Chapter 27

Li Che never thought of letting Lei Chunlan go; having met her, if he doesn't kill her, his heart won't be at ease.

Translation: Li Che never thought of letting Lei Chunlan go; having met her, if he didn't kill her, his heart would be ill at ease.

It's rare to meet her; if he doesn't kill her, his heart won't be at ease.

He twisted his neck, and the major tendons on his back twanged.

Translation: He twisted his neck, and the major tendons in his back creaked.

The Xu family's nine tendons; Li Che had opened all nine major tendons, and now his cultivation alone had reached the perfection of opened tendons, only one step away from achieving tempered bone.

Translation: Xu's Nine Tendons—Li Che had opened all nine major tendons; his cultivation alone had reached Perfection of Opening Tendons, only a step away from Tempering Bones.

In just one month, Li Che's transformation has been enormous; now, having unlocked the Diamond Change of the Dragon-Elephant Way Fruit, he is absolutely confident he can beat Zhao Chuanxiong and his partner who wields the eight-trigram staff.

Translation: In a month, Li Che's transformation was immense; now, with the Diamond Transformation of the Dragon Elephant Way Fruit activated, he was absolutely confident he could beat Zhao Chuanxiong and his partner who wielded the Eight Trigrams Staff.

He had originally planned to seek out Zhao Chuanxiong after this matter was settled and eliminate that threat.

Translation: He had originally planned to finish this matter and then seek out Zhao Chuanxiong to eliminate the threat.

But he never expected that, during his trip into the inner city… he would encounter Lei Chunlan.

Translation: But he never expected that, on his trip to Nei Cheng… he would see Lei Chunlan.

Hiding in the inner city, it's no wonder Li Che has been disguising his identity to search for Lei Chunlan during this period, yet to no avail.

Translation: Hiding in Nei Cheng, it's no wonder Li Che, disguising his identity to search for Lei Chunlan during this period, had come up empty.

He flicked his sleeves, the hidden sleeve crossbow and thousand spider silk already ready; beneath his mask, his eyes flashed with a cold killing intent.

Translation: He flicked his sleeve; the hidden sleeve crossbow and thousand spider silk were ready, and beneath his mask his eyes flashed with cold killing intent.

With a stomp of his foot, his body suddenly shot out of the alley.

Translation: He stamped his foot, and his body shot out of the alley.

……

Translation: ……

……

Translation: ……

The curtains swayed gently.

Translation: The curtain swayed lightly.

They rose and fell, as if moving in time with a person's breath.

Translation: It rose and fell, as if moving with a person's breath.

Xu Beihu sat in his chair as the water boiler boiled over, hot currents surging, the gurgling sound endless; he brewed tea for himself, the rich aroma filling the air.

Translation: Xu Beihu sat in a chair, the water boiler boiling, hot currents surging, the gurgling sound endless; he brewed tea for himself, the rich aroma spreading freely.

Simu Bai stood before the wood carving Li Che had made, the 'Nine-Headed Avalokiteshvara of Wrathful Tears Subduing Demons'; the carving no longer resembled its original form, as if eroded by time and weather, utterly transformed.

Translation: Si Mubai stood before the statue Li Che had carved, the "Nine-headed Avalokiteshvara Wrathful Cry Suppress Ghost"; the wood carving now bore no trace of its original form, as if eroded by wind and frost over the years, utterly transformed.

Upon close inspection, one can see that the woodcarving is riddled with countless tiny holes, like the remains left after being corroded and devoured by woodworms.

Translation: If one looked closely, one could see countless tiny holes beneath the wood carving, like the remains left after being corroded and devoured by wood-boring insects.

After a long while, Simu Bai shuddered, stepped back, and shed two streams of hot tears, half-laughing, half-crying; he slapped the decayed wooden statue, and with a boom it crumbled into debris.

Translation: Si Mubai shuddered, stepped back, and shed two lines of hot tears, half crying, half laughing; he slapped the statue, now rotted wood, and with a boom it collapsed into debris.

"Not bad, the taste is really good."

