Chapter 353

The sky over Black Stone Village was dark and heavy, as if endless resentment had gathered above.

- "Black Stone Village" is a place name: "Black Stone Village"? Actually "Black Stone" means "black stone". It's a place name; we should translate meaning? According to rules: place names that are a bare surname/meaningless proper noun -> keep pinyin. But if it's meaningful, we translate. "Black Stone Village" is meaningful: "Black Stone Village". Should we translate? The rule: "Things merely NAMED AFTER a person translate normally (lion cannon, Lion Battalion)." For place names, we need to decide: If it's a meaningful place name, translate. The glossary didn't list it, but we need to output glossary for named entities that appear. Should we include "Black Stone Village"? Likely yes as a place name. However, the instruction: "Keep well-known cultivation/fantasy terms (Qi, Dao, dantian, etc.) in their common English forms." Not relevant. For place names, we should translate meaning unless it's a proper noun that is meaningless. "Black Stone" is descriptive, so translate to "Black Stone Village". We'll output that as the English term.

But we need to be consistent: The glossary list expects exact English forms we will use in translation. So we need to decide the English translation for each named entity. Let's go through lines and collect.

The atmosphere felt oppressive.

The Yuan clan ancestral hall had been set up as a memorial hall, with a black coffin placed inside. Inside the coffin lay the late principal, Yuan Zhiyuan, who was just seven days shy of his sixtieth birthday when he passed.

- Named entities: Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall (Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall? "Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall" or "Yuan Clan Shrine"? "Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall" is okay. Could translate as "Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall". Since it's a clan name + place, we translate meaning: "Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall". Yuan Zhiyuan is a person name -> pinyin: Yuan Zhiyuan. old principal is a title, not a named entity. So we need to include Yuan Zhiyuan. Also Yuan Clan Ancestral Hall. Also maybe Yuan Clan as a clan? But we can just list the specific named entities.

Teacher Yuan had no children of his own and devoted his entire life to education.

There was a boy named Yuan Zhonghua in the village, eight years old.

Three years ago.

Unable to endure the village's poverty, Yuan Zhonghua's mother slipped away in the dark before dawn. Later his father went to look for her, but never returned, leaving no trace; to this day, no one knows whether he is alive or dead. Last autumn, the boy's grandmother also passed away, and on her deathbed she entrusted him to Teacher Yuan's care.

- Named entities: Yuan Zhonghua (already). Yuan Zhonghua's mother not a name. his father not named. grandma not named. Teacher Yuan again.

The village also had a girl named Yuan Shuang, who was nine years old.

Five years ago, during winter, Yuan Shuang's parents burned charcoal for heat inside their home, sealing all doors and windows without ventilation, which caused carbon monoxide poisoning; neither of them survived.

- parents of Yuan Shuang not named.

From that day on, Yuan Shuang became an orphan, with no relatives willing to take her in. Seeing her plight, Teacher Yuan brought her home and raised her as if she were his own granddaughter.

- Yuan Shuang already. Teacher Yuan.

In Xu Yue's eyes, Teacher Yuan was an extraordinary person, the backbone of the village.

- Xu Yue person name (provided in glossary). Teacher Yuan.

But heaven is a fickle thing.

Disaster struck from out of the blue!

Now that Teacher Yuan is gone, these two children have truly become orphans, with no one to rely on in the village.

- Teacher Yuan. the two kids not named.

Xu Yue brought the two children to the open space beside the ancestral hall's gate and had just burned paper houses, paper money, and other offerings for Teacher Yuan.

- Xu Yue. Teacher Yuan. ancestral hall generic.

A small whirlwind appeared above the fire, spinning faster and faster, lifting the ashes from the ground.

- no.

Who knows what trick heaven will play next.

The tension in front of the ancestral hall had reached its breaking point.

Lu Han of the Han Chao Group's subordinate, Li Jianmin, led a gang of people to surround the ancestral hall's gate, each lawless, wielding clubs, their eyes flashing with cruelty and impatience.

