Yang Zicang glanced at Liang Xi’s build, reached out his hand, and the model’s light flickered, tracing a completed proxy training contract across his palm.
杨子藏扫了眼梁喜的身板，将手伸过去，模型光线闪动，在他手上勾勒出张完结的代练契约书。
“Here’s something for you.”
“给你个东西。”
“What’s this?”
“这个是？”
“A gift for you. About the two hundred years I owe you from last time—you might have to wait a bit longer.” Yang Zicang said with a smile.
“送给你的，上次我欠你那两百年可能还要再等等了。”杨子藏笑道。
“Big brother, what are you talking about? You’ve already given me so much chronological essence.”
“大哥你在说什么呢，你都给了我好多时序了。”
Liang Xi took this phantom-like contract.
梁喜将这幻影般的契约书捏过。
Proxy Training Contract: Flame Sword Dao, Glass Perception, Thousand-Armed Boxing, One hundred sixty years of combat experience, Completion 100%
《代练契约：烈焰剑道，琉璃感知，千臂拳法，一百六十年修行经验，完整度100%》
[I have obtained the “Training Contract Scroll,” and upon using it, I can fully inherit the 160 years of cultivation experience of the signatory.]
[我获得“代练契约书”，使用它后能完整继承该份契约书之签订者一百六十年修行经验。]
The information naturally surfaced in my mind.
信息自然浮现心中。
“Wha… what?”
“什，什么？”
The boy looked up at the young man before him in disbelief, stammering, “Th… this is for me?”
少年不敢置信地抬头看向身前的青年，结结巴巴的道：“这，这是给我的？”
“Mm-hmm.”
“嗯哼。”
Liang Xi immediately became flustered.
梁喜顿时慌成一团。
This was something as rare as a Century Weapon!
这可是堪比百年器稀有的东西！
“Big brother, this is too precious. I…”
“大哥，这太贵重了，我…”
A large hand closed his small hand into a fist.
一只大手将他的小手捏成拳。
Feeling the contract in his hand, the boy’s nose tingled, but he held back his emotions.
感受着手里的契约书，少年鼻子有些发酸，但他强忍住了情绪。
“Big brother… thank you…”
“大哥…谢谢…”
Taking a deep breath, Liang Xi, according to the instructions received, squeezed hard.
深呼吸口气后，根据反馈的使用方法，梁喜手上用力一捏。
[I begin using the Training Contract Scroll.]
[我开始使用代练契约书。]
A profound, distant aura erupted.
幽远的气息爆发
……
……
Yang Zicang rubbed his growling stomach, got up to use the restroom, then came back to twist open a water bottle and pick up some food to replenish his spent energy.
杨子藏揉了揉咕咕响的肚子，起身上了个厕所后，回来拧开水瓶，拿起食物补充起消耗的体力。
After a few minutes, Liang Xi’s eyes snapped open, faint flames scattered around his pupils, and an orange-red light flashed in an instant.
几分钟过去，梁喜唰地睁开双目，瞳孔周围散开微弱火焰，橘红光芒一闪而逝。
In those few short minutes, the numerous scars and wounds on Liang Xi’s skin gradually twisted and melted away.
在这短短几分钟内，梁喜皮肤上的众多疤痕与伤口逐渐扭曲消融。
At the same time, the displaced meridians and internal organs inside the young boy’s body, caused by severe injuries, let out gurgling sounds, as if gently massaged by an invisible force, slowly and naturally returning to their proper places.
同时，小少年体内那些因重创而错位的经脉与内脏，发出阵阵咕哝声，宛如被无形力量温柔推拿，正缓缓地、自然而然地归回原位。
This was the effect of Crystalline Perception.
这是《琉璃感知》的效果。
“Amazing, and I’ve only managed a mere five percent synchronization.”
“好厉害，我才同步了百分之五而已。”
Liang Xi glanced at his hands; a surge of immense strength erupted from within his body, invigorating every limb and bone.
