Chapter 407

As the cold grew stronger, the chill spread from my hand, and the flickering flame on the wick was already covered with a layer of white frost.

Translation: As that cold grew stronger, the chill spread from my hand, and the flickering flame on the wick was already covered with a layer of white frost.

Inside the formation, the cracks in the gloomy pillars were gradually spreading, extending from the length of a single finger to the length of an arm.

Inside the formation, the cracks in the gloomy pillars were gradually spreading, extending from the length of a single finger to the length of an arm.

Fatty had almost turned into frost, and my hands were nearly stiff; I wanted to exert more force, but the frost had already frozen my arms.

Translation: Pangzi was almost frozen into frost, and my hands were nearly stiff; I wanted to increase the force, but the frost had already frozen my arms stiff.

Finally, in the blink of an eye, the wick went out.

Translation: Finally, in the blink of an eye, the wick went out.

My heart jolted; the wick going out meant the formation had failed, and Fatty…?

Translation: My heart jolted; the wick going out meant the formation had failed, and Pangzi…?

"Fatty…" I felt my mind shake, tears streaming, I anxiously lifted my head.

Translation: "Pangzi…" I felt my spirit about to shake, tears streaming, I anxiously lifted my head.

Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled, shaking me to the ground; as I, tear‑streaked, staggered to my feet, I saw that the situation on the field had changed…

Translation: Suddenly, a tremor shook heaven and earth, throwing me to the ground; when I, tears flowing, staggered to my feet, I saw that the situation on the field had changed…

The so‑called gloomy wood had stopped bursting; a white mist filled the field, and the twelve flags stood firm like an old monk in meditation, without cracking as expected.

The so‑called gloomy wood ceased its bursting, a white mist filled the field, and the twelve flags stood firm like an old monk in meditation, without cracking as expected.

In this formation of the black‑wood twelve flags, a spherical ice sculpture suddenly appeared. The ice sculpture emitted cold air, and through the transparent ice, Fatty's blurry outline could be faintly seen.

Translation: And within the formation of the black‑wood twelve flags, a spherical ice sculpture suddenly appeared. The ice sculpture emitted cold air; through the transparent ice, Pangzi's blurry outline could be faintly seen.

When I looked up at the sky, the Taiyin star, radiating a thick white light, had gradually shrunk to the size of a bowl, hanging high again in the heavens, no different from the ordinary moon.

Translation: And when I lifted my head to look at the sky, the Taiyin Star, which had been shedding a thick white light, gradually shrank to the size of a bowl and was hung high again in the heavens, no different from the ordinary moon one sees.

It turned out that at the moment the wick went out, it was also the moment the Taiyin star waned from its peak. No matter which celestial body, rise and fall have their time; once time passes, the stars return to darkness.

Translation: It turned out that the moment the wick went out was also the moment the Taiyin Star shifted from waxing to waning. For any celestial body, rise and fall have their time; once time passes, the star returns to dimness.

Before setting up the formation, Fatty repeatedly urged me to seize the time when the Taiyin star was at its height, never expecting that the star's decline would actually save our lives.

Translation: Before setting up the formation, Pangzi repeatedly urged me to seize this period when the Taiyin Star was at its peak, never expecting that the star's shift from peak to decline would actually save our lives.

Worldly affairs are truly unpredictable and ever‑changing.

Translation: Worldly affairs are truly unpredictable and hard to foresee.

Just as I was racking my brains on how to break the ice sculpture to rescue Fatty, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a black‑clad Fan Wuchang slowly walked in.

Translation: Just as I was racking my brains over how to smash the ice sculpture to rescue Pangzi, the courtyard gate creaked open and a figure in black robes, Fan Wuchang, walked in slowly.

"How did you come?" I asked Fan Wuchang, surprised.

Translation: "How did you come here?" I asked Fan Wuchang in surprise.

Fan Wuchang said, "I'm not at ease, I came to have a look." He then glanced around and asked me, "How's the situation? Is the formation set up? What about this kid, Weiqiang?"

Translation: Fan Wuchang said, "I couldn't rest easy, so I came to have a look." He then glanced around and asked me, "How's the situation? Is the formation set up? And what about this little guy Weiqiang?"

"The formation is set, Weiqiang…" I paused, then pointed at the ice sculpture and told Fan Wuchang, "He's inside."

Translation: "The formation is ready, Weiqiang…" I paused, then pointed at the ice sculpture and told Fan Wuchang, "He's inside."

"Um… inside," Fan Wuchang stared blankly at the ice sculpture for a moment; when he saw Fatty's blurry outline appearing on the outer edges of the ice, he couldn't help but let out a puff of laughter.

