ADAPTED FROM BAI LU CHENG SHUANG'S LOVE IN THE CLOUDS
TWO MONTHS AGO, FREEZING HOT WATERS
Where did Twenty-Seven go to look for food again?
Why is it taking so long?
I finally ran into someone.
Excuse me. Do you know…
They look like they died a sudden death from poisoning.
They didn't even have time to honor their daughter.
BELOVED DAUGHTER, MING
A convict from Sunken Abyss has now ascended.
Quite a grand spectacle.
To have separate seats, you must fight in the last tournament.
Are you serious?
My Lord.
No one had any objections to me.
If you intrude with me by your side,
people will start to judge me.
I should wait for you outside.
Wait.
This is my amulet.
-What is the meaning of this? -Yeah!
That is outrageous!
Immortal Ji doesn't act like a warrior at all!
Shameless!
-Why would Her Highness favor him? -Impossible!
-Unacceptable! -Seriously?
The Princess is watching.
How disgraceful.
Take it off.
Big deal!
I said,
take it off!
-What's his problem? -Disgraceful.
-Arrogant brat. -Outrageous.
This is outrageous.
-Exactly. -Utterly disgraceful!
Yes.
Take it off.
I promised her I would watch with you.
Since the Princess has spoken,
I'm counting on her to keep it safe for me.
He is too arrogant.
How can he do this?
-Shameless! -Get over yourself!
He is completely out of line.
Ridiculous!
That is going too far.
-Does he even have human feelings? -That's terrible.
I feel ashamed for him.
Utterly terrible!
-Your Highness. Why don't we take a break? -That's terrible.
-Exactly. -Way out of line.
-In broad daylight? -How dare he?
-Her Highness is so upset. -He is way out of line.
-Let's go. -He knows no shame or honor!
Such a disgrace!
-How can he do such a thing? -Exactly.
The Princess must be upset with him.
-The worst ever! -Indeed!
Tianji.
It's from the shop that sold your favorite candy when you were a kid.
If Lord Hanfeng hadn't told me
that they had returned to Huansha Market,
I wouldn't have found it.
Eat this.
It might cheer you up a little.
What?
Not even candy is enough this time?
I will drag Ji Bozai over here and beat him up.
I got your back!
Enough, Meng Yangqiu.
She is not crying.
If crying were enough to rule Shouhua Academy,
then that would be far too easy.
I was talking to Meng Yangqiu.
Did I need you to cut in?
I was teasing you. Don't be upset.
Thank you. I really like it.
Why would I be upset? When have you ever seen me angry?
But still,
I haven't seen you happy in a long time.
-Xiuyun. Put it away for me. -Alright.
Immortal Sun Liao is amazing.
-Yes, indeed! -He is our future!
Jixing Abyss really is short on talent.
Even someone like Sun Liao counts as powerful now.
Princess Tianji must be worried.
If you want to make me happy,
it's actually very simple.
For example,
you
and he
can take part in the warrior selection.
-That would make me very happy. -Alright.
Why?
I'm just a physician without spiritual veins.
How can I even fight?
Besides, we both know who we serve.
Surely, you know that.
Are you sure
you want to appoint me?
Jixing Abyss is running out of talent.
I have no other choice.
So, are you willing
to lend Jixing Abyss your strength?
Me and this guy.
We are both willing.
Your Highness, please choose someone else.
I shall
take my leave.
Tianji, what is wrong?
-Tianji. -Tianji!
Oh no!
-The Princess has been poisoned! -We need to check on her!
Hurry! Get help!
Come with me!
Yan Xiao, how is Tianji?
She has been poisoned.
Poisoned?
The candy. Could it be the candy?
If Lord Hanfeng hadn't told me
that they went back to Huansha Market,
I wouldn't have found it.
Xiuyun, the candy.
Here it is.
The candy is fine.
Thank goodness.
No, Tianji is still sick.
