ADAPTED FROM HEAVEN OFFICIAL'S BLESSING, A NOVEL BY MO XIANG TONG XIU,
PUBLISHED ON JINJIANG LITERATURE CITY
You're awake?
I just escaped!
I'm not going back!
Help me, Priest!
Calm down. I'm the owner of this shrine.
If you need any help, I'll see what I can do.
You said that you didn't want to go back. Go back to where?
Half-Moon Pass.
I just escaped from there.
What happened there?
You don't know?
All I know is that it's an oasis in the Gobi Desert.
Its half-moon night scene is breathtaking, which explains its name.
Oasis? Breathtaking scenery?
That's how it was 200 years ago.
Now, it should be renamed to "Half-life Pass."
Because at least half of the people
who went there disappeared!
How did you know?
I've seen it myself.
At that time, a caravan was about to go past the place.
They knew it was haunted,
so they hired the priests from my shrine to protect them.
Then something weird happened.
In this group of 60 people,
I'm the only one who survived!
There were 60 people?
There aren't even 200 victims of Xuan Ji
over the last 100 years.
Since when did Half-Moon Pass turn into "Half-life Pass"?
I'm
not sure.
But word has it that it all started 150 years ago
-when an evil priest occupied the place. -Wait a minute.
You said you fled all the way from the Half-Moon Pass?
Yes, I barely made out.
I see.
You must be thirsty after all that running.
Please have some water.
Well...
Have some. Make yourself at home.
Stop.
You can't drink it,
right?
It is tainted. I'll make you a new one later.
He is just a puppet. No wonder he didn't have internal organs.
This is interesting.
It's hard enough to make a puppet
act like human beings.
But he didn't show any ghost aura and inactivated the talisman.
The puppeteer must be powerful.
I didn't expect you to dabble in this kind of craft too.
Just a bit.
However, don't you think it's fishy?
Indeed.
-So many merits! -I'm so happy!
-It's mine, don't take it. -Don't take it.
-Hey, enough. -There is more here.
-Move. Collect those over there. -Don't fight.
-I got some too. -How many?
-Hurry up. -How many do you want?
-It's mine. Don't touch it. -Really?
-You're still collecting? -I won't be polite.
When were you ever polite?
There is more here.
-Take all of them! -There are still many.
-There is more here. -So many!
You're back, Your Highness?
How are you doing in the Mortal Realm?
I'm fine.
What's happening?
The Wind Master is back.
He is giving out merits.
-Don't take mine! -You were too slow!
Exactly!
A hundred merits! A hundred!
Why did I only get one?
The Wind Master is so generous.
Aren't you going to join them?
I'm fine.
Has anyone heard about the Half-Moon Pass?
Has anyone heard about
-the Half-Moon-- -There's another round!
The Wind Master gave out
-another 100,000 merits! -Kingdom?
-Thank you, Wind Master! -You're so generous!
-Thank you, Wind Master! -Hold on, Your Highness.
Why are you interested in the Half-Moon Pass?
A puppet came to me, claiming that he fled from there.
He said that for the last 150 years,
half of the people who went past it went missing.
I find it odd,
so I came here to research it.
-Thank you, Wind Master! -Your Highness,
-I suggest that you leave it alone. -Collecting merits is hard.
Were the puppet's words true?
-Why are you pressing against me? -Be careful.
-Thank you, Wind Master! -We really shouldn't
-Hey, that's mine. -talk too much about it.
It's better not to dig up
some affairs of the Heaven Realm.
San Lang, I'm going to be out of town for a while.
Are you going to Half-Moon Pass?
All right, Xie Lian. Bring me along with you.
It's far away and the place is windy and sandy.
Why do you want to come?
If that's the case,
why do you bother about Half-Moon Pass?
I used to collect scraps in the Half-Moon Kingdom.
When I hear about what happened, I'm a little concerned.
I see.
Do you want to know who the Evil Priest is?
You know about that too?
The Half-Moon Kingdom still existed 200 years ago.
The Half-Moon people were strong
and aggressive.
