Chapter 868

Xing brought Huo Huo back to the lounge; as soon as he saw Huo Huo and the ghost fire beside her, Ka Mei Li let out a 'Huh': 'Xing, you're back? May I ask who these two are?'

Xing brought Huo Huo back to the lounge; as soon as he saw Huo Huo and the ghost fire beside her, Ka Mei Li let out a 'Huh': 'Xing, you're back? May I ask who these two are?'

Translation: "Xing brought Huo Huo back to the lounge; as soon as he saw Huo Huo and the ghost fire beside her, Ka Mei Li let out a 'Huh': 'Xing, you're back? May I ask who these two are?'"

Check: Xing brought Huo Huo back to the lounge; upon seeing Huo Huo and the ghost fire beside her, Ka Mei Li let out a 'Huh', and then spoke.

We need to keep quotes. Use English quotes.

We'll output: 【1】 Xing brought Huo Huo back to the lounge; as soon as he saw Huo Huo and the ghost fire beside her, Ka Mei Li let out a "Huh": "Xing, you're back? May I ask who these two are?"

Make sure no extra commentary.

'He is Lu Ka's fan,' Xing replied.

Translation: "\"They're Lu Ka's fans. \" Xing replied."

But need to keep the quotes: The line includes quotes around the statement. So we output: 【2】 "They're Lu Ka's fans." Xing replied.

'It's Lu Ka's fan after all! Lu Ka, a fan has come to see you! Wait… what is this?' Ka Mei Li finally realized there was a flame-like thing floating beside her, and exclaimed, 'A ghost, it's a ghost! It turns out Lu Ka's fanbase is already this huge!'

Translation: "\"Oh, so you're Lu Ka's fan! Lu Ka, a fan has come to see you! Wait… what is this? \" Ka Mei Li finally realized there was a flame-like thing floating beside her, \"A ghost, it's a ghost! It turns out Lu Ka's fanbase is already this huge! \""

Check: Ka Mei Li finally noticed a flame-like object floating beside her, exclaimed 'A ghost, it's a ghost!', and remarked that Lu Ka's fanbase had become enormous.

We'll output: 【3】 "Oh, so you're Lu Ka's fan! Lu Ka, a fan has come to see you! Wait… what is this?" Ka Mei Li finally realized there was a flame-like thing floating beside her: "A ghost, it's a ghost! It turns out Lu Ka's fanbase is already this huge!"

But we need to keep the quotes exactly as in Chinese? We'll use English quotes.

'Heh, I'm already used to making a fuss over nothing.'

Translation: "\"Heh, I'm already used to making a fuss over nothing. \""

Heh, I'm already used to making a fuss over nothing.

Output: 【4】 "Heh, I'm already used to making a fuss over nothing."

Lu Ka kept his head down, listless, and merely offered a simple apology to his fans, expressing that he had let them down.

Translation: "Lu Ka kept his head down, listless, and merely offered a simple apology to his fans, expressing that he had let them down."

Output: 【5】 Lu Ka kept his head down, listless, and merely offered a simple apology to his fans, expressing that he had let them down.

'Ah... Lu Ka is really downcast now, lacking motivation for anything. I got him two jin of grilled meat, hoping he'd eat something tasty and cheer up. But he... ate it all listlessly.'

Translation: "\"Sigh… Lu Ka is really downcast now, can't muster any enthusiasm for anything. I ordered two jin of grilled meat for him, hoping he'd eat something tasty and cheer up. But he… ate it all listlessly. \""

Note: 'two jin' is a Chinese weight unit; keep it as 'two jin'.

Output: 【6】 "Sigh… Lu Ka is really downcast now, can't muster any enthusiasm for anything. I ordered two jin of grilled meat for him, hoping he'd eat something tasty and cheer up. But he… ate it all listlessly."

Xing doubted his hearing: 'He ate it all? Two jin?'

Translation: "Xing doubted his hearing: \"He ate it all? Two jin? \""

Output: 【7】 Xing doubted his hearing: "He ate it all? Two jin?"

Tail: 'This must be the legendary "eating like taking revenge".'

Translation: "Tail: \"This must be the legendary 'eating like taking revenge'."

