Chapter 754

Yu Nian took over her father's mantle, and the first couple she ferried were Zhao Zixun and Fu Wan.

Translation: Yu Nian took over her father's mantle, and the first couple for the ferry were Zhao Zixun and Fu Wan.

took over her father's mantle

That day was extremely perilous; if it weren't for the timely arrival of Xingchen and the mysterious cat, there would have been a lot of trouble.

Translation: That day was extremely perilous; if it weren't for Xingchen and the mysterious cat arriving in time, there would have been quite a ordeal.

the mysterious cat

The main issue was that Fu Wan and Zhao Zixun had somewhat special identities, making the ferry more difficult.

Translation: Mainly because Fu Wan and Zhao Zixun's identities were somewhat special, which increased the difficulty of the ferry.

After that, countless ghosts came to Yu Nian asking for a ferry, and she refused them all.

Translation: After that, countless ghosts came asking Yu Nian for a ferry, and she refused them all.

If the Ferryman of the Forgotten River ferried anyone and everyone, how could order in the Netherworld be maintained?

Translation: If the ferryman of the Wangchuan River ferried anyone and everyone, how could order in the Nether Realm be maintained?

Ferrying also has requirements, and the bar is set high.

Translation: Ferrying also has a threshold, and the threshold is quite high.

Over the past few months, Yu Nian has been adjusting her condition and diligently cultivating, hoping to greet the next ferry in her best state.

Translation: Over the past several months, Yu Nian has been adjusting her condition and cultivating assiduously, hoping to greet the next ferry in her best state.

She spends all day on the ferry boat.

Translation: She spends the whole day on the ferryboat.

The ferry boat drifts with the current, going wherever it flows; sometimes it ends up in remote corners where no one can find it.

Translation: The ferryboat drifts with the current, going wherever it flows; sometimes it enters remote corners where no one can find it.

Wang Fuchen is also busy, with a pile of matters waiting for him to handle in the City God's Hall.

Translation: Wang Fuchen's side is also busy, with a pile of matters in the Chenghuang Temple waiting for him to attend to.

After finally finishing his work, he wanted to see Yu Nian, but couldn't find her.

Translation: After finally finishing his work, he wanted to see Yu Nian, but couldn't find her.

He tolerated it once or twice.

Translation: Once or twice he endured it.

As a result, it's said that over the past few months they've only met twice, and Wang Fuchen grew angry.

Translation: As it turned out, over the past several months they had met only twice, and Wang Fuchen grew angry.

Since they reunited, having gone through life-and-death together and endured many hardships, Wang Fuchen originally thought they would soon achieve consummation.

Translation: Since they reunited, having gone through life-and-death together and endured countless trials, Wang Fuchen had thought they would soon achieve fruition.

But in the blink of an eye, a year or two passed, and the time they spent together kept dwindling.

Translation: But in the blink of an eye, a year or two passed, and the time they spent together kept dwindling.

Fabricating love stories and wild histories is no longer enough.

Translation: Fabricating love stories and wild histories—such petty tricks are utterly insufficient.

He even considered having someone follow Yu Nian's movements all day.

Translation: He even considered sending someone to tail Yu Nian all day long.

As soon as he acted, Yu Nian discovered it; she not only shook off the person but also gave Wang Fuchen a stern scolding.

Translation: But as soon as he acted, Yu Nian discovered it; she not only shook off the tail, she also gave Wang Fuchen a stern scolding.

Wang Fuchen realized that Yu Nian's heart has always been solely on the ferry boat.

Translation: Wang Fuchen realized that Yu Nian's heart has always been solely on the ferryboat.

As the ferryman's fame grew, the two would see each other even less.

Translation: Thereafter, as the ferryman's fame grew, the two would see each other even less.

After all, Wang Fuchen's work centers on the City God's Hall, while Yu Nian's ferry boat can reach as far as the Tibetan regions.

Translation: After all, Wang Fuchen's work centers on the Chenghuang Temple, while Yu Nian's ferryboat can reach as far as the Zàng Qū.

Wang Fuchen stopped secretly drafting love stories and went straight to confess his feelings to Yu Nian.

Translation: Wang Fuchen stopped secretly drafting love stories and went straight to Yu Nian to confess his feelings.

Yu Nian replied, "What's the rush? You're busy, I'm busy; we're both in a career upswing. Let's focus on work first, and talk about marriage later when we're more settled, okay?"

Translation: Yu Nian replied, "What's the rush? You're busy, I'm busy; we're both in the ascent of our careers—let's focus on work first, and talk about marriage later when we're settled, okay?"

