Chapter 475: with translation of chapter title

But, where are the people?!

But, where are the people?!

But, where are the people?!

Late at night, as I looked out, the dreary, pitch-black graveyard stretched out in desolation, tree shadows intertwined, a chilly wind swept in, occasionally mingled with the cries of crows, sending shivers down my spine.

Translation: "Late at night, looking out, the gloomy, pitch-black graveyard was desolate, tree shadows crisscrossed, a cool wind blew, occasionally mixed with the cries of crows, making one's spine chill." Need to be faithful. Let's produce: "Late at night, gazing out, the gloomy, pitch-black graveyard was a desolate expanse, tree shadows crisscrossed, a cool wind blew, occasionally mixed with the cries of crows, making one's spine chill." We'll keep as one sentence.

However, what really gave Gu Rongjin goosebumps was that there wasn't even a shadow of a person here.

However, what truly made Gu Rongjin's spine chill was that there wasn't even a single person's shadow here.

Either he had already missed the best opportunity...

Translation: "Either he had already missed the best opportunity……" We'll keep ellipsis. So: 【4】 Either he had already missed the best opportunity……

He had rushed from the Grand General's mansion here, taking about fifteen minutes, which felt excessively long given the urgency.

Translation: "From the Grand General's mansion, he had rushed here, taking a quarter of an hour, which was indeed quite long for an emergency situation." We'll translate: "From the Grand General's mansion, he had rushed here, taking a quarter of an hour, which was indeed quite long for an emergency situation."

No light shone anywhere; Gu Rongjin struck a match, and everywhere he looked lay barren, empty wilderness.

Translation: "There was no light around; Gu Rongjin lit a match, and as far as the eye could see, it was also desolate and uninhabited." We'll translate: "There was no light around; Gu Rongjin lit a match, and as far as the eye could see, it was also desolate and uninhabited."

"Yun Jing Lou!"

Translation: "\"Yun Jing Lou! \"" We'll keep quotes. So: 【7】 "Yun Jing Lou!"

No one responded.

Translation: "No one responded."

"Shi Huai?!"

"Shi Huai?!"

Still, no one answered.

Translation: "Still no one answered."

Gu Rongjin looked around; there seemed to be no signs of a fight here.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin looked around; it seemed there were no signs of a fight here?" We'll translate: "Gu Rongjin looked around; it seemed there were no signs of a fight here."

Could it be they didn't even get a chance to fight before Fang Hua killed them in an instant?

Translation: "Could it be that they didn't even have time to fight, and were instantly killed by that woman Fang Hua?" We'll translate: "Could it be that they didn't even have time to fight, and were instantly killed by that woman Fang Hua?"

Impossible!

Translation: "Impossible!"

Yun Jing Lou's martial arts are superb; even Old Qi could take him on.

Yun Jing Lou's martial arts are superb; even Old Qi could take him on.

Given that Yun Jing Lou had time to send a distress signal, he shouldn't have been completely overpowered with no chance to retaliate.

Translation: "Since Yun Jing Lou had time to send a distress signal, he shouldn't have been beaten to the point of having no power to fight back." We'll translate: "Since Yun Jing Lou had time to send a distress signal, he shouldn't have been beaten to the point of being unable to fight back."

So where did all the people go?

Translation: "So where did everyone go?"

Gu Rongjin tried launching a signal flare into the sky to see what would happen.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin also tried firing a signal flare into the sky to test." We'll translate: "Gu Rongjin also tried firing a signal flare into the sky to test."

Too strange.

Translation: "Too strange."

What in the world is happening?

Translation: "What on earth is going on?"

Gu Rongjin just couldn't figure it out.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin couldn't figure it out."

Yun Jing Lou watched the second signal flare shoot up, sped up his steps, and Qi Shi Huai beside him said nothing.

Translation: "At this moment, Yun Jing Lou watched the second signal flare rise into the sky, quickened his pace, and the Qi Shi Huai beside him remained silent." We'll translate: "At this moment, Yun Jing Lou watched the second signal flare rise into the sky, quickened his pace, and Qi Shi Huai beside him remained silent."

The signal flare went up toward the Qi family ancestral tomb.

Translation: "The place where the signal flare rose was the direction of their Qi family ancestral tomb." We'll translate: "The place where the signal flare rose was the direction of their Qi family ancestral tomb."

