American Perspectives: Memory Pearl Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 35)

 

“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 sees Aunt Hong walking down the outdoor door staircase as she's walking up.  "Aunt Yinghong."

"Xuanji.  You went to visit Linglong and Minyan?"

Xuanji nods.  "We'll depart to Dianjinggu tomorrow.  I went to say my goodbyes."

"This trip to Dianjinggu is not normal," says Aunt Hong.  "You have to be very careful."

"I understand," says Xuanji.  As she turns to leave, Aunt Hong notices something peculiar in her hair.  Something that a respectable daughter of Sect Leader Chu should never wear.

"Hold on," says Aunt Hong.

Xuanji stops in her tracks.

"Xuanji, where did you get this hairpin?"  Aunt Hong is gravely concerned.

"Hairpin?"  Asks Xuanji.  She feels her hair, and remembers Sifeng's gift.  "What's wrong with this hairpin?"

"This is a carving of the Rose Gold Bird Demon," says Aunt Hong.  "Your mother was..."

Xuanji begins to feel nauseous.  Is this relevant to Sifeng's secret?

Aunt Hong back tracks.  "It's fine if you don't remember.  Those Rose Gold Bird Demons are cruel, and evil in nature.  Your father hates them.  Hurry and take that off."

Xuanji awkwardly pulls it out of her bun.  "This is the Rose Gold Bird?"  She's trying her hardest to keep her cool, but she's feeling very caught off guard.

Aunt Hong takes it from her, and gives it a second look.  "Yes, it's the Rose Gold Bird, indeed.  Back then, Rose Gold Birds were the allies of the demon clan.  After the Demon-Immortal War, they escaped to the mortal realm.  Hundreds of years ago, the righteous sects  worked together to surround and get rid of them altogether.  Unfortunately, some of them still escaped."

Xuanji is getting an awful feeling.  "Aunt Yinghong, you and Linglong said I'd forgotten about something.  What did I forget?"

"It's better if you don't remember," Aunt Hong says abruptly.  "You were still so young at that time.  Xuanji, all these years, we've been looking for the whereabouts of the Demon Clan.  Tell me.  Where did you get this hairpin?  Maybe we can find some clues here."

Xuanji wants to throw up.  She rips it from her Aunt's hand.  "This...I bought this hairpin when I was at Qingmu Town."

"No matter what," says Aunt Hong, "you better not wear this hairpin anymore, in case your father feels upset when he sees it."

Xuanji clutches the hairpin tightly.  She can feel her honeymoon period with Sifeng coming to a crashing halt, but she convinces herself that everything will be fine.  She nods her head and smiles.

 

 

 

Xuanji is alone in her room, trying to calm her intrusive thoughts, her racing heart, and some feelings of anxiety.  Aunt Hong's words about the hairpin replay through her mind.  Is this an obstacle in her relationship that she's ready to face?  Does Sifeng know he's related to a Rose Gold Bird Demon?  Is he...

Sifeng quietly walks through the doorway.  He watches her think for a few moments, before he breaks the silence.  "Xuanji," he says gently.

"Sifeng!"  She jumps up from her seat.  "Sifeng."  She rushes to him, still confused, but so relieved to see him.  His very presence and his gentle voice clears the negative thoughts away.

"You were spacing out," he explains.  "What were you thinking about?"

Xuanji pauses.  "I met Aunt Yinghong just now.  I have a feeling that she is hiding something from me.  Also, Linglong wanted to tell me something about my childhood.  She even gave me a memory pearl."  She holds out the palm of her hand, and the translucent pearl appears.  "Sifeng, can you watch it with me?"

"Sure," says Sifeng.  "I'm here.  Don't be afraid."  With his hand, he summons energy from the pearl, and brings the projected imagery upward.  A circle forms in front of them.

Within the projected circle, Linglong and Xuanji are shown as little girls playing on the steps.  Sifeng and Xuanji smile at each other, as the two girls are quite adorable.

It soon flashes to Xuanji standing with her mother on the bridge.  "Xuanji, can you see the faraway mountains?"

Xuanji nods.

