Volume Ⅰ Chapter 27 – Blob Translations

www.blobtranslations.com

The next day when Cheng Qian woke up, he felt like he had almost perished last night. He opened his eyes only to see Han Yuan by his bedside, looking at him nervously as though he was dying.

Cheng Qian took no notice of him as he crawled out of bed and began to wash and rinse.

Han Yuan just acted like a big Pekinese dog that had caused trouble, following Cheng Qian wherever he went. Finally, Cheng Qian coldly told him: “Scram.”

Han Yuan pocketed his pride and said flatteringly, “Little Senior Brother…”

Cheng Qian looked frosty. “I will not report to Master, alright? Get lost! Or I’ll tell Master right now.”

Han Yuan ran away quickly with his tail between his legs.

Cheng Qian wiped his face dry. He had his own deliberations—from what first senior brother said, Master had already learned from Wen Ya that the so-called Jiang Peng had also arrived here. As a result, he wouldn’t report what happened last night to Master; it might alert him to what they were planning to do. If so, it would be more difficult for them to stalk Master.

Upon walking out of his cottage, Cheng Qian noticed first senior brother expressing his disdain for the food in the inn, then proceeding to ask a Taoist child to prepare better food for him, in Wen Ya Zhenren’s presence.

Han Yuan clearly didn’t learn his lesson from last night’s fearful experience. He jabbered on and on to first senior brother, expressing his wish to hang out.

First senior brother used a bunch of excuses, like he had a stiff neck because of the hard pillow, implying that he didn’t feel like moving around.

Yan Zhengming also refused to get on his carriage again because of junior sister’s urine.

Cheng Qian felt terrible all over his body and was in a bad mood. So when he saw his clamorous martial brothers, he immediately found a way to relieve his anger as he sneered, “You can have Puddle wash your cushion.”

With that, he lifted his finger, and in the direction he pointed, little junior sister Puddle had climbed into first senior brother’s carriage again and was stuffing the cushion on which she had peed yesterday into her mouth. Her innocent eyes were blinking, and a big smile was hanging on her face.

And as she hadn’t grown a full set of teeth yet, saliva was spilling out of her mouth.

It seemed that Cheng Qian feared that first senior brother wouldn’t feel bad, as he gave him another verbal stab. “Look: junior sister has washed your cushion with her drool.”

Yan Zhengming looked as though he was going to kill his junior sister and then kill himself.

Anyway, the cottage was definitely not a place to stay, and neither was the carriage. Here was miles away from Fuyao Mountain. Yan Zhengming raised his eyes heavenward, feeling sad that there wasn’t even a shelter for him in this vast world.

But soon his master saved him from his sadness.

“There isn’t morning class today; you can all go out to have fun in the morning. In the afternoon, we shall set out for the Azure Dragon Island on the boat.”

Han Yuan cheered for that and looked eagerly at his master, saying, “Master, I heard there’s another fair today.”

“Didn’t I give you a pouch of money yesterday?” Muchun Zhenre said, exasperated. But he was defeated by Han Yuan’s eager expression, so he took a pouch out of his sleeve and exhorted his apprentice like a miser. “Be careful with your money and use it wisely.”

Han Yuan was filled with boundless joy, like a bird flying out of its cage. First senior brother just ignored him. He asked his Taoist children to find a place and put several felt blankets on it so that he could take a nap.

Li Yun had wanted to go with Han Yuan, but after glancing at Cheng Qian, he changed his mind. He said, “I’ll practice swordplay.”

Han Yuan turned to Cheng Qian and obsequiously said, “Little Senior Brother, how about I take you to buy fruit?”

“Take junior sister with you,” replied Cheng Qian ironically. “You two play nice together.”

Han Yuan: “…”

In the end, Han Yuan held Puddle up with one arm. Scratching his cheek, he felt that he seemed to have been mocked. But soon he forgot it because Cheng Qian was like a needle hidden in silk floss that would prick whoever touched him. Sometimes even Master couldn’t be spared. Han Yuan was used to it, so he didn’t mind and joyfully went out with Puddle.

Wen Ya pulled a long face. Watching Muchun Zhenren’s apprentices break up in a hubbub after brief conversations, he gave each of them an evaluation. Staring at Yan Zhengming, he remarked, “Lack discipline, ne’er-do-well1.”

