Free Web NovelChapter 176: Chapter 157: The Coming Storm
Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: This is a Chinese web novel, specifically a wuxia/xianxia (martial arts fantasy) style novel.
Language style: Conversational with descriptive narrative passages. Contains dialogue and inner thoughts.
Tone: Serious, somewhat tense with elements of friendship and loyalty.
Plot keywords: restaurant, martial arts, gangs, danger warning, impending threat, evacuation
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen/Xiaowu (male): Main character, skilled martial artist, returning to town
- Liu Dongchuan/Brother Liu/Master Liu (male): A leader in the Boatmen’s Gang, knows martial arts
- Shopkeeper (male): Runs the Xinglong Restaurant
- Erya (female): A woman who seems to be romantically interested in Wu Liangchen
- Various waiters and gang members (male): Minor characters
Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
I’ll now translate the text while following the guidelines:
The Chapter depicts Wu Liangchen returning to Dinghai City to warn his friend Liu Dongchuan about an impending threat from Cyan Cloud Mountain. It starts with Liu Dongchuan at a dinner with some gang members, then his encounter with Wu Liangchen on the street, followed by the warning. The tone is serious and the setting appears to be a city in decline due to economic problems.
Let me begin the translation paragraph by paragraph:
Xinglong Restaurant.
Despite being called a "restaurant," it was merely a slightly upscale small eatery.
However, because it was right next to the dock, and the Shopkeeper was good at business, serving economical and affordable home-style dishes, occasionally throwing in a couple of complimentary stir-fries that made hosts appear generous, business remained bustling despite the current economic downturn.
Whenever the dockworkers had something to celebrate, they liked to come here to set up a table. First, it was more prestigious than eating at food stalls with just two meat dishes—they could say they went out to a restaurant. Second, the Shopkeeper was reasonable; if someone was really short on cash, they could even run a tab.
As for the Boatmen’s Gang members, they practically treated this place as their permanent base.
Today was no exception.
Several small leaders from the Boatmen’s Gang had jointly invited Liu Dongchuan for dinner, and Liu Dongchuan couldn’t refuse such a courtesy.
So they drank until late into the night before finally stumbling out of the private room.
The waiter was dozing against the doorframe but hurriedly put on a welcoming smile when he saw them emerge.
"Gentlemen, all finished?"
"Yes, we’re done. Where’s your boss?"
"Our Shopkeeper went to speak with the head chef in the back kitchen, leaving me here to attend to you gentlemen."
"Son of a bitch, he’s deliberately avoiding us, isn’t he? Afraid we won’t pay for the meal?" one of the men, his face flushed from drinking, cursed.
"How could that be? Our Shopkeeper really does have business with the head chef," the waiter repeatedly bowed.
But the man wouldn’t let it go. "Then go call him over. I..."
Before he could finish, Liu Dongchuan held out a hand to stop him.
"That’s enough, brother. The waiter’s job isn’t easy. Why make things difficult for him? I’ll settle the bill."
"How can we allow that, Brother Liu? We said we’d treat you today. How can we let you pay again?" the man shouted loudly, though he made no move to reach for his money.
Liu Dongchuan directly paid for the meal, then said to the waiter, "I’ll escort these brothers out first. Please package up the leftover dishes from the room."
"Right away, Master Liu!" The waiter acknowledged and went to do it.
After Liu Dongchuan had seen off the swaying men, he returned to the restaurant. By then, the waiter had packed up all the leftovers and handed them over with both hands.
"Master Liu, thank you so much for earlier," the waiter said gratefully. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Don’t mention it. We’re all just making a living. Helping each other out is never wrong," Liu Dongchuan smiled.
"If only everyone thought like you, Master Liu," the waiter sighed.
"I’m off," Liu Dongchuan picked up the food containers and prepared to head home.
It was already past one in the morning. Not a single person could be seen on the streets, and the entire Dinghai City was sparsely lit, terrifyingly quiet.
Liu Dongchuan sighed softly, knowing that with the worsening situation, many people could no longer make ends meet and had no choice but to leave the city and return to their rural homes.
