Free Web NovelChapter 155: Chapter 140: Showing Off Ruthlessness, Waste Management Tyrant
## Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: Chinese martial arts/wuxia web novel
Language style: Conversational with formal elements, includes action and dialogue
Tone: A mix of serious, humorous, and occasionally gruesome
Plot keywords: gang rivalry, death duel, martial arts, witness, challenge, self-mutilation
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen (male): Main character, young but respected, referred to as "Master Wu"
- Yang Lian’Er (female): Wu Liangchen’s companion/romantic interest, formerly known as "Little Lotus" and was the "Heartless Dao Saintess"
- Wu Mengchan (female): Wu Liangchen’s sister, appears to be learning martial arts from him
- Jin Qiang (male): Leader of Qingxiang Gang, a robust middle-aged man with an imposing presence
- Cao Juncai (female): Leader of Cyan Simurgh Association, a middle-aged woman with lingering beauty
- Ni Jingtian (male): An elderly man, leader of Heaven-Shaking Gang, controls the waste management business in Huangpu Guard
- Liu Si (male): Driver/subordinate who serves Wu Liangchen
- Aunt Fan: Mentioned as someone Yang Lian’Er traveled with in the past
## Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
Now I’ll translate the text paragraph by paragraph, ensuring I follow all the rules and make the necessary adjustments for a natural English translation.
The text depicts a death duel between two rival gangs, with the main character Wu Liangchen acting as a witness. The duel involves increasingly gruesome acts of self-harm as each side tries to prove their courage and resolve.
I’ll pay special attention to the glossary terms, character names, and ensure I’m handling dialogue properly with appropriate punctuation.
Here’s my translation, going paragraph by paragraph:
After Wu Liangchen brought the box of pastries home, Yang Lian’Er was nearly moved to tears.
"I can’t believe you remembered that I love Xiangfu Records’ pastries the most. You must have gone through a lot of trouble to get these."
Wu Liangchen: "..."
Looking at the emotional Yang Lian’Er, he cleared his throat. "Actually, these were a gift from someone else."
"A gift from someone else? Who?" Yang Lian’Er stopped joking and asked with surprise.
Wu Liangchen then briefly explained the situation.
After listening, Yang Lian’Er’s expression turned serious. "I know this Qingxiang Gang," she said suddenly.
"Oh? You do?"
"Yes. The leader of Qingxiang Gang is called Jin Qiang. Back when I was roaming Dinghai City with Aunt Fan, I met him once. He had a group of brothers working for him, and they were quite capable."
"But later, I heard he offended some powerful family and had to leave Dinghai City. I didn’t expect him to end up here."
She looked at Wu Liangchen. "I’ve met this Jin Qiang before. Would you like me to go with you?"
"That would be good!"
Wu Liangchen didn’t mind such a small matter; he just considered it an opportunity to see something interesting.
"Mengchan, are you coming?" Yang Lian’Er asked Wu Mengchan.
Wu Mengchan asked with confusion, "I don’t understand. What’s a death duel?"
"A death duel is a contest between two gangs to see who’s tougher."
"They use all kinds of methods, like cutting off noses or swallowing burning coals..."
Before Yang Lian’Er could finish, Wu Mengchan turned pale and shook her head repeatedly.
"No, no, I won’t go. It sounds terrifying."
That evening, after eating the pastries, Wu Liangchen taught his sister how to practice stance training again.
Although her Qi and Blood were somewhat weak, with Wu Liangchen’s careful guidance, she was now performing quite well.
At this rate, she would probably succeed in toughening her skin before long.
Though this wasn’t even the first level of cultivation, for Wu Mengchan, it was already enormous progress.
Soon, the time came for the following evening.
After dinner, just as Wu Liangchen was about to leave with a lightly disguised Yang Lian’Er, Liu Si arrived with a luxuriously decorated carriage.
"Master Wu, I’ve come to drive for you!"
Wu Liangchen nodded, led Yang Lian’Er into the carriage, and then Liu Si snapped the reins. The carriage departed from Flower Square toward Jinghua Square.
Jinghua Square was very close to Flower Square. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at a spacious courtyard.
When Wu Liangchen got out of the carriage, a group of people had already been waiting for them for some time.
Upon seeing him, a middle-aged man at the front took several quick steps forward, smiling before he spoke.
"Master Wu, please forgive me for not coming to welcome you from afar!"
Wu Liangchen looked him over and saw a burly man with a yellow-ginger complexion, handsome features, and commanding presence. He certainly had the air of a formidable figure in the underworld.
"Gang Leader Jin, you’re too polite. This is..."
Before Wu Liangchen could make introductions, Jin Qiang smiled and said, "Master Wu, no need for introductions. How could I not recognize Miss Yang, once the talk of Dinghai City?"
Nowadays, with the changing situation and the disappearance of the Heartless Dao, Yang Lian’Er’s identity as the Cold-Hearted Dao Saintess had become less sensitive.
After all, in just half a year, countless uprisings had erupted across various regions, making the Heartless Dao seem less conspicuous in comparison.
Especially in Huangpu Guard, few people cared about such matters.
This was why Yang Lian’Er dared to show her face in public.
"After many years, Gang Leader Jin’s demeanor remains impressive as ever!" Yang Lian’Er smiled.
"Haha, Miss Lian is too kind. Please, sit down and have some tea!"
Tables, chairs, and tea had already been arranged in the courtyard. Wu Liangchen and Yang Lian’Er sat down with Jin Qiang accompanying them.
As they were chatting, a commotion suddenly arose outside. Then a group of people escorting a carriage entered.
These people were all dressed in cyan clothing, neat and tidy—clearly experienced in the ways of the underworld.
The carriage they surrounded had pink curtains, which stood out quite noticeably.
