Chapter 403

Without talisman paper, Five Ghost Coins and Longevity Gold, I had to make do with what was at hand.

Translation: "Without a talisman paper, Five Ghost Coins and Longevity Gold, I had to make do with what was at hand."

Check: original: Without talisman paper, Five Ghost Coins and Longevity Gold, I had to make do with what was at hand. Means: No talisman paper, Five Ghost Coins and Longevity Gold, I also only could use local materials. So translation: "Without a talisman paper, Five Ghost Coins and Longevity Gold, I had to make do with what was at hand." Good.

After paying respects to the earth god in front of the City God Temple, I took a small incense burner used for offering to the earth, estimated the direction based on the time, ran to the northern intersection, placed the incense burner against the wall, and performed the rite facing west.

Translation: "After paying respects to the Earth God in front of the City God Temple, I took a small incense burner for offering to the earth, estimated the direction based on the time, ran to the northern crossroads, placed the incense burner against the wall, and performed the rite facing west."

Check: "Facing west while performing the rite" means performing the rite facing west. Good.

I didn't have the Heaven‑Viewing flag used for the ritual, so I temporarily substituted the Yin Mountain Order flag. I hadn't brought ink or white paper, so I could only pick up some scraps of cloth in the temple, using the remaining incense ash and burner residue as ink to write the talisman on the cloth.

Translation: "Having no Watch Heaven Flag for the rite, I temporarily substituted the Yin Mountain Order Flag. Lacking ink and white paper, I could only pick up some torn cloth in the temple, using the remaining incense heads and furnace ash as ink, and wrote the talisman on the cloth."

Check: "Writing the talisman on the cloth" means writing the talisman on the cloth. Good.

After finishing all that, I turned back and returned, once again taking some weeds from the City God Temple, bundling them into a scarecrow shape, then wrapping a few strands of hair around its waist and placing it in front of the incense burner.

Translation: "After preparing all this, I turned back and returned, again taking some weeds from the City God Temple, bundling them into the shape of a scarecrow, then wrapping these few strands of hair around the scarecrow's waist, and placing it before the incense burner."

Please come, please come, disciple sincerely and devotedly invites, inviting the Three Mountains and Nine Periods, the Maoshan Dharma Master, the Yin Mountain Old Ancestor… All the ancestral masters come to the altar, personally transmitting to disciple Chen Hai Sheng, who wholeheartedly invites, please let the ancestral masters display their mighty power, please let the ancestral masters come to command troops and obey my orders… I follow the edict of the Yin Mountain Ancestor.

Translation: ""I pray, I pray, disciple sincerely and devotedly pray, inviting the Three Mountains Nine Marquises, Mount Mao Dharma Lord, Yin Mountain Old Ancestor…… all the ancestors come to the altar, personally transmitting disciple Chen Hai Sheng wholeheartedly invites, please ancestor Dharma Lord manifest mighty power, please let the ancestors come to command the troops and obey my order…… I obey the edict of the Yin Mountain Ancestor.""

We need to keep quotes. The line starts with 「 and ends with 」. We'll keep the quotation marks as English double quotes? Usually we keep the Chinese quotation marks? The instruction: translate faithfully, not add. We should keep the quotation marks as they are? Probably we should convert to English quotes? The instruction didn't specify. Usually we keep the original punctuation? But we are translating to English, we can replace Chinese quotes with English quotes. However to be faithful, we could keep the Chinese quotes? But output must be English. I'd use English double quotes.

Thus: ""I pray, I pray, disciple sincerely and devotedly pray, inviting the Three Mountains Nine Marquises, Mount Mao Dharma Lord, Yin Mountain Old Ancestor…… all the ancestors come to the altar, personally transmitting disciple Chen Hai Sheng wholeheartedly invites, please ancestor Dharma Lord manifest mighty power, please let the ancestors come to command the troops and obey my order…… I obey the edict of the Yin Mountain Ancestor.""

But note the original had ellipsis after each segment. We'll keep ellipsis.

After reciting the invitation chant and kowtowing three times, I placed the incense smoke before the burner, simplified the complex, and began to deploy troops and perform the rite.

Translation: "After reciting the summoning prayer and kowtowing three times, I planted the incense smoke before the incense burner, simplified the complex, and began to deploy troops and perform the rite."

Check: "Simplify the complex" means simplify the complex; "deploy troops and perform the rite" means deploy troops and perform the rite. Good.

