Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.53 第53章 代练契约 -···
第53章 代练契约 –···
Chapter 53: The Stand-in Contract—
「只要妳听我们的去做，就绝对能成为比首席还厉害的人。到时候，神要妳替他宣扬大光的存在。妳要运用圣器守护世界，妳做得到吗？」
“Just listen to us, and you’ll definitely become someone greater than the Chief. When that time comes, the God will task you with spreading His great light. You must use the sacred artifact to protect the world—can you do that?”
这人说完，从包裹得极其郑重的麻布中露出壹把看上去有些光泽的长剑。
As he spoke, he unwrapped a long sword with a faint gleam from a reverently bundled piece of linen.
「是好圣器，妳们也有！」
“It’s a fine sacred artifact—you have it too!”
被果酒灌得头脑有些蒙呼呼的少年彻底相信了。
The boy, his mind already clouded by swigs of fruit wine, was now fully convinced.
原来我依旧会是首席，他开心的想到。
So I’ll still be the Chief after all, he thought to himself joyfully.
「那我该怎么做？」
“So, what should I do?”
「以前要靠武力，但以后大光说我们还要靠头脑，不死之王的侍者这次来就是考验妳。妳要想办法得到他身上的壹个东西，将它交给我，就完成了大光给予的考验。」
“In the past, brute force was enough, but from now on, the great light tells us we must also rely on our wits. The Undying King’s envoy is here this time to test you. You must find a way to acquire something from him and bring it to me—that will fulfill the trial set by the great light.”
说罢，那瘦高个将头伸到他耳边，用手遮住嘴轻声说著详细的计划。
With that, the lanky man leaned closer to the boy’s ear, covering his mouth with one hand as he softly whispered the detailed plan.
少年越听眼睛越亮了起来。
The more the boy listened, the brighter his eyes grew…
……
三年时光匆匆而过。
Three years slipped by in a blur.
这几日，无数人聚集于小城，这密集的宛若朝圣般的人群在城内外闹哄哄壹片。
Recently, the small city teemed with countless people, a densely packed, pilgrimage-like crowd that buzzed and clamored both inside and outside its walls.
重返年轻的「首席追随者」扎古达，亲自手持圣器带领队伍隔绝出大道与场地，等待著不死之王的使者的来临。
Zaguda, the “Chief Follower” restored to youth, personally raised a sacred artifact as he led his team to cordon off the avenues and venues, awaiting the arrival of the Undying King’s envoy.
杨子藏果然如约而至。男人的样貌似乎没有变化，连身上的衣服都是壹样的。
Yang Zicang arrived as promised. The man’s appearance seemed unchanged, even his clothes were the same.
轰隆轰隆，有人震动著宽大的兽皮，发出轰轰闷响。
A rumbling, thundering sound filled the air as someone shook a broad animal hide.
成片的人欢呼著那道身影从长道尽头出现。
Crowds of people cheered as that figure emerged from the end of the long path.
他壹如既往的穿著朴素，唯有胸前那红色吊坠显露出其不凡。
He was as plainly dressed as always, with only the red pendant on his chest revealing his extraordinary nature.
祈愿原始人保密，跟祈愿雷雨天不要打雷壹样的荒谬，因此几乎所有人都知道了首席变年轻那壹天发生了什么。那枚金灿灿的硬币更是在每年的祭典上被首席拿出来昭示它的神圣。
Wishing the archaic man to keep a secret was as absurd as praying thunder wouldn’t strike on a stormy day, so almost everyone knew what had happened on the day the Chieftain grew young. That gleaming gold coin was even brought out by the Chieftain during the annual rituals to proclaim its sanctity.
无数圣殿的勇士证实那壹日，这金币上有著火焰般的白色虚光，那光带给了首席新的生命。
Countless temple warriors confirmed that on that day, the coin had shimmered with a flame-like white ethereal glow, a light that granted the Chieftain new life.
而这中年人脖子上那金红如火的东西，肯定也蕴含著无数的寿命。
And that gold-and-red, fire-like object around the middle-aged man’s neck surely held immeasurable years of life.
众人羡慕与期盼的看向杨子藏走过的身影，以及那枚项链。
The crowd gazed with envy and anticipation at Yang Zicang’s passing figure and that necklace.
其中包括首席以及他的那位三儿子，以及在人群中传播著「大光」之名的人。
Among them were the Chieftain, his third son, and those in the crowd who spread the name of the “Great Light.”
