Chapter 70: A New Journey

The next day, just before dawn.

Among his companions, there was now one more: the future world’s greatest swordsman, “Hawkeye” Mihawk. In high spirits, Chu Yi spent the previous night consulting Mihawk about swordsmanship until deep into the night. Fatigue soon overcame him, and while chatting, he drifted off into slumber, not knowing when he entered the realm of dreams.

Obviously, with Tiger keeping watch over Smoker and Lucci, and Mihawk present as well, Chu Yi had no reason to worry about his two prisoners escaping. He also felt that Tiger and Mihawk together were more than enough to deal with any trouble the Navy might bring, which allowed him to sleep soundly.

At this very moment, if not for the sudden echo of the system’s voice in his mind, startling him awake—

He probably would have slept straight through until noon!

Half-awake, hearing the prompt resonating in his mind, Chu Yi rubbed his sleepy eyes, and a faint smile curled at his lips.

“Mission complete. Awakening material collection successful. Host has obtained Silver Awakening Material: Smoke Fruit Material. Successfully stored in warehouse. Please check and receive.”

“Phew…”

“The mission for Smoker’s awakening material is finally done!”

Ever since Smoker resolved to quit smoking—unless he could defeat Chu Yi, he wouldn’t pick up his cigars again—Chu Yi guessed the completion of Smoker’s awakening material mission would require time. It couldn’t be that just an hour without smoking would have the system deem the mission accomplished, right?

Yet after just one night, the system judged Smoker’s awakening material mission a success, which brought comfort to Chu Yi.

But a silver-grade awakening material? What nonsense was this?

Even though it was the awakening material of a Logia-type Devil Fruit, was the Smoke Fruit really so mediocre?

His reassuring smile froze abruptly. Although he’d long suspected the Smoke Fruit’s awakening material would be largely useless aside from awakening itself, learning it was only silver-grade left Chu Yi feeling odd.

Still…

Having another awakening material was a good thing. He hadn’t expected much from Smoker’s anyway.

Now that the material was in his hands, everything seemed easier.

Thinking this, Chu Yi swept away the gloom in his heart, noted the early hour—the sky not yet light—and prepared to lie down for another nap. But just as he settled in, sharp auras suddenly surged from afar, banishing all traces of sleepiness!

“It’s Mihawk? He…”

“He’s already practicing swordsmanship this early?”

After a night of exchange, Chu Yi and Mihawk’s relationship had grown much closer, even their forms of address had changed.

Yet, realizing Mihawk was already so strong and still rose early to train daily, Chu Yi felt a surge of admiration beyond his vague astonishment at Mihawk’s diligence.

“Mihawk really doesn’t need to train so hard—after all, he’s already one of the world’s strongest. But in his heart, I suppose his real adversary…”

“It’s not anyone else, but himself!”

Reflecting silently, Chu Yi’s eyes sparkled with an unusual light as he continued thinking:

“To defeat himself, Mihawk persistently trains, day after day, hoping that today’s self will be stronger than yesterday’s.”

“And me?”

“I’ve only just started, yet I already feel lazy. Compared to Mihawk’s resolve, I’m really lacking!”

“So… why bother with more sleep? Time to train!”

With a self-mocking smile, inspired by Mihawk, Chu Yi wasted no time in creating shadow clones and resumed his daily training.

Immersed in his practice, Chu Yi forgot about the time, and even forgot about Mihawk training in the distance, focusing all his thoughts on improving his strength.

Yet he didn’t expect…

Mihawk’s diligence would spur him on.

When Tiger, Smoker, and Lucci awoke to the sound of Chu Yi and Mihawk’s training, and saw Chu Yi making rapid progress and Mihawk’s swordsmanship reaching new heights, both were inspired in turn. Chu Yi and Mihawk, by their example, ignited Tiger, Smoker, and Lucci.

Thus, in just one night, Chu Yi’s party became a group of madmen.

Madmen who trained tirelessly at every moment!

…

Lost in rigorous training, they had no sense of time.

