LoCH BOOK 3

[Han Solo]

Thanks for the translations.

Nicely done on the poems.

Han Solo

[Pacifian]

Thanks for the translations.

Nicely done on the poems.

I second that.

[Athos1365]

you've done great "owbjhx" . thanks a lot.

[owbjhx]

Jinyong's "LOCH" (3rd Edition), Chapter 26
Translated by owbjhx

Part 9 of 9

The first two people were Fatty and Skinny, the two beggars who’d attended Yang Kang at Lin’an’s Ox Village. The third person was Yang Kang himself. Poking his head up, he got a big shock at the sudden sight of Guo Jing, still alive; after a moment of panic, he abruptly turned back and descended the stairs in terror, speaking about something as he left. Fatty followed him down, but Skinny went over to the table of the three beggars and said a few things to them in a low voice. The three immediately stood up and departed down the stairs. Meanwhile, the beggar sitting on the floor just carried on eating, taking no notice of them at all.

Huang Rong went over to the window and looked down from it, seeing Yang Kang – thronged by a dozen beggars – departing westward. He hadn’t gone far when he turned his head and glanced up. Happening to make eye contact with Huang Rong, he looked away instantly and quickened his pace.

The beggar, having finished eating his meal, licked the bottom of the bowl clean and clear with his extended tongue, gave his chopsticks a few wipes on his clothing, and put everything into a pocket. Huang Rong looked at him carefully. His face, covered with wrinkles, expressed anxiety and hardship; his hands were unusually big – almost double those of an ordinary person – and on their backs were raised blue veins, attesting to a lifetime of hard toil.

Guo Jing stood up and folded his hands in respect. “Senior,” he said, “please take a seat and we can have a talk.”

“I’m not used to sitting on stools!” laughed the beggar. “You two are the disciples of Chief Hong; although you’re young, we’re actually in the same generation. But as I’m older by several years, you can address me as ‘big brother’. My name’s ‘Lu’; I’m called ‘Lu Youjiao’.”

Guo Jing and Huang Rong cast a glance at each other, both thinking: “So he already knows our background!”

“Big Brother Lu,” said Huang Rong with a smile, “this name of yours really is interesting!”

Lu Youjiao answered: “It’s often said: ‘A pauper without a stick gets harassed by the dogs.’ I’m indeed without a stick, but what I do have is a pair of stinky feet. If a doggie comes to harass me, I take aim straight at the mongrel’s head, and that son-of-a-b***h gets a foot like so! Then, it’s off running to the wilds with its tail between its legs.”

Huang Rong laughed and clapped her hands. “Super, super!” she said. “If dogs knew the meaning of your name, they’d always be keeping their distance!”

“From what Brother Li Sheng’s been saying,” remarked Lu Youjiao, “I know the deeds the two of you did at Baoying. ‘Having ideals comes not from having advanced years; lacking ideals, one lives to a hundred in vain.’ How true! It really is a cause for admiration. No wonder Chief Hong has favoured you like this!” Guo Jing rose and demurred modestly.

Lu Youjiao continued: “Just now, I heard you two chatting about Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Gang. It seems you’re very much unaware of his circumstances.”

“True,” said Huang Rong. “I ought to ask for your advice.”

“Qiu Qianren is the Chief of the Iron Palm Gang,” said Lu Youjiao. “This Gang holds huge influence in the regions of Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan. The Gang’s hordes commit murder and robbery; there’s no evil they won’t do. At first, they used to collaborate with local officials. Now, they’re getting nastier and nastier – bringing out the cash to bribe ministers, they’re starting to become officials themselves. Even more despicable is their secret liaison with the Jin nation, with whom they’ve struck a deal to work from within in accord with those outsiders.”

“That oldie Qiu Qianren is only good at tricking people,” said Huang Rong. “How’d he be able to handle such serious power?”

“Qiu Qianren is dangerous in the extreme!” insisted Lu Youjiao. “You ought not to look askance at him, miss.”

