Chapter 155

The false sun over Nüwa Valley dimmed.

Translation: "The False Sun in Nüwa Valley dimmed."

The false sun over Nüwa Valley dimmed.

Lights flickered in the stone towers, and the aromas of food and fine wine drifted through Nüwa Valley.

Translation: "Lanterns flickered in the stone towers, and the aromas of food and fine wine drifted through Nüwa Valley."

At this time of day, Nüwa Valley is usually bustling. The proud sons of the great clans and powers, like strutting male peacocks, eagerly invite the Nüwa maidens they favor to feast.

At this time of day, Nüwa Valley is usually bustling. The proud sons of the great clans and powers, like strutting male peacocks, eagerly invite the Nüwa maidens they favor to feast.

But today, everyone had lost their enthusiasm.

Translation: "But today, everyone has lost their enthusiasm."

Some are shocked by the deaths of Gong Sun Yuan and others, still unable to recover from the shadow of 'Gong Sun's Bravery'.

Translation: "Some are shocked by the deaths of Gong Sun Yuan and others, still unable to recover from the shadow of 'Gong Sun's Bravery' death."

Some are shocked by the deaths of Gong Sun Yuan and others, still unable to recover from the shadow of 'Gong Sun's Bravery'.

Some lament their shrinking purses, angrily pounding the table, complaining and arguing, blaming themselves or their fellow clansmen for joining today's duel.

Translation: "Some lament their shrinking purses, angrily pounding the table, complaining and arguing, blaming themselves or their clansmen for why they joined today's duel."

Others are secretly colluding, unsure even of what they are thinking or saying.

Translation: "Others are secretly colluding, no one knows what they're thinking or saying."

All of this has nothing to do with Wu Tie.

Translation: "All of this has nothing to do with Wu Tie."

In the stone tower's reception hall, large candles as thick as an arm blazed on the candlesticks at the four corners of the hall, flooding the whole room with light. The candles were scented, so the air filled with fragrance, a warm comfort.

We need to keep as one line. Let's translate: "In the stone tower's reception hall, the great candles as thick as a arm blazed on the candlestands at the four corners of the hall, lighting the whole hall brightly. The candles were mixed with fragrance, so the air flowed with scent, a warm comfort."

Better: "In the stone tower's reception hall, the great candles as thick as an arm blazed on the candlestands at the four corners of the hall, lighting the whole hall brightly. The candles were mixed with fragrance, so the air flowed with scent, a warm comfort."

Nüwa Mother sat in a large chair, silently watching Wu Tie.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother sat in a large chair, quietly watching Wu Tie."

Nüwa Xiao Xi lay on Nüwa Mother's thigh, her head nodding, a bit drowsy yet struggling to keep her eyes open, curiously gazing at Wu Tie and Nüwa Mother before her head slumped back onto the thigh.

We need to keep meaning. Let's translate: "Nüwa Xiao Xi lay on Nüwa Mother's thigh, her head nodding, a bit drowsy, yet she struggled to keep her eyes open, curiously looking at Wu Tie, then at Nüwa Mother, before her head drooped back onto Nüwa Mother's thigh."

The shamaness sat obediently on a small stool beside them, happily gnawing on a roasted beast leg.

Translation: "The witch maiden sat obediently on a small stool beside them, happily gnawing on a roasted beast leg."

Wu Tie changed into a clean silk robe, standing quietly before Nüwa Mother, allowing her warm gaze to examine him from head to toe.

Translation: "Wu Tie changed into a clean silk robe, standing quietly before Nüwa Mother, allowing her warm gaze to examine him up and down."

The silk robe and his close-fitting garments were made from the silk of the little bean spider; as the name suggests, the spider is tiny, its silk only one-hundredth the thickness of a hair, making collection extremely difficult and weaving and processing horrendously hard.

little bean spider

Thus: "The silk robe and close-fitting garments are made from the silk of the little bean spider. As the name suggests, the little bean spider is tiny, its silk only one percent the thickness of a hair, making collection extremely difficult, and the spinning and processing horrendously hard."

