Chapter 361: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji boiled a pot of water himself, and while getting ready to brew tea, he found that the thieving soldiers had even snatched his coarse tea leaves.

Translation: Chen Wuji personally boiled a pot of water, and while preparing to make tea, he discovered that the rebel soldiers had even taken the coarse tea leaves from his home.

We need to keep same meaning, not add extra. Ensure we include all info: Chen Wuji himself boiled a pot of water; while preparing to make tea; discovered that the rebel soldiers actually even took his home's coarse tea leaves.

Let's craft: Chen Wuji boiled a pot of water himself, and while getting ready to make tea, he found that the rebel soldiers had even taken the coarse tea leaves from his home.

That seems fine.

He had actually been in a pretty good mood.

Translation: Originally he was in a pretty good mood.

He had detained the clansmen of the Gu, Li, and Xue families; they would surely come looking for trouble for his relatives and family, which is almost certain, and entering the village would inevitably bring widespread looting and destruction.

Translation: He had detained the clansmen of the Gu, Li, and Xue families; they would surely come back to cause trouble for his clansmen and family, which was almost certain, and entering the village would inevitably involve a sweeping looting and destruction.

Need to keep all clauses.

Let's translate: He had detained the clansmen of the Gu, Li, and Xue families; they would surely retaliate against his clansmen and family, which was almost certain, and entering the village would inevitably bring about a thorough looting and destruction.

But they didn't even leave him that pitiful amount of awful tea leaves.

Translation: But they actually didn't even leave him that bit of terrible tea leaves.

This really broke Chen Wuji's composure.

Translation: This really broke Chen Wuji's defenses.

The tea leaves he drinks are very coarse, and what's left at home seems to be less than a tael.

Translation: The tea leaves he drank were very coarse, and what remained at home seemed to be less than even one tael.

"Damn it, why don't you bastards just go die poor, @! %￥……"

Translation: "Damn it, why don't you bastards go die poor, @！%￥……"

We need to keep the symbols. Probably keep as is.

After a round of birdcalls and floral fragrance, the somewhat vexed Chen Wuji had to drink plain boiled water.

Translation: After a bout of bird-song and floral scent, the somewhat annoyed Chen Wuji had no choice but to drink plain hot water.

After a round of birdcalls and floral fragrance, the somewhat vexed Chen Wuji had to drink plain boiled water.

A figure suddenly appeared at the doorway, saying, "I could hear you cursing from far away; what's there about? This is all to be expected."

Translation: A figure suddenly appeared at the doorway, "From far away I could hear you cursing your mother; what's there to curse now? This is all expected."

"Those bastards took my tea leaves; all together there's less than a tael of coarse tea, a bunch of damned things." Chen Wuji cursed, then, somewhat surprised, asked, "How did you come yourself?"

Translation: "Those bastards took my tea leaves; all together there's less than one tael of coarse tea, a bunch of damned things." Chen Wuji cursed, somewhat surprised he asked, "How did you come personally?"

We need to keep quotes and punctuation.

The person who appeared at the doorway was Chen Buzhi.

Translation: The person who appeared at the doorway was Chen Bushi.

"I don't trust others." Chen Buzhi sniffed, then said casually, "This is a battle that threatens the lives and deaths of our families; if I don't personally oversee it, where could you feel at ease?"

Translation: "I don't trust others." Chen Bushi sniffed, casually said, "In a battle that threatens the lives and deaths of our families, if I don't personally oversee it, where could you feel at ease?"

"Let's go; this isn't the place to talk right now, let's find somewhere else."

Translation: "Let's go, this isn't a place to talk now; let's change locations."

"The speed is pretty fast; wait for me to take a sip of water, I'm thirsty." Chen Wuji nodded, picked up his tea cup devoid of tea leaves, took a few sips, just to quench my thirst and then call it a day.

Translation: "The speed is pretty fast; let me drink some water, I'm thirsty." Chen Wuji nodded, picked up his tea cup devoid of any tea leaves, took a few sips to quench his thirst, then called it quits.

just quench my thirst and then call it a day.

Chen Buzhi said, "We were already in the village, so we could naturally detect you the moment you entered; I was afraid of missing your news, so I had to take a slight risk."

Translation: Chen Bushi said, "We were already in the village, so we could naturally detect you the moment you entered; I was afraid of missing your news, so I had to take a slight risk."

"The Gu, Li, and Xue families probably won't be focusing on the village anymore," Chen Wuji said.

Translation: "The Gu, Li, and Xue families probably won't focus on the village anymore." Chen Wuji said.

They have changed their tactics, so they likely won't waste any more time in Xishan Village.

Translation: They have changed their tactics, and likely won't waste any more time in Xishan Village.