- Named entities: Vast Morning Group (Han Chao Group? maybe translate meaning: Han Chao Corporation? Vast Morning could be a proper noun; it's two characters meaning "vast morning"? Might be a company name; we could translate meaning: Vast Morning Group. But it's likely a proper noun; but we have to decide. The rule: For place names that are meaningless proper noun, keep pinyin. For organization names, similar? Not specified. Usually we translate meaning unless it's a proper noun that is meaningless. Vast Morning could be a name; but we can treat as meaningful and translate: Vast Morning Group. However, we need to be consistent with glossary: we haven't been given any glossary entry for it, so we must decide. The instruction: "List every NAMED entity / coined term in these lines: characters (incl. the protagonist & minor ones), places, sects/clans/factions/peoples, official & sect ranks/titles, techniques, cultivation realms/pills/treasures, named beasts/items, fan-fiction names." So we should include Vast Morning Group as a named entity (a corporation). We'll translate meaning: Vast Morning Group. Next: Lu Han person name. Li Jianmin person name.

The village chief's son, Yuan Qiang, stood to the side smirking, waiting for the ancestral hall to be torn down.

- Named entities: village chief's son not a name. Yuan Qiang person name.

Xu Yue held Yuan Shuang's hand with her left and Yuan Zhonghua's hand with her right, having no other recourse, she could only rely on her meager strength to guard the hall's entrance.

- Yuan Shuang. Yuan Zhonghua. Xu Yue.

She was afraid too.

But she could only tell herself over and over: she must not retreat!

To ensure the village's twelve children could attend school normally, Principal Yuan had already sacrificed his precious life; she did not want to see his sacrifice go in vain.

- Principal Yuan refers to Yuan Zhiyuan. Not a separate name.

"Teacher Xu, don't think you can refuse a toast and avoid punishment!"

- Teacher Xu refers to Xu Yue.

Li Jianmin glared maliciously at Xu Yue, took a few steps forward, and flung his club onto his shoulder, acting as arrogant as a big shot.

- Li Jianmin (note spelling: earlier line 19 had Li Jianmin, now Li Jianmin? Slight difference: line 19: Li Jianmin; line 26: Li Jianmin. Are they same person? Likely a typo; but we must treat as they appear. So we have both Li Jianmin and Li Jianmin. They could be same but we must list both as they appear. However, we should check if they are intended to be same; but we follow the text. So we have both Li Jianmin and Li Jianmin.

Thus we will list Li Jianmin once.

When he was still a club's length away from delivering a crushing blow to Xu Yue's head.

He halted his steps.

He chuckled mockingly at Xu Yue: "This old ancestral hall of Black Stone Village bears the surname Yuan! You, an outsider surnamed Xu, what gives you the nerve to obstruct us here? If you're wise, get out of the way quickly."

- Xu Yue. Black Stone Village. Yuan as surname referencing the clan. Not a named entity separate.

"This ancestral hall, you cannot tear it down!"

Xu Yue gripped the children's hands tightly, struggling to suppress her fear.

With a stern expression, she confronted Li Jianmin: "Many elders in the village oppose tearing down this ancestral hall; it's where the village children study!"

- Li Jianmin. (again)

"Who said many elders in the village oppose tearing it down?"

Li Jianmin waved his club, pointing it at each of the onlooking villagers: "Who opposes the demolition? You? You? Anyone who disagrees, step forward!"

- Li Jianmin.

Faced with the fearsome Li Jianmin, the villagers he pointed at were all terrified.

Whenever the club pointed at someone, that person would tremble and step back, indicating they had never said they opposed tearing down the hall, and in fact no one dared to stand up and support Xu Yue.

Li Jianmin chuckled triumphantly: "Teacher Xu, did you see that? The supposed many elders who oppose tearing down this hall are just your wishful thinking. If you've got a screw loose, go see a doctor—don't make me teach you how to be a decent person. That old Yuan fellow died before sixty simply because he didn't know his place."

- Li Jianmin. Teacher Xu -> Xu Yue. the old Yuan guy refers to Yuan Zhiyuan.

"You finally admit it—you killed Teacher Yuan!" Xu Yue shouted angrily.

Li Jianmin sneered repeatedly: "Teacher Xu, you can read books however you like, but you can't just spout nonsense. That old Yuan fellow—didn't he just fall off a mountain and kill himself?"