What did Tianji touch just now?
That hairpin.
After touching it, she started feeling ill.
It was Ji Bozai.
Could he be after the Venerable position?
He has always been ruthless to Tianji.
The Princess was poisoned. Won't you check on her?
There is too much to see today.
We can skip this one.
What do you mean?
Do you know the story
about the fox being tricked by the rabbit?
No matter how sly the fox is,
if it gets soft,
its claws will inevitably be blunted.
In the end, it becomes the rabbit's dinner.
If Ji Bozai really poisoned her…
Then what?
I don't have spiritual veins,
but even if there is only a slim chance,
I must do whatever it takes to kill him.
Is that so?
Tianji, you are awake.
I knew it.
There are seven different poisons.
Ji Bozai couldn't have slowly poisoned you over time.
No one else in this palace could do that.
You poisoned yourself.
Immortal Yan.
Are you worried that I might die?
Or are you
afraid that Uncle will hide from you
his plan to get rid of me?
After all,
that would mean losing his trust.
That would be earth-shattering for you.
Mu Tianji!
You are putting your own life at risk.
You are being foolish.
-Yan Xiao, you… -Where is the antidote?
Take it now!
There is no antidote.
-Your Highness… -No.
I'll get someone to check again.
There is nothing I can do.
My medical skills are limited.
There is nothing more that I can do.
Yan Xiao, please save Tianji.
Immortal Yan!
The poison is cleared.
No next time.
The warrior selection has ended.
We will announce the list of candidates.
THRONED IN STARS
CANDIDATE LIST
Before announcing this round of selected candidates,
I have an important announcement to make.
Those who are chosen today
will not be the final team for the tournament.
-Why? -Not the final one?
-Why is that? -Yeah!
Yeah, that is strange.
-Then, who the hell are we? -Why are we doing this?
-Right. -What is the reason for that?
-Yeah. -Why is that?
-Shouhua Academy -Isn't it wasting our time?
will continue to welcome talented individuals to apply.
We will select the best among them
until we form the perfect warrior lineup.
We will fight in the next Qingyun Tournament.
-More competitions? -Right, are we doing this again?
Now, I will announce the preliminary list of chosen ones.
Chief Warrior.
Warrior Ji Bozai.
Front Shield, Sun Liao.
-Sun Liao. -Sun Liao is actually not bad.
Forger, Chen Xi.
-Chen Xi. -Chen Xi?
-Why him? -Yeah, why?
His talent in crafting weapons is decent,
but he is just a kid.
Exactly.
He is too young for this.
He is not fit for this!
Vice Captain, Meng Yangqiu.
Meng Yangqiu?
-Meng Yangqiu? -His spiritual veins are strong,
but he is a bit of a fool.
-Me? -Healer…
-He? -Why is he picked?
…Yan Xiao.
Immortal Yan may be skilled in medicine,
but he has no spiritual veins.
He is as good as dead.
-Exactly. -That's true.
-How is it possible? -Why?
Your Highness,
I have no spiritual veins.
That doesn't meet the rules of the selection.
Immortal Yan Xiao's medical skills
are unmatched throughout Jixing Abyss.
No one is more qualified than you
to represent Shouhua Academy as a Healer
and bring honor to Jixing Abyss.
But we can't change the old rules.
Every rule exists
to serve the good of Jixing Abyss.
If the old rules cannot help Jixing Abyss win the Qingyun Tournament,
then, as the one who leads Shouhua Academy,
I will change them.
That is against the rules!
How can she choose them?
The Princess is being reckless.
She has never done something like this before.
How can she make such a decision?
The last time,
the Princess defied the old rules
to appoint me as a warrior.
So what? That is nothing special.
She is too unreasonable.
Such arrogance!
Who does she think she is?
There was even more criticism last time.
But everyone saw the result.
So,
any doubts or objections
will be mine to bear.
Your Highness, among the contestants,
there are countless with better medical skills than mine.
