Chapter 4: The Pirates Arrive (Part One)
A Dai scratched his head. The term “pirates” left no deep impression in his mind. Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he decided to return to his room and ask Goris. To him, the world was so full of novelty that he wanted to learn about everything he came across, even if he couldn’t remember it later.
“Teacher, Teacher! A big ship has arrived outside, and many people are shouting something about ‘pirates, pirates!’ What does ‘pirates’ mean?” Rushing back into the room, A Dai hadn’t even steadied himself before asking excitedly.
Goris was startled. He sat up from the bed and said, “What did you say? Pirates have come?”
A-Dai said, ‘It’s a large black ship; their sails are painted with skull-and-crossbones. Someone on our ship shouted that they were pirates, but I don’t know if that’s true.’
Gris frowned. Although he wasn’t afraid of pirates, he had no desire to clash with them while feeling utterly unwell. He hoped the sailors aboard the passenger vessel could handle the situation.
A-Dai pressed further, “Teacher, what exactly does ‘pirate’ mean?”
Gris replied instinctively, “Pirates are people who steal things; sometimes, they even kill.”
After hearing Goris’s explanation, A Dai breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Then there’s nothing to fear; I’ve got nothing for them to steal. Ah! Teacher, you must be careful though. They might try to snatch the gold coins and those purple pieces on your person. Better hide them first. But where would be a good spot?” While speaking, A Dai scurried around the cabin, searching for a concealed place.
Hearing A Dai’s foolish words, an inexplicable warmth surged within Goris’s heart. Is he actually worried about me? Goris wondered silently. How long had it been since anyone last showed him such concern? Slightly irritated, Goris shook his head, grabbed A Dai, and flung him onto the bed. “Just keep quiet,” he ordered.
A Dai couldn’t understand why his teacher was angry. He sat stunned on the bed, not daring to make a sound.
The constant clinking sounds—ding, ding, ding, ding—continued until the ship suddenly lurched violently. Goris, who had been standing, quickly grabbed hold of the nearby wall to steady himself. He realized that pirates were indeed attacking; the noises he’d heard earlier were grappling hooks snagging onto the hull. Chaotic clamor kept pouring in from outside, making Goris even more agitated. The sudden jolt had intensified his nausea; acidic fluids churned upward in his stomach. The sensation of seasickness was truly unbearable.
“Listen up, everyone on board! We are pirates. Hand over all your valuables immediately, or don’t blame us if the weapons in our hands thirst for blood.” The rough shout came from outside, signaling that the pirates had already begun their assault. Goris knew pirates were never so easy to deal with; even if they handed over their money, the attackers might still not spare the lives aboard. After all, no pirate crew would wish to be hunted down by the Tianjin Empire’s fleet, and the best way to keep secrets was to turn everyone who had seen them into corpses. Sinking ships was their usual practice—efficient and time-saving. Goris thought to himself: It seems I have no choice but to act; swimming is simply impossible for me.
Pushing open the cabin door, Goris stepped out. The sunlight reflecting off the sea surface instantly intensified his dizziness. Grabbing hold of the railing, he couldn’t help but retch violently.
A pair of small hands appeared behind Goris, gently patting his back. He immediately felt somewhat better. After vomiting one last time, he turned his head and saw A-Dai looking at him anxiously.
“Go back to your room. Quickly,” Goris commanded sternly.
A Dai froze. Although Goris’s voice was rough, it no longer carried its usual coldness; instead, a hint of concern had crept in. A Dai didn’t move, locking eyes with Goris. The old man and the youth simply stared at each other for a long while. After some time, Goris realized his lapse in composure, grabbed A Dai, shoved him into the room, and growled, “Don’t come out.” With that, he headed toward the noisy lower deck.
These pirates were clearly seasoned criminals, each possessing considerable skill. They had already pulled their vessel alongside the passenger ship, and dozens of them had leaped aboard, brandishing their weapons and shouting incessantly. The ship’s captain had gathered the sailors in the forward hold of the large vessel; most of the twenty-odd crew members wore expressions of sheer panic on their faces.
A one-eyed pirate, leading more than ten men, was negotiating with the captain. Goris cast a wind-based amplification spell, making every word of the conversation between the captain and the pirates clearly audible.
“Big brother,” the captain said, bowing and scraping, obviously aware of what the pirates intended to do, “we… we are willing to hand over all the profits from this voyage to you. Please spare our small ship. I promise not to report this. How about that?”