Because gathering and processing the silk is extremely difficult, garments made from the little bean spider's silk are exquisitely smooth and light as nothing, with an added benefit: the natural silk is pure white, yet bears a subtle iridescent sheen, and can even deflect blades and piercings; every garment of this silk is a priceless treasure.

Translation: "Because gathering and processing are so difficult, garments made from little bean spider silk are fine, smooth, and light as nothing, with an added benefit: the natural silk is pure white, yet bears a faint iridescent halo, and can even resist blades cutting and piercing; every garment made of little bean spider silk is a treasure."

This was Wu Tie's first time wearing such luxurious fabric, and facing Nüwa Mother's warm gaze made him feel itchy all over, as if countless fleas were jumping on him.

Translation: "Wu Tie had never before worn such luxurious fabric, and facing Nüwa Mother's warm gaze, he felt an itch all over, as if countless fleas were jumping on him."

He was used to Wu Zhan's rough, blunt fatherly love—like a slap on the back of his head followed by a huge greasy chunk of fatty meat shoved into his mouth. This love burned like a mountain fire; though savage, he had grown accustomed to it.

Translation: "He was used to Wu Zhan's rough, blunt fatherly love—like a slap on the back of his head, then stuffing a big greasy chunk of fatty meat into his mouth. This fatherly love burned like a mountain fire; though savage, he had grown accustomed to it."

Nüwa Mother's maternal love, however, was like a hot spring—penetrating every corner, delicate and gentle—but Wu Tie was truly unaccustomed to it.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother's maternal love, however, was like a hot spring—penetrating every crevice, delicate and gentle—but Wu Tie truly was not used to it."

Including the ways Nüwa Mother and Wu Zhan handle things, which are utterly different, letting Wu Tie feel the great disparity.

Translation: "Including the ways Nüwa Mother and Wu Zhan handle things, which are utterly different, letting Wu Tie also feel the great disparity."

If Wu Zhan encountered someone like Gong Sun Yuan, he would draw his sword without hesitation, risking the loss of an arm or leg, and would viciously gouge seven or eight transparent holes in Gong Sun Yuan.

Translation: "If Wu Zhan encountered someone like Gong Sun Yuan, he would draw his blade without a word, even if it meant sacrificing an arm or leg, and would viciously open seven or eight transparent holes in Gong Sun Yuan."

And Nüwa Mother…

Translation: "And Nüwa Mother…"

Well, Nüwa Mother could reach a silent agreement with the elders of Nüwa Valley, using the opportunity of Wu Tie and Gong Sun Yuan going to the dueling arena to deal a heavy blow to many major powers.

Well, Nüwa Mother could reach a silent agreement with the elders of Nüwa Valley, using the opportunity of Wu Tie and Gong Sun Yuan going to the dueling arena to deal a heavy blow to many major powers.

Just now, Nüwa Mother casually mentioned to Wu Tie how much resources Nüwa Valley had won from today's two duels; the number left him speechless, staring in disbelief.

Translation: "Just now, Nüwa Mother casually mentioned to Wu Tie how much resources Nüwa Valley had won from today's two duels; the number left him dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long while."

That is a sum of wealth enough to drive anyone mad, yet it is merely Nüwa Mother going with the flow, easily extracting wealth from a single duel pit.

Translation: "That was a fortune enough to drive anyone mad, yet it was merely Nüwa Mother going with the flow, easily swindling wealth from a single dueling 'pit'."

Nüwa Mother's approach… Wu Tie could not agree, feeling the warmth in her gaze, he said bluntly: 'No matter what, using my little sister's future as a stake is never good.'

We need to keep quotes. Translation: "Nüwa Mother's approach… Wu Tie could not approve, feeling her warm, affectionate gaze, he said bluntly: 'No matter what, using my little sister's future as a stake is never good.'"

