Chapter 70

You'll die if you can't open your eyes! he thought again of the three-eyed crow's words from his dream.

Translation: "You'll die if you can't open your eyes!" He again thought of the words of the three-eyed crow in his dream.

But we need to use glossary name for three-eyed crow: "Three-Eyed Crow". So: "You'll die if you can't open your eyes!" He again thought of the words of the Three-Eyed Crow in his dream.

Check: we kept quotes? The Chinese has quotation marks around the spoken line. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, preserve punctuation? Not explicitly required but we should keep quotes. We'll keep the same punctuation: 「... 」 becomes quotes? In English we can use double quotes. We'll keep the quoted speech as is. So: "You'll die if you can't open your eyes!" He again thought of the words of the Three-Eyed Crow in his dream.

Make sure it's one line.

He truly wished Mei Yi could be by his side then, so he could ask her with this letter in hand, and he wouldn't feel so uneasy.

Translation: He truly wished Mei Yi could be by his side then, so he could ask her with this letter in hand, and he wouldn't feel so uneasy.

He truly wished Mei Yi could be by his side then, so he could ask her with this letter in hand, and he wouldn't feel so uneasy.

so he could ask her with this letter in hand

He grabbed the red cloth, burst out of the

They gave translation: He grabbed the red cloth, burst out of the room, and ran down the corridor. He ran too fast, bumping into Pao Fu head-on; she hadn't even seen who it was when Bu Lan ran over, leaving only the two words "Sorry" drifting in the wind. So output that.

leaving only the two words 'Sorry' drifting in the wind

He dashed across the training field in one breath; a few friends called out to him, but he ignored them, finally catching up to Master Luwen beneath the Scholar's Tower.

They gave translation: He rushed past the training ground in one breath, several companions called out to him, but he turned a deaf ear, finally catching up to Master Luwen beneath the Scholar's Tower. Output that.

Summer trailed behind him effortlessly, and by the time he paused to catch his breath, it was already standing calmly at his side. Bran reached out and stroked its neck, which helped him relax a little.

They gave translation: Summer lightly trailed behind him, and when he stopped to take a deep breath, it had already stood quietly at his side. Bu Lan reached out and touched its neck, which let him relax a little. Output that.

"Bran, what's wrong?" the master asked, puzzled.

They gave translation: "Bu Lan, what's wrong?" the Scholar asked, puzzled. Output that.

"Master Luwen, while I was looking for the sword that Meyi gave me, I found a piece of red cloth wrapped around the blade, with some writing and a drawing on it. I swear I didn't write or draw it." He hurriedly handed the red cloth to the master.

They gave translation: "Master Luwen, when I was looking for the sword Mei Yi gave me, I found a piece of red cloth wrapped around the sword, with some writing and a picture on it. I swear I didn't write or draw it." He quickly handed the red cloth to the Scholar. Output that.

The master set down the book, ruler, and a pile of miscellaneous items he was holding onto an ancient stone mill, then reached out to take the red cloth.

They gave translation: The Scholar placed the book, ruler, and a bunch of miscellaneous items onto an ancient stone mill, then reached out to take the red cloth. Output that.

"Bran, there's nothing on it at all." He took the red cloth, flipped it over and back, then handed it back to Bran.

They gave translation: "Bu Lan, there's nothing on this at all." He took the red cloth, flipped it over and back, then handed it back to Bu Lan. Output that.

"How could this be?" he exclaimed, searching the spot where the writing and drawing had been on the cloth; in the sunlight, there was not a trace of any characters or picture.

No named entities. So: "How could this be?" he exclaimed, searching the spot on the red cloth where the writing had been; in the sunlight, there was actually no writing or picture at all.

"How could this be?" he muttered to himself.

Same: "How could this be?" he muttered to himself.

"Bran, have you been too tense lately? Or perhaps, until Meyi returns to Winterfell, you shouldn't attend the officers' meetings anymore? I don't want anything to happen to you, child." The master bent down and picked up his belongings from the stone mill.

They gave translation: "Bu Lan, haven't you been too tense lately? Or, well, how about not attending the officers' meetings until Mei Yi returns to Winter City? I don't want anything to happen to you, child." The Scholar bent down and picked up his belongings from the stone mill again. Output that.