The one-eyed pirate burst into laughter. “Profits? How much profit could you possibly make? Don’t try that with me. Just stay put here, mind your own business, and if we’re in a good mood, we might just spare your lives. But if you try any tricks, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.” As he spoke, he suddenly swung his curved blade toward the ship’s railing. A flash of light erupted, followed by a thunderous crash, instantly splitting the railing open. Golis’s heart skipped a beat; this pirate leader’s skills were formidable! That seemingly simple strike carried the fighting aura possessed only by masters—the blade never even touched the railing, yet it inflicted considerable damage.
The captain and the crew were clearly terrified by that fierce and imposing blow, none daring to utter another word.
The one-eyed pirate boss shouted arrogantly to his men, “Hurry up, lads! Once this job’s done, we’ll head back for wine and meat!” The pirates immediately roared in response. Most cabins on the first deck had already been forced open; passengers were dragged onto the deck while the pirates carried out their plunder. Any slight resistance from a traveler was instantly met with punches and kicks. Panic spread rapidly; some passengers, seeking temporary safety, voluntarily handed over their belongings to the pirates.
Gris knew it was time for him to act. These pirates were beneath his concern; what he truly feared was them sinking the ship. Using a wind-element amplification spell, he projected his voice far and wide: “Stop this at once!” His deep voice rang clearly enough for everyone aboard both the pirate vessel and the passenger ship to hear.
The pirate chief stiffened, turning toward the source of the voice. He saw Gris descending the stairs calmly and unhurriedly. “Could we be this unlucky?” he thought inwardly. “Have we actually encountered a mage?” Shouting loudly, he commanded, “Everyone, stop!” Sensing their leader’s hesitation, the pirates quickly gathered around him. In an instant, over a hundred pairs of eyes fixed simultaneously upon Gris.
Gris cleared his throat twice, barely suppressing his dizziness, and addressed the pirate chief: “Leave this ship immediately.”
The pirates exchanged glances, all waiting for their leader to speak. The one-eyed pirate sized up Goris from head to toe, his own heart pounding. It had been a long time since their crew had managed to pull off any successful raids; now that they had finally stumbled upon such a big catch, how could they possibly let go so easily? Yet, the man before them appeared to be a mage of no low rank, and he was well aware of the terror mages could inspire. “Sir, are you a mage?” he asked tentatively.
Goris did not answer his question. Instead, he snorted coldly and said, “I’ll say it once more: leave this ship immediately.”
Before the one-eyed pirate could respond, a burly pirate could no longer hold himself back. Stepping forward, he brandished the spiked club in his hand and shouted, “You old fool, I think you’re tired of living!” Gripping the massive spiked club, which weighed at least fifty jin, with both hands, he swung it down with full force toward Goris’s head.
Before coming down, Goris had already cast wind magic upon himself, so naturally he was not intimidated by the brute before him. With a slight contraction of his body, he drifted backward three feet. Amidst a thunderous crash, the brute’s spiked club plunged deeply into the wooden deck.
Gris extended his right hand, gave his five fingers a slight shake, and a cloud of pale green powder drifted out, landing precisely upon the brute’s spiked club.
A series of soft popping sounds erupted. Startled, the brute felt his spiked club suddenly grow hot; instinctively, he let go. To his shock, he discovered that his club, forged from refined iron, was gradually melting. It turned into black molten iron, emitting a foul odor. Terrified, the brute retreated several steps, pointing at Gris and stammering, “Who… who exactly are you?”
The green powder Gris had just scattered was Molten Gold Powder, concocted by himself, capable of melting almost any metal.
The pirate captain stepped forward, yanked the brute back, and addressed Gris politely, “Sir, you must be an alchemist. I pay my respects.”
Gris extended his right hand and murmured a few incantations under his breath. The black flames that had once melted the wooden table before Uncle Li reappeared in his palm. Under the sunlight, these dark flames looked especially eerie. The pirate captain was startled and stared at Gris in bewilderment.
Gris said coldly, “Must I repeat myself a third time?”
Just as the pirate captain stood there at a loss, a deep, resonant voice rang out: “I wondered who dared block my path to riches—so it’s the renowned Pyromancer Gris!”
Gris was taken aback. The voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible for him to pinpoint the speaker’s location—a grave disadvantage for a mage unskilled in close combat. What shocked him most, however, was that the newcomer knew his identity. He quickly began chanting another spell, and a layer of black mist emanated from his body, completely enveloping everything within three feet around him.
“Don’t be nervous. How would I dare to lay a hand on Master Goris?” A black figure flashed out from the pirate ship, landing lightly before Goris.
