American Perspectives: An Instigated Fight Pt. 2 ("Love and Redemption" Ep. 44)

 

 

“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.

 

 

Ting Nu and Brother Liu are dilligently attending to the injured Lize Palace members.  Sifeng enters the room, dressed in Lize Palace's signature shade of dark blue.

 

"Palace Master," Elder He bows.

 

"Elder He, why are you so seriously hurt?"  Asks Sifeng.  "I remember that you were just shot on the arm with the Demon Bow."

 

"There's Bone Melting Poison in his wound," says Ting Nu.  "The poison must have been applied to the Demon Bow.  Although the wound looks normal on the outside, the poison will enter the body and corrode the organs."

 

"Such a cruel poison," says Sifeng.

 

"These sects are crueler and more vicious than we demons," says Elder Luo.  "How dare they say that they are righteous?  Then this poison..."

 

"Don't worry, I can neutralize it," says Ting Nu.

 

"I'll have to trouble you again," says Sifeng.

 

"It's nothing," says Ting Nu.

 

Yuan Lang approaches them.  He looks at Brother Liu, and says in a very catty tone, "Who is he?  Liu Yihuan, the abandoned disciple of Lize Palace is here right on time.  Are you the one who betrayed the information of our secret tunnel to those sects?"

 

"You are good at diverting attention from yourself when you are the perpetrator," says Sifeng.  "Aren't you the one who put Lize Palace in danger?"

 

Yuan Lang looks at Sifeng innocently.

 

Sifeng holds up the booklet that caused the battle.  "You took the Black Feather Medallion, and used my name to send a declaration of war to those sects.  You brought war upon us when we should've been recuperating.  We've suffered heavy casualties because of you.  Do you dare say that you are innocent?"  He throws the booklet down on the floor.  He really wants to kick Yuan Lang's ass.

 

Yuan Lang bows.

 

"This...why did Deputy Chief?"  Asks Elder He, Yuan Lang's blindly loyal supporter.

 

"I want to know why, too," says Sifeng.  "Maybe Right Lieutenant doesn't believe in my capability as the Devil Star, and my ability to lead the demon clan."

 

Yuan Lang nervously looks up.  He feels like he's going to shit his pants.  He did not expect Sifeng to be this smart and bold.

 

"Is that why you gave me a test?"  Asks Sifeng.  "Or is it because you are dissatisfied that I'm leading Lize Palace and Tianxu Hall?  So, you purposely lured the God of War during the enthronement ceremony for her to kill me for you, so that you can reap the benefit of it?  Yuan Lang, what are you trying to do?"

 

Yuan Lang immediately gets to his knees and kowtows.  "Don't be angry.  All I want is just to revive the glory of us as a demon clan.  You are our leader.  You are the savior and hope of the demon clan.  Why would I try to kill you?"

 

Sifeng is not stupid.  He grew up with this insidious asshole, he's very familar with Yuan Lang's tactics.  Sifeng is not easy to brainwash, as opposed to Xuanji...

 

"But we put in so much effort to get the spirit keys," Yuan Lang continues.  "So, I just wanted to make sure.  Besides that, in the past, you left our clan and the Lize Palace for the God of War.  I...I just want to make sure that nothing will go wrong."

 

"You are indeed good at using pretty words to your advantage," says Sifeng.  "You are really innocent in this matter," he says sarcastically.  "But, no matter what, you shouldn't use our clan's safety as a bet, and you shouldn't have let our disciples be sacrificed for nothing!"

 

"You are right," Yuan Lang says fearfully.  "I was too inconsiderate.  I promise that it'll not happen again."

 

"If you don't trust me," says Sifeng, "you can enter the Demon Citadel with me.  There's no need to drag this on.  But...you are not from the Asura bloodline.  You'll be affected by the malignant aura if you enter the Demon Citadel.  Forget it.  Just decide now."

