Chapter 244: Section 32: Kid, You’re Just an Ordinary Person
Azure seas and blue skies, the weather was pleasant and sunny.
Bai Ya stood on the deck of the Little Bird, surrounded by many sailors like himself.
Zong Ge stood in front of everyone, “Today, we will train in the use of weapons.”
In front of him lay a pile of weapons, including axes and scimitars.
The pirates on the deck were all too familiar with these weapons because they had been crafting them for the past few days.
The weapons were all made of wood.
Zong Ge had specifically hired Mu Ban to teach these pirates how to carve weapons out of wooden blocks.
“There are many types of weapons,” Zong Ge stretched out his foot and lightly hooked a wooden dagger out of the pile.
He grabbed the wooden dagger and made a thrusting motion, “Daggers are the most convenient for surprise attacks, best suited for combat in the narrow confines of a ship’s cabin.”
He tossed aside the dagger, picked up a simple axe, “Boarding axe. We often use these to cut ropework and nets, and of course, it can chop off an enemy’s grappling hooks. Often, this weapon can also help us climb aboard the ship and pry open cabin doors.”
He discarded the wood axe and took up a wooden knife, “Sailor’s knife! This is our primary weapon, a bit shorter than the usual swords. It allows for close-combat on the ship. We use it to hack. Sometimes we hack at our enemies, other times it’s our dinner knife to cut food.”
“Besides that, there are short swords, grappling hooks, firearms, cannons…”
Zong Ge introduced them one by one.
Short swords were often used for stabbing and blocking, requiring skill to use. Their chopping effect wasn’t as good as the sailor’s knife.
The use of grappling hooks was simple. You just threw them to hook onto the enemy ship’s railings. With a few practice throws, one could see results.
Firearms were expensive and not everyone could be equipped with one. Furthermore, they were simple to use, so Zong Ge didn’t plan on training with them.
As for cannons, that was another focus.
To be an excellent pirate actually required mastering many things.
Not just managing sails and such work, most pirates had to master the use of both cold and fire weapons.
“Next, I’ll teach you the most basic movements,” Zong Ge began to demonstrate.
Daggers, boarding axes, sailor’s knives, short swords, grappling hooks, he used each one in turn. Zong Ge was very practiced at this instructor role.
He then distributed wooden practice weapons, nearly everyone got a set.
They began with a uniform practice, and then Zong Ge ordered people to set up rows of human-shaped wooden targets to start group practice.
Zong Ge corrected their movements while observing the skilled fighters.
Some stood out, and Zong Ge quietly took note of them.
“This is so boring,” Xu Ma flourished the wooden dagger in his hand. As a thief, he was most skilled with such small weapons. Of course, he was also better with axes, short swords, and so forth than the average person.
“Hey, young man, you’re working hard,” Xu Ma saw Bai Ya beside him, his face earnestly training, already sweating profusely, and clicked his tongue in praise.
Under the scorching sun, Bai Ya’s eyes were bright, his sweat shimmering, reflecting the sunlight and the vibrancy of youth.
His motivation to practice was immense.
On one hand, it was because he was inspired by the love of the noble lady Xi Qiu, striving hard to become a knight. On the other hand, the life-and-death experiences on Mysterious Monster Island had instilled in him a tremendous yearning for strength.
However, Zong Ge’s gaze swept over Bai Ya without the slightest pause.
Bai Ya wasn’t lacking in courage; on Mysterious Monster Island, he had fought on the front lines against terrifying Transformed Magical Beasts. What he lacked wasn’t practice.
On Mysterious Monster Island, he had already started practicing with weapons.
What he lacked was bloodline.
The tedious training continued for three hours, and the pirates gradually grew from impatient to irritable.
“I really don’t understand what’s the point of doing such simple training!”
“I’ve already known how to use a scimitar.”
“The Lion Flag Captain couldn’t have forgotten that it’s mealtime, could he?”