Translation: "Er… inside," Fan Wuchang stared at the ice sculpture in disbelief for a moment; when he saw Pangzi's blurry outline showing through the edges of the ice, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Haha, how did he get in there? Is he alright?" Fan Wuchang laughed, doubling over, because the edges of the ice revealed Fatty's embarrassed‑looking fat face, eyes and mouth wide open, one leg posed like a golden rooster standing on one foot, especially his hands crossed like a plus sign, vividly resembling the current popular "concave‑convex man."

Translation: "Haha, how did he get in there? Is he okay?" Fan Wuchang laughed doubled over, because through the edges of the ice sculpture one could see Pangzi's face, half‑crying, half‑laughing, mouth and eyes wide open, one leg posed like a golden rooster standing on one leg, especially his hands crossed like a plus sign, vividly resembling the current popular "Ao Tu Man".

I shrugged and told Fan Wuchang, "It's not dangerous, but if we don't break this ice sculpture, we'll have to wait for the ice to melt naturally before he can come out. However, if we chisel it open, I'm afraid I might hurt him."

Translation: I shrugged and told Fan Wuchang, "It's not dangerous, but if we don't break this ice sculpture, we'll have to wait for the ice to melt naturally before he can come out. Yet if we chip it open with a chisel, I'm afraid I might hurt him."

Fan Wuchang, holding his stomach, laughed loudly: "No problem, let him stay frozen! Besides, he's so tall that if he stays frozen long enough, he might even freeze into the height of Zeng Zhiwei."

Translation: Fan Wuchang held his belly and laughed loudly, "No problem, let him stay frozen! Besides, he's so tall that if he stays frozen long enough he might even grow to the height of Zeng Zhiwei."

Obviously, Fan Wuchang still held a grudge over Fatty's remark "your face looks more like Zeng Zhiwei," and he seized the chance to give Fatty a dig.

Translation: Obviously, Fan Wuchang still resented Pangzi's remark "your face looks more like Zeng Zhiwei", and he seized the chance to kick him while he was down.

"Brother Fan, what should we do now?" I said, shrugging helplessly.

Translation: "So, Brother Chang, what should we do now?" I asked, shoulders slumped, helpless.

Fan Wuchang laughed, "Cold‑tossed," then waved his hand, put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "Come on, let's go get hot pot, and we'll pack a portion for Fatty—maybe after we finish eating, the ice will melt on its own."

Translation: Fan Wuchang laughed, "Liangban," then waved a hand, put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "Come on, let's go get hot pot, and we'll pack a portion for Pangzi; maybe after we finish eating, the ice will melt on its own."

I… can hot pot be packed to go?

Translation: I… can hot pot be taken to go?

"Sure, you've never seen a take‑out hot pot, have you? I'll take you to see one!" Fan Wuchang slung his arm around my shoulder and dragged me out of the courtyard.

Translation: "Sure, you've never seen a take‑out hot pot, have you? I'll take you to check it out!" Fan Wuchang slung his arm around my shoulders and hauled me out of the courtyard.

At the same moment, the silent courtyard suddenly echoed with a loud shout.

Translation: At the same moment, the silent courtyard suddenly transmitted a loud roar.

"Edict…"

Translation: "Chi…"

That shout consisted of just the single character "Edict." When it faded, the ice shards exploded outward with a bang, startling me and Fan Wuchang into covering our heads and crouching down.

Translation: This roar consisted of only the single character "chi"; when the sound faded, ice fragments burst outward with a bang, startling me and Fan Wuchang to clasp our hands over our heads and crouch down.

No need to ask; hearing that sound, I knew it was Grandpa Fatty's latent power erupting, finally breaking free from the ice.

Translation: No need to ask; hearing that sound, one knows it's Pang Ye's latent power erupting, finally breaking free from the glass.

In the next instant, Fan Wuchang turned around, repeatedly clasping his fists in congratulations: "Congratulations, Fatty! Just as Sun Wukong leapt from a stone, you've jumped out of the ice—before long, the land of Shenzhou will produce another monster… no, a hero destined to be remembered for ages."

Translation: The next moment, I saw Fan Wuchang turn around, repeatedly clasping his fists in congratulations: "Congratulations, Wang Pangzi! Sun Wukong leapt from stone, and you actually jumped out of the ice—before long, the Divine Land will produce another monster… no, a hero destined to be remembered for ages."

Fan Wuchang teased Fatty, his mouth twitching as he struggled not to laugh.

Translation: Fan Wuchang teased Pangzi, his mouth twitching as he desperately held back laughter.