I am not worthy to represent us.
If he can do it,
I bet we can all do.
Is that so?
During the selection, I was unfortunately poisoned.
Seven different poisons were mixed together.
Almost impossible to cure.
Xiuyun asked every physician present at the time,
but none could find a cure.
Yet you, Immortal Yan Xiao,
created an antidote
that countered all seven poisons in such a short amount of time.
Everyone here was deeply convinced by your skill.
That's right. I saw it with my own eyes.
-Right. -That's true.
-They saw it too. -Yes, we can attest to that.
-That's true. -Yes.
You should not belittle yourself.
-True. -He can do it.
Immortal Yan Xiao, you may not have spiritual veins,
but even with a 10% chance to win,
you will still give it your all.
Am I right?
She is right.
The Emperor of Jixing has arrived.
-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Greetings, Your Majesty.
Father.
MU YUANFENG, EMPEROR OF JIXING ABYSS
At the last Qingyun Tournament,
Jixing Abyss rose into the Upper Realms.
But I believe this is only the beginning.
More victories await us in the future.
All of you here today
are willing to fight for Jixing Abyss.
I am deeply grateful for that.
I hope that from now on, everyone will give their best
and protect the glory of Jixing Abyss.
We will give our all.
We will safeguard the glory of Jixing Abyss.
Brother, don't overexert yourself.
You should return and rest.
I will head back now.
Who is that person?
Isn't that…
-He's back? -It's him!
-That's right. -Yes.
-What? -Why is he here?
-Why does he show up now?
I am the condemned Immortal Hou Zhao. I request to see His Majesty.
What happened indeed?
He is calling himself a condemned one.
-What happened? -Why?
-Hou Zhao? -Didn't he go missing long ago?
-Why is he showing up now? -What happened?
-What is he doing? -What is it now?
-What did he do? -Did he do anything wrong?
I am guilty of unforgivable sins.
Please grant me death, Your Majesty.
Hou Zhao, you have been missing for so long.
You neglected your duty to the Judgment Hall.
And now you dare show His Majesty such insolence?
What are your true intentions?
-Guards! -Yes!
-Seize Hou Zhao. -Yes, Your Lordship.
Wait.
Immortal Hou Zhao, thank you
for giving me all your memories.
Otherwise, I will have to spend more effort
to find the people I want to get rid of.
Don't forget what I told you to do.
The Emperor has been unconscious for years.
But during important occasions, tradition requires his presence.
Whenever that happens,
he always wakes up as expected.
This year's warrior selection
will likely be no exception.
When the time comes,
you will meet the Emperor in person.
Confess your crimes in public.
I, the condemned Hou Zhao,
took advantage of my position in the Judgment Hall
to secretly craft Heavenly Grief and Golden Millet Dream.
What?
-Heavenly Grief and Golden Millet Dream? -He knows that?
Now I realize the weight of my sins.
I am willing to confess.
Your Majesty, please pass judgment on me.
Heavenly Grief and Golden Millet Dream?
The Bo clan's elixirs that can create spiritual veins?
That formula was lost for centuries in the Six Realms.
How did he get it?
Someone has been secretly crafting Heavenly Grief?
Twenty-two years ago,
I accidentally obtained the medical texts left by the Bo clan.
I used the Sunken Abyss
and the labor of prisoners to secretly brew medicine.
But the manuscript was incomplete.
Over the years,
I only managed to create Heavenly Grief,
never Golden Millet Dream.
If Hou Zhao is telling the truth…
Lord Hanfeng,
you are in charge of the Sunken Abyss.
Can you explain this?
Brother, allow me to explain.
When I oversaw the Sunken Abyss,
I have never heard of such nonsense.
Hou Zhao,
you had better think carefully before you speak.
False accusations could bring disaster upon your entire clan.
That's right, Hou Zhao.
Did Lord Hanfeng take part in it or not?
