Chapter 887: line with translation of chapter title

Seeing Fengran's expression, Chishe knew the girl meant no good.

Translation: Chishe saw Feng Ran's expression and knew this girl had ill intentions.

We need to keep as single line.

He irritably poked Fengran's arm with his tail tip and said, "I admit I spoke too loudly before; have your foster dad tell them to let me go, and from now on we'll go our separate ways, never to see each other again."

Translation: He somewhat irritably poked Feng Ran's arm with the tip of his tail, then spoke again: "I admit I raised my voice when speaking to you earlier; have your foster father say to let me go, and from now on we'll go our separate ways, never to meet again."

We need to keep quotes.

"Oh? Never to meet again?" Fengran countered, "What about the scores you left me to settle in Fujian? Do you think you can just brush it off and leave? It's not that simple."

Translation: "Oh? Never to meet again?" Feng Ran retorted, "Then how do we settle the scores you caused me in Southern Fujian? You think you can just pat your butt and walk away? It's probably not that easy."

Chishe asked coldly, "What compensation do you want? I'll do what I can to make it up."

Translation: Chishe asked coldly, "What compensation do you want? I'll make up for it as best I can."

Fengran pointed at the Chishe wood carving coiled on the pillar and said, "I can ask my foster parents to let you go, but this has to stay."

Translation: Feng Ran pointed bluntly at the Chishe wood carving coiled on the pillar and said, "I can ask my foster parents to let you go, but this has to stay."

Chishe snapped, "You wish!"

Translation: Chishe instantly flew into a rage: "You wish!"

Fengran shot back, "Then if you want to leave, you're just wishing!"

Translation: Feng Ran showed no weakness: "If you want to leave, you're just wishing!"

Chishe, fuming, flicked its tail and retreated back into the wood carving.

Translation: Chishe, shaking with anger, flicked its tail and retreated back into the Chishe wood carving.

It withdrew into itself.

Translation: It shut itself off!

What are we to do?

Translation: What to do?

Yin Dang Hang is like a prison; the Chishe wood carving he depends on is trapped inside, and he is trapped too.

Translation: This Yin Dang Hang is like a cage; the Chishe wood carving he relies on is trapped inside it, and so is he.

Without the earth vein dragon god's permission, he can't even leave the main courtyard.

Translation: Without the permission of the Dìmài Lóngshén, he can't even leave this main courtyard.

Although the incense in Yin Dang Hang is thriving and the aura of merit surrounds it, greatly benefiting his cultivation, he would never bow down for five pecks of rice.

Note: The original line contained a typo; it should read: "Although the incense in Yin Dang Hang is thriving and the aura of merit surrounds it, greatly benefiting his cultivation, but he would never bow down for five pecks of rice."

We need to keep the meaning.

He's determined to go.

Translation: He wants to leave!

Fujian is his domain.

Translation: Southern Fujian is his domain!

But Chishe never expected that this would mean he could never go back.

Translation: But Chishe never imagined that this would mean he could never return.

A week later, Fengran had prepared her thesis topic and returned to school to submit her assignment to her advisor.

Translation: After a week, Feng Ran finished her thesis proposal and went back to school to hand in her assignment to her advisor.

Although Chishe didn't appear all week and didn't speak to Fengran, when Fengran wasn't in Yin Dang Hang, Chishe grew even more irritable.

Translation: Although Chishe didn't come out all week and never spoke a word to Feng Ran, her absence from Yin Dang Hang made him even more irritable.

When Xiao Jiu came at night to guard Yin Dang Hang, he saw from afar that Chishe was coiled on the main house's door pillar, half its body stretching upward, occasionally flicking its tongue—as if breathing at the moon, or rather, groaning without cause.

Translation: When Xiao Jiu came at night to guard Yin Dang Hang, she saw from afar Chishe coiled on the main house door pillar, half its body stretching upward, occasionally flicking its tongue, as if inhaling and exhaling at the moon, more like... groaning without illness.

Xiao Jiu actually saw a hint of sadness in the snake.

Translation: Xiao Jiu actually sensed a faint sorrow from the snake's body.

There's nothing she can do; she still has high hopes for Chishe.

Translation: There was nothing she could do; she still had high hopes for Chishe.

She could also see that Fengran didn't oppose Chishe.

Translation: She could also see that Feng Ran did not reject Chishe.

