60 - Dungeon Growth Log

Below, you will find the meticulously translated passages while preserving the essence, tone, and literary style of the original narrative: --- A commotion broke out among the disciples on Sword Peak below. The Sword Peak Discussion Hall was a place of immense importance, symbolizing the very essence of Sword Peak. An issue arising here was akin to a slap in the face to Sword Peak. However, when the patrolling disciples of Sword Peak rushed up to inspect, they only saw a large chunk of tiles missing from the roof of the Discussion Hall. Not a single shadow of a person was in sight. "Where's the person?" "There was definitely someone up there just now—" "No way... How could they have escaped so fast?" "They triggered the warning array; there's no way they got away! Find them!" "Inform the elders first..." While the frantic search for the "culprit" who kicked off the roof tiles of the Sword Peak Discussion Hall continued, Xia Ge found herself being dragged by the collar, feeling the cold wind against her face. She watched as the bald-topped Discussion Hall grew more and more distant. Silently and without hindrance, they passed through the activated warning array, arriving in a quiet woodland. Being held by someone, her feet off the ground, Xia Ge felt extremely insecure. She tried to explain sincerely, "I didn't kick your roof tiles..." "Oh?" The voice above her was mocking, "So, they fell off by themselves?" Xia Ge: "..." Of course, they didn't fall off by themselves. Xia Ge: "I didn't do it on purpose..." Who knew they were so fragile, one kick and a whole row fell off. With a humph, Chu Yao landed on the ground and tossed her aside like garbage, her eyes filled with disdain. "So short." Xia Ge: "..." Kicking the tiles was her fault, but resorting to personal attacks is just mean... "So, tell me, what did the Discussion Hall tiles do to you in the middle of the night?" Chu Yao crossed her arms, leaning casually against a tree. She looked Xia Ge up and down, then sneered, "Or do you think standing on top of it will make you taller?" After being thrown to the ground, the boy sluggishly got up, dusting off his clothes. Dressed in the coarse linen robes of an outer disciple, his loose black hair tied back, he stood there listlessly, a short, dejected figure. Short—how old is she, really! Short, my foot! She still has room to grow! One day, she'll shoot up a few dozen centimeters and crush them all! Though cursing in her heart, Xia Ge maintained a face full of regret. "I just thought your Sword Peak seemed to be a few thousand fathoms higher than Dan Peak, and I couldn't resist coming up for a breeze." "Alright, alright, enough of your sarcastic remarks." Chu Yao clicked her tongue, "I saw you a long time ago; why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night and sneaking up to the Sword Peak Discussion Hall?" That tone… it didn't seem she was planning on seriously pursuing the matter. Saw her a long time ago? What does she mean? Did she see her when she first came? Xia Ge: "...I really just came to get some fresh air." Chu Yao scrutinized her, "I also thought you came to get some fresh air." "Until you kicked off our Discussion Hall tiles." Xia Ge: "..." Xia Ge smiled awkwardly, "I just kicked around casually, who knew they were so fragile that one kick would knock out a whole row..." Actually, it felt rather satisfying. "You're quite something." Chu Yao remarked, "I didn't let you through so you could kick off our tiles." Xia Ge was at a loss for words, then reluctantly said, "You let me through?" No wonder there were so few guards at the peak... she remembered reading in books that Sword Peak disciples patrolled diligently every day, never slacking off for a moment. She had been puzzled why she only saw a few of them when she arrived, easily slipping through with her Ghost Shadows Footwork. She had thought her Ghost Shadows Footwork had improved, but it turned out someone had let her in. "Of course it was me," Chu Yao said. "You think you're so skilled." Xia Ge: "..." Such blunt words hurt the ego. As night deepened, Xia Ge was pondering how to resolve this awkward situation, when she was suddenly startled by a voice: "Is your injury healed?" The girl in the tight-sleeved blue robe crossed her arms, her light brown almond-shaped eyes looking aside, speaking matter-of-factly. Xia Ge was taken aback, "Huh?" Chu Yao grew impatient. "I'm asking if your injury is healed? Just a few days and you're out here for fresh air? Do you have a death wish?" Under the bright moonlight, the boy's black eyes were clear and confused, "How do you know I was injured..." And those purple eyes from last time... must have been a mistake. Chu Yao's face looked a bit unnatural. Luckily, the faint moonlight and the vague shadows of the woods obscured her expression. "...You fainted during the Dan Peak competition, didn't you." Xia Ge was even more surprised, "You watched the Dan Peak competition? Aren't you the Senior Disciple of Sword Peak?" If she remembered correctly, in her several failed attempts to join Dan Peak, not a single hint of a blue-clad Sword Peak disciple could be seen in the grand Dan Peak arena. Has the sun risen in the west this time? Chu Yao: "..." For a long moment, she finally said fiercely, "I wanted to go, so what?" Xia Ge: "...Nothing, nothing." If you wanted to go, then go. Who's stopping