Chapter 311

I hope Young Master Jin can still be so glib later.

I hope Young Master Jin can still be so glib later.

But need to keep quotes? The Chinese line includes 「」 which are quotation marks. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, preserve every paragraph break. It didn't say to remove quotation marks. Usually we keep them as English quotes. So we should keep the Chinese quotation marks? Probably we should convert to English quotes. The instruction: "Render onomatopoeia / sound effects... as English sound words". For punctuation, we can keep as is or convert to English quotes. I'd keep English double quotes. So output: 【1】 "I hope Young Master Jin can still be so glib later."

"I hope Young Master Jin can still be so glib later."

Gu Rongjin raised an eyebrow: "Temple Master Xiao is too."

Gu Rongjin raised an eyebrow: "Temple Master Xiao is too."

But need to keep quotes. So: 【2】 Gu Rongjin raised an eyebrow: "Temple Master Xiao is too."

Gu Rongjin raised an eyebrow: "Xiao Sizheng also."

He narrowed his eyes and struck first!

He narrowed his eyes and struck first!

Thus: 【3】 He narrowed his eyes and struck first!

He is serious about beating Xiao Yichen.

Translation: As for beating Xiao Yichen, he was serious. Or "He was serious about beating Xiao Yichen." So: 【4】 He was serious about beating Xiao Yichen.

He used sixty percent of his strength for this strike, so fast that ordinary people couldn't tell how he executed it.

Translation: He used sixty percent of his strength for this strike, so fast that ordinary people couldn't see how he made his move. So: 【5】 He used sixty percent of his strength for this strike, so fast that ordinary people couldn't see how he made his move.

Everyone's interest was instantly captured.

Translation: Everyone's interest was instantly captured. So: 【6】 Everyone's interest was instantly captured.

Qi Shi Huai thought that even he might not be able to dodge this move, let alone Xiao Yichen; he could only take the beating.

Translation: Qi Shihuai thought that even he might not be able to dodge this move, let alone Xiao Yichen; he could only take the beating. So: 【7】 Qi Shihuai thought that even he might not be able to dodge this move, let alone Xiao Yichen; he could only take the beating.

he could only take the beating.

Xiao Chu Chu watched anxiously, clutching the handkerchief tightly in her palm.

Translation: Xiao Chuchu watched anxiously, clutching her handkerchief tightly. So: 【8】 Xiao Chuchu watched anxiously, clutching her handkerchief tightly.

Big brother……

Big brother……

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yichen not only dodged, but did so timely and skillfully, appearing behind Gu Rongjin with a single evasive move.

Translation: However, contrary to many people's expectations, Xiao Yichen not only dodged, but did so timely and skillfully, appearing behind Gu Rongjin with a single evasive move. So: 【10】 However, contrary to many people's expectations, Xiao Yichen not only dodged, but did so timely and skillfully, appearing behind Gu Rongjin with a single evasive move.

Gu Rongjin was greatly startled; though doubtful, his reaction was quick, and he almost instantly adjusted, turning back to strike again.

Translation: Gu Rongjin was greatly startled; although he was doubtful, his reaction was quick, and he almost instantly adjusted, turning back to strike again. So: 【11】 Gu Rongjin was greatly startled; although doubtful, his reaction was quick, and he almost instantly adjusted, turning back to strike again.

This time, Xiao Yichen didn't dodge at all; instead, he and Gu Rongjin began exchanging blows.

Translation: This time, Xiao Yichen didn't dodge; instead, he and Gu Rongjin began exchanging blows back and forth. So: 【12】 This time, Xiao Yichen didn't dodge; instead, he and Gu Rongjin began exchanging blows back and forth.

Unbelievable!

Translation: Unbelievable! So: 【13】 Unbelievable!