They often harassed the people of Central Plain.
The Evil Priest of Half-Moon
is their Imperial Preceptor.
Are you going to Half-Moon Pass?
How did you know?
We heard you asking about it in the Spiritual Communication Array.
What are you going there for?
I have some concerns about it.
By the way, what are you here for?
I see.
"I volunteer." Right?
-Yes. -Yes.
When do we depart?
Now.
-What's the rush? -I'll draw a teleportation formation.
First thing first,
if there's anything you cannot cope with, just run.
Xie Lian.
Who are they?
Who are you?
Don't worry, San Lang. They're my friends.
Don't talk to him.
Why? Do you know him?
Not really.
Why are you so agitated then?
Xie Lian.
Are they your servants?
No.
To be specific, they're more like my assistants.
Really?
Can you do me a favor then?
I only have one broom.
Stop!
Please calm down!
Bravo.
Where does he come from?
What's his name?
Why is he with you?
I met him on my way. His name is San Lang.
Since he has nowhere to go, I let him stay with me.
How can you let him in? What if he has an ulterior motive?
Calm down.
-How can I calm down? -How can I calm down?
I have nothing to be taken advantage of.
Even this shrine needs donations for repairs.
All right, that's enough. Let's just head to Half-Moon Pass.
If you fight here,
then I'll have to rebuild this shrine.
Move. I need to draw the formation.
How about drawing it on the door?
It was simply a misunderstanding. I hope you don't mind.
Since you said so, how could I mind?
Maybe I look familiar to them.
Yes.
That's why I've mistaken you for someone I knew.
What a coincidence.
You both look familiar to me too.
So you live in this slum?
I've always lived in places like this.
Where is the bed?
There.
You slept with him?
Is there anything wrong with that?
I'm done.
How hideous!
If my formation is better than the Earth Master's,
how can he keep his job?
All right.
Let's go.
May the Heavenly Official's blessing
shatter all taboos.
According to ancient records, when the moon sets,
follow the direction of Polaris and you'll find the Half-Moon Kingdom.
Xie Lian, look.
-It's Polaris. -It's so bright.
Yes. The northwestern night sky looks broader than that of the Central Plain.
Why is he here too?
Taoist magic is so amazing.
I have to see for myself.
"See for yourself" ?
Are we here for sightseeing?
Never mind. He is here anyway.
We have enough food.
San Lang, just follow us. Don't get lost.
-All right. -Is it a matter of food?
Enough, Nan Feng.
Just forget about it.
Let's go.
Xie Lian, we've been walking all night.
Can't we draw another teleportation formation?
Teleportation enables us to travel faster,
but the further it is, the more spiritual powers it uses.
It will take a longer time before it can be used again.
Why can't he draw one then?
Fu Yao needs to save his powers, just in case.
Here, I'll let you have this.
I don't need it.
All right. Just tell me if you need it.
By the way, San Lang,
what's the matter with the Evil Priest?
You didn't finish it yet.
Since you're intrigued, I'll go on.
The Imperial Preceptor of Half-Moon is one of two evil priests.
"One of two evil priests" ?
Who is the other one?
It's the Imperial Preceptor Fang Xin of the Central Plain.
The Half-Moon Kingdom lies in the path between the Central Plain and the west.
Border clashes occur frequently.
Two hundred years ago,
the Central Plain defeated the Half-Moon Kingdom.
The Half-Moon's Evil Priest, an orphan of Half-Moon Kingdom,
wandered about with no place to go.
While growing up, the priest learned sorcery from someone.
Intimidated by the priest's power,
the Half-Moon people anointed the priest as their Imperial Preceptor.
Back then, the two countries were stuck in a tug-of-war.
The Imperial Preceptor set up an altar,
claiming that it was to guard the soldiers.
The soldiers' morale was boosted and they fought to guard the city gate.
With arrows,
rocks, and swords,
the battle raged on.
However,
the Imperial Preceptor opened the city gate
in the climax of the battle.
Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers flooded in.
The city became a blood altar.
