King of the Wilderness

Chapter 739: Chapter 343: Revealing a Terrifying Talent

Captain Mike tossed a thick, sturdy piece of sail rope to Lin Yu’an, and the rope landed precisely by his feet with a gust of wind.

”Bowline knot,” the sailors use it to save lives and to secure everything. Riven should have taught you how to tie it. Now, give me one.”

Lin Yu’an nodded. Not only did he listen to Riven’s explanation during the theory class, but he also simulated the entire knot’s 3D structure and winding path dozens of times in his mind.

He picked up the rope without hesitation, his fingers flying, ”The rabbit goes out the hole, around the tree, and back into the hole...”

In just a brief five seconds, a perfectly shaped bowline knot formed in his hand.

Captain Mike unconsciously dropped his arms that were crossed over his chest, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

The rookie dilemma he expected did not occur; the speed and precision could rival that of a seasoned captain.

The comments on the live broadcast were also filled with admiration.

[Holy crap! Is it done already? I didn’t even catch the movements!]

[Three seconds! I just blinked! Anzi, are you cheating?]

[Is this really your first time tying it? Really? I don’t believe it!]

At that moment, Riven’s voice leisurely drifted in from the dock.

”Good speed, Lin. But just good isn’t enough. Completing it with both hands, any skilled sailor can do that. Dare to try something more challenging?”

Lin Yu’an looked up at her, a glimmer of interest also igniting in his eyes: ”Like what?”

”Like... in an emergency,” Riven’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

”Imagine, you need to hold tightly onto the boat’s rope with one hand to prevent yourself from being knocked overboard by wind and waves, leaving only the other hand to complete the rescue or securing task.”

”So, can you do a single-handed bowline knot?”

This request was already far beyond the teaching syllabus of ASA 101.

Captain Mike frowned, feeling his daughter’s request was somewhat demanding, he was about to speak, but was stopped by a look from Riven.

[It’s here! Riven’s single-hand challenge!]

[Single-handed? I have a bold idea!]

[To the one above, don’t be bold, try being practical, like saving up ten thousand dollars for a trip to Southeast Asia.]

Lin Yu’an looked at Riven’s provocative gaze, not feeling intimidated at all, he even smiled.

He untied the knot in his hand, then decisively put his left hand behind his back.

”I haven’t tried it,” he admitted frankly, ”but I can give it a shot.”

He didn’t start immediately but once again performed a rapid simulation in his head. He decomposed the actions of both hands, replanning them into single-hand paths, calculating the sequence and angle for finger strength.

This process took him less than five seconds in his mind.

Then, he moved.

The live stream camera was tightly focused on his right hand, as the rope twisted, flipped, and interwove between his fingers and wrist in a dazzling manner.

His movements didn’t seem like tying a knot, more like a magician performing a graceful close-up magic routine.

Ten seconds later, he paused, and a similarly standard and firm bowline knot appeared boldly in his single hand!

This time, Captain Mike’s expression wasn’t just surprise; it was almost a blank stare, as he unconsciously rubbed his eyes.

And on the dock, the smile on Riven’s face froze. She took off her sunglasses, and her blue eyes were filled with disbelief.

She originally intended to give this genius pupil a little wake-up call, to make him realize the vast depth of the sailing domain, but didn’t expect him to actually perform a small miracle right in front of her!

”How... how did you do that?” her voice carried a hint of surprise, ”There are many single-handed techniques, but the one you used... I’ve never seen it, it seems more efficient.”

Lin Yu’an untied the knot again, then leisurely demonstrated it once more to everyone: ”I just optimized the double-hand movements in my mind a bit, found the path most suitable for single-hand exertion, that’s all.”

”Optimized... in your mind?” Riven murmured, repeating the phrase, feeling her worldview being shaken.

To optimize a classic knot, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, in a matter of seconds? Is this something humans can do?

Seeing her shocked expression, Lin Yu’an decided to provoke her further.

He swung the rope in his hand, smilingly quipped: ”So, Coach Riven, is there a more challenging task? Like... tying a bowline knot with both hands while blindfolded?”

”Pfft—”

Captain Mike almost spat out a mouthful of water he was just drinking, looking at Lin Yu’an like he was a monster.

Riven, however, was amused and slightly annoyed by his retort, she put her sunglasses back on, masking the turmoil in her eyes, but her voice resumed that cool and suave tone:

”Alright, Mr. Monster, you’ve passed the knot test. I want to see if, when it’s time for the winch, your optimized brain can save you some effort!”

This exchange sent the atmosphere in the live chat completely to the peak.

[He nailed it back! Anzi played a major card! Even Riven can’t handle him!]

[But honestly, isn’t this pair a great ship? Don’t you agree?]

[@Aliya, sis, you gotta see this, someone is shipping a CP here!]

Captain Mike gazed at the young man before him, then at his daughter on the dock who was at a loss for words, unable to hold back a low, hearty laugh.

He’s thoroughly convinced now that this guy named Lin Yu’an is truly extraordinary. The upcoming teaching is likely to get increasingly interesting.