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Vomitting, consumption of humans by non-human entities“Then…” Wu Zhu thought of the situation at the time. Until now, he still couldn’t help but shudder: “It opened its bloody mouth wide, like a bowl of blood1血盆大口 (xue pen da kou) as an idiom does literally mean ‘bloody mouth wide open like a bowl of blood’. More literally, it means the Yao opened its mouth wide open; the idiom is just better at getting across how horrific it is when a huge Yao opens its mouth at you.
Note: Previously, I translated ‘bowl of blood’ as ‘sacrificial bowl’. This has been changed for clarity.. It came towards me, aiming to bite. I wanted to run away, but my body hurt too much, I couldn’t get onto my feet.
“Just when I thought I was dead for sure, it suddenly stopped its movements. It sniffed my body, then quickly after, it threw itself back a few steps and vomited.”
“Vomited?” Wu Qianqing, Guan Tong, and Wu Xi looked at him, disbelieving.
The corner of Wu Ruo’s lips turned up slightly.
Wu Zhu nodded his head: “Hn, it threw up. Even the corpses that it had just eaten were also thrown up.”
Wu Xi hurriedly clung onto Guan Tong: “Mum, how terrifying.”
Guan Tong patted her back: “It’s alright, it’s alright2Here, Guan Tong actually says 别怕 (bie pa), which is more literally ‘don’t be afraid’, but it’s meant to comfort Wu Xi, so I opted for something less literal here..”
Wu Qianqing found it strange: “Could it be that it got too bloated from eating too many people?”
Wu Zhu didn’t respond to this question of his and continued to say: “I took the opportunity while it was vomiting badly, and hurried to my feet to run away. Just as I had gotten out from the depths of the forest, I ran into 5 Wu family servants who had split up from the rest of us. Without a second word, they surrounded me and started attacking.”
Wu Xi said angrily: “These people are too despicable. They still wanted to kill you even at this sort of timing. Dage, what happened next? Did you kill them?”
Wu Zhu shook his head no: “Their spiritual levels were higher than mine, I was no match for them. I was lucky that I had a lot of equipment.
“Especially the weapon that Xiao-Ruo gave me was very amazing. In one stroke, the weapon knocked over two of them. The other three were swallowed by the huge Yao that had caught up to us. It even swallowed the servants that I had injured into its stomach.”
Wu Xi clapped and said: “Well done3Two footnotes in one for this sentence. The author actually writes 乌希拍身叫到, which I’d roughly translate as: ‘Wu Xi patted her body and said’. But, err, it doesn’t make sense to me even in the original Chinese, so I translated what I thought the author might have meant.
If the original Chinese makes sense to anyone, I welcome corrections here.
Also, Wu Xi actually says 吞得好 (tun de hao), which might more accurately be translated as ‘swallowed well/well swallowed’, but it doesn’t quite flow as well in English, so I’ve modified it here.
Also, in the next sentence, when Guan Tong says “what do you mean ‘well'”, she says 哪里好 (na li hao), more literally ‘which part (is) good’. It makes more sense in Chinese, since both Wu Xi and Guan Tong use the word hao. I tried to connect both sentences in English as well..”
Guan Tong frowned: “What do you mean ‘well’? After the huge Yao swallows the servants, it will eat your dage.”
“That’s right, after the huge Yao ate the servants, it immediately turned its head around to bite me.” Right now, just at the thought of that enormous mouth filled with the stench of blood, Wu Zhu’s stomach immediately felt uncomfortable.
That mouth was not only terrifying, it was also extremely smelly. Especially when it was close to him, he could smell the odour of dead corpses from the exhales of its nose: “But, when it came close to me, it vomited again.”
Wu Xi found it strange: “Why did it vomit again? Dage, did you not shower?”
“Those two days, we were hurrying on the road, so I didn’t shower. But, it wasn’t only me who hadn’t showered, so I don’t think it was because of this reason.”
Wu Qianqing asked: “Then, why do you think it vomited?”
Wu Zhu touched the little pouch that hung at his neck, and looked towards Wu Ruo, and said: “I think Xiao-Ruo can answer this question.”
When everybody heard this, they all looked toward Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo looked at Wu Zhu with a blank expression: “Me? How would I know why the huge Yao vomited?”
Wu Xi said: “That’s right, how would erge know that it would vomit?”
“Because I feel that the huge Yao only vomited after smelling the medicine in my pouch. Other than this, I can’t think of any other reasons.” After Wu Zhu had successfully escaped, he kept thinking about this question.
Wu Ruo laughed: “Dage, I only gave you some revitalizing medicine.”
Actually, Wu Zhu had guessed correctly.
That day after Manager Yu from the gambling den lied to Wu Shi and the rest that someone had asked him for help, which was the reason why he needed to borrow the weapons, Wu Ruo already knew that Wu Qianbin and the rest would definitely look for Manager Yu to investigate thoroughly.
That was why on that day, in the carriage, he instructed Manager Yu to find someone reliable to pose as his friend who wanted to capture a huge Yao. When Wu Qianbin and the rest came to investigate the situation, he was to tell them that there was a huge Yao sealed in Shouchong Forest. If they were willing to capture it, Manager Yu’s friend would reward them with 200,000 silver taels after the matter was completed.
