Brought to you by Guodong Subs
This video is an English subbed version of this anime. Please also support the official channel and official comic.
Translator : Yue, Jyzal, Thunderplanet, Snow Lyrics translator : Yue Proofreader : Yue Timer&Effect&Encoder : Yuuki
Advertisement
Be simpler,
and you're much cuter!
Let's return to the memories of youth!
Leaving storms of the past
I gaze imperiously at the firmament
gently caressing the flute with composure
At the Cloud Recesses
within the Emperor's Smile
The physical realm is transient
the drunken dream of a lone soul
I explore both orthodoxy and heresy
observing the pandemonium
taking on a solitary fight against all
Yet I've not
abandoned my innermost core
Living an unrestrained life
virtue and vice are both illusory
yet the scars within the heart will not fade
In this life
the floating world is like a dream
Though standing aloof from worldly affairs
paths differ but integrity endures
Even with a heart of chivalry
all were regrettably in vain
Good and evil are in black and white
but the border between love and hate remains unclear
Our acquaintance is like a dream
Episode 3
Pursuing Studies
Xuan Zheng Year 18, Gusu Cloud Recesses
We made it!
Let's take a break, rest a bit.
If you get up late again, I definitely won't wait for you.
It's just being late.
We'll be punished to stand at worst.
What's there to fear?
Bro* Zixuan
*a polite form of address in ancient China
Jin Zixuan
This Bro Jin is getting more pompous.
Lanling Jin Clan is wealthy as a king.
Jin Zixuan is god's favored one.
Of course he's pompous.
Wait, stop thinking of mischief!
I'm warning you.
No matter what, Jin Zixuan is sis's fiance.
They'll get married one day.
Bear with it even though you despise him.
Alright.
Orchid Room.
Its name is elegant
but the old master who teaches in there is stuffy.
He's really capable though.
Even a useless person,
could become a decent man after 1 or 2 years of his discipline.
Am I not decent enough already?
Nie Huaisang
Bro Jiang!
Bro Wei!
You'll become the mark of disgrace on Sir Lan's career in teaching.
Bro Wei is just a disciple from Yunmeng.
Why could he come to Gusu to study?
Bro Wei is the son of Clan Leader Jiang's old friend.
He has been treated as their own son.
I see.
That explains why they don't look like master and servant,
they seem like brothers.
Bro Wanyin, Bro Wuxian.
This is your first visit to Gusu.
It's boring here, isn't it?
Not really.
Problem is getting up too early.
*In ancient China, time was interpreted in terms of 12 sectors, Mao Shi is 5-7 am
Here we get up at Mao Shi*.
Seems fine.
When do you get up?
*Si Shi: 9-11 am #Chou Shi:1-3 am
He gets up at Si Shi* and rests at Chou Shi*.
Once awake, he doesn't train in the sword or meditate,
but goes canoeing, plucks lotus and hunts pheasants.
I'm still the champion even in pheasant hunting.
I wanna study in Yunmeng next year!
No one can stop me!
Bro Huaisang.
No one will stop you.
But your elder brother will break your legs.
Actually, Gusu is kinda fun.
Are you kidding? Bro Wei.
Here's my sincere advice.
The Cloud Recesses is not like Lotus Pier.
During your visit in Gusu,
do remember not to provoke a certain person.
Who?
Lan Qiren?
Not that old man.
It's his favourite disciple.
One of the Twin Jades of Lan—Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan?
Lan Wangji?
Exactly.
He supervises punishment and is highly-skilled.
Everyone is scared of him.
But he cultivated in seclusion for years.
We don't see him often.
Why is he here?
Bro Wei,
did you step out of line?
Well...
Late returners are not allowed in until the end of Mao Shi.
Get out.
It's Emperor's Smile!
I'll give you a jar.
Make a smile,
you'll be much cuter.
Alcohol is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses.
What exactly is NOT prohibited in here?
It's clearly written on the Wall of Discipline.
Go read it.
There are over 3000 family rules without repetition.
Who even reads them?
Ok alright.
I won't go in.
I'll sit and drink here.
That's not breaking any rules, right?
Wandering past curfew, alcohol, and unsanctioned duels are banned
in the Cloud Recesses.
You broke 3 rules on your arrival!
The rules here are even more than ants.
He's targeted you.
Good luck.
Good morning, Sir.
Please sit down.
Lan Qiren
Gusu Lan Clan rules:
No unsanctioned fighting.
No promiscuity.
No killing on premises.
No wandering past curfew.
No rowdiness.
No running.
No sneering.
He's so attentive to something this boring!
No improper sitting posture.
No...
Since no one bothered to read from the rock wall,
I'm repeating the rules one by one now.
Let's see who can violate them and claim ignorance again!
