A summary for those that may be lost on what’s going on:

Qin Yuemian brought Wenren Heng to see an amnesiac Ye You, thinking the two are related because of the jade pendant on YY. QYM & WRH were hanging out with their Jianghu buddies earlier and they left so abruptly everyone’s curious and suspicious so the gang followed them to QYM’s place, Xunliu Manor. Right now everyone’s just chatting and gossiping at the house but Ye You is being observed by QYM and WRH. QYM is getting more suspicious of YY and wants WRH to really think about the matter, hey this guy is dangerous and suspicious! But WRH just keeps on being doting.

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations
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Ye You readily accepted the good advice and carried the tea.

The phrase he said just now, “Shisanjia” is not one that can be said casually. Now the people present have confirmed that Ye You had not identified wrongly, he could not help but recall the matter of Baicaolu, and he turned over in his mind about the thing “Fengzui”, pondering it.

He remembered that Baicaolu is very famous, and he remembered that it is very expensive, but he does not know anything about the maker of the pharmaceutical. If the reputation of the other party is not as big as that of the medicine, it can be understood, but he knows this is not the case. In the same situation, he remembers “Fengzui” and even can accurately distinguish “Shisanjia”, but he has no impression of the winemakers.

In other words, he remembers things that he has heard, seen, or used before, but he can’t remember people.

Why?

He drank tea leisurely and started to ponder the possibility that he was given medicine that made him lose his memory.

The patter of light rain gradually stopped. The rain washed courtyard was bright-colored and clear, and had a unique delicate fragrance after the rain. A group of people drank three rounds of liquor before they ceased. Qin Yuemian wanted them to stay for dinner, but the group of people had enough of seeing Wenren Heng’s joy. They hastily go to see the ugly rejection of Shao Yuan by Lady Tao.

Qin Yuemian was speechless, took a look at the two people next to him, picked up the wine, adapted to circumstances, and also left.

Wenren Heng had the opportunity to tell his shidi about his martial arts school.

He is the school master of Shuangji Sect(1), which is the school he established himself, and it has been around for seven to eight years now.

Ye You asked: “It’s powerful?”

Wenren Heng smiled and said: “This will gradually become known to you later. If I say it is very powerful, I am afraid that you will not believe in it.”

Ye You subconsciously wanted to retort, but seeing his shixiong’s eyes and soft and gentle smiling expression, there appeared to be no other meaning, so he tacitly approved his words, and asked: “I take it that there is meaning to “Shuangji”?”

“En, Shifu and Shibo(2) used to be very famous in the Jianghu, and were known as the “Supreme Duo”(Shuangji). I originally want to bring those two, and I took the name.” Wenren Heng looked at him. “Shibo is still alive. When there’s time, I will go to the capital in the future and I will take you to visit him.”

Ye You asked: “He lives in the capital?”

“He lives in the General’s Residence,” Wenren Heng said, he saw surprise flash in Ye You’s eyes. “Shibo was in the battlefield and went to the army very early. Ten years ago, Shifu died. You went missing. When Shibo received the news of Shifu’s death, he rushed over and also took me back. Are you very curious? Why can Li Shao bluntly like the Demonic Sect Master? He is actually a prince’s son, coming to the Jianghu just to play, I only happened to meet him in the capital.”

The answer Ye You received to his question dispelled confusion, but with mouth he said: “Shixiong guessed wrongly, I am not curious.”

Wenren Heng was refuted by him, but his mood was particularly good: “En, I guessed wrong.”

Ye You does not understand what he is so happy about.

Wenren Heng looked and saw the servant coming over to tell them to eat, then took his shidi to leave the small pavilion, and did not know whether it was to tell him, or to talk to himself: “When you used to be stupid, you always liked to say that I guessed wrong, shixiong really fondly remembers.”

Ye You: “…”

Just recently he did not think of this issue.

Ye You’s body had injuries; he rested early after dinner. This afternoon Qin Yuemian had been so nervous he nearly had internal injuries. Seeing that the two men finally separated, immediately called Wenren Heng into the study room and asked seriously: “Give me the truth, the jade pendant was really lost?”

Wenren Heng said: “Really, it has been lost for many a day.”

Qin Yuemian inwardly inhaled, his speculation is based on the loss of the jade pendant, if it is true, it proves that his concerns are not wrong. Thus he rattled and cracked beans, and at the same time he said that he had all his doubts, and he regretted: “I am afraid that he has dug in under a cover.”(3)

He wanted to discuss the countermeasures, but he saw that the hypocrite smiled in a refined manner, placatingly said: “It’s nothing, perhaps it’s a coincidence.”

Qin Yuemian almost missed a breath, and a beat of the heart for him.

Wenren Heng resumed his serious appearance: “Tell me in detail the situation that day.”

Qin Yuemian reluctantly let him go, and he narrated it from beginning to end, but he could recall few details. At that time, he went in and saw the gongzi’s face first, which was basically expressionless. Later, when he saw the flower column falling down, he rushed to save the person. He took the person and rushed out, not in the position to size up much else.

He frowned. “What are your plans?”

Wenren Heng said: “First, I’ll take my shidi to go find Divine Doctor Ji to heal the wound, tomorrow we’ll start the journey.”

“…” Qin Yuemian doubtfully asked, “He’s really your shidi?”

Wenren Heng smiled and said: “Of course.”

Qin Yuemian was still skeptical. Seeing that he wants to get up and return to the room, he can’t help but stop him: “Can you give me words of truth? Anything about this matter will do.”

Wenren Heng said: “Okay.”

Qin Yuemian’s mind was roused. Anything that Wenren Heng is not willing to say, no matter what he can’t ask it out, it is better to settle with the next best thing. Anyway, only for this matter, from the mouth of these goods, the words he can analyze himself.

However, after all, in the end he underestimated the goods. After Wenren Heng finished, he really couldn’t guess anything, because Wenren Heng told him: “I especially like to listen to him calling me shixiong, this is the truth.”

Qin Yuemian: “……”

What bullshit fellow male apprentices relationship, maybe you’ve really taken a fancy to him!

Wenren Heng knows that his friend is worried about him. He really comforted him before going out. “Do not worry, when have you ever seen me suffer a loss?”

Early in the morning, Ye You listened to his shixiong said that he was going to find a Divine Doctor. He did not object to this. He lived here for more than half a month and had long wanted to go out and stroll, not to mention where there was many people, there was many news.

He took the carriage with a pleasant mood, and was very satisfied with its stops and starts, and as a result, he was splashed with cold water at night, because he heard someone say only one room was needed.

“The person who has hurt you has not yet been found and the outside is not safer than the manor, letting you sleep in one room, shixiong is not at ease,” Wenren Heng explained to him in a serious way. “So let us sleep in one room.”

“…” The corner of Ye You’s mouth twitched and he smiled back. “It can be done, but shixiong, I vaguely remember that I like men, shixiong looks this good, if in the depths of the night, I can’t help but do something to you, shixiong pardon me.”

