01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

Legend has it that at the end of the East Sea

stands the giant Fusang Tree.

Beneath it lies the Void Spirit World.

Unresolved mortal obsession gathers here.

After centuries of cultivation,
they become spirits.

The one with the highest spirit power

becomes the Sovereign of Spirits,
ruling all spirits.

Welcome back, Your Grace.

The current Sovereign was born a spirit.

The greatest talent in ten generations.

[He Si Mu, Sovereign of Spirits]

The Sovereign loves roaming the mortal world,

watching mortals experience joy and sorrow.

Liangzhou is her chosen place
to rest and watch.

Though immortal,
she was born blind to colors,

numb to flavors, cold, and warmth.

She lacks the five senses.

Centuries ago, a Starhaven sorcerer said

the master of the Deliverance Sword

may be the spell bearer
and bring her the five senses.

But to this day,
words of the past have long faded.

Even the Sovereign herself
has almost forgotten.

[Episode 1]

Save my son.

Save Chen Ying.

You're begging me?

Aren't you afraid?

Please. Save my son.

Save my son.

Please save my son.

You are fatally wounded,
but I can grant you one wish.

By my rules, I will extract your obsession,

and save your son.

Are you willing to let me?

Anything to save my son.

I accept.

Deal.

Such a deep obsession with his son.

Mortals are so hard to understand.

Without the sense of touch,
I struck too hard.

[Xue Chen Ying, Liangzhou villager]

The Great Liang Army is here!

[Liangzhou]

People of Liangzhou, do not panic!

The enemy is defeated!

We, the Great Liang Army,
will take over this city.

[Duan Xu, Commander of Tabai Army]

It's the Great Liang Army!

- You're finally here!
- Great Liang's army!

We'll do our utmost to protect
all citizens in this city.

- There's no need to hide anymore!
- Indeed!

No need to hide anymore.

The Great Liang Army.

They're here to save us.

They're finally here.

The Deliverance Sword.

My aunt's spirit sword from 300 years ago.

Why would it be
[Liang]

in the hands of a young general?
[Liang]

General.

General. North Chong massacred the city
before leaving.

Are you here to save us?

Thank you, General.

Thank you, General!

Thank you, General.

General, thank goodness you're here.

Miss,

wipe off the blood.

He really is just a mortal.

This body is so weak.

Please help me.

Save that child.

Take her away.

Take care of her.

Pass down the order.

Reorganize the troops in the city today.

Aside from defensive duties,

everyone must stay in the city
to rescue the surviving civilians.

Anyone caught looting or stealing
will face military law.

- Yes!
- Yes!

The Deliverance hasn't chosen
a master for 300 years.

Could you be its master?

[Liangzhou Government Office]

Our attack on the North Chong Army
caught them completely off guard.

Out of resentment,
they sacked the city during their retreat.

This was a man-made disaster.

We were still too late.

How many men did we lose this time?

We lost more than half.

Less than 4,000 men remain.

Xu, you're new here.
[Xia Qing Sheng]

The troops are unsteady.
[Meng Wan]

If the enemy attacks now,
we can hardly hold them off.

How is your rheumatism?

Any discomfort lately?

The weather has been fine lately.

I feel no discomfort.

It seems sunny weather isn't your favorite.

The young general has other plans.

Father, please don't go!

Father! Father!

Father, where are you?

Father!

Father!

This child is truly a handful.

How are the siblings doing?

The physician said they're exhausted.

They'll recover after resting for a few days.

Take care of them.

Xu, don't you think
that girl is very strange?

She mustn't stay here for long.

Father!

Where are you?

Father!

Father! Father!

Don't leave me behind!

Father! Father!

Father!

Father!

Don't leave me!

Father!

Father!

Don't go, Father!

Father!

Father!

Please don't leave me!

Father! Father!

Don't leave me, Father!

Father!

Father! Please don't leave me!

Father! Father!

Father! Father!

Father, don't leave me!

Father! Father!

Please don't leave me!

For centuries,
you're the first to ever grab my hand.

Father.

Father.

Feng Yi.

Feng Yi.

