Bound By a Promise (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Xiang

Did you catch any fish?

Look! I got one!

You've trampled all the rice seedlings

Now we'll go hungry again.

We'll have fish soup tonight!

Come on!

Shisan!

Hurry! Go back now!

Something's wrong at your place!

-Fu!

-Chenfu!

Stop!

Are you alright?

-Father!

-Chen Fu!

Master Wu, what are you doing?

You owe the Zhao's money.

Three months overdue, no interest paid.

This is just a warning.

If you still don't pay

I will burn your house down.

How dare you!

Master Wu!

Fu.

Master Wu.

Move!

Out of my way!

Father!

So you are still a cr*pple.

I will give you three days.

If you still can't pay

Your wife and daughter will

be sent to the Zhao manor

as sl*ves.

And you will leave Jiulong Town forever!

I'm not afraid of you!

Yun Niang!

Yun Niang.

If you don't have the money in three days

You and the girl will

become Zhao manor's sl*ves.

Let's go!

Mother!

Wife and daughter sold as sl*ves.

Yunniang!

Go.

Father.

Let's just use the old one for now

and make a new pair when we have money.

How much do we still owe?

I paid..

I paid some of it.

Otherwise, how would we buy feeds and seeds

and medicine for Chen Xiang.

Keep the family fed or pay the debt

I... I had to make a choice.

You should have discussed it with me.

Yunniang.

Don't worry. I'll find a way.

Leave everything to me.

Fu, what are you doing?

-What are you doing with..

-Mum!

Do not stop me.

Fu.

What are you trying to do?!

Fu.

Fu!

Brother Su!

Brother!

If you scare my butterflies away again

it won't be ink that runs

down your neck, but blood.

Zhao Jiulang's gold and silver

Can that buy back my butterflies?

You once said

ill-gotten wealth is fair to take.

A cart full of gold and silver.

Zhao Jiulang hired

the top road guards

from Mianzhou to escort it.

Hu Liu and Ye Lizi are leading the team.

Equipped with crossbows.

You, go home.

Go home?

Go back and just watch

my sister get tied up to pay the debt?

You are scared of Zhao Jiulang!

I am not scared!

I want them to know.

The Chens are not all cowards.

Who are you calling a coward?

You, Chen Shisan.

I will never be like you.

Fu!

You stop right there!

Papa.

Papa.

Papa.

With that little wit of yours

Going there would get you k*lled.

This blade

was not made for that.

Stand alert.

Only wild dogs hide and

never show their faces.

Papa.

It is the White-Robed Bandit.

Brothers

Let's fight our way out together!

Looks like they all served in the army.

All tough fighters.

Hu Liu.

I know you were a soldier from Longyou.

Drop your blade, and I will spare you.

Having more men doesn't guarantee victory.

So many of them,

the White-Robed Bandit could be in danger.

Not necessarily.

He is pretending to

be weak to lure them in,

then wipe them out once they gather.

Let's go home.

Hurry up, move!

OK.

Go!

Don't come here.

Such a good blade.

Papa.

This gold is enough to pay off our debts.

Who said we are using this to pay debts?

Brother, the cart is full of gold!

Take it.

Give me back my blade.

I paid for it,

so the blade is mine,

unless you have got

the guts to take it back.

This blade means everything to me.

Father.

Please, return it to me.

This is General Gao's sword.

You, a crippled farmer.

What use do you have for it?

Help me.

Save me.

Take me to Zhao Jiulang.

You wil be well reward.

Papa.

Should we have him?

What time is it?

It is mid-afternoon.

Perhaps the road guards got delayed.

Hu Liu from Mianzhou,

Ten taels higher.

A well-known name in the underworld.

Reporting, Master.

The gold and silver were robbed

by the White-Robed Bandit'e men.

Where did it happen?

At Jiulong Mountain.

Master,

Who exactly is this

White-Robed Bandit?

A bandit chief who writes poetry.

They say Zhao Jiulang

also runs overseas business,

selling Kunlun sl*ves to

the nobles of Chang'An.

His mansion is filled with treasures.

This bit of silver

is hardly worth mentioning.

Brilliant.

Draw the tiger from its den.

Brother.

What about the Zhao family?

Shall we k*ll them?

Let them go.

I never k*ll unarmed people.

He... He's...

Papa.

That gold is enough to pay off our debts.

That gold is not us.

It was given to us by

the White-Robed Bandit.

He took the blade.

Remember

Never take ill-gotten wealth.