Is he talking about me?
Someone is still not paying attention.
Well then.
Let's change the topic.
Wei Ying.
Here!
Who was the first in the cultivation world to focus on the rise of his clan
instead of his sect?
The founder of Qishan Wen Clan, Wen Mao.
What was the profession of the founder of Qinghe Nie Clan?
A butcher.
How to differentiate spirits, demons, ghosts and monsters?
Spirits are formed from living non-human beings;
demons from living humans;
ghosts from dead humans;
monsters from dead non-human beings.
There was an executioner with parents, a wife and children.
He executed over a hundred people in his lifetime.
He died a sudden death, his body left on the streets for 7 days.
With the build-up of resentful energy, he started to haunt and kill.
What should be done?
Well...
Don't pick me!
Wangji, tell him what should be done.
First, liberate him.
Appeal to his sentiment towards his family.
Grant his dying wish and relieve any lingering obsessions.
If it fails, suppress him.
If his crimes are grave and resentful energy persists,
exterminate him.
Cultivators should abide by this order in their exorcisms
without fail.
I have a question.
Granting his dying wish and relieving his obsessions
seem easy in theory.
But what if his obsession was to wipe out a clan for vengeance,
what then?
Thus liberate if possible, suppress if necessary,
exterminate as a last resort.
Such a waste!
It's not like I didn't know this answer.
I was only considering the 4th option.
I have never heard of a 4th option.
The executioner died a horrible death.
He'd certainly turn into a feral zombie.
Since he executed over a hundred before he died,
why not
dig up the graves of the executed,
arouse their resentful energy,
then let the hundred heads fight against the feral zombie?
The essence of purging evil is to liberate them.
How dare you think of arousing resentful energy instead!
You are
reversing the natural order, disregarding ethics and morality!!
Spiritual energy is energy, resentful energy is also energy.
Why can't resentful energy be used as well?
Then, let me ask you again.
How do you make sure that the resentful energy obeys you
and does not harm others?
I haven't thought that far.
If you've thought of it,
then the cultivation world wouldn't allow your existence!
Scram!!!
Newsflash From Cultivators At Your Leisure
Advertisement
Wei Ying.
What are you doing?
If I give you this "blue friend" Cornetto,
can you pretend you never saw me?
Cornetto is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses.
What exactly is NOT prohibited here?
It's clearly written on the Wall of Discipline.
Go read it.
Ok alright.
I won't go in.
I'll just eat it here.
That's not breaking any rules, right?
Just tell me if you want it.
Be simpler, it's not like I'll refuse.
"Blue friend" Cornetto.
Be simpler,
and you're much cuter!
It's this hour already!
How come the boat isn't here yet?
Yeah.
We've waited for so long.
I hope nothing went wrong.
It's coming! It's coming!
The boat is here.
Gather your belongings. Get ready to board.
Water ghosts!
Water ghosts are here to kill!
How can water ghosts be this formidable?
I'm afraid it's something more devilish!
What...What can we do?
Qishan Wen Clan is here to purge evil.
Everyone, stay clear!
Formation.
Evil is purged.
You can sail at ease from now on.
Thank you Immortals!
Thank you living Buddha for helping those in peril!
Young master ordered us to eliminate this evil creature.
But we merely drove it downstream.
Is it inappropriate?
How so?
The creature underwater is extremely ferocious.
Eliminating it is no trivial matter.
But it's Gusu Lan Clan's turf downstream.
I'm afraid...
What about it?
Among the cultivation clans,
over half are affiliated to our Wen Clan.
A mere Gusu Lan Clan wouldn't dare to stir up a ruckus.
Bro Wei!
Bro Wangji!
He ignored me.
I'd be surprised if he paid you any attention.
Think of what you said during class,
you're asking for it.
Both him and Old Master Lan,
probably think you're fundamentally bad, utterly twisted.
That's right.
Lan Wangji usually...
No, he's never this impolite.
But Bro Wei, I actually found your theory very interesting.
My talent was probably gnawed by a dog when I was still in the womb.
If I follow the usual way of core formation*,
*to form a Gold Core, used for storage and control of spiritual energy
who knows how many years it'd take?
But resentful energy comes from vicious ghosts,
if I can just nab them for use, that would be wonderful!
Right?
Speaking of that,
if we can cultivate readily available resentful energy,
then the spots brimming with it wouldn't be forbidden areas.
Even that corpse hill, Yiling Burial Mounds,
could become a land of fortune.
Enough, your nonsense is getting out of hand.
You can speak of it,
but don't ever walk that twisted path.
Why would I leave my broad paved road
for a narrow plank on murky waters?
If it's that easy, someone would've done it already.
It's still early, let's hunt pheasants!
Cut it out!
