Chapter 374: with translation of chapter title

I have been waiting.

Translation: I have been waiting.

While waiting for Tang Xun to emerge from seclusion, I also waited for news from Liu Junyan.

Translation: While waiting for Tang Xun to emerge from seclusion, I also waited for news from Liu Junyan's side.

After Liu Junyan returned to the Linghai Dragon Clan, several days passed without any word, and everyone began to feel anxious.

Translation: After Liu Junyan returned to the Linghai Dragon Clan, several days passed with no news, and everyone began to feel a bit anxious.

Especially discovering that the Taotie ferocious beast was gradually encroaching upon the territory of Zhu Pan Jiang, and the incessant crying of infants throughout the night—these were torments for us.

Translation: Especially discovering that the gluttonous fiendish beast was gradually encroaching upon the territory of Zhu Pan River, and the incessant infant wails drifting through the night—these were torments for us.

What I didn't expect was that I never got word of Tang Xun's emergence; she came to find me herself.

Translation: What I didn't expect was that I didn't receive news of Tang Xun's emergence; she came to find me herself.

I was overjoyed, grabbing her hand and not wanting to let go: "How do you feel? Did the soul fusion go well?"

Translation: I was overjoyed, grabbing her hand and refusing to let go: "How do you feel? Is the soul fusion going well?"

"Pretty good," Tang Xun said. "The birth-bond spell never took effect on me and your mother, so the merging of the two remnant souls was much simpler. However, over the years my body has been affected by the Soul‑butterfly's replenishment, giving me a yin‑biased constitution, possibly preventing me from undergoing rebirth again."

Translation: "Pretty good." Tang Xun said, "The birth‑bond spell never took effect on me and your mother, so the merging of the two remnant souls was much simpler. However, these years my body has been affected by the Soul‑Butterfly's soul‑supplementing influence, making my constitution yin‑biased, possibly preventing me from undergoing Nirvana again."

For the rare pureblood of the Phoenix clan, being unable to undergo rebirth is also a regret.

Translation: For the rare pure bloodline of the Feng Clan, being unable to undergo Nirvana is also a regret.

But having survived the calamity, this isn't hard for Tang Xun to accept.

Translation: However, having survived the calamity, this is not so hard for Tang Xun to accept.

I asked her: "What are your plans from now on?"

Translation: I asked her: "What are your plans from now on?"

"Return to the Phoenix clan," Tang Xun said firmly. "I've been away too long; I need to see what state the Phoenix clan is in now, so I can better assist you later, Little Nine. You are destined to return to the Phoenix clan—not only are you the daughter of the former Phoenix Lord, but you are also the incarnation of the Fire Witch God. You must go back to inherit the Phoenix Lord's position."

Translation: "Return to the Feng Clan." Tang Xun said firmly, "I've been away too long; I need to see what state the Feng Clan is in now, so I can better assist you later. Xiao Jiu, you are destined to return to the Feng Clan—you are not only the daughter of the former Phoenix Lord, but also the incarnation of the Fire Witch God, and you must inherit the Phoenix Lord's position."

I actually wanted to say that I really don't want to be a Phoenix Lord at all.

Translation: I actually wanted to say that I really don't want to be a Phoenix Lord at all.

But I also don't want to spoil the mood right now.

Translation: But I also don't want to spoil the mood at this moment.

Suddenly I thought of something; I quickly took out the Buddha amulet left by the blood corpse, handed it to Tang Xun, and asked: "Aunt, do you recognize this character? Someone told me it should be a bird totem."

Translation: Suddenly thinking of something, I quickly took out the Buddha talisman left by the blood corpse, handed it to Tang Xun, and asked: "Aunt, do you recognize this character? Someone told me it should be a bird‑type totem."

Tang Xun took the amulet; when she saw the totem on its back, she froze completely.

Translation: Tang Xun took the talisman; when she saw the totem on its back, her whole body froze.

From her tightly pressed lips and the whitening of her finger joints from gripping the amulet too hard, I could tell she had definitely seen this totem before.

Translation: From her pursed lips and the way her fingers whitened from gripping the talisman too tightly, I could tell she had certainly seen this totem before.

I carefully asked: "Aunt, have you seen it before?"

Translation: I cautiously asked: "Aunt, have you seen it?"

"Yes," Tang Xun finally regained her composure, her eyes slightly red. "When your father died on the battlefield, as his body was being brought back, there was exactly this mark on his chest—identical, just larger, about the size of a palm.

