American Perspectives: The Devil Star Pt. 1 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 42)

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by 사극 Paradise 2025. 2. 12. 12:30

“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.

Aunt Hong is studiously reading in her room. Through her paper covered window, she sees a shadow running across the front. "Who is it?" She bolts out of her seat.

Xuanji runs to a cabinet. "Black Hole Cave in front of Mingxia Cave," she recalls Little Six saying. "Can only be opened by Auntie Yinghong's Hongyu Arrow." Xuanji finds a rounded yellow plaque.

"I'll find a way to lure Auntie Yinghong away. Use that chance to go into the room, and steal the Hongyu Arrow."

Xuanji runs into the Mingxia Cave, and with blue energy generating from her index and middle finger tips, she shoots it at the Black Hole Cave. It goes straight through the vortex. She summons Aunt Hong's Hongyu Arrow. The yellow plaque levitates in her hand. She throws it into the vortex, and the swirling blue mass disappears.

She darts over to a very battered and bruised Sifeng, who is probably getting whiplash from Sect Leader Chu's moodswings. He shivers intensely, barely holding on. He passes out in the snow.

"Sifeng!" Xuanji sees him laying in the snow, semi-conscious. She flies up through the air, and lands beside him. She sits him up. "Sifeng." She applies blue energy to his back. "He's hurt by the Candle Dragon. How did this happen?" She firmly pushes both palms into his back. After he wakes up, she gets in front of him. "Sifeng, are you feeling better now?"

Sifeng looks at her warily, as her inconsistency is also giving him whiplash. "Why are you here? Are you here to question me, or are you here to use me to threaten someone else again?"

"I'm here to save you," Xuanji says tearfully. She doesn't fully comprehend the psychological torture he has put himself through to defend their relationship, only to have the ignored red flags blow up in his face.

Sifeng smirks. At this point, all bets are off. "God of War, aren't you afraid that your father, senior, and those sects will laugh at you again for being entwined with a demon like me?"

"Yes. Of course I'm afraid. I kept butting heads with my father to tell him that you are not a part of Tianxu Hall. But what about you? What are you doing?"

Really? "Since you don't believe me, why are you here to save me?"

"If it wasn't because they wanted to get your demonic core, I wouldn't care. I'll let you stay in Mingxia Cave forever." She helps him stand up, and walks him through the cave.

Goddamnit. They see Hao Chen approaching.

"Xuanji," says Hao Chen.

"Senior Hao Chen," says Xuanji.

"Xuanji, where are you taking Yu Sifeng?"

"Please forgive me. I can't let you extract his demonic core. Teng She!"

Teng She descends from the ceiling, and falls on his butt. He winces. "What is it? I was sleeping."

"Hold Senior Hao Chen here," says Xuanji. "Let's go," she says to Sifeng.

"What is the meaning of this?" Asks Teng She. "Wait for a moment."

Hao Chen can't believe that Xuanji is still defending Sifeng.

Teng She stands up and yawns. "What is the meaning of this?"

Hao Chen glares at him.

Little Silver Flower is perched on the top branch of a tree, throwing leaves. A stream of golden energy encircles her body. A huge grin appears on her face. "The connection is back." She smiles. She then takes a deep breath, and gold streams generate from her head. "This is bad. Sifeng is in danger. Chu Xuanji!" She soars out of the tree.

Xuanji and Sifeng are on their way out of Mingxia Cave. "Sifeng, let's leave through the secret ground," says Xuanji. Snow is falling around them. "Others will be trying to invite the spirit of the Candle Dragon. They won't think that we'll use this way."

"Through the secret ground?" Asks Sifeng. "Aren't you afraid that I'll steal your Crystal Lamp, using this chance?"

Xuanji grabs his arms. "Yu Sifeng, can you not be like this? Now, I really don't know what is real, and what is not. I've said it. No matter if you are a demon or a monster, what can I do? The only thing I can do is make sure that you are not hurt. If you really want to take the Crystal Lamp, what else can I do, besides stopping you? I can't kill you, can I?"

