American Perspectives: Opening the Crystal Lamp Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 54)

 

 

“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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wu Zhiqi and Xuanji are watching the Crystal Lamp on the secret ground, contemplating the next step.  Sifeng's feathers continue to dutifully protect it, and they look like fiery comets in the galaxy.

 

"How is it, Little Beauty?"  Wu Zhiqi asks.  "Are we going to start?"

 

Xuanji observes the lamp, and she is flooded with so many feelings.  "Back then, he used his life to protect the Crystal Lamp.  But now, I'm going to open it.  Even if he blames me for it, I still have to do this.  Wu Zhiqi, later, I'll rip a hole through it, and you'll keep it stable.  Then, I won't alarm the protection rock when I take out the Crystal Lamp."

 

"Don't worry," says Wu Zhiqi.  "Although the Divine Weapons together with the Twelve Feathers are very powerful, I'm still powerful enough to buy you some time."  He winks at her.

 

Xuanji nods.  With a smooth move of her hand, she shoots blue energy at the Crystal Lamp.  Wu Zhiqi adds magenta  energy.   Little blue flames begin to generate from the lamp.  The lamp expands, and breaks through the barrier, landing in Xuanji's hand.

 

"We got it.  Let's go," says Wu Zhiqi.

 

Without warning, a strong force sucks the lamp out of Xuanji's hands.

 

"Sifeng!"  Xuanji jumps back in surprise.

 

"Why did you do this?" Sifeng asks.

 

"I..." Xuanji says guiltily.

 

Sifeng looks at her.

 

"Sifeng, I saw it," says Xuanji.  "I saw your lives starting from the heavens to the nine reincarnations.  I saw what you had gone through.  We've missed out on so many things.  It's not easy for us to meet each other again in this life.  I don't want to give up yet.  I won't let you die.  Give me the Crystal Lamp,"  she holds out her hand.  "I want to open it."

 

"Sorry, Xuanji," Sifeng says sternly.  "We can't open this Crystal Lamp, and I won't give it to you, unless you kill me."

 

"You--" She looks at Sifeng, and immediately knows he means business.  She extends her arm anyway, in hopes he'll change his mind.

 

The curse from the Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook convulse through his body.  He loses his grip, and the lamp flies out of his hand.  He feels like he can't keep his footing.

 

"Sifeng!"  Xuanji and Wu Zhiqi rush to him.

 

The lamp is quickly flying through the underground lair, like a fast moving fish.

 

"Take care of him, I'll chase after it," says Xuanji.

 

"Okay," says Wu Zhiqi.

 

"Xuanji!"  Sifeng whispers.

 

"Sifeng," says Wu Zhiqi, "can you manage?"

 

"Eldest Brother Wu, stop her.  Don't let her open the Crystal Lamp."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sect Leader Chu, go ahead and hit that Longevity Drum," says Valley Master Rong as they gather outside.

 

"Go ahead," Dongfang agrees.

 

In a streak of gold, Teng She materializes in front of the drum.  "Run, mortals of Shaoyang.  King Bailing is going to sacrifice Mount Shaoyang to seal the Crystal Lamp.  All of you will die if you stay here.  Run!"

 

Everyone looks up and notices a blue object flying through the sky.  It doesn't take long for them to realize it's the Crystal Lamp.  It disappears in a poof of blue smoke.

 

Xuanji is running not far behind.

 

"Xuanji," says Sect Leader Chu.

 

"Xuanji," says Teng She.

 

"Why did you take out the Crystal Lamp?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.

 

"Father, I want to save Sifeng."

 

Teng She disappears, and then reappears right in front of Xuanji.  "Xuanji, run now."

 

"Why are you here?"

 

"Forget about me.  Escape with these mortals first.  King Bailing has given his order..."  His torso is immediately bound with a glowing white rope, and he's pulled back.

 

"Teng She!" Gasps Xuanji.

 

"Run!"  Yells Teng She.  He's snapped up into the sky.

 

"Teng She!"

 

The clouds over the sect darken, and thunder begins to roll.  Xuanji has an ominous feeling in her stomach.  Purple lightning strikes.  Streaks of gold form in the clouds.

 

"Bailing," says Xuanji.  "Are you Bailing?  Where did you take Teng She?  Are you the one who took the Crystal Lamp?"

 

"He came here without permission and leaked Heaven's secret to you.  He's unforgiveable.  As for the Crystal Lamp, why do you want it?  Have you forgotten about your vow?"  King Bailing asks.

