Chapter 372

Mu Yuanzhi didn't insist either; Kirin going in would be far more useful than her going in.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi didn't insist either; Qilin going in was indeed more useful than her going in.

We need to keep it concise but faithful. Let's produce: "Mu Yuanzhi didn't insist either; Qilin going in was indeed more useful than her going in."

"Alright, go quickly and come back quickly; we'll be waiting outside for you to return for the New Year."

Translation: "All right, you guys go quickly and come back quickly; we'll be waiting outside for you to return for the New Year."

"We'll be out in less than a day, and we'll still make it in time to eat tangyuan!" Gu Rongjin was confident, saying they could emerge in under half a day.

Translation: "We'll be out in less than a day, and we'll even make it in time to eat tangyuan!" Gu Rongjin was very confident; they could come out in less than half a day.

Mu Yuanzhi stood at the old gate of the back mountain, watching them go in; Yueyun and Qiao Chu came too, both looking worried, repeatedly telling Kirin to be careful.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi stood at the original gate position of Back Mountain, seeing them off as they entered; Yue Yun and Qiao Chu naturally came as well, both looking uneasy, repeatedly urging Qilin to be careful.

Yueyun still didn't want them to go into the back mountain, but she couldn't defy Kirin's decision.

Translation: Yue Yun still disagreed with them going into Back Mountain, but she couldn't go against Qilin's wishes.

"Little Yun, Little Chu, while I'm gone, you must obey the senior uncle on all valley affairs!" Kirin called back as he walked away.

Translation: "Xiao Yun, Xiao Chu, while I'm away, you must listen to Uncle Master for everything in the valley!" the distant Qilin called back, turning his head to instruct.

Qiao Chu said, "Don't worry, Master; we'll follow the senior uncle's instructions!"

Translation: Qiao Chu: "Don't worry, Master; we'll obey Uncle Master's words!"

Yueyun nodded, though unwillingly.

Translation: Yue Yun nodded unwillingly.

It's just going in for a moment; what's the fuss?

It's just going in for a moment; what's the fuss?

I always feel that the master doing this is bad luck.

Translation: "I always feel that the Master doing this is inauspicious!"

But she didn't say it aloud, fearing that speaking would bring even worse luck.

Translation: "But she didn't say it out loud, for if she did, it would probably be even more inauspicious."

Mu Yuanzhi didn't think much of it; she thought Kirin was just worrying too much—what could the two of them not handle?

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi, on the other hand, didn't think much of it; she felt Qilin was just being overly cautious—what could the two of them not handle?

All she needs to do now is go back to wrap the tangyuan and wait for them to come back to eat.

Translation: "What she needs to do now is go back, wrap the tangyuan well, and wait for them to return to eat!"

Yueyun was reluctant to leave, glancing back every few steps; she wished she could wait by the fire pool, but the sect's ban prevents arbitrary entry or exit from the back mountain.

Translation: Yue Yun was reluctant to leave, taking three steps and looking back each time; she wished she could wait by the Flame Pool, but the sect's forbidance prevented random entry and exit from Back Mountain.

But thinking that Mu Yuanzhi could also enter made her feel resentful again.

Translation: But upon thinking that Mu Yuanzhi could also enter, she felt indignant again.

Everyone else has gone in; why can't she?

Translation: "Others have gone in before; why can't she?"

"Senior sister, don't worry so much; the master is extremely capable, and with Young Master Jin along, there will be no issues." Qiao Chu reassured her.

Translation: "Senior Sister, don't worry too much; the Master is so powerful, and with Young Master Jin following, there's no problem at all," Qiao Chu comforted her.

"As for the bit about Young Master Jin following, can we just skip that?"

Translation: "As for that last part about Young Master Jin tagging along, can we skip it?"

Although she thought that to herself, Yueyun didn't voice it.

Translation: "Although she thought that in her heart, Yue Yun didn't say it out loud."

Since the last encounter, she inexplicably grew wary of Qiao Chu, not wanting to talk much or get close; she felt these feelings were petty and couldn't let anyone, especially him, find out.

Translation: "Since the last time, she inexplicably became a bit wary of Qiao Chu, not wanting to talk much with him or get close to him; naturally, these weak-minded thoughts, she couldn't let others—especially himself—know."

Yueyun turned back and glanced at the back mountain once again.

Translation: Yue Yun turned back to glance at Back Mountain once more,

Master, you need to come out soon!

