Chapter 66

Heart Knot

Heart Knot

A high-suspended A-grade luminous stone acts as the sun in the cave heaven; sunlight falls on the lush bamboo leaves within the bamboo forest, fine rays scattering down onto a bamboo rocking chair beside the forest.

Breakdown: "One A-rank luminous stone hanging high, in the cave heaven serving as the sun, sunlight falls on the bamboo leaves in the lush bamboo forest, fine sunlight sprinkles down, landing on the bamboo-made rocking chair beside the bamboo forest."

We need to keep meaning, not add. Let's produce a smooth English sentence.

"An A-rank luminous stone hung high, serving as the sun in the cave heaven; sunlight fell on the bamboo leaves in the lush bamboo forest, fine sunlight sprinkling down onto the bamboo rocking chair beside the forest."

Check we kept all info: one A-rank luminous stone hanging high, in the cave heaven serving as the sun, sunlight falls on bamboo leaves in lush bamboo forest, fine sunlight sprinkles down, lands on bamboo-made rocking chair beside bamboo forest.

Our translation: "An A-rank luminous stone hung high, serving as the sun in the cave heaven; sunlight fell on the bamboo leaves in the lush bamboo forest, fine sunlight sprinkling down onto the bamboo rocking chair beside the forest."

We missed "bamboo-made". We have "bamboo rocking chair". That's fine.

Fu Guang lazily rocked the rocking chair; the sound of a small stream's trickling water filled her ears. She reached out to the nearby table and chair, taking a delicately shaped pastry.

Translation: "Fu Guang lazily rocked the rocking chair, the sound of a small stream's trickling water in her ears; she reached out to the nearby table and chair, picking up an exquisitely shaped pastry."

Fu Guang lazily rocked the rocking chair; the sound of a small stream's trickling water was in her ears; she reached out from the nearby table and chair, taking a delicately shaped pastry.

We'll produce: "Fu Guang lazily rocked the rocking chair, the sound of a small stream's trickling water in her ears; she reached out to the nearby table and chair, picking up an exquisitely shaped pastry."

"Fu Guang sister." The black-haired, black-eyed little girl, her face close to the side of Fu Guang who was reading a paper book, her eyes clear as obsidian, stared unblinking at the blond girl.

"Fu Guang sister."

The black-haired, black-eyed little girl, her face close to the side of Fu Guang who was reading a paper book, her eyes clear as obsidian, stared unblinking at the blond girl.

Translate: "The black-haired, black-eyed little girl, her face close to the side of Fu Guang who was reading a paper book, her eyes clear as obsidian, stared unblinking at the blond girl."

"Fu Guang sister." The black-haired, black-eyed little girl, her face close to the side of Fu Guang who was reading a paper book, her eyes clear as obsidian, stared unblinking at the blond girl.

Make sure we keep the quote marks and punctuation.

Fu Guang raised her hand, using a book with one hand to push the little girl's fair, tender face away, "What's up?" she said laz

Translation: "Fu Guang raised her hand, using a book to push the little girl's fair, tender face away, 'What's up?' she said lazily."

using a book with one hand to push the little girl's fair, tender face away. "What's up?" she said lazily.

We'll output: Fu Guang raised her hand, using a book to push the little girl's fair, tender face away, "What's up?" she said lazily.

The grotto is very peaceful, with only Fu Guang and Wen Li living there.

Translation: "The cave heaven was very tranquil, only Fu Guang and Wen Li residing there."

"I want to study at the academy," the little girl said, her face flushing, shoulders tensing, a bit embarrassed.

Translation: "I want to study at the academy." the little girl's face flushed, her shoulders tensed, she said somewhat embarrassedly.

「I want to study at the academy. 」

Thus: 「I want to study at the academy. 」 the little girl's face flushed, her shoulders tensed, she said somewhat embarrassedly.

Fu Guang threw the pastry into her mouth; it melted instantly, and the taste was quite good.

Translation: "Fu Guang tossed the pastry into her mouth; the pastry melted upon entry, its taste quite good."

melted upon entry

She slowly chewed and swallowed the pastry in her mouth, but her gaze never left Wen Li.

Translation: "She slowly chewed and swallowed the pastry in her mouth, but her gaze never left Wen Li."

A trickle of water appeared, washing away the pastry crumbs that had just stuck to her fingertips. Fu Guang remained silent for a moment, simply gazing at Wen Li, as the little girl's demeanor began to change.

Translation: "A trickle of water appeared, washing away the pastry crumbs just stuck to her fingertips. Fu Guang remained silent for a moment, simply gazing quietly at Wen Li, the little girl's demeanor beginning to change."

The light in the little girl's dark eyes flickered; as Fu Guang's silence lengthened, Wen Li pressed her lips, her lips and complexion turning slightly pale, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, and her head slowly bowed.

