The third book of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils revolves around the adventures of Xiao Feng. The chapter titles form the poem Breaching the Formation 《破阵子》, named after the tone pattern it uses.
Poem
This poem uses the Po Zhen Zi (破阵子) 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.
中仄中平中仄， 中平中仄平平（韵）。 中仄中平平仄仄， 中仄平平中仄平（韵）。 中平中仄平（韵）， 中仄中平中仄。 中平中仄平平（韵）， 中仄中平平仄仄。 中仄平平中仄平（韵）， 中平中仄平（韵）。
Original text
千里茫茫若梦，双眸粲粲如星。
塞上牛羊空许约，烛畔鬓云有旧盟。
莽苍踏雪行。
赤手屠熊搏虎，金戈荡寇鏖兵。
草木残生颅铸铁，虫豸凝寒掌作冰。
挥洒缚豪英。
Translation
While I tried to rhyme the verses, I found it difficult to do so without altering the meaning of each line. Suggestions welcomed.
Hundreds of miles dim as a dream,
Eyes gleaming like twin stars above.
Empty promises of frontier herds,
By candlelight, old pledges in dark tresses remain.
Through wilderness treading snow.
Slaying bears and catching tigers with bare hands,
Golden halberd vanquishing invaders in fierce battle.
In withered woods an iron will forged.
Insects frozen with a freezing palm.
Capturing heroes with graceful ease.
Chapters
- Chapter 21 — Hundreds of miles dim as a dream
- Chapter 22 — Eyes gleaming like twin stars above
- Chapter 23 — Empty promises of frontier herds
- Chapter 24 — By candlelight, old pledges in dark tresses remain
- Chapter 25 — Through wilderness treading snow
- Chapter 26 — Slaying bears and catching tigers with bare hands
- Chapter 27 — Golden halberd vanquishing invaders in fierce battle
- Chapter 28 — In withered woods an iron will forged
- Chapter 29 — Insects frozen with a freezing palm
- Chapter 30 — Capturing heroes with graceful ease
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