Mu Yanzhi stared in shock; she knew the gap in martial arts between Gu Rongjin and Xiao Yichen, and thought it impossible for Xiao Yichen to improve so quickly in such a short time.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi stared dumbfounded; she knew the gap in martial arts between Gu Rongjin and Xiao Yichen, and in such a short time Xiao Yichen couldn't possibly have improved that much. So: 【14】 Mu Yuanzhi stared dumbfounded; she knew the gap in martial arts between Gu Rongjin and Xiao Yichen, and in such a short time Xiao Yichen couldn't possibly have improved that much.

Although Xiao Yichen's skills are not bad, they come from later diligent training, not innate talent.

Translation: Although Xiao Yichen's skills were not bad, they came from diligent postnatal training, and he was by no means a genius. So: 【15】 Although Xiao Yichen's skills were not bad, they came from diligent postnatal training, and he was by no means a genius.

Could he have used some trick?

Translation: Could he have used some trick? So: 【16】 Could he have used some trick?

She also saw the shaman doctor, who wasn't drinking tea anymore but lazily propped his chin to watch the match.

Translation: She also saw that witch doctor, who was no longer drinking tea but lazily propping his chin to watch the duel on the arena. So: 【17】 She also saw that witch doctor, who was no longer drinking tea but lazily propping his chin to watch the duel on the arena.

On the surface, there's no sign that this person is playing any tricks.

Translation: Judging by appearances, there was indeed no sign that this person was up to any trickery. So: 【18】 Judging by appearances, there was indeed no sign that this person was up to any trickery.

It wasn't a one-sided match, which shocked everyone in the Great Zhou.

Translation: It wasn't a one-sided match, which shocked everyone in Great Zhou. So: 【19】 It wasn't a one-sided match, which shocked everyone in Great Zhou.

"What's going on?"

Translation: "What's going on?" So: 【20】 "What's going on?"

"Xiao Yichen actually fought to a draw with Gu Rongjin?"

Translation: "Xiao Yichen actually fought Gu Rongjin to a draw?" So: 【21】 "Xiao Yichen actually fought Gu Rongjin to a draw?"

"I've heard that Gu Rongjin's martial arts are superb, even the Emperor praises him endlessly."

Translation: "I've heard that Gu Rongjin's martial arts are superb, to the point that even His Majesty can't stop praising him?" So: 【22】 "I've heard that Gu Rongjin's martial arts are superb, to the point that even His Majesty can't stop praising him?"

"It's true; when they got married earlier, didn't Young Master Jin still beat Xiao Yichen into helplessness?"

It's true; when they got married earlier, didn't Young Master Jin still beat Xiao Yichen to the point of being unable to fight back?

"I think the rumors might be wrong; they seem evenly matched to me."

Translation: "I think the rumors might be wrong; from what I see, they seem evenly matched." So: 【24】 "I think the rumors might be wrong; from what I see, they seem evenly matched."

At the banquet, everyone was discussing animatedly.

Translation: At the banquet, everyone was discussing animatedly. So: 【25】 At the banquet, everyone was discussing animatedly.

The foreign envoys watched intently, secretly marveling that the Great Zhou truly abounds in talent.

Translation: The foreign envoys all watched intently, secretly sighing that Great Zhou truly had abundant talent. So: 【26】 The foreign envoys all watched intently, secretly sighing that Great Zhou truly had abundant talent.

Among everyone, the person most shocked was naturally the party involved, Gu Rongjin; Xiao Yichen could not only fight him to an indecisive stalemate, but also seemed to anticipate his moves, blocking them in advance and countering.

Translation: Naturally, the person most shocked among everyone was the party involved, Gu Rongjin; Xiao Yichen could not only fight him to an indecisive stalemate, but also seemed to anticipate his moves, each time blocking in advance and even countering. So: 【27】 Naturally, the person most shocked among everyone was the party involved, Gu Rongjin; Xiao Yichen could not only fight him to an indecisive stalemate, but also seemed to anticipate his moves, each time blocking in advance and even countering.