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1)Google Translate just wants to translate “双极 shuangji” as “bipolar” all the time. Shuang is ‘two/double/pair/both/even’ and the way it’s written looks it too. While Ji is ‘extremely/pole/utmost/top, but judging by context, WRH named the sect after his Shifu and Shibo, so 双极门 “shuangjimen” = Supreme Duo Sect because that’s the most fitting thing I can think up.

2)Shibo = elder brother fellow disciple of their shifu, aka their martial uncle

3)QYM suspects this matter is a trap to harm WRH. Someone knows QYM is related to WRH, and seeing the unique jade pendant on YY, QYM would think YY is related to WRH and deliver YY to WRH, but YY is the agent that can harm WRH.

Fun fact, when I read to the end of this chapter in MTL that’s when I decided I had to translate this entire novel. Hehehe

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations

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Right now, Ye You does not remember anyone. Naturally, he will not be have an impression of that demonic sect master, but he will not honestly admit it. He only said: “Somewhat familiar-sounding, I need to think about it.”

Wenren Heng does not force him, he sat down on the stone bench.

Several people in the pavilion were already curious about Ye You. After talking a few words, they turned their attention to him. The person who opened his mouth asked: “This is?”

Wenren Heng was very happy to find his shidi. Listening to them ask, the voice was full of joy: “My shidi, Ah Xiao.”

“…” Several people were caught off guard, “What?”

They and Qin Yuemian have the same reaction. The first thought is that Wenren Heng unexpectedly had a shidi.

They asked: “Why haven’t we ever heard you mention this?”

Wenren Heng said: “We were separated for many years, and just now had reunited.”

“Oh, so it is like this……” Several people remembered that Qin Yuemian just before leaving, had an expression that appeared to say wait to look at a good show. It any case it felt fishy, the turning pupils of his eyes had a smile. “Actually, this is a good thing, Ah Mian had been so mysterious before, we thought you two went to cheat people.”

Wenren Heng knows this group of worldly people very much, and simply explained the cause and effect, said: “This jade pendant, I and my shidi, one person has one piece each, Ah Mian saw that my shidi had the jade pendant on his person, and thought that I had gifted it.”

The two people knowing the circumstances of the matter looked at him silently.

What Qin Yuemian thought was, your shidi is so frightening, if you lie in front of his face, you are not afraid that your shidi will suspect that your previous words are fake?

Ye You thought deeply, he understood that Wenren Heng does not want these people to be suspicious of himself like Qin Yuemian, or he may be afraid of accidents, so he will pass over the loss of the jade pendant.

Sure enough, the curiosity of those people was satisfied, and the people who were interested in opening the subject saw Wenren Heng change the topic, so they tactfully let it drop.

Ye You sat quietly and found that Wenren Heng’s status among them seems to be quite high. He has a “leading” posture and Ye You was somewhat curious about his identity. At this time, he saw a person opposite bend from the table. A pot of wine was placed on the stone table with a light “thump” sound.

The jug is milky white, and the flamboyant calligraphy on the pot is printed with a golden “wind” word, which is naturally unrestrained and reckless, and appeared as if it can fly out.

Ye You’s brain flashed a name in an instant, saying: “Fengzui*.” (**Wind Drunk)

Almost at the same time, Qin Yuemian also called out: “Fengzui!”

The man with the jug smiled and raised his eyebrows: “I especially brought this to drink, it’s just enough.”

Qin Yuemian ridiculed with a smile in his heart, it was wishful thinking to expect from this pack of rogues.

For Wenren Heng he has met a hard to come by in eight lifetimes good show, as he wants to see, these people are also certainly not willing to miss, and he has never been resistant to good wine. They took it to prevent it from being sent away, the “Fengzui” is a golden opportunity to bribe him.

These people are all well-off masters and are willing to ruin the family, he will naturally will not be polite, and immediately ordered the servants to fetch wine cups, impatient to have a round poured.

The mellow and rich wine scent scattered rapidly, as if it could stir a person’s mind. Ye You sniffed, and there was the sound of flowing liquid as he took a shallow sip of his own cup and squinted, satisfied: “Ah, it’s ‘Shisanjia’*.” (**13 beautiful/fine/good)

Several people were amazed. The person with the wine immediately said: “Yes, it is the ‘Shisanjia’ of ‘Fengzui’, Ah Xiao shidi also likes to drink wine?”

Ye You does not remember whether he likes it or not. He only said: “Occasionally, the taste of ‘Shisanjia’ is very unique.”

“Indeed, ‘Shisanjia’, among ‘Fengzui’ even stands out,” the person who had brought the wine said with a smile, “Many people said that ‘Shisanjia’ and ‘Chenyuan’(1) are alike, and wanted me to say what is the big difference between the two, employing Sect Master Ye’s words, there are many foolish talents who cannot distinguish clearly these two kinds of liquor.”

Just now, Ye You listened when he always mentioned Sect Master Ye, it was a little strange, and he couldn’t help but look at his eyes.

The group of people saw the story, said: “Ah Xiao shidi is ridiculing, if Li Shao does not mention Sect Master Ye a few times a day he will be unwell all over, as long as a thing can be related to Sect Master Ye he will mention, better ignore it.”

Li Shao groaned: “Precisely, I like him, what about it?” (2)

Ye You is very strange.

In the past few days, he has learned from the mouth of the household servants that the Xunliu Manor is an orthodox sect. These people are friends of the manor lord. He thought they should also be righteous, and it is reasonable to say that orthodox sect and the demonic sect situation should be like water and fire? Yet he so spoke without reservation, and did not fear being assigned as evil faction?

He pressed down his questions, sipped wine and asked for nothing.

Li Shao seems to have opened his mouth. He muttered that it is too difficult to see Sect Master Ye. Except when Sect Master Ye cleared Yushan stage, he has seen the shadows of the person twice in recent years. It really won’t do to actually join the demonic sect, forget about it, the crowd, a pack of rogues were calm in the face of the unexpected, habitually used to scolding for a few sentences. The group of people quickly gathered in to laugh and ridicule as one and it could be seen that the sentiment was good.

Qin Yuemian did not join in as usual, but held the wine glass silently, not in the wine tasting mood.

Divine Doctor Ji’s Baicailu is too famous, that Ah Xiao can remember may not have profound meaning, but ‘Fengzui” is obviously not affordable for the average person. It can be seen that Ah Xiao’s previous life should be very good.

The doubts in his heart rose to the top.

This person is both smart and rich, and has a face capable of taking people’s souls. He shouldn’t it be silent and be a name without fame? Why has he unexpectedly never heard of this person?

He cannot help but shoot a look at Wenren Heng.

Wen Renheng was watching his shidi at this time, faintly knitting his good-looking eyebrows. Qin Yuemian feels gratified. He feels that the school master is finally paying attention to this matter. He saw that he reached out and stopped his shidi, and exchanged his cup of wine for a cup of tea.

