American Perspectives: Fenru City Void Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 48)

 

 

“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.

 

 

 

 

"But what am I doing now?"  Xuanji whispers as she realizes Hao Chen hard core manipulated her about Sifeng.

 

Tears stream down Linglong's face, and she rests her head on Xuanji's shoulder.

 

A slap on the ground is heard behind them.  Linglong looks back, and sees Wu Tong's forehead and eyes peeking out from behind a wall.  He looks straight at her.  Linglong promptly pushes Xuanji away.  This is her personal battle that she needs to fight.

 

Xuanji plants herself in front of Linglong as Wu Tong rises.  "Wu Tong," says Xuanji, "let's settle our scores once and for all.  Where are your men?  Where are the demons of Tianxu Hall and Lize Palace?"

 

He smirks and laughs.  "I thought your lover, Yu Sifeng, disbanded the demons in Tianxu Hall.  Yuan Lang plotted for thousands of years to throw the three realms into chaos, and Yu Sifeng stopped his plans.  Didn't you know?  You're a clever lady, God of War.  Even when Yu Sifeng was the Devil Star, he wouldn't open the Crystal Lamp.  He would rather end his life to be with you."

 

"Lies!"  Yells Linglong.

 

"Linglong," says Xuanji, "what Wu Tong said is the same as Teng She's speculation.  Did Sifeng do all of that because of Yuan Lang?"

 

"Don't tell me we've misunderstood Sifeng all this time," Linglong says quietly.  Now she feels really stupid, as she played a major role in the most recent smear campaign against him.

 

Xuanji looks up at Wu Tong.  "Tell me.  Where are Sifeng and his followers?"

 

"How would I know?"  Asks Wu Tong.  "He wants to kill me.  I should be avoiding him.  But why are you in the dark, too?  Didn't he look for you?  Don't tell me that when he killed Yuan Lang, he killed himself, as well."  He smiles and laughs.  "Perhaps living as a murderous Demon Lord means nothing.  When you don't have that one person you want, everything is dull."  He looks at Xuanji and laughs.

 

"I'm killing you today!"  Hisses Linglong.  She lunges right for him.

 

"Linglong!"  Yells Xuanji.  A streak of bright blue lightning strikes across the ceiling.

 

Linglong flies forward with her sword, and tries to slash at Wu Tong who expertly dodges her.  She relentlessly continues to slash, and he blocks her with his prosthetic arm and hand.  She slashes him across the wrist.  He flips away from her, and he kicks her sword.  She slides back, and he flies up.  He lands on a concrete platform, and she charges at him, holding her sword behind her.  She jabs, he dodges.  He grabs her blade, and pulls her close.  He kicks her knee, and she flies up into the air.  They are both holding on to her sword.  She flies back down, and he grabs her neck, and pins her to the ground.  She cuts his arm, and he jumps back in surprise, releasing her neck.  She sits straight up and slides forward.  He sees her coming, and jumps off the edge of the platform.

 

He kicks the platform out from under Linglong.  She does several barrel rolls in the air, landing on her back.  She uses her sword to help herself back up.  Wu Tong looks at her in surprise.  He charges forward, and she stabs him through his prosthetic hand, which unexpectedly begins to bleed.  He rips the sword away from her, and it falls from the hole in his stabbed hand.  Lightning strikes across the ceiling, and the two are sent flying.  They both hit the concrete hard.

 

 

 

 

 

Shen Shu and Yu Lu hear the lightning, and run forward.  Teng She grabs their capes, and yanks them back.

 

"What's going on?"  Asks Teng She.  "Two humans are fighting in Mount Buzhou.  So, are you dazed or blind?"

 

"I--" says Shen Lu.

 

"If I were you," says Teng She, "I would have ignored these two humans, me and the God of War herself, so I wouldn't have to report to the heavens about you neglecting your duties."

 

"What did you say?"  Asks Yu Lu.

 

 

 

 

Linglong picks herself, and her sword, up from the ground.

 

Wu Tong sits up, and grabs his chest.  He feels like his heart is getting ripped out.

 

Linglong screams and charges at him with her sword pointed forward.  She stabs him clean through the heart.  He jerks forward, and looks at Linglong in shock.  Blood slowly gushes from his mouth.  Their eyes meet.

 

"Isn't killing me enough to appease your anger?"  Asks Wu Tong.

 

"You deserve to be cut into pieces!"

 

Wu Tong laughs.  "You look nice, even when you hate me.  Why do I only understand now that what I want is not eradicating the sects, or taking revenge on everyone, but having you look at me.  Since the first time I met you, I've always wanted to attract your gaze."

