C13 He Was on a Pirate Ship

After Jing Chong finished his remarks, he turned and continued on his way. Nie Haiyuan, the portly fellow, paused abruptly, deep in thought. His large eyes whirled as he mulled over the phrase "Four Seas as Home," and then, with a spark of inspiration, he hatched a plan.

Without a moment's delay, he quickened his pace and caught up to Jing Chong.

"The idea of making the 'Four Seas as Home' is appealing, but the world is fraught with danger and deceit. Furthermore, with the nation in turmoil and the powers-that-be crumbling, the common people are left with no recourse, struggling to survive. Wandering through this mortal world at your tender age must be fraught with hardships. If you delay for a few more years, by the time your youth fades, achieving anything of significance will be as difficult as reaching the heavens. It would be wiser to find a haven to diligently hone your skills. That way, you could rise to become a truly exceptional individual," he advised.

Nie Haiyuan had the gift of gab, akin to a persistent salesman who could peddle any potion or stick to you like a dog skin plaster—impossible to shake off. He continued to earnestly persuade Jing Chong, his tone dripping with sycophancy.

Yet, his words held a certain truth. Jing Chong might not have fully grasped the state of the world, but he was acutely aware of the people's suffering.

The notion of "diligently honing skills" to become a man of power struck a chord with Jing Chong. He turned around almost instinctively, his eyes ablaze with determination.

"What are you implying?" he asked. The memory of his tragically deceased parents and grandfather filled him with an urgent desire to grow stronger. Nie Haiyuan's words, though seemingly offhand, resonated deeply with him. At twelve years old, Jing Chong knew he possessed a unique power that surfaced in moments of unbridled rage, but he also recognized it as a malady, one that wreaked havoc on his body with each violent episode.

Moreover, as a child from a mountain village, he was a stranger to the concept of rigorous training. If he were to waste a few more years, by the time his body matured, the prospect of mastering martial arts would be a lost cause. And the chance to avenge his parents and grandfather would be as elusive as a reflection in a mirror or the moon's reflection on water.

Upon witnessing Jing Chong's unexpectedly astonished expression, Nie Haiyuan was taken aback. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated that his offhand remarks would elicit such a strong response. A surge of delight filled his heart as he realized he had hit the mark.

"Hahaha …"

Yet, when confronted with Jing Chong's inquiry, the chubby fellow put on quite a show. He straightened up, adopting the air of a sage with an air of moral superiority, and then let out a hearty laugh towards the heavens. After a suitably mysterious prelude, he cleared his throat and declared, "Honestly, our Blood Razor Keep isn't as superficial as you might imagine!"

Jing Chong felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He had expected Nie Haiyuan to offer some profound, mystical insights, but it turned out Nie Haiyuan was merely boasting, trying to inflate his own "thief" status.

As a result, Jing Chong lost his patience halfway through and couldn't bring himself to listen any longer.

"Hey, buddy, can't you hear me out before you go?"

Noticing Jing Chong's impatience, Nie Haiyuan grew desperate and resorted to his unabashed tactics once again. He quickly stepped in front of Jing Chong, not even pausing to catch his breath, and continued, "While our Blood Razor Keep may nominally be a band of outlaws, we possess a higher platform for cultivation within. It's rumored to be a method that can train one to become an immortal, capable of causing mountains to crumble and the earth to split with a mere wave of the hand, or stirring up sandstorms with a step. A single motion could conjure clouds from the ground. Aren't you the least bit curious?"

The place fell into silence at his words. Jing Chong held his breath, his face alight with fervor as he gazed at Nie Haiyuan, his eyes piercing as if trying to see right through him.

Although he was just a common young man from a small mountain village, he had heard the elders speak of many mighty beings in this world, capable of ascending to the heavens and soaring freely through the skies. But those were just tales and legends. Even in the vast expanse of the Wolf Tribe's territory, no such beings had ever been known to exist.

Despite knowing the fat man was exaggerating, Jing Chong couldn't help but enjoy the stories. He even allowed himself to be taken in by the other's words.

He understood that, even if this world had never witnessed beings akin to immortals, the multitude of legends was enough to suggest that truly powerful entities did exist, capable of moving objects through the air and cleaving mountains with their might.

He didn't aspire to reach such heights. As long as he could master enough skills to avenge his parents, that would suffice.

"Are you telling the truth?" After much internal conflict, Jing Chong chose to believe the words before him. His face lit up with hope as he quietly watched Nie Haiyuan, earnestly hoping for enough conviction from the other.

At that moment, it wasn't just Jing Chong who was filled with anticipation; Nie Haiyuan himself couldn't hide his eager expectation as he responded to Jing Chong's inquiry. He nodded with unwavering certainty, saying, "It's true, but it's incredibly difficult to make contact with them! However, if there's even the slightest chance, we must seize it, right?"