"Getting married wouldn't hinder our careers," Wang Fuchen exclaimed, exasperated. "Besides, after marriage I could openly become your strongest support—wouldn't that be good?"

Translation: "Getting married wouldn't hinder our careers at all." Wang Fuchen, exasperated, added, "Besides, after we marry, I can openly become your strongest support—wouldn't that be good?"

Yu Nian shook her head: "I... I can manage on my own."

Translation: Yu Nian shook her head: "I… I can manage on my own."

Wang Fuchen was so angry he felt like overturning Yu Nian's ferry boat.

Translation: Wang Fuchen was so angry he felt like overturning Yu Nian's ferryboat.

He bottled up his anger with nowhere to vent, so he summoned the Seventh Hall Yama and Liu Junyan to the City God's Hall for drinks.

Translation: He bottled up that anger with nowhere to vent, so he summoned the Seven Halls Yama and Liu Junyan to the Chenghuang Temple for drinks.

After three rounds of drinks, Wang Fuchen asked Liu Junyan, "What do you mean? Why isn't Ah Nian willing to marry me?"

Translation: After three rounds of wine, Wang Fuchen asked Liu Junyan, "What do you mean, Ah Nian? Why won't she marry me?"

Liu Junyan shook her head: "I'm not a worm in her stomach; how would I know what she's thinking?"

Translation: Liu Junyan shook her head: "I'm not a worm in her stomach—how would I know what she's thinking?"

Wang Fuchen insisted: "Just tell me about your own experience chasing a wife; I'll take it as reference."

Translation: Wang Fuchen insisted: "Just tell me about your own experience chasing a wife—I'll take it as reference."

Liu Junyan's eyes lit up with a smile: "My little nine has been set on me from the start; our coming together is summed up in eight words: 'When the water reaches the channel, it flows naturally; a match made in heaven.'"

Translation: Liu Junyan's eyes lit up with a smile: "My Xiao Jiu had his mind set on me from the start; we came together in eight words: 'When the water reaches the channel, it flows naturally; a match made in heaven.'"

Wang Fuchen gave him a sideways glance: "I really shouldn't have bothered asking you."

Translation: Wang Fuchen gave him a sideways glance: "I really shouldn't have bothered asking you."

He then turned to Seventh Hall Yama: "And you?"

Translation: He then turned to the Seven Halls Yama: "And you?"

"Me?" Seventh Hall Yama mused, "Come to think of it, my relationship with Ah Xun at the beginning was quite similar to yours and Yu Nian's situation now. Back then, Ah Xun, due to her ties between the Netherworld and the Phoenix clan, plus the influence of the innate spell, constantly pushed me away."

Translation: "Me?" the Seven Halls Yama mused, "Come to think of it, my early days with Ah Xun were actually quite similar to your situation with Yu Nian now; back then, Ah Xun, due to her ties between the Nether Realm and the Feng Clan, plus the influence of the innate spell, constantly pushed me away."

Wang Fuchen's eyes lit up: "So what happened later?"

Translation: Wang Fuchen's eyes lit up: "And then what happened?"

"Later?" Seventh Hall Yama said solemnly, "After that, no matter what difficulties arose, I always remembered and affirmed her as that person; regardless of whether she needed it, I gave her my all, doing my best. I believe that as long as you're sure she has you in her heart, you can boldly do what you want—do more, say less—and eventually you'll move her."

Translation: "Then?" the Seven Halls Yama said solemnly, "Afterward, no matter what difficulties arose, I always remembered and affirmed her as that person; whether she needed it or not, I gave her my all, doing my best for her. I believe that as long as you're sure she holds you in her heart, you can boldly do what you want—act more, speak less—and eventually you'll move her."

That day, the three of them got drunk and said a lot while feeling dazed.

Translation: That day, the three of them got drunk and spoke a lot while dazed.

Even so, he still firmly remembered the four words Seventh Hall Yama said: "Do more, speak less."

Translation: Even so, he firmly retained the four words the Seven Halls Yama had said: "Do more, speak less."

The next morning, Wang Fuchen sat on the edge of the bed, repeatedly pondering those four words, and came to feel they were a true maxim.

Translation: The next morning, Wang Fuchen sat on the edge of his bed, repeatedly pondering those four words, and came to feel more and more that they were a true maxim.

Yu Nian has herself in her heart, and Wang Fuchen never doubts that.

Translation: Yu Nian has herself in her heart, and Wang Fuchen never doubts that.

