Baboons (3)

Becoming the strongest has always been Zoro's wish. He set sail to find Hawk-Eye because Hawk-Eye is known as the World's Strongest Swordsman. If he can defeat Hawk-Eye, he can take Hawk-Eye's place.

However, he failed. In his first battle against Hawk-Eye, he was severely injured by Hawk-Eye. If Hawk-Eye hadn't been watching him closely and not killed him, he would have been dead long ago, and there wouldn't be Pirate Hunter like Zoro now.

However, it was precisely because of that time that he never lost a battle against a swordsman. He wouldn't allow himself to fail again; it was a promise he made to himself.

"Hehe, just you wait!" Zoro chuckled and said.

Just as Zoro was grinning, his ear was suddenly pinched.

Zoro sensed it and looked to his side, only to find a little girl jumping on him and pinching his ear. This girl was none other than Chen Yuning.

"Hey, what do you mean by that?!" Zoro asked, puzzled.

"Hey kid, what's with that wicked smile on your face? Are you trying to harm my big brother? Let me tell you, if you dare to do anything to him, I'll teach you a lesson." Chen Yuning said fiercely.

She had seen Zoro looking at Fanxin with a cold expression. She was very unhappy because her older brother had been so good to her! Since Zoro was targeting her older brother, she naturally had to take action.

"I didn't," Zoro said.

"Hmph, I can see that, you do." Chen Yuning said stubbornly with a light snort.

Zoro had no choice but to coax her. She was a little girl, and he couldn't possibly lay a hand on her; he never bullied the weak—that wasn't his style.

He was relieved after Chen Yuning down. Then, he ran off in a flash.

He was worried that Chen Yuning would bother him again, and since she was a little girl, he couldn't very well fight back, so he could only run away.

"Hmph, trying to run? You can't escape." Chen Yuning snorted and immediately unleashed her power to attack Zoro.

She unleashed a torrential downpour, even including Raidен, relentlessly attacking Zoro, causing Zoro considerable distress. Zoro was in a very difficult position, as he couldn't easily retaliate against Yuning.

Seeing Zoro in such a sorry state, Ren Fang felt bad too. She immediately went over and told Yuning to stop and not to do anything reckless.

Seeing that even her older sister Ren Fang said she was hungry, Yuning had no choice but to agree.

She withdrew her power and stopped targeting Zoro. Zoro breathed a sigh of relief and then kept his distance, no longer provoking Chen Yuning.

Hiding in a secluded spot, Zoro continued to watch the battle.

On the battlefield, Fanxin and Hawk-Eye exchanged blows, neither giving an inch. However, it was difficult to determine a winner in the short term, as the difference in strength between the two was not significant.

The clanging of metal echoed continuously, and could be heard from a great distance.

After attacking Hawk-Eye for a while, Fanxin Xin immediately retreated and unleashed his sword energy, preparing to launch a sneak attack on Hawk-Eye. However, this was not a big problem for Hawk-Eye, because he also possessed Haki. He sensed it and immediately dodged it.

As Hawk-Eye dodged, Fanxin Xin immediately unleashed several more sword energies.

Hawk-Eye still didn't go to meet it, but instead dodged it.

"Hey, why are you always dodging?" Fanxin asked, puzzled.

"Hmph, as a master, you must be able to attack as well as dodge," Hawk-Eye said. "Your relentless attack will only tire you out. As your stamina depletes, the gap between you and your opponent will widen. In a battle between masters, victory or defeat can be decided in a single moment. If you don't have the strength to hold out until the very end, you will be killed by your opponent."

"Therefore, no matter what, a person must combine strength and flexibility; only in this way can you be the strongest. If you are only strong, you will easily break. If you only dodge, you will be even less able to defeat your opponent."

"When your opponent is at the height of their power, avoid their sharpest attack. Wait until their momentum has subsided before launching your attack. This way, you can kill them unexpectedly."

"Oh, it seems you really do have experience now," Fanxin Xin said with a smile.

"Hmph, I've been famous for many years, and I'm no longer a child like you," Hawk-Eye said. "You must be careful in the future. When you encounter a master, it's not shameful to dodge. As long as you don't cross your bottom line, dodging can wear down the opponent's edge and greatly benefit your combat. Of course, if that enemy is someone you absolutely must kill, then that's a different story."

"Okay, I'll remember that," Fanxin nodded and said.

Hawk-Eye is a veteran, with many years of experience and a proven track record. If he said so, he must be right.

