American Perspectives: Sore Spot Pt. 1 ("Ashes of Love" Ep. 51)

 

 

***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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Run Yu casts Jin Mi's barrier aside and enters her room.

 

Jin Mi is completely oblivious as she looks at the picture book of Xu Feng that Yan You gave her.

 

"What is this?"  Run Yu asks.

 

Shit!  Jin Mi jumps.  She hides the book behind her back.  "Nothing."

 

Run Yu holds out his hand like a parent who has caught his son with a Playboy Magazine.  Bullshit.  

 

Jin Mi pulls the book further behind her.  This is the only thing I have of Xu Feng.  I'm not letting you take it.  

 

Run Yu tears the book from her hands.  He paces the room as he studies the illustrations in their entirety.  Even as a demon, everyone is going ga-ga over my brother.  Run Yu thinks.  And I remain in his shadow.  Let's see if I can be the cool boy, even though I want to set this fucking book on fire.  "The painting style of the Demon Realm is quite unique."

 

Jin Mi refuses to make eye contact.

 

"What?"  Run Yu asks.  "You like reading these?"

 

"When are you going to let me out?"  Jin Mi asks.

 

Run Yu throws her book on the table.

 

There it is.  Jin Mi thinks.  He doesn't have it in him to be the secure 'cool boy.'  She wants to roll her eyes.  At least it's not a book full of nude drawings of Xu Feng.  I would be a dead woman walking if it were...Then again, maybe this book will make him break this marriage agreement that I don't want.

 

"You can go out once you're fully healed."

 

"My injuries have already fully healed."

 

"Are you that anxious to see him?"  Run Yu's eyes flash.

 

Jin Mi wisely says nothing.

 

"Have you even thought that maybe he doesn't want to see you?"  Run Yu pointedly asks.

 

"I know," Jin Mi faces the window.  "I just..."  I just want to look at him from afar.  Jin Mi closes her eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xu Feng is seated on his bed in the lotus position.  A purple fire flower hovers between his hands.  As his hands get closer to the flower, ice forms on his body.

 

The flower disappears, and he grabs his right hand, which is on the verge of turning into solid ice.  He falls over to his side in pain.

 

He stumbles over to his desk and grabs a jug of wine.  He gulps it down, feeling relieved as the ice dissipates.

 

Sui He enters the room in a green, black, and blue peacock inspired outfit.  "Xu Feng!  Xu Feng!"  She kneels beside him.  "Xu Feng, what's wrong with you?"  She rubs his chest.  "Drinking wine can harm your body.  Xu Feng."

 

"I'm fine.  Don't mind me."  He firmly pushes Sui He away.

 

"Xu Feng!"  Sui He protests.  He sleeps with every woman in the Demon Realm except for me and Liu Ying.  What the hell is his problem?  

 

As he stumbles into a standing position, Sui He hugs him from the back.

 

"Xu Feng!  Xu Feng!"

 

As Xu Feng disentangles himself from her, he notices a burn scar on her arm.

 

Sui He looks down.

 

"Why do you have these scars?"  Xu Feng asks.

 

"When I got betrayed by Que Ling," says Sui He, "and because I'd transferred most of my spiritual power to your soul, Yin Que was able to hurt me, and expelled me out of the Bird Tribe.  Unfortunately, it left these scars."

 

"Just a measly Bird Tribe?"  Xu Feng slurs.  "I'll take it back for you."

 

Sui He's heart flutters.  "Really?"  She tenderly gives him a hug.

 

Xu Feng slightly recoils.  I do owe her, after all.  I just want to avoid being intimate with her.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

A streak of black smoke and a streak of gold fly into Yimiao Valley.  Sui He and Xu Feng materialize on the Feiluan Palace Patio.

 

Yin Que rises from the peacock throne.  "Don't think that my Bird Tribe will submit to you!"

 

Xu Feng hits him with a rope of fiery energy, and pulls him off the throne.  As Yin Que is pulled closer to Xu Feng, Xu Feng claps his hand around his neck.

 

"If you kill me," says Yin Que, "that's openly going against the Heavenly Emperor.  You wouldn't dare."

 

Xu Feng tightens his grip, snaps Yin Que's neck, and throws him on the ground.  He puts his hand in Sui He's, and her heart flutters.  For real this time?  Sui He thinks.

 

They ascend the steps up to the throne.

 

Several Bird Tribe members run onto the patio.  They freeze at the sight of Yin Que's corpse.

 

Xu Feng and Sui He turn around and face them as Yin Que's corpse disintegrates into black energy.

 

The Bird Tribe members fearfully kneel.  "Demon King," they chorus.

 

"Starting today," says Xu Feng, "Sui He...is your tribe's leader."

 

Sui He reveals a small grin.

 

"Yes," the members chorus.

 

Two guards drag Que Ling into the palace.  "Kneel!" They force her to her knees.

 

"Princess, have mercy!"  Que Ling begs.

 

"The thing I hate the most in this life is betrayal," says Sui He.

 

Que Ling trembles and shakes her head.

 

"I trusted you so much," Sui He continues.  "You instead colluded with others behind my back, and harmed me.  You even have the nerve to beg for mercy?"

 

"I was wrong," Que Ling protests.  "I was muddled for a moment.  Just let me go, Princess."

 

"Now that things have come to this," says Sui He, "saying more is useless.  Drag her into the prison."

 

"You're being too kind to a traitor," says Xu Feng, who is experiencing severe projecting in regards to Run Yu and Jin Mi.

 

Yes!  Sui He thinks, fully aware of the transferrance taking place.  We're on the right track.  "Three days from now, she'll be publicly executed so that the whole Bird Tribe will be informed as to what happens to a traitor.  Take her away."

