unreliable adventure

Get through the crotch of the giant stone statue, and you can see the port from a distance.

Wayne said suddenly, "I see! I've read about this place in a book."

I have also discovered that the scattered ruins tell the world that this was once a prosperous city.Despite the erosion of the years, the exquisitely carved columns and fountains are still beautiful.

"This is the ancient capital of the free people, the den of pirates!" Wayne insisted.

I corrected: "The term Pirate's Nest is a discriminatory term for southerners. The free folk in the North once created a brilliant culture..."

"It's called Pirate's Nest, that's right, that's the name in the old saying." Francis talked about the history passed down from the poems in a general way. The ancestors in the north did start as pirates, and later opened up land, started business and built cities. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the capital city was named a pirate's den, which meant that it did not forget the fundamental meaning.The pirate's nest was abandoned after the defeat of the war more than 200 years ago, and the free people all moved to the islands in the far sea to settle.As for the fishing village in front of me, it has nothing to do with the pirate's lair back then. It was built by whalers in the past ten years.

Wayne asked with great interest: "I have never been able to figure out one thing, what is the proper way to call a friend of a freeman. The term "freeman" is too polite, and it is definitely inappropriate to call a savage. On some occasions, have you heard that you are also referred to as islanders?"

Francis hummed and didn't answer.

I answered for Francis: "It's rude to call someone by race. Just like I call you Wayne, I would never say that you are human, southern, or alive."

"That's true," Wayne said a little aggrieved, "I was just thinking about how to greet people when I entered the fishing village."

Francis laughed twice: "Ha, if you are an acquaintance, it's okay to call him a barbarian. This title is very prestigious. If you are not familiar with him, just nod and hum. The free people are written languages. Generally, you don’t need to. Don’t say islanders, islanders—they fled to the island after being defeated by the Knights, so it’s taboo.”

"I said yes." Wayne slapped his head: "I want to change clothes! The identity of the Knights cannot be revealed."

To be fair, his shiny knight armor is indeed a bit eye-catching.

Francis said, "Didn't I lend you a suit of leather armor? You didn't return it to me."

"Pretend to be a barbarian! Good idea, I like rough and mighty men!" Wayne became excited.

Francis helped Wayne dress up a bit, and untied a string of seal tooth necklaces for Wayne to put on.Wayne was in good shape and looked good in the Freemen's frugal clothes.So pretty soon we had Barbarian II.

Wayne is also worried about his accent, afraid that he will reveal his truth when he speaks.Francis said that it didn't matter at all. The free people made their homes everywhere, hunted whales everywhere, took risks, and worked as mercenaries, and their accents were messed up long ago.

So should I change my image? It's very easy for me to use the Disguise Technique.Francis said that there was no need, there were already many bereaved families in the fishing port who opened shops to do business.

Entering the fishing port, it turns out that there are more survivors than free people.The free people hunted giant whales in the open sea, squeezed the blubber and whale brain oil on the whaling ships, and then brought them back to the fishing port to refine and sell them.Scetal oil is used to keep corpses fresh. It is a daily use of the dead, and it is also considered a big business in the Northland.

The fishing port built hastily in the past ten years is also quite distinctive, using local materials, the ribs of giant whales are used to support the houses, the whale skin is used as the roof, and the flexible whalebone is used to decorate the doors and windows.Fires were lit everywhere, and the cauldrons for refining whale oil were raised high, and the smoke and oily smell of the fire seeped into every street.Merchants of the bereaved family negotiated business everywhere, and buyers and sellers put their hands in their sleeves and bargained for prices.The free people gathered in the port area to prepare to go to sea, and they all wanted to return home. The August Festival is the biggest festival for the free people, and the wanderers who go out must return to their hometowns.

I was fascinated by looking around.

Wayne was also very interested, and pulled Francis to ask if the tall building over there was a church. I heard that the free people all believed in Titans. What are the similarities and differences with the belief in the Holy Light in the south?

Francis answered two questions patiently at first, but later Wayne couldn't help asking, and Francis groaned and avoided the subject.

Although it is not polite to discuss other people's religious beliefs, I am also really interested and joined the discussion: Titans are real, how can they be regarded as beliefs?I am not saying that the light element does not exist, but that the holy light is purely spiritual, and believers derive strength and comfort from pious feelings.But Titans are different. Titans are creatures that can be seen and touched. Of course, Titans are very powerful, but Titans cannot interfere with spiritual affairs. How did the free people establish their belief in Titans?

Francis looked at me pitifully, and finally shook his head and said: "Faith, I don't know whether I believe it or not. Sometimes, for example, before going to sea, we will go to the Temple of Immortality to pray for the wind and offer sacrifices." Some perishable gifts, wild flowers or sea fish, if Lord Titan happens to be free, he will come to help blow a few gusts of wind. There will also be people who ask for other things, such as courage, knowledge, love, etc., and Titan will often try to help."

"But, is this a belief?" Wayne commented sharply: "It's more like a transaction."

"I didn't say it was faith," Francis said generously, "I think it's more like being a friend, hahaha."

Unable to bear with us, Francis led us around the gate of the Immortal Temple in the fishing village. The gate of the temple was closed, and the shamans guarding the temple had already returned home.

Without staying, Francis dragged us to the port to book a boat, just in time for the last boat of the day.The Orca with gray sails, Francis commented that this is not a good ship, but now it is hard to get a ticket for the homecoming peak, so they have to make do with it.

That night we spent the night in the swaying ship cabin, a big bunk made of whale skin was made in the low cargo hold, and boldly dressed men and women lay in various shapes in different poses.Of course, they kept me at a sufficiently polite distance, and I took a seat in the corner near the hatch.

There was a tall and heroic female man who fell in love with Wayne, and grabbed him, talking nonsense.The female man said that Wayne's skin is tender, he must be a baby, and there was a burst of laughter in the cabin.Wayne had a good time, and quickly got along with everyone.

As the night got darker, a few men and women couldn't stand their loneliness, and they did something unspeakable/speakable/speakable in public, and the others were not annoyed, and even gathered around to laugh.Suddenly a big wave hit, the cabin stood up high and then fell down. When someone re-lighted the wobbly whale oil lamp, they saw that a bunch of people in the inner cabin had already rolled into a ball.

I'm really not being prudish, I take instant gratification for granted.It’s just that I’m used to living alone in the grave, and I’m a little afraid of the noise, so I slipped to the deck alone to watch the stars.