mu bai. it's been too long.
good. and how are you?
monk zheng said you were at wudan mountain. he said you were practicing deep meditation.
the mountain must be so peaceful.  i envy you. my work keeps me so busy, i hardly get any rest.
why? you're a wudan fighter. training is everything.
you were enlightened?
what was it?
we're preparing a convoy for a delivery to peking.
the green destiny sword? you're giving it to sir te?
i don't understand. how can you part with it? it has always been with you.
you use it justly, you're worthy of it.
so what will you do now?
come with me to peking. you can give the sword to sir te yourself. it'll be just like old times.
join me once you have finished. i can wait for you in peking.
thanks. let's go into the city.
just doing my job.
thank you.
sir te! it has brought him as much trouble as glory. help him to leave these troubles behind. otherwise, he'll never be able to start anew.
you've always been so good to li mu bai and me. please accept our thanks.
please, sir te, what is it?
i don't know.
i beg your pardon. li mu bai and i aren't cowards.
the handle is heavy. and the blade is no ordinary metal. still, the sword is the lightest of weapons. you're just not used to handling it.
beautiful but dangerous. once you see it tainted with blood, its beauty is hard to admire. it's 400 years old.
my friend li mu bai. he's given it to sir te as a gift.
you're too young to understand.
yes, i am. but i prefer the machete. certain moves, however, call for a sword.
fighters have rules too: friendship, trust, integrity.  without rules, we wouldn't survive for long.
writers wouldn't sell many books if they told how it really is.
sure. no place to bathe for days, sleeping in flea-infested beds.  they tell you all about that in those books?
so i heard. congratulations. it's the most important step in a woman's life, isn't it?
what do you think?
you're probably right.
return the sword, and i'll let you go.
you've been trained at wudan?
get down here! give back the sword!
has governor yu ever seen the sword?
but the sword could be in his compound.
how so?
you're doing calligraphy?
i never realized my name looks like "sword."
you write gracefully. calligraphy is so similar to fencing.
thank you for seeing me. i hear your wedding day is near. you must be overwhelmed by the preparations.
you are fornuate to marry into such a noble family.
do you think so? let me tell you a story.
yes. did you know i was once engaged to be married?
his name was meng si zhao. he was a brother to li mu bai by oath. one day, while in battle, he was killed by the sword of li mu bai's enemy. after, li mu bai and i went through a lot together. our feelings for each other grew stronger. but how could we dishonor meng's memory? so the freedom you talk about, i too desire it. but i have never tasted it.
i am not an aristocrat, as you are.  but i must still respect a woman's duties.
then as a sister, let me wish you happiness in your marriage.
but something is going on at the yu household.
you always suspected she'd fled to the west.
is there any place safer than under the nose of governor yu?
be careful. sir te requires discretion. official business is difficult enough. don't let personal feelings make it worse. and i don't know.  even this poster.  could be some sort of trap.
no.
it was bo, sir te's man. i hear he followed the thief to the yus'.
no, not yet.
no, i'd already sent them home. you can blame me for losing the sword, but please trust that i'll get it back soon using my own methods.
what do you mean? didn't you come back here for it?
then, why did you come?
i'd bet my life on it!
we must be careful. governor yu is a court official, and in charge of security. any disturbance will cast suspicion on him. it might get sir te in trouble.
sir te, can you find some excuse to invite madam yu and her daughter?
the best way to trap a fox is through her cubs.
i'm sorry she's not feeling well enough to receive you today.
we know who stole the missing item. if the thief returns it, i'm sure sir te will pursue the matter no further.
sir te knows that even well-meaning people can make mistakes.  that can bring ruin to themselves and their families.
no mercy will be shown toward the murderer who turned up in peking.
yes. the very killer of li mu bai's own master. last night, she killed a policeman who had tracked her down.
yes, from the west. he went undercover and and followed her here,
i doubt it. this thief.  it very unusual.
and most likely smarter than a mere killer.
the sword is back.  are you happy?
but it's not your sword anymore. you gave it to sir te.
my job was to get the sword back, without embarassing anyone. i wasn't about to ruin her life, or her father's.
i knew she would intrigue you.
she's an aristocrat's daughter. she's not one of us. in any case, it will all be over soon. you'll kill fox, and she'll marry.
but wudan does not accept women.
it's not our affair. even if wudan accepts her, her husband might object.
i wish there were something more i could do to help you.
you think jade fox will show up?
come with me! hurry!
you thought she'd give it all up and go back west with you?
don't you want to see her again.
have some tea.
not everything is an illusion. my hand.  wasn't that real?
to repress one's feelings only makes them stronger.
her husband.
what about you?
not a bad idea. tonight we'll get a good night's sleep at headquarters.
it's you! how's everything here?
yes, and i leave again tomorrow. your wife was due?
good!
mrs. wu.
how's the arm? still sore?
li mu bai is coming to stay the night.
here you must be in proper attire.
i'll give them to you.
look at the trouble you've caused. now you know what giang hu life is really like. if you think of me as your sister, let me give you some sisterly advice. you can run from marriage, but not your parents.
go back to them first. then you can decide about lo.
he really loves you. come back to peking with me. we'll find a solution.
li mu bai has made arrangements. he sent him to wudan mountain.
how dare you accuse us? i always knew you had stolen the sword! i've done nothing but protect you and your family. and you're repaid me with nothing but contempt. li mu bai himself spared you, and all you do is insult him. we wanted some peace and you've ruined it all! you're no sister of mine!
put the sword down!
jen!
everyone out. shut the doors.
fine.  the friendship is over.
don't touch it! that's li mu bai's sword.
without the green destiny, you are nothing.
give me the sword.
i didn't have the heart.
what happened?
we followed jade fox.
a poisoned needle!
you can't die! tell us what poison you used! you can't die! tell us the antidote! you can't let li mu bai die!
that can't be! everything has an antithesis! why not this?
take my horse and go to the compound. give this to mrs. wu. she'll help you. hurry!
mu bai, hold on. give me some hope.
save your strength.
use it to meditate. free yourself from this world as you have been taught. let your soul rise to eternity with your last breath. do not waste it.  for me.
bo.  please take this sword back to sir te.
now you must go to wudan mountain. lo awaits you there. promise me one thing, whatever path you take in this life.  be true to yourself.