Cowherd and WeaverGirl

[Omniflame]

Thanks, keep up the great work.

[laugh]

T-rinh, I don’t think I can write out the cast list properly as I don’t know all their names. Perhaps MetalAZNWarrior’s superb site may help!

Episode 9

Wong was very upset as he held the paper on which he had practiced writing Kong Ling’s name. He wondered what had happened. At that moment, Ngau Long came in to see him.He didn’t seem to notice Wong’s agitated state and started talking happily about LingYee. Wong asked about his feelings towards ZikLui.NL looked rather worried at this, and said that he’d probably break ZL’s heart but that he couldn’t help it. He didn’t even know how to begin to explain to her……

Meanwhile, ZL beseeched Hei Ziok and the Earth deities to find out what had happened. ZL was unhappy because the 3 months’ period was almost over and she might have to return to Heaven forever.They figured that perhaps HZ had tied the Matchmaking Thread around the wrong figure and HZ went up to Heaven to check. She discovered the melted SnowSand on the ground and was horrified to find out that she had really made a mistake.However,she couldn’t disentangle the Thread and went to find Bei Gon for help….

Bei Gon was in a state of dilemma. The evil little voice in his mind overwhelmed his good nature, saying that if NL married LingYee, BG would have a chance with ZL. So, BG told HZ that only the Southern Deity’s Heavenly Scissors could cut Yuet Lo’s Thread.However, the Southern Deity ‘d never lend out his Scissors, or BG himself might try to ask.BG purposely said that the Deity was always traveling and was seldom at home.Instantly (as BG knew she would), HZ decided to try to steal the Scissors and BG made a feeble attempt to stop her.As soon as HZ had flown off, BG went to tell the Deity’s minions about her intention, so that they captured her using a special cage.BG ordered them to keep her for a few days without harming her, and the Deity’s minions promised to let her go as soon as their master had returned……..

Meanwhile, NL met up with ZL to try and explain things.ZL morosely told him that she didn’t blame him or LingYee, but begged him to see through the illusions and remember their love. NL told her they weren’t meant to be, and returned the silk handkerchief she had once given him. ZL was almost in tears…..

Wong was watering some plants when LingYee came along and tried to chat with him while waiting for NL. Distressed, Wong tried to keep some distance between them.LingYee offered to help him in his work, but while Wong tried to put her off, he accidentally tore her bead bracelet. It was the same token she’d obtained from her rescuer. Wong was stunned when he saw it, and offered to mend it as good as new. LingYee was very grateful, then went off with NL. Wong stared at the beads, touched that LingYee still had some feeling for her rescuer (who was himself)……..

While out with NL, LingYee didn’t quite enjoy the great attention that NL showered on her. NL didn’t even allow her to try the streetside food that she loved for fear that passers-by would bump into her. When he bought some sugarcane for her, LingYee was disappointed to see that the sugarcane was all chopped up into pieces.NL explained that eating it in huge stalks was really ugly to watch. LingYee thought sadly about the times when Wong taught her to eat sugarcane in enormous pieces.She really had fun then…

At the same time, Bei Gon was taking the opportunity to accompany ZikLui around town.ZL was feeling really down, especially when she saw NL in the streets with LingYee. BG pretended to chase after them in anger, but ZL told him that she knew this wasn’t really NL. It was actually due to the power of the Matchmaking Thread, which caused NL to be unable to accept ZL. ZL worried about HZ being so long in Heaven, and told BG to look for her. BG reluctantly agreed…….

Meanwhile, Old Man Ling wanted to invite his brother disciple, called Wu Dak, to NL’s wedding. Due to a misunderstanding, Wu Dak had left the Lings and his whereabouts were unknown.Hoping to curry some favour with his father, Ling Lung offered to help find Wu Dak and give him the invitation. At that time, he was good friends with BG who kept helping him to win at dice to obtain money. He brought BG to the prostitution house where BG gave away the precious stone HZ had given him to one of the girls. In return,BG helped Lung to find Wu Dak, who turned out to be a drunkard on the streets. Lung was rather rude to Wu Dak, leaving 2 silver taels for him to ‘clean up’ before the wedding. In anger, Dak flung the money back at OldMan Ling and NL at the entrance to their house, yelling that he’d never be able to compensate for the evil he’d done. Surprised at this, NL asked about the reason for Dak’s enmity…..

Old Man Ling explained that Dak was once the swiftest and best weaver among the disciples of their master. When OldMan Ling opened his cloth factory, Dak was one of the earliest employees. However,Dak was a compulsive gambler, and OldMan Ling himself caught Dak trying to pawn valuables from the factory to settle his debts. The man had no choice but to report Dak to court but unknown to him, the court officers broke Dak’s right hand so that he couldn’t weave anymore. From that time onwards, Dak bore a grudge towards OldMan Ling whom he blamed for the loss of his hand……

Seeing that OldMan Ling would be very happy to be reconciled with Dak, NL went to find Dak to try and settle their differences. Dak played around with NL, ordering him about, having no intentions of reconciliation. ZL was informed by the Earth Deities about this and she resolved to help NL although NL didn’t love her anymore. She went to look for them and noticed that Dak was quite agile with chopsticks for a man with a crippled right hand. Suspecting that Dak was merely feeling too sorry for himself to see that his hand was functioning, she made Dak drunk and set up a spindle in one corner.She also enlisted Earth GrandFather’s help. Then, she hid with NL, telling him to be silent and watch.

Dak awoke from his drunken stupor and was surprised to see the spindle. Earth GrandFather used his divine powers to boost his courage .Dak approached the spindle and saw his own shuttle there, which he thought he had destroyed. In wonder, he started to spin and was overjoyed to discover that his right hand was perfectly sound! At that moment, his grudge against OldMan Ling disappeared and he was very willing to be friends again with him. OldMan Ling was happy at the reconciliation. For this, NL felt very grateful towards ZL and wanted to look for her, but was intercepted by LingYee.ZL hid herself when she saw them together……

Meanwhile, HZ managed to escape from the cage and steal the Scissors, but they didn’t work. BG told them that he had discussed the matter with Yuet Lo but the Matchmaker God had said only the Jade Emperor or HQM could cut the Thread once tied without Heavenly permission. Discouraged, HZ begged BG to try and think of a Deity who would help them. Instead, BG told ZL to forget NL because no earthly love could last long anyway…..

NL told Wong that he felt strange whenever he saw ZL, although he still felt himself in love with LingYee. Wong told him not to forfeit LingYee’s love. NL assured him, saying he thought his feelings towards ZL must just be gratitude and nothing more……

ZL sadly chose to give up and went to tie her silk handkerchief around the knocker of the Lings’ door as a sign of farewell. The 3 months’ period would be over on the eve of NL’s wedding, once the 9 stars align themselves into a straight line.She went to bid her friend, the demoness of the Forbidden Forest, goodbye as well. The demoness was surprised to hear about this turn of events, and promised to help her even if she had to use up her remaining Heavenly Essence……

NL returned home with Wong to find the handkerchief. At the same time, Hei Ziok rushed to him, saying that ZL was so heartbroken that she had gone into the Forbidden Forest.HZ asked NL if he would just stand by and not care about ZL anymore. In alarm, NL rushed off into the Forest. Wong chased after him to tell him not to go, warning him about demons. LingYee also found out about NL’s whereabouts and ran into the Forest to find him. Wong of course couldn’t just leave her in there too……

In the Forest, NL bumped into a magical barrier and fell. At that moment, the demoness appeared and greeted him. NL could only stare at her in shock and alarm……..

[laugh]

Episode 10

Ngau Long didn’t recognize the demoness at all and demanded to know where ZikLui was. The demoness asked him why he cared so much and what relation ZL was to him, but NL was unable to reply.Although she gave him a chance and ordered him out of the Forest, NL refused to leave without ZL.Laughing, the demoness departed, telling him he’d lost his chance and that ZL was in the heart of the Forest……..

Meanwhile, LingYee was busy searching for NL and her surroundings were making her nervous.A red-garbed child appeared in front of her, giggling, then abruptly vanished. Affright, she started to run but a hand shot from the ground and grabbed her ankle. Frightened almost witless, she yelled for help. Her cries were heard by Wong who instantly rushed to the rescue. Wong wanted to lead her out of the Forest, but LingYee was worried for NL’s safety. Suddenly, a bat attacked them and LingYee fell while trying to escape. Wong managed to scare off the bat, but by then the distressed damsel had already fainted. He hefted her up piggyback-style, telling her to be strong and that they’d soon escape.Lying on his back, LingYee felt a sense of deja-vú as she dimly remembered that her river rescuer did that once to her before……

NL noticed ZL lying prostrate on the ground and rushed to her, very worried. The demoness appeared and said she wanted to kill her. NL refused, saying that even if he lost his life, he’d not allow her to do so.Smiling, the demoness swept ZL from NL’s grasp and made a vine carry her off. ZL awoke just then and screamed for help. NL ran madly to try and save her…….

In the sky, the ninth star moved into position with eight others, making a straight line…..

NL chased ZL onto a cliff, to find her motionless on the ground.Panicked, NL asked the demoness what she wanted.Without replying, she swept ZL off the cliff and NL leapt to grab her hand. ZL awoke and started to cry on seeing her beloved NL. Although NL tried hard, he wasn’t strong enough to pull her up and she fell from his grasp.Without thinking, NL instantly jumped off the cliff after her and pulled her into a hug…….

The sky clouded over. In Yuet Lo’s garden, the Matchmaker Thread linking NL and LingYee’s figures quivered once and broke. Yuet Lo stared at this phenomenon in wonder……

NL and ZL fell straight back into the demoness’ cave. ZL asked NL why he was so foolish to risk his life for her. NL replied that he’d once promised her he’d take care of her no matter what, and said that all his wiped-out memory had returned. The demoness was happy to see them reunited, but ZL said that it was too late. The 9 stars had aligned themselves and she’d lost the bet and had to return to Heaven.The demoness was touched to see their love and exercised the remnants of her fairy magic to move time outside her Forest 2 hours. She told them to cherish each other so that her sacrifice wasn’t wasted….

Meantime, Wong was much relieved to see LingYee regain consciousness. She started asking him whether he was her rescuer by the river, but before Wong could reply, a ferocious wind swept them off their feet. LingYee grabbed at Wong’s hand while he struggled to stabilize himself, but she was blown off and out of consciousness. Wong himself was knocked senseless….

NL and ZL left the Forest happily, hand-in-hand. NL was remorseful for his change-of-heart towards LingYee, but ZL told him not to blame himself as it was her fault for being too impulsive about the Matchmaking Thread. YeeLongSun(the 3-Eyed God) appeared and told ZL that HQM wanted to see her. NL wanted to follow, but YeeLongSun said that Heaven was forbidden to ordinary mortals.ZL assured him that she’d return to his side soon, and went off with YeeLongSun……

In Heaven, HQM was furious at ZL for using the demoness’ power to turn back time.ZL replied that it was only fair as HQM herself had reversed time at the beginning of the bet. She refused to admit defeat and asked HQM why she disallowed her to be with her love. HQM told her she was a divine person and shouldn’t be with a mortal. At that time, a smiling Bei Gon appeared and paid his respects to HQM. To punish her and to stop her from thinking about NL, HQM ordered ZL to marry BG. Taken aback and panic-stricken, ZL yelled that she’d never marry anybody but NL.HQM was furious, saying that once her Golden Tongue had spoken, none in Heaven could go against it, especially when the candidate had been chosen and the wedding date fixed. She told the Heavenly Guards to watch over ZL in her abode until her wedding…..

