Chapter 400

Wu Tie has also been very busy these days.

During the day he has to work as a supervisor, overseeing the construction project.

At night he secretly practices bitter cultivation, employing Five Elements techniques to reinforce once more the city foundations compacted by the laborers.

It's really that these laborers have too low cultivation; even if they layer earth‑system spells one over another, in Wu Tie's view the city foundations are still rather fragile. But after Wu Tie's work, the foundations have become far more than tenfold stronger!

Busy by day, busy by night, even with Huang Lang assisting, various matters keep cropping up, leaving Wu Tie somewhat vexed.

His mood was already bad, and early in the morning a Black Phoenix Army commandant came running to snatch people.

With a grim face, his upper body bare except for a scarlet‑red cape, he gripped that immortal weapon longsword, Wu Tie kicked open the north gate of the camp and stepped down the stone stairs one by one.

Huang Yu wore a suit of fish‑scale light armor, shouldered a long blade, and followed Wu Tie with his eyes darting about.

Huang Lang was revising the Void Nirvana Sutra; his shattered Dao foundation had already reassembled to thirty percent, and a thread of arcane power had been reborn within him.

Huang Yu also abandoned the Huang clan's hereditary art, taking up instead the Scarlet Lotus Golden Core Scripture among the ten divine techniques Wu Tie held. This is a supreme cultivation method that tempers the flesh with Scarlet Lotus Pure Fire, focuses on body refinement while also cultivating techniques and divine abilities.

In five or six days, the arcane power Huang Yu had cultivated from his family's art had been completely purged; his body was tempered, gaining thousands of catties of strength out of nowhere, his arcane power became several times purer, and he nurtured a scarlet lotus pure fire of tremendous killing power, capable of melting gold and iron.

Huang Yu is not old, just turned sixteen, the age of exuberant and carefree youth.

Early this morning someone came to the door looking for trouble, and the troublemaker belonged to the Black Phoenix Army, the most dreaded force in Great Marsh City…… Huang Yu was so excited he almost jumped up; seeing Wu Tie's foul mood, he hoped to stir up some incident.

"Beat him up." In Langhe Prefecture, Huang Yu was famous as a refined, elegant, cultured scion of a wealthy family.

After only a few months in Great Marsh City, he had picked up plenty of profanity and vulgar street talk; he kept cursing in his heart, hoping Wu Tie would give those Black Phoenix Army lackeys a harsh lesson.

"What's up?" Wu Tie stood on the third stone step, looking down on the Black Phoenix Army commandant who had started a fight.

"Commander..." Huang Lang staggered, almost toppled from being shoved, climbed two steps, and wanted to report the situation to Wu Tie.

"No need for you to speak." Wu Tie shook his head, staring fixedly at the Black Phoenix Army commandant, and said coldly: "You, tell me, what do you want by coming here? Early this morning, making a ruckus, are you that eager to mourn for your parents?"

The Black Phoenix Army officers and men were stunned.

They weren't exactly good citizens either; they were well versed in various street insults.

But to be cursed with such spitefulness and venom, and with such a literary flair, was something they had never encountered before.

The Black Phoenix Army commandant clenched his whip tightly, gritted his teeth, and stared at Wu Tie.

The band of state army heroes Wu Tie had recruited burst into laughter. When the Black Phoenix Army troop had just charged over, these heroes had been startled, but as soon as Wu Tie appeared they inexplicably felt at ease.

When Wu Tie used such 'splendid' and 'exquisite' words to humiliate that Black Phoenix Army commandant who usually lorded it over Great Marsh City, the state army heroes felt their pores open with comfort, and they laughed heartily.

The laughter made some Black Phoenix Army officers' faces flush red, and they glared at the state army heroes, ashamed and angry.

A few days ago, those rascals saw them and shrank back like frightened grandsons; today these scoundrels dare to openly mock the Black Phoenix Army…… it's utterly lawless.

But they didn't expect that the truly lawless person wasn't these state army heroes.

