Chapter 953: and translation of chapter title

The flapping sound drew nearer, and an unusually large cold crow landed on the windowsill, its blood‑red eyes scanning the kitchen through the window.

Translation: "The flapping sound approached from afar, and an unusually large cold crow landed on the windowsill, its blood-red eyes scanning the kitchen through the window."

The flapping sound approached from afar; an unusually large cold crow landed on the windowsill; its blood‑red eyes scanned the kitchen through the window.

A tuft of golden feathers grew on its head, marking it as the 'inspector' among cold crows, equivalent to the Heavenly Cold Palace's secret agents.

Translation: "It bore a tuft of golden feathers on its head, the 'inspector' among cold crows, equivalent to the Heavenly Cold Palace's secret agents."

It bore a tuft of golden feathers on its head; this is the 'inspector' among cold crows, equivalent to the Heavenly Cold Palace's secret agents.

Only after a full half‑quarter hour did the cold crow reluctantly fly away.

Translation: "Only after a full half-quarter hour did the cold crow reluctantly fly away."

Only after a full half‑quarter hour did the cold crow reluctantly fly away.

The shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat: 'Golden Feather Inspector… it looks like they've grown suspicious.'

Translation: "The shopkeeper was already drenched in cold sweat: 'Golden Feather Inspector... it seems they have become suspicious.'"

The shopkeeper said, 'Golden Feather Inspector… it seems they have become suspicious.'

Yan Buji mused: 'What else could be in the traveling palace's cellar?'

Translation: "Yan Buji pondered: 'What else is in the Traveling Palace cellar?'"

I don't know, but I heard Han Shuang mention the 'Profound Yin Seal'… The shopkeeper suddenly covered his mouth, as if regretting having let something slip.

Translation: "I don't know, but I heard Han Shuang mention the 'Profound Yin Seal'..." The shopkeeper suddenly covered his mouth, as if regretting having let something slip."

I don't know, but I heard Han Shuang mention the 'Profound Yin Seal'… The shopkeeper suddenly covered his mouth, as if regretting having let something slip.

The Profound Yin Seal!

Translation: "Profound Yin Seal!"

A gleam flashed in Yan Buji's eyes.

Translation: "Yan Buji's eyes flashed with sharp light."

This is exactly the treasure mentioned in Yu Xinghai's jade slip that lies in the Dawn‑Dusk Hall's vault; it appears the Heavenly Cold Palace has indeed meddled with the Dawn‑Dusk Hall's branch palace, and it is likely linked to that monster‑filled otherworldly space.

Translation: "This is exactly one of the treasures mentioned in Yu Xinghai's jade slip as being in the Dawn-Dusk Hall Treasure Vault; it appears the Heavenly Cold Palace has indeed tampered with the Dawn-Dusk Hall branch palace, and it is likely related to that otherworldly space teeming with monsters."

Yu Xinghai's jade slip mentions this treasure in the Dawn‑Dusk Hall's vault; the Heavenly Cold Palace has indeed meddled with the Dawn‑Dusk Hall's branch palace, and it is likely linked to that monster‑filled otherworldly space.

Just as he was about to press further, the inn's door was violently kicked open!

Translation: "Just as he was about to continue questioning, the inn's door was suddenly kicked open violently!"

Heavy footsteps accompanied by metallic clangs rapidly approached.

Translation: "Heavy footsteps accompanied by metallic clanking rapidly approached."

Heavenly Cold Palace orders the capture of the fugitives—no one may move!

Translation: "Heavenly Cold Palace wants the criminals apprehended! No one may act rashly!"

The shopkeeper's face turned ashen: 'It's over… it's the Ice‑Shade Guards…'

Translation: "The shopkeeper's face turned ashen: 'It's over... it's the Ice Fiend Guard...'"

Yan Buji swept his divine sense over them and found five cultivators clad in Xuanbing armor, each at the Nascent Soul stage.

Translation: "Yan Buji scanned with his divine sense and found that five cultivators wearing Profound Ice Armor had arrived, each at the Nascent Soul Stage."

The leader held a bronze mirror; wherever its light fell, all concealment arts were nullified.

Translation: "The leader held a bronze mirror; wherever its light shone, all concealment arts would fail."

