This was a truly inexplicable ability.
这真是莫名其妙的能力。
Yang Zicang watched as Mori pulled a banknote from his pocket.
杨子藏看着莫里从衣服兜里摸出张钞票。
This was something he had to carry with him at all times. The triangle-shaped light on his chest flickered, and white radiance rose from the Englishman’s hand. He then handed Yang Zicang the faintly glowing $1 bill.
这是他随时都要携带的东西，胸前三角形光芒闪烁，这英格兰男人手上冒起了白色的辉光，随后将这张散发着微弱光芒的1美金递给了杨子藏。
[Life Bank: 1R]
[寿命银行：1R.]
[I can spend the extra 1R]
[我可以运用额外的1R.]
Truly an ability born of banking, wasn’t it.
不愧是银行诞生的能力。
“It seems I can also infuse chronology into it, but I can’t seem to pour in augmented ones.”
“我好像也能往里面注入时序，不过，似乎没办法注入增幅过的。”
“Yes, but aside from me, the chronology you put in will suffer a ten percent loss. Be careful with the operation.”
“是的，但除了我，你们注入的时序会有百分之十的损耗，小心点操作。”
Yang Zicang injected 10R of base chronology into it, and sure enough, only 9R showed on it.
杨子藏往里面注入了10R的时序本金，果然那上面只有9R。
“Aside from large-scale battlegrounds like tier-A intersections, my ability is pretty useless,” Morrie said with some disappointment.
“除了A级交错地那种大型战场，我的能力毫无用处。”莫里有些失落的道。
While for places that produce very high chronology, this ability could prevent some people from getting into trouble due to accumulating too much chronology, such locations are actually very rare.
虽然对于那些产出时序非常高的地方来说，这能力可以避免某些人因累积过多时序而出现问题，但那种地方实际非常少。
In every city, there are only a handful—perhaps two or three—teams capable of stabilizing a tier-A region.
每个城市中，能稳定A级区域的队伍可能只有那么屈指可数的两三只罢了。
“I think there’s more to your ability than that.”
“我觉得你的能力并非如此简单。”
“I’ve already given it much thought. Could probably use it as a currency exchange, but that kind of loss just isn’t something most people would be willing to accept.”
“我已经想过许多了，它大概还能用来当货币交易，可那种损耗不是一般人愿意承担的。”
“Let’s run an experiment,” Yang Zicang said.
“我们做个实验吧。”杨子藏说。
Morrie looked up at Yang Zicang, who had risen to his feet. He truly had no idea how this person could make his ability undergo such a strange change.
莫里抬起头看向站起身来的杨子藏，他实在不知这个人能让自己的能力出现什么特别的变化。
“What do you plan to do?”
“你想做什么？”
“Just wait a moment and you’ll find out.”
“等我下就知道了。”
As they say, you cannot speak of ice to a summer cicada, and the hatchetfly knows not the changing of seasons.
所谓夏虫不可言冰，蟪蛄不知春秋。
Short-lived beings cannot see the true face of the world, but what if they suddenly gain a long life.
生命短暂的生物无法见识世界的真实之面，但若它们突然拥有了悠久的生命。
Yang Zicang, catching two small cicadas, injected more of his own flow of time into the “1 USD” bill and placed it on the two grabbed cicadas.
抓来两只小知了的杨子藏，将自身的更多时序注入那“1美金”的钞票内，将它放在了两只抓来的蟪蛄身上。
Then, the two people whose shoulders were grabbed by Yang Zicang vanished on the spot, traveling to six months later.
随后，被杨子藏抓住肩膀的两人消失在原地，前往半年之后。
The cold wind swept across the sky.
寒风漫卷着苍穹。
The two small cicadas saw the snowflakes.
两只小知了见到了雪花。
They might be the only cicadas in the universe to have ever seen snowflakes, but unfortunately, the obedient ones resting in the palm didn’t understand what this meant.
它们或许是宇宙间唯一见过雪花的知了，可惜乖巧的，待在掌中的它们并不明白这意味着什么。
On the windy hilltop, Mo Li felt a bit cold and hugged his arms as he looked up at Yang Zicang: “Extending the life of cicadas… are you going to use time flow on those primitive people?”
寒风的山头上，莫里有点冷地抱着膀子抬头看向杨子藏：“延长知了的生命…你要将时序运用在那些原始人身上吗？”
Other than that, he couldn’t figure out the point of Yang Zicang’s actions.
