Quick Introduction to Wuxia
This will be a quick introduction to the Wuxia genre for those who are unfamiliar with it or just want a quick refresher!
To start, ‘What IS Wuxia?’ The simple answer is that it’s something similar to an American Cowboys/Wild West-themed story but for China! Instead of gangs and gunfights, we have sects and swords! There are two major participants, the Orthodox Practioners and Unorthodox/Demonic Practioners with the Imperial government just acts as a side character that has little power over either. Its main points are usually the MC practicing martial arts then traveling around doing fights and tournaments and at some point, there is typically a war/large battle with the opposing side where they come out victorious.
‘Doesn’t Wuxia have like, magic or something?’, Nope! That is a different story category called Xianxia. That is also a popular theme that is similar but they practice cultivation.
‘So many new terms @-@’, I tried to keep true to the text but did take a few liberties with using implied translation in place of literal. That being said, yes, so many footnotes. If there is a place or a term that is still confusing then reach out and I will happily add more!
‘This sounds interesting! Where can I learn more? Any Recommendations?’. This translator has done lots of research into this before starting to work on this arc! I will provide a list of links at the bottom of the chapter for those who want to check them out!
Chapter 013 “That swordsman really loves me.”
Xie Chenyang woke up in a bed, his hands tied to the head of the bed with twine. With a tug, he ripped the twine away with some force and rubbed his reddened wrists with one hand. “What’s the deal with this world?”
System: “See the plot.”
The original Xi Yang was the only son of the Master of the famous Sabre 1See Dropdown ‘Dao/Sabre’ at bottomSect. The famed Sabre Sect2(刀山庄) Not a direct translation, but I played with it a bit. 刀 dāo knife; blade; single-edged sword; cutlass; CL:把[ba3]; (slang) dollar (loanword); classifier for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper); classifier for knife cuts or stabs 山庄 shān zhuāng manor house; villa; (used in hotel names) held a very influential niche in the Wulin’s3martial arts (social) circles Orthodox faction. The Sabre Sect was home to a number of outstanding blade-smiths, and most of the weapons other sects of the Jianghu4“The Chinese word jianghu (江湖) literally translates to “rivers and lakes” but it means so much more. Jianghu is the name of the brotherhood of outsiders that existed in old China. It is the counterculture society of workers who made their living with the skill of their own two hands: craftsmen, beggars, thieves, street performers, fortune tellers, wandering healers, and many martial artists. In ancient China, where education was valued over physical ability, this was the lowest rank of social order. Mainstream society belonged to the Confucian scholar-officials. Its underbelly was the jianghu. The jianghu has inspired countless numbers of novels and movies. Jianghu tradition still influences martial arts to this day.” — https://daoistgate.com/jianghu-the-hidden-world/ A very good short article!! used came from the Sabre Sect.
The disciples of the Sabre Sect were also good at wielding their blades. They had two sets of techniques, one rigid and one flexible, which were used to overcome both sides of the spectrum. By combining flexibility with rigidity, they had a particularly formidable swordsmanship, allowing them to be called the best Sabre practitioners in the Wulin.
Xi Yang’s blade skills were extraordinary. His heart was full of chivalry and compassion. Such a talented young man met with a despicable character leading to a lifetime of misfortune.
On the surface, the scum man Wei Wenbin was a disciple of the Sabre Sect’s blade-forging elders, but actually, he was a spy sent by the Demonic Sect.
He disguised himself as sunny and kind inside the sect, and when Xi Yang drank too much on his father’s birthday, Wei Wenbin took the initiative to send him back to his room and took advantage of his drunkenness to sleep with him.
After waking up with a flustered look from having made a drunken fumble with Xi Yang, he panicked and was at a loss. Xi Yang was a responsible individual and had courted him ever since.
Wei Wenbin seized every opportunity to make Xi Yang become more and more in love with him and gain his trust in order to obtain deeper access to the secrets of the sect.
Once Wei Wenbin had finished mapping out the Sabre Sect, he sent a message back to the Demonic Sect and cooperated with them from the inside to conquer the famous Sabre Sect, confining the Sabre swordsmith masters and killing the ones who were unwilling to submit.
The sect master, who was a strong and upright individual, fought to the end and lost his life. Many disciples also preferred to die rather than join the Demonic Sect. Xi Yang was naturally unwilling to submit and determined to fight to the end. However, he was knocked out by Wei Wenbin and brought back to the Demonic Sect.
After Xi Yang woke up, he realized that it was his mistaken trust in others that led to the destruction of his sect and had no wish to live, not to mention being subject to the Demonic Sect.
