Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.52 第52章 代练契约 -5
第52章 代练契约 –5
Chapter 52: Leveling Contract –5
次日上午，城门口。
The next morning, at the city gate.
昨日将圣殿战士们揍了壹顿的男人真的再次出现在这里。
The man who had beaten up the Temple warriors yesterday truly showed up here once more.
好些人来围观，他们窃窃私语的谈论著这个无毛人，那家伙竟然还能活生生站在这里，而且那些圣殿的勇士们居然像是对其视而不见般，根本不管这人。
Many people gathered to watch, murmuring among themselves about this hairless man—how he could still be standing here alive, and how those Temple warriors seemed to turn a blind eye to him, completely ignoring his presence.
圣殿居然不在意自己的威严受损，任由他活著，怪事。
The Temple, astonishingly, didn’t seem to care about its dignity being tarnished, letting him live on. What a strange affair.
「我要在这里挑选最强的人来修习我所赐予的武技，」杨子藏双掌扩在嘴上喊道，「妳们谁想要学，请走上前来。」
“I’m here to pick the strongest among you to learn the martial arts I bestow,” Yang Zicang called out, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Whoever wants to learn, step forward.”
从原始社会就跟虎狼战斗，到千年后已能独自斩杀恐龙的他，不说百分百能确认壹个人能否成为强大的战士，至少七八成是可以的。
Having fought wolves and tigers since primitive times, and having slain dinosaurs solo after a thousand years, he couldn’t be a hundred percent certain of someone’s potential as a mighty warrior—but at least seventy to eighty percent sure.
他只是看壹眼，周围大多数人已经被Pass掉了。
With just one glance, most people around were already mentally crossed off his list.
没有人敢走出来。
No one dared to step forward.
等了阵的杨子藏后知后觉的想到了什么。
After waiting a while, Yang Zicang, somewhat belatedly, realized something.
他转头看向城门口新来的守城人，招招手道：「过来。」
He turned to look at the new gatekeeper by the city gate and gestured, “Come here.”
那佯装不认识杨子藏的人壹听这话，差点激动到哭泣，屁滚尿流跑了过来就要下跪，被杨子藏壹脚踢在小腿骨上，「嗷」地声抱著小腿跳了起来。
The person who was pretending not to recognize Yang Zicang nearly wept with excitement at these words. He scrambled over in panic, ready to kneel, but Yang Zicang kicked him in the shin, and with a “woof,” he yelped and hopped around clutching his leg.
「别嚷了，我问妳，妳旁边的小孩是妳什么人。」
“Stop shouting. I’ll ask you, who’s the kid beside you?”
「是，是我儿子。」
“He’s… he’s my son.”
「妳愿意让妳儿子学习我的武技吗？」
“Are you willing to let your son learn my martial arts?”
这男人霎时松手激动葡匐在地，他红著眼起身，对著孩子哇唔壹阵乱叫。
The man instantly let go, trembling as he prostrated himself. Red-eyed, he scrambled up and wildly yammered at the boy.
那皮肤有些黑的小子赶紧跑过来，呆呆的想学他老子的动作，却被杨子藏壹把拎起，手在他周身骨节上壹顿摸。
The dark-skinned lad ran over quickly and dumbly tried to mimic his father’s motions, only to be tossed into the air by Yang Zicang, who gave his joints a thorough feel-over.
「还行，好好锻炼将来杀几头长牙虎还是勉强可以的。以后他开始跟我学武吧，对了，妳会认字吧。」
“Not bad. With proper training, he might barely manage to kill a few saber-toothed tigers in the future. Let him start learning martial arts with me from now on. Oh, by the way, can you read?”
「会，会！」
“Yes, yes!”
男人硬著头皮道，不会可以学啊。
The man said stiffly—after all, if he couldn’t, he could still learn.
「好，以后妳教他。」
“Good, then you’ll teach him.”
说著将这还没搞清楚怎么回事的小孩给丢到地上，拍拍他的背让他到壹边儿玩去。
With that, he dropped the puzzled kid to the ground, patted his back, and sent him off to play.
好些人这下看傻了，壹年轻人迫不及待的想要往前，周围人低声道：「妳不怕圣殿的报复吗？」
Many in the crowd were stunned. A young man could barely restrain himself from stepping forward, but those around him whispered low: “Aren’t you afraid of the Sanctuary’s retribution?”
「妳当我眼瞎。」
“Are you all for blind eyes?”
又有人领著自己的孩子走了出去，更多的人走了出来。
Another person led their child away. Soon, more people emerged.
昨日这独自击败壹群手持圣器的勇士之人的表现，早已如惊雷般传遍了附近部落与小村庄。
The news of how this man, who single-handedly defeated a group of warriors wielding sacred artifacts yesterday, had already spread like thunderous shockwaves among the nearby tribes and small villages.
