Geomancer (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[Outside Jinling City] [Yujiagou]

Wan'er,

come and eat.

Keep the incense away

from the firecrackers!

Brat,

are you trying to give me a heart attack?

Wan'er,

how can you set off firecrackers

inside the house?

- I'll smack you!

- I'll stop!

It's raining this heavily?

I'd better bring the sheets in.

Folks,

what are you...

Sorry,

Wan'er was setting off some firecrackers.

Sorry to disturb you.

Look,

what is that?

Where did those fireballs come from?

They're flying toward the village!

Wan'er!

- Find somewhere to hide!

- Mother!

- My bamboo ball!

- Leave it!

Fireballs are coming!

[Yujiagu] [Back Hill]

Have you heard?

Butcher Zhang's had

a few cattle and sheep go missing.

When they were found,

only the organs were left.

Auntie Li told me

she saw ghost soldiers late at night.

No idea if it's true.

There've been all kinds of

creepy things happening lately.

Better stay away from the back hill

from now on.

It gives me the chills.

Today,

I'm gonna have my fun with you first.

Ye Bushou,

what are you doing?

We're almost done with

the border dispatches.

Let's continue our journey.

Chief,

it's getting dark.

Shall we stay tonight at Yujiagou?

[Border Officer, Chief Li]

The military situation is tense.

We can't afford any mistakes.

Get the horses.

[Messenger, Ye Bushou]

Blood?

Where's the other horse?

Impossible.

Could it be the ghost soldiers

that have appeared in the border areas?

Has the infection spread here too?

It's a ghost soldier!

Ye Bushou!

Where did he go again?

Always jumping at every little thing...

Have to tell the court immediately

that the source of the infection

is Brain-Eating Bugs...

Ye Bushou!

Chief,

run!

Jinling City is in danger...

Ye Bushou,

what are you doing?

Let's go.

Wan'er,

stay close!

Run!

Uncle Li!

This way!

Mother!

Ghost soldiers!

They're coming out from the pit!

My bamboo ball!

Leave it, leave it!

Father gave it to me!

Wan'er, run!

Mother,

what's happening?

Ghost soldiers are everywhere,

we're doomed!

I want my mother...

Mother, don't scare me like this.

Mother,

is it all because

I set firecrackers off in the house?

Mother,

I'm sorry!

Mother!

[The Next Day]

Commander,

The villagers of Yujiagou

were either dead

or missing overnight.

The bodies are burned all over.

Don't know what happened.

How should we report it to the court?

Don't panic.

Let's take a look first.

The head was shattered.

Commander,

the The Tribute of Yu says:

When the Nine Cauldrons quake,

the Demon Star appears.

Could last night have been...

It's just a few rocks from the sky.

What's to be afraid of?

Sir, look!

There's a sinkhole.

Could it have been caused last night

by those flying rocks?

Earth Dragon!

It's the Earth Dragon...

Useless fools!

You've ruined the reputation

of the Beizhen Fusi!

Annam

is humid,

full of poisonous creatures.

Is this the messenger

for the border dispatches,

Ye Bushou?

Our soldiers

Ye Bushou,

are you crazy?

Couldn't adapt,

falling ill with strange diseases.

We lost the battle.

We lost the battle!

The Ministry of w*r says

border reports must be sealed

with fire wax.

How dare you read it in public?

Have you lost your mind?

Run...

The Earth Dragon is awake,

Dacheng is done for!

[Geomancer]

[Youzhu Valley] [Bai Courtyard]

In people's haunt I built my cot;

Of wheel's and hoof's noise I hear not.

How can it leave on me no trace?

Secluded heart makes secluded place.

I pick fence side mum flowers at will;

Carefree I see the southern hill.

The mountain air's fresh day and night;

Together birds go home in flight.

What revelation...

The termites

have hollowed out

this perfectly good table.

[Bai Muye]

Just k*lled some,

more keep coming.

Tiny as termites,

they dare to gnaw the wood,

and bring down pillars

where they stood.

Termites have their heads,

orders have their pivot.