Wenren Heng advised: “You have injuries on your body. Don’t drink alcohol for a while, wait until you are healed.”

“…” Qin Yuemian turned back to the line of sight, secretly pondered Wenren Heng, this shixiong really seems like a decent… mother, are you really not afraid of being harmed?!

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1) Chenyuan : (Dust + Fate) fatality of this world, everyone returns to dust, concept from Buddhism

2) This guy is amazing for being way more open about liking dudes than I am (As a guy I would never say I like another guy in front of a bunch of other guys, I think I even had a nightmare like this before lol)
Thanks for all the comments, I am afraid to answer with spoilers though~

Also I am working on three different fics now (2 related GDC fics and 1 Scum Villain System fic that may end up longer than the two combined) Oops

Chapter 4 Part 2 <— Click for Chapter 4 Part 2

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations

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To Qin Yuemian it was so strange that he even looked out the window and found that it was still drizzling before he returned to himself. He sized up Wenren Heng and very much suspected if these goods really was the person.  

Or perhaps ……these two really have a fellow-apprentices relationship?

He has stood for a moment, and suddenly felt that he was a little superfluous, touched his nose: “What do you two want to eat in the evening? I’ll tell the kitchen to make it.”

Wenren Heng said: “Just some light dishes will do.”

Qin Yuemian, whose mind was currently paste, turned and exited at once.

The soft couch was placed in front of the window, and a row of small leaf bamboos was planted on the right side of the window. The rain hit the top of it, making a light rustling sound, and the gauze-like water vapor floated into the guest room, and seeped into the light fragrance of the Baicaolu. Ye You feels that either the movement of Wenren Heng was too light, or his breathing was too peaceful, but his taut nerves can’t help but follow, becoming relaxed.

He opened his mouth, saying:“Shixiong.”

Wenren Heng: “Yes?”

Ye You: “It seems like you still have not informed me, what my name is.”

Wenren Heng raised his head and looked at him: “Ah Xiao*, you are called Ah Xiao.”

(**阿晓, Ah – nickname prefix, Xiao – dawn/daybreak)

Ye You asked: “Surname?”

“This I do not know,” Wenren Heng said, “When you were brought back by Shifu* (**teacher/Master), you only said to us that you are Ah Xiao. To other questions you always replied “I don’t know”. In that case, I and Shifu just called you Ah Xiao,” he sighed softly. He repressed laughter to add, “You were stupid at the time, to be capable of remembering your own name was already quite good.”

Ye You: “……”

Again, Wen Renheng poured some medicine. The slender index finger gently rubbed his face, and he looked at his pale pupil. He whispered: “When Shifu was alive, he always said that I should take care of you, but then you went missing. These years, I have been rebuking myself, and now I have finally found you again. From now on please stay by shixiong’s side.”

Ye You said: “Shifu died?”

Wenren Heng nodded: “He passed away ten years ago. Once we leave Divine Doctor Ji’s place  and go together to burn incense for Shifu, he’ll know you’ve returned and he’ll certainly be very happy.”

Ye You was especially unwilling to believe that he had been stupid before and even wandered off, after some silence, he asked, “Aren’t you worried that this time, with my return I could be harbouring evil designs?”      

Wenren Heng’s hand stopped, he looked at him.

Ye You said: “The jade pendant you lost is on me, and I just happened to be saved by your friend. You are not afraid that I am actually being instructed. The so-called amnesia is just a pretense? Even if not, perhaps at the right time I remember it all, and then hurt you?”

These things can be thought of by Qin Yuemian, and naturally by Wenren Heng too, and Ye You’s heart is clear, he can bluntly illuminate these things.

Wenren Heng has wiped the medicine on his hand and took a new strip of cloth. He carefully circled it on for him: “I thought about this possibility, but I believe that regardless, you will not harm me.”

Ye You raised his eyes and looked at him, face to face. Wenren Heng’s expression was calm and he looked straight into his eyes. For a moment, Ye You could almost feel some kind of sincerity, and he was silent again.

“Don’t think so much, perhaps it’s a coincidence. You just happened to pick up my jade pendant, and then was hurt by a bad person. Let’s first investigate who injured you.” Wenren Heng wanted to tie a bow again. The finger moved but he held back.

Ye You nods, now he could only go look, step by step.

“Right,” he said, “What sect is shixiong the school master of?”

Wenren Heng was just about to reply but he saw Qin Yuemian return, listened to him to say that the pack of rogues came, and to bring his shidi out into the room.

The pack of rogues did not sincerely stay in the front hall, but went to the manor’s lake pavilion, at the time Ye You arrived, he saw that they were either standing or sitting and were chatting.

Several people immediately looked at Ye You.

Originally, they were together with Qin Yuemian and Wenren Heng. But it turned out, midway, Qin Yuemian’s mysterious secrets had pulled Wenren Heng away, and they assembled, thinking  there was a problem, and chased them here.

Wenren Heng was very cautious of their point of view, and looked all around before he asked: “Why didn’t Shao Yuan come?”

“He saw a beauty and forgot his buddies,” one of them said with a smile, “Halfway we met Lady Tao*(**Peach), Shao Yuan saw her, and became motionless on the road. He insisted on testing if he could get her to perform Fengqi* Dance (**Phoenix Perching). Just wait he said, but he was definitely rejected. Does he think he is Sect Master Ye?  How much words could he possibly speak to get her perfectly willing to dance some?”

“Actually, I also want to see the Fenqi Dance,” another person cannot help but click their tongue in regret, “I really don’t know how Sect Master Ye accomplishes it.”

“This who knows, but I’m just saying, whatever matter that’s placed on him it’s possible to be accomplished,” the previous person said, “Y’all just think, in these years at the stage of Yushan county, there’s that many orthodox sects gathered around him, and he can distractedly suffocate the entire circle until they are green-faced, thoroughly discredited, and finally also walked out lossless, in this entire Jianghu how many can you find like him?”

Ye You listened curiously, and looked at Wenren Heng.

Wenren Heng didn’t wait for him to ask, gently said: “They are talking about the Demonic Sect Master, the surname is Ye, the name is You, he wears a mask all year round, his martial arts are unfathomable, a very powerful person,” he paused slightly, to examine. “Do you have an impression of him?”

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Chapter 4 Part 1 <— Click for Chapter 4 Part 1

Okay, you know how I said I was writing fic for a different novel? The fic is now 10,000 words in its outline version and I even outlined a sequel that’s 10,000 words. Hence this delay.

Also, Ye You values his intelligence so much, for sheer irony, I’m headcanoning that he is the type of person who, post-orgasm, cannot think straight because his mind is just in a haze of pleasure and it takes time for his brain to go back online, while Wenren Heng is the opposite and becomes a sharper thinker and has breakthroughs after, since he goes into Sage Mode (聖人模式). (Definition: Urban Dictionary, Baidu Dictionary), which according to Ye You, is not fair, but this means there’s that extra layer of trust whenever Ye You does stuff with Wenren Heng because after, Ye You is a mess mentally. Or I can let Ye You be overpowered by headcanoning that he enters Sage Mode post-orgasm, so um, to be able to enter that state, he asks Wenren Heng for help, often.   