「不用多礼。」
“No need for formalities.”
杨子藏拒绝了众人的礼节，他直奔主题，来到那些长高不少的孩子与青年们身前，脱下外套露出精壮的胸肌。
Yang Zicang declined the crowd’s ceremonial gestures and went straight to the point. He stepped before the children and youths, who had grown much taller, slipped off his coat, and revealed his robust chest.
「开始妳们的表演吧，来，往我身上打。」
“Begin your performance. Come on, hit me.”
几人迟疑的互相看了眼后，在杨子藏再三鼓励下，壹个二十多岁的壮汉子走出，手上长剑带著破风声砍来。
The few hesitated, exchanging glances, but after repeated encouragement from Yang Zicang, a sturdy man in his twenties stepped forward. His long sword whistled through the air as it slashed down.
嘭！
Thump!
长剑拉出十几厘米伤口，卡在杨子藏肩胛骨下，这壮汉子浑身都在害怕。
The long sword carved a wound over ten centimeters long, lodged beneath Yang Zicang’s shoulder blade. The burly man trembled with fear.
感受了下这力道，杨子藏笑著点点头：「还不错，继续。」
Feeling the force, Yang Zicang smiled approvingly and nodded: “Not bad. Keep going.”
「好，好厉害。」
“Wow, so impressive.”
「不愧是不死之王的侍者大人！」
“No wonder he’s the Steward of the Undead King!”
周围数千人看著这震撼的壹幕。
The thousands of onlookers watched this shocking scene unfold.
虽知道他不会受伤，但亲眼看到又是另壹回事。
Though they knew he wouldn’t be hurt, seeing it with their own eyes was another matter entirely.
那些刀剑落在这位大人身上，看著好吓人，可他却永远屹立不倒，没多久那些伤口都灰雾弥漫的复原。
The blades falling upon this man looked terrifying, yet he stood eternally unbowed. Before long, gray mist swirled over those wounds as they healed.
杨子藏壹壹试过这些选出的人，他们大多都比较努力，另壹些天赋虽好，但却并未有理想中的状态。
Yang Zicang tested these selected individuals one by one. Most of them showed great diligence, while others, despite their talent, failed to reach ideal form.
「大家辛苦了，妳们做得都很好，但我只会选则部分给予契约的签订。」
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard, and you’ve all performed well. But I will only contract with some of you.”
选拔结束后，杨子藏将这十来人聚集到前方，他从随身的布袋里掏出壹把金币。
After the selection ended, Yang Zicang gathered the dozen or so chosen ones up front, pulled out a handful of gold coins from his pocket, and began distributing.
「未选中也不必气馁，妳们以后可以继续修习这三年学到的武技，不过我不会再过问妳们的结果，妳们也不能再阅读它们。」
“Don’t be disheartened if you weren’t selected. In the future, you may continue practicing the martial skills you’ve learned these past three years, but I will no longer inquire about your progress, nor may you read them anymore.”
看著这壹把带著淡白色金辉的金色小圆片，众人的呼吸都沈重起来。
As they gazed upon the handful of small, golden discs shimmering with a pale golden radiance, everyone’s breathing grew heavy.
首席不停的咽著口水，幻想著要是能将它们全部拿到自己手中该多好。
The chief couldn’t help but swallow repeatedly, fantasizing about how wonderful it would be to have all of them in his own hands.
「来，在与我签订武道契约前，先接受我的礼物。」杨子藏微笑著将手中的金黄硬币捏起来。
“Come, before you sign the martial arts pact with me, first accept my gift.” Yang Zicang smiled as he picked up the golden coins in his hand.
孩子们的目光都直了，他们的心脏砰砰直跳的想到，难道，难道是给自己的？
The children’s eyes were fixed; their hearts pounding wildly as they thought, Could it be—could this truly be for them?
他走到壹名十来岁孩子身前，拉起他的手。
He walked up to a child of about ten years old, took his hand, and clasped it.
这孩子，乃至他的家人们都激动的睁大了眼，真的是要给自己！
The child, and even his family, widened their eyes in excitement—was it truly for him?
天啊！
Oh my goodness!
杨子藏将这枚自己用黄金制作的金币放在他手上。
Yang Zicang placed the coin he had crafted from gold onto the child’s hand.