Son,

k*lling a few randomly won't help.

Come,

lift the table.

Let me teach you a few lessons.

Ignore the ones hauling grain.

Look for a termite

darker with twitching feelers.

It's the sentry.

Take its head,

and the swarm loses its way.

They have stopped!

Good.

Look at the corner of that wall,

is there a worker

not walking straight,

but tracing a circle?

Yes.

The circling termite

leaves liquid

to mark its trail.

Step on its path,

and the formation falls apart.

They're crashing into each other!

By the window frame,

there's a big-jawed soldier.

It's in charge of discipline.

Take it out!

They're in total chaos!

Daddy you're amazing!

Sentries, sever their heads.

[Former Mystic Guard Commander,

Bai Yinchuan]

Circlers, cut their trails.

And soldiers,

eliminate them all.

I see.

In the colony,

there are always a few special termites

that carry the orders.

Take them out,

and the colony

collapses on its own.

But what do we do

if they come back, daddy?

It doesn't matter how many we k*ll

if we build new houses with rotten wood.

[Zhou Ziling]

Easy, easy, easy...

What do you think you are?

Loafing around all day,

wasting time on useless thoughts!

What is useful

and what is useless?

Mother,

what father just taught me

is very useful.

Good boy,

I didn't love you for nothing!

Go get your work done!

Okay,

I'll chop firewood

and water the vegetables for you.

Yinchuan,

how have you been?

What brings you here, old sir?

I

Have a long history with Yinchuan.

I happened to

pass by today,

and thought I'd pay my respects.

Master State Preceptor.

State Preceptor?

[State Preceptor, Mo Chu]

[Protect the People, Secure the Borders]

Annam has fallen,

soldiers are acting possessed.

[Jinling City] [Fengtian Hall]

Fireballs burned down a village,

causing the ground to split open.

The crack

points straight toward

founding emperor's tomb

[Emperor Dewu, Zhu Jing]

At Nanlou.

This could damage the Dragon Vein.

Shut up!

Nonsense!

[Protect the People, Secure the Borders]

Dare to spread lies before His Majesty,

Slap yourself!

[Captain of Royal Guards, Shi Lingyu]

Anyone who trys to

undermine the morale again

will be beheaded!

[Protect the People, Secure the Borders]

Your Majesty, please calm down.

What the Beizhen Fusi reports

is biased.

But the matter is grave,

and must not be taken lightly.

The damage of the Dragon Vein

concerns the hundred-year foundation

of our Dacheng Empire.

You're not dead?

Watch out, Your Majesty!

[Eunuch Liu

of The Directorate of Ceremonial]

The Imperial Cauldron has toppled,

The Earth Dragon

is rising!

Eunuch Liu,

summon the State Preceptor

to the capital immediately!

State Preceptor,

Bairichun.

It was picked from the mountain.

Please have a sip.

Mm.

A fine tea indeed.

Although...

Hidden away in deep mountains,

it can never be known

to the world.

If this tea

were known to the world,

then there would be no place

for it.

But what if

the world

needs it to save lives?

Tea only soothes your thirst.

It's medicine that saves lives.

Every plant has its own nature.

It can't be forced.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Yinchuan,

it seems you still can't let go

of what happened back then.

Mother, look.

Dad taught me

how to use tung oil to trap termites.

I caught a bunch!

Once all the termites are caught,

the first thing to be burned

is this bamboo tube.

Why?

Wouldn't it be better to keep it?

The imperial court is ruthless

above all else.

Yinchuan,

the matter of the Dragon Vein

concerns the very foundation

of the empire.

Even if you can retire in seclusion,

what of your family?

I wish to ask you

to seek a pardon from the court

for one person.

Rumors are growing wild among the people.

[Great virtue]

They say that the fireballs

were a sign

of the Earth-Demon Star descending.

Only...

Go on.

I dare not.

You are pardoned.

Only by

returning the throne to Prince Chengping

can Heaven's wrath be appeased

and the realm brought to peace.

How dare you!

Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!

