Webnovel/31

## Chapter 31

* Main

The **31st chapter** of the web novel is titled 《瘟城疑踪》 which translates to *"Countdown to the Protagonist's Return"*. It was first published in Chinese on JJWXC, July 2015.

## English Novel Location

This chapter starts on the line

> THREE YEARS went by in the blink of an eye.
>
>

Of the English Novel volume 2, chapter 6: Jin Lan, and ends on the line

> Right after he said this, something much larger drifted along after the swimming fish. Face-down in the water was a corpse.
>
>

Of the English Novel volume 2, chapter 6: Jin Lan.

## Recap

Three years have passed since Shen Qingqiu pushed Luo Binghe into the Abyss. In that time, he spent his days wandering the outside world, occasionally broken up by meridian cleanses from Liu Qingge, medical prescriptions from Mu Qingfang, and times he assigned missions to Qing Jing Peak’s disciples. His wandering was disrupted by an emergency summons from Yue Qingyuan, which brought him back to the mountain after a long while away. Qing Jing’s disciples eagerly greeted him, a grown up and less “canon fodder” looking Ming Fan leading them, and a grown up and physically matured Ning Yingying grabbing Shen Qingqiu’s arm and pulling him up the stairs. The frequent brushes from her developed chest made him sweat and remember the long comment chains he partook in on Proud Immortal Demon Way that demanded the original Shen Qingqiu be castrated. As she vied for his attention, he questioned why she would miss him and not Luo Binghe, and noted how in that grief in the original novel she would fail to eat or sleep, but now she’s plumper than she had been.

On Qiong Ding peak, where the meeting was taking place, each peak lord had a handful of trusted disciples that stood behind them. Liu Qingge was the exception, since Bai Zhan peak had a very hands off approach where the peak lord only showed up to beat up the disciples. Shen Qingqiu’s disciples were Ning Yingying and Ming Fan (though he notes it would be Luo Binghe if he was here), and Qi Qingqi sat across from him with Liu Mingyan behind her.

Yue Qingyuan starts off the meeting by asking if anyone knows about Jin Lan City, and after Shang Qinghua shares that its a trade city where the Luo and Heng rivers meet, Yue Qingyuan reveals that the city went on full lock down about two months ago. Shen Qingqiu points out that Zhao Hua Monastery was nearby and would respond if there was an issue, to which Yue Qingyuan reveals that twenty days ago, the merchant of Jin Lan City’s first weapons shop escaped the city via waterway and rushed to them for help. He was swathed in black from head to toe, and kept decrying that the city had a terrible plague spreading. The monks carried him inside to report to the head abbott, but the man had decayed into a skeletal state and died before the head abbott could help him. After this event, the monastery sent Wu Chen and several Buddhist elders, masters of the Wu generation who were higher in seniority than Cang Qiong Mountain’s Qing generation, to investigate, but they failed to return. Huan Hua Palace and Tian Yi Overlook also sent around ten disciples, and no one has returned. Upon hearing that, Shen Qingqiu finally grasped the gravitas of why Yue Qingyuan sent an emergency summons.

Yue Qingyuan reaffirms that Cang Qiong Mountain will assist, especially since he fears that “petty ne’er-do-wells of other races” are interfering to make things worse there, and that some of them will have to stay to defend the mountain as well. Shen Qingqiu notes that this is to prevent a situation like Sha Hualing's invasion from happening again. Liu Qingge offers his assistance to escort Mu Qingfang, who is their medical expert and could best help in a plague, to Jin Lan City. Shen Qingqiu realizes that if they go, then he’d be cut off from and have no way of protecting the ones who clear his meridians and give him medicine, so he offers to join them. After some initial hesitance from Yue Qingyuan, Shen Qingqiu points out that his demon expertise would really help in this situation, and Yue Qingyuan realizes he would be safer if Liu Qingge was there to protect him.

In the end, the peak lords are split into three groups. Liu Qingge, Mu Qingfang, and Shen Qingqiu are to go into the city as the vanguard to investigate, a second group would wait outside to act on their report, and a third group would stay behind to defend the mountain. After this, they depart via flying sword, despite Shen Qingqiu disliking flying sword travel. Before half a day could pass, they reached the city, which they had to land outside of due to a barrier Zhao Hua Monastery had set up around the airspace in the past. Though they can’t get in from above, Mu Qingfang, having been briefed by Yue Qingyuan, guides them to the waterway from which the merchant had escaped. There, after traveling a bit into a cave, they came across some run down boats. Shen Qingqiu picked the slightly better boat and passed off rowing to Liu Qingge, who accepted that with a dark expression, whilst Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang sat and observed the scene. As Shen Qingqiu made a comment about how clear the water was, as if the universe was messing with him, a corpse floated past, face down in the water.