"Chu Xuanji. I'll explain it one last time to you. I only lied to you once. I've never lied to you about anything else before this. I don't care about Tianxu Hall. The Crystal Lamp and Devil Star have nothing to do with me. No matter if you believe me, or not, from now on, I won't explain it to you again. But, of course, you don't need my explanation." He pushes her away, and she falls into a rock.

Little Silver Flower materializes in a swirl of golden energy.

"Sifeng!" says Xuanji.

"Master!" says Little Silver Flower. "Master, are you okay?" Little Silver Flower looks at Xuanji balefully. "Chu Xuanji, look at what you did! You hurt him so deeply!"

"Little Silver Flower," says Sifeng.

"Master, she hurts you so much, and you are still helping her?"

"I'm not helping her," says Sifeng. "The two of us are no match for the God of War. I'm just doing this to save our lives."

"Stop talking," says Xuanji. "We need to leave now. Or else, we'll be too late."

She walks ahead of them.

Little Silver Flower has doubts. "Are you really that kind?"

"Let's go," says Sifeng.

The Crystal Lamp shines a bright purple in the secret ground, as it is surrounded by Xuyang Peak Disciples, ready to protect it. All apply streams of blue energy.

"Today is the third day," says Heng Yang. "We are going to succeed soon."

"A few mortals trying to invite the spirit of the Candle Dragon?" Yuan Lang descends in a thick purple and black flame, knocking Heng Yang over. He materializes on a rock formation above them. "Stop wasting your energy."

The disciples draw their swords.

"Demon, how did you come in?" Asks Heng Yang.

"I came in the same way Yu Sifeng came in," Yuan Lang calmly waves his fan. "But I really have to thank him. Without the Candle Dragon, this secret ground looks quite nice."

"As long as I'm here, I won't let you get near the Crystal Lamp," says Heng Yang.

"Fine. Then you can all die!" Yuan Lang vanishes in a poof of black smoke, and reappears in an intense wave of black energy that knocks everyone over.

Heng Yang is the only one standing. The wave of black smoke moves in on him, and Heng Yang blocks it with ice blue energy. The black smoke gets past Heng Yang, dividing into multiple steams of energy, and attacking from all directions. One stream hits him in the torso, causing him to bleed from the mouth.

The disciples get up and chase after Yuan Lang's energy. One disciple is struck by the stream of black smoke. Yuan Lang materializes, and he uses the black stream to bind the disciple.

Two disciples run to Heng Yang.

"Master!" Yells a Duan Qing.

"What a loving relationship between the master and disciples," says Yuan Lang. "If that's the case, all of you can die together!" He pushes the bound disciple into the wall.

The other disciples charge at Yuan Lang, and he blocks them with his fan. The fan generates black smoke energy, keeping the disciples at bay.

Heng Yang is on the ground, struggling to get up. He manages to fly above the Crystal Lamp. "I'm on the purple cloud to heaven. Ninth Heaven, I hearby welcome the spirit of the candle dragon!" Ice blue energy generates from his hands, and he pushes forward.

Yuan Lang see Heng Yang in action. The disciples surrounding Yuan Lang are knocked down by his intense black and blue smoke energy. He flies up, and slams Heng Yang into the rock wall.

Heng Yang vomits more blood. "Demon, dream on!" Heng Yang yells.

Yuan Lang flies forward, but Heng Yang wraps ice blue energy around his wrist, immobilizing Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang breaks free, and they descend to the ground. He throws his fan at Heng Yang.

"Old man, die!" Growls Yuan Lang. The energy from his fan strikes Heng Yang in the chest, causing his medallion to fall off.

Heng Yang falls backwards, hitting his head against solid rock. He breathes his last breath, and struggles no more.

The newly materialized Candle Dragon charges at Yuan Lang, but Yuan Lang effectively blocks him.

Xuanji, Little Silver Flower, and Sifeng carefully walk through the secret ground.

"You'll reach the bottom of the opposite mountain through here," says Xuanji.

Sifeng takes a step, and he is immediately entrapped by blue energy.