This must be

the remnants of Prince Chengping's faction

spreading rumors

in the chaos

to deceive the people!

Meteors from the sky

foretell the prosperity of the empire.

Your Majesty should take comfort in this.

State Preceptor,

you're finally back.

[Jinling City]

[Butcher Shop]

Welcome. Please come in.

Feed them the best fodder.

Right away!

I had originally planned to

send troops to Mobei,

but I didn't expect to encounter

the Ghost Soldiers in the south.

We suffered consecutive defeats.

And the earthquake

severed the Dragon Vein.

Your Majesty,

don't worry.

I've selected

an extraordinary talent

to restore the Dragon Vein.

State Preceptor,

who are you recommending?

Bai Yinchuan.

Commander

of the Mystic Guard?

Prince Chengping

established the Mystic Guard

with this person at its core.

Study Feng Shui,

map the Dragon Vein,

read the empire's fate,

and exorcise evil spirits.

They deal with

all manner of strange occurrences.

Have you heard?

That earthquake a few nights ago

had broken Dacheng's Dragon Vein.

Really?

They say

it's because Emperor Dewu

committed too many killings

when he ascended the throne.

Back then,

he ex*cuted so many scholars

under the banner of purging the court.

So Heaven sent the Earth-Demon Star

[Miao Jian'er from Miao Region]

To open the gate of the underworld

and take away

an entire village.

Even a great scholar like Fang Chengxuan

had him and his entire family ex*cuted.

How tragic!

Back then,

when I purged the court,

I wiped out the entire Mystic Guard.

And he's still willing to help me?

Your Majesty is indeed wise.

Bai Yinchuan

begs you

to pardon his old friend

who served with him in the Mystic Guard,

Zheng Yuanbao.

I heard

that the Imperial Guards

who went to Yujiagou to investigate

the next morning

were all gone without a bone left.

Do you think

they encountered

the Ghost Soldiers of the Underworld?

Who knows

what other strange things might happen

in the future!

Arrest anyone who spreads

rumors!

Yessir!

It hurts!

What were you talking about?

A-About women.

What's wrong with that?

Really?

Go on then.

I want to hear about it too.

Don't hurt the child!

Thank you, thank you.

Be careful.

Thank you.

Judging from your outfit,

you're clearly not with him.

Why did you help him then?

The child is innocent,

how can I just watch him die?

If it can stop those rumors

from claiming more innocent lives,

then sacrificing a child

is nothing.

After all these years,

the Imperial Guards

are still so cold-hearted.

This man is suspected of spreading rumors

and helping his accomplices escape.

Arrest him.

[Jinling City] [Yingtian Prison]

Easy.

Get in there!

Easy!

Wait, sir.

Not even a single dish?

Consider yourself lucky

there's food at all!

Think this is your home?

At least get me some water...

Where did you get this map?

Found it on the rumormonger's accomplice.

Bring him here immediately.

So bland!

So do people!

Eat this!

More flavorful!

Eat this,

newcomer.

Brother,

if you think it's too bland,

I've got some pepper and salt.

Wanna try some?

You have seasonings?

Yes.

We grow them on the mountain

behind my house.

Give me!

Out there, you feast on meat and wine;

In a cell,

you chew on walls and whine.

Out there,

you feast on

meat and wine...

In a cell,

you chew on walls and whine...

Study Feng Shui,

map the Dragon Vein,

read the empire's fate,

and exorcise evil spirits.

[Former Mystic Guard General,

Zheng Yuanbao]

Bai!

His Majesty

summons Bai Yinchuan to the court!

[Protect the People, Secure the Borders]

Your Majesty,

he's here.

Your Majesty.

My apologies for the offense.

My apologies.

Yinchuan,

why put yourself through all this?

As the saying goes,

if you wish to know

whether an empire is well governed,

take a bite of prison fare first.

Though this cake

is rough,

it has no sand mixed in.

Though heavy with bran,

there is no dirt.

It proves that Your Majesty rules wisely,

even the jailers

are not without compassion.

Although...

Although what?

