Notes from Reika:
- This is the draft of chapter 32. Chinese text is given, then the English translation.
- If you have any comments or suggestions for improvements, please comment on this page or use the google doc (this is a copy) to make edits – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSVbReIeoETazpW0nr9hfbCikWxNC2V0FTyPo1QxgJc/edit?usp=sharing
- Translation by Scriptor and Wenq. Edited by Reika.
师徒重逢
Chapter 32: Reunion
沈清秋猛地坐直了。
Shen Qingqiu sat upright.
浮尸啊靠靠靠！
A corpse, fuck fuck fuck!
刚说完一句“水好清啊”你就给我飘过来一具浮尸，打脸啪啪的不要这么重行吗！
I’d just thought “the water’s so clear” and you float over a corpse for me; don’t slap my face so heavily, okay!
柳清歌用船篙勾住那具浮尸，把他翻个身，居然又是一具白骨。因为全身包括脑袋都用黑布缠住，脸又朝下泡着，刚才才没觉察。
Liu Qingge used a pole to hook over the corpse and turn it over. It was actually a complete skeleton. Because it had been wrapped in black cloth from head to toe with the face sunk underwater, it’d escaped his notice earlier.
沈清秋问道：“木师弟，你知道这世上，有哪种瘟疫，会让人全身瞬间化为白骨的吗？”
Shen Qingqiu asked, “Junior apprentice brother Mu, do you know what kind of plague is on this corpse that will make it instantly turn into bone?”
木清芳摇头：“闻所未闻。”
Mu Qingfang slowly shook his head. “I’ve never heard of it before.”
逆水行舟，不进则退，定了好一会儿，小船已后退了一段距离，柳清歌又撑起了篙子，片刻之后道：“前面还有。”
A boat rowed upstream would fall behind if it stopped moving forward. Since they’d stopped for a while, the small boat had retreated a short distance. Liu Qingge lifted his pole again and said to those behind him: “There’s more ahead.”
果然，从前方陆陆续续飘来五六具浮尸，都是身缠黑布的白骨，与第一具如出一辙。
Sure enough, five or six corpses floated over, all of them white bones clothed in black, same as the one that came before.
沈清秋正凝神细思，忽然，柳清歌把长膏往旁边石壁上一插。又细又脆的竹篙，居然直直插入了坚硬无缝的石块。船身被固定，停在原地不动。沈清秋也觉察有异，霍然起身：“谁？”
While Shen Qingqiu was lost in his thoughts, Liu Qingge suddenly stabbed the pole into the rock wall beside them. That thin, brittle bamboo pole was thus inserted into the smooth, seamless stone. Once fixed in place, the boat stopped where it was and didn’t move.
Shen Qingqiu also noticed that there was something different and suddenly rose. “Who is it?”
前方黑暗深处，传来一阵急促的呼吸，船头灯火隐隐照出个人的轮廓。只听一个少年的声音说道：“你们是什么人？鬼鬼祟祟在暗河里想干什么？”
In the depths of the darkness ahead, there came a rush of rapid breathing. The light at the hull of the boat dimly illuminated a person’s figure. They heard a boy’s voice say, “Who are you people? Why are you creeping into the city from the hidden river?”
沈清秋道：“这话我倒也想问同在此地的你。”
Shen Qingqiu said, “That’s what I’d like to ask you.”
他虽然是站在一艘小破船上面，但青衣黑发，腰悬长剑，举手投足气定神闲，看起来也颇仙风道骨。加之沈清秋现在装B已经装出了经验，装出了自己的风格，还是很能唬住人的。那少年果然未料到他是如此人模狗样，愣了半晌，才喝道：“你们走吧！现在不许进城！”
Even though he was standing on a small and shabby boat, he appeared elegant and refined. With his green clothes and black hair, a long sword hanging at his waist, every movement was like that of an immortal. Additionally, Shen Qingqiu was an experienced fraud, and was able to insert some of his own style. This appearance was very stunning.
