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Chapter 16: Trimming Candles1 (I)
There were many ways for cultivators to travel. For those above the Sage realm, they could ride the draft of the wind and travel thousands of li2 in a single day, or know the heavenly methods of splitting apart space and time. And as long as one stepped into the doorway of cultivation, these people could consume their true essence to enhance their speed, or perhaps activate their spiritual artifacts or make use of spiritual beasts.
It was only a pity that in the current world, after experiencing the ‘End of the Spiritualism Era’, the spiritual artifacts for travelling were rarely used by even the large Sects, and spiritual beasts were even more seldom utilized. This was because the survival requirements for spiritual beasts were demanding. Not only did they require a Heavenly spiritual vein to support their well-being, they also needed a Master who they had genuinely acknowledged.
Reportedly, His Highness the Emperor of the Northern Continent——one of the six Sages——kept four blue-winged luan3 to pull his imperial carriage. Every year, they consumed eight hundred thousand crystal stones and sixty thousand catties4 of tourmaline cinnabars.
Under the heavens, the people who could commit their resources to this degree could be counted on one’s fingers.
With regards to Yin BiYue and his party’s current cultivation realms, if they urged their true essence to the extreme, it would merely take half a month to cross the sea and rush to the Northern Continent. But, in Duan ChongXuan’s words, ‘It’s rare to make a trip off the mountain. There’s still enough time, so why should we be anxious about hastening our journey? Eldest senior-apprentice brother’s wish was also to let us wander about more.’
Toward this, Yin BiYue didn’t have any complaints, because he wanted to understand this world a bit more. Even though his memories were comprised of the information recorded in countless ancient scrolls, how could they compare to real experience?
After seeing how he had nodded his head, Luo MingChuan also nodded in agreement.
After leaving the boundaries of Cang Ya Mountain’s land, they would pass Jin5 City, Yang6 City, and the Pan Long7 mountain range via the fourth main road of the Western Continent. They would head southward, embarking on a ship to leave the Western Continent and crossing over Fu Kong8 Sea. Ultimately, they would meet up with the other Cang Ya Mountain disciples in the Ye9 City of the Southern Continent, before heading toward Zhong Ming Mountain together.
This was their predicted itinerary. To be more precise, it was the route Liu QiShuang had repeatedly thought over, before she finally decided on this. Although it was unlikely they would have a smooth and peaceful journey, they could avoid the extremely dangerous places like the ‘Shi Wan Mountain’.
In the Jin City that was bustling with horses and carriages, they visited a teahouse and overheard a storyteller gossiping with the customers. In fact, the teahouse, jam-packed with customers, was hyping up the Flower Picking Festival with extravagant embellishments.
In Yang City, they took off their Taoist robes and bought clothes and ornaments of the common folk. Quicker than a whip can crack, their outfits changed and they looked like three young nobles who had left home to study.
What made Yin BiYue surprised was that, as they journeyed on the road, the chatterbox and Luo MingChuan got along really well. Contrary to what one might expect, since he himself wasn’t fond of speaking, most of the interactions were between those two.
With thorough etiquette and gentle smiles as they talked, there was a hint of friendship among gentlemen, insipid as water in their exchanges.
For those who didn’t know, they would assume Luo MingChuan was Duan ChongXuan’s best friend, and not someone he had intentionally targeted at Xi Hua Peak.
Yin BiYue thought, this ought to be the protagonist’s halo winning him over, right?
Two days before they entered the Pan Long mountain range, Duan ChongXuan finally decided to change his clothes.
Yin BiYue also felt uncomfortable since he was always surrounded and stared at because of his hair colour. After thinking about it, he added a ink-black cloak with a hood to their purchase.
Thus, he was currently very satisfied with his own appearance. When he wore his hood, he only revealed his somewhat thin lower jaw. With +10 points to the gloominess trait, he was working full-time as a villainous character!
But when Duan ChongXuan walked out of his inn room after changing, Yin BiYue thought he would go blind.
His current outfit was clearly something that couldn’t be bought anywhere within the whole Yang City, so it definitely had to be something he had brought himself.
That person shook his fan. The collar of his long robes was embroidered with golden threads to create a luan in flight, and he wore a gold headpiece encrusted with amethyst and pearls on his head. The belt around his waist was embroidered with majestic white and gold dragons, coupled with a buckle made with exquisite enamel and coral.
The glimmer of pearls and other precious material adorning this person’s body was enough to blind people. From far away, he looked like a——
Small, moving golden person.
If one said that his previous appearance had a noble aura, as if his clothes were made by the heavens, then currently he looked like a second-generation young master10 who had suddenly gotten rich in a single night. That kind, with a lot of money but who were also equally very stupid.
