things right for you.

 

 

 

With his index and middle fingers on both hands, he generates flame energy, and Hao Chen draws a circle in the air.  He points his right hand forward, like a gun.  He is once again obsessively analyzing a sample of Sifeng's hair.  Once again, he's not getting the result he wants.

"Did I really guess it wrongly?"  As he looks up, the strand of hair turns into a golden feather.

"Yu Sifeng, you are indeed a demon."  With his hand, he breaks the table in front of him in two, like he's testing for his next belt in Taekwondo.  "Yu Sifeng, I won't let you off the hook so easily this time.  I'll show Xuanji your true colors."

 

 

 

Yuan Lang and Wolf are at the foot of the West Hall stairs.

Wolf steps forward, scanning his surroundings.  The armored warrior statues surrounding the building, shift.

Yuan Lang brings out his fan, and it generates red and black fire.  He uses his fan to neutralize Wolf's demonic aura.  "These armored warriors move when they smell demons," says Yuan Lang.  "I've already sealed up your demonic aura.  They're useless now."

Wolf bows.  "Thank you for your help."

"Let's go," says Yuan Lang.

The statues remain in place as the two men walk through.  Wolf still feels somewhat wary.

They stop in front of the metal door.  "According to Wu Tong," says Yuan Lang, "we can open this door with me using my Qi to turn it clockwise, and you using your Qi to turn it counter clockwise.  This is why I brought you into Dianjing Valley beforehand.  Let's start."

"Okay," says Wolf.

There is one dial on each of the double doors.  Yuan Lang turns his clockwise, and Wolf turns his counter clockwise.  The doors slide open and the men enter the huge room.  The doors behind them suddenly slide closed, and lock.  However, the two men are unaware that they just walked into a trap.

"My Lord, this is not right," says Wolf.  "Why is it empty?"

Yuan Lang steps on a tile.  Gold energy generates from the floor, and bright green energy shines from a sculpture.  With the palm of his hand, Yuan Lang blocks the energy from hitting him.  Wolf does the same for himself.

Wolf pushes Yuan Lang away as he decides to deal with the green energy on his own.  He put his arms down, and is immediately trapped.  "This is a demon trap formation.  Leave now, My Lord.  Tianxu Hall can lose its Wolf, but it can't lose you.  I have no regrets serving you, and I'll die for our demon clan!"

Bells ring outside.

"My Lord, leave now!"  Says Wolf.  "Leave now!"

Yuan Lang makes a run for it.

 

 

 

Hao Chen, Sect Leader Chu, and Valley Master Rong approach the West Hall door.  Yuan Lang's handprint is very clearly seen on the dial.

"He's inside!"  Valley Master Rong says excitedly.

Wolf is fighting to break the formation.

Hao Chen, Sect Leader Chu, and Valley Master Rong walk in.

Wolf turns to face them.  "Open!"  He yells as he generates flame energy in an attempt to destroy the formation.

"Wolf?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.  "So, it's you."

"It's not him!"  Hao Chen insists.  "There must be another one."  Dongfang, and some Shaoyang and Lize Palace disciples rush in.

"So, it's you," says Dongfang.

"Dongfang Qing Qi?"  Asks Wolf.

"I'll kill you to avenge Qing Rong today," says Dongfang.

"Wait," says Sect Leader Chu.  "He can't die yet.  We still have a lot of things to ask him.  Wolf, you should know that it's impossible for you to escape from this Demon Trap Formation."  

Wolf smirks.

"You better tell us honestly who your accomplice is," Sect Leader Chu continues.

"Fine," says Wolf.  "I'll tell you now.  All the demons in this world are my accomplices."

"You..." says Dongfang.

"I'll strike you with Hell's Nail, and see how long you can keep your mouth shut," growls Valley Master Rong.

"You humans are too naive," says Wolf.  "I won't give you that chance to interrogate me."

With a movement of his arms, Wolf forms a fiery orb between his palms.  It shines and emits flames like the sun.

Yuan Lang quietly joins the Sect Leaders, hoping his absence isn't obvious.

Wolf crushes the orb, and sharply brings his arms down in a low V formation.  He explodes into multiple pieces of fiery confetti, that disintegrate into black ash, and then disappears entirely.

Yuan Lang casually walks down the steps, and greets the stunned Sect Leaders.  "A demon came in?"  He asks innocently.  "He's dead?"  He slowly waves his black fan.

"Vice Palace Lord," says Hao Chen.  "You're late."

"Did you say that the spirit key's vault is as strong as iron?"  Asks Yuan Lang.  "But even a demon came in.  Is it safe here?"

"Of course," says Valley Master Rong.  "The spirit key is hidden in the safest place in this hall.  Dianjing Valley's traps are foolproof.  But this demon was able to get in..."

"Demons are wicked," says Hao Chen.  "They must have used some demonic spells to open the vault door.  You have to be careful."

"Then," says Valley Master Rong, "please lend me your Qi to strengthen this Demon Trap Formation."

"Okay," says Sect Leader Chu.  "We are willing to help you."

All twelve of the leaders and elders make a circle, and aim their palms toward the center.  White energy emits from everyone's palms.

Sect Leader Chu looks around the circle, and notices a red stain on Yuan Lang's hand.  It also didn't escape the notice of Valley Master Rong and Hao Chen.

 

 

...To be continued...

 

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