「这个数字读什么？」他带著微笑问。
“What number does this read?” he asked with a smile.
「十。」
“Ten.”
小孩虽紧张，但依旧壹口就答了出来。
Although nervous, the child answered immediately.
「很好，这就是它蕴含的寿命数量，妳可以自己使用，也可以交给妳希望交给的人。」
“Very good. That’s the quantity of lifespan it contains. You may either use it yourself or give it to whomever you wish.”
人群轰然炸响。
The crowd exploded into commotion.
好多人震撼的看著那硬币，原来好好练武会有这样的好事出现！
Many were stunned as they stared at the coin, realizing that dedication to martial arts could lead to such remarkable fortune!
好些人已经在想该用什么去从小孩们手上换到它。
Some were already plotting how to acquire it from the child in exchange for something else.
看著这位大人将壹枚枚金色的小圆片，交给这三年来壹起习武的人手中，那些未被选上的人懊恼的哭泣了起来。
Watching as this great person handed round after round of golden discs to those who had practiced martial arts with him over the past three years, the ones not chosen wept in regret.
分发完毕后，杨子藏转身扫了眼周遭的人。
After distributing them all, Yang Zicang turned and swept his gaze over the crowd around him.
「这是我的赐予，任何人不得抢夺，违者死。」
“This is my gift. No one is to take it by force. Those who disobey shall die.”
这群孩子身后的落选者中，其中壹人跪著痛哭流涕的往前挪动，祈求杨子藏能给予自己壹枚这样的金币，他说他因其父母被野兽所伤而需要。
Among the losers behind this group of children, one knelt, crawling forward in a flood of tears, pleading with Yang Zicang to grant him such a gold coin, claiming his parents had been injured by wild beasts and needed it.
正当杨子藏打算开口让他滚蛋之时，忽地转头看向城门口。
Just as Yang Zicang was about to dismiss him with a yell, he suddenly turned his head toward the city gate.
更多的人看了过去。
More eyes followed his gaze.
只见壹头类似犀牛，却长著僚牙的生物尸体被人拖著走来过来，拽著它的那道身影是与之对比，极其渺小的瘦弱孩童。
What came into view was the corpse of a creature resembling a rhinoceros but armed with tusks, being dragged forward by a frail, tiny child, whose figure seemed minuscule in comparison.
他十壹二岁，身上穿著破烂的草衣。
He was eleven or twelve years old, dressed in tattered grass clothing.
噗~噗~他壹步壹个脚印地拖著比起身体大上数倍的青牛。
Plod, plod—step by step, he dragged a cyan beast several times larger than his own body.
「天啊。」
“Good heavens.”
「这小家伙，他这么瘦怎么做到的。」
“This kid… so skinny, how does he manage it?”
众人惊呼。
Exclamations burst from the crowd.
「大人，这是我独自猎杀的靑牙牛。」
“Sir, this cyan-tusked ox was the kill I made alone.”
这瘦小身影来到石阶前跪倒在地，恳求道：「请侍者大人教我武技。」
The slight figure knelt before the stone steps and begged, “Please, mentor, teach me the martial arts.”
是「昨天」那孩子…杨子藏的眼帘垂了垂。
It was that kid from “yesterday“… Yang Zicang’s eyelids drooped slightly.
「在城外等我。」
“Wait for me outside the city.”
长大些的孩子惊喜擡头。
The older child looked up in pleasant surprise.
「是！」
“Yes!”
他站起身快速跑了出去，仿佛只要自己到了城外，这位大人就会马上出现似的。
He stood up and ran out swiftly, as if, by the mere act of reaching the outskirts of the city, this esteemed adult would appear in an instant.
天色越来越晚，在壹片欢声笑语中，杨子藏接受了首席的宴请。
The evening grew darker, and amidst a sea of laughter and chatter, Yang Zicang accepted the Chief’s banquet invitation.
席间，品尝过半首席准备的各种食物后，壹位跟首席长得六分相似的青年走了出来。
During the feast, after sampling the various dishes the Chief had prepared, a youth bearing a six-tenths resemblance to the Chief stepped forward.
阿希扎古达手上捧著个特别的小罐子，里面散发著略微刺激的果子味道。
In Ashizagu Da’s hands was a peculiar little jar, from which emanated a slightly pungent aroma of fruit.
「侍者大人，我这里有美味的神水想要供奉给妳。」
“Noble Attendant, I offer you this fine nectar as a sacred tribute.”
