Detective Dee: The Other Shore Flower (2025) Movie Script

Come here.
Am I seeing things?
This...
Could this be the realm of immortals?
- Fairies.
- Come here.
- Come on.
- Come on.
Come here.
You're so strong.
Have another drink.
Come quickly.
You're so beautiful.
Drink up.
Come on.
Good.
Oh my!
This is it.
Ghost Flower.
I've finally found you.
Wake up!
Commander Feng.
Commander Feng, wake up!
Chen.
Ah!
Help!
Wake up!
Wake up!
Wake up!
Fairy.
I'm coming.
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Commander Feng.
Sir, run quickly!
Ah!
The Ghost Flower is here.
The elixir can be made.
Ah!
Ghosts!
Please work.
Please work!
Come on!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ghosts!
Help me!
Work!
Come on!
No, not like this.
That's not right.
[Wind and the Clouds Rise]
Kong Chengye.
The Ghost Flower blooms.
The Ghost soldiers claim lives.
[Wind and the Clouds Rise]
[Di Renjie of Extraordinary Flowers
On the Faramita]
Something terrible has happened!
Something terrible has happened!
Your Majesty.
Something terrible has happened!
Show me.
In Great Zhou,
heaven and earth stand clear.
Yet rumors dare to spread,
tales of Ghost Flower blooming,
of Ghost soldiers reaping souls.
Absolutely ridiculous!
Where is Minister of Justice Di Renjie
with his investigation now?
Your Majesty,
Lord Di is currently inspecting
Huzhou in Jiangnan Circuit.
Order Shangguan Jing'er to deliver
the imperial decree, commanding Di Renjie
to proceed to Luzhou,
and then have her assist him
in investigating the Ghost Flower case.
No delay is permitted.
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Inn]
The inspection of Huzhou is finally over.
My Lord, can we return to the capital now?
Mm-hmm.
Hya!
- Hya!
- It seems our plans will have to change.
Who is she?
Whoa!
She is Her Majesty's
most trusted lady-in-waiting,
Shangguan Jing'er.
Lord Di.
Her Majesty has issued an imperial decree.
You are ordered to proceed
to Luzhou immediately
to investigate the death of Kong Chengye.
[Proceed to Luzhou at once
and conduct a thorough investigation.]
[Expose the demons in hiding, ]
[and restore clarity to the realm.]
[Wuji Palace]
[Mastery of yin and yang.
True command of the fire.]
[Mastery of yin and yang.
True command of the fire.]
[Mastery of yin and yang.
True command of the fire.]
Jintong, Yintong.
It's getting late.
Both of you should return
to your rooms and rest.
- Yes, Master.
- Yes, Master.
What is it?
News has arrived from the capital.
The Empress has sent Di Renjie
to investigate the case.
He will arrive in Luzhou soon.
The Master wants you
to proceed with caution.
Understood.
A storm is coming.
There's an abandoned temple ahead.
Let's rest there for the night.
Hey.
Sir.
Excuse the intrusion.
It's difficult to travel
on this rainy night.
We'd like to use your place
to rest for a while
and also
dry our wet clothes.
Please don't be afraid, sir.
We mean no harm.
Go ahead, have a seat.
Thank you.
Here, My Lord.
I'm not hungry.
Jing'er, this is for you.
Sir,
our meeting must be fate.
You let us warm ourselves by your fire,
so I'd like to offer you some flatbread.
No need.
Come on.
Take it.
Look out!
Yue'er!
Go quickly!
Keep him alive!
Speak now!
Who sent you?
He's a die-hard loyalist.
My Lord, look.
The old man.
Sir.
What happened here?
Why were those men in black
trying to kill you?
Sir!
The Youming Valley,
ten li east of the City God Temple...
What City God Temple?
What Youming Valley?
My Lord.
He's dead.
I notice his skin is dark,
and the scratches on his face were likely
caused by a wild animal.
Look at his hands.
They're covered in calluses.
From regular use of pitchforks and bows.
He appears to be a hunter from Luzhou.
And look at his clothes.
There are many tears in them.
He must have fled in panic,
getting scratched by bushes and branches.
Why was he running away?
Where was he trying to escape to?
This knife looks unusual.