 

Yuan Lang raises his head.  "How about we depart right away once you've recovered?  I'll hand over the spirit keys to you when we reach the outside of Demon Citadel.  Then, the four elders and I will lead the entire Lize Palace to stand guard outside for your protection."

 

Brother Liu watches him skeptically.

 

"And to celebrate your success," Yuan Lang continues.

 

"Okay," says Sifeng.  "With Ting Nu here to treat me, this minor wound will only take me two days to recover.  Please get everything ready by then.  After two days, we'll depart."

 

Yuan Lang kowtows again.  "Yes, Demon Lord."

 

 

 

 

Xuanji is walking across the deck, and she catches a glimpse of He Yang leaving Hao Chen's room.

 

"Uncle He Yang," says Xuanji.  "How is Senior Hao Chen now?"

 

He Yang sighs.  "The sword that pierced him is made up of mythological objects.  It's very powerful.  So, he's seriously injured now.  I think he'll have to rest for quite a while."

 

"Can I go in and visit him, then?"  Xuanji asks anxiously.

 

"He...doesn't want to see you," says He Yang.

 

This is a first.

 

"I..." says Xuanji.  "Then I'll wait for him here everyday."  Basically, her love for Sifeng has been transferred to Hao Chen, and now he's serving as a placeholder for her ex.  However, no big deal for Hao Chen, since he's using her for her powers.

 

"Xuanji," He Yang says sternly, "even if you wait for him here everyday, he won't want to see you."

 

Xuanji's heart drops as she realizes she has to deal with the inevitability of being alone, and facing the day without a boyfriend.

 

 

 

 

Little Six walks out to the edge of river.  He feels awful for betraying what could have been his best friend.

 

"Yu Sifeng, why did you break your promise?"  He remembers saying on that awful day at Lize Palace.

 

"Break my promise?"  Sifeng had asked.  "You're the one who knows about the secret tunnel, and brought them in."

 

They are just demons, Little Six thinks.  What's wrong with killing demons?

 

"Senior Minyan," a young woman interrupts his thoughts.  "Senior Minyan, finally, I found you.  You were practicing the New Triplets of Yaohua Sword moves last time.  It was so beautiful.  I've practiced a long time based on my memory, but I can't get it right.  Can you teach me?"

 

"I was just fooling around," says Little Six.  "Nothing to learn from me.  You better learn your basics first."

 

"That New Triplets is cohesive and magnificent.  How can you say that you were fooling around?  I'll practice here, and you can just take a look at it."

 

Before he can object, she draws her sword.  She begins to demonstrate what she has learned.  She spins, slices, and jabs at the air.

 

Linglong happens to see her in action while she's walking down to the river.  As this other woman is going out of her way to demonstrate her flexibility, she conveniently loses her balance and falls backwards.  Little Six politely catches her.

 

Linglong feels like she is going to throw up, and she feels horribly inadequate, as Wu Tong has taken a lot from her.  She worries that Little Six is keeping her out of pity, and until he can find a better offer.  She watches Little Six steady this other woman.

 

"Enough," says Little Six.  "You can't practice that New Triplets yet.  You can't be impatient with Shaoyang's Sword Practice.  Take it step by step.  Most importantly, you have to have a clear heart and mind.  Go now."

 

Linglong is extremely fearful that she's just a placeholder while Little Six is on the lookout for a more virtuous woman.  She's fearful that he'll throw her away in a heartbeat.

 

The other woman drops her head in disappointment.  She hoped Little Six would take it further.  She feels like she's so much better than that Linglong anyway, whom everyone is being nice to because they're afraid of Sect Leader Chu.

 

Linglong feels very unsettled.  Little Six catches sight of her, and walks in her direction.  Linglong feels really out of place and worthless.  People are only respectful and sympathetic to her because she's one of Sect Leader Chu's daughters.  The true opinions came out in Dianjing Valley, and she's felt uncomfortable ever since.  She cautiously meets him.

 

He holds her hand.  "When did you come here?"

 

She pulls away.  "I was just looking for you.  You were practicing swords with Junior Wen Xuan?"