'Hide under the soup pot!' the shopkeeper exclaimed, flipping open the large iron pot on the stove to reveal a hidden compartment just big enough for one person.

Translation: "'Hide under the soup pot!' the shopkeeper exclaimed, flipping open the large iron pot on the stove. The pot's bottom actually had a hidden compartment, just large enough to hide one person."

Just as Yan Buji hid himself, the kitchen door was kicked open; the blinding mirror light swept every corner, and the shopkeeper was seized by the collar.

Translation: "Yan Buji had just hidden when the kitchen door was kicked open. The piercing mirror light swept every corner, and the shopkeeper was grabbed by the collar."

'One‑eyed old ghost, someone has denounced you for colluding with foreign enemies!' the Ice‑Shade Guard squad leader barked, 'Has anyone come here tonight?'

Translation: "'One-Eyed Lao Gui, someone has reported you for colluding with foreign enemies!' the Ice Fiend Guard captain shouted sternly: 'Has anyone come here tonight?'"

The shopkeeper's lone eye darted about: 'Sir, please see clearly—I've just been stewing soup; there's nobody…'

Translation: "The shopkeeper's lone eye darted about: 'Sir, please see clearly—I've just been stewing soup; there's no one...'"

'Nonsense!' the squad leader kicked over the soup pot, sending scalding broth flooding the floor: 'The Golden Feather Inspector clearly saw someone come in!'

Translation: "'Nonsense!' the captain kicked over the soup pot, sending scalding broth flooding the floor: 'The Golden Feather Inspector clearly saw someone enter!'"

Holding his breath in the hidden compartment, Yan Buji sensed a faint aura of black ice crystals on the Ice‑Shade Guards' armor, indicating they had likely contacted those otherworldly monsters.

Translation: "Yan Buji, hidden in the compartment, held his breath; the Ice Fiend Guards' armor faintly reeked of Black Ice Crystal, likely having contacted those otherworldly monsters."

He quietly extended a thread of divine sense, attaching it to a seam in the armor of the nearest Ice‑Shade Guard.

Translation: "He quietly extended a thread of divine sense, attaching it to the seam of the nearest Ice Fiend Guard's armor."

'Search! Turn the inn upside down!' the squad leader commanded, and his four subordinates immediately scattered to search.

Translation: "'Search! Turn the inn upside down!' the captain ordered, and his four subordinates immediately scattered to search."

One of them approached the stove, thrusting his sword repeatedly at possible hiding spots; a blade grazed the edge of the secret compartment, stopping just an inch from Yan Buji's throat.

Translation: "One of them approached the stove, thrusting his sword repeatedly at possible hiding spots. One slash grazed the edge of the hidden compartment and pierced in, stopping only an inch from Yan Buji's throat."

At that critical moment, a sudden urgent whistle sounded from outside the inn.

Translation: "At this critical moment, an urgent whistle suddenly sounded from outside the inn."

The squad leader's face changed: 'Emergency summons from the traveling palace!' He glared hatefully at the shopkeeper: 'Old thing, I'll come back tomorrow to settle you!'

Translation: "The captain's face changed: 'Traveling Palace emergency summons!' He glared hatefully at the shopkeeper: 'Old thing, I'll come back tomorrow to deal with you!'"

Only after the footsteps faded did Yan Buji crawl out of the hiding place.

Translation: "After the footsteps faded, Yan Buji crawled out of the hidden compartment."

The shopkeeper sat slumped on the ground, his lone eye filled with despair: 'It's over… completely over… they'll surely kill everyone in the inn…'

Translation: "The shopkeeper sat slumped on the ground, his lone eye full of despair: 'It's over... completely over... they will surely kill everyone in the inn...'"

Yan Buji helped the old man up: 'Then you won't run? You'd rather stay here and wait to die?'

Translation: "Yan Buji helped the old man up: 'Then you won't run? You'll just wait here to die?'"

'Useless…' the shopkeeper shook his head, 'Everyone in Cold Crow City bears a mark; even if you fled to the ends of the earth, they'd track you down.'

Translation: "'Useless...' the shopkeeper shook his head: 'Everyone in Cold Crow City bears a mark; even fleeing to the ends of the earth would see them tracked back.'"