It's newly forged.
Not a standard-issue weapon.
Why does his body
smell so strongly of sulfur?
My Lord.
[Wei]
Wei waist plaque.
Wei family clan.
Wei surname officials.
Or Wei surname gang.
City God Temple.
Youming Valley.
What exactly did he want to tell me?
Come look!
A new notice from the Inspector's Mansion.
Military Commander Kong's bounty
has been canceled.
Oh my.
A hundred taels of gold reward.
What a shame.
Indeed.
Military Commander Kong
went to great lengths
to obtain the Ghost Flower.
Think of all the food that could buy.
His bounty
might cost many lives.
A hundred taels of gold reward...
[Bounty Notice]
Gone just like that.
Those poor souls searching for
Ghost Flowers in the mountains.
Couldn't agree more.
Let's go.
Okay.
Hey.
Have you heard?
Military Commander Kong
found the Ghost Flower.
But he failed to make the elixir
and was taken by the Ghost soldiers.
He is dead now.
How terrifying!
I know.
It's outrageous.
Military Commander Kong Chengye's death
is rumored to be the work
of Ghost soldiers.
And these rumors were spread openly,
in full public view.
The Inspector's Mansion
doesn't seem to care.
The Inspector is incompetent.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent
Lord Di to inspect Jiangnan Circuit.
Lu Yingjie, the Inspector of Luzhou,
is a jinshi graduate.
He's not incompetent.
- My Lord.
- Yes?
Have you discovered something?
Should we go to the Military Commander's
Mansion to investigate now?
There's no rush
now that we're in Luzhou.
Look around.
Such a peaceful scene.
Yes.
My Lord.
I'm hungry.
Let's find somewhere to eat.
Great.
[Longsheng Inn]
You troublemakers!
If you keep bothering
the Inspector's Mansion,
don't blame me for being harsh.
We beg the Inspector to find
our missing relatives.
How dare you talk back!
Stop!
What are you doing?
Get up.
Are you alright?
You dare to stop me.
Are you rebelling?
Bullying citizens,
abusing your power.
You're the one who's rebelling.
You want to stick your nose in?
Go tell Inspector Lu
I, Di Renjie,
am waiting for him here.
Darn Di Renjie!
What is Di Renjie?
Who is Di Renjie?
Huh?
My Lord.
He is Di Renjie.
All right.
You've got guts.
Let's go.
Just you wait!
Thank you three for saving me.
You've offended Commander Lu.
You'd better leave quickly.
It's fine.
Please, ladies, come inside
the tavern and sit with us.
Come.
Get up.
Let's go.
My father and husband went to
Youming Mountain to find the Ghost Flower.
They disappeared without a trace.
We came to report to the officials,
but they ignored us.
Those darn corrupt officials.
Did you go into the mountains
to look for them?
Even the hunters
who went searching disappeared.
I see.
Near Youming Mountain,
is there a City God Temple?
Never heard of it.
But there's an abandoned one
in Lanyu Town.
Oh.
Lord Di.
Lord Di.
Lord Di.
I am Lu Yingjie, Inspector of Luzhou.
I pay my respects to you,
Lord Di, the Imperial Envoy.
Lord Lu,
you got here quickly.
[Inspector's Mansion]
Lord Di,
I've failed in my duties.
Due to the negligence of my subordinates,
I just learned about the missing hunters.
I've ordered a full investigation.
Commander Lu Chong was disrespectful
and offended you, Lord Di.
He has been dismissed
and sent back to his hometown.
I'm here to apologize to you, Lord Di.
Hey,
Inspector Lu,
you're too harsh on yourself.
I wonder,
regarding Military Commander Kong's death,
have you found any clues?
Well,
Military Commander Kong's death
is extremely strange.
I had the scene sealed off
and reported the matter
to Luoyang at once.
I have been awaiting your arrival.
Lord Lu, from what you're saying,
you haven't investigated anything at all.
At least he sealed off the scene.
Well,
what you don't know is...
- I dare not investigate.
- Uh.
Military Commander Kong
was obsessed with witchcraft,
searching everywhere for the Ghost Flower.
His death was horrifying and bizarre.
I fear he was killed by evil spirits.
