Great Dao Lord through Deducing Myriad Arts

Chapter 177: Chapter 158: A Lady Becomes a Wife Overnight, A Boy Becomes a Husband Thereafter

Step 1: Contextual Analysis

Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese cultivation/xianxia web novel, with elements of romance and historical fantasy.

Language style: The language is relatively straightforward storytelling with dialogue and internal thoughts. There’s a mix of formal and casual speech.

Tone: The tone is generally serious but with some emotional and intimate moments, especially at the end of the Chapter.

Plot keywords: departure, warning, loyalty, romance, commitment

Characters:

- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male protagonist, seems to have returned to his hometown after being away

- Bai Erya (白二丫): Female, appears to be in love with Wu Liangchen

- Liu Dongchuan (刘东川): Male, friend or brother-figure to Wu Liangchen, works as a leader in a guild called "Canal Gang" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

- The old man Bai (白老头): Male, likely Bai Erya’s father or grandfather

Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing

Let me translate the text line by line while applying the polishing rules.

I’ll pay particular attention to the glossary terms and ensure they’re all correctly used. I’ll also be careful with dialogue and inner monologue formatting, and maintain the logical flow of the narrative.

Now, I’ll translate the text:

"Oh, why? Is there some problem that’s difficult to resolve?" Wu Liangchen couldn’t help but ask.

If it had been someone else, Wu Liangchen would have probably just delivered the message and left immediately.

After all, he wasn’t anyone’s father—simply informing the other party was already quite considerate. How they chose to act afterward was their own business and had nothing to do with him. Wu Liangchen didn’t want to get involved.

But Liu Dongchuan was different.

He and his sister had received much care from the Liu family since childhood, and before leaving Dinghai City, he had even entrusted Erya to Liu Dongchuan.

So now, seeing Liu Dongchuan’s troubled expression, he naturally had to ask.

"It’s not that there’s anything particularly difficult to resolve, it’s just that leaving isn’t easy," Liu Dongchuan sighed, then continued, "Let’s not even mention Third Master and Third Granny being too old to leave their homeland. I also have a group of brothers under me who rely on me for their livelihood."

It turned out that Liu Dongchuan had become a mid-level leader in the Canal Gang, mainly responsible for managing loading and unloading operations at the docks.

This was no small matter. Currently, businesses in Dinghai City were in decline, with every industry deteriorating.

Many long-established shops had closed one after another, causing labor to become increasingly devalued.

Many people would accept unimaginably low wages and exploitation just to earn enough for a meal.

Yet even so, opportunities remained scarce.

In comparison, the docks with their daily ship traffic offered much more stability.

So despite the extremely hard work, dock jobs had become highly sought after.

As a result, Liu Dongchuan’s status had risen accordingly.

However, he hadn’t let this change his character. He continued to work diligently and never exploited those beneath him.

These two qualities alone had won him the support of many dock workers.

So now he wasn’t just working for himself anymore—many others relied on him for their livelihoods.

After hearing this, Wu Liangchen sighed inwardly, understanding that each person had their own aspirations that couldn’t be forced. He nodded.

"Alright then, but please be extra careful, Brother Liu."

"Don’t worry. Even if Cyan Cloud Mountain truly invades Dinghai City, they probably won’t interfere with our Canal Gang’s normal operations," Liu Dongchuan said with confidence.

His confidence stemmed from this massive organization that had existed as long as Great Yan itself.

Although with Great Yan’s decline, this once-mighty guild that had employed hundreds of thousands of canal workers had shrunk considerably.

But its foundation remained strong.

After Cyan Cloud Mountain captured the city, if they wanted to quickly stabilize the situation, they would certainly need to cooperate with various local powers.

This was why Liu Dongchuan dared to stay.

But Wu Liangchen felt things wouldn’t be so simple.

If this were in earlier times when Great Yan still retained some authority, this reasoning would make sense.

But now Great Yan was on its last breath, and Cyan Cloud Mountain clearly aimed to overthrow Great Yan and take its place. Would they really allow the Canal Gang to continue operating?

Wu Liangchen didn’t voice this thought.

Again, everyone had their own path, and he couldn’t force anyone.

He could only urge Liu Dongchuan to be careful, not force him to leave.

"Xiaowu, come back with me. My mother would be overjoyed to see you. And your Third Master has been talking about you every day, wanting to play a few more chess games with you," Liu Dongchuan said.

Wu Liangchen smiled. "It’s too late today. Tomorrow, I’ll bring Erya to visit the elders."

"Then it’s settled. I’ll be waiting for you at home," Liu Dongchuan said.

"Good!"

After saying goodbye, Wu Liangchen turned and headed toward the Bai family home.

This time he didn’t knock but jumped directly over the wall.

The main room was still lit, and both the old man Bai and Erya were still awake.

Upon seeing Wu Liangchen return, the old man Bai stood up and said, "Good, he’s back now. Quickly go to bed."

Bai Erya’s cheeks reddened slightly as she said softly, "Brother Xiaowu, please stay in the east room. I’ve already prepared the bedding for you."

"Alright, I’ll go to bed then." Wu Liangchen washed up briefly, then went to the east room.

The room was clean and very cozy. freёwebnovel.com

Wu Liangchen took off his clothes and lay down, but found himself unable to sleep.

Strange.

Previously, he had slept soundly even in remote mountains and wilderness, so why was he experiencing insomnia now, under fresh bedding?

Wu Liangchen wondered silently, then heard thunderous snoring coming from the next room.

The old man’s snores were truly earth-shaking.

Wu Liangchen found this amusing.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a slender figure slipped in before gently closing it.

With Wu Liangchen’s perceptive abilities, he immediately recognized the visitor.

"Erya?" he whispered in surprise.

"Brother Xiaowu, I’m scared!"

With this irrefusable excuse, a warm body slipped into Wu Liangchen’s bedding and held him tightly.

Feeling the young woman trembling in his arms, Wu Liangchen was momentarily stunned before embracing her as well.

Bai Erya leaned close to Wu Liangchen’s ear and whispered softly.

"Brother Xiaowu, do you know? That red dress I wore today is actually a wedding gown I sewed stitch by stitch."

"While making it, I thought to myself that the moment I wore it for you and you saw me in it, it would be like I had already married you."

"You’re a man of great ability. I don’t ask for anything else—I just want to stay by your side, even if it means watching you from afar. So you won’t blame me, will you?"