Pirates, strictly supervised and famished, harbored grievances yet, in light of the silver’s intimidation, they could only grit their teeth and train bitterly.
“Alright, time to eat,” Zong Ge’s words, like light piercing through darkness, rescued the pirates engaged in training.
Zong Ge’s expression didn’t look too good.
He had intentionally delayed mealtime, choosing the most tedious exercises to test the psychological limits of the pirates.
The low quality of the recruits made Zong Ge realize yet again: he wasn’t in a military camp, but leading a motley crew of pirates. Among these men was a mix of seasoned sailors, cunning old pirates, and even those who were setting sail for the first time.
During the meal, Zong Ge announced that they would engage in combat practice in the afternoon. The news struck a chord with the pirates, who had already had their fill of the morning’s tedious training.
Some were contemplative.
Xu Ma chuckled to himself, guessing this was a selection process.
Bai Ya was somewhat nervous; as a mountain hunter, he had killed many beasts. On Mysterious Monster Island, he had also killed no small number of magic beasts. But he had never fought another person. More precisely, during his time at New Moon Port, he had been kidnapped by thieves and taken hostage.
There were rewards and punishments for the combat training.
The victors would get to eat magic beast meat, while the losers had to scrub the deck or stand watch at night.
“If I can eat magic beast meat, I can surely cultivate my fighting energy faster and better!”
With such fervent anticipation, Bai Ya asked Xu Ma for advice, “Senior, what should I pay attention to when fighting against someone?”
Xu Ma had observed him and generously offered advice, “You handle your weapon expertly, but you lack variation, your moves are too direct. An experienced fighter could easily see through them.”
Bai Ya’s previous adversaries were beasts and magic beasts, creatures of limited intelligence, but men were different.
“So, what should I do?” Bai Ya continued to seek guidance.
Xu Ma patted him on the shoulder, “It depends on your wit. This needs more practice, actual combat practice. With more practice, you’ll improve.”
“But I really want to eat magic beast meat,” Bai Ya clenched his fists.
“Hehe, then I’ll teach you a few moves that you can use right away,” Xu Ma decided to take the young brother under his wing.
In his eyes, Bai Ya was one of his own. The more victories Bai Ya achieved, the greater his own prestige would grow.
Opponents were chosen by drawing lots.
Bai Ya’s first opponent was an old fisherman.
He was lean and wrinkled, with grizzled whiskers.
Bai Ya was nervous; the old fisherman was even more so.
“Just go up and chop straight at him,” Xu Ma loudly reminded.
Bai Ya charged forward, double-handedly raised his sword above his head, and swung three powerful chops.
The old fisherman struggled to defend, overwhelmed and retreating step by step. By the third chop, he could not resist any longer, and Bai Ya knocked his wooden sword flying.
Bai Ya quickly tried to pull back, but it wasn’t that easy; the heavy wooden sword struck the old fisherman’s arm.
The old fisherman cried out in pain and fell onto the deck.
“Sorry!” Bai Ya rushed to help him up, his face full of remorse.
The old fisherman pushed away his hand, glaring resentfully, and with gritted teeth, got up on his own.
Bai Ya’s second opponent was a middle-aged man.
His hair was a nest of chaos, and his name was Chicken Feather.
Chicken Feather, Big Head, and Salty Fish were all part of a group. Before the fight, they spoke in hushed tones, occasionally sizing Bai Ya up.
Xu Ma was also by Bai Ya’s side, strategizing for him, “Your current opponent is stronger than you. Although like you, he’s just an ordinary man, he has also cultivated fighting energy, and his level of cultivation is much higher than yours.”
Bai Ya quickly asked, “So what should I do?”
“Hehe,” Xu Ma shrugged, “As long as the opponent isn’t at Bronze Level, the difference in fighting energy cultivation can be overcome. You can’t meet him head-on; you’ll have to use some tricks. After all, all weapons are fair game! You can do this…”
Xu Ma muttered to himself, and Bai Ya nodded repeatedly.
