Chapter 240

How many nights have passed since crossing the Great Wall? It can't remember.

Translation: "How many nights have passed since crossing the Great Wall? It can't remember."

How many nights have passed after crossing the Great Wall? It can't remember.

Some nights, Xia Tian runs and hunts across the snow, while at those moments it seems asleep, as if drifting in the night sky, its massive body swaying in every direction.

Translation: "Some nights Xia Tian runs and hunts on the snow itself, while at that time it was as if asleep, as if in the night sky, jostling about with its mighty body."

Some nights Xia Tian runs and hunts on the snow, while at those times it seems asleep, as if drifting in the night sky, its mighty body swaying in all directions.

Let's craft: "On some nights Xia Tian itself runs and hunts on the snow, while at that time it seems asleep, as if in the night sky, swaying with its mighty body."

Check we didn't add extra.

With day and night alternating repeatedly, and Xia Tian and Brandon taking turns using this tundra wolf's body, it's nearly impossible to keep track of time.

Translation: "As day and night alternate repeatedly, with Xia Tian and that Brandon taking turns using this tundra wolf's body, trying to remember these times is really hard!"

As day and night keep alternating, with Xia Tian and Brandon taking turns using this tundra wolf's body, remembering these moments is incredibly hard.

When he was still Brandon, he had once thought of using knotted cords to count, but by the time he became Brandon again, the rope had long been gone.

Translation: "When he was still Brandon, he once thought of using knotted cords to count, but the next time he became Brandon, that rope had long been lost."

When he was still Brandon, he had once thought of using knotted cords to count, but by the time he became Brandon again, the rope had long been gone.

To him, time is a mystery. Perhaps ten days have passed, perhaps several months, perhaps years or decades, or perhaps he now inhabits some descendant of Xia Tian's body—but no, that last possibility is impossible.

Translation: "To him, time is a mystery. Perhaps ten days have passed, perhaps several months, perhaps years or decades, or perhaps he is now in some descendant of Xia Tian's body—no, at least that last possibility is impossible."

To him, time is a mystery. Perhaps ten days have passed, perhaps several months, perhaps years or decades, or perhaps he now inhabits some descendant of Xia Tian's body—but no, that last possibility is impossible.

He doesn't know when Xia Tian will give up the body, and he can't keep track for Xia Tian at all. In the darkness he can't even count time.

Translation: "He doesn't know when Xia Tian will relinquish the body, and he cannot keep track for Xia Tian at all. In the darkness he cannot even count time."

He doesn't know when Xia Tian will give up the body, and he can't keep track for Xia Tian at all. In the darkness he can't even count time.

When he is in control, Xia Tian sits quietly beside, waiting for him to place his hand on its head. Once he does, they can merge as one, sharing the world's vastness and infinite warmth, becoming inseparable companions……

Translation: "When he is in control, Xia Tian sits quietly beside, expecting him to place his hand on its head. Once placed, they can merge as one, together feeling the world's vastness and infinite warmth, becoming inseparable close friends……"

When he is in control, Xia Tian sits quietly beside, waiting for him to place his hand on its head. Once he does, they can merge as one, sharing the world's vastness and infinite warmth, becoming inseparable companions……

It knows Xia Tian is expecting, and it hopes they can grow closer—even he himself is waiting for that……

Translation: "It knows Xia Tian is expecting, and it also hopes they can be more intimate, even he himself is expecting……"

It knows Xia Tian is expecting, and it hopes they can grow closer—even he himself is waiting for that……

He is still resisting, but he doesn't know how long he can hold out; if he doesn't choose, perhaps even more options will appear, and he doesn't know what to do.

Translation: "He is still resisting, but he doesn't know how long he can endure; if he doesn't choose, perhaps more choices will arise, he doesn't know."

He is still resisting, but he doesn't know how long he can hold out; if he doesn't choose, perhaps even more options will appear, and he doesn't know what to do.

If they don't merge, they'll face greater danger. That child named Bulan still has to learn everything from the beginning.

Translation: "If they don't merge, they will face more danger. That child named Bulan still needs to learn from scratch."

If they don't merge, they'll face greater danger. That child named Bulan still has to learn everything from the beginning.

When Bulan is in control, Xia Tian often finds itself in more dangerous situations.

Translation: "When Bulan is in control, Xia Tian often faces more dangerous situations."

When Bulan is in control, Xia Tian often finds itself in more dangerous situations.

