Chapter 5: Waves

The midday sun was scorching hot. Just walking the short distance from the Tavern to the Port Authority, Baroman was already sweating profusely. But when George looked back after entering the gate of the Port Authority, he saw that Baroman’s sweat was dripping from his hair directly onto the stone floor of the hallway.

Feeling a bit sorry for him, George said to Baroman, “You go ahead and do your things first. See you in the office in a while.”

“Alright, see you later, Lord.” Baroman understood immediately.

This was the second time he came to this office today, but sitting down immediately after eating was not good. George started practicing the combination steps he learned before transmigrating, trying to see if he could merge them with the combat footwork of this world. After a few years of practice, George confirmed that this light amount of exercise was completely helpful for digestion after a meal.

The body movements of advancing, retreating, sliding heels, and switching left and right did not have the delicate agility of a fluttering butterfly, nor the elegant transformations of the Lingbo Weibu. This was realistic practice; everything appeared smoothly connected and plain.

The gentle sea breeze brought the moist and salty scent of the sea. George felt as if something in his heart was touched unknowingly. Although he knew this was not the most suitable time, if this feeling was missed, it might be missed forever.

George quickly closed and locked the door, then slowly opened his mind. In a short while, he felt as if his whole person was placed amidst surging waves. The intersection of wind and water, the resonance of sky and ocean; the waves borrowed the power of the wind, and the seawater was ravaged by the waves and gale, looking like shattered silver. The front waves led the back waves, and the back waves pushed the front waves; waves slapped the clouds, and clouds swallowed the waves, tangling into a mass. They crashed into each other, turning into fine mist and foam. The entire sea instantly turned into a battlefield with ten thousand horses galloping and golden drums beating together.

Then the scene changed, and George seemed to return to the time when he watched the Qiantang River tidal bore. Rows of small waves coming from afar became more urgent and higher. When approaching the estuary, the swarming layers of white waves looked like rows of white herons spreading their wings to fly; after pouring into the river mouth, the huge waves whistled and galloped like thousands of fierce horses with white manes standing up, and even more like countless roaring flood dragons; finally, they stacked into continuous silver mountains that rushed towards the embankment with a “crash,” splashing up waves several meters high. The spray flew into the air, and after a short pause, drifted down with the blowing sea breeze, white and dotted, flickering like snowflakes.

With the changes in his thoughts, the steps under George’s feet also constantly changed, and the movement of his figure appeared more natural, like the endless tide. Gradually, George’s figure appeared somewhat unstable, and the limitations of his own strength interrupted the rare realization.

“Ding. The Host has learned a new stance. This stance belongs to the Ocean lineage, a mixed school of wind and water. Please name it yourself, Host.”

George held onto the table and sat down. Using his hard cultivation in this life as a foundation, and borrowing the experiences and knowledge from before transmigrating, he finally merged the footwork learned in both lives into one. The System prompted him to give a name. What should it be called? I am really not good at naming things. In terms of feeling, it should be related to waves. I can’t call it “Blue Sea Tide.” Right, “Blue Sea Tide” seems to have a section called “Dark Turbulence Severing Flow.” Although I don’t remember where I heard it, let’s use this name.

“System, name the stance just now ‘Dark Turbulence Severing Flow’.” George silently recited in his heart.

“Naming successful. Stance Skill—Dark Turbulence Severing Flow. Movement like flowing water allows you to travel more freely through the light of swords and shadows of blades in battle. When the Host is in this stance state, as long as you have not lost your movement ability, your defense will gain an additional dodge bonus equal to your Dexterity modifier.”

“Due to the learning of Stance Skill—Dark Turbulence Severing Flow, the Ocean lineage martial arts skill tree is open, and the Ocean lineage martial arts feats are open. The Host can choose to cultivate them.”

“What a rip-off! This name doesn’t quite match the effect.” George couldn’t help but complain in his heart. “Why do I only know the effect after naming the first skill I realized?” This time it was not the usual step-by-step cultivation; it could be considered his first creation, but unfortunately, a big mix-up occurred.

In fact, what George could truly realize was only a small part of the insight just now, but the System was able to perfect the realized part into a skill tree and optional feats, pointing out the direction for the next step of cultivation. If there were no System, these unrealized insights, if lucky, would leave some impression in the mind and might help sometime later; if unlucky, they would dissipate like smoke and have nothing to do with him from then on.

With his mood calmed, George decided to look at the newly generated skill tree and optional feats. The skill tree was divided into three directions: Stances, Moves, and Enhancement Skills. Currently, in Stances, besides the learned “Dark Turbulence Severing Flow,” the next level’s “Riding the Wind and Waves” was displayed. That was a stance for high-speed movement; besides being able to strengthen movement speed, it could also additionally strengthen the impact effect of a charge.