Nüwa Mother smiled at Wu Tie, seeing his discomfort, she thought to herself, 'Another child made blunt and thick-skinned by Wu Zhan's teachings.' She said softly: 'Anyway, you won't lose, so it doesn't matter what you wager.'

Translation: "Nüwa Mother smiled at Wu Tie, seeing his discomfort, she thought to herself, 'Another child taught by Wu Zhan to be thick‑skinned and simple‑hearted.' She said softly: 'Anyway, you won't lose, so it doesn't matter what you stake.'"

Wu Tie stared at Nüwa Mother in astonishment: 'You believe I can win? I myself actually have no confidence I could beat Gong Sun Yuan.'

Translation: "Wu Tie stared at Nüwa Mother in astonishment: 'You believe I can win? I myself actually have no confidence I can beat Gong Sun Yuan.'"

Nüwa Mother's face darkened; she flicked her finger, a soft 'thud' striking Wu Tie's head with an invisible force. She angrily scolded: 'You have no confidence, yet you dare recklessly gamble your life with others? How are you, just like your father… can't you be a bit smarter?'

Translation: "Nüwa Mother's face darkened a bit; she flicked her finger, and with a 'thud' an invisible force struck Wu Tie's head. She angrily scolded: 'You yourself have no confidence, yet you dare recklessly gamble your life with others? How are you, just like your father… unable to be a bit smarter?'"

Wu Tie spread his hands, giving a dry, grinning laugh.

Translation: "Wu Tie spread his hands, giving a dry, grinning laugh."

With anger rising, who would think of all this?

Translation: "With anger rushing to his head, who would think about all that?"

However, Gong Sun Yuan brought this on himself, trying to deliberately provoke Wu Tie, which instead caused Wu Tie to erupt completely—something even Wu Tie didn't expect, as unleashing the White Tiger Split with all his current power released terrifying force.

Translation: "However, Gong Sun Yuan brought it on himself; he tried to deliberately provoke Wu Tie, which instead caused Wu Tie to erupt completely—something even Wu Tie didn't expect, that with his current strength fully unleashing the White Tiger Split would produce such terrifying power."

Indeed, it was the tiger's roar from the White Tiger Split and that terrifying killing intent that stunned Gong Sun Yuan, leaving him unable to react before being killed in a single shot.

Translation: "It was truly the tiger's roar from the White Tiger Split, along with that terrifying killing intent, that stunned Gong Sun Yuan, leaving him unable to react before being instantly killed by a single shot."

Wu Tie himself could feel that Gong Sun Yuan's strength was very strong, extremely strong; in a real fight, he might not be a match for Gong Sun Yuan.

Translation: "Wu Tie himself could feel that Gong Sun Yuan's strength was very strong, extremely strong; in a real fight, he might not be a match for Gong Sun Yuan."

But that guy brought it on himself… this can't be blamed on Wu Tie.

Translation: "But that guy brought it on himself… this can't be blamed on Wu Tie."

The power of the White Tiger Split is too great—can this be blamed on Wu Tie?

Translation: "The White Tiger Split's power is too great—can this be blamed on Wu Tie?"

Of course, he couldn't say that to Nüwa Mother, so he just kept giving dry laughs, over and over, an embarrassed dry laugh.

Translation: "Of course, he couldn't say that to Nüwa Mother, so he just kept giving dry laughs, over and over, an embarrassed dry laugh."

Nüwa Mother gave Wu Tie a sideways glance, curled her red lips, and coldly said: 'Besides, it's fine; Mother didn't actually expect you to beat Gong Sun Yuan… since I've put little Xi up as a stake, cheating is unavoidable.'

Translation: "Nüwa Mother gave Wu Tie a sideways glance, curled her red lips, and coldly said: 'Well, it's all right; Mother didn't actually expect you to beat Gong Sun Yuan… Since we've put little Xi up as a stake, cheating is inevitable.'"