Translation: "Not bad, the taste is really not bad."

Simu Bai stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

Translation: Si Mubai stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

"Although it doesn't contain the divinity of a master's carving, nor capture the wandering divinity between heaven and earth… it's already quite good; this intention, if accumulated a few more times, could coalesce into a thread of divinity, greatly aiding my 【Wrathful Tears Subduing Demons】 technique."

Translation: "Although it doesn't contain divinity like a master's carving, failing to capture the wandering divinity between heaven and earth… it's already quite good; this intention, if accumulated a few more times, could form a thread of divinity, greatly aiding my Wrathful Cry Suppress Ghost."

Simu Bai sat back down in the yellow sandalwood master's chair and accepted the fine aged dark tea that Xu Beihu had handed him.

Translation: Si Mubai sat back in the yellow sandalwood master's chair, taking the fine aged dark tea Xu Beihu had handed him.

"Your Xu family has really struck gold; this is unquestionably a master-in-the-making, as long as you're willing to nurture him, he'll become the next woodcarving master."

Translation: "You Xu Clan have picked up a treasure; this is definitely a promising talent for a master—as long as you're willing to nurture him, he'll be the next wood-carving master."

Simu Bai said this with a hint of envy.

Translation: Si Mubai said, somewhat enviously.

Xu Beihu's rugged face broke into a smile: "He hasn't even written a single stroke of his eight characters yet; becoming a woodcarving master isn't that easy, and it also requires loyalty… Over the past two hundred years, our Xu family has trained many woodcarvers, but only a handful have ever become true masters."

Translation: Xu Beihu's rugged face broke into a smile: "You haven't even written the first stroke of your eight characters; becoming a wood-carving master isn't that easy, and you also need loyalty… my Xu Clan has trained so many wood-carvers over two hundred years, but only a few could ever become masters."

"If you don't want him, I'll give him to the Simu family." Simu Bai took a sip of tea, smiling ambiguously.

Translation: "If you don't want him, I'll give him to the Si Clan." Si Mubai took a sip of tea, smiling ambiguously.

"Is that old woman your Simu family's doing? She seems to be from the Lingying Sect; you've gotten involved with the Lingying Sect, and the Simu family won't care about you?" Xu Beihu's smile instantly faded, and he said lightly.

Translation: "That old woman is your Si Clan's doing? She seems to be from the Spirit Infant Sect; you're involved with the Spirit Infant Sect—does the Si Clan not care?" Xu Beihu's smile vanished instantly, and he said lightly.

Simu Bai set down his teacup: "You shouldn't be so opposed to the Spirit Infant Sect either; not everything that emerges from the strange temples is evil—doesn't the imperial court suppress temples with martial force, and didn't Emperor Shenzong attack and destroy temples, all because there are good things in those strange temples?"

Translation: Si Mubai set down his teacup: "You shouldn't be so opposed to the Spirit Infant Sect; the things that come from the Guiyi Miao aren't all evil—aren't the court's martial suppression of temples and Emperor Shenzong's mountain-clearing, temple-destroying precisely because there are good things in the Guiyi Miao?"

"Divinity, divine techniques, martial skills, martial arts… all kinds of inheritances come from those strange temples; why resist them?"

Translation: "Divinity, divine methods, martial skills, martial arts… all kinds of inheritances come from the Guiyi Miao—what's the point of resisting?"

Simu Bai said this while sipping tea and laughing.

Translation: Si Mubai said, sipping tea and laughing.

"The court has us recruit divine prodigies and cultivate talent, precisely so we can explore those strange temples they can't spare hands to investigate; I've heard from friends in the capital that the court's great diviners are all wholeheartedly exploring the newly emerged 'Three Pure Ones' strange temple outside the capital."

Translation: "The court has us recruit divine-spirited children, train them to become talented, so we can explore those Ghostly Temples the court can't spare hands for; I heard from friends in the capital that the court's great diviners are all wholeheartedly exploring the newly emerged 'Three Pure Ones' Guiyi Miao outside the capital."

"The court is exploring, accepting, and integrating; why should we resist?"