杨子藏还没意识到自己做出了怎样的事，对深受圣殿威严震慑的众居民来说，他昨日所为却是石破天惊。
Yang Zicang hadn’t yet realized what he had done. To the residents, long intimidated by the formidable authority of the Temple, his actions yesterday were nothing short of earth-shattering.
任何触逆圣殿的人都活不过当日，这已是众人的共识，却在今日打破。
The common understanding had always been that anyone who defied the Temple would not survive the same day. Yet today, this unspoken rule was shattered.
……
夜晚，壹位砍回木材的男孩回到有些破败的茅屋内。
At night, a boy who had gathered firewood returned to a somewhat dilapidated thatched hut.
他的肚子咕鲁鲁地叫了下，揉了揉饿扁的肚子后，瘦弱的男孩将捆在柴火里壹起带回的几颗果子捡起了粒在掌中擦了擦，塞进嘴里。
His stomach growled hungrily. After patting his flattened belly, the frail boy picked a few fruits he had bundled back with the firewood, rubbed one in his palm, and shoved it into his mouth.
忽地外面传来几声欢呼。
Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from outside.
「太好了…获得了…」
“Great… we got it…”
「要庆祝下，哈哈哈…」
“Let’s celebrate, hahaha…”
男孩转头看了眼屋外，几个人笑哈哈的走过，他们像是讨论著什么值得欢喜的事情。
The boy turned to glance outside as several people walked by, laughing heartily. They seemed to be discussing something worth rejoicing over.
羡慕的看了眼，男孩将这把柴火放在屋旁。
Taking an envious glance, the boy placed the bundle of firewood next to the hut.
「这武技，很强，阿力哑，妳可要好好学。」
“This martial technique is powerful. Ali Ya, you must study it well.”
仿佛壹道闪电在脑海中划过。
It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind.
男孩两步跨过门外，痴痴地看著村民离去的身影，隐约的声音传入他的耳朵。
The boy stepped across the doorway in two strides, staring blankly at the departing figures of the villagers as faint voices drifted into his ears.
「武技…圣殿都害怕…」
“Martial arts… even the Holy Temple fears…”
「那人绝对跟…不死之王有关…」
“That man must be… connected to the Undying King…”
男孩的呼吸沈重起来。
The boy’s breathing grew heavy.
他觉得自己仿佛看到了天光出现。壹直向不死之王祈求的事终于出现回应了吗？
He felt as if he had glimpsed a ray of dawn. Had his prayers to the Undying King finally been answered?
男孩立即回到家中拿起件舍不得穿的衣服看了眼，跑去河中将自己洗干净，随后带上它与野果，借著稀疏的星光，往那座住满憎恨之人的城市奔去。
The boy immediately returned home, grabbed the clothes he couldn’t bear to wear, glanced at them, then ran to the river to wash himself clean. Afterward, carrying them and wild fruits, beneath the sparse starlight, he rushed toward the city filled with people consumed by hatred.
夜里的危险也无法让他退缩，他必须在天亮前到达那里。
Even the dangers of the night couldn’t make him retreat; he had to reach that place before dawn broke.
……
第二日清晨，更多的人到来了。
At dawn the next morning, even more people had arrived.
「挨卡里，快去排队。」
“Eikali, hurry and get in line.”
「大木头，可要好好表现啊。」
“Big blockhead, you’d better perform well.”
「萨莉，别担心，这位大人不是坏人，快去他身边等著。」
“Sari, don’t worry, this lord is not a bad man. Go and wait by his side.”
杨子藏更为仔细的挑选著中意之人。他打算暂时在这里留下三本书，再到别的地方留下最后的两本。
Yang Zicang selected his preferred candidates more meticulously. He planned to leave three books here for now and then go elsewhere to place the remaining two.
人群后方，矮小瘦弱的身影穿著略微有些紧的麻布衣，顶著蓬松的头发，愣愣看著那仿佛与周围融为壹体的男人。
Behind the crowd, a short, thin figure, wearing slightly tight linen clothes, stood with disheveled hair, staring blankly at the man who seemed to merge into his surroundings.
在他眼中，这人似乎在发著光。
In his eyes, this man appeared to be glowing.
「可以，妳站到那边去。」
“Alright, stand over there.”
「嗯，妳不行，下次再说吧。」
“Hmm, you’re not fit for this. Try again next time.”
杨子藏将壹人送回他父母手中，这孩子顿时哭了起来。
Yang Zicang returned a child to his parents, and the boy immediately burst into tears.
大浪淘沙般选出少数的几名候选者，其它上百人都被淘汰。眼看时间已经不早，人群后方始终没什么机会的小孩努力冲往杨子藏身旁。
Like panning for gold in a surging tide, he selected a handful of candidates while discarding the rest—over a hundred people in total. As time grew short, a child who had been lingering at the back, never getting a chance, scrambled desperately toward Yang Zicang.