除此以外，他有点想不明白杨子藏这么做的意义。
Is it because he’s afraid their lifespans are too short to master the secret techniques well?
是怕这些人寿命短，对秘技掌握得不好吗？
“Yes, but I have a second experiment, though it’s no longer related to these books.”
“对，但我还有第二个实验，不过那已经与这些书无关了。”
Yang Zicang revealed a mysterious smile.
杨子藏露出神秘的笑容。
…….
…….
On the ground, the Temple’s rule over this ancient land had penetrated deeply into the bone marrow, saturating every corner.
大地上，圣殿团对这片古老土地的统治已经深入骨髓，渗透到了每一个角落。
Due to the disaster that arrives every sixty years, their authority stands above all tribal chiefs and town lords.
因每隔一甲子就会到来的灾难，让它们的威信凌驾于所有部落首领与城镇主之上。
The leader who guided this group of warriors also became the world’s undisputed uncrowned king.
领导这批勇士的领袖，亦成为世间当之无愧的无冕之王。
……
……
On a stormy night, a young boy knelt at the threshold of his family’s thatched mud hut, watching helplessly as his mother and sister were taken away by the Temple Group.
风雨交加的夜晚，一个小男孩跪倒在自家草棚泥墙的门槛前，眼睁睁地看着自己的母亲和姐姐被圣殿团的人带走。
They were taken away as gifts, delivered to the hands of those so-called “warriors.”
她们被当作礼物，送往那些所谓的“勇士”手中。
“Why… why can such evil people exist?”
“为什么……为什么这样的恶人可以存在？”
The boy’s heart was filled with confusion and anger, and he collapsed to the ground in tears. From that day on, he never saw his two loved ones again.
小男孩心中充满了不解与愤怒，泪流满面地瘫坐在地上。从这天开始，他再也没有见过自己的这两位亲人。
A year later, it was a day of fair skies and gentle breezes: the weather was fine and the wind was gentle, with wisps of clouds drifting across the sky, and the air was thick with the scorching scent of green grass.
一年后，这一日风和日丽，苍穹流云朵朵，空气中弥漫着灼热的绿草味。
Yang Zicang gathered the flow of time around his chest into his necklace, adjusting his age accordingly. He appeared outside the city disguised as a middle-aged man in linen clothes. But even so, he could still be spotted as different at a glance among the crowd.
杨子藏将时序汇聚于胸前项链，以此调整了自己的年纪，以一名穿着麻布衣的中年人形象出现在城外。但即便如此，在人群中也能被一眼看出不同。
“Hairy-less, which tribe are you from?”
“没毛的，你来自哪个部落？”
A brawny, bare-shouldered man saw that Yang Zicang had an odd appearance, especially the necklace on his chest, which emitted a phantom-like red glow immersed in gold—clearly a treasure. So he rose from the straw hut at the city gate and blocked his path to question him.
露着魁梧膀子的男人见杨子藏外形奇异，特别是他胸口的项链居然散发着金中带红的虚火般的光芒，一看就是个宝贝。便从城门口的草棚内起身，拦住他问道。
“And you are?”
“你是？”
“I am a captain of the Temple Group, Achina.”
“我是圣殿团的一名队长，阿奇钠。”
Yang Zicang glanced at this group of people outside the city gates. The last time he was here, there were no such positions. It seemed a preliminary guarding force for the city had already developed.
杨子藏看了眼这群在城门外的人，上次来这里的时候，还没有这些职务。看来这儿已经发展出初步的守城人员了。
“I know martial arts. I have come this time to take on disciples.”
“我会武艺，这次是为收徒而来此。”
“Hahaha.”
“哈哈哈。”
Before Aqina could speak, the young men beside him burst into laughter at Yang Zicang’s unathletic build.
阿奇钠还未说话，他旁边的小伙子们看着杨子藏这不太强健的身材发出哄笑。
Curious townspeople passing by stopped to watch.
周围路过的城镇居民好奇看来。
Aqina raised his hand to signal his subordinates to be silent. “Do you know what this place is?”
阿奇钠抬起手示意自己的下属不要开口，“你知道这儿是什么地方吗。”
“It is the location of the Holy Temple.”
