Chapter 269: with translation of chapter title

I inadvertently mentioned Huiyu Mo, not expecting Grey Little Leap to react so strongly; it seems that before his accident, his relationship with Huiyu Mo was very good.

Translation: I casually mentioned Huiyu Mo, but I didn't expect Grey Little Leap to react so strongly; it seems his relationship with Huiyu Mo was very good before his accident.

I inadvertently mentioned Huiyu Mo, not expecting Grey Little Leap to react so strongly; it seems that before his accident, his relationship with Huiyu Mo was very good.

We'll produce: I inadvertently brought up Huiyu Mo, but I didn't expect Grey Little Leap to react so strongly; it seems his relationship with Huiyu Mo was very good before his accident.

Make sure it's one line.

Line2:

That's probably also why Huilaotai values Huiyu Mo so much.

Translation: That's probably also why Old Lady Grey values Huiyu Mo so much.

note only.

Thus line2: That's probably also why Huilaotai values Huiyu Mo so much.

That's probably also why Huilaotai values Huiyu Mo so much.

Line3:

How does that saying go again?

Translation: How does that saying go again?

Line4:

Love me, love my dog.

Translation: Love the house, love the crow. (idiom meaning love someone and extend affection to their belongings). We'll translate as "Love the house, love the crow."

Line5:

I've said all I needed to say; time waits for no one, I can't afford to linger here.

Translation: I've already said what I needed to say; time waits for no one, I can't linger here too long at this moment.

Line6:

Since I know Grey Little Leap is alive and hasn't slacked on his training, escaping now isn't hard for him.

Translation: Since I already know Grey Little Leap is still alive and hasn't neglected his training, it wouldn't be hard for him to escape now.

Line7:

This also counts as half of my promise to Huilaotai fulfilled; after I get out, I'll find time to talk with him.

Translation: This also counts as half of my promise to Huilaotai fulfilled; after I get out of here, I'll find time to talk with him.

note.

Line8:

I took a few steps forward.

Translation: I lifted my foot and walked a few steps forward.

Line9:

Those few steps were even harder to take.

Translation: These steps were even harder to take.

Line10:

I anxiously turned my head, afraid to move too much, and could only see Grey Little Leap still squatting on the coal pile, dazed.

Translation: I anxiously turned my head, not daring to move too much, and could only see Grey Little Leap's silhouette still squatting on the coal pile, still dazed.

note.

Line11:

I couldn't help shouting at him, "Hey, Little Leap, can you hold back these zombies? Can you help me?"

Translation: I couldn't help shouting at him: "Hey, Little Leap, can you suppress these zombies? Could you help me?"

note.

Line12:

I was just testing, not expecting much.

Translation: I was just testing the waters, not holding much hope.

Line13:

But I didn't expect Grey Little Leap to leap onto my right shoulder the next moment.

Translation: But I didn't expect that in the next moment, Grey Little Leap would leap up and land directly on my right shoulder.

Line14:

He was facing forward with his tail, backward with his face.

Translation: He was facing forward with his tail, backward with his face.

note.

Line15:

I only heard a few squeaks, and the chilling yin aura behind me suddenly withdrew, lifting the oppressive pressure that had been weighing on me.

Translation: I only heard a few squeaks, and the Yin Cold Qi behind me suddenly retracted; the oppressive pressure that had been weighing on me vanished instantly.

Line16:

Hey, Grey Little Leap really packs a punch.

Translation: Hey, this Grey Little Leap really has some skills!

Line17:

With Grey Little Leap's help, the way forward became much easier.

Translation: With Grey Little Leap's help, the road ahead became much easier for me.

Line18:

After going around, the names on the list are back where we started.

Translation: After making the rounds, the names on the list returned to the starting point.

Line19:

My voice echoed through the mine shaft: "Zhang Chongzhi, heading home… Li Huaian, heading home…"

Translation: My voice echoed repeatedly in the mine shaft: "Zhang Chongzhi, go home…… Li Huaian, go home……"

Line20:

Accompanying my echo were Grey Little Leap's occasional squeaks and threats, plus the faint sound of the 81 zombies tiptoeing and jumping in unison behind me.

Translation: Accompanying my echo were Grey Little Leap's occasional squeaks and threatening sounds, plus the faint noise made by the 81 zombies tiptoeing in perfect unison behind me.

Line21:

All set.

Translation: "All set."

Line22:

Grey Little Leap's voice suddenly rang out.

Translation: Grey Little Leap's voice suddenly sounded.

Line23:

Though his voice was hoarse, it rang out clearly: "If you want to get out, stay close, follow the soul-guiding lantern, with Xiao Jiu the shopkeeper as our guide—a once-in-a-century opportunity; whoever falls behind has only themselves to blame, don't blame others."