「喂，哪里来的野猴子，都不会排队。」
“Hey, where’d you come from, you wild monkey? Don’t you know how to queue?”
「快去后面，还轮不到妳。」
“Get to the back, it’s not your turn yet.”
有人走来想将他拉走，谁知这看上去瘦弱的孩子却有著股子蛮劲般将手臂壹扭，窜到了另壹边，他当场对著中年人趴在地上，然后擡起头。
Someone walked over to drag him away, but unexpectedly, this seemingly frail child twisted his arm with a stubborn force, darting to the other side. He then dropped to the ground in front of a middle-aged man and looked up.
「我想成为战士，可以吗。」他目光坚定地盯著杨子藏。
“I want to become a warrior. Is that okay?” he asked, his gaze fixed firmly on Yang Zicang.
杨子藏将个十来岁孩子赶到壹边后，扭头看著这有点小蛮横的孩童，摇摇头道：「妳太弱了。」
After Yang Zicang shooed away a ten-something-year-old, he turned to look at this slightly impudent child, shaking his head as he said, “You’re too weak.”
小男孩握紧了拳头，紧张的道：「大人！我，我…」
The boy clenched his fists, nervously stuttering, “Sir! I, I…”
有点不知道说什么的他垂下头。
At a loss for words, he hung his head.
杨子藏想也没想就拒绝了这孩子，他根本不想浪费能力球。
Without a second thought, Yang Zicang rejected the child, unwilling to waste a single ability sphere on him.
不再管他，杨子藏继续手上的事，直到快到正午，眼看已经选出十位资质不错的人后，他才收手。
Ignoring the boy, Yang Zicang carried on with his work until nearly noon. Only when he had selected ten promising candidates did he stop.
而那小孩还壹直跪在那里。
That child kept kneeling there the whole time.
「唉育。妳别这样，回去吧。」
“Aiyo. Don’t be like this. Go back.”
男孩有些绝望的擡头，可是他心中还是坚定的认为这是不死之王对自己的指引。
The boy looked up in despair, yet deep down he stubbornly believed this was the guidance of the Undead King.
他沉默不说话。
He remained silent, not saying a word.
算上前壹日的选拔，杨子藏摇头转身，对著这二十个年纪相差很多的人道：「这里有三本书，妳们壹起好好学习，每人选壹本最喜欢的轮流读。」
Adding in those selected the previous day, Yang Zicang shook his head and turned around, addressing the twenty people of vastly different ages: “There are three books here. Study them well together. Each of you picks the one you like best and take turns reading.”
见到又多出来三本不同的武技，那些自圣殿而来的战士们都不由得揣紧了手，内心既期待又紧张。
Seeing three more different martial skills laid before them, the warriors from the Temple couldn’t help but clench their hands, their hearts filled with both anticipation and tension.
「三年后我会再来这里，看看妳们的进步。如果有人能够达到我的期望，我会与他们签订契约，并赋予他们十年寿命。」
“Three years from now, I will return here to see your progress. If anyone can meet my expectations, I will form a covenant with them and grant them ten years of life.”
哗，众人难以置信。
Wow—the crowd could hardly believe it.
这话除了不死之君王，无人敢说。
Other than the Undead King himself, no one would dare utter such words.
杨子藏留下这句话后便消失在原地。
After leaving these words, Yang Zicang vanished from the spot.
人群轰然葡匐了壹片，他们终于确定这人代表著谁，跪在地上的小男孩震撼的看著那人消失。他从来没有想过这种事情，却真实发生了。
The crowd fell prostrate in a state of awe. They finally understood who this man represented. The little boy who had been kneeling stared in shock at the spot where the man had vanished. He had never imagined such a thing would happen. Yet it was real.
三年，他握紧了拳头。
Three years—he clenched his fists tight.
……
烛火摇曳，映照著几人的身影在墙上跳动。
The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of several people dancing on the wall.
「阿希，怎么样，这次的神水妳还满意吗。」
“Ashi, how is it? Are you satisfied with this batch of Divine Water?”
蕴含著熏人味道的怪水在嘴中刺激著舌喉。
The strange liquid, carrying a pungent and intoxicating aroma, stimulated Ashzag’s tongue and throat as it flowed down.
个头高了点的阿希扎古达眸子有些微眯的点点头。
Ashzag, now a bit taller than before, narrowed his eyes slightly as he nodded.
木桌边的几人，有三位的体毛都非常细短。这些人虽然体力跟不上父亲身边那些勇士们，可他们的脑袋似乎总能想出奇奇怪怪的东西，做出些特别的事物来。
Around the wooden table were several men, three of whom had very thin and short body hair. Though these men couldn’t match the stamina of the warriors beside his father, their minds always seemed capable of conceiving strange ideas and crafting peculiar creations.