Then he looked at Li Yun. “Short of firmness, ne’er-do-well.”

And to Cheng Qian, his evaluation was concise. Without specifying the reason, he stated, “Ne’er-do-well.”

Han Yuan was the last, and the only one who didn’t receive “ne’er-do-well” as his evaluation. Wenya Zhenren asked Muchun Zhenren very surprisedly, “Did you pick up this guy to make up the numbers?”

As for Puddle, she was neglected as she was only half human and didn’t have a full set of teeth.

Finishing his comments, Wen Ya snorted and walked off without looking at Muchun Zhenren’s cloudy face.

At nightfall, the people of Fuyao Sect boarded the ship for Azure Dragon Island.

Cultivators were all built with flesh and blood just like mortals. They were also divided by ranks and liked to compare.

At the port of East Sea, tens of ships and boats were lined up in a row. Some were big ships decorated with carved patterns and exquisite curtains, and some were small boats which were so broken that it seemed that water would come in if they were rocked.

The bargain-hunter Master settled on the small boats at once; it would only cost them five coins per person. That couldn’t be any cheaper and better for them.

There were a few pots and bowls on the boat. It was said that they were used for bailing water when the boat leaked.

But Master’s plan fell through this time. Just as he was walking to the boat at the dock, Yan Zhengming had sent a Taoist child to book the largest, most expensive, and most splendid ship. He took the lead to go abroad, head high and chest out.

Cheng Qian went last with his master because he really didn’t want to go with any of his martial brothers.

Then Cheng Qian saw his master frown at first senior brother for the first time.

Seeing that, Cheng Qian inquired, “What’s wrong, Master? Is it because first senior brother is too prodigal?”

“It’s indeed hard to do anything without money,” said Muchun. “But money is ultimately an external thing which we can’t care too much. He shouldn’t have been so ostentatious.”

Cheng Qian did a double-take before he realized what his master was talking about. He scanned his surroundings and saw around them were all people heading for Azure Dragon Island. Except for sailors and fishermen, there were also people from other sects.

Some young people who couldn’t hide their thoughts were already scrutinizing them up and down.

Yan Zhengming ordered the Taoist children to carry his luxurious stuff onto the ship. His lofty manner had seemingly hidden his identity as a cultivator and made him look somewhat like a profligate son from a wealthy family. He was giving an impression of an unworldly insolent loafer.

Some people thereby showed contempt, some showed repugnance, and several people in rags walking around the boats stared at Yan Zhengming with strange expressions.

Cheng Qian tightened his grip on his wooden sword involuntarily. He suddenly looked up and asked, “Master, when can I have a real sword? A sword like first senior brother’s—I think his swordsmanship isn’t even as good as mine.”

Muchun Zhey looked at him tenderly. “Why do you want a real sword?”

Cheng Qian ran his eyes around those people with unkind expressions again, thinking how he should reply. He was extremely sensitive to hostilities from others and would feel secured only if he was holding a real weapon.

Though Cheng Qian thought first senior brother had got lousy wiring too, Master’s words sounded harsh to him…

Why must a man live under other people’s views and cater to others’ likes?

Why should people disobey their own wills because of the envy of others?

Why?!

But these thoughts couldn’t be said to Master. Cheng Qian was sure that Master wouldn’t like to hear. So he said instead, “I see everyone else has one.”

Muchun Zhenren smiled. “The sword you’re practicing with is different from others’. And real swords might injure you. Just wait until you’re a few years older.”

Cheng Qian: “…”

He felt there was more to Master’s words than met the ears.

As the large ship was already booked, Muchun had no choice but to board the vessel with Cheng Qian.

The weather was fine today. Ships were sailing on a calm sea, and the Azure Dragon Island that used to be indistinct could be clearly seen now. Puddle was extremely excited by the smell of the sea. She never calmed down for a second, climbing up and down on Master’s shoulders, and messing his hair up like a birds nest.

There were many traveling together with them. From the deck, they could see some sword cultivators fighting each other for practice on the ship beside theirs.

On another ship, several old men were traveling on flying swords, probably to escort juniors of their sect. Perhaps they thought the ship was sailing too slowly, as an old man who looked like a fat radish raised his arms, making his sleeves bulge against the sea wind. There and then, the wind and waves swelled up, and their ship cleaved merrily through the sea as if being pushed by an invisible hand. Several boats nearby were nearly turned over.