It felt as fleeting as the blink of an eye; before they knew it, the sun was high overhead, and it was already noon.

Unaware how close their training had brought them, their stomachs soon reminded them of hunger.

At this moment, Tiger’s hidden talent was discovered—besides his vast knowledge of navigation, the fierce-palmed fellow turned out to be a responsible chef, preparing lunch for Chu Yi and the others as soon as training ended.

After lunch, Chu Yi and Mihawk, absorbed in their training and unable to extricate themselves, were about to resume.

It was Tiger who reminded Chu Yi of the lurking crisis behind them. After brief contemplation, Chu Yi decided it was time to set off for Tiger’s homeland—

Fish-Man Island!

However, for ordinary pirates at this stage, reaching Fish-Man Island was extremely difficult.

Not only was Fish-Man Island deep underwater, requiring a coated ship to safely submerge and begin the journey, but the fish-men and mermaids there were extremely hostile toward humans, making entry nearly impossible for most pirates.

According to Tiger’s account, due to racial tensions between humans and fish-men, animosity ran deep. With the advent of the Great Pirate Era, countless pirates sailed for fortune, passing through Fish-Man Island en route to the New World. Many would capture the beautiful mermaids there for sale, further exacerbating tensions between humans and fish-men.

With relations increasingly strained, the inevitable result was war!

On Fish-Man Island, clashes between hot-tempered fish-men and humans were commonplace. Even the journey there was fraught with ambushes by powerful fish-men, presenting another formidable obstacle for anyone attempting to reach the island.

Thus, after hearing Tiger’s explanation, only Chu Yi and Mihawk remained unfazed; Smoker and Lucci’s faces darkened simultaneously.

As prisoners, Lucci had entertained thoughts of suicide several times, all for the sake of honor and pride.

Imagining himself dying pointlessly in the depths of the sea, Lucci’s apprehension was perfectly understandable.

Smoker’s fears were even more pronounced. As a Devil Fruit user, he already had a natural dread of the sea.

Therefore, as soon as Tiger finished speaking, had Smoker and Lucci had any say, they would have flatly rejected the plan to go to Fish-Man Island.

But Chu Yi…

After hearing Tiger’s explanation, he merely smiled calmly.

“Tiger, if I understand you correctly, you’re planning to get a coated ship, and then we’ll take that ship to Fish-Man Island?”

“That’s right.”

Tiger nodded. “It’s the safest way. But getting a properly coated ship is difficult, especially considering the current situation on Sabaody Archipelago, kid, you know how it is.”

“Yes, it’s difficult, but…”

Suddenly changing his tone, Chu Yi smiled, “Tiger, in fact, reaching Fish-Man Island is nowhere near as troublesome as you imagine. It’s actually much simpler than you’d think!”

“Because I… happen to have a safe way to get there!”

Without waiting for Tiger’s reaction, Chu Yi stood up and leapt into the sea.

Seeing Chu Yi ignore his own safety and jump into the water, Tiger, Smoker, and Lucci were stunned!

Idiot…

Have you forgotten you’re a Devil Fruit user? The sea is your nemesis!

Yet almost simultaneously, as this thought appeared in Tiger, Smoker, and Lucci’s minds, they all cast strange looks at Chu Yi in the water, and in the next second, witnessed an astonishing scene!

Was Chu Yi, who had jumped into the sea, really submerged and helpless?

No!

Maintaining a certain scale of “Divine Push,” Chu Yi repelled the surrounding seawater with force, staying safely within the water as if he were on dry land.

The only difference was the extent of his movement was limited to the area he could repel the water. Moreover, to move underwater in this manner, Chu Yi had to continuously use “Divine Push,” consuming stamina and moving slowly.

But being able to travel safely underwater was enough, wasn’t it?

So, as Chu Yi gradually mastered the strength needed to use “Divine Push,” enabling him to “walk” nearly perfectly beneath the waves, he smiled at the stunned Tiger, Smoker, and Lucci, beckoned to them, and said cheerfully:

“Come on, let’s begin our new journey!”

“Onward to Fish-Man Island!”