Wu Tie and Nüwa Xiao Xi both lifted their heads to look at Nüwa Mother.

Translation: "Wu Tie and Nüwa Xiao Xi both lifted their heads to look at Nüwa Mother."

What?

Translation: "What?"

'Cheating'?

Translation: "'Cheating'?"

Even the shamaness instinctively put down her roasted meat, eyes wide with curiosity as she looked at her nominal 'grandmother'!

Translation: "Even the witch maiden unconsciously put down her roasted meat, eyes wide with curiosity as she looked at her nominal 'grandmother'!"

Nüwa Mother chuckled at Wu Tie, knowing she must dispel the lump in his heart. No matter what, a mother using her daughter's marriage rights as a stake, if she doesn't clearly explain it to the son she's meeting for the first time, things won't end well.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother chuckled as she looked at Wu Tie, knowing she must dispel the knot in his heart. No matter what, a mother using her daughter's marriage rights as a stake, if she doesn't clearly explain it to the son she's meeting for the first time, this matter won't end well."

Especially, this son seems a bit obstinate!

Translation: "Especially, this son seems a bit obstinate!"

She lightly clapped her hands, and a patch of five‑colored mist appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the entire reception hall.

Translation: "She lightly clapped her hands, and a patch of five‑colored mist appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the entire reception hall."

Nüwa Mother said softly: 'This is Nüwa Valley, where the statues of our ancestors, the Nüwa Imperial lineage, are enshrined; inside them have gathered the immense mental power of countless generations of devout Nüwa forebears praying over the years.'

Nüwa Mother said softly: 'This is Nüwa Valley, where the statues of our ancestors, the Nüwa Imperial clan, are enshrined; inside them have gathered the immense mental power of countless generations of devout Nüwa ancestors praying over the years.'

Squinting her eyes, laughing mischievously like a little girl, Nüwa Mother happily said: 'More importantly, the power within the statues of all our Nüwa Imperial ancestors is unified; no matter how far our branch and other branches are separated, we can at any time draw upon the mental power accumulated in all the ancestral statues… all the mental power hoarded by the branch ancestors.'

Squinting her eyes, smiling mischievously like a little girl, Nüwa Mother happily said: 'More importantly, the power within the statues of all our Nüwa Imperial ancestors is unified; no matter how far our branch and other branches are separated, we can at any time draw upon the mental power accumulated by all the ancestral statues… all the mental power hoarded by the branch ancestors.'

A flash of five‑colored divine light flickered in her eyes; Nüwa Mother, filled with reverence, said: 'It is a……force you cannot touch, cannot imagine……the Fate Pool realm? Heh, even masters above the Fate Pool realm are but ants before this power.'

Translation: "A flash of five‑colored divine light passed through her eyes, and Nüwa Mother, filled with reverence, said: 'That is a… force you cannot touch or imagine… the Life Pool realm? Heh, even experts above the Life Pool realm are like ants before that power.'"

'This power must not be used lightly, but as the matriarch of the Nüwa lineage, I can unconditionally draw upon it three times in my lifetime… plus your grandmother—my mother, who has not yet used her chance—giving me a total of four unconditional uses.'

Translation: "'This power cannot be lightly used, but as the matriarch of the Nüwa branch, I can in my lifetime unconditionally invoke it three times… plus your paternal grandmother, that is, my mother, who has not yet used her one chance, I can in total unconditionally invoke it four times.'"

Nüwa Mother cheerfully looked at Wu Tie: 'The ancestors' power envelops all of Nüwa Valley; that power……is extraordinarily wondrous, extraordinarily……inscrutable.'

Translation: "Nüwa Mother cheerfully looked at Wu Tie: 'The ancestors' power envelops all of Nüwa Valley; that power… is extraordinarily miraculous, extraordinarily… unfathomable.'"