That young man was shocked for a moment, like he was stunned by the airs he put on. It was a while before he shouted: “You should all leave! Right now you’re not allowed to enter the city!”
柳清歌哼道：“凭你？拦得住谁？”
Liu Qingge snorted. “Just you? Who can you stop?”
那少年道：“城里有瘟疫，不想死就滚！”
The boy said, “There’s a plague in the city. If you don’t want to die, then scram!”
木清芳温声道：“小兄弟，我们正是为此而来……”
Mu Qingfang asked warmly, “Little brother, we’re really here for this……”
那少年看说不走，怒道：“听不懂人话是不是？你们快滚！不然我不客气！”话音未落，一杆枪矛刺来，虎虎生风的倒也蛮吓人。柳清歌冷笑一声，拔出墙中的竹桨。篙尖一挑，对方已掀飞入水。沈清秋听那少年沉在水里扑腾还在呸呸大骂，问：“捞不捞？”
Seeing that they weren’t leaving, the boy said angrily, “You can’t understand human speech, is that right? Leave quickly! Scram, scram, scram! If you don’t go, don’t blame me for being impolite!” The words had barely been spoken when a spear gun came roaring over. It was quite frightening. Liu Qingge laughed coldly. 5 seconds later, the young man was defeated. He sank into the water with a plop.
Liu Qingge had sent him flying into the water with a single finger. Shen Qingqiu heard the boy still screaming obscenities in the water and asked, “You’re not going to fish him out of the water?”
柳清歌：“中气十足的捞什么捞。进城了。”继续划船。
Liu Qingge said, “He’s got plenty of breath and energy, why are you asking about me fishing him out of the water for? Let’s enter the city.” Pulling out the bamboo pole, he continued rowing the boat.
三人从暗河中出来，这非法船只便顺水飘回黑暗中去了。这出口在城里最荒芜的一片浅泽里，不见一人。三人朝城中央走了一会儿，忽然身后有人踏踏踏追上来。
The three of them emerged from the secret river. They hadn’t yet docked the illegal boat at the shore when it floated back into the darkness by itself. This exit was supposed to be the busiest in the city, yet there was no one visible. All three people walked towards the center of the city for a while when the tap, tap, tap of someone’s footsteps came racing up.
那落汤鸡一般的少年冲上来，气急败坏道：“让你们别进城！进来有什么用？之前说来救瘟疫的人多了去了，什么大和尚牛鼻子，什么什么花宫，还不是个个都出不去了！自己找死！”
That young man came rushing up – he was drenched, like a chicken prepared for soup – flustered and exasperatedly saying, “Don’t enter the city! What’s the use of coming in? There were a lot of people who came and said they’d fix the plague, like that old Taoist monk1 and some Hua Palace something or the other person. Each and every one of them went in and couldn’t come out! You’re all looking for an early death, aiya!”
原来这少年黑暗里伏击，倒是为他们着想了。沈清秋道：“那我们都进来了，你说该怎么办？”
So it turned out that this young man hid and waited to ambush them for their own good. Shen Qingqiu gave a tolerant smile. “But since we’ve all entered, what do you think we should do?”
少年道：“还能怎么办？跟着我别乱跑！我带你们找大和尚去。”
The boy said, “What else can we do? Follow me and don’t run around wildly! I’ll take you to the senior monk and the rest of them.”
三人并无异议。他们都对金兰城不熟，有人指引不走弯路当然最好。沈清秋便低一低头，问：“小兄弟，你叫什么名字？”
Shen Qingqiu saw the other two didn’t object. They were all unfamiliar with Jinlan City, so it was best if someone guided them so they wouldn’t get lost. He gave a small nod and asked, “Little brother, what are you called?”
那少年一挺胸膛道：“我叫杨一玄，是城中金字兵器铺的儿子。”
That young man puffed up his chest: “I’m called Yang Yixuan. I’m the son of the boss of the city’s Finely-Crafted Weapons shop.”
不会就是冒死去昭华寺报信求援的那个兵器铺商人吧？
Wasn’t that the weapons shop businessman who’d braved death to rush over to Zhao Hua Temple and ask for help?