"Remember," says Xuanji's mother, "mountains are green."

"I understand," says Xuanji.

"Look at that flower," Xuanji's mother points.  "Flowers are white."

"I understand.  Mother, what color do you like?"

Xuanji's mother kneels down in front of her.  "I like the color blue.  Can you remember it?"

"I remember."

Sifeng looks over at Xuanji and smiles.

Xuanji grins.  Her smile fades when she sees herself and her mother running through the forest.  Xuanji's mother is extremely terrified.  They trip, and the memory pearl falls out of her mother's hand.

They are divebombed by a huge, Rose Gold Bird Demon.

"Rose Gold Bird!  Xuanji!"  Her mother shields Xuanji with her body.

Sifeng's heart drops.  He recognizes the attacker, but he wants to believe he is seeing the image incorrectly.  He wouldn't do something like this...

Blood splatters onto the Memory Pearl.

"Mother!"  Present day Xuanji yells.

The images disappear.

Sifeng is horrified.  He feels their blissful honeymoon period is on the verge of coming to a very bitter end, even though he's in strong denial.  This was a story Palace Master had never told him.  Is that why he has so much hatred towards outsiders?

"I remember now," says Xuanji.  "I remember everything.  It's the Rose Gold Bird Demon.  Sifeng!"  She grabs his arms.  "The Rose Gold Bird Demon killed my mother!"

Sifeng's eyes tear up.  His thoughts are racing.  What is he going to say?  What is he going to do?  Should he ever reveal his true identity to Xuanji?

"Xuanji, I'm sure there's a misunderstanding."  Sifeng feels super flustered.  He knows he sounds super dismissive just now.  He feels very cornered.

"How could it be?"  Asks Xuanji.  "I remember now.  When I was five, I saw my mother getting killed by the Rose Gold Bird Demon with my own eyes.  Although I didn't know what pain was at that time, I couldn't eat, drink, or sleep after that day.  I fainted one day, and forgot everything when I woke up.  When I saw the Memory Pearl, I...I remembered everything.  My mother was really killed by the Rose Gold Bird Demon.  No wonder Aunt Yinghong had a big reaction when she saw the hairpin.  Can you tell me how your father got this hairpin?  Maybe I can find some clues."

Sifeng puts his hands on Xuanji's shoulders.  "Xuanji, I only know that this hairpin was given to me by my mother.  But in this world, not all Rose Gold Birds are bad."

Xuanji frowns.  "That might be true.  But a Rose Gold Bird Demon killing my mother is the undeniable truth.  This time, I must catch Tianxu Hall's demon at Dianjinggu, and ask them about the Rose Gold Bird Demon.  I have to find the culprit, and avenge my mother."

Sifeng is temporarily speechless, as he's now the one with a bunch of intrusive thoughts and questions.  "Fine."  He can't get himself to say more.

 

 

 

Sifeng is now alone in his room, dealing with questions of his own.

Little Silver Flower approaches him.  "Master, you should've heard what Chu Xuanji said just now, right?"

"It's still not confirmed yet," says Sifeng.  "Little Silver Flower, help me investigate this immediately."

"What if I find out everything is true?" 

"If that is true, I will help Xuanji in her revenge.  But this is unrelated to the other tribal members.  I believe in Xuanji.  She is someone who knows what's right, and what's wrong."

"Master, don't be foolish.  Although I don't agree with you being with her, I think it's better to get back the Lugong Puzzle.  It's still not too late before she solves it."

Sifeng looks ahead, stone faced.  Taking away the Lugong Puzzle will only make it worse.

"I get it," says Little Silver Flower.  "I know you don't want to hide it from her, but now you have this thing in between.  Do you think it's wise to tell her your real identity?"

"That's enough," says Sifeng.  "You may leave."

"Master!"  Little Silver Flower protests.  "I'm just afraid that you fell for her, but ended up getting nothing, and fell to the Loveless Curse in the end."

He keeps his cool, in spite of her words being the opposite of reassuring.

 

 

 

Hao Chen and Sect Leader Chu are meeting up in the main hall.  "Sect Leader Chu, are you still worried about finding the spy from Tianxu Hall?"