Anyone who gets involved
can hardly escape death.
Inspector Lu,
you also believe in ghosts and spirits?
Ah,
Lord Di.
Better to believe they exist,
lest it be true.
That's true.
Alas,
I am ashamed.
My Lord.
These are the Luzhou Chronicles
and the registry of officials
at all levels
as well as the maps.
Lord Di.
I've prepared the main quarters
at the Inspector's Mansion for you
and will have these documents sent there.
I cannot accept such privilege.
The imperial court has rules.
Officials on external assignment
must stay at the official inn.
Oh my!
Lord Di, you're so incorruptible!
So incorruptible!
Just leave them here.
Lord Di.
- Want to check the scene of Kong's death?
- Hey.
We haven't finished our wine yet.
Yes, indeed.
Let's drink first.
Let's drink.
Bottoms up!
With wine and song...
- How brief is life.
- How brief is life.
Come on.
Lord Di, let me tell you
Military Commander Kong
was obsessed with alchemy,
behaved erratically,
and often disrespected me.
He came from a prestigious family
and oversaw the prefecture's
military affairs
under Xu Baisheng,
the Yingyang General.
Although I was the inspector,
I had no authority over him.
Prince Wei has arrived!
Huh?
I, Imperial Envoy Di Renjie, pay respects
to Your Highness.
Lord Di, no need for formalities.
Upon hearing of your arrival in Luzhou,
I came at once, though uninvited.
I wish to ask you
to bring justice
for Military Commander Kong.
Your Highness, please rest assured.
I will handle this case impartially.
Military Commander Kong died mysteriously.
Inspector Lu
has been obstructing the investigation.
What do you have to say for yourself?
Your Highness,
this was the work of evil spirits...
Nonsense!
When the truth comes to light,
I will certainly report your misconduct.
I acknowledge my fault.
Ah.
Lord Di.
Have you encountered any dangers
on your way to Luzhou?
Why do you ask, Your Highness?
Lingnan is remote.
There are bound
to be some beasts along the way.
Lord Di,
do be careful.
Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.
[Military Commander's Mansion]
My master was obsessed with alchemy
because he had previously suffered
a serious illness
that was cured by Taoist Ge
from the Sanxian Temple.
Taoist Ge saved him
but also ruined him.
The elixir formula came from Taoist Ge.
The Ghost Flower was the catalyst.
My master offered a reward.
Who would have thought
he'd be claimed by the Ghost soldiers?
I saw it with my own eyes.
You saw with your own eyes?
What did these ghosts look like?
That night,
I was patrolling for my master.
Ah!
Ghosts!
That's where they disappeared in the end.
- Go.
- Okay.
Get down first.
My Lord, look at this.
Hmm.
This looks like the hem of a Taoist robe.
Does this belong to
Military Commander Kong?
My master only practiced alchemy.
He didn't believe in Taoism.
He never wore Taoist robes.
Did he show any unusual behavior
in the days before the incident?
The master would sometimes
go into a frenzy.
As if possessed by demons.
Take me to his alchemy chamber.
Alright.
It's this way.
Hmm.
[Luzhou Prefectural Office Sealed]
Wait outside.
Don't come in.
Sulfur.
Tung oil.
Where is the body now?
The master's body was burned to a char.
It was buried after consulting
with Inspector Lu.
Ah!
The forbidden Five Mineral Powder.
I want more to drink.
I'm not drunk.
Hey.
Why are we back so early?
I want to keep drinking.
- I won't get drunk.
- Stop drinking.
- I want to drink more.
- Stop drinking.
Hey, I'm not drunk.
Oh, quickly.
Lie down.
I...
Ouch.
Ouch.
Hey, My Lord.
I haven't finished drinking.
How could I be drunk?
Hmph.
I told you to drink less,
but you wouldn't listen.
How are we supposed to
investigate the case like this?
I'm leaving.
I'm not taking care of you anymore.
Hmph.
Hmph.
Di Renjie has been dead drunk.
He doesn't seem as formidable
as they said.
Di Renjie's reputation is well-deserved.
We need to act quickly.
Have they all been invited?
Yes, at the usual place.
Good.
It takes at least half an hour
from Zuixian Hotel
to the Inspector's Mansion.