"Haqiu… you two heartless bastards, you threw me away… Haqiu, go eat hot pot… hot pot." Fatty hugged his shoulders, his whole body trembling from the extreme cold, his speech slurred.

Translation: "Ha Qiu… you two heartless bastards, you actually abandoned me… Ha Qiu, go eat hot pot… hot pot." Pangzi hugged his shoulders, his whole body trembling uncontrollably; from the extreme cold, his speech had become slurred.

"Wrong, Fatty, we're not going to eat hot pot, we're going to eat the vegetables in the hot pot!" Fan Wuchang said sternly, "We're not like you; we wouldn't do something like just eating hot pot."

Translation: "Wrong, Pangzi, we're not going to eat hot pot; we're going to eat the vegetables inside the hot pot!" Fan Wuchang said with a stern expression: "We're not like you; we can't do something like eating hot pot."

Fatty said nothing, just gave him a look of contempt.

Translation: Pangzi said nothing, just gave him a look of contempt.

One minute,

Translation: One minute,

Two minutes

Translation: Two minutes

Five minutes.

Translation: Five minutes.

Under that continual look of disdain, even Fan Wuchang's composure began to waver, so he coughed twice to hide his embarrassment: "Actually… we're trying to draw out your latent power; yes, we're helping you bring it out. Eating hot pot is just a reverse‑psychology tactic."

Translation: Under that continual look of disdain, even Fan Wuchang's composure felt a bit strained; so he quickly coughed twice to mask his embarrassment: "Actually… we're forcing out your latent power; yes, we're helping you draw it out—talking about hot pot is just a reverse‑psychology ploy."

Fatty remained silent.

Translation: Pangzi "…………"

I remained silent.

Translation: I "……………"

The Jin‑dynasty scholar Fu Xuan once said, "Near vermilion one becomes red; near ink one becomes black."

Translation: The Jin‑dynasty scholar Fu Xuan once said, "Those who stay near vermilion become red; those who stay near ink become black."

Look at Fan Wuchang, this cold‑hearted man, after being influenced by Fatty these past days, has become utterly shameless—just shows how insightful Fu Xuan's saying is.

Translation: Looking at this cold‑hearted man Fan Wuchang, after being influenced by Pangzi these days, he has become utterly shameless—showing how insightful that old master Fu Xuan's saying is.

While eating hot pot at the restaurant, Fatty kept glaring at Fan Wuchang with a murderous stare. Yet Fan Wuchang, having weathered great storms, stood unmoved under that gaze, calmly picking up meatballs and sending them to his mouth.

Translation: While eating hot pot at the hot‑pot restaurant, Pangzi kept glaring at Fan Wuchang with a murderous stare. Yet Fan Wuchang, having weathered great storms, remained unmoved under that gaze, calmly picking up a meatball and sending it to his mouth.

This state can be summed up in one line: "Let him be strong, the wind sweeps the hills; let him be reckless, the moon shines on the great river."

Translation: Such a state can be summed up in one line: "Let him be strong, I let the clear breeze sweep the hill; let him be reckless, I let the bright moon shine on the great river."

"By the way, when are you planning to head back to Guangdong?" As we ate, Fan Wuchang changed the subject and slipped a striped‑band shrimp into Fatty's bowl.

Translation: "By the way, when are you planning to head back to Guangdong?" While eating, Fan Wuchang changed the subject, then slipped a striped‑segment shrimp into Pangzi's bowl.

At first, Fatty kept his cheeks puffed, glaring at Fan Wuchang without speaking. But as soon as Fan Wuchang gave him a shrimp, Fatty's tense expression… finally relaxed.

Translation: At first, Pangzi kept puffing his cheeks, glaring at Fan Wuchang without speaking. But the moment Fan Wuchang gave him a shrimp, Pangzi's tense expression… finally relaxed.

Especially when Fan Wuchang chewed the shrimp with relish, making a satisfying "slurp" sound, Fatty could no longer hold back; he snatched his chopsticks, shoved the shrimp into his mouth in a flash, then grabbed Fan Wuchang's bowl. Under our stunned gazes, he swept everything into his belly like a wind sweeping away clouds.

Translation: Especially when Fan Wuchang chewed that shrimp with relish, making a slurping sound, Pangzi could no longer hold back; he snatched up his chopsticks and in a swoop shoved the shrimp into his mouth. Then he grabbed Fan Wuchang's bowl, and under our stunned gazes, he swept everything into his belly like a wind sweeping away clouds.

"What are you looking at? There's still a bit left—give it back to me…" Fatty picked his teeth, then tossed the bowl back to Fan Wuchang.

Translation: "What are you looking at? There's still a bit left, give it back to you…" Pangzi picked his teeth and tossed the bowl back to Fan Wuchang.