Bulan admits he is too reckless; he doesn't know how many lessons it will take to learn to slip silently past the mountain cat's territory instead of having to fight to the death, or to provoke the bear into rage so its angry roars spread across the wild, or to conquer the gray wolf leader, have its kin acclaim him as leader, and then abandon them and slip away silently.

Translation: "Bulan admits he is too reckless; he doesn't know how many lessons it will take to learn to silently pass by the mountain cat's territory instead of fighting to the death; or to provoke the bear into rage, letting its angry roars spread across the wild; or to conquer the gray wolf leader, letting its kin acclaim him as leader, then abandon them and slip away silently."

We need to keep meaning, not add. Let's translate carefully.

Bulan admits he is too reckless; he doesn't know how many lessons it will take to learn to slip silently past the mountain cat's territory instead of having to fight to the death, or to provoke the bear into rage so its angry roars spread across the wild, or to conquer the gray wolf leader, have its kin acclaim him as leader, and then abandon them and slip away silently.

We'll produce: "Bulan admits he is too reckless; he doesn't know how many lessons it will take to learn to silently pass by the mountain cat's territory instead of fighting to the death; or to provoke the bear into rage, letting its angry roars spread across the wild; or to conquer the gray wolf leader, letting its kin acclaim him as leader, then abandon them and slip away silently."

Its recklessness has injured Xia Tian many times, once possibly fatally.

Translation: "Its recklessness has injured Xia Tian many times, once even possibly fatally."

Its recklessness has injured Xia Tian many times, once possibly fatally.

It shouldn't have recklessly attacked the largest stag in the herd; its mother died from the stag's broken antlers, and the child named Brandon should remember that clearly.

Translation: "It shouldn't have recklessly attacked the largest stag in the herd. Its mother died broken-antlered by that stag, and the child named Brandon should remember that clearly."

It shouldn't have recklessly attacked the largest stag in the herd; its mother died from the stag's broken antlers, and the child named Brandon should remember that clearly.

He certainly remembers, but when he recalls it, he finds himself wounded—the antlers have torn a large patch of skin from his right foreleg—and he feels that if left untreated, it could become infected and kill him.

Translation: "He certainly remembers, but when he recalls it, he finds himself wounded, the antlers tearing a large patch of skin from his right foreleg, and he feels that if untreated, it could eventually become infected and kill him."

He certainly remembers, but when he recalls it, he finds himself wounded—the antlers have torn a large patch of skin from his right foreleg—and he feels that if left untreated, it could become infected and kill him.

But who in the forest could treat its wound? And where could one find someone it could trust?

Translation: "But who in the forest could treat its wound? And where could one find someone it could trust?"

But who in the forest could treat its wound? And where could one find someone it could trust?

Pain made it forget the vow it had made when heading north. It howled into the empty black forest, a wailing, mournful sound that echoed to the heavens, carrying cries and loneliness.

Translation: "Pain made it forget the vow it had made when heading north. It howled into the empty black forest, a wailing, mournful sound that echoed to the heavens, carrying cries and loneliness."

Pain made it forget the vow it had made when heading north. It howled into the empty black forest, a wailing, mournful sound that echoed to the heavens, carrying cries and loneliness.

If it were Xia Tian, it would certainly not be so spineless; it would never make a fuss over pain and invite danger.

Translation: "If it were Xia Tian, it would certainly not be so spineless. It would never make a fuss over pain and invite danger."

If it were Xia Tian, it would certainly not be so spineless; it would never make a fuss over pain and invite danger.

Its howl drew its short-statured kin: a lone adult she-wolf with her pup, and another young she-wolf, who crossed the forest together and then gazed at it from afar.

Translation: "Its howl attracted its short-statured kin: a lone adult she-wolf with her pup, and another young she-wolf, who crossed the forest together and then gazed at it from afar."

Its howl drew its short-statured kin: a lone adult she-wolf with her pup, and another young she-wolf, who crossed the forest together and then gazed at it from afar.

The she-wolf feared him, even though he was gravely wounded. His body was several times larger than the she-wolf's and should weigh several times as much……Is a southern lion as big as me?

Translation: "The she-wolf feared him, even though he was gravely wounded. Its body was several times larger than the she-wolf's, and should weigh several times as much……Is a southern lion as big as me?"

The she-wolf feared him, even though he was gravely wounded. His body was several times larger than the she-wolf's and should weigh several times as much……Is a southern lion as big as me?

We are not kin; it wanted to tell the she-wolf.

Translation: "We are not kin, it wanted to tell the she-wolf."

We are not kin; it wanted to tell the she-wolf.