From the moment Lu Chong left,
Inspector Lu arrived
in just 15 minutes.
We've been under surveillance
since we arrived in Luzhou.
Lu Yingjie is suspicious.
It's too early to draw conclusions now.
But it is sure that
they don't want us meeting
those women.
Yes.
Qingyun Fortress is far from
Youming Mountain.
[Map of Luzhou City]
How did it end up here?
[Wei]
Well, My Lord.
Yes?
Could Wei represent Prince Wei?
It's possible.
But this is just a waist plaque.
Hey.
My Lord.
Why don't you open the coffin
and examine the corpse?
This is not just a simple murder case.
Kong Chengye's death
is just the tip of the iceberg.
From the moment
we received the imperial order,
a battle
had already begun.
My Lord,
the surveillance was arranged
by Inspector Lu.
I followed him all the way
to the Inspector's Mansion
and noticed they were plotting something.
I see.
Let's
split up.
[Wuji Palace]
Praise be to Buddha.
Good day.
Master has gone to the mountains
to gather herbs.
[Wuji Palace]
He is not in the temple.
Do you know
when Taoist Ge will return?
Perhaps in two or three days,
or maybe in seven or eight days.
There's no set time.
In that case,
we won't disturb you.
We'll just offer incense and then leave.
Please go ahead, sir.
[Wuji Palace]
Okay.
I wonder what they
all come here to pray for.
What people seek is nothing more than
fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
So what are you going to pray for,
fortune or prosperity?
Well,
I'm praying for Taoist Ge
to return quickly.
Let's go.
Okay.
Come on in!
Hey, sir, you're here!
It's been a long time.
I missed you so much.
Come in.
Come on, hurry inside!
Come on in!
Oh, young gentleman!
Come on, come on!
Sir, where are you going?
Hey, miss,
this is a place for men to have fun.
What are you doing here?
I'm here to dine.
What?
Dine?
Then go somewhere else.
This is not a restaurant.
Wow.
What an attractive face
and charming figure!
Would you like to be our headliner?
You...
In your dreams!
Ouch!
Hey!
Oh, damn it!
If I see her again, I'm gonna mess her up.
[Xianyu Teahouse]
[I can play a man.]
Come on in!
This way, sir, please come in!
Don't leave!
Take a look inside!
Oh my, young gentleman,
you are so handsome!
[Yunmeng Pavilion]
Please come in.
- Come in and have a look.
- Yeah.
Has Di Renjie left?
He left this afternoon.
Did he suspect anything?
Don't worry, Master.
He went to Wuji Palace,
offered some incense and left.
I was watching him the whole time.
Good.
Di Renjie has arrived.
Everyone, speed up.
Keep it secret.
If he discovers the situation
with the supplies,
we're doomed.
What's there to fear?
We'll just eliminate him.
There are lots of beasts in Lingnan.
It wouldn't be the first time
an imperial envoy died here.
Idiot.
Di Renjie is no ordinary imperial envoy.
If he dies,
imperial troops will arrive immediately.
This is a forbidden area.
How dare you intrude?
Who are you?
State your name.
I am...
Again!
Rude!
He ran away?
Who was that?
I've never seen him before.
I don't think he is from
the martial world.
How are things progressing?
Everything is going according to plan.
The target is heading to Luzhou
and will arrive soon.
What a pity!
There's been a complication.
Taoist Ge,
we've been waiting for you.
Praise be to Buddha.
I've just returned from gathering herbs
in the mountains.
May I ask why you came here
so late at night, sir?
I'd like to invite you back
to the prison for a chat.
To avoid me,
you've been hiding in a cave for hours.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
How did you know?
When we were offering incense,
your disciple was watching us.
That proves you're suspicious.
I'm just an ordinary Taoist priest.
Let's be straightforward.
You can't escape.
Praise be to Buddha.
After him!
Di Renjie!
Ghost soldiers!
You dare to oppose the Ghost soldiers?
Aren't you afraid of death?
Just cheap tricks.
Kill!
Watch out!
We are immortal.
Surrender now!
My Lord.
What should we do?
Ah!
That's Kanglong Mace
for breaking illusions!
I am a humble disciple
from the Baopuzi Alchemical Lineage,
which is orthodox Taoism.
