Free Web NovelChapter 206: Chapter 182: Getting Free Food, Setting Off Again
### Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese cultivation/martial arts web novel (xianxia/wuxia)
Language style: The language is relatively straightforward storytelling with dialogue, descriptions of martial arts practices, and hints of fantasy elements.
Tone: Casual, adventurous, with elements of strategic planning.
Plot keywords: martial artists, cultivation, medicine concoction, strategizing, deception, family bonds
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen (武良辰) - Male protagonist, a martial artist of the Minor Fourth Realm
- Yang Lian’Er (杨莲儿) - Female character
- Xie San/Third Brother (谢三哥) - Appears to be an ally/mentor figure to Wu Liangchen
- Uncle Bai (白叔叔/白老头) - An older man who makes excellent wontons, appears to be Yang Lian’Er’s father-in-law
- Mengchan (梦婵) - Female character
- Erya/Second Girl (二丫) - Female character who seems to have romantic interest in Wu Liangchen
- Ningyun (凝云) - Female, manager of Jufu Pavilion
- Wen Yunlong (闻云龙) - Character mentioned
- Yan Feng (严峰) - Character mentioned
- Yan Rui (燕睿) - Someone Wu Liangchen met with earlier
- Chen Bamei (陈八妹) - Female character who Wu Liangchen has tricked/controlled with drugs
- Third Granny (三奶奶) - Character mentioned
- Tie Wuchang (铁武昌) - Character who was apparently defeated by Xie San
### Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
Now I’ll translate the text and apply all the guidelines simultaneously:
The text describes Wu Liangchen preparing to leave for a mission, discussing his plans with Xie San, and creating some kind of deceptive medicine to control Chen Bamei. There are family dynamics with Uncle Bai making wontons, and a young woman named Erya who seems to have feelings for Wu Liangchen.
Let’s begin the translation:
As for Yang Lian’Er, Xie San and the others, they couldn’t stop singing praises.
"Uncle Bai, it would be a real waste of your skills if you only run a wonton cart. Why not come to our Jufu Pavilion? You’d be a huge hit!"
Since becoming the shopkeeper of Jufu Pavilion, Ningyun had developed a habit of trying to recruit anyone whose cooking impressed her.
The old man shook his head, "Thank you for your kindness, miss, but this old fellow enjoys setting up his stall on the street. If you put me in a big restaurant, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable."
Xie San chimed in with a smile, "Uncle Bai has a point. If these wontons were moved from the street to a restaurant, they might not taste the same."
As they chatted and ate, the pot of wontons was quickly finished. After a second pot was prepared, Wu Liangchen called over Wen Yunlong, Yan Feng and the others, serving each of them a bowl.
Everyone ate with continuous praise, making the old man so happy he didn’t know what to do with himself.
While everyone was happily enjoying their wontons, Wu Liangchen and Xie San went inside. As they drank tea, Wu Liangchen recounted his meeting and negotiations with Yan Rui earlier that day.
Xie San listened silently until Wu Liangchen finished, then gave a slight cold smile. "Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill... this Yan Rui is certainly willing to invest heavily to win you over."
Then he continued, "Xiaowu, you did the right thing. People like Yan Rui may seem approachable now, but that’s only because they’ve lost their power. Once they regain their authority, they’ll immediately show their vicious side."
Wu Liangchen nodded, "I understand!"
Then he hesitated before saying, "Third Brother, there’s something I want to..."
But before Wu Liangchen could finish, Xie San interrupted him.
"Go ahead!"
Wu Liangchen was startled, "You know what I was going to say?"
Xie San smiled, "I’ve known what you would do since you came back. In the past, I would have tried to stop you, but now you’re a Martial Artist of the Minor Fourth Realm. There are few in all of Great Yan who could match you. So go if you want to, just be careful on your journey. As for home..."
"With your reputation for killing Tie Wuchang with three punches, I doubt anyone else would dare cause trouble. And with our brothers in the ward, we can at least guarantee Erya and Mengchan’s safety."
Wu Liangchen finally understood why Xie San had earned so many people’s support. Just his attentiveness to others’ needs made him pleasant to be around.
He nodded, "Good, then I’ll trouble you with this, Third Brother! Besides, my trip won’t take long—at most a month, at least ten days or so before I return."
Wu Liangchen’s purpose for this trip was first to thoroughly investigate Cyan Cloud Mountain’s true situation while eliminating as many of their forces as possible.
Second, if they truly launched an attack against Dinghai City, he would secretly protect Third Granny’s family.
Plus, traveling light and alone meant he wouldn’t waste much time.
"Good, then I’ll wait here for your good news."