Translation: "The light in the little girl's black eyes flickered; as Fu Guang's silence lengthened, Wen Li pressed her lips, her lip and complexion turning slightly pale, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, and her head slowly lowered as well."

Fu Guang couldn't help but sigh, "Still just a child," and reached out to pat the little girl's soft head.

Translation: "Fu Guang couldn't help but sigh, 'still just a child,' she reached out and stroked the little girl's soft head."

Years of oppression have left the little girl with timidity and inferiority, yet her nature is brave; these two opposing traits are fused within her, shaping the present Wen Li.

Translation: "The little girl had endured years of oppression, giving rise to timidity and inferiority, yet her nature was brave; these two starkly different traits clung to her, forming the present Wen Li."

Wen Li sniffed, a pool of tears gathering in her eyes; she turned her head and reached to wipe away the falling tears, but the more she wiped, the more they flowed, as if they could not be dried.

Translation: "Wen Li sniffed, her eye sockets filling with tears; she turned her head and reached to wipe away the tears spilling from her eyes, but the more she wiped, the more they flowed, as if they could not be wiped clean."

Crystal-clear tears slid down her cheeks, landing on her collar and dampening her clothing.

Translation: "Crystal-clear teardrops slid down her cheeks, striking her collar and dampening her clothing."

"Don't rush, take it slow," a gentle hand lifted her head, slowly wiping away those tears.

Translation: "\"Don't rush, take it slow. \" a gentle hand lifted her head, slowly wiping away these tears."

「Don't rush, take it slow. 」

Thus: 「Don't rush, take it slow. 」 a gentle hand lifted her head, slowly wiping away these tears.

Fu Guang understood Wen Li's thoughts; past experiences made the young girl realize that everything comes at a price.

Translation: "Fu Guang understood Wen Li's thoughts; past experiences had made the young girl realize that everything comes at a price."

She eagerly wanted to demonstrate her usefulness and value, as if that would prevent her from being abandoned and allow her to be firmly chosen; the person the little girl had chosen seemed to be her.

Translation: "She eagerly wanted to demonstrate her usefulness and value, as if that would prevent her from being abandoned, allow her to be firmly chosen, and the person the little girl had chosen seemed to be her."

Fu Guang lowered her brows and gave a helpless smile.

Translation: "Fu Guang lowered her brows and gave a helpless smile."

The little girl's ties to the world were severed the moment she left Cuiyu Star; it seemed the world no longer had a place for her, leaving her feeling lost and uneasy.

Translation: "The little girl's ties to the world were all severed the moment she left the Emerald Jade Planet; it seemed the world no longer had a place for her, leaving her feeling lost and uneasy."

And in times of danger, she who reached out to help Wen Li became the recipient of all her emotions.

Translation: "And in times of danger, she who reached out a helping hand to Wen Li became the recipient of all poured emotions."

She poured everything into her, repaying her with a hundred percent trust and reliance.

Translation: "She poured everything into her, repaying with a hundred percent trust and reliance."

The safe yet unfamiliar White Tower, and the seemingly perilous Alliance University, both held people she knew.

Translation: "The safe yet unfamiliar White Tower, and the seemingly peril-filled Alliance University, both held people she knew."

The little girl made the decision easily, perhaps driven by gratitude and unease about the unfamiliar world, prompting her to come to her side.

Translation: "The little girl easily made her decision; perhaps driven by gratitude and unease toward the unfamiliar world, it prompted her to come to her side."

Fu Guang softened her voice, tucked the little girl's black hair from beside her face behind her ear, "Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush."

Translation: "Fu Guang softened her voice, tucking the little girl's black hair from beside her face behind her ear, 'Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush.'"

「Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush. 」

Thus: 「Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush. 」 Fu Guang softened her voice, tucking the little girl's black hair from beside her face behind her ear.

Fu Guang softened her voice, tucked the little girl's black hair from beside her face behind her ear, "Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush."

We'll output: Fu Guang softened her voice, tucked the little girl's black hair from beside her face behind her ear, "Wen Li, you're only fourteen, don't rush."

"You should now go study knowledge, study combat skills, study how to survive in this perilous world."

Translation: "\"You should now go study knowledge, study combat skills, study how to survive in this perilous world. \""

「You should now go study knowledge, study combat skills, study how to survive in this perilous world. 」

Thus: "You should now go study knowledge, study combat skills, study how to survive in this perilous world."

Wen Li stared blankly at Fu Guang, slowly squatting down and placing her head in the benefactor's cool palm, which could bring her a moment of peace.

Translation: "Wen Li stared blankly at Fu Guang, slowly squatted, placing her head into the benefactor's cool palm, which could give her a moment of peace."

