American Perspectives: Moving Forward, Moving On Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption Ep. 59)

 

 

“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 walks into Sifeng's room with a basket of bright blue flowers.  She is startled to see Sifeng missing from his bed.  She drops her basket of flowers.  "Sifeng," she whispers.  She looks around anxiously.  "Sifeng!  Sifeng!"

 

She runs out of his room, anxiously calling for him.  She runs down the covered walkway, calling for him.

 

"Xuanji."

 

Xuanji turns around and sees a fully recovered Sifeng, on the roof, dressed in white.  She breathes a sigh of relief, and she's excited to see him fully conscious.

 

"Xuanji," Sifeng smiles.

 

"Sifeng," Xuanji smiles.

 

Sifeng flies down from the roof, and runs to Xuanji.  They hug tightly.

 

"I've missed you so much," sobs Xuanji.  "I've really missed you so much."

 

"Xuanji," whispers Sifeng.  "Don't cry."

 

"I'm not crying," Xuanji insists.  She breaks her embrace.  "I'm happy.  The tears fell down themselves."

 

"Silly girl," Sifeng wipes her tears away. 

 

"I knew you'd come back, Sifeng.  I knew you'd surely come back."

 

"Silly girl," whispers Sifeng.  "How could I not come back when you're here?"

 

She grabs his hand.  "Let's go!"

 

"Where to?"  Sifeng asks.

 

"Go ask Father for my hand," says Xuanji.

 

 

 

 

 

"Father!"  Xuanji and Sifeng run into the main hall.

 

Sect Leader Chu turns around to face them.  "Sifeng?  You..."

 

"Sect Leader Chu, I have fully recovered."

 

Sect Leader Chu breathes a sigh of relief.  "That's great.  Sifeng, because of my foolishness, you've gone through a lot.  This time I--"

 

"I'm alright now," Sifeng interrupts.  He doesn't want to retraumatize himself with recollections of the not too distant past.

 

Xuanji bows.  "Father, please allow me to marry Sifeng."

 

"Sure," Sect Leader Chu nods.  "Sure!"

 

Xuanji looks up and beams.  Finally!  For real this time.

 

Xuanji and Sifeng look at each other.  What a turbulent process this has been.  They hold hands and smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally!  The big day has arrived.  Linglong leads a group of female sect members, each carrying a plate of fruit.

 

Xuanji walks out in her wedding red, interrupting the flow.

 

"Xuanji?"  Linglong asks.

 

"Linglong," says Xuanji.

 

"Get in first," Linglong tells the female disciples.  She turns to Xuanji.  "It's your wedding day.  You should wait for Sifeng in your room.  Why are you lingering out here?"

 

"Auntie Yinhong dressed me up long ago.  I felt so bored staying in the room."

 

Linglong laughs.

 

"Moreover," Xuanji continues, "our sect doesn't care about formality.  That's why I decided to come and check the guests out."

 

"You are, as always, inappropriate," says Linglong.  "Go back, and stay in there.  I'll decorate the venue well."

 

Xuanji nods.

 

"Xuanji," Little Six approaches them.  "A kid at the foot of the mountain helped someone to send you this gift."  He hands her a wooden box.  "He didn't mention who the sender was."

 

She opens the box, and sees it's full of pearls.  She pushes the pearls aside, and finds a note underneath.  "May you have a blessed marriage.  I am happy for you."  Xuanji smiles and puts the note back.  She picks up a handful of pearls.  "It's tears of a merman.  It's from Ting Nu."

 

"But why didn't he send it himself?"  Linglong asks.  "He asked someone else to do it instead."

 

Fireworks explode in the daytime sky.  Linglong smiles. "They're here!"

 

"Xuanji," says Little Six, "just wait for Sifeng to come and take your hand."

 

"Go now," says Linglong.

 

The two women giggle and rush off to Linglong's room.

 

 

 

 

 

Sect Leader Chu and Xuanji are at the front of the main hall.  He affectionately adjusts her veil.

 

Sifeng climbs the steps, looking radiant in his wedding red.

 

"Here comes the groom!"

 

Everyone turns to look.  Brother Liu and Little Six grin.

 

Sifeng walks down the aisle, looking straight at his beloved.

 

"Congratulations," Dongfang, Kong Tang, and Valley Master Rong bow.

 

Sifeng stands in front of Sect Leader Chu and Xuanji.  He bows.  "Father-in-law.  I, Yu Sifeng, came here today to take Chu Xuanji's hand.  Please grant me your permission, Father-in-law."