This time I employed a common folk witchcraft, using a living person's hair as a guide and the scarecrow as a medium, to cast the spell upon the sword‑wielder.

Translation: "This time I used a common folk witchcraft, taking a living person's hair as a lure, the scarecrow as a medium, to cast the spell upon the sword-wielder."

This kind of witchcraft is not uncommon among the folk; even in rural villages, many people who know a little but have ill intentions use scarecrows, silver needles mixed with cat blood, stabbing them into different parts of the scarecrow to curse people.

Translation: "Such witchcraft is not uncommon among the folk, and even in rural villages many who know a little but have corrupt minds use scarecrows, silver needles, mixed with cat blood, stabbing different parts of the scarecrow to curse people."

Consequently, upon hearing of this witchcraft, many people immediately associate it with harming heaven and reason, unforgivable ten evils.

Translation: "Thus, upon hearing of this witchcraft, many immediately associate it with harming heaven and reason, unforgivable of the ten evils."

Nevertheless, I still hold to the old saying: the law itself has no good or evil, only people do; the technique itself is not wrong, and the act of casting it isn't inherently significant—it depends on how the knowledgeable practitioner uses it, whether they apply it with proper restraint, leaving each other a sliver of leeway.

Translation: "However, I still hold that old saying: the method itself has no good or evil, only people have good or evil. The technique itself is not wrong; the process of casting is not necessarily significant; it depends on how the knowledgeable person uses the technique, whether they gauge the measure when acting, and each leaves the other a little leeway."

Although that flying sword nearly killed everyone, I still didn't want to go too far; planting this scarecrow wasn't meant to take the sword‑wielder's life. I only wanted to force him out, clarify the whole story, see if there's room for negotiation, ideally turning swords into silk and peace, so we could all go our separate ways safely.

Translation: "Although that flying sword nearly killed everyone, I still did not want to go too far; planting this scarecrow was not meant to take the sword-wielder's life. I only wanted to force him out, clarify the whole story, see if there was room for negotiation, best to turn swords into silk and peace, thereafter safe and sound, each going his own way."

"Heaven's essence, earth's essence, three essences become one spirit. Summon the great ghosts, summon the small ghosts, summon the great and small seventy‑two directional killing ghosts; they do not cause illness or injury, they specialize in frightening the human body to harm you, making you tremble with fear, making you dizzy and unable to tell direction."

Translation: ""Heaven's essence, earth's essence, three essences become one spirit. Invite the great ghosts, invite the small ghosts, summon the Seventy-two Directions Evil Ghosts, they cause no illness nor injury, solely to frighten the body and wound you, make you tremble with fear, make you dizzy and unable to tell east from west...""

The spell cast upon the scarecrow is called the "Flying Spirit Seed Evil Curse."

Translation: "The spell cast upon the scarecrow is called the 'Floating Spirit Seed Evil Curse'."

Despite its ominous name, this technique is actually mild; it does not harm life, but merely directs troops to affect a person's spirit and mood, inducing fear.

Translation: "Unlike the ominous feeling its name suggests, this spell is actually mild, does not harm life, merely directs troops to affect a person's spirit and mood, causing fear to arise."

In plain terms, this technique is commonly used to punish men who spend all day carousing, neglecting their wives and wandering outside; it makes these bad men mend their ways, cut off their karmic ties, and return promptly to their wives.

Translation: "Put simply, this spell is commonly used to punish men who spend all day carousing, neglecting their wives and wandering outside; it makes these bad men halt at the brink, sever their karmic ties, and return promptly to their wives' sides."

Just as the chant's content indicates, it does not cause actual harm; it merely makes you feel inexplicable fear all day, unable to eat or sleep, occasionally feeling anxious, your mind foggy, unable to distinguish direction.

Translation: "Just as the spell's content says, it will not bring you substantive harm, only make you inexplicably fearful all day, unable to eat, unable to sleep, occasionally feeling anxious, mind muddled, unable to distinguish east from west."

This technique also has several variations depending on the chant's ending and hand seal. If after "making you dizzy and unable to tell direction" comes "never ceasing, only fearing, after a hundred days return home," then it is certainly used to bind a husband who carouses outside back home. If the ending is the one I am currently chanting, however, it is quite different.

Translation: "This technique also has several different uses, depending on the spell's ending and hand sign. If after 'make you dizzy and unable to tell east from west' comes 'never ceasing, only fearing, after a hundred days return to the hometown', then it is certainly to bind the husband who spends his days carousing outside back home. If the spell's ending is the segment I am now chanting, then it is quite different."

