Chapter 41

【4】

We need to produce a concise translation.

Let's craft: "【1】 Night fell, silent and still, the Dragon King's room door was pushed open. The cat girl's slender figure flashed through the room, she flung back the blanket—empty and bare…… After muttering a curse 'Damn it' in the dark, she leapt out the window and left."

Check we kept all info: night, silent, door opened, cat girl slender figure flashed, flung blanket, empty, after muttering curse, leapt out window left. Good.

Translation: "Snoring… the Dragon King was sound asleep in the room two doors away……"

Translation: "【2】 'Hoo-hoo-hoo…' the Dragon King was sound asleep in the room next door……"

We need to keep the ellipsis. Use same punctuation? We'll keep.

"……"

Just ellipsis. Translate as "【3】 ……"

【22】

【22】

has a quoted string.

Translation: "【5】 When it really came time to handle the big matter, the two young fellows were still very eager, not daring to slack off in the slightest……"

【27】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

Thus: "【6】 After a simple meal, Chen Yi He, the Dragon King, and Dongfang Xing set off toward the Returning Goose Tower. They didn't even need to ask where the Returning Goose Tower was; they just had to lift their heads and scan the sky—wherever there was a sharp point, that was the Returning Goose Tower."

【34】

Translate: "Nanjiang City is the foremost city of Nanjiang, and this Returning Goose Tower is the first building of Nanjiang City, the tallest structure. Directly opposite the Returning Goose Tower lies the legendary Thousandfold Gate."

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【38】

Translate: "【8】 Along the way, there were not a few people traveling with them, but most of them were just there to watch the excitement. The road to the Returning Goose Tower is only one; to stray from it is to disrespect the Thousandfold Gate and break the rules. They either jostled each other or clung together, shouting and clamoring, noisy and bustling."

has a quoted string.

【41】

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【10】 'I wonder what kind of big shots we'll get to see this year?' Cheerer B chimed in."

【47】

Translate: "【11】 'Big shots aren't much to look at anymore; the main thing is to see how this generation's young masters measure up—hope they're not worse than last year, or I'll have come for nothing!' Cheerer C sighed."

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【12】 'This year's big change—it's been reduced by a tenth; I wonder how many of the ten will survive?' Cheerer A wondered."

【53】

Translate: "【13】 'Anyway, we're just here to watch the show—the fiercer they fight, the bloodier they get, the more we enjoy it, right?' Cheerer B didn't fear trouble."

has a quoted string.

【56】

has a quoted string.

【59】

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【16】 No one dared to overtake it, even though many were anxious, wanting to reach the Returning Goose Tower early, sit in a grand chair, and announce to the world their selection for the Thousandfold Gate. The eight bearers of the sedan chair, however, lifted it steadily, step by step, firm and leisurely."

【64】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【67】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction/check.

【73】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【20】 In this scene, Chen Yi He felt the surging spirit of the jianghu! This is the martial world, this is wuxia, this is the stuff of stories. Never did he imagine that he, Chen Yi He, would one day stand shoulder to shoulder with such a group and face the challenge."

【79】

Translate: "【21】 He had countless times fantasized about standing before the college entrance exam alongside his beloved campus belle, awaiting fate's judgment. He never expected that, in the face of the jianghu, he would still have to submit to fate's judgment."

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【22】 Both judgment and challenge—fate is not given by heaven, but seized by himself! He will use his two hands, two feet, plus a brain, step by step, climbing to the peak!!! Having come, he shall settle in; he never thought about how to go back, but having come, if he does not carve out a world of his own and simply returns, what a pity!"

Same judgment, same challenge, fate is not given by heaven, but is something he himself strives for! He will use his own two hands, two feet, plus a head, step by step, climb to the highest!!! Having come, then settle in, he never thought about how he would go back, since he has come, if he does not carve out a world for himself and just returns like this, wouldn't that be a pity?

【87】

This is a poetic line. Translate literally: "【24】 The precious tower soars azure, climbing to behold the four wilds."

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【93】

Poetic: "【25】 Its height gathers the vital energy, marking the endless sea of clouds."

Better: "【25】 Its lofty peak gathers the vital qi, marking the endless sea of clouds."

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【26】 An ancient, simple tower rises like parting clouds to see the sun, straight into the heavens; after thousands of years of weathering, it still stands firm at the very center of Nanjiang City. Like the Thousandfold Gate, it is the eternal pride of the Nanjiang people."

【99】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【28】 As the saying goes, 'one level equals a hundred layers, ten levels equal a thousand layers.'"

【105】

Translate: "【29】 In spring, the northern geese fly south; in spring's end, they fly south again. The Returning Goose Tower derives its name from this."

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【30】 Who knows who recited a line on the tower: 'A thousand miles of autumn sorrow, I am ever a guest; a hundred years of illness, I alone mount the stage.'"

【111】

Translate: "【31】 Chen Yi He felt moved and whispered the next line: 'Hardship and grudge frost the temples, downcast I set aside the turbid wine cup.' This reply was so faint no one could hear it."

has a quoted string.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【116】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

Thus: "【33】 Chen Yi He's gaze was drawn, and everyone's eyes followed. She was still, as in Upper Valley City, a single red robe outshining all, her graceful figure attracting every eye. Every frown, every smile a portrait of beauty—what a proud woman!"

【121】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【125】

Translate: "【35】 The Returning Goose Tower has only one door, two meters high and one meter wide, dilapidated, allowing only one person to pass at a time—those ahead go first, those behind follow."

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【36】 Throughout history, how many times have talented youths fought for that first place, cracking their heads and bleeding, even dying miserably beneath the tower's door, only to have others step on their corpses to climb up!"

【131】

Translate: "【37】 Yet this time, the little Palace Master goes first—who dares to get ahead of her?"

has a quoted string.

【134】

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【39】 But soon Chen Yi He realized he was mistaken."

【140】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

has a quoted string.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【146】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

has a quoted string.

Translate: "【43】 Someone else hurled flying darts at the tenth story of the Returning Goose Tower, throwing ten darts, one per level; the man stepped on the darts as he ascended, extremely fast, each dart landing solidly under his foot!"

has a quoted string.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【155】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

has a quoted string.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【161】

Translate: "【47】 'Go up!' Chen Yi He walked to the tower's door and slammed a palm into the crowded throng!"

has a quoted string.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

【166】

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

does NOT have a quoted string; it's an instruction.

Thus: "【49】 'Dragon King, Dongfang, ascend the tower!' Chen Yi He, the Dragon King, and Dongfang finally stepped onto the stairs of the Returning Goose Tower; after months of effort, the end was finally in sight!"

"Dragon King, East, ascend the tower!" Chen Yi He and the three finally stepped onto the stairs of the Returning Geese Tower; after several months of effort, they were about to see the ending!