ADAPTED FROM BAI LU CHENG SHUANG'S LOVE IN THE CLOUDS
You still haven't explained why you must see Ji Bozai.
How do I know you will not harm him?
I know that because of my current identity,
it is hard for Your Majesty to trust me.
But if I wished to harm Ji Bozai,
I've had hundreds of chances to do it.
Why would I wait until now?
Your Majesty, please let Fairy Ming Yi in.
His Lordship's spiritual veins are shattered,
and his pulse is faint.
His spiritual veins are shattered?
Your Majesty,
right now, I'm the only one who can save your Crown Prince.
You must let me see him.
Ji Bozai promised me that he had cut ties with his past.
That's why I agreed not to punish you for your crimes.
After this,
don't come to Yaoguang Mountain again.
Buxiu, Twenty-Seven, stand guard outside.
Don't let anyone learn of Ji Bozai's condition.
-Understood. -Understood.
Back then, because of the absence of the Diwu tree's core,
the Golden Millet Dream that my lord took was incomplete.
It could only suppress the poison temporarily,
and there was always a risk of relapse.
Before she died,
Fairy Bo refined a complete Golden Millet Dream.
But my lord refused to take it.
He used it as bait to draw out his enemies.
He's suffering a relapse now
because he burned through his spiritual power
to refine the Golden Millet Dream again.
Not only did he exhaust his spiritual power,
but he also forced open his Spirit Well to save you.
He's suffering a complete relapse of the Heavenly Grief.
Your heart's blood?
Why would you use your heart's blood?
Ming Yi,
how much of it do you even have to give before it drains you dry?
So what?
Have you ever thought about how it feels for me to see you like this?
You knew you would relapse,
yet you still gave me the Golden Millet Dream.
You never told me. I didn't know a thing.
I just received my master's reply.
He said he still hadn't found the Diwu tree's core.
What am I supposed to use to save you?
You know that without the Diwu tree's core,
even with the recipe,
the Golden Millet Dream can't be made.
So, why risk your life doing this?
Shut up.
Ming Yi. Ming Yi.
Ji Bozai,
I used to think that in this life,
I'd always be trapped in the name of Ming Xian,
never able to be myself
or know how it felt to love someone.
But because of…
Because of you,
everything changed.
So, don't hide everything from me
and make me…
make me stand by and watch you die.
I won't let that happen.
Enough.
Ming Yi,
you've already done more than enough.
I thought I'd never see you again.
Ji Bozai.
There, there.
I'm fine now.
Did you really think
I'd just sit by and watch you make the Golden Millet Dream?
If you want it,
take it.
Don't play tricks on me.
You used a winged leech against Ji Bozai
to trigger a relapse of the Heavenly Grief?
I truly underestimated you before.
THE VERMILION ELYSIUM
But tell me, Chao Yuan,
why would someone as cautious as Ji Bozai
let you get close to him so easily?
Father, everyone has a weakness.
And Ji Bozai's weakness
-is love. -Love?
Who could he possibly love?
Don't tell me it's Ming Xian.
The upheaval at Yaoguang Mountain is no secret to anyone.
Ming Xian usurped Ji Bozai's title and power,
and yet he ended up falling in love with her?
How utterly laughable.
Indeed, Father.
In your eyes,
all emotions must seem laughable.
What, are you displeased with me?
I would never dare.
You have lived for over a century
and witnessed the rise and fall of countless things.
Naturally, nothing moves you anymore.
Someone like me could never
compare to even a fraction of your insight or cultivation.
Now, hand over the Diwu tree at once.
Once I make the Golden Millet Dream,
you shall have your share,
and you will finally have what you've always wanted.
Spiritual veins of your own.
Since I've accomplished such a great task for you, Father,
could you reward me with the title of Crown Prince?
Insolent!
So you meant to bargain with me all along?
Hand over the Diwu tree now!
Unfortunately,
I've already planted it in my heart.
If you want it…
Father,
if you had hesitated for even a moment,
just one moment,
I would not have done this to you.
You… You are just like that woman.
You both betrayed me.
The Golden Millet Dream is already within me,
and Chao Yan is dead.
I am the only son you have left.
It is time you told me how you really plan to seize control
of the Six Realms.
You wretch.
If you tell me everything, Father,
I will…
spare your life.
Fine. I will tell you.
I once foolishly believed
that I could share my ambitions with the one I loved,
and that we could rule the Six Realms together.
However…
THE TAMED TIDES, THE CLARIFIED FLOW
Your Majesty, you promised me
that you would form the Heartbond Array with me.
What exactly is this Heartbond Array?
It can enhance the power of the netherbeasts, of course.