It's strange; Xiao Yichen seems to have suddenly become very familiar with Gu Rongjin's martial arts routine, as familiar as if it were his own……

Translation: It's strange; Xiao Yichen suddenly seemed very familiar with his martial arts routine, as familiar as if it were his own…… So: 【28】 It's strange; Xiao Yichen suddenly seemed very familiar with his martial arts routine, as familiar as if it were his own……

"Don't lose focus, or you'll suffer defeat!"

Translation: "Don't lose focus, or you'll suffer defeat!" So: 【29】 "Don't lose focus, or you'll suffer defeat!"

Xiao Yichen laughed as he struck Gu Rongjin's shoulder with a palm, sending him stumbling back several steps!

Translation: Xiao Yichen laughed as he slapped a palm onto Gu Rongjin's shoulder, directly sending him stumbling back several steps! So: 【30】 Xiao Yichen laughed as he slapped a palm onto Gu Rongjin's shoulder, directly sending him stumbling back several steps!

"Rongjin!" Mu Yanzhi's heart clenched.

Translation: "Rongjin!" Mu Yuanzhi's heart clenched. So: 【31】 "Rongjin!" Mu Yuanzhi's heart clenched.

"Are you alright?"

Translation: "Are you alright?" So: 【32】 "Are you alright?"

Gu Rongjin dared not lose focus again; he wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and smiled: "Interesting, bullying weaklings isn't that enjoyable either."

Translation: Gu Rongjin dared not lose focus again; he wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and also smiled: "Interesting, bullying weaklings doesn't seem that enjoyable either." So: 【33】 Gu Rongjin dared not lose focus again; he wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and also smiled: "Interesting, bullying weaklings doesn't seem that enjoyable either."

"You're still being stubborn, but you can't possibly beat me." Xiao Yichen pressed his advantage.

Translation: "You're still being stubborn; you simply can't beat me." Xiao Yichen pressed his advantage. So: 【34】 "You're still being stubborn; you simply can't beat me." Xiao Yichen pressed his advantage.

"Ha, you can't beat me either!"

Translation: "Hah, you can't beat me either!" So: 【35】 "Hah, you can't beat me either!"

The battle entered a stalemate, with experts exchanging deadly moves; insiders saw the technique, outsiders just watched for excitement, but even the excitement-weary soon wanted a quick decision, while only those who understood the craft knew how perilous and precarious their fight was.

Translation: The battle entered a stalemate, with experts exchanging moves, each strike deadly; insiders saw the technique, outsiders watched for excitement, but those just watching the excitement soon grew bored, only wanting a quick decision, while only those who understood the technique knew how perilous and changeable their duel was. So: 【36】 The battle entered a stalemate, with experts exchanging moves, each strike deadly; insiders saw the technique, outsiders watched for excitement, but those just watching the excitement soon grew bored, only wanting a quick decision, while only those who understood the technique knew how perilous and changeable their duel was.

"Yuan Yan, what do you think? This is too strange!" Kirin anxiously looked at the monk.

Translation: "Yan Yuan, what do you think? This is too strange!" The Qilin anxiously looked at the monk. So: 【37】 "Yan Yuan, what do you think? This is too strange!" The Qilin anxiously looked at the monk.

The monk's gaze kept shifting between the two fighters, his eyes narrowing: "Indeed strange, to make such rapid progress in such a short time."

Translation: The monk's gaze kept shifting between the two fighters, his eyes narrowed: "Indeed strange, to make such rapid progress in such a short time." So: 【38】 The monk's gaze kept shifting between the two fighters, his eyes narrowed: "Indeed strange, to make such rapid progress in such a short time."

"Did he take drugs?"

Translation: "Did he take drugs?" So: 【39】 "Did he take drugs?"

"No, I can't tell." The monk shook his head in denial.

Translation: "No, I can't tell." The monk shook his head in denial. So: 【40】 "No, I can't tell." The monk shook his head in denial.

"Could it be that Xiao Yichen is truly a genius?"

Translation: "Could it be that Xiao Yichen is really a genius?" So: 【41】 "Could it be that Xiao Yichen is really a genius?"