BG asked the Heavenly Guards to leave ZL for a while so that he could speak to her. ZL told him to go away;she didn’t want to see him or hear his words. BG told her that he knew HQM had agreed to the wedding without ZL’s consent, and that he himself was powerless in this matter. ZL told him to help her escape and see NL but of course BG refused, saying that HQM’s edict couldn’t be disobeyed. ZL, furious, ordered him to leave…

Wong was shocked to awake and find himself in the Lings’ kitchen as if nothing had happened. He saw that his hands were still bleeding and knew that he’d not been dreaming. Meanwhile, NL rushed back to tell his parents to cancel his wedding to LingYee.At that moment, BeiGon appeared and flung a cursed barb at NL so that everytime he thought of ZL, he’d have a crippling migraine and couldn’t speak her name properly. His parents, concerned, brought him into the house. Then, BG created a magical barrier around the Lings’ house.With an evil laugh, he left, pleased that nobody could possibly stop the wedding now……

LingYee was also shocked to find herself back at her home without her knowledge. She tried to slip away to see Wong, but was intercepted by her father. Officer Kong was annoyed when LingYee tried to persuade him to cancel the wedding because she loved another. Her maid was surprised, asking her didn’t she love NL? LingYee said no, she’d never loved NL and begged her father to reconsider the marriage for her happiness. Incensed, Officer Kong ordered his men to guard her in her room…….

Wong, on trying to ensure that LingYee was alright, was sad to see the wedding decorations in the servants’ hands. He left without informing LingYee that he’d been there….

BG returned to his temple, practically smirking in evil joy, when he saw Hei Ziok there. HZ rushed to him, asking him why he was to marry ZL when the one he loved was herself. BG was shocked that she knew. HZ replied that everyone in Heaven had heard the news, and begged him to explain. BG said that nobody could disobey HQM’s orders but for her sake, he’d go and demand HQM to cancel the wedding.He pretended to leave, saying that he’d rather be punished than to marry somebody he didn’t love. HZ stopped him in tears, saying she didn’t want him to be punished. BG then hugged HZ as if touched by her love, but all the time smiling contemptuously behind her back…..

In Heaven, ZL was sad to see NL in such pain from the migraines. ZL begged her fairysisters to help her distract the Heavenly Guards and let her see NL, but they were afraid of HQM’s wrath. HZ dropped by and promised ZL that she’d try to contact NL. However, she couldn’t get past BG’s magical barrier which she thought HQM had raised. Neither could NL when he tried to leave the Lings’ to find ZL……

LingYee was moroseful on the wedding-day. As the ceremonial troupe passed by the Forbidden Forest, LingYee noticed something and ordered them to stop. Rushing to one tree, she saw her bead bracelet tied around it with a note from Wong,saying that their relationship ended there. In tears, she ran off in her wedding-gown, searching for Wong who, at that moment, was leaving the Lings because he’d no courage to stay and join in the celebrations. LingYee was overjoyed to find him and rushed to him, declaring her love.Wong didn’t want to listen, disbelieving that she could actually love a cripple like himself. LingYee grabbed his sleeve, saying that she’d always obeyed her father in all things, but now she’d chosen to disobey for once just for Wong. The two hugged each other in happiness and Wong brought LingYee away, his face bright with joy….

Meanwhile, HZ had broken past the magical barrier by using the demoness’ powerful magic shuttle. She also managed to break BG’s spell on NL with the shuttle. NL finally managed to blurt out that he’d only marry ZL and nobody else, and rushed like a madman away from the wedding ceremony. At last, HZ could pass ZL’s message to him, that ZL was to be married on that day as well and couldn’t meet him like she’d promised. HZ and the Earth Deities tried to lift him up to Heaven, but even their combined powers were insufficient. Up in his garden, Yuet Lo watched everything with deep compassion, and let down a red rope for NL to climb up into Heaven. He urged NL to find ZL quickly……

Meanwhile, ZL refused to wear her wedding-garb until HQM herself came along and forced her into costume. With HQM watching her, ZL had no choice but to attend the ceremony. BG whispered that he’d definitely treat her a million times better than that ‘cow’.At this, ZL lashed back at him angrily, saying that though he may have her person, her heart’d always belong to NL. Then, she told HQM that since HQM’s powers were limitless, would she please kill her becoz she’d rather die than marry BG. At that moment, NL barged into the ceremony, causing a huge commotion….

ZL was so happy to see NL that they rushed to embrace one another. BG stared at the couple with a murderous glare in his eyes. HQM was furious beyond words at NL’s intrusion and forced them apart with her power. She ordered the Heavenly Guards to imprison NL, ZL, and HZ immediately. The Heavenly Host watched ZL and NL tearfully calling for each other, and there was an undercurrent of compassion for them.

HQM visited ZL along with the Jade Emperor and attempted to persuade ZL to give up NL. ZL replied that she’d rather be mortal and enjoy true love.To prove her words, she broke her Heavenly Shuttle so that her Essence vanished and she vomited blood. The Jade Emperor was shocked at this; the shuttle was a symbol of ZL’s divinity –once broken, it meant she’d given up her Fairy Essence and wasn’t divine any longer. Furious that ZL would actually do such a thing for a mere mortal, HQM refused to release her and went off despite pleas from the Jade Emperor and the Earth Deities.

BG came to visit HZ. His good side whispered HZ’s love for him, but his bad side condemned HZ for breaking up his wedding. For once, his good side won over and he went to HZ, asking her why she was so foolish. HZ said that she’d no regrets and asked BG if he was angry at the interruption to his wedding. BG told her that even if NL hadn’t arrived, ZL wouldn’t have married him anyway, and even if she did, HZ should know who was the true love of BG’s heart. HZ replied that she accepted her fate of being returned to a mute beast. She knew the Earth Deities had been stripped of their rank and powers, and couldn’t help her. BG told her he’d see what he could find out and that she should take care…….

[laugh]

Episode 11

ZikLui begged her fairysisters to release her, but they told her to conserve her Heavenly Essence and save herself because she was slowly fading away.They asked her if NgauLong was worth sacrificing her divinity. ZL told them that even if she faded away, she’d still linger as much as she could to see NL.To her, although fairyhood offered her freedom, she preferred the restraints of mortality because she could feel love, especially since she found someone who loved her too.At her words,her sisters didn’t know what to reply in return and looked at her with deepened understanding…….

The Heavenly Guards dragged NL to the Gates, preparing to hurl him down to Hell for his impudence in storming Heaven. Tired of his incessant calls to see ZL, one of them cast a silencing spell on him. The 2 weaver fairies approached them and demanded them to release NL into their care, lying that it was the Heavenly Queen Mother’s order.As soon as the Guards left, one of the fairies quickly brought NL to earth despite his protests and told him to wait for ZL by the river. On earth, the fairy was alarmed to see a couple refusing to marry each other, with broken red threads hanging from their ankles, and the wandering restless ghosts disturbing humankind with their cries, though the Door Gods tried to keep them off the houses. This was due to Yuet Lo and the Earth Deities being stripped of their ranks and hence nobody was looking after the affairs on earth……

Meanwhile, HQM scolded Hei Ziok for aiding ZL and hurled a magical barb at her.Alarmed, Bei Gon flung himself in front of her and took the blow.Surprised, HQM asked BG the reason(she was clueless about their relationship)since HZ purposely interrupted his wedding to ZL. BG said that though HZ did such a wrong thing, she didn’t deserve such a cruel punishment.He begged HQM to release HZ. HQM was taken aback at his request. Then, her guards kept appearing, reporting NL’s escape and the chaos on earth without YuetLo and the Earth Deities. HQM began to develop quite a headache.Even more worrisome, another pair of fairies appeared and anxiously told her that ZLwas almost gone. Concerned, the entire Host rushed to see ZL….

HQM instantly released ZL from her prison, while the Jade Emperor used his powers to preserve ZL’s solid form.ZL begged HQM to allow her to remain on Earth as a mortal to be with NL. The entire Host knelt and asked HQM for mercy, although it was noted that BG did so reluctantly.HQM, fed-up, finally relented and departed, telling ZL not to regret her decision.Overjoyed, ZL rushed off to find NL, and her fairysisters told her to look by the river. There, she was once again reunited with NL and they embraced happily…..

Although NL and ZL safely passed the hurdle of HQM, ZL was worried that Lady Ling would prevent NL from marrying her. NL was so touched by her sacrifice of divinity for him, he said that they should kowtow to Heaven and Earth immediately and marry so that Lady Ling couldn’t protest even if she wanted to. HZ and the Earth Deities(whose ranks were restored)suddenly appeared, beaming and offering to be witnesses to their marriage. HZ even conjured up some wedding apparel and wine for the happy couple….

Meanwhile, the Lings were worried sick at NL’s disappearance and wondered how to explain to Officer Kong about his refusal to marry his daughter. When NL and ZL appeared, Lady Ling was extremely annoyed to see her and refused to admit her as daughter-in-law, despite NL’s pleadings.ZL pretended to faint to defuse the potentially explosive situation, and managed to stay at the Lings for a while…..

On the other hand, Officer Kong was furious to discover LingYee’s disappearance. Leaving only a letter behind, she stated that she had left with the one person she loved and apologized for her lack of filiality.Officer Kong was worried about explaining to the Lings but took advantage of the fact that NL also married another. When the Lings came to explain, he furiously blamed them for everything and told them it was their fault LingYee ran away from home.Of course he didn’t tell them that LingYee also objected to the marriage……

Lady Ling refused to accept ZL’s tea in the morning until Old Man Ling somehow managed to make a compromise for her. ZL was to be tested on her suitability as a daughter-in-law of the Lings. Annoyed at Lan (Ling Lung’s wife)’s incendiary remarks, NL said that Lan ought to be tested as well since it’d be unfair for ZL to be tested alone. Despite Lan’s fervent protests, Lady Ling agreed to this as it was only fair…..

ZL worked at collecting firewood, and refused to let NL help no matter how many times he offered. They were slightly annoyed to see Lan hiring a servant to collect firewood for her. While they were bickering, BG appeared in the sky with a very grim countenance.He was burning in anger to see ZL and NL married and together. As he prepared to blast them, his ‘good’ side told him to stop and not harm NL anymore, whereas the bad voice cackled mockingly,telling him that NL stole his woman and should be punished. BG screamed in agony at the pain in his heart which pumped away in his ears. He tried to fling a bolt of energy towards NL, but somehow it hit Lan instead, causing her to fall against her servant who dropped all the firewood. BG was alarmed at this apparent slip in his power. He returned to his temple thoughtfully and practised his magic. His powers were really lessening and he couldn’t channel them properly.Just then, HZ ran happily in to show him some rubies she was planning to give ZL as a wedding-gift. She was concerned to hear about BG’s heart-pain, and suggested perhaps it was becoz he hadn’t been using his heart for a long time so that it’d hurt once he used it. BG pretended to be happy about her gift to ZL, but his expression changed instantly behind her back….

Meanwhile, ZL worked hard at household chores in an attempt to please Lady Ling, but Lan thwarted her every move by purposely messing up her work. In the kitchen, ZL was pleased to enlist the Kitchen God( who was her friend)’s help in preparing one of Lady Ling’s favourite dishes. Lan sneaked into the kitchen in her absence and added extra ingredients to her dish, but the Kitchen God discovered this and undid the damage. Lan was puzzled when the dish turned out to be very tasty during dinner……

Officer Kong sent his men to tell the Lings that the Emperor required a batch of cloth for his new concubine, and the Lings had to prepare the order in one month. NL was stunned by the short duration and protested that it was obvious Officer Kong was purposely going against them. However, they had no choice but to accept the order or risk losing the Imperial Charter. Old Man Ling ordered Lung to be the one in charge of handling it. Lung was none too pleased when his father ordered NL to help him out as well…..

Lung complained to BG about his father’s favour towards NL. BG smiled and said that Old Man Ling’s bias was really pretty obvious. He suggested that instead of always obeying his father in everything, why didn’t he become his own boss and set up his own factory? That way, he wouldn’t have to have NL dog his footsteps all the time. BG offered to help him……

Lady Ling’s friends dropped by to play mahjong and complimented ZL on her looks.They kept ZL very busy with unending demands for tea and food. One of them told ZL to look after her son, Ming Zai. However, Ming Zai was too naughty, and ZL couldn’t control him. The boy fell against a red dye in the weaving grounds and screamed in pain. Lady Ling was really annoyed, especially when her friends berated her for not teaching her daughter-in-law properly. ZL protested that it wasn’t her fault, but Lady Ling didn’t listen. She ordered ZL to leave the household. At that moment, HZ flew past and was alarmed to hear Lady Ling’s words. She instantly caused ZL to faint and disguised herself as a physician. Pretending to check ZL’s pulse, she happily proclaimed ZL pregnant and that it was a son as well! Lan was shocked by the speed at which ZL became pregnant, and was puzzled by the physician’s skill at predicting a boy so early. However, Lady Ling was too overjoyed at this prospect of a grandchild and started to treat ZL really tenderly. NL offered to look after her…….