"I'm not lying to you! There was writing on it before, and a picture of a three-eyed crow." Bran said anxiously, really wanting to know what was going on; Master Luwen must think he's lying.

They gave translation: "I didn't lie to you! There was writing and a picture on this before, a picture of the Three-Eyed Crow." Bu Lan said anxiously, really wanting to know what was going on; Master Luwen must think he's a liar. Output that.

"Hey, child, go get some proper rest!" He turned away, clutching his book.

They gave translation: "Hey, child, go get some proper rest!" he said, hugging the book and turning away. Output that.

"There was clearly writing and a picture on it..." he heard himself say, "It says, obey the she-wolf's prohibition; it's not too late yet."

No named entities. So: "There clearly were words and a picture..." he heard himself say, "It says, obey the she-wolf's prohibition, and it's not too late yet."

"We've been following Meyi's prohibition all along, haven't we?" the master turned his head, then, after saying that, he hugged his book and went up to the Scholar's Tower.

They gave translation: "We've always been obeying Mei Yi's prohibition, right?" the Scholar turned his head, said that, then hugged the book and went up the Scholar's Tower. Output that.

Bran had no choice but to watch him walk away.

They gave translation: Bu Lan had no choice but to watch him walk away. Output that.

Who could be playing this prank?

No named entities. So: Who's playing a prank?

Since he woke up, no one has been able to enter his room easily; the only person who cleans his room is Molly, and she would never play a prank.

They gave translation: Since he woke up, no one could easily enter his room. The only person who cleaned his room was Moli, and she would never play a prank. Output that.

He also can't imagine Molly doing something so boring; besides, she might not even know how to write.

They gave translation: He couldn't even imagine Moli doing something so boring; besides, she might not even know how to write. Output that.

He clenched the red cloth tightly in his hand and walked toward the Heartwood Forest with Summer; perhaps there he would find answers.

They gave translation: He clenched the red cloth tightly in his hand and walked toward the Sacred Wood together with Summer; maybe there would be an answer there. Output that.

The training Meyi assigned him gave him no sense of progress at all, but he and Summer both loved the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. Moreover, the Heartwood Forest always offered peace, with no one shouting or making a fuss there.

They gave translation: The training Mei Yi had him do gave him no sense of progress at all, but he and Summer both liked the sound of the wind moving the leaves. Moreover, in the Sacred Wood one could always find peace, with no one shouting loudly there. Output that.

He crossed the training field.

They gave translation: He crossed the training ground. Output that.

The training field is now occupied by adult warriors; as he and Summer passed by, they drew the attention of a group of warriors who, although they see such a huge ice plain wolf every day, still regard it with curiosity and proper respect.

They gave translation: The training ground is now occupied by adult warriors; when he and Summer passed by, they attracted the warriors' gazes. Although they could see such a huge ice plain wolf every day, they still maintained curiosity and proper awe. Output that.

Unlike Sansa, he doesn't enjoy being the center of attention, so he quickened his pace.

They gave translation: He didn't like being noticed like Sha Sha did, so he quickened his pace. Output that.

The pool of water in the Heartwood Forest is deep green, reminding him of the lost Ado.

They gave translation: The pond in the Sacred Wood was deep green, and he thought of Aduo, who had disappeared. Output that.

Ado loved to bathe in the pool, liked to stash his favorite things in his pockets, and whenever he entered or left the garden, Ado would grin foolishly and hand him various snacks.

They gave translation: Aduo loved bathing in the pond, liked to stash various things he liked in his pockets, and whenever he went in or out of the garden, Aduo would always grin and hand him some snacks. Output that.

He misses the honest face of the stable boy; since his disappearance, he feels his heart is incomplete.

They gave translation: He missed Ma Tong's honest face; since he disappeared, he felt his heart was incomplete. Output that.

Why does he feel this way?

No named entities. So: Why would he feel this way?

He also thinks of his deceased father and mother, and all his brothers and sisters who are no longer by his side.

No named entities. So: He also thought of his deceased parents and all the siblings not by his side.

Has Ado also died? Could he have died in some dark corner where I can't find him? He reached out and gripped the white root of the fishbeam tree.

