The first book of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils revolves around the adventures of Duan Yu. The chapter titles form the poem Adventures of the Youth 《少年游》, named after the tone pattern it uses.
Poem
This poem uses the 《少年游》 tone pattern, as indicated by the book’s title. Each verse in the poem refers to a key scene or summarises the events in each chapter.
Tone pattern
中 (zhōng) is a middle tone. 平 (píng) is a level tone. 仄 (zè) is an oblique tone. 韵 (yùn) in brackets at the end of each line indicates a rhyme.
中平中仄仄平平（韵），中仄仄平平（韵）。
中平中仄，中平中仄，中仄仄平平（韵）。
中平中仄平平仄，中仄仄平平（韵）。
中仄平平，中平中仄，中仄仄平平（韵）。
Original text
青衫磊落险峰行，玉壁月华明。
马疾香幽，崖高人远，微步縠纹生。
谁家子弟谁家院，无计悔多情。
虎啸龙吟，换巢鸾凤，剑气碧烟横。
Translation
While I tried to rhyme the verses, I found it difficult to do so without altering the meaning of each line. Suggestions welcomed.
The righteous scholar traversed perilous peaks,
Moonlight gleaming bright upon the jade cliffs.
A masked lady astride her swift steed,
High on the precipice, far from all folk,
Tiny steps stirring ripples below.
Whose disciples and whose estate this?
Helpless regret over faithlessness spent.
Majestic sounds resounding through the air,
A lady wed to most fitting match,
Sword’s aura slicing through dark smoke.
Chapters
- Chapter 1 – The righteous scholar traversed perilous peaks
- Chapter 2 – Moonlight gleaming bright upon the jade cliffs
- Chapter 3 – A masked lady astride her swift steed
- Chapter 4 – High on the precipice, far from all folk
- Chapter 5 – Tiny steps stirring ripples below
- Chapter 6 – Whose disciples and whose estate this
- Chapter 7 – Helpless regret over faithlessness spent
- Chapter 8 – Majestic sounds resounding through the air
- Chapter 9 – A lady wed to most fitting match
- Chapter 10 – Sword’s aura slicing through dark smoke