Since Wei Wenbin used the captured sword masters and his younger disciples to threaten him, he could only endure but also refused to give Wei Wenbin any more positive attitude.
Wei Wenbin was born in the Demonic Sect and learned many methods to soften Xi Yang step by step. Although Xi Yang was unwilling to participate in anything related to the Demonic Sect and would not step out of the courtyard despite the torture, he also accepted Wei Wenbin again.
Xie Chenyang tidied up his clothes and put on his boots; the original’s refined eyebrows that now belonged to Xie Chenyang were contracted into a furious expression.
“Host? Restrain the murderous aura around your body a bit.”
“Restrain it for what? My sect has been decimated–I should be in a murderous mood right now.”
“…Xi Yang’s Internal Force5Internal Energy (内力 nèilì) (內劲 nèijìn) – also called Inner Energy, Internal Strength, Internal Power, or Internal Force. The cultivated energy within a martial artist’s body. Utilizing it, a martial artist can accomplish superhuman feats of speed, agility, strength, endurance, etc… It can even be used to heal wounds and nullify poisons. — https://immortalmountain.wordpress.com/glossary/wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/#martialarts was crippled by Wei Wenbin.”
“Even without my Internal Force, there are still my sword skills.” Xie Chenyang rubbed the calluses from years of sword practice on his right hand. “Xi Yang’s sword skills are imprinted in my mind. I feel that I can still fight one against ten even if I don’t have any of my Internal Force.”
System: “… ” It is for certain–the host’s innate weapon should be a sabre.
Just when it thought he was going to rush out and kill everyone, Xie Chenyang sat back down on the bed. “System, I want to smoke.”
System: “Before you watched Zhai Zhi smoke every day and didn’t have a desire to follow suit, so why do you suddenly want to smoke?”
Xie Chenyang’s mind recalled Zhai Zhi’s effortless expression as he lightly exhaled a puff of smoke, and again said, “I want to smoke.”
System: “You used a lot of credit in your last world, and even though you completed the mission in your last world, you didn’t even break even afterward…”
Xie Chenyang slumped his head.
System: “…Never mind. I’ll redeem a pack of cigarettes for you without calculating any interest.”
Xie Chenyang raised his head and grinned. “Thank you, System, hahaha.” Xie Chenyang had seen Zhai Zhi smoking every day, but he didn’t know how to smoke himself. Under the guidance of the system, he finally mastered it with a handsome smoking posture.
System: “How are you feeling?”
Xie Chenyang let out a lungful of smoke. “It feels like I have Zhai Zhi’s taste in my mouth every time I breathe in between drags.”
System: “… ” After experiencing a few more worlds, you’ll know that the person you had a one-world love affair with is just one of the many passersby throughout your long life.
Xie Chenyang smoked two cigarettes in a row before getting up. “How many people are there outside?”
“There are two people guarding the entrance to the room and two more outside the courtyard gate.”
“What time is it now?”
“It’s dusk and dinnertime.”
Xie Chenyang scanned around, trying to find something that could be used as a weapon.
System: “By the way, there’s another person in the room next to yours.”
Xie Chenyang gave a start. “Which side?”
“To the east.”
Xie Chenyang pressed himself against the wooden wall on the east side and quietly spoke, “The friend next door, are you there? Were you also captured by Demonic Sect?” There was no response from behind the wall.
Xie Chenyang muttered to himself, “Could it be that they’ve fainted?” As soon as he spoke, he quickly sidestepped. A jian6(剑 jiàn) – a double-edged, straight sword. stabbed through, and with a twist, the wooden wall split open.
Xie Chenyang turned around and picked up a vase before hurling it at the room’s doorway , cursing loudly, ”Demonic Sect snakes! Assholes! If you have the ability, let me free and we’ll have a proper fight!”
The two people guarding outside looked at each other and sneered mockingly, disregarding him.
Xie Chenyang grabbed a few more vases in the room and smashed them while cursing. He waited until the wooden wall was opened up by the sword. Then a young man dressed in indigo blue appeared with the jian.
Xie Chenyang paused, his heart tightening. The youth’s brows flared over his narrow phoenix eyes, which should’ve been sharp and unrestrained;but the expression that appeared in those eyes was bland, and there wasn’t a hint of emotional ups and downs when he saw Xie Chenyang.
It was a completely different face from Zhai Zhi. It didn’t give off the same feeling either. But Xie Chenyang clutched his heart, instinctively feeling that it was him. [System! System!]
System: “What?”
[It’s Zhai Zhi!]
System: “You’ve misidentified the man. He’s so unlike…”
[He is! My intuition tells me that he is!]
The other youth’s cold eyes stirred slightly when he saw him. “Xi Yang?” The voice was clear and crisp.
