Chapter 122: Chapter 120: Detouring Around Cyan Cloud Mountain, Arriving at Huangpu Guard

Let me analyze the text first to understand the context, style, and key elements:

### Step 1: Contextual Analysis

Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese fantasy/cultivation web novel with elements of martial arts adventure (wuxia/xianxia).

Language style: Informal, conversational, with descriptive narrative and dialogue.

Tone: Generally light with some emotional moments, adventure-focused with occasional introspection.

Plot keywords: Journey, escape, martial arts, hunting, New Year’s Eve celebration, family relationships

Characters:

- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male protagonist, powerful martial artist who recently killed an Imperial inspector

- Wu Mengchan (武梦婵): Female, appears to be Wu Liangchen’s younger sister

- Yang Lian’Er (杨莲儿): Female, traveling companion with Wu Liangchen, has memories of Aunt Fan

- Cong Bo (丛博): Character mentioned, seems to have been killed by Wu Liangchen

- Ren Chong (任冲): Character mentioned, seems to have been killed by Wu Liangchen

- Aunt Fan (樊姨): Mentioned in a memory, used to buy sweets for Yang Lian’Er

The story follows Wu Liangchen and his two female companions as they travel after escaping from Wuyang Guard area. They’re avoiding the Cyan Cloud Mountain where bandits (including a Fourth Realm Martial Arts Grandmaster) are based, as Wu Liangchen has made enemies there. The scene culminates in them celebrating New Year’s Eve in the wilderness, with emotional memories about their past.

### Step 2: Translation and Polishing

Now I’ll translate the text while following all specified rules:

- I’ll ensure all glossary terms are used consistently

- I’ll maintain proper paragraph structure 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

- I’ll ensure dialogue is properly formatted

- I’ll pay special attention to naturalizing idioms and cultural references

- I’ll mark internal thoughts with single quotes where appropriate

- I’ll ensure the final text reads naturally in American English

Let me begin the translation:

Wu Liangchen left the city without encountering any resistance.

When he returned to the cave, Wu Mengchan and Yang Lian’Er finally breathed sighs of relief.

"How did it go?" his sister asked curiously.

Wu Liangchen smiled. "I killed an Imperial Inspector."

Wu Mengchan didn’t comment, since she had no idea what an Imperial Inspector actually was.

Yang Lian’Er, however, was shocked.

An Imperial Inspector governed an entire county, making them one of the highest officials in Great Yan. They could even be considered provincial governors in their own right.

Such a figure would certainly have heavy security, yet Wu Liangchen had gone and returned in less than half a day after killing him.

Had his strength already grown to such a level?

The sense of crisis in Yang Lian’Er’s heart grew heavier.

’I really need to work harder,’ she thought. ’I don’t need to catch up to him, but I can’t let the gap between us keep widening.’

"Let’s go. Once we’re beyond the Wuyang Guard’s territory, I’ll find a way to get another carriage."

The carriage they’d left at the inn was obviously not recoverable. Wu Liangchen led the two women around the edges of Wuyang Guard territory, then traveled through the night toward Huangpu Guard.

Soon they left Huai Mountain County and entered Yunmeng County, officially entering the southern region of Great Yan.

The climate immediately became warmer, with snow visible only on mountain peaks.

The situation here was somewhat better than in Huai Mountain County. Though the people still looked malnourished, at least they weren’t fleeing as refugees.

When passing through a city, Wu Liangchen bought a new carriage, and they continued on their journey.

The rest of the trip was much smoother. Although they encountered would-be bandits a few times, after several skulls were shattered by whistling pebbles, the attackers quickly regained their senses and scattered.

At this pace, they could even reach Huangpu Guard before the New Year.

But after examining a map, Wu Liangchen decided to take a detour.

This was because along the road from Yunmeng County to Huangpu Guard stood an imposing mountain.

Cyan Cloud Mountain!

This once unremarkable mountain had become infamous throughout several counties due to the fierce bandits occupying it.

Wu Liangchen knew very well that by killing Cong Bo with his blade and shooting down Ren Chong with arrows in Wuyang Guard, he had made deadly enemies with the Cyan Cloud Mountain bandits.

So for safety’s sake, Wu Liangchen decided to take a detour.

Although this would add at least five to seven days to their journey, it was safer.

After all, Cyan Cloud Mountain was home to a Fourth Realm Martial Arts Grandmaster.

While Wu Liangchen’s abilities were now quite impressive—even allowing him to crush Martial Artists of the same level—he knew clearly that against such a "land immortal," he still fell considerably short.

The two women had no objections to this plan, so they left the main road and began the difficult trek through the rugged mountains.

Time quickly brought them to New Year’s Eve.

That day, Wu Liangchen stopped the carriage early in a scenic spot, then headed into the mountains to hunt.

Yang Lian’Er and Wu Mengchan set up camp and a cooking pot beside a small river.

Soon, Wu Liangchen emerged from the forest carrying a musk deer on his shoulders.

But that wasn’t his main prize. While searching for game in the forest, he had discovered a massive beehive in a large tree.

This was an unexpected delight.

Wu Liangchen first knocked down the hive with pebbles, then lit tree branches to smoke out the bees.

When he cut open the hive, it was filled with honey.

This was quite a treasure. Wu Liangchen poured it into water flasks, filling two completely.

"It’s New Year’s today, so let’s improve our meal—how about honey-roasted meat?" Wu Liangchen said with a smile.

They skinned and cleaned the deer, cutting it into pieces and setting them aside in a basin. Meanwhile, Wu Liangchen began preparing the sauce.

The carriage was stocked with oil, salt, and other condiments, but the key ingredient was the pure wild honey, which filled the air with a rich floral fragrance even before tasting it.

Wu Mengchan squatted nearby, watching eagerly. Seeing this, Wu Liangchen smiled and scooped out some honeycomb, popping it into his sister’s mouth.

"Is it good?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Wu Mengchan nodded vigorously.

"I want some too!" Yang Lian’Er moved closer and opened her mouth expectantly.

Wu Liangchen spooned some honey into her mouth as well.

Yang Lian’Er chewed with a satisfied expression.

"It’s delicious, just like the preserved fruits from Xiangfu Records."

Xiangfu Records was a famous confectionery in Dinghai City. Yang Lian’Er had always loved their preserved fruits.

But as she ate, Yang Lian’Er’s eyes suddenly reddened.

"I remember how Aunt Fan used to buy those for me. She’d always nag me not to eat too many sweets..."

By the end, Yang Lian’Er’s voice had become choked with emotion.

Wu Liangchen couldn’t help but sigh softly, then gently patted her shoulder.

"It’s okay. Everything’s in the past now. Aunt Fan wouldn’t want to see you so sad."

"Mm-hmm, I know. I’m not sad, I just feel like crying," Yang Lian’Er said, sniffling hard.

...

The deer meat sizzled over the flames, dripping oil as Wu Liangchen evenly brushed on the sauce. A delicious aroma wafted through the air.

They had wine purchased along their journey stored in the carriage. Wu Mengchan and Yang Lian’Er had also gathered wild vegetables from the forest, which they washed and mixed with sauce to make a refreshing side dish.

Wu Liangchen brought over a large stone from the forest and placed it near the fire to serve as their table.