Nonsense!
Hmph!
To deceive the Military Commander Kong
into being obsessed with elixirs,
you even used the Five Mineral Powder.
It is a drug banned by the imperial court.
Once consumed, it causes hallucinations
and a euphoric state.
That's why Military Commander Kong
went mad, right?
Our master sometimes goes insane,
as if possessed by demons.
Just for this alone,
I can sentence you to death.
Ah!
Please spare me, sir!
I just wanted
to make some money.
But the ancestral formula
was taken by Military Commander Kong.
He wanted to go to a place
with heavy Yin energy
to find Ghost Flowers
and summon Ghost soldiers.
Still not telling the truth?
Every word I say is true!
That wasn't a Ghost Flower at all.
You used cinnabar and sulfur
along with hallucinogenic powder
to create it.
You deliberately let them get it.
Ghost Flower.
I finally found it.
Everything you did
was to create the illusion
of Ghost soldiers killing people.
Ah!
Help me!
Ah!
You dyed the petals red with cinnabar,
and used sulfur for explosions.
The hallucinogenic powder was used
to make illusions.
Demons!
That night,
assassins rushed in to kill people,
while you controlled
everything from outside.
Attack!
A piece of your Taoist robe was torn off.
You must have been quite nervous, right?
You have investigated this far.
Di Renjie, you're truly remarkable.
You are just a Taoist,
you couldn't complete all this alone.
Who is your mastermind?
Why did you kill Military Commander Kong?
Lord Di,
I advise you
to stop investigating,
or your life will be in danger.
If I tell you,
I'll die even more horribly.
In a few days,
the one in this prison cell
might be you.
Alright.
Then, Taoist Ge,
take care of yourself.
Taoist Ge doesn't dare speak
because he doesn't think
I can protect him.
There must be powerful forces behind this.
This matter is clearly no small affair.
My Lord,
if things don't work out,
we can call in imperial envoys.
We're now standing at the edge of a cliff.
The case is still unclear.
Once the imperial envoys enter Luzhou,
the situation will be hard to control.
[Imperial Envoy]
This is the imperial envoy's waist plaque.
If things become urgent,
go outside Luzhou
and summon the imperial envoys
to enter the city.
[Imperial Envoy]
My Lord.
What about you?
Help!
Yue'er!
Yue'er!
Yue'er, what's happened?
My Lord.
How is Yue'er?
Alas.
Her injuries are serious,
but fortunately,
they're not life-threatening.
Yue'er!
You're awake.
Yue'er.
Don't move.
What exactly happened?
After dark,
Inspector Lu got into a carriage.
I followed him quietly
to a brothel.
So I disguised myself as a man
and went in.
[Yunmeng Pavilion]
I heard them say,
"Everyone, speed up."
Keep this secret.
If he discovers the situation
with the supplies,
"we're doomed."
But they noticed me.
I hid in a courtesan's room.
I thought I was safe.
But I encountered a female assassin
and was stabbed by her sword.
Seeing I was no match for her,
I had to escape through the window.
By the time the assassin came out,
I had hidden in the shadows.
Then a person in black appeared.
When the assassin reported to them,
I saw a plum blossom mark on her wrist.
But since I was too far away,
I couldn't hear what they were saying.
So I took the chance to leave.
Jing'er.
Please take care of Yue'er.
Don't worry, My Lord.
I'll look after Yue'er.
Okay.
My Lord, you haven't rested
much today either.
Please go back and rest first.
Alright.
Who is the chess piece,
and who is the player?
When the imperial order was issued,
this game in Luzhou
had already begun.
The Youming Valley, five kilometers
east of the City God Temple.
City God Temple.
Youming Valley.
[City God Temple] [Youming Valley]
Alas.
My father and husband went
to Youming Mountain for Ghost Flowers,
but they disappeared.
We came to report it,
but the officials ignored us.
Hunters missed.
This must be the work of evil spirits.
Nonsense.
When the truth comes to light,
I will certainly file a complaint
against you.
[Wei]
Prince Wei.
I heard them say,
"Everyone, speed up.
Keep this secret.
If he discovers the situation
with the supplies,
we're doomed."
Supplies.
