Chapter 262

Although cooperating with the Wokou is not exactly a secret, only a handful of people in the prince's residence know the details.

But we must not add extra info not in source. Let's translate precisely.

Original line 【1】: "Although cooperating with the wokou pirates is not exactly a secret, those in the prince's mansion who know the inside story are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

Literal: "The matter of cooperating with the Wokou, although not really a secret, but the people in the prince's residence who know the details are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns." We need to keep meaning but not add. We'll produce: "Although cooperating with the Wokou is not really a secret, the number of people in the prince's residence who know the details is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

That seems fine.

We must keep each translation on a single line after 【N】.

We'll do for each.

Let's go line by line.

【1】 Although cooperating with the wokou pirates is not exactly a secret, those in the prince's mansion who know the inside story are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

=> Although cooperating with the Japanese pirates is not really a secret, the number of people in the prince's residence who know the details is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

A returnee who had been locked in a prison cell somehow knows certain inside information; it must be that someone leaked the news.

=> A Returnee imprisoned in the dungeon nevertheless knows some inside information; there must have been someone leaking the news.

And the scout captain, although his status is lowly, his duties are special; he can stand guard near the prince, and on the day the Japanese pirates envoy arrived, he just happened to return to report, so it's obvious who gave the returnee the tip-off.

=> Although the scout captain is of low status, his duties are special; he can stand near the prince, and on the day the Japanese pirates envoy arrived, he happened to return to report, so it is obvious who gave this Returnee the tip-off.

Revealing the prince's affairs without authorization can be a major or minor offense, so it's no wonder the head of the guards looks stern.

=> Revealing the prince's affairs without authorization is a crime that can be major or minor; it's no wonder the guard captain looks stern.

The scout captain now feels like killing Chen Shicheng; you say you'd rather find some excuse to avoid blame, but you insist on dragging me down with you—if the prince really reprimands me this time, even as a ghost I won't let you off.

=> The scout captain now feels like killing Chen Shicheng; you say you want to find some excuse to avoid blame, but instead you drag me down with you—if the prince really reprimands us this time, even as a ghost I won't let you off.

Thinking of this, he glared at Chen Shicheng with regret.

=> Thinking this, he glared resentfully at Chen Shicheng.

Chen Shicheng also noticed his gaze, knowing that dragging someone down is indeed a bit underhanded, but he truly does know the inside story; afterward it might even turn out to be a good thing.

=> Chen Shicheng also noticed his look; he knew dragging someone down was a bit underhanded, but he indeed knew the inside story, and afterward it might even turn out well.

He casually walked up and patted the scout captain on the shoulder, saying, "Brother, don't panic, I really do know the clues to the Immortal-Seeking Ship; you'll find out soon."

=> He walked over familiarly and patted the scout captain's shoulder, saying, "Brother, don't panic, I really do know a clue about the Seeking Immortal Ship; you'll find out soon."

Soon, the person who went to report came running back, first giving Chen Shicheng a surprised look, then whispering a few words into the guard chief's ear.

=> Soon the person sent to report returned, first glancing at Chen Shicheng in surprise, then whispering a few words into the guard captain's ear.

The guard chief nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Take him to see the prince."

=> The guard captain nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Take him to see the prince."

Under escort by a dozen or so people, Chen Shicheng didn't know how many gardens he passed through, winding this way and that, until he arrived at the prince's mansion's rear courtyard, where in legend the Japanese pirates were received, and there he met the legendary Lord Zhenhai.

=> Under escort of a dozen or so people, Chen Shicheng didn't know how many gardens he passed through, winding this way and that, arriving at the rear court of the prince's residence, where in legend the Japanese pirates were received, and there he saw the legendary Zhenhai King.

Surprisingly, Lord Zhenhai appears to be a young man in his early twenties, with a refined and elegant demeanor, which hardly matches the formidable reputation of his title.

=> What is surprising is that the Zhenhai King appears to be a young man only about twenty years old, with a refined and elegant demeanor, which hardly matches the name "Zhenhai" at all.

"Um, hello, Lord Zhenhai?" Chen Shicheng said uncertainly.

=> "Um, hello, Zhenhai King?" Chen Shicheng greeted uncertainly.

"Bold! Dare to meet the prince without kneeling—guards!"

=> "Bold, seeing the prince and yet not kneeling to pay respects—guards!"

"Wait."

=> "Wait."

At that moment, a middle-aged man with a high-pitched voice, no beard, and a pale face, who was angrily scolding Chen Shicheng in a coquettish manner, Lord Zhenhai lightly laughed and waved his hand, stopping the guard who wanted to rush in.

