The Blood of Youth (Siu Nin Go Haang / Song of Adolescence / Shao Nian Ge Xing / 少年歌行)

~Blade dance ripples the lake~

~Banner waves in storm and rain~

~Snow uncaring of joy or sorrow~

~Blazing through the desert, reins in hands~

~Clearly young and untried~

~Reckless, bold ambition~

~Unmindful of destiny~

~Solving obstacles of fate~

~Trials and hardship give courage~

~Seeking Jianghu glory isn't in vain~

~You smile, I see a ballad of our journey~

~Pursuing youth's dream~

~taking everything as it comes~

~Far lands are perilous~

~but life needs adventure~

~Youths dream big, stay sharp~

~Struggles teach us to strive~

~Together, another journey awaits~

'The Blood of Youth'

Episode 21

Tide View Inn is away from the sea, and low.

You can't see or hear tides.

It's a misnomer.

You can talk!

Your Snowfall Villa leaks.

Snow blows in.

Its true to its name.

Compared to months ago,

your sword skills improved and so did your mouth.

Bad habits rub off.

I miss Snowfall Villa.

Wonder if it closed down.

Joking.

Oh, Miss Zhenzhu said the fish market is busy at this time.

Come on. I'll lead.

Master Lei.

Master Lei, here.

- Here. - Zhenzhu!

I'll introduce you. My pals—

Xiao Se.

Tang Lian.

I asked about that boat.

It's a Qingzhou ship seeking sea medicines.

They'll hire 60 for 4 months.

4 months? So long.

At first, no-one went.

But Mu family pays 20 golds each.

- 20 golds? - It's 10 years' income.

They pay upfront. Everyone applied.

How many were recruited?

2 or 3 people this morning.

2 or 3?

What types? Swimmers to catch fish?

I'll take you down there.

Let's go.

Okay.

Here it is.

Master Lei, I have to work.

What's this angry snake?

Goldline Snake.

Its lethal venom is extracted

for an all-venoms cure; it's priceless.

A small cup of its venom costs 100 silvers.

I know this boat's destination.

3-Snake Island— it has Goldline Snakes.

They're snake masters.

Their clothing has snake-repelling powder.

See? He's fine.

Trial result: fail. 30 coppers compensation.

Leave.

He still got paid.

Anyone else want to try?

I will.

Money lures workers.

They catch fish, but snakes?

It's beyond them.

Mu family are thieving, rich cowards buying lives.

The rich are all the same.

I didn't mean you. Mu family are bad guys.

Untameable. Kill it.

Wait!

I'm Steward Liang.

The fuss startled the snake, nearly harming you.

It's hard to raise a Goldline Snake.

Have mercy on it.

I will do so.

Wait. You just saw my friends' Skills.

Did we pass the test?

Well...

Still not enough.

Lei Wujie.

A fine looking sword.

You must be skilled.

You'll be big assets to Mu's venture.

Master asked for you.

Such fate.

Our master wants to meet you.

Well met.

I'm Mu Chunfeng. How may I address you?

Xiao Wuxin.

Lei...

Lei *Zhenyu.

Tang 13th Young Master.

If you want to lie, make an effort with names.

Xiao Se, he's onto us.

Let's drop the act

or it'll look weird.

I am Lei Wujie.

A fake name is wrong for candid travel.

I am Xiao Se.

Silly me. I use an alias; why fake one?

I'm Tang *Mohe.

My name's too well known.

Nice names.

Please sit.

You don't look like locals. Why visit a remote village?

We've the same Master. I'm their Senior.

Master sent me and my Juniors on a trip

to view high peaks and sea's ends.

'Sky floats above sea, clouds enshroud peaks'.

Only this cedar longboat can take you to sea's end.

But I need 3 snakes' galls. You seem agile enough.

Do me a favour?

What snakes?

Goldline; Silverband; Iron-Glaze.

All highly venomous. What's their use?

I'll be frank.

A pal has an odd illness.

None can heal him.

An old tome's prescription

uses those snakes' galls.

What illness?

'Peach blossoms abound, what need for marriage?

In a gold tent with peach blossom, stormy union in vain'.

Good poem.

What's it mean?

What's good? Don't just compliment.

He'll make an aphrodisiac.

You're forthright

but you're right.

Then is your pal

actually you?

How?

Getting galls isn't easy, yet it's for a pal.

It's easy to suspect they're for you.

Frankly, it's for my big bro.

We came for a cure for him

and to seek herbs.

Is it hard to cure? Do many get it?

Too young to understand.

I also don't understand.

So only I know?

You two make me feel awkward.

I just know from reading.

If you all aid me, I'll help you reach

world's edge.

Is that so?

We're headed to a place at world's edge.

Farther than 3-Snake Island?

How about this?

At 3-Snake Island, we'll get you the galls.

Lend us a small boat. Wait 7 days for us.

Well?

What if you're not back then?

Wait no more.

You'd take big risks to reach sea's edge?

Seeing what humans never see— isn't it worth it?

It is.

When do we sail?

In 3 days.

After we recruit enough snake catchers,

we set out.

Good.

See you in 3 days.

Wait.

My men said Bro Lei has powerful inner force

even feared by the snake.

Bro Tang has formidable inner energy

and brilliant needle Skill.

But I don't know your Skills, Bro Xiao.

In truth, I've no Skills.

But my friends heed me.

Enough?

Very well.

Fresh fish!

Mu agreed fast. Any problem?

No.

Why not?

Rich family scions I've met

regard themselves as suave gents

yet aren't shrewd.

After I said we'd go to sea's edge,

he thought he'd found a soulmate.

Easy to dupe.

Xiao Se.

That's how you saw me?

I was wrong about you.

I thought you faked being broke; you were broke.

Alright.

Anyway, we found a good boat.