♫Ten fingers blackened♫
♫A cartload of charcoal♫
The capital is in need of charcoal due to freezing weather.
Officials have ordered to increase production.
The government shall acquire a third of all yields.
Water and fire are incompatible.
Yin and Yang are not in their natural place.
That is to say,
the coiled dragon is trapped in the abyss.
But one day it shall rise,
and soar into the sky.
Half a foot of silk.
Never enough food.
We can sell this cart of charcoal
[Tian Anye]
for a good price.
[Zhao Qiansun]
In the seventh year of the Taixing Era,
when the former Emperor passed away,
Prince Qi falsified the imperial edict for succession,
declaring that Prince Yang Dong shall ascend the throne.
Crown Prince Yang Tan laid siege to Prince Qi in Liang City.
Prince Qi gave an order to kill all of the city's inhabitants.
Yang Tan was defeated in battle.
Yang Dong.
Do you recognize
this man?
He is my older brother.
The Crown Prince of Eastern Palace.
That's him.
He tried to kill you.
You think
victory makes you king,
and I'll be lost to history?
I have no problem telling you this.
Prince Qi.
You cannot kill all my heirs.
There are multiple copies of the imperial edict for succession.
Prince Qi.
[Tranquil Wind and Bright Moon]
How is everything
in the Eastern Palace?
The matter has been dealt with.
[Zhang Xuqing]
I am inquiring about the remaining traitors.
[Prince Qi, Bo Yong]
Your Highness,
the traitor had a son with a dancer.
The mother and son are nowhere to be found
at the moment.
What are you waiting for then?
I have ordered for a citywide manhunt in secret.
But as all nine city gates are open,
if the rebels are colluding with outside forces,
I'm afraid…
Issue a decree.
All guards at the nine city gates
are under Zhang Xuqing's command,
as evidenced by my own talisman.
Yes, Your Highness.
Where is the imperial edict for succession?
We are still searching for it.
The Coronation Ceremony is near.
Proceed with caution.
Yes.
Xuanyi Pavilion.
My son joined the army here years ago.
Longxi Mo Sword Army.
They guarded the borders
and made countless achievements.
Look after the charcoal.
Four baskets.
But Sir…
300 kg of charcoal. The government takes a third, that is 100 kg.
Sir.
We have nine kilns back home.
Each kiln produces 25 kg of charcoal.
This whole cartload
is less than 250 kg.
Please weigh it if you don't believe me.
Weigh it?
My eyes are the scale.
But Sir…
How dare you question me?
You ought to be grateful that I'm letting you sell charcoal in the city.
That's enough, old man.
Hya!
Have you heard?
Two hundred people in the Eastern Palace…
Even the pets were killed.
I heard it was bandits.
What bandits?
I bet it's...
The deposed Crown Prince rose in rebellion.
Prince Qi led the army to quash the rebellion.
The rebel army laid siege to Liang City.
Thousands in Liang City were martyred.
[Yang Dong]
This act of supreme loyalty inspired our soldiers
to defeat the treasonous rebels.
I implore Your Highness Prince Qi
and Your Majesty
to build a Martyrs' Shrine in Liang City
to console our country.
Shrines shall be built in all states and counties across the country.
Also, a Memorial Arch of Loyalty
is to be built before Jianyang Gate.
I shall inscribe the placard myself
with the words "Eternal Loyalty."
Eternal Loyalty?
What loyalty?
How is it eternal?
I have
observed the stars.
The Seventh Malefic Star is above us.
Traitors have taken power.
But the Alkaid has entered its orbit.
A man of justice shall complete the righteous deed
and rid our country of you!
How dare you!
Lyu Zhong!
How dare you insult Prince Qi?
Prince Qi
falsified the imperial edict for succession,
and accused the Crown Prince of rebellion.
He ordered the assassination of more than 200 people in Eastern Palace.
Are you all blind?
Bo Yong, you viper.
You have held the Crown hostage against Heaven's will.
In the Coronation Ceremony in five days' time,
blood will be spilled.
Blood will be spilled!
He is a traitor!