Translation: "I have." Tang Xun finally came to, her eye sockets slightly reddened: "Back when your father died on the battlefield, when his body was brought back, there was such a mark on his chest, exactly the same, only larger—about the size of a palm.

The sudden tragedy caused your mother's emotions to flare, disturbing her qi; although the grand shaman tried to stabilize her pregnancy, she still ended up delivering prematurely. I've often wondered whether your mother's difficult labor might also be related to this."

Translation: The sudden bad news made your mother overly agitated, disturbing her qi; although the Great Witch kept trying to help her stabilize the pregnancy, she still ended up delivering prematurely. I have always wondered whether your mother's difficult labor might also be related to this.

If that's true, the owner of this totem would be my parents' killer—my enemy!

Translation: If so, the owner of this totem would be, to me, the enemy who killed my father and mother!

I quickly followed up: "Then you must have conducted a thorough investigation back then—what did you find?"

Translation: I quickly followed up: "Then you must have conducted a thorough investigation back then, right? What did you find?"

Tang Xun shook her head: "They hid very deeply; now I think they must have had an insider in the Phoenix clan. Your father died unjustly, and after my mother and I investigated to the end, we only had a very vague suspect."

Translation: Tang Xun shook her head: "They hid very deep; now I think they must have an insider in the Feng Clan. Your father died unjustly back then, and after my mother and I investigated to the end, we only had a very vague suspect."

I asked: "Who?"

Translation: I asked: "Who?"

"It's an ancient legend," Tang Xun recalled. "Back then, my mother and I found some clues in an old Phoenix clan text. The text records that in antiquity, the phoenix—also called luan-feng—more precisely, the luan is the phoenix's juvenile offspring, male in nature, while the fenghuang is the female.

Translation: "This is an extremely ancient legend." Tang Xun recalled, "Back then, my mother and I found some clues in an ancient book of the Feng Clan. The book records that in antiquity, the phoenix, also called luan‑phoenix, more precisely, the luan is the juvenile phoenix, male in form, while the huang is the female.

When the Fire Witch God descended, it established the phoenix clan's matrilineal lineage; the luan refused to accept this, repeatedly rebelling within the group, and the gradual decline of the phoenix clan began then."

Translation: When the Fire Witch God descended, it established the matriarchal nature of the Phoenix Clan; the luan refused to submit, repeatedly rebelling within the clan, and the gradual decline of the Phoenix Clan began then."

Tang Xun pointed to the totem on the back of the amulet and said: "Little Nine, this is the luan."

Translation: Tang Xun pointed to the totem on the back of the talisman and said: "Xiao Jiu, this is the luan."

Luan… indeed so!

Translation: Luan… indeed so!

"Aunt, do you know that we found the original founder of the pawnshop was a monk with the dharma name Diluan? Everything we're experiencing now might be connected to him. What do you think the likelihood is that this Diluan is one of the phoenix ancestors?"

Translation: "Aunt, do you know that we discovered the original founder of the Dang Pu pawnshop was a monk with the dharma name Di Luan, and perhaps everything we are facing now is related to him? What do you think the likelihood is that this Di Luan is one of the ancestors of the Phoenix Clan?"

I can't imagine how terrifying Diluan would be if this speculation were true.

Translation: I cannot imagine how terrifying a being Di Luan would be if this speculation were true.

Tang Xun couldn't answer either.

Translation: Tang Xun also couldn't answer.

She just patted my hand and comforted me: "Don't worry, Little Nine; I'll first return to the Phoenix clan to check things out, and we'll proceed steadily."

Translation: She merely patted my hand and comforted me: "Xiao Jiu, don't worry; I'll first return to the Feng Clan to check the situation, and we'll proceed steadily."

I nodded; for now that's all I can do: "Aunt, you must be careful—Feng Xianqiu is no pushover; he now holds absolute power in the Phoenix clan."

Translation: I nodded; right now that's all I can do: "Aunt, you must be careful—Feng Xianqiu is no pushover; nowadays he dominates the Feng Clan with an iron grip."

Tang Xun indicated she had it figured out.

Translation: Tang Xun indicated she had a clear plan in mind.

We talked about many more things, and Tang Xun left in the evening.

Translation: We chatted about many more things, and Tang Xun only left in the evening.

That night I had many fragmented dreams.

Translation: That night, I had many fragmented dreams.

At times I dreamed of Liu Junyan, at other times of Feng Xianqiu, whose image gradually shifted until it became that of a monk.

