American Perspectives: Devil Star Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 42)

 

“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.

 

 

 

"I never thought that Yu Sifeng was Demon Maleficent, the Devil Star.  At first, we planned to extract his demonic core to show to the public.  If it wasn't because our plan to kill him was foiled, we would have already destroyed the Devil Star," says Valley Master Rong.  "Now that we set the tiger free, this world will soon fall into chaos.  This is all because of our God of War.  God of War, we respect you as a deity, and we let you lead us, but you sided with the demons and freed Yu Sifeng again and again.  For what?"

 

"Shaoyang Sect needs to give us an explanation for today's incident," says Kong Tong, a Fuyu Island disciple.

 

"Kong Tong," warns Dongfang.

 

Kong Tong decides not to continue with what he was going to say.

 

"Today's incident happened because I didn't teach my daughter well," says Sect Leader Chu.  "That's why she made this grave mistake.  I'm willing to bear full responsibility for it."

 

"Father," says Xuanji.

 

"Are you just going to settle this with a pretty sentence?"  Asks Valley Master Rong.

 

"Stop forcing my father," says Xuanji.  "I'm the one who let him go.  Blame me instead."

 

"Xuanji, shut up!"  Snaps Sect Leader Chu.  "You swore an oath about breaking up with Yu Sifeng forever.  And if you break your promise, your father will be ripped to death on the street.  Today, I'm going to fulfill that oath.  I want to let you see the mistake that you've committed."  He extends one hand, and with the other hand, he gets ready to break one of his fingers.

 

"Father!  No!"  Yells Xuanji.

 

"Sect Leader!"  Yells Hao Chen.

 

Sect Leader Chu proceeds to break his ring finger.

 

"Sect Leader!"  Yells Valley Master Rong.

 

"Sect Leader!"  Yells Hao Chen.

 

"Father!"  Xuanji stumbles to the front of the hall.

 

Sect Leader Chu breaks into a cold sweat.

 

"I'm the one who enraged you," says Xuanji.  "You can chop off my fingers or kill me.  Stop forcing my father!"

 

"You are the God of War," says Valley Master Rong.  "Who can hurt you?"

 

"Everybody," says Sect Leader Chu.  "I should have killed myself as an apology today.  But the demons are still out there.  I still have a duty to fulfill.  So, I won't take my life yet.  After we get rid of those demons, you can punish me however you want.  Today, I'll break one of my fingers as a vow to that, but after today, I'll be ashamed to lead the Shaoyang Sect."  He holds up his golden plaque.  "Hao Chen, although you are young, you are very mature.  Your cultivation is very advanced, as well.  From now on, I'll hand over the Shaoyang Sect to you."

 

Hao Chen bows.  "Sect Leader Chu, you can't do that."

 

"If you don't accept it," says Sect Leader Chu, "who else has the right to take up this position?  Actually, I would have passed down the position as sect leader to you anyway.  I'm just doing it earlier.  Hao Chen, I believe in you.  You won't disappoint the world, and also the hope that all sects put on Shaoyang."  He dangles the plaque in front of Hao Chen.

 

Everyone is waiting for Hao Chen to say something.  "Okay," says Hao Chen.  "You are injured today.  So, I'll keep the Sect Leader Medallion for you for now."  He takes the medallion from Sect Leader Chu.

 

The disciples bow.  "Greetings, Sect Leader!"

 

"Changing the sect leader is none of our business," says Dongfang.  "But everybody saw that this God of War has feelings towards that Yu Sifeng.  She even sacrificed her own master and auntie.  How can we believe her?"

 

"That's right," says another elder.  "If this continues, there's no point in changing the sect leader."

 

"Who says Xuanji has feelings towards that demon?"  Asks Hao Chen.  "Xuanji and I are real lovers who are destined to be together."

 

Ew!  Xuanji looks over at him.  Seriously?

 

"Everybody has already known about it on Fuyu Island," Hao Chen continues.

 

"Senior Hao Chen, I..." whispers Xuanji.

 

"Xuanji," says the shady Hao Chen.  "I know that you don't like to mention us being destined together.  You are afraid that people might misunderstand it as the reason for us to be together.  Since we already have feelings towards each other, there's no need for us to care about what others think."

 

Xuanji feels disgusted.

 

"It's already enough if we can spend the rest of our lives together."  He's not letting her get a single word in edgewise.

 

"On Fuyu Island, God of War told us herself that the wedding was void," says Valley Master Rong.  "Sect Leader Hao Chen, don't fool us."

 

"Xuanji, looks like we have to tell everyone about us now."

