A step into the past - 寻秦记 - by Huang Yi

[ycb5959]

Made my weekend !

[Disbol]

"Using a combination of hard and soft tactics to keep up the pressure" I got to remember that phrase, when dealing with people for now on.

Thanks Justin13, for bring a smile to my day.

[chowbeng]

He got into her room already....what a player!

[dragon21]

Dear Justin, Lady Jean, and all translator for all the translation
Its really amazing this huge novel already being translated almost finished

And Justin, congrats also as now Singapore Sky is clear
I got a pics sent by my Singaporean Friend showing the sky today

And yes, Singapore should sue the Indonesia company as I believe this is not the first time
and it will happen again
And who knows the health damage that is already happen


Thanks again Justin

[Anh Nam]

Thanks Justin

[Justin13]

Thanks for all the concern about the haze. I will take care of myself. We have about 44 chapters left.
Like Xiang Shaolong committing himself to save the courtesans, I have made a similar dedication earlier
to finish this book. So let's do it together!

My own proverb: Without students, a school is nothing; Without readers, a translator is nothing.



Feng Fei sat down by his side with a kind expression. She gently inquired: “What do you want me to tell you?”

Xiang Shaolong interrogated: “Since Mistress has the courage to go to Lin Zi, there must be someone guaranteeing your safety. Who is this person?”

Feng Fei delayed: “There is indeed such a person. Can I reveal his identity at a more suitable time in the future?”

Xiang Shaolong does not want to push his luck and nodded: “Fine. After the disbandment of the Song & Dance Troupe, may I ask what are Mistress’s plans for the other courtesans and where is Mistress intending to retire to?”

Showing signs of hesitation, Feng Fei lightly exhaled: “I have made appropriate plans for them. Can Manager Shen not interfere in these matters?”

Xiang Shaolong was irritated: “How can I ignore this matter? Right now, all the courtesans are feeling restless precisely because they are worried about their future. I, Shen Liang, may be down and out but my fighting spirit has not deserted me. I will not allow Mistress to destroy their (courtesans) future.”

The captivating eyes of Feng Fei flashed with anger before calming down. She dolefully justified: “We are all forced by circumstances and some things cannot be prevented. If that lass Dong Shuzen did not leak the news of my retirement, there would not be so many complicated matters right now.”

Xiang Shaolong clarified: “I believed you have misunderstood Second Mistress. Based on my analysis, it is probably Zhang Quan who leaked this information to Lu Buwei and Lu Buwei intentionally broadcasted this news, thereby creating the conditions for him to openly seize you for his own gratification.”

Feng Fei appeared to be deep in thought. Subsequently, she insisted with determination: “But I have already given my word to somebody about the future of Dong Shuzen and the courtesans. This cannot be changed. Moreover, this person is someone I dare not offend.”

Xiang Shaolong could not be bothered: “There is nothing in the world that cannot be changed. Putting this aside for the time being, Mistress has yet to answer my question.”

Feng Fei whined: “Must I really answer you? As long as you bring me out of Lin Zi without anyone’s knowledge, there will be a person to receive me and you can walk away a free man. On top of that, you will be handsomely rewarded and need not worry about money for the rest of your life.”

Flapping his sleeve, Xiang Shaolong stood up: “At the end of the day, you are still unwilling to trust me. I know Tian Dan is somewhat involved and he must be the same person who is supposed to guarantee your safety. That explains your earlier anxiety and why you are treating me with such kindness! Forget it! From this moment on, we have nothing to do with each other.”

Feng Fei was utterly shocked and in a moment of fear, she hugged him and wailed: “There is nothing I can hide from you. Heavens, what kind of person are you? Pray take your seat again and let us discuss this further.”

Xiang Shaolong scorned: “This is just a simple assumption. Since you have someone in Lin Zi guaranteeing your safety, why do you need Shen Liang (me) around?”

Feng Fei placed her exquisite face against his wide chest and gave a flustered response: “You are able to make a correct guess because you are aware of the friendship between Lu Buwei and Tian Dan. Ai, if not for Lu Buwei personally telling me that Tian Dan will guarantee my safety, I would not have made this trip to Lin Zi. I did not expect Lu Buwei to harbor such hideous motives.”