Imperial Counsellor Lyu Zhong
is a remaining member of the deposed Crown Prince's rebellious ilk.
[Madam Qin]
He used his authority to help Yang Tan seize the throne.
He served as Yang Tan's inside man in court
[Liu Bingfeng]
and leaked military secrets to him,
leading to the fall of Liang City
and thousands of deaths.
If peace isn't restored...
With Lyu Zhong's crimes...
My son would never return.
In accordance with the law,
he shall be beheaded in front of the masses.
Let's go, old man.
[Nie Ling'er]
[The Wild Blade of Strangers]
[Dunhua District]
[Jianyang Gate]
Official seals are required to exit the city before the coronation.
Those who disobey the order shall be killed.
How much is your charcoal?
Others sell it for one coin,
but you sell it for two coins.
Do you know how to run a business?
The fortune slip is in Limping.
The lower trigram is Bound, and the upper trigram is Gorge.
Lives will be saved.
Fireworks.
I saw it again.
Tomorrow, take me to the Persian man.
I want to ask him a favor
to help inquire about my son's whereabouts
when he passes by border towns.
Didn't you have his fortune read?
Yes.
It says he will be back by the end of the year.
But…
I tried three times.
Save…
Save my son.
Save…
Save my son.
Come.
Let's go to the dyehouse.
Hurry up!
Hold on.
Steel sword? Cifei army.
Bo si mi qie er.
Hong ba la.
Zhe gui nu tu.
Your Highness, Zhang Xuqing wants to see you.
Your Highness.
Tonight at the dyehouse,
one of our guys faked his death
and heard the opponent utter a spell before drawing his sword.
Rumor has it that in Longxi Mo Sword Army,
only warriors who have killed a thousand people
can master this spell.
What's the meaning of the spell?
Those who stand in the way must die.
The blade carries the souls of the departed.
Is it that powerful?
Rumor has it
that in Longxi Mo Sword Army,
each Mo Sword can kill three thousand people,
and the God of Death is no match to its blade.
Ridiculous.
Go on.
The man lit a charcoal fire
and dodged arrows behind the flickering light and shadows.
Then, he used firearms to disrupt the attackers.
He wielded a steel sword, yet displayed Mo Sword techniques.
Your Highness.
After the Liang City incident,
are there any surviving Mo Sword Army members?
Weren't they all martyred?
I'm worried
about their instructor.
Zhang Xuqing.
You were a great warrior years ago.
Now,
you seem to have grown timid.
Rest assured, Your Highness.
I will eliminate the mother and son before the coronation
and locate the imperial edict.
Remember, a boat sails past
but leaves no trace.
Of course.
I heard that the guy recites spells before he kills someone.
Men who heard the spell lost their sight and hearing,
and end up getting slaughtered.
The Cao brothers
were the best fighters in our ranks,
but they were cut open like animals.
Nonsense!
Don't bring down our army's morale.
Kill him!
You need to exercise restraint.
Open it.
My Lord.
I think this man is a charcoal seller.
You taught me well, My Lord.
I shall follow your guidance.
Stop there!
Hya!
I want to buy some charcoal.
That basket,
that one, and that one.
I'll take them all.
Sir, this one is not for sale.
This one is not for sale.
Sir, please wait.
Sir.
Cifei Army has ordered these.
We are delivering it to them.
Please take these if you need them now.
We have good quality charcoal at home.
If you give us your address,
we can deliver it to you tomorrow.
Cifei Army?
If you don't believe me,
take my father's fortune-telling things as collateral.
I will get them back when I deliver your charcoal tomorrow.
I figure you wouldn't dare deceive me.
Dunhua District, East Street, Prince Zhao's Mansion.
Noted.
Old man.
My name is Nie Ling'er.
Might I know the names of my saviors?
He is a fortune teller.
I'm a charcoal seller.
He is Tian Anye.
I'm Zhao Qiansun.
Come.
I can read his fortune.
Earlier, I read your son's face.
A full forehead.
A round chin.
Birthed to enter nobility.
Wealth and honor awaits.
Where is the boy's father?
He's dead.
Is he okay?
Cifei Army is after them.
