Chapter 368

All I saw was a chubby little back, lifting its foot and stomping hard on the two big heads of the ghost infant, while shouting 'Clang… clang… clang-clang'.

Translation: "In view was a chubby little back view, lifting its foot and stomping hard on the Ghost Infant's two big heads, while stomping it shouted loudly, 'Clang… clang… clang-clang'."

We need to keep the onomatopoeia: 'Clang… clang… clang-clang'.

That voice, needless to say, was my soul's Little Fat; at the critical moment, Little Fat appeared just in time, first letting out two roars that woke me from my bewitched state, then with a single punch sent the ghost infant flying.

Interpretation: "This voice, needless to say, was my soul's Little Fat's. At the critical moment, Little Fat appeared promptly, first letting out two roars that woke me from the soul-bewildered state, then a punch sent the Ghost Infant flying."

my soul's Little Fat

Little Fat isn't useless, and is even very afraid of ghosts, so why does he now have such great strength, enough to punch the Ghost Infant flying?

Translation: "But… Little Fat isn't incapable of anything, and is even very afraid of ghosts, so why does he now have such great strength, enough to punch the Ghost Infant flying?"

Little Fat isn't useless, and he's even very afraid of ghosts—so why does he suddenly have such great strength, enough to punch the Ghost Infant flying?

Moreover, who taught this hooligan his fighting style?

Translation: "Moreover, who did this hooligan learn his fighting style from?"

Damn it, if you're going to fight, just fight. Why did you just pick up a brick on the ground and smash it hard into someone's head? A brick— that's one of the thirteen divine weapons of street brawls!

Damn it, if you're going to fight, just fight. Why did you just pick up a brick on the ground and smash it hard into someone's head? A brick— that's one of the thirteen divine weapons of street brawls!

After smashing the brick, Little Fat casually broke off a large water pipe protruding from the wall, grabbed it, and pounded the ghost infant with it, each strike producing a rhythmic 'thump-thump' sound.

Translation: "... After smashing the brick, Little Fat casually broke off a large water pipe leaning against the wall, grabbed it and pounded the Ghost Infant hard. Blow after blow, the slapping sounds had a strong sense of rhythm."

Pangzi and I, standing aside, stared wide-eyed; Pangzi's gaze was filled with disbelief, while I, astonished, shyly covered my eyes… Hooligan, this fighting style is truly hooligan.

Translation: "I and Pangzi standing aside widened our eyes; Pangzi's gaze was filled with disbelief, while I, besides being astonished, shyly covered my eyes… Hooligan, this fighting style is truly too hooligan."

Punches and kicks, bricks and water pipes raining down, they beat the ghost infant until it wailed, green blood spilling everywhere. After a while, Little Fat seemed tired from the beating, plopped down on the ground, and gasped heavily.

Translation: "Fists and feet, bricks and water pipe took turns, beating the Ghost Infant into wailing cries, green blood spilling everywhere. After a while, Little Fat seemed tired from the beating, sat on the ground with a plop, panting heavily."

'Clang, clang,' Little Fat saw me standing dazed to one side, happily jumped up like a toddler just learning to walk, arms outstretched, shuffling his feet as he ran toward me.

Translation: "'Clang, clang,' Little Fat saw me standing dazed aside, happily stood up, like a toddler just learning to walk, arms outstretched, steps hesitant as he ran toward me."

'Clang-clang… Hai Sheng, clang-clang…'

Translation: "'Clang-clang… Hai Sheng, clang-clang…'"

I… which country's prophecy is this? Besides Hai Sheng, I can't understand the rest.

Translation: "I… What country's prophecy is this? Besides Hai Sheng, I can't understand the rest."

Little Fat opened his arms, his chubby little legs taking small steps toward me, when suddenly, with a thud, a stone under his foot tripped him. His plump body fell forward at a ninety-degree angle, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Translation: "Little Fat opened his arms, his chubby little legs taking small steps toward me, when suddenly, with a bang, a stone under his foot tripped him. His plump body fell forward at a ninety-degree angle, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud bang."