With kin nearby, it stopped its bitter howl, silently endured the pain, tore open the stag's belly, greedily chewing its liver and strong hind legs, after feasting it yielded the stag, sat silently in the snow, and pricked its ears to listen to the forest.

Translation: "With kin nearby, it stopped its bitter howl, silently endured the pain, tore open the stag's belly, greedily chewing its liver and strong hind legs, after feasting it yielded the stag, sat silently in the snow, and pricked its ears to listen to the forest."

With kin nearby, it stopped its bitter howl, silently endured the pain, tore open the stag's belly, greedily chewing its liver and strong hind legs, after feasting it yielded the stag, sat silently in the snow, and pricked its ears to listen to the forest.

It

Translation: "It could hear every discordant sound from the forest, and hear the she-wolf and its pup greedily gulping as they tore and bit."

It could hear every discordant sound from the forest, and hear the she-wolf and its pup greedily gulping as they tore and bit.

They were so emaciated, I don't know when their last full meal was.

Translation: "They were so emaciated, I don't know when their last full meal was."

They were so emaciated, I don't know when their last full meal was.

After the she-wolf also had her fill, he rose and bit through the stag's neck, separating their bodies.

Translation: "After the she-wolf also had her fill, he rose and bit through the stag's neck, separating their bodies."

After the she-wolf also had her fill, he rose and bit through the stag's neck, separating their bodies.

This jungle has magical power. If the head and neck are not severed promptly, he must hunt again, and then the reward for a successful hunt would be meager and meaningless.

Translation: "This jungle has magical power. If the head and neck are not severed promptly, he must hunt again, and then the reward for a successful hunt would be meager and meaningless."

This jungle has magical power. If the head and neck are not severed promptly, he must hunt again, and then the reward for a successful hunt would be meager and meaningless.

It dislikes the smell of that meat, and dislikes the strange sensation of the meat still moving in its belly after swallowing. Yet he stubbornly sometimes still has to eat that meat.

Translation: "It dislikes the smell of that meat, and dislikes the strange sensation of the meat still moving in its belly after swallowing. Yet he stubbornly sometimes still has to eat that meat."

It dislikes the smell of that meat, and dislikes the strange sensation of the meat still moving in its belly after swallowing. Yet he stubbornly sometimes still has to eat that meat.

A true tundra wolf feeds on monsters, and feeds on fear.

Translation: "A true tundra wolf feeds on monsters, and feeds on fear."

A true tundra wolf feeds on monsters, and feeds on fear.

When they had eaten that stag down to just its skeleton, he recovered from that serious injury, then left the two wolves and chose to continue northward.

Translation: "When they had eaten that stag down to just its skeleton, he recovered from that serious injury, then left the two wolves and chose to continue northward."

When they had eaten that stag down to just its skeleton, he recovered from that serious injury, then left the two wolves and chose to continue northward.

Northward. He cannot make sense of time, but his relative position is perfectly clear.

Translation: "Northward. He cannot make sense of time, but his relative position is perfectly clear."

Northward. He cannot make sense of time, but his relative position is perfectly clear.

It wants to go deeper into the forest, passing through mountain ranges, valleys, frozen rivers, and wastelands; these two small kin are not suited to join its adventures. At parting, they raised their howls, and it silently thanked them for their companionship.

Translation: "It wants to go deeper into the forest, passing through mountain ranges, valleys, frozen rivers, and wastelands; these two small kin are not suited to join its adventures. At parting, they raised their howls, and it silently thanked them for their companionship."

It wants to go deeper into the forest, passing through mountain ranges, valleys, frozen rivers, and wastelands; these two small kin are not suited to join its adventures. At parting, they raised their howls, and it silently thanked them for their companionship.

It must continue on the lonely road.

Translation: "It must continue on the lonely road."

It must continue on the lonely road.

Afterward, he returned the body to Xia Tian, then immediately fell into eternal silence; he does not know when he will next return to Xia Tian's body, nor what he will see or experience then.

Translation: "Afterward, he returned the body to Xia Tian, then immediately fell into eternal silence; he does not know when he will next return to Xia Tian's body, nor what he will see or experience then."

Afterward, he returned the body to Xia Tian, then immediately fell into eternal silence; he does not know when he will next return to Xia Tian's body, nor what he will see or experience then.

The weather grew colder; upon opening his eyes again, he felt it.

Translation: "The weather grew colder; upon opening his eyes again, he felt it."

The weather grew colder; upon opening his eyes again, he felt it.

He is still not the little boy Brandon lying in bed; he has often thought he was merely dreaming of being a wolf, but when he recalls that memory of Winterfell, he again realizes he may permanently become a wolf.

