American Perspectives: A Hint of True Identity Pt. 1 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 2)

 

"Love and Redemption" is available to watch on Viki or Youtube. Dialogue adapted from English subtitle translation by "Destined Love Team at viki.com"

 

At the bottom of the lake, where Sifeng and Xuanji had been knocked over by the candle dragon, Xuanji's hand had unknowingly slid over a sharp object.  It effectively sliced her hand, and when the dragon screamed, the blood drops had formed into a line, and floated away from her hand.

With the rhythm of a water dragon, the blood is moving to a warm red light.  Xuanji observes it carefully, but then is momentarily distracted by a flashing blue light.  She looks over and sees that is a piece of a broken mirror.  She notices the blood on it, and realizes that is what sliced her hand.

She curiously reaches for the mirror.  As she takes a look, her head begins to hurt, and she sees flashbacks of another time.  A grand looking building is high up in the clouds, but it is surrounded by destructive chaos.  Soldiers in black are slaughtering soldiers in silver armour.  A magnificently bright blue aura is slicing through all of that, and knocking over the soldiers in black.  Watching it gives her the worst headache ever.

Sifeng notices her agitated behavior.  "Xuanji!" he calls.

She can't let go of the shard.  She sees a sword lit up by intense blue energy.  With a simple pointing of the sword, the energy is released, sending the soldiers in black flying.  The silhouette of a very empowered woman, in full armour, is carrying this fascinating sword.

 

At the Shaoyang Sect, a neon orange rock is sparkling and lighting up, indicating intruders on the secret ground. Two of the disciples take notice and set out to alert Sect Leader Chu at once.

 

A bright pink glow of energy radiates from the other end of the lake.  Both Xuanji and Sifeng are lifted up by unseen forces.  Neither can break free, however, Xuanji has a death grip on the mirror shard.

The mirror shard makes her body shudder, and she is propelled forward into the warm, red, light.  Her voice deepens.  "Who are you?" she asks Sifeng. The candle dragon goes for her back, and its force propels Xuanji and Sifeng back onto the deck.

"Little Flower Snake!" exclaims Sifeng. He tries to call his spirit beast by casting fire from his hand.  No luck.  He panics.  "My mask!"  This is a 16 year old boy who has never broken a rule in his life.  Panic mode is a gross understatement.  He's about to jump back in the lake, candle dragon be damned.

Xuanji pulls him back.  "Little Stammerer, don't go there!  Do you have a death wish?"

The black candle dragon completely rises from the water, and into the sky, ready to attack Xuanji and Sifeng.  Before it can descend, a senior disciple by the name of Hao Chen is propelling through the air, shooting out white energy through his index and middle fingers.

The white energy forms rings around the dragon like a rope, effectively limiting its mobility.  He intensely focuses on subduing the dragon.  He drops his hands, and the dragon falls into the lake.  Hao Chen lands on the dock.  He looks at the two teenagers with a piercing glare.  Xuanji looks down.

Hao Chen walks past them and stops in front of a silver haired elder and bows.  "Master, the entrance has been sealed."

Master nods.

"Senior Brother Heng Yang," Sect Leader Chu arrives on the dock, followed by Aunt Hong.  He bows to the master.

"Junior Brother, you're back," says Heng Yang.  He bows in return.  "The protective barrier was pulsing when I arrived just now."

Xuanji and Sifeng exchange glances.

"I asked Hao Chen to seal the entrance," Heng Yang continues.  "This is not the best time to speak.  We need to return to Xuyang Peak to set up a formation in order to stabilize it." He turns to Hao Chen. "Follow me."

Sect Leader Chu looks at Xuanji, and he is livid. "Xuanji!" 

Xuanji knows she's toast.  She braces herself.

 

Xuanji and Sifeng are taken to the main hall of Shaoyang Sect.  Linglong hears of what's going on, and she and Little Six burst through the entrance.

"Are you out of your mind?" Sect Leader Chu yells at Xuanji.  "You would've been dead if your Martial Uncle Heng Yang and Senior Brother Hao Chen hadn't arrived in time."

Linglong and Little Six stand near Xuanji, ready to protect.