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations

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For things that aren’t too urgent, Qin Yuemian always likes to focus on the side he is interested in before he considers others. The same is true this time.

After Wenren Heng left, he realized that there was a problem once he finished a cup of tea.

If the jade pendant was really lost – just like Wenren Heng said, and the person who can take it away is definitely not simple, then the matter of the inn was perhaps a cover. Otherwise why was the lost jade pendant with the gongzi? Why did he have to reside at the same inn as him? And just staying by, had an accident?  

This is too much of a coincidence.

Moreover, the gongzi was already in a coma. The murderer should have killed him directly to be secure. Why should a fire be created? Could it be, he (YY) was waiting to rescued so that he could be taken to Wenren Heng?

Qin Yuemian couldn’t sit still, and quickly went to find them.

Regarding the burns on Ye You, except for the cheek, there are on other places on the body, but it is not serious. It has been nourished by good soup and good medicine for more than half a month. The pain has already subsided by more than half, and it does not affect his capacity for movement.

With routine ease he sat on the couch and waited for his medicinal dressing to be changed.  

When Qin Yuemian entered the door, he looked up and saw that the cloth strip on the face of the gongzi was untied again. The changshan(1) was half-opened, black hair trailed over shoulders, there was a face half gorgeous, half threatening, and in addition there was a trace of a sloppy, casual demeanor. Perhaps in the entire Jianghu one cannot discover a second with this elegant bearing. His breath became faintly sluggish. He sweep a look and saw Wenren Heng, that goods, was gently poking from the side. With his expressions he was carrying about the frame of “good shixiong”, and the corner of his(QYM) mouth twitched.

Wenren Heng was studying the small porcelain bottle on the tray, said: “Very good, this is Divine Doctor Ji’s medicine.”

Qin Yuemian regained his composure and took advantage of the opportunity to speak: “Right, it is Baicaolu.” **(Baicao = 100/various grasses, Lu = dew)

Ye You sniffed the faint, soothing scent in the air. Understanding clearly, asked: “It can treat flesh wounds and eliminate scars – a miracle medicine?“

Wenren Heng and Qin Yuemian suddenly both looked at him. The latter asked keenly: “You know?”

“Know,” Ye You raised his eyebrows, “Could it be… that the average person doesn’t know?”

“…they don’t, most Jianghu people are aware of it,” Qin Yuemian said, pressing down on the many suspicions that suddenly bubbled up in his heart, and explained amiably. “But just recently I heard you said you had forgotten everything, it’s a bit strange.”

Ye You was extremely intelligent.

His brain turned faster than Qin Yuemian. No matter what Qin Yuemian thought, he had thought of, he had already considered it, so he only had a look at it at this moment, and he knew what the manor lord was thinking. Although he also felt the the matter of the inn had issues, he is indeed suffering from amnesia. Even if there really a conspiracy, he is now unclear.

With a good temperament, he bore the pain of his cheeks and smiled at the manor lord: “I just don’t remember my name, and family and friends. I still have some impressions about some well-known things.”

“Oh…” Qin Yuemian wanted to try probing with a few more words, but he was in the eyes of this smiling person.

Perhaps the hair color is too dark, or perhaps it’s the effect of light. The color of this person’s pupil appears a little light, very transparent, and there seems to be a hint of indifference in the easy-going manner, like the ability to shoot through a person’s soul. The words that he wanted to speak he abruptly swallowed back, with only one thought in mind – this man knows he suspects something!

Qin Yuemian suddenly remembered that the person in front of him was not easy to deal with. At this time, they were in each other’s line of sight, and he even felt that regarding anything, the opposite party could understand what he was doing next.

In midsummer, he stood in a room and yet he felt cold, chilled to the bone.

My heavens, at the time he wanted to see Wenren Heng’s cheer, but now how could he (WRH), without difficulty, take such a frightening person back home?

He took a look at a Wenren Heng.

Wenren Heng did not notice his friend, but put the small porcelain bottle back, asked: “How much do you remember about Divine Doctor Ji?”

Ye You seriously thought about it: “Just a little impression, very vague. Shixiong, you talk about him, I’ll see if I can think of it.”

Wenren Heng said: “He is a very famous doctor in the Jianghu, has produced a lot of good medicine, Baicaolu is only one of them. His name is Ji Zhaohen, it is said that he made this change later himself, because his medical skills are very high, reviving a lot of people, often attracting the hatred of King Yama(2). How is it?”

Ye You tried hard to think about it and shook his head: “It is still very vague.”

In fact, he doesn’t even remember the current year and the current Emperor, not to mention a Divine Doctor. Just saying “there are some impressions” is just to lie to them.

He looked at the small sky blue porcelain bottle and asked, “Is this Divine Doctor still alive?”

Wenren Heng said: “Alive. Although the age is advanced, the body is hale and hearty.”

Ye Ye gazed at him: “Then shixiong, can you tell me if I can find him to have a look at my memory loss?”

“You can, I also planned as such. We will leave in the next few days,” Wenren Heng sweep a look at the servant that was to apply medicinal ointment his shidi, and pressed down his hand. He sat on the couch very naturally, “Let me handle it, in the past, when you were injured, it was always I who helped rub on medicine.”

When they came together, they talked very rapidly from time to time. Qin Yuemian’s train of was still stopped at the study of the others’ cover. Could he or could he not entrap his close friend? As a result, in a flash he saw that Wenren Heng was sitting down, and couldn’t help but stare in astonishment. These goods, although was good-natured to everyone, it was basically superficial. Oneself being like this now, was unprecedented, the first of such an event!

– Was red rain was falling from the sky? (3)

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Notes:

1) changshan (traditional men’s outfit)

2) King Yama is the king of the underworld in Chinese mythology, the “hen” in Ji Zhaohen means “hatred”.

3) phrase describing unexpected, abnormal situation, like if someone stingy is suddenly generous

Looks likes I like to cut off when QYM goes WTF…

I’ve posted this relatively late in the day. Sorry for the delay. When I translate I’m so clumsy but when I write fic in English I’ve found that I produced over 5,000 words. (I got super carried away) The fic is not for this novel but for another Chinese novel, one that’s popular. I’ll post the fic onto my website later, when it’s done.

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations

Edited 11/15/2018: Updated with version fixed by editor.

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Qin Yuemian almost choked on his own saliva, and hastily drank some tea to help get over the shock.

Ye You was also stunned. He immediately realized these recent events were not simple. Just Wenren Heng remaining silent for so long just now was very strange alone.

