Having taught for many decades, I was fortunate to have had two extraordinarily talented disciples.
They were like metal and jade, treasures that can revitalize a clan. It’s a pity we could not use them in the end.
[?]: There was a raid on the prison, and the women were released.
(simplified on the implication of what those women were used for)
[?]: Looks like the handiwork of the Qiang men.
[Yang Ang]: Those idiots. There’s going to be trouble if they enter the city.
[?]: General, bad news!
chapter 593 Even Metal and Stone Can Be Engraved
(from Master Xun, full line context: “If you start carving and give up, you will not be able to break even rotten wood, but if you start carving and do not give up, then you can engrave even metal and stone.”)
[?]: That Jiang kid escaped!
{Zhang Lu’s General-in-Chief, Yang Ang}
[YA]: He is vital to our side. Find him at all cost!
[?]: Listen up! Spies from Ji have infiltrated this place.
[?]: Seal all the exists immediately! Hurry!
I refuse to let the Zhao clan become extinct.
I believe that one day…
{smack~ smack~}
[?]: Cough!
[?]: Cough!
[?]: Cough cough!
[?]: It’s quicklime! My eyes hurt!
(not sure)
[?]: Cough cough cough, go somewhere with more space around!
[Zhao Ang]: We’re in tailwind. It’ll be fine.
[ZA]: This is powder used against grave robbers. Don’t breathe it in!
(not sure)
[ZA]: The guards have arrived. You all should take the right passage to escape.
(simplified)
[ZA]: Sister Yi, assist Sir Wei when you return. We must not let foreigners invade our kingdom!
[ZA]: I know how to help our teacher, so don’t worry.
[Wang Yi]: The people are important, but what about me…? Idiot, if you’re gone,
{grab}
[WY]: what will I live for?
[ZA]: Looks like we’re both idiots.
[ZA]: The defense of Liang made us forget all about the Zhao clan.
[ZA]: If we were to live and die together, we would just have to beg our teacher for forgiveness.
[WY]: Right!
(it’s just a sound of agreement)
Let’s go. We can’t make our teacher face the trouble all by himself.
[?]: Qiji’s Leap, a nice spear move for striking from a distance!
(Qiji is a legendary horse that can travel ten thousand li in a day; also referenced in Master Xun; “Let the horse Qi Ji15 take a single leap, it still would go no farther than ten strides.”)
[?]: Elbow Blade, the closer the deadlier!
(this is like marking commentary on martial arts moves in wuxia stories)
[?]: Brilliant, this is martial arts of the central plains!
[Eighth]: Huff!
[Zhao Zhen]: You haven’t perfected what you’ve learned,
[ZZ]: so you’re not there yet.
The footless teng snake can move like it’s flying,
(quoting Master Xun with minor tweak from me)
while five limbs provide no safety to the wu rodent.
(quoting Master Xun with minor tweak from me; a reader suggests that “wu rodent” might be referring to flying squirrel)
[Eighth]: Huff!
[Ma Chao]: This assassin is all substance without the frills. Too bad Pang De is tied down in the siege of Ji and can’t be here to watch this.
[Yang Qian Wan]: Ma Chao, we are the only two here who know that this Zhao Yun is a fake.
(“…know this Zhao Yun is impersonated”)
[YQW]: Even if he is a skilled martial artist you and Hanzhong have selected,
[YQW]: that old assassin is only getting stronger after killing several of our top warriors.
[YQW]: We should quickly settle this duel while it’s still evenly matched.
[YQW]: Otherwise a loss will weaken Liu Bei’s appeal,
[YQW]: not to mention deflate our morale.
[MC]: I
[MC]: just want someone to get a taste of defeat.
The old man is pulling punches.
{slash~}
That man is reluctant to lose his favored disciple,
and it makes him laughably stupid.
[ZZ]: Zhao Yun of Changshan? The man who frightened Cao Cao?
[ZZ]: Seems like your reputation has been overblown!
{Assistant Officer of Liang Province, Yin Feng}
[ZZ]: Sir Yin Feng, and everyone else who hasn’t made up their mind…
[ZZ]: I’m just a volunteer defender of Ji city, not even worth the fanfare.
[ZZ]: And yet, I’m capable of beating your so-called world-renowned warriors…
[ZZ]: Ji city has yet to be conquered, because there are many more men who are stronger than me defending it.
[ZZ]: Reinforcements are late because they don’t think much of outsiders beyond the border.
[ZZ]: You dare to challenge the central plains…
[ZZ]: Hahaha, as if you’re worthy of the privilege?
(emphasis mine for tone)
[ZZ]: Can you people even do it?
[MC]: Brilliant…
[MC]: continue.
[ZZ]: You in the back,
[ZZ]: come at me together!
[ZZ]: It’s much easier to kill one skilled opponent than a hundred underlings.
[?]: You’ve gone too far! Why don’t you enlighten us Four Tigers of Hanzhong!
[ZZ]: Watch this, my disciple.
[ZZ]: The Zhao clan’s sword art
(“book sword”; according to a Chinese analysis, this is referring to both the martial art aspect – Chanshan Sword Style – of the Zhao clan as well as their clan’s art/methods of war)
is precise
and substantive!
[?]: Those four are our strongest fighters.
[?]: He, he blocked them all?!
[?]: Trap him in our web of swords!
[Eighth]: Thrust!
Getting closer!
[?]: Left turn,
[ZZ]: right return.
{slash~}
The merciful Heavens bless me with another chance to revitalize my clan…
[ZZ]: The door to the Zhao clan is still open.
[ZZ]: Is the secret of books more interesting than this?
[Eighth]: The Zhao clan refuses to see the vastness of the world.
[Eighth]: Team two, follow me!
[MC]: Congratulations, General, you finally understand the secret of how to conquer the world.
[MC]: However, you must also believe that in order to obtain everything…
[MC]: you have to rely on the strength of the God of War.
[MC]: That’s your only way out.
[MC]: Ma Chao of Liang Province,
[MC]: here to be enlightened.
— author’s comment —
Zhao Zhen’s assassination plan at San Pass is an attempt to save Ji city. Unexpectedly, Ma Chao grants his wish. Both the Martial Art master and the God of War are arrogant about their abilities.
— black page preview —
Always so persistent about rare talents. How ironic is it that the Zhao clan couldn’t keep either of them.
Ravaging Times 