So Xiao Jiu had no intention of letting Chishe go.

Translation: So Xiao Jiu had no intention of letting Chishe go.

Four days later, Xiao Jiu received an urgent rescue call from Fang Chuanzong.

Translation: After another four days, Xiao Jiu received an urgent rescue call from Fang Chuanzong on her end.

Fang Chuanzong has been semi-retired for years; he had already trained a successor, who now has taken his place.

Translation: Fang Chuanzong has been in semi-retirement for years; he had already trained a successor, who now has taken over his position.

So when Xiao Jiu received Fang Chuanzong's rescue call, he was surprised: "Master Fang, don't rush, take your time."

Translation: So when Xiao Jiu received Fang Chuanzong's rescue call, she was quite surprised: "Master Fang, don't rush, speak slowly."

"Xiao Jiu, my disciple's side has encountered a major incident," Fang Chuanzong said urgently. "This matter might also involve you; you'd better come over quickly to see what's going on, and meanwhile help me rescue people."

Translation: "Xiao Jiu, my disciple's side has run into serious trouble," Fang Chuanzong urged, "This matter might also involve you; you'd better come over quickly to have a look, and meanwhile help me rescue people."

Xiao Jiu asked, "What exactly happened?"

Translation: Xiao Jiu asked, "What exactly happened?"

Fang Chuanzong quickly described the situation.

Translation: Fang Chuanzong quickly described the situation.

Half a month ago, Fang Chuanzong's successor Lei Xiulin received a tip that, behind the Baishi Temple in Shaanxi, they had discovered a suspected sinkhole.

Translation: Half a month ago, Fang Chuanzong's successor Lei Xiulin received a tip that a suspected sinkhole had been found behind Bai Qi Temple in Shaanxi.

Before Lei Xiulin led a team to provide support, two groups had already gone down, and none of them returned.

Translation: Before Lei Xiulin led people to reinforce, two groups had already gone down, without exception, none returned.

The location of Baishi Temple is quite special, and the origin of its name is also meaningful; it is said that the temple was built on that perilous ridge to borrow the mighty name of the slayer god Bai Qi to suppress the evil spirits along the entire ridge.

Translation: Bai Qi Temple's geographical location is special, and the origin of its name is also meaningful; it is said that the temple was built on that perilous ridge to borrow the dreadful prestige of the slayer god Bai Qi to suppress the evil spirits along the whole ridge.

Yet no one had ever mentioned that there was actually a suspected sinkhole in that area.

Translation: Yet no one had ever mentioned that there was also a suspected sinkhole in that area.

Mainly because the geographical environment there is too perilous, very few people live around there.

Translation: Mainly because the geographical environment there is extremely perilous, very few people live around it.

In recent years, with the large-scale development of tourism, its fame has grown, and many people go there to explore; consequently, many places that were rarely visited have gradually been discovered by the public.

Translation: In recent years, with the vigorous development of tourism, its fame has grown, and many explorers have gone there; consequently, many places previously rarely visited have gradually been uncovered by the public.

Xiao Jiu wondered, "Why call it a suspected sinkhole?"

Translation: Xiao Jiu frowned, asking, "Why call it a 'suspected sinkhole'?"

Because even aerial photography and surface ground probing show no difference from ordinary mountain ranges there. But it's said that if you go down through a certain entrance, you can see the so-called sinkhole existing five or six meters below the surface.

Translation: "Because even aerial photography and surface ground probing show no difference from ordinary mountains there," Fang Chuanzong explained, "but it's said that if you go down through a certain entrance, you can see the so-called sinkhole existing five or six meters below ground."

Xiao Jiu frowned: "You just said that everyone who went down never came out, so who spread the news of the suspected sinkhole? Isn't that contradictory?"

Translation: Xiao Jiu furrowed her brows: "You just said no one who went down ever came out; who then spread the rumor of a 'suspected sinkhole'? Isn't that contradictory?"

"Xiao Jiu, this isn't the most important thing." Fang Chuanzong sighed. "What matters most is that we know over a dozen people may have died in there; Lei Xiulin was ordered to go rescue people, and if he could handle it, he would never come to me asking for support."

Translation: "Xiao Jiu, this isn't the most important thing," Fang Chuanzong sighed, "What matters most is that we know over a dozen people may have perished inside; Xiulin was ordered to go rescue them, but if he could handle it, he would never come to me asking for help."