If the prison kitchen

can add just a little more salt

in this bread,

I fear even a brute like Zheng Yuanbao

would think twice about breaking out.

Bread...

Break.

Nice touch!

Indeed!

Come on,

tell me about this restoration plan.

The Dragon Vein

is a Feng Shui formation

[Flow of the Earth's Veins]

Born at the intersection

of mountains and rivers.

The mountains

are the dragon's spine;

The waters

are the dragon's blood.

That's right.

However,

the earthquake caused a fissure

that severed the dragon's neck.

Your Majesty

need only order the Ministry of Works

to build a canal

along the fissure,

and channel the water through it.

- This will

- Direct water into the mountains

and guide the dragon into the rivers.

Again Dacheng will flourish

and the people will live in peace.

Even ghosts and gods

will fear Your Majesty's power!

Your Majesty

could one day forge this meteor

into a Divine Cauldron.

You are right.

However,

the situation deep within the fissure

is strange and unpredictable.

If we are to restore the Dragon Vein,

we must

investigate first.

Your Majesty,

Lord Shi is exceptionally skilled,

she could lend Master Bai a hand.

Very well.

I will pardon Zheng Yuanbao,

and grant you an Inspection Token.

You and Shi Lingyu

shall go at once and find out the truth.

[Outside Jinling City] [Yujiagou]

The meteors sparked a fire.

Hardly any of the villagers survived.

Poor mother and daughter.

Judging from her movements,

it's not that simple.

This mother

seems like she wants to k*ll her child.

How could she be so cruel?

Not necessarily.

Perhaps she couldn't bear

to see her child suffer,

and had no choice.

Could be!

Nevermind.

It smells funny.

Bai,

could it be

from

a dragon-bound serpent?

Dragon-bound serpent?

Surviving Tribulations,

becoming dragon,

serpent,

dragon-bound serpent.

Stuttering is one thing,

but can you at least

stop talking backwards?

Gandu (Idiot).

What's gandu?

Lord Shi,

please send people immediately

to gather all the garlic,

grind the corn into flour,

and tear those sheets into strips

and hand out to everyone.

This

seems inappropriate.

The Imperial Guards

are personally appointed by His Majesty.

How can we be made

to do such menial tasks?

[Token]

This token

carries the authority of His Majesty.

Sir,

he's clearly trying to humiliate us!

Master,

may I ask...

Go ahead.

Why waste time on these useless chores?

Corn is the most yang of the grains,

and garlic is the nemesis of evil spirits.

Together,

they're perfect

for fighting dark creatures.

This garlic is great.

Stay away from me.

Enough,

cut the banter.

Everyone,

tie the sheet strips around your waists.

You'll need them down below.

One, two, three...

Be careful.

[Yujiagou Sinkhole] [Deep in the fissure]

Be careful.

This is the Earth-Demon Star

the rumor is talking about.

This is what destroyed Yujiagou.

The Spring and Autumn Annals record that

"stars fell like rain,

they were only rocks."

This one fell with fire,

burning the entire village.

So the fissure

was split open by its impact?

Mm.

Master,

there's a hidden passage.

It seems

someone dug it a long time ago.

Master, over there...

Burned shoe.

It stinks.

Take a sniff.

Could you stay away from me?

Thank you.

Look over here!

The villagers' clothes?

Why are they here?

It must be the clothes

of the missing villagers.

They weren't burned,

and covered in slime.

If they had taken them off themselves,

maybe some villagers survived.

The stench of serpent saliva.

It's a the dragon-bound serpent.

Everyone be careful.

There might be a giant serpent

down in the cave.

There's a symbol on the wall.

I don't know what it means.

It looks like an eye.

As if someone's watching us.

Keep moving.

Okay, Bai.

Zhuque, Xuanwu, hurry up!

Xuanwu!

The ground's slippery.

I fell.

Take it.

Be careful.

Baby crying?

Where's that coming from?

It's coming from over there.

A ghost?

Of course.

My child is dead...

My family is dead...

The later account of Yingning records that

My child is dead

a widow who lost her child

mourned for three months,

crying day and night

until she could produce the sound

of an infant's cry.