You know I would never do anything that could harm you.
She… She lied to me.
The Heartbond Array sealed the netherbeasts.
I truly cared for her,
but she betrayed me
and ruined my grand plan.
You lied to me.
You and I should both go to hell together.
THE VERMILION ELYSIUM
Lin Ziyao,
even without the netherbeast army,
I still have the Sky-Swallowing Array.
You have already reached the Perfected Stage.
By sacrificing you
and combining that with the Heavenly Grief and the Golden Millet Dream,
I will be able to activate the array,
seize all the Blessed Rain of the Six Realms,
and rule them all!
Now you see, Chao Yuan,
how foolish I once was.
To achieve true dominion,
one must cast aside all emotion.
Father, you can rest now.
I will not take your life.
I finally understand why you became who you are now.
But I am not like you.
Emotion does not make me weak.
It only makes me stronger.
In celebration of Prince Chao Yuan's appointment as Crown Prince,
Zhushui Spiritual State will exhibit
the long-lost treasure of the Six Realms,
the Diwu tree, at the Zhushui Palace.
This announcement is to be shared across Hexu.
-Ming Yi! -What are you doing here?
Buxiu and Twenty-Seven sent me a message.
They…
Wait, what's wrong? You look pale.
I'm fine.
I just got word that the Diwu tree is in Chao Yuan's hands.
I'm going to Zhushui Spiritual State.
You mustn't go!
That boy is setting a trap for you.
That little brat.
Even back when he was Situ Ling,
he had already tricked me into revealing too much.
He knows the final catalyst herb for the Golden Millet Dream is the Diwu tree.
But I am clearly his target.
Even if it's a trap, even if it's a deadly one,
I have to go.
As expected, it's fake.
Should I call you Situ Ling
or Chao Yuan?
You can call me whatever you like.
I don't think you ever wanted
to return to Zhushui Spiritual State as its prince.
What made you decide to become Chao Yuan again
and abandon your life as Situ Ling?
Ming Yi,
as soon as Ji Bozai's life was in danger,
I spread word across the Six Realms
that the Diwu tree was in my possession.
You're clever. You must have realized
that his relapse was my doing
and that the Diwu tree
was the bait I set for you.
You knew there would be a trap,
but you still came.
For him,
you would really risk everything,
even knowing you're walking straight into a trap, wouldn't you?
Chao Yuan,
why don't you just tell me
what I have to do to get the Diwu tree's core?
Don't you already know
what I want from you?
Ming Yi,
this is the wedding gown I prepared for you.
Chao Yuan,
you're a Crown Prince now.
You've captured me,
yet instead of eliminating a powerful rival for your father
before the Qingyun Tournament,
you're holding a ridiculous wedding?
Yes.
Compared to eliminating a rival before the Qingyun Tournament,
I actually want this wedding more.
Even I don't know
how important
you've become to me.
You want the Diwu tree?
I can give it to you.
I can give you anything you want,
as long as you marry me.
Sure.
It's just marriage. Fine by me.
I see that you've formed spiritual veins.
You must have used
the Diwu tree's core to make the Golden Millet Dream.
Since the Diwu tree is no longer useful to you,
give it to me,
and I'll marry you.
I'll marry you once, twice, however many times you want.
How could you say that like it means nothing to you?
You were once the only reason I was alive.
Why do you have to hurt me like this?
Once?
What about now?
Are you living for yourself now?
As long as you're by my side,
nothing else matters.
Is that so?
Then let me be the Crown Prince of Zhushui Spiritual State.
It's true. I'm not the same as before.
But from now on, as long as you're with me,
you won't need to fight for recognition like in Jixing Abyss
or fear being abandoned
like in Yaoguang Mountain.
But that's not love.
If you love someone,
you won't dig a pit for her to fall into.
You won't trap her here.
And you won't hurt the people she cares about.
The people she cares about?
Ming Yi,
who do you care about most?
Is it Ji Bozai?
Why do you care about him?
Why can't you love me, even a little?
What does he have that I don't?
Why do you choose him and not me?
Ming Yi,
can't you try to love me, even just a little?
Just a little.
The Diwu tree is right here.
Shall we continue? I don't mind.
Ji Bozai?
You tricked me.
But I am clearly Chao Yuan's target.
Even if it's a trap,
-even if it's a deadly one, -Wait.
I have to go.
Perfect timing. Talk some sense into her.
You can't go alone.
-Don't try to dissuade me. -I mean, I know I can't stop you.
I'll go with you.
Chao Yuan wants to lure you into a meeting,
and it's clear he intends to claim you for himself.
So, I'll disguise myself as you and meet him.
That way, we can buy some time.