ZL wasn’t too happy at tricking the Lings, especially NL. However, HZ told her to worry about the consequences later; at least Lady Ling was treating her really well now and wouldn’t be chasing her off the household anytime soon. ZL wanted to tell the truth to NL, but HZ told her that NL was such a straight person that he wouldn’t be able to lie to his family for long. To protect ZL, HZ suggested that ZL kept silent for the time being. ZL was unhappy…….

[laugh]

Episode 12

ZikLui tried to tell NL that she was actually not pregnant, but NL wasn’t listening becoz he was too excited trying to think of names for their child. During mealtimes, Lady Ling was very concerned about ZL’s welfare and kept asking her to drink all sorts of medicinal concoctions She even forbade the household to use any sharp objects in ZL’s presence for fear of the superstition that the baby would be born with defects. On seeing this, ZL felt rather guilty…..

Meanwhile, Bei Gon and Lung were busy setting up a new cloth factory in another part of town. Lung was worried his father’d find out, and he told BG to be more secretive. BG told him not to worry; as long as they steal all of the Ling factory’s customers, Old Man Ling would doubt the capability of NL handling his business and might even kick him out of the household. Lung was particularly happy to hear this. Then,BG reminded him that since he did so much for him, it was time BG asked for a favour of Lung. Lung asked him what he wanted. BG didn’t want riches or women; he merely requested Lung to find a large mansion for him to live in and discuss business with customers. Lung was only too happy to help.

One day, Hei Ziok happily rushed into Heaven to find BG. However, once BG saw YeeLongSun approaching, he pushed her away to keep a distance between them and scolded her for daring to enter Heaven when she was such a lowly fairy. HZ was very hurt to hear this. She went to seek solace by the river, calling BG names. At that moment, BG appeared, trying to comfort HZ but HZ turned away, saying that she was too ‘lowly’ to mix with the great Fortune God like him. HZ couldn’t understand his intentions; after all, they weren’t like ZL and NL – they were both of Heavenly Essence. Why couldn’t they be open about their relationship? BG smiled and told her he just didn’t want Heaven to jeer at her. He assured her of his love. Finally, HZ felt comforted and rested contentedly against him…..

Lung was busy studying a book on the cloth business when his father rushed in, asking him to entertain an old customer of theirs, Tauke Chan. Lung replied that he’d be busy entertaining another customer; and anyway, now that they had the Imperial Charter, what did they care for a lowly customer like Tauke Chan? Old Man Ling scolded him and said that they should be humble and appreciate all those who’d helped them before. In the end, he gave the responsibility to NL who was passing by at that moment. NL was nervous as this was the first time he handled something like this alone…..

BG suddenly appeared and a plot cycled in his mind on seeing NL. He disguised himself as Tauke Chan and purposely let NL see him molesting a girl. Then he threw the girl at the real Tauke Chan and disappeared. Angry, NL didn’t think much and chased after the real Tauke Chan, giving the poor man a huge punch………

Of course Tauke Chan was furious at being punched for nothing, and he refused all manner of gifts or apologies offered by Old Man Ling. Lung added some stinging remarks that NL not only lost his father a customer, he also lost him a friend. NL felt discouraged by this, and his father told him to be more careful next time and to make things clear before resorting to violence. Meanwhile, Tauke Chan was in a tea-shop, trying to calm his fury. At that moment, BG greeted him and offered to do business with him. In this manner, he managed to secure one of the Lings’ oldest customers for Lung’s factory……

NL returned home, feeling unhappy. On seeing him, ZL ran to him, saying that Lady Ling insisted she just eat medicine and sleep the whole time, making her feel very useless.When NL remained quiet, ZL wanted to share his problems with him, but he said that any problems disappeared once he saw her. While holding one another, Lady Ling came in and told them that they shouldn’t be so intimate for the sake of the baby.In fact, she entered the room to tell NL that he was sleeping separate bedrooms from his wife until the birth of the child. ZL felt very exasperated and dismayed by this…….

BG and Lung were happily drinking to their success in their first business for the Lung factory. Lung asked if BG was satisfied with the beautifully-decorated new mansion; BG looked around and smiled in affirmative.At that moment, HZ passed by and was surprised to see BG so close to Lung, a man that BG knew was greedy and immoral. HZ asked BG about it; the cunning BG replied that Lung was one of the people he was supposed to dispense money to, and he’d no choice in this matter as she very well knew. Dissatisfied, HZ complained that he still shouldn’t behave so chummily towards Lung, but BG allayed her fears and said that it was also a way to prevent Lung from being so nasty to NL and ZL. When asked about his house, BG said that it was all for them; he really should start planning their future together……..

While looking at the mirror at himself, BG once again felt a sharp pain in his heart. Instantly his good and bad sides appeared next to him. His ‘angel’ told him that he felt pain becoz the heart wasn’t his to begin with; the Nine-Tailed Fox had tricked him and given him another heart. Shocked, BG asked his ‘devil’side if this was true. The ‘devil’ shrugged and said,’So what if I’m not your heart?You’re now enjoying power and riches, aren’t you? Isn’t that good?’ BG’s ‘angel’ tried to persuade him to give up the bad heart, warning him that once he chose the crooked road, he couldn’t ever turn back. Bored by the ‘angel’, the ‘devil’ used his powers to blast him away and disappeared, cackling in laughter. BG could only look on in horror, and woke up drenched in sweat next to his mirror……

While out walking, ZL and Lady Ling noticed some cloth with similar pattern and make to the Imperial cloth being sold in the streets. Horrified, the Lings investigated and discovered that somehow, the patterns of the Imperial Cloth had been leaked out, and they wondered how that could’ve happened. Only the Lings and Officer Kong knew the patterns.NL suspected Officer Kong leaked the cloth patterns out to avenge the humiliation of him not marrying LingYee. The offence was punishable by execution if the Emperor discovered this. They managed to secure almost all of the cloth before they were sold in the shops.However, they didn’t quite bargain for Kong’s craftiness. He’d concocted various documents and had some cloth samples in his possession as proof, which he meant to show to the Emperor and have the Lings executed. Lung blamed NL bitterly for evoking Kong’s enmity, while Lan instantly denounced her family name and wanted to escape to her father’s place…….

NL went to see Kong to plead for mercy, but was beaten up severely. However, all was not lost ;HZ and the Earth Deities assured ZL that they’d help them. Although the proof was guarded securely, HZ ‘d no problems sneaking in and stealing all of the evidence along with the Earth Deities. The Lings thought that after beating up NL, Kong’d finally relented and given them all the evidence. Lung and Lan were grateful to NL for saving their skins….

Kong was foaming with fury when he discovered that the evidence was all gone, and kept berating his men for not guarding it properly. Kong’d also discovered his daughter’s whereabouts. LingYee was happily selling food by the roadside with Wong, and they’d already married. Wong’d already written a letter to NL, explaining matters. Her father came to find her and furiously demanded that she return home with him. When she refused, saying that she was now Wong’s woman, Officer Kong openly severed all father-daughter ties with LingYee, ignoring her cries. He was really angry that she’d chosen a poor cripple as a husband……

ZL was feeling pressured by all the attention and medicine Lady Ling showered on her. She also kept having gastric pains due to all the medicine she was forced to consume. The Kitchen God disguised himself as a physician and came to treat her ailments. He advised Lady Ling not to boil so much medicinal herbs as they weren’t good for the baby…….

HZ conjured up some wicker baskets for ZL to place over her belly, to create the illusion that her stomach was getting bigger. ZL wanted to cry when she thought of the continuing deception. She asked HZ where she was going to find a baby to give the Lings when the time came for her to ‘give birth’. HZ merely told her to be patient and wait for a suitable time to confess the truth………

[laugh]

Episode 13

Lady Ling enthusiastically brought back many Laughing Buddha statues and a beautiful jade bangle for ZikLui, making her feel even guiltier than before. Old Man Ling was disturbed by the success of a new factory called literally ‘Below Heaven’ (BH) Factory that had stolen much business from the Lings. He didn’t know that it was actually the factory set up by his eldest son.

Meanwhile, Hei Ziok was very troubled thinking of a way to help ZL out of the deception.When she saved a small child by the streets and observed how poorly the mother treated him, she thought that perhaps she could buy a child for ZL.At that moment, she saw BG being intimate with Siu Hong, a famous prostitute in town! In a fury, she stormed back to BG’s house, refusing to listen to BG’s explanations. BG said that he was just dispensing money to the prostitutes and he couldn’t help it if they were intimate with him. HZ asked him if he was aware he’d changed a lot. BG asked what she meant. HZ said that the old BG would never dream of possessing riches or big houses or the best food. In an attempt to assuage her suspicions,BG started to swear in HQM’s name that…but ah! His heart palpitated in pain and he couldn’t continue. Alarmed, HZ rushed to his side, and discovered that BG hadn’t any of his Godly Essence left and wouldn’t have the energy to report back to Heaven. Worried, HZ passed some of her Fairy Essence to him.BG was unexpectedly concerned that her own Essence would dissipate, but HZ told him not to worry; with meditation, she’d soon restore her lost Essence. We see a glimpse of the old BG as he hugged her lovingly…….

ZL was disturbed by Ngau Long’s enthusiasm in choosing their baby’s clothes. She asked HZ if she’d any ideas to help her, but strongly opposed HZ buying a baby for her. She didn’t want to continue the deception anymore. To ZL’s surprise, HZ reacted rather too violently in frustration. ZL asked her friend what was troubling her; HZ confided that she was very worried about BG –ever since he had his heart back, it’d been causing him a lot of pain, and sometimes BG even lost his Heavenly powers. HZ was worried that she’d done the wrong thing in retrieving BG’s heart. On seeing her deep concern for BG, ZL asked her if she’d fallen for him. HZ denied it vehemently but ZL laughed and said that she couldn’t possibly see what BG had to attract HZ so. They shared a moment of sisterly confidence, when Lan came along with a bowl of medicine for ZL. When she took the bowl away, she was horrified to find that she’d made a mistake; it wasn’t medicinal herbs that ZL drank, it was abortion herbs! In a flurry of anxiety, she confided in Lung about this, but Lung said that he’d seen ZL and she appeared healthy. They instantly suspected that the pregnancy wasn’t real, and peeked into ZL’s room to see the wicker baskets ZL placed over her belly to simulate pregnancy. In glee, they rushed off to tell Lady Ling…..

However, the Kitchen God‘d overheard their plans and gathered ZL’s friends to think of a solution. The clever HZ noticed the fat Kitchen God’s belly and had a bright idea. She had him disguise himself as ZL so that when Lady Ling inspected ‘her’, she didn’t suspect that ZL wasn’t pregnant. NL was very annoyed with Lan and Lung for accusing ZL, telling them he’d deep confidence in ZL whom he believed wouldn’t trick him. On hearing this, ZL’s heart was heavier than ever. On the other hand,in her room,Lan was frustrated, saying that Lady Ling wouldn’t believe her again. Lung told her about BH Factory, saying that now they had their own wealth, they wouldn’t need to depend on Old Man Ling for money anymore. Lan was surprised and happy with Lung’s ingenuity….

Meanwhile, BG was in the prostitution house, enjoying the company of Siu Hong. He decided that the life of a god was very undesirable because they couldn’t enjoy the power of earthly riches or fame.At that moment, he opened the shutters and saw ZL shopping in the streets with her husband. Instantly, BG’s face flamed in anger. In his jealousy, he mistook Siu Hong as ZL and behaved erratically, finally pushing her away when he discovered it wasn’t ZL.BG sat in his chamber with a deep hatred for NL and began to plot his downfall…..

NL and ZL visited the Imperial Palace, where Officer Kong told them to weave a special handkerchief for Keng Fei, the Imperial Concubine, in 3 days. Although secretly horrified at the short deadline, they’d no choice but to agree, knowing that Kong was just trying to harm them.Keng Fei explained that she’d lost the original handkerchief which’d been given to her by her late mother whom she missed dearly. She showed the pattern to ZL who promised they’d finish it in 3 days. Outside the Throne Hall, ZL was surprised to see a withered pear tree. Keng Fei came out just then and said that it was actually a pear tree from her home far in the South but unused to the cold North, it’d withered away. But it gave her such memories of her home that Keng Fei couldn’t bear to throw it…..