Xiao Jiu understood Fang Chuanzong's meaning.

Translation: Xiao Jiu understood Fang Chuanzong's meaning.

Which disciple would be willing to ask their master for help shortly after just taking over the master's position?

Translation: Which disciple would willingly, shortly after taking over the master's mantle, go to the master for help?

Isn't that just blatantly showing they lack ability?

Translation: Isn't that blatantly admitting one's lack of ability?

Of course, anyone Fang Chuanzong would consider a successor is certainly not an ordinary person.

Translation: Of course, anyone Fang Chuanzong would look upon as a successor is certainly not an ordinary person.

It seems this matter is indeed tricky.

Translation: It seems this matter is indeed thorny.

More importantly, the location of Baishi Temple is very special; the ridge it sits on is called the Chinese dragon spine, which is why Fang Chuanzong said this matter is also related to them.

Translation: Moreover, Bai Qi Temple's location is extremely special; the ridge it sits on is known as the Chinese Dragon Spine, which is why Fang Chuanzong said this matter also concerns them.

When it comes to matters of dragon veins and earth veins, neither Liu Junyan nor Xiao Jiu can avoid them.

Translation: Regarding matters of the Dragon Vein and Earth Vein lines, neither Liu Junyan nor Xiao Jiu can avoid them.

They're literally the ones who do this!

Translation: They are exactly the ones who handle this!

Xiao Jiu asked Fang Chuanzong to send over the specific data; she will discuss it with Liu Junyan and try to go support them as soon as possible.

Translation: Xiao Jiu asked Fang Chuanzong to send over the specific data; she will discuss it with Liu Junyan and strive to go support them as soon as possible.

While waiting for Fang Chuanzong to send the data, Xiao Jiu returned to the west wing of his mansion to look through those volumes.

Translation: While waiting for Fang Chuanzong to send the data, Xiao Jiu returned to the west wing of her mansion to examine those archives.

If this sinkhole is also a historical legacy issue, then we should be able to find some clues in those volumes.

Translation: If this sinkhole is also a historical legacy issue, there should be clues in those archives.

Xiao Jiu had informed Liu Junyan about this matter in advance.

Translation: Xiao Jiu had informed Liu Junyan about this matter in advance.

Liu Junyan quickly came over and discussed it with Xiao Jiu.

Translation: Liu Junyan hurried over and discussed it with Xiao Jiu.

After about half an hour of sifting through, they only found a single record in that pile of volumes.

Translation: After about half an hour of screening, the two found only a passage recorded in that pile of archives.

It turned out that Baishi Temple used to have guards.

Translation: It turned out Bai Qi Temple once had guards.

Back when the earth vein line had problems, because there were guards there, nothing actually happened.

Translation: When the Earth Vein line went wrong back then, because there were guards there, nothing happened instead.

Perhaps precisely because nothing happened, the guard was merely mentioned in passing, with no name, family background, etc., given.

Translation: Perhaps precisely because nothing happened, the guard was merely mentioned in passing, with no name, family background, etc., given.

After all these years, that person is certainly no longer alive.

Translation: After so many years, that person is certainly no longer alive.

Whether there are any descendants is also unknown.

Translation: Whether any descendants remain is also unknown.

The data Fang Chuanzong sent over is messy and lacks focus.

Translation: The data Fang Chuanzong sent over is messy, lacking focus.

It is mainly because no one who enters ever comes out again, so even Fang Chuan Zong cannot obtain important key information in a short time.

Liu Junyan said, "We should go over first and look at the specific situation before saying anything; otherwise, if we keep delaying, I'm worried Lei Xiulin's side won't be able to hold out."

Xiao Jiu also agreed: "If it really is a heavenly pit, then this matter will involve a lot; even if it's not a heavenly pit, with so many people involved, the ley lines of that area will eventually be disrupted—either way, it's our business."

Liu Junyan smiled helplessly.

The two made some personnel adjustments and deployments, then headed straight for the Baiqi Temple.

Chishe was also forced to go along.

They said they were going to Baiqi Temple, but in fact the place where they met Lei Xiulin was five or six li away from Baiqi Temple.

Lei Xiulin had been worked black and thin, his face full of worry: "The number of people involved is a bit high; the first batch were explorers, the second batch were local investigators—these people had all undergone specialized training and had certain backgrounds. The superiors just said one thing: 'You must find the living and see the dead.'"