E4 - Ghost King of Hua Cheng

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:43] ---
    Wait! Come back!
[00:54] ---
    Why did he run off?
[00:56] ---
    Your Highness still has some makeup on.
    That's probably what scared him off.
[01:02] ---
    What's wrong?
[01:04] ---
    He... has the face sickness.
[01:06] ---
    How could that be?!
    Are you sure that's what you saw?
[01:09] ---
    Face-sickness victims often try to
    burn off the affected part of the skin.
[01:15] ---
    His face was disfigured by burn marks.
[01:18] ---
    But the sickness should have died out
    hundreds of years ago when Xian Le fell!
[01:22] ---
    Besides, the face sickness
    is highly contagious.
[01:25] ---
    But there've been no reports
    of it anywhere near Mt. Yujun...
[01:30] ---
    I know what I saw.
[01:32] ---
    He must have recovered already.
    His scars are long healed.
[01:39] ---
    You're saying he's hundreds of years old?
[01:44] ---
    Quite possibly.
[01:47] ---
    This whole affair is suspicious.
    We'd better go back and inform Ling Wen,
[01:50] ---
    then expand our search and find
    the boy as quickly as possible.
[03:55] ---
    I see. The face sickness...
    That's no trifling matter.
[04:00] ---
    Don't worry, Your Highness. We'll do
    all we can to help you find that boy.
[04:08] ---
    Is something else worrying you?
[04:12] ---
    This face sickness, could it be...
[04:15] ---
    No use worrying yet, Your Highness.
[04:17] ---
    Let's wait for the outcome
    of the investigation.
[04:20] ---
    All right.
[04:21] ---
    There's something else I need
    to tell you about Mt. Yujun...
[04:24] ---
    Let's talk about it in
    the Telepathic Matrix.
[04:27] ---
    Everyone is already
    there discussing this affair.
[04:33] ---
    Now he's gone and done it!
[04:35] ---
    You're far too forgiving.
[04:36] ---
    I've had enough! Xuan Ji refuses
    to tell us where the Green Demon is.
[04:39] ---
    She insists on seeing Pei Ming.
    Get her out of here!
[04:42] ---
    General Nan Yang, the other
    heavenly officials' palaces are all full.
[04:45] ---
    Yours has just been renovated.
[04:47] ---
    Won't you let her stay just a few days,
[04:48] ---
    until we can find a
    mountain to imprison her in?
[04:50] ---
    Can we hurry this up? Does my Nan Yang
    Palace look like a loony bin to you?
[04:54] ---
    General Pei the Younger,
    do you have a spare room somewhere?
[05:00] ---
    Xuan Ji has always
    been fierce and stubborn.
[05:03] ---
    Only General Nan Yang
    can handle her, I'm afraid.
[05:06] ---
    Ming Guang Palace is
    really in for it this time.
[05:09] ---
    It's hard enough to deal
    with Xuan Ji alone
[05:11] ---
    without adding the Sad-faced
    Green Demon to the mix...
[05:13] ---
    The Sad-faced Green Demon
    is certainly one of a kind.
[05:15] ---
    Sad-faced... Green Demon?
[05:17] ---
    Could this have anything to do with the
    Forest of Hanging Corpses on Mt. Yujun?
[05:20] ---
    Was that his doing?
[05:24] ---
    Late as usual, Your Highness.
[05:28] ---
    Sorry, I had some business to attend to.
[05:31] ---
    Hm. The Green Demon
    never came to Mt. Yujun.
[05:34] ---
    Xuan Ji made the Forest of
    Hanging Corpses as an offering to him.
[05:37] ---
    That forest again! Sad-face's style
    is as distasteful as ever.
[05:43] ---
    Even his fellow demons find him tacky.
[05:46] ---
    Who gives a shit if he's tacky or not?
    Is old Pei back yet?
[05:49] ---
    We need to find out where the Green Demon
    is and send that crazy woman away!
[05:51] ---
    What a mess. General Pei's little fling
    is causing him a lot of trouble.