 

"I met her by chance," Little Six explains.  "So, I gave her some advice.  Don't think too much."

 

Linglong shakes her head.  "I didn't think too much.  Junior Wen Xuan is smart, and has a good personality.  Everybody likes her.  Most importantly, she has a clear heart and mind.  She's different from me."

 

"Do you have to twist my words?"  Little Six asks impatiently.  "Do you have to speak of yourself like this?"

 

"No," says Linglong.  "I was just thinking that we shouldn't torture ourselves like this anymore.  I'm not the Chu Linglong whom you've once known.  I lived with demons in the past.  I committed grave sins.  I'm not worthy of you to like me anymore."

 

"Torture each other?  Linglong, I really don't understand.  When did our relationship become like this to you?  I beg you.  Can you stop assuming my thoughts for me?  Linglong, what can I say?  How can I assure you?  What should I do to make you understand?  Didn't we agree that everything was already in the past?"

 

"Isn't 'everything in the past' the greatest lie of all?"  Asks Linglong.  "Everything has already happened.  Nobody will ever forget about that."

 

"You don't know that you are the only one who still lives in that abyss," says Little Six.  What Little Six doesn't understand is that his sexuality is not measured nearly as stringently as hers.  His sexual actions don't carry the societal consequences that hers do.

 

Linglong closes her eyes, and a tear runs down her cheek.

 

"You won't forgive yourself," Little Six lectures.  "You won't trust me.  What else...can I do?"

 

Linglong feels overwhelmed.  She doesn't know how to explain it in a way that he'll understand.  She's not about to ask him, "So, how would you feel if someone spread a rumor that you're impotent?"

 

He turns away from her in frustration and walks off.

 

 

 

 

Teng She unexpectedly comes tumbling down from the very top book shelf in Siming Hall.  He hits the floor, all the scrolls he had tried to keep in his hands fall right on top of him.  "Ow..."  He rolls to his side.  "I can't find it.  The scrolls of the Asuras should be here."  He looks to the side, and grabs a scroll wrapped in blue and silver fabric.  "But no matter how much I dig for it, I can't find the records of that Devil Star, Devil Maleficent."

 

He holds up a fancy brown scroll with all sorts of designs carved on the outside.  He sniffs it, as something about it seems interesting.  He sits straight up.  He sniffs it again.  "This smell is the incense that King Bailing uses in his study room.  King Bailing reads the information on the demon clan, as well?"  He rolls his eyes upward.  "Could it be that I missed it just now?"

 

He shoots back up into the air.  He finds additional, similar scrolls, and keeps looking.  He comes upon another one with the scent of King Bailing's incense, and he opens it up.  "I found it," he grins.  He sees "God of War" written on the scroll.

 

"Devil Star?"  Teng She tilts his head.  "No.  This is the record of the God of War."  He sniffs the scroll.  "King Bailing read about it, too."  He opens the scroll further, and his eyes widen with shock.  "This is strange.  They said the God of War killed the Devil Star, but why isn't it recorded here?"

 

Teng She is completely oblivious to Lord Green Dragon lurking behind one of the bookshelves.

 

"Why is the origin of God of War not recorded inside this scroll?  Could it be that King Bailing kept it for himself?" 

 

He turns his head.  "Myaaa!"  he sees Lord Green Dragon, and nearly drops the scroll.

 

Lord Green Dragon gets out from behind the bookshelf, and smiles.  He's happy to see his boyfriend.

 

Teng She puts down the scroll.  "Is the road of enemies narrow, or..."

 

"No," interjects Lord Green Dragon.  "I came here to find you when I smelled you."

 

Teng She rolls his eyes and sighs.

 

"My little obedient Teng She, what have you been doing lately?  I couldn't even sense you at all.  Tell me, where did you go?"

 

Teng She glares at him.  He's too embarrassed to answer.  "I didn't go anywhere.  I was just sleeping here."

 

"You've been here all along?"  Lord Green Dragon asks skeptically.