This must be the legendary 'eating like taking revenge'.

Output: 【8】 Tail: "This must be the legendary 'eating like taking revenge'."

Huo Huo simply stated their purpose for coming: to help him treat his depression and hallucinations. Although Lu Ka, dejected, said he had decided to withdraw from the competition, Tail Grandpa couldn't bear to see him so downcast, and with a 'whoosh' slipped into his body.

Translation: "Huo Huo simply stated their purpose for coming: to help him treat his depression and hallucinations. Although Lu Ka listlessly said he had decided to withdraw from the competition, Tail Grandpa couldn't bear to see him so dejected and, with a whoosh, slipped into his body."

The term 'Tail Grandpa' should be retained as is.

Output: 【9】 Huo Huo simply stated their purpose for coming: to help him treat his depression and hallucinations. Although Lu Ka listlessly said he had decided to withdraw from the competition, Tail Grandpa couldn't bear to see him so dejected and, with a whoosh, slipped into his body.

The familiar alley was still before him, and not far away, Lu Ka was chatting with a little girl named Ma Ji.

Translation: "The scene before him was still the familiar alley, and not far away, Lu Ka was chatting with a little girl named Ma Ji."

Output: 【10】 The scene before him was still the familiar alley, and not far away, Lu Ka was chatting with a little girl named Ma Ji.

'Ma Ji! You came to watch my match again?'

Translation: "\"Ma Ji! You've come to watch my match again? \""

Output: 【11】 "Ma Ji! You've come to watch my match again?"

The little girl happily nodded: 'Mm-hmm! Lu Ka brother, you're really amazing! When those three big guys came out, I was terrified… but you still defeated them! I really hope that one day I can become as strong as Lu Ka brother.'

Translation: "The little girl nodded happily: \"Mm-hm! Lu Ka bro, you're really awesome! When those three big guys came out, I was terrified… but you still beat them all! I really hope I can become as strong as you one day. \""

Output: 【12】 The little girl nodded happily: "Mm-hm! Lu Ka bro, you're really awesome! When those three big guys came out, I was terrified… but you still beat them all! I really hope I can become as strong as you one day."

——

This line is just a separator. We need to output it as is? The instruction: translate each line. The line contains "——". We should output the same? Probably just output the same characters. Since it's not Chinese text but punctuation. We'll output exactly "——".

Thus: 【13】 ——

Demon Slayer

This is the title of a manga/anime: "Demon Slayer".

Thus: 【14】 Demon Slayer.

'This must be the owner of that diary, right?'

Translation: "\"This must be the owner of that diary, right? \""

Output: 【15】 "This must be the owner of that diary, right?"

Tan Zhi Lang closed his eyes; as someone who once had many younger siblings, several of whom were about Ma Ji's age, as an older brother he found it hard to accept this scene—especially after learning that Ma Ji had a terminal illness, making him unable to bear looking at her face.

Translation: "Tan Zhi Lang closed his eyes; as someone who once had several brothers and sisters, some of whom were about the same age as Ma Ji, as an older brother he really couldn't accept this scene, especially after learning that Ma Ji had contracted an incurable illness, making him even more unwilling to look directly at the girl's face."

Keep the name as Tan Zhi Lang.

Output: 【16】 Tan Zhi Lang closed his eyes; as someone who once had several brothers and sisters, some of whom were about the same age as Ma Ji, as an older brother he really couldn't accept this scene, especially after learning that Ma Ji had contracted an incurable illness, making him even more unwilling to look directly at the girl's face.

'I remember that part of Lu Ka's reason for boxing is because of this little girl, right? If he gave up here, wouldn't it be impossible to fulfill his promise to Ma Ji?' Shan Yi drooped his eyebrows.

Translation: "\"I remember that part of Lu Ka's reason for boxing is because of this little girl, right? If he gave up here, wouldn't that mean he could no longer fulfill his promise to Ma Ji? \" Shan Yi drooped his eyebrows."

Keep the name as Shan Yi.

Output: 【17】 "I remember that part of Lu Ka's reason for boxing is because of this little girl, right? If he gave up here, wouldn't that mean he could no longer fulfill his promise to Ma Ji?" Shan Yi drooped his eyebrows.