「The night grew deep.」
Xie San and the others had already left, and Yang Lian’Er and Mengchan had gone to bed.
Only Uncle Bai, who despite a full day’s work still appeared energetic, was tirelessly wiping down his wonton cart.
Wu Liangchen was also still awake.
He was brewing medicine.
The medicinal pot bubbled away, its contents gradually becoming thick and translucent, releasing a strange fragrance.
Having finally finished cleaning, the curious old man walked into the kitchen and asked, "Xiaowu, what are you making?"
Wu Liangchen smiled, "Making some Strength Pills."
"Strength Pills?" Having spent most of his life on the streets, Uncle Bai certainly knew what these were.
They were a common street scam, known as "selling small medicines."
Strength Pills, Carefree Powder, abortion soups, toothache remedies... there was nothing these peddlers wouldn’t sell.
Even among vagabonds, this trade was considered quite despicable, as fake medicines could truly cost lives.
Though confused, Uncle Bai didn’t dare ask further.
In his eyes, his son-in-law was truly capable, and if he was doing this, he must have his reasons.
"Get some rest soon!"
After this reminder, Uncle Bai returned to his room.
No sooner had he left than Erya came in.
"Brother Wu, aren’t you going to sleep?"
"You go ahead and sleep first. I’ll come after I finish this."
"Oh!" Erya responded gloomily.
Seeing her expression, Wu Liangchen immediately understood and laughed, then reached out to pinch her cheek.
"Go on, you sleep first. I’ll be there soon."
Erya’s face instantly reddened to her ears, "I... I didn’t mean it like that."
"I just couldn’t sleep!"
"Then why not keep me company while I brew medicine?"
"Yes, yes!" Erya immediately perked up, bringing over a small stool and sitting beside Wu Liangchen.
"Brother Wu, what exactly are you making?"
"Oh, brewing some medicine for someone."
"Who’s sick?"
"No one’s sick, but without this medicine, someone might become sick!" Wu Liangchen said with a smile, then took out a small package and carefully measured out some of the powder inside, pouring it into the medicinal pot.
The potion became even more crystal clear, and the fragrance grew stronger.
"What is this? It smells so good!" Erya said, somewhat entranced.
"A powder that makes people happy!" Wu Liangchen said seriously.
The powder he had just added was actually Mind Confusing Powder that he had taken from Zhao Hui earlier.
Wu Liangchen had discovered that when diluted, this Mind Confusing Powder could have an effect similar to anesthesia or pain relief.
This medicine was undoubtedly prepared for Chen Bamei.
To control Chen Bamei, Wu Liangchen had made her take some pills, telling her they were poison when they were actually just mild tonics.
But Chen Bamei wasn’t stupid. After returning home, she would certainly try not taking the antidote, and wouldn’t that expose his lie?
So Wu Liangchen had added a small amount of Mind Confusing Powder to her "antidote." Taking it daily would create addiction-like symptoms.
Once she became accustomed to it, if she didn’t take it at the usual time, her body would experience mild withdrawal symptoms that resembled poisoning.
In truth, the addictiveness of Mind Confusing Powder was weak, and its withdrawal symptoms weren’t severe—just slightly stronger than everyday addictive substances like tobacco or alcohol. Someone with moderately strong willpower could resist it.
But Chen Bamei didn’t know this.
Believing she was truly poisoned, she wouldn’t dare take risks and would obediently take her "antidote."
Of course, Wu Liangchen didn’t mention any of this to Erya.
After waiting another half hour, the medicine was finally ready. Wu Liangchen poured it into a porcelain basin, covered it with white cloth, and set it aside for the night. By tomorrow, it would be ready to be divided and rolled into pills.
"Let’s go to bed now!"
Without further discussion, Wu Liangchen took Erya’s hand and returned to their room.
Clouds raced across the night sky, the moonlight appearing and disappearing, making the small courtyard exceptionally peaceful.
Before dawn, Wu Liangchen had already quietly gotten up.
Erya was still sound asleep, clearly exhausted from the night before.
Wu Liangchen smiled, then put on his clothes and left the room. When he reached the kitchen, the medicine had cooled and solidified.
He divided it into strips, then rolled them into small translucent pills.
After packaging them, Wu Liangchen gathered the things he had prepared earlier, and with a leap, left the courtyard.
The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the city below was gradually awakening.
Breakfast stalls emitted rising steam, freshly fried dough sticks were golden and crispy, and white soy milk simmered in a large pot over a low flame, occasionally bubbling.
Early risers gathered around the stalls, either sitting or standing, eating heartily.
But none of them noticed a figure moving at incredible speed above their heads, leaping from roof to roof, heading northwest.