 

"What vow did I make with you?"  Yells Xuanji.  "I don't remember you."

 

"Is that so, Xuanji?  You promised me that you'd destroy the Crystal Lamp, and kill the soul of the Devil Star.  Do you still remember that you'll protect the world, no matter what the cost?"

 

Xuanji has a sinking feeling.  "This voice," she whispers.  "What you said is..." she remembers Hao Chen, during his moment of death, pushing Xuanji to destroy the lamp.

 

"You are set on destroying the Crystal Lamp," says King Bailing.  "You've already forgotten about my teachings.  Today, I'm here to punish you for bringing chaos to the world, and poisoning the people."

 

Xuanji's eyes widen.  Hao Chen was that King Bailing who had profoundly betrayed her, but she still doesn't know what specifically the betrayal was.

 

The golden beam fades, and King Bailing materializes in the clouds.

 

"Hao Chen?"  Gasps Sect Leader Chu.  He is appalled that this disciple he fan boy-ed over for so many years is actually a megalomaniac.

 

"Senior Hao Chen?" Says Linglong.

 

"This..." says Dongfang.

 

"Senior Hao Chen," whispers Xuanji, "aren't you already dead?  Why are you here?"  She feels her body heating up with rage.

 

"Hao Chen...is just the identity I use when I'm in the human realm.   I'm King Bailing!"

 

"King Bailing," everyone except Xuanji bows, as Xuanji is seeing him for the genocidal scum bag that he is.

 

"Bailing?"  Xuanji asks balefully.  "Senior Hao Chen."  She distinctly remembers his unapologetic abuse of her in the heavens.  "So, you are King Bailing.  Why?  Why did you lie to me?"  Thousands of epiphanies are hitting her at once.  He does not deserve the respect that the sect members are giving.  He deserves to be dragged to the fiery pits of hell.

 

"I lied to you?"  King Bailing sneers.  "I took the form of mortal and descended to the human realm to guide you myself.  I just hoped that you could get back onto the right path, and come back to the heavens.  I did it for you."

 

Xuanji has a feeling that he's full of shit, and she finds herself incredibly repulsed by him.

 

"I didn't want you to die young,"  King Bailing continues, "but you were so stubborn to accept my guidance.  You've wasted all my efforts.  In the end, you can't even keep your promise to me.  Now, not only do you want to destroy it, you want to open it and release the Devil Star's soul.  And as Hao Chen, our relationship as Senior and Junior for so many years means nothing to you."

 

"What about you?"  Xuanji rages.  "Is our relationship for so many years real or fake?  Or is everything just a way to help me reincarnate?  You used me so that I felt depressed and guilty for Senior Hao Chen's death.  You purposely forced me to attack Sifeng!  You forced me to make a vow to destroy the Crystal Lamp, even though I'd die.  Have you ever cared about me, then?"

 

"This is your duty!"  King Bailing snaps.  "If you had valued our relationship, and listened to me to let things run their course, it would not come to this today!"

 

Xuanji snorts derisively.  "So, before this, you had indeed accused Sifeng wrongly on purpose, and I felt so sinful for not being able to fulfill your dying wish.  But in the end, I'm just a pawn."

 

"You still want to argue fallaciously and irrationally?  I'm disappointed in you.  I gave you a lot of opportunities, but you insisted on going against Heaven's will.  Today, I'm going to sacrifice Mount Shaoyang by initiating this Heavenly Meteor Formation..."

 

Sect Leader Chu's jaw drops.

 

"To bury you and the Crystal Lamp forever!"

 

"What did you say?"  Yells Xuanji.

 

With the palm of his hand, he spreads a fog of white energy.  Lightning strikes the sect.  The clouds get darker, and more lightning strikes.

 

The sect members cover their ears.

 

"Please have mercy on us," begs Sect Leader Chu.

 

"Please spare us, King Bailing," beg the other sect members.

 

"Spare us."

 

"Stop!"  Xuanji interjects.  "I'm the one who took out the Crystal Lamp.  I'm the one who went against Heaven's Will!  Kill me if you want, but why are you killing these innocent people?"

 

"Chu Xuanji," King Bailing scoffs.  "You brought this upon yourself.  How dare you ask me that?  As soon as the Crystal Lamp is opened, the Devil Star will be revived.  He'll destroy everything.  If you can't let go of this obsession, you'll bring disaster to the three realms!  So, I'll have to crush this wild dream of yours to nothing!"