You must make it clear. Tell the truth for his sake.
It was me.
Everything was my doing alone.
When I was managing the Sunken Abyss,
I forged Lord Hanfeng's handwriting
to use public power for personal gain.
I forced the prisoners in the Abyss
to make Heavenly Grief for me.
Immortal Hou Zhao.
Where is the new worker who was supposed to grind the herbs?
Right here.
Hurry up. Don't dawdle!
-Go that way. -Move faster!
Hurry up!
That way!
How dare you slack off!
You're asking for a beating!
You filthy prisoners!
Do your job! Grind those herbs!
Don't ever dream of leaving this place alive!
Immortal Situ.
If what Hou Zhao said is true,
how should we sentence him?
This case is too complicated.
I'll need to investigate carefully
to confirm the facts before giving a verdict.
Everything I told you
is the truth!
Very well.
From this day forth,
Hou Zhao will be imprisoned in the Judgment Hall's prison.
Once the truth is confirmed,
he will be tried.
-Good. -Wise decision.
Very wise, Your Majesty.
I will make sure the Judgment Hall
gets to the bottom of this.
Wait.
Regarding Hou Zhao's crimes,
I have something to report to His Majesty.
Don't worry, Immortal Ji.
You once saved my life.
I will surely repay you.
-What is it now? -What is she up to?
-Who is she? -What's going on now?
I am Ruo Shui, a maid from Moonlit Blossoms.
I can face the punishment for speaking against my superiors.
Despite my humble status, I must accuse Hou Zhao.
-What happened? -Hear her!
What are you accusing now?
Let's hear her!
Your Majesty, please hear me.
This matter
is not as simple as Hou Zhao claimed.
Those so-called prisoners who helped him brew medicine in the Sunken Abyss
were actually
innocent immortals he had abducted.
-How could he? -Unbelievable!
He used dark-spirit chains
to enslave them as laborers.
The toxic runoff of the refinery polluted nearby villages.
Hou Zhao knew this perfectly well,
but he refused to stop.
Lady, how do you know all this?
What is your relationship with Hou Zhao?
I am
his illegitimate daughter.
-Illegitimate daughter? -Really?
You just said Hou Zhao is your biological father.
Then, why would you expose him?
-Exactly. -Yeah, why?
Fairy Ruo Shui,
perhaps you could explain the whole story,
so the Judgment Hall can pass its verdict.
Ruo Shui,
I was wrong to abandon you and your mother.
I've been trying to make it up to you all these years.
Please, stop hating me.
You think you deserve pity?
Now you want to act like a good father?
When I was born with Withered-Branch Disease,
the sign of Total Deterioration,
you cast me and my mother aside without hesitation.
Mother fell sick from grief and exhaustion.
She eventually died because of it.
Heaven's justice never fails.
You abandoned us
just to have a healthy child.
But your entire Hou bloodline
died from the same disease!
Only I
survived to this day.
If not for this,
you would've never remembered you had a daughter.
Hou Zhao is cold and heartless.
How could I not hate him?
He's done nothing but evil all his life.
-That's terrible. -How could he do such things?
Even so,
your word alone might not be enough.
There must be proof.
Your Majesty, besides myself,
I also have a witness.
Fairy Ming Yi.
When I worked at Moonlit Blossoms,
I never spoke to Fairy Ming Yi,
but I knew
her parents were herb gatherers and lived in the Freezing Hot Waters.
Ming Yi, did you see how your parents died?
My Lord,
my family lived in the Freezing Hot Waters for generations.
We survived by gathering herbs.
This room will be yours from now on.
Five days from now,
Shouhua Academy will hold its selection for the next Qingyun Tournament.
His Lordship wants you to attend with him.
She's my amulet too.
What a grand scheme you've played.
Even I turned out to be just a pawn in your game.
I borrowed the identity of the Ming family's daughter.
Today, I must seek justice for them.