Goris scrutinized this person through the black mist. The stranger’s attire was similar to his own, also clad in a large black cloak that concealed his entire body. He was tall, and beneath the cloak, the outline of a robust physique was faintly visible. However, Goris clearly sensed no fluctuation of magical elements emanating from him; he was not a mage. His cloak seemed intended merely to conceal his identity.
“Boss!” All the pirates bowed respectfully in unison toward the newcomer.
The man in black raised his hand, and the pirates immediately fell silent. Turning to Goris, he said, “Master Goris, we have never interfered with each other’s affairs. Why must you provoke me now? Here is my proposal: after we finish plundering this place and scuttle the ship, you may board ours. Wherever you wish to go, we guarantee to deliver you safely. How does that sound?”
Gris thought to himself: Do you take me for a fool? Once I step onto your ship, I’d be at your mercy. I’m not that stupid. “No need for trouble; I stand by my words: leave this ship immediately.”
The figure in black stepped forward and said, “Since the Master is so stubborn, you must at least give us brothers an explanation.” As he spoke, his body shot toward Gris like lightning, his cloak billowing as several streaks of dark light slashed at him. The speed was simply breathtaking. The Dark Guard Gris had just unleashed seemed to do nothing to slow his opponent down; the dark beams lunged at Gris’s true form with lightning speed.
Although Gris’s magic was formidable, he was, after all, an alchemist. He hadn’t expected his opponent to dare attack even after he revealed the Flames of Darkness. Startled, and with danger imminent, he no longer cared about hiding his abilities; he swiftly pulled something from within his robes and flicked it outward.
The dark beams struck Gris’s body with pinpoint accuracy, yet the figure in black was taken aback, for he clearly felt that he had not grasped anything solid. Shocked, he exclaimed, “What a clever use of the Mirror Image spell!”

The Pirate Assault (Part Two)
Gris was not employing the Mirror Image Spell; the black-clad figure’s speed had been so great that it left him no time to chant an incantation. What he had just thrown was a Mirror Image Scroll of his own making. Such a scroll could unleash its contained magical power in the shortest possible time, and this particular Mirror Image Scroll was one of Gris’s life-saving treasures. His true form had already drifted thirty feet away.
The recent situation sent a cold sweat coursing through Gris. Had his movements been even slightly slower, he would likely have been disemboweled by now. The opponent’s attack also ignited a fury within him. With a slash through the void, Gris tore a faint rift in the sky, from which floated out a black staff merely one foot in length. Its shaft was neither metal nor wood, its material indiscernible, while atop the staff sat a red gemstone only one centimeter in diameter. Gripping the staff, Gris began to continuously chant his incantations.
The black-clad figure knew full well that if Gris were allowed to fully unleash his magic, he would stand no chance against him. Thus, the moment Gris seized the staff, the attacker launched his second assault. Countless beams of dark light erupted from beneath his cloak, coalescing into a massive net of radiance that descended upon Gris.
Gris continued chanting the incantation, grabbing something from within the spatial rift and scattering it outward. Countless phantoms of Gris appeared in the sky; the black-clad figure’s attacks instantly lost their precise target. Most of the phantoms vanished under the assault, yet none struck Gris’s true form.
“Go, Black Flame Soul Refiner.” A jet of black fire erupted from Goris’s staff, surging toward the pirates.
The man in black was utterly stunned. He had never expected Goris to be so formidable, capable of unleashing such a vast quantity of fused black flames combining the elements of darkness and fire all at once. Though he himself feared nothing, any of his subordinates who so much as grazed those flames would be doomed. Realizing this, he could no longer conceal his true power. With a thunderous roar, he cried, “Hell’s Radiance!” A dense barrage of dark light erupted suddenly, surging upward to meet the onslaught. His fighting energy swelled tumultuously, and amidst the flickering dark radiance, a hint of sinister aura subtly emerged.
Gris’s Black Flame Soul Refinement and the black-clad man’s Hellish Radiance collided abruptly. After a series of muffled thuds, a large hole was melted through the deck between them.
Gris staggered slightly. When his opponent unleashed that final move, he had already confirmed the other’s identity and understood why his Dark Guardian had no effect; the fact that the black-clad man could counter the Black Flame Soul Refinement with battle qi was precisely due to his identity. Yet, Gris did not shout it out. He knew clearly that revealing one’s identity was the black-clad man’s greatest taboo. Once spoken, the opponent would fight to the death, and no life on the ship would survive. Had he been in peak condition, Gris would certainly not have feared him. However, plagued by seasickness over the past few days, his stamina had diminished significantly. If they truly fought to the death, although Gris might have a greater chance of victory, he would inevitably suffer severe injuries.