We've been implicated
just by taking her out of the district.
The mother and son are in such a predicament.
We couldn't have just ignored them.
Old man.
I have just read their fortunes.
Their fates are closely tied to ours.
Strong above; gentle below.
Thunder and wind meet.
Yin and Yang coincide.
You and her are a good match.
The mother and son have nothing to do with you.
And they have nothing to do with me.
[Xiushan District]
Food, a dagger, and charcoal.
Here.
Wait.
That...
This place is connected to four districts.
Good luck.
Wait.
I…
Old man.
According to our Yuezhi customs,
now that you've seen my body,
I'm belong to you.
You belong to the Crown Prince, in this life and the next life!
Who are you?
I'm Madam Qin, Crown Prince Yang Tan's former associate.
The Crown Prince was framed and killed by Prince Qi.
More than 200 were murdered in Eastern Palace.
The boy in this woman's arms
is the Crown Prince's only remaining heir.
If you don't believe me,
there is a blue nevus on the infant's left foot.
You can check it out.
According to Crown Prince's last orders,
I'm here to take the mother and son out of the city
and call for a nationwide rebellion against Prince Qi.
You smuggled them out of Dunhua District.
You must know the city's roads by heart.
I can use your help to accomplish this task.
This is none of my business.
There are government soldiers!
Why are we operating in secret when we, Cifei Army, have nothing to hide?
It beats buying charcoal in Dunhua District.
Shut up.
Charcoal cart!
[Dunhua District]
My Lord.
Word is out that we're buying charcoal at high prices in Dunhua District.
All the sellers in the city should be there soon.
Keep an eye on the charcoal cart going the other direction.
Investigate the mother and son discreetly.
Yes, My Lord.
Sword.
Warrior, last night in the dyehouse,
you killed four Cifei Army soldiers.
They were Imperial Guard Commander Zhang Xuqing's men.
Since you've alerted them,
why don't you help me
escort them out of the city?
I'm just a charcoal seller.
I'm no warrior.
I'm afraid I can't help you.
Fine.
Old man!
It's fine.
Old man.
Are you tired of living?
When I first saw this infant,
I thought of my son Huaiyuan
when he was little.
If you really want to save them,
you should help them live incognito.
The fate of our country is on her shoulders.
How can they live ignoble lives?
She bears the responsibility to uphold Heaven's will.
Crown Prince said that
if he hadn't been born in the royal family,
he would have chosen to live his life with me.
After the Crown Prince was murdered,
my son and I
have suddenly become his only bloodline left.
Those who wish to kill me say it is Heaven's will.
Those who wish to save me say the same.
From the moment the Crown Prince took an interest in you,
your fate was sealed.
I pity the woman and her son.
We should save them.
Let's have a word privately.
How can I help you?
On the day of the Coronation Ceremony,
we have to arrive at Linglong Pavilion in Guiren District.
People will receive us there and lead us out the city through Jianyang Gate.
Linglong Pavilion?
That's where I learned how to dance.
The Pavilion will be empty before the coronation.
It'll be good for hiding.
The Coronation Ceremony will take place right next to Guiren District.
How can we leave such a heavily-guarded city?
On the day of the Coronation Ceremony,
the rebel force will storm Jianyang Gate to hunt down Prince Qi.
When the city gate is open,
we will sneak them out amidst the chaos.
Rebel force?
What rebel force?
The Crown Prince's loyalists
are hiding in Xuanyi Pavilion 7 miles outside Jianyang Gate.
Thousands of them.
All fearless warriors.
That…
Xuanyi Pavilion.
My son Huaiyuan was stationed there.
We will need to go through Xiushan and Jiashan districts to get to Guiren District.
There are four days until the coronation.
We'll cross one district per day.
They're buying charcoal at high prices in Dunhua District.
If our charcoal cart
goes the other direction,
we'll look suspicious...
It doesn't matter.
We should follow suit.
If they're in the dark, we'll be in the light.
We might have a chance to reverse our fate.
Pass three trials, and we can exit Jianyang Gate.