 

 

 

 

"My Lord, the gate to Fenru City is wide open!"  Yu Lu says to Teng She.  "If they don't leave now, they will be sucked into the oblivion of Fenru City, or even stuck there forever."

 

"Kssh," hisses Teng She.  "That's it?"

 

 

 

 

Wu Tong grabs Linglong, and they fly up to a higher rock on the crumbling wall.

 

Teng She senses something is off.  "Oh no."  He gets to the ledge and looks over.  He sees Linglong being held tightly in Wu Tong's arms while the vortex in the entry way to Fenru City intensely pulls them back.

 

"Let go of me!"  Screams Linglong.  "Wu Tong, let go of me!  Let go of me!"

 

He tightens his grip as the vacuum of the vortex pulls them backwards very quickly.  They reach the entry way, but instead of going through, Wu Tong blocks the vortex with his hand, temporarily blocking the force.

 

"Let go of me, Wu Tong!"

 

"I've never understood the meaning of life," says Wu Tong.  "I was fixated on taking revenge.  Now that I'm dying, I finally understand."

 

"Let go!"

 

"I've always wanted you."

 

"Let go of me!  I'm not dying with you!  Let go of me!  Let go of me, I'm not dying with you!"  Linglong sobs.

 

Wu Tong sees her before Linglong does.  Like a very calm, but angry, angel, Xuanji flies toward them.

 

"Stinky Woman," Teng She observes from the safety of the ledge.

 

"Let go of me!"  Linglong cries.  She tries prying his hands from her.

 

A tear runs down Wu Tong's cheek as Xuanji approaches them.  He releases Linglong, and pushes her forward, towards Xuanji, while he gets sucked into the vortex.  He disappears while Linglong gets caught in Xuanji's arms.  Xuanji throws Linglong high into the air, while she dives into the vortex alone.

 

Linglong lands in Teng She's arms at the top of the cliff.  She tries to run forward, but Teng She holds her back.  "Xuanji!  Xuanji!"

 

"Linglong," says Teng She.

 

"Xuanji!"

 

 

 

 

 

Wu Tong slowly free falls through the Fenru City vortex, finally feeling at peace.  The anger, rejection, and humiliation has begun to fade.  He feels like he is floating in warm water.  Finally, all of the chaos in his mind has vanished.

 

Xuanji, on the other hand, falls into the River of Forgetting.  The water is warm, and she observes her surroundings.  She has memories of the time she waited in line to enter the gate to the mortal realm.

 

"Why aren't you crying, miss?"  Another displaced immortal asks.  "Don't you have something you're holding on to?"

 

Xuanji is holding a bowl of water in her hands.  Once she drinks from it, her memories of the heavenly realm will be gone, and she'll be ready to cross into the mortal realm.  "What's there to hold on to?"  She feels somewhat relieved to be away from King Bailing's psychotic clutches.  "I had nothing but a boring life."  A life that King Bailing had controlled and meticulously laid out.

 

Sifeng is behind them, and he takes a sip.  "Forget it.  You should forget it."

 

Xuanji turns around and sees who's talking to her.  Their eyes meet.

 

She opens her eyes, and is back in the present day.  That was Sifeng!

 

Her eyes close again.

 

"You're weird for a music instructor," she remembers telling him during their first reincarnation.  "Are you in love with me?"

 

"I--"

 

"I have never seen love, and I don't believe love exists."

 

"You said you don't believe in love.  This time, I'll take the gamble for myself.  I'm betting on you.  Let's see if you'll remember me."

 

"How will you know?"  Asks Xuanji.  "By seeking this drop of blood, so you can ask me after you die?"

 

Xuanji feels like such an asshole.

 

"You have committed treason by owning private troops," she says in her second reincarnation, "and engaging in nepotism.  Am I supposed to cover for you, Prince Xin?"

 

"I conquered the Kingdom, consolidated your power, and protected the nation for you.  In the end, one word from you nullifies everything I did."  He drinks the poison in one gulp.  "Thy name is unpredictable.  Your majesty, I hope you will trust those who can be trusted, or else it will be miserable for you.  I will give you everything you want."

 

In their third reincarnation, she sees Sifeng giving her his eyes so she can see.

 

She finally sees the reincarnations Sifeng had been talking about, where he sacrifices his life for her in every one.  Her eyes widen with horror.  She had been trusting the wrong person all along.

 

So that's what he meant when he said I hurt him for the past nine lives.  To think I even guaranteed I'd treat him differently in this life.  Yet, I disappointed him again.  No, I can't continue wallowing in here.  I need to get answers from Sifeng!

