American Perspectives: The Devil Star Invasion Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 58)

 

 

“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.

 

 

 

 

King Bailing watches in horror as a fiery flower forms in the pool down below.  "How dare you!!"  He shouts at the God of War.

 

God of War smirks at him.  "You didn't see this coming, did you?  The God of War who used to protect the heavens is now turning the world upside down.  What an irony!  You tried to construct the God of War to serve the heavens by fair means or foul.   Fine!  Today, I will use this face of the God of War to destroy the heavens you were meant to protect, and avenge my humiliation with my blood!"

 

"Devil Maleficent!"  King Bailing barks.  "You're ruining the world and the people!  You are unforgiveable."

 

God of War laughs at the irony of his statement.  "Unforgiveable?  I've become unforgiveable when I killed the Asuras thousands of years ago!  The wails you are hearing, the Asuras I killed, let out the same wails!  They say every living thing suffers.  But why do they have to suffer?  It's because of Heaven's Law and fate!  Heaven's Law is made by the Transcendent Furnace.  I just need to overturn the furnace, and all this suffering will cease to exist!"

 

"Dream on!"  King Bailing yells.  "I am standing right here, and you shall not go near the furnace!"

 

"You are overestimating yourself!"  She aims her black smokey covered right hand at King Bailing.  He blocks her with the white energy from his right palm.

 

"I will not let you destroy the three realms!"

 

The two energies keep each other from moving forward.

 

"You want to die?"  God of War asks.  "No rush.  You are next!"  She lowers her hand and jumps up.  She raises her arm, moves it in a circle, and causes her energy to backhand King Bailing across the room.

 

She looks up at the furnace.  King Bailing watches her hatefully.

 

"No!"

 

God of War looks behind her, and sees Sifeng flying toward her.  He looks absolutely luminous in his golden armor.

 

King Bailing rises and scowls.  The other bane of his existence...

 

"Xuanji," says Sifeng.

 

"Yu Sifeng," says God of War, "stop digging your own grave!"

 

Sifeng shifts gears.  "Devil Maleficent, if the Transcendent Furnace gets destroyed, everything will cease to exist.  What you love and hate will all be gone."  This brings back memories of conversations with his addict minded father.  "You can't do that."

 

"Hmm," says God of War.  "I am the Devil Star, not Chu Xuanji.  I don't want love and hate.  Just let it go.  Yu Sifeng, don't think I won't kill you."

 

Sifeng looks straight at her.  "If you really want to kill me, go ahead, then.  I'm going to die anyway after the furnace gets destroyed.  Instead of dying for no reason, I'd rather be killed by you."

 

"Didn't you leave half of your primordial spirit in the Demon Citadel?"  God of War asks.

 

"I want a complete self.  If the furnace gets ruined, my memory will be gone.  Even if this body survives, it's no different than death.  I'd rather be killed by you.  That's better than living like a living dead who has no memory."

 

"I have no interest in killing you myself," says God of War.  "Since you didn't preserve any primordial spirit, you shall fend for yourself."  As she turns around, black smoke streams from her body.  She raises her right arm, palm out, and drags her hand across and above her head.  Like a boomerang, the Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook come sailing to her.

 

Sifeng summons his sword, jumps up, and deflects the weapon from the furnace.  It attempts to slice through the sword, but Sifeng stays strong as God of War continues to push her weapon.  Both the sword and the hoop disappear.  Sifeng lands on his knees, clutches his chest, and spits blood.

 

God of War is thrown back by the force.  They make eye contact, she then jumps up, and Sifeng follows.  She aims right for the furnace, as she's surrounded by a cloud of black, smokey, energy.  She brings out the Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook again, aiming for Sifeng.  He does not have his sword this time, and he blocks the demonic weapon with golden fog from his palms instead.

 

The Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook disappear again, and he lands on his knees, spitting blood.

 

In a haze of golden energy, Heavenly Emperor materializes.

 

King Bailing immediately stops what he's doing and bows.  "Greetings, Heavenly Emperor."