Xie Chenyang stepped forward and grabbed his hand. “Ah-zhi…”
Without struggling away, the youth said indifferently, “You’ve recognized the wrong person, I’m7在下 zài xià ; myself (humble) Wei Jin8he name of the ML can be read as either ‘Kui’ or ‘Wei’. After some debate (and reading ahead) we chose to use ‘Wei’..”
Xie Chenyang felt him stiffen slightly and withdrew his hand.
Wei Jin concealed the hand that had been held behind his back. “By the time I heard the news about your Sabre Sect and rushed over, it was already too late.”
System: “Wei Jin is a swordsman who’s been practicing diligently on the mountain behind the Sabre Sect. He doesn’t have deep ties with the Sabre Sect, but he does recognize it, as the jian in his hands was made by the Sabre Sect.”
Xie Chenyang never denied his instincts. But the man in front of him no longer recognized him. He suppressed the urge to pounce on him and grinned. “You’re here to save me?”
Wei Jin saw his bright smile and brushed his fingers on the hilt of his jian. “No. But now that I’ve seen you, I will do so.” Wei Jin’s hand tightened as he held onto his jian’s pommel. This was not the first time he had met Xi Yang. But for some reason this time, there was a sense that he was meeting him for the first time.
Xie Chenyang: “Shall we break out of this place together?” Xie Chenyang’s complexion was actually not very good.
He’d been stripped of his internal energy and his injuries hadn’t healed yet, leaving him with very little color to his face.
Wei Jin lowered his eyes. “We’ll wait for darkness.”
It was nearing nightfall. Xie Chenyang quirked up the corner of his lips. “Well then, let’s rest here for a while.”
As there were still guards outside, they kept their voices low. Wei Jin did not respond.
Xie Chenyang went back to the bed and sat down, gripping the sheets tightly. [System, tell me. Is there any chance that he is Zhai Zhi?]
The system was not flustered at all. It had carried many hosts, and naturally, it had experienced numerous obstacles.
Without hesitation, it bluntly said, “I don’t know if he is Zhai Zhi, but, if a certain price is paid, it is possible for him to follow along with you in every life, only without his memories.”
[What’s the price?]
System: “I honestly do not know what the exact cost is, and neither can I tell if they’re indeed the same person or not. I’m just telling you that it’s a possibility.”
[So, when he died, he also met a System and then paid some sort of price that made him unable to save his memories, but allowed him to follow me no matter which world I went to?]
System: “I can’t tell you any more about this; all I can say is that if he and Zhai Zhi are the same person, then he doesn’t have a system to help him and he has no memories other than his current world’s persona.”
[One last question.]
System: “Ask.”
[Did he…was he reincarnated as Wei Jin and started from scratch?]
System: “If he and Zhai Zhi are one and the same, then he would have arrived after you made it to this world… but he doesn’t have any other memories, only Wei Jin’s… so he IS Wei Jin.”
Xie Chenyang raised his head. Wei Jin was leaning against the wall with his sword in his arms and his eyes closed. [Will he follow me through every world?]
The system impatiently said, “Yeah.”
Geez9真是的 zhēn shi de Really! (interj. of annoyance or frustration), there’s always these “family members” who will send people out to live out their lives, but don’t feel comfortable and have to follow them!
It remembered a host of his once; in every life, his father went after him, not helping, just to meddle in his tasks. He was not allowed to do this, not allowed to do that, and almost forced its host to commit patricide.
He had no memory yet, still the father did this.
Is a father such a trollish10骚 sāo trouble; disturbance; rumpus; flirty; coquettish Trollish: A person who deliberately does things to make another angry, usually online where there are few repercussions. thing?
[He really does love me.]
[System, you’re an excellent system. I’ll definitely give you a glowing review when all my quests are complete!]
At the time of binding, the system’s spiel to Xie Chenyang was that completing all the world’s quests would give him eternal life with no need to run around again and settle in a beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful paradise.
System: “Thank you.”
—- Nightfall —-
— Outside the door of the room. —
Demonic Sect disciple: “It’s already dark. Go in and light his lamp.”
“It makes no difference if we light it or not.”
“Just light it. Maybe Hall Master11堂 主 táng zhǔ –Hall Master, usually refers to a management level of a non-governmental organization such as a sect or gang. Their status in the organization is generally second only to that of the leader or gang leader. They are also leaders in online games. Wei will come over to see him tonight.”
“I don’t know whether Hall Master Wei will ever get tired of playing with him. There are so many orthodox disciples and he has to pick just one guy to play with. It’s really…”
“Shut up. Go light his lamp.”
