American Perspectives: The Aftermath Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 38)

 

“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.

 

 

 

Xuanji reluctantly enters the main hall, while Teng She accompanies her.  Xuanji really wishes Little Six, Linglong, and Sifeng could be there to support her.  Xuanji's heart is pounding as she looks out into a crowd that is mostly male disciples.  She takes a deep breath and follows Valley Master Rong.  Teng She is behind her, but goes off to the side, while Xuanji goes up to the front.

 

"Father," says Xuanji.

 

Sect Leader Chu coughs. 

 

"Father, are you okay?"

 

"I'm fine.  Go and listen to the Valley Master."

 

Xuanji stands in front of Valley Master Rong.  "During yesterday's battle," says Valley Master Rong, "many of us were either injured or killed, and we lost our spirit key."

 

Teng She plops down in a chair among the Fuyu Island disciples.

 

"If it wasn't for you, Dianjing Valley would've been annihilated by now," Valley Master Rong continues.

 

"I never thought that Sect Leader Chu's daughter would have such power," says Dongfang.  "I never thought that there would be a deity among us.  I've been disrespectful to you."

 

Valley Master Rong and Dongfang bow.

 

"I--" says Xuanji.

 

"I just found out about it yesterday, as well," says Sect Leader Chu.  "My daughter was just a normal girl.  I don't know how she became like this.  This might be something we mortals can never understand."

 

Teng She rolls his eyes.

 

"No matter what," says Dongfang, "the appearance of the God of War must be a blessing from the heavens.  We invited you here today because: First, we want to thank you for what you did yesterday.  Second, I have a request for you."

 

"If you need me to do anything, just tell me about it," says Xuanji.

 

Valley Master Rong kneels.

 

"Ah," says Xuanji, and she kneels down with him.  "Valley Master Rong."

 

"Please lead us to destroy those demons, and protect the human realm!"  Says Valley Master Rong.

 

Everyone in the main hall, except for Teng She, kneels.  Teng She is happily enjoying a snack.

 

"Please lead us to destroy those demons and protect the human realm!"  Says everyone in the sect.

 

Teng She rolls his eyes.

 

"Valley Master Rong.  Uncle Dongfang.  This is too sudden.  This is too great of a responsibility for me to bear.  Please find another one to do so."

 

"Sect Leader Chu," says Valley Master Rong, "if the God of War doesn't agree, we won't get up today."

 

Sect Leader Chu nods.  "Okay.  Xuanji, I'll kneel down and beg you, too."  He, Hao Chen, and Aunt Hong kneel.  Sect Leader Chu begins to cough.

 

"What are you doing father?"  Asks Xuanji.  "Father, are you okay?  Why are you like this?"

 

Sect Leader Chu vomits blood onto the floor.

 

"Why are you like this?"  Asks Xuanji.

 

"He was hurt by Yu Sifeng's master," says Hao Chen, hoping this will spur Xuanji to commit a major act of genocide.  "He should be resting in bed, but he's forcing himself right now."

 

"Father," whispers Xuanji.

 

"Could it be there's a Gu bug inside his body?"  Asks Dongfang.

 

"It must be because of that Rose Gold Bird," says Valley Master Rong.  "What should we do now?"

 

"No, Father.  Teng She!  Teng She!  Come and take a look at him.  Father!"

 

"Hurry up!"  She pulls on Teng She's sleeve, bringing him to his knees.  "Father."

 

Teng She examines Sect Leader Chu.  "Isn't this the intercavity sparrow?  It's very common.  It feeds on the organs of the host.  It'll bring the host great pain until death is a much better option."

 

"Can he be treated?"  Asks Xuanji.

 

"You were once..." says Teng She.

 

"Since you can recognize it, it means that you know how to treat it," snaps Hao Chen.

Teng She sighs and snakes his head.  "You are really..."

 

"Hurry up!"  Snaps Hao Chen.

 

Teng She wants to push back, but something is preventing him.  "Yes.  He can be treated."