Translation: At times I dreamed of Liu Junyan, at times of Feng Xianqiu; his appearance gradually shifted, eventually turning into that of a monk.

That monk walked toward me step by step; golden coins rose from his feet, covering his body until he was completely enveloped.

Translation: That monk stepped toward me, golden copper coins rising from his feet to cover his entire body.

He stood before me, his eyes full of compassion, and said: "Ah Wu, let us ascend together!"

Translation: He stood before me, his eyes full of compassion fixed on me, saying: "A Wu, let us ascend together!"

Hoo!

Translation: Whoosh!

I woke up again from the dream.

Translation: I woke up again from the dream.

In the darkness, my chest heaved violently; I covered my face with both hands, and the final scene of the dream kept replaying in my mind.

Translation: In the darkness, my chest heaved violently; I covered my face with both hands, and the final scene of the dream kept replaying in my mind.

Why is it this line again?

Translation: How come it's this line again?

Raindrops pattered against the window, pulling my anxious thoughts back… rain?

Translation: Raindrops pattered against the window, pulling my uneasy thoughts back… rain?

Is it actually raining in Wufu Town?

Translation: Wufu Town is actually raining?

You should know that these days Wufu Town has been scorching hot by day, like a furnace; if the townspeople hadn't moved quickly, more might have died recently.

Translation: You know, these days Wufu Town's daytime has been like a furnace; if the townspeople hadn't moved quickly, we might have seen more deaths lately.

Such extreme weather isn't a normal climate shift; it's due to the influence of the Taotie vicious formation.

Translation: Such extreme weather is not a normal climate shift but the influence of the Gluttonous Fiend Formation.

Under this influence, logically Wufu Town shouldn't be able to rain at all recently.

Translation: Under this influence, logically Wufu Town should not be able to rain at all recently.

I quickly composed myself, threw on a coat, and headed out.

Translation: I quickly composed myself, threw on a coat, and headed out.

Obviously, my skin temperature had dropped considerably.

Translation: Obviously, my surface temperature had dropped considerably.

Li Qingying and the others also got up.

Translation: Li Qingying and the others also got up.

It was just after four in the morning; the pawnshop's doors were open, and by the lamplight I could indeed see that it was raining.

Translation: It was just past four in the morning; the doors of the Dang Pu stood open, and by the lamp light one could indeed see that it was raining.

The raindrops were large but sparse, as if it might or might not continue.

Translation: The raindrops were large, but sparse, as if it might or might not rain.

The moon was invisible, low-hanging dark clouds pressed down, giving a full sense of an impending mountain storm.

Translation: No moon was visible in the sky; dark clouds hung low, giving a full sense of an impending mountain storm.

I instinctively asked Hui Moqiong: "Has any news come back from Ah Yan?"

Translation: I instinctively asked Hui Moqiong: "Any news from A Yan's side?"

Is it him…?

Translation: Is it him…

"No," Hui Moqiong replied, also looking puzzled. "I've been to the Linghai Dragon Clan several times; I couldn't see Seventh Lord, nor could I contact Lord Owl, so I don't know how their discussions went."

Translation: "None." Hui Moqiong also looked puzzled: "I've already visited the Linghai Dragon Clan several times; I couldn't see Seventh Lord, nor could I contact Xiaoye, so I don't know how their discussions went."

That feeling of having my heart anxiously suspended in my throat is truly awful.

Translation: That feeling of having one's heart hanging in one's throat, anxious and uneasy, is truly awful.

Just as I was about to personally run to the Linghai Dragon Clan to find Liu Junyan, Huang Fan came from the west street entrance, hurrying toward the pawnshop.

Translation: Just as I was about to personally run to the Linghai Dragon Clan to look for Liu Junyan, Huang Fan came from the Xijiekou direction, hurrying toward the Dang Pu.

He was tall and big, yet his steps were light; seeing us all at the pawnshop doorway, he quickly said: "The water's coming!"

Translation: He was tall and big‑boned, yet his steps were light; seeing us all at the Dang Pu's entrance, he hurriedly said: "The water has come!"

Hui Moqiong urgently said: "Where did the water come from? Can you speak with a subject?"

Huang Fan is indeed innocent, he scratched his head, he didn't bring a subject, did he?

He also didn't share Hui Moqiong's view, he said: "A current of water comes from the junction of the Ling Sea and the Pearl Plate River; the current is very fierce; soon it should be able to rush over to our side..."