"Hey, I'm asking you a question." Wu Tie grinned, pointing at the commandant and laughing: "I'm asking you a question—did you hear me?"

The Black Phoenix Army commandant lifted his head fearlessly, stared at Wu Tie, and let out a cold snort.

Suddenly a glint of cold light appeared in Wu Tie's hand.

The Six‑Refined Immortal Sword left its sheath, gave a light slash, then returned to the sheath.

The Black Phoenix Army commandant stared blankly; he felt a chill on his left shoulder, then a terrible heat surged in, piercing pain drilling into his heart, and he cried out in anguish.

Wu Tie's Six‑Refined Immortal Sword is of superb quality, and it is a fire‑attribute immortal sword; when swung, six tiny fire dragons can be seen coiling and chasing within the blade, and when fully unleashed the sword can transform into a hundred‑foot fire dragon that slays from the air.

Even without arcane power to activate it, this immortal weapon itself harbors terrifying heat; ordinary metal that merely touches it will be melted into liquid by the sword.

Wu Tie's single slash severed the Black Phoenix Army commandant's arm; the wound ignited instantly, and in the blink of an eye the flesh was sizzling 'hiss‑hiss'.

The Black Phoenix Army commandant howled in pain; the flame in the Six‑Refined Immortal Sword is immensely powerful, a heavenly earthly spirit fire that ordinary mundane water or burying in sand cannot extinguish. Knowing this, he drew his sidearm and, with a backhanded swipe, chopped off another large chunk of the burning flesh on his wound.

The flaming flesh that fell to the ground instantly turned into blue smoke, and his severed arm was reduced to nothing in a very short time.

The commandant's sidearm was an ordinary spirit weapon; when its edge accidentally touched a spark, the long blade was instantly burned out with a fist‑sized notch, rendering the weapon completely useless.

He dropped his sidearm, clutched the spurting blood wound with one hand, and the Black Phoenix Army commandant screamed hoarsely: "You, you……"

Over four hundred Black Phoenix Army soldiers simultaneously drew their weapons, each glaring at Wu Tie with hostile eyes.

Wu Tie slapped the commandant across the face, sending him flying.

"Me, me, me—how am I?" Wu Tie suddenly raised his voice and roared: "A mere ninth‑grade commandant, you dare to be disrespectful to me? Who gave you the guts? Who?"

"Look at my cape, look at the seal on my waist—do you know my rank? Third‑grade general! General!"

"What's the gap between you and me? Have you got water in your brain? Don't you understand?"

"Eighth‑grade commandant, seventh‑grade commandant, sixth‑grade major, fifth‑grade major, fourth‑grade major, then comes third‑grade general! You're five or six ranks below me; I'm asking you a question—do you dare not answer?"

"Besides, I'm the commander of the state army, officially appointed by the military department!"

"You, what Black Phoenix Army, you're auxiliary troops, get it? Auxiliary troops are just a rag‑tag militia! Do you know what that means? It means…… if you had backing and support, I'd still be wary of you three‑tenths!"

"But look at your soft armor, look at your weapons, look at your shabby appearance! Could you have backing? Could you have support?"

"No backing, no support, a rag‑tag militia, auxiliary troops…… who gave you the gall to come pry at my corner? Ah? My people, the ones I employ to build the city—you dare to snatch them too?"

Wu Tie stood on the stone steps, cursing vehemently, white spittle spraying several zhang away.

Li Erhaozi and the others nearby instinctively straightened their backs.

The more Wu Tie cursed the Black Phoenix Army, the straighter their backs became, a faint vicious aura appearing on their faces.

Before, when they saw Black Phoenix Army officers, they were like grandsons seeing their grandfather.

But now…… they still dare not meet them head‑on, yet at least they have the courage to strike from behind with a club!

"How…… do you still dare to flash your blades at me? Who gave you the guts?" Gazing at those Black Phoenix Army soldiers seething with rage, Wu Tie resembled a tiger that had eaten its fill, his casual grin hiding an indescribable vicious intent!

