Chapter 14: Decision (Part 2) Seeking Collection

  Tang Jie smiled and said: "I know. But if you knew about my past, you should understand what I mean."

  "What happened before?" Nia found her curiosity growing like a wild weed.

  "I've been short since I was a kid and always got bullied. Later, after learning martial arts, I fought with people every day and turned the tables to bully others. My classmates said I was a hoodlum, my teachers said I was a waste of humanity, and my parents said I was a failure. Well, in short, I'm useless. It seems like all I can do is fight. Although I relied on my parents' hard-earned money to attend a third-rate university, where I just went through the motions until graduation, and then found a job to make ends meet after entering society, that's how I'll spend the rest of my life."

  Tang Jie let out a long sigh; "This is my original world, the trajectory of life that has happened and will happen."

  Although Nia didn't quite understand some of the details in Tang Jie's words, she could feel that this man had a kind of suffocating feeling pent up in his chest.

  "I've always felt like I don't fit in with the world as it was before, and I often thought that if I could live again or go to another world, what would it be like? Hey, now I really have crossed over, but suddenly I'm lost again..."

  Tang Jie didn't expect Nia to comfort him, a person who had traveled alone to another world, he just wanted to find someone to quietly pour out all the words in his heart.

  Niya fell silent for a moment: "Do you miss your home and your parents?"

  Tang Jie hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and then nodded again. A hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes, but soon a smile floated on his face. He turned to Nia and smiled: "Don't talk about my annoying things anymore, how about you? Tell me about yourself! I've never met a woman like you before."

  Nina rested her chin on her knees, tilting her head to look at the man beside her, with her profile illuminated by the cool moonlight, her golden hair cascading down, and her slender neck and delicate skin making her appear even more gentle and tender.

  "What kind of woman am I?" Nia asked with a smile.

  He gazed at her and sighed, "You are different from the women in my world. You are strong and brave, fierce and proud, like a peacock spreading its tail when you're proud, and like a hunting leopard bursting out of its cage when you fight. You're not like those little girls I've met before, all made up and pampered, either falling into vanity or selling themselves for money."

  If a girl from the world before Tangjie's transmigration heard these eight words "strong and brave, fierce and powerful" used to praise her, she would probably get slapped in the face by the big boss.

  However, Niya heard it and smiled slightly, feeling extremely happy in her heart. She had been going out to sea since she was a child and had experienced countless storms and waves. She had always taken pride in being as brave and strong as any man. Looking at Tang Jie's expression of admiration and reverence, she suddenly felt a movement in her heart and couldn't help but wonder: Would you like me?

  In the end, the words reached the tip of her tongue, her lips moved slightly, but she still didn't say it out loud. Nia's face had already turned slightly red, but it was imperceptible in the dim light of night.

  Upon hearing Tang Jie's words of praise, Nia smiled and couldn't help but let out a long sigh: "I've been on the ship with my father since I was five years old. Now that I think about it, it's already been twelve years. My father has always wanted to cultivate me into a pirate king from a young age, but over these twelve years, no matter how much suffering I endured, no matter how hard I tried to push myself, the more I realized that I'm just not cut out for being a pirate king."

  Tang Jie was shocked, in his heart, Niya was a strong and arrogant woman who would rather die than admit defeat, but unexpectedly she suddenly said such soft words.

  "Who said that? I think you're doing great, you have a lot of authority on the ship, the sailors all listen to you, and when it comes to fighting, you lead by example. If you're not suitable, then who is?" Tang Jie comforted Nia.

  Nia smiled slightly, her piercing gaze fixed on the man beside her: "You!"

  "Me?!" Tang Jie pointed at his own nose, with a strange expression on his face.

  "Yes, it's you!" Nia smiled slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and in her coquettishness, there was a hint of premature maturity.

  "It was you who made me realize this: I'm not cut out to be a pirate king." Nia let out a long sigh, her gaze at Tang Jie incredibly complex. "I've trained hard for twelve years and I'm only a second-rate sword fighter, but for a third-rate sword fighter, killing me would be like killing a stray dog on the side of the road. But you, you clearly don't have any fighting energy, can't use any magic, yet with your bare fists, you killed a powerful third-rate sword fighter..."

  "But..."

  As soon as Tang Jie opened his mouth, he heard Niya interrupting him again and said: "You have never been out to sea, but in the storm, your performance is calmer than anyone on this ship. Even the most experienced and bravest sailor doesn't have your courage and determination to fight against the waves!"