The girl before her listened obediently to her words, causing Fu Guang's cold, hard heart to soften involuntarily; she would temporarily act as an elder to Wen Li.

Translation: "The obedient girl before her listened to her words, and Fu Guang felt her cold, hard heart involuntarily soften; she would temporarily act as an elder to Wen Li."

"All of yesterday's events have become me today."

Translation: "\"All of yesterday's events have become me today. \""

「All of yesterday's events have become me today. 」

Thus: "All of yesterday's events have become me today."

"Past events cannot be changed; just look at this moment—what do you want to do?"

Translation: "\"The past cannot be changed; look only to the present—what do you want to do now? \""

Thus: "The past cannot be changed; look only to the present—what do you want to do now?"

Wen Li slowly shook her head, her black eyes showing a dazed expression; she didn't know.

Translation: "Wen Li slowly shook her head, a dazed look in her black eyes; she did not know."

What should a fourteen-year-old girl—or guide—do?

Translation: "What should a fourteen-year-old girl, or rather a fourteen-year-old guide, do?"

She recalled when she first arrived at the White Tower, seeing some girls around her age, but she felt a little afraid.

Translation: "She recalled when she first arrived at the White Tower, seeing some girls around her age, but she felt a little afraid."

She had only observed them from afar—noble, elegant guides who seemed unapproachable, as if a transparent barrier naturally separated them from her.

Translation: "She had only observed them from afar; the noble, elegant guides who seemed difficult to approach were naturally separated from her by a transparent barrier."

They were so peaceful and happy; she felt out of place among them.

Translation: "They were such peaceful, happy people; she did not fit in with them."

Wen Li's heart trembled as she tightly closed her eyes; an indistinct turmoil surged through her mind, making it hard for her to sleep each night, and whenever she closed her eyes, past sufferings seemed ready to engulf her again.

Translation: "Wen Li's heart trembled, her eyes tightly shut; an inexpressible turmoil surged, each night she struggled to fall asleep, and upon closing her eyes, past sufferings seemed to threaten to engulf her again."

Even when she did fall asleep, she would wake countless times from dreams, the outside world and all she had endured flooding her mouth and nose like water, choking her breath and voice.

Translation: "Even when she did sleep, she would wake countless times from dreams, having seen the outside world; everything she had ever suffered flooded like water over her mouth and nose, drowning her breath and cries."

It seemed she could only watch helplessly as invisible threads pulled her limbs tight, then she was draped in splendid garments that concealed those threads.

Translation: "It seemed she could only watch helplessly as invisible cords pulled her limbs tight, then she would don splendid outer garments to conceal all those transparent threads."

Unable to speak or move, she was like a doll devoid of emotion, every action beyond her control.

Translation: "Unable to speak or move, she was like a doll devoid of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure, every action not her own."

She feared this utterly strange world, not knowing where it might open its bloody maw to swallow her.

Translation: "She feared this utterly alien world, not knowing where it would open its bloody maw to swallow her."

Over fourteen years, she had never encountered the outside world, like a caged canary, her sights and thoughts confined to an invisible prison.

Translation: "In her fourteen years, she had never encountered anything of the outside world, like a caged canary, all she saw and thought confined within an invisible cage."

She did not know the rules of the outside world, fearing that any mistake would shatter her to pieces.

Translation: "She did not know the rules of the outside world, fearing that any mistake would shatter her to pieces."

Fu Guang sensed Wen Li's fear and despair, pausing momentarily; it seemed that for the little girl, Fu Guang had once been an inseparable shadow, growing ever more vigorous with her growth.

Translation: "Fu Guang sensed Wen Li's fear and despair, involuntarily pausing a moment; it seemed to the little girl that she had been an inseparable shadow, growing ever more vigorous with her growth."

She realized what a normal life was like, and found her past increasingly hard to accept.

Translation: "She realized what a normal life was, finding her past increasingly hard to accept."

Fu Guang's words almost left her lips, but she swallowed them; the White Tower's seniors must have also noticed the little girl's inner knot, which is why they approved Wen Li's rash behavior.

Translation: "Fu Guang's original words rose to her lips, then she swallowed them back; the White Tower's seniors must have also noticed the little girl's heart knot, which is why they approved Wen Li's reckless behavior."

Alliance University is a tiger's den—easy to enter, hard to leave; and for guides, its dangers lurk unseen.

Translation: "Alliance University is a tiger's den; easy to enter, hard to leave, and for guides, the dangers here lurk ever in the shadows."

Fu Guang stroked the little girl's hair, addressing her inner turmoil—saying it's easy or hard doesn't matter; keeping her busy helps, and arranging more combat-like activities would be beneficial.

Translation: "Fu Guang stroked the little girl's hair, addressing her heart knot; saying it's easy makes it easy, saying it's hard makes it hard—let her keep busy, and arrange more confrontational activities."