Those sword cultivators’ ship also came close to capsizing. A middle-aged man who seemed to be a senior ran to the bow of the ship with his heavy saber. He erected the saber beside him and used some unknown force to stabilize the ship, which was neither too small nor too big. His face reddened.

Although Fuyao Sect had nobody to escort them, they had a large ship instead. It just swayed slightly in the huge waves, splashing some seawater.

But hence, Cheng Qian felt more hostile gazes from the small boats around them.

Grabbing his wooden sword, Cheng Qian stood by the railing of the ship expressionlessly. He just felt those cultivators weren’t so peaceful, and didn’t have a similar laissez-faire attitude2 as the people from Fuyao Mountain. Some of them abused their power to bully others, and the ones who were bullied didn’t hate those who bullied them but instead envied those who escaped.

Cheng Qian suddenly lost his exhilaration. He didn’t want to watch those almighty beings ride the clouds anymore, and his self-pride was at work again; it bothered him that they were traveling side by side with those people.

Getting back in the cabin, Cheng Qian found a place to sit down and took up his burin to do extra practices, with the itchy wish to become an almighty being when he woke up the next day.

Apart from that, he had taken out a swordplay book form the Library. It was called Tide Swordplay, which happened to coincide with their journey on the East Sea. Cheng Qian had finished learning the second form of Fuyao Wooden Swordplay and had just begun learning the third one. He had almost caught up with Li Yun’s pace—the reason why he was learning so quickly was that he was the only one of all Muchun’s apprentices who got his hands torn from practicing.

Compared with Fuyao Wooden Swordplay, other swordplays seemed to be much more in a straightforward and flat style without those dazzling variations. Just when Cheng Qian got some insight after practicing Tide Swordplay several times, Li Yun broke in.

“Xiao-Qian!” Li Yun pushed the door open, gasping for breath. “Why are you hiding here? Come up with me. It seems that the archdevil first senior brother mentioned is here!”

ne’er-do-well: somebody who is lazy and irresponsible

the attitude of not interfering, leaving things as they are.

Volume Ⅰ Chapter 28 – Blob Translations

www.blobtranslations.com

Cheng Qian and Li Yun scurried to the deck. As soon as Cheng Qian exited the cabin, his nostrils were assaulted by a terrible stench and, as he raised his head, he saw an unusual scene above him—the originally clear sky had been blotted out by dark clouds. They stretched across as far as his eyes could discern, engulfing his vision and shutting out the last ray of sunlight.

All ships on the sea had come to a halt, and all of those seniors who were flying flamboyantly now landed on the ship’s deck, their countenance signifying that they had encountered a formidable foe. Some young people may have been oblivious to what was happening, but they were stupefied the moment they all looked up at the sky.

Li Yun fidgeted, pacing back and forth as he quietly asked Cheng Qian, “Is that him? What does he want?”

Cheng Qian suddenly thought of Tang Zhen as he answered, “Probably to collect cultivators’ souls; the Celestial Market gathers many cultivators from all around the continent.”

Li Yun turned around, looking at him in horror.

“If he really wanted to capture people, his targets would be those flying seniors and not you. Stop worrying,” Cheng Qian said, looking around. “Where is Master?”

Suddenly, an eagle’s cry resounded from afar, followed by weird laughs reverberating in the air. Men and women, old and young: their laughs blended into a creepy harmony, starting off low and quiet before gradually becoming louder and sharper—eventually to the point of resembling hoarse and exhausted cries. It was the epitome of “wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves”.

Li Yun staggered backwards, covering his ears with his hands, “What is this?”

They were surrounded by scenes of chaos. At that moment, Yan Zhengming appeared out of nowhere and seized Cheng Qian by the shoulder, suffocating him with his familiar fragrance of orchids.

“What are you two doing here? Get inside the cabin!” snapped Yan Zhengming.

Cheng Qian looked around for Muchun Zhenren, but he was nowhere to be seen. Panicking, he pulled on Yan Zhengming’s sleeve and asked, “First Senior Brother, where’s Master?”

“I don’t know. I’m searching for him too.” Yan Zhengming’s face looked sullen like deep water. “Don’t be a hindrance here, get inside…”

His voice was soon drowned out by the bloodcurdling laughs. Yan Zhengming closed his mouth and his brows knitted together tightly.

