Kuro's Defeat (II)

Merry stood by the boat waiting, and seeing that everyone loved the boat, a happy smile appeared on his face.

He cleared his throat and said, "Let me introduce this ship to you. It's called the Going Merry. I designed and built it. Although it's a bit old, it's still very functional."

"Next, I'll introduce how to use it. It is..." Merry briefly introduced the origin of the Going Merry and then prepared to explain how to operate it.

However, before he could finish speaking, Nami interrupted him. Nami pulled Merry aside, presumably to ask Merry privately how to operate the ship.

Fanxin do not hinder one's actions, then the navigator must know how to operate the ship. Whether others know this or not is not of great importance; as long as they follow the navigator's instructions, that is sufficient.

Fanxin didn't board the ship because they already had their own. The only reason they wanted to Straw Hat Luffy was so that Nami could look after them along the way. Otherwise, they would have left long ago and wouldn't have wanted to wait here for so many days.

"Little Black, hurry up and get the boat out to sea, it's time for us to set sail," Fanxin said to the Little Black Cat.

The Little Black Cat nodded and immediately went to where the boat was moored. Once there, it took out a remote control from its Mechanical Space and pressed a few buttons. Soon after, bubbles began to rise from the nearby seawater, and when all the bubbles disappeared, the boat had completely surfaced.

Their ship was not as large as the Going Merry, only about a third the Going Merry. However, their ship had far more functions than the Going Merry.

The Little Black Cat opened the shield, then jumped onto the ship, started the engine, and steered the ship alongside the Going Merry.

Without further hesitation, Fanxin boarded the boat with Ren Fang and Langyue.

"Hey, are you guys done? If you're done, let's go!" Fanxin said.

Nami nodded slightly upon hearing this, and then chatted with Merry for a while. Merry had already taught her how to control the ship, and she had memorized it all.

Without further hesitation, Nami loaded her treasure onto the ship and immediately instructed Luffy to anchor the ship, preparing to set sail.

"Goodbye." Nami and the others waved goodbye to Kaya and Merry.

A moment later, the sails were hoisted, and the ship sailed off into the distance, carried by the sea breeze.

Usopp joined Straw Hat Luffy's crew as a member. Although Usopp is a coward and likes to boast, his strength should not be underestimated if he really fights. In particular, his sniping skills are excellent, almost always hitting the target, making him a very good sniper on the ship.

The two ships sailed side by side toward the Grand Line.

With the navigator in hand, Fanxin was completely relieved. He instructed the Little Black Cat to steer the ship, keeping it in the same direction as the Going Merry. He then went back to his bedroom to rest.

"Hey, Blood King, when are you going to take over my body?" Upon reaching the bedroom, Fanxin closed the door. Then, he focused his mind and began a conversation with the Blood King.

"Hehe, why are you asking about this?" Blood King chuckled and asked.

"Just curious, can you tell me?" Fanxin asked.

"Curious? Heh, you're not just curious, you want to take action against me on that day, right!" The Blood King chuckled and said, "Don't even think about it. This time, I won't give you another chance."

After being tricked by Fanxin last time, he knew that Fanxin was not easy to deal with. If he didn't keep a close eye on things, he would definitely be played to death by Fanxin.

"Hehe, don't misunderstand, I'm not targeting you this time. If you want my body, I can give it to you. Anyway, I'm going to change bodies, so it doesn't matter whether I keep this one or not," Fanxin said.

"You want to change bodies? Why? Isn't your current body perfectly fine?" Upon hearing this, the Blood King was stunned. This was the first time he had heard Fanxin say that she wanted to change bodies. If Fanxin really wanted to change bodies, he wouldn't have needed to fight Fanxin to the death. Once Fanxin's soul left her body, he could easily take over.

"I don't need to explain the reasons to you. However, although I don't want this body anymore, I won't easily hand it over to you. You must exchange it with me for something else. Otherwise, you can forget about getting it. I'd rather let my body explode than give it to you." Fanxin smiled and said, "I have the ability to do that. Believe it or not."

"If my body explodes, your soul will lose its vessel. You are not a member of the Soul Clan, although your soul is powerful. However, if you do not find a suitable vessel, your soul body will slowly dissipate. In the end, you will die completely. But I will be fine; I can live in soul form until the day my life ends."

"I've made things perfectly clear. You know exactly what to do. I won't say anything more. There's no such thing as a free lunch. You've lived this long enough; you should understand that."

Upon hearing this, the Blood King pondered for a long time, then nodded slightly and said, "Alright, if your conditions aren't too harsh, I'm willing to make an exchange with you. Tell me your conditions!"

"Very good. I need a part of your soul. After you separate that part of your soul from your body, erase your consciousness and then hand it over to me. As for the soul you lost, you can recover it by absorbing it in my brain. There is a lot of Soul Power in my brain, all of it unconscious. How about it? This condition shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?" Fanxin nodded slightly upon hearing this and said.