However, the scene did not give him any leeway to ponder, as Wenren Heng looked straight at him. Although Wenren Heng tried to maintain his gentleness, his tone still showed a trace of obvious excitement: “It really is Shidi, where have you been these past few years? You’re actually not an idiot anymore? Before, you were stupid and foolish. After you were lost I thought you had already met with many ill omens and few auspicious ones.” (1)

Ye You: “……”

Qin Yuemian: “……”

These words seem to contain some extraordinary meaning.

Ye You silently pulled a long face. With great effort, he started to digest the content he just heard.

However, when he had just found a clue he wanted to examine further, the man in front of him smacked him with even more information.

This time, Wenren Heng adjusted his emotions and restored the demeanor of a refined gentleman, though he still could not help but grip Ye You’s hand. The care and concern in his eyes was mixed with an illusion of gentleness, both covering him: “After you were lost, I have always been looking for you, but I never received any news. How did you pass these ten years? Who cured your illness? How did you get injured all of a sudden? Who harmed you? Who gave you my jade pendant?”

Upon suddenly being grasped by him, Ye You subconsciously tried to extract his hand.

Wenren Heng considerately released him, and looked towards his good friend: “His wound seems to be the result of being scalded by a burning-hot object?”

Qin Yuemian said: “That’s right…… When I entered the door, he had fallen to the ground by the bed. A burning-hot decorative pillar fell and smashed him center-on. Fortunately, I managed to get it off him in time, so his burns were not too critical. He should be able to make a full recovery after smearing Divine Doctor Ji’s medicine for a while…”

He suddenly paused. “No, wait, you also don’t know why your jade pendant is on your Shidi’s person?”

“Mm, the jade pendant was lost some time ago. You know I basically keep it on my body at all times. Whoever took it away from right under my eyes is presumably not simple.” As Wenren Heng spoke, he rewrapped the cloth strips around Ye You’s head. Seeing Ye You so quiet to the point of being downright obedient, Wenren Heng was temporarily delighted and tied a bow in front of his forehead.

Qin Yuemian: “……”

Wenren Heng looked at Ye You, and slowed his tone: “Why aren’t you speaking, do you not recognize Shixiong anymore?”(2) He paused, “If you don’t want to speak Shixiong won’t force you. Just say who hurt you, and Shixiong will get revenge for you.”

Because he thought the person who took the jade pendant was not simple, he calmly drank tea and waited for the opposite party to speak first—This does make sense, then in that case I really am his Shidi? Ye You glanced at him. He faintly sighed, with the hint that he was swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue.

Qin Yuemian hastily strained his ears to listen, eager to understand what was going on. As a result, he only heard this person say: “It just happens that I also do not know. That’s right, Shixiong, what is my name? Who is our Shifu?”(3)

Qin Yuemian: “……”

Wenren Heng: “……”

Wenren Heng reacted first: “You don’t remember?”

“After being injured, I woke up and have forgotten everything. The only clue is the jade pendant,” Ye You said. “When was the last time Shixiong saw the jade pendant, and what people were present?”

Wenren Heng frowned: “I have considered this matter for a long time, but there are no clues at all.”

Ye You dropped the subject for now. He looked outside the pavilion to see a servant hesitating and not daring to go forward. He knew the time to change medicine had arrived, so he nodded towards the two men in the pavillion and walked away with the bowknot still on his forehead.

I’m clearly this intelligent, could I really have been an idiot for many years?

Ye You thought narcissistically, as he passed through the floating rain courtyard at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. He secretly pondered whether all these matters were true, or whether……Wenren Heng had somehow known he lost his memory for some reason and was currently tricking him.

He decided to carefully observe for now. In any case, he had already brought his memory loss to light. From now on, he could ask whatever he wanted, and he had the time to judge what was true and false.

Qin Yue also wanted to clarify this matter. He waited until Ye You had walked far away before he asked: “He really is your Shidi?”

The corner of Wenren Heng’s lips curved up. Though his appearance was still gentle and refined, a thought-provoking attitude seeped out. Qin Yuemian was calm in the face of this strange appearance, and questioned further: “In the end, is he or is he not… That’s not right, you did not know his circumstances in advance, so what you said should be true…”

His thoughts suddenly connected to something, and he sucked in a breath.

Putting himself in Ye You’s shoes, if he lost his memory, upon waking up he would be eager to find his name and surname, his home, etc. But this injured noble son had come to the mountain manor for more than half a month, and did not reveal any hint of his condition. Even after being informed the jade pendant was Wenren Heng’s, he could resolutely have two cups of tea with Wenren Heng as if nothing was wrong.

This was too calm!

Not only that, but this person later drew information out from Wenren Heng, and only told the truth when the situation seemed wrong. What appeared to be him retreating was actually a “move to retreat for the sake of advancing”, because in that situation just now, he would not obtain any further advantages from continuing to hold out.

Qin Yuemian could not help but mutter: “Who is he after all?”

Wenren Heng’s expression did not change: “He is my Shidi.”

Qin Yuemian wanted to vomit blood. Seeing him stand up, he asked, “Where are you going?”

“It’s been ten years,” Wenren Heng stepped out of the small pavilion, a bit of joy in his voice, “I’ve finally reunited with Shidi after all this difficulty, I of course want to care more for him.”

______

1. Raws said thought you already “凶多吉少” which is an idiom I just frowned at for a long time.
2. Shixiong (师兄) – literally teacher-older brother but means senior male disciple of the same sect
3. Shifu(师父) Teacher/Master, the person they apprenticed to in the sect

Edit 11/15/2018: Updated to an editor reviewed version.

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Xun Liu Manor had a uniquely exquisite construction, with engraved railings and jade inlays, flowers in beautiful purples and brilliant reds. Even a piece of stone was placed with purpose. At this moment, with the cover of the misty rain, the entire place was filled with an elegant and charming scent.

Ye You sat in a corner of the pavilion and gently stroked the teacup. In line with the principles of “more words, more mistakes” and “if the enemy is motionless, I am motionless”, he patiently waited for the School Master opposite to open his mouth first, anticipating that this person could say some useful things.

However, his hope soon fell through——As if Wenren Heng had not seen him, he calmly held his teacup to drink tea peacefully. His fingers were slender and clean, white like scallions (1).

This School Master’s presence made it impossible for other people to ignore him. He looked to be very refined and gentle, and with that handsome face on top, he was truly somewhat pleasing to the eye. “Maintaining total silence” like this did not make Ye You feel oppressed or embarrassed, but instead gave a sense of inexplicable tranquility.

Ye You simply sipped small mouthfuls of tea, solemnly and carefully counting every single tea leaf in the cup. Just as he was about to go mad counting the leaves for a second time, he finally heard School Master Wenren finish drinking his cup of tea.

The teacup was placed on the table with a light sound.

Ye You’s attention was roused, and he slightly straightened his back in preparation. Immediately afterward, he saw this School Master unhurriedly pick up the teapot, and pour himself another cup.

Ye You: “……”

Wenren Heng maintained the previous slow pace and began to drink the second cup of tea.