This huge Yao was something he had unintentionally discovered in his previous lifetime. After that, he had also unintentionally signed a master-servant contract with it, that was why the huge Yao had to obey him. Later on, there was once when he was making a revitalizing pill, due to the smell of it being too pungent, it caused this huge Yao to vomit badly for three days and nights straight.
It vomited until it almost died from exhaustion. However, humans could not smell this pungent medicine scent. It was only when one consumed it that it would agitate a person’s nerves, causing a revitalizing effect.
So, he had made this revitalizing pill earlier on. This was also the reason why he dared to let his dage go together with his sishu and the others.
Wu Zhu was a little unconvinced: “Really?”
“Dage, you’ll know once you eat it.”
Wu Zhu took out one of the pills and swallowed it. In an instant, he felt much more energetic, his body felt like it had an unending source of energy: “It really is for revitalizing.”
“What else could it be? Did you think I could be like Elder Rong and the rest, able to divine that you would have some kind of disaster? And to even be able to accurately divine what sort of medicine to use to repel the huge Yao? If only I was that capable.”
Wu Zhu asked: “Then why did you give me revitalizing medicine? Shouldn’t you give me some life-saving medicine instead?”
“Dage was going on a task, so of course I would want to help, that’s why I made some revitalizing pills that I had just learned how to make. Revitalizing pills would help you, who has to hurry on the road, not feel tired so easily.”
Wu Qianqing was puzzled: “Xiao-Ruo, when did you learn to make medicine pills?”
Wu Ruo explained: “Didn’t Xuanyi hire a doctor to come treat me? When I was bored, I learned some medicine from him. This revitalizing pill can be made even without spiritual energy.”
“Oh, so that’s how it was.” Wu Qianqing frowned: “After hearing what Xiao-Zhu said, I think that people who want to kill Xiao-Zhu are either people from the Wu family, or people who disguised themselves as people from the Wu family much earlier on, then prepared an ambush in Shouchong Forest, waiting for an opportune moment to kill Xiao-Zhu.”
“I also felt that way, towards the end.” Wu Zhu nodded his head: “If they had mixed into the entourage much earlier on, sishu and the rest wouldn’t have realized.”
“If it was other people who had set up an ambush in Shouchong Forest much earlier on, then that’s not so bad. But if it’s…”
At this point, Wu Qianqing stopped. Everyone else’s gazes became incomparably grave and unpleasant.
Wu Ruo swept a look at everyone’s expressions, feigning carelessness as he said: “If it was done by people from our Wu family, then Dad’s spiritual field being destroyed by someone, was it also plotted by someone from the Wu family…”
“Xiao-Ruo, don’t spout nonsense.” Wu Qianqing reprimanded, his expression rapidly turning grim. Immediately after, he couldn’t help thinking back on the circumstances when he got injured and slowly realized that there were certain aspects that didn’t quite make sense.
Wu Ruo: “…”
Wu Ruo knew that before there was any evidence, his dad and the others would find it hard to believe that the people from the Wu family would want to harm them. However, he could also understand his dad’s point of view. Before he was reborn, he had also been like his dad and the others, believing in the people of the Wu family. And so, he had never thought that the people of the Wu family would harm them.
Now, looking at his dad’s expression, he must have realized some questionable things after Wu Ruo’s reminder.
Guan Tong spoke up: “Before the matter is properly investigated, we shouldn’t make any accusations lightly.”
“Hn.” Wu Ruo changed the topic: “Dage, just now, didn’t you say that erbo4In the Chinese, the author uses 二叔 (er shu) but I’m assuming it’s a typo/error because Wu Qianqing is the third-born amongst the 5 brothers. So, Wu Ruo should be referring to him as 二伯 (er bo) instead, since Wu Qianli is older.‘s injuries were quite severe?”
“Yes.”
“Then shouldn’t we go and visit erbo?”
Wu Qianqing nodded his head: “Yes, we should go visit.”
Wu Ruo: “Shall we send some medicine over?”
Right now, he couldn’t wait to go over and take look at the expressions of Wu Yu and the rest of them.
“Alright.” Wu Zhu went to the storage to look for some valuable wound medicines, then he went together with Wu Qianqing and the others towards Shuli Garden.
Shuli Garden’s main hall was full of people. Wu Qiantong, Wu Qianbin, their wives, and children were all there.
When Wu Anyi saw them arrive, his gaze darkened, and he took the initiative to go forth and receive them: “Sanshu, sanshen, you’re here.”
When the others saw Wu Qianqing and his party, their expressions all darkened by several degrees.
Wu Qianqing asked, concerned: “Is your father alright?”
“Right now, the doctor is in the midst of taking a look at him, so we still don’t know what the diagnosis will be like.”
Wu Zhu handed the box of medicines that he was holding onto over to Wu Yu, who had walked over: “Xiao-Yu, these are the best medicines for treating wounds. I hope that erbo can get well soon.”