Fan Wuchang didn't care either, casually picking up another bowl and scooping food into the hot pot.

Translation: Fan Wuchang also didn't care, casually picking up another bowl and scooping food from the hot pot.

"You still haven't told me when you're planning to return to Guangdong." Fan Wuchang sipped his soup and asked softly.

Translation: "You still haven't told me—when are you planning to return to Guangdong?" Fan Wuchang sipped his soup and asked softly.

I pondered for a while and told Fan Wuchang, "Maybe another month and a half; the exact time is uncertain."

Translation: I pondered for a moment and told Fan Wuchang, "Maybe another month and a half; the exact time is uncertain."

Fan Wuchang, while ladling vegetables into the pot, frowned and said, "That's too long. If you have nothing else to do, you'd better leave Macao first thing tomorrow morning…?"

Translation: Fan Wuchang, while ladling vegetables into the pot, frowned and said, "That's too long; if you have nothing else to do, you'd better leave Aomen first thing tomorrow morning, right?"

I suddenly felt odd; logically, after all we've been through, even if Fan Wuchang didn't try to keep us, he shouldn't be driving us away. Why does his tone sound so strange, as if he's directly issuing us an expulsion order?

Translation: I suddenly felt odd; logically, after all we've been through, even if Fan Wuchang didn't try to keep us, he shouldn't be driving us away—but his tone sounded so off, as if he'd directly issued us an expulsion order.

So I nudged Fan Wuchang and half‑joked, "What's up? Are you giving us the boot?"

Translation: So I nudged Fan Wuchang and half‑joked, "What's up? Are you trying to give us an expulsion order?"

Fan Wuchang gave a light smile, his voice weary: "Of course not. It's just that Macau's situation is currently turbulent; although it looks calm, dangers lurk everywhere. Some forces may not want Dong Ling to fall, but others with impure motives are eyeing us hungrily. You saved Brother Zheng in the Fierce Tiger Gang's assassination attempt, and already several powers have taken notice of you. I and Brother Zheng hope you can leave Macau quickly, leave this place of right and wrong, lest you lose your lives innocently because of Dong Ling."

Translation: Fan Wuchang gave a light smile, his voice weary: "Of course not; it's just that the situation in Aomen is currently turbulent—though it looks calm, dangers lurk everywhere. Some forces may not want Dong Ling to fall, but others with impure motives are eyeing us hungrily. You saved Zheng Ge in the Meng Hu Bang assassination, and already several powers have taken notice of us. I and Zheng Ge hope you can leave Aomen quickly, leave this place of right and wrong, lest you innocently lose your lives because of Dong Ling."

At that moment, Fatty, stuffing meatballs into his mouth, mumbled: "That's not possible. First, I still have some matters to settle with Hai Sheng; besides, the Nine Yin Formation set up at Brother Zheng's house must be dismantled in three days, or the yin energy will corrode the building and turn it into a dead land, eventually producing a calamity no less harmful than the Yang Sha."

Translation: At that moment, Pangzi, stuffing meatballs into his mouth, mumbled: "That won't do—first off, I still have some business to attend to with Hai Sheng, and then there's the Jiuyin Formation set up at Zheng Ge's house; it must be dismantled in three days, or else the residence will be corroded by yin qi and become a dead land, after which a calamity no less harmful than yang sha will arise."

After hearing that, Fan Wuchang let out a low sigh, pressed his forehead, and remained silent for a long time.

Translation: Upon hearing that, Fan Wuchang suddenly let out a low sigh, stroking his forehead and remaining silent for a long while.

I and Fatty thought he was worrying about us, so Fatty patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, we've known each other for so long that we've developed some feelings; if anything comes up, I, King Fatty, will protect you." As he spoke, he thumped his chest hard.

Translation: I and Pangzi thought he was worrying for us both, so Pangzi patted his shoulder and smiled: "Don't worry, we've known each other for ages; even in life and death we've developed some feelings. If anything comes up… I, King Pang, will protect you." Saying that, Pangzi thumped his chest hard.

Fan Wuchang glanced at him and sneered, "Alright, with your little appearance you still want to protect me?"

Immediately, Fan Wuchang seemed to recall a scene from the banquet hall, and he couldn't help but give a self‑deprecating smile, patting Pangzi on the shoulder: "No matter what, I thank you for your kind heart."

Pangzi picked up a meatball, stuffed it into his mouth, waved his hand, and said nonchalantly: "It's fine, who made you still owe me forty‑seven thousand eight hundred eighty‑eight? If you die, who would I ask for the money? You say, who would I protect if not you?"

I: "……"

Fan Wuchang: "……"