Sect Leader Chu paces.  "Yes.  There'll be a fierce battle in the Flower Session at Dianjinggu.  If we can't uncover the spy from Tianxu Hall, there's a big chance of them working together, and stealing the spirit key."

"Don't worry, Sect Leader.  I have an idea.  The demon who fought me at Mount Buzhou extinguished one of Xuanji and the group's birth candles.  He left a mistake there.  Look."  He hands Sect Leader Chu a white vial with a red top.  "This bottle holds the Merman blood I went to get from Donghai just now.  Once a merman's blood leaves his body, it becomes colorless and scentless.  As long as it touches Merman's Tear, it will regain its blood characteristics and turn red.  The demon extinguished one of the birth candles.  His hands will have Merman's Tear on them.  Luckily, Merman's tear won't disappear once it's been touched."

"You mean, you want to use the Merman's blood to find out who the spy is?"  Asks Sect Leader Chu.

"That's right," says Hao Chen.  "When the Demon Whip was destroyed by Xuanji, there were 12 elders there.  Why don't we use the merman blood to test every one of them?  If anyone's hand changes to the color red after touching the merman's blood, then that person will be the spy we are looking for."

"However," Sect Leader Chu says thoughtfully, "we have to do it in Dianjinggu.  We still need Valley Master Rong's cooperation.  Valley Master Rong was there, as well.  Your plan won't work if he is the spy."

"Don't worry," says Hao Chen.  "When I came back from Donghai, I went to Dianjinggu specifically to test Valley Master Rong with the Merman's blood.  He isn't the person we are looking for.  He has also promised to cooperate with our plan."

"Great," Sect Leader Chu nods.  "We have to find the spy of the demon clan, no matter what."

 

 

 

Wu Tong is passed out and strapped onto a cross in the Tianxu Hall torture chamber.  His bad karma is most certainly coming to a head.

The very sexy Yuan Lang lifts Wu Tong's battered face.

"My Lord," Wu Tong's eyes are wide with fear, as he no longer has any leverage, whatsoever.  All the pieces are now in Yuan Lang's hands.

"I said before that you were just a dog that I picked up.  Do you remember?"

"It was etched in my mind, I dare not forget," says Wu Tong.

"That's great," says Yuan Lang.  "Come.  Let me see which hand you used to steal my Dragon Seal.  I have to reward you."

Wu Tong gasps.  "My Lord, no.  Don't, My Lord!"

"Is it this hand?"  Yuan Lang strokes Wu Tong's right arm.  "Or this one?"  He strokes Wu Tong's left arm.

"No.  No, My Lord."

In a ball of red and black fiery energy, Yuan Lang places his hand on Wu Tong's left arm, and with a swift pull, the arm comes right off.

Wu Tong screams in pain.

"You fool!"  Yuan Lang hisses.  "This arm has been dismembered with my Reverse Pulse Smoke.  It will not heal.  You have two hours to live before your blood runs dry."  He moves Wu Tong's hair out of his face, and turns away.

"My Lord!" Begs Wu Tong.  "I know my crimes cannot be forgiven, but Tianxu Hall needs people at this time.  I can still contribute to you, My Lord.  I will be loyal in the future with no other intentions."

Yuan Lang gives him side eye.  "How can a dog who bit his master be of use to me?"

"My Lord, aren't you planning to hit Dianjinggu?  Dianjinggu is famous for its defenses.  It's even full of traps in the alley.  You will suffer heavy casualties if you don't know the area."

"Are you saying you have a way to disarm the traps?"  Asks Yuan Lang.

"I used to be a disciple of Dianjinggu.  I'm familiar with their defense mechanism map.  Only the Valley Master has this map.  He would never have imagined that someone else had seen it before.  If you can spare my life, I can guarantee that Tianxu Hall will be able to infiltrate every part of Dianjinggu.  My Lord, I did it once, so I dare not do it again.  Please give me a chance."