"Okay, let's continue!" Hawk-Eye nodded and said.

Fanxin Xin nodded and resumed fighting with Hawk-Eye.

They clashed again, and the surrounding area went berserk as a result. The original ruins were transformed back into a vast ocean by their attacks.

This time, not only Zoro and his crew were watching, but the baboons from the forest also came out. They stood aside, watching carefully, seemingly imitating the moves of Fanxin and Hawk-Eye.

Fanxin spotted the baboons and, seeing that they weren't attacking anyone, he refrained from targeting them. If the baboons had attacked, he would have been far more ruthless.

"Don't worry, they won't cause any trouble. This is my territory," Hawk-Eye said immediately, seeing that Fanxin was taking it to heart. He had lived here for a long time, and the baboons were all afraid of him. Because he was the strongest boss here! With him here, how dare the baboons cause trouble?

"How are they able to learn human skills?" Fanxin asked, puzzled.

"These baboons were originally just ordinary fighters in the forest, but the war affected them too. So, they had no choice but to fight. Over time, they learned to fight like humans," Hawk-Eye said. "They may not be a problem for us, but they are a real nuisance to others. Anyone who dares to trespass here will inevitably be attacked by them."

"That's natural," Fanxin said, unable to deny it.

He'd already experienced it firsthand; these guys were indeed extraordinary. If he weren't so powerful, he would have been toyed with and killed here.

"Hehe, let's continue! There's no need to worry about them. With me here, they can only watch; they can't do anything," Hawk-Eye said confidently.

Xiao Fan nodded and ignored the baboons.

The two started fighting again.

They played from noon until night, and from night into the next day, but neither could gain the upper hand. However, despite this, they both looked exhausted.

"Let's not delay any longer, let's settle this in one move!" Fanxin said after a moment of contemplation.

Their strengths are now evenly matched; continuing the fight would be pointless. Continuing would only lead to their exhaustion and death.

"Alright, that's exactly what I was thinking too," Hawk-Eye nodded and said.

He didn't want to fight anymore, because he had tried many methods, but none of them could kill Fanxin. Fanxin's reaction speed was very strong, and you couldn't hit him at all.

The reason for this was that Fanxin had listened to Hawk-Eye's words: when it's time to hide, you must hide. As a result, Hawk-Eye naturally couldn't get what he wanted.

Fanxin reacted quickly and possessed Haki that allowed him to perceive his surroundings. He had everything under complete control, making it very difficult for Hawk-Eye to succeed.

He couldn't cut through Fanxin, and Fanxin couldn't cut through him either. Therefore, it was impossible to determine a winner between them.

In order to end the battle, they have no choice but to fight head-on. This is the only way to see their strength.

Fanxin Xin immediately retreated several meters away, then faced Hawk-Eye and swung the Dragon-Slaying Sword, creating a powerful sword aura that shot straight into the distance.

Hawk-Eye didn't dodge this time; he also unleashed a slash. A dark green sword aura shot straight towards Fanxin.

A moment later, the two sword energies collided.

The two sword energies attacked each other. After a long while, Fanxin's sword energy was dissolved, while Hawk-Eye's sword energy remained. It headed straight for Fanxin.

Fanxin looked at him and said with a smile, "It seems there is still a considerable gap between us."

A head-on clash is the best way to see who is stronger. If one side dodges and the other attacks, it's hard to tell who will win.

This time, Fanxin realized that if he persisted to the end, he would definitely lose, while Hawk-Eye would definitely win.

"Hehe, you haven't been growing for very long, but to have achieved so much in such a short time is truly commendable. You need to work harder to solidify your strength in the future, otherwise your foundation won't be solid," Hawk-Eye said.

"Thank you for your guidance," Fanxin Xin nodded and said.

"No need," Hawk-Eye said. "Now that the battle is over, there's no need for us to continue fighting. Let's go to my castle and rest for a while. We can leave after we've rested."

He was exhausted; after playing for so long, his body felt like it was falling apart. He wanted to go back and rest.

Fanxin and Ren Fang exchanged a glance. After Ren Fang said "It's okay," he then followed Hawk-Eye.

Ren Fang and Yuning headed outside. They needed to go back to the ship and settle in.

Although the baboons really wanted to attack the two, they ultimately backed down because the Little Fox had arrived. The Little Fox was incredibly strong; Fanxin might not be its match. Therefore, few dared to touch it as it escorted Ren Fang and Yuning. Anyone who dared to harm them would be mercilessly sent flying by the Little Fox.