Translation: "Master, you need to come out quickly!"

Kirin and Gu Rongjin only donned their armor upon reaching the fire pool's edge—a full-body, airtight protective suit with no breathing space—forcing them to cross the fire pool as quickly as possible.

Translation: Qilin and Gu Rongjin, upon reaching the edge of the Flame Pool, then put on their armor—a full-body protective suit that was airtight, leaving no breathing space, so they needed to cross the Flame Pool in the shortest possible time.

To them it's trivial; even without medication they can hold their breath for a few minutes, enough to cross ten fire pools in that span.

Translation: To them it was a piece of cake; even without taking medicine, holding their breath for a few minutes was enough to cross ten Flame Pools in that time.

Gu Rongjin put on his own protective armor, then checked Kirin's to make sure everything was perfect.

Translation: Gu Rongjin put on his own protective armor, then went to check Qilin's, ensuring everything was flawless.

They each gave the other a thumbs-up to signal they were ready.

Translation: They each gave the other a thumbs-up to show they were ready.

Gu Rongjin patted Kirin, indicating he should go ahead.

Translation: Gu Rongjin patted Qilin, signaling him to go first.

Kirin nodded, standing by while waiting for Gu Rongjin to fly across.

Translation: Qilin nodded, standing in place waiting for Gu Rongjin to fly over.

Thanks to the protective armor, the heat didn't bother them; Gu Rongjin easily leapt across, landing steadily on the far side, not worrying about what lay ahead, and waited for Kirin to follow.

Translation: With the protective armor, unafraid of the high temperature, Gu Rongjin leapt across easily, landing steadily on the opposite side, not caring what was there, waiting for Qilin to come over.

Kirin then landed beside him; the armor protected them well, and neither felt any discomfort.

Translation: Qilin then landed beside him; the armor's protection was spot-on, and neither of them felt any discomfort.

After removing the armor, Kirin gasped, "I felt like I was suffocating! Holding my breath and being in an airtight space feel totally different!"

Translation: After taking off the armor, Qilin drew a deep breath: "I was suffocating! Holding my breath and being in a sealed space feel completely different!"

Gu Rongjin, having taken off and set aside his armor, laughed, "You're silly—of course you have to hold your breath yourself first; why would you wait for it to seal your breath?"

Translation: Gu Rongjin, having taken off and set aside his armor, laughed: "You're silly; of course you hold your breath yourself first—why wait for it to seal your breath?"

"..." Kirin couldn't argue; indeed, how could he not have thought of that?

Translation: "……" Qilin couldn't retort; "Exactly, how could he not have thought of that!"

"With you like that, how can you be a master? Don't lead the disciples astray." Gu Rongjin kept teasing.

Translation: "With you like this, how can you be a Master? Don't mislead the disciples," Gu Rongjin continued to tease.

"You!" Kirin snapped, teeth clenched, "No more talk—finishing the mission is urgent; tonight I still have to eat the reunion dinner with senior sister!"

Translation: "You!" Qilin, gritting his teeth in anger, "No more nonsense with you—completing the mission is urgent; tonight I still have to eat the reunion dinner with Senior Sister!"

Gu Rongjin looked around; at first glance the place seemed no different from an ordinary back mountain, with any issues likely far ahead.

Translation: Gu Rongjin looked around; at first glance this place seemed no different from ordinary Back Mountain, with any problems likely far ahead.

He asked Kirin, "Do you feel anything abnormal?"

Translation: He asked Qilin: "Do you feel anything abnormal?"

Kirin shook his head.

Translation: Qilin shook his head.

"Don't you feel the miasma seems thicker?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Translation: "Don't you feel the miasma seems thicker?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Kirin then took a strong sniff and, blinking, said, "It seems..."

Translation: Qilin then sniffed hard and, blinking, said: "Seems like……"

"You've been in the miasma for so long you've become used to it; you can't easily tell the difference in concentration." Gu Rongjin said, "Perhaps the source of the miasma really is in this back mountain."

Translation: "You've been in the miasma environment for so long that you've become accustomed to it; you can't easily tell the normal thickness." Gu Rongjin said, "Perhaps the source of the miasma really lies within this Back Mountain."

Kirin furrowed his brows and nodded, "Let's hurry up and go."

Translation: Qilin furrowed his brows and nodded: "Let's hurry."

"Are there no strange fierce beasts in your back mountain?" Gu Rongjin asked boredly.