Ye You quietly pondered if he and this School Master had some far too complex relationship, to the point where the latter could drink two cups of tea in a row without knowing how to speak.

—What if he spoke first himself?

This thought passed through his heart, before he suppressed it down.

Ye You decided to continue wasting time with him.

Qin Yuemian, the lord of the Xun Liu Manor, hid in the distance and stole peeks, smiling and touching his chin.

His overall appearance could not beat Wenren Heng’s, but he won in having a pair of tender and affectionate peach blossom eyes (2). He smiled slightly, full of romanticism, and said: “I just knew that the two of them were up to some shenanigans.”

His trusted aide at his side looked at the two “entirely separated” men within the pavilion, and could not help but say: “Manor Lord, it doesn’t look like that.”

Qin Yuemian asked: “Have you ever seen someone who Wenren Heng can be silent with for this long?”

The trusted aide gawked.

Qin Yuemian smiled very meaningfully: “What’s more, that man also has Wenren Heng’s jade pendant. That is no ordinary jade pendant.”

The jade pendant was the main reason he took this person back here, gave the command to take good care of him with the intent of having this person stay, and then today raised the topic of the connection between Wenren Heng and this noble son. The pendant was made of warm jade, not the best quality and decorated with a strange and odd design. But back in the day he had seen Wenren Heng carve it with his own hands. There was only one in the whole world.

Although Wenren Heng excused the sculpting as just for fun, Qin Yuemian had always felt it was a gift to someone. These events proved he really had guessed correctly.

Qin Yuemian and Wenren Heng had been acquainted for many years, and he understood Wenren Heng more than other people. This fellow usually liked to play the the part of a gentleman, treating everyone with a gentle and refined manner, but he was actually full of evil tricks. Of all the people in the Jianghu, not many would receive his genuine concern. Today one had suddenly arrived, a truly rare and unusual occurrence!

What was even more unusual was that these past years, he had never seen this injured noble son around Wenren Heng. Where did he come from? What was his name and surname? What exactly was his relationship with Wenren Heng?

Qin Yuemian’s heart was full of nervousness and he grew increasingly restless. He found an arbitrary excuse to go into the small pavilion.

Before he could step in, Wenren Heng had finished drinking his second cup of tea. He spoke one sentence that was unexpected to both Ye You and Qin Yuemian.

In a flat tone that did not contain the quality of interrogation, Wenren Heng asked: “How could you have my jade pendant?”

Qin Yuemian was surprised.

Ye You subconsciously wanted to smile, but it affected the wound on his face so he suddenly stiffened. He concealed this by drinking a sip of water, and said: “It is School Master’s own jade, yet you are asking me.”

Wenren Heng said: “I ask because I do not understand.”

Ye You was calm and composed, but a huge pile of thoughts churned in his heart. He decided to bluff to get information out of him. “Could it be that the School Master cannot recognize my current appearance?”

Wenren Heng looked up at him.

Qin Yuemian tidied up his emotions, striding forward to look at him too.

Ye You’s face had been burnt. The cloth strip was not completely wrapped around his head, still leaving a small area visible. But to those unfamiliar with him, this tiny bit was simply nominal. Wenren Heng got up, walked half a circle around the stone table, and sat down beside him. He said, “I can’t recognize it.”

He reached his hand out, and saw Ye You lean his head away. He timely stopped and did not force him, only saying: “If you do not let me see, how will I know who you are?”

Ye You hesitated for an instant before happily acting himself. But as a result, even after a long time he still had not opened the cloth, and also made his face hurt with a raw pain.

Wenren Heng courteously asked: “Let me try?”

Ye You did not show any uneasiness, and politely said: “Thank you for your trouble.”

Wenren Heng’s movements were very light, and seemed to be considering his sensations. Like before, this School Master’s eyes did not reveal his state of mind. But as a habitual leader, his tranquil and even temper made one inevitably feel an illusion of gentle softness

The cloth strips were quickly removed. Half of Ye You’s face was practically only burns. His forehead, chin, and the other half of his face was fine and intact. Even though Qin Yuemian has already seen this, he still couldn’t help but turn his gaze to him.

This man’s looks were exquisite, his facial features perfect, beautiful to the point of stirring one’s soul. Yet he was no soft beauty; instead, an acute spirit permeated his appearance. Now the clash between half-beautiful and half-sinister created an immense shock. No matter whether intact of destroyed, this face was one that could easily bewitch people’s hearts.

Such a person would be firmly remembered with only one glance.

Ye You surreptitiously observed Wenren Heng. He saw this School Master’s indifferent expression at last changing subtly. He seemed to first stare blankly, and then showed incredulity. Qin Yuemian was also extremely curious towards the reaction of his good friend, but even before he turned his line of sight away from Ye You, he heard Wenren Heng’s amazed exclamation: “—Shidi?”(3)

Qin Yuemian: “……”

You unexpectedly have a shidi!

______

1.

2. Large, glossy eyes that are framed by long eyelashes.
3. Shidi (师弟) – literally teacher-younger brother but means junior male disciple of the same sect. They’re not blood-related and fellow male disciples of a sect usually aren’t and call each other brother. (Think how members of a fraternity are brothers because they are in the same organization)

Thank you for the support. This project appears well-received. I edited the last chapter part per some feedback and going forward too I’m going to leave long footnotes at the bottom. This part was tougher for me to wrangle with than the previous even though there’s less words. OTL

Originally posted by Spearpoint Translations

Edit 11/15/2018: Updated to a much better version thanks to Editor Attica.

______

The gentle breeze slightly swept, and waves of mist extended far into the distance.

In the middle of the rainy season, a drizzly pale fog covered the heavens and the earth.

Ye You faintly heard the pattering sound of light rain.

His train of thought was immersed in a dense fog-like dream, drifting aimlessly. The sound of the rain was like a pair of hands, gently cleaning the path forward for him. He found himself standing on a hillside, blue stones laid in neat rows below his feet. The water beads on the branches and leaves could reflect an entire world, and the cotton-like rain was like a gentle whisper, sounding lightly in his ear.

He felt a wave of joy, and began to walk forward.

At the end of the path was a pavillion. A stone table was arranged with pen and ink. The fine writing paper had already been spread out. He picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. His eyes lowered in contemplation, he suspended the brush in midair for a long time. Moving his wrist, in the space of a breath he drew out a tortoise.

Suddenly, someone spoke: “Noble son.”

This voice seemed to be coming from the horizon. Ye You watched his drawing quickly vanish, completely obliterated together with all of the surrounding scenery. That feather-light indistinct feeling retreated like the ebbing tide. The sound of the rain gradually became clear, and a needle-like pain pierced his face.

He broke free from his dreams and opened his eyes.

The servant softly called out once, and then stood outside the door with his head bowed. After waiting for a while without any movement inside, he was just about to leave when he heard a creaking sound. He turned around and saw Ye You with his head wrapped in strips of cloth, taking a step out of the door. The servant immediately bowed down and said: “Noble son, our Manor Lord has returned.”

