Free Web NovelChapter 244: Chapter 210: Ambition Elsewhere, The Path to Heaven
Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: Chinese web novel/fantasy - specifically a cultivation/martial arts novel (xianxia/wuxia)
Language style: Conversational narrative with internal monologue and dialogue. Somewhat formal in places with philosophical musings about power and ambition.
Tone: Serious with occasional humor, focus on martial prowess and political intrigue
Plot keywords: East Sea country invasion, Great Yan empire, martial arts, cultivation, political intrigue, immortality
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen (male): Main character, extremely powerful martial artist with ambitions beyond mere worldly power, aims to become a True Immortal
- Miyagi Yoshiaki (male): A character from East Sea country, appears to be an antagonist
- Taida Masayuki (male): An official or noble from East Sea country currently in Dinghai City, enjoying the local cuisine
- Monarch: Ruler of East Sea country, mentioned but not present
Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
Let me begin the translation while applying the rules specified:
The text appears to be about Wu Liangchen, a powerful martial artist who is dealing with invaders from the East Sea country. He has ambitions beyond worldly power and aims to become a True Immortal. The text shows his interactions with and observations of the East Sea people who have entered Dinghai City. There’s political tension between Great Yan (which appears to be declining) and East Sea country (which seems to be invading).
I’ll now translate the text, paying special attention to glossary terms, formatting, and ensuring a natural-sounding English output.
To be honest, these matters didn’t concern Wu Liangchen much.
Great Yan should have fallen long ago, and as for who would replace it... Wu Liangchen simply didn’t care.
After all, his ambition wasn’t about conquering the world or establishing some great legacy.
His ambition was to walk a path to the heavens.
He didn’t even consider the so-called Martial Arts Grandmasters, those "terrestrial immortals," worthy of his attention.
If one aims to become something, one should become a True Immortal above the nine heavens. As for those "terrestrial immortals"...
What value did they really have?
But this didn’t mean Wu Liangchen would remain indifferent to current events.
After all, his family and friends lived in this land.
So if the East Sea country behaved itself, that would be fine. But if they dared to engage in slaughter, Wu Liangchen would not stand idly by.
In any case, a Martial Artist was meant to fight.
Especially at his current critical juncture, Wu Liangchen felt that high-intensity combat would greatly benefit him.
Of course, this was also related to his current strength—even fighting against a Grandmaster wouldn’t put his life in serious danger.
Wu Liangchen put the letter away and placed the pigeon in its small nest under the eaves. After a simple preparation, he leaped onto the roof and vanished into the vast night.
Scissors Alley in East City was a residential area. It was considered one of the better places in Dinghai City. Although the previous residents weren’t nobles or aristocrats, they were all respectable wealthy merchants and gentry.
However, after the recent upheaval, almost all the houses had been vacated.
And most of the people from East Sea country had gathered here.
By now, Wu Liangchen was quite familiar with the streets and alleys of Dinghai City, if not completely intimate with them. He quickly found the location according to the information he had.
It was an exquisite estate. The original owner clearly had refined taste. Though not large in area, it featured everything from artificial mountains to flowing streams, all quite elegant.
There were guards at the gate and patrols inside the courtyard.
But such defenses were practically useless against Wu Liangchen. He didn’t even need to deliberately hide; with his superior Body Technique alone, he easily avoided the patrol teams and reached the depths of the compound.
There was a small building in the center of the garden. The second floor was lit, and the sound of string instruments drifted through the air.
Wu Liangchen silently flew to the roof and concentrated on listening.
Taida Masayuki was very happy.
Because he was enjoying excellent food.
A golden, crispy roast duck, freshly out of the oven and still steaming, was placed in the middle of the table, surrounded by various condiments.
The highly-paid roast duck chef skillfully wielded his knife, and in the blink of an eye, the duck was divided into plates of evenly sliced meat.
Taking a few pieces and placing them in the middle of a spring pancake, brushing a bit of sweet bean sauce with green onion strips, without adding anything else, and putting it directly into his mouth—this was truly a heavenly delicacy.
Taida Masayuki ate with oil dripping from the corners of his mouth. Paired with a cup of warmed aged Huadiao wine, he couldn’t help but exclaim in satisfaction.
Soon, the entire plump roast duck had gone into his stomach.
He sighed contentedly, then waved his hand.
The retainers who had been playing instruments below immediately stopped.
Taida Masayuki chuckled, "I’ve always heard that Great Yan is vast with abundant resources and countless delicacies. I was somewhat skeptical, but today I know the rumors weren’t false."
"Take this duck, for instance. In our East Sea country, it is considered the lowest of foods, only eaten by the basest commoners. Yet here in Great Yan, it has become such an extraordinary delicacy."