Without asking, Wu Liangchen knew these were the people from the Cyan Simurgh Association!
He observed them without revealing any emotion.
Jin Qiang, who had been smiling just moments ago, now wore a cold expression.
Soon, the carriage stopped, and a man and a woman stepped down.
The man was no longer young, with graying hair, but he stood tall and straight. His eyes were bright and piercing—clearly a Martial Artist, though his level of cultivation was difficult to discern.
The woman appeared to be around forty years old. Though no longer young, she still retained her charm and beauty.
After they alighted, Jin Qiang remained seated and addressed the woman, "Cao Juncai, you’ve finally arrived!"
This woman was the leader of the Cyan Simurgh Association, Cao Juncai, once famous for her ancient colored performances.
She gave a cold smile. "Good food is worth waiting for. Why are you in such a hurry?"
She scanned the area, finally fixing her gaze on Wu Liangchen.
"Jin Qiang, is this the witness you invited?"
"That’s right! This is Master Wu Liangchen from Flower Square!"
Hearing this name, Cao Juncai’s pupils contracted slightly, while the elderly man’s eyes lit up as he looked over.
But when he saw that the person sitting at the table was a young man who didn’t even look twenty, contempt flashed in his eyes, though he quickly concealed it.
Yang Lian’Er, sitting next to Wu Liangchen, however, aroused his great interest.
Although Yang Lian’Er was somewhat disguised, her natural beauty was hard to conceal.
This made the old man’s eyes fill with greed.
Wu Liangchen frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Jin Qiang coldly asked from the side.
"I’ve invited Master Wu as a witness. Who have you brought?"
"This is the leader of the Heaven-Shaking Gang, Old Master Ni Jingtian!" Cao Juncai introduced proudly.
Wu Liangchen quickly searched through his memory and recalled various information about this Heaven-Shaking Gang.
It was a gang that controlled all waste management businesses in Huangpu Guard.
This profession shouldn’t be underestimated. After all, everyone needs to eat, drink, and excrete, especially in a big city like Huangpu Guard, where waste management was a highly profitable industry.
Dinghai City had similar businesses, but they were mostly operated by independent contractors, without the scale seen in Huangpu Guard.
And this Ni Jingtian was undoubtedly Huangpu Guard’s veritable "waste management tyrant."
It was somewhat comical that a gang making money from waste disposal would name itself the "Heaven-Shaking Gang."
Jin Qiang’s heart sank. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
He knew that this Ni Jingtian was quite powerful and extremely difficult to deal with.
He hadn’t expected Cao Juncai to invite him. He wondered what benefits she had offered him.
"Alright, since both witnesses have arrived, let’s skip the pleasantries and begin," Ni Jingtian said calmly as he sat at another table.
The two sides immediately formed two camps: the Qingxiang Gang led by Jin Qiang and Wu Liangchen, and the Cyan Simurgh Association led by Cao Juncai and Ni Jingtian.
Both sides were tense, glaring at each other.
For a moment, only the crackling of burning torches could be heard.
Then Jin Qiang gave a look to someone behind him. Immediately, a man stepped forward and stood in the center of the arena, making a fist-palm salute.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me start!"
After these words, he took out a dagger and cut off his left ear.
SLASH!
Fresh blood poured down, flowing along his neck.
But the man didn’t change his expression. He even smiled and said, "I always felt this thing was in the way. Today I finally feel lighter!"
The death duel revealed its brutality from the very beginning, causing the people from the Cyan Simurgh Association to pale slightly.
"Cyan Simurgh Association, your turn!" he called out before returning to his side.
Soon, a man from the Cyan Simurgh Association stepped forward. After reaching the center, he gave a cold laugh.
He took a dagger and slashed his thigh.
Then, with a bloody grin, he sneered at the Qingxiang Gang, "Now it’s your turn!"
There was a commotion on the Qingxiang Gang’s side. The man who had cut off his ear grew cold in expression and was about to step forward again when someone beside him stopped him.
"Hehe, junior brother, take a rest. Let me handle this."
A man stepped into the arena, sized up his opponent, and then smiled.
"What’s the point of always eating raw? Today I’ll show you what cooked looks like."
He went to a fire basin and took out a burning coal with his bare hand.
There was a sizzling sound as smoke rose from his palm, accompanied by the stench of burning flesh.
Yet the man seemed to feel nothing, gripping the coal tightly while smiling at his opponent.
The man from the opposing side turned pale and involuntarily took half a step back.
After all, the pain from a knife cut was temporary; one could endure it and it would pass.
But this man was holding onto a burning coal without letting go, something not just anyone could endure.
Seeing this, Cao Juncai grew anxious and asked her followers behind her.
"Who will go up?"
After asking three times with no response, Cao Juncai’s eyebrows rose in anger. Just as she was about to lose her temper, a frail-looking woman stepped forward.
"Gang Leader, let me!"
Cao Juncai was overjoyed. "Good! If you win, you’ll be rewarded greatly!"
The woman walked to the center and without saying a word, suddenly poked her right eye.
With a squelching sound, amid spurting blood, this woman decisively gouged out her own right eye.
A still-pulsating eyeball made everyone’s hearts jump with shock.
Even Yang Lian’Er, who thought she had seen it all, couldn’t help turning pale.
It was too extreme.
These people simply didn’t value their own lives.
The man holding the coal’s expression changed several times before he finally had no choice but to drop the coal and return to his side in defeat.
Jin Qiang asked, "Is there anyone else willing to step forward?"
No one answered.
Seeing this, Cao Juncai couldn’t help but rejoice. "Jin Qiang, just admit defeat!"
Jin Qiang was filled with helplessness. He hadn’t expected the Cyan Simurgh Association to have such a ruthless character. Just as he was about to concede...
A person suddenly stepped forward and said, "Gang Leader, let me try!"