They gave translation: Is Aduo dead too? Could he have died in some dark corner that I just can't find? He gripped the white root of the Fish Beam Wood. Output that.

The bark of this root has been smoothed by touch; his father, grandfather, and even higher ancestors must have felt it, as have his mother and all his brothers and sisters.

No named entities. So: The bark of this root has been worn smooth; his father, grandfather, and even higher ancestors must have touched it, as have his mother and all his siblings.

Where are they now?

No named entities. So: Where are they?

Old gods, could you give me a sign? he thought.

They gave translation: Old Gods, could you give me a hint? he thought. Output that.

If I were to die as well, I would surely be able to see you, find you? As the old nurse said, those who believe in the old gods return to nature after death, dancing with their loved ones in the woods alongside all the departed believers.

They gave translation: If I died too, I would surely be able to see you, find you? the old granny said, those who believe in the Old Gods return to nature after death, dancing with their loved ones in the forests alongside all the departed believers. Output that.

I will surely be able to see all the Brandons of history; what are they like? Would they be willing to dance with me? Of course they would—I am also a Stark, just a little younger, unless they think I don't understand things.

They gave translation: I would surely be able to see all the Brandons in history; what are they like? Would they be willing to dance with me? Certainly they would, and I am also a Stark, just a little younger, unless they think I don't understand things. Output that.

The leaves of the heart tree sway above his head, blocking his view; through them he cannot see the mountains or the distance, nor hear his parents' voices or those of his ancestors.

They gave translation: The leaves of the Heart Tree swayed above his head; he couldn't see anything. Through these leaves, he couldn't see mountains, couldn't see the distance, couldn't hear his parents' voices, couldn't hear his ancestors' voices. Output that.

There is nothing; he feels despondent.

No named entities. So: There was nothing, and he felt despondent.

Meyi said that practice brings progress, but he hasn't even gotten started before she left.

They gave translation: Mei Yi said, as long as you practice you'll make progress. But he hadn't even gotten started when she already left. Output that.

He felt himself crying.

No named entities. So: He felt himself crying.

Summer crouched beside him, placing its massive head on his lap.

They gave translation: Summer crouched beside him, placing its huge head on his leg. Output that.

Then he wrapped his arms around Summer, burying his face completely in its warm fur for a long time.

They gave translation: He then wrapped his arms around Summer, burying his face deep in its warm fur for a long time. Output that.

A wave of warmth came over him, like water flowing down, natural and effortless.

No named entities. So: A warmth came over him, like water flowing down, naturally.

He heard it.

No named entities. So: He heard it.

He felt he heard his own strong heartbeat, the sound of the wind, the leaves falling into the pool, and even the faint clash of swords from the distant training field.

They gave translation: He felt his strong heartbeat, heard the wind's sound, heard the sound of leaves falling into the pond, and also heard the faint clashing of swords from the training ground in the distance. Output that.

He also smelled it.

No named entities. So: He also smelled it.

He smelled the scent of leaves that had rotted at the bottom of the pool, risen to the surface, and released as bubbles burst; the pine resin carried on the breeze from the soldier pines; the scent of squirrels darting through the woods; the fresh aroma of earth; and the strong, musky odor of insects hidden beneath the soil.

They gave translation: He smelled the scent of leaves rotting at the pond's bottom rising up, the smell released when bubbles burst, the pine resin scent from a breeze blowing over the Soldier Pine, the scent of squirrels darting through the woods, the fresh smell of earth, and the strong odor of worms hidden beneath the soil. Output that.

He felt that all tension, anxiety, panic, and anticipation had vanished.

No named entities. So: He felt no more tension, no anxiety, no panic, no expectation.

He no longer feared Bolton; that was something a little boy had hidden deep inside his heart, and after searching everywhere, it was gone—not a trace remained.

They gave translation: He no longer feared the Bo Dun. That was something a little boy had hidden deep in his heart; he searched and searched, but it was gone, not a trace left. Output that.

He had no anxiety, no unknown problems, no burden of responsibility that young Bran Stark could not bear, and no longer indulged in unrealistic fantasies.

They gave translation: He had no anxiety, no unknown problems, no responsibility that young Brandon Stark could not bear, and no longer any unrealistic fantasies. Output that.