The Lings were worried to see the Southern flax with which they were supposed to weave the handkerchief, as they had none in stock. When NL tried to find it in the shops, the special flax was sold out, and he suspected Kong had bought every single thread he could to get them into trouble. However, he was very lucky; he found an old man spinning the flax and with the supply, ZL instantly started weaving and embroidering so that the handkerchief was finally finished on the third day. Unfortunately, BG appeared and caused the hanky to fall into a bowl of dark dye so that it was perfectly ruined. Aside from harming NL, he hoped to garner the Imperial Charter for BH factory instead so that the Ling factory would be bankrupt. He was pleased to find out from Lung that Officer Kong also had a prejudice against the Lings……

ZL was distressed over the loss of the hanky and asked her allies for help. She could still weave a new one, but there wasn’t any more Southern flax, and the embroidery wouldn’t be quite so similar to the original pattern. Keng Fei certainly wouldn’t be pleased. Nobody could think of a solution. On looking at some Chinese pears, ZL remembered the withered pear tree and suddenly came to a realization. She asked the Earth Deities to do something for her…..

Officer Kong presented a hanky made by the BH Factory to Keng Fei that was similar to her lost one. However, the concubine didn’t seem very pleased with it. Just then, NL and ZL came in and showed her a basket covered with a plain white hanky.Kong shouted at them for their disrespect as it was obviously not the same hanky Keng Fei wanted. However, the curious concubine took the basket and when she lifted the hanky, she saw some fragrant Southern pears. The pear-scent on the hanky reminded Keng Fei of the time her mother gave her a similar basket of pears covered by her lost hanky. She realized that it wasn’t her hanky that she missed after all; it was the familiar fragrance of her home and her mother. Delighted, she accepted ZL’s hanky, and praised ZL’s intelligence. The emperor, pleased by Keng Fei’s happy smile, rewarded ZL with a golden pram for her unborn baby and many other gifts besides……

Meanwhile, BG was furious that he’d lost once again to NL. Just then, HZ came rushing in to say goodbye, she’d to travel to the Forbidden Forest on an errand for ZL. BG managed to obtain from HZ the secret that ZL was faking her pregnancy;hence, HZ wanted to borrow the enchanted ‘Bright Boy’ from the demoness to ‘create’ a baby. BG smiled calculatively at this new piece of information…..

BG went to Heaven and noticed the Heavenly Queen Mother wearing a golden shawl woven by ZL for her last anniversary. BG knew that HQM missed ZL very much, but when he suggested that HQM invite ZL back to Heaven, HQM vehemently refused as it’s be like her slapping her own mouth when she’d allowed ZL to go in the first place.At this, BG went privately to the Jade Emperor and asked for permission to make ZL return to Heaven of her own accord. The Jade Emperor essentially granted him permission as long as he didn’t cross the limit or be cruel in his actions………

The Lings kept praising ZL’s ingenuity and said that it was the unborn child who’d brought them all their good luck. ZL was distressed. At that time, BG appeared and caused NL to slip and fall against his wife. ZL’s sash was pulled undone and her wicker baskets fell to the ground…….

[laugh]

Episode 14

Ngau Long was furious with ZikLui for tricking him about the baby, and causing the entire Ling family to lie to the Emperor with her. ZL tearfully tried to explain, but NL scolded her angrily and left. However, when he’d cooled down, NL remembered all the lovely times they’d shared and felt sorry for his harsh manner. He returned to his garden to find ZL sobbing heavily by the pond. Starting to apologize, NL was stunned when ZL suddenly spun around and knocked him senseless. It wasn’t ZL at all, but Bei Gon disguised as her. In a rage, BG pushed out all of NL’s 7 human emotions and sent away the one called Love. When NL woke up, he’d lost all emotion of love so he couldn’t bring himself to forgive ZL or even care for her anymore……..

ZL tried to make amends by being very obedient and doing the household chores. But Lady Ling was annoyed at the sight of her and ordered her to leave. Old Man Ling tried to defend her, saying that ZL’s absence would create a scandal and blacken the Lings’ name. NL didn’t once say anything to support her; however, Lady Ling finally allowed her to stay but very reluctantly.When ZL tried to accompany him to the Ling factory, NL forbade her, as everyone outside the family thought she’d miscarried accidentally and her appearance would merely create more rumours. He sarcastically said he hoped she was happy the entire family was lying for her and left, making ZL very distressed. At the factory, NL scolded a worker harshly for making a mistake and everyone was surprised to see his bad temper. Old Man Ling told him not to vent his fury on the workers and NL scowled……….

ZL found a cow looking exactly like Gau Zai to make NL happy. NL found it a waste of time and departed to his old village for some fresh air. He didn’t allow ZL to accompany her, saying he wanted to be alone……

BG was pleased to discover that in NL’s absence, Lung had persuaded all customers under NL’s care to give business to BH Factory. Almost all of the big customers of the Lings had been enticed away.When Lung left, his heart started talking to him, praising him for even thinking of beating away NL’s love emotion in his quest to get ZL. Without his loving nature, NL would never forgive ZL and BG hoped ZL would then forget NL. BG’s heart laughed in delight at the evil plan……..

BG paid Ah Fa a visit and caused her house to burn down. With nowhere to go, Ah Fa decided to go to town and stay with some relatives. She bumped into NL who was sorry to hear about her sad plight and invited her to stay at his house. At that time, Lady Ling was choosing some candidates for NL to take as concubines. ZL was horrified at this, but of course her protests went unheeded. Lady Ling decided to wait and hear NL’s decision.

On the night of HQM’s anniversary, ZL prayed to her for forgiveness, apologizing for being unable to attend the celebrations. BG came to see her and told her that instead of enduring the suffering on earth, why didn’t she return to her fairy status in Heaven since HQM missed her dearly? BG berated NL for being selfish and ungrateful. Incensed, ZL told him not to belittle NL. BG couldn’t believe ZL still supported NL after what he did to her. ZL explained that she chose her path in life herself, and she never regretted it no matter how much she suffered because she loved NL so much. BG was very exasperated. Then ZL told him to cherish HZ’s love. Stunned that she knew, BG tried to explain, but ZL assured him she wouldn’t tell anyone….

BG returned home in anger, and asked why HZ told ZL their relationship. HZ protested, saying that she didn’t betray their secret; ZL was the one who guessed it with her extreme intelligence. HZ assured him that ZL’d definitely be discreet.BG pretended he wasn’t angry, but inside he was burning away……

ZL was happy to see Ah Fa, but was surprised to know that NL didn’t tell her that they were married. Lady Ling was particularly happy to see a pretty girl on such good terms with her son. Ah Fa enquired about NL’s cold treatment of ZL, but NL told her it was nothing. Ah Fa was also worried her presence at the household might be misunderstood, but NL said that as long as they didn’t do anything wrong, she shouldn’t bother about it.
That night, ZL attempted to make NL laugh by doing puppetry. At the stroke of midnight, the sound of the gong had a strange effect on NL; he stiffened and stared blankly into space before the 6 emotions reentered his body. He wasn’t amused at all by the puppetry and bade ZL goodnight before closing the door harshly on her fingers, uncaring……

HZ tried to explain to NL that the fake pregnancy was her idea and not ZL’s, but NL said that ZL ought to have made things clear to him earlier. HZ was puzzled by his attitude; he wasn’t at all like the kind understanding man she was used to. It was almost as if he’d changed overnight into another person.When HZ said he could beat her if that’d make him forgive ZL, NL actually took up the offer! HZ was shocked…….

Ah Fa pleased Lady Ling when she made the breakfast even though she was a guest. Ah FA went to ask ZL what happened that made everyone so hostile towards her, and ZL told her the story. Unexpectedly, Ah Fa scolded her for tricking NL and ZL was disappointed that she wasn’t understanding towards her situation at all……

HZ told ZL that Ah Fa was a potential threat if she remained in the household. ZL confidently said that she believed NL’s heart wouldn’t change towards another woman. HZ complained that he’d already changed a lot, but ZL assured her that NL would forgive her sooner or later……

BG was very angry to discover that Lung had used his mansion as a place to receive tradesmen. This meant the identity of the owner of BH Factory would be revealed. Deciding he couldn’t trust Lung anymore or use him to his advantage, BG went to look for a new target: Officer Kong. He told Kong they had similar goals – to destroy the Ling Factory so that Kong would cooperate with him…

HZ told BG about ZL’s willingness to endure all the suffering due to her great love for NL. BG was angry to hear about ZL’s undying love. That night, his ‘devil’ appeared in front of NL in his study and told him that if he didn’t love ZL anymore, he’d better divorce her and let her return to Heaven to be with BG, her supposed husband. NL was distressed by BG’s threats and recalled all the good times they spent together. Somehow, he couldn’t let ZL go. Ah Fa, to comfort him, brought a cow looking like Gau Zai to him which cheered him slightly. When Ah Fa twisted her foot, NL was very concerned and helped her home. Lady Ling was happy to see NL so caring towards Ah Fa, and gave Ah Fa the jade bangle which she’d once given ZL but retrieved after the wicker-basket incident. It was plain that she wanted Ah Fa to be NL’s concubine.ZL was unhappy to see Ah Fa carrying the bangle…..

Ah Fa wanted to return her the bangle once she knew it was ZL’s, but ZL told her to keep it since Lady Ling gave it to her. At that moment, BG appeared and possessed Ah Fa.When Lady Ling and NL passed by, the fake Ah Fa pretended that ZL was trying to grab her bangle and made it seem as if ZL pushed her to the ground. Angry, NL slapped ZL hard. She was stunned at the blow……….


Whoops, I mightn't be able to post anymore for the next few days.....maybe the week after next! Sorry for the wait!

[laugh]

Episode 15

Discouraged and dispirited, ZikLui wandered aimlessly down the streets and saw a wine-stall. Much to her surprise, Bei Gon passed by and sat down to accompany her. Over the wine, BG repeatedly told her that Ngau Long was a heartless man and that she shouldn’t have to endure such suffering. Finally,a slightly tipsy ZL told him to take her home.

Once they returned, NL was furious to see BG with her and accused both of them of having an affair. NL also told everyone that BG was ZL’s ex-lover. In tears, ZL begged BG to leave to avoid any more misunderstanding. However, things didn’t improve even after BG’s absence. At last in a fit of fury, NL wrote a letter of divorce and ordered his men to kick ZL off the household, much to Lady Ling’s delight. In disbelief, ZL clutched at the letter and knelt in front of the house the whole night in the rain. Her heart was broken….

Back at the Lings, NL couldn’t seem to control his words of anger. When OldMan Ling or anyone at all tried to intervene, he yelled names at them without regard or respect. Everyone was immensely shocked at his temper.Shaking, he rushed to his room and saw the silk hanky that ZL gave him. Instant memories flooded his head, but unable to feel anything but hate, NL tried to tear it into pieces and rushed out of the house madly. There, he saw poor ZL. However as she fainted away from sorrow, who else but BG appeared to catch her in his arms. Angered at the sight of both of them together, NL yelled for them to leave and never return…..

BG brought ZL back to his mansion. Of course he wanted to touch her, but Hei Ziok returned anxiously at that moment with some medicine for ZL. ZL awoke and wanted to leave, but BG told her that she had nowhere else to go. HZ also begged her to stay and try to think of a solution. Having no alternative, ZL agreed.

Meanwhile, NL became furious at the slightest things and smashed the Fortune God statue that Lady Ling bought. Ah Fa was worried about him and went to see him, hoping to cheer him up.NL railed at her in anger, causing Ah Fa to ask him if he noticed he’d changed a lot. Lady Ling came in at that moment to fix a wedding date for both of them. Astonished, NL told her she was mistaken and that he only treated Ah Fa as a little sister. Although hurt and unhappy, Ah Fa knew this for the truth and told Lady Ling that she was leaving for her relatives’ house to avoid any more misunderstandings…

HZ had a date with BG and waited the entire day for him; but BG was too intent on spending time with ZL and forgot. HZ rushed back to find ZL happily having a meal with BG and thought that they were being intimate. BG finally managed to comfort her and HZ apologized to ZL for her harsh words. However, this incident made BG feel very frustrated with HZ. His ‘devil’ told him to hurry up and destroy the Ling factory so that the Lings would end up with nothing. Then ZL might leave them for BG. BG smiled at the very thought……..