After all, the opponent is also a practitioner, so ordinary usage might not work on him. Therefore I changed the chant's ending and hand seal, intensifying the Flying Spirit curse's effect. Cast upon this scarecrow, it makes his head feel like it will split, his brain as if struck by a great bell, leaving him no peace.

Translation: "After all, the opponent is also a practitioner; ordinary use might not work on him. So I changed the spell's ending and hand sign, intensifying the Floating Spirit Curse's effect. Cast upon this scarecrow, it makes his head feel like it will split, his mind as if struck by a great bell, never at peace."

If he cannot endure the pain and appears before me begging for mercy, then my goal is achieved, and naturally I will also lift the spell from him.

Translation: "As long as he cannot endure the pain and appears to beg for mercy, my purpose is then fulfilled, and naturally I will also dispel the spell for him."

However, after I cast the spell, I realized I had underestimated the opponent's ruthlessness.

Translation: "However, after I cast the spell, I only then realized I had underestimated the opponent's ruthlessness."

While I was focusing my spirit, covering the scarecrow with a talisman cloth, chanting with one hand over my face, suddenly my palm felt as if pricked by a needle, followed immediately by a piercing pain that shot through my bones from my palm.

Translation: "Just as I closed my mind, covered the scarecrow with a talisman cloth, and chanted the spell with one hand over my face, suddenly my palm felt as if pricked by a needle, followed immediately by a piercing pain that shot through my bones from my palm."

Laypeople cannot understand the entanglement of magical combat, but its consequences are no less than close‑quarters fighting—in fact, they are even more fierce.

Translation: "Outsiders cannot understand the entanglement of the magical combat, but its consequences are no less than close-quarters fighting, indeed even more fierce."

The pain in my palm is the counterattack of the sword‑arts practitioner; after sensing my spell, he immediately performed a counter‑ritual on the altar. I did not expect his heart to be so vicious—he used silver needles to curse me, directly stabbing my left hand, the hand I use to cast spells.

Translation: "The pain transmitted from my palm is the counterattack of the Sword Technique Practitioner; after sensing my spell, he immediately performed a counter-rite on the altar. I did not expect his heart to be so vicious, using a silver needle to curse me, directly stabbing my left hand with which I cast the spell."

For an ordinary person, that hand would surely be crippled. Even though I have divine soldiers and generals protecting my practice, after completing the spell my palm would likely develop a large ulcer that would not heal quickly.

Translation: "If it were an ordinary person, this hand would surely be crippled. Even with Divine Spirit Soldiers protecting my dharma, I fear that after completing the spell, my palm will develop a large festering sore and will not heal quickly."

My anger surged from my feet to my head; I hardened my resolve and added a Heavenly Sovereign Tightening Spell to the paper figure.

Translation: "My fury surged from my feet to my crown; I hardened my heart and again added a Heavenly Monarch Tightening Curse to the paper figure."

"Tightening spell, tighten tight, tighten until your head feels like it will split and you cannot live; pain so intense you roll about with your legs in the air."

Translation: ""Tightening Curse, tighten tight, tighten until your head splits and you cannot live, pain so great you flop belly-up...""

When I bit my middle finger to draw essence‑blood to open the eyes, I again suffered a fierce counterattack from the sword's master.

Translation: "When I bit my middle finger, using essence blood to dot the eyes, I again suffered a fierce counterattack from the Sword Master."

My chest seized with a sharp pain, as if a blade had pierced my heart, leaving me unable to breathe, with waves of cutting‑like agony in my chest.

Translation: "My chest suddenly ached, as if a sword had pierced my heart, making me unable to breathe, with waves of cutting pain in my chest."

"Damn, that's vicious—he actually gave me a heart‑piercing arrow."

Translation: ""Damn, truly vicious, actually gave me a Piercing Heart Arrow.""

I am not unfamiliar with this technique; it is one of the hallmark arts of the Red Lotus Sect in folk magical tradition, extremely fierce. Though called a "civil method," it is not; yet if called a martial method, its application resembles a civil method.

Translation: "I am not unfamiliar with this technique; it is one of the housekeeping arts of the Red Lotus Sect in folk law, extremely fierce. Though called literary law, it is not; but if called martial law, its application is more like literary law."