Many wealthy people had left too, which was why Dinghai City had become so desolate and lonely.
But this wasn’t something that could be changed by a small Boatmen’s Gang leader like him.
All he could do was ensure that the brothers who followed him had enough to eat.
Just then, as Liu Dongchuan turned the corner and was about to enter the main road, a figure suddenly appeared before him.
Liu Dongchuan was startled but reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively throwing a punch.
It was the Four-Step Fist technique that Wu Liangchen had taught him.
Although Liu Dongchuan had long passed the optimal age for learning martial arts, with his physique already fixed, destined for limited achievement even if he practiced.
But Liu Dongchuan had this admirable quality—a determination to work hard and study diligently.
So in just half a year, he had mastered this Four-Step Fist quite well. Though it wasn’t profound yet, it was certainly enough to intimidate ordinary people.
Like now, this punch carried a whistling sound as it aimed straight for the face of the figure before him.
But the figure didn’t even move, just slightly raised a hand and caught his punch.
Liu Dongchuan felt as if he had struck a yielding ball of cotton, and when he tried to pull back his hand, he couldn’t.
Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead, because this proved the other person’s skill far surpassed his own. Was such a formidable figure lying in wait to take his life?
But he had always been cautious and had never offended anyone.
Just then, he heard a light chuckle from the figure, followed by a familiar voice.
"Brother Liu, your punching technique has improved nicely."
Hearing this, Liu Dongchuan’s tightly wound nerves instantly relaxed, and he exclaimed with delight, "Xiaowu, when did you get back?"
The figure who had suddenly appeared before Liu Dongchuan was none other than Wu Liangchen.
After leaving the compound, he had rushed to the dock, intending to find Liu Dongchuan.
But as soon as he arrived, he spotted Liu Dongchuan carrying things home, so he suddenly appeared, giving him a big "surprise."
"Just got back, and came straight to find you, Brother Liu."
"Then you haven’t eaten yet, right? Come on, Xinglong Restaurant should still be open. Let’s have a few drinks together," Liu Dongchuan said happily.
"No need. I already ate at Erya’s place. I came by just to have a few words with you, Brother Liu," Wu Liangchen said.
"What’s the matter?"
Liu Dongchuan immediately became serious, because he knew that given Wu Liangchen’s personality, he would never speak without reason. Coming to find him this late at night meant he absolutely had something extremely urgent to discuss.
With Wu Liangchen’s perceptive abilities, he naturally knew whether anyone was around, so he spoke directly.
"I came back this time intending to take Erya with me."
Liu Dongchuan nodded. "You should. After all, that girl is completely devoted to you. You really should keep her by your side."
"That’s only part of the reason. There’s another reason!" At this point, Wu Liangchen’s expression became solemn.
"Do you know about Cyan Cloud Mountain?"
Liu Dongchuan’s expression tensed. "Of course I know. That’s currently the number one power in the martial world."
"I’ve received reliable intelligence that Cyan Cloud Mountain is about to make a move on Dinghai City," Wu Liangchen said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Liu Dongchuan felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Though he didn’t want to admit it, he immediately knew this was absolutely true.
After all, Cyan Cloud Mountain’s infiltration of Dinghai City had been going on for some time, and their intentions were well known.
After a long moment, Liu Dongchuan finally calmed down somewhat and asked hoarsely, "When?"
Wu Liangchen shook his head. "I don’t know. It could be next month, or it could be tomorrow. I can’t be certain of the exact timing right now."
"I’m telling you now so you can prepare early. After all, once Cyan Cloud Mountain arrives, it will inevitably stir up another bloody storm."
Although Wu Liangchen didn’t say it explicitly, his meaning was very clear—he wanted Liu Dongchuan to make arrangements early, preferably to quickly take his family and leave Dinghai City while there was still time.
Liu Dongchuan naturally understood this point, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he remained silent for a long while before finally shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Xiaowu, I thank you, but I cannot leave."
