OPTC Chapter 179: The Mature and Steady Watchman…?
It took a little time for Zhang Da Ye to make Ye Yan understand that this was real sailing, not some kind of performance art.
"I see… so you're on a journey sailing around the world, and you just went through a storm?" Ye Yan pinched his chin. "Looks like my luck isn't too bad after all?"
"What's with this sneaky thing? Did you summon it too, Da Ye?" Artoria asked. At that moment, her foot was pressing down on a gong, and her sword rested against the neck of a dark green monster.
"Wait, wait! It's a misunderstanding! Master, save me!" The monster cowered on the ground, begging Ye Yan for help.
Zhang Da Ye glanced at the trembling creature and said, "That's a Banner Demon and a Soul-Suppressing Gong, right? Ye Yan, what are you trying to pull here?"
The Banner Demon was like a servant to a watchman, obedient and tireless.
The Soul-Suppressing Gong was one of a watchman's signature tools—once struck, it could freeze those nearby, even opponents far stronger than the user. Its effectiveness, of course, depended on the power difference between the two sides.
One of Ye Yan's common tactics was to draw the enemy's attention, while secretly ordering his Banner Demon to plant the gong somewhere unnoticed. Then, at the right moment, strike it and lock down the opponent.
Unlike fighters like Huang Xiaoyan, who relied on brute force, or the gravekeeper Ximen, Ye Yan often relied on wits to outmaneuver enemies stronger than himself.
"Didn't expect people from another world to know so much about watchmen. That really is my Banner Demon. I just wanted to prepare myself in this new environment, sorry about that."
Seeing Artoria had no intention of cutting the creature down, Ye Yan waved his hand. "It's fine, we're all on the same side. Come back!"
The Banner Demon dissolved into smoke and slipped into a small flag behind him.
The flag was triangular, yellow with green edges, and a red "soul" character in the center. It hung from a thin metal pole. Ye Yan had eight such flags floating behind him, collectively known as the Soulfire Pennants.
In the watchman clans, being able to summon four pennants was enough to go down in history. For someone like Ye Yan, who could summon eight, it was a once-in-centuries talent.
Though honestly, the sight of him standing with so many flags sticking out of his back made him look a little like an old general on stage.
Rui Meng Meng's eyes lit up at the sight. "What's a Banner Demon? A kind of monster? Like the ones in Journey to the West?"
"They're not nearly as strong as the ones in that book," Ye Yan explained. "They're spirits who have been subdued by a watchman, then bound by contract to serve forever. Normally, they live inside the Soulfire Pennants."
"Sounds kind of miserable for them," Rui Meng Meng muttered.
"You're mistaken!" The Banner Demon popped its head back out, proudly declaring, "For us, turning into mist, living forever, escaping the cycle of reincarnation—that's the best fate we can hope for! Serving the Ye family is an honor not every spirit can earn!"
"Eh, not your best flattery," Ye Yan muttered, shoving the creature back inside. "Spirits all have their own will. Some would rather die than serve, others come knocking at our door asking to be bound. We can't force them."
In fact, for many weaker or untalented spirits, being able to serve the prestigious Ye family of watchmen was a dream opportunity. The family wouldn't even look at the lesser ones.
Zhang Da Ye's eyes gleamed as he stared at the eight pennants behind Ye Yan. He had been worrying about manpower, and suddenly nine helpers appeared. "Ye Yan, what's your goal in coming here?"
"Of course, to experience another world's culture and refine my performance art!" Ye Yan struck a few poses that only he found artistic.
Zhang Da Ye ignored the antics. "The truth?"
"Fine, fine. To become stronger, and one day be the ace of the Night Department's three Inspectors." Ye Yan spread his hands, like saying they just wouldn't understand an artist's heart.
Zhang Da Ye slung an arm over his shoulder. "I like your spirit, kid. Stick with us. Travel the world, meet strong people, face powerful foes. One day, you'll reach that dream!"
"Hey, hey, don't feed me those lies you tell to kids." Ye Yan shoved the still-damp Zhang Da Ye away. "You just want me and my Banner Demon to work for you. Fine, but food, lodging, and wages need to be covered."
So this fifteen-year-old already understood the world's cruelty? Zhang Da Ye sighed. "Food and lodging are no problem. As for wages… same as Meng Meng's starting pay."
Of course, Rui Meng Meng had never really collected a proper wage. Running the tavern had brought in way more money than any salary. The four hundred million berries they'd saved for a ship hadn't even been spent yet.
Zhang Da Ye fished in his pocket, pulled out two gold coins, and tossed them to Ye Yan. They were from the stash taken off Vander Decken—there had only been a handful, and the group had divided them just for fun. Who knew where the rest of his treasure was hidden?
"Here, consider it a welcome gift. Welcome to… uh, the Amber Travel Group." He had to come up with the name on the spot, based on their ship's name.
"Two coins as a welcome gift? Really stingy… wait, gold?! You're loaded! I'm in!"
The once serious and composed Ye Yan immediately threw himself at Zhang Da Ye, hugging his leg.
"Where's your dignity? What about the pride of a genius watchman?" Zhang Da Ye tried to shake him off, but Ye Yan clung on tightly.
"Pride doesn't pay the bills! Even a watchman has to eat and pay rent!" Ye Yan groaned. Ever since his family sent him out to represent them, they'd cut off his allowance. Rent, meals, everything had to come from his part-time jobs.
On top of that, his eccentric "performance art" often required custom clothes, which cost extra.
And with Huang Xiaoyan constantly dragging him into trouble that landed him in the hospital, medical bills piled up too.
So despite being the Ye family's most talented watchman of the generation, Ye Yan was broke as could be.
Shark Chili let out a breath. "At first I thought this new guy would be hard to deal with. Turns out, he's surprisingly easygoing."
Rui Meng Meng was stunned. No matter how desperate she had been for money, she'd never gone as far as clinging to her boss's leg crying for help. Could someone's skin really be that thick?
"Ahem. Maybe we should finish cleaning up first, then talk?" Artoria suggested. They'd already wasted too much time.
Zhang Da Ye pushed Ye Yan's face away. "That's enough! We need to finish washing up and eat lunch!"
"Lunch? Already? Let me calculate!" Ye Yan released his grip and mimed mystical hand signs. "Hmm… 11:23. But when I came, it was still morning. Guess the two worlds have different time zones."
"Meow?" Tom darted into the cabin, checked the clock, then rushed back with wide eyes at Ye Yan.
"You can tell the time just by pinching your fingers like that? Amazing!" Rui Meng Meng said the words Tom wanted to say.
Ye Yan waved it off. "I'm a watchman. Reporting the time is literally part of the job. Finger-calculating the hour is a professional skill."
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