Soon, the two were engaged in combat.
With a loud shout, Bai Ya raised his sailor’s scimitar high and pounced toward Ji Mao.
Ji Mao sneered coldly, fearless, and thrusted his blade straight forward.
Just as they were about to collide, Bai Ya suddenly flung his wooden sailor’s sword.
Ji Mao was shocked, and instinctively rushed to dodge, using his wooden blade to knock away Bai Ya’s thrown sword.
At that moment, Bai Ya, holding a wooden dagger and crouching low, charged directly into Ji Mao’s arms.
Ji Mao was knocked to the ground by Bai Ya, trying to turn over, but Bai Ya’s wooden dagger was already pressed against his neck.
“Kid, you’re playing dirty!” Ji Mao complained bitterly, glaring fiercely at Bai Ya.
Bai Ya grinned: “You lost.”
“Hmph, just you wait!” Ji Mao pushed Bai Ya away and scrambled up. He was more skilled than Bai Ya, but had been caught off guard by Bai Ya’s surprise attack.
Of course, this also exposed his lack of real combat experience.
Bai Ya returned victorious, very thankful to Xu Ma.
According to the current rankings, he needed only to defeat one more opponent to get to eat Magic Beast Meat.
However, when his opponent appeared, Xu Ma’s face fell: “Just give up.”
His opponent was known as Black Hand.
This wasn’t his real name but a nickname.
Because his hands, no matter how much he washed them, were always grimy and pitch-black.
It was a characteristic of a miner who excavated the core of coal ore.
Many suspected Black Hand was a slave miner who had escaped from the mines.
The taciturn Black Hand had the strength of Bronze Level, and it was not rare for slaves to be a Transcendent. Among the Gladiator slaves in the arena, there were even Golden Level Transcendents.
“Is there really no chance of victory?” Bai Ya couldn’t accept it.
Xu Ma shook his head: “You are just an ordinary person, while he is a Bronze fighter. The gap in strength is too large, not something tricks can resolve.”
“Isn’t it too early to give up?” Bai Ya still wanted to try.
Xu Ma shook his head and scoffed: “Young man!”
Bai Ya went up and, sure enough, got a beating, helplessly losing, and watched regretfully as the Magic Beast Meat slipped away from him.
When the combat training ended, Zong Ge commanded Sanda to oversee the distribution of the Magic Beast Meat.
Xu Ma, albeit cunning and tricky, still had enough merit and was one of the winners.
Zong Ge immediately promoted these victors to junior leaders on the spot and announced that such live combat training would be a regular event, with the reward and punishment system unchanged.
As night fell, the grueling day of training ended.
The pirates, some with bruised noses and swollen faces, some with their bodies sore all over, no longer gathered on the deck.
In the sailors’ quarters, Bai Ya sat on his own hammock, enviously watching Xu Ma lying on the hammock beside him, the latter staring blankly at a piece of Magic Beast Meat in his hand.
Xu Ma smiled upon noticing Bai Ya’s gaze: “Kid, this is good stuff, and I won’t let you have it.”
Bai Ya nodded and smiled: “Senior, I didn’t have such expectations. Besides, Magic Beast Meat that one earns for oneself is more satisfying. Didn’t Captain Lion Flag say? There will be more of these combat training sessions in the future.”
But Xu Ma shook his head: “Kid, you’re too optimistic. Captain Lion Flag is no fool. Look at today’s winners; they are mostly Bronze Level. Future winners will also be them. The number of winners is very cunningly set. You might think you were just unlucky today, but it is quite normal. You will always face opponents of the Bronze Level.”
“So, don’t think you’re just one step away from victory. That step is actually huge. It’s not as simple as you think.”
Bai Ya was stunned, then became worried: “What should I do then?”
“It’s simple, become Bronze Level, and you’ll have a good shot!” Xu Ma took a bite of Magic Beast Meat, mumbling through his mouthful.