 

"No need to treat him, just take that sparrow out!"  Hisses Hao Chen.

 

Teng She shoots golden energy into Sect Leader Chu's chest, which turns into three purple circles that form into one.  He uses his finger to guide the circle up Sect Leader Chu's neck.  Teng She circles his fingers, and then presses Sect Leader Chu's chest with his palm.  He pulls out a little black sparrow.

 

"Father, get up first," says Xuanji.

 

"Xuanji, take a good look," Hao Chen glowers.  "This is how vicious and cruel the demon clan is.  This is their nature.  If we don't eradicate them, how can we bring peace to the three realms?"

 

"Xuanji," says Sect Leader Chu.  "Xuanji."

 

"Father."

 

"We are not trying to force you to be our chief.  But you are our only choice.  The demons took advantage of our feelings, and planted spies to get the upper hand.  We have all suffered a serious loss.  Now, only three sects are left of the Five Sects.  The loss of our sect is just a surface wound.  If this continues, I'm afraid that we'll be divided, and we can't stand together anymore.  Xuanji, you are the reincarnation of the God of War.  Within our Three Sects now, you are the only one who can lead us."

 

"I..." stammers Xuanji.

 

"Do you understand our pain?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.  "My child, just say yes."

 

Her relationship with Sifeng has barely ended, and they are asking her to kill him.  Perhaps, they were hoping to use her emotions to their advantage.

 

Xuanji looks out at the disciples in the audience.

 

Sect Leader Chu coughs.

 

"Father.  Okay," she reluctantly agrees.  "I agree to be the chief."

 

"Great," says Dongfang.

 

"Good," says Sect Leader Chu.  "Good girl."

 

Xuanji is in tears.  She has been cornered into leading a genocidal crusade she doesn't believe in.

 

"Good," says Valley Master Rong.  "From today onward, we'll have a chief.  Get me the spirit scroll."

A disciple hands him the scroll.

 

"Everybody," says Valley Master Rong.  "The spirit scroll has all the names of the disciples who died in the hands of the demons.  There's a total of 372 people.  Their bones have gone cold now."

 

Xuanji starts to cry.

 

"But those demons are still roaming the earth."  Valley Master Rong bows to Xuanji.  "Please lead us to eradicate Tianxu Hall, annihilate Lize Palace, and avenge them."

 

"Eradicate Tianxu Hall!  Annihilate Lize Palace!"  The crowd of disciples shout.  "Avenge them!"

 

"Annihilate Lize Palace?"  Says Xuanji.

 

"Yes," Valley Master Rong bows.  "Please give your order."  He bows again.

"I..." Xuanji pauses.

 

"Do you still have the illusion that Lize Palace is good?"  Asks Valley Master Rong.  "Are you not willing to seek revenge for us?"

 

"I..." says Xuanji.

 

"Xuanji has another plan," Hao Chen interjects.  "Don't misunderstand.  Tianxu Hall and Lize Palace are accomplices.  They have all four spirit keys now.  Then their next step must be reviving the Devil Star.  If we only think about revenge right now, it'll just drag us down.  And we'll give them an opportunity to do so."

 

"What do you mean then, Elder Hao Chen?"  Asks Valley Master Rong.  

 

"Our first priority is to foil those demons' plans," says Hao Chen.  "If they want to revive the Devil Star, their last barrier is the forbidden ground of Shaoyang.  So, I suggest the Shaoyang sect go back and protect the forbidden ground.  The rest should gather your people and meet us at Shaoyang.  By doing so, we can protect the forbidden ground together, and discuss our plan to avenge our people."

 

Sect Leader Chu nods.

 

"I was thinking the same thing," says Xuanji.

 

"Okay," says Valley Master Rong.  "We'll let them live for a few more days, then we'll discuss it when we're all gathered at Mount Shaoyang.  But, we know that you are very close with the Twelve Feathers Rose Gold Bird.  I hope that the Shaoyang Sect can give us a promise to stay away from that demon from now on.  Give us peace of mind."