you? Why so fierce? "Is your injury healed?" Chu Yao asked again, her tone like she's conducting official business, irritated. Xia Ge responded, "Mm-hmm, ...pretty much." Chu Yao recalled the bloodstains on the corner of the table at the Dan Training Grounds, thinking about how this kid deceived her thoroughly. She didn't know whether to be angry or amused, so she just hummed, "Just a few days and you're pretty much healed?" "If it doesn’t hurt, it’s pretty much healed." Xia Ge scratched her head, adding sheepishly, "Did you bring me here just to ask this?" "Of course not." Chu Yao paused, looking at the short figure before her, feeling inexplicably annoyed. She glanced at Xia Ge. "Your name is Xia Wuyin? Didn't you say before your name is Xia Ge?" Chu Yao’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you lying to me again?" ...Being exposed on the spot is very awkward. Xia Ge smiled awkwardly, "Not exactly... that's my nickname." ...Nickname? Chu Yao hesitated slightly. A nickname, huh. Tch, the kid's probably trying to con her again. "Why did you come to Sword Peak? Don’t tell me you came for the fresh air, I don’t believe it." Chu Yao said, "Give me a plausible reason, and I won't pursue the matter of the tiles." Xia Ge thought about it and decided it wasn't like she was digging into the ancestors' graves, and there was no point in hiding. So, she told the truth, "I came to visit a senior brother on Sword Peak, but he scolded me. Feeling down, I wanted to find a place to get some fresh air." Xia Ge thought she should apologize earnestly and added, "I really didn't mean to kick your tiles; who knew they were so brittle." "Do you know how much silver you knocked off?" Chu Yao's almond eyes widened, "Those tiles have been there for at least five hundred years, facing the wind and rain. They're a symbol of Sword Peak!" Xia Ge, suppressing her distress, asked, "...How much silver should I reimburse?" Kicking tiles was a moment's delight; repaying debt was a path to cremation. Chu Yao looked up and down at Xia Ge's skinny frame, sensing the poverty emanating from within. Clicking her tongue, she directly stated, "You can't afford it." Xia Ge: "..." How much exactly did she knock off? "Forget it." Chu Yao saw Xia Ge's face filled with indescribable emotions, a faint smile touching her lips as she changed the topic, "Keep me company for a chat, and I'll let this slide." You just said you wouldn’t pursue it if I gave a reason, liar. Xia Ge: "You should at least give me a price..." Chu Yao glared slightly, raising three fingers, "Three hundred thousand taels of silver." Xia Ge choked on her words, "Is your tile made of gold?" Chu Yao: "The material doesn't matter, what matters is it's a tile of the Discussion Hall." Pausing, Chu Yao gave a faint mocking smile, "That's the face of Sword Peak; kicking it is like slapping an ear to it. Xia Wuyin, aren't you capable?" Xia Ge: "..." No... There's absolutely no way to argue back. Seeing Xia Ge's silent, honest look, Chu Yao's eyebrows arched slightly, "Who did you come to see?" Xia Ge sullenly replied, "Senior brother." "The one who transferred from Dan Peak?" Chu Yao asked. "Yes." Chu Yao scoffed, her light brown almond eyes reflecting the cold moonlight, "Then his days are probably tough." Xia Ge paused slightly upon hearing this tone... "…You know? Why don't you intervene?" Xia Ge clutched the box in her hand more tightly. Though she knew her question lacked reason, thinking of Ye Ze's bruised face and his cold rejection, she couldn't help but ask. "Why should I intervene?" Chu Yao found it amusing, and interesting too, "There are countless instances of the strong preying on the weak in this world; must I intervene in all of them?" Xia Ge was silent for a long moment, "There’s no need for you to intervene in worldly matters, but as Sword Peak’s candidate Senior Disciple, you should manage Sword Peak’s affairs." "You shouldn’t let those people... run rampant." "Old habits die hard." Chu Yao laughed, both mockingly and cynically, "I might manage it once, but I wouldn't manage it a hundred times." "In the end, people get bullied because they're too weak." Xia Ge touched the box in her hand, saying nothing. "I do help those who can't even truss a chicken." Chu Yao's voice was casual, "But if he was recommended by the senior disciple of Dan Peak to join Sword Peak, it means he has the potential to become strong." "Since he came to Sword Peak, he has to understand that if he doesn’t become strong, he will be bullied." Chu Yao continued, "I won’t reach out; he must understand that once on Sword Peak, the only person who can save him is himself." "You Sword Peak people are really harsh." Xia Ge muttered. As for what Chu Yao said, Xia Ge could only think— Yeah, she understood the logic, but so what? Sometimes, she just wanted to rebel for a bit. Xia Ge tightened her grip on the box in her hand. She had her own ways. Chu Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. “What’s this, you disagree?” “No, no, no, you’re right.” Xia Ge snapped out of her thoughts, hastily finding a topic to deflect, “I was just thinking... um, your eyes are really beautiful.” Who knew what nerve she hit, but Chu Yao’s demeanor suddenly turned icy. For a moment, Xia Ge thought icicles were falling from the sky. She looked at Chu Yao in confusion. What’s up with her? Chu Yao’s lips pressed