 

"Yes!"  The guards chorus.

 

"Princess!  Princess!"  Que Ling cries.

 

Sui He turns to look at Xu Feng, and her voice becomes gentle and subservient.  "Demon King, thank you for helping me take back the whole Bird Tribe."

 

Xu Feng says nothing and begins his descent down the steps.  Can't let her get too close.  Just enough to get her to do as I wish, and solidify more alliances.

 

I don't understand him!  Sui He thinks.  He's hot, then cold.  He just held my hand, and now he's walking away.  What the fuck?  

 

She looks over at her throne, and her soul feels soothed, in the same way one feels at peace when they hear the waves of the ocean hit Waikiki Beach on a Tuesday morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Right now, Sui He is in Feiluan Palace and doing some cleansing," says Kuang Lu.  "Yin Que was openly killed by Xu Feng.  All his men were imprisoned.  The Bird Tribe has officially announced that they are now under the Demon Realm."

 

Wei approaches them from the bridge.  "Your Majesty!  Informing Your Majesty, King Gucheng from the Demon Realm asks for an audience."

 

"King Gucheng?"  Run Yu asks.  Well, well, well.  

 

"Yes," says Wei.

 

**********

 

King Gucheng enters Qizheng Hall.  When he reaches Run Yu's desk, he humbly bows.  "Greetings to Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor."

 

"King Gucheng," says Run Yu, "by coming here alone, you are really very brave.  Why are you here?"

 

"I came today to ask Your Majesty to help me return to the Demon King position."

 

Kuang Lu gasps.

 

Run Yu smiles.  "You indeed have fallen into distress, but why has your memory become poor, too?  Not long ago, you were still plotting to attack us.  Now, you want the Heavenly Realm to help you take back the Demon King position?"

 

"Times have changed," King Gucheng concedes.  "I heard that the Bird Tribe has announced that they're under the Demon Realm now.  I'm sure that new Demon King is making Your Majesty's head ache, too."

 

"No need for you to worry about my matters," says Run Yu.

 

"The Demon King now is the past God of War after all," King Gucheng needles Run Yu.  "His strength mustn't be belittled.  These past days, he has been recruiting soldiers and increasing the military strength of Demon Realm.  His wolf like ambitions are very obvious.  If...he announces war against the Heavenly Realm, Your Majesty, do you have full confidence in winning?  If Your Majesty will help me take the Demon King position back, I'm willing to submit to Your Majesty.  From now on, the Demon Realm will also be your subject."

 

"From what I know," says Run Yu.  "You're currently being pursued in the Demon Realm, like a dog without a home.  Even if I have the intention to eliminate the Demon King, I can support other people's assent to the throne.  What value do you have to bargain with me?"

 

"What if I'm able to find the Soul Destroying Arrow, kill Xu Feng, and eliminate any future trouble for Your Majesty?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danzhu takes a huge gulp from his blue and white wine jug, while sitting on the steps to an obelisk.

 

Yan You approaches him and sighs.  "I kept looking for you everywhere, and you're just hiding here.  Why are you not tying red strings on people, and just hiding here to drink some wine?"

 

"I have already seen through the secular world," Danzhu slurs.  "Life has no more meaning for me."

 

Yan You shakes his head.  Wow, no resilience whatsoever.  

 

"Why did you come here?"  Danzhu asks.  "That adoptive brother of your is enjoying great prestige right now.  Why don't you go make some high connections?"  Danzhu cackles.

 

Yan You rolls his eyes.  "That second nephew of yours is more famous.  He's now the Demon King.  Aren't you going to lick his boots?"

 

"Run Yu...I have long stopped putting any hopes on him, but never thought that this Baby Phoenix...is more severe."

 

Well, duh, Yan You thinks.  He was the fucking God of War!  And he's Tu Yao's son.

 

"He just went to become Demon King," says Danzhu.  "I'm so disappointed!  These two children...Do they want to torment me to death?  There's no point in living!"

 

"The person who's disappointing isn't just him.  Jin Mi got locked up.  Only you can break Run Yu's enchantment."

 

"That hateful grape," Danzhu scowls.  "She helped Run Yu harm Baby Phoenix again."

 

You have no common sense, Run Yu thinks.  If she wanted to harm Xu Feng, she wouldn't have sacrificed her ability to see color.  

 

"She deserves to get locked up!"  Danzhu wails.  "Even if she suffers that Heavenly Thunder, Lightning, and Fire Punishment, it's not too much."

 

You are a grade A moron, Yan You thinks.  "When did she help Run Yu?  If not because she helped Xu Feng escape, why would Run Yu lock her up?"

 

Danzhu blushes.  "I don't want to hear it.  I don't want to hear it!  Stop defending her!"

 

Stop being muddled by your Xu Feng bias.  Jeez, man!  "Okay.  Okay.  She deserves it.  Then personally teach her a lesson, okay?"  Great Merciful Buddha, you were able to look the other way when your brother raped the Flower Deity.  It won't kill you to admit your judgment is incorrect!  

 

Yan You helps Danzhu stand.  "Let's go."

 

"Stop pulling me!"  Danzhu yells.  "She brought harm to Baby Phoenix!  I won't help her!"

 

Your brother impregnated a teenage girl, and you helped him many times after that.  Don't give me that moral high ground bullshit!  

 

"Fine," says Yan You.  "Tie me a red string then so I can bind her to me.  I'll let her harm me instead, and I guarantee that she'll stop harming your second nephew."

 

"You wish!"

 

"Let's go already.  Let's go...stop drinking.  You're so heavy!"  Yan You helps Danzhu stand.

 

 

...To be continued...