Written by-Silver crown
Ch-5 Idle talk
As usual, an oceanic sect member distributes some black pills to fill our stomachs. For their little amusement, they made a game for us to compete in. They didn't give one for each conscript but piled it at the center of the cabin.
Every one of the conscripts circled the pile of pills waiting for that cultivator signal. All of us prepared to grab their share with nervous expressions. Tragic for me but fortunate for the other, that blue-robed youth walked toward my direction and clapped his hands. Everyone ran toward the pile of pills while they pushed or pulled people beside them to trip.
I also want to run toward the pills and grab a share of my own. However, that cultivator in blue wuxia clothing is coming in my direction.
It was at that moment that I knew… I f@ck up. I couldn't turn back and run. That would make that blue robe youth piss off for disrespecting him. I don't want that prick's anger as a reason for my death.
I watched his smug face in horror. That handsome youth slowly but surely is walking toward me. My heart is beating wildly in my chest but it was not for a romantic reason. I frantically thought about how to take my next action. I knew I have to do something to appease his twisted desire. My knees buckled up and my body plop to the floor with extreme fear. I make my fearful face visible to him. Before I lay myself face down making my back a carpet for this lad. I covered my face with my arms hiding my grinding teeth. That young man was pleased with my behavior and stepped on my head with his feet.
He makes sure to step on my whip wound using my scream as the melody for his steps. He walked out of the cabin stepping on my knees to get another encore. After he walked out of the cabin with a satisfied smug look, I dusted off myself and cleaned some blood on my body.
Every roommate causing a racket removes their façade and returns to their position. Some buddies are still making a racket to give out some noise. To disguise ourselves like we were still in a meaningless brawl some of us need to make noises.
We all knew they didn't give us enough pills to fill our stomachs. Even more, it's meaningless to gang up or steal from that cultivator with our miserable strength. I sat in a corner and waited for my roommates to pile black pills near me. Most of us became exhausted after making that façade and daily assigned work.
They sat around me in a circle while talking to each other in low voices. Since we have many people some people cluster together making a group of their own. Sanlang and Zhou Chi my two ride-or-die lackeys sat beside me. Sanlang count the pills we obtained while Zhou Chi pull out dried herbs inside my luggage. Whereas I wash a piece of fabric with clean water. Then put ground dried herbs and some black pills inside the cloth.
"It's forty-nine, that two pills fewer than previous" Sanlang said.
Sanlang scanned everyone inside the cabin with a questioning gaze. Either that blue robe cultivator or someone inside the room kept a black pill. I patted his shoulder and said
"You already know that Shrimp got eaten by a white fur monkey inside the feeding room."
"They might lower the amount since we lost one more person."
I said it because I knew some of my roommates secretly kept a pill or two inside their pockets. Even though I'm doing everyone to survive, that couldn't prevent someone from cheating or selling me out. Shrimp is the boy who usually sleeps adjacent to me. He's the one who applied medicine paste on my back injuries. Shrimp is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to mourn and cry about his home every day and night.
That annoyingly clingy child who always hugs someone in his sleep is gone. He was the weakest kid in this cabin. So, for him to be alive long enough to this day is just a miracle for everyone. His death doesn't feel good for us. However, the dead one is already gone. People who still have life must continue to survive.
Sanlang brought a basin of water to mix with the greenish liquid I'll squeeze out from the cloth. The black pill they give as our food supplement is too bitter and it has a strong sense of green. It is too hard to swallow and pungent enough to make someone vomit.
Although that pill is hard to consume, it's very effective. One only needs a pill a day to quench his hunger. However, we have more than 100 people inside this cabin. I don't know the exact headcount but I know there are 5 or more cabins like us. I don't know how they distribute other cabins. For this particular cabin, they only give us an amount less than our number.
Luckily, By some coincidence, I succeeded in finding the solution to that problem. By mixing some dry herbs from my pouch, I got an acceptable juice to consume. The greenish liquid I made isn't bitter, it is a little bit spicy and has a tinge of spring leaf smell. A cup is enough for one person. If everyone cooperates, we could have a portion for every one of us. The only flaw is my herbs reserve will last for a week at this rate.
Apart from solving the food problem, It took a lot of my effort to become a ring leader of this cabin. When my position was about to settle, I got reported about my action by a group of jealous people. There my miserable life started its quest.
Of course, I wasn't a Saint. I'm angry and want nothing more than kick them out into the ocean and make them greet some fish and mermaids. But I couldn't make myself a murderer. I am not brave enough to kill someone or to be killed by someone.
An awkward situation continued as we distribute and drink our share quietly. After a few moments of awkward silence past, Sanlang was the one who broke the ice. He lay on the deck and asked
"Turtle you said you worked as an errand boy in a brothel"
That (turtle) was my nickname given by that blue robe handsome lad. since I don't have my frontal teeth. I nodded to confirm his inquiry.
"Why? You could have lived as an apothecary or herb seller with your knowledge"
"Don't tell me you fall in love with a prostitute like a clichéd in a (pi ying) shadow puppetry play" Sanlang teased.
"I don't have much medical knowledge. I only know a thing or two from the book I've studied," I said.
"Wow, brother Turtle know how to read?" Zhou Chi chimed in.
"I admit you are somewhat knowledgeable but don't try to deceit us. Everyone here is commoner" Sanlang sat up and continued
"It a common knowledge that only noble young masters and some insanely rich merchant daughters can attend Literature hall"
"I never said that I learn them from the Lecture hall," I said in an impatient tone.
"Then where did you learn?" Sanlang said and looked at my face with wide eyes and shakily said
"You learn by yourself? Just by looking?"
"No, I learn it from the brothel's high-class pleasure maiden" I answered.
"Big bro Tian, what does that pleasure maiden mean?" Zhou Chi asked.
"Don't call me big bro Tian, call Turtle if you don't want me to get into trouble with blue robes" I said. I exhaled and continued
"Even though I have a big frame, I'm only thirteen in the previous month"
"What're your two ages?"
"I'm about fifteen" Sanlang lowered his head and draw a circle with his finger. He seems to be shaken by the fact that I'm only thirteen. If he is in his usual self he would make a big fuss out of nothing.
"I was fourteen when they drag me into this ship" Zhou Chi answered.
"So you two are older than me." I blurted out my thought.
"Don't shift our topic what is that pleasure maiden?" Sanlang asked.
This horny dude just wanted to know only because of the 'maiden' words. I glanced at him with some disgust. I lay down and said
"Well, I got marked by that blue robes so I don't know when will I become a cold body under the sea."
"It would be a shame without doing anything in my remaining time. So I will tell you, guys, a unique story that you guys haven't heard. It's a story of my life before I was here"…