The guards and retainers listened quietly because they knew this was Taida Masayuki’s habit.
After enjoying good food, he always had to make a speech.
Sure enough, after his commentary, Taida Masayuki waved his hand.
"These leftovers are your reward!"
"Thank you, master!"
Although they were just Taida Masayuki’s leftovers, it was the highest honor for these guards and retainers.
Watching his retainers fighting over bones, Taida Masayuki couldn’t help but chuckle.
"I wonder what that fellow Miyagi Yoshiaki is doing now. With his boring personality, apart from his ambitious desire for power, he probably never even thinks about enjoying fine food."
On the roof, Wu Liangchen was slightly startled when he heard Miyagi Yoshiaki’s name, then silently smiled.
Interesting. It seemed these people all knew each other, which made things simpler.
Wu Liangchen planned to leave Dinghai City in a few days, and before leaving, he naturally wanted to settle all these matters.
Although he had no intention of becoming a ruler or much interest in worldly power, this land had been won by him and his people, and he wouldn’t allow others to encroach upon it.
Thinking this, Wu Liangchen was about to make his move.
Just then, he heard Taida Masayuki release a long sigh from within.
"The Monarch instructed me to find any means to approach this Wu Liangchen. If we could win him over, no price would be too great to pay."
"But from what I’ve seen and heard in the marketplace today, Wu Liangchen’s reputation among the common people of Dinghai City is extremely high. How could such a figure be bought with mere money or power?"
"Do any of you have brilliant ideas about this?"
Inside the room, the guards and retainers all put down their food and looked at each other, completely at a loss for what to say.
Taida Masayuki hadn’t really expected any good suggestions from these people.
He was just in the habit of speaking his thoughts aloud before working out solutions step by step.
"I’ve decided, since this task is extremely difficult, I simply won’t do it. After eating, drinking, and enjoying myself here for a while, I’ll return and tell the Monarch that Dinghai City is not easy to take, and advise him to turn his attention elsewhere," Taida Masayuki said, quite pleased with his plan.
Wu Liangchen halted his actions.
This Taida Masayuki was quite sensible. If that was the case, he would spare the man’s life for now.
Killing someone like this would serve no purpose, and keeping him alive might actually have unexpected benefits.
With that thought, Wu Liangchen turned and left.
Throughout the entire process, none of the people inside had any idea of his presence.
Taida Masayuki was particularly unaware that he had just brushed shoulders with death.
After drinking a large pot of aged Huadiao wine, he couldn’t hold his liquor anymore and fell into a deep sleep.
In the following days, Taida Masayuki indeed did as he had said—eating, drinking, and enjoying himself all day, ignoring worldly affairs.
Wu Liangchen ordered people to monitor him closely from the shadows, while also commanding that anyone from the East Sea country who dared to disturb the peace would be dealt with harshly.
Not only could Martial Artists take action, but even ordinary citizens could participate.
Once this order was issued, the common people, who had already been filled with resentment against the arrogance of these East Sea people, immediately showed great enthusiasm.
In the words of the Dinghai City men, these "short-statured sons of bitches" needed a good beating.
For a time, whenever any of these East Sea people dared to provoke others, they were met with a mob.
Among them were some East Sea ronin.
They were Warriors who had lost their status, and their strength far exceeded that of ordinary people.
But even their strength couldn’t match the fists of Martial Artists.
The Martial Artists of Dinghai City were extremely united. Once they heard of any incident, people in the vicinity would immediately rush to provide support.
As a result, these ronin Warriors were all severely beaten.
Suddenly, the previously arrogant East Sea people, who had held their noses high in the air, didn’t even dare raise their heads.
Even the restless local thugs and ruffians were swept clean, causing the entire city to quiet down.
It was under these circumstances that Miyagi Yoshiaki arrived in Dinghai City with his guards and retainers.
As soon as he entered the city, he sensed that something was wrong.
He had been in Great Yan for quite some time, traveling through many cities, but in every city, they had been treated with courtesy.
Especially in Huangpu Guard.
The officials’ attitude toward the East Sea merchants like them had been exceedingly good.
Even the Martial Artists had been unwilling to conflict with them.
This was because the East Sea people were very united abroad. Once one of them was bullied, the others would immediately gang up against the offender.
To avoid trouble, the Martial Artists had been unwilling to provoke them.
This had made Miyagi Yoshiaki somewhat complacent, thinking that the so-called Great Yan was nothing special.
Until he arrived in Dinghai City and saw the citizens on the streets eyeing them vigilantly, even with "murderous" gazes, Miyagi Yoshiaki felt his heart sink.
What was going on? Had his purpose been exposed?
