Mercenary Wars

Chapter 3: Suspended Death

Raymond still refused to accept the reward, and Ryan wanted to say something else, but someone came outside and asked Raymond to help with some work. Raymond happily went, and the matter ended there.

Looking at Raymond who ran to make a great contribution, Ryan shook his head, then looked at Gao Jianuo: "What about you?"

Gao Jianuo is obviously not so noble.

He thought for a moment and said, "Can you answer a question for me first? Earlier in the forest, when I touched you, I found that your body was cold. Why was that?"

"The art of feigning death."

"Fake death technique?"

Ryan explained, "The suspended animation technique can make a person behave like a corpse for a period of time. There's no heartbeat, no breathing, and the skin becomes cold. It can even eliminate pain... I was very weak at the time and didn't know who you were. Playing dead might give me a slight advantage in danger."

He asked, "Are you interested in this?"

Gao Jianuo nodded: "A little bit."

"I can teach you." Ryan thought for a moment and then said, "In my current state, if you want to learn something useful from me, the only thing you can do is to fake your death."

Then he changed the subject: "But you'd better prepare yourself mentally. Although the art of feigning death is a bit unremarkable, in reality only a few people can truly master it. Besides, I won't be staying in Driftwood Town for long, so you probably only have a few days to learn it."

Gao Jianuo: "I understand."

"Okay, let's get started." Ryan adjusted his posture slightly and explained, "First of all, I want to tell you that the suspended animation technique is actually a form of hypnosis. The practitioner uses meditation, breathing adjustments, and other methods to hypnotize their body, thus entering a state of suspended animation."

"Based on the realism of the fake death, the art of feigning death can be divided into five levels. Mastering the first level isn't difficult, but it's also not very useful. It can only help you fall asleep quickly, and no one would use it on the battlefield."

"Second-level suspended animation allows you to maintain partial consciousness while asleep, which is very helpful in the wild."

"A third-level suspended death technique allows you to maintain full consciousness, stop breathing and heartbeat, and cool your skin. This is true suspended death," Ryan added. "Don't underestimate it. It's saved me at least twice. It's not only effective on ordinary people, but may also be effective on some low-level demons or warlocks."

Gao Jianuo was puzzled: "Why?"

Ryan smiled slightly. "Practitioners of dark magic usually prefer living people to dead bodies."

Gao Jianuo nodded in understanding.

Although he had never come into contact with demons or sorcerers, he had heard some legends in his past and present lives and knew that they were much more interested in the living than the dead.

Ryan added, "But remember, an average person's breathing and heartbeat can only be suspended for about six minutes at most. Once this time is exceeded, the suspended animation will turn into real death."

"A fourth-level suspended animation technique can eliminate pain. Even if the enemy cuts off your ear, you won't be exposed. As for the highest level, the fifth, I'm not sure. Legend has it that it's a state between life and death, and can even allow a person to touch the realm of the dead..."

In the next few days, Gao Jianuo spent most of his time learning the art of feigning death with Ryan, and occasionally chatting about some anecdotes about Nanhai Town and the Grey Eagle Mercenary Group.

Pastor Green also returned to the church and quickly became busy. The church was about to hold its annual baptism ceremony, which was almost the most important event of the year for Driftwood Town.

There were three priests in the Driftwood Church: Green, the aged chief priest, and Reverend Gerald. All three priests were busy, leaving the apprentices and servants with no free time.

Fortunately, there is a kind-hearted person named Raymond. As long as Gao Jianuo asks him, he will be happy to do it for him, giving Gao Jianuo more time to learn the art of feigning death.

Hard work pays off. After several days of intensive study, Gao Jianuo finally mastered the art of faking death.

After a successful self-hypnosis, when he was awakened by Ryan, he could see on the panel that he had gained a new skill. [Level 1 Fake Death: 0/100]

[Spirit +1] [Experience +5]

Gao Jianuo was a little excited.

Not only did he gain skills, attributes, and experience, but more importantly, from now on he could fall asleep anytime and anywhere like Raymond!

He will never have trouble sleeping again!
Ryan smiled and said, "You learn really fast. It seems you have talent. But you will need to practice on your own from now on. I will leave Driftwood Town tomorrow."

"Thank you." Gao Jianuo thanked him and asked, "How is your injury recovery going?"

"Much better. I have a blessing of self-healing, and it comes from a saint," Ryan said. "If I hadn't stolen things when I was a child, I might be a pastor presiding over baptisms now."

"The baptism ceremony is about to begin, let's go and take a look."

"it is good."

The two left the room and went to the nave of the church.

Churches in big cities usually have dedicated baptismal pools, but for a small town church, building a dedicated baptismal pool is obviously a bit too luxurious.

Therefore, the baptism ceremony in the Driftwood Town Church is held in the nave, which is the most spacious place with dozens of seats and can accommodate hundreds of people if they squeeze together.

There are now more than a hundred people standing or sitting here, with three pastors and a dozen children who are about to be baptized - Mosaic doctrine stipulates that believers should be baptized at the age of twelve.

On the marble table in front of the three priests was a gilded cup engraved with a triangular pattern and a gilded round basin containing holy water for baptism.

Looking at the holy water in the golden basin, Gao Jianuo fell into deep thought.

What exactly is holy water?
The holy water looked no different from ordinary water, but he had experienced baptism and was sure that it was definitely not ordinary water, otherwise it would not have to be specially transported from the monastery.

According to the official church statement, holy water is blessed water, but Pastor Green vaguely mentioned that holy water seems to be just a potion...

The chief pastor of the church is an old pastor who is nearly sixty years old. His hair is almost completely white and his wrinkled face always has a kind look.

He unfolded the golden-covered Holy Scripture and began his speech, quoting from scriptures. Then, closing the book, he slowly said, "In the year 1453 of the Fangfro calendar, in the southern church county of Nordaren, the baptism began."

After saying this, he put down the holy book, rolled up his white robe sleeves, and picked up the golden cup.

At the same time, a boy, led by Pastor Gerard, walked to the stone table and raised his head reverently.

The old priest smiled, scooped a cup of holy water from the golden basin, and slowly poured it on the boy's forehead, saying, "May the light be with you."

More than a dozen children were baptized one after another.

It is not surprising that no one was blessed during the ceremony. Baptism is considered sacred by believers, but as a means of blessing it is actually quite narrow.

After the ceremony, the old pastor gave another speech, quoting scriptures and classics, which made people drowsy. It was not until the end that he got down to business: "This is my last year as the chief pastor of Driftwood Town. This time next year, Gerald or Green will take over my baptism."

(End of this chapter)