Chapter 16: Kill Me Already (Middle) Please Collect

  At night, the sea breeze is gentle, and the starlight twinkles.

  The hellish voyage that had been tossing about all day finally subsided into calm, and the ship sailed smoothly over the surface of the water. The waves that broke at the stern left a fleeting flash in the darkness of night, leaving behind a faint trail of ripples.

  High above the mainmast hung a storm lantern, like a bright morning star on the sea, responding to the countless stars scattered across the sky.

  From the middle deck of the sailors' quarters came a loud, ear-piercing din that carried far out to sea over the silent water.

  "Thanks be to Tlaloc, benevolent and all-loving sea god, for granting us freedom, food, and sweet rum!"

  After being tormented for a whole day, the pirates who were finally relieved quickly regained their vitality in front of the fragrant rum that filled the room. They all had rosy faces and sparkling eyes as they gazed at the cups in front of them being filled to the brim with amber-colored rum.

  This rum, called "sugar wine" by sailors, is made from sugarcane and first turned into molasses before being fermented, distilled, and then stored in oak barrels for over three years.

  The reason why this wine stands out among many varieties is that sailors at sea unanimously believe it is the most feminine wine in the world.

  When not drinking, its color is bright and attractive, like a noble and elegant aristocratic woman, who can be conquered by her demeanor at a glance. When approaching, one cannot help but be overwhelmed by her charm; when entering the mouth, it is sweet and fragrant, yet the wine is strong and violent, like a lively and charming young girl with a distinct personality, whose tongue-tingling sweetness is like a girl's smile, moving people to emotion. However, all of this is nothing compared to the feeling of savoring the aftertaste after swallowing a mouthful of rum, when the lips and teeth are fragrant and the mouth has a lingering flavor. At this time, the rum is like a beautiful woman slowly disappearing into the distance, leaving behind only a faint outline, making people sigh with emotion and endless aftertaste.

  Sailors living at sea regard rum as their wife and their life.

  These people who live by the sea all their lives are also pursuing such simple things.

  Wine and women!

  Half a month ago, they had just experienced a fierce battle, but in the blink of an eye, they forgot the sorrow of losing their comrades and the cruelty of the battle, forgot the scars and pain on their bodies.

  Because they have rum!

  During the day they were tormented by Tang Jie until they vomited and almost died, but at night, after slightly recovering their energy, they became lively again.

  Because they have rum!

  "Cheers!!"

  William slammed a large glass of rum down in front of Tong Jie, his face red with intoxication. The amber liquid swirled and settled, leaving a golden layer on the inside of the transparent glass, incredibly enticing.

  Tang Jie was a romantic at heart before crossing over, and now that he had crossed over, he was even more uninhibited and unbridled.

  He slapped the table and looked around at the sailors, shouting: "If you want a drink, let's have one together!"

  The sailors burst out laughing and responded one after another.

  They raised their wine glasses in unison and spoke out their own words of blessing.

  "For Captain Barbossa!"

  "For Captain Ball!"

  "For the honorable Nia!" Bill shouted at the top of his lungs.

  The sailors recalled the miserable state of him being bullied by Nia a few days ago, and they burst into laughter, raising their glasses: "To the respected Nia!"

  Pastor Horn blew out a face of razor stubble, looking somewhat disheveled, his clerical garb filthy beyond description. He shook his head and raised his cup: "To rum, and the women on shore!"

  "Hahahaha!" The sailors burst into a hearty laugh "Aye, for rum and the women on shore!"

  The rest of the sailors said their own words of blessing, then looked at Tang Jie with eager eyes, waiting for this new noble on the Hell's number to say his own words of blessing.

  Tang Jie held a wine glass in one hand, hesitated for a moment, then raised it high and shouted: "For tomorrow!"

  The sailors fell silent for a moment, these people are always in a state of timely pleasure, never thinking about whether tomorrow will be rainy or windy, and never thinking about whether they will be alive or dead tomorrow.

  Tang Jie's simple blessing suddenly moved everyone on the boat, Bill blinked and asked on behalf of everyone: "For what tomorrow?"

  "For tomorrow's freedom and honor, wealth and dreams!"