Meanwhile, you and the others
can search Zhushui Palace for the Diwu tree.
A trap for a trap. You're welcome.
Your Heavenly Grief has flared up.
You're already at your limit.
Are you really going to fight me?
Are you all right?
Not dying yet.
Immortal Situ,
this may be the last time I call you that.
Now that I've been cured of the Heavenly Grief,
you're no match for me.
Give up.
I was wondering how your spiritual veins recovered.
Ji Bozai doesn't have the Golden Millet Dream.
He spread false news
to lure those who covet it.
He never had the antidote.
You lied to me.
Ji Bozai had the Golden Millet Dream all along.
He gave you the antidote.
How touching.
You're both willing to risk your lives to protect each other.
I suppose
you really are a perfect match.
This…
hurts more than being killed.
You planted the Diwu tree in your own heart?
What are you doing?
You…
Isn't the Diwu tree so precious to you?
Then let me
destroy it
right before your eyes!
Chao Yuan.
Chao Yuan!
Let's go.
You're not going anywhere.
Ji Bozai!
Your Lordship, we've taken down all the guards outside.
Let's wait for her outside.
Why save me?
Wouldn't it be better
to let me die?
Chao Yuan,
I once told you
that you might develop spiritual veins of your own one day
or change the rule
that only those with spiritual veins could become warriors
and that one day, you'd become truly powerful.
Now, you've done it.
You've become the Crown Prince of Zhushui Spiritual State
and developed spiritual veins.
You've achieved it all.
But are you still yourself?
Since you've chosen to be Chao Yuan,
our paths have diverged.
When we meet again, don't hold back.
It's done! I've made the Golden Millet Dream!
Really? Really!
Fairy Ming Yi, please wait.
Before it's refined, it can't be taken directly.
It must be planted in the body to take effect.
Let me do it.
Ji Bozai…
-Ji Bozai! -Your Lordship.
What's happening?
His spiritual veins have recovered,
and the Heavenly Grief is gone.
Why is this happening?
The Golden Millet Dream can purge the poison,
but it's excruciating to have it planted in the body.
It feels as if one were being flayed alive.
But when he put the Golden Millet Dream into a scallion pancake
and tricked me into eating it, I didn't…
Because His Lordship
took all the pain for you when refining the Golden Millet Dream.
Now that it has come to this,
there's something I must tell you on his behalf.
The truth is,
he never truly wanted to leave you.
He learned the secret of the Sky-Swallowing Array.
When he said those things to you,
he was simply using the sharpest blade
to sever his bond with you.
Ming Yi…
Master She.
Let's go prepare medicine for His Lordship.
All right. Go ahead.
You know Buxiu isn't exactly the sharpest.
And he can never control the heat properly.
Right.
We can't do it without you.
Come on, Master She.
You two
really can't do anything without me, can you?
-Yes, you're right. -I told you
to watch and learn when I refined medicine, didn't I?
-Yes, you did. -You should've paid attention…
I'm cured.
Why didn't you tell me?
Tell you what?
You refined the Golden Millet Dream
in your own way, didn't you?
That's why I didn't feel any pain when I took it.
It was nothing worth mentioning.
Buxiu really can't keep a secret.
Nothing worth mentioning?
Fine. Then here's another question.
Why did you decide on your own
to stop the Sky-Swallowing Array by sacrificing yourself?
You forced open your Spirit Well to save me,
and that caused the relapse of the Heavenly Grief.
You couldn't even handle the winged leech that Situ Ling gave you.
If Buxiu hadn't told me all this,
were you planning to keep it from me until the day you died?
I made that decision long ago.
There was no need to tell you.
Hold it steady, cat claws.
Don't spill it.
It took a lot of effort to brew.
Yes, Master She.
And mind you, the herbs are very expensive.
What's going on?
Did His Lordship wake up?
He did,
but he might not be coming out anytime soon.
That won't do!
-Ming Yi! Ming Yi! -Master She, calm down.
Master She. Ming Yi was the one who sealed us out.
Maybe we shouldn't interfere in whatever they're doing.
We shouldn't interfere?
That's my daughter in there!
She can't be taken advantage of!
-Ming Yi! -Calm down…
Uh, the medicine's gone cold.
We should reheat it.
Just warm it up with your spiritual power.
No, Master She,
it'll mean more if you do it yourself.
You two, let go of me!
You ungrateful brats. How dare you!
I raised you for nothing!
My Heavenly Grief is gone.
You think you can keep me here?
Do you enjoy clinging to me like this?
I do.
There's nothing I enjoy more.
I'm not arguing with you.
Have you ever thought about what my life would be like
if you went off to die alone? at my life would be like