=> Just as a middle‑aged man with a shrill voice, no beard, and a pale face was angrily chiding Chen Shicheng, the Zhenhai King lightly laughed and waved his hand, stopping the guard who wanted to rush in.

"He is a returnee, always lawless, so there's no need for him to observe these mundane rites."

=> "He is a Returnee, always lawless, so there's no need to observe these mundane rites."

"Lord Zhenhai is magnanimous!"

=> "The Zhenhai King is magnanimous!"

Chen Shicheng also wasn't polite; after a perfunctory fist-and-palm salute, he strode straight to the huge map nearby.

=> Chen Shicheng also didn't stand on ceremony, gave a perfunctory fist‑palm salute, then walked straight to the huge map nearby.

This is a map of the Eastern Sea, with scattered small flags planted on the sea, each accompanied by notes; looking up, one sees that it records all sightings of the Immortal-Seeking Ship over a thousand years.

=> This is a map of the East Sea; scattered small flags are stuck on the sea, with notes beside them—looking up, one sees records spanning a thousand years of all who have sighted the Seeking Immortal Ship.

"Your Lordship, may I boldly ask: what opportunity does the Immortal-Seeking Ship have that makes a prince like you so concerned, and even cooperate with those...?"

=> "Your Highness, I dare to ask: what opportunity does the Seeking Immortal Ship have that makes a prince like you so concerned, and even cooperate with those...?"

Before Chen Shicheng could finish his sentence, the prince already knew what he was omitting; as the eunuch beside him was about to speak, the prince rose, walked to the map, and traced a winding route with his finger along the flags.

=> Chen Shicheng hadn't finished speaking, but the prince knew what he omitted; just as the eunuch beside him was about to speak, the prince rose, walked to the map, and traced a winding route with his finger on the flags.

"Everyone knows that although the Immortal-Seeking Ship encountered some mishaps on its return voyage, it did indeed find an immortal island and brought back some things from it—but do you know which island the ship found?" Lord Zhenhai said, gazing at the map with a somewhat obsessed look.

=> "Everyone knows that although the Seeking Immortal Ship encountered some mishaps on its return voyage, it did indeed find an immortal island and brought back some things—but do you know which island it found?" the Zhenhai King said, gazing at the map with a somewhat obsessed look.

"There are countless ancient immortal islands overseas; I suppose they just landed on any random one—those famous ancient immortal deity sanctuaries, they couldn't possibly reach those." Chen Shicheng said offhandedly. "It's Goldfin Island!"

=> "There are countless ancient immortal islands overseas; I suppose they just landed on any random one—those famous ancient immortal god sanctuaries, they could never reach them." Chen Shicheng said carelessly. "It's Gold Ao Island!"

"Pfft"

=> "Pfft"

Chen Shicheng had just picked up the tea cup beside him, taken a sip to moisten his throat, when he heard that shocking name and immediately spat it out.

=> Chen Shicheng had just picked up the tea cup beside him, taken a sip to moisten his throat, when he heard that shocking name and immediately spat it out.

The eunuch beside him, disgusted, pulled out a handkerchief from his chest to cover his mouth and nose, calling for a maid to come in and clean up.

=> The eunuch beside him, disgusted, pulled out a handkerchief from his chest to cover his mouth and nose, calling for a maid to come in and clean.

Chen Shicheng ignored the effeminate eunuch, stared incredulously at Lord Zhenhai, and asked, "Are you sure it's Goldfin Island, not Silverfin or Ironfin? You know that's the headquarters of the Sect of the Cut, the dojo of the Sage who teaches the Heavenly Way!"

=> Chen Shicheng ignored the effeminate eunuch, stared in disbelief at the Zhenhai King and asked, "Are you sure it's Gold Ao Island, not some Silver Ao or Iron Ao? You know that place is the headquarters of the Sect of Severance, the dojo of the Sage, the Cult Leader of Tongtian!"

"Oh, you returnee know quite a lot." Lord Zhenhai glanced at Chen Shicheng with some surprise.

=> "Oh, you Returnee know quite a lot." The Zhenhai King glanced at Chen Shicheng with some surprise.

"That's not important; any player knows this." Chen Shicheng's eyes lit up as he looked at Lord Zhenhai, "So, does the ship have something from Goldfin Island and the Heavenly Way's leader—is it a technique? The Sect of the Cut's 'Shangqing Cut Scripture'? Or a treasure? The 'Purple Lightning Hammer' or the 'Azure Peace Sword'? Surely not the Four Swords of Execution?"

