American Perspectives: Partial Credit Pt. 1 ("Ashes of Love" Ep. 49)

 

 

***The intent of The Flower Realm by 사극 Paradise is to support women and men in rejecting the culture of pornography, and to live a life of integrity without manipulative intent.***

 

"Ashes of Love" is a Xianxia drama based on the novel "Heavy Sweetness. Ash-Like Frost," by Dian Xian.  The writing presented here is based on observations from the television show "Ashes of Love."  Dialogue credit goes to the English subtitle translaters from the "Gone with the Shirt Team" at Viki.com.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How is my Royal Father?"

 

"Heavenly Emperor...His Majesty has already perished.  He used his entire cultivation to save your soul into the Greater Truth Phoenix Feather, and then he handed it to me."

 

"What about the Heavenly Realm?"

 

"Run Yu ascended to Heavenly Realm's throne.  He has also pushed Auntie to her death."

 

Xu Feng's eyes redden.  

 

"Your Highness..." Sui He begins to cough.

 

"What wrong?"

 

"I used a lot of my spiritual powers to preserve your soul from dispersing.  I also went to Heavenly Realm to steal the pellet in order to revive you," Sui He lies.  "Now, you are awake, so all of my sacrifices have been worthwhile."

 

"I was already a dead man.  Why spend so much effort in saving me?"

 

"Your Highness..."

 

Jin Mi, still in her butterfly form, flies out of the cave.  She has most certainly not passed by Sui He unnoticed.  As soon as she's in a safe spot, she changes to her human form.

 

She begins to vomit blood.  "Xu Feng, I'm in debt to you," she whispers.  "I'm too ashamed to face you again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mu Ci jogs into the Biancheng Palace courtyard.  "Your Majesty!  Your Majesty!  I saw King Gucheng earlier leading a troop of Demon Army towards the Abyss of Anxiety."

 

"Oh, no," King Biancheng stiffens.  "Fire Deity is in danger!  Liu Ying and Mu Ci, go to the Abyss of Anxiety.  There is a secret path there.  Take Xu Feng and immediately leave that place."

 

"Secret path?"  Liu Ying asks.

 

"I know where it is," Mu Ci pipes up.

 

"Okay," says King Biancheng.  "You go to the Abyss of Anxiety.  I'll go hinder King Gucheng."

 

Liu Ying grabs his arm.  "Hey, Royal Father, please be careful."

 

"Let's go," Mu Ci whispers to Liu Ying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mu Ci leads Liu Ying down the secret path to Yu Pool.

 

"Which direction?"  Liu Ying asks.

 

Mu Ci points ahead.  "Just in front."

 

Liu Ying walks forward, but takes notice of Mu Ci's hesitation.  "What's wrong?"

 

"When I was thrown by King Gucheng into the Abyss of Anxiety, I got surrounded by grudging souls and almost died here.  Afterwards, my black eyes got activated and that pushed the grudging souls to retreat.  I discovered this secret path and was able to escape."

 

"That's why you know about this secret path?"  Liu Ying asks.

 

"Correct," Mu Ci nods.

 

"Sorry.  I didn't know that this place would make you remember your painful past."

 

"It's fine.  It's all now in the past."

 

Liu Ying tenderly holds Mu Ci's hand.  "Don't worry.  I won't let anyone hurt you again."

 

"Okay.  Let's go."

 

********

 

Sui He protectively grabs Xu Feng's arm.  "Xu Feng."

 

He gently moves her hand away.  "I'm fine."

 

Sui He rises.  "Someone is here.  Just wait here first."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mu Ci and Liu Ying enter the Yu Pool cave.  They run into a scowling Sui He.

 

"Why is it you two?"  Sui He scoffs.

 

"I still haven't made you pay for what happened to Mu Ci," says Liu Ying.  "I--"

 

Mu Ci pulls on Liu Ying's arm.  "More important matters first," he whispers.

 

Xu Feng steps behind Sui He.  

 

Liu Ying's jaw drops.

 

"Your Highness," says Mu Ci.

 

"Brother Feng, it's really you!"  Liu Ying exclaims.  "King Gucheng has already learned about your rebirth and is currently leading his men here to surround you.  Royal Father asked me to immediately take you out of here."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Demon King!"  King Biancheng and his soldiers approach King Gucheng and his men.

 

"Demon King," King Biancheng says.  "A fire phoenix flew up the Wangchuan River earlier.  I was just leading my men here to investigate it.  Did you come here for the same reason?"

 

"I've long heard of rumors that Fire Deity Xu Feng still has one soul left in this world," says King Gucheng.  "I just didn't expect that he's here in the Demon Realm."

 

King Biancheng nods.

 

"Earlier, the Phoenix flew up the sky," says King Gucheng.  "I fear that he has already been revived.  If we offend the Heavenly Realm because of this, won't that be a great disaster for our Demon Realm?"

 

King Biancheng flinches.  "If that's the case, I'm willing to assist Demon King in investigating the whereabouts of Fire Deity."

 

"For Fire Deity to be able to hide here in Demon Realm, there must be someone helping him," King Gucheng suggests.  "Once I find out who that person is, I surely will not spare him."  King Gucheng turns toward his soldiers.  "Search."