“是圣殿所在之地。”
“And you dare to talk about taking disciples here? Haven’t you seen those demons? Can you defeat them? Coming to the Holy Temple to recruit disciples, hah—who are you trying to insult?”
“那还敢在这里说收徒，没有见过那些恶魔吗，你能打得过它们？到圣殿来收徒，呵呵，你想侮辱谁啊。”
Aqina reached out and picked up a strange long blade, pitted with scale-like marks, leaning against the wooden table.
阿奇钠伸手拿起靠在木桌旁那柄长着坑坑洼洼鳞甲的怪异长刀。
“Do you know what this is?”
“你知道这是什么？”
Seeing more people gather around, Yang Zicang thought, it seems the planned promotional phase could start early.
见周围聚集的人越来越多，杨子藏心想，似乎计划中的广告环节可以提前进行了。
He ignored Aqina’s question. To himself, it took only one acceleration of time for these people to become a heap of bones rotting underground—no value in arguing with them.
他无视了阿奇钠的问询，对自己来说，只需要一次时间加速这些人就会成为一堆腐烂于地下的白骨，没有任何与之争论的价值。
Yang Zicang turned around to face the watching crowd and declared loudly:
杨子藏转过身看向周围这群看热闹的人，高声道：
“In one day, I will be here to teach martial arts to physically strong, energetic, literate young people. Those who meet the standards will receive gifts I grant.”
“一日后我会在此选择身体强健，精神饱满的识字年轻人传授武艺，达到标准的人会拥有我赐予的礼物。”
“You dare to defy the Holy Temple!”
“你竟敢蔑视圣殿！”
The ignored Aqina, enraged, swung his blade without hesitation at Yang Zicang.
被无视的阿奇钠恼怒，不由分说一刀向着杨子藏身上劈下。
Thwack!
噗！
Amid a chorus of gasps, the long blade, carrying fierce blade qi, slashed from Yang Zicang’s right shoulder down to his lower left.
一片惊呼声中，长刀带着猛烈的刀气自杨子藏右肩劈到左下方。
Feeling the resistance as his blade sliced through the person before him, cleaving half the man’s clothing apart, Aqina snorted with a laugh. He had even thought this fellow possessed some unique aura just moments ago; it turned out he was nothing but a pretentious fraud.
感受到刀锋划过身前之人的阻力，将他半件衣服都倾斜劈开，阿奇钠鼻中哼笑。自己刚才居然还觉得这人身上似有什么独特的气息，原来是个装模作样的骗子。
“A fool who can’t even parry dares to claim he’ll take disciples.”
“连挡都不会挡的蠢货，敢扬言收徒。”
The moment these words left his mouth, YangZicang turned his head and stared coldly at the man.
这话刚出口，杨子藏转过头冷冷看向这个人。
“It’s been years since I last came here, and now the malice has grown so thick.”
“好些年没来，如今戾气已经这么重了吗。”
“What… you, you!”
“什么，你，你！”
Aqina’s eyes widened as he pointed a trembling finger at him.
阿奇钠瞪大眼睛竖起指头指向他。
The wound on this person’s body, which should have been split in two, was actually rapidly healing!
这人身上原本会被劈成两半的身躯伤口居然在快速复原！
“Demon! You’re a demon!”
“魔，是恶魔！你是恶魔！”
The surrounding onlookers scattered immediately, some reverting to a primal ape-like nature, yelping loudly as they fled quickly on all fours.
周围看热闹的人顿时散开，有些人被吓得恢复了猿人本性似的，哇呀大叫着双手并用快速跑远。
With a clatter, five men by the entrance raised ordinary spears and bows and attacked.
哗啦啦一片响，门口五人举起手上普通的长矛与弓箭攻来。
Aqina swung his strange longsword with immense force. Though the weapon wasn’t too heavy, the powerful swings of his arms produced a deep, humming thud as if it could smash rocks apart.
阿奇钠势大力沉的挥动着手上的奇异长刀，这刀并不算太重，可在他臂膀的用力挥舞下产生嗡嗡的闷响，仿佛能砸开岩石。
It was also due to the artifact—a spiritual weapon utterly indestructible—otherwise, normal swords in the hands of this brutish man would have snapped and broken within a few strikes.
也是灵物战器本身坚不可摧，否则普通刀剑在这莽汉子手上没两下就会断裂。
The longsword relentlessly chopped at the middle-aged YangZicang, yet soon each strike slowed down with growing difficulty.