 

Xuanji wants to throw up.

 

"If that's the case," says Hao Chen, "let's tell everyone about our engagement."

 

Ew!!

 

"So that others won't misunderstand anymore.  We can let them know that the mercy you've shown Yu Sifeng is just from your past friendship."

 

Xuanji's brain is screaming: don't do it!  

 

"Hao Chen is the destined partner for my daughter," Sect Leader Chu agrees.  "At first, I already planned to conclude their marriage after coming back from Dianjing Valley."

 

None of these men are giving Xuanji the chance to speak.

 

"Besides," Sect Leader Chu continues, "they've spent so much time together at Xuyang Peak.  They love each other.  I hope that everyone can believe in Shaoyang one last time."

 

Xuanji looks like a cow being led to slaughter.

 

"If the God of War continues to keep quiet about her feelings," asks Valley Master Rong, "How can we..How can we continue to trust Shaoyang?"

 

"Yes, Xuanji, all of us are waiting for your decision," says Dongfang.

 

Xuanji feels like she has been unfairly cornered.  The very thought of being married, and inevitably getting intimate with Hao Chen, makes her skin crawl.  Xuanji really just wants to run away and cry, as she didn't ask for any of this.  Now she's in a room full of men who are forcing her hand.  All of whom are just staring at her expectantly.  "Okay," she says, because at that moment, she doesn't have a choice in the matter.  She just witnessed her father's overly dramatic display.  "From now on, Yu Sifeng and I will break up for once and for all."

 

Sect Leader Chu nods his head in approval, and Xuanji feels very disgusted with herself.

 

 

 

Xuanji is in the Mingxia Cave, feeling her grief about losing Sifeng, and being pushed into marrying someone she tolerates, but absolutely does not love.

 

She remembers all the carnage left behind from the day before, but she's pretty positive it wasn't Sifeng's doing. The snow falls all around her as she sits in the blistering cold.

 

Little Six and Linglong find her grieving in the cave, but they can't get past the transparent blue barrier.

 

"Xuanji!"

 

"Xuanji!"

 

They try to break past the barrier, but Xuanji isn't keen on seeing anyone.

 

"You've locked yourself up in here for the whole day and night," says Linglong.  "The Ice Blade Punishment is not a game.  All of your six senses have recovered.  You won't be able to endure it."

 

"Xuanji, this incident is my fault, too," says Little Six.  "If you want to talk about punishment, we should be punished together.  Xuanji, can you open the barrier first?"

 

"Xuanji, since you've seen Yu Sifeng's true colors, you shouldn't punish yourself for him," says Linglong.  "Since he can do that thing to Auntie Yinghong and your master, it means that he's no longer the person we know.  He is the Devil Star, Xuanji!"

 

Xuanji shakes her head.  She really wants the easily persuaded Linglong, who should know better, to shut the fuck up.  "Stop it!"  She shouts.  "Can you let me stay here alone?  Go away!  Go!"

 

"Xuanji," sobs Linglong.

 

"Xuanji," says Little Six.

 

In comes Hao Chen..."Linglong."

 

"Senior Hao Chen, Xuanji..." Says Linglong.

 

"I know," says Hao Chen, pretending to be the doting savior.  "You can leave first."

 

Linglong and Little Six look back at Xuanji.

 

"Let's go," whispers Little Six.

 

Hao Chen approaches Xuanji, and takes down the barrier.  He kneels in front of her, ready to mansplain.  "Xuanji."

 

"He helped me get back my six senses," says Xuanji.  She has a feeling that Hao Chen is full of crap, but because her father adores him, she's limited in what she can do about it.  "And he taught me what it meant to be sincere, but he lied to me again and again."

 

This was exactly the wedge Hao Chen wanted to plant between her and Sifeng.

 

"This is my fault," says Xuanji.  "I killed my master," she gathers snow in her hand, "and I hurt Auntie Yinghong."

 

"This is not totally your fault," says Hao Chen.  "Demons are very good at disguising themselves.  I stopped you from regaining your six senses because I didn't want you to be in pain, and to suffer."  Huge red flag.  Any man who says, "I don't want you to be," or "I want you to be," needs to be avoided at all costs.  

 

"This is my fault," Hao Chen continues.  "I should've stayed by your side since the beginning.  I shouldn't have let you leave my side."  (But that's not for him to decide)!  "That way, you wouldn't have run into the trap of false displays of affection."

 

"Fake love," whispers Xuanji.  She drops her head.  "All those that happened to me are all fake?"