It's almost certainly Fang Hua!

Translation: "It's very likely Fang Hua!" We'll translate: "It's very likely Fang Hua!"

Yun Jing Lou didn't know they were heading toward the Qi family ancestral tomb, so he couldn't fathom why Qi Shi Huai looked that way.

Translation: "Yun Jing Lou didn't know that the direction they were rushing to was the Qi family ancestral tomb, so he didn't understand why Qi Shi Huai had that expression." We'll translate: "Yun Jing Lou didn't know that the direction they were rushing to was the Qi family ancestral tomb, so he didn't understand why Qi Shi Huai had that expression."

But he recalled Gu Rongjin saying that only something about his younger sister could make Qi Shi Huai behave out of character.

Translation: "But he remembered Gu Rongjin saying that the only thing that could make Qi Shi Huai not like himself was matters concerning his younger sister." We'll translate: "But he remembered Gu Rongjin saying that the only thing that could make Qi Shi Huai not like himself was matters concerning his younger sister."

So these two signal flares were set off by Fang Hua?

Translation: "So these two signal flares were fired by Fang Hua?" We'll translate: "So these two signal flares were fired by Fang Hua?"

Before Yun Jing Lou had time to think much further, they reached a graveyard.

Translation: "Before Yun Jing Lou could think for long, they had arrived at a graveyard." We'll translate: "Before Yun Jing Lou could think for long, they had arrived at a graveyard."

"Gu Rongjin?!" Yun Jing Lou spotted a man standing in the graveyard, and when he looked closer, it turned out to be Gu Rongjin.

Translation: "\"Gu Rongjin?! \" Yun Jing Lou saw a man standing in the graveyard, and upon closer look, it was actually Gu Rongjin!" We'll translate: "\"Gu Rongjin?! \" Yun Jing Lou saw a man standing in the graveyard, and upon closer look, it was actually Gu Rongjin!"

Gu Rongjin had heard footsteps long ago, but kept puzzling over why there were only two sets of footsteps and no woman's.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin had heard the footsteps long ago, but kept wondering why there were only two people's footsteps, and no woman's footsteps." We'll translate: "Gu Rongjin had heard the footsteps long ago, but kept wondering why there were only two people's footsteps, and no woman's footsteps."

"Where did you go?! Where's Fang Hua?! Are you okay?!"

Translation: "\"Where did you guys run off to?! Where's Fang Hua?! Are you alright?! \"" We'll translate: "\"Where did you guys run off to?! Where's Fang Hua?! Are you alright?! \"

"Did you set off the signal flare?" Yun Jing Lou didn't reply to Gu Rongjin's question, instead asking him back.

Translation: "\"Was the signal flare yours? \" Yun Jing Lou didn't answer Gu Rongjin's question, but turned it back on him." We'll translate: "\"Was the signal flare yours? \" Yun Jing Lou didn't answer Gu Rongjin's question, but turned it back on him."

"The second flare is yours, but the first wasn't a distress signal from you, was it?" Gu Rongjin started to feel uncertain.

Translation: "\"The second one is ours, but the first one wasn't your distress signal, was it? \" Gu Rongjin began to feel uncertain." We'll translate: "\"The second one is ours, but the first one wasn't your distress signal, was it? \" Gu Rongjin began to feel uncertain."

Yun Jing Lou shook his head, while Qi Shi Huai stayed silent.

Translation: "Yun Jing Lou shook his head, and Qi Shi Huai still remained silent." We'll translate: "Yun Jing Lou shook his head, and Qi Shi Huai still remained silent."

Gu Rongjin wondered: "A diversion?"

Translation: "Gu Rongjin: \"Sound the east, strike the west? \"" Actually the phrase is an idiom: "feign an attack east, strike west". We'll translate as "Feign east, strike west?" We'll keep quotes. So: 【34】 Gu Rongjin: "Feign east, strike west?"

West……could it be the Grand General's mansion?!

West……could it be the Grand General's mansion?!

Gu Rongjin didn't hesitate; he sprang away.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin, without another word, flew away." We'll translate: "Gu Rongjin, without another word, flew away."

Yun Jing Lou realized this too and told Qi Shi Huai: "General Qi, the Grand General's mansion may have encountered trouble—your younger sister might be there as well; deal with it as you see fit!"