He suddenly grabbed Yan Buji's hand: 'If you truly wish to uncover the truth, seek out the Ice Maiden. She runs a gambling den in the western slums and is the only person to have escaped alive from the Heavenly Cold Palace's cellar…'

Translation: "He suddenly grabbed Yan Buji's hand: 'If you truly wish to uncover the truth, seek the Ice Maiden. She runs a gambling house in the West City Slums, the sole person to have escaped alive from the Heavenly Cold Palace's cellar...'"

"You… forget it." Yan Buji let out a cold laugh; the old man naturally knew the person before him was not easy to fool, especially seeing Yan Buji's cold smile made his heart tremble.

Translation: '"You... forget it.' Yan Buji gave a cold laugh; the shopkeeper naturally knew the person before him was hard to deceive, especially seeing Yan Buji's cold laugh made his heart tremble."

Note: The Chinese line includes a quoted speech with ellipsis. We'll translate as '"You... forget it.'"

He clasped his hands: 'Rest assured, fellow cultivator, I will never harm you.'

Translation: "He clasped his hands: 'Rest assured, fellow Daoist, I will certainly not harm you.'"

"Since I dare come as a poor Daoist, I'm not afraid of your tricks," Yan Buji said calmly.

Translation: '"Since this poor Daoist dares to come, I am not afraid of your tricks.' Yan Buji said lightly."

Half an hour later, Yan Buji moved silently through the shadows on the rooftops.

Translation: "After half an hour, Yan Buji moved silently in the shadows of the rooftops."

Throughout the city, Ice‑Shade Guards brandished torches, searching house to house, and occasional cries pierced the night sky.

Translation: "Throughout the city, Ice Fiend Guards brandished torches, searching house to house; from time to time, cries shattered the night sky."

The western slums were even more dilapidated than imagined, with low shacks huddled together and sewage flowing across the streets.

Translation: "The West City Slums were even more dilapidated than imagined, low shacks huddled together, sewage flowing across the streets."

Strangely, there were no cold crows circling overhead.

Translation: "Strangely, there were no cold crows circling here."

A faded red lantern hung at the gambling den's entrance, two burly men with arms crossed guarded each side; Yan Buji was pondering how to enter when a woman's light laughter suddenly came from deep in the alley.

Translation: "A faded red lantern hung at the gambling house's entrance, two burly men with arms crossed guarded either side. Yan Buji was pondering how to enter when a woman's light laughter suddenly came from deep in the alley."

"A fresh face." From the shadows stepped a petite woman in a red robe that stood out starkly against the snow.

Translation: '"A fresh face.' A petite woman stepped out from the shadows, her red robe especially striking against the snow."

She wore a half‑ice‑carved mask, revealing a half‑face of exquisite beauty: 'Want to gather information?'

Translation: "She wore a half ice-carved mask; the revealed half of her face was exquisite beyond compare: 'Want to gather information?'"

Yan Buji's pupils contracted slightly; the woman appeared to have only Foundation Establishment cultivation, yet each step she took caused the snow on the ground to mysteriously condense into icy flower patterns.

Translation: "Yan Buji's pupils contracted slightly; this woman appeared to have only Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, yet with each step she took, the accumulated snow on the ground would mysteriously condense into icy flower patterns."

This is the manifestation of having cultivated the Grand Dao of Ice to the stage of walking the path!

Translation: "This is the manifestation of having cultivated the Profound Ice Grand Dao to the Dao Walking Realm!"

An old monster of the Void‑Union stage?

Translation: "A Unity Dao Stage old monster?"

Ice Maiden?

Translation: "Ice Maiden?"

"Come with me." The woman turned and walked deeper into the alley; as her red skirt swayed, Yan Buji noticed a frost‑flower brand on the back of her neck similar to the gold shopkeeper's, but darker, almost black.

Translation: '"Come with me.' The woman turned and walked toward the alley's depths; as her red skirt swayed, Yan Buji noticed a frost-flower brand on her nape similar to Gold Shopkeeper's, but darker, almost black."

Behind the gambling den stood an unremarkable woodshed; pushing open its door revealed a hidden cavern.

Translation: "Behind the gambling house stood an unremarkable woodshed; opening the door revealed a separate world."

