Ring of Fire (circum-Pacific volcanic belt)
yourself; himself; herself
feeling keenly; fully realizing
to go too far; to go to excess; to carry too far
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
bribe; sweetener; douceur
anonymous report; (secret) information; tip-off; informing (against)
to fly about; to flutter about; to flit about; to fly past each other
ugly; unattractive; bad-looking; unsightly; unseemly; disgraceful
factional infighting (conflict); antagonism between factions
to unfold; to unroll; to open
to chip (off); to shave off; to sharpen; to dampen (one's enthusiasm, interest, etc.); to reduce
influence; effect; impact
honest; upright; cleanhanded; unselfish
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
vertex; apex; top (e.g. of a mountain); summit; top (of a profession, field, etc.); summit
the late emperor; preceding emperor
disposition; temperament; temper; nature
to like; to love; to be fond of
person of paramount authority; supreme wielder of power
something like ...; something called ...
way (of doing); manner; method; means
to say; to speak; to tell; to be called
structure; construction; arrangement; plan; plot; contrivance
from the viewpoint of; according to
Shangdi (creator deity in Chinese folk religion); God
real condition; actual circumstances; actual state of affairs
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
nobility; aristocracy; peerage
partition; division; separation; segmenting; splitting
wherein; therein; thereinto; among which
specific; particular; designated; specifying; designating; identifying
exactly; precisely; just; just (like); as if; as though
beyond one's means or position
to shut one's eyes; to close one's eyes; to turn a blind eye (to); to close one's eyes (to); to die
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
admiration; wonder; astonishment
(not) so; (not) particularly; (not) very; (not) that much
different person; another person; someone else; changed man