=> "That's not important; any player knows this." Chen Shicheng's eyes lit up as he looked at the Zhenhai King. "So, does the ship carry something from Gold Ao Island and the Cult Leader of Tongtian—is it a cultivation technique? The Sect of Severance's 'Shangqing Intercepted Scripture', or a treasure? The 'Purple Thunder Hammer' or the 'Azure Duckweed Sword'? Surely not the Four Slay‑Immortal Swords?"

"A tiny flotilla—how could it possibly enter the interior of Goldfin Island? They just circled the outskirts and came back." Lord Zhenhai shook his head, "But you returnees are indeed favored by the immortals; your lineage has never been cut off."

=> "How could a tiny fleet possibly enter the interior of Gold Ao Island? They just circled the outskirts and came back." The Zhenhai King shook his head. "But you Returnees are indeed favored by the Immortal Gods; your inheritance has never been cut off."

Upon hearing that the Immortal-Seeking Ship had not entered Goldfin Island's interior, Chen Shicheng's enthusiasm instantly cooled, but it was quickly rekindled by what Lord Zhenhai said next.

=> As soon as he heard that the Seeking Immortal Ship had not entered the interior of Gold Ao Island, Chen Holy's enthusiasm instantly cooled, but it was quickly drawn in by what the Zhenhai King said next.

"Favored by the immortals? What does that mean?"

=> "Favored by the Immortal Gods? What does that mean?"

"What you just said are all royal secrets; even I only gained access to the secret archives after being enfeoffed as a prince, yet according to you, every returnee knows them."

=> "What you just said are all imperial secrets; even I only gained access to the secret treasury after being enfeoffed as a prince, yet according to you, every Returnee knows this."

Lord Zhenhai shook his head somewhat dejectedly and began to tell Chen Shicheng some secret lore.

=> The Zhenhai King shook his head somewhat dejectedly and began to tell Chen Shicheng some secret lore.

In ancient times, when heaven and earth underwent strange changes and the immortals fell one after another, to ensure the continuation of humanity, some great gods took pure-blooded humans, secretly sending them to the final pure land, Shangri-La, to prevent the extinction of the human race.

=> In ancient times, heavenly‑earthly changes occurred; the Immortal Gods fell one after another. To ensure the continuation of the human race, some great gods took pure‑blood humans, secretly sending them to the final pure land, Shangri‑La, to prevent the extinction of mankind.

It's unclear whether the gods' plan was too hastily conceived or the changes were too difficult to handle, but when they gathered humanity, they omitted many, and those omitted became the ancestors of today's earthly immortal realm humans.

=> Whether it was because the great gods' plan was made too hastily, or the changes were too difficult to handle, when the great gods collected humans they omitted many; those omitted people are the ancestors of today's human race in the Earth Immortal Realm.

After countless ages, when the disturbances finally ceased and the immortals all perished as expected, it turned out that the humans they had left behind began to thrive, gradually spreading across the land and once again ruling the world to this day.

=> After countless ages, when the disturbances finally ended, the Immortal Gods fell as they had expected; yet unexpectedly, the humans they had left behind began to thrive, gradually covering the earth and once again ruling the world to this day.

"Actually, even before you returnees appeared, the court already knew when you would show up; the only problem was how to deal with you, and the ministers argued endlessly, ultimately deciding to first observe how things develop, then decide further on arrangements."

=> "Actually, even before you Returnees appeared, the court already knew when you would show up; the only problem was how to deal with you. Officials argued endlessly, but in the end they decided to first observe how things developed, then decide further on arrangements."

At the end, Lord Zhenhai dropped another bombshell that made Chen Shicheng's eyes widen: "That formation from earlier..."

=> At the end, the Zhenhai King dropped another bombshell that made Chen Shicheng's eyes widen: "That formation from earlier..."

"Some ministers are dissatisfied with you, the beloved humans, and want the orthodox cultivators to give you a lesson; if you can endure it, fine, but if you can't, you deserve it." Lord Zhenhai said with a relaxed expression.

=> "Some officials dislike you beloved humans and want the orthodox cultivators to give you a lesson—if you can withstand it, fine; if not, you deserve it." The Zhenhai King said lightly.

"So at that time, the garrison soldiers in the capital had no defenses against the players' actions; they only began to expel them for stability after the formation was broken."

=> "So at that time, the garrison soldiers of the capital had no defenses against the players' actions; only after breaking the formation did they carry out expulsion to restore stability."

Chen Shicheng only then understood why, in this mission, the actions of the Great Yu court were contradictory—on one hand they provided the site for altar construction and posted guards, yet on the other hand they did nothing to stop the players' infiltration.

=> Only then did Chen Shicheng understand why, in this mission, the Da Yu Court's actions were contradictory: one side provided the site for altar construction and posted guards, while the other side did nothing to stop the players' infiltration.

Turns out the root is here! (End of chapter)