With a slight wiggle of his right hand's five fingers, the three‑hundred‑zhang flagship warship hovering above the camp slowly turned its prow in response to Wu Tie's gesture.

Originally the flagship's main cannon faced the forest south of the gate; a few days ago, when he first arrived at Great Marsh City, Wu Tie had even fired a shot outward. Now, under Wu Tie's control, the cannon slowly turned to aim at the Black Phoenix Army's encampment.

Although the flagship lacked sailors and trained crew, making the cannon's lock‑on slow, the barrel was indeed pointing toward the western city gate.

"Who gave you the guts to flash your blades at me?" Wu Tie chuckled, watching the Black Phoenix Army soldiers' faces shift.

"Do you dare to assassinate the state army commander? Do you want to rebel? Aren't you afraid of being exterminated to the ninth clan?" Wu Tie fired off these questions in succession.

【66】

Same Chinese as 【62】 but preceded by "Original: ". So translation same.

Interpretation: Wu Tie's eyes rolled, he smiled and said to those Black Phoenix Army soldiers: "Brothers, is it interesting to follow the Black Phoenix Army? Why not run away and come to me?"

We need to keep the quoted speech.

Let's produce: "Or, I'll point you to a clear path." Wu Tie's eyes shifted, he smiled and said to those Black Phoenix Army soldiers: "Brothers, is it worthwhile following the Black Phoenix Army? Why not desert and come to me?"

【76】

Wu Tie's eyes shifted.

【80】

Brothers, is it worthwhile following the Black Phoenix Army? Why not run away and come to me?

Thus final line: 【61】 "Or, I'll point you to a clear path." Wu Tie's eyes shifted, he smiled and said to those Black Phoenix Army soldiers: "Brothers, is it worthwhile following the Black Phoenix Army? Why not run away and come to me?"

【86】

I won't let you brothers lose out. What position do you hold in the Black Phoenix Army? Join my Great Marsh Prefecture Army, and everyone will be promoted one rank. Well, your pay will be three times what you have now. I'll provide armor, weapons, treasures, and I'll equip you all to the standard of a colonel.

Translate: "I won't let the brothers suffer losses; what's your status in the Black Phoenix Army? Come to my Great Marsh Prefecture Army, and you'll all be promoted one rank. Also, your pay will be three times what you have now. Armor, weapons, treasures—I'll equip you all to the standard of a colonel."

【92】

promoted one rank

【96】

Armor, weapons, treasures

【104】

Thus line: 【62】 "I won't let the brothers suffer losses; what's your status in the Black Phoenix Army? Come to my Great Marsh Prefecture Army, and you'll all be promoted one rank. Also, your pay will be three times what you have now. Armor, weapons, treasures—I'll equip you all to the standard of a colonel."

Check we didn't add extra. Good.

I won't let my brothers suffer a loss; what status do you have in the Black Phoenix Army? Come to my Great Zezhou Army, and you'll all be promoted one rank. Eh, the military pay will be three times what you have now. Armor, weapons, magical treasures and such—I'll equip you all to the standard of a Colonel!

Wu Tie clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Brothers, what are you soldiers for? To get promoted and make money—come on, come on, just follow me, and I'll get you promoted and rich right now!"

Translate: Wu Tie clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Brothers, what are you soldiers for? To get promoted and make money—come on, come on, just follow me, and I'll get you promoted and rich right now!"

【110】

Brothers, what are you soldiers for? To get promoted and make money—come on, come on, just follow me, and I'll get you promoted and rich right now!

Thus line: 【63】 Wu Tie clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Brothers, what are you soldiers for? To get promoted and make money—come on, come on, just follow me, and I'll get you promoted and rich right now!"

【117】

Translate: Of the over four hundred Black Phoenix Army soldiers present, the faces of fully half of them suddenly changed.

Over four hundred, and the faces of fully half of them suddenly changed.

Thus line: 【64】 Of the over four hundred Black Phoenix Army soldiers present, the faces of fully half of them suddenly changed.