 

"Bailing," says Heavenly Emperor, "I told you.  Xi Xuan."  He looks at Sifeng.

 

Sifeng bows.  "Heavenly Emperor."

 

"You're still in the mortal realm.  I should call you by the name you use there.  Yu Sifeng."

 

King Bailing gives Sifeng side eye.

 

"I know everything you did," says Heavenly Emperor.  "You've worked hard."  He looks at God of War.  "Long time, no see, Devil Maleficent."

 

God of War shifts back into Devil Star.  "I was wondering who could stop my Juntian Hoop and Cehai Hook.  It turns out that Heavenly Emperor is here."

 

"This has to do with the three realms," says Heavenly Emperor.  "Not only should I be here, everyone should come here."  He waves his arm in front of him, and Ruo Yu, Brother Liu, Wu Zhiqi, Linglong, and Little Six materialize.  On the other side, Teng She, Si Ming, Xuan Huo, Yuan Lang, and the Four Sacred Beasts appear.

 

"Greetings, Heavenly Emperor," they bow.

 

Devil Star is levitating high above them.

 

Heavenly Emperor nods.

 

"Xuanji," says Linglong, "we've told Heavenly Emperor about your grievance.  He will uphold justice for you.  You need not destroy the Transcendent Furnace anymore."

 

"Heavenly Emperor," says Devil Star, "you brought such a big fanfare.  Are you all here to stop me?"

 

"I'm not trying to stop you," says Heavenly Emperor.  "But, the resentment between you and Bailing has to do with all the lives in the three realms.  As the Lord of the Heavens, I have to solve this problem."

 

"Heavenly Emperor," says King Bailing, "this demon is unstoppable."

 

The Five Friends give him the nastiest side eye.

 

"I tried my best," King Bailing continues, "but I couldn't stop him."  He bows.  "Please take him down, Heavenly Emperor."

 

Sifeng wants to smack King Bailing upside the head, but he keeps his cool.

 

"I've told you before," says Heavenly Emperor, "everything has a cause and effect.  You made the God of War and killed all the Asuras.  You ordered both the heavens and the mortal realm to kill the demons.  You initiated the Heavenly Meteor formation, and sacrificed Shaoyang.  You killed the mortals with the Sea of Life and Death.  They're all extremely tragic incidents.  Those lost lives, they all belonged to the three realms."

 

I'm fucked, King Bailing thinks.

 

"And now you're accusing that Devil Maleficent's demon characteristics cannot be restrained.  I think you are the one who's demon characteristics cannot be restrained."

 

The ass kissing King Bailing looks up in shock.  The Heavenly Emperor isn't so oblivious and gullible after all.  "Heavenly Emperor, I did all this to protect the other three realms!"

 

"Not at all," replies Heavenly Emperor.  "It was to protect your mad obsession in your heart!"  He waves his arm in front of him, and strikes King Bailing in the forehead with a beam of golden energy.

 

King Bailing closes his eyes, and sees the mortal realm is on fire.

 

"Is this the outcome you wanted?"  Heavenly Emperor asks.  "In fact, that day you made the wrong decision at Baiyu Pavillion by the Bank of the Ruoshui River."

 

King Bailing shakes his head in petrified shock.  "No.  That's not the case."

 

"Do you refuse to believe it?"  Heavenly Emperor asks.  "Fine.  Let me show you what it would look like if you hadn't poisoned Devil Maleficent's wine thousands of years ago."  He waves his arms in front of him, shooting another golden beam of light into King Bailing's forehead.

 

He closes his eyes, and he sees Devil Star and himself and Baiyu Pavillion.

 

"You need not worry," says Devil Star.  "In fact, I came with good news."

 

King Bailing looks at him.  "Immortals and demons are having a fierce war.  There is no good news."

 

"It has to do with this great war," says Devil Star.  "Two days ago, I submitted a memorial to His Majesty requesting a ceasefire in the heavens and Demon Citadel.  His Majesty said yes to it."

 

"Really?"  King Bailing asks in disbelief.