柳清歌见沈清秋一直打量那少年，问道：“你看什么？”
Liu Qingge saw Shen Qingqiu stupidly looking at the young man and asked, “What are you looking at?”
沈清秋道：“我看，这孩子能在你手底下走几招，心性也不错，两者都很难得，倒是个可塑之才。”
Shen Qingqiu whispered, “I’m looking at this child who can stand up to a few of your tricks, and has a good heart. Both of these things are hard to come by, he’s a moldable talent.”
柳清歌：“可塑也没用，我不收徒弟。麻烦。”
Liu Qingge said: “Moldable talents are useless. I don’t accept disciples. Too troublesome.”
走进主城，行人也渐渐多了起来。可这个“多”，只是相对刚才的空无一人而言，一条街上顶多三四个人影，而且都从头到脚埋在黑布里，行色匆匆，一如惊弓之鸟漏网之鱼。
Walking into the main city, the amount of pedestrians gradually increased. But this “increase” was only in comparison to the emptiness from before. A single street had 3-4 pedestrians at most, and they were buried head to foot in black cloth. They walked in haste, like birds frightened by the hissing of a bow string, a fish that had narrowly escaped the net. Yang Yixuan led them to his house. This Weapons-shop was quite large scale, it was situated on the widest main road and occupied four lots in a row. It was connected together for a single family to use, and had an inner garden, inner hall and a basement (cellar?).
金字兵器铺规模不小，在最宽阔的主干道上连占了四个店面，打通了连起来作一家用，而且还有内院、内厅、地窖。
Great Master Wu Chen was in the basement. He was lying on the bed, a blanket covering his lower half. Upon seeing the group from Cangqiong-Mountain sect he greeted them, “A-mi-to-fo” (merciful buddha).
无尘大师就在地窖中。他躺在床上，被子盖住下身，一见苍穹山派的援军就“阿弥陀佛”起来。沈清秋道：“大师，情势危急，别的就不多说了。这金兰城中盛行的究竟是什么瘟疫？大师又为何入城不出，音讯全无？还有为何人人都要裹着黑布？”
Shen Qingqiu said, “Great master, the situation is desperate, we won’t dwell on the rest. What kind of plague has emerged in Jinlan town? Why did the Great Master enter the town and not leave, without sending out a single message? Also, why does everyone need to be covered in black cloth?”
无尘苦笑道：“沈仙师所问，其实都是一个问题。”
Great Master Wu Chen smiled bitterly, “What immortal Shen asks, is really the same question.”
说着，他掀开了下身的被子。沈清秋一僵。
With that said, he pulled back the blanket covering his lower half. Shen Qinqiu stiffened.
被子下面，只有一对大腿，膝盖以下，空空如也。本该有小腿的地方，全都消失了。
Underneath the blanket was only a pair of thighs. There was nothing below the knee. What should have been the calves had completely vanished.
柳清歌冷声道：“谁干的？”
Liu Qingge said coldly, “Who did this?”
无尘摇头：“不是谁干的。”
Wuchen shook his head. “Nobody did this.”
沈清秋就纳闷了：“不是谁干的，难道还是它自己没的？”
Shen Qingqiu was puzzled. “If nobody did this, then it vanished by itself?”
谁知无尘点头道：“正是这双腿自己没有的。”
Unexpectedly, Wu Chen nodded. “It truly is so. This pair of legs vanished by itself.”
他膝盖上方的腿部还缠着黑布，无尘伸手，费力地想要解开，木清芳连忙相助。无尘道：“这东西可能会让诸位道友略感不适。”
The part of his leg above his knees was wrapped in black cloth. Wu Chen reached out a hand and exerted great effort to try to pull off the cloth. Mu Qingfang hurriedly assisted. Wu Chen said, “This might make everyone feel slightly out of sorts.”
黑布一层一层解开，看清里面包裹的东西之后，沈清秋呼吸顿了一顿。
The black cloth was unwrapped layer by layer. After seeing the thing wrapped within, Shen Qingqiu’s breathing hitched.
