Chapter 109

The scene briefly got out of control; Chen's father and Lai Qingying rushed over, Chen's father embraced Chen's mother, and Lai Qingying pulled me out.

Translation: The scene briefly spiraled out of control; Chen's father and Li Qingying rushed over, Chen's father embraced Chen's mother, and Li Qingying pulled me out.

We need to keep same meaning. Use "Chen's father" etc. Could also use "Chen Father". But we should translate as "Chen's father". Since not in glossary, we can translate.

Chen's mother was crying and screaming, insisting on jumping into the Zhu Pan River.

Translation: Chen's mother cried and carried on, insisting on jumping into the Pearl Plate River.

Chen's father clung tightly to her, tears streaming as he pleaded.

Translation: Chen's father clung to her tightly, tears streaming as he pleaded.

Chen's mother finally couldn't hold on and fainted into her husband's arms.

Translation: Chen's mother finally couldn't hold on and fainted in her husband's arms.

Her face was as pale as paper, her breathing weak; even pinching her philtrum didn't wake her. I urgently urged, "Take her to the hospital, before something really happens."

Translation: Her face was as pale as paper, her breathing weak; even pinching her philtrum didn't wake her. I hurriedly urged, "Take her to the hospital, before something really happens."

Chen's father glanced at Chen Tao in the river, sighed, then lifted Chen's mother and placed her in the minivan.

Translation: Chen's father glanced at Chen Tao in the river, sighed, scooped up Chen's mother, and placed her in the van.

He turned to me and said, "Miss, I'm really sorry just now; I frightened you."

Translation: He turned to me and said, "Miss, I'm truly sorry for frightening you just now."

"It's fine, I understand." Then he added, "May I ask, what is Chen Tao's birth date and time (the eight characters)?"

Translation: "It's fine, I understand." Then he asked, "May I boldly ask, what is Chen Tao's birth date and time?"

Chen's father looked at me, puzzled and somewhat wary.

Translation: Chen's father looked at me, puzzled and wary.

I pointed toward the pawnshop and said, "I'm Xiao Jiu, the manager of the Wufu Town pawnshop; we're not far apart, you've probably heard of me."

Translation: I pointed to the pawnshop and said, "I'm Xiao Jiu Zhanggui of the Wufu Town Pawnshop; we're not far apart, you've probably heard of me."

Chen's father nodded: "Ah, you're Xiao Jiu from Grandma Yu's family. You've grown so big; back when I broke ground for my factory, I had Grandma Yu come to check the feng shui, and you were only up to my waist then."

Translation: Chen's father nodded: "Ah, you're Xiao Jiu from Granny Yu's family. You've grown so tall; back when I broke ground for my factory, I had Granny Yu come check the feng shui, and you were only up to my waist then."

Hearing someone mention Grandma again warmed my heart.

Translation: Hearing Granny mentioned again warmed my heart.

When Grandma was alive, she helped many people, and everyone still remembers her.

Translation: When Granny was alive, she helped many people, and everyone still remembers her.

That's wonderful.

Translation: That's nice.

I immediately said, "I've inherited Grandma's legacy and know a bit of yin-yang and feng shui; Chen Tao's situation is tricky, and leaving her soaking in the river won't help—perhaps I can find a breakthrough through her birth characters."

Translation: I immediately said, "I've inherited Granny's mantle and know a bit of yin-yang and divination; Chen Tao's situation is tricky—just leaving her soaking in the river won't do, and perhaps I can find a breakthrough from her birth chart."

Chen's father thought for a moment, perhaps adopting a "try anything" attitude, and told me Chen Tao's birth characters, adding, "Child, do your best, but don't take unnecessary risks."

Translation: Chen's father thought it over, perhaps adopting a "try anything" attitude, gave me Chen Tao's birth data, and urged, "Child, do your best, but don't take risks."

Afterwards, he drove Chen's mother to the hospital.

Translation: Afterwards, he drove Chen's mother to the hospital.

I tried to calculate Chen Tao's birth characters, but I'm not really skilled in this area and didn't manage to learn Grandma's essence.

Translation: I tried to calculate Chen Tao's birth chart, but I'm not well versed in this and failed to grasp Granny's essence.

But that's okay; I may not be versed, but someone else is.