 

Hao Chen smiles.  "Valley Master Rong, Xuanji has already agreed to be our chief, right?  In the past, Xuanji was kept in the dark, too.  Now that she knows about Yu Sifeng's idenity, I believe that the next time she meets Yu Sifeng, she'll burn him to ashes to avenge the people we've lost."  If Hao Chen could jump for joy, he would.

 

Xuanji only feels worse.  She does not agree with Hao Chen's proposition.

 

 

 

Sifeng is sitting in a freezing cold room in Lize Palace, while Palace Master transfers golden energy into his back.  He has taken so many injuries for Xuanji, while Xuanji has had barely even a scrape.  Sifeng begins to cough.  Palace Master immediately withdraws the energy.

 

"Sifeng, are you feeling better now?"

 

Sifeng says nothing.

Palace Master pulls a yellow vial out of his belt.  "This is the cure for the Lover's Curse.  Eat it.  Don't make me worry about you again."

 

Sifeng looks at the vial.  "Master, didn't you say that there was no cure for the Lover's Curse?"

 

"There's no such thing as a curse without a cure.  It's just that you have to pay for it with another thing.  Lover's Curse is activated based on your feelings.  The cure is for you to clear your mind.  After you eat it, you'll forget about everything.  You'll forget about that person forever, and your Lover's Curse will be broken.  You can't get this in the mortal world.  There's only one of these in Lize Palace.  Eat it."

 

Sifeng looks at the vial, deliberating if he should indeed elminate Xuanji from his memory.

 

"I can't eat it," says Sifeng, "and I don't want to forget about her."

 

"Hmmph," Palace Master grunts.  He retracts the vial, and paces back and forth.  He is an angry parent who doesn't want to see his child make his mistake.  "You're still not willing to forget about her?  As soon as she heard that you were a Rose Gold Bird Demon, she immediately chose to stand on their side.  Can't you see where she stands?"

 

"I'm the one who lied to her first," Sifeng whisper.  "It's not her fault."

 

Palace Master rolls his eyes and sighs.  This scenario: he knows it.

 

"Lize Palace has been at peace for hundreds of years," says Sifeng.  "Master, do you really want to destroy it?  Another thing, are you really the one who killed Xuanji's mother?"

 

"It was her fault for being a busy body who wanted to take Hao Feng away from me.  In this world, nobody can separate me and Hao Feng.  Those who forced her, and made her kill herself, don't they deserve to die?  I was avenging your mother!"

 

Sifeng looks at his father sadly.  Why the hell does it have to come to this?  "Master..."

 

Palace Master takes a deep breath.  "Forget it.  Do you want to see your mother?"

 

 

 

Sifeng is viewing the ice coffin with Palace Master.  All these years, his mother had been within reach.

 

"Sifeng, this is your mother," says Palace Master.

 

Sifeng sadly looks down into the closed coffin.  He can barely see his mother through the transparent lid.  "Has she always been here?  But why...didn't you tell me about it before this?"

 

"I was waiting," says Palace Master.  "I was waiting for her to wake up, so that I could tell you everything about us."

 

"What kind of person was my mother?"  Asks Sifeng.

 

"She is the best woman in this world," says Palace Master.  "I remember that when I first met your mother, I was your age.  It was my first trial in the outside world."

 

Palace Master recalls seeing Hao Chen in a field of purple flowers.  She looks up, and sees a masked man standing near her.  She is awestruck by his presence, and a little nervous about what his intentions might be.  He picks a flower, and holds it up in front of him.

 

Palace Master smiles fondly at the memory.  "When I saw her again, she was seriously wounded after a fight with someone.  I saved her and treated her wounds with care, and we fell in love.

 

He remembers gifting her his Rose Gold Bird hairpin.

 

"Is this a Phoenix?"  Hao Feng asks.  "It doesn't look like one."

 

"No," says Palace Master.  "This is a Rose Gold Bird."

 

Hao Feng's eyes widen.

 

"Let me put it on for you," says Palace Master.  He carefully puts it through her bun, and he touches her face.

