I felt like translating something today so here is something by Huang Yi. I don't know if I like the first person perspective too much. Although it gives you much more insight into the main character, it leaves much to be desired when considering scenery and other characters.
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Chapter 1 - Escape the Empire
I ran like mad, rushing towards the concealing canopy of the towering forest, stumbling repeatedly until both my knees finally gave out. I fell forward and sprawled, completely layed out on the ground. My head landed and rested in the ice-cold mud.
For the moment I was temporarily safe.
I couldn't hear the sound of pursuing soldiers. This boosted my confidence; although they will overtake me sooner or later, but if you run away you still have a slim chance of survival. Sitting and waiting for death doesn't follow my disposition. My rapid breathing made it seem as if I could never fill my lungs with air again while intermittent waves of dizziness overtook me. I was moving on sheer willpower alone. Iddidn't want to be captured like a filthy pig, only to be brought back to face the governor. That tyrant has no regard for human life!
The sound of footsteps was fed to my ear by the blowing wind. The bark of a wicked dog rang out and my heart began to tremble. I naturally put my hand back to grasp the hilt of the long sword that I carry. If it were one on one none of them could beat me, including the one honored, after my father "Blue Mausoleum", as the best swordsman "Black Widow" Lian Lijun. She and I have never fought, but I have perfect self-confidence in my swordsmanship.
With clenched teeth I began to crawl, then I staggered to rush towards knee high grass covering the forest floor. Soon the vegetation all around me was getting more and more dense. I drew out my treasured sword, that was as close to me as flesh and blood, and furiously began to clear an escape path. My muscles quickly became so weary they couldn't move. They were completely numb, and soon only my will kept me going. If I hadn't received strict training in the sword since my childhood, I would already have laid down and given up. Soon I emerged from the dense grass, but my foot suddenly walked on empty air. Originally I was travelling down a gradual slope that ended with and abrupt drop. Exhausted to the point of death how could I possibly do something as simple as keep my balance? A human ball rolled down from the top of the hill, and who knows how many plants were crushed in its path. *SPLASH* I finally fell into an icy cold current of moving water. The water had a vicious current that quickly flushed me down its course. In the blink of an eye it carried me more than a hundred yards.
The sound of pursuing soldiers rapidly disappeared as I was carried far away. I celebrated my good luck, the water would confuse the dog's sense of smell so they won't be able to find me.
Under such good fortune the river carried me. It carried me down a canyon that cut through the forest. As I left the canyon the current began to slow, and I was able to crawl my way ashore. I couldn't lift myself up again and soon I fainted.
When I woke up it was deep into the night, the sky was filled with many stars. The night has probably grown bored as she has watched the silly struggles of countless people against people. But I was in the middle of such a situation and I needed to bravely fight on.
I felt an unprecedented tranquility within my heart. I acted naively to think I escaped such a dangerous situation. The governor will sacrifice anything to recover that map. I didn't know what the map contained, but I did know it could lead me to a place that can grant one enough power to destroy the entire empire.
What could that thing be? Although my muscles were weary I set out at a crawling pace. I am in far better condition than when I fainted. Outside the canyon I could make out in the starlight a prairie. I walked at the edge of a thinly forested area.
I was suffering from hunger. The most important thing to do tomorrow morning would be to hunt an animal to eat. In the future I will become a fugitive. It will take more than one day to find the "Lost Cemetery" from the map. Only one day on the run means I am still in dangerous territory too.
*Fwoosh!*
I felt a strong breeze from the left.
I quickly dodged to evade the flash.
*CHOCK!* The flashing breeze stopped, inserting itself into a tree to my left. A long arrow with its tail still bobbing up and down was left in its wake.
My hand moved, the sword appeared in my left hand. I was secretly startled, if the governor's soldiers have already arrived then maybe I can use my resourcefulness and talk my way out, but if they want me to go back then I will fight unyieldingly to the death. I have no other options.