Huang Rong smiled. “Have you met him?” she asked.

“As it turns out, no,” admitted Lu Youjiao. “I hear he lives in seclusion among obscure mountains, practicing The Divine Art of the Iron Palm; he hasn’t descended for at least a decade.”

“You’ve been tricked!” said Huang Rong, laughing. “I’ve met him a few times. I’ve even fought him. And as for whatever ‘Divine Art of the Iron Palm’…” Remembering how Qiu Qianren had feigned diarrhoea and run away, all she could do was just gaze at Guo Jing and giggle.

Lu Youjiao gave her a stern look. He stated: “Although I’m not aware of what dirty tricks they’ve been playing, the Iron Palm Gang has rather flourished in recent years; you really ought not to belittle them lightly.”

“Well said, Big Brother Lu!” offered Guo Jing hurriedly, worried he was getting angry. “Rong’er just loves to joke around.”

“Since when was I joking around?” said Huang Rong with a laugh. Clutching her abdomen and imitating Qiu Qianren’s voice, she added: “Ouch, ouch! I’ve got a stomach-ache!” Her antics made Guo Jing recall that particular spectacle, and he couldn’t help letting out a laugh too.

Huang Rong saw he was laughing as well, but instantly restrained her mirth and changed the subject by asking: “Big Brother Lu, are you acquainted with those three who were dining here just now?”

Lu Youjiao gave a sigh. “The two of you aren’t outsiders,” he said, “so you may have already heard Chief Hong mention the internal division of our Gang into two groups: the ‘Clean Clothes’ and ‘Dirty Clothes’ factions.”

“Haven’t heard teacher talk of it,” said Guo Jing and Huang Rong together.

“The division within the Gang is fundamentally not a good thing,” said Lu Youjiao. “Chief Hong is extremely unhappy about it. His Eminence has expended an enormous amount of thought and effort, but all along hasn’t been able to get these two factions to join together as one. Now, under Chief Hong, the Beggar Gang has four elders in all…”

“This I’ve heard teacher mention,” interjected Huang Rong. Because Hong Qigong was still in this world, she didn’t want to raise the issue of him having charged her with taking over the Chief’s position.

Lu Youjiao nodded his head. “I’m the fourth-ranked elder,” he continued. “All those three who were here just now are also elders.”

“I get it!” said Huang Rong. “You’re the head of the ‘Dirty Clothes’ faction, and they’re of the ‘Clean Clothes’ faction!”

“Eh? How did you know?” asked Guo Jing.

“Look how dirty Big Brother Lu’s clothes are!” said Huang Rong. “But the others’ clothes were really clean. Big Brother Lu, I reckon the ‘Dirty Clothes’ faction are no good; dressing so stinkily, so sloppily – it isn’t comfortable in the slightest! People in this faction of yours should wash their clothes more often. Wouldn’t that just make both factions the same?”

Lu Youjiao was furious. “You’re a little miss from a moneyed family,” he fumed. “Of course you’d be annoyed by stinking beggars!” With a stamp of a foot, he stood up. Guo Jing moved to apologise for the offence, but the angry Lu Youjiao just stormed off down the stairs, without even turning his head.

Huang Rong stuck out her tongue. “Jing gege,” she said, “I offended that Big Brother Lu. Don’t tell me off.”

Guo Jing just smiled.

Huang Rong added: “I was really worried just now.”

“Worried about what?” said Guo Jing.

Huang Rong had a serious expression. “Just worried he’d lift up his foot and give you a kick. Wouldn’t that have been awful for you?”

“Why’d he kick me all of a sudden?” asked Guo Jing. “Even if you said something to offend him, there’s still no use kicking people.”

Huang Rong, pursing her lips with a slight smile, didn’t respond. Guo Jing just sat there in stupefaction, pondering uncomprehendingly.

Huang Rong sighed, and said: “Why don’t you think a little about what his name implies?”