Better to thirst than

drink from a thief's spring.

I should have sent you

to a school long ago.

Was it you who tipped off

the White-Robed Bandit.

No, it was not me.

Stop!

He has nothing to do with this.

He saved me.

It was you who saved him.

Master Zhao.

The money I owe you

could you give me a few more days of grace?

Chen Shisan.

I gave you my best field.

Yet you still can't even pay the interest.

Jiu lang.

What I owe you.

I will not short you a single coin.

Well.

I'll give you five more days.

If you still don't pay,

your wife and daughters will be enslaved

for three years.

A debt is a debt.

I, Chen Shisan, will

never break my promise.

I will be waiting.

Hu Liu.

What happened?

It's the White-Robed Bandit.

He's extremely skillful.

This time.

I... I really got outmatched this time.

Reporting, Master.

The gold and silver have been robbed.

It was done by the

White-Robed Bandit's men.

Where's the swordsman

who delivered the message?

This isn't good.

Let us part ways for now.

Life is as short as morning dew.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Brother, dear brother.

If another good job comes up.

Same signal as before.

The Yellow River rises far into the clouds,

A lonely fortress stands

amid towering mountains.

Why should the Qiang

flute grieve for the willow?

The White-Robed Bandit is no ordinary man.

Extremely skilled.

Stay cautious and not act rashly.

Brothers.

You two head to the back door.

Brother Jiu.

Take men to the east wall.

There are cliffs to the west.

He surely cannot escape.

Zhao Jiulang.

What are you doing?

Commander Zhang.

I am afraid you are short on men.

With such a big show of force.

Aren't you afraid of scaring him off?

If you play the pipa like this,

the meaning would be different.

That's it.

Singing "Liangzhou Ci"

is like drinking ice and chewing snow.

What you swallow chills you to the core.

Yet you breathe out

turns into clouds and mist.

Su Huan.

None of you move.

Outside the window lies cliffs.

Jump, if you are not afraid to die.

Jump?

Your blood shall feed my arrow first.

Commander Zhang.

We can always catch them again.

But my life must be saved first.

Chen Shisan.

Where is my blade?

General Gao's Longyou troops.

Is especially good at climbing

walls and scaling walls.

The cliffs outside the

window can't stop you.

Where is my blade?

Your money, return

it to its rightful owner.

Guards!

Take him back to Bulinag Well.

I have questions for him first.

That can wait.

Take him away.

Move.

Chen Shisan.

Although you saved my life today.

But business is business.

What you owe me, has to be repaid.

A debt must be repaid.

The fifteen taels will be returned in full.

Good.

A lonely fortress stands amid mountains of

ten thousand fathoms.

Why should the Qiang

flute mourn the willows?

Official letter from the Imperial Court.

Su Huan is charged with treason.

It ordered us to escort him to Baima Pass.

Where the garrison officer

will deliver him to Chang'An

for judgment and execution

by the Ministry of Justice.

To Baima Pass.

Three days' journey.

The roads are treacherous

and crawling with bandits.

Escorting him there

would be like walking into a tiger's jaws.

You could let me go now

to get some money from my men in exchange.

Otherwise.

My own men will come to get me.

A solitary city.

We have to do it quickly.

Post a notice

Offer a large reward to recruit swordsmen.

Step aside.

I want to feel the sun.

Yes.

Jiulang.

The Imperial Court issued a

notice to recruit swordsmen.

To escort Su Huan to Baima Pass.

Baima Pass.

Su Huan is a wanted

criminal of the Imperial Court.

Escorted by the Prefecture's

Warden of Miscreants.

I'm afraid.

Take two men to find Zhang Wei.

Tell him.

We offer help with no charge.

Help him with no charge?

Only in this way can make Su Huanto talk.

And reveal where the treasure is.

Then find a chance.

k*ll Su Hwan.

Fifteen taels.

Fifteen taels.

Papa I want to go.

Nonsense.

Papa.

Go home.

No, I won't.

This money is enough

for us to pay off our debts.

Papa.

What debt?

Go home now.

What are you doing here.

I'm here to answer the call.

Answer the call?

Just him.

This requires signing a

life-and-death agreement.

You have a wife and children.

Think twice.

Sign.

Why risk your life?

Repaying debts.

Pay back.

You taking the bait?

You are a liability

reckless enough to die!

I was crippled in the w*r.

Got a few acres of land

settled as a farmer.

But with the drought

it has been hard to survive.

I was once a soldier from Longyou as well.