Tilting her head slightly, Nüwa Mother whispered: 'It is a terrifying creative force that can adjust fate, twist fate, even rewrite fate.'

Translation: "Tilting her head slightly, Nüwa Mother said softly: 'It is a terrifying creative force that can adjust, twist, even rewrite fate.'"

Nüwa Mother gently rubbed Nüwa Xiao Xi's delicate little ears, smiling smugly like a fox that had stolen a hen, and said: 'This is one of the Nüwa clan's greatest secrets……On Nüwa clan territory, anyone who wishes to wager their life against the direct son of the Nüwa matriarch……is merely playing with their lives.'

Translation: "Nüwa Mother gently rubbed Nüwa Xiao Xi's delicate little ears, smiling triumphantly like a fox that had snatched a hen: 'This is one of the Nüwa clan's greatest secrets… On Nüwa Valley's territory, anyone who wants to wager their life against the direct son of the Nüwa matriarch… is just playing with death.'"

Wu Tie could not speak.

Translation: "Wu Tie could not speak."

Nüwa Xiao Xi's eyebrows danced with joy; she instinctively muttered: 'I also want to become the Nüwa matriarch……'

Translation: "Nüwa Xiao Xi, hearing this, beamed with delight and muttered unconsciously: 'I also want to be the Nüwa matriarch…'"

The shamaness stared blankly for a long while, then opened her small mouth and bit down hard on the roasted beast leg. But she seemed absent‑minded; the bite missed the meat and instead crushed a large piece of beast bone to fragments.

Translation: "The witch maiden stared blankly for a good while, then opened her small mouth and took a fierce bite of the roasted beast leg. But she seemed a bit absent‑minded; this bite missed the meat and instead crushed a large chunk of beast bone."

Nüwa Mother stared for a moment, then opened her arms with a beaming smile, and the shamaness flew helplessly into her embrace.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother stared for a moment, then opened her arms with a beaming smile, and the witch maiden flew helplessly into her embrace."

'I almost forgot— is this……your daughter?'

Translation: "'Almost forgot, this is… your daughter?'"

Nüwa Mother gave a strange smile, narrowed her eyes, and looked at Wu Tie with a stern expression.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother gave a strange smile, narrowed her eyes, and looked at Wu Tie with a stern expression."

Wu Tie rubbed his nose, sighed, and explained the shamaness's origin in as brief a manner as possible.

Translation: "Wu Tie rubbed his nose, sighed, and in as brief words as possible recounted the witch maiden's origin."

Nüwa Mother's expression remained unchanged; she had witnessed far more strange and wondrous things than Wu Tie could ever imagine—many times over.

Translation: "Nüwa Mother's expression remained unchanged; she had seen far more strange and wondrous things than Wu Tie could imagine—many times over."

Wa Xiao xi stared wide-eyed, looking at the shamaness in shock.

The shaman maiden was hatched from an egg?

Wa Xiao Xi's eyes wandered dreamily; from a single egg, could such a cute little lass be hatched?

Should I give it a try?

"Don't stand, sit." Wa Mu patted the little shaman maiden's head, sighed softly: "I never expected you to have gone through so much…… but it's good that you're alive. I'm glad you could get here by your own strength."

Frowning, Wa Mu said a bit angrily: "Your father, he's…… a bastard. If he hadn't gone to the Cangyan Realm, but instead stayed honestly around Wa Valley, there wouldn't be all this mess."

Wu Tie sat in a large chair opposite Wa Mu, his hands resting on his knees, vigorously rubbing the smooth, fine little bean-spider silk fabric.

"Wu Jin…… he went to the Wa clan's ancestral land; won't there be any problems?"

A flash of killing intent passed through Wu Tie's eyes: "Gongsun Yuan and his lot said they sent people to the Wa clan's ancestral land to hunt down my elder brother……"

The smile on Wa Mu's face gradually faded; she looked deeply at Wu Tie and said in a low voice: "When Wu Jin set out, I did my utmost to divine for him—perhaps there would be danger, but in the end good fortune awaits him."

