The final book of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils revolves around the adventures of the three sworn brothers: Xiao Feng, Duan Yu, and Xuzhu. The chapter titles form the poem Cry of the Water Dragon 《水龙吟》, named after the tone pattern it uses.
Poem
This poem uses the 《水龙吟》 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.
中平平仄平平仄，中仄中平平仄。
中平仄仄，中平中仄，中平中仄。
中仄平平，中平中仄，中平平仄。
仄中平中仄，中平中仄，
中平仄，平平仄。
中仄中平中仄，
仄平平、中平平仄。
中平中仄，中平平仄，中平平仄。
中仄平平，中平中仄，中平平仄。
仄平平仄仄，中平中仄，仄平平仄。
Original text
燕云十八飞骑，奔腾如虎风烟举。
老魔小丑，岂堪一击，胜之不武。
王霸雄图，血海深恨，尽归尘土。
念枉求美眷，良缘安在？
枯井底，污泥处。
酒罢问君三语，
为谁开，茶花满路？
王孙落魄，怎生消得，杨枝玉露？
敝屣荣华，浮云生死，此身何惧！
教单于折箭，六军辟易，奋英雄怒！
Translation
While I tried to rhyme the verses, I found it difficult to do so without altering the meaning of each line. Suggestions welcomed.
Eighteen riders from Yun of Yan burst forth
Like tigers in the wind and rising smoke.
Old demons and jesters cannot withstand
A single strike; victory brings no honour.
Ambitions to rule, deep blood feuds
All return to dust in time.
In vain I sought a beautiful match
Wherefore is such blissful marrage?
In the depths of a dried well,
Amidst the mire.
After wine, I ask the Emperor three things:
For whom do they bloom
The camellias along the road?
The descendant of prince fall into dire straits
How could he endure dew on the willow?
Treating glory like worn sandals,
Life and death like floating clouds—
This life is absolutely dreadful!
Making the Chanyu break arrows,
Six armies flee in terror, stirring up heroic rage!
Chapters
- Chapter 41 – Eighteen riders from Yun of Yan burst forth
- Chapter 42 – Like tigers in the wind and rising smoke
- Chapter 43 – Old demons and jesters cannot withstand
- Chapter 44 – A single strike; victory brings no honour
- Chapter 45 – Ambitions to rule, deep blood feuds
- Chapter 46 – All return to dust in time
- Chapter 47 – In vain I sought a beautiful match
- Chapter 48 – For whom do they bloom, the camellias along the road?
- Chapter 49 – Life and death like floating clouds
- Chapter 50 – Six armies flee in terror, stirring up heroic rage
- Afterword