Fine.

Count him in.

cr*pple.

You are taking advantage of me.

Sign your name and press your fingerprint.

Zhang Wei.

You even hired a cr*pple?

So?

Your master didn't tell you

his ability?

You.

Well.

Jiulang asked me to bring

two people to help you.

Free.

Okay.

You'd better listen and follow orders.

Of-course.

Let's go.

Count me in!

What are you doing here?

Papa, I want to go.

Stay out of adults' business.

Go home.

I'm not going back.

Go.

I want to go, Papa.

Go back! Go!

Papa.

GO!

Brother.

The trip to Baima Pass

is extremely dangerous.

What insights you can offer?

As the Warden of Miscreants.

Yet you asking me?

Warden of Miscreants, you say.

The authorities just press scoundrels

into forced labor, that's all.

I'm nothing but a petty leader.

In the eyes of the superiors,

we are just ants.

To be sent to die at anytime.

Do you have a shield?

Here is some dry food

and a change of clothes.

You didn't discuss with me, again.

It takes about six days to return.

When I come back.

The debt with Zhao Jiulang will be settled.

Do you know he is a big thief?

Don't worry, I know what I am doing.

You know?

You have never had a sense.

Fu.

Papa.

You have grown up.

Take care of your mother and your sister.

Papa.

Good-Bye.

Bye-Bye.

Papa.

Father.

Be careful.

Wait for Papa to come back

and take you to catch fish.

Set off.

Papa, be careful.

My Papa will be back in six days.

If I had a wife and daughter like yours.

I would never take this path of no return.

Su Huan.

You are already on the road of no return.

All this for fifteen taels of silver?

Fine, throw your life away.

Your wife and child

will still end up as Zhao Jiulang's feast?

Raise silkworms for the silk they spin

When the leaves are

gone, the worms grow old

The basket lies empty

before the barren woods

To whom can this sorrow be told?

If one woman cannot weave

Thousands will suffer the cold

When one man fails to rise,

the world is full of hardship.

Misfortune needs no great cause

nor is fortune granted

to those who rush before.

Who doesn't know how to recite poems?

Exactly!

Those who ruin the mood

deserves a bad death!

Stop worrying about whether I will die!

Let me give you a poem instead.

I ride my horse through the hills

Flowers blooming everywhere

I pick a few at random

Bring them home to my wife

A fine poem! Truly fine!

Well done!

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

Zhao Jiulang has piles

of gold and fine food

And you dog!

Why are you eating dog food here?

You!

You wait here!

Here. Drink some water.

Eat

Look.

If you take a quick step forward

A single, clean strike

It will relieve your anger

right then and there.

Your blade has tasted blood before.

Why fear him now?

What kind of man are you, really?

Skilled, yet you swallow your pride.

The fire can be seen for miles

Are you trying to make sure

the bandits can find us?

Xiong Wu!

You take the first watch.

We have more men.

How about we take the

second half of the night?

Please, Commander Zhang

The men are exhausted.

I can't sleep anyway.

You take the first watch.

We will take over for the

second half of the night.

Come with me. Now.

Keep quiet.

Move.

Speak.

Where did my boss hide the gold?

Not talking, huh?

Guess you are asking for a beating.

Once this fool dies,

the other two will will behave.

Oh no!

Get into the reeds!

Shields up! Now!

How do we save Brother Su?

Horses can't enter the marshes.

Dismount! Get him back!

Get down!

k*ll!

Close in!

Break!

Form up!

Lingnan Short-handled axes.

What did your whistle mean just now?

This is our rule.

One handles of one's own trouble.

Don't drag your brothers into it.

Yesterday's battle

I know you used the back-to-back method.

Shield bearers, spear men, crossbowmen.

Even your formation are well ordered.

I've used these on the b*ttlefield.

Back then I persuaded Geshu Huang

to rebel out of Lingnan.

To beat many with few.

That's what I call real battle,

long sabers and crossbows,

Swords and banners,

and thundering warhorses.

Laughing on the b*ttlefield.

You have never been to a real b*ttlefield.

You say I haven't been to the b*ttlefield?

How did I end up as a rebel

if I never been to a w*r?

A rabble, oppressing

and harming the people.

Lingnan rebels.

Sre nothing but petty villains.

People like you

cannot stand a real tough battle at all

Scoundrel.

cr*pple.

Along the way.

Some want to save me,

and some want me dead.

I have driven off those who would save me.

And as for those who want me dead

Each one is a living devils.