Therefore, this technique lies between civil and martial methods, resembling a civil‑martial cursing art.

Translation: "Therefore, this technique lies between literary and martial law, resembling a literary martial art of cursing."

The Red Lotus Sect, the Azure Gang, and the Bright Light are together known as the three methods and two teachings of Guangdong‑Guangxi, with deep origins. Since the fatty is a successor of the Bright Light, I have also studied this heart‑piercing arrow technique and know its counter‑method.

Translation: "Red Lotus Sect and Azure Gang, Splendor Light are together called the Three Laws Two Teachings of Guangdong-Guangxi, with deep origins. Since Pangzi is a successor of Splendor Light, I also have learned the Piercing Heart Arrow technique, and I know its solution."

However, when I pinched the ritual finger and chanted the counter‑spell, I suddenly found that the counter‑spell was ineffective. After trying several more times, I discovered it had no effect—instead, my heart pain grew worse.

Translation: "However, when I pinched the Seal Finger and chanted the solution's incantation, suddenly I found the solution ineffective. I tried several more times, finding not only no effect, but my heart ached ever more severely."

After several attempts, I finally understood what was happening. Having figured out the cause, besides a cold feeling in my head, a surging anger welled up in my chest that I could not suppress.

Translation: "After trying several times, I finally understood what was happening. Having figured out the cause, besides my head feeling cold, my heart surged with repressed, rising fury."

This practitioner, well‑versed in the Way of the Flying Sword, not only gave me the heart‑piercing arrow but also added a "pinning" spell onto it.

Translation: "The practitioner well-versed in the Way of the Sword, besides giving me the Piercing Heart Arrow, also laid a Foundation Law upon it."

The pinning method is an internal secret art; if any spell has a pinning added to it, only the caster themselves can pull out the pin and undo the incantation—otherwise no one can break it, hence it is also called "the spell that no one can break."

Translation: "Foundation Law is an internal secret art; if any spell is cast with Foundation Law added atop it, unless one personally comes to pull the stake and undo the incantation, no one can break the spell, hence also called 'Unbreakable Spell Law'."

This technique is extremely vicious and carries great risk; it is usually placed atop a death curse. However, if someone manages to undo it, it will directly harm the caster's mind and spirit, possibly causing instant death in severe cases. Unless it is an irreconcilable deadly feud where only one side can survive, ordinary sorcerers and Daoists usually leave a sliver of leeway and would not lay a lethal curse on a person.

Translation: "This technique is extremely sinister and carries great risk; normally it is laid upon a death curse. But if someone solves it, it will directly harm the caster's mind and spirit, severely even causing instant death. Unless it is an unsolvable deadly feud where only one of us can survive, otherwise ordinary sorcerers and Daoists will leave a leeway, not giving a death curse."

The heart is one of the body's vital points; now the master of the Flying Sword first wounded me with the heart‑piercing arrow, then added a pinning spell onto it—he has truly hardened his heart, determined to kill me.

Translation: "The heart is one of the body's vital points; now the Sword Master first wounded me with the Piercing Heart Arrow, then added a Foundation Law atop it—he has truly hardened his heart, determined to put me to death."

The pain in my chest grew worse; I felt like a heart‑attack patient, breathing ever more difficult, even when I opened my mouth and gulped air, the suffocating sensation kept intensifying.

Translation: "The pain in my chest grew worse; at this moment I resembled a heart-attack patient, breathing ever more difficult, even if I opened my mouth and gulped air, the sensation of suffocation continued to intensify."

If this continues, the one who will die is definitely me.

Translation: "If this continues, the one who will die is definitely me."

"I absolutely cannot just wait to die."

Translation: ""Absolutely cannot sit and wait for death.""

I gritted my teeth, sat cross‑legged slowly, pinched the finger seal, and prepared to deploy the Hundred‑Release method.

Translation: "I gritted my teeth, sat cross-legged slowly, pinched the finger sign, and prepared to deploy the Hundred Solutions Method."

Anything that appears strong always has a corresponding counterpart that restrains it; there are no absolute strengths or weaknesses, victories or defeats. This is the principle of yin‑yang interaction, where all things generate and overcome each other.

Translation: "Anything that seems strong will have a corresponding thing that restrains it. There is no absolute strength or weakness, victory or defeat. This is the so-called yin-yang engendering, all things mutual generation and overcoming."

In talismanic ritual arts, the Hundred‑Release method is the counter to the pinning method. Moreover, it can dispel any harmful punitive technique. It is a secret art, yet not truly secret; many know it, but few dare to use it.

