Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese cultivation/martial arts web novel (xianxia/wuxia genre).
Language style: Informal, straightforward narrative with dialogue and some action scenes. Contains martial arts terminology and typical cultivation system elements.
Tone: Action-oriented, slightly humorous at times, focused on the protagonist's growth and challenges.
Plot keywords: Martial arts training, robbery, cultivation, advancement, martial arts hall, money, family.
Characters:
- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male, protagonist, young martial artist who's cultivating and growing stronger
- Wu Mengchan (武梦婵): Female, the protagonist's sister who works at a laundry shop
- Dibatian (地包天): Male, seems to be a local thug/gang leader
- Sister Hu (胡姐): Female, possibly an older woman interested in Wu Liangchen
- Aunt Fan (樊姨): Female, appears to be Wu Liangchen's martial arts mentor
- Yang Hu (杨虎): Male, someone who has a grudge against the protagonist
- Uncle Wu (武叔): Mentioned but unclear relationship
Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
I'll now translate the text paragraph by paragraph, applying all the rules and ensuring consistent terminology:
Now, let me begin the translation:
"What the hell do you mean by 'establish'?" Dibatian was almost laughing from anger.
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you. That dock is Boatmen Gang territory. The few of us wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth if we went there."
"I've observed carefully, and the most profitable business in Dinghai City must be brothels. So, sis, I'll have to trouble you with this matter."
The bleeding woman immediately panicked upon hearing this. "Brother, I don't want to become a prostitute. Besides, even if I get used up completely, one person can't support an entire brothel."
Dibatian: "..."
"Did I say you would sell yourself? You're my own sister, how could I make you do such a thing? I'm just asking you to use this as a front. I'll teach you what to do when the time comes."
While Dibatian's group was deciding to change professions, Wu Liangchen had already wound through several loops of Dinghai City's spider web-like alleys, only returning home after confirming no one was following him.
After getting home and checking, Liangchen found these guys hadn't lied. Wrapped in the clothes were four silver coins minted in Great Yan, slightly lower quality than Eagle Yuan, but each could be exchanged for nearly two hundred copper coins.
Besides that, there were also a few dozen scattered copper coins. It could be called a substantial harvest.
Indeed, this kind of thing was quick money.
The key was doing it without any psychological burden, since these guys weren't decent people anyway.
Although they hadn't taken any lives, for a low-level cart driver, losing his cart likely meant his livelihood was over.
Liangchen dared to do this because he had given it thorough consideration, not acting rashly.
First, these people definitely didn't have much capability, otherwise they wouldn't have resorted to trickery and deception.
Second, and most importantly, Liangchen's strength was now vastly different from before.
[Name: Wu Liangchen] [Age: 17]
[Life Fire: 14.5 strands]
[Cart Pulling (Proficient 77/500)]
[Five Animals Fist (Skilled 88/200)]
[Primordial Stance (Beginner 98/100)]
[Skin Tempering (67%)]
Though only a few days had passed, with sufficient meat supply and diligent practice, his Primordial Stance was on the verge of breakthrough.
Crucially, his Martial Arts Realm was progressing rapidly, already past halfway.
So now, Liangchen's strength and speed far surpassed ordinary people.
This was even stronger than average Martial Artists.
Liangchen figured the Five Animals Fist deserved credit for this.
He put all the money away.
His sister was already asleep, and fearing he might disturb her, Liangchen quietly left the house.
It was time to consider moving to a new place. Though relations with neighbors in this tenement were harmonious, the conditions were truly terrible.
Especially since his sister was growing older, she should have her own separate room.
In fact, Liangchen had suggested more than once recently that Wu Mengchan should stop working at the laundry shop.
That job was both dirty and exhausting. Before, they had no choice, but now his earnings were enough to support both siblings.
But Mengchan always found excuses to refuse.
Liangchen understood—his sister had been frightened by poverty and always wanted to save more money for emergencies.
So finding a new place to live had been put on the agenda, though he hadn't found a suitable location yet.
Liangchen went to the city wall behind and began his daily, unfailing practice.
Without any surprise, the moment he completed the three forms of the Primordial Stance, a prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Primordial Stance level increased, current level: Skilled]
Not only that, but his Martial Arts Realm also soared, jumping directly from sixty-seven percent to seventy-nine percent.
Additionally, the Five Animals Fist was almost ready for advancement.
Liangchen estimated that at this rate, he would successfully complete his Skin Tempering in just a few more days.
The current problem was that despite his daily improvement in martial arts cultivation, he didn't know a single combat technique.
Should he press Aunt Fan about this?
But she had said she wouldn't teach him any combat techniques before he entered the realm.
However, after today's incident, there was no guarantee he wouldn't encounter something similar again.
Today, he had only gained the upper hand because those stupid thieves had no real skills.
He might not be so lucky next time.
Then there was the matter of Yang Hu.
Liangchen hadn't forgotten the grudge from his previous life.
But Yang Hu being able to hire someone to secretly attack him clearly indicated he had connections and backing.
If Liangchen acted rashly, he might end up paying with his life.
No, he needed to find a way to visit the Long Wind Martial Arts Hall again in the next few days.
When Liangchen had delivered goods there a couple of days ago, he had managed to visit the front courtyard thanks to his good relationship with the kitchen master.
Unfortunately, the Long Wind Martial Arts Hall had some business that day, and no one was practicing, so Liangchen's trip had been fruitless.
This time, he needed to go again to see if his Ten Thousand Laws Tripod could reverse-engineer Cultivation Techniques by secretly observing them.
Having made his decision, Liangchen went home to sleep.
The next day, he arrived at the South City vegetable market early.
From a distance, Sister Hu spotted him and immediately dropped what she was doing to greet him warmly.
"Xiaowu, quick, we have goods today."
Then she turned back and shouted at the young apprentice: "Hurry and help your Uncle Wu load the cart!"
Uncle Wu?
The young apprentice looked at Liangchen, who was at most a year or two older than himself, and a thousand alpacas raced through his mind.
"Are you deaf? Hurry up!"
The apprentice went to load the cart with a look of utter despair. Liangchen felt bad and was about to help when Sister Hu stopped him.
"Let him work. Xiaowu, come inside for some tea!"
"No thanks, Sister Hu. I should deliver the goods first," Liangchen hurriedly declined.
Seeing Sister Hu's eyes almost overflowing with desire, Liangchen didn't dare to be alone with her.
They say women are like wolves at thirty and tigers at forty, and can suck the life out of you at fifty.
Sister Hu was at that wolf-tiger age, and Liangchen had no intention of becoming a dried-up husk.
Sister Hu was quite displeased, but could only give Liangchen a resentful glance.
By now the goods were finally loaded. Liangchen said goodbye and quickly left the vegetable market.
He arrived at the Long Wind Martial Arts Hall with practiced ease, unloaded the goods, and then began helping the kitchen master with odd jobs.
After working for a while, the master chuckled and handed Liangchen a large wooden bucket.
"Go fetch water from the front courtyard."
Liangchen's spirits lifted immediately, and he promptly agreed.
"Sure thing!"
This was a tacit arrangement he had with the kitchen master.
Going to the front courtyard for water meant passing through the training grounds.
When Liangchen carried the bucket through the gate, he immediately heard shouts and the whistling sounds of fists and kicks cutting through the air.
He walked forward slowly, and after turning past a courtyard wall, a large training ground appeared before him.
At that moment, more than a dozen people were practicing martial arts techniques on the field.