'But Ma Ji is already dead; whether or not there's a promise, it's just a thought of Lu Ka's.' Yi Zhi Zhu, while gazing at Lu Ka on the screen and nibbling on a steamed bun, said, 'But the problem is, even if we motivate Lu Ka and bring him back to life, he still couldn't beat Bo Ti Ou. How could a mere boost of willpower possibly make up for the difference in strength?'

Translation: "\"But Ma Ji is already dead; any promise or not is just a thought of Lu Ka's. \" Yi Zhi Zhu, while gazing at the projection of Lu Ka in the sky and nibbling on a steamed bun in his hand, said, \"But the problem is, even if we let Lu Ka rally and revive, he still couldn't beat Bo Ti Ou, right? How could a gap in strength be made up by a single surge of will? \""

Keep the names as Yi Zhi Zhu and Bo Ti Ou.

Output: 【18】 "But Ma Ji is already dead; any promise or not is just a thought of Lu Ka's." Yi Zhi Zhu, while gazing at the projection of Lu Ka in the sky and nibbling on a steamed bun in his hand, said, "But the problem is, even if we let Lu Ka rally and revive, he still couldn't beat Bo Ti Ou, right? How could a gap in strength be made up by a single surge of will?"

'Tan Zhi Lang made a good point, but at times like this, shouldn't we go seek guidance from Yan Qing?' Shan Yi rested his chin and recalled, 'When Jing Liu displayed overwhelming strength before Yan Qing, he also bravely drew his sword in that death‑brink desperate situation, right? In this regard, Lu Ka really ought to study under Yan Qing; it seems that if he can get past that mental barrier of death, his strength will leap forward.'

Translation: "\"Tan Zhi Lang makes sense, but shouldn't we go seek teachings from Yan Qing at a time like this? \" Shan Yi, leaning on his chin, recalled, \"Back when Jing Liu displayed overwhelming strength before Yan Qing, he also bravely drew his sword in that death‑brink desperate situation, right? In this regard, Lu Ka really should follow Yan Qing's example; it seems that as long as he can get past that mental hurdle of death, his strength will leap forward. \""

Keep the names as Yan Qing and Jing Liu.

Output: 【19】 "Tan Zhi Lang makes sense, but shouldn't we go seek teachings from Yan Qing at a time like this?" Shan Yi, leaning on his chin, recalled, "Back when Jing Liu displayed overwhelming strength before Yan Qing, he also bravely drew his sword in that death‑brink desperate situation, right? In this regard, Lu Ka really should follow Yan Qing's example; it seems that as long as he can get past that mental hurdle of death, his strength will leap forward."

Tanjiro said it well, but at this time shouldn't we go find Yan Qing to seek scriptures?" Shan Yi rested his chin, recalling, "When Jing Liu first displayed overwhelming strength in front of Yan Qing, he also, in that kind of brink‑of‑death desperate situation, bravely drew his sword, right? In this regard, Lu Ka really should follow Yan Qing to study diligently; it seems that as long as one can pass that death‑related mental barrier… one's strength will make great leaps, huh?"

'Of course you can too! As long as you eat well, sleep well, and train your body, Ma Ji will surely become stronger than me! By then you'll knock me down on the ring with just a few moves and then shout loudly!'

Translation: "\"You certainly can too! As long as you eat well, sleep well, and train your body, Ma Ji will surely become stronger than me! By then you'll take me down on the ring in a few moves and then shout loudly! \""

Output: 【21】 "You certainly can too! As long as you eat well, sleep well, and train your body, Ma Ji will surely become stronger than me! By then you'll take me down on the ring in a few moves and then shout loudly!"

Luca planted his hands on his hips, chin lifted confidently, and declared: "A warrior forged in the smelting hammer, the invincible bedrock champion—let evil have nowhere to hide in the world!"

Translation: "Lu Ka put his hands on his hips, lifted his chin with full confidence, and declared: \"A warrior forged in the smelting hammer, an invincible rock champion—let evil have nowhere to hide in the world! \""

Output: 【22】 Lu Ka put his hands on his hips, lifted his chin with full confidence, and declared: "A warrior forged in the smelting hammer, an invincible rock champion—let evil have nowhere to hide in the world!"

