Chapter 204: with translation of chapter title

Time flows like water, slipping away silently; before we know it, a month has passed.

Translation: Time flows like water, silently passing; unnoticed, a month has gone by.

We need to keep same meaning, not add extra. Let's craft: "Time flows like water, silently passing; unnoticed, a month has passed." That's fine.

Half a month ago, the Nine Palaces Mountain Assembly formally concluded; witnessed by all heroes, the Sun Moon Divine Sect replaced the Quanzhen Sect to become the world's foremost sect.

Translation: Half a month ago, the Nine Palaces Mountain Assembly formally concluded, and the Sun Moon Divine Sect, witnessed by all heroes, replaced the Quanzhen Sect to become the world's foremost sect.

Check: "Half a month ago" = "Half a month ago". "the Nine Palaces Mountain Assembly formally concluded" = "the Nine Palaces Mountain Assembly formally concluded". "the Sun Moon Divine Sect also, witnessed by all heroes" = "the Sun Moon Divine Sect also, witnessed by all heroes". "replaced the Quanzhen Sect to become the world's foremost sect" = "replaced the Quanzhen Sect to become the world's foremost sect". Good.

The day after the assembly concluded, just as Miss Huang had predicted, an imperial edict conferring grace arrived in Lin'an.

Translation: On the second day after the assembly's conclusion, just as Miss Huang had said, an imperial edict conferring grace arrived in Lin'an City.

We need to keep "Miss Huang" as Miss Huang? It's a generic form of address; we translate meaning: "Miss Huang". Good.

"imperial edict conferring grace" = "imperial edict conferring grace". Could be "imperial edict of grace". We'll translate as "imperial edict conferring grace". Good.

With the principal figure not coming forward to receive the decree, Niu Dingtian, the grandson of Niu Gao and former Deputy Commander of the Yue Family Army, who is also the leader of the Sun Moon Divine Sect, was enfeoffed as Prince of Xiangyang Commandery and granted the title of Loyal Brave Martial Guard General (a nominal post); as for the earlier "Western Barbarian" title, not a word was mentioned, which amounts to tacit acceptance.

Translation: In the absence of the principal figure to receive the decree, the Sun Moon Divine Sect sect leader and former Deputy Commander of the Yue Family Army, Niu Gao's grandson Niu Dingtian, was enfeoffed as Prince of Xiangyang Commandery and granted the title of Loyal Brave Martial Guard General (nominal post), while the earlier Western Barbarian title was not mentioned at all, amounting to tacit acceptance.

We need to keep "principal figure" as "principal figure". Could be "the main party". We'll use "the principal figure". "come forward to receive the decree" = "come forward to receive the decree". We'll keep as "to receive the decree". "enfeoffed" = "enfeoffed". "Sun Moon Divine Sect sect leader" = "Sun Moon Divine Sect sect leader". "former Deputy Commander of the Yue Family Army" = "former Deputy Commander of the Yue Family Army". "Niu Gao's grandson Niu Dingtian" = "Niu Gao's grandson Niu Dingtian". "as Prince of Xiangyang Commandery" = "as Prince of Xiangyang Commandery". "granted the title of Loyal Brave Martial Guard General (nominal post)" = "granted the title of Loyal Brave Martial Guard General (nominal post)". "As for the earlier Western Barbarian title, not a single word was mentioned, which amounts to tacit acceptance." = "As for the earlier Western Barbarian title, not a single word was mentioned, which amounts to tacit acceptance."

We'll produce a concise translation.

On the same day, the Xiangyang garrison, with the cooperation of Sun Moon Divine Sect experts, swiftly took control of Fancheng, Jiangling, and Ezhou, three key strongholds.

Translation: The same day, the Xiangyang garrison, with the cooperation of Sun Moon Divine Sect experts, swiftly took control of Fancheng, Jiangling, and Ezhou, three key strongholds.

We need to keep "Xiangyang garrison" = "Xiangyang garrison". "Sun Moon Divine Sect experts" = "Sun Moon Divine Sect experts". "swiftly took control" = "swiftly took control". "Fancheng, Jiangling, and Ezhou, three key strongholds" = "Fancheng, Jiangling, and Ezhou, three key strongholds". Good.

After replacing and purging the city's officials, the Jingxiang region completely became the sphere of influence of the Sun Moon Divine Sect.

Translation: After replacing and purging the city's officials, the Jingxiang region completely became the sphere of influence of the Sun Moon Divine Sect.

We need to keep "After replacing and purging the city's officials" = "After replacing and purging the city's officials". "Jingxiang region" = "Jingxiang region". "completely became" = "completely became". "the sphere of influence of the Sun Moon Divine Sect" = "the sphere of influence of the Sun Moon Divine Sect". Good.