Soon, under the Little Fox's protection, Ren Fang and Yuning returned to the boat. Once back on board, they didn't go out again, but played on the boat while waiting for Fanxin's return.

Meanwhile, Fanxin followed Hawk-Eye toward his castle.

Zoro and the girl followed them into the castle.

Once inside the castle, Fanxin first took a bath, drank with Hawk-Eye, and then went to sleep.

He'd been fighting for a whole day and night, and his whole body was about to fall apart. Even though his body was made of diamond, it couldn't last forever.

After sleeping for more than nine hours, Fanxin finally felt relieved.

After getting up, it was already evening. Fanxin didn't leave and continued to stay at Hawk-Eye's residence.

After leaving the bedroom and entering the living room, he saw Hawk-Eye reading a newspaper. He looked extremely focused and meticulous.

Fanxin didn't disturb them. He took a bottle of red wine and a wine glass, found a seat, and sat down, drinking and playing around at the same time.

"The food is in the kitchen; you can get it yourself," Hawk-Eye suddenly said.

"Oh, I see." Fanxin nodded and immediately went to the kitchen to cook. He made several dishes. He brought them out and placed them in front of Hawk-Eye, saying, "Haven't eaten yet? Eat with us, I made them myself."

"I've already eaten, you can eat it yourself!" Hawk-Eye politely declined.

"Oh, I see. Then I won't stand on ceremony." Fanxin nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating while sipping his red wine.

A moment later, Fanxin suddenly remembered something and asked, "Hawk-Eye, I have a question that I've never understood. Could you help me figure it out?"

"What is it?" Hawk-Eye asked.

"With your strength, wouldn't it be better to be a lone wolf? Why accept the title of Shichibukai?" Fanxin said. "You don't have a pirate crew; you're all alone. There's no need to use the title of Shichibukai to protect yourself!"

Hawk-Eye's strength is formidable, on par with that of Red Hair, one of the Four Emperors. He alone could sweep away thousands of troops, so he felt that not having this title was irrelevant to him.

However, this title brought him a lot of trouble, because many people believed he was a lackey of the government.

Many pirates target him, and although he's not afraid, he still faces a lot of trouble.

"Hmph, I got it, isn't that even better? I can freely pass through the Navy's checkpoints, and they have no choice but to let me through," Hawk-Eye said. "More importantly, the Navy won't hunt me down. Although I'm not afraid, it saves me a lot of trouble. I think this is great."

"Really? Heh, if it were me, I wouldn't accept it," Fanxin said.

Accepting this title would make him a lackey of the government, something he didn't want, because it would mean acting on his own will.

"Everyone has their own ambitions. I have no interest in the Great One Piece. But you are," Hawk-Eye said. "It's that simple."

"Alright! Since you've brought it up to this point, I have nothing more to say," Fanxin said helplessly.

"Can you tell me how much longer Zoro needs to train before he can become a master? Has he developed Haki yet?" Fanxin asked.

Zoro has great potential, Fanxin believes that as long as he works hard, he will definitely become a strong person. However, the timing is hard to say. But they all have a promise, Fanxin doesn't want them to break their promise.

"I don't know the specifics, but on the appointed day, he should be able to control Haki and become a powerful being," Hawk-Eye said. "Don't worry, he's a promising talent; he'll definitely amount to something."

"Oh, really? Then I'll wait and see," Fanxin said.

"Hmm, where are you planning to go next?" Hawk-Eye asked curiously.

"Let's wander around for a while. I'll go to the New World a year from now," Fanxin said.

He still has many things to finish and cannot leave for the time being. Therefore, he can only wait patiently.

"If you have time, perhaps you could try to find some of the three Ancient Weapons," Hawk-Eye said.

"Ancient Weapon? What are those?" Fanxin asked curiously.

"The Ancient Weapon are three incredibly powerful weapons named Uranus, Pluton, and Poseidon," Hawk-Eye said. "Once they launch an attack, they can Destruction an island in an instant. They are truly terrifying."

"The government is currently searching for Ancient Weapon; they want to use them to wipe out all those who don't comply with their rules. If they actually get their hands on them, that would be a real problem."

The navy is researching extremely powerful weapons to enhance their strength. This is a temporary measure, as they haven't yet found the Three Ancient Weapons.

If they find them, they won't need these things anymore. However, until they find them, they must develop some weapons and go through this transitional period.

"Tell me, what is your purpose?" Fanxin asked curiously.