After getting up, Little Fat dazedly touched his forehead; upon feeling the swollen bump, he first let out a confused whimper. Then, his chubby little hands rubbed his eyes, and he burst into a loud wail, crying so hard that he even used his red belly band to wipe his nose.

Translation: "After getting up, Little Fat dazedly rubbed his forehead; upon feeling the swollen bump there, he first let out a confused whimper. Then his two chubby little hands rubbed his eyes, and he burst into a loud wail, crying until he was breathless, even using his red belly band to wipe his nose."

He occasionally spread his hands, pretending not to notice, glanced at me, saw me still standing there like a log, not coming to hug him, and cried even harder, like a neighbor's child whose lollipop had been taken, as if saying, 'If you don't give back my lollipop, I'll drown you in tears.'

Translation: "He occasionally spread his hands, pretending not to notice, glancing at me; seeing me still frozen like a log, not coming to hug him, he cried even harder, like a neighborhood kid whose lollipop was taken, as if saying, 'If you don't give back my lollipop, I'll drown you in tears.'"

At the moment Little Fat turned and ran toward me, the injured ghost infant seized the chance to flee out of the alley. The whole alley now contained only me, Chen Mo, Pangzi, and the wailing Little Fat.

Translation: "At the moment Little Fat turned and ran toward me, the injured Ghost Infant seized the chance to flee out of the alley. The whole alley held only me, Chen Mo, Pangzi, and the wailing Little Fat."

'Clang, clang… Hai Sheng, clang-clang' Seeing me still standing there like a log, Little Fat cried even more sharply. But I wasn't unwilling to move; I simply couldn't move at all!

Translation: "'Clang, clang… Hai Sheng, clang-clang,' seeing me still standing like a log, Little Fat cried even more sharply. But I'm not unwilling to move; I simply can't move at all!"

'Snake… snake tip blood' Pangzi, collapsed weakly in the corner, whispered to me.

Translation: "'Snake… snake-tip blood,' the collapsed Pangzi in the corner weakly said to me."

Pangzi, being so weak, had used all his strength, so his words weren't very clear. He was saying 'tongue-tip blood,' not 'snake-tip blood.'

Translation: "Because Pangzi was so weak he'd exhausted all his strength, his words weren't very clear. He meant 'tongue-tip blood,' not 'snake-tip.'"

In folklore, there has long been the rumor of tongue-tip blood, hot as fire, and middle-finger blood, hard as iron; this rumor is not false but truly exists. The tongue tip is where a person's essence, energy, and spirit converge; biting the tongue tip can quickly boost the three flames on one's body.

In folklore, there has long been the rumor of tongue-tip blood, hot as fire, and middle-finger blood, hard as iron; this rumor is not false but truly exists. The tongue tip is where a person's essence, energy, and spirit converge; biting the tongue tip can quickly boost the three flames on one's body.

If a Daoist's mind is unsettled or he is trapped in an illusion he cannot escape, he can also use tongue-tip blood to stimulate himself, borrowing that moment of clarity to walk out of the false illusion.

Translation: "If a Daoist's mind is unsettled, or if they're trapped in an illusion they can't escape, they can also use tongue-tip blood to stimulate themselves, leveraging that moment of clarity to walk out of the false illusion."

Following Pangzi's advice, I bit hard on my tongue tip; my tongue ached, and it seemed a thick substance was spreading in my mouth. Immediately after, my whole body relaxed, and I collapsed completely onto the ground.

Translation: "Following Pangzi's meaning, I bit down hard on my tongue tip; my tongue hurt, and it seemed a thick substance spread in my mouth. Immediately after, my whole body went limp, and I collapsed completely onto the ground."

At that moment, I finally realized my body was back under my conscious control; my hands were weak, but at least they could move.

Translation: "At this moment, I finally realized my body had regained control under my consciousness; my hands were weak, but at least they could move."