Old Man Ling cast a bombshell when he announced his retirement and said that the Ling Factory would henceforth be in NL’s hands. Lung protested and even NL said that Lung ought to share in the management, but Old Man Ling refused, saying that Lung was too impatient and impulsive.That evening, Lung poured out his frustrations to BG who suggested that he personally topple the Ling Factory. Shocked, Lung was reluctant as the factory was after all his father’s life’s work. In the end, BG managed to persuade him by saying that he could just seize the management power and not actually ‘topple’ it. The first step, according to BG, was to spread public distrust in the quality of the Ling Factory’s products…….

Meanwhile, ZL missed NL terribly but the Lings’ servants refused to allow her into the house.The Earth Deities cast a spell on her to make her invisible, so that she could at least see her beloved NL. She entered NL’s study just in time to see NL’s remaining 6 emotions scurrying around him as he stared dazedly into space. ZL was surprised and shocked to see this……

The Earth Deities discovered that NL was indeed missing his Love emotion and therefore, his human soul was incomplete and he couldn’t be himself. No wonder that he couldn’t forgive ZL as he didn’t know how. ZL resolved to find the missing part of NL’s soul, but the Earth deities were unsure how to help her.Apparently, all soul fragments were guarded by Soul Officers in a place called ‘Mesmerizing Heaven’ which was not under any deity’s jurisdiction. Only souls or Soul Officers could enter the place. ZL certainly couldn’t enter as a mortal. Desperate, ZL asked Earth GrandFather to use magic to knock her soul out of her body. The Earth Deities warned her that she had only 2 hours at most to return to her physical form….

Meanwhile, Lung managed to persuade his brother to use some lesser quality material for the Imperial Charter after destroying most of the original readied cloth. BG was pleased to hear this and told him to take some documents to NL to sign, saying that if Lung gave them to him at a certain hour, NL would think them ordinary papers and sign unsuspectingly. They were documents handing over all of the Lings’ property to BH Factory.Eager for the management of the Ling Factory, Lung happily agreed, unaware that BG’d already had a prior agreement with Officer Kong…….

ZL managed to enter Mesmerizing Heaven as the Officers thought she was another poor wandering soul. Much to her joy, she found NL’s confused Love Fragment and discovered that this NL’d no idea what’d been going on. They embraced, but then the Officers pulled him roughly away. When ZL asked, they replied that all lost souls had a certain time limit to return to their physical forms, after which they would be thrown into the Heavenly fires and destroyed. NL’s Love Fragment had only 2 hours left.The only way to call a soul-fragment back to its body was to use an object that the person loved the most and pray. Anxiously, ZL returned to her body and told her friends the whole story. Earth GrandFather said that NL’d lose his sanity if his Love Fragment was destroyed. They decided to steal into the Lings’ house and obtain NL’s old clothes that ZL once mended so beautifully for him, as it was NL’s favourite keepsake. Unfortunately, BG discovered everything and hastened to the Lings to throw some wrenches into their plan. He trapped HZ in one of the rooms so that she couldn’t search properly for the clothes….

Meanwhile, NL was in a daze as he signed the papers Lung gave him without even reading them. The Earth Deities appeared and started searching his study, while Lady Ling rushed in and happily told him about the dates she’d fixed for his taking a number of concubines. NL agreed to everything dazedly.Then he saw his old clothes that the Earth Deities had just managed to unearth (pardon the pun), and ordered his men to burn it. At that time, ZL had rushed into the Lings’ house as she couldn’t stand the wait and screamed when she saw the servants trying to burn the clothes. Although she tried to stop them, BG blew the clothes into the fire and caused the flames to blaze so that it was burnt to a crisp……

In despair and with the 2 hours almost up, ZL decided to try one last method although she wasn’t sure it’d work. She tried to whistle NL’s favourite tune on a leaf in hopes that the Love Fragment would hear it and use the melody to guide its way to her. Meanwhile, BG cruelly dispersed NL’s other 6 emotions to make things harder for ZL…

In Mesmerizing Heaven, the Soul Officers pushed NL’s Love into the Heavenly fires but at that moment, he heard the little tune ZL was so desperately playing and flew to her leaf. Also, the Earth Deities noticed the 6 emotions scattering and managed to rescue all of them. However, NL’s body was now soulless and he would be wandering around aimlessly, so they’d to find him before he endangered himself!They managed to find him at last and ZL called out his name. Unheeding, NL emotionlessly stepped off a cliff and ZL leapt off after him……..

Heehee, this reminds me of Titanic…’you jump, I jump’……

[laugh]

Episode 16

The Earth Deities managed to save both ZikLui and Ngau Long by using some vines as rope. Although NL received all the lost fragments of his soul, he couldn’t remember anything that had transpired after he lost his Love emotion.He was horrified to learn he’d divorced ZL……

NL brought ZL back to the Lings and managed to explain matters so that ZL remained his wife. Lady Ling was very annoyed at this turn of events. At this time, Officer Kong suddenly appeared and told them that NL’d signed away all their property to the owner of BH Factory. The Lings were shocked and thought that he must be mistaken. ZL explained to NL that he must have done so when he was in his dazed state. At this point, Lung casually sauntered in as one of the partners of BH Factory, giving his family a shock beyond proportions. They couldn’t believe one of their own would betray them in such a manner. Without much ado, Officer Kong ordered his men to kick them out of the house……

Fortunately, Wu Dak helped them and let them lodge at his house. Lady Ling couldn’t stop wailing and weeping at her eldest son’s betrayal. She blamed ZL for everything, saying that she was a bad luck charm and still refused to accept her. Old Man Ling couldn’t convince her otherwise………

That night, ZL found NL puzzling over the matter of his escaped soul fragments. ZL told him that only somebody with great power could have done such a thing and wondered who it was who bore them such a deep hatred. NL suspected BG, much to ZL’s surprise. NL explained that he dimly recalled BG appearing several times and saying incendiary words to deepen their misunderstanding.He suspected that BG lusted after ZL and therefore was trying to separate them. ZL remembered HZ remarking once that BG wasn’t the same since receiving his heart. She went to tell HZ her suspicions. HZ was surprised at her words but promised to investigate the matter to clear BG’s name…

Lung was happily enjoying his luxurious meal with Lan, when Officer Kong arrived with BG and ordered them off the premises. Shocked, Lung asked BG what had happened. It turned out that BG had exercised the same trick he’d done to NL on the documents he’d given Lung. Hence, Lung had also signed away his rights to both the Ling and BH Factory. Contemptuously, Officer Kong and BG kicked both of them out. Unknown to them, a little Fortune bird observed everything from the ceiling rafters……

When a drunk BG returned to his mansion, HZ worriedly told him that wine could lessen his divinity but BG didn’t care. When she demanded an answer for all her suspicions, BG used all sorts of excuses as usual which HZ refuted. Angered that HZ might actually go and check his Fortune duty-roster, BG tried to zap HZ into pieces, but he’d used up all remnants of Fairy Essence and his heart was hurting him again. Worried, HZ decided to solve the mystery once and for all, and rushed into BG’s chest to examine the heart. BG tried to stop her……

HZ saw BG’s imprisoned ‘angel’ in BG’s heart chamber, a very much tinier ‘angel’ who begged her to think of a way to release him and save BG. Just then BG’s ‘devil’ appeared and mocked the ‘angel’. Horrified, HZ tried to intervene, but the ‘devil’ blasted her away with immense power. HZ fell back beside an unconscious BG. In tears, she realized that the Nine-Tailed Fox had tricked them and given BG another heart. Unable to control her feelings, she passed BG some of her own Essence yet again and he revived. HZ wanted to dig BG’s heart out but BG forbade her, saying sadly that he didn’t want to forget his love for her.

Actually BG himself wanted to dig his own heart out before, but the notion of losing all feelings for HZ ( and indeed forgetting her entirely) was what stopped him. BG explained that he tried to control his ‘devil’ but lost the battle time and time again. HZ sobbed at this and told him that if this continued, he’d enter demonhood. BG couldn’t bear her tears and hugged her, but before he knew it, his ‘devil’ took over again; his expression changed…

Meanwhile NL went everywhere trying to secure a loan for Old Man Ling to rebuild the Ling Factory, but nobody was willing to help them due to Kong’s influence. At last NL managed to get a job lifting rice-sacks. Lady Ling still despised ZL, but ZL remained hopeful that she’d come to accept her. That night, Lady Ling had a strange dream where she saw Lan leaving Lung in the streets and it ended with ZL murdering her. The next morning, Lady Ling bumped into the scene of Lan scolding Lung off and leaving him. On seeing his mother, Lung was ashamed and ran away. This accuracy of events in her dream caused Lady Ling to look upon ZL in fear, thinking that ZL’d really kill her. Actually, it was BG who’d been going into her dreams via the Dream Scrolls and manipulating her into hating ZL. HZ followed him one day and became aware of his plan. She tried to stop BG. However, pretending that his heart was hurting him again, BG sucked out almost all of HZ’s Fairy Essence and greatly weakened her……..

When NL and ZL discussed Lady Ling’s dreams with the Earth deities, they suspected that BG was the culprit. The couple decided to enter Lady Ling’s dreams themselves, and expose BG by using the Truth Mirror which the deities lent them. With it, they could obtain proof that BG was abusing his power and complain to HQM. First, they had the Earth deities disguise themselves as Old Man and Lady Ling in front of BG, and pretend to be on excellent terms with each other. BG, on thinking his plan earlier hadn’t worked with Lady Ling, decided to enter the Scroll Chamber yet again.This was exactly what NL and ZL wanted. Meanwhile, HZ recovered and rushed to find BG…….

Earth Granny kept watch outside the Dream Scroll chamber. However, before NL and ZL could do anything in Lady Ling's dream, they were reawakened by the Earth deities. ZL asked them what'd happened; Earth GrandFather said that HZ had come to him lying that Earth Granny was in danger; hence he'd left his post and rushed to her aid. ZL was very sad that HZ had been the one disrupting her plans, and rushed to find her for an explanation……

HZ didn’t deny that she’d spoiled ZL’s plans; she didn’t want BG captured and punished by HQM. After all, her love for BG was equal to ZL’s love for NL; why shouldn’t she help the person she loved? ZL protested that she was aiding BG to enter demonhood, but all HZ knew was that she loved him and would do anything to protect him, even if it meant betraying her best friend. ZL was dismayed and alarmed……..

[laugh]

Episode 17

Hei Ziok was alarmed when she found Bei Gon lying in his chair looking ill. However, in his weak condition, BG mistook her for ZikLui, told her that everything he did was for her, and that Ngau Long wasn’t suitable for her. When HZ sadly mentioned her own name, BG replied that he didn’t love HZ even though she sacrificed so much for him. At his words, HZ heartbrokenly ran from the room. But when she remembered all the sweet times she spent with BG, she decided not to give up on him and instead help him to redeem himself. After passing some of her Essence to BG to revive him, HZ matter-of-factly told BG that she was going to look for the Nine-Tailed Fox to retrieve his real heart, and that he was to help her. BG saw that despite his many honeyed words to dissuade her, she remained unmoved. Afraid that she’d actually find the Fox, BG agreed…….

Meanwhile, the Lings were very worried about Lady Ling’s condition. She’d not awoken since NL and ZL ventured into her dreams. When ZL asked the Earth deities about it, they replied that Lady Ling believed herself murdered by ZL in her dreams and therefore, her physical form took on the appearance of that belief. The deities could do nothing. Earth Granny warned ZL and NL that if Lady Ling wasn’t revived on the seventh night of her coma, she’d perish for real. Hoping to restrain BG’s actions, ZL decided to write a letter of complaint to Heavenly Queen Mother about BG and told Earth GrandFather to take it up to Heaven. At the same time, she hoped HQM would help Lady Ling recover. However, the Fortune Bird had been spying on them and heard everything. Determined not to allow BG be captured by HQM, HZ disguised herself as a Heavenly Guard and managed to trick Earth GrandFather into giving up the letter to her. She wanted to buy time to find the Nine-Tailed Fox and hopefully save BG…………

Meanwhile Lung was wandering the streets as a beggar and had scarcely a bite to eat. As he passed the former house of the Lings, he saw the old sign of the Ling Factory being taken by the workers to be burnt. Knowing that the sign was his father’s pride and joy, Lung desperately tried to rescue it from the workers. At this, Officer Kong appeared and ordered his men to beat him severely until he released the sign. Finally, Lung managed to obtain the sign, but Wu Dak had seen the whole matter……….