Translation: "Yun Jing Lou also considered this possibility, and said to Qi Shi Huai: \"Qi General, the Grand General's mansion may have encountered trouble; your younger sister might also be there, you handle it as you see fit! \"" We'll translate: "Yun Jing Lou also considered this possibility, and said to Qi Shi Huai: \"Qi General, the Grand General's mansion may have encountered trouble; your younger sister might also be there, you handle it as you see fit! \"

After saying that, he departed as well.

Translation: "Having said that, he also left." We'll translate: "Having said that, he also left."

At that moment, at the Grand General's mansion.

Translation: "At that moment, the Grand General's mansion." We'll translate: "At that moment, the Grand General's mansion."

After getting the two little kids to sleep, Mu Fangzhi had just stepped out of her room when she felt something was wrong.

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi, who had just coaxed the two children to sleep, felt something was off as soon as she stepped out of the room." We'll translate: "Mu Yuanzhi, who had just coaxed the two children to sleep, felt something was off as soon as she stepped out of the room."

She was highly sensitive to danger and immediately sensed a threatening presence.

Translation: "She was highly sensitive to danger, and immediately sensed a dangerous aura." We'll translate: "She was highly sensitive to danger, and immediately sensed a dangerous aura."

Someone's there!

Translation: "Someone's here!"

Before she could ponder, she saw a shadow dart across the yard, and suddenly a sword pressed against her back.

Translation: "Before she could think further, she saw a shadow flash across the courtyard, and immediately a sword appeared at her back." We'll translate: "Before she could think further, she saw a shadow flash across the courtyard, and immediately a sword appeared at her back."

"If you don't want an extra wound, just cooperate."

Translation: "\"Don't want another hole in your body? Behave. \"" We'll translate: "\"Don't want another hole in your body? Behave. \""

It was a woman's voice, yet Mu Fangzhi was sure she had never heard it before.

Translation: "It was a woman's voice, but Mu Yuanzhi was certain she had never heard that voice before." We'll translate: "It was a woman's voice, but Mu Yuanzhi was certain she had never heard that voice before."

"Are you Miss Fang Hua?"

"Are you Miss Fang Hua?"

At this point, the woman who could show up in the Grand General's mansion to capture her was beyond Mu Fangzhi's imagination.

Translation: "At this moment, a woman appearing in the Grand General's mansion to seize her, Mu Yuanzhi didn't even dare to think." We'll translate: "At this moment, a woman appearing in the Grand General's mansion to seize her, Mu Yuanzhi didn't even dare to think."

"Smart."

Translation: "\"Smart. \"" We'll translate: "\"Smart. \""

Fang Hua laughed.

Translation: "Fang Hua laughed." We'll translate: "Fang Hua laughed."

Mu Fangzhi understood they'd been lured away by a diversion; the Grand General's mansion was Fang Hua's real objective!

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi understood; they had been feigned east, struck west—the Grand General's mansion was Fang Hua's true target!" We'll translate: "Mu Yuanzhi understood; they had been feigned east, struck west—the Grand General's mansion was Fang Hua's true target!"

No, more precisely, she herself was Fang Hua's target.

Translation: "No, more accurately, she herself was Fang Hua's target." We'll translate: "No, more accurately, she herself was Fang Hua's target."

But she didn't understand why.

Translation: "But she didn't understand why." We'll translate: "But she didn't understand why."

"You surely have many questions, Mu Fangzhi, but you need to come with me first." Fang Hua, standing behind Mu Fangzhi, smirked and said, "I'll try to answer your doubts before you die—so you can die with full clarity."

Translation: "\"You must have many questions, Mu Yuanzhi, but you need to come with me first. \" Fang Hua, behind Mu Yuanzhi, curled her lips and said, \"Before you die, I will do my best to answer your doubts; it can be considered letting you die with full understanding. \"" We'll translate: "\"You must have many questions, Mu Yuanzhi, but you need to come with me first. \" Fang Hua, behind Mu Yuanzhi, curled her lips and said, \"Before you die, I will do my best to answer your doubts; it can be considered letting you die with full understanding. \"

Though she'd caused quite a ruckus, the household seemed isolated, as if Fang Hua had already taken care of everyone inside.