  Niya's eyes flashed with an unusual light, she stared tightly at Tang Jie: "For someone like you, except for the word genius, I can't think of any other words to describe. Maybe, in your world, you are an ordinary person, but since you came here, it means that the Sea God Tira chose you, which means you don't fit into that world, this is where you belong!"

  "Your stage is on the ocean, your life will dance with the waves, your future will be as unpredictable and immeasurable as the sea!"

  "My father has taught me time and again that to be a great pirate king, one must have an intrepid soul, sharp eyes, a spirit of wild adventure, mighty combat strength, and a broad heart. The first few points you've already proven, and your forgiveness towards us for the offense we once committed against you also proves your broad heart. So..."

  "So?" Nia's voice was filled with admiration, even a little worship, making Tang Jie's head feel dizzy.

  "Nia took a deep breath: 'You're a born pirate!'"

  Tang Jie was somewhat taken aback, he subconsciously scratched his head and wanted to say: But I don't want to be a pirate!

  He thought of Nia and the words reached his lips before he swallowed them back, a bitter smile spreading across his face as he said, "Do I look like a pirate?"

  Although Niya was strong and firm like a man, she was after all a woman, with the delicate side unique to women. She observed Tang Jie's expression and knew what he was thinking. She smiled and said with a hint of sarcasm: "What, do you think we're too dirty and filthy to be in the same league as you?"

  Tang Jie was startled and hastily said: "No, no, thanks to you guys, I didn't end up becoming a floating corpse in the sea. I didn't mean to look down on you!"

  Niya gazed at Tang Jie's face and said slowly, "No matter how you look at us, what I want to say is that we're not after just one or two merchant ships' wealth and treasures, but the entire ocean, the entire world!"

  Nina stood up, leaning against the railing, facing the sea breeze, her golden hair fluttering. She pointed to the endless and boundless ocean, and said in front of the dark and uncertain future: "My father has been telling me since I was a child that one day you will stand on this ocean and proudly say to yourself: This is my sea!"

  "Let your name be known to the world wherever the sea breeze can reach, let those who even hide underground and live in the desert tremble with fear when they hear your name!"

  She turned her head, and the light in her eyes made Tang Jie momentarily unable to look directly at her: "I don't know where you come from, what the world was like before, or who you were. But I do know that when I see you, I clearly understand that I'm not cut out for being a pirate king, but you are!"

  "Tang Jie was stunned by Nia's aura that burst out of her entire body and couldn't say a word."

  "Now that you've come to this world, have you ever thought about what you really want? Is it to continue being an ordinary person buried among the masses like you said earlier? Or is it to stand on this vast ocean, to confront the most violent storms, to challenge the most treacherous waves, to make the ocean your backyard, and any port your veranda, so that even in death, your name will still be renowned far and wide?"

  Niya leaned forward, with an aggressive momentum, staring straight into Tang Jie's eyes.

  If it were someone else, asking him such a question with such strength, Tang Jie's external and internal straightforward personality would have probably rebounded back already. But surprisingly, Nia made Tang Jie not feel disgusted, his eyes were somewhat dazed, as if he was a bit troubled and perplexed.

  In fact, he came to this world and was rescued by Nia and the others. Although these pirates may not have had good intentions at first, as time passed and they spent more time together, plus they went through a tsunami and battle together, Tang Jie had long since identified with this group of people.

  Chicks peck open eggshells and consider the first thing they see as their mother. Similarly, humans tend to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging with the people and things they encounter for the first time in this world.

  Do I really hate being a pirate?

  Or perhaps I came into this world to do something?

  Is it still muddling along as before or living a life of excitement and passion?

  Tang Jie opened his mouth, and his mind was a bit messy: "I, I don't know..."

  Niya gazed at him, as if trying to see through his soul from the deepest part of his black eyes. She smiled: "I already know the answer!"

  Tang Jie burst out laughing and said: "I don't even know the answer myself, how did you already know?"

  Nia smiled: "Actually, when I saw you holding the head of that third-level sword fighter, I already knew that there was a monster living in your heart!"

  She reached behind her neck and took out a small hand mirror, about the size of two thumbs, and handed it to Tang Jie: "Take a look at your own eyes, where there is indeed doubt, confusion and bewilderment, but more so excitement, fervor and ambition!"