The Demonic Sect disciple took out the key and opened the door. Just as he pushed the door open, a silver light flashed before his eyes, and in the next moment, blood gushed out of his neck. He fell to the ground with a thud.
“What…” The other Demonic Sect disciple barely managed to draw his sword as he entered before his throat was also severed with a slash of a sword.
Wei Jin flicked the blood off his jian and walked out.
Xie Chenyang chose one of the sabres from the downed guards and followed after him. “Ah-Jin, since you came all the way to Demonic Sect, is there something you wanted to do?”
In response to his intimate address, Wei Jin only furrowed his brows slightly for a short moment but did not refute his words. “I’ll bring you out first.”
Xie Chenyang raised the sabre in his hand. “Although I’ve been deprived of my inner strength, I haven’t become a waste because of it. If you have something to do, you should go and do it. I must rescue the others who were captured and brought in from my Sect.”
“Do as you wish.” Wei Jin lightly touched down his toes and lithely dashed off.
By the time Xie Chenyang reached the courtyard door, the two men guarding there had also fallen to the ground. Xie Chenyang whistled as he stared at the man standing with a jian. [Worthy of being my lover, impressive].
System: “… ” There’s no need to inform me, thank you.
Well that was an adventure in translating! I’m not too familiar with Wuxia as a reader so this took me a couple weeks to be happy with this chapter! Lots of research and waffling over whether to use pinyin or English names for things. Rants were had at friends over how some things got blanket translated as certain things *chough*sword or knife for every weapon*chough*, and how that made me realize how many details in other stories I may have missed due to things getting generalized during translation! (Also had me going back to chapter 8 and check the line where XCY talks about how he can wield a 1000 jin sword while carrying poor ZZ up the stairs…. yup I had messed that line up. It was ‘1000 jin broadsword/large dao’. So that was fixed)
Also I want to say, XCY wielding a dao fits his character type as the Dao blade indicates the wielder has a wild type of personality and is less constrained. (There are also many types of Daos) Then the straight double edge sword that the ML is wielding is thought of as elegant and by-the-rules. Very heroic.
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux-choux
New Names!?
Starting every arc the MC’s Body will have a new name, but his soul stays as Xie Chenyang! On the same trend, the ML’s name will change every arc but the un-named soul stays the same! Here are the new names and meanings!
Main
MC – Xi Yang (奚阳) / Xie Chenyang
奚 Xī surname Xi
阳 yáng positive (electric.); sun; male principle (Taoism); Yang, opposite: 陰|阴[yin1] ☯
ML Wei Jin (隗津)
隗 Kuí surname Kui; Zhou Dynasty vassal state
Wěi surname Wei
wěi eminent; lofty
津 jīn saliva; sweat; a ferry crossing; a ford (river crossing); abbr. for Tianjin 天津
Side Characters
Scumbag – 魏文彬 Wei Wenbin
魏 Wèi surname Wei
文 wén language; culture; writing; formal; literary; gentle; (old) classifier for coins; Kangxi radical 67
彬 bīn ornamental; refined
Dao/Sabre
Why did I write this as ‘Sabre’ and not ‘Saber’? Well, I wanted to give a distinction between the Western and Eastern versions by using the UK spelling and not the US.Sabre : A short weapon used in cavalry warfare. The saber has a narrow, slightly curved body and a long handle. It can be held with both hands at the same time. A saber is generally light, extremely sharp, and powerful. — Baidu “https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%88%80/171387?fr=ge_ala”
NOT the same thing as a Western Saber!
Dao (pronunciation: [táʊ], English approximation: /daʊ/ dow, Chinese: 刀; pinyin: dāo; jyutping: dou1) are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. They can be straight or curved. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. In China, the dao is considered one of the four traditional weapons, along with the gun (stick or staff), qiang (spear), and the jian (double-edged sword), called in this group “The General of Weapons”. — Wikipedia “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dao_(Chinese_sword)”
side note: Hua Chen’s sword E-Ming is actually a Dao!
Research Links
Here are the all the links that I used to research for this arc!
General Wuxia links
- https://immortalmountain.wordpress.com/glossary/wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/#items
- https://www.wuxiaworld.com/page/general-glossary-of-terms
- https://www.google.com/url?q=https://daoistgate.com/jianghu-the-hidden-world/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1723413227637774&usg=AOvVaw3LgsOTiowjGwva9PWCUznt
Weapons (mentioned in this chapter) -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_sword
- Dao/Sabre
- https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%88%80/171387?fr=ge_ala
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dao_(Chinese_sword)
- Jian
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian
- https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%89%91/1378?fr=ge_ala