 

Her memory as the God of War when she was publicly punished by King Bailing returns in full force.

 

"You hate the heavens for wrecking your life," says King Bailing.  "All you have in your mind is revenge, right?"  His face remains distorted.

 

"Do you think I'll forgive the heavens for doing this to me?"

 

"Execute her!"

 

The heavenly officers draw ice blue energy from their fingers, and aim towards the clouds.  The clouds turn the energy into lightning, and strike her in the chest.

 

God of War screams in agony.

 

An immortal with golden, fiery wings quickly flies through the heavens.  He circles over the platform where the God of War is chained up, and he shields her with with his wings.  "That's right, you shouldn't die here.  I shall bring you to Fenru City so you can enter the mortal world.  Then, the heavens cannot hurt you anymore."  She looks up and sees that the winged immortal is Sifeng.

 

"No!" Growls King Bailing.  He shoots white energy at Sifeng, and hits him in the back.  Sifeng's wings spread on impact, and he bleeds from the mouth.

 

Xuanji is covering her head.  The memories and realizations are so painful.  She can't see Hao Chen anywhere.  She only sees the back of King Bailing's head, and all he does is control and abuse her.

 

As the God of War, she free falls through the turbulent sky.  Thunder and lightning strike her on her way down.  Streaks of gold energy generate from her battered body.

 

Sifeng flies to her as she is falling.  "I'll go with you.  I shall use my life to release you from your pain and anger, and make up for the wrongs the heavens have done to you."

 

Present day Xuanji opens her eyes in the River of Forgetting.  Sifeng!  Sifeng!

 

She swims upward, and Teng She pulls her out of the water.  They stand in front of the gate to the mortal world, and Xuanji is feeling very disoriented.  Teng She steadies her.

 

"Stiny Woman, are you okay?"  Asks Teng She.  "How are you feeling?"

 

She remembers Sifeng in full firebird form in the heavens, flying to her, and always chirping at her.  He hadn't been able to turn into a human yet.  She has a bouquet of flowers in her hand, and she turns to look at the adorable creature.  "Tell me, when can I retire from war?"

 

The darling bird chirps at her.  He flies past her, leaving a golden, glittery trail on her armor, which transforms into the beautiful dress that Hao Chen/King Bailing had previously taken credit in giving to her.

 

She looks up and watches the fiery bird fly through the sky.

 

She remembers walking the dock over the heavenly waters, and drawing her Dingkun Sword.  She is about to slash at something, when Sifeng, in human form, grabs her arm.  So, he has always been with me.  He has been with me since I was in the heavens.  Yet he gave everything up to redeem me through ten lives in the mortal world.  I was the one who dragged him down.  And not only did I forget everything, I hurt him time and again.  She feels so stupid.

 

"What are you thinking about?"  Teng She asks impatiently.

 

"I saw everything," says Xuanji.  "When I was relegated to the mortal world, it was King Bailing who erased all my memories!  Even the Mirror of Origin couldn't show me my memories!  Why did he do that?"

 

"The heavens have their own way of doing things," says Teng She.  "They have their considerations."

 

"Considerations?  I am just a toy for those in the heavens."

 

Teng She shudders.  She obviously doesn't have all of her memories.  "Let's not talk about this now.  Didn't you see anything else down there?"

 

"Sifeng," whispers Xuanji. "Sifeng.  Sifeng."  She drops to her knees.  "I saw it.  When I was in the heavens and the mortal world, even when I was utterly betrayed and abandoned, only Sifeng gave me his all to help me.  How would a person like him ever betray me?  Teng She, I was wrong.  I have been wrong all along, right?"  She puts her face in her hands and sobs.

 

"Uh," Teng She says awkwardly.  "By the way, when I sent Linglong back to Shaoyang Sect, I met Ting Nu.  He said it was Sifeng who told him to come and save Zhong Minyan."

 

Xuanji abruptly stands up.  "Then Ting Nu knows where Sifeng is.  Why didn't you tell me earlier?"  She darts ahead of Teng She.

 

"Ai," sighs Teng She, chasing after her.

 

 

 

 

 

Little Six is unconscious in his bed.  Linglong, Sect Leader Chu, Aunt Hong, and He Yang are keeping him company while Ting Nu generates healing blue energy.  The energy washes over Little Six's body.

 

Little Six begins to cough.

 

"Little Six!"  Linglong runs to his bed, and grabs his arms.

 

Little Six slowly sits up.  "Linglong?"