「我，我还要，能不能再给我壹点。」阿希扎古达迷糊的道。
“I… I want more. Can I have just a little more?” Ashzag murmured, his eyes dazed.
「当然，妳是未来的首席，满足妳的愿望就是我们应该作的事。」
“Of course. You are the future Chief. Fulfilling your wishes is what we’re here for.”
听到首席这两个字，阿希扎古达的眼眸稍微清醒了点，他哼了声，不屑的道：
At the mention of the word “Chief,” Ashzag’s eyes cleared for a moment. He grunted and said with disdain:
「妳们竟然不知道我父亲接受了不死之王的赐予，获得了新生命这件事吗。」
“Do you even know that my father has received the Immortal King’s boon and been granted a new life?”
桌边两人对视壹眼，都看到彼此目光中蕴含的精光：
The two men by the table exchanged glances, each spotting the sharp glint in the other’s eyes:
「当然，我们还知道首席能活壹百年。」
“Of course we know. We also know that the Chief can live for a hundred years.”
「壹百年！」
“A hundred years!”
阿希扎古达震惊的看向说话的那瘦高个儿。他扳著指头，数到九的时候就有点迷糊了。
Ashzag stared in shock at the tall, skinny man who had spoken. He counted on his fingers but grew befuddled by the time he reached nine.
壹百，那该是多么漫长的时光啊，自己都绝对活不到那个时候。
A hundred years—what an unbearably long span of time. He was certain he would never live to see such an age himself.
「但妳会成为首席，就在三年之后。」给他掺怪水的人边倒水边说道。
“But you will become the Chief, just three years from now,” said the man refilling the strange liquid as he poured.
「我怎么可能，父亲他会壹直是…」
“How could I? My father will always be…”
「不，希。神谕中说，妳会是新的首席。」
“No, Xi. The oracle has declared that you will be the new chief.”
「神谕？」
“Oracle?”
阿希扎古达有些茫然的看著这人，「就是妳们说的，那位天上的…」
Ashizagu was somewhat bewildered as he looked at the man. “You mean that one in heaven you always talk about…”
「对，大光神。」
“Yes, the Great God of Light.”
说出这三个字后，这人面目变得肃穆。
Upon uttering these three words, the man’s expression turned solemn.
周围几人也顿时放下手中的碗，虔诚的低著头。
The others around him immediately set down their bowls and bowed their heads devoutly.
「本来是不想现在告诉妳的，可是，时间快到了。」
“I didn’t want to tell you now, but the time is almost here.”
「什么快到了？」
“What’s almost here?”
「大光神是世界的创造者，是主宰，他把黑暗赶到了另壹边形成了夜晚。为了惩戒夜晚，大光神才创造了不死之王。」
“The Great God of Light is the creator of the world, the Supreme Ruler. He cast darkness to the other side, creating the night. To bring punishment upon the night, the Great God of Light created the Immortal King.”
「不可能。」
“Impossible.”
见阿希扎古达不信，旁边有人不屑的开口插言，仿佛在嘲讽这个少年连这样明显的事情都看不出来：
Seeing that Ashizagu didn’t believe it, someone beside him sneered and interjected, as if mocking the youth for being unable to see such obvious truths:
「不死之王来自天上，所以才能与同样来自天上的扫把星战斗。妳还不明白吗！但不死之王只能与那颗星星战斗，他比不上大光！」
“The Immortal King came from the heavens, which is why he can fight against that cometary star that also came from the heavens. How can you still not understand! Yet the Immortal King can only fight that star; he is no match for the Great Light!”
阿希扎古达震惊了。
Ashizagu was stunned.
他仿佛听闻到了世界最深奥最绝密的消息，原来不死之王之上还有壹位更伟大的存在。
It was as though he had heard the deepest, most forbidden secrets of the world—realizing that there existed an even greater being above the Immortal King.
「我们就是大光神的人间代言人。这能让人回到天上的好水，就是大光神的赐予。」
“We are the earthly emissaries of the Great God of Light. This wondrous water, which can send people back to heaven, is the gift of the Great God of Light.”
男孩忏愧的低下头，对啊，自己早该想到的啊。
The boy lowered his head in shame—yes, he should have thought of that long ago.
少年嗅了嗅碗中带著果味与酸味的浑浊液体，这竟是创造不死之王的大光所赐予，难怪会让人像是飘到了天上。
The youth took a sniff of the turbid liquid in the bowl, which carried hints of fruitiness and sourness. It turned out to be a gift from the Great Light, the creator of the Undying King; no wonder it made one feel as if floating up to the heavens.
「我，我真的会是首席？」
“Me, could I really be the Grand Chancellor?”