Long time no see, Great Ancestor.
[Hejia Feng Yi]

You called for me late at night.

Is there finally a way I can serve you?

Help me look into someone.

Someone from the court.

The one wielding the Deliverance.

The Deliverance has reappeared?

Who is its master?

It's...

Hurry up!

I'm Duan Xu,
Commander of Great Liang's Tabai Army.

Enemies retreated north of the Guanhe River.

Today, Liangzhou returns to Great Liang.

The Tabai Army will help you
repair the houses

and rebuild your homes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, General.

As long as I'm here,

I'll protect the people of this city.

[Liangzhou]
Coming!

As long as I draw breath,

I will keep Liangzhou safe day and night.

- It's warmer, right?
- Yes.

[Liangzhou]

You're awake.

Eat up.

Thank you, Miss.

My name is He Xiao Xiao.

Right now, my brother and I are weak.

We wish to stay for a few days.

Could you please ask the General
to make an exception?

By the way,

about the General who saved me,
what is his name?

Something is wrong with you.

You...

Hey, come eat!

Eat slowly.

You are quite scheming.

These North Chong's famous Suanxian buns,

only their people can eat them.

No wonder my brother threw up.

If you suspect my brother and me,
just k*ll us.

Since it's North Chong's food,

why did you recognize them at once?

You are definitely up to no good.

Why did you approach the General?

Were you sent by North Chong?

Don't bully my sister!

We are not from North Chong,
nor are we spies.

Why do you keep trying to scare us?

Either show evidence to prove we are spies,

or just k*ll us right here.

I don't care if you work for
North Chong or Duke Pei.

Whatever you are planning,
you'd better give up soon.

Even if it costs my life,

I will never let you
lay a finger on my senior.

Hearing you say this,

the General is quite pitiful.

Stop pretending.

We're very busy.

I'll leave now.

Tomorrow morning, you must leave.

Keep a close eye on them.

Yes.

What is your name?

Xue Chen Ying.

Xiao Xiao, don't you like food?

I neither like nor dislike it.

Whatever goes into my mouth,
it has no taste at all.

Hurry up and leave.

[Serene and Clear]

Please take me with you.

Please take me with you.

Father!

Right here. Start digging.

Why did you have to leave so suddenly?

Please take me with you.

What's your father's name?

Xue Mu Tou.

Which characters?

I can't read.

Your father is already buried.

Why are you crying for him?

He should be the one crying for you.
[Whittling Wood]

His life has come to an end.

He has no more worldly ties,

leaving you, a little kid, in this chaotic
borderland to survive all alone.

You're the pitiful one here.

Try throwing a handful yourself.

What is this?

What are you looking at?

It's just a magic trick.

So, Xiao Xiao, you're a trick master.

Honey.

Let's meet in the next life.

My son must be back.

What an amazing trick.

The General delivered himself to me.

Sir...

Give it back! Give it back!

Let go!

You rob even the dead.

Aren't you afraid of retribution?

Get lost!

Under Tabai Army rules,

for any identifiable corpse,

the belongings on the body
must be fully returned to the family.

You have a death wish or what?

- Are you okay?
- k*ll him!

Yes, sir!

Draw your sword.

Hurry up.

- Let's go!
- Hurry!

Let's go!

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Lay your loved ones to rest.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

[Whittling Wood]

Rest in peace!

General.

General.

General.

General, you saved us yesterday.

My brother and I can't repay you.

Please accept our thanks.

Miss, please stop calling me General.

It's best not to alert the others.

General, are you traveling discreetly?

You have a sharp eye, Miss.

We only met briefly yesterday.

Even with my veil on today,
you recognized me instantly.

Of course.

You're highly renowned and look so heroic.

I've admired you...

for so long.

Is that so?

Then what is my name?

No need for flattery, Miss.

If I were truly that renowned,

I should've kept Liangzhou
from being destroyed.

My name is Duan Xu,

as in "a supreme martial achievement".

My courtesy name is Shun Xi.

My name is He Xiao Xiao.

This is my sworn brother.

He's named Chen Ying.

- Miss He.
- Yes.

Watch out.