这香味让周围品尝过神水的壹些勇士们看了过来。
The aroma drew the gazes of nearby warriors who had sampled the divine water.
杨子藏看了眼放在身前小桌上的瓦罐，里面是浑浊果酒，以及壹些其它东西。
Yang Zicang glanced at the clay pot set on the table—inside lay murky fruit wine and other miscellaneous items.
端著酒碗的他笑了笑，没想到自己会有这么壹天。
Holding a wine bowl in his hands, he chuckled, never expecting he would experience such a moment.
「这是谁给妳的？」
“Who gave this to you?”
「是…」阿希扎古达紧张得不知如何开口。
“It was…” Ashizagu hesitated, at a loss for words in his nervousness.
神使大人可是说过千万不能告诉侍者大人，否则就知道自己获得了别人的帮助，考验也就失败了。
*The divine envoy had explicitly instructed him never to tell the noble attendant; otherwise, he would reveal he received help from others, and the trial would end in failure.*
「不能说吗。」
“You can’t say?”
「啊，侍者大人，我…」
“Ah, Noble Attendant, I…”
好几次他都差点忍不住说出那人的名字，可「首席」两字不断萦绕在脑海。
Several times he almost couldn’t help blurting out that person’s name, yet the word “Chief” kept echoing in his mind.
他舍不得。
He couldn’t bear it.
他也想在下次灾难立功，获得奖赏，获得更长的生命。
He also yearned to earn merit in the next catastrophe, to be rewarded, to obtain a longer life.
「是我献给大人的。」青年低头道。
“It is I who offer this to you, sir,” the young man said, bowing his head.
杨子藏拿起酒晃了晃，将沈在酒水底下用来提味的新鲜果肉晃荡开来。
Yang Zicang picked up the wine and swirled it, stirring the fresh fruit pulp that had sunk to the bottom for flavor.
最下方的细小白色多面体翻涌到表面，没看错的话，这玩意儿是砒霜的壹种。
The tiny white polyhedra at the very bottom surged to the surface—if not mistaken, this was a type of arsenic.
好奇的拿在鼻下嗅了嗅，酒中还混著壹些藤蔓的味道。
Curiously, he brought it to his nose and sniffed; the wine was also laced with a hint of vines.
这种气味太熟悉了，在千年前，还是自己拿来教给壹个部落，让其抹在箭上帮助猎杀附近的大型野兽，那地方的巨蟒和恐龙太多了。
This scent was all too familiar. A thousand years ago, he himself had taught a tribe to apply it to their arrowheads to help hunt the large beasts nearby. The place was overrun with pythons and dinosaurs.
斜对面的小木桌后，首席好奇的看著自己的儿子，侍者大人的话让他有点糊涂。
Behind the small wooden table diagonally opposite, the Chief looked curiously at his son. The waiter’s words had left him somewhat bewildered.
……
古朴的原木小木桌后面，杨子藏扫了眼周围，大伙都露出羡慕的目光，看来自己手上的这味道浓郁的果酒，是他们也不曾喝过的。
Behind the rustic log table, Yang Zicang swept a glance around. Everyone was casting admiring looks his way. It seemed the richly flavored fruit wine in his hand was something not even they had ever tasted.
「呵，好好好，有意思。」
“Ha, good, good, good. How interesting.”
杨子藏仰起头痛饮。
Yang Zicang tilted his head back and drank deeply.
咕咚咕咚！
Gulping, gulping!
喝下大半罐后，杨子藏哈了口气，沈重的将之放在桌子上，若无其事的开始继续吃著食物，聊著天。
After downing most of the tankard, Yang Zicang let out a sigh, set it heavily on the table, and nonchalantly resumed eating and chatting.
大伙壹直闹到了午夜，而堂中两人则越来越焦急。
The crowd kept the revelry going until midnight, while the two in the hall grew increasingly uneasy.
他们已经难以管理住自己越来越明显的神态。
They could no longer hide the agitation clearly written on their faces.
酒过三巡，杨子藏撇过这些人壹眼，拎起酒罐走到其中壹人身前，淡淡的道：
After several rounds of drinks, Yang Zicang cast a glance at them, picked up a jug of wine, and walked up to one, speaking calmly:
「想尝尝这酒味吗。」
“Fancy a taste of this wine?”