The sincerity in his words was palpable, and before he knew it, Jing Chong found himself believing them.

"Have you ever seen an immortal?"

Jing Chong, still with the innocence of a child, had fully embraced his belief. He let down his guard and engaged in an eager conversation with Nie Haiyuan.

Upon bringing up "immortals," Nie Haiyuan's excitement surged. He shed his pretense, revealing a touch of genuine innocence, though he couldn't conceal his joy over Jing Chong's belief. "I haven't seen one myself, but I've heard the patrol captain talk about it. He said that the leader of Skyreach Keep once met with the leader of Blood Razor Keep! Such tales are rife throughout Blood Razor Keep, with everyone hoping fervently for it to be true."

Both Nie Haiyuan and Jing Chong reveled in these stories. One spoke with conviction, the other listened with rapt attention, and time slipped away unnoticed.

By evening, as they talked and walked, they had no idea how far they had gone. It wasn't until the sunset painted the sky that they snapped out of their joyful reverie.

A strong mutual admiration had developed between them without them realizing it. After a day's worth of conversation, the hearts of the two youths had drawn incredibly close. Jing Chong, though, was introspective and not adept at expressing himself, keeping some things to himself—perhaps Nie Haiyuan did the same. They hadn't yet reached the point of complete openness with each other.

When Jing Chong finally snapped back to reality, he noticed that the once jovial Nie Haiyuan had become solemn, his gaze fixed intently on the mountain gate ahead, capturing Jing Chong's attention.

As Jing Chong followed Nie Haiyuan's line of sight, he realized they were nestled between two towering, rugged mountains. The shapes of these mountains were peculiar, resembling elephants and lions, but the peaks on either side bore a striking resemblance to ferocious Blood Wolves.

The Blood Wolves seemed to lie on the ground, their heads raised to the sky in a domineering stance, as if howling at the moon. Between them, a formidable canyon rose, its cliffs fortified with thick stone walls and a sturdy wooden gate that suggested an impenetrable defense.

The sight caused Jing Chong to involuntarily tense. "Is this Blood Razor Keep? Why does it emanate such a sinister aura?"

The environment around him stirred an uncomfortable feeling within Jing Chong, perhaps because he had grown accustomed to the freedom of mountain village life. The grandeur before him was intimidating.

Yet Jing Chong was resilient. No matter the adversity, he maintained his composure, his expression stoic as he focused on the formidable gate.

"Blood Razor Keep!"

The three blood-red characters loomed above, and even without an understanding of calligraphy, Jing Chong could sense the fervor dripping from each letter.

He took a sharp breath, attempting to steady his nerves.

At that moment, the mountain sentry, who had been vigilant at the wooden door, spotted the two figures below. Spears in hand, they called out with a resonant voice that quickly reached Jing Chong and Nie Haiyuan.

"Who goes there? What business brings you to Blood Razor Keep unannounced?"

The guard's tone was courteous, not immediately hostile, which slightly reassured Jing Chong, who had come to expect only brutality from bandits.

As the guard finished speaking, Nie Haiyuan, who had been standing silently, gasping for air, finally regained his composure. He looked up, meeting the sentry's gaze, and a wave of elation washed over his face.

"Elder Liu, quickly lower the gate. The patrol chief has returned!"

To his surprise, Nie Haiyuan wasn't just boasting; he had actually made contact with the guard inside the watchtower.

Responding to the call, Elder Liu slowly bowed his head and took a good look. Indeed, it was a familiar face, prompting a hearty laugh from him. "Oh, isn't this Patrol Chief Nie from Skyreach Keep? Where have you been?"

Although Nie Haiyuan was known to be rather useless, it was undeniable that he had an everyman's face—someone everyone would recognize. This only increased Jing Chong's respect for him.

With a cooperative nod towards Jing Chong, Nie Haiyuan boasted with a slight smile, "I wasn't exaggerating, was I?" He stood even taller with pride.

"Quit dawdling, Second Brother Liu. I've submitted my pledge of allegiance today, and the captain can't object. Hurry up and let us in!"

Jing Chong, hearing these odd words, couldn't help but inhale sharply. Pledge of allegiance? What is a pledge of allegiance? He could only return Nie Haiyuan's look with a puzzled gaze.

But Nie Haiyuan avoided his eyes, insistently urging the gate to be opened, which only intensified Jing Chong's feeling of being in over his head.

"Ha, the lad has really come a long way. He truly submitted a pledge of allegiance today. That's cause for celebration! Open the gate!"

Curious glances from within the watchtower settled on Jing Chong, their unusual stares making him feel uneasy. Yet, in his bewilderment, he had no choice but to be led by the nose.