The Deliverance indeed
chose him as its master.

Who exactly is he?

North Chong soldiers! Catch them!

- Yes!
- Yes!

You aren't the only one...

- who recognized me.
- That was so scary!

You're safe now.

Thanks for your help.

I wish I could say there's no need for thanks
just like you,

but my brother and I have no family left.

Driven out of the Prefect's Mansion,

we are now homeless, with no food or shelter.

It's about to snow.

We don't even know where we'll sleep tonight.

Alright.

I'll help you and your brother
find a place to stay.

Thank you, General.

You just mentioned...

it will snow later?

The weather is very odd this year.

Even the Guanhe River has frozen over.

Snowing on a sunny day
isn't that strange anymore.

Though the sun is bright now,
the weather will change soon.

My eyes are very sharp.

Come with me.

He has no spiritual arts,
yet the Deliverance chose him.

How is he worthy of the Deliverance?

Xiao Xiao, it's snowing.

It really is snowing.

Miss, you were exactly right.

You were out for a day and a night.

If you catch a cold,
I don't want to take care of you.

You were unconscious for a day too.

Don't catch a cold.

Don't miss the beauty of the first snow.

Let's walk back together.

Mortals can be moved by such petty sights.

What a pity.

I am blind to colors, deaf to music,

and numb to cold, warmth, and taste.

All beings are like dust,

living and dying in a single day.

[Tianshuo]

No matter how many deep
and fervent desires they hold,

they're all but an illusion.

Great Liang once had a vast territory.
[Great Liang]

Now, it borders North Chong
at the Guanhe River.

[North Chong]
The North and South face off.

North Chong has occupied the 17 Prefectures

north of the Guanhe River for 60 years.

A winter like this comes once in a century.

The Guanhe River has frozen over.

The North Chong Army crossed,
pillaging Yuzhou and Liangzhou.

Though we used a surprise attack
to retake Liangzhou,

the North Chong Army is
still lurking outside the city.

The Tabai Army inside the city
is forced into a besieged defense.

The situation is dire.

Duan Shun Xi?

Everyone in the court knows him.

His family is renowned for scholars
and imperial relations.

Two years ago, he was the
Second-Place Scholar and became an official,

highly valued by Chancellor Du,

groomed as a future Chief Councilor.

Born to a civil official clan,

why did he take charge of this border post?

Duan Xu...

He has a sworn foe at court.

It's the Top Scholar of his exam year,

Fang Xian Ye, Censorial Counselor.

Duan Xu was impeached by him
and ended up in the army.

Fang Xian Ye is sharp
and careful in every move,

always outshining Duan Shun Xi.

Duan Shun Xi fell from
a Chief Councilor candidate

to a general post that may not last.

The one you call known to all, far and wide,

is that famed unlucky soul.

Who is it?

There's no one.

- Let's go.
- Let's go.

- Great Ancestor, Duan Xu...
- The Deliverance chose a dying man.

What do you mean?

In these chaotic times,
he's surrounded by enemies.

How long can he last?

According to my rules,
I'll ask him what his wish is,

and grant it.

After he dies, I'll take the Deliverance.

We won't be taking it for nothing.

Wait...

It's been 300 years.

The Deliverance finally has a master.

I actually lived to see this day.

No.

My ancestor is Ji Xi.

She's the Great Ancestor's aunt,

and the best Starhaven sorcerer.

She once mentioned in her notes

that mortals who bear the spell
are extremely rare.

Could the master of the Deliverance
that appeared after 300 years

be the Great Ancestor's spell bearer?

Then she can get her five senses.

Assassins! Watch out, General!

Guards! Protect the General!

This body is freezing to death.

How delicate.

If not to nourish this body,

I wouldn't bother bringing her.

Xiao Xiao! Don't leave me!

Xiao Xiao!

Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao, where are you?

Xiao Xiao.

My child.

My child.

My child.

Don't be afraid.

Come to Mother.

Stay away!

- Chase! Capture them!
- Chase!

- Yes!
- Yes!

My Spirits Lantern
actually fears the Deliverance?

Let me see why the Deliverance
chose you as its master.