Xiang Shaolong reminded: “You must not forget that I have served both Great General Lian (Po) and Prince Wuji. Of course I will know about Lu Buwei and Tian Dan’s partnership. Both of them are lustful perverts while the ladies in the Song & Dance Troupe are all rare beauties; how can they not bear malicious intentions? Even if your safety is guaranteed by someone else, unless he is your lover, it will probably be another trap.”

Feng Fei’s world came crashing down and she is using all her strength to hug him tightly. She mourned: “What should I do?”

Ever since she discovered that Zhang Quan is working for Lu Buwei, her normal confidence and calmness have vanished into thin air. Xiang Shaolong lent his support to her and simply questioned: “First of all, you must tell me the truth. Besides Lu Buwei, is there anyone else who is interested in you?”

An embarrassed Feng Fei straightened her posture in front of him. With a complicated look in her eyes, she confessed: “It is obviously someone with considerable standing. On this trip to Qi, the cause of my greatest worry is Zongsun Long. He does not hold any official appointment but his influence in Qi is not below Tian Dan. The talented men serving him are immeasurable and he supports the Second Prince Tian Jian. He is at loggerheads with Tian Dan who supports the First Prince Tian Sheng. When I was in Daliang (Wei Capital), he came all the way to look for me but was harshly rebuffed by myself. Disillusioned, he took his leave and swore an oath that since he is unable to lay his hands on me, others can forget about doing the same.”

Xiang Shaolong frowned: “Are you referring to that bloodthirsty loan shark?”

Feng Fei is no longer surprised at his wealth of knowledge. She nodded: “That is the man. It is rumoured that his net worth has exceeded that of Wu Shijie and he has spies, followers and debtors in every state. Now you can understand the reason for my uneasiness.”

Xiang Shaolong quizzed: “And who is the man unafraid of Zongsun Long?”

Feng Fei whispered: “He is Han Chuang. You should have heard of his name!”

Xiang Shaolong rolled his eyes: “Han Chuang?”

Feng Fei was astonished: “You know him personally?”

Xiang Shaolong lied: “I have heard of this person but did not expect it to be him. This man is famous for his lust. How you can trust a man like that?”

Feng Fei divulged: “He may hanker after pleasures of the flesh but he is quite a nice person. Since we are talking about him, I might as well tell you everything! I have pledged to reward him with Dong Shuzen and the courtesans, as a form of thanking him for his aid. There, I have told you everything.”

Xiang Shaolong prompted: “There is just one more thing. Who is Mistress’s secret lover?”

Feng Fei contemplated for some time before she suddenly embraced him around his shoulder and waist, gently demanding: “I can tell you who he is but you must swear not to tell anyone else.”

Xiang Shaolong was stunned and forcefully held back his own desire to embrace her in return. He proceeded to give his word and Feng Fei dreamily disclosed: “This man is famous beyond words. Recently, he created plenty of trouble for the Six Eastern States.”

Xiang Shaolong can feel his head becoming numb. Could it be that Feng Fei is in love with himself? Is she heading to Qin to find him after disbanding the Troupe? Feng Fei announced: “He is Xiang Shaolong, the most feared man amongst the Six Eastern States.”

Despite expecting her to mention his own name, Xiang Shaolong could not help but shuddered: “Does he love you?”

Feng Fei raised her face and look at him, astounded: “What are you asking such a strange question?”

Xiang Shaolong suddenly realized that she is still keeping this secret from him and is just using another name to satisfy his curiosity. His mind evaluating her words like a super computer, he is confident that her secret lover cannot be himself. Otherwise, Dan Meimei would have told him so.

At the same time, he concluded that this person is from Qin. All he has to do is to escort her back to Xianyang and she can reunite with her lover. He joked: “In this case, I will have to deliver you to Zhongmou.”