Ye You was just looking at the color of the sky, wondering if he had slept until dinner. Upon hearing these words, his eyes slightly brightened up and he went to the front yard.
A fortnight ago, he had regained consciousness from a coma, and discovered that he had inexplicably come to this Xun Liu [Searching Willows] Mountain Manor.

At that time, his body had been covered with burns, and his internal force(1) was of no use. Even worse, his mind was blank——he did not even know his own name.

According to the servants, he had been saved by the Manor Lord. But the Manor Lord then went out to attend to an important matter, and required some more days before returning. He thus stayed until now, getting to eat and drink well, and finally waited until the manor lord came back.

The light rain like a thin gauze had not yet stopped. The moist air mixed with the vegetation and soil, the scents flowing into one’s chest and slowly spreading.
Ye You exhaled a breath, very content. Losing his memory actually didn’t put him at a loss. Instead, he felt the experience was quite fresh, like walking on a road to seek treasures, filling one’s heart with eager expectation. (2)

The Xun Liu Manor Lord’s parents were both deceased, and this was the third year he had inherited the manor. He was very young, said to be accomplished and outstanding. At this moment, he was drinking tea in the great hall. By his side sat a similarly young noble son.

These past few days, Ye You had long since discreetly inquired for information on the rough appearance of the Manor Lord, so he could distinguish between these two people. When he entered, he first noticed that the Manor Lord glanced in the direction of that noble son. Ye You also looked over, and immediately met that man’s eyes.

That person looked very handsome, belonging into the category of men whose slightest movement could make girls blush bashfully. On the surface, although he appeared tranquil and still without any unnecessary movements, his sitting position alone gave one the mistaken impression that he held the seat of honor instead, while the manor lord was only there for decoration.

Ye You looked away without any change in expression, quietly pondering: This person should be difficult to deal with.

Since awakening, he had not revealed the matter of his memory loss. He originally wanted to slowly draw out information, but who knew that such a person would unexpectedly appear. It would be fortunate if this other party did not interfere, but if he liked meddling in the affairs of others, then Ye You feared things might not go too smoothly.

“How are this noble son’s injuries?” The Manor Lord rose to greet him, “Oh, that time was truly dangerous. Zaixia(**humble pronoun for I—going to just use “I” from now on) and this noble son just happened to be at the same inn. That evening, the noble son’s room suddenly caught fire. When I broke into the room, the noble son was already injured and had fallen unconscious. If I had been just a little bit later, the aftermath would have been unimaginable.”

Ye You: “……”

He actually got everything he wanted without spending any effort whatsoever.
Ye You had found the cause of his burn injuries, and was very satisfied with this Manor Lord.

The Manor Lord continued speaking: “Aside from some belongings, the noble son’s person was only carrying School Master(3) Wenren’s jade pendant. I guessed that you were possibly his good friend, and hurriedly returned this very night. Only after noble son was settled down did I leave again.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the person next to him, a little suspicious of why they didn’t converse. Ye You could not help but look over once more. He glimpsed a jade pendant gripped in that man’s palm. This was precisely School Master Wenren.

In other words, he had to come face to face with this person.

Oh, his luck was really bad.

______

1. The power within that martial arts practitioners draw from to fight. Think how mages have mana and ninjas from Naruto have chakra.
2. Our MC:
3. I’ve translated the 教主(jiaozhu) from the title as “sect master,” but what I’ve translated here as “school master” – 门主(menzhu) can also be translated as sect master. It’s just that menzhu will be repeated alot and it is a different person from the jiaozhu so I tried to distinguish them this way. The difference is subtle and I hope translating it like this isn’t too strange, though it sounds more like menzhu is a principal instead of the master of a martial arts school, I don’t have a better idea.

10/13/2018 : Special thanks to Editor Attica

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“How long has it been, there’s still no news of Sect Master?”

“No, we don’t even know where he went… sigh…”

Xiaoqing [Little Green] Mountain in Qingshui [Clear Water] County lived up to its name. Jade green wilderness stretched as far as the eye could see. The mountain springs meandered down, ringing with trickling echos. Although it lacked the repute of any famous mountains and rivers, it could still be called “elegantly beautiful”. However, there were not many people in the nearby village who dared to come onto this mountain.

There was reason for it – the JiangHu’s illustrious Demonic Sect resided here.

[Jianghu = ‘Rivers and lakes’, ancient Chinese world of martial arts]

This demonic sect had moved here for five or six years already. At first it was complete chaos. Jianghu people wielding swords and staffs charged up murderously, then scampered back down after they had the shit scared out of them. From this noisy fuss, all the surrounding common people knew: a powerful faction lived at Xiaoqing Mountain.

After inquiring all around, it became known this was a foreign martial arts sect. It was said that they looked different from the martial arts people of the Central Plains(1): Ferocious and terrifying to behold, and even liking to eat human flesh. Everyone was on edge and scared stiff, struggling to live their days. It was only when the faction did not appear to have the intention of causing trouble, that people had a bit more peace of mind.

They still did not dare to approach, but there were playful children who ran up the mountain. Upon returning, the children said they ran into a beaming noble young man(2), who was not only good-looking but also gave them a bunch of delicious food. Other children said they instead met a young lady, beautiful like a variegated butterfly.

The adults were shocked, fearing that their children had fallen under some demonic bewitchment or monstrous technique. They sought divine help from the deities. In the end, they punished their children and scolded them not to go again.

Year after year, there are fewer and fewer Jianghu people who dared to come fight on Xiaoqing Mountain. The bandits also consciously bypassed that area. The common people gradually began to feel that having a demonic sect nearby was not such a bad thing after all. Of course, they clearly knew it was because the Demonic Sect was too terrible that others would not dare provoke them. As a result, they gained more respectful fear toward this diversely demonic Xiaoqing Mountain.

At this moment, the Demonic Sect members who were demonized by the outside world did not kill or eat people. Instead, they lived leisurely.

Some went out to handle business and didn’t return, leaving behind a few backbones (**important people/senior sect members). Among these people were those who grew plants, read books, and changed between three sets of clothes per day. There were those who studied locusts(3), as well as those who occasionally went out looking for gifted and usual children with extraordinary spiritual bones (4).

But as the days went by, they all realized one thing.

“Sect Master still hasn’t returned yet?”

“No.”

“He didn’t say where he went? And hasn’t sent any news back either?”

“No to all of those.”

“Oh……”

Initially, there were only a few short conversations. After a few days, the number of inquiries had increased, with the addition of slight anxiety. Like dark clouds before heavy rain, suspicion and uneasiness constantly grew thicker, pressing down upon the heart, waiting for the moment of a complete eruption.

Finally, one day someone asked: “I say… the sect master shouldn’t have had an accident, right not?”

“No way,” said another person. “Sect Master is so intelligent, there’s no way he could have suffered any loss.”