Translation: "He is still not the little boy Brandon lying in bed; he has often thought he was merely dreaming of being a wolf, but when he recalls that memory of Winterfell, he again realizes he may permanently become a wolf."

He is still not the little boy Brandon lying in bed; he has often thought he was merely dreaming of being a wolf, but when he recalls that memory of Winterfell, he again realizes he may permanently become a wolf.

He quickly shakes off that regret; being with Xia Tian is also quite happy, even though the wilderness is more dangerous and colder.

Translation: "He quickly shakes off that regret; being with Xia Tian is also quite happy, even though the wilderness is more dangerous and colder."

He quickly shakes off that regret; being with Xia Tian is also quite happy, even though the wilderness is more dangerous and colder.

Xia Tian's fur is warm enough, its footpads thick enough, yet he also feels the chill coming from the air.

Translation: "Xia Tian's fur is warm enough, its footpads thick enough, yet he also feels the chill coming from the air."

Xia Tian's fur is warm enough, its footpads thick enough, yet he also feels the chill coming from the air.

This is just normal times.

Translation: "This is just normal times."

This is just normal times.

When the forest rolls up a storm like ripples, it knows the cold is approaching.

Translation: "When the forest rolls up a storm like ripples, it knows the cold is approaching."

When the forest rolls up a storm like ripples, it knows the cold is approaching.

At that point, no fur can withstand that cold—breathing becomes pungently unbearable.

Translation: "At that point, no fur can withstand that cold—breathing becomes pungently unbearable."

At that point, no fur can withstand that cold—breathing becomes pungently unbearable.

Xia Tian never likes this feeling, gladly relinquishing the body at such times—Brandon, however, enjoys this adventure. With Xia Tian's body, he feels he can try any place.

Translation: "Xia Tian never likes this feeling, gladly relinquishing the body at such times—Brandon, however, enjoys this adventure. With Xia Tian's body, he feels he can try any place."

Xia Tian never likes this feeling, gladly relinquishing the body at such times—Brandon, however, enjoys this adventure. With Xia Tian's body, he feels he can try any place.

This is the moment of the Cold God Hunt, and also his time to hunt.

Translation: "This is the moment of the Cold God Hunt, and also his time to hunt."

This is the moment of the Cold God Hunt, and also his time to hunt.

At the moment when cold ice drifts down, he pricks his ears to listen to the forest's movements.

Translation: "At the moment when cold ice drifts down, he pricks his ears to listen to the forest's movements."

At the moment when cold ice drifts down, he pricks his ears to listen to the forest's movements.

The forest seems to be boiling, with branches and falling snow from all directions emitting their own sounds.

Translation: "The forest seems to be boiling, with branches and falling snow from all directions emitting their own sounds."

The forest seems to be boiling, with branches and falling snow from all directions emitting their own sounds.

Branches moan, hooves thud.

Translation: "Branches moan, hooves thud."

Branches moan, hooves thud.

Even more frightening is the hissing sound like a snake coming from the woods; he is quite certain humans can never hear it, but he can, and Xia Tian can.

Translation: "Even more frightening is the hissing sound like a snake coming from the woods; he is quite certain humans can never hear it, but he can, and Xia Tian can."

Even more frightening is the hissing sound like a snake coming from the woods; he is quite certain humans can never hear it, but he can, and Xia Tian can.

That is the signal sent by the Otherworldly Ghosts; behind it may lie countless armies; he has seen and experienced it; if he were still Brandon of Winterfell, he would be afraid, but now he is Xia Tian, a tundra wolf.

Translation: "That is the signal sent by the Otherworldly Ghosts; behind it may lie countless armies; he has seen and experienced it; if he were still Brandon of Winterfell, he would be afraid, but now he is Xia Tian, a tundra wolf."

That is the signal sent by the Otherworldly Ghosts; behind it may lie countless armies; he has seen and experienced it; if he were still Brandon of Winterfell, he would be afraid, but now he is Xia Tian, a tundra wolf.

He will not be afraid.

Translation: "He will not be afraid."

He will not be afraid.

Tundra wolves feed on fear.

Translation: "Tundra wolves feed on fear."

Tundra wolves feed on fear.

He knows that behind the Otherworldly Ghosts walk various dead humans, some fresh, some stale, even ancient leftovers from last winter—that is most repulsive to him.

Translation: "He knows that behind the Otherworldly Ghosts walk various dead humans, some fresh, some stale, even ancient leftovers from last winter—that is most repulsive to him."