大师您管这叫“略感不适”？！
Great Master, you call this “slightly out of sorts”?!
原本是他大腿的地方，已尽皆溃烂，皮肤坏死，腐肉横生。黑布松开后，恶臭阵阵。
Where was originally his thigh was all festered, the skin rotten dead, rotting flesh spreading. When the black cloth loosened, the putrid stench wafted out in waves.
沈清秋：“这就是金兰城的瘟疫？”
Shen Qingqiu said, “This is the plague of Jinlan Town?”
无尘道：“不错。此病初发，先是小面积出现红斑，短则三五天，长则半月，红斑会扩大并腐烂。再过一月，溃烂至见骨。必须以黑布缠身，少见风光，方可延迟发作。”
Wu Chen said, “That’s right. When this sickness starts, first is a small area of red rash. It lasts 3 to 5 days if the duration is short, half a month if it’s long. The red rash will expand and start rotting. After another month, it will rot to the bone. Only by wrapping the body with black cloth so it sees little of the outside world, can you delay its progression.”
难怪城里人人都把自己裹成黑木乃伊。
No wonder every person in the town wrapped themselves like a black mummy.
沈清秋道：“发作期有一月之久，可为什么那时候前去昭华寺报信的杨先生，却是瞬间化为白骨？”
Shen Qinqiu said, “The effect needs one month, so why is it before that time elapsed Mister Yang who informed Zhao Hua Temple, was transformed to a skeleton in an instant?”
无尘脸显悲痛之色：“惭愧，老衲也是后来方知，染此病者，如果在金兰城内，则可以存活一月左右。但如果染病之后，离开金兰城超过一定距离，就会加速发作。我两位师弟，就是贸然出城返寺，当场发作。”
Wu Chen appeared grieved. “I’m ashamed. This old monk only realised later, if the infected person stays inside Jinlan town, they can live for a month or so. But if after contracting the illness, they leave JinLan Town a certain distance, it will rapidly progress. My two disciples rashly left the town to go back to the monastery and the disease progressed on the spot.”
怪不得不能进，也不能出！
So that’s why you shouldn’t enter or leave!
柳清歌道：“发病源是什么？怎么传染？”
Liu Qingge said, “What’s the root of this disease? How does it spread?”
无尘只叹道：“老衲惭愧。此番入城，蹉跎多日，对这瘟疫也还一筹莫展，既不知病源何在，也不知如何传染。甚至不知道它究竟会不会传染。”
Wu Chen only sighed. “The old monk is ashamed. In the time we’ve been in the town, many days have slipped away, but we’ve made no progress towards investigating this plague. We don’t know where the plague started, and we don’t know how it spreads. We don’t even know whether it is infectious or not.”
木清芳愣道：“此话怎解？”
Mu Qingfang said blankly, “What do you mean?”
沈清秋若有所悟：“你们看那兵器铺家的儿子，他近身照顾无尘大师这么久，却周身不缠一条黑布，可见皮肤完好，康健得很。如果说这的确是瘟疫，无尘大师却没传染给他，岂不蹊跷。”
Shen Qingqiu had a slight suspicion. “You all see that weapon-shop family’s son, he personally looked after Master Wu Chen for so long, but his entire body isn’t covered by a single strip of black fabric. You can clearly see his skin is unblemished, extremely healthy. If we say this is really a plague, wouldn’t it be strange that Wu Chen didn’t infect him.”
无尘道：“正是此意。累诸位身陷此地，老衲心中实在过意不去。”
Wu Chen said, “Exactly that meaning. The old monk’s heart is truly apologetic to have bothered everyone to be trapped here.”
沈清秋道：“大师本意是救人于水火，千万别这么说。”他见木清芳凝神研究无尘腿上的溃烂部位，如同一丝腐臭也闻不到，问道：“木师弟有什么发现？能配出治疗的方子吗？”
Shen Qinqiu said, “Great master’s intention was to save people, you mustn’t say that.” He saw Mu Qingfang examining the rotten part Wu Chen’s leg with rapt attention, as if he couldn’t smell a whiff of the putrefied stench. He asked, “Has junior apprentice brother Mu discovered anything? Can you match it with a cure?”