  Why did we go out to sea?

  Isn't it just for pursuing the unbridled freedom on the sea and for pursuing endless wealth?

  The sailors' eyes lit up and they burst out in a loud cheer: "For tomorrow!"

  They laughed loudly and drank the rum in their cups with Tang Jie, one by one, their faces red and ears hot, stumbling, but more and more excited.

  As soon as Bar began to vacate his helm station, teaching Tangjie how to navigate, everyone on the ship immediately understood the sensitive signal conveyed by this action.

  Lao Ba is cultivating his successor!

  When Tang Jie saved them, they looked at Tang Jie's eyes with gratitude and admiration. But when they knew that Ball was going to choose Tang Jie as his successor, these sailors looked at Tang Jie again, their eyes filled with respect and awe.

  On a ship, the captain is king, every word of his is law, and all his actions are the yardstick for sailors.

  No one would question Bar's decision, for he was a venerable old salt, an elderly captain.

  Most importantly, Táng Jié proved with his character and ability to everyone on this ship that he was indeed the most qualified person to be the captain.

  The young black-haired man who was rescued from the sea by them saved everyone on the ship, his bravery and decisiveness left a deep impression on them. Moreover, after waking up, he not only didn't mention the previous conflicts and unpleasantness but also didn't say a word about that battle at sea, without any hint of pride or self-importance. Even when interacting with the lowest-ranking sailors, his smile was equally friendly, like a warm sea breeze, making people feel an unconscious sense of closeness to him.

  Of course, most importantly, he can drink a lot and never refuses anyone.

  This is not to say that Tang Jie was born a wine god, but rather that he had let go of his inhibitions and was excited to start a new life in a new world, and was thrilled to have such a lovable and generous group of companions by his side.

  He thought those people toasted him because they liked and respected him, so he returned the favor without hesitation.

  He sobered up for a few days and then got drunk again for a few nights, without exception being carried back to his own room by the sailors.

  In just a few short days, Tang Jie's charisma had conquered everyone on the ship. They addressed this mysterious black-haired young man as "brother" and willingly followed his commands on board.

  Even old-timer William had no qualms about Tung's succession to the captaincy, for he considered Tung the most impressive man on board, aside from Ball and Neya.

  However, the revenge was well-deserved, and the prank was a perfect payback for the suffering Tang Jie had put them through in the past few days.

  William gave Bill a wink, and the two hummers who had been partners for many years naturally understood each other.

  William smiled and gave a thumbs up, saying: "Good capacity for liquor, indeed a true man! Needn't say more, just by looking at your drinking demeanor, I can tell you're the bravest person on this ship!"

  Rum is a strong liquor with an alcohol content of around sixty degrees, and drinking a full cup from a large wine glass the size of a human head would make even an iron man feel somewhat softened.

  Tang Jie only felt his whole body being stirred up by the wine, his head dizzy and heavy, his blood boiling. Being said so by William, he unconsciously felt a bit proud, he waved his hand, chuckled and hiccuped: "Don't mention it, don't mention it!"

  Bill shouted loudly from one side with William: "No, no! He is not the bravest person on this ship!"

  William and Tongjie turned their heads at the same time to look at him, Tongjie's intoxication surged up, with a thick tongue he said: "I'm not the bravest person, then, who, who is?"

  Bill chuckled like a triumphant sharp-mouthed mouse: "Need you ask? Of course, it's the beautiful and talented Nia!"

  William was taken aback and pretended to be angry: "Nonsense! Nia is a woman, how can she be compared with Tang Jie?"

  "Then how come I saw him at the stern of the ship this afternoon being scolded by Nia until he couldn't lift his head?"

  At this moment, the sailors in the cabin suddenly fell silent, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes stared at Tang Jie.

  Tang Jie's face suddenly turned purple, he knew that Bill was talking about the things Nia taught him to learn Dou Qi in the afternoon.

  Niya had Tangie hold her hand, feeling the dormant Chi within her body.

  Although Tang Jie had been practicing martial arts for many years and his internal strength was quite impressive, the blood vessels and veins in his body were not the same as Dou Qi. He meditated for half a day, but only felt a slight numbness in his hand when holding Niya's hand, with no other sensations at all, wasting an entire afternoon.