Translation: No matter, I may not be skilled, but someone else is.

I took out my phone, about to call Master Huiquan, when Lai Qingying suddenly gasped, lowered her voice, and said, "Xiao Jiu, look at the river."

Translation: I took out my phone, about to call Master Hui Quan, when Li Qingying suddenly sucked in a breath and said in a low voice, "Xiao Jiu, look at the river."

I followed her pointing finger, and my whole body stiffened.

Translation: I followed her pointing finger and froze.

On the river surface, Zhao Zixin sat on a warhorse, gripping the reins with both hands, staring straight at us.

Translation: On the river, Zhao Zixun sat on his warhorse, gripping the reins, staring straight at us.

This was the first time Zhao Zixin and I had faced each other directly since rescuing the Red Flag Child in Xiaojian.

Translation: This was the first time we faced each other directly since I rescued the Red Flag Child from the Small Stream.

I instinctively glanced at the horse's front hooves.

Translation: I instinctively glanced at the horse's forehooves.

The front hoof that had been crippled by the Feng Wu arrow was now healed as good as new.

Translation: The forehoof that Feng Wu had shot lame was now healed as good as new.

Lai Qingying slowed her breathing, gripped my hand tightly, and slowly stepped back.

Translation: Li Qingying's breathing slowed; she gripped my hand tightly and began to retreat slowly.

I was also nervous, following her step by step backward.

Translation: I was nervous too, stepping back in tandem.

But after a few steps, I suddenly stopped and said, "Sister Qingying, there's no need to retreat."

Translation: But after a few steps, I suddenly stopped and said, "Sister Li Qingying, no need to retreat."

Lai Qingying puzzled: "Why? Xiao Jiu, are you going to fight Zhao Zixin?"

Translation: Li Qingying puzzled, "Why? Xiao Jiu, are you going to fight Zhao Zixun?"

I shook my head: "If he wanted to attack, he wouldn't have waited until now."

Translation: I shook my head. "If he wanted to attack, he wouldn't have waited until now."

No one knows when Zhao Zixin appeared on the river.

Translation: I don't know when Zhao Zixun appeared on the river.

He has simply stayed there, watching us without moving.

Translation: He simply stayed there, watching us without moving.

Moreover, I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but I feel his gaze has changed.

Translation: Moreover, I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but I feel his gaze has changed.

I remember the first time I saw him; though I couldn't see his face clearly, I could sense endless killing intent from his presence and eyes.

Translation: I remember the first time I saw him; though I couldn't see his face clearly, I sensed endless killing intent from his presence and eyes.

But tonight, there is none.

Translation: But tonight, there is none.

This isn't the first time; back in Xiaojian, when I pushed out that shield, he seemed to have changed a bit.

Translation: This isn't the first time; last time at the Small Stream, when I pushed out that shield, he seemed to have changed a bit.

Perhaps that shield successfully shook the coffin nail's seal on him.

Translation: Perhaps that shield successfully shook the Coffin Nail's seal on him.

That's a good thing.

Translation: That's a good thing.

Thinking about that, I suddenly realized something, hurried a few steps, picked up the miner's lamp left by Chen's father, and shone it into the water.

Translation: Connecting the dots, I suddenly realized something, hurried a few steps, picked up Chen's father's miner's lamp, and shone it into the water.

When the light hit Chen Tao's corpse, I suddenly realized she was no longer standing upright in the water.

Translation: When the light hit Chen Tao's corpse, I discovered she was no longer standing upright in the water.

Instead, she was floating.

Translation: She was floating.

My heart raced, and I shouted behind me, "Sister Qingying, lend me your whip."

Translation: My heart pounded, and I shouted behind me, "Sister Li Qingying, lend me your whip."

Lai Qingying immediately grabbed her long whip and ran over; upon seeing the situation in the water, she instantly understood.

Translation: Li Qingying immediately grabbed her long whip and ran over; upon seeing the situation in the water, she instantly understood.

She didn't hand the whip to me; instead, she flicked it, and the tip seemed to have eyes, precisely looping around Chen Tao's waist.

Translation: She didn't hand me the whip but flicked it; the tip seemed to have eyes, precisely looping around Chen Tao's waist.