"Tell me!" Sect Leader Chu continues. "How did you enter the secret ground?"

"I..." Xuanji says uncertainly.  "Father."

"Don't call me that! I'm speaking as the Sect Leader now!"

"I..." Xuanji pauses.  "Sect Leader, I really I have no idea."  She isn't about to betray her new friend.  "Maybe we entered by accident because the barrier was too weak."

"Is that true?" one of the senior brothers asks Xuanji.

"I'm not lying," Xuanji insists.  "I will bear responsibility for my mistakes.  You can hit or punish me, but please don't blame Little Stammerer."

"Hit you?" Sect Leader Chu asks incredulously.  "Does that work?  I've tried that since you were young, but it hasn't worked at all.  You don't feel any shame or pain!  The secret ground is on our sect's forbidden ground.  You hid in there instead of doing your training.  You even brought a stranger there!  You treat the laws of Shaoyang Sect as if they were nothing!  Since young, you have lost all senses.  And we allowed you to do as you please because of that.  But I didn't expect you to be so spoiled! From now on, I will never tolerate what you do anymore.  The secret ground is of utmost importance to our sect.  If you trespass the area, you'll pay the consequences.  From today onwards, you'll reflect on your actions in Mingxia Cave!  You'll only be able to return when your realize your mistakes!"

Little Six and Linglong exchange glances.

"Mingxia Cave?" asks Xuanji.

"Father!" Linglong interjects.  "Only disciples who have committed serious crimes will be sent to Mingxia Cave!  It's damp and dark over there.  My sister mustn't go there!"

Little Six kneels and bows.  "Master, please rescind your order.  My junior sister is young and ignorant.  The punishment is too heavy for her.  Master, please have mercy on her."

"In our sect, we have our own rules," Sect Leader Chu retorts.  "I can't just let her off because she's my daughter!"

Linglong gets on her knees and starts to cry.  "Father!"

"Keep quiet!" barks Sect Leader Chu.

Linglong immediately goes silent.

"Sect Leader Chu, about this," Sifeng interjects.  

"Hero Yu," Sect Leader Chu says, "regarding your intrusion, I'll report it to the elders in your sect.  I'm handling the matters of my sect now.  Please don't interrupt."

"Aunt Yinghong," Linglong begins.

"Linglong," says Aunt Hong, "according to the rules of Shaoyang Sect, those who enter the forbidden ground will be sent to Mingxia Cave.  There are no exceptions."

"Master, the Deputy Chief of Lize Palace is here."

"Invite him here," says Sect Leader Chu.

"Sect Leader Chu, you called me in such a hurry," Deputy Chief slowly waves his fan. "What exactly is going on?  Why are they kneeling..." He looks at Sifeng.  "Where's your mask?" he asks sharply.

Sifeng bows.  "My Lord, I've lost it."

"You lost it?  How dare you say that!"

"Deputy Chief," says Sect Leader Chu, "although the Hairpin Tournament is held in our sect, that doesn't mean that all the areas in our sect are open to the public.  Please keep an eye on your disciple.  Places other than Xuyang Peak are closed to the public."

Deputy Chief bows to Sect Leader Chu.  "Sect Leader Chu, this is our fault.  Yu Sifeng!"

Sifeng bows to Sect Leader Chu and Deputy Chief.  "Sect Leader Chu, it was my fault that I entered the forbidden ground.  But I left my mask in there.  Please allow me to enter..."

"Impossible!" Sect Leader Chu says sternly.

Xuanji looks at her father in shock.  How could he be so unreasonable?

Deputy Chief smirks. "So he actually entered the forbidden ground of Shaoyang Sect?  He's digging his own grave." He turns to Sect Leader Chu.  "Sect Leader Chu, what exactly is in the forbidden ground?  My disciple was hurt in there.  And you tried to punish them severely because of that."

"There are forbidden grounds in Lize Palace, as well," Sect Leader Chu points out.  "Deputy Chief, I have never tried to find out what's in your forbidden ground."

Deputy Chief drops his head.  He has the common sense to pick his battles.  "Of course.  Every sect has its secrets.  We must never reveal them.  I'll bring this rebellious disciple of mine back and punish him severely." He looks at both Sifeng and Xuanji threateningly.