「啊，侍者大，大人。」
“Ah, S-sir, Ser—Server!”
这人吓得鸡皮疙瘩都起来了。
The man was so terrified his skin prickled with goosebumps.
他身边另壹人略微颤抖的撇过头去。
Beside him, another trembled slightly and looked away.
杨子藏注视向首领的儿子：「是他们对吧。」
Yang Zicang fixed his gaze on the chieftain’s son: “It’s them, isn’t it?”
「不，不是我。」
“No—it wasn’t me!”
两人差点跳起来逃跑。
The two nearly bolted up and fled.
见到这壹幕，阿希扎古达了然自己失败了，不愧是侍者大人啊，他什么都知道。
Seeing this, Ashizagu realized he had failed—truly, the Server knew everything.
他闪烁的目光由慌乱转为无奈，点头道：
With a glance flickering from panic to resignation, he nodded:
「是的，是神使大人们亲自做的，没想到侍者大人壹下就认出来了。」
“Yes. The Holy Envoys did it themselves. I didn’t expect the Server to spot it in one glance.”
神使？
Holy Envoys?
不光杨子藏，在场的众人都奇怪的看著这两人，思索著这个词所代表的意义。
Not just Yang Zicang, but everyone present stared at the two, puzzling over what this term meant.
两人汗流浃背。
The two men were drenched in sweat.
突然其中壹人咬牙窜起身来，伸直手臂快速取向杨子藏胸前冒著红光的兽牙项链。
Suddenly, one of them gritted his teeth, lunged upward, and reached straight for the glowing red fang necklace on Yang Zicang’s chest.
轰！
BOOM!
飞出的黑影将篝火掀翻，这人如破布般狠狠砸在墙上，鲜血四溅，缓缓滑下。
The flying shadow knocked over the bonfire as the man slammed into the wall like a torn rag, blood splattering everywhere as he slowly slid down.
另壹人吓傻了。
The other person was stunned with fear.
「不，别，别杀我！」他声色骇然的道。
“No, don’t, don’t kill me!” he cried out, his voice trembling with terror.
啪塔，阿希扎古达手中的泥碗摔在地上。厚实的碗在坑坑洼洼的地面滚了两圈，竟然没碎。
*Thump.* The clay bowl in Ashizagu’s hands fell to the ground. The stout bowl rolled twice on the bumpy floor, yet somehow did not break.
「袭击侍者大人？」
“Attack an Attendant?”
「他们尽然敢抢侍者大人的圣物！」
“They dared to snatch the Holy Artifact of the Attendant!”
周围的众勇士才忽然回过神，慌忙的起身将被杨子藏击飞出去的人围住。
The surrounding warriors finally snapped back to their senses, hastily rising to surround the man whom Yang Zicang had sent flying.
众勇士惶恐无比，这该死壹万次的东西！
The warriors were gripped with terror—this damnable creature who deserved to die ten thousand times over!
「汰！」
“Out!”
首领壹把掀翻桌子后，拎起自己儿子走来壹脚踢在他腿上，让他跪倒在地。
The chieftain flipped the table with a heave, then dragged his own son over and kicked him on the leg, forcing him to his knees.
「说，妳干了什么。」
“Speak, what did you do.”
首领怒不可遏地用力揪住自己儿子的头发，愤怒的喊道：「妳在做什么！」
Seething with rage, the chieftain yanked his son’s hair roughly and roared: “What are you doing!”
「我，我…」
“I, I…”
阿希扎古达吓傻了，他什么都不知道，只是求救的望向大光神的这位神使。
Ashizagu was paralyzed with terror, entirely clueless, and only turned his eyes imploringly to the Envoy of the Great Light.
「大光神使，您，您快说话呀！」
“Great Light Envoy, stop him, please say something!”
什么大光神使，这会儿只是个只晓得张嘴却连壹个字都抖不出来的可怜虫。
The so-called Radiant Envoy was now nothing but a pathetic wretch who could only open his mouth, unable to utter even a single word.
杨子藏明白对方想要的是什么了。
Yang Zicang understood what this man was after.
暗叹声，看了眼桌上还剩著的小半罐酒，他当著这人的面再次拎起来。
With a silent sigh, he glanced at the half-filled jug of wine left on the table, then picked it up again before this man’s very eyes.
「不！」
“No!”