With a pull, Lai Qingying hauled Chen Tao's corpse up.

Translation: Li Qingying gave a sharp tug, and Chen Tao's corpse was hauled up.

Even she could hardly believe it: "During the day, so many people failed, even the body-recovery workers couldn't succeed—how could this happen…"

Translation: Even she could hardly believe it: "So many people failed to pull her out during the day, even the corpse-retrieval workers, how could this happen..."

"Because Chen Tao's standing corpse in the water isn't due to her resentment," I declared firmly, "someone is controlling her corpse, waiting for us to act."

Translation: "Because Chen Tao's standing corpse in the water isn't due to her resentment," I declared firmly, "someone is controlling her body, waiting for us to act."

I gazed across the river, and my eyes met Zhao Zixin's again.

Translation: I gazed across the river, and our eyes met again.

But in an instant, Zhao Zixin and his horse vanished into thin air.

Translation: But in an instant, Zhao Zixun and his horse vanished into thin air.

Lai Qingying also reacted: "You mean… Zhao Zixin?"

Translation: Li Qingying also reacted, "You mean... Zhao Zixun?"

I nodded and said, "Sister Qingying, you watch over Chen Tao; I'll be right back."

Translation: I nodded, saying, "Sister Li Qingying, you guard Chen Tao; I'll be right back."

I ran back to the pawnshop, gathered a few small items, then ran back to the riverbank.

Translation: I ran back to the pawnshop, grabbed a few small items, then turned and ran back to the riverbank.

Wearing a mask and gloves, I held the miner's lamp in one hand and a dagger in the other, crouching beside Chen Tao's corpse and gently probing her body with the blade.

Translation: Wearing a mask and gloves, I held the miner's lamp in one hand and a dagger in the other, squatting beside Chen Tao's corpse and gently probing it with the blade.

I was careful not to damage her corpse, searched for a while, and finally found something beneath the base of her skull.

Translation: I was careful not to damage her body, searching for a while, and finally found something beneath the base of her skull.

I dropped the dagger, slipped my gloved hand in, and quickly pulled out a thin, long silver needle.

Translation: I dropped the dagger, slipped my gloved hand in, and quickly pulled out a fine, long silver needle.

The silver needle was coated with an unknown liquid, bloodstains, and other substances.

Translation: The needle was coated with an unknown fluid, bloodstains, and other substances.

Looking at this silver needle, all my previous suspicions were now strongly confirmed!

Translation: Staring at this silver needle, all my earlier suspicions were now confirmed beyond doubt!

Lai Qingying stared at the silver needle for a while and said, "This kind of silver needle… isn't it similar to the one Bai Jingmo uses?"

Translation: Li Qingying stared at the needle for a while and said, "This kind of silver needle... isn't it similar to what Bai Jingmo uses?"

I glanced at her in surprise; even Sister Qingying noticed it, which shows my guess was correct.

Translation: I looked at her in surprise—even Sister Li Qingying saw it, which shows my guess is correct.

This silver needle must be Bái Jīngmò's, no mistake!

But I still need to perform the final verification.

I said to Li Qingying: "Qingying sister, call the police."

Li Qingying immediately did so.

Chen Tao's body was fished out; we didn't cause excessive damage, and the subsequent investigation and follow-up were handed over to the police.

When Li Qingying called the police, I took my phone and walked a bit farther away, and dialed Master Huiquan.

On the other end, it took a while before it was answered, and immediately the sound of chanting sutras came from the earpiece.

Master Huiquan took his phone and walked a bit farther away, asking: "Girl, why are you calling me at this time? Anything up?"

"Um, Master, I have a matter I'd like you to help with." I reported Chen Tao's birth date and time to him, "Please also carefully calculate it for me."

Master Huiquan immediately began the calculation; I could hear his muttering from the phone, and not long after, he said: "The year is the Earth Rat year, month October twentieth, the year pillar, month pillar, and day pillar are all yin, but I don't know her exact birth hour; if the hour pillar is also yin, then this girl should have a fully yin eight characters."

Indeed!

On the other end, Master Huiquan added: "This girl's fate is similar to your outward fate, girl, but her eight characters aren't as strong as yours; if I haven't miscalculated, she is probably no longer in the Yang World? And perhaps died unjustly?"