Moves and Enhancement Skills only showed the first level. The Move was called “Splitting Wind and Slashing Waves,” which could form unique wind pressure with a cutting effect while strengthening attacks, though it consumed quite a bit of stamina. The Enhancement Skill was the common “Underwater Breathing,” which consumed a certain amount of stamina and mental power to gain the ability to breathe underwater for a certain time. Only after these two were fully mastered could the abilities of the next level be unlocked.

Two optional feats appeared now: “Man of the Sea” and “Child of the Storm.”

“Man of the Sea”: The aura of the sea flows in your blood; fighting against waves and shedding blood on the deck are not unfamiliar to you; you gain a +2 check bonus on Balance and Profession (Sailor), ignore penalties when fighting on a bumpy or slippery deck, and gain a +1 dodge bonus to defense when fighting on a ship.

“Child of the Storm”: Years of life at sea have made you familiar with the changing weather of the ocean, and you can lead a ship out of trouble in severe weather; you gain a +4 environmental bonus when checking weather changes at sea, and gain an insight bonus equal to your Intelligence modifier when resisting severe weather.

George was preparing to think carefully about how to combine the newly acquired abilities with his existing methods and the degree of their enhancement.

“Bang—bang—bang—” The knocking on the door interrupted George’s thoughts.

“Lord, may I come in?” Baroman’s voice came from outside the door.

“Yes, did you bring the key?”

“Yes, Lord, I have it.”

“Then open the door yourself, Baroman.”

After the “click-clack” sound of unlocking, the door was pushed open. Noticing this, George reminded himself to remember to arrange for someone to oil that old door of his room when he went back.

Baroman, having taken care of his personal hygiene and changed into clean clothes, indeed felt much more comfortable to be around.

“Baroman, I think you should find a way to control your body shape. Otherwise, although you can barely manage now, it will probably be very troublesome when you get older.” George couldn’t help but remind him.

Baroman looked awkwardly at his huge belly, sighed, and said, “I will try my best.”

“Setting other things aside, after the dock expansion, the port affairs will definitely become busier. By then, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get a few hours of Magic nap time at high noon like you do now. What will you do then? Send someone specifically to hold an umbrella to shade you? That is not part of the office expenses.” George took the opportunity to tease him a bit.

“It’s fine, isn’t it just sweating a bit more? Bringing a fan will make it better.” Baroman sat down face to face with George.

“I heard that parents’ image has a huge influence on their children, especially children who admire their parents will develop in that direction. Baroman, do you want little Daniel to have the same body shape as you in the future?” George had to change his angle. Although he had heard this saying before transmigrating, he didn’t know if it was reliable.

“Then I will do my best.” Baroman frowned tightly. This time it was George’s turn to sigh.

“Didn’t expect that going to the Tavern this time would actually yield some gains.” George stroked the hair behind his ear with his hand.

“If they weren’t talking nonsense, the number of ships coming here in a few days might increase.” Baroman’s attention was successfully diverted. “We should start preparing. Should we reinforce those wooden docks and park some small-tonnage ships there?”

“You are the professional in this area, but the patrol team’s manpower should be increased. After all, if there are more people, there will be more trouble, not to mention many are coming to our port for the first time. Go discuss this with the Port Security Officer and report a specific number to me.” George thought for a moment and replied.

George silently recited in his heart: “Later, I have to see if there are any good performers among the Militia who are working part-time.”

“Not just pirates, but even the fishmen are restless. But it’s really strange; logically speaking, the water depth on the route merchant ships take is not suitable for fishmen to live. And they rarely move far away from their settlements.” Baroman felt a bit uneasy.

“Before we have more intelligence, all we can do is be careful and vigilant. After all, this is a commercial port, not a military port. We have to keep open for business, right?” George comforted him, knowing that Baroman liked dealing with merchants the most. This was not only for profit but had become a hobby.

“By the way, Baroman, except for the parts already sold and contracted, hoard the rest of the salt first.” George instructed.

“Why? Lord.” Baroman appeared a bit puzzled.

“Because I want to take a gamble. Didn’t we hear in the Tavern just now that it has been raining for a long time near the ports to the north? Perhaps the salt-producing areas along that coast also have heavy rain. Of course, the salt production areas near the ports are definitely affected. In the North, due to temperature and climate, salt production is mainly concentrated in these few months. If even one month is affected, the annual output will definitely plummet. Although most of the salt there relies on supply from the South, if something like this happens, those Merchant Guilds definitely won’t sit still. The salt price will rise more or less. It should be worth a bet.” George explained.

“But what if the price doesn’t rise?” Baroman asked with some concern.

“Anyway, we don’t have to worry about the salt not selling. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll just make more Salted Fish, cured meat, and things like that this year.” George said casually. “You know what to do with the rest.”

“I understand.” Baroman’s eyes shone with shrewdness.