[05:57] ---
    That Xuan Ji was head over heels for him.
    Maybe he should come out and meet her.
[06:00] ---
    That's right! And spare us all this fuss!
[06:04] ---
    It's no use meeting with her.
    It would only drive her madder.
[06:07] ---
    Is Xuan Ji under the
    Green Demon's command?
[06:09] ---
    Yes. For centuries after her death,
    she nursed a bitter grudge
[06:13] ---
    but couldn't stir up too much trouble.
[06:18] ---
    It wasn't until the Green Demon
    took her under his wing
[06:21] ---
    that she became a real problem.
[06:22] ---
    That's true.
[06:23] ---
    Xuan Ji had an obsessive grudge,
    but not much power to go with it.
[06:25] ---
    If it hadn't been for Sad-face, she would
    never have been able to hurt anyone.
[06:29] ---
    It's too bad Old Pei isn't here,
    but at least we've got young Pei with us!
[06:32] ---
    Hold on, we'll track down Sad-face,
[06:34] ---
    but Ming Guang Palace
    still ought to pull its weight!
[06:37] ---
    Silence!
[06:38] ---
    We couldn't have handled the
    Mt. Yujun affair without Xie Lian,
[06:42] ---
    and without help from Generals
    Xuan Zhen, Nan Yang, and Ming Guang.
[06:47] ---
    Thank you, everyone!
[06:49] ---
    Your Highness, as the official
    in charge of this matter,
[06:52] ---
    is there anything you want to add?
[06:53] ---
    There must be a child spirit on Mt. Yujun.
[06:55] ---
    I heard it singing when
    I was on the sedan chair,
[06:58] ---
    but the two junior officials
    with me didn't hear a thing.
[07:01] ---
    It must be very powerful.
    Has anyone heard of such a spirit?
[07:04] ---
    A child spirit?
    We came across nothing of the sort.
[07:07] ---
    So Your Highness was
    the only one who heard it...?
[07:10] ---
    Could it be that you imagined it?
[07:12] ---
    This matter is highly suspicious.
[07:14] ---
    Ming Guang Palace should
    really be taking the lead on this one.
[07:16] ---
    To hell with the child spirit!
    Can't we get rid of that she-demon first?
[07:20] ---
    We have to find a
    suitable mountain first--
[07:25] ---
    I'll look into this child spirit.
    Was there anything else?
[07:30] ---
    One more thing.
[07:32] ---
    On the mountain, I came upon a youth
    who could control silver butterflies.
[07:34] ---
    Who was he?
[07:35] ---
    What did you say, Your Highness?
[07:38] ---
    He said he came across
    Hua Cheng (Flower City).
[07:42] ---
    Hua Cheng? His name is "flower city"?
    It suits him well.
[07:49] ---
    Has Your Highness never heard
    of the Four Calamities?
[07:54] ---
    You can't blame His Highness for that.
[07:56] ---
    He's spent the last few centuries
    honing his art in the mortal realm.
[07:59] ---
    He was preoccupied with making a living,
    so it's no surprise he's ill-informed.
[08:04] ---
    So... what are the Four Calamities?
[08:09] ---
    Four demon kings.
    The Green Demon, or Green Light
[08:14] ---
    Night-stalker, is one of them.
[08:16] ---
    But he's the weakest of the four,
    not even Devastation-level.
[08:20] ---
    And he really has awful taste.
[08:21] ---
    He only cares for shock value,
    and stirs up trouble everywhere.
[08:23] ---
    Then there's the Black Demon,
    or Black Water Boat-sinker.
[08:26] ---
    He rarely appears, and few of us in the
    heavenly realms have crossed his path.
[08:30] ---
    We know only that he is
    a great water-demon.
[08:33] ---
    And then there's the White-clad Calamity.
[08:36] ---
    He has another name as well:
    Bai Wuxiang (White No-form).
[08:50] ---
    He destroys kingdoms and
    leaves chaos in his wake.
[08:53] ---
    The very first kingdom
    he annihilated was--
[08:56] ---
    Something wrong with your
    throat today, Lord Ling Wen?