 

"Stop!  I just want to save someone.  After I save Sifeng, I'll seal him back in.  I'm the God of War.  If I can catch him once, I can catch him again!"

 

"Impossible."

"Why?"

 

"The Crystal Lamp is getting more and more unstable now.  There is no mythological object that can seal the Devil Star anymore.  I can only suppress it with Mount Shaoyang.  Remember.  You are the cause of this calamity, and these people will die because of you."

 

King Bailing calculatively positions his hands, and increases the foggy white energy.  A huge golden object flies out from the sky, and is surrounded by six pink orbs.

 

 

 

 

 

Brother Liu, Ting Nu, and Fox Demon are waiting in the forest.

 

Fox Demon notices the black clouds first.  "What is it?"

 

"This is bad!"  Gasps Ting Nu.  "It's Heaven's Wrath."

 

Fox Demon steps forward.  Brother Liu rushes to her and touches her arm.

 

"Ei!  Ei!  Ei!"  Says Brother Liu.  "You can't go.  Are you trying to die?"  He gets in front of her.  "This is not something you can stop."

 

"But..." Fox Demon gasps anxiously.

 

"If I'm not wrong," says Ting Nu, "this is the Heavenly Meteor Formation."

 

"What formation is that?"  Asks Fox Demon.  "That stupid monkey is still inside.  What about him?"

 

"Calm down!"  Brother Liu says quickly.  "A small formation will not be able to trap that stupid monkey.  Didn't he ask us to take care of you before he left?  He'll be fine."

 

Fox Demon nods.  "He did say that."

 

 

 

 

 

The golden object heads right for Xuanji.  With a swish of her arms, she generates a protective barrier over her friends and family.  The rest of the Sect Members stand up and add to the barrier.

 

King Bailing scowls at them.  Where are your fan boys now, asshole?  King Bailing brings down a torrential downpour of fiery energy.  Xuanji continues to resist.  The blinders are off.   She knows exactly what this man is all about.

 

"You once taught me to take care of the people!"  Yells Xuanji.  "But why are you slaughtering these innocent people?"

 

"To keep the peace of the three realms, some sacrifices are unavoidable.  Instead of letting out the Devil Star to bring ruin to the world, I would rather sacrifice Shaoyang for hundreds and thousands  of years of peace.  By sacrificing themselves today, the people of Shaoyang will be blessed in the future."  He pushes the torrential downpour of fiery energy more intensely against the barrier.

 

"What a joke!"  Yells Xuanji.  "The high and mighty King Bailing treats us like a piece of dirt.  Back then, you took care of me at Xuyang Peak.  No matter what ulterior motives you had, those memories are precious to me.  Thank you for your care for so many years.  From now on, our past relationship is no more.  I won't let you hurt Shaoyang Sect!  Today, I'll fight to the death with you!"  She summons the Dingkun Sword, and points it at the fiery energy.  The force causes King Bailing to momentarily lose his footing.

 

"Chu Xuanji, since you insist on siding with the demons, and going against me, I'll finish you off once and for all today!"  With a criss crossing motion of his hands, he summons the Crystal Lamp.  He violently pushes it away, and applies energy to it.

 

Xuanji's strength is faltering, but she persists.

 

"Xuanji!" Calls Little Six.  "Xuanji!"

 

The other sect members are beginning to run out of strength.

 

Xuanji feels an intense pain in her chest and stomach, but she will not give up.

 

"Xuanji!"  Yells Linglong.

 

With full golden wings, Sifeng flies forward, and with a downward chopping of his hands, he disrupts King Bailing's toxic energy.  He sends Bailing stumbling backwards, and Sifeng feels intense pain in his body.  The Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook are screaming to get out.  He vomits blood.

 

"Sifeng!" Cries Xuanji.

 

Sifeng's wings retract, and he free falls downward with the Crystal Lamp.

 

"Sifeng!" Yells Xuanji.  She flies up and catches him in her arms.  They gently descend to the ground.  "Sifeng!"

 

Wu Zhiqi flies in from the side, and intercepts the Cystal Lamp like a football player before King Bailing can do a damn thing.

 

The golden object in the sky begins to crack at the bottom.  King Bailing applies energy to repair it.

 

The sect members are vomiting blood.