 

"I knew you wouldn't leave me.  Even if you're abandoning me, I'll look for you in heaven and hell."

 

"I haven't married my wife yet," says Little Six.  "I'm not going anywhere."

 

Linglong tearfully hugs him.

 

Little Six notices one of Linglong's wounds.  "What happened?"

 

"I went to Mount Buzhou to confront Wu Tong.  He's dead now.  Our nightmare has ended.  I won't do anything silly again.  Everything is over now."

 

"My wife, I have never felt that you were silly."

 

"You're the silly guy here!"  Laughs Linglong.

 

"Sixth Senior!"  Xuanji enthusiastically enters the room.

 

"Xuanji," says Linglong.  "Teng She said you were fine, but I can only be relieved when I see you myself."

 

"I'm fine," says Xuanji.  "I'm also glad that Sixth Senior is safe now."

 

"All of you keep giving me headaches," says Sect Leader Chu.  "Behave yourselves from now on.  Minyan, take care and recuperate."  He looks at Ting Nu. "I owe you yet another favor.  I am truly grateful," he bows. Aunt Hong follows suit.

 

"No need to thank me," says Ting Nu.  "I came here on behalf of a friend."

 

"Ting Nu," says Xuanji, "do you mean Sifeng?"

 

Ting Nu nods.  "Other than saving your Sixth Senior, he also had two other requests for me.  First, he wants me to inform you that the Tianxu Hall demons have disbanded.  He has no control over the demons anymore, but he can guarantee that the Rose Gold Birds will never engage in battle with the mortals and cultivation sects."

 

"Mere words do not mean much," says Sect Leader Chu.

 

"Yes, only time will tell," Ting Nu agrees.  "Second, he asked me to give this pill to Elder Chu."  He hands Sect Leader Chu a reddish brown vial.  "This pill is rare indeed.  It can rebuild your health so you can regain your spiritual powers."

 

Sect Leader Chu takes the vial.

 

Xuanji feels relieved.  She was worried about the possibility of overly dramatic pushback.

 

"Everyone," says Ting Nu, "I shall take my leave."  With a motion of his arm, he leaves in a wave of blue energy.

 

"Auntie Yinghong, don't be angry," says Xuanji.  "I just want to ask you if you have clearly seen the person who injured you?"

 

Aunt Hong pauses.  "To be frank, I did not see my attacker clearly.  I only know he must be from Lize Palace.  Back then, only Yu Sifeng was there."

 

"No," says Little Six, "Ruo Yu was also there.  Sifeng said that he was trapped within the barriers when he was pursuing Ruo Yu.  Back then, we didn't believe him.  But when Wu Tong attacked our sect, I saw Ruo Yu, and he admitted to me that he was the one who injured Auntie Yinghong, and trespassed the secret ground.  Sifeng wasn't lying.  I misunderstood him."

 

Xuanji feels like an even bigger idiot.

 

"So, what Wu Tong said before he died was true," says Linglong.  "Sifeng never intended to unseal the Crystal Lamp to wreak havoc upon the three realms.  Everything he did was to destroy Yuan Lang's plot.  He--"

 

"Sifeng said he was not the Devil Star," says Xuanji.  "But I never believed him.  He said he'd handle everything, and answer me one day, but I only believed in what I saw.  I didn't listen to his explanation.  I was even angry..."

 

"Xuanji," says Linglong.

 

"I was angry that he deceived me, and went against my wishes.  Ting Nu."  Xuanji darts out the door.  "Ting Nu!"

 

Sect Leader Chu should feel like the biggest idiot as he was Hao Chen's number one fan boy, and didn't bother to question a single accusation.

 

 

 

 

Brother Liu is pushing Ting Nu's wheelchair through the forest.

 

"You know Xuanji's senior wasn't killed by Sifeng," says Ting Nu.  "Why didn't you tell them?"

 

"Easy for you to say," says Brother Liu, "but what about me?  My celestial eye saw it.  It was the Asura form of Yuan Lang who killed Xuanji's senior.  Little Phoenix was there to save him.  In the end, Little Phoenix was betrayed instead.  For whom did he do that?  That stupid girl, of course.  He ran all the way there to save her senior, and now he's slapped with a baseless accusation."

 

Xuanji is listening behind a tree.

 

"No one will believe me now," Brother Liu continues.  "Chu Xuanji's senior was a scoundrel.  What a weird guy he was.  He knew very well that he was attacked by Yuan Lang, but he put the blame on Little Phoenix."

 

Xuanji feels like she is going to barf.  She can't believe she actually thought Hao Chen was telling her the gospel truth, when he was the one who actually lied to her multiple times.