 

"Aren't you clear about that already?"  Asks Hao Chen.  "People's hearts are unpredictable.  You were born without one.  It's even harder for you to see through it.  You don't belong in the outside world.  And you shouldn't have been involved with people and issues that don't matter.   Luckily, it's still not too late.  From now on, you just need to listen to me.  No matter if you are happy or sad, crying or laughing, I'll stay forever by your side.  I won't let you go again.  For those demons who lied to you, we just need to kill them together."

 

Xuanji clutches her heart.  "But why?"  She struggles to breathe.  "Why does my heart hurt so much?"

 

Hao Chen clenches his fist.  That's the one part of Xuanji he will never be able to control, which was why he didn't want her six senses restored.  He couldn't care less about whether or not she gets hurt.  He just wants to use her a game piece who won't push back.

 

"You were once the God of War who hated all evils in this world.  You shouldn't be lenient towards him.  But you've been corrupted by the feelings in this world.  That's why you led yourself astray.  Your heartache...Is a demon that he planted inside your heart."

 

Xuanji doesn't believe him, but she has to humor him, and hope that he will stop talking and go away.

 

"You should have gotten rid of it, and become who you once were.  The God of War will not ache for her enemy.  Kill him...and everything will end."

 

Xuanji sobs.  "I won't...I won't let him hurt anyone anymore."

 

"Forget it," says Hao Chen.  "You are exhausted now.  You should rest more.  There are a lot of things that I'll tell you later on, bit by bit."  With his hand, he casts a screen of blue over Xuanji's face, making her unconscious.  His overbearing father like nature, sociopathy, and then knocking out Xuanji, make him a completely unattractive red flag.

 

"Do you know that you have belonged to me since the beginning?"  He says to an unconscious Xuanji.  "Although I'm late, maybe I'm not too late yet.  This time, I have to bring you back, no matter what.  I've kept the palace of the God of War for 1,000 years for you.  It's time for you...to go home.  You are in love with Yu Sifeng now because you'd forgotten about the relationship we had.  You've forgotten how dependent you were on me, and how obedient you were.  Maybe...there are things that I shouldn't let you forget."  He wipes the unexpected tears from his face.

 

 

 

 

Yuan Lang and Ruo Yu are strolling through the halls of Lize Palace.

 

"At first, I planned to hide in Mount Shaoyang," says Ruo Yu, "to find a way to break the barrier of the secret ground.  But I never thought I'd personally witness Yu Sifeng rouse the power of the Devil Star."

 

Ruo Yu pulls out one of the flowers that sprouted from the Devil Star's blood.  "This Black Devil's Snare blooms from Sifeng's blood."

 

 

 

Yuan Lang and Ruo Yu enter Sifeng's bedroom.  Sifeng is sound asleep.

 

Yuan Lang snaps his fan shut.  He looks down at a sleeping Sifeng, and pulls his collar back.  On Sifeng's bare shoulder, he sees two cuts generating golden energy.  

 

"There's really a mark there," says Yuan Lang, as he and Ruo Yu walk in the hallway.  However, something seems off.  "When Devil Star, Demon Maleficent, fought the heavens, King Bailing left this scar on his shoulder.  This is the mark of the heavens.  It'll never be gone."  He looks down at the Black Devil's Snare in his hand.  "Together, with this Black Devil's Snare that should've been extinct, all of these signs point to Yu Sifeng.  Could it be that he's the Devil Star, who I've been looking for all along?"

 

"But you told me before that the Devil Star has the strongest malignant aura among the Asuras," says Ruo Yu.  "He has been sealed for 1,000 years.  All his hatred and anger from 1,000 years will swallow up everything, and he'll become a bloodthirsty demon that will be born for revenge.  But Sifeng is not like that right now."

 

"Devil Star's soul is still sealed inside the Crystal Lamp," says Yuan Lang.  "It makes sense that his demonic aura and malignant aura are still in slumber.  But...his soul is not back with him yet.  How did he know that he was the Devil Star?"  

 

Sifeng opens his eyes.  "Yuan Lang.  Yuan Lang."

 

Yuan Lang walks to his bed.

 

Sifeng sits up.  "Yuan Lang.  You are still the same."

 

"You are Maleficent?"  Asks Yuan Lang.  Yuan Lang stares at him intensely.

 

"You better call me Sifeng.  Demon Malificent has been forgotten for too long.  I don't remember much.  When I was outside of Shaoyang's secret ground, I felt a connection with my soul that's sealed inside the Crystal Lamp.  He showed me the God of War who killed me, and sealed up my soul when my guard was down.  The funny thing is, I now have this kind of relationship with her.  Now that I remember, I won't forget about it again."