【124】

Translate: The Black Phoenix Army colonel who had been slapped down by Wu Tie's blow turned ashen; he struggled to his feet, his left hand tightly covering his right shoulder wound, and shouted hoarsely: "All Black Phoenix Army personnel, hear my order—turn about, take to the skies, return to the garrison!"

Chinese: includes description and quoted speech. Let's translate fully.

Thus line: 【65】 The Black Phoenix Army colonel who had been slapped down by Wu Tie's blow turned ashen; he struggled to his feet, his left hand tightly covering his right shoulder wound, and shouted hoarsely: "All Black Phoenix Army personnel, hear my order—turn about, take to the skies, return to the garrison!"

【131】

Translate: "Go, go, go—get out, all of you! Who dares to stay behind… you know Qian San's methods!"

Chinese: same as 【127】 but with comment. So translation same: "Go, go, go—get out, all of you! Who dares to stay behind… you know Qian San's methods!"

Thus line: 【66】 "Go, go, go—get out, all of you! Who dares to stay behind… you know Qian San's methods!"

【138】

Translate: "And don't forget, you're all members of the Black Phoenix Army—you… owe allegiance to the army chief!"

you… must not let the army chief down

Thus line: 【67】 "And don't forget, you're all members of the Black Phoenix Army—you… must not let the army chief down."

【146】

Translate: The colonel shouted hoarsely.

Thus line: 【68】 The colonel shouted hoarsely.

Wu Tie laughed, throwing out a box of gold coins from his bracelet, then another box, and then another…

Translate: Wu Tie laughed, throwing out a box of coins from his bracelet, then another box, and another…

We need to keep the ellipsis at end. So: Wu Tie laughed, throwing out a box of coins from his bracelet, then another box, and another…

Thus line: 【69】 Wu Tie laughed, throwing out a box of coins from his bracelet, then another box, and another…

【157】

Translate: The Black Phoenix Army colonel, hysterical, shouted and drove the over four hundred Black Phoenix Army soldiers to take off toward the garrison, flying back quickly.

Hysterically shouting and cursing, they drove, took off toward the garrison, and flew back quickly.

Thus line: 【70】 The Black Phoenix Army colonel, hysterically shouting and cursing, drove the over four hundred Black Phoenix Army soldiers to take off toward the garrison, flying back quickly.

【165】

Translate: Facing Wu Tie, he was completely outmatched, with not even a chance to turn the tide.

Thus line: 【71】 Facing Wu Tie, he was completely outmatched, with not even a chance to turn the tide.

In rank, strength, and resources… he was completely outmatched.

Translate: Rank, strength, resources… he was completely outmatched.

Thus line: 【72】 Rank, strength, resources… he was completely outmatched.

【174】

Translate: Wu Tie stopped throwing out coins, looked toward the west of the city, and muttered: "Next, I'll have to deal with Qian San, right, Elder Huang Lang?"

Wu Tie stopped throwing out coins, looked toward the west of the city, and muttered: "Next, I'll have to deal with Qian San, right, Elder Huang Lang?"

【180】

Translate: Huang Lang exhaled, speaking softly: "Qian San is tough to handle… even after dealing with Qian San, there are still so many Black Phoenix Army soldiers."

Thus line: 【74】 Huang Lang exhaled, speaking softly: "Qian San is tough to handle… even after dealing with Qian San, there are still so many Black Phoenix Army soldiers."

Wu Tie narrowed his eyes and said: "By the way, Elder Huang Lang, please tell me properly—what's the deal with the Black Phoenix Army… how many people do they actually have? You've only just arrived here, but given your abilities, you must have gathered plenty of intel—spill it all!"

Translate: Wu Tie narrowed his eyes: "Speaking of which, Elder Huang Lang, please tell me straight—what's the deal with this Black Phoenix Army… just how many of them are there? You've only just arrived here, but given your abilities, you must have gathered plenty of intel—spill it!"

【187】

Thus line: 【75】 Wu Tie narrowed his eyes: "Speaking of which, Elder Huang Lang, please tell me straight—what's the deal with this Black Phoenix Army… just how many of them are there? You've only just arrived here, but given your abilities, you must have gathered plenty of intel—spill it!"