I would like to see

how a cr*pple like you

survives a real, hard fight

Shopkeeper

Cut me five pounds of beef

And some dry food.

No problem.

Ask the fellow to feed the horse

Right away! Right away!

Thank you.

Brother

How should we arrange our lodging tonight?

Three rooms

But we will only actually stay in one

Change rooms every two hours

A cunning rabbit has three dens

Who are they?

People who want to k*ll him

The room is too small to move around

To prevent the enemy from wearing us down,

I will lead a troop first

Charge out to attract their attention.

Secure Su Huan with iron chain

Wait for my order

You take him and run first

I will form up and meet the enemy

Understood.

Everyone

If you are seeking wealth

go elsewhere

We do not seek wealth

Only Su Huan's head

He is a criminal wanted

by the imperial court

To be taken to Chang 'An for trial

He is our enemy

Only death by our blades will do

Just the few of you

I am afraid you won't

be able to pull that off.

Break through!

cr*pple this tough fight

are you already at your limit?

If you are unable to pay the debts

Your wife and daughter

were enslaved for three years

The cr*pple is unlikely to come back

cr*pple

There are only two men left

Thanks to your foresight

It's almost dawn

One day's journey left.

The sonner we get to

Baima Pass, the better.

Move on.

cr*pple.

You have got such great skills

How could you just be

willing to be a farmer?

You know I am a friend

of General Geshu Huang,

Although he failed in his rebel

But his former

subordinates are still around

Now the world is in chaos

and the people live in misery.

The people are being exploited.

Yet the court turns a blind eye

And you stay and farm in peace,

aren't you suffering the same fate?

I have seized gold and

silver to raise an army.

Soon, heroes will rise from every corner.

Once I united with

with General Geshu Huang's old troops

join as one

why don't you

all of you

Come with me

Let's achieve great things together then.

Chen Shisan

with your skills

Why not rise up and fight?

Slay your way through the land,

and claim wealth and glory!

Sharpening blades in Longyou,

blood on the yellow sands.

Laying down armor in Qinchuan,

the scent of green grain in the air.

As a soldier of the Tang Dynasty

we fight when called,

to protect our land and people.

Return as folk when the battle is done,

to farm and read, to live in peace.

This so-called great wealth you speak of

will mean how many innocent people dead?

And destroy the Tang's

golden age to irreparable ruin?

The whole country is in

chaos, and people suffering.

Don't move

Put down the weapons

Otherwise

I slit his throat.

Then I will send him to his grave

Stop!

Get the key and unlock the chain

Quick

Chen Fu

Good boy

Really stubborn

Next arrow

will be head

I told you to stay home

take care of your mother and your sister

Who let you come?

Go back.

No!

If I were gone

At least your mother has you left

But if you are gone, who else she have?

She still have Chenxiang, doesn't she

I worry more about you

than my mother and sister.

Has your son seen your skills?

If not now, when will you teach him?

Let your family know their Papa's worth

What a waste

to throw away a life like this!

Fu

The way ahead is the most terrifying

It is not my men

nor my enemies

But Zhao Jiulang

Step aside

Boy

Have you ever been to Chang 'An?

He has nothing to say to you

Go

You should broaden your horizons

at this age.

How pity to have such a father

This life is beyond hope

My father served in

the Divine Strategy Army

at Daming Palace

ressigned to Longyou later

Fu

Do not talk to him

Let's go

It's raining

The Yellow River rises far into the clouds

A lonely fortress stands

amid towering mountains.

Zhao Jiulang

What are you doing?

Commander Zhang

I would like to make a deal with you.

I am taking Su Huan with me

He's stolen countless treasures from me

If you do me a favor today

I can give you 30 percent of it

30%

That sounds like a pretty big sum

He's a wanted criminal

of the imperial court

He must be escorted to Baima Pass

As for your money

The Longyou Army has a rule

We would rather die of thirst

than drink from a robber's spring

So there is no room for negotiation

No bargaining

Step aside

Draw the sword

Gather

Since there's no room for negotiation

Don't blame me for being impolite.

Keep Su Huan alive

Others

k*ll them all

Roger that

Stay close to me

Okay

When did you learn to use a blade?

While carrying water

Hold the blade tightly in your hand

Your eyes should be faster than the blade

I see

Papa

They ran away.

k*ll them all!

You bring nothing but misfortune.

Every time I run into

you, bad luck follows.