He knows that behind the Otherworldly Ghosts walk various dead humans, some fresh, some stale, even ancient leftovers from last winter—that is most repulsive to him.

He rarely eats human corpses; eating that meat is practically an insult to the tundra wolf, for a shuffling human corpse to a tundra wolf is like a Winterfell chick to a hunting dog.

Translation: "He rarely eats human corpses; eating that meat is practically an insult to the tundra wolf, for a shuffling human corpse to a tundra wolf is like a Winterfell chick to a hunting dog."

He rarely eats human corpses; eating that meat is practically an insult to the tundra wolf, for a shuffling human corpse to a tundra wolf is like a Winterfell chick to a hunting dog.

His favorite were the snow bears, mountain lynxes, and mammoths that trailed behind those things. When they were still alive, the tundra wolves were powerless against them, but once they died and rose again, it was a different story.

They could only impotently roar at the air; their speed and agility were greatly reduced compared to normal, and more importantly, they never had weapons in their hands or palms. Facing them, he didn't even have to worry about getting hurt.

When game in the forest grew scarce, he often ate the meat of these monsters.

Their meat was somewhat strange, but not inedible.

If the lynx's meat is swallowed, it often keeps jumping nonstop, like the youngest sister shaking her doll when she's angry… The snow bear's meat likes to tumble and twist inside the stomach, like puppies fighting for warmth in the belly; as for the mammoth's meat, once it enters the stomach it also moves, but much more gently than the other animals' meat— the only problem is that it is heavy, dense, and cold…

He often had to wait a while before feeling the swallowed meat in his stomach stop jumping completely; shortly after, it would melt into warm juice, becoming nourishment for his strength. Each time this happened, he felt as if he had returned to Lin Dong City, drinking a bowl of fresh meat porridge on an autumn evening.

The ice monsters can turn good meat bad, and he can likewise, by this simple method, turn bad meat back into good.

Hmph, he was also following nature's rules. Rules— which sister said that?

The wind wailed and howled.

He kept going downwind, following the sound. There he could tell different corpses apart by smell: cats reeked sour, bears rotted, and mammoths smelled fishy; it never bothered to taste the tundra wolf or any other wolf.

It does not eat its own kind.

The piercing cold of the wind dulled his sense of smell, forcing him to lie flat in the snow, covering his nostrils with the pelt.

Countless mixed smells, plus the footsteps of the corpses, the panicked fleeing sounds of animals, and the cracking of ice as the cold eroded forward.

They were also hunting.

He extended his nostrils again, sniffing the air. Various smells, but with added sweat— that was the scent of the living.

He went against the wind, moving forward, wanting to see what humans might still be out this far north.

It passed countless black oaks, icy sentinel trees and soldier pines, silently slipping by a fish‑beam timber thicker than any in Winterfell… its eyes were fixed on it, he tried not to notice those eyes, nor the crows hiding in the trees.

They too were holding their breath, focusing on the surroundings. He saw some crows notice him passing by from the side, but they made no noise and did not give him away.

"Damn it, it's fucking cold…… I feel like I can't breathe……"

"Don't speak, you bastard! This woods is trouble! You'll give us away!" Another man lowered his voice.

It heard their conversation, heard the faint clink of metal on their bodies.

Were they heading north? He quietly fell in behind them.

There were three of them. They were dressed as Night's Watch. Why? Why would the Night's Watch go north? Had they gotten lost?

"... follow that river east, then find a boat; the wildlings have a boat there that can get us out of this damned place..."

"Shut up…… you've said it too many times. If I hadn't believed your nonsense, I wouldn't have run into these monsters, damn it, we should have taken Castell's daughter and had our way with her."

"... you slut… except for the one still nursing, who hasn't you slept with? You deserve to be driven out by those women!"

"We only have three people!"

"Five, if those two deadbeats hadn't drunk too much..." His voice cut off.

In the dim forest, countless corpses had silently taken position before them, and Summer had already smelled the stench of urine.

A Night's Watchman fell helplessly to his knees.

"Please……" his words unfinished, his head hit the ground, then the corpses swarmed over him. Another Night's Watchman stood frozen, gripping his longsword, trembling.

"Damn your mother, run!" the last one turned and fled, whereupon a horde of corpses gave chase.

At that time the smoke spread through the woods, and Bran saw the smoke closing in on him.

"It feeds on fear." He felt an icy sting like an electric shock pierce his body. He felt his breath laced with ice shards, and even standing there he found it hard to breathe.

Still he chose to rise, baring his teeth for the first time, because the White Walker had turned its gaze upon him.