木清芳摇摇头：“这似乎不像疫病，倒像是……”他看了看几人：“在下需要察看更多的病人，才敢下定论。”
Mu Qingfang shook his head. “This looks like it isn’t a plague, it actually looks like …” He looked at a few people. “I must see some more sick people before I dare make a judgement.”
沈清秋出了地窖，见那兵器铺家的儿子又怒气冲冲扛着一柄长刀往回走，笑着问道：“少东家，怎么啦？”
Shen Qingqiu left the basement and saw that weapon seller’s son walking back, a long knife hoisted furiously in his hands. Smiling, he asked, “Young master, what’s wrong?”
杨一玄气道：“又有人进城来了。那个什么什么花的人最没用，都是上赶着送死！”
Yang Yixuan angrily said, “Another person entered the town. That something-something Hua person is the most useless of them all, they’re all racing to their deaths!”
估计是幻花宫又送援（ren）手（tou）的来了。沈清秋见他脸鼓得像个包子，有心逗弄：“小兄弟，我看你功夫不错，有人教吗？”
Probably Huan Hua Palace had sent another expert. Shen Qingqiu saw that his face was swollen like a meat bun and had the heart to tease him. “Little brother, I see your skills are quite remarkable, did someone teach you?”
杨一玄不理他。沈清秋又道：“我告诉你，你去找今天把你打下水的那个哥哥。他厉害得很，你跟他多打几回，比你跟谁学都有用。”
Yang Yixuan ignored him. Shen Qingqiu said again, “I tell you, find that big brother who hit you into the water today. He’s incredibly strong, fighting with him a few more times will be more useful than if you learnt with anyone else.”
一听这话，杨一玄抛下沈清秋就跑。沈清秋给柳清歌找了个缠人的麻烦，心中大乐，走几步转过街角，看到前方光景，止住脚步。
Upon hearing these words, Yang Yixuan abandoned Shen Qingqiu and ran. Shen Qingqiu had found a way to annoy Liu Qingge by siccing a clingy person on him. He was delighted. He had just turned a few steps around a corner but, upon seeing the scene ahead, stopped walking.
城中死气沉沉，家家户户大门紧闭，也有不少原先就无家可归的人找不到去处，聚集在街头。以往大街车水马龙，人来人往，不敢抛头露面，可如今空荡荡的，他们也肆无忌惮了，支了口大铁锅，底下堆柴，腾腾烧水，有几人揪着不知道哪里偷来的鸡在那儿拔毛。个个都裹在密不透风的黑布里，见到画风和他们格格不入的沈清秋，一点不惊讶，看他的眼神就像看死人。毕竟这些天，再多威风凛凛进城来说要解救他们的修士都见过了。有用吗？死得比他们还快！
The whole town was buried in a dead atmosphere, the main doors of every household were closed tight, and there were not few homeless people who couldn’t find anywhere to go who gathered at the start of the street. In the past, the street was busy with endless stream of carriage and horses, people coming and going, so they didn’t dare stick their head out and show their face. But now, it was empty. Having no more scruples, they set up a large iron pot, with a pile of firewood beneath it. They boiled water and plucked a few stolen chickens procured from who knows where. Each of them was swaddled so tight in black cloth not a breeze could whisper through. Upon seeing Shen Qinqiu’s out of place appearance, they were not surprised at all. They looked at him as if he was a dead person. After all, these days, they’d seen many impressive looking cultivators enter the town saying they’d save them. Were any of them any good? Those newcomers died even faster than the residents!
掌勺的敲敲铁锅：“汤好了！来盛了来盛了！”
The cook struck the iron pot. “Soup’s ready! Come fill up, come fill up!”
不少躺在旁边捉虱子的流浪汉一咕噜爬起，端着碗凑上去。
Many tramps lying nearby who had been picking at lice scrambled to their feet and went forward, carrying bowls in their hands.