together, and her pale brown almond eyes were as cold as frost. After a long moment, she scoffed, flicked her sleeve, and left. “You can go.” Xia Ge: “...?” Just like that? Why so angry? She only complimented her eyes, right? “Hey…” Did she really not have to pay for the tiles? The mountains and forests were cloaked in shadows, a round moon hanging overhead. In the distance, the noise of Sword Peak disciples searching for someone could still be heard. Xia Ge watched Chu Yao’s departing figure, scratched her head, and muttered, “Um… thanks.” The boy’s “thank you” drifted away on the wind. Chu Yao exited the forest, feeling a surge of irritation. On the broad stone path paved with bluish-green stone, panicked disciples searching for the intruder crossed her path. Seeing her, they were elated, “Chu Daren (respected elder Chu)! The Discussion Hall…” Chu Yao looked visibly annoyed. “I saw it. The tiles fell off, right? The wind was too strong, blew them off.” Disciple: “…The wind… But… You weren’t even near the Discussion Hall, how could you have seen…” Chu Yao shot him a glare, her pale brown eyes filled with ferocity. “What? You have a problem with that?! I said the wind blew them off, so it was the wind! Get back to your patrol positions! It’s the middle of the night, and you’re all making such a racket. What are you yelling about? You’re giving me a headache!” The disciple nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes, the wind blew them off, the wind blew them off…” Once she had blown off steam, the Sword Peak disciples returned to their respective positions. Chu Yao snorted, still feeling somewhat unsettled in her heart. —Your eyes are really beautiful. She let out a derisive laugh. Though she knew it was just something that shorty blurted out, she still couldn’t suppress the flame of fury within her. “Sister.” A girl's gentle voice sounded, “Why fuss over trivial matters in the middle of the night?” Chu Yao looked at her coldly for a moment, then turned to leave. The girl, draped in a special, silk-edged cloak made for her by Sword Peak, walked down the path. Her pure black almond-shaped eyes held a soft smile. “Sister, I saw you… with that child.” Chu Yao stopped in her tracks, her body slightly stiffening. “Ha ha, just kidding.” Chu Yi smiled gently, pursing her lips. She addressed the searching disciples, “Since Chu Daren said it was the wind, why haven’t you stopped already?” “Y-yes…” the disciple lamented internally, they had already stopped… Seeing the disciple repeatedly comply and leave, Chu Yao’s voice turned icy, “I told you, don’t let me see you again.” “Sister, that’s unfair.” Chu Yi slowly walked past, the silver-edged cloak creating a chilling arc in the night wind. “I was just passing by unintentionally. However… it turned out to be quite enlightening.” Ignoring her, Chu Yao tapped her toes lightly and vanished like a phantom. She hadn't walked much further toward the Discussion Hall when the boy’s somewhat aggrieved voice echoed once more in her ear. —You can’t let those people… run rampant. Standing on a fir tree branch, Chu Yao inexplicably paused, the edges of her lips showing the glint of sharp canine teeth under the moonlight. --- **Author's Note:** Thanks for the mines you threw at me: 游离悠闲 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 00:01:49 还记得 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 04:36:48 妖妖妖妖 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 08:04:15 四十八年老飞机 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 08:12:39 闲待无聊 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 11:23:14 27659374 threw a mine at 2018-06-24 11:49:14 ki-bo threw a mine at 2018-06-24 22:49:09 Thank you all for the mines so Xia Xia can buy some buns! (Not really). = = Reader “时分”，fertilized with 120 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 22:41:38 Reader “嘚嘚”，fertilized with 120 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 21:45:14 Reader “初一”，fertilized with 10 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 19:54:26 Reader “小腹黑”，fertilized with 20 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 17:54:50 Reader “月白先生”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-24 17:38:32 Reader “背对幸福”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-24 15:54:41 Reader “殇”，fertilized with 20 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 14:53:58 Reader “枫l”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-24 12:25:28 Reader “九世公子jsgz”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-24 11:47:40 Reader “逆夜jl”，fertilized with 10 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 10:00:35 Reader “还记得”，fertilized with 20 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 04:36:48 Reader “噜啦啦噜啦噜啦嘞”，fertilized with 2 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 02:57:30 Reader “突突突突”，fertilized with 10 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 01:16:31 Reader “当年采菇凉的小蘑菇长大了”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-24 00:30:41 Reader “墨上水泽”，fertilized with 10 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 00:24:26 Reader “白小守”，fertilized with 10 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 00:05:41 Reader “里黑”，fertilized with 3 units of nutrients 2018-06-24 00:00:18 Reader “天天泡吧”，fertilized with 1 unit of nutrients 2018-06-23 23:58:19 Thank you all for the nutrients! (Covers face)