"You are a member of the Soul Clan. Although you fight fiercely, you don't truly love killing," Hawk-Eye said. "It's better for the weapon to be in your hands than in the hands of those ruthless killers! If it's destroyed, even better. Such weapons cause too much harm to this world."

A single blow can destroy an island, and the number of islands in the world is limited. Yet, some people within the government enjoy killing, especially the Celestial Dragons.

Once they make their move, they never give anyone a chance to survive. They kill indiscriminately and do whatever they want, which makes people extremely dissatisfied.

However, their power is immense and unshakeable, which is why they have become increasingly rampant.

Once they acquire more powerful killing weapons, no one will be able to stop them.

Hawk-Eye instructed Fanxin to find and destroy these weapons. Once the weapons were destroyed, the government would be unable to obtain them.

"That's true, I'll give it a try! But I've never seen it before, and even if I did, I might not know what it was like," Fanxin said helplessly.

He had never heard of it before, and now that he had, it was just a name; he didn't know anything about it, like its appearance.

"I'm not too sure about that either; you'll have to find out for yourself," Hawk-Eye said. "I've only heard about it, so I've never actually seen Ancient Weapon."

"That would be troublesome." Fanxin said, feeling depressed upon hearing this.

"Hehe, don't force yourself. If you find it, take it with you, or destroy it. In short, don't let it fall into the hands of pirates or the government, otherwise, it will be troublesome." Hawk-Eye chuckled and said.

Pirates and the government are both dangerous forces, and neither side is willing to back down. If either side obtains Ancient Weapon, it will bring disaster.

They didn't get it; that was the best outcome.

"Okay, I agree," Fanxin said.

He didn't want such a powerful weapon to be created either; it was too terrifying. Because he himself might not be able to escape from it either.

"Okay, that's good that you've kept it in mind," Hawk-Eye said.

"Okay." Fanxin nodded, then stopped talking and focused on eating.

After finishing her meal, Fanxin went to wash the dishes herself.

After finishing, he went back to his room to rest.

The next day, after getting up, Fanxin had breakfast at Hawk-Eye's place, then bid farewell to Hawk-Eye and Zoro, left the castle, and returned to the ship.

He has done what he needed to do, and there is no need for him to stay here any longer.

"Let's go," Fanxin said.

"Where to?" the Little Black Cat asked.

"I don't know either, let's just leave like this!" Fanxin said.

He was now completely disoriented because he didn't know where to go. Although he really wanted to find the Three Ancient Weapons, he didn't know where to start looking.

If he knew where to look, he wouldn't worry at all; he could just head straight there.

Seeing that Fanxin had said so, everyone stopped asking questions, started the boat, and drifted leisurely on the sea.

Spring goes and winter comes; before we know it, a year has passed.

Fanxin and the others have now arrived near a kingdom Alabasta.

This is a desert kingdom, perpetually short of water, with sandstorms raging everywhere. However, the people of this land are incredibly resilient; they have not been defeated by the sandstorms, but stand strong and fight against them.

It is because they are so strong and hardworking that this country has been able to exist for so long.

"Boss, are we going inland?" the Little Black Cat asked.

This is a desert country, with sandstorms everywhere. If they want to eat or stay in a hotel, they have to go inland, which is quite troublesome because the inland area is quite a distance from the coast.

"Yes, let's put the ship in the deep sea!" Fanxin said. "You set it up so that the robots can manage this place, and the rest of you can come with me to Alabasta for a few days of fun."

For a while now, everyone's been on the boat, not going down, and they've been itching to get off.

Fanxin planned to let them relax; as long as they didn't cause trouble, there shouldn't be any major issues.

"Okay, I'll get started right away." The Little Black Cat nodded and said.

A moment later, everyone disembarked. Once ashore, the Little Black Cat immediately prepared to have the boat submerge and head to the depths of the sea.

Once the ship sent back information that it had reached the deep sea, Fanxin led everyone toward the inland areas of the kingdom.

"You all need to be careful. I've heard there are many poisonous insects and scorpions in the desert. Don't be careless, understand? If you're careless, you won't be able to enjoy this desert trip," Fanxin said.

His goal was to take everyone on a trip. If they were attacked by poisonous insects or snakes, he would have no choice but to put them in the Wolf Valley on Ren Fang's body and let the seniors deal with them.

In this way, they would have to stay inside and wouldn't be able to go on the trip with him.

This is a very painful thing. Whether it can be avoided depends on how careful they are. If they are not careful enough, they will definitely suffer.