"It's not yet time to relax; when you win, I'll bring everyone down the mountain." Chen Buzhi said, "How did you suddenly come yourself?"

Translation: "It's not yet time to relax; when you win, I'll bring everyone down the mountain." Chen Bushi said, "How did you suddenly come personally?"

"Let's go." Chen Wuji set down his cup, walking and saying, "I miss my wife; I'll go back to see her."

Translation: "Let's go." Chen Wuji put down his cup, walking and saying, "I miss my wife, coming back to check."

Chen Buzhi gave a light chuckle, "Nonsense."

Translation: Chen Bushi gave a light laugh, "Nonsense."

"Those families have changed their tactics, trying to play a scorched-earth game against me; I have to change my tactics too!" Chen Wuji said solemnly, "The Gu family's commander is ruthless; his blood-washing tactic has left me a bit dazed. I won the city defense battle, but the days ahead may not be easy."

Translation: "Those families have changed their tactics, wanting to play a game of clearing the fields with me, so I must change my tactics too!" Chen Wuji said solemnly, "The Gu family's commander who leads the troops is ruthless; his blood-washing great method left me a bit dazed; I won the city defense battle, but the days ahead may be rough."

Chen Buzhi gave Chen Wuji an annoyed look, "Lay out that trivial matter you mentioned."

Translation: Chen Bushi gave Chen Wuji an annoyed look, "Lay out that trivial matter you mentioned."

So, Chen Wuji proceeded to explain.

Translation: So Chen Wuji proceeded to explain.

They talked while walking, and by the time they finished, they had entered the great mountains.

Translation: Walking and talking, by the time they finished speaking, they had also entered the great mountains.

Although Chen Wuji kept complaining about his ancestors' choice of location.

Translation: Although Chen Wuji kept complaining about his ancestors' choice of location.

But this vast mountain truly provided them with endless vitality.

Translation: But this great mountain truly provided them with endless vitality.

"You really hit the nail on the head—even though we've become colonels, we still have to be bandits!" Chen Buzhi shook his head with feeling, "Fortunately I had foresight; I long ago set up the stronghold."

Translation: "You really spoke your fate into existence—you've already become a commandant, yet we're still turning into bandits!" Chen Bushi shook his head with feeling, "Fortunately I had foresight; I long ago set up the stockade."

"What's the point of building a stronghold now? No, it's still useful; we indeed need a concealed place to settle." Chen Wuji said, "But more importantly right now, we need to find another route."

Translation: "What's the point of building a stockade now? No, wait, it is useful—we indeed need a concealed place to settle." Chen Wuji said, "But more important right now is that we need to find another route."

We need to fight, but the elderly and weak of the clan and the villagers of Xishan still need to be settled.

Translation: We need to fight, but the elderly and weak of our clan and the villagers of Xishan still need to be settled.

Moreover, this deadline definitely won't be short.

Translation: Moreover, this deadline certainly won't be short.

"Which other route?" Chen Buzhi asked.

Translation: "Which other route?" Chen Bushi asked.

"Hezhou!" Chen Wuji said with a solemn gaze.

Translation: "Hezhou!" Chen Wuji's gaze turned solemn.

He wants to make a big gamble!

Translation: He was going to make a big gamble!

Chen Buzhi's steps halted abruptly, "Isn't this a bit too risky?"

Translation: Chen Bushi's steps halted abruptly, "Isn't this a bit too risky?"

"If Hezhou's troops reach Yunan, it wouldn't be overly risky." Chen Wuji said.

Translation: "If Hezhou's troops reach Yunan, it wouldn't be overly risky." Chen Wuji said.

"The ambition shown by the Gu family doesn't look like they're willing to be subordinate. They want to leave Yunan deserted for me, and they clearly have no intention of staying."

Translation: "The ambition shown by the Gu family doesn't look like they'd be willing to stay subordinate. They want to leave Yunan empty of people for me, and they clearly have no intention of staying themselves."

The Gu family's commander, capable of devising one poisonous scheme after another, would certainly not overlook this.

Translation: "Since the Gu family's chief commander can devise one poisonous scheme after another, he certainly won't overlook this."

If they intended to occupy Yunan, they would absolutely not carry out this root-cutting move.

Translation: "If they intend to occupy Yunan, they will definitely not take this root-cutting action."

What use is a county devoid of people?

Translation: "What use is a county devoid of people?"

Chen Wuji then said, "Their first stop will inevitably be Hezhou; if nothing unexpected happens, they'll surely clash with the current Hezhou prefect."

Translation: Chen Wuji then said, "Their first stop will certainly be Hezhou; if nothing unexpected happens, they will surely have to contend with the current Prefect of Hezhou."