Translation: "The court is exploring, accepting, and integrating—why should we resist?"

Simu Bai shook his head.

Translation: Si Mubai shook his head.

Xu Beihu said with a solemn face: "Strange temples are strange temples, the Lingying Sect is the Lingying Sect; don't conflate the two."

Translation: Xu Beihu sank into a stern face: "The Guiyi Miao is the Guiyi Miao, the Spirit Infant Sect is the Spirit Infant Sect—don't conflate them."

"Never mind that; I have my own sense of proportion—Feilei City is jointly governed by us aristocratic clans, how could I not keep it in mind?"

Translation: "Never mind those; I have my own sense of proportion—Feiliecheng is jointly governed by us great clans; how could I not keep it in mind?"

Simu Bai waved his hand, indifferent.

Translation: Si Mubai waved his hand, unbothered.

"Speaking of Li Che, he's quite aware of the times, very steady; hearing that Lei Chunlan has set her sights on his daughter, he actually restrains himself from striking… his courage is truly small."

Translation: "Speaking of Li Che, he's quite aware of the times, very steady; hearing that Lei Chunlan had set her sights on his daughter, he actually could restrain himself from striking… his courage really is small."

Simu Bai said.

Translation: Si Mubai said.

"That's steadiness; although he has the backing of my Xu family, he can't be sure the Xu family will definitely support him. He surely hates Lei Chunlan, but he's rational—he knows your Simu clan shields Lei Chunlan, and his own strength isn't strong. If things blow up, there's no way to contain it; both families would lose face, with no recourse, so he can only step back and seek a bit of stability."

Translation: "That's steadiness—although he relies on my Xu Clan, he can't be sure the Xu Clan will back him; he surely hates Lei Chunlan, but he's rational, knowing your Si Clan shelters Lei Chunlan and his own strength is weak; once things blow up, there's no way to contain it, both families would lose face, nothing can be done, so he can only retreat a step and seek some stability."

Xu Beihu said lightly.

Translation: Xu Beihu said lightly.

"In short, this person… is steady and cowardly, not worth fearing."

Translation: "In short, this person… steady and cowardly, not worth fearing."

……

Translation: ……

……

Translation: ……

Jinhuang Pavilion.

Translation: Golden Splendor Pavilion.

Li Che turned into a black shadow and silently approached; now, having unlocked the Diamond Elephant, his strength could likely exert the full power of perfected tempered bone, and with the nine opened tendons, the force he could unleash would reach tens of thousands of jin.

Translation: Li Che turned into a black shadow and silently approached; with the Dragon Elephant Diamond activated, his strength could roughly display the perfection of Tempering Bones, having opened nine major tendons, the force he could unleash was enough to reach ten thousand catties.

In reality, he merely possesses the strength of perfected tendon opening.

Translation: In reality, he merely possessed the strength of Perfection of Opening Tendons.

The Diamond Elephant enables him to unleash a power burst that spans an entire major realm.

Translation: The Dragon Elephant Diamond could grant him a power burst that crossed a major realm.

The major tendons on his back tensed, the released force rebounded off the ground, silently lifting the fallen snow, and Li Che's body drifted forth.

Translation: The major tendons on his back tensed, the released force rebounding off the ground, silently lifting the snow; Li Che's body drifted out.

He slipped along the wall into the Jinhuang Pavilion; having been inside once before, he knew the way well.

Translation: He pressed against the wall and slipped into Golden Splendor Pavilion; having been inside once before, he knew the way.

The interior of the Jinhuang Pavilion is vast and boundless, resembling a great clan estate, with intersecting lanes and crisscrossing pathways.

Translation: Inside Golden Splendor Pavilion it was vast, boundlessly broad, like a great clan's manor, with alleys crisscrossing and fields intersecting.

Moreover, there are patrolling guards, whose strength is not weak; they all possess the cultivation of opened tendons.

Translation: Moreover, there were patrolling guards, whose strength was not weak, all having Opening Tendons cultivation.

Li Che hid in the darkness, observing indifferently.