梁喜看了眼自己的双手，强劲的力量从身体内爆发，撑起四肢百骸。
A bold confidence welled up inside him.
一股豪气油然而生。
Yang Zicang, munching on snacks, smiled and said, “This is the convergence of three entire cultivation methods, you know. Being able to synchronize five percent at once is already quite an achievement.”
吃着零食的杨子藏笑笑，“这可是整整三部功法的会聚，你能一次性同步百分之五已经很不错了。”
“Yeah, I feel like I’m terrifyingly powerful now. Even if I had to fight those guys lying in ambush outside, I might not necessarily lose.”
“嗯嗯，我感觉现在的我强得可怕，哪怕是跟那些外面蹲点的家伙打一架也不一定会输。”
“Lying in ambush?”
“蹲点的家伙？”
“Oh, right, Uncle Luo Bin said there are people suspected to be monsters lying in wait outside. He told us to be careful.”
“喔对了，洛宾大叔说外面有疑似怪物阵营的人埋伏，让我们小心。”
……
……
Xiang Xingyan led his entire team to the vicinity of Shengyuan.
项兴言带领着自己的整只队伍来到晟圆附近。
Although he belonged to the monster-hunter faction, he was actually serving the other side.
虽然自己属于猎怪者阵营，但实际上是在为另一边效命。
Many engaged in such covert actions, but few did it as well as he did.
干这种事的人很多，但干得像自己这般好的，却是不多。
Most people heeded the other faction’s words merely to avoid offending either side, but he genuinely dared to defy headquarters’ orders.
因为很多人听对方阵营的话，只是想两边都不得罪而已，可自己却是真敢为之违反总部的禁令。
According to intelligence, what could be the C-class intersection where Yang Zicang last appeared was nearby.
根据情报，杨子藏最后出现的C级交错地就在附近。
The other party was suspected to have gained control over this intersection, so these ten individuals, holding torches and flashlights, searched every possible entrance pit within the area and stationed guards outside in hiding, waiting to strike him down in a single swift kill.
对方疑似得到了这交错地的控制权，因此这十个人打着火把与手电在此区域内寻找每一个可能是出入口的坑洞，并派人在外面隐藏看守，等着他出现就一击必杀。
After waiting for twenty to thirty hours, just as Xiang Xingyan began to doubt whether the informant who provided him with the intelligence had gotten the details wrong, a mud hole beside a dried pond suddenly turned dark and deep.
等了二三十个小时后，就当项兴言觉得给自己提供消息的老板是不是搞错了情报之时，一个干枯水池旁的泥洞内忽然变得幽暗深邃。
{Captain, the entrance has appeared over here on my side.}
{队长，入口出现了，在我这边。}
Xiang Xingyan, who had been gnawing on grass, tossed aside the grass stalk between his teeth, feeling excited inwardly:
正在啃草的项兴言闻言将牙缝里的草茎一丢，心中兴奋道：
[Everyone, invest Lao Si up to six thousand. We must ensure a one-hit kill; don’t let him react at all.]
[大家快给老四投资到六千，务必要做到一击必杀，千万不能让他反应过来。]
[I’ll add 1000N to Wang Longxuan’s investment.]
[我为王龙轩追加投资1000N.]
He took down the bow and arrow from his back, hunched over, and quickly dashed toward that direction through the dark woods.
他将背后的弓箭取下，弓着身子在黑林之间快速往那边奔去。
But before he could take two steps, the leaves in the entire forest suddenly rustled. Xiang Xingyan felt a sense of panic in his heart, as if trapped in a tight, confined space, even the air seemed to evade his nostrils.
可还没等他跑两步，忽然整片树林枝叶簌簌作响，项兴言只觉得心中一慌，仿佛被关入了紧闭狭窄的空间，连空气都要避开自己的鼻孔似的。
“Boom!”
“轰！”
A heavy sound came from the direction where Lao Si was.