这人差点伸出手抢夺，却被人啪地甩了壹巴掌，死死按住肩膀。
This man nearly lunged to snatch it away, but a slap cracked across his face, his shoulders forcibly restrained.
豪饮了两口后，杨子藏重重的将酒罐放在了桌上。
After taking two hearty gulps, Yang Zicang slammed the wine jug heavily onto the table.
「仅就酒的味道来说，还不错。」他扫视了周围这些人壹眼：「但妳们千万别尝。以后，诸位当少量饮酒，不要迷失己心。」
“As far as the taste of the wine goes, it’s not bad,” he cast a glance over the surrounding crowd, “but never let yourself taste it. From now on, all of you should drink sparingly, and don’t lose your true selves.”
说完这莫名其名的话后，杨子藏往外走去，城外还有个孩子在等著自己。
Having uttered these inexplicable words, Yang Zicang strode outside—there was still a child waiting for him beyond the city walls.
当杨子藏走远，受惊的首席才敢拎起酒罐闻了闻，他皱眉思索了阵子后，忽然面色大变。
Only after Yang Zicang had walked far away did the trembling premier dare to lift the jug and sniff it. He frowned, mulling it over for a while, then suddenly his face turned ashen.
「啊！！」
“Ah!!!”
他擡起壹脚踹在跪在地上青年的下巴上，手上拳头狠狠砸下。
He kicked the kneeling youth directly in the chin, his fist smashing down furiously.
「妳这畜生啊！！！」
“You beast!!!”
壹通暴揍后，扎古达目似怒龙盯向桌子后那人。
After a brutal beating, Zakuda glared like a furious dragon at the one seated behind the table.
他伸出如钢钳般的大手死死钳住对方下巴，另壹手举起酒罐，在对方惊恐的无效挣扎下，将剩余酒水统统灌入这人口中。
He extended a hand like a steel clamp, firmly grasping the other’s chin, while raising a wine jug with the other hand. Amid the terrified and futile struggles of the victim, he poured all the remaining wine into the man’s mouth.
「呜，唔不…咕，求…」
“Ugh, no… gulp, please…”
「咳咳，唉啊啊…」
“Cough, ahh…”
仅仅几分钟，此人便全身抽搐，吐血倒在地上，面容扭曲的挣扎，痛苦死去。
In just a few minutes, the man’s body convulsed, blood spurting from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in agony as he struggled and died in torment.
自此下巴破碎的阿希扎古达才知自己给侍者送上的是什么。他浑身瘫软跪倒在地，无措的看向四周恨不得生吞自己的众圣殿勇士。
Only then did Ashizagu, realizing what he had sent the attendant, find his jaw fractured. His body went limp as he dropped to his knees, looking around helplessly at the sacred warriors of the palace who seemed ready to devour him alive.
完了，全完了…
It’s over, all over…
……
夜色中，小孩静静坐在地上，望著星月。
In the night, the child sat quietly on the ground, gazing up at the stars and the moon.
「吃过晚饭了吗。」
“Have you eaten dinner yet?”
脚步声传来，孩子扭过头看清来者，赶紧转身葡匐下去。
Footsteps approached. The child turned his head to see who was coming, then swiftly turned around and prostrated himself.
「以后不用对我行这样的礼节。」
“In the future, you don’t need to show me such courtesies.”
「那我…」
“Then I…”
「妳叫什么名字？」
“What is your name?”
「我…」孩子迟疑起来，「我忘了。」
“I…” The child hesitated. “I’ve forgotten.”
「忘了？」
“Forgotten?”
「以前妈妈只是叫我儿子，姐姐叫我弟弟，我记得我有名字的，可是我忘了。」
“My mother used to call me ‘son,‘ and my sister called me ‘brother.‘ I remember I had a name, but I forgot it.”
杨子藏没有问他妈妈与姐姐去了哪里，他将壹小份食物递给他。
Yang Zicang didn’t ask him where his mother and sister had gone. He handed him a small portion of food.
「以后妳叫武正。」
“From now on, your name is Wu Zheng.”
「武正…武？」孩子有些迟疑的看向他。
“Wu Zheng… Wu?” The child looked at him hesitantly.
「妳想活多久？」
“How long do you want to live?”
「我，我不知道，我想找妈妈和姐姐。」
“I, I don’t know. I want to find my mom and sister.”
「可以。」
“Very well.”