"Sifeng!" Says Little Silver Flower.

The Shaoyang Sect disciples come walking in.

"Xuanji!" Sect Leader Chu barks. "Move aside!"

"Father, what is happening now?" Asks Xuanji.

"Xuanji, you didn't disappoint us," Hao Chen smirks. "You brought Yu Sifeng here."

Xuanji's heart drops. I really stepped in it this time.

"Chu Xuanji," Little Silver Flower asks angrily, "you put on a show to purposely lure Sifeng here, right?"

"It's not like this!" Xuanji looks like a deer in headlights. "Sifeng!"

"Xuanji!" Sect Leader Chu says sharply. "Have you forgotten your oath with me? You and the demons will be sworn enemies. Today, use the power of the God of War to extract the demonic core of this Twelve Feathers Rose Gold Bird! Everybody, start the formation!"

"No!" Yells Xuanji.

The "righteous" leaders and elders spread out their arms, and generate ice blue energy.

"No! No! Sifeng!" Shouts Xuanji.

Sifeng is struck down by the energy.

"Father, no! Father!" Yells Xuanji.

Little Silver Flower generates energy of her own. "Sifeng!"

Sifeng opens his palm, and in a burst of golden energy, Little Silver Flower disappears.

"Sifeng!" Yells Xuanji.

"Xuanji, we are all mortals," says Hao Chen. "Only you can hurt the Twelve Feathers Rose Gold Bird. Kill him now!"

"Father! Senior! Please let Sifeng go!" Yells Xuanji. "He's not an evil demon. Please let him go!"

"Xuanji, have you forgotten how your mother died?" Asks Sect Leader Chu. "Now, you want to watch while your father dies in front of you?" He begins to vomit blood.

"Father!" Yells Xuanji.

"Xuanji," says Hao Chen, "if you continue to hesitate, Sect Leader will be devoured by this strong spiritual power. Xuanji, do it now!"

"Stop it!" Yells Xuanji.

Sifeng is getting increasingly weaker.

"Stop it now!" Yells Xuanji. "Father, I don't want you to die! I don't want Sifeng to die, either!" With a movement of her arms, she generates blue energy, and aims it at the group of elders and disciples. Hao Chen blocks her energy with his.

"Xuanji, what are you doing?" Growls Hao Chen.

Teng She materializes in all the chaos. "Stinky Woman, I was confused by your senior just now. I didn't stop him."

"Stop talking," says Xuanji. "Help me break the formation now!"

With a wave of his hand, similar to the slicing of a meat cleaver, fiery energy emits, and Teng She dismantles the formation. The blue wall of energy encircling Sifeng vanishes.

With a movement of his fingers, Sect Leader Chu generates blue energy and hurls his sword towards Sifeng. Xuanji immediately stands in front of Sifeng.

"Sifeng!"

"Xuanji!" Yells Hao Chen.

Sifeng sees the sword flying right at her back, so he spins her around, and he takes the stab to the shoulder. Sifeng gags, and he leans on Xuanji, as he can't hold himself up.

"Sifeng," gasps Xuanji.

The sword flies out of his body, and he feels a shock.

"Sifeng! Are you okay?" Asks Xuanji. "Sifeng! Sifeng!"

"Since you swore an oath to be my sworn enemy," says Sifeng, "why are you so foolish? Why did you risk your life to save me?"

"You heard it?" Asks Xuanji. "I was just lying. How could you believe it?"

Sect Leader Chu's eyes widen with horror.

"I didn't mean it," says Xuanji. "Sifeng," she wipes the blood from his lip. During the scuffle between Xuanji and the disciples, she had gotten a cut close to her right breast. Droplets of blood from her wound begin to float upward. Xuanji gasps as she sees the droplets move away.

The droplets move toward the Crystal Lamp, which is now surrounded by a red glow.

The Candle Dragon is being held at bay by the smoke energy generating from Yuan Lang's fan.

"My primordial spirit," a male voice growls.

Yuan Lang looks up, and sees the Crystal Lamp is talking.