 

"My good child," says Sect Leader Chu.  He's overcome with emotion.  "Both of you..."

 

Xuanji smiles.

 

"Both of you must get along well," says Sect Leader Chu.

 

"Rest assured, Father-In-Law."  Sifeng makes eye contact with Xuanji.  "Xuanji is the love I've earned from living ten lives in all the realms.  I will surely dote on and love her, in every life time."

 

Sect Leader Chu tearfully nods his head in approval.  "Good."  He walks Xuanji down the steps.  "Hero Yu, today, I'm giving you my daughter's hand."  He takes Sifeng and Xuanji's hands, and joins them together.  Sect Leader Chu walks back up the steps.

 

"Xuanji, I'm here to marry you," says Sifeng.

 

"I've been waiting for you for so long," says Xuanji.

 

"Husband and wife, bow to father and bid farewell!"

 

They bow to Sect Leader Chu.

 

Sect Leader Chu is overwhelmed with emotion.  He gestures for them to continue.

 

Sifeng and Xuanji hold hands, and walk down the aisle.

 

"Be happy!"  Brother Liu yells.

 

Sifeng and Xuanji walk outside to the top of the stairs, and Sifeng waves his arm.  A swirl of fire appears in the sky.  Their wedding carriage, surrounded by fiery birds, appears.

 

Sifeng picks up Xuanji, and his fiery wings emerge.  He flies over to the carriage with her in his arms.  His wings disappear as they get inside.  He smiles at her, and helps her sit down.  The carriage gracefully floats through the sky while the fiery rose gold birds escort them.

 

 

 

 

They make their way back to Sifeng's bamboo house in Xigu Town, which has been decorated in red by A'Lan.  He carries Xuanji inside, and they sit down on the bed.

 

"Why are you looking at me?"  Xuanji asks nervously.  "Shouldn't...Shouldn't we blow out the candles first?"

 

"I've been waiting for this day to come," says Sifeng.  "There's no way I'm blowing out the candles.  Tonight, this bridal chamber will remain lit."

 

"In that case, I-I won't get changed."  The thought of appearing nude in full light is quite intimidating.

 

Sifeng smiles and holds her hand.  "I will help you with that."

 

Xuanji nervously looks over at him.

 

He lovingly lifts the veil from her face.  She closes her eyes, but then looks up at him.

 

"This is such a wonderful moment," says Sifeng.  "Why are you in a trance?"

 

"I remember my mother once told me this.  There's someone in this world to whom you're willing to give everything, without reservation.  I'm really lucky to have found such a person"

 

Sifeng touches the side of her face.  "I am as lucky.  You said you'll give me everything.  Don't go back on your word."

 

"I won't regret it."  They touch foreheads.

 

"For this lifetime," says Sifeng.

 

"Ten lives," says Xuanji.  "Ten lifetimes."

 

Sifeng kisses her, and they engage in many soft, passionate kisses.

 

 

 

 

 

Three blissful years have passed, and a pregnant Linglong is strolling through Shaoyang Hall.

 

"Uncle Dongfang is coming," she says to two male disciples.  "Prepare more flower wine."

 

"Yes, Senior."

 

She runs into a female disciple who is carrying a plate of grilled quails.  "Ah!  People from Lize Palace are coming.  How can you serve them grilled quails?  Leave."

 

"Yes, Senior Linglong," the disciple bows.

 

"It's Father's birthday," Linglong says to two male disciples.  "How can the couplet be hung crookedly?"  She walks up the steps and adjusts the decor.

 

"My gosh!"  Little Six chases after her.  "You're pregnant.  How can you hang the couplet?  What if the baby gets hurt?  Take a rest."

 

"Little Six!"  Linglong says impatiently.  "I'm pregnant with a baby, not some explosive.  Would I explode?"

 

"No, why--" says Little Six.  "Why do you get mad all the time?  They say anger is bad for your health.  You see, you holler all the time.  What if you scare..."  He points to her womb.

 

Linglong makes a sound of displeasure.

 

"Scare...Scare Xuanji!"  Little Six says quickly, as Xuanji enters the hall.

 

Xuanji yawns.

 

"What do you do?" Little Six asks Xuanji.

 

"Can't you clowns let me have a quiet morning?"  Xuanji asks impatiently.