这场瘟疫打乱了整座城市的生活节奏，这样自发组织的大锅饭其实真能救命。
The plague had disturbed the lifestyle of the entire town. This spontaneously organised communal kitchen could save lives.
一定要快些查清疫病根源。沈清秋暗暗下此决心，转身要走，迎面过来一个人，拄着根拐杖，身形佝偻，手抖得碗都快掉了，似乎是个老太太。
Must quickly find out the root of the plague. Shen Qingqiu secretly affirmed his resolve. He turned and was about to leave, when someone approached him. That person looked like an old woman; she was leaning on a walking stick, her body stooped, hands shaking so much the wrist almost fell off.
他见状要让路，结果不知对方年老体弱还是饿得发昏，脚底一歪，撞到沈清秋身上。
Seeing this, he was about to make way – but whether the other part was too old and frail or hungry to the point of fainting – she stumbled and collided with Shen Qingqiu.
沈清秋扶了她一把，那老太太声音含混道：“对不住……对不住……人老糊涂啦……”说着又急急越过他往前走，估计是怕菜汤抢没了。
Shen Qingqiu supported her with a hand. The old woman mumbled, “I’m sorry … I’m sorry … my old age has made me confused…” Saying this, she hurriedly passed him, probably concerned there’d be no more food left.
沈清秋走出两步，突然顿住。
Shen Qingqiu took two steps forward, then suddenly stopped.
不对劲。
Something’s fishy.
这老太太看上去跟风中残烛似的一吹就倒，可刚才撞上来身体的为什么感觉比成年男人还沉重？！
That old lady looked like a candle in a wind – would fall if blown, but just then when she collided with him why did she feel even heavier than a man in his prime? !
他猛一回头，那争着盛热菜汤的人群里，根本没看到刚才那“老太太”的人影。
He abruptly turned back, amongst the crowd fighting over the soup pot, couldn’t see a trace of that “old woman.”
左侧有一条花巷入口，沈清秋追了上去，刚好看到一个弯背如勾的影子在巷尾一闪而过。
To his left was the entrance to a flower alley.2Shen Qinqiu chased her inside and fortuitously saw the flash of a bent over like a hook shape at the end of the alley.
雾草这速度比百米冲刺跨栏也不差了吧？！还“老太太”！刚才真瞎了眼了！
Fuck, isn’t this speed similar to a 100-meter hurdle sprint? What “old woman”?! He must have gone blind back then!
沈清秋拔腿就追。虽说这老太太形象的确可疑，但没立即发现异常这能怪他吗，现在整座金兰城里，所有人都是这种浑身黑布缩着走路的可疑形象！
Shen Qingqiu broke into a run, chasing that figure. Though this old woman looked suspicious, he couldn’t be blamed for not immediately realising something was off because right now in this entire Jinlan Town, everyone was this type of “swaddled in black cloth, walking shrunk into themselves, suspicious-looking” figure!
追赶途中，他忽然觉得手背有点痒，举起来一看。
In the middle of the chase, he suddenly felt an itch on the back of his hand so he raised it to have a look.
这条手还真是多灾多难。当初被天锤长老刺满了窟窿眼的是它，现在受染开始长出红斑的也是它！
This hand really was plagued with misfortune. Back then, it was the same one that was hit by the Sky Hammer Elder and poked with small holes. Now it got contaminated and a red rash was growing on it!
说起来当初手贱戳开《狂傲仙魔途》这本奇书的也是它。好想剁了这只手啊啊啊！！！
Come to think of it, back then the misbehaving hand that opened [Proud Immortal Demon Way] was also this one! I really want to cut off this hand ah ah ah!!!
这么一分神，沈清秋脚下慢了一步，又觉察头顶有人挟剑气袭来，折扇一展，准备随时飞个风刀出去，喝道：“谁？！”
With his attention divided, Shen Qingqiu’s footsteps slowed. Sensing an oncoming sword attack from above his head, he spread open his folding fan, prepared to counter with a wind blade. He shouted, “Who is it?!”