The construction work proceeded in an orderly manner.

Translate: The construction work proceeded in an orderly manner.

Thus line: 【76】 The construction work proceeded in an orderly manner.

【196】

Translate: The entire foundation of Great Marsh City turned into a solid rock structure; under Wu Tie's covert work, the city's underground rock foundation extended hundreds of zhang deep, merging completely with the lower strata, becoming extremely strong and stable.

The walls became hundreds of zhang tall and extremely strong and stable.

Thus line: 【77】 The entire foundation of Great Marsh City turned into a solid rock structure; under Wu Tie's covert work, the city's underground rock foundation extended hundreds of zhang deep, merging completely with the lower strata, becoming extremely strong and stable.

【203】

Translate: The stone foundation rose a full two zhang above the surrounding ground; thus, no matter how heavy the rain or how deep the flooding outside, the urban interior would remain completely dry, with absolutely no standing water.

The drainage channels would be a full two zhang high, keeping the urban interior completely dry with absolutely no standing water.

Thus line: 【78】 The stone foundation rose a full two zhang above the surrounding ground; thus, no matter how heavy the rain or how deep the flooding outside, the urban interior would remain completely dry, with absolutely no standing water.

【211】

Translate: To the south of the city, Wu Tie's field camp stood here, and he simply designated the southern district as a military zone.

Thus line: 【79】 To the south of the city, Wu Tie's field camp stood here, and he simply designated the southern district as a military zone.

Here, in the future, only the families of the Great Marsh Prefecture garrison soldiers will reside—provided those soldiers have families. The southern district will have an inner wall separating it from the surrounding areas, and entry will be strictly forbidden for anyone not affiliated with the prefecture troops.

Translate: Here, in the future, only the families of Great Marsh Prefecture Army soldiers may reside—provided those garrison soldiers have dependents. A inner wall will be built in the southern district to separate it from the surrounding urban area, and entry will be strictly forbidden for anyone not affiliated with the prefecture army.

【218】

Thus line: 【80】 Here, in the future, only the families of Great Marsh Prefecture Army soldiers may reside—provided those garrison soldiers have dependents. An inner wall will be built in the southern district to separate it from the surrounding urban area, and entry will be strictly forbidden for anyone not affiliated with the prefecture army.

In the north, Wu Tie designated it as the administrative district.

Translate: In the north of the city, Wu Tie designated it as an administrative district.

Thus line: 【81】 In the north of the city, Wu Tie designated it as an administrative district.

【227】

Translate: In the future, if the Prefect sent by the Great Jin arrives, the northern district will be his to manage—his retinue of officials, the families of those clerks, guards, servants, and so on, the northern district will have enough space for them all.

If the Prefect sent by the Great Jin arrives, the northern district will be his to manage, along with his retinue of officials, their families, guards, servants, and so on—the northern district will have enough space for them all.

Thus line: 【82】 In the future, if the Prefect sent by the Great Jin arrives, the northern district will be his to manage—his retinue of officials, the families of those clerks, guards, servants, and so on, the northern district will have enough space for them all.

【235】

Translate: As for the east of the city, Wu Tie plans to have the laborers build a row of houses here.

Thus line: 【83】 As for the east of the city, Wu Tie plans to have the laborers build a row of houses here.

With well-planned streets and districts, and neat, standardized wooden houses, this residential area will surely be far more comfortable than the previous chaotic livestock sheds.

Translate: With well‑planned streets and districts, and neat, standardized wooden houses, such a residential area will surely be far more comfortable than the former chaotic livestock sheds.

Thus line: 【84】 With well‑planned streets and districts, and neat, standardized wooden houses, such a residential area will surely be far more comfortable than the former chaotic livestock sheds.

【245】

Translate: As for the west of the city, it is currently the garrison of the Black Phoenix Army.

Thus line: 【85】 As for the west of the city, it is currently the garrison of the Black Phoenix Army.