Chen Shisan saved my life

Let him off this time

There are only two ways out of the valley

We have to search separately

We have been searching so long

maybe we should call it off.

As a soldier of Longyou

we keep our promise and see it through.

Stay sharp.

Keep seaching.

Alright.

A promise made,

a promise kept.

Fu

Remember this.

Some battles must be won

But in others.

Surviving is what matters most.

Papa

How do I tell the difference?

When you fight for yourself,

you must win.

When you fight for others,

survival is the top priority.

Father,

Then we must find the White-Robed Bandit.

Stay strong.

We will surely find him

Go

Su Huan

I'm Cui Jing from Shannan.

You know my way of doing things.

Tell me where you have hidden the gold and

silver treasures now.

I will keep you alive

They said that Shannan Cui Jing

is more troublesome than a ghost

You are just as ruthless

as the King of Hell!

These past few days

I have barely escaped death time and again

I never thought I'd end

up in your clutches today

You want gold and silver treasures?

What a pity!

I gave them all to my brothers.

I guess it's almost all spent

This is called taking from the people

And using it for the people, you get that?

Forget the money

Cut him to pieces!

Go out and take a look

How did that cr*pple even find this place?

Leader

k*ll them!

You fool!

How many lives do you

think you have to throw away?

Chen Shisan

I know you

I have seen what you can do along the way

For fifteen taels of silver?

It's not worth it.

I am not in this for the silver.

Me?

I am after the money, you want the man

Let's take what we need

Call a truce.

You take the man,

Consider it me doing a good deed

Then we go our separate ways.

What do you say?

Brother Su Huan

Sorry

Go

Fu

Stay with me.

We are almost at Baima Pass.

Hold on.

Sorry for dragging your son into this.

Only five miles left

You must send him to..

To Baima Pass

I..

I trust you

You have my word.

Fu

Keep your eyes open, do not sleep

We are almost at Baima Pass

There are physicians there.

Only three miles left.

Tell me.. Was this journey worth it?

Why don't you stop here?

I will give you a thousand taels

If I take that silver from you,

how am I supposed to explain it to others?

Say that you got from me

And then?

Tell the others

that I got good luck from you?

You don't need to say anything,

No one else has to know.

Fu is watching

He will understand.

Fu may be young,

but he knows right from wrong.

cr*pple.

Why are you so stubborn?

Don't forget your wife and daughter.

I am a soldier

You are a bandit

I learned six words back in Longyou,

A promise made, a promise kept.

If everyone obeys morality

and keeps promises,

there will be no chaos in the world

Su Huan

Your poem is well-written

I still remember

the one you wrote in the mulberry woods.

When a woman cannot weave,

ten thousand men will feel the cold.

When a man finds no purpose,

the whole realm becomes

a harder road to walk.

Someday when people read your poems

what will they say you were like?

While you were in Lingnan

did you m*rder the

innocents to claim the credit?

To claim credit for their deaths?

You incited rebellion.

When the people refused

to supply provisions,

you let troops to steal the grain.

How many innocent people did you slaughter?

You made yourself chief of bandits,

made a living by robbing,

but only enriches yourself and your men.

How many have died

escorting you?

And you think you can

buy me off with money,

to let me release you

Your standards are so low,

yet you dream of rebellion.

Ridiculous!

You!

What kind of man are you, anyway?

Didn't you say,

Handle your own troubles?

I told them

If I haven't returned in three days,

come to Baima Pass to find me.

Only three miles left,

I will give you a fair fight.

I will stay my hand.

Only four of my men will step forward.

If you can still get through this,

I will go to Baima Pass myself

and turn myself in.

Can I have your word?

You have my word.

How brave,

cr*pple!

I shall compose a poem for you.

A swordsman once roamed Qin,

his blade like snow, his blood like sand.

Now there is Chen Shisan of Jiulong,

a man of his word,

riding to the world's end.

The world knows no lasting evil,

lives bloom and fade like flowers.

For one promise kept in blood,

Chen of Jiulong rides to Baima Pass.

Papa!

NO!

Chen Shisan!

Chen Shisan!

Chen Shisan!

This so-called great wealth you speak of

will mean how many innocent people dead?

And destroy the Tang's golden age

to irreparable ruin?

The whole country is in

chaos, and people suffering.

If everyone obeys morality

and keeps promises,

there will be no chaos in the world.

As a soldier of Longyou

Your father's blade,

hold tight.

Let's go to Baima Pass.

Look! I've caught a fish!

We'll have fish soup tonight!