When my parents died,
their faces turned purple,
and veins like spider webs spread across their bodies.
They suffered terribly.
-That's horrible. -Poor girl.
That's intolerable.
Ming Yi,
why didn't you tell me about your parents?
You've used me anyway.
Why pretend now?
Physicians,
what kind of symptoms did Ming Yi's parents show?
-Right. What symptoms? -It is unbearable to imagine.
Physician Yan Xiao,
can you tell us what caused it?
From what you described,
they must have been exposed to Blood Pearl Bloom
-for a long time. -Blood Pearl Bloom?
-That's deadly poison! -Right!
As far as I know,
the herb gatherers at the Freezing Hot Waters
often died mysteriously near the Sunken Abyss
after drinking from its spring.
The source of the poison
was the highly toxic Blood Pearl Bloom.
I know that bringing such accusations will subject me
to punishment.
I, Ming Yi,
am also accusing someone above me.
I was powerless,
and only today did I learn my parents were wrongfully killed.
In the Freezing Hot Waters,
there could be many others like my parents
who were forced by hardship
to work near the polluted waters of the Sunken Abyss
and lost their lives unjustly.
So, today, I stand before you
to seek justice for all the fallen herb gatherers.
Your Majesty,
I came from the Sunken Abyss myself.
Other than the daily beatings,
I transported Blood Pearl Blooms.
I can testify to this.
Ming Yi, don't worry.
I'll be your witness.
Your parents' death won't be in vain.
Trust me.
Ji Bozai,
this is a serious matter.
Choose your words carefully.
Answer truthfully.
Are you saying you were blameless,
that an innocent man like you
was thrown into the Sunken Abyss as a prisoner?
You all gossiped about my past for so long.
Haven't you ever wondered one thing?
For as long as I can remember,
I've always been in the Sunken Abyss.
YOUNG JI BOZAI
Tell me.
What crime did I commit?
So, that means
Immortal Ji has always known he was innocent.
Did you ever think of taking revenge on Hou Zhao?
This fairy, Ruo Shui,
has lived in the Jixing Abyss for quite some time.
She never thought of accusing someone above her rank.
Could it be that someone put her up to it,
giving her the courage to stand up today?
Lord Han Feng, it seems you have missed the point.
Why are you focusing on why Ruo Shui spoke up in court?
We should get the priority right.
Is it more important to know why she exposed Hou Zhao
or to uncover the truth behind the Sunken Abyss?
Uncle,
I think Immortal Ji is right.
By the way,
there still seems to be something suspicious about this matter.
If Hou Zhao operated alone,
how could he have pulled off something this big?
-Yeah, that's true. -That makes sense.
Exactly.
There's no way he did it alone.
-Exactly. -He must have co-conspirators.
Hou Zhao,
raise your head.
Was someone giving you orders?
You can speak up today.
I promise to spare your life.
-Tell us! Come on. Speak! -Tell us!
-Speak! -Speak!
-Tell the truth! -Speak!
-Speak up! -Tell us!
We want the truth!
-Tell us! -Who is it?
-Tell us! -Come on!
Tell us now!
Tell us!
-Spell it out! -Be quick!
Let the truth be out in the light.
What are you hiding?
-Say it! -Come on!
Just say it already!
-Say something! -You're hiding something!
-Tell us! -Hurry up!
Why won't you talk?
-Come on! -Tell us now!
-Speak up! -What's the truth?
-Tell us! -Come on!
Tell us!
-Speak! -Tell us!
Speak up!
Tell us!
-Actually… -Go on. Tell us!
If you don't talk, you'll die.
-Come on! -Your Majesty!
-Father! -Your Majesty!
Yan Xiao, check what's wrong with my brother.
His Majesty is…
How is he?
He has been overexerting.
He just needs to rest in the palace.
Escort my brother back.
Father.
That was all too sudden.
Tianji, if you're worried,
you can go with him.