In truth,

it was because her grief was so extreme

that her vital energy

was thrown into chaos,

and her vocal cords altered as a result.

Do we save her?

Let's wait a bit longer.

They're all dead.

My family is dead!

My child is dead!

I shall die too!

What's going on?

Watch out, Master.

Why can't I die?

Let me die.

Let me die!

Let me die!

Let me die!

Watch out!

She's gone?

Where did those fall from?

Is there something up above?

Please.

Let me die.

Please.

Let me die.

Behind you!

Don't k*ll her!

Why not?

Look at her wound.

Step back!

Dragon-bound serpent.

So big!

I've never even heard of such a thing!

Sir, what do we do?

Step back slowly.

Don't provoke it.

Good thing we have the garlic.

Chew the garlic

and spit it on the ground.

- Are serpents afraid of garlic?

- Here.

Chew it.

It's so spicy.

I can't take it anymore.

Keep chewing.

Garlic works.

It's gone.

Bai.

Serpents favor darkness and fear heat,

They are most repelled by pungent scents.

The strong scent of garlic

can drive it back,

confusing its sense of direction.

Thus it dares not come any closer.

Master Bai,

you carry the responsibility

of restoring the Dragon Vein.

Why don't we return for now

and investigate another day?

Where is Zhuque?

Where is she?

She was right ahead just now.

When did she...

Sir, do we follow him?

Buyigenlao (Follow him).

This is the center of

Dacheng's Dragon Vein.

Who would dig such a big tunnel

and bury so many stakes here?

Could it be

tomb raiders

who accidentally broke into this place?

These are not just ordinary stakes.

They look more like part of a formation.

What is that?

Zhifu.

Tengshe.

Changyin.

Liuhe.

Taichang.

Azure Dragon.

Black Tortoise.

Nine places.

This is

the Nine Palaces Dragon Binding Formation.

It's for restraining the throat

of Dacheng's Dragon Vein.

Who would be so bold

to dig a passage and build a palace

beneath the Dragon Vein of Dacheng?

Exactly.

If the meteor hadn't fallen

and created this sinkhole,

who would have discovered

such a conspiracy?

Then we must hurry back

and report this to His Majesty!

Let's go.

Help!

Help!

It's Zhuque!

Help me! Help me!

Help me!

Zhuque!

Qinglong,

don't move.

Get down slowly.

Qinglong, dodge!

Has this beast

already become a true dragon?

The villagers died

and the smell of blood

attracted this giant serpent.

It's not a dragon transformation.

Let me show you the power of corn flour!

Yuanbao!

Not bad, Miss Shi.

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Yuanbao!

Watch out, Master.

It's dangerous ahead.

We can't go any further.

Master!

It's the missing villagers...

These villagers

seem to have lost their sanity.

How do we get through here?

Cover your face with the cloth.

Don't make a sound.

Stay close to me.

Don't let those bugs get on you.

Master, look.

These bugs are extremely similar

to the one we found

in that mother's ear earlier.

They don't seem to be native

to the Central Plains.

Are they connected

to the villagers' condition?

For now, it's unclear.

Qinglong, slow down.

They're just

like that female villager before.

Master, be careful!

Thank you.

We're almost through.

Go!

Go!

Qinglong!

Run! Now!

I'll hold them off!

Go!

Run!

Go! Now!

I'll cover you!

Qinglong.

Qinglong!

Qinglong!

Qinglong!

Qinglong!

Qinglong!

Hurry!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Hurry!

Why are they act like this?

Just like

that mother before.

They're all being controlled

by these bugs.

Such a tiny bug,

yet it can control the human brain.

This bug

comes from the Southern Borderlands.

Its scientific name

is the Brain-Eating Bugs.

Once it enters the human brain,

the host becomes a living corpse.

Blocking the Dragon Vein of Dacheng...

Spreading the Brain-Eating Bugs

Who could be behind all of this?

[Netherworld]

Netherworld?

[Netherworld]

Are you alright?

Could the rumors be true?