长刀在中年模样的杨子藏身上不断劈砍，没多久，这刀砍下的越来越慢。
Acina finally broke down, staring at the man across from him who stood motionless, like a wooden statue.
阿奇钠看着对面看着自己动也不动，宛若木头般站立的人，精神终于崩溃。
“Demon! Devil!”
“魔鬼，恶魔！”
He shouted, dropping his weapon and fleeing.
他大叫着地丢下手中的武器跑了。
Yang Zicang picked up the blade, casually twirling it in his hand in a simple flourish; the knife seemed reborn, emitting a fierce, whistling whistle.
杨子藏将刀拾起，在手上随意挥了个刀花，这刀便如脱胎换骨般发出呜呜苍劲风声。
[I’ve picked up another spiritual weapon.]
[我又捡到了灵物战器。]
Hearing the model’s voice, he smiled, took the knife in hand, and walked back into the town.
听到模型的声音他笑了下，将刀拿在手上走往城中。
Strangely enough, at least half of those who had fled returned, seemingly bringing even more people. Yang Zicang glanced back at them in confusion, prompting the crowd to recoil several steps in unison.
诡异的是身后跑走的那些人又回来了至少一半，而且还似乎叫来了更多人。杨子藏疑惑的转头瞥了他们一眼，这些人顿时一窝蜂地后退几步。
……
……
Though called a holy land, the town was actually not very large.
说是圣地，其实城镇并不大。
Before long, more holy temple warriors, armed with divine weapons, came running over. Some belonged to nearby tribes, their waists wrapped in animal hides; others wore beasts’ skulls as ornaments.
没有多久，更多手持灵物战器的圣殿战士们跑了过来，他们有些是附近部落的人，腰上还缠绕着兽皮，有的挂着猛兽的头颅。
“Demon, put down the holy relic.”
“恶魔，把手上的圣物放下。”
“Who is your current chief?”
“你们现在的首领是谁。”
The assembled warriors exchanged glances. Acina rushed out from a side entrance and roared, “This demon defiles the holy temple! Everyone, attack together!”
众人互相看了看，阿奇钠从一旁冲出，大吼道：“这恶魔藐视圣殿，大家快一起上！”
“Oorah! Hoo-ha!”
“喔啦！咯咯！”
The crowd roared and charged, wielding the sacred relics, as several strange long spears thrust toward Yang Zicang.
众人举着圣器们吆喝着冲了上来，数只怪异长枪刺向杨子藏身上。
Boom!
轰！
A ferocious gust of wind burst outward, sending the three figures in front flying backward.
一道劲风爆发，正面的三道人影瞬间倒飞出去。
Yang Zicang clamped down with his arm, and the spears thrust at him were firmly lodged in the crook of his sturdy limb. He twisted his feet, spinning his body, and with a swoosh, the entire group fell to the ground.
杨子藏用手一夹，刺来的几根枪被臂弯强劲的力道死死卡住，他脚下扭动带起身体旋转，哗地声这群人全部倒下。
The residents watching from behind let out a chorus of “whoas,” as excited as if they were witnessing a rare and thrilling spectacle.
后方看着这幕的众居民哇哦地叫起来，像是看到了难得一见的刺激节目般兴奋。
Watching this, Aquina’s mind nearly short-circuited—these sacred artifacts had no effect on him!
阿奇钠看着这幕脑袋都快不够用了，这些圣物居然对他没作用！
An old man with orange-red animal skin bands around his head stepped forward, “How dare you strike the temple?! Lay down your hands and await capture!”
一名头上带着橘红兽皮绑带的老人走出，“竟敢对圣殿出手，还不竖，竖着手等擒！”
“You people aren’t even that old, yet you’ve mastered the art of labeling so skillfully. Surely this isn’t the only excuse you’ve got.”
“你们才多大啊，就把扣帽子这一套用得如此熟练。不会是只会这一个借口吧。”
“You! Fine, fine, fine. For living this long, your end has come! Just you wait!”
“你！好好好，竟然能活到现在，你的末日到了！等着吧！”
The old man turned and trotted off briskly, as if to call for more people.
老人转身轻快的跑远，像是要叫更多人来。
“It’s Subana! We have Subana here! The chief warrior is coming soon—everyone, don’t be afraid of him!”
“是速巴纳，有速巴纳，首席的勇士马上就会来，大家别怕他！”