That won't be necessary, Uncle.
Thank you for saving him in time.
Now that everything's been made clear
and my brother is unwell,
I will take his place for now and deliver the verdict
on Hou Zhao.
I am Situ Ling, Chief of Judgment Hall.
Strip Hou Zhao of his immortal title,
brand him a sinner,
and sentence him to heavenly lightning.
Crush his primordial spirit, scatter his soul
across the Six Realms.
-Good! -Well said!
-Justice served! -He deserves it!
-Justice!
-That's the right call. -Justice is served.
People like him should have no peace.
-Exactly. -Right!
-Indeed. -Agreed!
-Serves him right! -A just verdict!
Thank you, Lord Hanfeng,
for standing up for me.
No need. Don't worry.
I will make sure Hou Zhao pays for his crimes
and that you have justice.
Fairy Ruo Shui.
Tell me, who sent you here today?
Don't be afraid.
I am only asking
so I can protect you better
and whoever stands behind you.
Thank you, Lord Hanfeng,
but…
no one sent me.
I chose to reveal the truth myself.
Is that so?
Immortal Ji, you have spent a lot of time at Moonlit Blossoms.
Have you ever seen Fairy Ruo Shui with anyone before?
Moonlit Blossoms?
It's too crowded for me to see the same one twice.
Fairy Ruo Shui
does look a little unfamiliar.
Besides, I haven't gone there in a long time.
Now that I have Ming Yi,
why would I need to go there again?
Right?
Lord Hanfeng,
if Lord Ji ever goes back
and flirts with some fairy there,
you must tell me.
I'll make him pay for it.
Fairy Ming Yi, you misunderstand.
Immortal Ji and I
were only discussing official matters.
You two have shown great courage,
but rules must still be followed.
For defying authority, you must still face punishment.
I understand.
Immortal Ji,
there is something important I must discuss with you.
Will you spare me some time?
Something important?
Sure.
You scoundrel, Ji Bozai!
May you trip the moment you step out the door,
lose the soles of your shoes on the road,
and chip your teeth while eating!
-One more thing… -Fairy Ming Yi.
Immortal Ji is a good man.
Stop cursing him already.
You think he is a good man?
Haven't you seen him
surrounded by fairies at Moonlit Blossoms?
Don't be so naive.
But it's the truth.
You have to believe me.
At Moonlit Blossoms,
he was always proper with them.
Nothing ever happened.
He really is a good, kind man.
Nothing ever happened.
He really is a good, kind man.
Please don't misunderstand him.
I didn't misunderstand.
You're the one he fooled.
You think he is being kind,
but he is only using you.
Don't think he actually cares about you.
Qibai, you've refilled this teacup so many times,
but what exactly is this important matter?
Perhaps I caught a chill.
Let me head back and rest a while. We'll talk another day.
Wait.
The physician is right here.
I can have someone bring you medicine.
It should cure that chill of yours.
The matter with Hou Zhao
was truly shocking and lurid.
I blame myself
for neglecting the Freezing Hot Waters.
I failed His Majesty.
Today is a good opportunity.
I just wanted to have a deeper talk with you, Bozai.
So that we can all prevent such tragedies.
Well said, Lord Hanfeng.
However…
I've barely left my little fairy behind,
and I'm already missing her.
Wait.
Bozai.
Being Chief of Judgment Hall is tiring.
I have to double-check the witnesses of every case.
He was pure with all those fairies at Moonlit Blossoms?
No way. It's not like he is insane.
No, maybe he isn't.
Is he, though?
Forget it. You're still young.
Just remember this.
Ji Bozai treats everyone
like pieces on his chessboard.
He calculates every move around them.
Watch out!
A netherbeast! Impossible!
Guards! A netherbeast!
No. My spiritual power alone won't kill it.
I'll have to borrow strength.
What's going on there?
Go and check!
Yes, sir! ck!