Guo Jing had a sudden realisation. “So!” he shouted. “This is your roundabout way of calling me a dog!” He leaped up, motioning to tickle her as punishment. Huang Rong, giggling, dodged his outstretched hands.

-

[Huang Rong]

Thanks so much, owbjhx. So Chapter 26 is finished already.
I wonder who undertakes Chapter 27?

[owbjhx]

Well, that's it from me. I'd like to thank all the readers once again for the appreciation. Enjoy the rest of the novel!

(Chapter 27 will be translated by a combination of Bundak plus Super-foxs_.)

[KChill]

Dude, you did a super job. Those were HUGE chunks of text. And the poems even made sense in translation! Many thanks to you.....

[Goobernaculum]

Excellent translation. Much appreciated.

[JamesG]

WELL DONE owbjhx! Some very touching moments in this chapter. Jin Yong was masterful at making the deaths of MCF and LMC bring a lump to your throat.

[Yang Chong]

Thanks owbjhx .

Completind a chapter in sucha short time is really very commendable of you . The translation was wonderful . Thanks again . Looking forward to your translations in the future .

[morbiuz666]

thank you very much owbjhx! you did great! i bow down to your devotion and skills

[foxs]

Folks,

First of all, I’d like to thank owbjhx for a job well done. I also saw that he has posted the chapter at in LoCH Unabridged thread. Thank you.

Second, I’d like to thank Bundak for his effort in helping me with Part 1 & 2 of this chapter.

Third, as of today, I haven’t finished translating this chapter yet, but I am working on it. From what I’ve got, it should be no more than 10 parts with about 1600-1650 words each.

Fourth, with all due respect to owbjhx, I decided to keep ‘Beggar Clan’ as it is, because number one, according to Meriam-Webster dictionary, the second definition of ‘Clan’ is: a group united by a common interest or common characteristics; number two, I am too lazy to change all references of ‘Clan’ to ‘Gang’. To the editors: you are welcome to use either Clan or Gang. (Personally, the word ‘gang’ has a rather negative connotation to me; I don’t know why, perhaps because each time the word gang is used in the media, it usually refers to some criminal activities)

Fifth, I am aware of my limitation, I can’t translate all names and poetry perfectly (owbjhx’s poems not only made sense, they rhyme!) so I give the literal translation and let you, the readers and editors, to decide on what those words actually mean. I am sure James, Bangs, dgfsd and Athena will make necessary corrections. I always welcome any corrections and suggestions. Owbjhx, would you like to help me translating those poems? If so, I will send you the poems ahead of each chapter, if there is any.

IcyFox, I am not aware of any holes; at least from chapter 12 to now. But if James is not nagging us, that means it is complete.

Enjoy!

[foxs]

Chapter 27 – In front of the Xuanyuan Platform

Part 1 – Translated by Bundak & Foxs, Edited by Eliza Bennet

Moved to Chapter 27 – In front of the Xuanyuan Platform

[IcyFox]

IcyFox, I am not aware of any holes; at least from chapter 12 to now. But if James is not nagging us, that means it is complete.

Roger that!


Thread Contents page updated on 13/01/2007 at 2200 Hours. Happy Valentine's Day!

[foxs]

Moved to Chapter 27 – In front of the Xuanyuan Platform

[IcyFox]

Hmmm, is Sunnysnow taking any of the later chapters?

[KChill]

So no matter what your level of skill is, you're not immune to being hogtied and muzzled.....Hope GJ breaks out soon and exposes YK....

[foxs]

Last time I heard she is busy and won't be able to translate for a few months, but she might change her mind, so I'll let Sunnysnow answer for herself.
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Chapter 27 – Part 3
Translated by Foxs, Edited by Eliza Bennet

Moved to Chapter 27 – In front of the Xuanyuan Platform

[KChill]

Man, Yang Kang is a cowardly chump.....

[Athos1365]

Oh brother....I just wanna kill this little rat (yang kang).
thanks foxs. keep up the good work.