[Dunhua District] [Xiushan District] [Jiashan District] [Guiren District] [Jianyang Gate]
Three trials?
The dyehouse in Dunhua District
is the first trial.
My Lord.
Someone is
giving out charcoal at Songfeng Inn in Xiushan District.
Be patient!
No more free charcoal left today.
We'll give out more tomorrow in Jiashan District.
They will give out charcoal in Jiashan District again tomorrow.
Dunhua District.
Xiushan District.
Jiashan District.
They want to exit the city through Jianyang Gate.
My Lord.
Allow me to lead my men to hunt them down.
Many rich landlords and dignitaries
coming to attend the Coronation Ceremony
are accommodated at Songfeng Inn.
Act cautiously.
Kill anyone who disobey orders.
Yes, My Lord.
The Hu oboe plays the song of tears.
The Qiang flute sings the tune of sadness.
You're from Yuezhi?
No.
My son entrusted someone to give me this Qiang flute.
Where is your son?
Uncle Zhao.
What does the fortune stick say about my son?
Trapped in a dried up river,
a sign of a drought.
Can you tell his fortune again?
If you believe in it, there's no need for another reading.
If your heart wavers,
what good can a fortune stick do?
Your shoes are not fit for long travels.
Try this pair.
Thank you.
If you injure your feet,
you won't be able to go anywhere.
Even if we get out of the city,
the outside world is just as dangerous.
Survival
is the most important thing.
There are Cifei Army Scouts out there.
How confident are you to repel them?
Follow my lead,
and we're sure to prevail.
My Lord.
They are hiding in the inn.
Fire pits are lit on three sides,
where beggars and vagrants have gathered.
We could attack from the west side, which is empty.
Leaving one side open on purpose.
He is betting on me to strike.
He has passed one trial.
I've lost the upper hand.
If we let him pass another trial…
You overestimate the charcoal seller, My Lord.
Let's wait.
Wait for him to show his weakness.
But if we don’t attack now,
our men might think you fear…
Anyone in there wants more charcoal?
Want some charcoal?
My charcoal
burns hot with little smoke.
Who needs your garbage charcoal?
Without my garbage charcoal for warmth,
some men will resort to crime and violence.
I even once saved a mother and her son from some nasty criminals.
Really?
When did this happen?
Why didn't you report it?
If the criminals are colluding with officials,
the mother and son would be doomed.
How dare you!
He's beating me up!
Help! He's beating me up!
He was giving out charcoal out of kindness!
Why did you beat him up?
Report it to the government!
That's right!
Why are you always causing trouble?
Are you alright?
I'm fine.
Move along. Nothing to see here.
Your charcoal
burns hot with little smoke?
You must have worked on it for a long time.
I'll take all of it.
I'm not selling my charcoal.
I only give them out for free.
When these are all taken,
I'll continue handing them out in Jiashan District tomorrow.
I don't think
you will have any more charcoal left by tomorrow.
Then come pick them up tonight.
Old man.
When the Persian man sees this,
he will definitely help you.
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Help!
Somebody help!
Go fetch the guards!
Fire!
Help!
Wear this. It helps with the smoke.
I burn charcoal all the time. I'm used to it.
Anybody want more charcoal?
When I lurk in the dark,
he is out in the open.
My Lord.
I don't think they survived.
Come on! Help put out the fire!
All of you, follow me.
Why is it so quiet?
Hand me your wooden mirror.
Bo Yong…
Nothing to see. Just a crude thing.
Charcoal is also a crude thing,
but it saves lives in the freezing cold.
As you predicted,
we'll be out of Jianyang Gate after three trials.
So far, we have passed two.
One more left.
We haven't passed the second one
just yet.
Nie Ling'er and Zhao Qiansun are gone.
Where are the mother and her son?
Where are the thousands of fearless warriors
whom you spoke of?
Just now, you came to the rescue,
so I will let you live.
Don't make a move until you see the mother and son.
Yes, My Lord.
Brother!
You, go this way.
You, go that way.
Others, keep searching.
Go check the stable.
♫Ten fingers blackened♫
♫A cartload of charcoal♫
Go find the Persian man in the spice shop in Southern Market.