老四所在的方向传来一声沉响。
[I’ve lost 1001N.]
[我已失利1001N.]
Before Xiang Xingyan could react, several more screams echoed around him.
项兴言还未反应过来，周围又是几声惨叫。
“What’s going on?”
“怎么回事。”
[I’ve lost 1N.]
[我已失利1N.]
[I’ve lost another 4N in total.]
[我又失利共计4N.]
In just two or three seconds, the scattered team members were all killed.
短短两三秒，散在四处的队员被同击杀。
Just as he was about to call the remaining teammates to gather, a sharp sound pierced through the leaves and struck abruptly.
他刚想呼唤剩余队友聚集，一道破空声穿透树叶骤然袭来。
After all, he was someone who had long survived on the brink of life and death. He stomped the ground hard with both feet, twisted his body sharply, turned his head to dodge, and at the same time put an arrow to the bowstring. As he fell diagonally to the ground, he was about to shoot one arrow.
毕竟是在生死间长期摸爬滚打的人，他双脚猛蹬地面，身形急转，扭头避过的同时手上搭弓拉箭，斜着倒在地面的瞬间正打算一箭射出。
“No, that’s Yang Zicang’s ability… damn it!”
“不对，杨子藏的能力…可恶！”
Suppressing his anger, he put the arrow away. Sneak attacking with a bow would have been fine, but if discovered and still trying to kill Yang Zicang with arrows, it would only bring trouble upon himself.
他强忍着怒意把箭收起，如果偷袭用弓到还好，但被发现的情况下还用弓箭来射杀杨子藏，那真是自己给自己找不痛快。
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly realized something.
刚想到这里，他猛然反应过来什么。
Xiang Xingyan turned his head, and the iron spike he had just dodged was veering straight for the back of his skull. He quickly rolled on the ground to take cover.
项兴言转头看去的同时，那刚刚避开的铁钉已经调转方向朝着自己后脑勺打来，他赶紧在地上快速打滚并做出防御。
Thud! The silver-gray iron spike slammed into the dirt.
嘭！银灰色的铁钉打在泥地上。
“I’ve been found out—run!”
“被发现了，快跑！”
Xiang Xingyan broke out in a cold sweat.
项兴言吓出声冷汗。
“Ah…”
“啊…”
[I have disadvantage.]
[我已失利1N.]
Another one dead!
又有人死了！
How is Yang Zicang this strong? He’s only been here for two or three days!
杨子藏为什么这么强，他明明只才进来两三天而已！
They were the ones in ambush, hunting him, yet without even seeing a glimpse of him, seven of his men had already fallen.
明明是自己一行人在埋伏围猎他，可现在那家伙的人影都还没看见，自己这边就已经死掉七个。
“Whoosh!” A steel sword hurtled through the air. His pupils contracted as it whizzed past his face and embedded itself behind him.
“呜！”钢剑破空而来，他瞳孔微缩，钢剑带着劲风贴着项兴言的脸庞射到后方。
He was about to pivot to dodge its return, but the sword didn’t whip back—it thudded into a tree trunk instead.
正打算折身避让它的回旋，却没想钢剑并未调转轨迹，而是嘭地声钉入树干内。
“Don’t run—come fight. I’m your opponent.”
“别逃了，来战斗吧，你的对手是我。”
The voice of a boy around ten to sixteen rang out from the woods. A silhouette about 1.6 meters tall stepped out from among the trees.
一个十几岁男孩的声音在林间响起，树林中走出来道一米六左右的身影轮廓。
“You aren’t Yang Zicang?”
“你不是杨子藏？”
With a crackle, the wooden stick in the boy’s hand burst into flame, illuminating his outline.
对面手上的木棍哗啦燃起，将少年的身影映照出来。
“Captain Xiang!”
“项队长！”
The weary cries of the two surviving team members in the forest echoed with his name.
林中仅剩的两名队员近乎惨叫般呼喊着自己的名字。
“I told you, you’re up against me. Win, and the three of you can leave. Lose, and you’ll stay here forever.”