“That is true…”

“He left together with Elder Bai. Is there no news from Elder Bai either?”

“We asked, Elder Bai wrote back that he long since parted ways with the sect master. He also did not know where the sect master was. But Sect Master always liked to have fun, so maybe he came upon some amusing matter. If he is far away, I’m afraid just coming back alone would take one to two months.”

“Well, the important thing is that if we rushed to disturb his good fun, we’ll be the unlucky ones. So don’t worry, he must surely be out having fun, let’s just wait.”

“That makes sense!”

The crowd of people comforted each other for a bit. They decided that whatever happens, they will wait for the sect master’s return.

They waited and waited.

Waited and waited.

Waited and waited… Waited until the rain washed Xiaoqing Mountain back and forth more than ten times, and they still did not see the figure of the sect master.

One elder flipped the table: “My pot of flowers is about to wither! How has he still not come back yet?”

The other people also whispered guiltily.

Elder Mei’s gorgeous skirt trailed as she walked around the study and said with worry: “Sect Master is of course very intelligent, but his martial arts skills are only above average in the Jianghu. If he encountered a first-class master… No, encountering such a master would not be that grave. What we should fear is if he encountered a pervert—his face really stirs up too much calamity.”

Another elder said: “No matter how good he looks, he’s still a man. I’m only afraid that he was sighted by the orthodox path(5)—if he was captured…”

“No, he usually wears a mask. How could those of the orthodox path know that’s him? What’s more, he disguises himself when going out.”

“What if he wasn’t careful and accidentally exposed himself?”

Elder Mei: “I still feel it’s very possible he ran into a pervert and got imprisoned.”

“Oh…” Elder Miao used the same slow tone as when studying locusts, “Speaking of perverts, there was such a person in my hometown. He liked to catch beauties, cut off their tongues and noses, and break both legs. He would then collar their necks and pull them around on a leash while they crawled on the ground, in a show for people to see.”

Everyone else: “…”

Elder Miao: “Right, I heard that eunuchs who enter the palace are required to be good-looking. Suppose our sect master was sold by evildoers into the Imperial Palace…”

The rest: “……………”

The minds of these several people were all filled with various pictures of their family’s sect master being maltreated. Their faces gradually became more and more serious. Just as they were about to carry out a course of action, Elder Bai, who had went out to handle business, finally came back. They immediately seized this life-saving grass(6) and rushed to surround him.

Elder Bai was born looking like he was never quite awake, and he was always lukewarm towards his work. Aside from fighting, he was slow at doing everything.

Several people hurried to ask: “Where is the sect master? He didn’t say where he went?”

Elder Bai shook his head and asked, “He still hasn’t returned yet?”

“No, and there hasn’t been any news.” Several people secretly thought maybe something really had happened to the sect master. They quickly ran out, intending to go out and find him.

Having been ruthlessly abandoned in the blink of an eye, Elder Bai silently connected the dots, and said: “When he left, Sect Master said one thing.”

The few people who had already rushed to the yard immediately skidded to a halt, almost crashing into a heap. They didn’t have time to fix their appearances before uniformly returning: “What did he say?”

Elder Bai said: “Sect Master said that he was going to do something earth-shatteringly important. He wanted us to stay quiet.”

The several people immediately sucked in a breath of cold air: “Something as important as this, why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Elder Bai slowly said: “I thought he was just joking.”

This was not impossible. These several people were silent for a moment.

Elder Bai looked from one person to another, and said: “What should we do now?”

These several people looked at each other, and one person speculated: “Sect Master is from the Central Plains. Could it be he has enemies here?”

Although several of them were also Han Chinese, they had grown up with outside clans and lacked any involvement with the Central Plains Wulin(7). Sect master was different—he grew up in the Central Plains and only left later.

One person said: “I have never heard him talk about it.”

“Can you guess the mind of the sect master?”

“This… I still feel like this isn’t right. We moved here a few years ago. If he really had enemies, we would have long since helped him get revenge.”

“Are there any grievances that we aren’t aware of?”

“Perhaps he really was playing around, but then ran into a problem?”

Elder Mei suddenly got up: “In any case, we must go find him!”

These several people discussed it over. They drew lots to decide who would leave, and those leaving quickly packed their valuables and wildly dashed out.

Elder Bai, who was left behind to watch the base, slowly turned back to go to his room. While unpacking, he remembered something, and ran to the door to shout: “Sect Master left behind a brocade sack.”

He used a little internal force to amplify his voice, and the several people running down the mountain could naturally hear him. There was yet another round of skidding to a halt. Upon making it back, without saying anything further, they pressed him down and beat him up.

They opened the slip of paper and read ten lines at a glance**(rapidly read it). Upon finishing, they only felt completely confused. They raked through all of Elder Bai’s clothes and baggage. Only after confirming he had not forgotten anything else did they once again “thunderously” run down the mountain.

______

8/24/2018, Edited footnote style per violentfluffball’s suggestions, long footnotes are put at the bottom now but if it’s a few words I leave it bracketed with the story text. Also thanks for the help with the tough paragraph.

1. People of the Central Plains = Chinese people, what’s regarded as ‘normal/standard/civilized’, as opposed to ‘other/outsider/barbarian,’ if you read enough cnovels or watch cdramas this is a common thing.
2. gongzi is an honorific for son of a noble, polite, used for men even if they are not necessarily nobility
3. locusts = Gu – poisonous insect commonly known to be used by/associated with evil sects/shady characters in wuxia because the use of poison is thought to be lowly and dishonorable
4. common to xianxia but is also possible in wuxia or mixed stories, spiritual bones refers to a person’s being and whether they have a strong ability/powers/potential for learning cultivation or martial arts
5. In wuxia stories, those of the orthodox path, are people or orthodox sects usually seen as the ‘righteous’ and ‘legitimate’ kinds of martial arts practitioners or schools in opposition to the ‘unorthodox’ aka demonic sects. In these kinds of fantasy martial arts series, cultivating an orthodox path is stuff like skilled non-poisoned swordplay, sutras, taoism based martial arts (formations, paper talismans). Unorthodox is using martial arts powers based on stuff like poison, blood, stealing other people’s souls, necromancy. Those following the orthodox way usually frown on and are enemies of those walking the unorthodox path.
6. metaphor, Elder Bai can possibly solve their problem of the missing sect master
7. Wulin = martial arts community/circles, in Wuxia, think of it as Wulin is the people, while Jianghu is the place

Bear with me but I’ve decided to translate this wuxia novel using online machine translating and a browser dictionary. Sometimes I have a spark of inspiration and manifest a good line or a half but mostly I try to make the MTL more understandable. This is my first time ever attempting such a project so wish me luck and hope I get better.

Updates will be every Saturday. This novel consists of 120 chapters but I am splitting each chapter into two chapter parts, or three if a chapter is really long, and each update will be a chapter part instead of a whole chapter. Chunking it this way maintains my motivation better.

Chapter 1 Part 2