Translation: Li Che hid in the darkness, gazing indifferently.

Behind the Jinhuang Pavilion stand several aristocratic clans, it being a joint enterprise, so few dare to cause trouble there; thus, although there are defensive forces, they appear somewhat lax.

Translation: Behind Golden Splendor Pavilion stood several great clans, it being a joint enterprise, so few dared to cause trouble there; thus the defensive forces, while present, seemed somewhat lackadaisical.

Li Che easily evaded the defenses, recalling from memory the direction Lei Chunlan had taken after going downstairs.

Translation: Li Che easily evaded the defensive forces, recalling from memory the direction Lei Chunlan had taken after going down.

With a rise and fall of his body, the power he could exert from perfected tempered bone made his speed extreme—ordinary people couldn't even catch a glimpse of his silhouette.

Translation: With a rise and fall of his body, the force that Perfection of Tempering Bones could unleash let his speed reach the extreme; ordinary people couldn't even catch a glimpse of his silhouette.

Li Che didn't know what relationship Simu Bai had with Lei Chunlan, nor what dealings the Simu family had with the Lingying Sect…

Translation: Li Che didn't know what relationship Si Mubai had with Lei Chunlan, nor what dealings the Si Clan had with the Spirit Infant Sect…

Why would he care about those things?

Translation: Why would he care about those?

Since Lei Chunlan intends to harm his daughter Xixi, Li Che has only one goal.

Translation: Since Lei Chunlan wanted to harm his daughter Xixi, Li Che had only one goal.

Kill her!

Translation: Kill her!

……

Translation: ……

…

In a luxurious courtyard.

Rock formations stood like a forest, tree shadows hazy.

Lei Chunlan changed into a clean set of fine silk clothing, leaned on the railing, gazing at the Si Clan guard stationed in her courtyard, and also looked at the scenery in the courtyard; on her wrinkled old face, a hint of a smile appeared.

"It is indeed the most luxurious and extravagant Golden Splendor Pavilion in the inner city; truly a wonderful place to enjoy; this old woman of mine has suffered all her life, and now she can finally live such days."

"This is the life a person should live."

Lei Chunlan smiled brilliantly, like an old chrysanthemum blooming.

The Infant Spirit Sect gave her things she had never enjoyed before.

"As long as the Si Clan agrees to the deal with the Dharma Lord, this old woman of mine can become an honored guest of the Si Clan... enjoying endless wealth and honor."

Lei Chunlan's body trembled slightly with excitement.

She brought those infants into this world, letting them exchange for her wealth and honor... quite appropriate, right?

"Unfortunately, that Li Che is truly steady; knowing I am related to the Infant Spirit Sect, he moved into Xu Ji Mu diao Pu... what dogshit luck, this mere moving laborer actually became a woodcarver for Xu Ji."

"What a pity about that Infant Spirit, so full of divinity... if I could offer it to the Dharma Lord, I could even receive the Dharma Lord's divine law inheritance! From then on I would rise above others!"

Lei Chunlan clenched her fists, her old eyes wide round, feeling somewhat unwilling.

"It doesn't matter; I have now allied with the Si Clan, sooner or later I will get that Infant Spirit in my hands..."

"A mere woodcarver from Xu Ji Mu diao Pu, before the Si Clan's colossal presence, is nothing but an ant."

Whoosh—

The heavens, which had paused for a moment, seemed to feel the world's chill and sent down heavy snow.

Flakes of snow blurred the vision.

Lei Chunlan rubbed her hands and exhaled a breath of hot air: "This damned weather."

She turned and began operating the brazier, adding charcoal to it.

Suddenly, her movements stiffened slightly, and her neck rigidly lifted.

Then she saw atop a cluster of artificial hills in the courtyard.

A burly figure wearing a straw hat and covered with a cute ox mask, like a small mountain, stood as if a halberd seeking to pierce the heavens, amidst the swirling wind and snow.

His eyes gleamed brightly, like the soul‑reaping ox‑headed spirit of hell.

He gazed at her, exuding icy cold and murderous intent that surged like a flood.

(End of chapter)