chinese painter

touching gold and turn it into iron

give up pursuit without attaining the goal

have bright prospects(be well worth doing; much can be accomplished)

a mountain of swords and a forest of sabres(the most dangerous place)

broken chapters and paragraphs

make a false countercharge(recriminate; make false countercharges; put the blame on the victim)

be second to none

concentrate on the key points(place the stress on the main issues)

go one's own way(act personally in all affairs; decide and act alone)

be home and dry(home free)

the four corners of the world

The game is not worth the candle.

worst offence

create a grand prospect(try one's wings)

fragments(odds and ends)

spoil one's enthusiasm(throw a wet planket over)

see through sb.'s treachery

paint casually(paint at random)

great mansion on the verge of collapse (idiom); hopeless situation