Free Web NovelChapter 246: Chapter 211: Power Increase, Preparations Before Departure
Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese martial arts/xianxia web novel, featuring martial artists, various powers, and political intrigue.
Language style: The text has a mix of formal and casual dialogue, with descriptive narrative passages and inner thoughts. It includes martial arts fantasy elements and traditional Chinese cultural references.
Tone: Serious with occasional humor, showing tension, political maneuvering, and displays of power.
Plot keywords: Martial arts, power dynamics, political intrigue, assassination, strategy, strength cultivation
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male, the protagonist, a powerful martial artist who has risen from humble beginnings (former rickshaw driver), now highly influential in Dinghai City
- Miyagi Yoshiaki (宫城良树): Male, a Japanese figure who has come to investigate/target Wu Liangchen, appears to have taken over responsibilities in Dinghai City
- Lord Ota/Ota Masayuki (太田昌之): Male, a Japanese official who is leaving, seems more cautious about confronting Wu Liangchen
- Pang Hao (庞豪): Male, appears to be a subordinate or ally of Wu Liangchen
- Xu Kai (徐凯): Male, someone being kept by Wu Liangchen’s people
- Liu Dongchuan (刘东川): Male, mentioned as someone connected to Wu Liangchen
- Situ Hao (司徒浩): Male, someone Wu Liangchen previously encountered and could now defeat easily
Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
Now I’ll translate the text while following the guidelines carefully:
The text describes a confrontation between Japanese officials and a powerful Chinese martial artist named Wu Liangchen. One Japanese official (Ota) is leaving the city after realizing the danger, while another (Miyagi) is staying to deal with Wu Liangchen. Meanwhile, Wu Liangchen himself decides to pay Miyagi a visit at night, demonstrating his incredible martial powers while moving through the city. The Chapter ends with their face-to-face meeting.
Let me proceed with the translation carefully:
If it weren’t for their good relationship, and the fact that Lord Ota knew Miyagi Yoshiaki’s personality well, that single sentence might have been enough to make the two men fall out.
He sighed helplessly. "Fine, I admit I’m a coward, but I hope you’ll be careful too, Miyagi."
With those words, Lord Ota swept his sleeves and left.
Miyagi Yoshiaki’s face darkened, a knot of frustration gathering in his chest.
The joy he had felt from persuading Huang Longhai and forming an alliance with him had vanished completely.
He thought he had been taking Wu Liangchen seriously enough, but clearly, he was far off the mark.
Thinking back to the boasts he had made on Cyan Cloud Mountain, Miyagi Yoshiaki couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
But words once spoken couldn’t be taken back.
He had no choice but to forge ahead stubbornly.
Before that, however, he wanted to meet this Wu Liangchen and see how formidable this legendary figure really was, then proceed with caution.
He didn’t believe anyone could be completely without weakness.
Even those legendary immortals had their own desires, didn’t they?
Especially since this Wu Liangchen had achieved such tremendous power at such a young age, was likely full of youthful arrogance, and surrounded by beautiful women. If anyone claimed he had no weaknesses whatsoever, Miyagi Yoshiaki would be the first to disbelieve it.
"My lord, Lord Ota just sent a message saying he has left and that you needn’t see him off."
Miyagi Yoshiaki wasn’t surprised by this.
He knew his earlier words had been rather harsh, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on such matters, so he simply nodded.
"I understand. Go and summon all the Warriors who can still move. I have questions for them."
"Yes, sir!"
As his retainer left, Miyagi Yoshiaki let out a soft sigh, thinking to himself.
’Ota, I know you don’t understand me, so I’ll apologize to you when we return to our country.’
Just as Lord Ota hastily departed and Miyagi Yoshiaki took full control of affairs in Dinghai City, Wu Liangchen was immediately informed of these developments.
After all, many people had seen Miyagi Yoshiaki in broad daylight today.
"Another one has come, and from the looks of it, this one has quite a high position," Wu Liangchen remarked, briefly flipping through some documents.
"There’s one more thing. After this man arrived, that Ota Masayuki left by ship," said Pang Hao.
Wu Liangchen smiled. "This Ota Masayuki is quite clever, knowing when to retreat in the face of impossible odds."
"Master Wu, what about this new man? Should we...?" A hint of killing intent flashed across Pang Hao’s face.
"No need for you to act. I’m free tonight, so I’ll pay him a visit myself. If he’s reasonable, I’ll spare his life. If not..." Wu Liangchen’s smile was pleasant, but the killing intent between his brows was as sharp as a knife.
Pang Hao felt a shudder in his heart and deeply bowed his head.
For Wu Liangchen, he felt both respect and fear.
The longer he associated with him, the stronger these feelings became.
