Chapitre 84: The Nameless Boy of Baffin Island
Volume Five serves to expand the entire world of the novel and lays the essential groundwork for key characters. I wonder if everyone likes Pan Li'er; it will be around volumes thirteen or fourteen before all the female protagonists make their appearances, and I eagerly anticipate your evaluations to see which girl garners more popularity. At that time, I will organize a vote, and for once, I might feel a modicum of confidence in the characters I've created.
"Do you think eloping like this is a good idea? My family wouldn't actually oppose our relationship..." It wasn't until Pan Li'er was nearly boarding the plane that she realized how distant our destination truly was. Although she trusted me implicitly, she couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise. "Don't hesitate; I have no choice in this matter. Once we're on the plane, I'll explain everything in detail." The age-old adage that women in love tend to lose their rationality proved to be more potent than I had anticipated.
Such an extraordinary undertaking would typically require thorough explanation, but I had already resolved to reveal the magic I had learned if necessary, to demonstrate that my intentions were solely to save her. Pan Li'er didn't press for further details and obediently followed me onto the plane. I did not conceal the existence of the Three-Blade Spear, Master Guan, the axe, or Demon Island from her; it was impossible to hide such matters, and I suspected the curse master would soon discover our whereabouts and pursue us. Thus, I revealed the truth to Pan Li'er during the flight.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she gripped my arm tightly and whispered, "I understand now; you intend to take me on an escape to the ends of the earth. I won't mind any hardships we may face, but will we be in danger?" Observing her reaction, I began to question Master Guan's judgment; was Pan Li'er truly just an ordinary girl? She seemed simple and easily deceived, and if she were indeed the wielder of the Three-Blade Spear, could she not possibly be the reincarnation of that so-called goddess?
"The goddess reincarnated? I might as well be a Saint Seiya." I quickly dismissed this absurd thought, struggling to envision myself clad in metallic armor, wielding cosmic lightning fists, which made my forehead damp with anxiety. "It seems I must deal with that curse master sooner rather than later, or I might lose my sanity." Canada, being the second-largest country in the world, has a population of thirty million; when it comes to vast lands and sparse populations, Canada and Australia are undoubtedly the best examples, with the Chinese population comprising about thirty to forty percent.
Our plane landed in Toronto, a city I knew only for its NBA team called the Raptors, and little else. Fortunately, Pan Li'er's English was proficient enough to serve as a translator, allowing me, an English novice, to navigate this country with relative ease. Lacking a solid grasp of world geography, I initially thought I could quickly locate the address given to me by the bald instructor, Weir. However, when I showed the address to Pan Li'er, she gasped and asked, "Are you sure we're going to Baffin Island?"
I responded nonchalantly, "What's wrong with Baffin Island?"
"Baffin Island is a no-man's land, close to the Arctic, utterly desolate, inhabited only by Eskimos." Her words struck me like a bolt from the blue. While I had no concept of Baffin Island, the image of Eskimos racing dog sleds across icy terrain was universally recognized. "Damn that bald guy for sending me to such a place; does he think I'm an ice age relic? No, the Ice Age seems to have been ravaged in the even more terrifying Siberia."
"My nameless martial arts technique appears to possess an extreme cold attribute." This thought suddenly surfaced, and combined with my earlier musings about Pan Li'er being a goddess reincarnated, I felt a chill run down my spine, instilling a sense of trepidation about our journey ahead. "Well, I suppose I must embrace the situation; where there's a will, there's a way. It's merely a title of Demon Island Warrior; the trials shouldn't be overly arduous."
With a comfortable mode of transportation and sufficient funds at my disposal, our journey was relatively smooth. It was the warmest season in the Northern Hemisphere, and we weren't in a hurry, making us no different from ordinary tourists. Given that Baffin Island is nearly uninhabited, I had even rented a rather comfortable yacht, as the person I intended to visit resided near Bouchier Bay. After disembarking, I could reach my destination in half an hour on foot without needing to linger long.
The scenery of Baffin Island still retained some primal beauty, with its azure waters and expansive skies. Leaving Pan Li'er to wait on the yacht, I ventured alone onto the world's fifth-largest island. Once I was out of sight, I spread my magical wings and soared into the sky. The address given to me by the bald instructor was quite clear; after flying over the island for more than ten minutes, I spotted a large forest and a reddish-brown wooden cabin. As I descended in front of the cabin, a sudden whirlwind of ice and snow erupted, indicating that an ambush had been laid for quite some time.
"Are there assassins here too?" In a fit of anger and surprise, I unleashed my flying flower-sweeping leg technique with all my might, not knowing how many exchanges I had to endure before finally breaking free and creating some distance. A boy, no older than a fifth grader, stood before me, brandishing a crystal trident formed from condensed ice and snow. He pointed at me and declared, "This is private property; no one is allowed to enter. I warn you to leave immediately, or I won't be so courteous."
"Private property? Then you're not one of Master Guan's assassins." My worries dissipated as I retrieved the address from the bald instructor, gesturing towards the boy and saying, "I come from Demon Island, a trainee from the Demon Mercenary Corps, here to earn the title of Demon Island Warrior."
"From Demon Island? Then you must pass my test first." The boy brandished the crystal trident, showing no intention of letting me through. Reluctantly, I had no choice but to engage in battle. As my nameless martial arts technique reached the third level, I was able to condense the icy true energy into a weapon. To put it plainly, I could unleash a piercing icy blade of energy. Since he was not my enemy, I had no intention of using weapons; this battle would serve as an opportunity to familiarize myself with this new combat technique.
This boy, five or six years my junior, displayed remarkably aggressive combat skills. The crystal trident he wielded, of an unknown material, shimmered coldly with each effortless swing, and every strike carried immense force. Within just three exchanges, I realized how gravely mistaken I had been. This boy was not someone I could defeat while holding back; even if I unleashed all my abilities, I might still fall short. At this point, I summoned my long knife, Ancient Moon, and launched a full-scale attack.
"Well, there's a semblance of skill, but your strength remains woefully inadequate. I suppose I'll have to take this a little more seriously." Before he could finish his sentence, an overwhelming aura of menace radiated from the boy, akin to an ancient, ferocious beast that had suddenly descended upon the world.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone