Beginning of volume 8
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Sanzi revealed a licentious smile to Sheyan"s words.
"Brother Yan your memory is truly amazing. Yes, she is only 32 this year, but her husband is a wastrel and a drunkard. The third day of the previous year, I heard he fell into the water; n.o.body knows whether he drowned because he lost his footing, or because he was drunk. Moreover, they didn"t have a single child. Not that n.o.body had designs on her, but Old Song was previously a butcher with a greedy and uncouth personality; working the widow was akin to reducing two workers on his payroll. Since then, he refused to yield, and other suitors could only sulk dully and helplessly."
"I have no clue why, but everytime she delivers food, I notice that Uncle Dasi and her get along pretty well. These few days, every time she delivers food, they would always converse for rather long. This Shrimp paste was given by her. Di Gu should be helping Uncle Dasi to change his dressing now; if you disturb now, wouldn"t it be foiling their bliss?"
"Oh? Something like that really happened?" Sheyan"s vigor was roused, and would obviously refrain from committing such a crime. After pondering a little, he disembarked and headed towards Xiwu pier to purchase some things, before returning to slowly enjoy these sliced delicacies with Sanzi.
Only at 2 in the afternoon, did he finally get to see Uncle Dasi sending Di Gu out. When uncle Dasi caught sight of Sheyan, his aged face flushed with delight; but immediately shouted for his workers to to continue working, to mask his embarra.s.sment.
Sheyan laughed internally as he spectated, proceeding to exchange greetings with Uncle Dasi as he refrained from exposing him. Afterwards, he feigned that he had forgotten something, and seized this excuse to rush out; before proceeding to bar He Fengdi"s way.
Old Song"s restaurant was located at the north of Xiwu pier, around the southern part of that area. To reach there, one had to pa.s.s through a spa.r.s.e coconut grove, where leaves were on the verge of extinction. With the scorching sunlight beating down, there wasn"t a single person present during the afternoon. Sheyan hastily rushed up to her from behind, before calling her. That lady was rather taken aback, as she raised her eyes to scour at him.
Sheyan hadn"t had the chance previously, and similarly examined the lady before him. Probably due to operating near stoves, she wore black hair netting; preventing a single hair from leaking out. Her sleeves were slightly half-folded, while her baggy trousers were tugged into her cloth shoes. Her bearing appeared keenly neat and tidy.
Her face was the shape of a goose egg, were her brows neither too thick nor thin; only, her lips were slightly puckered. She release an impression of gentleness and decisiveness. Her figure somewhat ample and sleek, while her features became more pleasant with every glance. A pearl sized birthmark on her forehead added to her charm.
On the whole, though she appeared somewhat in her forties, it was mainly due to her make up making her look more mature. According to Sheyan"s observation, if she adorned fresher looking clothes, she would definitely appear like a charming young married woman around the age of 30.
"Is it Di Gu?" Sheyan amicably smiled while speaking. "My Uncle Dasi forgot something he wanted you to have. His skin is rather thin, but you know his personality. That is why I"m helping him with this."
While he explained, Sheyan produced a golden bracelet. Xiwu pier had always been a dirty port not just in name; Sheyan was immensely clear on the state of illegal businesses in this region. Thus, without much effort, he managed to purchase this previously. He Fengdi glanced at the 2-3 bangles of glistening yellow; noticing its elaborate craftsmans.h.i.+p, she asked in shock.
"What are you trying to do?"
Sheyan stared at her solemnly, his gaze turning sharp but his tone remained relatively neutral.
"Uncle Dasi brought me up since young, sacrificing his own youth. As long as my old man can live happily, I will be extremely contented. Although I purchased that boat, the owner of it is Uncle Dasi. If you don"t believe, you can examine it.
Sheyan then fished out the recently drafted contract. Instead, He Fengdi exclaimed.
"Aiyaayaa, what does it have to do with me!"
Sheyan swept a look at her, before replying unenthusiastically.
"I"m just showing it to you, I never said it involves you."
As he spoke, he unfolded the contract and earnestly pointed to show her. Not knowing why, but when Sheyan phrased it such a way, He Fengdi felt like she couldn"t reject it at all; and proceeded to pry at it like it was just a curious coincidence. Indeed, the named owner of the boat was Uncle Dasi.
Sheyan then casually handed the golden bracelet to her.
"This is what Uncle Dasi wanted me to bring over, take it."
He Fengi casted a look at it and got a huge fright; as though she was scalded by something. Immediately, she retracted her hand and questioned.
"How can I accept something so valuable?"
Her response was already within Sheyan"s calculations. He chuckled and placed the golden bracelet onto a rock nearby.
"Then just treat it as if you just picked it up."
He Fengdi angstily rebuked.
"How can I treat it as if I just picked it up!"
Sheyan no longer wished to talk much, shrugging his shoulders he replied while he left.
"Then let someone else pick it up. Uncle Dasi instructed me; "if the receiver doesn"t want it, then toss it into the sea. I cannot lose that person"!"
"Hey, hey!!" Stamping her feet behind while carrying her food trays, how would she chase up to the energetic Sheyan? Let"s talk truthfully; which female wouldn"t be vain? Which female wouldn"t love beauty? Especially to a woman like her who had experienced marriage and widowhood, she understood the rapid changing temperament of humans. When viewing other old hags flaunting off their riches and making individualistic comparisons, n.o.body would be willing to remain as a mere admirer.
He Fengdi examined the golden bracelet again, as her eyes revealed a bewitched allurement. She couldn"t resist the urge of testing it on her wrist. When Sheyan glanced back to peep, his lips curled into a slight smile.
If He Fengdi was a young lady, then dealing with her would be much tougher. However, she was an oppressed widow, making it much simpler to convince her. If the chances of matchmaking between her and Uncle Dasi were around 30%, then with Sheyan winging them, even if it wasn"t in the bag, it would at least be 90%.
Following that during dinner, Sheyan made a stealthy attempt to eavesdrop; discovering that He Fengdi didn"t mention anything about a bracelet, but her treatment towards Uncle Dasi had turned additionally gentler. Knowing this affair was more or less successful, he proceeded to entrust cash with Sanzi; allowing him to purchase those bizarre specimens of food and stuffs to place on the boat.
Those things weren"t necessarily precious, but focused on the term "novelty"; allowing Uncle Dasi the excuse to frequently gift her such novel specimens. People often say, "one has to show face after accepting one"s grace". Therefore, constantly consuming and receiving; in a viler perspective, naturally one"s clothings will slowly become looser.....
As time trickled by, the intimacy between Uncle Dasi and He Fengdi became warmer. Meanwhile, Sanzi also repeatedly ran errands in purchasing raw materials for Sheyan. Hence, in his free time, Sheyan started making progress in his concoctions. His "Mantis gene-mix*" managed to advance a stage. Presently, the fruits of his research was - Attack speed increase by 5%, movement speed increase by 5 points, accuracy decline by 1%. In critical moments, like pursuing or fleeing, that 5 points of movement speed bonus would come into play.
(TN:*this is the gene-mix he created himself back in ch 53 of Lotr world (vol.6)
On the eve of Fu Yuan"s first official voyage, Sheyan received notice from the realm to return. In view of that abnormal malfunction, turning 9 days inside the realm into more than a month, Sheyan embraced Sanzi and briefed him in full details; causing Sanzi to turn apprehensive as though they were going to part forever.
Everything went without saying after he returned to the realm. This time, Sheyan received the relevant notification not long after stepping into the realm.
[ Your current military rank: First Lieutenant. ]
[ You are attached to a Silver party: Party Ace. ]
[ Your current party includes: 1 Reserve-duty Growth-hunter, 2 contestants. ]
[ Your next adventuring world: Pirates of the Caribbean world. ]
[ World progression rate will be determined by the progress of party leader, no.1018. Related relations.h.i.+ps of party members pertaining to this world may be preserved, or converted in other ways. ]
[ Citing an example: In Sheyan"s world progression, Alchemist Peigan had already been killed. However, by chance if Reef had a "Wors.h.i.+pped" relations.h.i.+p with him, upon entering, though Peigan will remain dead, he would be subst.i.tuted with someone else; possibly his son / wife / alchemy apprentice. The subst.i.tution will maintain a "Wors.h.i.+pped" relations.h.i.+p with Reef, and provide roughly the same functionalities as Alchemist Peigan. ]
[ After evaluating, your main mission difficulty: B-. ] (Realm calculates party Ace as 1 Reserve-duty Growth-hunter and 2 contestants. The realm"s difficulty evaluation primarily factors in a contestant"s status, attribute points etc. It does not directly calculate an individual"s battle capabilities - this is to prevent contestants from mutilating themselves to lower their battle capability, and subsequently reducing the mission difficulty)
Sheyan couldn"t help but sigh deeply as he browsed through the list of notifications. His emotions were like a surging tide.....
"Formidable Ammand…..the wealthy Turtuga port*…..the semi-cursed Flying Dutchman crew …...the extravagant and elegant Captain Jack Sparrow....that mysterious yet invincible Little Lord Fokke!!! How can I forget such memories, how can I ever forget!"
(TN:*I have changed the name of the port in his first visit to this world to Turtuga port (with a U). Explanation will be given later. Just know that this port is different from the Tortuga port of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie)
"I was just a measly, unworthy and negligible Seaman in your eyes, but I"ve since matured to a stage I can meet you head on. The spirit of the Pirates of the Caribbean is always filled with danger, magic, valor and treasures. With my resurgence back into this world, I must uncover the greatest secrets of your world!"
At this moment, both Reef and Mogensha similarly received the shared notification from Sheyan. Reef* and Mogensha hadn"t gone through this world before. Therefore going by this logic, there wouldn"t be conflicts of mutual world progression. At present, Sheyan inquired about the status of Mogensha"s mission to mend his Silver grade spear. Instead, Mogensha sighed, and shook his head while he spoke.
(TN:*previously, Reef only made a brief appearance in this world but didn"t fully experience it)
(TN: World progression refers to the exploring rate/ development rate in the world)
(TN: My guess is the realm evaluated 2 contestants because Mogensha doesn"t have his silver sparta spear)