I quickly turned sideways, opened my arms toward Little Fat in an embracing gesture.

Translation: "I quickly turned sideways, opened my arms toward Little Fat in an embracing gesture."

Seeing me make that embracing gesture, Little Fat immediately stopped crying, dragged his two little snot trails, and waddled over to me.

Translation: "Seeing me make that embracing gesture, Little Fat immediately stopped crying and smiled, dragging two little snot trails, waddling over to me."

As his weight settled, Little Fat's chubby body was firmly embraced by me. Only then did I notice Little Fat's abnormality: his body had truly become substantial, no longer a spirit.

Translation: "As my hands sank, I firmly embraced Little Fat's chubby body. Only then did I notice Little Fat's abnormality: his body had truly become solid, no longer a soul state."

A ghost able to condense its spirit into substance must either be an evil spirit or a cultivated one. Obviously Little Fat cannot be an evil spirit, so the only possibility is the latter.

Translation: "A ghost capable of condensing its soul into substance is either an evil spirit or one with cultivation. Obviously Little Fat couldn't be an evil spirit, so the only possibility is the latter."

But I also can't understand how Little Fat managed to condense his spirit into substance in such a short time.

Translation: "But I also can't fathom how Little Fat managed to condense his soul into substance in such a short time."

'Ay yo, Little Fat, you ran so fast you tired out Grandma me…' Not only Little Fat, but Grandma Red also came.

Translation: "'Ay yo, I say Little Fat, you ran too fast, you've tired out Grandma me…' Not only Little Fat, but Red Grandma also came."

Following closely behind was Murong Jia Jia, dressed in a blue-and-white outfit, like a fairy descending to the mortal world, holding an umbrella and walking toward me step by step.

Translation: "Following closely behind was Murong Jia Jia, wearing a blue-and-white white outfit, like a fairy descending to the mortal world, holding an umbrella and walking step by step toward me."

'How come you all came here.' Running, Little Fat, I weakly asked. Although I brought them to Macau, when Pangzi pulled me out, I had left the three of them in the hotel and hadn't brought them out.

Translation: "'How come you all came?' I asked weakly while Little Fat ran. Although I brought them to Aomen, when Pangzi pulled me out, I had left all three of them in the inn and hadn't brought them out."

Red Grandma panted, gave a wry smile, and answered me: 'It's not Little Fat's fault; he mysteriously dragged me and Miss Murong out. Who knew that halfway, he would lose his trail. Fortunately, Miss Murong has some skills; otherwise, I'd be like a blind fly bumping around on the street.'

Translation: "Red Grandma panted, gave a wry smile, and answered me: 'It's not anything else—Little Fat mysteriously dragged me and Miss Murong out. Who knew, halfway there he lost his trail. Fortunately Miss Murong has some skill; otherwise I'd be like a blind fly bumping around the street.'"

In my arms, Little Fat had already fallen asleep, biting his finger, perhaps uttering 'Clang, clang' in his dream; this appearance bears no trace of his former fierceness, he is completely an innocent, unaware child.

Translation: "The Little Fat in my arms had already fallen asleep, biting his finger, perhaps uttering 'clang, clang' in his sleep; this appearance bears no trace of his former fierceness, he is completely an innocent, lovable child unaware of the world."

Touching his chubby face, I felt an inexplicable sensation lightly plucking my heartstrings, like seeing my own child asleep in my arms, feeling the blood connection between us.

Translation: "As I touched its chubby face, an inexplicable feeling lightly plucked my heartstrings, like seeing my own child asleep in my arms, one can sense the blood connection between us."

'Little Fat sensed I was in danger, so he brought you here.' I stroked Little Fat's cheek, smiling as I explained to Red Grandma.

The line ends with 'explained' but lacks a closing quotation mark.

Translation: "'Little Fat sensed I was in danger, so he dragged you all here.' I stroked Little Fat's cheek, gave a light laugh, and explained to Red Grandma."

Only then did I notice that the atmosphere in the alley felt off.