 

"Positive," Devil Star confirms.  "After this drink with you, I'll go communicate the decree.  The entire army of Asura will withdraw and head back to the Demon Citadel.  The three realms will be peaceful from then on.  Why don't you finish this cup of wine?"

 

King Bailing smiles awkwardly.  "Sure."

 

"Here," says Devil Star.

 

"Please," they say simultaneously, and the drink.

 

King Bailing opens his eyes.

 

"Bailing," says Heavenly Emperor, "you ruined the peace we could have had.  The war broke out again because the Asuras didn't receive the decree.  If you could have stopped back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way, but you insisted on judging others by your own standards, and went down to the mortal realm to control the God of War's trial.  In fact, if you hadn't gone down to the realm, the trial would have been over by now."  He waves his arm again.

 

King Bailing closes his eyes, and sees Sifeng and Xuanji in their heavenly armor, bowing to the Emperor.

 

"I, Chu Xuanji, have completed all ten trials, and I have regained my flesh and blood.  I know what love is.  I seek your permission to come back to the heavens.  Heavenly Emperor."  She lovingly looks at Sifeng.  The two hold hands and smile.  "Yu Sifeng and I will work together to protect everyone in the three realms."

 

King Bailing shakes his head.  "I was wrong.  Could it really be my fault?"

 

"Bailing," says Heavenly Emperor, "everything in this world has its own conscience.  If you don't move, he won't.  But you buried all your evil thoughts inside your heart and manipulated others.  Without you knowing, this evil thought of yours has long grown into a very tall tree.  A gigantic and merciless tree."

 

"It's me," King Bailing says with disbelief.  "I've hurt the three realms.  It's me.  It's all because of me."

 

"You always thought it was God of War who was being evil.  You thought it was Devil Maleficent.  In fact, you're the evil one.  Everything in this world is originally empty.  Out of nothing, Yin and Yang spin.  They reinforce and counteract each other."

 

King Bailing looks at Devil Star.

 

"The heavens were originally empty," says Heavenly Emperor.  "So was Asura.  Since they were both empty, how can the heavens be superior?  How can the mortal and demon realms be inferior?  You cared too much about the heavens' safety.  That's why you became irreversibly evil."

 

King Bailing shakes his head.  He kneels and bows.  "Please give me some advice, Heavenly Emperor.  How can I make up for it?  Please give me some advice, Heavenly Emperor!"

 

Heavenly Emperor sighs.  "It's too late.  It is already too late."

 

Everyone looks at King Bailing judgmentally.  "Heavenly Emperor, I caused this calamity," King Bailing admits.  "I know that I'm deeply sinful.  Today, I will strip myself of my immortal qualities and powers to compensate the world for what I did."

 

Teng She drops to his knees.  "King Bailing, you are the head of the heavens!  Without the heavenly qualities, you will devolve into a trivial deity.  Please think twice!"

 

Si Ming and Xuan Huo kneel.

 

"Please think twice, King Bailing," says Si Ming.

 

"Please think twice, King Bailing," says Xuan Huo.

 

The Four Sacred Beasts kneel.  "Please think twice, King Bailing."

 

King Bailing shakes his head.  "For thousands of years, I've worried too much.  That's why I became like this.  Stop talking.  From today onward, you all should learn from my mistakes."

 

Wu Zhiqi, Brother Liu, and Ruo Yu watch him skeptically.

 

"...And behave yourselves," King Bailing continues.

 

"Bailing, is this really what you want?"  Heavenly Emperor asks.

 

King Bailing looks up sullenly.  He bows.  "Heavenly Emperor, I have made up my mind."

 

Heavenly Emperor sighs.  "Fine.  Perhaps this is your chance."

 

King Bailing kowtows.  He slowly stands up, and looks over at Sifeng.  He looks over at Devil Star.  These two men received the brunt of his sociopathic behavior.  He holds up his left hand, and whitish blue energy generates.

 

"King Bailing!"  Teng She, Si Ming, and Xuan Huo yell.

 

He presses the energy to his heart and gasps.

 

"King Bailing!  King Bailing!"  Teng She cries.

