Chapter 357

What are you saying? Dong Yumin should have been dead by now, yet she's still alive because Chen Zheng is trading his life for hers? I asked Murong Jiaja incredulously.

Translation: "What are you saying? Dong Yumin should have died long ago, yet she's still alive because Chen Zheng is giving her his life?" I asked Murong Jia Jia in disbelief.

Check: Need to keep quotes and punctuation? We'll translate meaning; keep quotes as English quotes. We'll keep the same structure.

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Murong Jiaja's tone was light and airy, but that gentle sentence struck my heart like a thousand‑ton boulder, leaving me stunned for a long while.

Translation: Murong Jia Jia's tone was light and ethereal, but that light sentence struck my heart like a thousand‑ton boulder, leaving me dazed for a long while.

Exchanging life, dying? Isn't Dong Yumin weak because she has a chronic illness? Moreover, she says Chen Zheng is prolonging her life—that sounds utterly fantastical.

Translation: Exchanging lives, dead people? Isn't Dong Yumin weak because of a chronic illness? Besides, she said Chen Zheng is extending her life—that's just too fantastical.

I stood there, unable to react for a moment. In this trade, prolonging or swapping life has always been a taboo. Daoists who engage in it suffer the five flaws and three deficiencies, aside from having impure intentions. Extending someone's life is one such practice; the reason is simple: what is borrowed must be repaid. To lengthen one person's life, you inevitably drain another's, helping one while harming another. Or it involves forbidden, heretical arts that defy heaven. No matter which form it takes, those who extend others' lives never end well.

Translation: I stood there, unable to react for a long time. Extending and exchanging lives have always been taboos in the trade. Daoists who practice them incur the five flaws and three deficiencies, aside from having an evil heart. Extending life for another is one of them—because what is borrowed must be repaid. To extend someone's life you inevitably draw from another's, saving one while harming another. Or it involves defying heaven with evil and forbidden arts. No matter which, those who extend others' lives never end well.

It's true—did you notice their wrists? Both have a string of red love knots. Seeing my disbelief, Murong Jiaja whispered again.

Translation: "It's true—did you notice their hands? There's a red endless knot on each wrist." Seeing my doubt, Murong Jia Jia whispered again.

Upon her saying that, I vaguely recalled that Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin each wore a thin red cord around their wrists. Although such an ornament doesn't match the image of a crime boss, it doesn't rule out that they are deeply devoted; the knot could simply be a token of their affection.

Translation: Hearing that, I vaguely recalled. Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin's wrists really were tied with a red cord. Although such an ornament doesn't match the identity of a black boss like Chen Zheng, it doesn't rule out that the couple is deeply in love and the knot is merely their love token.

It's just a love knot—what's so strange about it? I scratched my head, feeling a bit puzzled.

Translation: "It's just an endless knot, what's strange about that?" I scratched my head, feeling doubtful.

It's not that simple a love knot; it's a dou knot. Murong Jiaja explained slowly, then spoke solemnly, word by word: It's the Big Dipper knot.

Translation: "It's not that simple an endless knot; it's a dou knot." Murong Jia Jia explained slowly, then solemnly, word by word: "It's the Big Dipper Seven Stars knot."

Murong Jiaja told me that the two strings of love knots on Chen Zheng's and Dong Yumin's wrists are far more than mere bracelets; they are a medium for life‑exchange. As soon as I entered the house, she had already awakened from the jade pendant. She explained that although the place looks shabby, it contains a formation whose arrangement holds the mystery of the Big Dipper. The red string on Chen Zheng's wrist represents the dipper's ladle, while the one on Dong Yumin's wrist represents its handle.

Translation: Murong Jia Jia told me that the two strands of endless knots on Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin's wrists are not just simple bracelets; they are a medium for life exchange. When I entered this house, she had already awakened from the jade pendant. She told me the house looks shabby, but inside is a formation whose arrangement holds the mystery of the Big Dipper Seven Stars. The red endless knot on Chen Zheng's wrist is the ladle of the Big Dipper, and the one on Dong Yumin's wrist is the handle.

This is a life‑prolonging technique passed down among shamans since the late Han dynasty, called the Seven Stars Mutual Continuation. However, to save one person, another must be willing to sacrifice. Moreover, this method of prolonging life is rather feeble. Both the party whose life force is drawn and the party receiving the extension advance in increments of three.

Translation: This is a life‑extending technique passed down from the Wu clan since the late Han, called Seven‑Star Heart Continuation. However, to save someone with this method another person must be willing to pay the price. Moreover, this way of extending life is quite useless. Both the party whose lifespan is drawn and the party receiving the extension lose life in increments of three.

In other words, the first time you lose three years of your lifespan, you can only grant the other person one extra year of life; the second time you lose six years to gain them one more year; the third time nine years; the fourth time twelve years; each extension merely buys the recipient an additional year of survival.