Uncle Zhao.
♫Half a foot of silk♫
♫Never enough food♫
♫How can a shabby cottage hide a weak woman?♫
♫Why do old soldiers need to join the battle of Tianshan?♫
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
Speak.
Where are the mother and son?
My son Zhao Huaiyuan...
was a lieutenant in Longxi Mo Sword Army
who has earned countless merits by killing enemies at the border.
I'll ask you again.
Where are the mother and son?
At the turn of the year,
my son Zhao Huaiyuan...
will find you and take your head!
Stop it!
Did you say
your son was Mo Sword Army's Zhao Huaiyuan?
♫Why do old soldiers need to join the battle of Tianshan?♫
[Zhao Huaiyuan]
♫Why do old soldiers need to join the battle of Tianshan?♫
Old man.
Give us Nie Ling'er
and we will let him go.
After that,
we'll stay out of each other's business forever.
Don't do it!
There was a Longxi border skirmish years ago.
Our army was not used to battles at night.
An instructor in the Mo Sword Army had an idea
to cover burning charcoal with damp hay to form a smoke barrier,
which helped us defeat the enemy.
Just now, in Songfeng Inn,
he used the same trick again.
My son Huaiyuan wrote back,
saying
he and the instructor are close like brothers.
The man he admires the most is...
the Mo Sword instructor.
The Mo Sword instructor is a master at using firearms.
There was no news of him after the Liang City incident.
I didn't expect
him to be living incognito as a charcoal seller.
Am I right?
Instructor Tian.
Tian Anye.
Instructor Tian?
My son Huaiyuan…
I saw your son Huaiyuan being killed by this man
with my own two eyes.
Enough.
That's enough.
What is going on?
A life sacrificed
to save a city.
I'll help you avenge your son.
Take me
to Nie Ling'er.
Old man.
Save them.
Save the woman and her son.
♫Why do old soldiers need to join the battle of Tianshan?♫
Old man…
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
You're not related to the mother and son.
Why are you doing this, Instructor Tian?
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
Tell me where they are
and I will spare your life.
Instructor Tian.
I won't say it.
I won't leave.
Thousands of people's lives are at stake.
Go!
I can't take any risk.
I'm not leaving.
Brother Huaiyuan.
What's your last wish?
I left my father Zhao Qiansun at home.
Take care of him for me.
My fortune stick told me my son died by your hand.
A life sacrificed
to save the city.
Give me my son back!
Prince Qi gave the order to massacre the entire Liang City,
blaming it on the Crown Prince
and saying his attack had caused the deaths.
Save me.
Crown Prince!
Nie Ling'er, where are you hiding?
Prince Qi gave the order to massacre the city.
Where is the order?
Why are you trying to save her?
Why are you trying to saving her?
If I can't save a city,
I'll save those close to me!
I know you've earned merits at the border.
You're also the backbone of our country.
I should not be doing this, but...
hand Nie Ling'er over
and I'll let you die quickly
without pain.
I know you once served
as a border guard.
How did a mere military guard
like you
suddenly become an Imperial Guard Commander of Cifei Army?
How dare you!
Commander Zhang is Prince Qi's trusted advisor.
Advising him to massacre the city.
I killed twelve army commanders
to obtain the military order issued by Prince Qi.
Nonsense!
The order was an oral command.
Go to Xiushan District
to find the mother and son.
Do it discreetly.
I don't want any complications.
Yes, My Lord.
[Persian man]
Have a rest here.
I'll go prepare some food.
I wonder how Uncle Zhao is doing now.
He's dead.
So are the Xue Brothers.
They died to save you.
The charcoal seller was captured.
Please save him!
Why are you worrying about others
when you can't even fend for yourself?
If you don't hand over the mother and son,
more people will die.
Yourself included.
Raise him up.
[Jiashan District]
I have not heard such sorrowful tunes in a long time.
How did you get acquainted with Instructor Tian?
He once saved my life
on the battlefield.
Is there something hidden in this carriage?
Spices from the West.
There, they sell for 20 coins per liter.
In Luoyang, it sells for more than 1,000 coins.