那人倏地从一旁屋檐上落地，两人打个照面，沈清秋脱口而出：“公仪萧？”
That person swiftly descended to the ground from the nearby roof eaves. Two people came face to face with each other and Shen Qingqiu blurted out, “Gongyi Xiao?”
那青年立刻撤剑，惊大于喜：“沈前辈？”
That youth immediately withdrew his sword, his surprise greater than his joy. “Elder Shen?”
沈清秋道：“是我。你怎么也来了？”想起刚才杨一玄说又有幻花宫的人从暗河进城了，想必就是公仪萧这一拨人，问道：“幻花宫派你带人入城查探？”
Shen Qingqiu said, “It is I. How come you’ve come too?” Recalling back then Yang Yixuan said there were Huan Hua Palace disciples entering the town from the secret river, presumably it was the people who came with Gongyi Xiao. He asked, “Huan Hua Palace asked you to lead a group inside the city to investigate?”
公仪萧道：“晚辈的确是受命入城调查，但……带领者不是我。”
Gongyi Xiao said, “Your junior indeed received the command to investigate the town, but … the leader wasn’t me.”
沈清秋奇了。公仪萧可是幻花宫老宫主最受宠的小弟子，在洛冰河出现之前普遍默认他为下一代领导，老宫主独生爱女也倾心于他，但凡弟子辈有个什么事，那必须是他带队，除了洛冰河能用男主光环吊打他，谁还能抢他位置？
Shen Qingqiu was surprised. Gongyi Xiao is the most favoured disciple of Huan Hua Palace’s empress. Before Luo Binghe’s appearance, it was universally acknowledged he would be the leader of the next generation. The old empress’s only daughter was in love with him, whenever the disciples of his generation formed a team, he had to be the one to lead them. Apart from Luo Binghe using the protagonist’s halo to defeat him, who could steal his place?
不过眼下来不及细想，沈清秋道：“一起追！”
But right now, there wasn’t enough time to think in more detail, Shen Qingqiu said, “Chase after it together!”
公仪萧响亮地应了一声，两人齐齐跃出。
Gongyi Xiao affirmed loud and clear, both of them leaped out together.
那佝偻身影闪进了一座三层楼台。这建筑站在外面都能感觉香粉扑鼻，台上花枝招展，看来以往是勾栏一类的地方。只是如今早没了欢声笑语，莺歌燕舞，只有大门敞开，一楼大厅一片森然。
That hunched over silhouette ran into a three story building. This building was the sort of place where the nostrils of the people standing outside was normally assailed by the scent of face powder and gorgeously dressed women would appear on stage.3 It seems that in the past this was a place of pleasure but now the laughter and flirtatious banter were long gone. Prosperity has fled this place.4 Now the front door was open and the main hall on the first floor was shrouded in a heavy air.
两人屏气凝神，迈进门槛。
The two of them held their breath, attentive, then stepped over the doorsill.
大厅里桌椅翻到，一片狼藉。沈清秋看了公仪萧一眼：“分头查。你看左边的雅间，我负责右边。”
In the main hall tables and chairs were toppled over messily. Shen Qingqiu looked at Gongyi Xiao. “Let’s separate and take a look. You look in the private rooms on the left, I’ll take care of the right side.”
他用折扇推开最近那间的门。床上影影绰绰能看见躺了个人，他先是一提心，然后很快放下来。
He used the folding fan to push open the closest door. On the bed could indistinctly make out a person lying on it, he first felt his heart lift in hope, then it immediately fell.
那只是一具白骨，身穿花色繁复的衫子，满头珠翠，躺的姿势很安详。大概是楼内的女子，心知死期已到，梳妆打扮，穿上了最好的衣衫，安睡赴死。连死亡也要用最美的姿态，大概是女子的天性。沈清秋唏嘘一秒，退出房间，依然把门关好。
That was only a skeleton, the body wore intricate, elaborately designed garment, beads and jade adorned the head, lay there in a serene posture. Was probably was one of the woman of the house, knowing her time was upon her, groomed herself and dressed herself in her best clothes, passed away in her sleep. Even dying would use only the most beautiful posture, probably was a woman’s nature. Shen Qingqiu gave a forlorn sigh, exited the room, closed the door again to how it was before.
