Bride of the Covenant (Khế Ước Bán Dâu)

It is said long ago, a demon roamed the earth, dwelling among mortals.

On each full moon, when darkness emerge, it sheds its mortal guise.

By blood it sustains its body, By children's souls it forges its monstrous shell.

Awaiting it's rebirth, birthing spawn to rule over mankind.

Whoever feeds the demon shall be granted riches.

Yet riches come from blood, and glory paid with lives.

Man bound with demon... the world will become the land of horror.

BRIDE OF THE COVENANT The Twilight Curse

The groom's family humbly offers tribute.

O Wood Deity, shield us from harm.

A reverent bow!

O Wood Deity, sacred and still, Bless us with your grace.

I am Nguyễn Thị Nhài.

Before your altar, O, guardian House of Vũ...

With reverence, O Wood Deity judge me a maiden untouched.

From this day forth,

I vow to be a daughter in the House of Vũ.

I pledged myself to our wedded vow.

To bear children and keep the sacred root unbroken.

I give myself, wholly, to the Wood Deity.

This is my vow... eternal and true.

Please hear our prayers. Let House Vũ shine through the ages.

We solemnly proclaim.

Madam, proceed with the betel-offering ritual!

The lady of the house is gravely ill.

And since Her sickness may spread.

I am the only one allowed to care for her.

Even the young Masters

speak to her only from the doorway.

Mother... I am Nhài!

Now that I am your daughter-in-law I come to honor you, dear Mother.

May your years be long,

and your grace guide our path.

The Lady has heard you,

she sends you instructions.

Living in the Vũ household.

You must obey the family rules.

First,

Never enter the altar room.

Unless permitted by the Master.

Second,

Never leave your room.

After the first watch of the full-moon night.

These rules ensure order in this place.

Third, to never enter her chamber without permission,

unless you're granted permission by this old servant.

Whoever breaks these rules

...shall face harsh punishment.

I swear to abide by our family's rules.

From this day forward,

Plum will be your personal servant.

Madam, I present Madam Diễm

...first daughter-in-law of the family.

Greetings, sister!

And this is Madam Triều Châu,

betrothed to our youngest master Thế Giang

future bride of the house.

Greetings, sister!

This sacred wood shall aid you in childbirth.

As is custom, this wood should be bestowed by our mother.

Yet illness keeps her from this ritual,

I offer you this relic in her place.

This is now yours.

Let us nurture this house together as kin...

This is the chamber for young Master and Madam.

From now on, you are not allowed to enter this room.

Soon you will be away on business.

I've prepared something for you.

Travel safely, my dear husband.

It is the night of the full moon.

You are to stay within your chamber.

Early morning, I shall come to serve you.

Plum!

Plum!

Plum!

Plum!

A wife full of loyalty,

why a husband's betrayal.

True was the wife,

false was the man.

Madam!

Madam!

Please! Spare me! I beg you!

Please! Spare me!

Please!

Madam! Save me!

Please don't punish her!

Punish me instead!

I'm the one who violated the family rules.

Madam,

I act by order of the Master

to uphold the family rules... At all cost!

Madam! Help me!

If she swims ashore... break her legs!

Madam!

Madam!

Light the incense.

With a faithful heart, we pray.

Behold our offering.

May the Wood Deity and ancestral spirits accept our humble tribute.

We pray for a healthy male heir for the Vũ family.

May our house rise... ever prosperous, ever strong.

What is sought shall be granted, what is wished, fulfilled.

To the Wood Deity, we submit our plea.

Thus we proclaim.

Bear me a grandson, I have no need for a girl.

One male is worth more than a dozen females.

Yes, Father!

Don't worry!

Your body is adjusting to early pregnancy.

This herb will ease your sickness.

Before I came here,

my mother told me to honor my new family's customs.

But I'm still not used to them.

I know it is hard being far from your home.

Customs here differ from the South, but soon you'll get used to it.

Though our family has three daughters-in-law...

But only you can change our fate.

Thế Công,

my dear husband,

died young.

As for Triều Châu, a bride in name,

never a wife in truth.

She arrived the very day,

Thế Giang left and never returned.

A bastard child, Thế Giang...

came here at 10 years old.

Yet his youth was shadowed by anger,

blaming,

our father for his mother's death.

Then... what about Triều Châu?

Her father was a loyal friend and partner to our family.

So our parents loved her as if she were their own.

Perhaps as a way to make amends.

You must bear a son

for the family's legacy to survive.

To my parents, a child is a blessing... Son or daughter.

As long as there is love and virtue.

It doesn't matter if my child is a boy or girl,

my love will be whole.

But your status is no longer the same.

It's not something to take lightly.

Don't worry!

I believe this child will bring new life to this family.

Madam!

Why are you in here?

You...

Do you know who that is?

I can't see the face clearly.

But maybe it's Madam Lê Đoan.

Let's go, Madam!

A wife full of loyalty,

why a husband's betrayal.

Plum!

Madam! Why are you out here?

Let's go back inside, Madam!

Madam! Madam!

I'm so scared.

Plum!

Where are you, Plum?

Plum!

Plum!

Plum!

Plum!

Who are you?

Who are you?

My child!

Where are you taking my child?

My child!

My child!

I offer my solemn respect.

May Lady Lê Đoan

and the spirits of our children,

find peace beyond.

You've broken the rules and endangered the family's bloodline.

By Mother's order, you are to be locked away for penance.

Father and Mother fear

the child's spirit will curse you, making you barren.

Thus, they have buried the body deep in the forest.

What am I supposed to do now?

I was bound

by this fate as you are now.

I fear only by bearing a son can one escape this cursed place.

But first, you must recover your strength.

I've heard of an ancient remedy,

used by women after childbirth.

It helps restore

and revive the vital energies.

With it, you may soon conceive again.

At your service, young master Định!

Today, songstress Hoài Thu shall accompany you.

A beauty.

Rare to find.

Swayed by her charm,

I strayed into love's snare.

Spring returns,

yet sorrow lingers.

This remedy is from a parasitic worm dwelling in the riverbed wood.

A dashing gentleman.

Yet cursed with longing.