The Gu family's ambition is displayed too ostentatiously.

Translation: The Gu family's ambition is displayed too ostentatiously.

The intention to plot Hezhou is already almost obvious.

Translation: Their design on Hezhou is already nearly obvious.

"Do you want to take advantage of the situation to enter?" Chen Buzhi said, somewhat shocked.

Translation: "You want to take advantage of the situation to enter?" Chen Bushi was somewhat shocked.

This plan is still risky.

Translation: "This plan, still risky."

But this is indeed still a viable path to survival.

Translation: "But it is indeed not lacking as a path to survival."

Chen Wuji hummed, "I can't temporarily spare manpower or energy; Uncle Three, those who are able should bear more work."

Translation: Chen Wuji grunted, "I can't temporarily spare manpower, nor can I allocate that energy; Uncle San, the capable should bear more work."

Chen Buzhi shook his head and laughed, "From now on I'll just call myself Chen the mule; as the saying goes, only names are miscalled, only nicknames are miscalled—I think the nickname 'Chen the mule' is miscalled; I am the mule."

Translation: Chen Bushi shook his head and laughed, "From now on I'll just change my name to Chen Luozi; as the saying goes, only names are miscalled, only nicknames are miscalled—I think the nickname Chen Luozi is miscalled; I am the actual mule."

"From your tone, are you planning to enter Hezhou via the mountain plank road, and also have me send people to scout Hezhou's situation?"

Translation: "From your tone, are you planning to enter Hezhou via the mountain plank road, plus having my people scout Hezhou's situation—is that what you mean?"

Chen Wuji laughed, "Talking with Uncle Three saves effort."

Translation: Chen Wuji laughed, "Talking with Uncle San saves effort."

"The allied forces of the Gu, Li, and Xue families far outnumber me in troops, and now they're scattered across Yunan conducting village massacres and stronghold destructions; even though they're strong and well-mounted, even if split into dozens of groups each with hundreds, I lack such strength. Raising this fire will inevitably be prolonged; I can only hold them off and try to wear them down."

Translation: "The allied forces of the Gu, Li, and Xue families far surpass us in military strength, and now they're scattered across Yunan conducting village massacres and stronghold eradication; even if their strong troops and sturdy horses are divided into dozens of groups, each with hundreds of men, I lack such strength. Raising this fire will inevitably be prolonged; we can only hold them and try to wear them down."

"How far this battle can go is hard to predict, but we must prepare our backup."

Translation: "How far this battle can go is hard to predict, but we must prepare our rear."

Chen Wuji deliberately made a special trip back just for this matter.

Translation: Chen Wuji specially made a personal trip back, the point being for this matter.

This is of utmost importance.

Translation: This is of utmost importance.

Some things are hard to clarify via letters, and he also fears transmission errors.

Translation: Some things are hard to clarify via letters, and he also fears errors in transmission.

For a small family and business, every step must be carefully planned.

Translation: For a small household and modest enterprise, every step must be carefully planned.

"If we can successfully capture Hezhou, this game will not only be revived but could achieve a counterattack. However, the difficulty is truly great; one misstep and all prior effort is wasted." Chen Buzhi's expression was solemn.

Translation: "If we can smoothly capture Hezhou, our situation will not only be revitalized but could also achieve a counteroffensive. However, the difficulty is truly great; a single misstep and all prior effort is wasted." Chen Bushi's expression grew grave.

"But we have no choice; although I just joked about becoming bandits, if we lose this battle, we won't even have the option to become bandits."

Translation: "But we have no choice; although I just joked about becoming bandits, if we lose this battle, we won't even have the leeway to become bandits."

"You focus on fighting; I'll handle the intelligence on Hezhou and the mountain routes. If starting from nothing weren't difficult, how could it be called starting from nothing?"

Translation: "You focus on fighting; I'll handle Hezhou's intelligence and the mountain routes. If starting from nothing weren't somewhat difficult, how could it be called starting from nothing?"

As they spoke, the group had already crossed three mountain ridges, and the sky was quickly darkening.

Translation: As they spoke, the group had already crossed three mountain ridges, and the sky was quickly darkening.

"How much farther?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Bushi gave a mysterious smile, "Probably after walking another three or four hours it'll be about right."

"Looks like some have left."

Chen Wuji had never come to this area despite hunting here for so long; if he walked further south, he would no longer be within Yunan County's territory.

"You wouldn't hide the bad news and only report the good, would you?" Chen Wuji suddenly asked.

He felt relieved handing the village over to Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi, trusting in their abilities, but he still couldn't help wanting to double-check.

"I usually report the bad news, not the good." Chen Bushi said.