Taking advantage of the bloody offering,
the Imperial Preceptor improved their black sorcery,
hence becoming a Wrath.
The Half-Moon Kingdom
became the Half-Moon Pass.
What about the remains of the kingdom?
After being destroyed, the place was haunted by evil spirits.
The oasis and houses were gradually engulfed by deserts.
How about the rumor of the missing people?
Well, I heard that the Evil Priest
fed the passersby to the dead soldiers' spirits,
lest they starve and destroy themselves.
Your knowledge is pretty impressive.
It's nothing.
It is you who are ignorant.
What did you say?
-Fu Yao! -Reveal yourself!
It is just a story from an ancient record.
-Why are you enraged? -You...
Although the story is not verified,
the Half-Moon Kingdom did exist.
Look!
It's already noon. It will get hotter later.
Let's take a break.
I'll explore the place.
Your Highness,
don't you think he's odd?
Yes.
Why are you keeping him around then?
What if he's dangerous?
Nan Feng.
That's not right.
Odd does not mean dangerous.
I look odd to others,
but do you think I'm dangerous?
Besides,
I've tested him.
What's the result?
There's nothing suspicious.
If he's not a human, then there is only one possibility left.
A Ghost King of Devastation rank.
Would a Ghost King be so free
to collect scraps with me in the village?
San Lang and I get along well.
I have nothing worth exploiting.
Stop thinking about it.
No.
I need to test him again.
All right.
Both of you are Deputy Gods.
He is probably just a youngster who ran away from home.
-Be nice. Don't bully him. -But--
Xie Lian!
Come! It's nice and cool here!
Any water left?
Wait!
I have water too.
This is the True Shape Serum.
-Help yourself. -Can't I share Xie Lian's water?
His water is running out.
Really?
You two may go first.
You're a guest. You should go first.
You've been of great help. You should go first.
-I insist that you go first. -How could I? After you.
You go first.
Why wouldn't you drink this?
Are you hiding something?
Why are you forcing me?
Aren't you being more suspicious?
Is the water
poisonous?
You can ask him that.
Xie Lian, is the water poisonous?
No, but...
All right.
It doesn't taste good.
It's just plain water.
-What's the difference? -This bottle
-tastes much better. -Young man.
This journey would get dangerous. I'll give you a sword for protection.
It's the Red Mirror, the ghost-revealing sword!
Wasn't it pawned?
Where did you get this?
It's Feng Xin's sword.
He got it back after his ascension.
I borrowed it for the trip.
Let me have a look.
Xie Lian,
are they teasing me?
Who's teasing you?
How could a broken sword protect me?
You...
I guess you didn't want to give me a broken sword.
It must have accidentally broken on the way here.
Don't worry.
I can do without a sword.
Look at the weather. There might be a sandstorm soon.
If we go on,
I don't know if we could find a safe shelter.
Your Highness,
are you giving up just like this?
No. Someone seems to be out there.
-Who is it? -I don't know.
But it's definitely not a caravan.
Ordinary people won't show up here
at this time.
San Lang,
is the Evil Priest you mentioned
a man or woman?
I heard that it's a woman.
Could that woman
be the Evil Priest?
Let's follow her!
This is bad.
We lost her.
It's getting windier.
How odd.
Fu Yao, let's see if there is a shelter here.
Fu Yao? Nan Feng?
San Lang!
Be careful.
Thank you.
Be careful, everyone.
There's something odd about this storm.
I'm afraid it's sorcery.
It's just a bit windy and sandy.
How bad could it be?
I'm afraid
that there is something else in the wind.
Maybe they are the ones messing with us.
Anyway, let's find a shelter first.
I think the wind was manipulated
to stop us here.
If so,
we should just keep going.
What is it?
Do you find it incredibly gratifying to do things against others' will?
What did you say?
All right. Let's talk about it later.
It'll be horrifying if it gets windier.
Can it blow us into the sky?
-Your Highness! -Your Highness!
Ruoye! Grab onto something solid!
I didn't mean San Lang!
Oh no!
Subtitle translation by: Li Xue and Yin Xiaowen