"I've been waiting for you here for too long," says the voice.

"Devil Star?" Asks Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang releases his magical hold on the Candle Dragon.

The elders, Xuanji, and Sifeng see a volcanic red, fiery glow coming from a rock wall. Vines of purple flowers begin to appear in the cracks.

"Black Devil's Snare. The Demon Citadel Flower," says Valley Master Rong.

The flowers quickly spread, and they begin to light up the walls.

"This is bad," says Valley Master Rong. "It's absorbing our cultivation."

The leaders and elders generate blue energy from their hands.

"Only the Devil Star can make the Demon Citadel Flower bloom," says Sect Leader Chu.

"My primordial spirit, come to me," says the glowing Crystal Lamp.

"This is bad," gasps Dongfang.

"The Devil Star is going to be revived. Could it be that the one in front of us is the Devil Star?" Asks Valley Master Rong.

"It's you," Hao Chen says to Sifeng. "So, you are the Devil Star, Demon Malificent. Xuanji! The Devil Star is right in front of you! Kill him now!"

Sifeng and Xuanji look into each other's eyes, completely unsure how to process all of this.

"Impossible," says Xuanji. "Devil Star's soul is being sealed inside the Crystal Lamp. How could it be Sifeng?"

The elders continue to generate blue energy, but they don't aim it at anyone just yet.

"Crystal Lamp is just sealing the Devil Star's soul," says Hao Chen. "Devil Star can only be awakened when the soul and spirit are joined together. Moreover, only Demon Maleficent's blood can make the Demon Citadel Flower bloom, and it feeds on humans' cultivation!"

Xuanji is confused, and Sifeng is quickly trying to think of a solution. He looks down at her open cut, and he remembers the time they first met, in the same place, and she had cut her hand on the Mirror of Origin. Blood droplets had floated up then, as well. Those had also headed in the direction of the Crystal Lamp.

"Xuanji!" He remembers yelling.

"Who are you?" Xuanji had said coldly, in a trance like state.

He looks into Xuanji's eyes. This is not my blood. This is Xuanji's blood. Don't tell me that Xuanji is...

"Sifeng," Xuanji whispers. "You..."

How can this happen? Sifeng thinks. None of this is making sense. Think fast! He pushes Xuanji away.

"Xuanji!" Yells Hao Chen.

Teng She catches her.

Sifeng stands all the way up, and with an upward jump, his fiery wings emerge in full splendor. He levitates above them all. "That's right. I'm the Devil Star, Demon Maleficent. You think that I'm just here for the Crystal Lamp." He looks over to the side. "Actually, I'm here to kill the God of War."

Xuanji looks up at him, completely confused.

"Since you've already found out about my real identity, now I have to kill all of you."

"Sifeng, what nonsense are you talking about?" Asks Xuanji.

Sifeng looks at her hatefully.

"Hurry up and kill him!" Shouts Sect Leader Chu.

"Father," Xuanji says tearfully.

The elders release their blue energy, and aim for Sifeng. Using his Twelve Feathers Rose Gold Bird power in full force, he blocks their comparatively weak energy. Sifeng gives them a well deserved evil grin.

"Stop! All of you!" Xuanji sobs. With her God of War powers, she uses her energy to neutralize all of theirs. She's done. She's had it.

Sifeng descends, and solidly lands.

Teng She casts a red fiery dome over the Sect Leaders and Elders.

Xuanji approaches Sifeng. He can't get himself to look at her.

"Sifeng, didn't you say that you've only lied to me once? Didn't you ask me to give you some time to settle everything, and then you'll come to me, and explain everything to me?"

Sifeng looks at her. The dream is over. After telling one lie, and thinking he was done with it, he had to proceed to tell another to protect her. It never ends.

"Why?" Asks Xuanji. "I trusted you again and again. Why did you lie to me again and again? Why?"

Sifeng grins at her evilly. "Chu Xuanji, I never thought that you really loved me so much. You believed in everything I said. As long as I can get what I want, no matter how many times I lie to you, I think you'll still believe in me wholeheartedly. I'm really touched." Sifeng laughs bitterly. He's wishing he was dead.