Translation: "Upon speaking, I only then sensed that the atmosphere in the alley was somewhat off."

Murong Jia Jia held up her oil-paper umbrella, standing in a dead corner of the alley, staring fixedly at the ground. That was where the ghost infant had been beaten bloody by Little Fat, and patches of eerie green blood still lingered on the ground.

Translation: "Murong Jia Jia stood in the alley's dead corner, holding an oil-paper umbrella, staring fixedly at the ground. That was where the Ghost Infant had been beaten bloody-headed by Little Fat, and the ground still bore patches of dark green blood."

Meanwhile, Chen Mo had already fainted. Pangzi, with a pig‑brother stare, gazed lustfully at Murong Jia Jia, his eyes gleaming like a wolf under the full moon, and he let out a long, fierce howl: 'Ah‑oo, beautiful lady!'

Translation: "Beside her, Chen Mo had already passed out, while Pangzi stared at Murong Jia Jia with a pig-brother look, eyes gleaming like a wicked wolf under the full moon, he let out a fierce long howl: 'Ooooh, beautiful lady!'"

'The laughter‑warding flower, it really is the laughter‑warding flower,' Murong Jia Jia whispered, her voice tinged with surprise.

Translation: "'Laughing Nightmare Flower, it's actually a Laughing Nightmare Flower,' Murong Jia Jia murmured softly, her voice tinged with surprise."

'What, the laughter‑warding flower… Miss Murong, you say this is the laughter‑warding flower.' Red Grandma also stared in shock, quickly stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and sniffed the pool of green blood.

Translation: "'What, Laughing Nightmare Flower… Miss Murong, you say this is Laughing Nightmare Flower.' Red Grandma also started, quickly walked over, squatted on the ground, and sniffed the pool of green blood."

'Like a dream, like intoxication, to die in dreams… this is the taste of the laughter‑warding flower, there's no mistake,' Murong Jia Jia sighed softly, seeming to sink into a long reverie.

Translation: "'Like a dream, like an illusion, drunk and dreaming to death… this is the taste of the Laughing Nightmare Flower, there's no mistake,' Murong Jia Jia sighed softly, seeming to fall into a long reverie."

'The laughter‑warding flower, what the heck is that!' Pangzi struggled forward, shoved me with his elbow, then pointed at Murong Jia Jia and asked me: 'Hey, isn't this the female ghost you brought out from Yao Yirong's house?'

Translation: "'Laughing Nightmare Flower, what the heck is that!' Pangzi struggled to crawl toward me, shoved me with his elbow, then pointed at Murong Jia Jia and asked me: 'Hey, this is the female ghost you brought out from Yao Yirong's home.'"

After I nodded and said I would explain later, Pangzi instantly let out a loud 'Ah!' and his eyes almost blinked out countless little stars.

Translation: "After I nodded and said yes, Pangzi instantly let out a loud 'ah,' his eyes almost blinking with countless little stars."

This truly is a beautiful woman, beautiful to the point of explosion; compared to her, any celebrity model is utterly weak!

Translation: "She really is a beauty, a stunning beauty; compared to her, any celebrity model is utterly weak."

Pangzi jumped up and down shouting loudly, and what greeted him was my merciless flick to the forehead.

Pangzi jumped up and down shouting loudly, and what greeted him was my merciless flick to the forehead.

'Can't you have a bit of Uncle Qing Song's composure and still chat calmly?' I gave him a contemptuous look.

Translation: "'Can't you have a bit of QingSongShu's decorum and chat calmly?' I gave him a fierce look of contempt."

Pangzi clasped his hands, bowed his head, and softly uttered a Buddhist phrase, then replied: 'I hate him, Ah Ni Tuo, bless his boundless venerable, I admire her beauty in my heart—how could I pretend that all four are empty to hide my worldly desires?'

I hate him, Ah Ni Tuo, bless his boundless venerable.

I admire her beauty in my heart; how could I pretend that all four are empty to hide my worldly desires.