He also had no panic; he no longer needed to worry about the master's disapproval, or whether the master thought he was lying, being willful, or not trying hard. He felt he no longer needed to panic for his brother, nor for the safety of his other sisters.

They gave translation: He also had no panic; he no longer needed to panic over the Scholar's dissatisfaction, nor worry whether the Scholar thought he was lying, being willful, or lazy. He felt he also didn't need to panic for his brother, nor for his sisters' safety. Output that.

He also had no expectations.

No named entities. So: He also had no expectation.

He no longer needed to wonder whether Meyi would return to Winterfell, whether she would defeat any enemies, or whether she would bring back his other sisters; none of that concerned him anymore.

They gave translation: He didn't need to wait for Mei Yi to return to Winter City, didn't need to wait for her to defeat any enemies, didn't need to wait for her to bring back his other sisters; none of that concerned him. Output that.

He opened his eyes.

No named entities. So: He opened his eyes.

The Heartwood Forest grew brighter, taking on a brown‑green hue.

They gave translation: The Sacred Wood grew brighter, turning a brown-green hue. Output that.

In the distance, the trees stood in distinct layers; a squirrel scrambled up and down there, dodging his gaze, watching him cautiously; he saw the leaves ahead, which were the same shape as the heart tree's leaves, and he could make out every pose as they fell, every tumbling motion, and see exactly how the wind flowed around and shifted as the leaves dropped.

They gave translation: In the distance, the trees were clearly layered; a squirrel scrambled up and down there, dodging his gaze, watching him carefully; he saw the leaves ahead, which were the same shape as the Heart Tree's leaves, and he could make out every posture of the leaves as they fell, every rolling motion, and see exactly how the wind flowed over and changed direction as the leaves dropped. Output that.

Everything was within his expectations and anticipations.

No named entities. So: Everything was within his expectations and anticipations.

He had become a wolf. For the first time in his life, this transformation was not a dream.

No named entities. So: He turned into a wolf. For the first time ever, he was not becoming a wolf in a dream.

A soft, small child lay upon his back.

No named entities. So: A soft child lay on his body.

That's him himself.

Bronze-colored and soft hair, pale skin, and the sides of his soft nose were covered in tiny freckles.

He is so weak, his arms and legs are so frail.

He stood up.

He felt mighty and powerful, he felt the world beneath his feet, he felt he could do anything.

His heart held no fear, he felt he was the emperor of the world.

「Ugh—」 he shouted.

He felt the world was his voice.

After a long, long time, he opened his mortal eyes.

He felt his steps heavy, felt breathing difficult through his nose, felt his ears sunk into lead.

He left the Divine Wood Forest, disheartened.

He had wanted to go see the unicorn, he ought to have been playing with his companions, but he thought of A Duo.

He suddenly wanted to go see the old wet nurse again.

She was A Duo's great-grandmother. He had not let her tell stories for too long, had not kept her company for too long, is she alright?

She had already come to Winterfell when Bran was still a child; she had two sons who died during Robert's Rebellion; now A Duo is gone, only one grandson remains with her, but her grandson also looks like an old man.

He passed through the guest chambers, went by the armory, descended the stairs from the connecting walkway, went through the muddy passage, and arrived before the glass garden of Winterfell.

The old wet nurse and her grandson had always lived there; after A Duo was gone, he realized he had seldom come to this place.

Am I really the lord of this castle?

He felt so lonely, with no close friends nearby, no parents, everyone busy with their own affairs, only he, like a visitor to this castle.

His heart was full of sorrow, but who would know? No one secretly gave him fruit anymore.

The old wet nurse sat calmly in the guard room before the glass garden, her eyes almost completely blind, her hands still nimbly threading needle and thread, embroidering something.

Hearing a movement, the old wet nurse stopped her needlework.

「Oh, let me guess, which honored guest has come? 」 the old wet nurse placed her needlework on her lap, opened her arms, and made a welcoming gesture.

Bran grinned.

The old mother is truly old, yet also small.

She is smaller than he had ever seen before, and he had not noticed it earlier.