Then a person in black appeared.
When the female assassin reported to him,
I saw a plum blossom mark on her wrist.
But since I was too far away,
I couldn't hear what they were saying.
The plum blossom mark.
Could it be the top assassin,
Mo Ruyu, the Scarlet Mark of Jiangnan?
It's said that she was captured in Lingnan
and then disappeared.
She was actually bought
by the man in black.
Who is that man?
Ah!
Mo Ruyu.
You finally came.
That's great.
I knew you would come to save me.
What did you tell Di Renjie?
I didn't say anything.
Di Renjie himself deduced that
we used hallucinogenic powder
to kill Kong Chengye.
Then, why did they
provide you with wine and meat?
Well.
Prepare some wine and meat for him.
Don't mistreat Taoist Ge.
Yes.
Ah!
You can't kill me.
I'm very useful.
The entire plan was
ruined by you.
Ah!
Ah!
How did I suddenly get here?
Di Renjie,
your death is imminent.
Go to hell!
Lord Di!
Lord Di!
Lord Di!
Who is it?
Taoist Ge was killed in prison.
What?
Has Inspector Lu been informed?
Yes, we did.
Who was on duty yesterday?
Did anyone see the assassin?
It's me.
I was knocked unconscious
and didn't see the assassin.
When I woke up,
I found Taoist Ge dead.
What about the patrol?
Your patrol intervals change daily.
Did no one notice anything?
We truly didn't notice anything unusual.
You!
Everyone, stay here.
Do not go in!
It's her again.
Mo Ruyu, the Scarlet Mark of Jiangnan.
[Wei]
Hang that one higher.
Your Highness!
Hang it properly.
Yes, sir!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Di Renjie is investigating at the prison,
not at the official inn.
Hang another one over there.
Here in Luzhou,
the Ghost Festival is the most lively.
This year is different.
We must make it perfect
for our guests' arrival.
Yes, Your Highness.
[Wind and the Clouds Rise]
Lord Di.
Lord Di.
Well,
forgive me, ladies.
I thought
this is Lord Di's room.
Even if it were,
you'd better knock, Your Highness.
Apologize to you, ladies.
Oh my,
Miss Yue'er, you look quite pale.
Are you ill?
Just caught a cold.
I'll be fine in a couple of days.
Okay.
My attendant
is a skilled physician.
Let him examine you.
Do it.
Excuse me.
Lord Di.
I have already checked
Yue'er's condition.
There's no need
to trouble your attendant.
Greetings, Your Highness.
How is the investigation going?
I want to know the truth.
I'm afraid I must disappoint you.
With Taoist Ge's death,
all leads have been lost.
Inspector Lu is handling the follow-up.
Sorry to hear that.
In that case,
I won't disturb you any further.
Please.
Yue'er!
What's up?
It's nothing.
Yue'er was afraid
of being exposed just now,
so she was putting on a brave face.
They must have come to test us.
We can't stay here anymore.
After I leave,
take Yue'er and hide.
If you notice soldiers
surrounding the official inn,
flee Luzhou immediately
to meet up with the imperial envoys.
Jing'er.
Take good care of Yue'er.
Yes.
My Lord.
What about you?
I'm just one step away
from uncovering the whole truth.
Your Highness.
What's up?
That Liu Yue'er was pale
and her breathing was weak.
It's definitely not just a cold.
Hmph.
When Di Renjie went to investigate
at the prison,
he didn't take those two women with him.
Di Renjie is actually incredible.
The Ghost Festival is approaching.
Initiate the contingency plan.
Yes.
Di Renjie,
we've been waiting for you.
Kill him!
After him!
He's hurt;
He can't have gone far.
Split up and search!
Orders from the Valley Master.
Pull back!
[Luzhou]
Yingyang General Xu Baisheng arrives!
[Luzhou]
Lord Lu,
I heard
that Lord Di
was sent to Luzhou to investigate a case.
Where is he?
I should like to pay my respects.
Ah
Unfortunate timing.
Lord Di has left the city
on official business.
He likely won't return
until the Ghost Festival.
Hmm.
It's getting late.
Lord Lu, do you still
have matters to attend to?
No.
I shall take my leave now.
See to it.
Replace e