Update on CTTF

I guess it finally happened.  I’m not surprised and by now, I’m not that angry anymore.  Like Ling Lan, we should all learn to be able to let go of things we can’t obtain.  And like Ling Lan, we should follow our own paths and walk towards the future together.

To be honest, I’m actually a bit depressed.  2017 really wasn’t a good year to become a Chinese novel fan translator wasn’t it, ahaha.  But it was also the year I fell in love with Crossing to the Future, so I can’t say it was that bad.

To be honest, prior to this series, I actually wasn’t that interested in polishing up my already nearly wasted Chinese.  I live in a country that systematically removes immigrant culture and language from their children, and by the time I could regret, it was too late.  Some things, once missed, will never return.  I’m very thankful for everyone who supported me on this short-lived project.  I had a good laugh and a fun time, and I am very happy people enjoyed my attempts at interpreting my heritage language.

Despite this, I want everyone to continue reading this series.  It’s truly unique and very well written.  In fact, prior to this, if someone were to tell me – a very harsh critic when it comes to creative work – that there was writing of this calibre from China, I’d be dubious.  It took me an entire half a year to even think of taking a look at this story after my friend had suggested it to me.  It’s both lighthearted and serious, fun and emotionally laden, light and dark.  Perhaps it’s because of my own life experiences that I relate very deeply to Ling Lan and her experiences.  And as a result, I realized I really wanted to translate this story, so that other people can read and relate to it like I did.

But now, I don’t have to.  Initially I was furious, then depressed, at the thought that I’d have to stop and hand the story over to someone I had never met before, never talked to about the series with.  I am a very prideful person, actually, and I don’t like to break my arrogant bones.

However, I am also a creator, and I understand that in the long run, the person that will be the most affected is the author.  Morally-wise as well as everything else-wise, I will always stand on Madame Ru’s side, because it’s hard to be a creator and she puts so much work into the series.  Rather than get angry and upset against something I don’t have the ability to control, it’s better to let it go.

So I hope that even if I don’t translate this series, everyone who followed me and read my clumsy attempts will continue reading it on Qidian.  This is the conclusion that I’ve come to after a month of emotional turmoil.

The translation on Qidian is very well done and also another major reason why I’ve decided to stop.  My initial frustration was towards the quality of translation that Qidian International had.  I didn’t want the story to be butchered by others who are just paid to work and had no care towards the series.  I was afraid that’s what would happen.  But, thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

Also, thank you to people who contacted me and asked if you could help me.  I’m sorry I never responded nor gave a clear answer.  The reason why I didn’t wasn’t just because I’m not good at working with others, but mainly because I knew this was going to happen from a long time back.  I didn’t want people to be let down or cause that big of a disturbance once it finally happened.

Crossing to the Future, It’s Not Easy to Be A Man is one of Qidian’s top ranked novels.  Even if Qidian didn’t try to translate the story as one of the first few official international novels, they definitely would have done it in the near future.  It’s probably one of the most perfect novels to attract people, although it’s a pity they didn’t use a very eye catching cover laughs and Madame Ru has already admitted that she isn’t great at titles and summaries.  However, I’m sure, just like how it was in China, the story itself will be able to flower and capture people’s hearts.  I hope everyone will continue following Ling Lan as she grows into the destined Emperor she is, experience her happiness and her pain.  That’s honestly the best way to side with me if there’s still any lingering frustrations at the results of this abrupt journey.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time out of your lives to read this.  I honestly had a really enjoyable time.  Please continue to support Crossing to the Future even if I’m not the translator.  Let’s see each other at the peak and watch as this series grows to it’s finale together.

 

Jayne – somnious

Chapter 34

Ahhh sorry for not updating last week!  I ended up too exhausted from the holiday and work and regretfully couldn’t get anything done.  Anyway, I’m back on schedule do I even have a schedule??, sorry for making everyone wait.  I’m also going to be posting a tentative schedule on the TOC since a few people asked about it.  I’ll definitely try to get out more chapters this week!  Lets see if I can pass 40.

Also, good news!  Ru Furen’s finally started updating the story again!  May she have good health in the future.

 

Chapter 34:  One Hit Kill!

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Sure enough, after a burst of rapid attacks, Qilong’s speed was the first to start slowing down.  The explosive energy from his breakthrough had come to an end as his qi gradually became unstable; even his breathing became short and rapid.

Ling Lan knew that Qilong had likely reached a state of complete exhaustion.  If Qilong collapsed from fatigue, she knew that she couldn’t compete against the highly experienced examiner by herself – let alone the matter of finding an opportunity to pummel him.

Ling Lan’s brows furrowed as she began to think of ideas to solve this predicament.  In her heart, she was extremely depressed.  If she knew that there would be such a strange fight, she should have brought some useful weapons on her body – such as hidden weapons and the like.  Even if they couldn’t hit, interrupting the examiner’s concentration was also good.

Unfortunately, she only had energy supplement drinks that she brought with her for the sake of coping with the examination on her.  And there wasn’t much – only three.  Even if she wanted to use them as hidden weapons, there wouldn’t be much of an effect.  If she had a lot of things to throw, she might be able to confuse the examiner a little; however, just relying on two or three things, there’d absolutely be no way to faze that man.

What should she do?  Maybe she should give Qilong one to eat and help him regain some physical strength?

The moment Ling Lan’s mind began turning, she suddenly had an idea.  As a result, her pace followed Qilong and slowed down, her breath becoming unstable until it became heavy gasping.  Sweat began to flow down her forehead, as if telling everyone that she’d collapse from exhaustion in the next second.

Ling Lan and Qilong’s terrible situation caused the cheering from the little partners to dwindle until they disappeared.  Everyone’s faces carried a sense of disappointment and unwillingness.  It seemed like the desire to beat the examiner couldn’t be achieved.