「It's me. 」 he said, 「I miss you all. I miss A Duo. 」"

「Oh, Brandon, my young master, my most adorable young master. Do you think A Duo is dead? No, no, I can still feel him, he is still alive. 」"

「Really? 」 Bran said half-believing, half-doubting.

「Oh, certainly. He wasn't very smart before, but not stupid. He knows how to survive. 」"

「How do you know? 」 he asked.

「Can people sense whether their kin are alive? 」"

「Can people really feel that? 」"

「If you feel with your heart, you will know. 」"

「Then do you know where he is? 」"

「He is in the north. In the far north. Some go south from the north, some go north from the south. He chose the north, truly a warrior. Oh, dear young master, sit, sit, is your wolf by your side? 」"

「Hmm, I didn't let Summer inside. 」"

「Let the wolf stay by your side. The direwolf is the sacred object of your Stark family. With them, they can save your life. 」 She always spoke clearly and nimbly.

「How do you know? 」"

「How do I know? When one grows old, one knows everything, especially near death. 」"

She is indeed old enough—her teeth have all fallen out, she is bent and shrunken into a ball, and on her pink scalp only a few tufts of white hair remain.

Her room was dim and spacious, with only two fur-covered chairs and a small table. But for her, whether the room was dark or bright made no difference.

Thinking that the old wet nurse might also die, he felt even more sorrowful.

「My young master, why are you so quiet today? Have you come to hear me tell a story? 」 she tapped her needlework, 「I have never told you a story here before; since you've come, I must tell you a story you've never heard, alright? 」"

「Do you have any stories I haven't heard? 」 he asked.

「At your age, if I were to tell of your coming of age, your marriage and children, even the day your grandson becomes lord of Winterfell, I would not need to repeat myself. 」"

「I want to hear a story about wolves. 」 Bran laughed and sat down.

「I will tell a thousand stories about wolves. 」"

「I want a story where the wolf has an owner. 」 Bran said.

「With an owner? Oh, wolves have no owners. Wolves only have friends, only kin, wolves are free. Wolves with owners become dogs—do you want your direwolf to become a dog? 」 she asked.

「No. 」 Summer is a direwolf.

「I have a story about a wolf and his friend—would you like to hear it? 」"

「I would like to hear it. 」"

「Sit tight. I will tell it slowly to you. 」 She stroked her needlework, looked at Bran with her empty eyes, just as she had done countless times before.

Bran nodded silently.

「Once upon a time, in the dark, distant northern forest, lived a pack of direwolves. They followed the scent of prey, searching everywhere, striking everywhere, feeding only on mammoths and moose larger than this house. They never deigned to hunt small creatures—such as the rabbits, squirrels, and deer in the woods—because they felt killing such prey lacked dignity, failed to show the nobility of the forest king, and such meat could not nourish their massive bodies. 」 Her needlework flew swiftly; Bran knew the point was coming soon, this was the old wet nurse's storytelling style.

「But one day, the long night suddenly fell, 」 her voice became sharp and fast, 「this pack of direwolves could no longer find suitable food, yet the old wolf leading the direwolves still refused to abandon his food standards, and then each direwolf began to starve. Snow kept falling from the sky, each night of the long night colder than the last. Finally, hunger and cold took the old wolf's life. 」"

「The new leader let the wolves eat the old wolf's corpse, then told the wolf pack that they could no longer hunt prey this way; he wanted his people to scatter completely, each seeking food suitable for themselves. No matter what prey, as long as they liked it, they could hunt however they wished. 」"

「Some wolves chose to go farther north, seeking walking corpses to eat, swallowing chunks of icy cold meat, enduring the wriggling of the cold meat in their throats and stomachs. Some wolves chose the south—oh, at that time there was no Great Wall yet—and fled to the warm forests, there hunting small prey such as deer and wild boar, but they themselves also began to be hunted by people; and other wolves, having scattered from the forest without choosing to leave, merely kept digging through deep snow, looking for mice and hares beneath the snow. 」"

「Then what? 」"

「Then one day, the long night ended, and their descendants gathered together again. 」"

"And then?"

"And then they discovered that the wolves that fed on ordinary deer and wild boar had become smaller, some even turning into the dogs people kept; the wolves that fed on rabbits and mice had turned into the gray wolves of the forest; but the wolves that fed on corpses still looked like tundra wolves. My young master, what kind of wolf do you want to become?" she asked him with hollow eyes.