In his mind, he could understand her reason for keeping this an absolute secret. If the mystery man’s identity is exposed, Lu Buwei will surely kill him. Recalling the time at Drunken Wind Brothel when she was supposed to assassinate himself but subsequently changed her mind, it could be due to her newfound love with this man. This man could be the same reason behind her desire to retire and settle down. As anticipated, Feng Fei objected: “No! He has given instructions for me to wait for him in Xianyang. All you need to do is to send me to Xianyang.”

Enraged, Xiang Shaolong locked Feng Fei in a bear hug and wildly kissed her with a vengeance. Feng Fei put up a fierce struggle but eventually capitulated to his warm lips. There were signs of resistance but she ultimately accepted this invasion. Breaking the kiss, he scanned her perfect complexion and well-defined features before elaborating: “This is me punishing Mistress for withholding information from me. You can hate me all you like but presently, only I, Shen Liang, am able to prevent you from being Zongsun Long’s prisoner. Except for me, anybody else would have a hidden agenda for helping you.”

Feng Fei’s shapely body turned into jelly and collapsed into his bosom: “Don’t you have a hidden agenda too?”

Since she did not deny lying to him, Xiang Shaolong retained his goodwill towards her. Putting his arms around her shoulder, he advised: “If I had come to you with ill intentions, I can easily force myself on you, taking Mistress’s precious chastity right now. Think about it!” Finishing his words, he strode off.

Although he is unable to explain it, Xiang Shaolong can feel his heart brimming with happiness. Ever since Li Mu beat him to a pulp and causing him to lead a fugitive life, all his accumulated frustration has been released in that one long kiss. He can feel his fighting spirit soaring, reminding him of the time he disguised himself as Dong Horse Fanatic, and heading to Handan City to capture Zhao Mu. The only difference is that besides Xiao Yuetan aiding him, he can only depend on the sword hanging around his waist. He may have to hide his sword as someone may identify him through it. In this moment, he made up his mind to indulge in another round with Lu Buwei and Tian Dan. No matter what, he must do his best to liberate these oppressed ladies. This is his way of giving back to society.

[ycb5959]

Thanks for the unexpected chapter!

[Sunterjo]

Justin, Thanks!!!...In this hazy days, you make all of us here enjoy week end better with our reading of XSL...Cant help in checking every half an hour....

[tweety365]

Justin, hope you and everyone affected by the fire and smoke are safe and doing well.

Gosh, Feng Fei is so selfish and evil. Not very smart either. She sold her employees to a lecherous man in order to pave a safe route for herself after retirement. What a horrible thing to do to your employees. So many awful things could happen to them afterward. Yes, she's in a difficult situation herself, but at the very least try to think of something. Can't just abandon ship when you are the captain. Plus, how the heck can Han Chuang fight off powerful men like Lu Buwei and Tian Dan?

Pretty on the outside but rotten inside.

[chowbeng]

No matter what, he must do his best to liberate these oppressed ladies. This is his way of giving back to society.

XSL has a serious hero complex.....

[wuxiacrazy]

Justin,

Without translators, readers will read a lot less. Without translators, some novels, books or articles will be beyond the reach of some readers. Without translators, some readers will have to work much harder in order to get what they want.

Thank you again.

[Anh Nam]

Thank you for translating. After you have finished, you will still keep having new readers. I have been reading this for almost 2 years

[balikpapan]

e-bow down to you, Justin. You are the Shen manager of this thread, and we're those hopeless courtesans depend on you. Well, this sounds gay. But it's about true.

[kohchun]

e-bow down to you, Justin. You are the Shen manager of this thread, and we're those hopeless courtesans depend on you. Well, this sounds gay. But it's about true.

Dude............

[Jaran.Saga]

Justin, thanks for the update...

btw, i've proverb also: without you Justin, translating this great story is thin.

[Justin13]

Book 22 Chapter 07 Ancient Capital Lin Zi

The founding King of Qi is Lu Shang. After King Zhouwu annihilated the Zhou Dynasty and set up Western Zhou, he assigned Lu Shang to Qi and bestowed him the position of Protector Jiang. He built the capital named Yin Qiu but was later renamed Lin Zi.