Yuan Lang sighs.  "What a pity to kill a dog who is good at biting, but I'm still angry at you."  Yuan Lang laughs.  "All right," he smiles.  "If you can save yourself, I will give you another chance.  Although the wound cannot heal by itself, it's not totally impossible.  Here's a fire barrel.  If you can burn your wound with this barrel of fire, your bleeding will stop.  Do you want to give it a try?"  With a sweep of his hands, he breaks the chains binding Wu Tong to the cross.

Wu Tong falls forward, and he moves across the ground on his knees.  He scoots up close, and presses his wound up against the hot barrel.  He screams in agony, as the unbearable heat comes into contact with his gaping wound.  It almost hurts worse than the dismemberment itself.

Yuan Lang raises an eyebrow.

Wu Tong keeps pressing against the barrel, and continues to scream.

"I appreciate your attitude of being cruel to others," says Yuan Lang, "and crueler to yourself.  I will give you another chance.  You have to remember.  If you have other ideas, I will have many ways to torture you."  He exits the torture chamber, leaving Wu Tong to suffer.

 

 

 

Yuan Lang is casually walking through Lize Palace, as if he hadn't just dismembered Wu Tong hours earlier.

"Vice Palace Lord," says a Lize Palace Disciple.

"What's wrong?"  Asks Yuan Lang.

"I was ordered by the Palace Lord to find the stalactite that grows every 3,000 years in Dianjinggu.  I finally found it.  I was supposed to report it to Palace Lord, but I can't find him."

"Palace Lord is missing?  I understand.  You may leave."

"Yes," the disciple bows and exits.

"That lunatic," says Yuan Lang.  "Besides there, where else would he be?"  He laughs while waving his fan and walking away.

 

 

 

Palace Master is in a hidden room, touching a coffin.  "Hao Feng, after lying here for so many years, it's time to wake up.  Spring is here.  I've planted many peach blossoms in Lize Palace."

The coffin is transparent ice, and surrounded by fog.

"You will be very happy to see something familiar when you wake up."

"Senior," Yuan Lang interrupts Palace Master's soliloquy.  "You've been speaking to a corpse for more than 20 years.  What's the point?"

"Who let you in?"  Asks Palace Master.

"If the disciples find out that the Lize Palace Lord hides a female corpse in the inner hall, what will they think?"

Palace Master turns around sharply.  "Shut up!  Get lost!"

"Don't be angry, Senior," Yuan Lang says calmly.  "I'm here to give you good news.  The stalactites in Dianjinggu have grown."

"The stalactites have really grown?"

"If you can get the stalactites at the Flower Session," says Yuan Lang, "your Hao Feng will be revived.  She will no longer be an ice cold corpse."

"Hao Feng, you hear that?"  Palace Master says to the ice coffin.  "I've been waiting so many years for this moment.  Once I kill all those righteous sects who killed you, and get the stalactites, we will be reunited."  He puts his hands on the coffin lid.  "Hao Feng, be patient, and wait a few more days for me."

"I will definitely give you a hand," says Yuan Lang.

Palace Master smiles.  "Give me a hand?  Those are some glorified words.  Don't think that I don't know about the underhanded things that you did behind my back.  You are just trying to use me, and get the spirit key, am I right?"

"Getting straight to the point," says Yuan Lang.  "That's good.  Let's work together at Dianjinggu's Flower Session.  You'll get your stalactites, while I'll get my spirit key.  Killing two birds with one stone."

"I don't know what you're trying to do," says Palace Master, "but I'm just trying to save my Hao Feng.  The rest, I'll leave it up to you."

Yuan Lang chuckles.  "Senior, we are riding on the same boat.  I can't wait for the Flower Session."  He chuckles and walks away.

Palace Master looks into the transparent lid of the coffin, admiring his beloved.

 

 

 

First Senior, Teng She, Xuanji, and Sifeng, are at the front of the Shaoyang Sect group, ready to go out on a new adventure.

"Stinky Woman, did you sleep well?"  Asks Teng She.

"Flying Snake, keep your eyes peeled once we reach Dianjinggu," says Xuanji. "You can't miss out on any demons, understand?"

Teng She widens his eyes, snakes his head, and gives her a look.

Xuanji ignores him, ready to figure out who killed her mother.

 

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