"Of course, at that time my power was undergoing transformation; I was at the lowest ebb of my strength, so the divination might not have been effective."

A hint of joy had just arisen in Wu Tie's heart, but Wa Mu's words completely dispelled it. Looking at Wa Mu with an icy stare, Wu Tie stood dumbfounded, unable to speak.

Wa Mu gently stroked the little heads of Wa Xiao Xi and the shaman maiden.

The shaman maiden was still energetic, gnawing on meat, but Wa Xiao Xi finally couldn't fight off sleepiness; after Wa Mu gently stroked her a few times, she fell asleep.

Wa Mu narrowed her eyes and said softly: "However, if your elder brother really suffers any mishap because of the Gongsun family…… then this first strike ought naturally to be dealt to the Gongsun family."

Wu Tie lifted his head to look at Wa Mu; these words seemed to carry another layer of meaning.

Perhaps, including the life‑and‑death duel between Wu Tie and Gongsun Yuan, was merely timely, drawn into some internal turmoil of Wa Valley?

Wa Mu raised her head and said softly: "This is an internal affair of the Wa clan; you, as a male member, needn't worry about it…… If you get involved, you'll be breaking Wa clan rules, which is not good…… Even though I am the Wa clan matriarch and you are my son, you had better not get involved, and you cannot get involved."

"Wa clan…… heh, Wa clan……" Wa Mu let out a heavy sigh.

She lowered her head, levelled her gaze at Wu Tie, and said softly: "Still, I'm glad that you, your elder brother, and little Xi are all well—it proves my choice back then was right."

"Back then, among all my sisters, my talent was quite ordinary, but my mother—your grandmother—was after all the Wa clan matriarch of that time, so my status has always been different from the other sisters."

"That time, I went out to patrol the wilderness and ran into your father being chased by a pack of iron‑tooth sword spiders……" Wa Mu smiled: "Although my aptitude is mediocre, I awakened my divination gift when I was young; the moment I saw him, I knew he was the one."

"Your father that guy…… you know." Wa Mu gave a slight, disdainful curl of her lips: "It was only I who took a liking to him; the elders and sisters in the clan all regarded him as a joke…… but he actually brought out a valuable ancient relic from that ancestral‑land expedition, so I wholeheartedly followed him."

"Who would have thought, your father appears obstinate but is actually quite cunning; from the ancestral land he obtained two treasures. One he gave to your grandmother in exchange for me…… the other he gave to me, allowing me, of ordinary talent, to become Wa clan matriarch at that ancestral‑worship ceremony."

Wa Mu, with a hint of warmth, said softly: "He was also very concerned about his pride, not wanting to rely on a woman, so he took your elder brother, who had just been born not long ago, and fled to that poor, remote place—the Cangyan Realm."

Wu Tie listened silently; while Wa Mu spoke, he had no right to interject.

He merely listened patiently and quietly.

Listening to the story of how his parents met, got to know each other, and fell in love back then.

Listening to how his fortunate father, in the Wa clan's ancestral land, easily picked up two treasures as if scavenging junk—one exchanged for his mother, the other secured her status.

Listening to how his mother, of ordinary talent but strong‑willed, used the 'five‑colored divine stone' his father had brought from the ancestral land to gradually defy fate, transforming like a butterfly into something extraordinary.

Listening to his mother recount how, after his elder brother was sent to Wa Valley under the protection of their bloodline, mother and son faced wave after wave of overt and covert attacks, and how they struggled to resist.

Wu Tie could hear that Wa Mu's heart was bleeding.

Yet she continued to smile strongly and resolutely.

In the living room, warmth lingered; Wu Tie listened quietly to his mother's narration.

He grew ever more longing for his father, his elder brother……