 

Si Ming and the Four Sacred Beasts cry as King Bailing uses his energy to strip his immortal powers.

 

He screams as the powers part from his body in a very well deserved punishment.  As the powers leave, his hair turns white, and the ornamentation vanishes.

 

Heavenly Emperor sighs.  The people who aren't crying for King Bailing are Sifeng and Devil Star who have been on the receiving end of the worst of his prejudices.  The others are able to cry because they weren't so blatantly violated by this overly glorified deity.

 

"Devil Maleficent," says Heavenly Emperor, "Bailing has stripped himself of his heavenly qualities.  He is now a powerless, trivial, deity.  Could you have mercy on him?"

 

Devil Star laughs.  He knows Bailing isn't sorry for what he did.  He's sorry for getting in trouble.  He's sorry for being embarrassed.  The extraction of his power doesn't even come close to the pain he inflicted, the exploitation, and the genocide.  In fact, it's a slap on the wrist.  "Heavenly Emperor, you shouldn't have bothered yourself.  Are you trying to make me change my mind with this show?  Fine.  Then let me ask you.  Will the Asuras come back to life with him being stripped of Heavenly qualities?  With him being stripped of heavenly power, will I be able to forget that painful suffering?  You've underestimated my pain."

 

"Fine," says Heavenly Emperor.  "Even if the three realms are slaughtered as you wish, then what?  Everything would be empty after that.  You were a human in the first nine lives, and couldn't stop being resentful."  (Should he, though?)  "But you finally got over it in this life.  And you found the most important person in your life.  Isn't this far better than being a murderous tool?  You once asked me this.  Where else can you go since you're not a deity or an Asura?  Isn't the mortal realm where your heart is?  Or do you really want to destroy everything in the mortal realm, and indulge in the anger?"

 

"So what if I indulge in the anger?"  Devil Star asks.  "That's the path I chose.  I need to figure it out."

 

Sifeng's heart skips a beat.

 

"Be it Devil Maleficent or Chu Xuanji, in your eyes, they are just insignificant existences.  Even though my life is insignificant, I will never let you all mess with it," says Devil Star.  "As long as Heaven's Law remains unchanged, there will be another evil Bailing, even though this one has been banished.  Thus, only by destroying the Transcendent Furnace, can I get rid of your arrogance.  Heavenly Emperor, fight with me, or get out of my way."

 

"It's the Heavens' fault," Heavenly Emperor admits.  "I have no right to stop you.  If you insist on destroying the furnace, I can't do anything about it.  Yet, when the furnace collapses and karma vanishes, all of your friends and family will return to the chaos void.  Is that really what you want?"

 

"Xuanji..." Linglong says.  "Don't, Xuanji!"

 

"Devil Maleficent," says Sifeng, "turn around and look at your family and friends.  They could've stayed at Shaoyang for their safety, but they couldn't bear to forget the experiences we shared.  That's why they came here despite the difficulties.  Although they know they could be killed, they want you to know that you are important to them.  Whether you're Devil Maleficent or Xuanji, in this life, those around you love you deeply.  They protect you.  You're no longer that lonely Devil Star.  You're a family member, friend, a loved one whom we can't let go of."

 

"Demon Lord," Yuan Lang bows, "listen to it.  These people are trying to talk you into turning into Chu Xuanji.  In fact, they don't care about you at all.  They only care about Chu Xuanji."

 

Devil Star gives him the side eye.

 

"After all, these are all Chu Xuanji's family, friends, and loved ones.  They're not yours.  Our great army has scattered the primordial spirit around the Demon Citadel.  When the furnace is collapsed, and the three realms are ruined, the world will belong to us demons.  Don't let their words ruin our grand plans."

 

"Since Bailing didn't care about life," says Devil Star, "why should I care about love, friends, and family?  They are impermanent.  Heavenly Emperor, I am definitely destroying the furnace."

 

"If that's the case," says Heavenly Emperor, "go ahead, then."

 

Devil Star bends his arms, and generates a black cloud between his palms.  He throws the black cloud upward like a basketball, and it lands on the coppery colored furnace.  The furnace descends into the fiery pool.