Wu Tie figured that sooner or later he'd have to dispense with the Black Phoenix Army; the western part of the city could easily become a market, storage area, and so on. He would reserve some open land there, even placing a landing and takeoff station for flying vessels there.

Translate: Wu Tie calculated that sooner or later he would drive the Black Phoenix Army away; the western district could easily become a market, storage area, and so on. He would keep some open land there, and even a depot for landing and taking off flying vessels would be placed there.

【252】

Thus line: 【86】 Wu Tie calculated that sooner or later he would drive the Black Phoenix Army away; the western district could easily become a market, storage area, and so on. He would keep some open land there, and even a depot for landing and taking off flying vessels would be placed there.

Moreover, if Great Marsh City ever needs to expand outward in the future, Wu Tie is also preparing to develop land to the west.

Translate: Especially if Great Marsh City ever needs to expand outward, Wu Tie also plans to develop the western side.

Thus line: 【87】 Especially if Great Marsh City ever needs to expand outward, Wu Tie also plans to develop the western side.

【262】

Translate: Because Qian San's force returned from the west, the western side surely holds an important stronghold of the Black Phoenix Army.

Thus line: 【88】 Because Qian San's force returned from the west, the western side surely holds an important stronghold of the Black Phoenix Army.

If the city expands westward, wouldn't it be closer to those mines and such?

Translate: If the urban area expands westward, wouldn't it be closer to those mines and such?

Thus line: 【89】 If the urban area expands westward, wouldn't it be closer to those mines and such?

【272】

Translate: Wu Tie still had plenty of ideas, and Huang Lang supported them.

Thus line: 【90】 Wu Tie still had plenty of ideas, and Huang Lang supported them.

While Wu Tie and Huang Lang were busy making their calculations here, another seven or eight days passed. During this time the Black Phoenix Army remained quiet; Wu Tie had commandeered nearly all the able-bodied men in the city, who then hired out the elderly and children to go out and earn sweet potatoes, doing odd jobs here and there, and they also cleared the weeds from a sizable plot of farmland.

Translate: While Wu Tie and Huang Lang were busy with their scheming here, another seven or eight days passed. During these days the Black Phoenix Army lay quiet; Wu Tie commandeered nearly all the able‑bodied folk in the city, who hired the elderly and children with sweet potatoes to go out, and in a scattered fashion they also cleared the weeds from a sizable plot of farmland.

【279】

Thus line: 【91】 While Wu Tie and Huang Lang were busy with their scheming here, another seven or eight days passed. During these days the Black Phoenix Army lay quiet; Wu Tie commandeered nearly all the able‑bodied folk in the city, who hired the elderly and children with sweet potatoes to go out, and in a scattered fashion they also cleared the weeds from a sizable plot of farmland.

But compared to the vast fields outside the city, the weeds cleared by the elderly and children these past few days were really just a small patch.

Translate: But compared to the vast fields outside the city, the weeds cleared by those elderly and children these few days were really just a tiny patch.

Thus line: 【92】 But compared to the vast fields outside the city, the weeds cleared by those elderly and children these few days were really just a tiny patch.

【288】

Translate: Just as the Black Phoenix Army up and down were cursing, Qian San brought a massive force back, escorted by two small flying vessels along the outer western highway.

The Black Phoenix Army up and down were cursing; a massive force, escorted by two small flying vessels, returned along the outer western highway.

Thus line: 【93】 Just as the Black Phoenix Army up and down were cursing, Qian San brought a massive force back, escorted by two small flying vessels along the outer western highway.

【296】

Translate: Upon entering the city, Qian San heard the bad news.

Thus line: 【94】 Upon entering the city, Qian San heard the bad news.

Seeing his subordinate with a chopped-off arm, Qian San's face instantly darkened.

Translate: Seeing a subordinate whose arm had been cut off, Qian San's face instantly darkened.

Thus line: 【95】 Seeing a subordinate whose arm had been cut off, Qian San's face instantly darkened.

"Your military rank is high? Hah, then, what about me?" Qian San gritted his teeth, leading a group of men and immediately went to find Wu Tie.