Lung placed the sign at the entrance of Wu Dak’s house and kowtowed to show his respects to his father although he didn’t dare to enter. ZL and NL saw him and wanted to persuade him to return to his family. However, Lung was too ashamed to face his father and it was only when he heard his mother was ill that he finally agreed to enter Dak’s house. When Old Man Ling saw him, he threw a fit and chased his eldest son away. Nobody could persuade him to forgive Lung, even when he saw the Ling Factory sign which, according to Dak, had been saved by Lung. At last, NL and ZL brought him to the temple where, for 2 days and 2 nights, Lung had been kowtowing endlessly to the deities in a bid to pray for his mother’s recovery. Seeing this, Old Man Ling’s heart was moved. He forgave Lung and even allowed him to remain in Dak’s house…………

HZ and BG went searching for the Fox. BG reluctantly disguised himself to lure her out, but didn’t do a thing to capture her when she really appeared. Exasperated, HZ finally managed to capture her using her Heavenly Ropes and demanded the Fox to hand over BG’s real heart. Laughing, the Fox asked if the wolf’s heart she’d given BG wasn’t good enough. At this, BG attempted to kill her but was blocked by HZ. In the struggle, the Fox escaped. Although BG denied it, HZ wondered if BG really wanted his real heart back or was just pretending so that he could kill the Fox cold-bloodedly…..

In Heaven one day, BG overheard the other deities talking about the Golden Disciple of Buddha who’d be ascending to bodhisatvatism. His physical form apparently possessed the Buddha Stone which could impart great Heavenly powers to its owner after the Disciple’s ascension. The deities were worried that all the demons and devils would be fighting to obtain the Stone and cause havoc on earth.BG went to tell HZ that the Buddha Stone could help him purify his bad heart so that she’d help him obtain it. In fact, he wanted the Stone to increase his powers so that he’d not be dependent anymore on absorbing HZ’s Essence.

They followed the route of the Golden Disciple and heard sounds of fighting. When they rushed to the scene, the Nine-Tailed Fox was fighting a monk in grey and she disappeared after being injured. BG savagely grabbed the monk who’d also been severely hurt in the fight, but it turned out that he was merely one of the disciples of the Golden Disciple. Rudely, BG tossed him into HZ’s arms and hurried off to intercept the Disciple. HZ immediately asked the monk about the properties of the Buddha Stone and was very upset when she learnt about BG’s true motives.

At the same time, ZL and NL also heard about the Stone from the Earth deities and decided to obtain the Golden Disciple’s help to treat Lady Ling. On their way to find the Disciple, they bumped into a little monk in yellow robes. Concerned for the boy’s safety, ZL wanted to bring him along, but Earth Granny was worried they wouldn’t be able to catch up with the Disciple. At this point, the Earth deities had to fight several demons(who had suddenly appeared)off. Meanwhile, HZ tried to trick BG into going the wrong direction and follow the injured demons; unfortunately, BG saw the trail of blood which meant that the demons were rushing away from, and not towards, the Disciple. He shouted at HZ angrily and hurried off….

When ZL noticed the increased number of demons which appeared when the little monk joined their group, she intelligently guessed that the boy was the real Golden Disciple. Because he’d become Buddha’s disciple at an early age, he’d kept his youthful appearance. However, the Disciple regretfully said that he’d no time to treat Lady Ling as he was hurrying to the Sacred Pool, into where he planned to put the Buddha Stone before his ascension.

At this time, BG appeared and demanded that they handed over the Disciple. The Earth deities told the others they’d fight him while the rest escape towards the Sacred Pool with the Disciple. However, BG was after all one of the high-ranking gods and easily defeated the Earth deities…..

Meanwhile, the Disciple said that it was time for him to report to Buddha and he could no longer guard the Buddha Stone. He begged NL and ZL to place it into the Sacred Pool on his behalf. Then he disappeared in a flash of golden light. BG appeared at this moment and attempted to grab the Stone. In the struggle, HZ flew past and managed to snatch away the Stone before anyone realized it. Instantly, ZL begged her not to give the Stone to BG while BG tried to persuade her otherwise with sweet words. Finally, he lost patience and tried to grab the Stone from her. In the furore, the Stone flew into NL’s mouth and he accidentally swallowed it! Furious, BG attacked NL, but NL possessed unearthly power and severely injured BG. Frustrated, BG escaped and a crying HZ followed him despite ZL’s entreaties…

Hoping to harness the Stone’s power, NL and ZL as well as Earth Granny re-entered Lady Ling’s dreams in an effort to save her. ZL and NL found Lady Ling lying as if dead under a tree and tried to extract the jade dart in her chest. However, the jade dart wouldn’t budge, forcing NL to use his new powers to pull it out. Once the dart was gone, Lady Ling revived and was overjoyed to see NL. As they hurried off, they bumped into another ZL who tried to jab her with the dart. It was actually Earth Granny in disguise, and she enacted the scene to prove to Lady Ling that there were two ZikLuis, and that the false one had tried to kill her. Lady Ling realized that she’d wrongfully accused ZL. At this moment, all of them awoke from their dreams……

Lady Ling was sorry for the ill treatment she’d given ZL and was particularly happy to see Lung. ZL felt a pain in her stomach, alarming NL. They immediately summoned a physician, who announced that ZL was pregnant (for real this time). A worried Lady Ling tentatively asked if the physician had examined ZL accurately, but he assured her that the pregnancy is genuine. NL was overjoyed at this piece of good news and hugged ZL….

[laugh]

Episode 18

ZikLui missed Hei Ziok very much and was worried for her safety. Ngau Long noticed her unhappiness and said that since HZ didn’t give Bei Gon the Buddha Stone, it was obvious that she wasn’t aiding him, but was trying to redeem him. It was unfortunate that HZ loved a god she shouldn’t have loved. He suggested that they look for HZ together and ZL gratefully agreed…..

Meanwhile, BG was trying to heal himself, but his heart hurt him and he couldn’t continue. HZ appeared and was very worried to see him in such agony. BG painfully accused her of betraying him, saying that she was the one who spoilt all his plans. In tears, HZ asked him why he was still lying to her even after everything that’d happened. She went into BG’s chest again, determined to save BG’s ‘angel’ and destroy the wolf heart once and for all. However, the wolf had hidden BG’s ‘angel’ and was immensely powerful. Also, HZ faltered when the wolf said that once she destroyed him, all memories of HZ would vanish along with BG’s heart. As soon as she hesitated, the wolf blasted her from the heart chamber. However, though she failed to destroy the bad heart, she made a decision not to channel any more Essence into BG to stop him from doing bad things until the Nine-Tailed Fox was found. Enraged, BG kicked her and was going to tear her to pieces when ZL and NL rushed to the scene in the nick of time. Fearful of NL’s power, BG instantly disappeared, leaving HZ bleeding on the ground…..

ZL was furious at BG for actually hurting and wanting to kill HZ. Her friend tearfully begged them to forgive him because this wasn’t his true nature. NL wondered why their complaint letter hadn’t moved the Heavenly Host to action yet, and HZ confessed that she’d intercepted the letter. ZL was really frustrated with her. HZ asked them to let BG go and give her more time to find the Fox. ZL didn’t know what to say……

BG had returned to his mansion in a very bad mood and was displeased when Officer Kong barged into his home demanding a reason for his continuous absence from work. BG rudely interrupted him and told him that Kong wasn’t BG’s boss and that he could destroy Kong as easily as he made him wealthy. To him, Kong was merely a pawn against the Lings. Taken aback by BG’s fury, Kong blustered that he was the master of both factories but BG was unmoved and ordered him to get out. Kong left at last, but was deeply humiliated by BG’s harsh words…….

ZL was surprised to see NL still awake so late into the night, but NL was up to protect his pregnant wife from the demons who’d come to try snatch the Buddha Stone. ZL reassured him, saying that they had placed numerous Earth Deity shrines and wind-chimes around the house to warn about demons. At that moment, they heard the wind-chimes tinkle but to their delight, it was merely Wong and LingYee come to visit them. LingYee was particularly upset to discover that her father held some responsibility for demolishing the Ling factory and ordering all suppliers not to give the Lings any flax to spin into cloth. NL and ZL comforted LingYee, saying that they were in fact happier in their state of poverty than they were in luxury……..

Officer Kong’s 60th anniversary was approaching, but he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect because he was going to spend it without any family by his side. His men came in to inform him that his daughter was at the door to see him, but the stubborn Kong refused to grant her entry. In tears, LingYee knelt at the door with Wong in hopes to win her father’s forgiveness. At last, when they’d knelt the entire day and well into the night, Kong went to see them and asked them what they wanted. LingYee begged him to forgive her and accept Wong; she also explained that her flee from her home had nothing to do with the Lings and therefore, Kong had no reason for his prejudice towards them. Also, she dearly missed Kong and would like them to live as a family. Annoyed, Kong shut the door on them although he was actually moved by her entreaties……

LingYee thought that her words had no effect; but as it turned out, Kong rescinded his orders on the suppliers’ ban on the Lings, so that once more they could spin flax and rebuild the Ling Factory. On hearing this news, BG visited Kong on his birthday in a towering rage and demanded an explanation. Kong decided he’d enough of BG's threats and ordered BG away. Angered, BG tried to zap him but his powers were insufficient. Nothing doing, he leapt at the terrified Kong and beat him up, wounding him severely. Ling Yee and Wong were just on their way to see Kong and were horrified to learn that he’d been injured by BG’s beating. Wong made some medicine for him without much hope he’d accept it. To their delight, the whole incident made Kong realize the importance of family and he was finally able to accept Wong as his son-in-law.

NL and ZL were incensed to hear about BG’s latest cruelty and decided to think of a way to capture him. However, BG had gone into hiding and would never appear as long as NL was still alive with the Stone. So they decided to fake NL’s death and pulled Wong into the entire matter to help them out. Wong was shocked to hear everything but agreed to help. The next morning, NL told the entire family(except himself and Wong) to go pray at a distant temple for the baby’s safety and maybe for the Heavens to grant the Lings a male child. ZL was dismayed to know that she also had to go with the rest so that suspicion wouldn’t be aroused. She was reluctant to leave NL in such danger. After their departure, the Earth deities set the scene of mourning. Midway through her journey, ZL made an excuse to her companions and turned back, worried for NL.

Meanwhile, BG learnt that there was a mourning at the Lings and was surprised to know that NL was dead. He thought that perhaps NL had perished due to the uncontrollable power of the Buddha Stone in his stomach. BG went to the Lings’ dwelling to investigate. He saw the Earth deities and Wong railing NL’s death at the entrance….

HZ awoke to find herself on her bed with the Kitchen God watching over her. Suspicious, she asked about the Earth deities’ whereabouts, and the Kitchen God inadvertently blurted out the secret that NL and ZL planned to capture BG and report him to HQM. Alarmed at this, HZ instantly rushed off to save BG…….

At that moment, BG appeared in front of NL’s coffin and swept the lid off, preparing to grab the Stone. NL leapt out and battled with BG. NL used the Stone’s power to try and capture BG, but to his astonishment, his golden zap passed through BG harmlessly. Although the Earth deities joined in the foray, they were unable to grab BG who seemed to be in all places at once. ZL, who had just returned and saw this, knew immediately that the BG whom NL was fighting was just the projection of an illusion. Knowing that the true form must be very near, she found BG in the backyard and immediately called everyone else there. BG was hurt and desperate when HZ suddenly appeared, blocking his attackers. ZL couldn’t believe she was still protecting BG, but HZ replied defiantly that they ought to know BG wasn’t himself and therefore they should give him a chance to retrieve his real heart. Before they could exchange any more words, BG grabbed HZ by the throat and used her as a hostage to escape. Exasperated, the Earth deities scolded the Kitchen God for not keeping their plan a secret from HZ….