 

Yuan Lang eyes him suspiciously.  "What is your plan, then?"

 

Sifeng rises, "Now...the God of War and the other sects have found out about my identity.  I need to break the Crystal Lamp as soon as possible to get back my lost power.  How about you give me those spirit keys.  Then, we can go and meet our old friend, Wu Zhiqi.  I believe that he'll help me, too."

 

"You want to go to the Demon Citadel to unlock the Dimension Chain?"  Asks Yuan Lang.

 

Sifeng looks him in the eye.  "You've always wanted me to do it, right?  It was none of my business before this.  Of course, I wouldn't do it.  But now, I can only retrieve my soul by saving Wu Zhiqi and getting my Juntian Hooop and Cehai Hook back.  Besides, I'm Demon Maleficent.  I'm the only one who won't be affected by the Malignant Aura in the Demon Citadel.  You have all the spirit keys now.  What are you waiting for?"

 

Yuan Lang smiles.  "Of course, we have to wait.  We have to wait until the full moon, when the moon is at its highest.  The gate of Fenru City will only be opened by then.  Only then can Wu Zhiqi escape when we unlock the Dimension Chain.  Now is not the best time to enter Mount Buzhou."

 

"The best time?"  Asks Sifeng.  "Are you saying that Wu Zhiqi and I won't be able to open the gate to Fenru City?"  Sifeng sits down on his bed.  "Why should we wait until then?"

 

"We've been waiting for so many years," says Yuan Lang.  "This is nothing.  The closer we are to our target, the calmer we should be.  We need to make sure that nothing will go wrong.  You better rest well.  The most important thing is for you to recuperate now.  I won't disturb you anymore."

 

 

 

 

Yuan Lang and Ruo Yu are back in the hallway.

 

"You don't believe that Yu Sifeng is the Devil Star?"  Asks Ruo Yu.

 

"Whether he is the Devil Star or not, I need time to prove it.  No matter if he's the Devil Star or not, before his demonic and malignant auras are awakened, he is still Yu Sifeng."

 

 

 

 

Sifeng pours himself a cup of hot tea.  In a streak of white energy, Little Silver Flower flies out of his sleeve.  She materializes in front of him, in her human form.

 

"Master, why did you admit that you were the Devil Star?  Those anomalies were caused by Chu Xuanji's blood.  I know.  You purposely purposely pushed Chu Xuanji to stop her blood, in order to hide her true identity.  Actually, Chu Xuanji is the real Devil Star.  Master, you can't put yourself in danger because of that Chu Xuanji."

 

"Don't tell anyone about Chu Xuanji's connection to the Devil Star."

 

"Master."

 

Sifeng aims an orb of gold energy at her throat.

 

Little Silver Flower gasps as she tries to speak.  "Master, you don't even trust me now?  You put a gag spell on me!"

 

"This is a serious matter," says Sifeng.  "I'm afraid that you might accidentally spill it.  Xuanji can't be the Devil Star.  Something must have gone wrong.  Maybe Wu Zhiqi will know something about it.  Back then, the God of War was ordered to take down Wu Zhiqi.  But after meeting him, she went on a rampage in the heavens.  Something is wrong.  I can borrow the Devil Star's identity to meet Wu Zhiqi."

 

Little Silver Flower kneels in front of him.  "Master, have you forgotten?  Chu Xuanji swore an oath to cut away any ties with you.  She is so heartless, but you keep on helping her.  Your Lover's Curse has been activated twice.  If it's activated again..."

 

Sifeng says nothing.

 

"Master, the most important thing now is to take the Heartless Pill, and forget about Chu Xuanji.  You can't risk your life again and again for her without any care."

 

"I don't do this just for her.  How can I...let the Rose Gold Bird Clan and the safety of the three realms be destroyed under Yuan Lang's wild ambition?  The identity of the Devil Star can be used to stop his evil plan.  By the way, before we left Shaoyang, I asked you to get me Xuanji's blood.  Give it to me now."

 

Little Silver Flower reluctantly reaches into her hanfu.  She pulls out a small transparent vial of Xuanji's blood.  Sifeng takes it from her, and studies it.

 

"I'll make up a plan here," says Sifeng.  "Go and tell Eldest Brother Liu and Ting Nu that I need their help in finding Wu Zhiqi."

 

"Yes, Master," Little Silver Flower bows.

 

Sifeng is left alone to study the vial of blood.

 

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