 

"I now see that those unreasonable barbarians in the Shaoyang Sect are trying to pin Little Phoenix down!"

 

Xuanji runs forward.  "Eldest Brother Liu!  Eldest Brother Liu, what did you say?"

 

He looks at her with contempt.  "You heard everything?  Is it important anyway?  Little Phoenix is being maligned now.  Are you happy?"

 

"Yihuan," Ting Nu admonishes.

 

"Is it true that Sifeng didn't kill my senior?  You saw it?"  Xuanji asks.

 

Brother Liu aggressively points to the celestial eye mark in the middle of his forehead.  "What is this?  Not only did I see it, I saw it as clear as day."

 

"Then why did my senior malign Sifeng?"

 

"How would I know?"  snaps Brother Liu.  "Don't you know how prejudiced your senior was towards demons?  He probably just wanted to harm as many demons as he could.  Let's go, Ting Nu.  What a lousy place this is!  If it weren't for Sifeng's request, I wouldn't have come here for the rest of my life."

 

"Eldest Brother Liu," says Xuanji.

 

Ting Nu grabs his arm, "Yihuan."

 

"Tell me where Sifeng is," says Xuanji.

 

"You care about him?"  Brother Liu scoffs.  "Lize Palace is empty now.  The Rose Gold Birds have decided to disappear from the mortal world.  I don't know where they are, either.  It's good anyway.  At least you people won't pester them anymore."

 

"They left?"  Xuanji is on the verge of tears.  "Why?  Did Sifeng leave, too?  He doesn't want to see me?"

 

Brother Liu claps his hands.  "Isn't that good?  I was blind enough to unite you two.  Yu Sifeng's Lover's Curse has activated twice.  The third time will mean death.  Ending this relationship will keep his life."

 

"Lover's Curse?"  Asks Xuanji.  "What is that?  Why don't I know anything about it?"

 

Brother Liu is completely done with Xuanji.  "You don't know anything, and you're still asking why.  Let's go, Ting Nu."

 

"Yihuan," says Ting Nu, "just tell Xuanji everything you know.  Even if they have to part, let's make this a clean cut."

 

"Fine.  I'll tell you," says Brother Liu.  "I'll tell you what Yu Sifeng has done for you.  The Lover's Curse Mask is the most brutal torture in Lize Palace.  When people meet the love of their lives, they would rather kill themselves than wear the Lover's Curse Mask.  That's because any feelings of love will cause an irremovable mask to form.  Three letdowns in love will end the wearer's life."

 

A tear rolls down Xuanji's cheek.

 

 

 

 

 

Xuanji flies through the cloudy sky.

 

"Little Phoenix couldn't bear to leave you alone," says Brother Liu.  "He was locked up and tortured in the Tower of Oblivion for an entire year.  In the end, your indifference towards him made him wear the Lover's Curse Mask so he can be free.  After he was released, he was supposed to stay away from you.  But you kept clinging on to him.  Little Phoenix was unlucky enough to believe that you would be different.  He thought you would treat him sincerely.  He thought you would remove that mask for him.  He thought you could lift his Lover's Curse.  But fate was cruel, and you just had to be the God of War.  The Lover's Curse Mask is made from wood from the Kunlun Tree.  It cannot resist your celestial powers.  You removed his mask easily, but you couldn't lift his curse.  He didn't expect anything from you, or feel anything for you.  That's how the curse can be suppressed.  But he still dedicated himself to you.  That punk must have been so determined to give his life to you.  Yu Sifeng's Lover's Curse has activated twice.  The third time will mean death.  Ending this relationship will keep his life."

 

"Stinky Woman!"  Teng She grabs her arm while she's flying through the sky, abruptly interrupting her thoughts.  They descend together onto the Lize Palace entry way.

 

"Stinky Woman, what are you doing?"  Asks Teng She.  "Lize Palace is here.  You almost dove straight into the sea!"

 

"That's right," says Xuanji.  "What...what have I been doing?"

 

Teng She looks at her sideways.

 

"He tried to explain to me about what he had done, but I never listened to a single word.  I even said all those hurtful remarks."

 

"He didn't tell you, so you didn't know.  It's not your fault."

 

"No," says Xuanji.  "No matter what happens to me, he would know, even when I didn't tell him.  But what about me?  I...I never cared about what he wanted.  I never knew if he was happy or sad.  He said I'm heartless.  I am truly heartless.  Now...he's gone.  Lize Palace is abandoned now.  He has moved on, indeed."  She sobs.

 

 

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