Translation: That means the first time you lose three years of lifespan you can only gain the other one extra year of life; the second time you lose six years for one more year; the third time nine years; the fourth time twelve years; each extension merely lets the other linger a single additional year.

This shows the price Chen Zheng paid to keep Dong Yumin alive—he went from a vigorous middle‑aged crime lord in his prime to a frail figure resembling an elderly person.

Translation: From this we see how great a price Chen Zheng paid to extend Dong Yumin's life—from a middle‑aged hero in his prime he weakened into something like an old man on his deathbed.

After hearing Murong Jiaja's explanation, I remained dazed for a long time, because I knew her words were not baseless; such secret arts do exist, and I had glimpsed similar techniques in ancient texts—though not in detail, they match what she described.

Translation: After hearing Murong Jia Jia's explanation I remained stunned for a long time, because I knew what she said was not baseless but true; I had glimpsed similar secret arts in ancient texts, though not in detail, they matched what she said.

Moreover, Chen Zheng struck me as oddly aged: though he is supposedly 27.8 years old, his face is covered in wrinkles and his hair is white as an old man's.

Translation: Moreover, Chen Zheng feels strange to me—though he is a 27.8‑year‑old young man, his face is covered in wrinkles and his hair is white as an old man's.

To be frank, after learning the truth I felt a deep conflict—I didn't know whether I should intervene. From one perspective, exchanging life defies heaven and goes against common sense.

Translation: At first I thought this was due to Chen Zheng's experiences—when one loses a loved one or suffers a blow too great to bear, grief springs from the heart and turns hair white in youth.

Having snapped out of it, I quickly waved my hands to dismiss it, then followed Fatty into Fan Wuchang's Audi.

Translation: Now, after hearing Murong Jia Jia's explanation, I gradually realize that Chen Zheng's premature white hair has nothing to do with his past; it comes from using secret arts to prolong Dong Yumin's life.

At first, Fan Wuchang seemed unwilling to entertain Fatty, but after Fatty's relentless prompting, he finally began recounting the story of Dong Yumin and Chen Zheng.

Translation: To be frank, after learning the truth I felt a deep conflict—I didn't know whether I should intervene. From one angle, exchanging lives is defying heaven, contrary to reason.

Once, Chen Zheng was pursued by enemies and hid in the orphanage's storage room, on the brink of death, when Dong Yumin, who was volunteering there at the time, rescued him. They met because of this, but the encounter was fleeting—Chen Zheng felt only gratitude, and they had little further contact.

Translation: But from another angle, this is Chen Zheng willingly paying the price, and it concerns no one else.

This is a rule known by all major eateries, restaurants, KTVs, and bars in Macau: the Southern Heavenly King never brings women along when conducting business, nor does he need them present. The Southern Heavenly King fears neither heaven nor earth—he dares to torch the governor's vehicle and point his finger at the nose of General Cai Cha of the northern command, declaring, Macau belongs to Dongling; if you want to sell noodles here, I say you must get out.

Translation: "Hai Sheng, we should go—why are you just standing there?" Pangzi waved his heavy hands in front of my eyes and shoved me.

There are always some uncles and big bosses who ask Chen Zheng like this:

Translation: Having come to my senses, I quickly waved my hands to hide that nothing was wrong, then followed Pangzi into Fan Wuchang's Audi.

In plain terms, this quote reveals that the ruthless, feared underworld boss is actually a man of deep feeling and righteousness. A man need not fear losing in business or life—he can fall, get up, brush off the dust, and move on. But when it comes to his promise to his wife, he cannot afford to lose, nor dare he.

Translation: All the way I kept thinking about Dong Yumin and Chen Zheng; just as I was about to sound them out indirectly, Pangzi, in a idle moment, first asked Fan Wuchang: "Brother Wuchang, what's wrong with the sister‑in‑law's body, what illness does she have? Also, I want to ask how Brother Zheng and the sister‑in‑law met, and how he… uh… hooked up with her… no, married her."

Two years ago, during a dispute over profit sharing at an Macau underground casino, Chen Zheng stormed out after a disagreement. The other side then hired gunmen to assassinate him, but the title Southern Heavenly King is not for show—having risen from piles of corpses, they certainly aren't lacking in skill. Without Chen Zheng lifting a finger, his men wiped out the hired assassins.

Translation: I beside them hurriedly pretended not to care, edging my ear closer, eyes on the scenery outside, while my mind paid attention to their words.

Dong Yumin, on her way to visit the orphans at the orphanage, was ambushed by assassins and shot in the heart. Although doctors managed to save her, she was left with a lingering internal injury.