Surviving through the periods of Western and Eastern Zhou dynasties, Qi remains a vast country with flourishing commerce, coupled with lucrative fishing and salt trade. It is a strong and prosperous nation.

Qi has been a dominant force during the Spring & Autumn Period, mainly due to the efforts of King Qi Henggong and his Premier Guan Zhong. Together, they introduced a set of reforms that strengthened the country significantly. The wealth and growth of the nation is comparable to the Golden Age of Qin. The country is doing well by all accounts and can be considered a superpower.

Another crucial factor is the conquest of the Laiyi Tribe residing at its borders.

As early as when the Protector is conducting his nation building, the Laiyi Tribe, which shares the sea border with Qi, began to launch aggressive attacks. The hostility continued on and off for several years until Qi officially routed them in 567 BC.

Not only did Qi finally rid itself of a persistent thorn in its flesh, the country’s land occupation increased by more than 50%. In addition, it now owns the entire sea border, compared to owning half of it previously.

The people of Qi are known tyrants and constantly harassed the nearby State of Lu and conquer smaller surrounding States. Using the Alliance of Zhaoling, it even managed to wrest control of the State of Zheng from the powerful Chu. Chu is located at the south of Qi.

Due to the alliance and with Qi in the way, Chu is unable to expand northwards and focused their armies on expanding their territory southeast. Qi can only watch on helplessly.

The Alliance of Zhaoling signals the peak of Qi’s military expeditions. In the same breath, it signifies the crowning glory of Qi Henggong and Guan Zhong’s career.

After their two deaths, the authority of Qi descended into a power tussle between five princes. Without a commanding figure, it is now the time for the other States to showcase their might.

During the period of the Warring States, Qi got General Sun Bin to attack Wei in an attempt to save Zhao from Wei’s armies. The invasion was a success and soon, the Qi army has reach Daliang. The next year, the army of Wei was soundly defeated by the army of Qi at Maling. From then on, Qi has replaced Wei as the leading state of eastern China and the States of Wei, Zhao and Han pays tribute to Qi.

With newfound ambition and taking advantage of Yan’s internal strife, Qi invaded Yan and occupied the capital of Yan for three years before recalling their armies.

King Qi Xuan arrogantly proclaimed: “One superpower against another, tasting victory in 5 days.” It is truly a feat that even the powerful Qin has yet to accomplished.

Chu declined in strength and Sanjing was broken up, resulting in Qi and Qin becoming the two strongest states in China. Qi is in the east and Qin is in the west.

Just when Qi was tasting every success and occupying countless new territories, they realized that war had emptied their treasury. Bearing intense hatred for Qi, Yan made use of this golden opportunity to launch a joint attack with Qin, Chu, Wei, Zhao and Han.

Yan General Yue Yi overran Lin Zi and repeated the atrocities Qi inflicted in the capital of Yan thirty years ago. Every single piece of valuable, treasure, carriage or weapon is not spared from plundering. If not for Tian Dan turning the tide and defeating the army of Yan, Lin Zi will be burnt to the ground.

Nevertheless, much of Qi has been pillaged or destroyed, and the country is once again in decline.

By the time Xiang Shaolong arrived in Lin Zi, another thirty years have come and gone. In a similar fashion, Tian Dan has declined from the powerhouse he once was to his twilight years where he faces challenges to his authority.

The City of Lin Zi was built along the west shore of River Zi and is actually two cities linked together, namely Big City and Small City. The total surface area of the Big City and the Small City is approximately sixty square miles.

Within the city, the buildings are grand and imposing. The Qi Palace is situated at the north of the Small City and all major roads are constructed with the palace as a central guideline. The monasteries of Qi and residences of officials are within proximity of the palace. The two sides of the roads are lined with ancient tall trees but their branches are covered with icicles due to the harsh weather.

Although it had suffered the carnages of war, Lin Zi has recovered speedily to become a lively civilization. The city is well populated and the economy is thriving.

As the fleet of ships docked at the east of the city, all the noteworthy officials and men of importance had gathered around, welcoming the world famous courtesan Feng Fei.