Granted,
I'm not the only one profiting from the trade.
I have business to attend to in Guiren District.
May I borrow your carriage?
I'll escort you myself.
You're just an offering.
Let me have a taste first!
Let me go!
Get lost!
I will go fetch some clothes.
He said I'm…
an offering.
No need to listen to a drunk.
Are you really going to lead us out of the city?
The Hu oboe plays the song of tears.
The Qiang flute sings the tune of sadness.
You're from Yuezhi?
The Yuezhi Chief
sent you to learn dancing at the age of six
and arranged for you to meet the Crown Prince at the age of sixteen.
You think he meant for you to leave the city?
So...
I'm really just an offering.
On the day of the Coronation Ceremony,
Prince Qi and Yang Dong will worship at Jianyang Gate.
I will offer you and a fake baby to Prince Qi
as a present from the Yuezhi Envoy.
I will incite anger from the masses,
forcing Prince Qi to sacrifice the Crown Prince's heir
to appease all the dead in Liang City.
When he approaches to do the deed,
I will kill him first.
Then nine phoenixes shall soar to the sky
to spread pamphlets containing Prince Qi's crimes
all over the city.
We'll both die
regardless of the success of the assassination of Prince Qi.
We won't die in vain.
When Prince Qi's crimes are made public,
all people of justice will rise in revolt
and restore order in the country.
What about my son?
He is the Crown Prince's only heir.
The Chief has his own arrangements.
This is your predestined fate.
Don't be rash.
Promise me.
Save the charcoal seller.
Are you going to confess?
Huh?
Nail him!
Prince Qi asked for you.
Let's see how long you can last.
My Lord.
We didn't find them in Xiushan District.
Please give the order for me
to scour the city.
Keep an eye on the charcoal seller.
It’s not my time yet.
I can't die yet.
Bo si mi qie er.
Hong ba la.
Zhe gui nu tu.
Go fetch my belongings
from Songfeng Inn.
Rest assured.
Halt!
Security check.
All of you,
get out of the carriage.
A strand of hair breaks with ease,
but a bunch of them is tough.
A single man is easily defeated.
As written in the History of Xi Qin,
when everyone is united as one,
all can be achieved.
Zhang Xuqing,
do you understand?
I'm interrogating that Mo Sword Instructor.
The coronation is two days away.
I understand.
Rest assured, Your Highness.
Zhang Xuqing.
Yes, Your Highness.
How long have you been working for me?
Soon it'll be eleven years.
The position of Imperial Guard Commander
has been vacant for some time.
I will do all I can to serve you.
Your Highness, Liu Bingfeng wants to see you.
I have an urgent report, Your Highness.
The charcoal seller has escaped from the interrogation room.
Our men
were killed by him.
Your Highness, allow me
to search for the charcoal seller in the city
and hunt down the mother and son.
Liu Bingfeng,
from today on,
I name you Commander of Cifei Army.
I will not let you down, Your Highness.
I will devote my life to ensure a successful coronation.
Go.
Yes, Your Highness.
Zhang Xuqing.
Your family is in the palace on my orders.
You're now without an official position,
so you must be without a care in the world
and fearless, aren't you?
He's awake.
Madam Qin said that
the elixir stops the bleeding
and restores vital energy,
akin to a full resuscitation.
No one leaves the interrogation room alive.
You seem to be the first one.
There are no warriors at Xuanyi Pavilion.
She lied to you.
She told me everything.
On the day of the coronation,
I'll accompany them
to assassinate Prince Qi.
What's your use there?
It is my fate.
You will die a meaningless death.
No need to talk me down.
I have promised Madam Qin.
Nie Ling'er has agreed to sacrifice herself for justice.
Yet you're here clinging to a miserable life.
How can the few of you
kill Prince Qi?
Many in the world believe in justice.
Prince Qi must die.
Nine phoenixes shall soar to the sky
to spread pamphlets containing Prince Qi's crimes.
Your wooden mirror has the words "Bo Yong", that is Prince Qi, on the back.
Now you're determined to kill him.
What's your relationship with him?