 

"Yes!"  The soldiers bow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Run Yu walks over to the white arched bridge, and straight into Jin Mi's bedroom. 

 

The attending physician bows.  "Your Majesty."

 

Run Yu sits down beside a sleeping Jin Mi.  "How is her injury?"

 

"Your Highness, Water Deity was hurt by Hell Flame."

 

"Hell Flame can drain one's primordial spirit," says Run Yu.  "Up to when do you plan to keep hurting yourself?"

 

"I surely will do my best to save her."

 

"When will she recover?"  Run Yu asks.

 

"It varies individually.  The shortest will be at least half a year of quiet recuperation."

 

"Leave first," says Run Yu.  

 

The attending physician bows.  "Yes."

 

Run Yu whispers to Jin Mi.  "I know...you were finally able to revive him.  You won.  Are you satisfied?"

 

Jin Mi stirs in her sleep.  "Sorry," she whispers.

 

Run Yu leans close to her face.  

 

"Phoenix, sorry," Jin Mi murmurs.

 

Run Yu's blood boils.

 

"Phoenix," Jin Mi whispers.

 

Run Yu sits up, looking like an enraged vampire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xu Feng and King Biancheng are sitting at a picnic table near Yu Pool.

 

"Demon King is now searching for Your Highness.  I can only let you hide here for awhile," says King Biancheng.

 

"I'm not some prince anymore," says Xu Feng.  "I've caused you to offend Run Yu and King Gucheng.  I really feel very sorry."

 

"Your Highness has said it too seriously.  Although I'm not that talented, I still am a King here in Demon Realm.  I'm not under the jurisdiction of Heavenly Realm.  It's just that this King Gucheng has always been mean and suspicious.  It has nothing to do with you.  Your HIghness, what are your future plans?"

 

Xu Feng pauses.  "I have never expected that in these vast Six Realms, there would be one day when I wouldn't know where I should go."

 

King Biancheng puts down his cup.  "I have a suggestion that I don't know if I should say or not."

 

"King Biancheng, just say it."

 

"For thousands of years, our Demon Realm continues having internal strife.  Always getting oppressed by the Heavenly Realm.  Demon King Gucheng harbors evil intentions and is harsh and merciless.  I fear that he'll bring annihilation to our Demon Realm.  But Your Highness is an upright person with remarkable talent.  If you can replace King Gucheng in ruling the Demon Realm, you surely will bring our realm peace, strength, and prosperity.  Moreover, in these six realms, only the Demon King can rival the Heavenly Emperor.  If you want to seek vengeance--"

 

"I appreciate your good intention," says Xu Feng.  "Since time immemorial, our realms have been of different paths.  I fear that I won't be able to fulfill an important duty."

 

"Brother Feng, why must you be so humble?"  Liu Ying asks as she and Mu Ci join them.  "Are you looking down on our Demon Realm?"

 

Xu Feng rises.  "Don't misunderstand.  I never had any intention of belittling your realm.  It's just that I'm not part of your realm.  I'm not qualified to inherit the Demon King position."

 

"You don't ask where a hero comes from," says Liu Ying.  "Here in Demon Realm, we always talk with our skills.  The strong and capable get the throne."

 

"That's right," King Biancheng rises.  "It's also not hard for outsiders to join.  You just need to obtain the blood offered by our great elder King Qingcheng."

 

Xu Feng sighs.  "Heavenly Realm is after all my homeland that gave birth and raised me.  How can I change sides and point the sword in my hand towards my fellow immortals?  Everyone has their ambition.  I have no intention of getting involved in your internal strife.  Hope you can understand."  He steps away from the table.

 

"Hey, Brother Feng," says Liu Ying.  "You've misunderstood!  We're not borrowing your strength to bring down Demon King Gucheng!"

 

Xu Feng continues to walk away.

 

Mu Ci pulls on Liu Ying's sleeve and shakes his head.

 

"Looks like the Heavens don't want to help my Demon Realm," says King Biancheng.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liu Ying and Mu Ci sit on a rock ledge.

 

"Isn't Brother Feng too stubborn?"  Liu Ying asks.

 

"Don't forget that Xu Feng was once the God of War in Heavenly Realm," says Mu Ci.  "He has repeatedly killed demons to guard the Heavenly Realm.  But now, you're asking him to turn his sword towards his homeland.  Whoever it is, it would be hard for him to get past that obstacle in his heart."

 

Liu Ying sighs.  "His parents died.  His brother turned against him.  Even the woman he loved the most betrayed him.  What's good about yearning for a Heavenly Realm like that?"

 

"You can't say it like that," says Mu Ci.  "In his heart, he still treats himself as a member of the Heavenly Realm.  The mountains and rivers are still there, but the past family and his former lover have suddenly become his enemies.  He's unable to get past that obstacle in his heart.  How do you think he can endure it?"

 

"He is a very proud man," Liu Ying concedes.  "Yet, he had to go through such a disaster.  Don't know if he can get over it."  She tosses a pebble.

 

"That's right."

 

Liu Ying looks down below and smiles.  She gets up and walks away.

 

"Huh?  Where are you going?"  Mu Ci asks.

 

 

...To be continued...