"You heartless beasts, watch out for retribution!" Xu Yue, unable to hold back any longer, cursed Shan Cun.

Li Jianmin scoffed: "Retribution? Fine, I'll show you what retribution means right now." He then pointed his club at the old ancestral hall.

He coldly spat out the order: "Tear it down!"

As his men behind him prepared to charge forward, Xu Yue also let out a death-defying roar: "If you've got the guts, step over my corpse!"

She gripped the two children's hands and firmly blocked the hall's entrance.

"Grass mud horse crossing the desert!"

The village chief's son, Yuan Qiang, suddenly slapped Xu Yue across the face.

That savage blow sent Xu Yue's head rearing, she let out a hoarse scream, and a clear five-fingered imprint was left on her cheek.

Yuan Qiang pointed at Xu Yue's nose and bellowed: "Move or not?!!"

「！！！」 -> no.

The burning pain on her cheek did not break Xu Yue's will.

She choked back tears and cursed: "Principal Yuan gave his life for the village's children, while you, this beast, care only for a few dirty coins, not even your own face! Principal Yuan is your elder, who once taught you to read and write! Even if you're ungrateful, that's bad enough—now you bring people to harm him—has your heart been devoured by dogs?!"

- Principal Yuan -> Yuan Zhiyuan.

"Damn!"

Enraged and humiliated, Yuan Qiang raised his hand and delivered another vicious slap to Xu Yue's face.

This slap made Xu Yue's mouth bleed; the nine-year-old Yuan Lu she held was too frightened to cry out, while the eight-year-old Yuan Zhonghua was surprisingly bold.

- Xu Yue. Yuan Lu person name (note: earlier we had Yuan Shuang, now Yuan Lu? Actually line 54 says "nine-year-old Yuan Lu". That's a different name: Yuan Lu. So we have a new child: Yuan Lu. Also Yuan Zhonghua. So we need to add Yuan Lu.

Though he remained silent, his eyes revealed endless hatred.

Suddenly he lunged forward and sank his teeth into Yuan Qiang's hand.

"Oh oh!"

Yuan Qiang cried out in pain from the bite, then shoved the eight-year-old Yuan Zhonghua away, shouting: "You motherless bastard, go die!"

- Yuan Qiang. Yuan Zhonghua.

After cursing, he kicked Yuan Zhonghua several meters away.

China!

This scene frightened Xu Yue until her face turned pale; she hurried over to check on Yuan Zhonghua's condition, and just as she helped him up from the ground, Yuan Zhonghua felt a tightness in his chest and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Li Jianmin saw this and, delighted, jeered: "Teacher Xu, look at you—getting beaten is bad enough, but you've dragged in the children; what is karma? This is karma."

"You beasts, may you die a horrible death!!!"

Xu Yue's eyes filled with tears; she had never felt such regret in her life, regretting deeply that she had brought Yuan Shuang and Yuan Zhonghua to guard the ancestral hall together.

"Brother Li, you watch—I'll make her know what karma is right now!" As a village bully's dog from Wushi Village, Yuan Qiang could only fawn and beg for mercy in front of Li Jianmin.

To please Li Jianmin.

Yuan Qiang picked up a stick: "Fuck your mother, I already said yesterday that I'd settle accounts with you after returning to the village, and you fucking dare to show up again!"

No sooner had he spoken than Yuan Qiang's stick struck Xu Yue's back.

"Ugh!"

Such terrifying ferocity knocked Xu Yue to the ground on the spot, and she spat blood.

"Teacher Xu, waa waa waa..."

The nine-year-old Yuan Shuang, who had been too frightened to make a sound earlier, suddenly burst into tears, ran over to help Xu Yue. Yuan Zhonghua, who had been kicked and spat blood earlier, also crawled to Xu Yue's side: "Teacher Xu..."

"Don't cry... I'm... okay..."

Xu Yue strained her arms, trying to climb up.

She had just lifted her body a little.

Yuan Qiang struck her back with another stick, knocking her down again.

This time.

Before Xu Yue could struggle,

Yuan Qiang had already stepped on her head with his foot, sneering: "You think placing that old dog Yuan's coffin in the ancestral hall stops me from tearing it down? I'll burn it now and grind his bones to ashes!"