Yin BiYue guessed that Duan Chatterbox had probably suffered some sort of shock.
However, the chatterbox himself smiled very happily, so it was hard for Yin BiYue to say anything.
When Luo MingChuan came out, there was a moment where he stared blankly at Duan ChongXuan. It was evident that his eyes had also been blinded by this display.
Following that, he immediately coughed once as he turned his head and said, “Let’s go.”
Yin BiYue could almost see the words ‘cannot bear to look straight at him’ written all over Luo MingChuan’s face.
The shade of the trees were dense, hiding the sky and covering the earth. The refreshing breeze blowing through the gaps of the mountain was completely full of the smell of plants and soil.
The three of them walked on a rugged and winding small path for a long time, and no one spoke the entire way. The sun’s shadow gradually began slanting to the west.
Yin BiYue began pondering. Although nobody had heard of particularly ferocious beasts living in the Pan Long mountain range, was the chatterbox’s current golden outfit—one that reflected light for ten li outwards, really going to be okay?
Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.
Yin BiYue’s divine consciousness stirred slightly, so he stopped walking forward.
Luo MingChuan also halted.
After the span of five breaths, the sound of rustling noises began echoing from the woods. It seemed as if they were getting increasingly closer to them.
The people who were coming didn’t have good intentions. Their killing intent was extremely heavy, and they seemed to not have even the slightest intention of concealing their schemes.
That was all accompanied by a loud shout, “Stay still for this Elder!” From the forest, more than ten buff men suddenly jumped out.
The one at the head had a long scar across his face and was eight chi11tall. He held a broad axe that was a thousand catty heavy. “Where do you think you’re going? Do you not understand the rules? Today, if you wish to pass the gates of this Elder’s house, silver is alright, spiritual stones are also okay. Leave absolutely everything behind!”
The bandits that followed behind him began agreeing loudly, “If you don’t have those, then just leave behind your life!”
Following their speech, they burst into a peal of roaring laughter and guffaws.
Ever since the bandit leader began speaking, Yin BiYue followed the script and began silently mouthing his lines.
Word for word.
Ah, what a familiar scene!
Not so long ago, he himself was the one who previously held a metal rod in his hand. Oh, no. Back then, he wasn’t even the villain with the opportunity of holding a metal rod!
Yin BiYue was precisely the lackey who had followed after the shamate12 leader with the metal rod—the leader who wore worn-out pants with holes, and bangs that were longer than his face. He would hear the leader say, ‘does the little miss wanna accompany us brothers for some fun’ and then cooperatively, he would smile evilly in silence. After waiting a bit, he would hear someone yell, ‘Halt!’ and then, as the leader yelled, ‘Brothers, get them!’, he would be the one sent flying by a kick from the protagonist.
He wouldn’t even have a single line to say.
When he thought of this, Yin BiYue felt some disdain.
Because, these guys’ personal achievements and accomplishments as a villain weren’t high. Look at the faces of the ones standing in the back; their gazes were absolutely not cruel enough while their expressions were overly rigid!
Yin BiYue gave them a poor evaluation!
Perhaps it was because he was staying by the protagonist’s side, so the script had changed. Yin BiYue counted to three, but still didn’t hear that familiar ‘Halt’ shout.
Instead, he heard someone chuckle gently beside him.
The one who had laughed was Duan Chatterbox.
It was no wonder the chatterbox would laugh. The three of them were people intending to participate in the Flower Picking Festival. Cang Ya’s succeeding disciple and the Sword Saints’ disciples unexpectedly……ran into muggers!
If word of this was spread out, it would be enough for the entire cultivation world to continue laughing for a year.
Yin BiYue took a look at the clothes he and his companions were wearing. Suddenly, he realized that he and Luo MingChuan’s appearances made it seem like they were the attendants accompanying a rich, second-generation young master as he went out to play.
They truly couldn’t blame the little bandit squad for their lack of insight.
Luo MingChuan’s expression was serene, looking neither indignant or angry. It even appeared as if he was planning on speaking reason to them.
Not waiting for Luo MingChuan to speak, Duan ChongXuan began speaking in a calm and composed manner as he shook his fan. “Do you guys know who’s standing beside me?”
The little mugger team blanked for a moment.
In a bold and confident manner, Duan ChongXuan stood behind Luo MingChuan, “This person beside me, is the majestic Cang Ya Mountain’s chief disciple. He’s the next Cang Ya’s Sect Leader, Luo MingChuan, senior-apprentice brother Luo!”
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- It means to cut off the excess wax around the wick to ensure the flame is not obscured.
- 里 (lǐ): li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m.
- 鸾 (luán): mythical bird related to phoenix, usually a cooler colour like blue, green, or purple.