That Heaven

sent down the Earth-Demon Star

to open the gates of the netherworld.

What Earth-Demon Star?

That's clearly Wang-style cursive script.

Are ghosts supposed

to practice calligraphy now?

Up ahead is Xiaoling Mausoleum

of the Founding Emperor.

Once we step inside,

our entire families will be ex*cuted.

Lord Shi,

we're not just here to uncover the truth.

We must rescue my close friend...

Zheng Yuanbao.

If you're afraid,

you can turn back now.

[Xiaoling Mausoleum

of the Founding Emperor]

[Broken Bridge]

Master,

do we continue?

Yes.

k*ll him!

Master Bai, watch out!

It's the Ghost Soldier!

Master Bai!

I'm sorry.

[Xiaoling Mausoleum] [Underground Rift]

Why are there so many coffins here?

Lord Shi.

Master Bai?

Why didn't you k*ll Bai Yinchuan?

Lord Shi,

you dare betray me?

No.

I was trying to save the both of them!

Why didn't you k*ll Bai Yinchuan?

Yuanbao!

Yuanbao!

Yuanbao!

[Outside Jinling City] [Yujiagou]

Bai.

Here.

Mugwort soup.

Mugwort for the outside,

decoction for the inside...

Both together

to purge that bug from you.

Where are we?

Bai,

where's Miss Shi?

I fell into the ravine

and got separated from Shi Lingyu.

Luckily, I landed on the corpse

of a giant snake.

It cushioned the fall,

or I would've died.

Later, I found you...

You'd cut your way

out of the snake's belly.

When I saw the Brain-Eating Bugs

in you,

I carried you back to the village.

I see.

We need to reunite with Miss Shi.

Let's go!

You still don't see it?

She was sent by higher-ups

to keep an eye on us.

Her background isn't simple.

How did you know?

That jade pendant...

Do you still have it?

The missing one.

Miss Shi.

This jade pendant

was originally a gift

I gave to Fang Chengxuan,

the Grand Tutor Fang.

Do you remember him?

Fang Chengxuan

is a man of integrity.

Prince Chengping trusted him

more than anyone.

I gave him the round jade

hoping he'd learn to be flexible.

But he never listened.

Later,

Emperor Dewu seized the throne

and made him

[Imperial Edict]

Write the accession edict,

to proclaim it to the world.

Grand Tutor Fang refused,

and his entire clan

was exterminated.

That jade pendant

was lost from then on.

Yet now,

it has turned up on Shi Lingyu.

Could Shi Lingyu

be a descendant of the Grand Tutor.

It's possible.

She occasionally slips

into a local dialect...

Almost identical

to Fang's hometown speech.

Gandu (Fool).

I'm not going along with that.

Why wasn't she implicated?

Could it be

Back then,

when Prince Chengping

was fleeing the chaos,

he ordered Fang

to build a secret underground passage.

If Fang valued Shi Lingyu,

not only would he give her the jade,

he might've told her

the location of the passage.

To save herself,

Shi Lingyu could've

leaked the passage's location

to someone else

in exchange for survival.

To whom?

That,

we don't yet know.

What's happening?

They've made their move.

Bai Yinchuan,

you've robbed the Xiaoling Mausoleum

by night.

Treason!

You shall be ex*cuted.

Mu Ye!

Let's go.

He's not dead.

Come out.

Go in and check.

He's really still alive!

Hurry!

Protect me!

Bai,

leave the fighting to me!

Mercy, hero!

Your Excellency is too kind.

I boldly speculate...

The underground passage

was revealed to you by Shi Lingyu.

You built the Netherworld.

And Brain-Eating Bugs...

You obtained them from people

of the Miao Region.

The rumor-mongers

I met at the tavern

were part of a setup

you arranged with Shi Lingyu.

Spreading rumors

is to weaken morale

and stir the people into rebellion.

Bai,

instead of

reading my mind,

you should be worrying

about your wife and kids.

Sir,

think about it.

I knew this was dangerous from the start.

Do you really think I'd come unprepared?

Impossible.