 

"Yes.  This place is nice.  Old Guy knows how to enjoy himself best.  Siming Hall is quiet and cooling.  When I wake up, I just need to take a stroll, and I'll have a story."  He picks up a scroll.  "I've been reading about this lately."  He tosses it to Lord Green Dragon.

 

Lord Green Dragon opens it and sees an illustration of himself.

 

Teng She smiles as Lord Green Dragon looks up.  He moves closer to Teng She.  Teng She cringes, and steps away.

 

"What is it?"  Asks Teng She.

 

"You've been reading this?"  Lord Green Dragon smiles.  "Me?"  Lord Green Dragon laughs.  He grabs Teng She's chin.  "I never thought that you admired me so much."

 

"Wrong!"  Says Teng She.  He moves Lord Green Dragon's hand from his chin.  "I was just curious.  Here, open it, and take a good look.  Look at you in the past, and look at you now.  Look at it, and reflect on yourself.  How did you become such a mess?"

 

As Lord Green Dragon studies the scroll, Teng She darts away, unnoticed.  Lord Green Dragon looks up, ready to say something to Teng She.  He sighs in annoyance when he sees that Teng She has fooled him once again.

 

 

 

 

 

"You're still drinking tea so leisurely here?"  Brother Liu asks Sifeng.  "You want to enter the Demon Citadel?  Ah la, la, la, la.  Come, tell me.  How are you going to enter it?  You are not the Devil Star."

 

Fox Demon walks in, unnoticed.

 

"So," says Sifeng, "I need the knowledgeable Eldest Brother Liu and Ting Nu to think of a solution for me.  I have to survive in the Demon Citadel so that my cover will not be blown."

 

Brother Liu sighs.

 

"So, you are not the Devil Star," says Fox Demon.

 

The three men look at her in surprise.  How the hell did she get in here? 

 

"Little Sifeng," Fox Demon smiles, "when did you learn how to lie?  You even lied to me."

 

Brother Liu sighs, and slowly face palms.

 

"Who is the Devil Star, then?"  Asks Fox Demon.

 

"How would I know?"  Says Sifeng.  "But this identity is quite useful."

 

Fox Demon laughs.  She pats him on the shoulder.  "Little Sifeng, you are indeed a good boy who is courageous and smart.  Now, I have even more confidence in you."

 

Sifeng says nothing.

 

Fox Demon stands in front of him.  "Little Sifeng, I want to enter the Demon Citadel with you.  I've used 1,000 years to try to save Wu Zhiqi.  I can't sit out during this critical moment."

 

"Okay," says Sifeng.  "Hide outside the Demon Citadel, then.  When the seal of the Demon Citadel is broken, use that chance to get in.  Just make sure that Yuan Lang won't sense you there."

 

Fox Demon nods.

 

"Hey!  Hold on!" Exclaims Brother Liu.  "You're serious?  You really want to enter the Demon Citadel?  Do you think that the Demon Citadel is a fun place?  Malignant auras swirl around inside it.  It's full of malignant spirits of Asuras that have lost their minds.  You are not an Asura.  You'll die inside."

 

"I can prepare some medicine for you," says Ting Nu, "to help you recover from the attack of malignant auras, but it can only relieve it for a moment.  I don't know how long it'll last."

 

"Okay.  That's enough," says Sifeng.  "With my Twelve Feathers, and her 1,000 year old cultivation, we'll manage.  Thank you."

 

"Why are you thanking him?"  Asks Brother Liu.  "Why are you such a busy body?"  He asks Ting Nu.

 

"I--" says Ting Nu.

 

"Little Phoenix, you've already thought it through, right?"  asks Brother Liu.  "Are you really going to release Wu Zhiqi?  Will he help you if you release him?"

 

"Of course he'll help Little Sifeng," Fox Demon interjects.  "Wu Zhiqi is a person who can distinguish kindness and hatred.  By saving him, he'll be indebted to Little Sifeng.  Wu Zhiqi will definitely pay him back."