一连好几间里，都有正装的女子尸骨。看来这间勾栏几乎是全军覆没。沈清秋正要推开第六间，从二楼传来响动和人声。
Several rooms in a row, were the skeletons of woman in decorous clothing. Seems this entire brothel was had completely succumbed. Shen Qingqiu was just about to push open the sixth room, when from the second door emitted the sound of people and movement.
两人飞身上楼。沈清秋抢在前面，人还在楼梯上。忽然，有个青年温润的声音传来：“无碍。”
The two of them flew up towards the second floor. Shen Qingqiu was walking in front on the stairs. Suddenly, they heard a young, gentle voice. “No trouble.”
虽说只有两个字，可一听到这个声音，沈清秋瞬间如遭雷击。手中折扇被他捏得发出咔嚓一声。
Though he only said two words, but upon hearing this voice, Shen Qingqiu immediately was as if he was struck by lightning. The folding fan in his hand was squeezed until it emitted a ka cha snapping sound.
一刹那，连呼吸都仿佛停止了。
In an instant, even breathing seemed to stop.
他僵硬地卡在了楼梯上，可已经能看到二楼长廊尽头的雅阁了。一群幻花宫服色的弟子们正簇拥着中心的一人。
Stiffly, he was stuck in the staircase, but could already see the 雅阁 at the end of the corridor on the second floor. A crowd of disciples wearing the colors of Huan Hua Palace were surrounding a person in their midst.
那是个身穿玄衣、背负一把古朴长剑的青年，面如冠玉，两点沉潭寒星般的眸子，正漫不经心地移了过来。
It was a youth wearing black clothing, carrying on his back an unadorned long sword, his face like jade, eyes like two deep pools in which cold stars glittered, was just casually coming closer.
虽然长开了不少，气质也与以往大不相同，可这张随便哪个角度都能选作言情小说封面男主的脸，沈清秋打死也不会认错！
Though he’d grown (blossomed) and his temperament was also substantially different compared to before, but this… no matter from what angle you looked, this was clearly the face that could grace the cover of a romance novel. Even if he was beaten to death, Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t be able to make a mistake about this!
同时，一个已经封尘依旧的熟悉声音，伴着谷歌翻译般刻板的语调，在他脑子里连珠炮般地炸开数条提示消息：
At the same time, a familiar voice that was already gathering dust, in a mechanical tone that sounded like Google Translate, exploded in his mind in rapid-fire succession into a series of notifications:
【您好。系统已成功激活。】
【通用激活码：洛冰河。】
【自我检测：总能源运行正常，状态良好。】
【休眠模式停用。标准模式启动。】
【更新包下载安装完毕】
等一下我勒个擦你还真的更新了？！
【感谢您的再次使用。】
能退货吗？
[Hello. System has successfully activated.]
[Activation password: Luo Binghe]
[Self-check: Energy source operating as usual, status is normal.]
[Hibernation mode discontinued. Standard mode launched.]
[Updates downloaded and installation complete.]
****! Wait a moment, you really updated?!
[Thank you for once again using the System.]
Can I refuse this service?
- 牛鼻子 is literally an ox/bull nose but in literary works it refers (facetiously) to a Taoist monk since their hair or hat supposedly looks like a bull nose.
- 花巷 – literally a “flower alley” meaning simply a nice place with a lot of flowers. Figuratively, the “flowers” are women of easy virtue, in other words, Shen Qingqiu means the city’s red light district.
- 花枝招展 literally “a lovely scene of blossoming plants swaying in the breeze” but it means “gorgeously dressed women.”
- 莺歌燕舞 “the warbler sings and the swallow dances” – an idiom for prosperity
SQQ shouldnt use that hand ever if he want to draw lucky prize