BG and HZ ended up in a deserted temple. BG was very weak by then. Desperate to stop him from descending deeper into the demonic abyss, HZ re-entered his chest to try and destroy the wolf. However, she found a very weak wolf clutching at BG’s Life-Pulse. He told her that the only one keeping BG alive was himself, and if HZ destroyed him, BG would die. At first HZ was skeptical and tried to pull him from the Life-Pulse, but then she felt BG’s body rolling around in agony and couldn’t bear to kill him.She finally left the heart in frustration. BG begged her to give him some Essence, but HZ determinedly told him to be patient and wait for her to capture the Fox and retrieve his real heart….

Meanwhile, NL was suffering the aftereffects of using the Stone’s power. Most of his hair had turned white, his bones were aching, and he was tremendously fatigued. ZL and Wong were very worried about him. It was obvious that the Stone couldn’t remain long in NL’s system or its power would be too much for him. However, nobody had any idea how to extract the Stone from NL’s body…

The Lings were overjoyed that Officer Kong finally returned them the Ling Factory and all their property. His enmity had disappeared entirely, and he was even delighted to have a family tie with the Lings since Wong was NL’s sworn brother. NL and ZL were very happy that everyone was reconciled and reunited.

Unknown to them, the Nine-Tailed Fox was hiding in the backyard of their house, waiting for an opportunity to strike. At first she attempted to possess ZL, but because ZL was once a Heavenly Fairy, the Fox was unsuccessful. Instead she stirred some wind-chimes and caused ZL to suspect demonic entry. After this, she tried to possess LingYee who was carrying some medicine and this time, she was successful….

‘LingYee’ carried the medicine to NL, who was puzzled to see her behaving so seductively and unlike herself. As he turned to drink the medicine, ‘LingYee’ displayed huge sharp red talons and attacked NL from behind……………

[Bich Nga]

excellent job!! must be a tedious job. do u type this while you're watching it?? is this series by tvb?? deric wan as NL?? i dunno... deric wan and sonjia kwok?? NOOOO... i'd think she'd be too tall for him... :shrugs:

[laugh]

Bich Nga: haha, I actually typed it straight after watching the vcd, which keeps it fresh in my mind. It's not really tedious as the story is pretty interesting. I suppose it'd be tedious when I have to figure a way to describe the boring parts, especially if I'd forgotten most of it. Anyway, many thanks for your support!!!

Episode 19

Before ‘LingYee’ could sink her talons into NL’s back, ZL entered NL’s room anxiously, causing the Fox to quickly shy away. Due to the wind-chime warning earlier, ZL was worried for NL’s safety. ZL gave some yellow charms, which the Earth deities had given her, to NL, saying that they’d protect NL so that no demon could approach him. On seeing the charms, ‘LingYee’ felt very ill and quickly made some excuse to leave the room. ZL’s suspicions were aroused on seeing ‘LingYee’s peculiar manner.

ZL and NL told Wong to stay away from ‘LingYee’, telling him that there was fox-odor and that they suspected the Nine-Tailed Fox had possessed his wife. Wong refused to believe them until ‘LingYee’ clutched at his throat and threatened to kill him. At that moment, the Earth deities appeared and managed to beat off ‘LingYee’. In a desperate bid to escape, the Fox left LingYee’s body, leaving her pale and unconscious on the ground……

Somebody followed Lung while he was in town getting a new supply of cloth. Lung turned quickly round to find that it was actually Lan! Shocked to see his wife, Lung asked her what she wanted. Lan shamefacedly explained that since she left him, she’d been missing him day and night, and now realized that her rightful place was beside her husband in every situation. Lung refused to forgive her and told her to scram. Undaunted, Lan kept dogging his footsteps, pleading for forgiveness until all the Lings came out to see what was going on. As Lan wept and made promises to improve her behaviour in the future if they’d accept her again, at least four people eyed her with suspicion. NL and ZL was afraid that the Fox might have possessed Lan, since she was behaving so unlike her usual self. Wong, in fear, painted Lan’s face with black dog’s blood. This irritated Lan, who shouted that since she was already on her knees begging them, they shouldn’t humiliate her in such a manner. Cowering away, NL, ZL, Wong, and LingYee thought the Fox’d possessed her and yelled for her to depart. Unhappily, Lan rushed off. It was only then that they realized they’d made a mistake……

NL apologized to Lung for chasing off his wife. He asked Lung if he wouldn’t forgive Lan. Lung replied that if Lan’d been sincere, she wouldn’t have rushed off just because somebody painted her face with blood. Lung couldn’t forget how Lan deserted him in a time when he needed her most……

Lung was in town when he saw Lan buying some charms at a nearby stall. In fact, Lan was getting the charms to protect the Lings as she’d realized they were afraid of some evil demonic force which was why they treated her in such a manner earlier. Lung was actually a little touched at her gesture. Lan noticed him hiding and chased after him to ask for forgiveness. Lung told her that if she’d stand on the city barracks and yell out all her wrongdoings in public, he might consider forgiving her. Much to his surprise, she really did it! The people, on hearing her confessions, told Lung not to accept back such a wife. Lung, confused, hurried away trying not to listen to Lan’s shouts…….

The earth deities were keeping watch for the Fox at night. Suddenly, they smelt her odor and the Fox really appeared! They chased after her and fought her, but too late they realized that it wasn’t the Fox after all; it was merely a projected illusion to lure them from their posts. Meanwhile, NL and ZL bumped into OldMan Ling while out in the yard. NL’s father wanted to talk to NL privately. ZL grew suspicious when she saw Old Man Ling behaving in a very strange manner, especially when she detected fox-odor. In the brief struggle, NL used his powers to knock the Fox from Old Man Ling’s body. The Fox quickly used the diversion to escape. Old Man Ling saw the Earth deities and screamed in terror about demons. Knowing there was no alternative, the deities told NL to gather everyone in the living-room and explain the situation.

The Lings were shocked to know the true identities of ZL, the Earth deities and the Kitchen God. Since the Fox could mask her smell with magic, they decided to expose her using black dog’s blood. Everyone dipped their fingers into a bowl of the special blood to show that they weren’t possessed. However, when it came to LingYee’s turn, she pleaded with them not to force her dip her finger as she felt squeamish. Wong was unexpectedly aggressive and accused her of being the Fox. In the brief squirmish that followed, the blood splashed onto LingYee and she was fine. Hence it was Wong who’d been possessed! The Fox threatened to kill Wong’s body unless NL committed suicide and release the Buddha Stone. NL quickly exercised his power to force the Fox from Wong, but she still managed to escape though severely wounded. A drained NL fell from great exhaustion and teetered on the brink of death. In desperation, Earth GrandFather and ZL decided to carry him to the Forbidden Forest and beg the demoness to save him. While they were gone, Earth Granny and the Kitchen God set up a barrier around the Ling household to protect the Lings from any further attacks from demons. However, no human must cross the threshold of the house, or the Heavenly barrier would be broken and they’d be vulnerable.

Meanwhile, HZ discovered the severely wounded Fox and instantly captured her, demanding the return of BG’s heart. The Fox weakly told her that it was in her home. HZ carried a very ill BG into the Fox’s den. The Fox tricked her into opening some boxes. HZ was poisoned by the Fox’s deadly Seven-Coloured Poison and in anger, weakly tried to kill the Fox. Just as the Fox prepared to finish HZ off, BG attacked her in a surprising show of strength. Desperate for energy, BG started to absorb the Fox’s Demonic Essence. In horror, HZ tried to stop him; calling out that he could absorb her Fairy Essence. If he sucked in Demonic Essence, he’d enter the demonic abyss and would be a Heavenly God no more. Unheeding, BG drained the Fox of her Essence and killed her, causing his appearance to alter and his hair to turn orange; then carried HZ tenderly to the bed and sucked out as much of her Fairy Essence as he could too! A tear slowly rolled down HZ’s cheek as BG stood up from his cruel deed. The demonically powerful BG was now determined to obtain the Buddha Stone so that he could gain ultimate power.

In the Forbidden Forest, the demoness explained that no amount of magic could force the Stone from NL’s system. There was only one method, but it was extremely dangerous. The Stone would only be released if NL died; hence, all the demoness could do was reverse NL’s blood circulation and cause him to die. In the half-hour that ensued, his soul would hurry to report to the King of Hell. In that time, NL must depend on his own willpower to return to his body so that he could live. Once he reported to the King of Hell, there would be no hope left.

Although ZL was worried about it, NL agreed to the plan. The demoness blasted him with her power and he instantly passed away. However, minutes passed and there was no returning warmth in NL’s body. ZL cried out in despair. Earth GrandFather guessed that NL’s body was too weak and therefore, his soul was confused and was even then hurrying to Hell. The demoness immediately told ZL to call out to NL as loud as she could, with all her willpower behind her words to stop his soul from entering Hell…..

Meanwhile, at the Lings’ house, Lan suddenly appeared at the gate and called out to Lung to see her. Lung was exasperated at her timing, as the barrier was already set and he couldn’t allow Lan to pass the threshold and put everyone at risk. However, Lan refused to leave and Lung was forced to meet her. Lung tried to get her to leave but she refused, crying for forgiveness. At that moment, BG suddenly appeared behind Lan, preparing to strike! An anxious Lung forgot everything and quickly pulled Lan to safety. The barrier was broken! BG smilingly entered and demanded to know NL’s whereabouts. He easily defeated Earth Granny and the Kitchen God, and captured everyone…….

ZL desperately projected herself into Hell and managed to recall NL’s soul with her calls of love. However, the effort had drained her and she fainted just as NL awoke. At that point, they sensed something horrible happening to the Lings. Earth GrandFather discovered that BG was the culprit. Frantic, NL asked the demoness to take care of ZL in her cave while they rushed back to save the Lings as well as Earth Granny and the Kitchen God.

NL and Earth GrandFather bumped into BG at the outskirts of the Forest. BG demanded that NL kill himself so that he could grab the Stone; but NL laughed and said that the Stone was already extracted and was safely in the Forbidden Forest( a sacred spot which the demonic BG couldn’t enter). Furious, BG was angry that not only NL had stolen ZL, but also his Buddha Stone! NL replied mockingly that BG was the great Fortune God, and yet demeaned himself to rival with a mortal when in actual fact, nobody was competing with him. Incensed at his words, BG changed NL into a cow. Mockingly, BG told NL that he would now be headed for the slaughterhouse and would be separated from ZL forever! Laughing in glee, BG left………

Meanwhile, ZL awoke and was alarmed when she heard that her husband had left to deal with BG. At that point, ZL saw HZ lying weakly on the floor of the demoness’ cave, poisoned and bleeding. In tears, ZL rushed to her. HZ was glad to see her and told her to hurry and save NL who’d been turned into a cow, although she didn’t know where.Finally HZ pleaded with ZL to do her a favour. She wanted ZL to pass BG her own heart, as that was the only way to replace his bad one. ZL was stunned that she was still so concerned about BG when he’d treated her in such a manner. HZ wept heartrendingly until ZL finally agreed to her request.

ZikLui went to look for Ngau Long’s cow-form at a local auction, calling out his name in hopes of a response. She saw many many cows, but not one responded. The auction master told her that one had just been bought. Guessing that it was NL, ZL finally located him/it, only to see the animal throwing a fit with his owners. ZL was in tears on seeing NL in such a state. She retrieved the cow and promised him that she’d find a way to change him back somehow. However her friend, the demoness, was entirely drained of energy and couldn’t restore NL back to his true form. ZL resolved to find BG and persuade him somehow to free everyone......

The demoness told ZL that she was no match for BG, especially in her pregnant state. ZL was very well aware of this; she decided to swallow the Buddha Stone to gain a measure of power against BG, even though the demoness warned her about the aftereffects. After absorbing the Stone, ZL turned around, powerfully recharged…………


*yay!!! Only one more to go!*

[laugh]

Oops sorry, missed a section in the previous episode! Anyway, here’s the one to cap the whole series off!!!