Bai Ya was stunned again, “If I want to rapidly become a Bronze fighter, I have to start by eating Magic Beast Meat, right?”
The predicament before him was a dead end for Bai Ya.
Xu Ma hesitated for a moment, “Do you have money? If you have money, I’ll sell you this piece of Magic Beast Meat.”
Bai Ya shook his head.
Xu Ma sighed, “I knew you were a poor kid. Then you can only do what I did before, painstakingly practice your Fighting energy and endure for a while, to break through to the Bronze Level.”
“Ah?”
Xu Ma asked again, “What kind of Fighting energy do you practice?”
“Bai He Fighting energy.”
“Oh, that’s quite good. Much better than what I started with. How do you fare during your cultivation; how much Fighting energy can you produce?” Xu Ma continued to ask, “If it’s inconvenient to say, never mind.”
Bai Ya told Xu Ma the truth; the Fighting energy he produced was slight and wispy, spreading through his body like dissipating light.
“Then you’re done,” Xu Ma shrugged, “Don’t ever expect to break through to the Bronze Level in this lifetime.”
“Ah?”
Xu Ma glanced at him and continued to put the Magic Beast Meat into his mouth, “Your talent is too average, to the point where one might say you have no talent for cultivation at all. The Fighting energy technique I practiced was much worse than yours, but each time I produced Fighting energy, it was at least as thick as a strand of hair. Yours doesn’t even come close to a strand of hair; it’s obvious there’s no hope.”
Bai Ya blinked repeatedly, unable to believe it.
Xu Ma continued, “Do you know when I broke through to the Bronze Level? At thirty-two.”
“Ah, this is my life. There’s no hope for reaching the Black Iron Level!”
“Even a better Fighting energy technique would be useless.”
“Because Fighting energy techniques are paired with Bloodlines. Bloodlines are the key!”
“You’re just an ordinary person.”
Bai Ya’s mouth hung slightly open, his face turned pale, dry-mouthed, and despondent.
Xu Ma felt somewhat sorry for him and consoled, “This is reality, you… It’s better to know it sooner. There are many, many people in the same situation as you, all over the world. Most of the people on our ship are ordinary folks. There’s nothing to be disappointed about.”
“But…” Bai Ya’s Adam’s apple bobbed; he felt too panicked to speak properly.
“Ah—!” Xu Ma sighed deeply, finally finishing the entire piece of Magic Beast Meat, “Let’s head back to the Justice.”
“Pirates who endure rigorous training and distribute Magic Beast Meat? That’s not something a normal pirate captain would do. Our captain of the Lion Flag, he’s quite ambitious.”
“If you continue to stay here, the future won’t be easy.”
“To tell you the truth, my desire to come aboard was just to cling onto a powerful patron, have some soup, make a small fortune. I didn’t want to always be fighting and killing; the risk is too great.”
“Bringing you here was a mistake,” Xu Ma looked at Bai Ya.
Bai Ya’s eyes lost focus; he didn’t hear a word of what Xu Ma said.
“Hey, are you listening to me?”
Bai Ya snapped out of it, like a prisoner who had received a death sentence, clutching at straws, he asked, “Senior, is there really no other way?”
“Ah—!” Xu Ma sighed again and spread his hands, “What can be done? If there were a way, there wouldn’t be so many ordinary people in the world.”
“You know, there are rabbits and cheetahs on the savannah.”
“It’s the same with people. The moment you are born, it’s decided whether you’re a rabbit or a cheetah.”
“Don’t think people look more or less the same; the differences between individuals can be much greater than between rabbits and cheetahs.”
“Kid, you’re just an ordinary person. Don’t think too much about it.”
Bai Ya didn’t say a word; he felt incredibly weak.
This level of weakness was unprecedented!
Even those close encounters with death on Mysterious Monster Island never left him feeling so weak, so unwell.