[08:58] ---
    Your Highness, Bai Wuxiang
    has been dead for centuries.
[09:04] ---
    I know. Don't worry about me.
[09:09] ---
    Even if he were still alive,
    we wouldn't have time to deal with him.
[09:14] ---
    The silver butterflies Your Highness saw
    are known as Dead Soul Butterflies.
[09:18] ---
    Their master is one whom we
    would do well not to anger:
[09:22] ---
    Hua Cheng, also known as the
    Blood Rain Flower-seeker.
[09:27] ---
    Hua Cheng is likely not his real name, and
    what you saw was not his true appearance.
[09:31] ---
    That's not the point. He once challenged
    33 heavenly officials in a row.
[09:36] ---
    After that, no one would forget his face.
[09:38] ---
    Thirty-three in a row?
[09:41] ---
    That was the year that
    Hua Cheng rose to infamy.
[09:43] ---
    He threw down the gauntlet
    before 35 heavenly officials.
[09:47] ---
    If Hua Cheng lost, he was
    to offer his ashes up to heaven.
[09:50] ---
    But if a heavenly official lost, they'd
    have to return to earth as a lowly mortal.
[09:54] ---
    And 33 fools accepted his challenge!
[09:57] ---
    In the end, the martial
    officials couldn't outfight him,
[10:00] ---
    and the scholarly officials couldn't
    outwit him. It was a total defeat.
[10:02] ---
    Hua Cheng called on them
    to fulfill their half of the bargain.
[10:05] ---
    But they thought he was only bluffing and
    would never dare go against all of heaven.
[10:10] ---
    So they all twiddled their thumbs.
[10:11] ---
    Then Hua Cheng burned down
    all their temples in the mortal realm.
[10:15] ---
    And since temples and worshippers
    are the source of heavenly power,
[10:19] ---
    those 33 officials were never seen again.
[10:26] ---
    On top of that, thinking they'd
    show off their heavenly might,
[10:28] ---
    those fools put a vision of the battle
    in their worshippers' dreams.
[10:31] ---
    When they lost, their followers
    began to worship Hua Cheng instead!
[10:35] ---
    The heavenly realm lost
    every bit of face it had.
[10:38] ---
    What a maniac!
[10:39] ---
    He's a cunning one.
[10:41] ---
    The martial gods were all slashed
    to bits by Hua Cheng's scimitar.
[10:44] ---
    Everyone's still traumatized.
[10:47] ---
    The scholarly gods were hardly any better.
[10:49] ---
    He insulted them up and down,
    inside and out.
[10:53] ---
    They were so furious,
    they were all but spitting blood!
[10:57] ---
    And then there were those
    crazy silver butterflies!
[10:59] ---
    That's right!
[11:00] ---
    Some of the officials still
    have nightmares about them.
[11:04] ---
    I thought the silver butterflies
    were kind of cute.
[11:19] ---
    So, Hua Cheng challenged 35 heavenly
    officials, but only 33 accepted?
[11:23] ---
    What happened to the other two?
[11:27] ---
    By the way, Xuan Zhen, Nan Yang,
    how do you know all these inside details?
[11:32] ---
    How do they know?
    It's pretty obvious!
[11:35] ---
    Your Highness, are you sure the person
    you encountered was Hua Cheng?
[11:39] ---
    Do you remember anything else about him?
[11:41] ---
    He was wearing a red robe and
    black boots, and he had an umbrella.
[11:45] ---
    And what did he do when he saw you?
[11:47] ---
    He crushed Xuan Ji's magical formation
    and even guided me along the path.
[11:51] ---
    That's it?
[11:53] ---
    That's it.
[11:54] ---
    Well...
[11:55] ---
    That's not like him. Could it be a ploy?
[11:57] ---
    What is he really up to?
[11:58] ---
    I don't know.
[12:00] ---
    Listen, if two of the
    Four Calamities have appeared,
[12:02] ---
    that means they're probably
    plotting something.