Since that's the case, he would let Yu Nian see his sincere intentions, and he refused to believe he couldn't move her.

Translation: Since that's the case, he would let Yu Nian see his sufficient sincerity, and he refused to believe he couldn't move her.

So he secretly prepared a huge "surprise" for Yu Nian.

Translation: Thus, he secretly prepared a huge "surprise" for Yu Nian.

On the night of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the ferry boat drifted on the Forgotten River, with Yu Nian sitting cross-legged at the bow, cultivating.

Translation: On the night of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the ferryboat drifted on the Wangchuan River, and Yu Nian sat cross-legged at the prow, cultivating.

At first, when a few pairs of lanterns lit up on the Forgotten River, nobody paid much attention.

Translation: At first, when a few pairs of flower lanterns lit up on the Wangchuan River, nobody paid them any mind.

After all, it was Qixi (the Double Seventh Festival).

Translation: After all, it was Qixi.

But then the lanterns grew more numerous and denser, a vast sea of light.

Translation: But then the flower lanterns grew more and more numerous, denser, and magnificent.

Behind the lanterns came flower boats, decked out with lights and colors, from which joyful music emanated, echoing endlessly over the Forgotten River.

Translation: Behind the flower lanterns came flower boats, decked with lights and ribbons, from which joyous music drifted, echoing endlessly over the Wangchuan River.

Behind the flower boats came rows of gleaming warhorses, each carrying a wooden box on its back, the boxes adorned with bright red "double happiness" characters.

Translation: Behind the flower boats followed steeds with glossy coats, each carrying a wooden box on its back, the boxes adorned with bright red "double happiness" characters.

Following them was a bridal sedan chair.

Translation: Then came a flower-adorned sedan chair.

A matchmaker led the way, an eight‑person carriage brimming with joy.

Translation: Matchmakers led the way, an eight-bearer grand sedan chair, full of joyous cheer.

A gust of yin wind lifted the curtain, revealing the splendid wedding robes neatly arranged on the seat inside.

Translation: The Yīnfēng lifted the curtain, revealing the sedan seat neatly arrayed with splendid wedding attire.

And then…

Translation: And after that…

Yu Nian initially heard the joyful music.

Translation: Yu Nian first heard the joyful music.

But lately she has been immersed in her cultivation, her nature becoming ever more detached, so such things couldn't disturb her.

Translation: But lately she has been cultivating assiduously, her nature ever more immersed, so such things could hardly disturb her.

However, gradually the waters of the Forgotten River began to churn, rocking the ferry boat back and forth with increasing amplitude.

Translation: Yet gradually, the waters of the Wangchuan River began to churn, rocking the ferryboat back and forth on the surface, with the motion growing ever larger.

Yu Nian furrowed her brows and opened her eyes to see a sea of celebratory red.

Translation: Yu Nian furrowed her brows, opened her eyes, and saw nothing but a expanse of celebratory red.

Around the ferry boat, at some point, it became surrounded by all kinds of lanterns.

Translation: Around the ferryboat, at some point, it had become surrounded by all kinds of flower lanterns.

The undulating water was caused by the flower boat ahead.

Translation: What caused the water to ripple was the flower boat ahead.

The one causing rippling water waves is the flower boat ahead.

The flower boat drew nearer and nearer; when it was infinitely close to the Ferry boat, it spread out to both sides, then came together, enclosing the Ferry boat in the middle.

The rear war horses also split into two paths alongside the flower boat, revealing the eight-person sedan chair behind.

The matchmaker swayed her snake-like waist, came over beaming to congratulate Yu Nian; her words were so smooth that Yu Nian was left stunned, one bewildered moment after another.

Only when the matchmaker held up the big red wedding dress and came to the bow did Yu Nian still remain in a daze.

Just then, Wang Fanchen appeared on the Ferry boat holding fresh flowers, knelt on one knee, and proposed to Yu Nian.

Wang Fanchen remained kneeling before Yu Nian, recounting their love story, expressing how deep his feelings for her were, even listing all his possessions in detail for her to hear, and saying he could have a premarital notarization, transferring all his property into Yu Nian's name.

Yu Nian watched Wang Fanchen's moving lips, a buzzing filled her head, and she could not make any response.

Finally, Wang Fanchen grasped Yu Nian's right hand and pulled out a ring.

Only then did Yu Nian wake from her dream, instinctively trying to stop Wang Fanchen's motion to slip the ring onto her finger.

But her hand twitched, and in the end she still held back……