Lan Qiran wants you to copy "Virtue" section of "Righteousness" 3 times
to study Heaven's Course and human morals.
3 times?! I'll ascend to the heavens after just 1 time!
Not doing it.
I'll help you copy! I'll do it!
One who is unaccountably solicitous
must be hiding shady intentions.
Say it, what do you want from me?
Well, Bro Wei, you see...
Old Man Lan has a bad habit.
He gives out closed book exams periodically.
Wait!
You want me to take your exams for you?
No no! Just impart your knowledge.
I've got everything ready.
Old Man Lan has always found me annoying.
If he finds out...
Please~ Bro Wei.
Don't worry. I assure you that it'll be fine.
Well...
I'm sorry, Bro Wei.
Didn't you assure that it'd be fine?
Who would've thought that Lan Zhan would intercept?
Anyway, look out for yourself.
Library Pavilion is right ahead.
It's just some copying.
Huaisang~
Old Man Lan said
no one can help you copy.
How would he know if someone
helped me copy?
As if he'd
send someone to supervise me?
Exactly.
What did you say?
book: "Righteousness"
Lan Zhan?
You guys...
He's so silent,
yet Old Man Lan wants me to sit with him for a month.
What an agony for me...
Bro Wangji. Here's a question.
Do you really hate me?
Still ignoring me!
What should I call you to get a response?
Wangji?
Lan Wangji?
Lan Zhan!
Or Master Lan?
Oh, I got it!
Second Brother Lan!
I'm sorry, Bro Wangji. Please remove the Silencing Spell.
This drawing is a play on Lan Wangji's name. Because in Mandarin-
Lan sounds similar to "wolf", Wang means "looking", Ji sounds same as "chicken".
It depicts Lan Wangji as "wolf looking at a chicken".
Pathetic.
I felt so smothered!
Oi! Lan Zhan! I honestly wanted to apologize!
Why are you like that?
More words, and you'll copy that again.
Diligence is your core, virtue precedes all.
Harmony is of value, learning leads the way.
Be earnest and love generously, honour your teachers and guidance.
Be modest and display comity, attain both loyalty and filial piety.
Without trust, nothing is true.With faith, everything is viable.
When your faith is unwavering,even rocks can be fractured.
1 month later
Master Lan,
it's been a month.
I won't be coming tomorrow.
This is my farewell gift to you.
Here you go!
Poem Collection of Lan An
Is this gift to your liking, Master Lan?
Pa-
"Pathetic" again, am I right?
Can't you use some new words?
Extremely pathetic.
Wei Ying!
Yes! I'm here!
You!
Manners!
Second Master Lan! Mind your manners!
If we fight here, would your Library Pavilion be fine?
You!
What sort of person are you?
A man, obviously!
It's just some erotic art.
Every man would've seen it.
Don't tell me you've never seen it before.
So you've really never-
Shut up!
You're really-
Shameless!!!
Master Lan,
calm down, calm down!
Unsanctioned duels are forbidden in the Cloud Recesses!
Let go.
Why? I thought you didn't want to read it?
Oh~ So you do want to take a look.
You're not speaking from your heart.
I'm.
Not.
Looking.
Then why are you grabbing it?
Are you thinking of handing it to Old Man Lan?
No, I mean, your uncle.
Don't do it!
What if he suspects that you've read it,
wouldn't you be greatly embarrassed?
You!
All because of you-
I-
What are you stuttering about?
Second Master Lan truly is a fine gentleman,
a bright pearl of this world.
Scholarly on the outside, while eros flutters within.
Learning avidly with diligence, sitting upright like a pine tree.
If your elders learn of this…
That was a fine book of erotic art,
how could you shred it!
You clean that up, I'm not helping.
Scram.
What? Scram?
You actually said "scram".
Oh my, Lan Zhan.
They all say you're courtly and righteous,
well-versed in fine etiquette.
But look at you now!
Scram!!!
Caiyi Town of Gusu, Biling Lake
This...
What's that thing under the waters?
Advertisement
Download Kuaikan manhua app!
The official manhua of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation,
updates every Saturday!
Over the mountains
across the seas
Under the moon
frost sweeps over my zither
The requiem fades
as I whisper my thoughts to the wind
A cup of Emperor's Smile
for a drunken reverie
Flowers bloom and wilt
fallen leaves gather
Maintaining grace and virtue
with a desolated heart
Arisen from chaos
my sword soars out like a chilling gale
The music ends and crowds disperse
but my sentiments linger
Moments flash by
spring blossoms return
rabbits leap in the Clouds Recesses
Years go by
who still remembers these unrequited feelings?
The night is tender
cold springs ripple
memories surface in my reflections
I play a song
you smile once more
in my dreams