 

"So, you've made up your mind," says Brother Liu.  "Fine.  I can't control you.  I don't care anymore.  If you want to go.  Go ahead.  Good luck."  A silence fills the room.  "But, you have to be careful after you go in.  Keep calm.  Any movement will wake the malignant spirit of Asuras inside it.  Don't die inside there."

 

"Okay," says Sifeng.  "Don't worry, Eldest Brother Liu.  No matter how adverse the situation is, I'll come out from it alive."

 

 

 

 

"Senior, I'm here to visit you," Xuanji finds Hao Chen in a cave, meditating.  "Today is the fifth year since your brought me to Xuyang Peak to train.  If you still won't talk to me, I'll stay here."  Truthfully, she should be taking Hao Chen's avoidance as a blessing in disguise.  She'd really be dodging a bullet if she did.

 

"I'm a nobody," Hao Chen pouts.  "I'm not worthy enough to be the senior of the God of War.  It's too much for such a powerful being to visit me.  Go back."

 

"Senior," says Xuanji.  At this point, she's wanting a male companion to fill the void, and that's why the Lover's Curse with Sifeng didn't break.  She liked Sifeng, but loved the relationship.

 

"Leave," says Hao Chen.  He starts to cough.

 

"Senior, your injury," says Xuanji.  She rushes over to him.  She pulls back her arm, ready to cast a spell. "Let me treat you."

 

Hao Chen blocks her.  "I don't need it.  You don't really care about me anyway.  No need to force yourself."

 

"It's not like that," Xuanji insists.  "I went to your room everyday to ask for you.  I'm always worried about your injuries.  I've never forgotten about you for even a day."

 

He looks at her doubtfully.  Her sudden interest is way too fast after such an intense relationship with her ex boyfriend.  "What about Yu Sifeng?"

 

"I--"

 

"Have you let go of him yet?"  They both know the real answer.

 

Xuanji looks to the side.

 

"Looks like you haven't.  Since the Sentimental Tactics have been broken, we can't practice it anymore, and our master's dream will never be fulfilled.  But in your heart, you still can't let go of that devil, Yu Sifeng."

 

"I promise you," says Xuanji.  "Next time...when I see him the next time, I won't be lenient anymore."

 

Hao Chen snorts derisively.  It's a very obvious, very damnedable lie.  He already knows he's the placeholder while she waits for/gets over her ex.  "Next time?  Will you be able to do it next time?"

 

Xuanji clenches her fist.  "I just need some time."

 

"Okay," says Hao Chen, ready to instigate another situation.  "Tell me, then.  How long do you need?  It's going to take you forever, right?  Xuanji, you are just going to turn into a demon like him.  Have you forgotten about the grudge for your mother and your master?  Have you forgotten about Auntie Yinghong's injuries?  He lied to you again and again, and yet you want to give him time.  What is it?  Are you hoping that he can do more evil, or do you hope that he can hurt more of us?"

 

Xuanji clenches her fist.  It's his brainwashing versus her women's intuition.

 

"I'm the one who worries and cares about you," says Hao Chen.  "I am the one who is destined to marry you.  But why?  Why are you so obsessed with a devil who lied to you again and again?  Do you think that you still have a lot of chances?  There are no more chances, Chu Xuanji.  You have only this chance, and I have only this one chance, as well."  He begins to cough.

 

"Senior, what is the meaning of this?"

 

"What I mean is, Yu Sifeng has become your demon.  If you can't defeat this demon, you'll sacrifice everything.  Forget it.  If you are not willing to avenge your master, I'll do it.  I'll do it myself."  The very thought of killing Sifeng is totally turning him on, but because of all this suppressed excitement that conflicts with his prim and proper image, he leans over and vomits blood.

 

"Senior!" Yells Xuanji.  "Don't be like this.  I'll go!"

 

"Wait," says Hao Chen.  "Where are you going?"

 

"Lize Palace."

 

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