 

"Sifeng, how are you feeling?" Xuanji asks anxiously.  "Sifeng!  How did this happen?  What happened?"

 

"This is bad," says Wu Zhiqi.  "The power of the Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook is bursting because of an outside impact.  Sifeng is severely injured.  He can't contain the power anymore."

 

"No.  I have to save Sifeng.  Give me the Crystal Lamp," says Xuanji.

 

Sifeng grabs her wrist.  "No," he whispers.  "You can't open the Crystal Lamp.  Promise me."

 

"Sifeng!"

 

"You have to open the Crystal Lamp," a murder of crows flies in while Yuan Lang's spirit materializes in a cloud of black.

 

King Bailing looks at him with astonishment.

 

"Yuan Lang?"  Asks Wu Zhiqi.  "You're still alive?"

 

"I'm not here to fight with you," says Yuan Lang.  "I'm here to tell the God of War the truth."

 

Sifeng is gripped by panic.  "Xuanji, don't listen to him.  He's just here to trick you into opening the seal of the Crystal Lamp.  Don't listen to him."

 

"God of War, do you know why King Bailing is so unforgiving when you want to open the Crystal Lamp?"

 

Xuanji closes her eyes, and a memory as the God of War surfaces.  She's in the Demon Citadel, and she sees a mural of King Bailing casting a spell on the Devil Star.  The Devil Star's red hanfu melts away, and God of War emerges from his corpse.

 

Sifeng watches her closely.  Xuanji opens her eyes in surprise.  Yuan Lang chuckles.

 

"Finally, you know the truth," says Yuan Lang.  "Chu Xuanji..."

"The God of War is the Devil Star," Xuanji whispers.  "The Devil Star is the God of War.  I am the Devil Star."

 

"Yes," says Yuan Lang.  "You are the Devil Star.  The soul inside the Crystal Lamp is yours.  Goddess of War."

 

"No," Xuanji whispers in shock.

 

"Yuan Lang!"  Sifeng is furious.  "Shut up!"

 

"In this world, only the Devil Star can open the seal of the Crystal Lamp," says Yuan Lang.

 

"No, you are lying to me," whispers Xuanji.  "You are lying to me."

 

"Xuanji," whispers Sifeng.

 

"You are lying to me."

 

"It's recorded very clearly on the mural inside the Demon Citadel," says Yuan Lang.  "Or else, why do you think Yu Sifeng would admit that he's the Devil Star?"

 

She looks over at Sifeng.

 

"Xuanji, it's not true!"  Sifeng desperately insists.  "Don't believe in him.  He wants to destroy the three realms.  He must have an ulterior motive.  Don't believe him."

 

"Since young," says Xuanji, "every one of you asked me to kill demons to uphold justice, but the biggest Devil in this world was me.  Impossible.  Impossible."

 

"Xuanji," says Sifeng.

 

"Impossible.  Impossible."

 

"If you don't believe me," Yuan Lang smirks, "go and ask King Bailing.  He tricked the Devil Star and extracted his soul from him.  Then he used a mythological object made by the Devil Star's bones to seal his soul inside the Crystal Lamp.  And his body was transformed into the God of War.  And the God of War's heart is just a minor piece that King Bailing took from the Crystal Lamp."

 

The crack at the bottom of the golden object seals up.  "Demon, that's enough!"  King Bailing demands.  With a push of his palm, Yuan Lang's spirit dissipates.

 

"What he said..." Whispers Xuanji.  "Is what he said true?"  Xuanji asks King Bailing.

 

"It doesn't matter that you know now," says King Bailing.  "He is right, but everything is going to end now."

 

Xuanji's blood runs cold.  "Since the beginning, the devil that you want to kill is me."  Xuanji laughs bitterly.  "What a joke.  What is the God of War, then?  Bailing, why did you do it?  Why did you do it?"  Xuanji is furious.

 

"For the three realms," King Bailing says flatly.

 

"You stopped me from getting back my six senses.  You wanted me to feel nothing so that I could become your puppet!"

 

"You can't be corrupted if you are heartless to begin with.  Only then, the three realms can be safe.  But even after nine reincarnations, your anguish is still here.  And this time, you even gained a mortal heart because of Yu Sifeng.  I can't let you turn into a demon again."

 

Xuanji closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.  Sifeng is struggling to breathe at all.

 

"Sifeng.  Sifeng," whispers Xuanji.