You're lying.

Eunuch Liu,

what are you really after?

Back then,

Emperor Dewu

invaded the Southern Frontier,

wiped out the Kingdom of Annan.

And slaughtered my entire family.

I castrated myself and entered the palace.

I lay low all these years

for one reason...

Revenge.

It's quite tragic.

It is said that

It's said Anan sorcerers

used animal blood as nourishment,

combined with ghost-vine roots,

to breed the Brain-Eating Bugs.

Those bugs survive

by feeding

on the sap of ghost vine.

No wonder you're from the Mystic Guard.

Anan was small,

with little manpower.

This was the only way

we could control others

and make use of them.

I see.

Shi Lingyu

sought revenge as well,

and the two of you joined forces to rebel.

Anyone who stands in my way...

k*ll them!

Leave him to me.

Yuanbao,

take this!

Looks like

I was outmatched.

Tell me...

What exactly is the relationship

between Fang Chengxuan and Shi Lingyu?

She is the last surviving bloodline

of the Fang family.

So that's it.

Her identity was hidden all along...

She is Fang by blood.

The Fang family was wiped out back then.

So how did she alone escape death?

She's just a bait.

The State Preceptor used her

to lure out the remnants

of Prince Chengping's power.

The State Preceptor?

The truth

is about to be revealed.

Before Fang Chengxuan died,

he told Shi Lingyu

where the underground passage was.

To avenge her family,

she endured everything.

On the surface,

she obeyed the State Preceptor.

In secret,

she allied with Eunuch Liu,

plotting to topple Emperor Dewu

and put a new king on the throne.

From start to finish,

she never betrayed the Fang family.

I was wrong about her.

Here,

drink this mugwort soup.

Master,

you're still alive.

Now everything makes sense.

We now know the full story.

You're a Fang descendant.

When we first met,

you showed me the jade pendant

to reveal who you really are.

My uncle trusted you like a brother.

How could I bring myself to hurt you?

The reason I didn't save that child

was to test

whether you still had compassion.

But Eunuch Liu feared exposure.

He was worried that you might find out.

He stockpiled Ghost Soldiers

through the passage.

He ordered me to k*ll you all.

I stopped it again and again.

I kept you

from going deeper into the fissure

so you'd stay out of the fighting

and survive.

But I never expected

Eunuch Liu

to harm innocent villagers

and turn them into Ghost Soldiers.

That's on me.

Eunuch Liu

is dead.

We're already

under someone else's control.

It's no longer necessary now.

Yinchuan,

you didn't disappoint.

You've purged the court of its poison

and wiped out those pests

gnawing at the foundation.

State Preceptor?

Shi Lingyu,

back then,

I felt sorry for you being all alone,

so I persuaded His Majesty

to spare your life.

Who would have thought

not only did you show no gratitude,

but you also played along

while secretly protecting Eunuch Liu,

committing treason in the process?

That foolish tyrant

committed unforgivable crimes.

To silence the masses,

he wiped out my entire clan.

Such blood hatred...

How could I not seek revenge?

Eunuch Liu is ruthless,

k*lling innocents.

You're only helping him commit his crimes.

So tell me, State Preceptor...

How did you

end up here?

I suspected Eunuch Liu long ago.

This time I had you come out,

ostensibly to repair the Dragon Vein,

but in reality,

it was to draw out the snake in hiding.

Oh?

I don't think

it's that simple.

Oh?

Yinchuan,

what do you mean?

You said

Eunuch Liu and Miss Shi were allies.

Then why did he

lock her inside that coffin?

That doesn't add up.

Exactly.

He used her,

then discarded her like a tool,

feeding her to the Brain-Eating Bugs

as a host.

You couldn't tell that?

I only said

he locked her in a coffin.

So how did you know

she was meant to be a host?

Could it be

that you already knew Eunuch Liu's plan

to rebel,

yet deliberately let it slide?

Interesting.

Go on.

Liu dug into the palace to breed bugs

and create chaos,

and your goal

was to swoop in and take over.

Impressive.

There's only one thing I don't understand.