Translation: "The commotion she caused wasn't small, but the people in the mansion seemed cut off from the world; likely they had already been dealt with by Fang Hua." We'll translate: "The commotion she caused wasn't small, but the people in the mansion seemed cut off from the world; likely they had already been dealt with by Fang Hua."

Mu Fangzhi hoped they were all safe.

Translation: "Hopefully they're all alright, Mu Yuanzhi thought." We'll translate: "Hopefully they're all alright, Mu Yuanzhi thought."

"Do I have the right to say no?" Mu Fangzhi wondered.

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi: \"Do I have the right to say no? \"" We'll translate: "Mu Yuanzhi: \"Do I have the right to say no? \""

"Of course not." Fang Hua seized Mu Fangzhi and began to drag her away.

Translation: "\"Of course not. \" Fang Hua grabbed Mu Yuanzhi and was about to leave." We'll translate: "\"Of course not. \" Fang Hua grabbed Mu Yuanzhi and was about to leave."

But before she could even spring up, a glint of steel lunged at her!

Translation: "However, before she could even take off, a cold light attacked!" We'll translate: "However, before she could even take off, a cold light attacked!"

Fang Hua reflexively tried to dodge, but still held onto Mu Fangzhi's hand, which only slowed her escape—her arm was soon slashed, blood streaming out.

Translation: "Fang Hua instinctively dodged, but still didn't release her grip on Mu Yuanzhi's hand; this only slowed her dodge, and her arm was quickly sliced, blood pouring out." We'll translate: "Fang Hua instinctively dodged, but still didn't release her grip on Mu Yuanzhi's hand; this only slowed her dodge, and her arm was quickly sliced, blood pouring out."

In an instant, something like transparent fish silk flew and wrapped around her hands; immediately her five viscera and six bowels were shaken by internal force as if displaced.

Fang Hua couldn't wait to let go of her hand, Mu Yuanzhi hurriedly ran.

Mermaid silk quickly wound from her arm all the way to her legs, instantly immobilizing her.

"Who is it?!"

The woman, always skilled at planning and unfazed by changes, now had a somewhat twisted expression; how could she have imagined that Cheng Jiaojin would suddenly appear? And such a formidable Cheng Jiaojin!

Mu Yuanzhi naturally knew this formidable weapon came from Cao Cixiu's hand!

"Young Master Cao's timing is perfect!"

Cao Cixiu emerged from the shadows, gripping the other end of the mermaid silk, and said with a smile, "Although I'd also like to intercept the merit, your husband surely wouldn't approve."

"Rongjin?!" Mu Yuanzhi exclaimed delightedly, "Did he send you?"

"He fired a signal flare, and I just happened to be nearby," Cao Cixiu said lightly.

Mu Yuanzhi had thought Gu Rongjin had already coordinated with Cao Cixiu, so she didn't ask further, just murmured an assent.

Though startled, she was unharmed; she hurriedly hid behind the rescuers.

Fang Hua glared at Cao Cixiu venomously: "Who are you?!"

What the hell is this?!

Why can't she move?!

"You've made a misstep, Miss Fang Hua; you should go rescue your old partner Ander Luo—if you did, he'd surely tell you of my existence," Cao Cixiu said with a smiling squint.

Fang Hua narrowed her eyes; she had indeed treated Ander Luo as a disposable pawn, never intending to save anyone.

Thus she had no idea such a person even existed!

One move off and the game is lost!

"You've fallen short, Miss Fang Hua, but it's fine—I'm the commander of the death warriors; losing to me is nothing to be ashamed of," Cao Cixiu said, smiling as he tightened the mermaid silk in his hand.

Fang Hua dropped to her knees instantly, as if her meridians were sealed, her viscera gripped, unable to breathe.

"This... what sorcery is this?!"

"Evil counters evil; it works so well on you because you yourself are an evil person," Cao Cixiu said.

Fang Hua tried several times to circulate her energy, but couldn't; moreover, the more she tried, the worse she felt.

"Do you think only you have reinforcements?" Fang Hua, after barely regulating her breath, gave a mysterious smile, "You can only enjoy this moment while it lasts."

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi grew tense again.

Could it be that Fang Hua's reinforcements have already reached the Grand General's mansion?

"Hmph." Fang Hua reverted to her former composed tranquility, an inscrutable calm.