 

Linglong pulls on Little Six's ear.  "I see, Little Six, you've mastered being double faced, haven't you?  With a father like you, our child will grow up to be bad!"

 

"Xuanji!"  Little Six yells.

 

"Get over here!"  Linglong pulls him by the ear.

 

Xuanji laughs and rubs her hands together.  "They're finally gone."  She finds a kettle of wine, and takes in the delicious scent.  She gets ready to help herself.

 

"Chu Xuanji," Sifeng startles her.  "Who let you drink?"  He's carrying their adorable son.

 

"They're all no match for me!"  A drunk Sect Leader Chu enters the hall.

 

"Stop drinking, Father," says Linglong.

 

"Enough, Father," says Little Six.  

 

"It's okay, I'm happy," says Sect Leader Chu.  "I must drink up today.  Here, cheers!"

 

"What a joyful day," Ting Nu says to Dongfang.  "Master Dongfang, have fun."

 

"Oh no, Sect Brother Chu is drunk," says Dongfang.  "Hurry up and give me the hangover cure."

 

"Again?"  Ting Nu asks.

 

"Aiya," says Dongfang.  "I can't hold my liquor.  Give it to me."

 

"Just don't drink, then."

 

"There's no way I'm not drinking today.  Hurry up."

 

Ting Nu hands him a tiny green jar of medicine.

 

"Hey!"  Sect Leader Chu approaches them and sees the tiny green jar.

 

"Brother Chu!"  Dongfang says.

 

"Brother Dongfang," says Sect Leader Chu.  "I've caught you red handed."

 

"I can't hold my liquor."

 

"You used to trick me with the cure."

 

"I can't drink."

 

"This time, I'm going to punish you," says Sect Leader Chu.  "I'll pour it for you."

 

"No!"

 

"Here, open your mouth.  Good!"  He pours the wine in Dongfang's mouth.

 

"Linglong!"  Yu'er yells excitedly as she and Brother Liu enter the hall.

 

"You're here!"  Brother Liu exclaims.  "Congratulations!"

 

"Eldest Brother Liu, you're late!"  Little Six scolds.

 

"We've been waiting for you," says Linglong.

 

"It's all Yu'er's fault," says Brother Liu.  "She kept asking for food and drink.  That's why we're late."

 

"It's because you're stingy," says Yu'er.  "You always buy so little.  Of course, I needed to buy more."

 

"She's blaming me," Brother Liu says incredulously.

 

"You can eat as much as you want today," says Little Six.  "Have a seat."

 

Xuanji is dancing through the hall and drinking wine.  Sifeng is close behind her with their very adorable son.  "Xuanji, here," says Sifeng.  "Carry him for awhile."

 

She scampers ahead, as she had been up with the baby for most of the night.  "Teng She?"

 

"Don't cry, baby," Sifeng says to their son.  "There, there."

 

Teng She greets them at the doorway.  "I heard there's good food.  Of course, I've got to be here.  Ask them to serve the food."

 

"Want to eat those delicious foods?"  Sifeng asks.  "Here.  Help me carry him first."  He plops the baby in Teng She's arms.

 

The baby wails.  "Don't cry," says Xuanji from a relatively safe distance.  "Don't cry."  She has made it a point to not be the default parent.

 

Teng She gasps.  "He peed!"

 

"Carry him!"  Sifeng insists.

 

Teng She is carefully carrying the baby to avoid getting his hands wet.

 

"Careful, the baby," says Sifeng.

 

"Yu'er," Teng She says desperately.  Yu'er ignores him.  He hands the baby back to Sifeng.

 

"Yu'er used to pee a lot when she was small.  You'll get used to it eventually," says Brother Liu.  "It's okay.  Here, let me do it.  Don't drop the baby!"

 

Xuanji watches her friends and family, and smiles.  She takes another drink.  She wipes her mouth, and remembers what the Heavenly Emperor told her.

 

"One thousand years ago, you were a created being.  That's why every step you took wasn't governed by the Heavens.  It depends on you.  It's up to you to be a demon, an immortal, or a mortal.  I'd like to ask you this today.  What are your thoughts on being mortal?"

 

"It's good to be mortal," Xuanji says out loud in the midst of Sect Leader Chu's party.

 

 

 

 

 

Xuanji is standing out in front at the peach tree, taking in her surroundings.  Sifeng joins her, feeling a bit exhausted from all the excitement.  He holds her hands, and looks at her lovingly.  He warmly hugs her, and she rests her head on his shoulder.