Li Yun was good at avoiding danger and entered the cabin as he was told, but Cheng Qian wasn’t someone who listened to others. Yan Zhengming didn’t have time to argue, so he just violently shoved Cheng Qian into the cabin.

The windproof and shockproof lanterns lit up and Han Yuan was hiding there, anxious and frightened.

Cheng Qian’s heart sank upon seeing Puddle in Han Yuan’s arms.

The tracking charm they made had been tied with a coloured silk around Puddle’s waist by Li Yun. Unfortunately, they had never thought that their master would leave Puddle behind.

Yan Zhengming arrived at last. His face was exhausted and deathly pale. He panted and puffed, leaning against the door with one hand covering his mouth as though trying hard to hold back the vomit.

After a while, he said, “I’ve identified this stench: it’s exactly what a Soul-Consuming Lamp would emit when burning.”

Li Yun, who was sat by the window, muttered under his breath, “Shh! Look at the sky.”

Looking up, Cheng Qian saw a dense cluster of shadows in the dark sky.

There were tens of thousands of them, all shabbily dressed with blurred faces. They floated about in the air, causing the East Sea to look like the entrance to the Bridge of Helplessness1.

These ghost shadows… why were there so many?

How powerful was this demonic cultivator, Jiang Peng, exactly?

The dark clouds roiled as the currents surged and fell. Witnessing this scene, those overbearing cultivators suddenly became like gazelles confronted with lions. Cheng Qian could see their cowardice and fright, despite all of them standing in full combat readiness.

A bolt of lightning, accompanied by a peal of thunder, divided the world in two, followed by a billow of black air that streaked across the sky like a dragon diving into the sea. After careful observation, people noticed a man reclining in the dark clouds.

He was wearing a grey robe, with his eyelids hanging low on his ashen and sallow face as though he had an incurable disease. His appearance made him look exactly like a malevolent ghost as he cast his disdainful gaze over all living beings beneath the clouds.

Cheng Qian peeped at Yan Zhengming’s hand on the window frame and saw blue veins bulging out.

At first sight of the demonic cultivator, disbelief rushed through Cheng Qian’s mind, thinking that there may have been something wrong with first senior brother’s ears. Did Master really call such a person “Senior Brother”?

Cheng Qian’s imagination failed him; he could hardly believe that such a person was once a member of the Fuyao Sect.

What kind of master could have produced these two apprentices?

Those immortal seniors seemed to cherish their lives more than Cheng Qian could have imagined; nobody even volunteered to stand out against the devil, who emitted a deadly aura. After passing the buck2to each other, there was finally someone who took up the responsibility to break the impasse.

An old man with a white beard stood out from the crowd. He knocked the deck with his cane, and after contemplating his words, he said very courteously, “We’re heading to the Azure Dragon Island for the decennial Celestial Market. What’s your intention of stopping us here, fellow Taoist Jiang?”

His politeness was verging on flattery, but the devil didn’t seem to buy it.

“The decennial Celestial Market has brought so many talented juniors together. How brilliant…” the phthisic-like Jiang Peng spoke from upon the clouds with a light and gentle voice. Every first and last syllable was connected, causing people to be worried that he would show his fangs in the next second.

Jiang Peng smiled like a gentleman, “I just came along for the ride and to see if there were any emerging talented youngsters whilst I was here. But considering your aptitude, there’s no need to be nervous.”

This was Cheng Qian’s first time seeing a ghost cultivator, and it gave him a completely different impression from what the records in the Library had said. Shock engulfed his heart.

For such a man who was somewhere between a human being and a ghost, even if he had superhuman skills, who would have respect for him?

Who’d care about him? Who’d get along with him? Who’d take him seriously?

Being verbally stabbed, the old man with a white beard felt his face twitch, but he couldn’t gather up the courage to talk back.

Both sides came to a deadlock—as the other party was alone, it would be fairly awkward even to just keep silent on this occasion.

Cheng Qian couldn’t help but put his hand on the hilt of his sword, thinking, “If I had their swords and abilities, I’d have him fuck off right away.”

Although Cheng Qian had this impulse, he was also clear that he didn’t even have the strength to get first senior brother’s hand off his shoulder right now, let alone have a fight with that devil.

Eventually, someone dared to stand up and speak out. A thundering bellow broke the silence, “Get lost, you evil heretic!”

This sentence drew