We'll translate: "With palms together, Pangzi lowered his head, softly uttered a Buddhist phrase, then replied: 'I hate him, Ah Ni Tuo, bless his boundless venerable; I admire her beauty in my heart—how could I pretend that all four are empty to conceal my worldly desires?'"

Seeing veins bulge on my forehead, about to lose my temper again, Pangzi hastily waved his hands, gave a grin, and said: 'I'll go check how Chen Mo this lass is doing now.'

Seeing veins bulge on my forehead, about to lose my temper again, Pangzi hastily waved his hands, gave a grin, and said: 'I'll go check how Chen Mo this lass is doing now.'

After a while, Pangzi's voice came again, but this time it was no longer panicked shouting; instead, his tone was solemn and questioning.

Translation: "After a moment, Pangzi's voice came again, but this time it was no longer panicked shouting; instead, his tone carried gravity and doubt."

'Hai Sheng… come look at this!' Pangzi waved at me.

Translation: "'Hai Sheng… come over and look!' Pangzi waved at me."

I put Little Fat on the ground, struggled to rise, and walked toward Pangzi.

Translation: "I put Little Fat on the ground, struggled to my feet, and walked over to Pangzi."

What Pangzi wanted me to look at was Chen Mo, already collapsed unconscious on the ground.

Translation: "What Pangzi wanted me to look at was Chen Mo, already collapsed unconscious on the ground."

'Look, look, look, look at your sister, you think I'm as lecherous as you.' Just a glance, I hurriedly covered my eyes and turned my head elsewhere.

Perhaps because he had rolled on the ground several times earlier, Chen Mo's clothes were scraped by stones in several places, tearing big holes in his thighs and back, exposing his snow‑white skin.

'I didn't tell you to look at that, I wanted you to look at her forehead…' Pangzi said impatiently.

Translation: "Perhaps because Chen Mo had rolled several times on the ground earlier, his clothes were scraped open in several places by the stones, wearing large holes in his thighs and back, revealing snowy-white skin."

'I didn't tell you to look at that; I wanted you to look at her forehead…' Pangzi said angrily.

Translation: "'I didn't have you look at that; I wanted you to look at her forehead,' Pangzi said irritably."

'Forehead, what's there to look at!' I muttered under my breath, then turned my gaze to Chen Mo's forehead.

Translation: "'Forehead, forehead, what's there to look at?' I muttered under my breath, shifting my gaze to Chen Mo's forehead."

Upon looking, I couldn't help but zone out for half a minute. From the outside, her forehead was spotless as before, merely unconscious. But with my spiritual sight, I faintly saw that half of her life soul—one of the three souls—had already risen above her head, a sign that her life soul was about to depart her body.

Translation: "Upon looking, I also couldn't help but space out for half a minute. Externally, her forehead was spotless as before, merely unconscious. But with my spiritual eye, I faintly saw that half of the life soul, one of the three souls, had already left her head—this is the rhythm of the life soul about to depart the body."

Seeing this, Pangzi didn't hesitate; he quickly bit his middle finger, dabbed the blood on her forehead, and chanted a calming spell to steady the soul about to leave her body.

Translation: "Seeing this, Pangzi didn't dare hesitate; he immediately bit his middle finger, pressed it to her forehead, chanted a calming spell, stabilizing the life soul about to leave the body."

Middle‑finger blood, hard as iron; besides repelling evil spirits, it also has the power to stabilize the spirit.

Translation: "Middle-finger blood, hard as iron; besides repelling evil spirits, middle-finger blood also has the effect of stabilizing the soul."

'Let's go back and talk about it later!'

Translation: "'Let's go, we'll talk later!'"

At this moment, a suffocating gloom has been spreading across my heart; the appearance of the Ghost Infant and Chen Mo's current state let my confused mind faintly catch a trace of something.

It's just that my body and mind are too exhausted, my head is too muddled, and I can't clearly express this sudden realization.

For now, the only option is to first leave this place of right and wrong, return to the guesthouse, and then discuss a long-term plan.