She feels super nervous and unsure, as she's very aware of who the Rose Gold Bird Demons are.  She looks up at him, and as they try to kiss, her nose bumps into his mask.  He backs away, embarrassed, and Hao Feng laughs.  He then laughs, as well.  She removes his mask, revealing a very handsome man.  The mask drops, and she kisses him.

 

"We hid our relationship pretty well at first.  She got pregnant, and we were looking forward to having you.  But, on the day of her labor, our old Palace Lord found out about it.  He rushed to us in a fury, and almost killed you on the spot.  After that, he changed his mind because you inherited the Twelve Feathers bloodline.  Then he took you back to Lize Palace without a second word, and he forced me to wear the Loveless Mask.  I was so lucky.  Your mother understood, and cherished me.  She had no regrets.  She didn't abandon me, even when she found out that I was a Rose Gold Bird.  Her only regret was you were not by her side.  Then the despicable people from those sects went looking for her.  They knew that she had a union with a demon.  They forced her to tell them about my whereabouts.  In order to...protect us, your mother...Ever since I brought her back, every day, I look for a way to revive her.  Now...I finally found the way.  Sifeng, I already gave your mother the 1,000 year old stalactite.  After she wakes up, she'll be very happy when she sees you."

 

"Master..." says a very teary eyed Sifeng.

 

"Until now, you still call me Master.  I know.  You hate me because I didn't tell you about this earlier.  We are not allowed to have a wife and child in Lize Palace.  The old Palace Lord used your mother to force me to swear an oath.  I couldn't tell you about this until you'd become an adult.  Then, you can go through your trial earlier, and become our clan's hope.  In this world, there is no father who will abandon their own child."

 

"You've always treated me very kindly," Sifeng says tearfully.

 

"Can you...call me father?"  Asks Palace Master.

 

Sifeng says nothing.

 

"Forget it," sighs Palace Master.  "Twenty years have passed.  There's no point in forcing you."

 

Sifeng kneels and sobs.  "Father."

 

Palace Master turns to look at him.  "What did you say?"

 

"Father, I've been unfilial.  I've caused you much trouble."

 

Palace Master smiles, and helps Sifeng stand.  "My good child.  I am...very happy."  He looks over at the ice coffin.  "Hao Feng, did you see that?  Our child has grown up!  He called me father!  It's almost time.  When you wake up, the three of us can chat with each other happily."

 

 

 

 

Yuan Lang is impatiently waiting on the stage in the Lize Palace assembly hall.  He rolls his eyes and frowns.  A huge torch is burning, which makes him smile.

 

Everyone, except Yuan Lang, bows as Sifeng and Palace Master walk on stage.

 

"Finally, you came out, Senior," says Yuan Lang, who would be the ultimate mean girl if he were a woman.

 

Palace Master points to the torch.  "You broke the rule by burning the Crimson Tusk by yourself.  What do you want?"

 

"Burning the Crimson Tusk means that something major is going to happen.  It's time for Lize Palace to have a new master."

 

Palace Master laughs.  "Deputy Chief, how could you say something like that?"  Asks Elder Luo.

 

"Deputy Chief is just being loyal," says Elder He.

 

"Are you trying to revolt?"  Asks Elder Luo.  "Guards!  Take them to the Discipline Hall!"

 

"My fellow elders," says Yuan Lang, "do you want to hear me out first, before making the decision?  Lize Palace's identity has already been exposed.  Lize Palace is supposed to take preventative measures for our future now.  But my senior, the head of this palace, is hiding underground to accompany a dead person.  He has no care for the safety of Lize Palace.  Should we change him out?"

 

"You want to change the Palace Master?"  Asks Palace Master.

 

"Yes," says Yuan Lang.

 

"I have the same thought, too," says Palace Master.  "I'm sick of being a Palace Master anyway.  I'll use this chance...to step down from my position."

 

Sifeng looks at him incredulously.

 

"Let's call for a meeting!" shouts Palace Master.