Translation: At first Fan Wuchang seemed unwilling to entertain Pangzi, but under Pangzi's relentless urging he finally began to tell the story of Dong Yumin and Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin met eight years ago; at that time Chen Zheng was just over twenty, had been assigned by Dongling to Dongqian Street, and was working as a bouncer at a bar.

Translation: Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin met eight years ago; at that time Chen Zheng was just over twenty, assigned by East Ling to East Front Street to oversee a bar.

Dong Yumin's background has nothing to do with the underworld; on the contrary, she comes from a very clean, respectable family—she is from a prominent lineage, and both her father and grandfather are university professors.

Translation: Dong Yumin's background has nothing to do with the underworld; on the contrary, she comes from a respectable family—her father and grandfather are university professors.

Once, Chen Zheng was being hunted by enemies and hid in the storage room of an orphanage, on the verge of death, when Dong Yumin, who was volunteering at the orphanage at the time, rescued him. They met because of this incident, but their encounter was fleeting—like a night‑blooming cereus—Chen Zheng felt only gratitude toward her, and they did not have much further contact afterward.

Translation: Once, Chen Zheng was pursued by enemies and hid in the orphanage's storage room; at death's door he was rescued by Dong Yumin, who was volunteering there, and they met because of it. However, that encounter was fleeting—Chen Zheng felt only gratitude toward Dong Yumin, and they had little further contact.

The scene shifts to an unnamed alley where Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin meet for the second time; a clichéd hero‑saving‑the‑beauty story unfolds here, sparking an irresistible love between two people who were walking on completely different paths of fate. Afterwards, Dong Yumin defied everyone in her family and resolutely married this rascal.

Translation: The scene shifts to an unnamed alley where Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin met for the second time; a clichéd hero‑saves‑beauty story unfolded there, serving as a catalyst that made two people walking on utterly different life paths fall irrevocably in love. Afterwards Dong Yumin, defying everyone's opposition at home, resolutely married that rascal.

After marrying, the two remained deeply in love. Although Chen Zheng later rose to power and became one of the two emperors of Macau's underground underworld, this crime boss had a peculiar habit: whether he was singing at a bar or discussing business at a restaurant, he never allowed a woman to be by his side. Even if a woman offered herself to him, Chen Zheng would turn her away.

Translation: After marriage the two remained deeply in love. Although Chen Zheng later rose to power and became one of the two overlords of Aomen's underground underworld, this big boss has a quirk: whether he's singing at a bar or discussing business at a restaurant, he never has a woman by his side. Even if a lady is offered to him, he turns her away.

This is a rule known by all major restaurants, KTVs, and bars in Macau: the Southern Heavenly King never brings women along when conducting business, nor does he need women nearby. The Southern Heavenly King fears neither heaven nor earth; he dares to set fire to the vehicles of the Macau governor, and he dares to point his finger at the nose of General Cai Cha of the northern command and say: "Macau is Dongling's territory; if you want to sell noodles here, I say you must get out if I disagree."

Translation: This is a rule known by all major eateries, liquor houses and KTV bars in Aomen: the Southern Heavenly King conducts affairs without bringing women, nor needing them nearby. The Southern Heavenly King fears neither heaven nor earth; he dares to set fire to the Macau Governor's car and point at the nose of General Cai Cha of the north, saying: "Aomen is East Ling's territory—if you want to sell noodles here, I say you must get out if you disagree."

Yet, this fearless crime boss is uniquely afraid of his wife's tears. As soon as his wife cries, Chen Zheng becomes flustered and loses his composure; as soon as she is upset, he immediately loses his usual calm and judgment.

Translation: Yet such a fearless big boss is uniquely afraid of his wife's tears. Whenever she cries, Chen Zheng loses his composure; whenever she is upset, he immediately loses his usual calm and judgment.

Therefore, Chen Zheng may ignore anyone's cold stare toward him, but he cares deeply about his wife's opinion. He does not want her to worry or suspect that after rising to power he is out carousing, so no matter what he does outside, he never brings a woman with him.

Translation: Therefore, Chen Zheng may ignore anyone's cold stare, but he cares deeply about his wife's opinion. He doesn't want her to worry or suspect that after rising to power he's out carousing, so wherever he goes he never brings a woman along.

There are always some uncles and senior bosses who ask Chen Zheng like this:

Translation: There are always some uncles and big bosses who ask Chen Zheng like this:

They say, "Brother Zheng, look at any other Macau boss who is like you—when they go out they never call for a lady. You act like a wife‑controlled man, not even daring to think about keeping a mistress; this doesn't match the style of the Southern Heavenly King."

Translation: They say, "Brother Zheng, look at Aomen—none of the bosses go out without calling a lady, just like a husband‑wife slave; you wouldn't even think of keeping a concubine, which isn't the style of the Southern Heavenly King at all."