“我说过，你的对手是我。赢了我，你们三人可以离开，输了就永远留在这里。
“You can start preparing the financing, and it’s best to broadcast my battle scene to everyone, showing them the strength of those around Brother Yang.”
“你可以准备融资了，最好把我的战斗场景广播出去，告诉大家，杨大哥身边的人是什么实力。”
Liang Xi raised the flaming torch and wooden club in his hands with an indifferent expression, adopting an opening stance.
梁喜冷漠的双手举起上手的火把木棍，做出起手式。
[Proxy Training Contract, current synchronization proficiency at 6.5%, mental energy consumed at 95%]
[代练契约书，当前同步熟练度为6.5%，已消耗精神力95%]
The recent battle had provided valuable insights, making Liang Xi feel that his grasp of this precious skill experience was rapidly improving.
刚刚的战斗颇有心得，让梁喜觉得自己对这份珍贵的技能经验掌握度正在快速提高。
Xiang Xingyan felt his throat go dry. Was this really someone around Yang Zicang? Just a boy—why did he exude such a sharp and imposing demeanor?
项兴言感觉喉咙干哑，这是杨子藏身边的人吗，一个小家伙而已，为什么看上去气势如此凌厉。
“You dare to kill someone from the same camp? You…”
“你竟然敢杀同阵营的人，你…”
“Ah!”
“啊！”
Before he could finish his sentence, a scream rang out from the forest.
他话还未说完，林中一声惨叫响起。
[I have failed with 1N.]
[我已失利1N.]
Xiang Xingyan felt an electric current run across his skin. He shifted his gaze behind the boy, where a vague human figure emerged.
项兴言感觉浑身皮肤被电流划过，他目光挪向少年身后，那里出现道隐约的人影。
“It was me who killed him. You can continue now.”
“人，是我杀的，你们可以继续了。”
“Captain, save me—!”
“队长，救命啊~”
The sole remaining companion, terrified to the point of collapse, fell limp in the forest.
剩下的唯一同伴吓得快要断气般倒在林中。
“If we really win, you’ll let us go?”
“真的打赢就放我们走？”
“Of course.”
“当然。”
Xiang Xingyan hesitated and took a step back, carefully pulling the sword from the tree while keeping his eyes on the opponent.
项兴言迟疑的后退了步，他看着对面，小心将树上那柄剑扯出。
“Kid, if you die, don’t blame me.”
“小子，要是你死了，可别怪我。”
“Stop with the chatter.”
“废话少说。”
“Then go die!”
“那你就去死吧！”
Xiang Xingyan savagely raised the steel sword that originally belonged to Liang Xi, his figure moving in a striking motion.
项兴言凶狠地举起原本是属于梁喜的钢剑，身影做出扑砍动作。
But as he leaped forward, a fierce flaming gale swept across horizontally, exploding outward with a thunderous roar.
但他一步跃出，忽然凶猛的火焰劲风横扫而来，轰地扩散。
The man quickly rolled aside, the spreading flames striking the woods around him and igniting fine sparks on the surrounding trees.
男人赶紧顺势一滚，扩散的火焰打在林中，周围树木燃起细密火花。
Just as Xiang Xingyan was about to rise, the boy opposite had already leaped up, both hands gripping a wooden staff as he brought it down with the crushing weight of a mountain.
项兴言正要起身，对面那小子却已经一跃而起，力压泰山般双手持木棍悍然砸下。
“Boom!” He exerted force with both hands and feet simultaneously to propel his body into a roll, and the strike created a three-meter-long wave of searing flame on the ground, the blast of air sweeping into the tree trunk in front, causing the bark to burst wide open.
“轰！”他双手双脚同时用力将身躯撑动翻滚，这一击在地上打出三米长的火浪，劲风扫在前方树干上，顿时树皮爆开。
A flash of tremor barely crossed Xiang Xingyan’s mind, and at that moment he realized just how formidable the boy’s strength truly was.