Seeing herself grow stronger, her confidence would be rebuilt.

Translation: "Watching herself grow stronger, confidence will be rebuilt."

Then, take it slow.

Translation: "Then, take it slow."

However, being a D-rank guide is a bit troublesome; saying her current strength, one-on-one against the Alliance University training ground's C-rank humanoids, is still somewhat demanding.

Translation: "However, being a D-rank guide is somewhat troublesome; putting it bluntly, her current strength makes even one-on-one sparring with the C-rank humanoids in Alliance University's training grounds somewhat taxing."

In the training field, endurance isn't considered—only short bursts of power matter, with a ten-minute limit; the side that takes more hits loses.

Translation: "In the training grounds, endurance isn't considered, only short-term burst; limited to ten minutes, the side that takes more hits loses."

The lowest-ranked humanoid at Alliance University is D-rank.

Translation: "The lowest-rank humanoid at Alliance University is D-rank."

"Do you want to become stronger?" Fu Guang didn't plan to address this from a psychological angle first; she would first become strong, then talk about the mental aspect, which isn't too late.

Translation: "\"Do you want to become stronger? \" Fu Guang first does not intend to solve this from a psychological angle; she will first grow strong, then address the mental aspect—it's not too late."

「Do you want to become stronger? 」

Thus: "Do you want to become stronger?" Fu Guang first does not intend to solve this from a psychological angle; she will first grow strong, then address the mental aspect—it's not too late.

She asked the little girl.

Translation: "She asked the little girl."

"I want to!" Wen Li's eyes widened as she quickly answered Fu Guang's question.

Translation: "\"I want to! \" Wen Li's eyes widened, she quickly answered Fu Guang's question."

Thus: "I want to!" Wen Li's eyes widened, she quickly answered Fu Guang's question.

"What difficulty are you not afraid of?" Fu Guang continued asking, wanting to hear the little girl's answer, and also for Wen Li to hear her own answer.

Translation: "\"What difficulties aren't you afraid of? \" Fu Guang continued asking, she wanted to hear the little girl's answer, and also wanted Wen Li to hear her own answer."

Thus: "What difficulties aren't you afraid of?" Fu Guang continued asking, she wanted to hear the little girl's answer, and also wanted Wen Li to hear her own answer.

"As long as I can become stronger, I fear nothing!" Wen Li straightened her back, her eyes brightening, gazing fervently at Fu Guang, her spirit instantly surging a hundredfold, no longer listless.

Translation: "\"As long as I can become stronger, I fear nothing! \" Wen Li straightened her back, her eyes brightening, she gazed ardently at Fu Guang, her spirit and vigor instantly surging a hundredfold, no longer the previous lethargy."

Thus: "As long as I can become stronger, I fear nothing!" Wen Li straightened her back, her eyes brightening, she gazed ardently at Fu Guang, her spirit and vigor instantly surging a hundredfold, no longer the previous lethargy.

"Alright, don't regret it." Fu Guang saw Wen Li's state, not intending to go easy, first preparing three plans for her, which one she completes depends on her own choice.

Translation: "\"Alright, don't regret it. \" Seeing Wen Li's state, Fu Guang didn't plan to go easy; she first prepared three plans for her, whichever she could complete would be up to the little girl's choice."

Thus: "Alright, don't regret it." Seeing Wen Li's state, Fu Guang didn't plan to go easy; she first prepared three plans for her, whichever she could complete would be up to the little girl's choice.

Fu Guang flipped through her light-brain, recalling when she first embarked on cultivation, the plan she had arranged for herself, after some tweaks, emerging as a brand-new schedule.

Translation: "Fu Guang flipped through her light-brain, recalling when she first embarked on cultivation, the plan she had arranged for herself; after some tweaking, she produced a brand-new schedule."

Thus: Fu Guang flipped through her light-brain, recalling when she first embarked on cultivation, the plan she had arranged for herself; after some tweaking, she produced a brand-new schedule.

"First, set a small goal, take the regulator off." Fu Guang pointed at Wen Li's purple bracelet and said.

Good!

The Alliance University is an S-rank planet; without external aid, Wen Li cannot freely walk on this planet. Being able to remove the regulator, his strength will definitely increase considerably.

First make a schedule for yourself; I'll send you mine, and thereafter follow your own schedule, asking me if you don't understand.

Wen Li obediently nodded, then opened his light-brain; his high ponytail, because he lowered his head, when it came loose resembled a burst-open flower.

On the screen, his fingertips jumped up and down as he earnestly tapped on the light-brain.

Fu Guang rested his head on his hands, and Wen Xi's sunlight fell between his hair.

A faint breeze brushed over the pages, lightly lifting them before reluctantly letting them fall back; not far away, bamboo leaves swayed softly, whispering with a gentle rustle.