[12:04] ---
    If we are easily fooled by appearances,
    we'd be playing right into their hands.
[12:09] ---
    Yes, Hua Cheng is far too devious.
    We need more than just wild guesses.
[12:15] ---
    I think our first priority
    should be to find out
[12:17] ---
    what's really going on
    instead of pointing fingers.
[12:19] ---
    Ming Guang Palace
    will do its best to help.
[12:22] ---
    Lord Ling Wen, what do you think?
[12:24] ---
    I agree.
[12:25] ---
    This has gone beyond our meeting agenda.
    I have to inform His Imperial Majesty.
[12:30] ---
    Everyone, let's call it a day.
[12:33] ---
    Thank you, Your Lordship.
    Your Highness. I'll take my leave.
[12:38] ---
    See you all later.
[12:39] ---
    I'll head out as well, then.
[12:42] ---
    I'm leaving as well.
[12:45] ---
    I still have to deal with Xuan Ji.
[12:47] ---
    Nan Yang.
[12:50] ---
    Xuan Zhen.
[12:58] ---
    Those two junior officials you sent
    were a great help. Thank you.
[13:08] ---
    Your Highness should really
    worry about yourself first.
[13:10] ---
    Do you really think you can pay back
    the 8.88 million merit points you owe
[13:14] ---
    with nothing but the
    offerings from Mt. Yujun?
[13:17] ---
    What do you think, General Nan Yang?
[13:36] ---
    I need a few people
    to help me over here.
[13:38] ---
    Yes, sir.
[13:42] ---
    These must be carefully inspected.
[13:57] ---
    Ling Wen, can I talk to you for a second?
[14:01] ---
    It's about those 8.88 million merits.
[14:06] ---
    Perfect timing, Your Highness.
    I have something to tell you, too.
[14:11] ---
    Congratulations, Your Highness!
[14:13] ---
    The worshippers on Mt. Yujun
    have fulfilled their vows with offerings!
[14:19] ---
    With all the merits you received,
    your debt has more or less been repaid.
[14:23] ---
    Really? All of it?
[14:25] ---
    But the merits from Mt. Yujun
    couldn't have been enough...
[14:29] ---
    I said you're in the clear.
[14:30] ---
    There's no need for Your Highness
    to ask too many questions.
[14:34] ---
    Thank you.
[14:37] ---
    Anyway, what exactly did you find out?
[14:50] ---
    After our meeting the other day,
[14:52] ---
    I reported the Hua Cheng
    affair to His Imperial Majesty.
[14:54] ---
    Now we're conducting a full investigation.
[14:58] ---
    Your Highness has no idea how
    much trouble Hua Cheng caused
[15:00] ---
    while you were living in the mortal realm.
[15:04] ---
    It must have been hard for you.
[15:06] ---
    Anyway, does Your Highness
    have any plans for the future?
[15:09] ---
    Actually, that's why I'm here.
[15:13] ---
    I've ascended to heaven three times,
[15:14] ---
    yet I still don't have a
    single temple or follower.
[15:17] ---
    That must be a headache
    for you and His Imperial Majesty.
[15:21] ---
    So I did some thinking, and I've decided
    to pull myself up by the bootstraps.
[15:25] ---
    Since I've got nothing but time now,
[15:27] ---
    I thought I'd go down to the mortal
    realm and build a temple to myself!
[15:33] ---
    Huh?
[15:35] ---
    See you around!
[15:37] ---
    Wait!
[15:48] ---
    What?
[15:49] ---
    Someone moved into that abandoned
    house by the village entrance?
[15:51] ---
    It's a temple now!
[15:52] ---
    Who could've pulled that off?
    Let's go take a look!
[16:00] ---
    Welcome, everyone.
[16:05] ---
    Master, whom is your
    temple dedicated to?
[16:09] ---
    To the Crown Prince of the
    Kingdom of Xian Le.
[16:12] ---
    Who's that?
[16:13] ---
    He was a crown prince.
[16:15] ---
    What can he do?
[16:17] ---
    He protects his worshippers.