The same blood...
runs in my veins as in that scoundrel, Prince Qi.
That scoundrel
falsified the imperial edict
and conspired to kill the Crown Prince's family.
He rapes and pillages,
and engages in debauchery.
His crimes are endless.
I,
on behalf of the people,
shall rid the world of this man.
Now I'm Commander of Cifei Army.
Go after the mother and son.
All those standing in your way
shall be killed without question.
Kill!
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Let me go!
What are you doing?
Don't touch me!
[Guiren District]
What did you gesture to her?
You know sign language?
It's just a greeting.
When I came here to learn dancing at six,
there was a mute granny.
Go get prepared.
[Mo]
Bravo!
-Bravo! -Bravo!
Nie Ling'er.
The world will know your name.
Where's the baby?
Let go!
Please spare the child.
I don't want him to end up like me.
His fate is not for you or me to decide.
This Mo Sword
will slay anyone
within ten paces.
Why are you so obsessed?
He saw my mother's good looks
and raped her.
She was driven insane from it.
When I was born,
Mother saw that I was pretty too.
In fear of the same fate befalling on me...
she disfigured me
with burning charcoal,
yelling,
"Beauty is the root of trouble!"
Yelling that before diving into the well to her death.
That beast
destroyed our lives.
I must kill him with my own hands
and seize everything he has.
Don’t stand in my way.
My Lord.
I've gotten word
that the carriage
has arrived at Linglong Pavilion in Guiren District.
[Wanted]
Hya!
[Government Office]
You go back first.
Yes.
Persian man.
You should go too.
How can I abandon you
when you have saved my life?
It will be my pleasure
to fight by your side.
You saved me once,
but you can't save me forever.
We'll take it
one moment at a time.
Don't overthink it.
I've practiced dancing here for a decade,
but I have not danced for you, my savior.
Today, I, Nie Ling'er, will dance for you.
Then, even in death,
I will have no regret.
You scoundrels have nowhere to run.
Quickly come out and surrender.
If I can't save a city,
I'll save those close to me.
[Linglong Pavilion]
Attack!
Any deserter will be killed.
Persian man!
Nie Ling'er.
Look at her dance in this moment.
How beautiful.
She's like a mirror...
reflecting my life
full of revenge... and hate.
My savior,
my life...
I'm giving it back to you.
Twin blades slicing
and blood gushing.
A wall of death
grinds men to dust.
Each Mo Sword can kill three thousand people,
and the God of Death is no match to its blade.
You and that Mo sword
are at a dead end.
I've slayed foes at the border for fifteen years.
I've fought in 37 battles, big and small.
In every one of them, I was forced to a dead end.
Then today's battle
will be your last.
This is the third trial.
You against me.
Bo si mi qie er.
Hong ba la.
Zhe gui nu tu.
You're the instructor?
I'm the instructor of Longxi Mo Sword Army.
Why did you
intrude into my chambers?
For justice.
Whose justice?
For the thousands who perished in Liang City.
For the Crown Prince and his family.
For three hundred of my Mo Sword brothers.
And for the old man Zhao Qiansun.
You want to kill me?
Prince Qi must die.
It turns out you fear death too.
You can kill me, a Prince Qi,
but another Prince Qi will rise.
You falsified the imperial edict
and held the Crown hostage.
Your crimes are irredeemable.
You should die a terrible death!
So you are the Alkaid…
that upholds…
justice…
I'm just a charcoal seller.
Come out.
I can only save those close to me.
But you can save the world.
The new emperor has ascended the throne.
All taxes are repealed.
A general amnesty is proclaimed.
All people of the country
shall thank the Emperor for his grace.
♫Half a foot of silk♫
♫Never enough food♫
♫How can a shabby cottage hide a weak woman?♫
♫Why do old soldiers need to join the battle of Tianshan?♫
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
♫Deep snow crippled my steed♫
♫Leaving hell; a single blade in hand♫
Crown Prince Tan
shows talent and integrity,
intelligence and bravery.
He must succeed the great cause as the Emperor
[Imperial Edict]
and ascend the throne.
[The Wild Blade of Strangers]