 

 

 

A small gathering of sect members meet in the Lize Palace Hall.  Palace Master and Sifeng enter the stage.

 

"Sifeng, stand here," says Palace Master.

 

Sifeng stands next to Palace Master's throne.

 

Yuan Lang crosses the stage, followed by the Sect Elders.  They all bow.  Palace Master takes a seat on his throne.

"I've been leading Lize Palace for 20 years.  I've been living in a state of ignorance.  No wonder someone wants me to step down from my position."  He looks at Yuan Lang.

 

Elder Luo bows.  "Palace Master, Lize Palace has been so peaceful because of you.  How can you say that you are living in a state of ignorance?"

 

"All these years, the Deputy Chief is the one handling everything," says Elder He.  "How can you say that it's all thanks to the Palace Master?  You are just lying brazenly."

 

"Elder He!"  Snaps Elder Luo.

 

"Enough," says Palace Master.  "I know myself the best.  Stop arguing.  I'm sick of being a palace master already.  It's time to hand over Lize Palace to someone with a clear mind."

 

Yuan Lang has a smug expression on his face.

 

Elder He smirks.

 

Palace Master smiles at Sifeng.  He rises from the throne.

 

Yuan Lang gets ready to bow.  Palace Master holds up his seal.  Yuan Lang completes the bow.

 

"Listen to my order, Yu Sifeng," says Palace Master.

 

Yuan Lang raises his head.

 

Sifeng steps forward, and kneels.  "From today onward, you'll be the new master of Lize Palace."

 

Yuan Lang gives Palace Master the death stare.

 

"I'll hand over the Palace Lord's Gold Feather Medallion to you," Palace Master continues.

 

Yuan Lang gives Sifeng an icy stare.

 

"The Crimson tusk is burning, and I've already passed down my decree.  You are the successor of the Twelve Feathers Bloodline.  No one else comes from a better bloodline than yours.  I'm passing down the Gold Feather Medallion to you today.  You are the new Master of Lize Palace.  Come!  Let's greet our new master today!"

 

"Wait!"  Yuan Lang is understandably pissed off as hell.

 

"Junior, I already stepped down from my position," says Palace Master.  "What is it?  Are you still not satisfied?"

 

"Yu Sifeng has no right to become the Palace Master," says Yuan Lang.  "You are out of your mind.  We can't trust the words of a lunatic."

 

Palace Master smiles.  And with his hand, he casts golden energy around Yuan Lang's neck.  "Are you courting death?"  He pushes Yuan Lang back, and suspends him over the river running through the main hall.

 

"Why are you angry?"  Yuan Lang asks calmly.  "I know that you don't think of yourself as being crazy.  But let me ask you a question.  After giving us your answer, I'm sure the elders will make up their minds."

 

"What do you want to ask?"  Inquires Palace Master.

 

"After stepping down from your position, what are you going to do?"

 

"Hao Feng and I love each other," says Palace Master.  "Of course, I'll travel far and wide with her."

 

Yuan Lang laughs knowingly.

 

"Why are you laughing?"  Asks Palace Master.  He turns his hand.  "Shut up!"  And he forcefully pushes Yuan Lang, who disappears.  Yuan Lang reappears, directly in front of Palace Master.  "Where did you learn this from?"

 

"The old Palace Master taught me this to defend against you,"  says Yuan Lang.  "He asked me to keep an eye on you so that you won't lose your mind."

 

"I'm not crazy!"  Palace Master snaps.  "I'm not crazy!"

 

"Senior, if Hao Feng was still here, she would hate you," says Yuan Lang.  "You love each other?"  Yuan Lang laughs.  "I think you've really gone crazy."

 

"Nonsense!  Nonsense!"  Growls Palace Master.  He aims for Yuan Lang, who once again disappears.

 

Yuan Lang reappears on a pagoda across the room.  "Senior, I'm here.  In your mind, Hao Feng was so loyal to you, and never abandoned you.  She even took down the Lover's Mask for you.  But the reality is, she only loved you before she found out you were a demon."

 

 

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