 

Linglong overhears her father speaking with another Shaoyang Sect Leader about locking Xuanji up in Mingxia Cave forever to keep the other sects from knowing that the barrier on the forbidden ground has weakened.  She is horrified, and being the loyal sister that she is, she immediately goes to find Xuanji.

 

Xuanji is in her room, trying to make sense of the mirror shard laying out in front of her on the table.  She takes a deep breath, a bit apprehensive about what images she will see next, and quickly picks up the shard.  She closes her eyes as blue energy emits.

She finally sees the powerful warrior woman in full splendor fighting against a mysterious masked man.  It is giving her a headache, and causing her to panic.  Warriors scatter in all directions.  The mysterious warrior woman has splatters of blood all over her face.  Xuanji immediately drops the shard.  Glittery blue energy is emitting from her hand.  She tries to get rid of it, like she's washing her hands.

"Xuanji! Xuanji! Xuanji!" She hears Linglong anxiously shout.  Linglong runs into her room, out of breath.

"Linglong! Linglong!"

"Xuanji!" They hold each other's hands.  "I have something to tell you."

"Me, too," says Xuanji.

"Listen to me first.  Me first!  I overheard Father and Uncle Lu Yang's conversation just now.  You showed no emotion, and you entered the forbidden ground.  Now they want to lock you up in Mingxia Cave forever!"

"Is that scary?" Xuanji asks.

"Of course!  Only those who have committed serious crimes or lost themselves will be locked up there.  It's smelly, dark, dirty, and damp in there.  I heard that you can hear the cries of dead people there, too.  They'll cry every night.  It's very scary!"

"It's fine.  I'm not afraid," says Xuanji.

"Do you know the meaning of forever?" Linglong asks impatiently.  "It means that you won't be able to come out!  You'll be stuck in there, forever!  Are you willing to do so?"

Xuanji shakes her head quickly.  "What should I do then?"

"You should cry," suggests Linglong, desperately grabbing Xuanji's hands.  "When Father sees you cry, he'll know that you're not emotionless, and he won't lock you up in there."

"But I don't know how to cry!"

Linglong just can't grasp it. "You're on the verge of death, and you can't even cry.  How about you think of the days when I took away your puppet?  Your favorite puppet."

Xuanji smiles and reacts the way an American parent could only dream of their child reacting when they don't get their way.  "It's fine.  Just take it if you like it."

"What if you never see me or father again?  Or think about mother.  Think about the days when mother fed us personally.  Every time I think of that, my chest will feel stuffy, and I will want to cry.  Do you feel the same way?"

Xuanji is trying to think.  She isn't evil.  She's good and kind by default, she just doesn't get tangled up in over the top emotions.  She looks up at Linglong and shakes her head guiltily.

Linglong drops Xuanji's hands in frustration. "What should we do?" She brightens up and grabs Xuanji's hands again.  "I have an idea!"

"What idea?" Xuanji smiles.

 

Xuanji walks through the full moon shaped entrance to the main hall late at night.  She sees her father, Aunt Hong, and Uncle Lu Yang.  Her father's back is turned to her.

Aunt Hong looks at her.  "Let's go," says Aunt Hong.

Xuanji slowly follows Aunt Hong out of the hall.

"Xuanji! Xuanji!" Linglong comes running in.

"Linglong!" they grab each other's arms.

"Don't go," says Linglong.  "Aunt Yinghong, please let me send her off.  I can't bear to part with her."  She puts Xuanji's face in her hands, and discreetly smears chilli powder under her eyes.  "You must take good care of yourself.  Let's hug."

Xuanji gasps in shock at the intense burning.  She can't stop blinking her eyes.  "What is this?" she asks.

"Chilli powder," whispers Linglong.  "Keep this a secret.  Let's go.  Father," the sisters walk hand in hand.  "Father, Xuanji knows she did wrong.  She knows her mistakes, and she feels bad about them.  Look, her eyes are swollen from crying too much."

Sect Leader Chu slowly turns around. "Is that true?" he asks skeptically.  He is very in tune with his daughters' antics.

The sisters nod in agreement, though Xuanji is having a hell of a time keeping her composure, as the under eye burning is intense.