Just as Gris hesitated between negotiating with his opponent or continuing the fight, a fireball, not particularly large, suddenly appeared in the sky. The fireball traced a graceful arc toward the black-clad man, who was startled. Not yet fully recovered from the previous collision, he could only summon a streak of dark light to intercept the fireball.
With a soft hiss, the fireball shattered upon impact. A few sparks landed on the black-clad man’s cloak, instantly burning several small holes. Under the sunlight, a faint green gleam flashed from within the torn fabric of the cloak.
The man in black felt a chill run through his heart. Although the fireball just now wasn’t particularly powerful, the fire element it contained was perfectly balanced and serene, reminiscent of magic cast by a monk. He dared not oppose the Church, and besides, he already found Garris difficult to handle; if there were also a monk present, things could turn dire… Escape was now the priority. Shouting loudly, “Let’s go!” he leaped back onto the pirate ship first. Yet, how could he know that such perfectly balanced and serene magic could be cast not only by monks but also by another type of person: a novice who had just begun learning magic.
Garris paid no attention to the pirates fleeing in disarray. His gaze shot toward the third deck of the passenger ship, precisely where his own room was located. And that accurately controlled fireball…
“Archmage, thank you, thank you for saving everyone on board,” the captain ran to Garris’s side, expressing his gratitude sincerely.
Garris glanced at him and said, “Don’t let anyone bother me.” Without another word, he turned and headed toward the top deck of the passenger ship. That fireball, merely five centimeters in diameter, was all too familiar to him.
The pirates, who had arrived with great pomp and bluster, slunk away in defeat. After a brief ripple across the shimmering sea surface, tranquility was restored once more.
Gris hurried back to the third deck. As he had expected, A-Dai’s frail body lay sprawled on the ground. He rushed forward, lifted A-Dai into his arms, and channelled his internal magical energy to examine him. In truth, examination was unnecessary; he already knew A-Dai had been injured by magical backlash. How could someone who had practiced magic for only three days possibly withstand that black-clad figure of formidable power? Although A-Dai had successfully unleashed the Fireball Spell, since he controlled it with his own spiritual energy, the moment the fireball was shattered, his spirit suffered a violent shock. Unable to protect himself, A-Dai was naturally knocked unconscious by the backlash. Fortunately, the black-clad figure was not at peak condition at that time; otherwise, A-Dai might have suffered mental derangement.
Gris gently placed A-Dai back onto the bed; what A-Dai needed most now was rest. Gazing upon that simple, earnest face before him, Gris felt a strange emotion stir within his heart.
That very night, the passenger ship, having weathered the pirate incident, finally reached its destination safely: Feisi City, a port city in Xi’er Province. Gris’s home, Waliang Province, bordered Xi’er Province; the journey from Feisi City to Waliang Province would take approximately three days.
As they disembarked, the captain personally saw Garris and Adai off with profuse thanks, returning their travel expenses to Garris. Too lazy to argue, Garris simply accepted the money and led Adai into the city of Fez. Though it was night, this place was far removed from the extreme northern regions and felt much warmer than Nino City.
Adai stretched lazily; the psychological trauma he had suffered during the day had not yet fully healed, and he still felt exhausted. No matter how many incantations he chanted, no fireballs appeared. “Teacher, where are we going now?”
Garris replied instinctively, “Find a place to rest for the night; tomorrow we’ll take a carriage back to my home. Hmm? Didn’t I tell you not to ask so many questions?”
Adai paused, muttering silently without speaking. Since waking up, he felt his mind had become somewhat clearer. He still remembered everything that had happened earlier with perfect clarity. Garris had been guarding beside him; upon seeing him awaken, the teacher’s furrowed brow relaxed considerably. Adai realized that this teacher seemed to have developed a more human side, appearing much kinder, and he no longer felt so afraid.
The night was beautiful, with a bright moon and sparse stars; walking along the road, it didn’t feel very dark. Suddenly, Goris asked, “A-Dai, why did you use a fireball to attack that man in black during the day?”
A-Dai answered honestly, “I thought he was a bad guy. When bad guys fight teachers, of course I should help you. Didn’t you say that fireballs have some attacking power too?”
Goris sneered coldly, “Overestimating your own strength! Do you think your little fireball could have helped me? If that man in black had been at his peak, your spiritual energy would surely have been shattered by him, leaving you crippled and turned into an idiot. You fool, in the future, act according to your abilities. That opponent’s power is clearly several levels above yours; using magic against him would only make you die faster.”