Translation: "Are there no strange beasts in your Back Mountain?" Gu Rongjin asked boredly.

"I don't know; the only record about the back mountain is a ban." Kirin said.

Translation: "I don't know; the only record about Back Mountain is a single prohibition," Qilin said.

"So the road ahead is completely unknown, little Kirin—you need to stay close to your master." Gu Rongjin said this, but remained composed.

Translation: "So the ahead is completely unknown, Xiao Qilin, you need to stick close to Master," Gu Rongjin said, yet remained composed.

Kirin's expression grew much more solemn; after all, whether the back mountain was dangerous was completely beyond his expectations.

Translation: Qilin's expression grew much graver, after all, whether Back Mountain was dangerous was entirely beyond his expectations.

They were heading out into the unknown.

Translation: They were setting off toward the unknown.

"You don't even know how big this back mountain is, do you?" Gu Rongjin asked again.

Translation: "You don't even know how big this Back Mountain is, do you?" Gu Rongjin asked again.

Kirin: "Actually I do know; the county annals record the total size of Juechen Valley."

Translation: Qilin: "Actually I do know; the county gazetteer records the size of Juechen Valley as a whole."

Gu Rongjin: "How big is it?"

Translation: Gu Rongjin: "How big is it?"

"No more than half the size of the Great Zhou imperial palace." Kirin said.

Translation: "No more than half the size of the Great Zhou Imperial Palace," Qilin said.

"That's still not small; hurry up, or we might not even be able to say whether we'll make it back today."

Translation: "That's not small either; hurry up, or we might not even be able to say whether we'll return today."

He still has to eat the reunion dinner with little Yuanzhi!

Translation: "He still has to eat the reunion dinner with Xiao Yuanzhi!"

Mu Yuanzhi was walking with two children in the underground palace's garden when she saw a group of people hurrying past, as if something had happened, so she grabbed one and asked, "Has something happened?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi was strolling through the palace garden with two children when she saw a group of people hurrying past, as if something had happened, so she grabbed one and asked: "Has something happened?"

"The chief of Hanlu Village suddenly came to visit! The valley master isn't here either, so the senior sister told us to be on high alert." The person said that and then hurried away.

Translation: "The master of Cold Dew Stronghold suddenly came to visit! The Valley Master isn't here either, so the Eldest Senior Sister has ordered us to be on high alert." The person said that and then hurried away.

Why did the chief of Hanlu Village have to come at this exact time?!

Translation: "Why did the master of Cold Dew Stronghold have to come at this very moment?!"

Kirin and Rongjin are not here…

Translation: Qilin and Gu Rongjin aren't here……

"Senior Uncle!"

Translation: "Uncle Master!"

Hearing Qiao Chu's voice, Mu Yuanzhi finally came to her senses and asked him, "The chief of Hanlu Village came at this time—do you have any leads?"

Translation: Hearing Qiao Chu's voice, Mu Yuanzhi finally came to her senses and asked him: "The master of Cold Dew Stronghold has come at this time—do you have any leads?"

Qiao Chu shook his head with a somewhat solemn expression and said: "I'm afraid the newcomers are not friendly."

"At this moment we cannot let them go up the mountain." Mu Yuanzhi said, "Take me over to see him."

Qiao Chu hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Martial Uncle, come with me."

Mu Yuanzhi had someone look after the two little beans, then followed Qiao Chu over.

Almost everyone in Juechen Valley, up and down the mountain gorge, had arrived; they all looked fully prepared.

The Master is not here, so they must guard the mountain valley well!

Upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi arrive, Yueyun felt displeased and couldn't help saying to Qiao Chu, "How did you bring her here?!"

Qiao Chu: "The Master said he's not here, all affairs of Juechen Valley are decided by Martial Uncle; Martial Sister won't have forgotten, right?"

Hearing that, Yueyun was speechless; she also recalled Qiao Chu's earlier oddness, quickly glanced at him again, and confirmed he currently had nothing particularly shocking.

Perhaps last time she was just mistaken?

Mu Yuanzhi naturally knew Yueyun had no impression of her, so she had nothing to say to her and paid no attention.

The people of Hanlu Zhai have already arrived at the foot of the mountain valley; it is said that the boat has already docked by the riverbank.

"The gate can hold, but there is more than one path leading to the mountain valley; I'm sure you, Martial Uncle, already noticed when you came."