项兴言心中的震颤一闪而逝，此刻他才发现，这小子实力竟如此之高！
Taking advantage of two subsequent dodging maneuvers, the man darted into the woods and suddenly surged forward, charging into the distance.
借着接下来的两次闪避动作，男人窜入树林中，身形猛然爆起，向着远方冲去。
The young lad, fooled into charging to the other side by a fake move, was quickly distanced from his foe.
被假动作骗得冲向另一边的少年迅速被拉开了彼此的距离。
In less than twenty meters of running, Xiang Xingyan’s mind received the final message of an investment loss.
仅仅跑出不到二十米，项兴言心中已经传来最后一道投资失利的消息。
Consumed by anxiety, he cast aside any thought of his own teammates now; he simply didn’t believe his opponent would let him go, and besides, he really couldn’t guarantee a victory in a fight against that young boy—this time, he had truly screwed up.
他内心焦急，此刻哪里还要管自己的队友，他根本不信对方会放了自己，而且还真不一定打得赢那小子，这次算是栽了个大跟头。
Activating the mode, a flickering triangular light enveloped the man, tripling his speed into an instantaneous gale charging through the forest.
模型发动，三角形光芒闪烁，男人的速度骤然提升三倍，如同一道劲风在林中冲出。
“Ha, Yang Zicang, they say your capability can hasten you along, but little do you know, I’ve got speed that’s faster still!”
“呵，杨子藏，据说你的能力还可以加速，可你不知道，我的速度比你更快！”
Seeing that the two were far behind him now, Xiang Xingyan felt the crushing weight on his shoulders lift away.
眼看远远将那两人丢在了身后，项兴言只觉得压力骤减。
Though this was a total loss, as long as he survived, his team could be regrouped; people dared to operate in such a rough-and-tumble world only if they had reliable backers.
这次虽然翻车，可只要自己不死队伍就能再次组成，之所以敢吃这口饭，没点依仗怎么可能。
A beam shot out from the line on Xiang Xingyan’s chest.
项兴言胸前一道线条折射出去。
“Boss Xiao, you need to compensate me for my losses this time. That little kid beside Yang Zicang is an expert who projects sword energy. You never told me that before.
“肖老板，这次你得弥补我的损失，杨子藏身边那小家伙是个能发出剑气的高手，之前你可没告诉过我。
“My teammates? These, they were all screwed to death by you.”
“我的队友？哼，他们都被你给坑死了。”
He had been racing for nearly a minute now.
已经高速疾驰快一分钟了。
The trees around him were thinning out. Right after the claim settlement call with the leader ended, he suddenly felt the air around him become stagnant.
周围树木越来越少，就在项兴言与对面进行赔偿商谈刚刚结束后，他忽然感觉周围空气再次一滞。
It felt as if he was trapped in a cramped space. Xiang Xingyan felt disconcerted, dizzy, and lost awareness for two seconds as if suffering from motion sickness.
仿佛被关进了逼仄的空间内，心中慌闷，头脑晕车般失神了两秒。
“Who is Boss Xiao?”
“肖老板是谁？”
A soft voice sounded in his ear.
温和的声音在耳边响起。
Xiang Xingyan felt an explosive, dazing force stirring his mind.
项兴言只觉得意识轰的一下被巨力扰动。
Under the pitch-black starless sky, he felt as if he had lost control of his body, trapped in a nightmare.
漆黑夜空下，他感觉自己仿佛如梦魇般失去了对身体的控制。
Above him emerged a beast-like phantom spirit with jaws pale and powerful enough to swallow him, whose mystic eerie aura was deep, gloomy and chaotic; its baleful glaring intent enkindled the darkness as if about to devour his soul.
头上多出了个苍白色的巨口，散发着幽深混沌气息的虚影怪物。瞪着虎目的它像是要将自己的灵魂吞噬。