"Have you noticed that Xiao Yichen's current martial arts moves are exactly the same as Gu Rongjin's?" the monk said.

Translation: "Have you noticed that Xiao Yichen's martial arts moves are exactly the same as Gu Rongjin's?" the monk said. So: 【42】 "Have you noticed that Xiao Yichen's martial arts moves are exactly the same as Gu Rongjin's?" the monk said.

Kirin nodded: "That's right, but just by watching past matches, it's impossible to learn."

Translation: The Qilin nodded: "That's right, but just by watching past bouts, it's impossible to learn it." So: 【43】 The Qilin nodded: "That's right, but just by watching past bouts, it's impossible to learn it."

Gu Rongjin's martial arts are hard to learn; just watching won't let you grasp them fully.

Translation: Gu Rongjin's martial arts are hard to learn; just watching won't let you grasp it fully. So: 【44】 Gu Rongjin's martial arts are hard to learn; just watching won't let you grasp it fully.

Qi Shi Huai also had some insight on this; after sparring with Gu Rongjin, he found that Gu Rongjin's martial arts routine is not something ordinary people can easily comprehend.

Translation: Qi Shihuai also had some insight on this; having sparred with Gu Rongjin, he knew that Gu Rongjin's martial arts routine was not something ordinary people could easily comprehend. So: 【45】 Qi Shihuai also had some insight on this; having sparred with Gu Rongjin, he knew that Gu Rongjin's martial arts routine was not something ordinary people could easily comprehend.

He sat down in Gu Rongjin's former seat and asked Mu Yanzhi: "What do you think, sister-in-law?"

Translation: He moved to Gu Rongjin's former seat and asked Mu Yuanzhi: "What do you think, sister-in-law?" So: 【46】 He moved to Gu Rongjin's former seat and asked Mu Yuanzhi: "What do you think, sister-in-law?"

"He can always accurately predict how Gu Rongjin will strike; there must be an expert guiding him."

Translation: "He can always accurately anticipate how Rongjin will strike; there must be an expert guiding him." So: 【47】 "He can always accurately anticipate how Rongjin will strike; there must be an expert guiding him."

She originally thought the shaman doctor would use sneaky tactics, but now it seems he's using straightforward moves!

Translation: "She originally thought that witch doctor would use sneaky tactics, but now it seems he's using straightforward moves!" So: 【48】 "She originally thought that witch doctor would use sneaky tactics, but now it seems he's using straightforward moves!"

"How on earth is this possible?!"

Translation: "How on earth is this accomplished!?" So: 【49】 "How on earth is this accomplished!?"

As she was thinking, Gu Rongjin took another palm strike from Xiao Yichen in the same spot, coughing up a mouthful of blood and looking miserable.

Translation: As she was thinking, Gu Rongjin took another palm strike from Xiao Yichen in the same spot as before, coughing up a mouthful of blood, looking miserable. So: 【50】 As she was thinking, Gu Rongjin took another palm strike from Xiao Yichen in the same spot as before, coughing up a mouthful of blood, looking miserable.

"Enough!" The new emperor rose to his feet, "Let's stop the sparring here."

Translation: "Enough!" The new emperor rose to his feet: "Let's call the sparring off." So: 【51】 "Enough!" The new emperor rose to his feet: "Let's call the sparring off."

"Your Majesty, I haven't lost yet!" Gu Rongjin fiercely wiped away the blood.

Translation: "Your Majesty, I haven't lost yet!" Gu Rongjin fiercely wiped away the bloodstains. So: 【52】 "Your Majesty, I haven't lost yet!" Gu Rongjin fiercely wiped away the bloodstains.

He knew the new emperor favored his side, but he was unwilling to accept defeat!

Translation: He knew the new emperor favored his side, but he was unwilling to accept defeat! So: 【53】 He knew the new emperor favored his side, but he was unwilling to accept defeat!

"How can he let Xiao Yichen show off his might?!"