  "Is that so? So you still understand me quite well?" Tang Jie smiled as he took over the compact mirror that was originally hidden between Nia's breasts, feeling the warmth and smoothness of her skin, carrying a hint of her body temperature. He couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart, and his gaze involuntarily swept across Nia's towering chest.

  Women are most sensitive to this kind of gaze. Nia saw his gaze sweep over, her face slightly red, and she secretly thought: Father said he was a born pirate, the most promising person to succeed Atos as the Pirate King. But why do I think he's a born pervert?

  Tang Jie found Nia noticing his gaze, coughed awkwardly and pretended to take out a mirror from his bosom to take a look, suddenly letting out an exclamation: "Ah!"

  Niya was startled and hastily went over to take a look: "What's wrong?"

  Tang Jie held the compact mirror in one hand and pinched his nose with the other, saying seriously: "I've got acne on my face!"

  "Huh?"

  Niya was taken aback, feeling both angry and amused. She raised her hand to hit him, but then took pity on him since he had just gotten out of bed and his body hadn't fully recovered. Her hand hovered in mid-air before stopping, and she could only glare at him with a fierce gaze: "Give me back my stuff!"

  Tang Jie handed it over with a smile, and when Nia reached out to take it, her hand was still on Nia's fingertips, slipping away lightly.

  Niya was like being electrocuted, her fingers retracted, she had been sailing for many years and had encountered countless harassments. Tang Jie teased her like this, she didn't think twice, subconsciously lifted her foot and kicked him.

  Tang Jie burst out laughing, and naturally wouldn't let her kick him. With a small jump, he retreated backwards, stretched out his hand and firmly grasped Nia's ankle in his palm.

  Niya Jin stood alone with one leg, while another leg was caught by Tang Jie. She said angrily: "Let go!

  As soon as she finished speaking, a faint golden light began to emanate from one of her hands, and it seemed that if Tang Jie didn't let go within the next second, her aura would burst out.

  Tang Jie was startled and let go of his hand, smiling awkwardly.

  Niya glared at him and was so disturbed by his behavior that her mood, which had been calm and persuasive, was ruined. She turned around and walked away.

  "Niya!" Tang Jie looked at her back and suddenly shouted.

  Niya turned around, her figure slender and indistinct in the moonlight. Her face was stern, her chin slightly raised, clearly still unhappy about what had just happened: "What is it?"

  Tang Jie smiled: "Can you teach me how to cultivate Qi?"

  Nina thought for a moment and said: "Okay, but I have one condition!"

  "What conditions?"

  "You can't leave this ship until your Dou Qi rank is higher than mine!"

  Tang Jie nodded and said, "It's settled then!"

  Nia nodded, her face devoid of a smile, but when she turned around, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smiling arc, with a hint of smugness at having successfully pulled off a small scheme.

  At that time, she started learning to release her Qi and it took her two whole years to find the knack, to be able to release her Qi. Tang Jie, no matter how talented he was, couldn't possibly learn to release his Qi in a short amount of time.

  This also means that he won't be getting off this ship anytime soon, and she can spend some more time with him.

  But she didn't know that when she turned around and smiled secretly, Tang Jie was also smiling as he looked at her back.

  He certainly knew what Nia was up to, and when he started joking with Nia, he had already made up his mind.

  The pirate king Atos, as described by Nia, kept flashing before his eyes, especially in his last battle, facing the raging storm and the cannon fire filling the sky. He stood at the bow of the ship, his long knife pointing to the sky, his figure frozen, like a silhouette etched into the dark sky and the turbulent sea. This scene was deeply imprinted on Tang Jie's mind, like a vivid oil painting from the West, impossible to erase!

  Before crossing over, I was just a nameless small potato with no achievements. After crossing over, I have the opportunity to start anew and live a life that belongs to me.

  Since I can traverse through the multitude of lives and arrive here, why shouldn't I leave my name in this world and make all the oceans "my sea"!

  Tang Jie stood by the railing, sighing wistfully.

  This legendary story that has been passed down for generations, started from this double-masted Flying Fish-class "Hell's Gate".

  Um, let me explain, during the new book period, updates will be slower, I sincerely apologize to all friends.

  Some writers update their new book once a day with two updates, each update is 2,000 words.

  I'm sorry that I don't want to be a 2K party, so sometimes one chapter is 4K and sometimes one chapter is 5K. Sorry to tell my friends.

  After it goes online, I will speed up, after all, there are 200,000 drafts as a foundation.

  Sorry sorry! Please give me more support, Tang Tang, collect flowers, and throw them all at me...