"Hahaha! No, Luca! That's what you say when you beat the bad guys!" She said, and Magi suddenly lowered her head, looking a bit downcast, "Um... Luca... I might not be able to come see your next match..."

Translation: "\"Hahaha! No, Lu Ka bro! That's the line you say when beating bad guys! \" As they spoke, Ma Ji suddenly lowered her head a bit dejectedly, \"Um… Lu Ka bro… I might not be able to watch your next match…\""

Output: 【23】 "Hahaha! No, Lu Ka bro! That's the line you say when beating bad guys!" As they spoke, Ma Ji suddenly lowered her head a bit dejectedly, "Um… Lu Ka bro… I might not be able to watch your next match…"

"Huh? It's fine, even if you can't make it, Luca knows you're cheering for him! But remember to come for the next match—oh, that's the one I'll be up against the 【Duan Tou Ge Zhe】 Kang Er Qiao Ni, you definitely won't want to miss it!"

Translation: "\"Huh? No problem, even if you can't come, Lu Ka bro knows you're supporting him! But remember to come for the match after next—oh, that's the one where I'll face the 【Headcut Singer】 Kang Er Qiao Ni, and it's absolutely not to be missed! \""

【Duan Tou Ge Zhe】 Kang Er Qiao Ni

Thus: 【24】 "Huh? No problem, even if you can't come, Lu Ka bro knows you're supporting him! But remember to come for the match after next—oh, that's the one where I'll face the 【Duan Tou Ge Zhe】 Kang Er Qiao Ni, and it's absolutely not to be missed!"

Magi gently shook her head: "Luca... I might not be able to make it to the next match either... In fact, for a long time I probably won't be able to come at all."

Translation: "Ma Ji gently shook her head: \"Lu Ka bro… I might not be able to come for the match after next either… In fact, I might not be able to come for a long stretch of time…\""

Output: 【25】 Ma Ji gently shook her head: "Lu Ka bro… I might not be able to come for the match after next either… In fact, I might not be able to come for a long stretch of time…"

Huh? What's happening?

Translation: "\"Huh? What's happening? \""

Output: 【26】 "Huh? What's happening?"

I truly wish I could be as strong as Luca someday.

Translation: "\"I really wish I could become as strong as Lu Ka bro one day…\""

Output: 【27】 "I really wish I could become as strong as Lu Ka bro one day…"

With those words, Magi disappeared from Luca's world.

Translation: "Having said that, Ma Ji's figure vanished from Lu Ka's world."

Output: 【28】 Having said that, Ma Ji's figure vanished from Lu Ka's world.

"Magi? Magi, where are you? Magi! Magi!" Luca looked around, shouting her name, until a silent silence pressed in like a tide from all directions, leaving him breathless. Only then did he realize Magi was gone forever.

Translation: "\"Ma Ji? Ma Ji, where did you go? Ma Ji? Ma Ji! Ma Ji! \" Lu Ka looked around, shouting loudly, until the soundless silence pressed in like a tide from all sides, suffocating him, and only then did he realize Ma Ji had left forever."

Output: 【29】 "Ma Ji? Ma Ji, where did you go? Ma Ji? Ma Ji! Ma Ji!" Lu Ka looked around, shouting loudly, until the soundless silence pressed in like a tide from all sides, suffocating him, and only then did he realize Ma Ji had left forever.

"Why did you disappear... I still haven't seen what you look like after you got stronger..."

Translation: "\"Why did you disappear… I haven't even seen what you'd look like after getting stronger…\""

Output: 【30】 "Why did you disappear… I haven't even seen what you'd look like after getting stronger…"

Tail then asked, "Luca, who is that little girl?"

Translation: "Tail then asked: \"Lu Ka, who is that little girl? \""

Tail

Output: 【31】 Tail then asked: "Lu Ka, who is that little girl?"

"Her name is Magi, she's one of my fans. She comes to watch every match. Over time we got to know each other and we'd chat. But from start to finish, I never really understood her situation. Only much later did I learn she had a serious illness, battling the pain. The lower district was so poor that even if the doctors did their best, they couldn't cure her."