"Sifeng."

The bitter, angry laughter is genuine, as he has given this woman his all, only to be met with a partially returned love, and a whole lot of discrimination. He's done. He's done with the physical and psychological torture he has put himself through for her. Whereas, Xuanji, at most, has only had a cut. He looks at Hao Chen hatefully before he flies away.

"Sifeng!" Xuanji cries.

Ruo Yu is secretly watching all the action from behind a rock.

"Demon," growls Sect Leader Chu, "don't go! Hurry and take down the barrier, now!"

Teng She looks over to the side. He rolls his eyes, and with a point of his fingers, he takes down the dome.

The Sect Leaders and Elders run forward.

"Xuanji, how long are you going to be so foolish?" Asks Hao Chen.

Xuanji ignores him.

"Chase after him! We can't let him run away!"

Teng She stands beside a devastated Xuanji. He catches her before she can fall backwards. As she's crying, she also laughs bitterly, more confused than ever.

With his fan, Yuan Lang is blocking off several streams of blood red energy from the Crystal Lamp.

Without the power of the God of War, I won't be able to touch it. He lowers his fan in frustration. He hears the sound of people talking, and he disappears in a poof of black smoke.

The Sect Leaders and Elders come across Yuan Lang's carnage. Sect Leader Chu runs up to Aunt Hong, who is laying among the bodies. "Junior Yinghong," he shakes her awake.

"Lize Palace," says Aunt Hong as she loses consciousness.

Sect Leader Chu generates blue energy from his hand. "Why can't I transfer my energy?" Sect Leader Chu puts his fingers on her neck. He feels for her pulse on other parts of her body. "All the nerves inside her body are broken."

"Auntie Yinghong!" Xuanji runs up to her.

"Junior Yinghong!" Yells Sect Leader Chu.

"How did this happen?" Asks Xuanji.

"It must be because of Yu Sifeng," says Sect Leader Chu.

"Impossible," murmurs Xuanji. "Auntie Yinghong."

He Yang blocks her. "Don't touch her! If it wasn't because of you letting that demon go, she wouldn't be like this now!"

"Master!" Shouts First Senior. "This is bad. Master Heng Yang..."

"What happened to my master?" Asks Hao Chen.

"He..." says First Senior. He begins to sob.

The Sect Members approach the dead disciples from Xuyang Peak.

Xuanji gasps in shock. She sees Duan Qing's body. "Senior! Senior! Senior Duan Qing! Senior! Senior!"

"Senior!" Sect Leader Chu sees Heng Yang's body.

"Master," gasps Xuanji.

Hao Chen tries to shake Heng Yang awake. "Master."

Sect Leader Chu slowly rises.

"Master," Xuanji sobs. She looks over at the carnage. "Master!"

Tears stream down Hao Chen's face over an instigated conflict gone terribly, terribly wrong. "Yu Sifeng," he growls. He's mad because his instigation cost him one of his most valuable pawns.

Xuanji listlessly walks across the long deck. Auntie Yinhong can't cast any spells anymore. This is all because of me. She is hurt because of me.

"Stinky Woman, why are you here?" Asks Teng She. "I was looking everywhere for you."

Tears stream down Xuanji's face.

"Ah," Teng She says uncomfortably. "It's like this. I think something is wrong with that Devil Star situation. How about this? Allow me to leave for two days. I'll go back to the heavens to check the 1,000 year old scroll. I'll find out what happened."

Xuanji continues to cry.

"Zzhh," says Teng She. "Why aren't you talking? If you say nothing, I'll take it as you've agreed. I'll get going now." He rolls his eyes and sighs. "Stinky Woman, you were not like this in the past. Don't worry. I'll get to the bottom of this when I'm in the heavens. Maybe I'll be able to return your lover to you."

Xuanji nods and cries as he exits.

First Senior approaches her. "Xuanji, Master and the others are waiting for you at Shaoyang Hall."