 

"Xuanji," says Sifeng.

 

Teng She, Si Ming, and Xuan Huo fade away.  Devil Star looks over at Wu Zhiqi, Brother Liu, and Ruo Yu who vanish in a haze of white energy.  Linglong and Little Six turn into white smoke.

 

Devil Star shifts into the God of War.

 

"All of your friends and family will return to the chaos void," says Heavenly Emperor.  "Is that really what you want?"

 

She looks over at Sifeng, and her life as Xuanji begins to flash before her eyes.  She looks at King Bailing, and he disappears in a white mist.  She looks at Sifeng, and he begins to cry.  She remembers the day she helped him recover from Ruo Yu's stabbing, and the day they put their clay figurines on the bridge.  And the kisses!  How could she forget those?  She begins to cry.

 

She remembers saving Sifeng from the Demon Whip, and so much more.  As she looks at him, he fades into a fog.  

 

She feels nauseous, and her legs feel weak.  "No.  No!"  She covers her ears.  She screams, releasing silver energy from her body.

 

The fiery pond shines bright, and she changes back into the Devil Star.  He is still crying, and he's relieved that Sifeng didn't actually disappear.

 

"What is this?" Devil Star whispers.

 

"I have just hit the string of Yellow Millet, and have let you foresee what happens when the three realms are destroyed," says Heavenly Emperor.

 

"Illusion," says Devil Star.  "It is all an illusion!"

 

"It is not an illusion," says Heavenly Emperor.  "If you insist on smashing the furnace, what you saw will become the reality.  I cannot stop you from taking revenge, but it concerns the life of the three realms.  I just hope that you won't regret your decision."

 

"Devil Maleficent," says Sifeng, "you said you were a heartless man, but you just shed tears.  How can a heartless man shed tears?  It's obvious that you are gaining flesh and blood.  Try to accept yourself.  Don't let your hatred blind you."

 

"Shut up!"  Devil Star yells.  "I will not believe everything you say!"

 

"Demon Lord," says Yuan Lang.  "If you are wavering because of their sweet nothings, listen to what I am about to say, and you will no longer hesitate.  Yu Sifeng has long betrayed you.  He said he came to the heavens and discussed with King Bailing.  In fact, they have long decided to help the heavens change your mind.  If you listen to him, and don't ruin the three realms, that shows he can control you.  This Yu Sifeng, it is obvious that he wants to be the new Crystal Lamp which King Bailing can use to seal your soul!"

 

With a wave of his arm, Devil Star hits Yuan Lang with his black smoke.

 

Yuan Lang looks up in astoundment.  "Demon Lord, you've broken my defensive spell.  You want to kill me!"

 

"Yuan Lang, I would have bought into your lie if you framed someone else.  But I remember every single thing Yu Sifeng did in his ten lives!  You said he betrayed me.  Do you think I'll believe you?"

 

"Demon Lord," Yuan Lang says anxiously.  "I am wrong.  I am wrong!"

 

"You betrayed the Demon Citadel, framed Wu Zhiqi, and seized the power of the God of War.  They are all your schemes.  If Bailing is called vicious, you can be called a backstabber.  There is no way I'm keeping a backstabber by my side.  Take your own life."

 

"Demon Lord, I have been working for you for thousands of years.  Now that we are going to succeed, you want me to kill myself?"

 

"You were working for yourself, not me," says Devil Star.  "Don't think I don't know what you're up to.  If I really destroy the three realms, my next enemy would be you."

 

Yuan Lang laughs bitterly.  "I never thought that the effort I put into the grand plan would eventually lead to my death.  That's really careless of me.  Demon Lord, it seems that you've bought into their nonsense, and you are not going to destroy the furnace!  If so, you shall be burned into ashes in the Great Gold Flame!   I, Yuan Lang, want to be the head of the three realms!"  In a stream of black smoke, his sword appears, and he flies forward, striking at the furnace.

 

The furnace begins to tilt forward, and Yuan Lang gloats.

 

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