杨子藏拿出个小球捏碎，球中如同Moexl发动般出现个闪动的三角形微光落在小孩身上，他胸前原本不存在的圆环出现。
Yang Zicang took out a small sphere and crushed it. From the sphere, like a Moxel activating, a triangular flickering glow appeared and landed upon the child. A ring that hadn’t existed on his chest before manifested.
壹道心念声突兀的出现在他心中，让这孩子惊了下。
A sudden mental voice intruded into his mind, startling the child.
[妳是否愿意与我签订「代练契约」，自签订之日起，直至约定之技艺学成，或命终后，契约自然达成，所有代练技艺之经验自契约剥离之日起，不再拥有。]
[Are you willing to enter into a ‘Training Pact’ with me? From the day of signing, until the agreed-upon technique is mastered, or upon death, the pact shall be naturally fulfilled. Once it’s concluded, you will no longer possess the experience gained from the training.]
更多细微的信息自然浮现他心间，让他能够清楚理解这份契约的意思。
More subtle information naturally surfaced in his mind, allowing him to clearly grasp the meaning of this pact.
同样，这光芒中有壹份来到了杨子藏的圆环内储存起来。
Likewise, a portion of this light was stored within Yang Zicang’s ring.
「大人是要我…」
“Master, do you mean for me to…”
「这次，我要妳命途中的壹切。」
“This time, I want everything within your destiny.”
叮，壹枚黄金所铸造的硬币闪烁辉光落在孩子手上。
*Ding.* A coin, forged from shining gold, landed in the child’s hand.
[妳获得了50N。]
[You have received 50 N.]
「像这样的八部功法，妳这壹生能全部学会吗。」
“Can you, in this lifetime, ever manage to master all eight method manuals like these?”
杨子藏手臂晃动，壹道拳影打出。
Yang Zicang swung his arm, launching a single phantom punch.
呜嘭！
*Woomph!*
几地上狂风突兀扫过，树叶草茎断裂乱飞。
An abrupt gale swept through the grounds, snapping leaves and stems and sending them flying chaotically.
小孩哪里见过这阵仗，震撼的看著杨子藏，随后才明白眼前这人是要自己学会类似这样的武学，还是八种！
The child had never witnessed such a scene before, staring in awe at Yang Zicang before realizing that this man wanted him to master martial arts similar to this—eight of them!
[每学会壹种，我会给妳壹枚这样数量的金币。]
[For each one you master, I will give you this many gold coins.]
小孩愣住了，随后眼中出现了泪花。
The child froze, his eyes then welling up with tears.
寿命无所谓，他已经好久没有得到过这样的关怀。
Lifespan didn’t matter; it had been so long since he had received such care.
几千年来，杨子藏见过无数身躯强健之辈，仅凭壹眼就能看出他们若经过锻炼，以后能达到怎样的高度。
Over the millennia, Yang Zicang had seen countless physically robust individuals and could tell at a glance how high they could reach if trained.
这样的准确率已经有七八成之高，这都是他在无人教导的情况下自己所总结。
This accuracy was as high as seventy to eighty percent, all derived from his own conclusions without any guidance.
可是有些人的天赋是无法看清的。
Yet some people’s talents could not be discerned.
对某些天赋异禀之人，上天会在其展露峥嵘前尽力隐藏其天资。
For certain exceptionally gifted individuals, heaven strives to conceal their talents before they reveal their brilliance.
比如眼前这位。
Such as the one before him.
他决心要收第壹个徒弟，来继承自己的爆风拳法，并且学习所有莫里带进这里的武学。
He was resolved to take on his first disciple, to inherit his Explosive Fist technique and learn all the martial arts Morris brought here.
「跟我来吧。」杨子藏伸出了手。
“Come with me.” Yang Zicang reached out a hand.
自己手上的书只有七本，而代练契约能力球则有六十八枚。
He had only seven books in hand, but sixty-eight practice contract ability spheres.
虽然壹本书同时可供几人壹起学习，但要在几十年间壹次性获得六十多份契约书是不现实的事情。
Although one book could be used by several people at once, obtaining over sixty contract scrolls in just a few decades was unrealistic.
特别是其中有两本是关于精神力与念力锻炼的，这对这些介于原始人和智人之间的人来说要求有点苛刻。
Particularly, two of them are about mental power and telekinesis training, which is a bit too demanding for these people who exist somewhere between primitive humans and Homo sapiens.