"By the way, how is Xu Kai doing?"
"As you instructed, we’ve moved him to a new location. He’s eating and sleeping well, and has even gained some weight," Pang Hao promptly replied.
Wu Liangchen nodded. "Tell him to prepare himself to leave at any time."
"Master Wu, are you leaving us?"
"Yes, my business here is finished, and there’s no point in staying any longer. There are still a few months until the New Year, just enough time to go see what’s happening in the Imperial Capital."
Pang Hao’s face showed reluctance to part.
Though he was many years older than Wu Liangchen, he had unconsciously come to see him as his pillar of support. Not just him, but all the Martial Artists in the city felt the same way.
So upon hearing that Wu Liangchen was leaving, Pang Hao felt a sense of unease within.
Wu Liangchen was well aware of this, but he merely smiled without saying much.
After all, he had already done more than enough, and Dinghai City had come back to life.
It was time to attend to his own affairs.
That night was without wind or moon, and the city was so quiet that only the distant barking of dogs could be heard.
A tabby cat curled up in a corner, intently searching its surroundings for prey.
Just then, something caught its attention, and it suddenly looked up at the sky.
Its golden eyes reflected a figure speeding by at an incredible pace.
"Meow~" The tabby cat let out a fearful cry before leaping into the darkness.
Wu Liangchen thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of soaring through the night.
Each time he lightly stepped on the roof tiles, he would glide through the air for quite a distance.
Combined with the ink-black night surrounding him, it gave him the sensation of becoming a fish swimming through the sea.
It was a marvelous feeling, and Wu Liangchen’s awareness spread outward, taking in all the details along his path.
For instance, beneath the eaves he had just stepped on, two rats were fighting, while in the nearby shop, a middle-aged couple was rekindling old passions.
He could even clearly sense the night watchman drinking alcohol in his guardhouse a street away.
Wu Liangchen knew he had grown stronger again.
With his increasing progress, these changes were quite noticeable.
He was confident that if he encountered Situ Hao now, he could destroy him within ten moves.
Next, it was time to see what the top Martial Artists of Great Yan were truly made of!
This thought flashed through Wu Liangchen’s mind as he arrived at Scissors Alley.
Wu Liangchen knew this place well and didn’t need to employ any fancy maneuvers. He naturally avoided the many patrol guards and made his way inside.
It was still the same small building, except now the people inside had changed.
Wu Liangchen didn’t even need to approach the building to clearly hear the voices coming from within.
"My lord, it’s late. You should get some rest."
"Hmm, you go to bed first. I’ll sleep after I finish reading this section."
The retainer dared not insist further and obediently withdrew.
Miyagi Yoshiaki sat at the table, carefully examining the documents before him.
These had been sent to him by Lord Ota before his departure.
Despite Lord Ota’s apparent preoccupation with food, he had actually accomplished something.
For instance, these documents about Wu Liangchen were collected and organized by Lord Ota over the past few days.
They detailed all of Wu Liangchen’s experiences from his days as a rickshaw puller to the present, with particular emphasis on his network of relationships in Dinghai City.
Miyagi Yoshiaki treasured these documents like gold, studying them repeatedly and marking important sections for excerpts.
At the moment, he was reading the section about Liu Dongchuan.
The more he studied, the more terrifying Miyagi Yoshiaki found Wu Liangchen to be.
He simply couldn’t understand how Wu Liangchen had grown from a penniless, low-status rickshaw puller to his current position.
Was it merely because of his loyalty and honor?
That was certainly a point that could be exploited, especially regarding the Liu family, which warranted particular attention.
Miyagi Yoshiaki wrote this down in his notebook, then stretched his arms, preparing to rest. Just then, the candle in front of him suddenly flared up with a large flame.
Miyagi Yoshiaki instantly felt his hair stand on end, and a thought flashed through his mind, which he couldn’t help but voice aloud.
"Master Wu, since you’re here, why not come in and have a seat?"
Outside, Wu Liangchen was slightly surprised by these words.
He hadn’t expected this fellow to sense his presence. Not bad, he had some skill after all.
Wu Liangchen began to take him a bit more seriously, then silently moved to the window and pushed it open to enter.
Miyagi Yoshiaki, who had only guessed at the possibility and spoken on a whim, saw a blur before his eyes, and suddenly an upright man appeared in the room.
Without needing to think, Miyagi Yoshiaki immediately knew this man had to be Wu Liangchen.
In an instant, Miyagi Yoshiaki felt his scalp tingle. Despite his best efforts to maintain control, he was overwhelmed by tremendous fear.
Wu Liangchen casually walked to the table, glanced down at the documents, then smiled slightly at him.
"Miyagi Yoshiaki?"