You're already State Preceptor,

second only to the emperor.

Why go through all this?

It was me pulling the strings,

helping Dewu seize the throne.

But once he held absolute power,

he tried to sideline me.

So I'll sever the Dragon Vein

His very foundation,

crush his authority.

What can you do about it?

You brought me back for one reason...

To get me k*lled.

Zheng Yuanbao!

What are you waiting for?

Do it!

Wait...

Bai...

Yuanbao!

You think

mugwort soup

can completely

remove the Brain-Eating Bugs?

Watch Bai Yinchuan closely.

When this is over,

you'll revive the Mystic Guard.

Revive

the Mystic Guard.

Zheng Yuanbao!

Yuanbao!

Yuanbao!

Yuanbao, what's wrong?

Back then,

you nearly crippled yourself

to save him.

And you still believed

he'd revive the Mystic Guard?

He hid in the mountains,

living peacefully.

No, that's not the case.

Zheng Yuanbao!

Zheng Yuanbao!

Yuanbao!

I'm not going to die.

Yuanbao!

Ridiculous!

Why did you lie to me?

Yuanbao, wake up!

Don't let him control you.

Zheng Yuanbao!

Snap out of it.

Don't listen to the State Preceptor.

The Mystic Guard...

You really think

it can be rebuilt that easily?

Watch out!

Zheng Yuanbao!

Don't listen to their nonsense.

Do it. Now!

Yuanbao!

I never stopped thinking about you.

Bai Yinchuan,

this is the old friend

you risked your life to save.

One bug,

and all those old ties are gone.

So tell me...

Isn't the human heart

even easier to control

than that bone flute?

The human heart

is not your bug!

Enough talk.

k*ll him!

- Zheng Yuanbao!

- No more words.

Yuanbao!

What are you doing?

He's lost control.

You k*lled the wrong person!

Yuanbao!

I didn't lie to you.

For the past 10 years,

all I wanted was to save you.

Live...

For yourself.

Forget the Mystic Guard.

Studying feng shui,

mapping the Dragon Vein

divining the country's fate,

and slaying evil spirits.

So it turns out

Your Majesty had already

seen through the Preceptor's plot.

It's just a trivial trick.

Then why send us

to investigate?

I knew exactly what you wanted...

Solve the case, earn merit,

rebuild the Mystic Guard.

So Your Majesty

knew my intentions

from the very beginning.

The Mystic Guard

hides secrets

and sees through fate.

I need it and I fear it.

It can be destroyed.

It can also be rebuilt.

But without testing you,

how could I trust your loyalty

and your ability?

I'm sending you to guard Annan

[Imperial Pardon Xuanji Elite Guard]

Granting you a secret imperial edict.

As for Shi Lingyu,

[Imperial Pardon Xuanji Elite Guard]

For her role in quelling the rebellion,

all past crimes are forgiven.

[Graves of the Yujiagou Villagers]

With His Majesty's word,

you may lay down your armor

and return to a quiet life.

What about you?

You withdrew from the world once.

Now you return to serve the court.

Everything has gone exactly

as you planned.

You did all this

to revive the Mystic Guard.

Then serve the court well.

Remember,

harbor a heart of a demon,

strike with thunderous force.

Look at this national treasure forged

from a meteor.

Yu once forged the Nine Cauldrons

to guard the realm.

Today, I have the Earth-Demon Star

pressing down on the nation!

Poison with poison, right?

His Majesty never truly cared

about the truth.

Only whether people obey.

Everyone thinks

protecting the Dragon Vein

guarantees prosperity.

They're wrong.

The real Dragon Vein

is the human heart.

Do you remember

that burned mother and daughter?

One hand on her daughter's neck,

the other looked like it was holding her.

I guess she was controlled

by the Brain-Eating Bugs at first.

But at the very end,

it was a mother's love that freed her.

That's why she used her body

to protect her daughter.

Wan'er!

I misjudged them.

I was wrong

about that mother and daughter.

Master,

I hope you can revive the Mystic Guard

and not become the next State Preceptor.