Wu Yu’s expression stiffened, then he forced a smile: “Thank you.”
Wu Zhu comforted: “Heaven aids the worthy, erbo will be fine5Not a translation note, but I just wanted to say to Wu Zhu: LMAO, you’re rubbing salt in the wound unintentionally, bby. Wu Qianli is definitely not worthy of being aided by heaven. And Wu Ruo is not going to let that happen on his watch anyway. Whatever happens to that mf-er, it’s not going to be pretty..”
Wu Yu eyed Wu Zhu from top to bottom: “Sige, this time while capturing the huge Yao, you didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“I’ve only got some slight injuries. I’ll be perfectly fine after taking a wound recovery pill, don’t worry about me.”
Wu Yu’s gaze flashed with a strange look.
Wu Ruo sneered inwardly. Dage, oh, dage, which part of that looked like Wu Yu was being concerned about you6你那只眼看到乌玉在关心你了 would more literally be “with which eye did you see Wu Yu caring about you”, but I feel like this expression might be a little confusing, so I modified it a bit. Still, the original expression is very interesting, so here’s a footnote for it.?
When Wu Xiao heard what Wu Zhu said, he humphed coldly.
Wu Shi lowered his voice and said: “How come he’s not dead?”
Wu Qianbin, who was sitting in front of him, turned around to glare at him, signalling for Wu Shi to shut up.
Wu Shi obediently kept his mouth shut.
At this moment, the doctor emerged from the inner room.
Wu Anyi immediately asked: “How is my dad?”
The doctor said: “It’s just that he has received some damage to his spiritual field, there’s no threat to his life. I’ll give you a prescription in a while. As long as you follow my instructions, I guarantee that Second Master will definitely be able to fully recover within a year or two.”
Wu Anyi let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s good as long as erge is fine.” Wu Qianbin said as he stood up: “Then, we won’t be bothering erge‘s rest.”
Wu Qiantong and the others also stood up.
Wu Yu said: “Sishu, I’ll walk you out.”
When Wu Xiao was walking past Wu Zhu, he suddenly stopped midstep: “Sige, everyone got hurt while capturing the huge Yao. How come you’re the only one who is fine?”
Everyone else stopped in their steps to look towards them.
Wu Zhu’s expression fell: “Wu Xiao, what are you trying to say?”
“I’m not trying to say anything. I’m just wondering if sige ran away before the task even started.”
Wu Qianqing’s expression turned cold: “You mean that you want your sige to come back injured, only then will it prove that he put in any effort?”
Wu Zhu said: “Whether or not I ran, it was obvious to sishu and all the others. At the time, I was actually the last person to escape from Shouchong Forest.”
“At the time, the situation was so messy. Who would be watching your each and every move? Who knows, maybe you hid yourself much earlier on and left only after everyone else was gone.”
Wu Xi was extremely infuriated: “Wu Xiao, don’t spit on others with a bloody mouth7I chose to translate 血口喷人 (xue kou pen ren) literally here, because I feel like it gave the best effect in the context. It means ‘to make unfounded and malicious attacks upon someone’..”
Wu Xiao’s expression darkened: “Wu Xi, I am older than you8Wu Xiao refers to himself as Wu Xi’s 兄长 (xiong zhang), which somewhat translates as ‘senior brother’. You might have heard this time of address before in guzhuang c-dramas, between relatives or close family friends.. You should address me respectfully as qige, and not address me directly by my full name. Otherwise, people who don’t know might think that you had a mother to give birth to you, but not one to raise you.”
Guan Tong, full of rage, said: “Whether or not I raised my daughter properly, I’m the one who knows best. Even if she has no manners, at least she’s much better than you, someone who goes around spouting nonsense, wrongfully accusing innocent people.”
“I’ve never wrongfully accused sige, I’m just stating my opinion.” As Wu Xiao spoke, he eyed Wu Qiantong, hinting for him to hurry and speak up.
When Wu Ruo saw this, he laughed lightly: “Qidi, I see that sishu and xiaoshu are also not injured. Could it be that they also ran away before the task even began? Or are you saying that you hope your dad and your sishu, and the others, suffer severe injuries like erbo, only then will you be happy?
“If you really think that way, then isn’t that a bit too unfilial9大逆不道 (da ni bu dao) is literally ‘high treason and heresy’ and is an idiom referring to behaviour that is disgraceful, unfilial, rebellious or otherwise severely breaches societal norms. If I’m not wrong, I think one of the oldies used it before in an earlier chapter, but I can’t remember exactly which. Previously, it was used to say that Wu Zhu and Wu Xi can’t be ‘unfilial’ and criticize their elders during the recovery of the betrothal gifts arc.?”
Wu Xiao: “…”
Notes: good grief, the amount of drama going on in those last few paragraphs. The whole time I was calculating hierarchy after Wu Xiao slung his accusations at Wu Zhu. If I’m not wrong, Wu Qianqing and Guan Tong are the highest up in the hierarchy in that scene, unless Ruan Lanru (Wu Qianli’s wife) is there.
Wu Xiao, you really didn’t think with your brains before you decided to accuse Wu Zhu, did you?