At that time Chen Zheng said only one sentence: "I, Chen Zheng, fear nothing in heaven or earth in this life; I can bear to lose anything. The only thing I cannot bear to lose is my promise to my wife."

Translation: Back then Chen Zheng only said, "I, Chen Zheng, fear neither heaven nor earth—I can afford to lose anything. The only thing I cannot afford to lose is my promise to my wife."

In plain terms, this explains Chen Zheng's remark. It is clear that this ruthless, feared underworld boss is actually a man of deep feeling and righteousness; a man, whether in business or in life, does not fear losing, can get up after a fall, dust himself off, and move forward. The only thing he cannot afford to lose—and dare not lose—is his promise to his wife.

Translation: In plain terms, his words show that this ruthless man who makes Aomen's underground gangs tremble is actually a man of loyalty and righteousness; a fellow who, whether in business or in life, fears no loss, gets up after a fall, dusts himself off and moves on—except when it comes to his promise to his wife, which he cannot bear to break.

Naturally, such a romance may not be earth‑shattering, but it can certainly be considered a timeless good story. This crime boss, Chen Zheng, has had his temperament greatly softened by his wife; he no longer acts as ruthlessly as he did in his youth, nor does he casually wipe out rival gangs. Meanwhile, Dong Yumin, despite her family's opposition, has devoted all her youth to him. Although petty thugs and gangsters are looked down upon by so‑called upper‑class, highly educated people, Dong Yumin has genuinely found her own happiness with this rascal.

Translation: Naturally, such a match may not be earth‑shaking, but it could well become a timeless good story. This black‑boss Chen Zheng, because his wife has greatly restrained her temper, no longer strikes out as fiercely as in his youth, readily uprooting rival gangs. Meanwhile Dong Yumin, ignoring her family's opposition, has poured all her youth into him. Though ruffians and hoodlums are often looked down upon by the educated elite, Dong Yumin has genuinely found her own happiness in that rascal.

But as the saying goes, misfortune always sneaks silently into a happy life. Heaven, whether busy or idle, always throws some obstacles in our way, turning what should have been a lively drama into a living Shakespearean tragedy.

Translation: Moreover, as the saying goes, misfortune always slips silently into a happy life. Heaven, whether busy or idle, always throws a twist, turning what should have been a lively drama into a Shakespeare‑styled tragedy.

Two years ago, during a dispute over the division of profits at an Macau underground casino, Chen Zheng stormed out after a disagreement. The other side then hired gunmen to assassinate him, but the title "Southern Heavenly King" is not for show—after all, they are men who have crawled out of piles of corpses, so they certainly have a couple of tricks up their sleeves. Without Chen Zheng needing to lift a finger, his subordinates wiped out the assassins the other side had hired.

Translation: Two years ago, during a profit split at an Aomen underground casino, Chen Zheng stormed out after a disagreement. The other side then hired gunmen to assassinate him, but the title Southern Heavenly King is no empty boast—after all, those who crawl out of corpses aren't lacking in skill. Without Chen Zheng lifting a finger, his men wiped out the assassins sent against him.

However, the underworld works just like in the movies: often, a person mixed up in the gangs finds himself defenseless, and the gangland code that says "no harm to wives and children" depends entirely on one's strength.

Translation: However, the underworld is just like in the movies—often a person mixed in the black‑roads cannot defend against everything; the principle of not harming wives and children depends solely on one's strength.

If enemies cannot get to you, they will inevitably harm your family. Even though Chen Zheng was anxious about Dong Yumin's safety and had taken sufficient precautions, an unexpected strike still fell upon them at the hands of his foes.

Translation: If enemies can't reach you, they'll likely harm your family instead. Even though Chen Zheng is anxious about Dong Yumin's safety and has taken ample precautions, a sudden strike can still fall under the enemy's scheme.

Dong Yumin was ambushed by assassins while on her way to visit the orphans at the orphanage; a bullet struck her heart. Although doctors managed to save her, she was left with a lingering internal injury.

Translation: Dong Yumin, on her way to visit the orphans at the orphanage, was ambushed by assassins and shot in the heart. Although doctors rescued her, she was left with a lingering ailment.

This is Fan Wuchang's explanation to us, but I don't believe it. In my view, perhaps Dong Yumin should have died two years ago; she has survived until now only because Chen Zheng is sacrificing his own life to keep her alive. Consequently, Chen Zheng has at least given up nine years of his lifespan, his vitality drained, which is why he now appears as frail as an elderly man.

Translation: This is Fan Wuchang's explanation to us, yet I find it hard to believe. In my view, Dong Yumin should have died two years ago; she survives only because Chen Zheng is sustaining her with his own life. Consequently, he has at least lost nine years of lifespan, his vitality drained, which is why he looks as withered as an old man.