Translation: "\"Her name is Ma Ji, she's one of my fans. She comes to watch every match. Later we got familiar and would chat too. But from start to finish, I never really knew her situation. Only much later did I learn she had a serious illness and was battling the pain. The lower district is so poor that even if the doctors did their best, they still couldn't cure her. \""

lower district

Output: 【32】 "Her name is Ma Ji, she's one of my fans. She comes to watch every match. Later we got familiar and would chat too. But from start to finish, I never really knew her situation. Only much later did I learn she had a serious illness and was battling the pain. The lower district is so poor that even if the doctors did their best, they still couldn't cure her."

Tail let out a deep sigh: "Ah, take care and move on, Luca."

Translation: "Tail let out a deep sigh: \"Alas, grieve and move on, Lu Ka. \""

Output: 【33】 Tail let out a deep sigh: "Alas, grieve and move on, Lu Ka."

You might not know where I was born. When I was a child, everyone lived in hardship, struggling each day on the brink of death—some fell to monsters, others to bandits. I've witnessed many deaths. Back then I believed it was because we were weak. If I could just grow a little stronger, then stronger still, I could defeat my opponents and keep on living.

Translation: "\"You might not be familiar with the place I was born. When I was a child, everyone lived a bitter life, struggling every day on the edge of death… some died to monsters, some to bandits… I've seen a lot of death. Back then I thought, it's because we were too weak. If I just got a little stronger, and then a little stronger still, I could defeat my opponents and keep living. \""

Output: 【34】 "You might not be familiar with the place I was born. When I was a child, everyone lived a bitter life, struggling every day on the edge of death… some died to monsters, some to bandits… I've seen a lot of death. Back then I thought, it's because we were too weak. If I just got a little stronger, and then a little stronger still, I could defeat my opponents and keep living."

Later I did become strong, becoming the boxing champion who swept the lower district. Back then I felt that as long as I threw a punch, nobody could stand against me. I could be a role model for all the children in the lower district! But when I tried to tell Magi about my victory, her father told me she was gone.

Translation: "\"Later I did become strong, turning into the boxing king who dominated the lower district. Back then I felt that as long as I threw a punch, nobody could stand against me. I could become a role model for all the kids in the lower district! But when I tried to tell Ma Ji the good news, her father told me she was gone. \""

Output: 【35】 "Later I did become strong, turning into the boxing king who dominated the lower district. Back then I felt that as long as I threw a punch, nobody could stand against me. I could become a role model for all the kids in the lower district! But when I tried to tell Ma Ji the good news, her father told me she was gone."

Magi... with her tiny frame, she's been battling the illness all along. She's been fighting, she has to win this fight!

Translation: "\"Ma Ji… with that tiny body, she's been fighting the disease all along. She's been fighting, she must win this battle! \""

Output: 【36】 "Ma Ji… with that tiny body, she's been fighting the disease all along. She's been fighting, she must win this battle!"

Luca took a deep breath, turned to face forward, and said solemnly: "In the end, I finally understood... life is full of battles you can't win; some fights you must win but still lose. Just like when I faced Mr. Bo Ti Ou. I deceived those children... I also deceived myself. I can't face them."

Translation: "Lu Ka took a deep breath, turned to face forward, and spoke gloomily: \"In the end I finally understood…… life is full of battles you can't win; some fights you have to win but still end up losing. Just like when facing Mr. Bo Ti Ou. I lied to those kids… I lied to myself. I can't face them. \""

Mr. Bo Ti Ou

Output: 【37】 Lu Ka took a deep breath, turned to face forward, and spoke gloomily: "In the end I finally understood…… life is full of battles you can't win; some fights you have to win but still end up losing. Just like when facing Mr. Bo Ti Ou. I lied to those kids… I lied to myself. I can't face them."

Lu Ka took a deep breath, turned to face forward, and said gloomily: "I finally understood...... Life is full of battles you can't win; some fights, even if you have to win, you still lose. Just like when facing Mr. Botai. I lied to those children... I also lied to myself. I can't face them."