  Niya painstakingly explained the principles of Dou Qi and techniques to Tang Jie, who listened intently. To outsiders, their appearance was manipulated into a scene where "Tang Jie was tongue-tied by Niya's scolding".

  Tang Jie angrily said: "Nonsense! How could I be scolded by her?"

  William patted his shoulder and sighed, seemingly to comfort him but actually to provoke him, saying: "Don't be embarrassed! Who on this ship hasn't been scolded by her? It's just a few words of reprimand, no big deal!"

  Tang Jie was displeased, and with a wave of his hand: "Tell you all, on this boat, the one I'm least afraid of is... Ni, Niya! This little girl, can't I just capture her with my own hands?"

  The sailors saw that Tong Jie had obviously drunk too much, and his mouth began to run wildly, they couldn't help but sneak a peek at the door, afraid that Nia would burst in from outside at this time, which would be disastrous.

  On this ship, even a blind man could see that Nia, this tough-but-soft woman, had a crush on Tang Jie. Usually, when there was nothing to do, the sailors would often tease them behind Nia's back in front of Tang Jie.

  William's words today made Tang Jie drunk and put on a show, the other sailors' faces turned white, excited and fearful, looking at William and Bill, two tough guys, wondering what they were up to.

  Bill heard Tang Jie's words and sneered with disdain: "You're finally here, still smiling all over your face, how lowly?"

  A drunk man, no matter how weak he is, will never concede an inch in a verbal argument, let alone Tang Jie.

  Tang Jie slammed his hand on the table, his tongue twisted into a sailor's knot, and shouted: "Bullshit! When did I ever smile and laugh?"

  William clapped his hands and said: "Tang Jie would never do such a thing, prove it to them!"

  Tang Jie slanted his eyes and looked at him with a drunken gaze: "How, how can you prove it?"

  Bill and William exchanged a glance, both of them forcibly suppressing their wildly racing hearts, nodded, the fish was already on the hook!

  Bill glanced at the door with a sly look in his eyes, then lowered his voice and said: "You go get Nia's bandage cloth, we'll believe you!"

  "Wow, you're drunk and looking for trouble!!"

  "Are you two fed up with living?"

  "We're going to be dragged down with you!"

  The sailors were in an uproar, strongly condemning the two old bastards William and Bill for eating arsenic, those annoying guys who can't wait to die!

  Inside the sailors' quarters, there was a cacophony of noise, laughter and table-pounding, just as things were getting out of hand, when suddenly they heard Tang Jie let out a loud roar.

  "Halt!!"

  Everyone fell silent and looked at Tang Jie standing in the middle of the crew's quarters.

  Tang Jie belched loudly, with a strong smell of alcohol, and said with his head raised: "Wrap, wrap chest, cloth, just wrap chest cloth, I'll get it for you to see!"

  The crowd was silent, staring blankly as Tang Jie stumbled towards the door.

  A sailor next to him saw that he was staggering and instinctively reached out to support him, but was pushed away by Tang Jie. He glared at the sailor and said, "What are you doing? I don't need anyone's help! I'm walking so steadily, why do you come to support me?"

  He didn't finish speaking, but suddenly stumbled and took three quick steps forward, bumping into the door.

  Tang Jie covered his forehead and said with a big tongue: "Which bastard is driving this boat, it's shaking so much?"

  The ship was as steady as land, and the sailors looked at him in silence, their faces covered with cold sweat.

  Bill watched as Tong Jie stumbled out of the water room, clearly heading towards Nia's room. He hesitated and asked William, "He won't be killed on the spot, will he?"

  "Nonsense!" William glared at him "At most, it's just being thrown into the sea to feed the fish!"

  Bill and William exchanged a glance, chuckled dryly for a moment. Bill's eyes rolled around in their sockets as he whispered, "You think it'll be okay if I sneak a peek later?"

  "Are you looking for trouble?"

  Bill let out a disappointed sigh and said, "Fine, don't go then! What's the big deal!"

  William hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "Just one glance shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

  ……

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