A-Dai nodded foolishly and said, “Oh, so magic has limitations too!”
Recalling the man in black from earlier that day, Gliss couldn’t help but say, “That fellow today was a Dark Demon, and a highly skilled one at that. They possess an innate resistance to dark magic; even my Black Flame failed to unleash its true power due to the clash of attributes. These Dark Demons are brutal by nature. Had I not been concerned about his identity, I would have killed him long ago. Remember this: whenever you encounter a strange figure with green skin and sharp spikes growing from their hands, run as far away as possible. Understand? Hmm, why am I even telling you all this?” Gliss felt a slight headache coming on. After spending a few days with this foolish boy, he seemed to have changed somewhat himself.
A Dai replied cheerfully, “Thank you, Master. I understand now. Whenever I meet someone with green skin and spiked hands, I’ll run.”
Gliss gave a noncommittal hum, pointed toward an inn ahead, and said, “Let’s stay there.”
Just as the two were about to enter the inn, A Dai suddenly exclaimed, “Eh? Master, look! That person is so strange! Why are they wearing such clothes?”
Gris followed A-Dai’s pointing finger and saw a tall man approaching the inn as well. The man wore a white robe with a golden hexagram emblem at the center of his chest, and his long golden hair cascaded over his shoulders. His entire being subtly radiated an aura of divinity. Gris felt a chill run through his heart, for this man was a cleric of the Holy See, and clerics happened to be his own natural adversaries. The magic Gris practiced was primarily dark-based with fire as a secondary element, whereas the holy magic wielded by clerics, blessed by high-ranking priests of the Holy See, contained an extremely potent sacred essence. Thus, they were the last people Gris wished to encounter.
By now, the cleric had reached them. He glanced down at A-Dai, then looked at Gris, offered a kind smile, nodded slightly, and entered the inn.
A-Dai asked, “Teacher, he smiled at us. His smile was so gentle. Why did he smile?”
Although the cleric had merely passed by, the sacred aura emanating from him still made Gris feel quite uncomfortable. Snorting, he replied, “That fellow is a cleric of the Holy See, likely a low- or mid-ranking priest. Let’s go quickly; aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m hungry, so hungry! Teacher, what are we eating today?”
“What to eat? Let me think…” After several days on the boat, Goris had neither eaten well nor slept soundly; he truly needed to replenish his strength. However, he failed to notice that Adai’s attitude toward him had become considerably more presumptuous, nor did he pay it any mind.
After the meal, Goris and Adai returned to their room and enjoyed a good night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, Goris felt his physical condition had largely recovered, while Adai’s spirits had improved significantly, as if the emotional trauma from yesterday had already healed. A child’s resilience is indeed remarkable!
Gris opened the door, summoned a servant, tossed him a silver coin, and ordered him to hire a carriage.
“Master, are we really going to take a carriage?”
Gris frowned. “Why so many questions? Be quiet. Go recite your spells.”
“Oh,” A-Dai replied, sitting aside to recall the Flame Spell Gris had just taught him. The Flame Spell differed from the Fireball Spell; although the Fireball Spell possessed greater attack power, its area of effect was quite small. In contrast, while the Flame Spell’s attack power was somewhat weaker and its incantation relatively longer, it covered a much larger area.
“O element of fire that fills the heavens and earth! Grant me the power to burn. In my name, I borrow your strength. Appear, scorching flame!” As the incantation was chanted, a small flame appeared in A Dai’s hand, gently flickering, while the surrounding temperature instantly rose considerably.
“Teacher, Teacher, I did it!” A Dai exclaimed excitedly.
Goris replied gruffly, “What’s there to be excited about? It’s merely the most basic fire magic. Don’t forget the incantation. Recite it several times, but when you do, stop just before the last word of the spell. For such low-level magic, as long as the incantation remains incomplete, you can halt it at any time. With your meager magical energy, if you use it too many times, you’ll just faint again.”
“Oh, I understand.” A Dai continued diligently reciting the magical incantation. After a short while, the attendant returned and informed them that the carriage was ready.
Even while seated in the carriage, Adai still couldn’t believe he was actually enjoying such treatment. The thick, soft seat made his entire body feel comfortable, and he excitedly looked around in all directions. Sitting in the carriage, he involuntarily thought of Yatie again, wondering how she was doing now. That old woman should treat her well, right?
After three days of travel, Goris and Adai finally entered the territory of Valiang Province. Along the way, Adai witnessed many things he had never seen before. Although Goris felt quite impatient with Adai’s numerous questions, he answered every single one of them.