Translation: "In talismanic technique, the Hundred Solutions Method is the nemesis of Foundation Law. Moreover, it can dispel all harmful punitive arts. It is a secret art, yet not truly secret; those who know it are certainly not few, but few dare to use it."

Because it is rather useless—like a chicken rib—and at the same time has a very serious drawback.

Translation: "Because it is rather useless, and at the same time has a very serious drawback."

Its uselessness lies in the fact that to break a spell with the Hundred‑Release method, the practitioner's power must be ten times, or even more than ten times, that of the opponent. Only when the power disparity reaches a certain level does the Hundred‑Release incantation work. The drawback is that if your cultivation has not reached at least ten times the opponent's level, you cannot undo their spell; instead, you may suffer a double backlash from the magical force.

Translation: "Its uselessness lies in that the mage who uses Hundred Solutions Method to break a spell must have power ten times, even more than tenfold, that of the opponent; only when the power disparity reaches a certain degree does the Hundred Solutions incantation take effect. The drawback is, if your cultivation has not reached ten times the caster's level, you cannot undo the opponent's spell, and may even suffer double backlash from the spell's power,"

Therefore, the Hundred‑Release incantation is quite useless, absolutely a pitfall in talismanic ritual arts. When I first encountered it, I thought the creator was nonsensical. Think about it: when the power gap is ten‑plus times, who would still need your Hundred‑Release method to break a curse?

Translation: "Thus, this Hundred Solutions incantation is quite useless, truly a pitfall in talismanic technique. When I first encountered it, I thought the creator of this art was ridiculous. Think about it: when the power disparity is tenfold or more…… who would still need your Hundred Solutions incantation to break a spell?"

However, I never expected that the very technique I had long considered absurd and useless would, at this moment, become my lifeline.

Translation: "Only I never expected that this art, which I had long considered ridiculous and useless, would at this moment become my lifeline."

Feeling the intensifying stabbing pain in my heart, I could only summon the courage of a desperate person—if I fail, I die—and make one daring attempt.

Translation: "Feeling the heart's ever-stronger stabbing pain, I now can only embrace the courage of 'if not successful, then become a dead person' and give it a try."

I can confidently say that the owner of the flying sword, due to the sword's damage, has suffered injury to mind and spirit; nevertheless, this opponent is certainly no ordinary person—even wounded, they are far beyond what an average person could shake.

Translation: "I can be certain that the master of the flying sword, due to the sword's damage, has had his mind and spirit injured. Yet he is certainly no ordinary person; even wounded, he is not someone an average person can shake."

Therefore, in using the Hundred‑Release method, I unhesitatingly bit the tip of my tongue.

Translation: "Therefore, in using the Hundred Solutions Method, I unhesitatingly bit my tongue tip."

The blood from the tongue tip is also called "true yang saliva"; instantly biting the tongue allows one to draw on the tongue's yang energy to boost magical power. Each time the tongue tip is bitten, the Daoist becomes weakened for a period.

Translation: "Tongue-tip blood is also called True Yang Saliva; instantly biting the tongue, one can use the tip's yang energy to boost magical power. Each time the tongue tip is bitten, the Daoist himself will be weakened for a period."

I had used this method before when encountering the infant snake, and it restored my instant strength. Now, to minimize risk, I chose to bite my tongue tip again and cast the spell.

Translation: "This method was also used when I encountered the Serpent Infant, and it restored my momentary strength. Now, to minimize risk, I chose to bite my tongue tip again and cast the spell."

After biting my tongue tip, I pinched the Spirit Mountain seal with my left hand, the Three Pure Ones seal with my right, stepped in Yu's pace, left Kui right Gang, then stood in the Ding step, and slowly performed the Hundred‑Release method.

Translation: "After biting the tongue tip, I left hand pinched the Spirit Mountain Decision, right hand the Three Pure Decision, feet stepped the Yu Step, left Kui Right Gang, then stood in Ding Step, and slowly deployed the Hundred Solutions Method."

The moment of casting is also the start of the duel; it is the beginning of the clash between the Hundred‑Release and pinning methods. And the focus of this clash has shifted from the scarecrow directly to me.

Translation: "The moment of casting is also the start of the duel, the beginning of the clash between Hundred Solutions Method and Foundation Law; and the focus of the clash has shifted from that scarecrow directly to me."