Episode 20

ZL went to find Bei Gon at the Lings’ house. BG smirked on seeing her, saying that he’d wondered why she was late. ZL told him defiantly that she’d swallowed the Buddha Stone and that she was there to make a deal. She knew that BG desired her as well as the Stone. If BG would release all his prisoners and also restore NL back to human form, ZL would willingly follow him so that he had both her and the Stone. Although BG’s wolf whispered for him to kill ZL and just take the Stone, BG violently refused, saying that he’d done too many things just to possess the woman.

He released everyone except the Earth Deities, saying that he wasn’t stupid enough to let them go just so they could fight alongside ZL. He also ensorcelled NL with a crippling migraine to prevent any retaliation against him. However, the Earth deities managed to escape when the Heavenly Host suddenly appeared, headed by YeeLongSun; in the confusion that followed, BG grabbed ZL and escaped back to the Fox’s den.

Heaven had apparently learnt about BG’s demonic actions; hence, the appearance of YeeLongSun with the Heavenly Soldiers to capture him. NL was frantic at the loss of ZL and all of them gave chase.

In the den, ZL told BG that though he might obtain her person, he’d never gain her heart. At this, BG’s wolf again urged him to kill ZL but BG opposed this angrily, yelling that he’d sacrificed too much for ZL to let her die and slip through his hands. At that moment, he noticed the Heavenly Host’s approach via a magically-conjured window. Quickly he created a greenish dimension circle that made ZL shout in surprise. It was the door to the Demonic Plane! ZL was horrified that BG meant to carry her into it but before she could protest, BG had grabbed her and leapt into the swirling circle. The Kitchen God tried to rescue them, but the effects of the disappearing demonic door scorched his face. Too late (again!) the Host arrived with NL and everyone else to stop BG.

NL desperately pleaded with everyone to help him save ZL, but none of the deities could enter the Demonic Plane. Only demons or those with a demonic nature could enter or exit at will. It seemed as if all hope was lost as NL sobbed in despair, but then the demoness from the Forbidden Forest appeared! NL was shocked to see that she’d broken the sacred rule of never leaving the prison into which HQM had consigned her, but the demoness said that for the two lovers, she wasn’t afraid of HQM’s wrath. The clever demoness told them that there was a way NL could gain entry as long as he had everyone’s assistance. Nobody there hesitated to offer his help.

The demoness explained that there was a chance NL could enter, as he was a mortal, and all mortals have some measure of demonic nature. If she merged this part of his soul with that of other mortals, the demonic part of NL would become large enough to permit him to enter the Plane. The demoness along with the other deities would channel their power into the Lings. Lung would serve as the direct ‘antenna’ as he had blood-ties with NL; his soul combined with soul-parts of the other Lings’ would merge with NL’s. Therefore, whatever NL’s actions were in the Plane, Lung would mirror his gestures, as both were essentially one. The demoness warned that the Plane held many tricks to lure unsuspecting people from their goals, so NL had to be extra-vigilant and not lose track of what he was supposed to be doing. After all was said and done, the dimension circle opened, and NL successfully gained entry…….

In the Plane, NL suddenly found himself at the scene of his wedding. ZL, beautifully garbed in her red wedding-gown, smiled at him as Lady Ling bequeathed them angpows. The atmosphere was very lively and happy. A seeping sense of contentment crept up on NL and he happily bowed to Heaven and Earth with ZL.

Everyone observed Lung’s strange antics, and the demoness shouted that NL was beginning to lose track of himself. All of them had to concentrate harder to will NL out of his predicament. In the plane, NL suddenly found himself in a place where many hands clutched at him with haunting voices. He shook himself off and rushed to find ZL.

Meanwhile, ZL attempted to trick BG by pretending to be very sweet towards him and trying to find an opportunity to subdue him. However BG discovered her intentions and flung her from him roughly. He planned to stay in the Plane as long as the Heavenly Host waited for him outside. Just then, NL rushed in and started to battle with him. BG was shocked to see him there at all! ZL hurried to join in the fight alongside her husband. There ensued a long and bitter battle, and BG gradually gained the upper hand. Outside, everyone increased their concentration and channeled everything they’d got to assist NL. With their loving help, NL’s inner power increased and he managed to grab hold of BG. He refused to release him even though BG rained hard blows upon his back. In ZL’s stomach, the Buddha Stone rocked a little, and her unborn baby suddenly spoke in defence of its parents. The child seemed to lend his mother some hidden strength; ZL sneaked an attack upon BG and managed to slam Hei Ziok’s heart into his back! At once, both NL and ZL were flung away as all the monstrosities of BG’s wolf heart started to leave him…..

Gradually BG’s appearance was restored into normal form. As he stared blankly into space, flashes of his times with HZ passed before his eyes. He dropped to his knees….

The Plane seemed to recede and all of them were left at the Lings’ living-room. NL was severely wounded and ZL hovered over him anxiously. YeeLongSun and his Heavenly Host immediately captured the dazed BG who was still on his knees. It was only when the demoness passed him that BG spoke. He asked about HZ’s whereabouts. The demoness contemptuously asked if his heart ever had her. BG repeated his question and begged the demoness to let him see her for one last time. BG wanted to look upon the person who had sacrificed so much for him but whom he never appreciated. On seeing his fervent pleadings and sincere tears, the demoness relented and told YeeLongSun to give BG a little more time since he was severely injured anyway.

In the Forbidden Forest, BG saw HZ playing with stones as if nothing’d ever happened. When he called her name, she didn’t seem to recognize him. Heartbroken, BG asked her what was wrong. The demoness replied his question, saying that HZ had donated her heart to him and had therefore lost all memories she ever had of him. In tears, BG pulled out the 5-star precious stone she’d once given him as a gift. Puzzled, HZ looked at it and returned it to BG with an uncomprehending smile. Thunderstruck, BG held her hands, crying that he was sorry to have caused her so much suffering. HZ was sorry to see him so upset…..

In Heaven, the Heavenly Queen Mother and the Jade Emperor denounced BG for his misdeeds; but because he’d served Heaven faithfully for thousands of years without error and did all he did under the harmful influence of the bad heart that was not in his true nature, the Queen Mother lightened his sentence. He was to be stripped of his rank and divinity and cast down to Earth as a mortal. There, he’d be given a chance to redeem himself by doing millions of good deeds so that once he reached a certain amount, the Queen Mother would consider restoring his divinity and rank again. BG accepted the verdict, but asked for one last request. He wanted the Queen Mother to recognize HZ’s many sacrifices for him and give her back a heart to replace the one she lost. The Queen Mother replied that even if he’d not asked, she’d reward HZ. Then the Heavenly Guards pulled him away. The Jade Emperor then asked his mother if she wouldn’t help ZL in her distress but she was angered by this, saying that she couldn’t be bothered……

At the Gate, BG heard someone lovingly call his name and was surprised to see HZ there, smiling at him. In wonder, BG asked if she recognized him. HZ affirmed this, saying happily that the Queen Mother had bequeathed her a heart and she could remember everything again. Furthermore, her sacrifices for BG were counted as the highest number of good deeds, so she was officially a Heavenly Fairy now. BG was very happy for her, but was too ashamed to touch her. HZ tenderly held his hands and said that she’d wait for him to collect enough good deeds so that they could meet in Heaven again (Ironic isn’t it, that their positions seemed reversed now ; at the beginning, HZ was an earthly bird and BG was the mighty god). Touched, BG said that he’d strive harder so that they could meet as soon as possible. With the hope in his heart, BG descended to earth with a smile.…..

Meanwhile, NL was dying from his injuries, and a desperate ZL asked everyone to save him but nobody could help as this was Heaven’s will. Telling ZL that he loved her, NL passed away. In anger, ZL ran to the hillside calling for the Heavenly Queen Mother, who appeared saying that death was Heaven’s will and not even she could meddle in such affairs. ZL denied this fiercely; she’d long ago denounced the unfairness of Heaven. If the Heavenly Queen Mother wouldn’t intervene to revive NL, then she’d have to do it herself. She didn’t want to live without trying to save NL and instantly used the Buddha Stone’s power to try and turn back time………..

ZL awoke to find herself back in her room. Puzzled, she rushed outside and saw a little boy running around named ‘ Little Ngau Long’. Just then, the Earth deities and the Kitchen God appeared, smiling at her. ZL demanded an explanation; did she turn time back too far until NL’s childhood? The deities said no and explained everything….

When ZL tried to turn back time, the effort was too much for her and she’d fainted from the attempt. Alarmed, the Heavenly Queen Mother had her brought to Heaven. The Jade Emperor had dared to intercede on her behalf as he’d enough of seeing his child suffer, asking the Queen Mother what was wrong with her loving NL. After all, the both of them dictated all Heavenly rules. Was her stubbornness worth sacrificing her beloved grandchild and causing so many people to suffer? At his logical words, the Queen Mother was moved and relented to bestow her blessing on NL and ZL, exercising her power…….

Therefore, the little boy was actually ZL’s son. NL ran in just then and ZL was very happy to see him alive. The couple lived happily till a ripe old age, with their friends and family alongside. Every year, when a new branch of the Ling factory opened, a Fortune Bird could always be seen hovering about as if personally blessing them with good fortune. Meanwhile, BG was a trusted advisor of the Emperor, but he exasperated the ruler very much with his dedication. Every time BG saw a Fortune Bird chirping at him in encouragement, he’d work on his duties with greater diligence…….

At a very old age, NL and ZL pointed to two stars twinkling above, named by popular consent as the Cowherd and WeaverGirl stars. Each year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, a bridge of birds was formed. The figures of NL and ZL could be seen crossing the bridge to meet each other. But ah! It was actually Bei Gon and Hei Ziok in disguise, using this opportunity to cross the heavens and see each other every year. Just then, the Heavenly Queen Mother appeared with the Jade Emperor. Trusted Heavenly Guards had been sent to all four corners of the skies so that nobody would know that the Queen Mother had actually created the myth to disguise the fact that she had blessed both NL and ZL to be together on earth. This was to prevent other deities from performing similar escapades like ZL which would create chaos in Heaven. HZ assured HQM of the confidentiality of the secret, saying that her bird friends could be trusted. Then Bei Gon took her in his arms. Once again, both took on the appearance of CowHerd and WeaverGirl, symbolizing the true love of this legend, which became one of the greatest Chinese love stories known to man.

[Bich Nga]

when was this series made?

[laugh]

This series is one of the very recent ones. I'd guess it was made last year.......

For comment, this series is ok, but I can't shake the feeling that the main characters are actually Leila and Stephen. Besides, in the end, they are the ones in the legend, and not the real ZikLui and Ngau Long. Special effects are so-so. What I like are the many varied obstacles that Sonija and Deric had to go through and how they overcome them.

Personally, I don't like the ending very much. I'd have preferred the original ending in the legend. Also, I'd have liked Leila to have remained in her state of forgetting Stephen completely, instead of remembering everything again once she got a heart back. Somehow, that would have underlined how much she'd loved Stephen to sacrifice so much. More impact, I think.

Anyway, I find it pretty ridiculous. If the Queen Mother could give out hearts so easily, why didn't she give one to Stephen in the first place? He was after all one of the higher-ranking gods. Also, I thought that hearts which didn't belong to the person would cause intense pain? But Stephen was fine with Leila's heart. Maybe only bad hearts do such a thing.

Deric was also incredibly resilient. He makes me feel he was immortal; that he'd never die as long as Sonija was looking out for him.He's really lucky Sonija had such great contacts and powerful friends.

Verdict: I enjoyed Stephen's performance thoroughly; I think he was the best here, with his expressions characterizing his complex role very well. I can perfectly tell between the good and bad Bei Gons as well as the wolf and angel sides of his heart. I like Leila very much as well. Deric was pretty good too (as always), and I think Sonija has improved quite a bit. Her acting still has lots of raw edges, but definitely better! Still, alongside everyone else, she might seem slightly amateur.Rather watchable show. Not one of those series that might make you grit your teeth in annoyance (though opinions differ). Should give it a try.

[Goofy]

thanks Laugh for the translation.

The ending is rather surprising but in trend w/ TVB's recently happy-ending style...

After reading the ending for new Princess Chang Ping (TVB's PITNOL), I think anything is possible for ending....