In the spacious secret chamber stood an ice‑carved chessboard, with a bone chair on each side; the walls were lined with various weapons, and in the most prominent spot rested a fragment of a broken black crystal.

Translation: "In the spacious secret chamber's center stood an ice-carved chessboard, with a beast-bone chair on each side. The walls were hung with various weapons, yet the most prominent spot held a fragment of a broken black crystal."

"Sit." The Ice Maiden poured a cup of scarlet wine and pushed it forward: 'I've heard you're inquiring about the Dawn‑Dusk Hall.'

Translation: '"Sit.' The Ice Maiden pushed over a cup of crimson wine: 'I hear you're inquiring about the Dawn-Dusk Hall?'"

Yan Buji did not touch the wine cup: 'How much do you know?'

Translation: "Yan Buji did not touch the wine cup: 'How much do you know?'"

The Ice Maiden removed her mask, revealing the other half of her face covered in black meridians: 'More than you imagine.'

Translation: "The Ice Maiden removed her mask, revealing the other half of her face covered in black meridians: 'More than you imagine.'"

She gently touched that horrifying half‑face: 'This is the result of contacting the Profound Yin Seal.'

Translation: "She gently touched that horrifying half of her face: 'This is the aftermath of contacting the Profound Yin Seal.'"

Yan Buji leaned forward slightly: 'What experiments is the Heavenly Cold Palace conducting?'

Translation: "Yan Buji leaned forward slightly: 'What experiments is the Heavenly Cold Palace conducting?'"

Not an experiment, but a sacrifice.

Translation: "Not experiments, but sacrifices."

A flash of pain crossed the Ice Maiden's eyes: 'They seek to open the Profound Yin Eye to summon the ancient ice demon; those walking corpses and monsters are the failed products of that sacrifice.'

Translation: "The Ice Maiden's eyes flashed with pain: 'They wish to open the Profound Darkness Eye to summon the ancient ice demon. Those walking corpses and monsters... are the failed products of the sacrifice.'"

She suddenly pulled open her collar, revealing a writhing black mark on her collarbone: 'My body has been implanted with the Profound Yin Seed; I have less than three months to live. But before that…'

Translation: "She suddenly pulled open her collar, revealing a writhing black mark on her collarbone: 'My body has been implanted with the Profound Darkness Seed; I have less than three months to live. But before that...'"

Hatred blazed in her eyes: 'I will make the Heavenly Cold Palace pay the price!'

Translation: "Her eyes blazed with bone-deep hatred: 'I will make the Heavenly Cold Palace pay the price!'"

The secret chamber suddenly shuddered violently, and the weapons on the walls clanged.

Translation: "The secret chamber suddenly shuddered violently, the weapons on the walls clinking."

The Ice Maiden's face darkened: 'No! They've found this place!'

Translation: "The Ice Maiden's face changed drastically: 'No good! They've found this place!'"

The ground began to freeze, cold air seeping in through the door cracks.

Bing Niangzi shoved the chessboard aside, revealing the hidden passage below: "Quick! I'll hold them off!"

Yan Buji, however, remained seated: "I'm just worried I can't find the main target."

He slowly drew the Abni Sword; though the gray mist on its blade was thin, it exuded a chilling menace. "Tell me, is Han Shuang in the temporary palace tonight?"

Bing Niangzi stared, then burst out laughing: "Madman! I like it!"

She slapped the wall, and a hidden compartment slid out a sword entirely blood-red. "Han Shuang goes to the cellar every night at midnight to reinforce the seal..." She glanced at the drip leak, "There's still half an hour left."

Outside the door came a grating sound of freezing; the whole woodshed began to be encased in thick ice. Bing Niangzi thrust the red sword into the ground, and its scorching sword qi instantly melted the approaching frost: "Take the back door; follow the underground river straight to the temporary palace's kitchen!"

Yan Buji, however, strode toward the main gate: "No need."

A light swing of the Abni Sword shattered the heavy ice door with a boom. Outside stood a whole squad of Ice Fiend Guards, their leader none other than Zhao, the steward from earlier—except now his eyes glowed an abnormal blue, and black ice shards dripped from the corner of his mouth.