[16:18] ---
    Can this crown prince bring us wealth?
[16:22] ---
    I'm afraid not, sorry.
[16:24] ---
    What about political
    careers and promotions?
[16:25] ---
    He can't do that either.
[16:31] ---
    Then this god is useless.
    No wonder he's so poor.
[16:34] ---
    Men are afraid of getting the wrong job,
[16:35] ---
    women are afraid of
    marrying the wrong man,
[16:36] ---
    and priests should be afraid
    of worshipping the wrong god.
[16:39] ---
    How about dedicating your temple
    to the Water God instead?
[16:41] ---
    He brings wealth!
    You'd get a lot of incense offerings!
[16:43] ---
    Uh...
[16:45] ---
    Or to Lord Ling Wen! He might bless
    our village with a Number One Scholar!
[16:49] ---
    Well...
[16:51] ---
    Or you could worship...
[16:54] ---
    Yes?
[16:56] ---
    General Big Wang.
[17:03] ---
    Think about it!
    Oh, if only it were Lord Ling Wen.
[17:06] ---
    General Big Wang isn't bad either.
[17:07] ---
    Yes, yes, yes!
[17:12] ---
    It's all right, I've got plenty of time.
[17:14] ---
    There'll be worshippers
    and incense someday.
[17:23] ---
    I do need to pay for renovations.
[17:26] ---
    So...
[18:32] ---
    Gossip about gods and immortals,
    tales of the demon world.
[18:35] ---
    Not bad at all.
    That should be enough for renovations.
[18:39] ---
    Building the temple cost me money,
    but collecting junk got me paid.
[18:43] ---
    Turns out collecting junk is a
    better deal than ascension!
[18:51] ---
    Hm?
[18:52] ---
    This one's about me.
[18:55] ---
    The Crown Prince of Xian Le
    ascended to heaven three times.
[18:57] ---
    He is the god of martial arts,
    pestilence, and junk-collecting.
[19:02] ---
    Well, at least I'm a god.
[19:04] ---
    Whether of martial arts or junk-collecting,
    there's really not much difference.
[19:07] ---
    All gods are equal,
    as are all living creatures.
[19:10] ---
    Is that so?
[19:12] ---
    People like to talk about equality.
    But if they really got their equality,
[19:16] ---
    would there still be a place
    for all the gods in heaven?
[19:35] ---
    That's true.
[19:36] ---
    Wu Du, the Water God,
    is in charge of water and wealth.
[19:40] ---
    If he's already a Water God, why does
    he need to control wealth and fortune too?
[19:43] ---
    Merchants often ship goods by water,
[19:46] ---
    so they usually go to the Water God's temple
    to pray for safe passage before traveling.
[19:49] ---
    As this became custom, the Water God
    gradually began to handle wealth as well.
[19:54] ---
    This Water God must
    be quite powerful, then.
[19:57] ---
    Yes, a real Water Tyrant.
[19:59] ---
    Water Tyrant?
[20:00] ---
    If you don't give him an offering,
    he'll capsize your boat.
[20:04] ---
    Hence, a Water Tyrant.
[20:06] ---
    I see. You look quite young,
    but you seem to know a lot.
[20:12] ---
    I've got plenty of spare time,
    so I observe things around me.
[20:22] ---
    You know a lot about gods,
    but what about demons?
[20:27] ---
    Which ones?
[20:39] ---
    The Blood Rain Flower-seeker, Hua Cheng.
[20:46] ---
    Wait a moment, Your Highness.
[20:49] ---
    It might be bad luck to say this, but...
[20:52] ---
    When you journey through the mortal realm,
    you may well encounter Hua Cheng again.
[20:56] ---
    So please remember this:
[20:59] ---
    He comes from Mt. Furnace,
[21:02] ---
    where thousands of demons fight
    to the death to become kings.
[21:05] ---
    Any demon king who survives that ordeal
    must be cunning, ruthless, unpredictable.
[21:12] ---
    He might have been kind to you,
    but you should never let your guard down.
[21:17] ---
    Avoid him if you can.