Translation: His voice was hoarse yet resonant: "If you want to get out, stay close together; the Soul-guiding Lamp leads the way, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui will be our guide, this is a once-in-a-century opportunity—whoever falls behind bears their own misfortune, don't blame others."

Line24:

After saying that, he ran to the back of the line, and soon I heard his hoarse voice shout: "Let's go!"

Translation: After saying that, he ran to the rear of the line; soon I heard his hoarse voice shout: "Up… let's go!"

Line25:

I looked ahead at the formation's focal point, knowing the biggest challenge was coming.

Translation: I looked ahead at the Zhènyǎn position, knowing the greatest challenge was coming.

Line26:

I don't know if the situation outside is under control.

Translation: I didn't know whether the situation outside had been brought under control.

Line27:

I and Grey Little Leap, one ahead and one behind, exerted immense effort to bring all 81 zombies up, only to walk into a lion's den—no, that's impossible.

Translation: Grey Little Leap and I, one in front and the other behind, exerted tremendous effort to bring all 81 zombies up—like leading sheep into a tiger's den… no, impossible.

Line28:

I should trust Liu Junyan and their abilities!

Translation: I should have faith in Liu Junyan and their abilities!

Line29:

They won't let my efforts go to waste.

Translation: They won't let my efforts come to nothing.

Line30:

I also mimicked Grey Little Leap's tone

Translation: I also mimicked Grey Little Leap's tone and shouted loudly: "Up… let's go!"

Line31:

As soon as the words fell, a rumbling roar suddenly came from my ears, the ground trembled, and I could hear the coal piles in the mine shaft collapsing one after another.

Translation: As soon as the words fell, a booming roar suddenly came from my ears; the ground trembled, and I could hear the coal piles in the mine shaft collapsing one after another.

Line32:

The Nine Heavens Soul-Locking Formation... has it been broken?

Translation: The Nine Heavens Lock Soul Array… broken?

Line33:

Yes, it should have been broken.

Translation: Yes, it should have been broken.

Line34:

Because the formation was originally supported by each miner zombie on the anchor points in the mine shaft.

Translation: Because the Formation Array was originally supported by each miner zombie on the anchor points of the mine shaft.

Line35:

Now all 81 miner zombies are lined up behind me, all the anchor points have failed, and the Nine Heavens Soul-Locking Formation is completely useless.

Translation: Now the 81 miner zombies are lined up behind me, all anchor points have failed, and the Nine Heavens Lock Soul Array is completely useless.

Line36:

Not only is the mine shaft collapsing, but the mud walls around the formation's eye are also collapsing.

Translation: Not only is the mine shaft collapsing, but the earthen walls around the Zhènyǎn are also collapsing.

Line37:

The soil mixed with black charcoal formed a pad under our feet, which instead became stepping stones for us to reach the surface.

Translation: The soil mixed with black charcoal formed a pad under our feet, which instead became stepping stones for us to reach the surface.

Line38:

When I appeared on the surface holding the soul-guiding lamp, I saw copper basins placed on the ground at the exit, burning paper money, gold ingots, and the like, arranged in two rows extending far ahead.

Translation: When I emerged onto the surface holding the Soul-guiding Lamp, I saw that at the exit the ground was laid out with bronze basins, each burning paper money and gold ingots, arranged in two rows stretching far ahead.

Line39:

Not far away, the sound of Master Huichuan and his disciples chanting prayers for salvation could be heard.

Translation: Not far off, Master Huiquan and his disciples were chanting prayers for salvation.

Line40:

I led the zombie squad forward slowly.

Translation: I led the zombie squad forward slowly.

Line41:

In the darkness, I also heard the sound of people drawing in cold air.

Translation: In the darkness, I also heard the sound of drawing in cold air.

Line42:

I know our team has won a temporary victory.

Translation: I knew our squad had won a temporary victory.

Line43:

They were watching me, watching the long line of zombies behind me.

Translation: They were staring at me, staring at the long line of zombies behind me.

Line44:

I don't know how long I walked forward until a low sobbing sound came from the darkness.

Translation: I didn't know how long I had walked forward until a low sobbing sound came from the darkness.

Line45:

That sobbing sound was oppressive.

Translation: That sobbing was very suppressive.

Line46:

It was the incredulity of having regained what was lost, combined with the caution of not daring to disturb the zombie squad.

Translation: That was the incredulous joy of regaining what was lost, combined with the caution not to disturb the zombie squad.

Line47:

I realized that all 81 zombies had been brought to the surface, and the gray little hop appeared at the rear of the troop.