"Xuanji," Linglong says.

Aunt Hong approaches them.  "It's true," Aunt Hong observes.

"Stop crying now," Linglong says.  

Xuanji can't stop, as the burning is super intense.

Sect Leader Chu approaches them.

"Stop crying.  Father will be said if you continue this," says Linglong.

Sect Leader Chu takes a look.  "What's wrong with your eyes?" He lifts her chin.  "Let me see."  He slides his thumb along the red marks under her eyes, and they come off.  He frowns at the sisters.  "Stop fooling around!  Take her away!"

"Please don't!" begs Linglong.

Aunt Hong drags Xuanji away.

"Father!" Linglong cries.

He grunts at her sharply, and Linglong drops the subject.

 

Xuanji is wearing a beautiful purple and light blue Tang Dynasty Hanfu as she enters the snowy and freezing cold Mingxia Cave.

"Let me out!" she hears the ghostly voices cry.  She sees nothing, but can only hear the frightening voices.  She tries to run from them, but can't.  She is finally able to see a few spirits, but it certainly doesn't improve the situation.

 

Meanwhile, Sifeng is in the snowy courtyard, being whipped in front of the Lize Palace sect.

"Losing the mask will put the entire Lize Palace in danger.  You're not the only one affected.  You should treat it as your own flesh.  You mustn't take it off in public, let alone lose it." Elder Luo says.

"Ruo Yu," says elder Luo, "don't tell me you're feeling sorry for someone who has broken the rules? Continue!
Ruo Yu continues to whip Sifeng.  The back of Sifeng's white robe is red with blood.  His forehead is dripping sweat, and he's shaking from the pain.

"Yu Sifeng, not only did you lose your mask, you didn't manage to retrieve it," Elder Luo continues.  "What shall we do with you?"

"I deserve the 13 Punishments," says Sifeng.

"Whip him harder!" Elder Luo yells.

Deputy Chief stands in front of Sifeng, concealing his internalized gloating.  "Yu Sifeng, how do you explain this?"

"I would never dare to break the rules of Lize Palace.  I'm willing to be punished in order to show my loyalty to Lize Palace."

Deputy Chief sighs.  He really wants to see the Lize Palace Master's protege go down in flames.  "Our Master thinks highly of you.  He even wanted to bestow the Golden Feather Token to you.  Look at you right now.  You had to receive the 13 Punishments when you went out once.  You've disappointed our master.  What are you doing?" he asks Ruo Yu, who has slowed down on the whipping.  "Bring him back to Lize Palace for futher punishment!"

"Deputy Chief," Ruo Yu bows. "Yu Sifeng had registered his name for the Hairpin Tournament.  He had sent his name to them. And he has been chosen for the Hairpin Tournament Mission, too.  If he returns to the Lize Palace now, the Hairpin Tournament will be..."

"I forgot about that." Deputy Chief admits.

"The Hairpin Tournament is a huge event among the Five Great Sects," agrees Elder Luo.  "If he doesn't attend the event after putting his name in, the name of Lize Palace will be affected."

"Elder Luo, what should we do?" asks Deputy Chief, slowly waving his fan.

"Let him stay for now.  Our Master will arrive at Xuyang Peak before the tournament starts.  I think we can report to our master for now.  He'll receive his punishment after the Hairpin Tournament.  He won't get to escape his punishment."

Deputy Chief smirks and turns to Sifeng.  "Looks like you're safe for now.  If I were you, I would try to retrieve the mask before Master arrives at Xuyang Peak.  You will only have a chance to turn things around by doing so."

Deputy Chief exits the courtyard, and everyone bows.

 

The intense winter winds are throwing Xuanji aroud Mingxia cave. She is caught up in a whirlwind, and it smashes her against a rock wall.  She lands face down in the snow.  She slowly pushes herself up, unable to feel the cold or pain, in spite of her face being bloody, and her Hanfu being thin.

She takes a deep breath.  "It finally stopped.  I'm so sleepy."  She lays down on a snow covered slab of rock and falls asleep.

To be continued...

 

 

 

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Fairy Collection Hanbok Set — 사극 Paradise