 

Wu Zhiqi looks at the blue vase in his hand.  

 

"Sifeng!  Sifeng.  Sifeng."

 

"Yu Sifeng," King Bailing says disdainfully.  "I'll kill you first."

 

Xuanji looks up at him defiantly.  Over her dead body!

 

"Let's see if the Crystal Lamp will be broken or not!"  King Bailing continues with a sweep of his hands, he uses wind energy to pull Xuanji and Sifeng into the air.  Xuanji holds onto Sifeng's hand for dear life.

 

"Xuanji," says Linglong.

 

"Sifeng!  I won't let anything happen to you!"  Xuanji yells.  With a sweep of her hand, she hurls the Dingkun Sword, and the Crystal Lamp disappears from Wu Zhiqi's hand.  It flies to Xuanji, the soul glowing bright pink.

 

"Xuanji," says Sifeng.  "No!  I'd rather die than let you become a demon because of me."

 

"Sifeng, I don't care about that.  I just want to save you.  Devil Star or God of War.  I don't care.  I just want you to live!"  She releases him.  "Sifeng, if I become Devil Maleficent, don't forget about me!  Remember, you have to find me!"

 

King Bailing tries to pull the lamp away, but Xuanji's force is stronger.  She turns her hand, and a hole is cracked into the lamp.  Black smoke billows out, and Sifeng convulses.  The weapons leave his body, and enter hers.  Xuanji screams in pain.

 

King Bailing is thrown back from the force, and Sifeng lands on his knees.

 

Xuanji screams, and black smoke invades her body. 

 

"Xuanji!  Xuanji!"  Says Sifeng.

 

Xuanji screams from the pain, and experiences memories as the Devil Star.

 

"I'm wiling to drink with you everyday," the Devil Star had said to King Bailing.  He takes a sip and stumbles backwards.

 

"I'm sorry, Devil Maleficent," says King Bailing, as he prevents him from falling.

 

The Devil Star is lying partially conscious on an operating table.

 

"I'll now bestow this life to you!"  King Bailing declares.  He stands over him with a dagger, ready to stab.  "And for your whole life, you'll fight for me!"  He stabs Devil Star in the heart.  Devil Star shape shifts into the God of War.  "And you'll fight for the heavens."

 

"Devil Maleficent, why do you kill your own people?"

 

Xuanji's shape begins to shift, and Devil Star appears, dressed in red.  His eyes open, and they shine a bright red.  With a sharp motion of his hands, he stabs the sword through the golden object, and shatters it.

 

Devil Star levitates over the sect members.

 

"Devil Star, Devil Maleficent," says Wu Zhiqi.

 

Devil Star's eyes turn from red to black, and he descends to the ground.

 

"Xuanji," says Little Six and Linglong.

 

"Brother Bailing, long time, no see."

 

King Bailing looks like he's shitting bricks.  "Maleficent."

 

Wu Zhiqi smirks.  The chickens have come home to roost.

 

Devil Star hurls his sword at King Bailing, who promptly disappears.

 

Wu Zhiqi chuckles.

 

Sifeng watches the Devil Star incredulously.  He slowly rises.  "Xuanji.  Xuanji."

 

The Devil Star looks at him disdainfully.  "I am Devil Maleficent."

 

Sifeng chases after him and grabs his arm.  "Xuanji!  Where are you going?"

 

Devil Star pushes Sifeng back.  Sifeng falls on his knees.

 

"Xuanji," whispers Linglong.

 

"The life of a human is usually hillarious," says Devil Star.  Sifeng's hairpin materializes in his hand.  "This belongs to Chu Xuanji.  From now on, she's no longer related to me."  He throws the pin on the ground.

 

Sifeng picks it up and looks at it.  He looks up at Devil Star.  "Where are you going?"

 

"I'm going back to where I belonged in the past.  I'm going to get back everything that I lost for the past 1,000 years."

 

"Xuanji, don't go," says Sifeng.

 

Devil Star walks away.

 

"Xuanji!"  Yells Sect Leader Chu and Sifeng.

 

"You don't know me anymore?" Sect Leader Chu asks.

 

"If you pests keep on addressing me wrongly without respect, I won't mind washing this mountain with blood."  He shoots up into the air and flies away.

 

Wu Zhiqi disappears in a cloud of black smoke.

 

Sifeng is lying on his stomach, desperately calling for Xuanji.  His work is definitely cut out for him.

 

 

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