In response, Zhao Kuo of Lin'an, after receiving a letter that both offered submission and issued threats and being reminded by the Kuihua Old Ancestor, could only grit his teeth and acquiesce.

Translation: Regarding this, Zhao Kuo of Lin'an City, after receiving a letter that both offered submission and issued threats, and after being reminded by the Kuihua Old Ancestor, could only grit his teeth and acquiesce.

We need to keep "a letter that both offered submission and issued threats" = "a letter that both offered submission and issued threats". "Kuihua Old Ancestor" = "Kuihua Old Ancestor". "could only grit his teeth and acquiesce" = "could only grit his teeth and acquiesce". Good.

But the next day, bad news arrived again! The Mongol envoy delegation that had originally reached an alliance with Song to resist Jin was ambushed outside Lin'an City; Envoy Zhebie died on the spot, Tiemuzhen's Tuolei was severely wounded and near death, and Princess Huazheng escaped back to Mongol territory under guard.

Tiemuzhen heard this and flew into a rage, carrying the mighty prestige of his great victory at Meeting River Fort, he directly declared that if Song did not give an explanation, he would surely join forces with Jin and advance south; thereafter he again massed troops at the Jin border, threatening the Jin people to march south and attack Song, thereby putting pressure on the great Song.

For a moment, the border between Jin and Song, which had been peaceful for many years, suddenly became tense.

Just as Zhao Kuo was beside himself, not knowing how to respond, the Duke of Xiangyang suddenly issued a proclamation to the world: Mongol is the wolf of youth, Jin is the tiger of old age; an old tiger is nothing to fear, but a young wolf is a great peril! Since ancient times, nomadic peoples have had wolfish ambitions; the Han people should recall the lesson of the Northern Song's alliance with Jin to destroy Liao. Now the main force of the Jin army has been utterly destroyed by the Mongols; when Jin falls, that will be the time for the Mongols to invade Song!

The proclamation had just been sent out when the Red Jacket Army within Jin territory swiftly responded, using the pretext of jointly resisting the Mongols, once again calling on the court to quickly come and accept their surrender.

At the same time, the Divine Sect, the greatest sect of the martial world, issued a bounty: whoever takes the head of a Mongol general will receive a profound Buddhist secret art; whoever takes the head of Tiemuzhen will receive the martial world's supreme treasure, the Nine Yin Classic. As soon as the news spread, it caused an uproar under heaven, and the martial circles of north and south suddenly boiled over.

Moreover, a large number of martial artists eager to trade their birdguns for cannons surged into Mongol territory; within just half a month, two Mongol generals were assassinated.

Faced with this sudden shift of the spearhead, Tiemuzhen felt a bit dazed. Inside the golden tent of the great desert, it was as if ice had congealed; the atmosphere was like June weather, overcast with dark clouds, as if brewing a thunderstorm.

In the inner tent carpeted with Persian rugs, a tall, broad‑foreheaded, long‑bearded man sat grandly upon the khan's seat that symbolized the supreme authority of the steppe—none other than the present emperor of the Mongol State, Genghis Khan Tiemuzhen.

At this moment, Tiemuzhen's face was dark as iron, his gaze sharp as he looked down at the kneeling person, and he coldly said: "I had you watch Guo Jing's mother—is this how you looked?"

Zhechi's face was dejected as he clasped his fists and said: "Your servant has been watching properly; the cattle and sheep outside the tent this morning were all there, but Li Ping's figure was gone. I have neglected my duty; please, Father Khan, punish me."

Beside him, Okuotai's eyes flashed; he stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said: "Father Khan, please allow me to report: to accomplish this so silently and unseen, the attacker must be a person of profound martial skill; in my view, none but the Divine Sect could be responsible. It is already a great fortune that my elder brother remains unharmed."

"Go receive fifty lashes yourself!" Tiemuzhen snorted coldly and waved his hand at Zhechi.

Despite his valiant fighting and repeated military merits, he still held this eldest son in high regard, even though he was not yet certain whether the boy was truly his own offspring.

After Zhechi withdrew from the golden tent, thinking of the hateful matter, Tiemuzhen slammed his fist on the table, his face grim as he cursed: "A bunch of shameless southern barbarians! When we reach Xiangyang, I swear I will not sheath my blade for ten days!"

He had indeed angered the Divine Sect greatly; before the grand ceremony he had sent a batch of costly treasures, but after ten days with no arrival he again demanded more—having just sent two batches, he never expected them to turn around and stab him in the back.

Damn it, he's a person of status too—I've never seen such shamelessness! Money is a trifle; what's truly hateful is that they directly ruined his carefully laid plan to ally with Song and destroy Jin.

"Great Khan, do you still remember Yang Kang?" Muhuali suddenly said.

PS: Please finish filling in as soon as possible (end of chapter).