- 1 catty = roughly 500-600g.
- 晋城 (Jìnchéng): A prefecture-level city in Shanxi, although this is probably a fantastical one named after it. Cheng means city.
- 旸 (yáng): rising sun, sunshine.
- 盘龙 (Pánlóng): Panlong district of Kunming city, Yunnan. Probably a fictional take on it.
- 浮 (fú): floating
空 (kōng): empty, air, sky. - 叶 (Yè): leaf.
- Someone who was born with a silver spoon and doesn’t blink an eye with flitting away their parent’s money.
- 尺 (chǐ): Chinese foot, one third of a meter.
- 杀马特 (shāmǎtè): Chinese subculture of young urban migrants, usually of low education, with exaggerated hairstyles, heavy make-up, flamboyant costumes, piercings etc (loanword from “smart”).
Zo Arai says:
I’m having a brain fart so I can’t produce any worth reading comment.
Thanks for the update anyways.
Silence is Golden says:
Lol using the protag’s fame to scare them off
blackrasalas says:
Sakhyu typing away…
Me: There, there. ~pet, pet~ 😀😀😀
Thanks for the chapter!
konokono says:
thank you for your hard work 💖
looking forward to pt 2 and villain astray 😤🙏🏻
Kleep says:
Sometimes I allllmost feel bad for this type of villain in these stories. They’re just trying to make a (dis)honest living and then they mug the wrong dude and bam. Ded. 😂😂
Jokes aside, I seriously enjoy how YBY is critiquing lackeys 1-9.
Thanks for the great translation ♥️
Sakhyu says:
Like always, your comment makes my day Kleep!! //o//
Yeah LOL we never think about the poor canonfodders until they actually turn into the main characters, hahaha. And yeah, veteran YBY demands better!!
Thanks for the awesome comment! <3
Openlyfujoshi says:
Thank you for the update and your hard work 😊. Good luck with your upcoming exams. This chapter is hilarious, chatterbox is the best and MC inner monologue is funny.
Yu says:
Thank you
Ciao Ciao says:
Lol Yin Biyue was a lackey for so many lives that he can’t help but evaluate the bandits as poor villains. Must suck to be a lackey and get kicked around all the time.
Though… I am a bit curious as to why Duan Chongxuan wore such flashy clothes. Does he want to be a shiny star?
Thanks for translating!
Nur 'Ain Sakinah Mohd Isnaini says:
I think it’s a deliberate decision. DCX probably wants to mess with LMC to avenge YBY.
Nur 'Ain Sakinah Mohd Isnaini says:
If it’s a normal setting, ChongChong would be the junior with a pit in his brain who leaves his mess for the seniors to clean up. In this case, hehehe… he’s such cutie. Pitting Luo dude against the bandits XD
Thank you for the chapter.
tsukisuki says:
LOL… YBY is having nostalgic feeling for his then canon fiddler’s characters, and then evaluating the current lackeys like a newly-promoted boss that he is now.
Was DCX originally a 2nd young Master before entering the Sect?
Thanks for the update… And hoping your hand will get better.
Iotadel says:
Thank you for the translation, I am looking forward to seeing the villains butts kicked.
al. says:
This text isn’t easy to trnalsate at all due to the poetry of the prose. Thanks for your hard work!
Sakhyu says:
This novel makes me cry noodle tears sometimes because of the poetic parts, LOL.
Thanks for reading!
ya says:
thanks 4 the chapter………
shampalwe says:
Thank you for the chapter!!
PurityByDarkness says:
Thank you for your hard work! Can’t wait for more! ♪~♪ d(⌒o⌒)b♪~♪
ResidentialPsycho says:
Pitiful villains…. The MC’s group will have a funny story to tell after this.
Alsheon says:
Hahaha! My dear son, Chongxuan, just what exactly you’re planning to do? Obviously, you wear that tacky gold-gold clothing is because you want to invite everyone to mug you!!!
J.clou says:
Yin BiYue must be itching to criticise and shpw them how the real deal is done.
And Duan ChongXuan taking advantage of the protag XD
Thank you for the chapter! 💚
Kyogre says:
“Ultimately, they would meet up with the other Cang Ya Mountain disciples in the Ye[/note]叶 (Yè): leaf.[/note] City of the Southern Continent”
Broken tag here.
Thanks for the chapter!
Sakhyu says:
Aajskhdska hi Kyogre I used to cry over your Ayakashi KHR fic (among others), you were like my fanfic writing idol for years haha (does this count as senpai noticed me?? 😂).
Thank you for pointing that out!! Can’t believe I missed it.
Kyogre says:
I only just figured out how to check replies in WordPress, I feel so old….
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed reading!