Han Jijun and Luo Lang glanced at each other and saw the bitter smile on each other’s faces.  Truthfully, this result was what they expected, but even so, there was a reluctance in their hearts.  They had hope that Qilong and Ling Lan could give them a miracle.

Could it be that it really was hopeless?

At this time, Qilong, who had rushed up to attack, faced off with the examiner once again.  This time, because he didn’t have enough stamina, Qilong was repelled several steps by the examiner’s powerful block.

Qilong, who had been forced back several steps, lost confidence.  The originally forcefully supported fighting aura began to fall apart.  He started to falter, as if he was about to fall.  Upon seeing this, Ling Lan quickly flew forward to support him before lightly tapping the ground with her foot, pulling him away from the examiner and opening a distance between them.

“Are you ok?”  Ling Lan, who’s back was towards the examiner, anxiously held Qilong’s hand and asked.

Qilong’s expression became shocked and then energetic – as if, because of Ling Lan’s concern, he once again had confidence and courage to fight.  He didn’t speak and only nodded fiercely to indicate that he was fine.  

Ling Lan turned around and looked at the examiner, cutting off all means of retreat¹ as she spoke: “Then let us properly fight this one last time.”  The two children’s external appearances showed that they could no longer continue fighting.  

Qilong clenched his right fist, his expression firm as he said:  “OK!”  After he finished speaking, he used his right hand to aggressively wipe his face.  He looked like he was wiping away sweat, yet he also appeared to be wiping away his fatigue in order to give himself confidence.  The fighting intent in his eyes began to burn once again and seemed to be stronger than when he first began.  

Even though he knew he would lose, he wouldn’t back down.  Because this was their last chance – they would succeed or die trying.

Qilong and Ling Lan’s performance satisfied the examiner greatly.  To care and cherish one’s companions and in the face of a strong enemy, even if they lost, they would still fight to the end – these were all the qualities that a qualified soldier must have.  These two kids, to his surprise, already managed to gain them.  This was very rare and he was happy that he could find such good seedlings.

Qilong was the first to attack.  Although the consecutive combos of punches had speed and strength, the examiner still easily dodged them.  It couldn’t be helped.  The fighting moves that Qilong knew were only these few strokes.  After being used over and over, even if the examiner didn’t want to remember, his body had already become familiar with Qilong’s means of attack.  Dealing with them had become extremely relaxed and smooth.

The examiner just flashed past Qilong’s attack when on his other side, Ling Lan had already charged over.

However, the examiner’s attention from the beginning to end had always been placed on Ling Lan’s body.  Compared to Qilong, Ling Lan was more difficult to deal with.  Although Ling Lan’s fighting moves weren’t very rich (she had just finished learning a set of basic fighting techniques), she was more clever than Qilong and never followed a routine and would, depending on the circumstances of the fight, adapt her moves.  This made the examiner unable to avoid using some thought.

The examiner saw Ling Lan attack with a punch that, like before, was aimed at a place that was both uncomfortable and difficult for him to deal with.  These places were basically the blind corners of the body’s defenses that were difficult to shield; one could dodge or use an attack to defend, opening one’s self to a counter-attack that would force the oneself to change their attack.

The examiner didn’t even think and immediately threw out a palm towards Ling Lan’s chest.  His arm was long and his hand was large.  Even if she counterattacked, he was certain that he could hit Ling Lan first.  In front, Ling Lan had indeed hoped that he’d change his tactics and gave up on her attack.  After all, it was a knowingly futile attack.  If she stubbornly didn’t give up, in addition to hurting herself, there would be no way she’d hurt her opponent.  Smart people wouldn’t do something so stupid.

At this time, an accident happened.  Ling Lan didn’t dodge and actually stubbornly attacked.  At that moment, a shadow suddenly blocked the path of his and Ling Lan’s attack – it was Qilong!

Not good!  The examiner felt something wasn’t right, but because it came suddenly, he didn’t have the possibility of changing his attack.  Just as he quickly withdrew the energy in his hand, he felt that his palm had already firmly struck Qilong’s chest.

“Ah!”  Qilong let out a miserable yell, his entire body was sent out flying by the force of the hit.  Midair, he spit out a mouthful of blood before falling fiercely onto the ground, no longer moving.  

“Ah…Qilong, he’s hurt!”  The group of little partners who had been watching let out a collective exclamation.  With Han Jijun, he became mute, his face completely pale.  

The examiner abruptly felt shock in his heart.  Could he have withdrawn his power too late?  His momentary attention had been attracted over by Qilong.  He saw him lying outstretched on the ground, blood spurting nonstop from his mouth.  

Why was it like this?  Did he really not withdraw his strength in time and hit Qilong?  Injure his internal organs?  The examiner’s thoughts had become a complete mess and he was no longer able to pay attention to anything else.  His eyes only had the figure who was the laying on the ground and vomiting blood, Qilong.

Peng!

The sound of a powerful punch hitting against flesh suddenly resounded.  The examiner was suddenly sent flying by this huge force, heavily falling onto the ground.

It turned out, Ling Lan hadn’t given up on her own attack.  She utilized the examiner’s chaotic heart; when he wasn’t paying attention to her, she landed a one hit kill.

Ling Lan blew invisible dust from her pummeling weapon – her pink little fist – grinning:  “Task complete, pummel the examiner.  But examiner, you won’t because of this, fly into rage from humiliation and give us a failing score, right?”

—

Translated by somnious, unedited

We finally get to see a tail of what Ling Lan will grow up to be like in the future…

¹破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu):  A Chinese idiom meaning to burn one’s bridge/cutting off all means of retreat and determine to fight to the end.