"Tundra wolf."

"Why?"

"I don't want to become an ordinary wolf or dog."

"But to become a tundra wolf, you must feed on terrifying corpses—aren't you afraid?"

"I don't know." He felt the fear from the old nanny's story again.

"To become a true tundra wolf, you must feed on fear. Swallow fear into your belly, nourish yourself, and let yourself grow into a great tundra wolf. A true tundra wolf fears nothing. My young master."

He bade farewell to the old nanny, as if it were the last time he would see her.

He almost cried again.

"A true tundra wolf must feed on fear, nourish itself with fear." she said.

After leaving the old nanny's room, he felt a bit better, so he prepared to return to the training grounds to watch the warriors' training.

He returned to the training grounds along the same route.

He heard the soldiers shouting loudly in the distance.

"Oh no!" Bran thought, "It must be the fuzzy dog causing trouble again!"

He hurriedly brought Summer forward.

He saw a circle of warriors wielding spears, having surrounded the fuzzy dog in the middle.

The fuzzy dog bared its long fangs, glaring angrily at the soldiers surrounding it, ready to tear and bite at any moment.

"Where is Rickon?" he shouted loudly.

No one answered him. He pushed into the crowd of soldiers and saw the fuzzy dog bleeding in several places, having become frenzied and violent, anxious and fearful.

Several wounded soldiers had already been pulled to the side of the training grounds.

"Stop! Stop! Everyone stop!" he shouted, "Where is Rickon?"

No one answered him.

If the fuzzy dog were to go berserk, how many more people would it hurt? It could bite off a person's arm with its jaws. He could not tolerate such a situation.

"Move aside, move aside!" he finally pushed through the soldiers.

Summer jumped anxiously back and forth beside him, barking nonstop; he had no time to comfort it. Summer's frantic barking made Bran feel very uneasy.

"Move aside!" he shoved aside the last soldier, "Fuzzy, it's me, shh, be quiet, you're safe now. Shh!"

He tried to soothe it.

He saw a black shadow flying toward him.

Countless people shouted and screamed, rushing toward him. Bran felt his vision blurring.

He touched his neck, feeling sticky blood flowing out uncontrollably; he felt the ground lift beneath him, and he slipped off the ground.

The world became different again.

He saw the little boy again. He lay on the ground, his hair still that color, his face paler, blood slowly seeping from his neck, staining the training grounds' soil red, already motionless.

He finally saw Rickon among the crowd.

No, he wasn't Rickon; he merely had Rickon's face, beneath which was an expressionless face—an unfamiliar sensation, the scent of incense.

He felt himself in a rage, felt himself as furious as the fuzzy dog, no, he felt himself even more furious than the fuzzy dog.

He charged through the crowd, knocked over a pile of soldiers, and lunged to tear and bite at Rickon—just as the fuzzy dog had bitten off his neck, he bit off Rickon's.

A soldier noticed his movement and drew his sword at him.

He dodged it, but his speed was slowed.

He could easily bite off that soldier's neck, he thought. But it wasn't necessary.

He charged toward 'Rickon' again, and at that moment an arrow struck his foreleg, causing unbearable pain, so he had to give up.

"What to do, what to do?" he felt rage again, and also boundless fear; he wanted to cry, but could no longer shed tears.

"Feed on fear, feed on fear, feed on fear." he shouted to himself.

At that moment, he saw the old scholar rush out panicked from the Scholar's Tower. Seeing 'Bran' collapsed on the ground, he immediately flung himself to the ground, almost crawling to Bran's side, emitting a long wail and tremulous voice. Tears streamed down his furrowed face like rain.

He had never seen the old scholar so grief-stricken and helpless.

He wanted to call the scholar, but only sobs escaped his throat.

He felt that his anger was gone.

He saw another batch of soldiers running over, preparing to surround him as well.

"Feed on fear." he told himself.

He didn't know what to do, enduring the intense pain in his foreleg, he ran away.

As he rounded the corner of the wall, he turned his wolf head and gave them one last look.

He sprinted quickly toward the Hunter's Gate.

He had never imagined that one day he would have to flee Winterfell.