Translation: I understood that after bringing all 81 zombies to the surface, Grey Little Leap appeared at the rear of the line.

Line48:

But the current scene differs somewhat from what I had discussed with Liu Junyan earlier.

Translation: But the current scene differs somewhat from what I had discussed with Liu Junyan earlier.

Line49:

Back then, we agreed that after I brought the zombie squad out, Liu Junyan would immediately meet me and take control of the zombie squad... Why did it suddenly change?

Translation: Back then we had agreed that after I brought the zombie squad out, Liu Junyan would immediately meet me and take control of the squad… so why did it suddenly change?

Line50:

When I reached the end of the fire basins, darkness suddenly lay ahead.

Translation: Upon reaching the end of the fire basins, ahead suddenly fell into darkness.

Line51:

It was pitch black, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Translation: It was so dark you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face.

Line52:

I felt as if I had stepped into a bottomless abyss, and also as if I had stepped into a gate of nothingness.

Translation: I felt as if I had stepped into a bottomless abyss, or as if I had stepped into a gate of nothingness.

Line53:

The golden hue inside the soul-guiding lamp's chamber instantly turned an eerie green, the demonic face on the chamber bared its teeth and claws... This scene inexplicably felt somewhat familiar.

Translation: The golden light inside the Soul-guiding Lamp's chamber instantly turned a gloomy green, and the demonic face on the lamp bared its teeth and brandished its claws… the scene inexplicably felt familiar.

Line54:

I remember that when I once carried the soul-guiding lamp to send Tang Xun aunt's soul into the nether realm, the lamp underwent exactly this change.

Translation: I remembered that when I once held the Soul-guiding Lamp to send Aunt Tang Xun's soul into the Nether Realm, the lamp underwent exactly this change.

Line55:

So... have I just stepped into the nether realm?

Translation: So… have I just stepped into the Nether Realm?

Line56:

Then, the end of the fire basin formation... should be an already opened ghost gate?

Translation: Then… the end of the fire basin formation must be the already-opened ghost gate?

Line57:

My steps halted beneath me, and in an instant my mind raced with a hundred thoughts.

Translation: My footsteps halted, and in an instant my mind raced through a hundred thoughts.

Line58:

The next moment, two figures—one black, one white—appeared before me.

Translation: The next moment, two figures—one black, one white—appeared before me.

Line59:

A long iron chain dragged along the ground, making a clanking sound.

Translation: A long iron chain dragged along the ground, clanking.

Line60:

The long iron chain dragged on the ground, making a clanking sound.

Just like the scene when Old Lady White had her soul seized!

I never expected that this time the ghost official would come directly to handle the transfer with me, saving me a lot of trouble.

Being able to hand over these 81 zombies intact to the ghost official— for me, that counts as a good thing, right?

After all, if I really had to use the Soul-guiding Lamp to ferry them one by one into reincarnation, I'd be worked to death.

The ghost official stepped forward to complete the transfer with me.

They also held a list recording the names of the 81 deceased miners.

When the names of the miner zombies were called, the souls trapped inside their bodies instantly floated out, their hands and feet locked in iron chains, standing obediently yet somewhat dazed to one side.

One after another, a total of eighty‑one.

No Ashy Little Jumper.

After the transfer was finished, Black Impermanence stepped forward, still in a strictly business tone: "Wufu Town Pawnshop Xiao Jiu Zhanggui has guided 81 souls; all transferred, recorded in the ledger, to be settled at year‑end, merit boundless."

Having said that, the Black and White Impermanence and all eighty‑one souls vanished into thin air.

Even the deep darkness of the ghost gate disappeared along with them.

I was utterly exhausted, my legs going weak, almost kneeling on the ground.

A big hand grabbed my waist and lifted me up, leaning against his chest, Liu Junyan worriedly asked: "Xiao Jiu, are you all right?"

I smiled and replied: "I'm tired, but I'm fine; Ashy Little Jumper helped me a great deal."

"You're great." Liu Junyan never stinted on praise for me, "I'll take you back to rest first."

I seized his hand and asked: "The ghost official's transfer wasn't part of our prior arrangement— who arranged this?"

Not to mention summoning the Black and White Impermanence to collect souls— even just trying to contact them would be hard to find a channel, right?

Anyone capable of this is certainly not to be underestimated.

Liu Junyan replied with some difficulty: "It's Fang ChuanZong."

I let out an oh; hearing it was Fang ChuanZong, I wasn't so surprised.

But then Liu Junyan added: "Fang ChuanZong also brought an archaeological team and a squad of Thatch Mountain Daoists… there have been some disagreements between us…"