Translation: How could he let Xiao Yichen show off his might?! So: 【54】 How could he let Xiao Yichen show off his might?!

Xiao Yichen, however, wasn't pushy, and said: "Your Majesty is right, Young Master Jin, why bother?"

Translation: Xiao Yichen, however, wasn't pushy; he said, "Your Majesty is right, Young Master Jin, why bother?" So: 【55】 Xiao Yichen, however, wasn't pushy; he said, "Your Majesty is right, Young Master Jin, why bother?"

Gu Rongjin's eyes darkened, and he unleashed a punch with all his might!

Translation: Gu Rongjin's eyes darkened as he poured all his strength into a punch! So: 【56】 Gu Rongjin's eyes darkened as he poured all his strength into a punch!

He's serious now! Xiao Yichen must be on his guard.

Translation: He was serious now! Xiao Yichen had to be careful. So: 【57】 He was serious now! Xiao Yichen had to be careful.

Gu Rongjin moved like lightning, with the force of thunder, driving Xiao Yichen beyond the yellow line; although he didn't gain an advantage in punches and kicks, he sent Xiao Yichen out of the ring!

Translation: Gu Rongjin, fast as lightning, with the force of thunder, drove Xiao Yichen beyond the yellow line; although he didn't gain the upper hand in fist and foot techniques, he blasted Xiao Yichen out of the ring! So: 【58】 Gu Rongjin, fast as lightning, with the force of thunder, drove Xiao Yichen beyond the yellow line; although he didn't gain the upper hand in fist and foot techniques, he blasted Xiao Yichen out of the ring!

After this series of moves, insiders know Gu Rongjin truly has the edge, while outsiders lament that Xiao Yichen stepped over the yellow line—otherwise he would surely have won!

Translation: After this series of moves, insiders knew Gu Rongjin had the edge, while outsiders regretted that Xiao Yichen had stepped outside the yellow line; otherwise he would surely have won. So: 【59】 After this series of moves, insiders knew Gu Rongjin had the edge, while outsiders regretted that Xiao Yichen had stepped outside the yellow line; otherwise he would surely have won.

"Good!"

I don't know who started it, but the applause was nonstop.

Gu Rongjin, however, couldn't feel happy at all; in the end he actually had to exert all his strength just to barely give Xiao Yichen a bit of face!

He was careless.

Although Xiao Yichen lost, he made Gu Rongjin bleed, which made him very pleased.

This feeling of exhilaration cannot be compared to winning or losing.

"I concede, Young Master Jin." Xiao Yichen curled his lips and smiled.

Gu Rongjin chuckled: "You're pretty capable, but it's not you who's actually strong."

He said while glancing at the Witch Doctor.

Xiao Yichen's face sank instantly, but he immediately curled the corner of his mouth: "It's fine, as long as I end up happy, it's okay even if you're not happy."

The two continued to be opposed, tension filling the air; even after stepping down, the arena still lingered with this irreconcilable atmosphere.

The New Emperor let out a sigh of relief, while his gaze continually fell on Xiao Yichen, full of scrutiny.

Gu Rongjin returned to the elegant seat, and Mu Yuanzhi eagerly grabbed his hand to take his pulse.

"I'm fine," Gu Rongjin said, not wanting Mu Yuanzhi to worry.

It's just that I took a couple of hits; it's fine.

"Your breath is all messed up; later I'll prescribe two doses of medicine for you to properly recuperate." Mu Yuanzhi's eyes were full of worry; if not for saving Gu Rongjin's face, she would have dragged him away for treatment right now!

"Don't worry, I'll regulate my own qi."

Xiao Yichen gazed at them from afar, their affectionate interaction, his lost gaze hard to conceal.

He again recalled Xiao Chuchu's words.

Her hatred toward him today must have increased, after all he injured the Gu Rongjin she likes!

Xiao Yichen flicked his sleeves and returned to his seat; the Witch Doctor congratulated him: "Congratulations, Sir, you won!"