## Changes Between Versions

### The Faelicy/Lily Translation (March 2020 version)

#### Larger Changes

* When hearing that his two vital martial brothers are going to Jin Lan City, Shen Qingqiu is worried for them in different ways across the translations. In the Faelicy translation, he notes that they don’t have protagonist halos:

> both were going and neither had a protagonist’s halo to protect them; what if they met with an unexpected accident. This was really too worrisome; how could he not watch over them a little
>
>

Whereas in the Seven Seas translation, he notes that he himself doesn’t have said halo:

> Both were leaving, and Shen Qingqiu didn’t have a protagonist’s halo with which to protect himself. What if there was an unexpected accident? This was really too concerning. How could he not do his part to watch over them?
>
>

#### Smaller Changes

* Shen Qingqiu says he would “ arrange training” for the disciples in the Faelicy translation that he “leveling missions” for them in the Seven Seas translation.
* Ming Fan’s younger features are described as “unfortunate-looking like he’d been in his youth” in the Faelicy translation and “sharp mouth and sunken cheeks he’d had in his youth” in the Seven Seas translation.
* The one described as the “head abbott” of Zhao Hua Monastery in the Seven Seas translation is referred to as just “the one in charge” in the Faelicy translation

### The (CNoveluv) Readerz Translation (September 2018 version)

#### Larger Changes

* There is an extra few lines in regards to Shen Qingqiu’s years off the peak in the Readerz translation that are not in the Seven Seas translation. The Readerz translation of the passage is:

> spent most of his time roaming around outside.
> In his last life he spent most of his time at home playing video games and reading novels. When he was reborn in this place, all of the these computer-related entertainments were gone. Thus, his interest in tourism was ignited. His days were carefree until he suddenly received a message talisman from Yue Qingyuan, summoning him back to Cang Qiong Mountain.
>
>

And the Seven Seas translation of the passage is:

> Shen Qingqiu spent most of his time wandering about the outside world.
> He passed the days leisurely until an urgent notice from Yue Qingyuan arrived to suddenly summon him back to Cang Qiong Mountain.
>
>

* When the disciples greet Shen Qingqiu, the Readerz translation refers to Ming Fan as the head disciple on Qing Jing. The Seven Seas translation refers to him as “The one leading them,” and later in the second Seven Seas novel, Luo Binghe is confirmed to be the head disciple, with Ming Fan repeatedly referred to as the most senior disciple instead.
* Shen Qingqiu’s reaction to Ning Yingying hugging him, beyond the cold sweat, is different across translations. In the readers translation, he thinks

> This is Luo Binghe’s wife! I wouldn’t dare!
>
>

And in the Seven Seas translation, he thinks

> He had once again thought of those two long chains of posts in Proud Immortal Demon Way’s comment section—the ones demanding Shen Qingqiu’s castration.
>
>

* After thinking that it’s odd that Ning Yingying is missing the scum villain, there’s a line in the Readerz translation that is not in the Seven Seas translation:

> Were the original Shen Qingqiu and Ning Yingying this close? It seemed like Ning Yingying grew up to be a sensible girl. The original Shen Qingqiu probably drooled over her in a one-sided way.
>
>

* After Shen Qingqiu arrives on Qiong Ding peak, there is a line in the Readerz translation about Yue Qingyuan that is not in the Seven Seas translation:

> There, Yue Qingyuan was waiting outside the hall to welcome him back. The two fellow apprentices entered the hall hand in hand.
>
>

* Shen Qingqiu thinking of how Luo Binghe would be the only trusted disciple he brought with him to the meeting is expressed in different ways across the translations. In the Readerz translation, its framed as an intrusive thought he tries to dismiss

> He didn’t know how, but a thought popped up in Shen Qingqiu’s brain: If Luo Binghe were still here, he would be the only one standing behind my chair.
>
>
> Stop!
>
>
> It’s so annoying, please don’t keep popping out to remind me of your existence, protagonist. [waves hand bye-bye]
>
>
>
> Yue Qingyuan was the first to speak:
>
>

And in the Seven Seas translation, its framed as wild running thoughts

> Yue Qingyuan had yet to announce the start of the meeting, so Shen Qingqiu opened and shut the folding fan in his hand, playing with it while he looked around at all the peak lords and their disciples. He found himself thinking that if Luo Binghe were still here, no one else would be standing behind him. Neither would there be any question as to who was the most outstanding disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect’s next generation.
> His thoughts were still running wild when Yue Qingyuan spoke.
>
>

* After Yue Qingyuan announced that the merchant had become a skeleton, the Readerz translation has a reaction from Shen Qingqiu that is not in the Seven Seas translation:

> Shen Qingqiu was terrified.
>
>

* The Readerz translation gives names to some characters that are lumped together in the Seven Seas translation. In the Readerz translation, the group of monks sent to Jin Lan is described as:

> masters Wu Chen, Wu Huan, and Wu Nian
>
>

Whereas in the Seven Seas translation, the elders that are not plot important are grouped together with:

> Master Wu Chen and several Buddhist elders
>
>

* When Yue Qingyuan makes a comment about outsiders messing with the situation in Jin Lan, there’s a line of Shen Qingqiu’s internal monologue in the Seven Seas translation that is not in the Readerz translation:

> In other words, to prevent a situation like the incident with Sha Hualing, when they had been completely vulnerable.
>
>

* Liu Qingge’s dialogue as he offers to go to Jin Lan is different across the translations. In the Readerz translation, bringing up his honor, he says:

> Bai Zhan Peak’s sense of honor will not allow me to shirk this duty. I would like to escort junior martial brother Mu
>
>

And in the Seven Seas translation, he simply says:

> Bai Zhan Peak is willing to escort Mu-shidi to the city.
>
>

* When hearing that his two vital martial brothers are going to Jin Lan City, Shen Qingqiu is worried for them in different ways across the translations. In the Readerz translation, he notes that they don’t have protagonist halos:

> They didn’t have the protagonist’s halo, so anything could happen to them. This was too worrying. What if they should meet with some misfortune?
>
>

Whereas in the Seven Seas translation, he notes that he himself doesn’t have said halo:

> Both were leaving, and Shen Qingqiu didn’t have a protagonist’s halo with which to protect himself. What if there was an unexpected accident? This was really too concerning. How could he not do his part to watch over them?
>
>

* Shen Qingqiu’s reaction to flying on the sword is different across the translations. In the Readerz translation, his reaction is:

> Shen Qingqiu wasn’t used to using just his flying sword to travel and he was a little bit scared of heights, too, but he knew that this time he must match his companions’ speed.
>
>

And in the Seven Seas translation, his reaction is:

> Though Shen Qingqiu disliked flying on his sword, he knew that at a time like this, he needed to keep up with everyone else’s momentum.
>
>

#### Smaller Changes

* In the Readerz translation, Shen Qingqiu returned to the mountain when he “assigned some disciples to supervise the training on Qing Jing Peak”, whereas in the Seven Seas translation he “briefly visit[ed] Qing Jing Peak to arrange leveling missions for his disciples.”
* Ming Fan’s descriptions differ slightly across the translations. In the Readerz translation, hes described as

> Although he wasn’t handsome, at least he didn’t look like a sharp-faced monkey with a petty cannon fodder character’s face.
>
>

And in the Seven Seas translation, he’s described as

> though you couldn’t say he was extraordinarily handsome, his features could still be considered neat. Anyhow, the sharp mouth and sunken cheeks he’d had in his youth were no more, and gone was that petty cannon fodder’s face that had been so obvious at a single glance.
>
>

* In the Readerz translation, the heads of the Zhao Hua Monastery are referred to as “elders”, whereas the Seven Seas translation refers to them as the “head abbott.”
* When Yue Qingyuan announces that the Jin Lan City merchant had died, the question of “Dead?” in the Readerz translation is just internal dialogue, whereas in the Seven Seas translation, Liu Qingge says “He died?” out loud.
* In the Readerz translation, the line “Listening to these words, it might have been like tearing his skin off” is internal monologue, whereas in the Seven Seas translation, it’s part of Yue Qingyuan’s dialogue reading “like his skin and flesh were being ripped off”
* Yue Qingyuan describes the other sects asking for help as “Our friends sent a message to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect asking for our help” in the Readerz translation and “With no other choice, our fellow cultivators from the other sects sent Cang Qiong Mountain an urgent letter with an emissary, pleading for our assistance” in the Seven Seas translation.
* Yue Qingyuan describes his suspicions of external malicious forces causing problems in Jin Lan City as “some ‘others’ who like to stir up trouble might be behind this” in the Readerz translation and “petty ne’er-do-wells of other races fanning the flames to stoke this incident, stirring up havoc” in the Seven Seas translation.
* When Yue Qingyuan voices hesitation about Shen Qingqiu going to Jin Lan City, Shen Qingqiu’s intitial reaction is “Shen Qingqiu still didn’t know how to deal with him. All he could do was insist” in the Readerz translation and “Of course Shen Qingqiu knew how to deal with him: all he needed to do was endlessly pester Yue Qingyuan” in the Seven Seas translation.
* When talking about the stacks of ancient books in the Bamboo house, the Readerz translation says “ For hundreds of years, Qing Jing Peak had accumulated this knowledge. If the Peak Lord didn’t read all those books then he would be buried behind the back of the bamboo house…” where the Seven Seas translation says “ After all, there was that stack of records and ancient books in the back of Qing Jing Peak’s Bamboo House, the same ones that hundreds of generations of peak lords had to read in full before they were allowed to succeed the position.”
* The underground cave getting more clearance further in is described with “After they had walked for a while, Shen Qingqiu’s waist ached but there was finally some space over his head” in the Readerz translation and “ After walking for a while, they finally felt the ceiling rise, and the sound of flowing water began to gurgle” in the Seven Seas translation.

## Appearances

Shen Qingqiu

Liu Qingge

Mu Qingfang

Yue Qingyuan

Ming Fan

Ning Yingying

M.Luo Binghe

Qi Qingqi

Liu Mingyan

S. Qinghua

File:Wu Chen.pngM.Wu Chen

M.Sha Hualing

M.OG Qingqiu

## Locations

Qiong Ding Peak

Jin Lan City