A waiting military band began to conjure a friendly tune as Feng Fei elegantly came ashore with Little Ping’er supporting her. Her curvaceous figure, graceful walking style and delicate features left the audience awe-struck.

Following behind Feng Fei are Dong Shuzen and the twelve courtesans, causing everyone to stare at them without blinking.

Xiang Shaolong had identified Tian Dan among the welcoming party and quickly mingled among the family warriors, making it harder to be identified by Tian Dan's sharp observation skills.

In reality, the likelihood of being spotted is not high.

As directed by Xiao Yuetan, he is wearing a worker’s shirt with a woolen lamb fur jacket on the outside. Below his shirt, he is wearing a cloth belt in order to conceal his muscular waist and at the same time, create a fake potbelly.

Standing on the pier, Tian Dan, as well as the rich and powerful residents of Qi, was all dressed either in deer fur coats or fox fur coats. A shirt is worn outside the coat, covering the animal fur, enhancing the exquisiteness of their appearances.

Humans are judged firstly by their external looks. By simply downplaying his dressing, Xiang Shaolong is not as prominent looking as before.

Under Xiao Yuetan’s skillful hands, his facial complexion has darkened and is easily mistaken for a man ten years his senior. The effect is so startling that when looking at his own reflection in a bronze mirror, even Xiang Shaolong cannot believe the difference between his current look and his previously handsome looks.

Xiao Yuetan and Feng Fei are the first batch of people to disembark the ship and were exchanging pleasantries with the welcoming party.

As the sky is still snowing, Feng Fei climbed into her carriage immediately and entered the city under the escort of the Qi soldiers.

Xiang Shaolong dared not ride a horse and sneaked into Xiao Yuetan’s carriage, admiring: “You seemed to be highly respected in Qi.”

Xiao Yuetan humbly begged his pardon before commenting: “We are the prepared (ones) observing the unprepared (ones). I paid extra attention to Tian Dan and except for Feng Fei, he did not bother to look anyone else. Ai! Comparing his looks from the last time I saw him, he seemed to have aged a lot.”

The carriage is moving in a huge convoy, entering the city in an unhurried manner.

Xiao Yuetan educated: “The Big City has 8 city gates. The two horizontal roads going from the east to the west are named Great Eastern Way and Great Western Way, while the two vertical roads running from the north to the south are named Great Southern Way and Great Northern Way. It is rather easy to remember.”

Peering out of the carriage window, Xiang Shaolong thought to himself: Like it or not, I am finally here in Lin Zi; let’s pray I can leave here in one piece!

With a strong wind and snow blowing through the city, there are only a handful of pedestrians. The pedestrians are walking briskly and gazed at the convoy with curiosity.

Xiao Yuetan suggested: “At the intersection of the four Great Ways, there is a district known as ‘Little Lin Zi’. It is the most vibrant and dynamic locality, a must see for all travellers. I will bring you there tonight and join in the festivities!

Xiang Shaolong objected: “Shouldn’t I avoid taking on such a high profile?”

Xiao Yuetan counseled: “The more you try to hide, the more attention you will draw to yourself. Even if you do not provoke the suspicions of outsiders, you will trigger the doubts of Zhang Quan and his men eventually.”

Xiang Shaolong can only agree: “As per your guidance!”

[Justin13]

e-bow down to you, Justin. You are the Shen manager of this thread, and we're those hopeless courtesans depend on you. Well, this sounds gay. But it's about true.

What an interesting parody and welcome back!

[Sunterjo]

Aha...Got 1st...not too bad from my half an hour checking habit tday.....

[ROI]

We have about 44 chapters left.
Like Xiang Shaolong committing himself to save the courtesans, I have made a similar dedication earlier
to finish this book. So let's do it together!

It's sure going to feel strange when this is all I done as I've been checking this thread almost daily for the last few years.

If I may add a note: I believe Sanjing refers to the 3 states Wei, Zhao and Han. They were part of the Jin state that broke up at the start of the Warring States period.

[oo_TLD_oo]

Good stuff, Justin.

Since ROI brought it up, we encountered "三晉" earlier as the Three States Alliance.