Legend of the Demon Cat

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Is the melon sweet?

W ho's there?

Me.

May I have some?

Looking for me?

Over here.

Come. I'll pay for my meal.

There's money buried under that tree.

Dig it up, it's yours.

I'll be back.

The Master is home.

Yunqiao

Chunqin

Hurry

I have to tell you...

There really was buried treasure?

That sound

I've heard it in my dreams.

In the 21st year of the emperor's reign,

the Japanese monk Kukai came to Chang'an

for an exorcism.

How long has he been like this?

His eyes haven't shut for a week.

Please begin.

Scribe Bai-

Present.

Write:
"The emperor died of illness."

Write

Master Kukai-

The emperor's death must be kept secret.

Go, and it'll be as if you were never here.

Oh!

Wipe your shoes.

So I'd come to cure the emperor's disease.

But that was no ordinary illness.

Master Kukai-

Scribe Bai

Why didn't you say anything?

The imperial physician said

he died of illness.

No illness keeps a man awake for a week.

I'm the scribe, I must keep exact records.

I can't write anything I'm unsure about.

How long have you been a scribe?

Three years. Why?

The emperor's pet cat is black, yes?

In three years, I never saw a pet cat.

When I kowtowed I got fur on my hands.

True. Only cat fur is this fine and soft.

What are you looking for?

Pawprints?

Not only did a cat enter the palace,

it was near the emperor's bed.

A cat was involved with his death?

What's this?

The Emperor is dead. Li Song is next.

Who's Li Song?

The prince, the next emperor.

He'll be back tomorrow.

Who?

The cat.

We'll have to buy more fish.

Nothing too big. He only eats the eyes.

(Death to he who uses this.)

This was part of the old palace.

What's that noise?

Careful.

Huh. Just a cat.

It's a time of mourning. Stay alert.

C'mon, let's go.

Master Kukai

Scribe Bai

You're right, there's a cat in the palace.

You saw it?

No. The night patrol told me.

And another strange thing...

Go on.

Chen Yunqiao, an imperial guard,

had a talking cat at his house.

Where'd you hear that?

His servants were gossiping.

Too bad I'm leaving.

It's none of my business now.

And you, will you report it?

It's none of my business, either.

I'm finished. I quit!

I've retired to devote myself to poetry.

I'm a poet.

I've heard Chang'an is full of poets.

I'm different.

I could have been a high official.

I chose not to.

But why be a lowly scribe?

That's for my poetry too.

Only a scribe stays in the palace,

seeing the emperor's every move.

Like a eunuch, minus the inconvenience.

Your poem is about palace life?

Yes. No more questions. I'll say no more.

What's the poem called?

Song of Everlasting Sorrow

So it's a love poem.

I told you, I'm not talking.

Who's it about?

The emperor, right?

So you needed to understand him.

Enough!

His love had to be a concubine.

Explain, why you say "had to be"?

He didn't pick his empress. Forget servants.

Who else is there?

Clever!

You're too kind.

You're right.

It's about the emperor's love for a lady.

Is it finished?

Not yet!

When it is, history will remember me.

But don't tell anyone yet!

Was Li Bo the greatest Tang poet?

Li Bo lived a long time ago.

He was lucky- it was a golden age.

Have you heard of Bai Juyi?

He is the greatest poet of today!

Oh? When will you introduce me?

Bai Juyi is very full of himself.

He makes his own rules,

lives for poetry, and sees no one!

Kukai, what's up with you?

Why rush back to Japan?

Why did you really come here?

To study with Abbot Huiguo at Qinglong Temple

but I couldn't get a foot in the door.

Kukai, it's not just you.

Qinglong is the home of Tantric Buddhism.

Huiguo obtained the Tantric secrets abroad.

Of more than a thousand monks,

he says none are fit to be his disciples!

Have some melon!

One melon can't feed everyone.

I'll make some more.

Great!

Water

It's sprouting! It's sprouting!

Sprouting!

See that?

Grow!

Bigger!

Bloom!

Bravo!

See that? Melons!

It's an illusion.

They're melons! We all can see them.

We've all been taken in.

Bravo!

Let's go.

Gentlemen- some melon?

I don't have money on me.

I sell illusions, not melons.

You saw through it, so no charge.

I'm sorry.

Old man-

only one melon was real, right?

Shh...

Impressive.

Is that a Japanese accent?

My name is Kukai.

It's an honor. This melon is a gift.

Too kind.

What's dripping?

He got me after all!

Toss it, quickly!

Now it's turned back into a melon.

What a powerful illusion.

Now I might believe in a talking cat.

What was that guard's name?

Chen Yunqiao.

Hey, Yunqiao, slow down.

The girls don't wait for anyone.

Giddyap!

Chen Yunqiao is the one in the middle.

Here!

Girls, where are you going?

Come with us!

Don't take my girl tonight!

You're all here.

We want our bonus!

Here!

Where are they going?

Huyu House-

The city's top brothel!

Are you still game?

Of course I am!

Hurry up, girls.

Coming!

Yunqiao! Yunqiao!

Yunqiao! Yunqiao!

Pardon me!

I'm Yulian.

Why haven't we met before?

Yulian is new here.

Sir.

This flower is crooked.

Let's go.

C'mon. You'll be mine tonight.

Sister Lixiang...

How weird.

This is the Tang of romance!

Aren't brothels forbidden to monks?

You're entering a brothel.

I'm here for the beautiful music.

Scribe Bai!

I got your gown back from the pawn shop.

Excellent. Pawn it again!

Sure!

I see you're a regular.

But first time here with a monk!

It's you who looks like a regular!

For you!

Reward them! Tips for all!

Beautiful dancing, Yulian.

Drink up.

Chen Yunqiao.

Who's that?

Me.

Spent all the money? Want more?

Want more?

That's the cat!

Yunqiao, your cat's here with your purse!

I've thrown a feast and paid you all

but what to offer a mere animal?

Have a fish.

I only eat eyeballs.

You know that.

Whose eyes will you give me?

Over there!

Up there!

Beast!

Yunqiao.

Debts must be repaid.

Listen up.

I'll see you at home tomorrow night.

My eyes!

My eyes!

Chunqin!

What sort of monster did this?

A cat.

What's the link to the cat in the palace?

They're one and the same.

Oh?

Three heavy pawprints, one light.

Exactly the same.

But what's that mean?

One of its legs was injured.

Look here, Inspector Li.

You said the emperor

was 'frightened to death'. By this cat?

I'm sure of it.

Then we wronged you,

Scribe Bai.

You didn't resign.

Fired, resigned, same thing.

A lowly official still has principles.

All I ask is not to record lies.

Yesterday, they crowned the prince.

Straight away, he became paralyzed.

The emperor is dead. Li Song is next.

The prophecy has come to pass.

No emperor has had a curse before.

Who can lift it?

Kukai is from Japan.

He's a famous exorcist.

Who better to take on the demon cat?

Why do this to me?

You're an exorcist.

You want to get into Qinglong Temple.

Now you've good reason to stay!

Right.

What are you thinking?

Why did the cat attack Chen Yunqiao?

He's head of the Imperial Guards.

What's their role?

To protect the emperor.

His family has done this

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