"That's not difficult. But what do you want my soul for?" the Blood King asked, puzzled.

"I want a portion of your ability, an ability that belongs to you, as you are well aware of. Therefore, I cannot pose any threat to you, so you can rest assured," Fanxin said. "As for what I will use it for, I don't need to report that to you, do I?"

The Giant Dragon had told him that he could obtain the Blood King's power, which would benefit him. Fanxin about it for a long time but couldn't find a suitable method. If he exploded directly, the Blood King might die, but if the Blood King wanted to perish with him, then he could forget about obtaining the Blood King's power.

Although he hated the Blood King, he had to admit that the Blood King was a very troublesome guy, and dealing with him would be no easy task.

Therefore, after much deliberation, he abandoned that risky approach and decided to make a deal with the Blood King, in which way he would be able to get what he wanted with 100% certainty.

Although he ultimately failed to deliver a fatal blow to the Blood King, the Blood King gained his body, limiting his future potential. No matter how much he cultivated, his body could never reach its full strength. It would be difficult for the Blood King to unleash his full power. If he forced himself to do so, he might ultimately explode and die.

Although he couldn't directly teach the Blood King a lesson, he felt he could deal with him indirectly.

"You want my abilities? Looks like you've got big ambitions. What are you planning to do?" the Blood King asked curiously.

"I'm sorry, this is my personal matter. Our deadline for this transaction is tomorrow noon. If you agree by then, I can transfer my body to you. If you don't agree, I will destroy it by tomorrow noon." Fanxin smiled and said, "Although I won't gain your abilities that way, you will also die. Think carefully about who suffers the greater loss."

After saying that, Fanxin withdrew his consciousness from his brain and ignored the Blood King. He had only gone in to negotiate with the Blood King; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered entering his brain at all. His brain had been turned upside down by the Blood King, and he couldn't even look at it anymore.

After Fanxin left, the Blood King sat in Fanxin's brain for a long time, pondering. In the end, he decided to make a deal with Fanxin. He had no choice; although he occupied most of Fanxin 'Fanxin brain, he had not yet taken control of it. Therefore, he might fail.

He dared not gamble. Fanxin's body was his last lifeline, and he had to hold on to it tightly, otherwise, he would die without a burial place.

He separated a part of his soul from his body, erased his own consciousness, and then set it aside, preparing to make a deal with Fanxin the next day.

Then he sat cross-legged and waited, no longer stirring up trouble in his Fanxin mind. Because after noon tomorrow, everything here would be his, and he didn't need to cause any more trouble for the time being.

When Fan Xin's mind returned to Fanxin, he heard Ren Fang calling him to go out for something to eat. It wasn't lunch, but some snacks that Ren Fang had casually made to pass the time when she had nothing else to do.

Without Fanxin, Fan Xin went into the restaurant immediately.

At this moment, Langyue and Little Black were already seated at the table. The gluttonous Straw Hat Luffy had also arrived, but the others hadn't come over yet; they probably didn't know yet!

"Ren Fang, how much did you make? Send some over to those three!" Fanxin said.

Now that they're traveling together, they can be considered partners. It's not appropriate for them to eat here while others watch.

"I've made a lot, I'll send it over right away," Ren Fang said with a smile.

"That's good." Fanxin nodded.

"Hey, Luffy, it's not even on the table yet, can you not be in such a hurry?" Just as Ren Fang was talking to Fanxin, Ren Fang suddenly noticed that Luffy's hand had already reached into the kitchen and grabbed a handful of snacks. Luffy's arms could shorten and lengthen, so he could take whatever he wanted from the surrounding area at will, making it impossible to guard against.

"It smells so good, I can't resist!" Straw Hat Luffy said helplessly. His mouth was full of snacks, and he was still looking towards the kitchen with lingering interest, as if he was about to dig in again.

"Hey, Luffy, wait a minute, or I'll knock you flying," Fanxin said, displeased.

Under Fanxin's threat, Luffy restrained himself a bit and stopped attacking. Fanxin was watching him closely, ready to strike at any moment. Luffy didn't want to be knocked away; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to enjoy these delicious snacks later.

Ren Fang took out the portions for Nami, Zoro, and Usopp and placed them in Fanxin's hands, asking Fanxin to deliver them on her behalf. She was worried that Luffy, that gluttonous cat, would snatch all the snacks. Luffy's reach is long enough that no one can stop him.

"Give me my copy too. I'm going aboard the Going Merry; I have some things to discuss with them," Fanxin said.

Upon hearing this, Ren Fang nodded slightly and took out Fanxin's share as well.

Fanxin carried four servings of pastries, left his ship, and went aboard the Going Merry.

Ren Fang then brought the remaining snacks to the table all at once, letting the Little Black Cat, Langyue, and Straw Hat Luffy eat them. She only took three and ate them slowly.

However, Luffy, the Little Black Cat, and Langyue's eating habits were less than admirable. They were all vying for food, acting as if they hadn't eaten in days. The restaurant had become a battlefield because of them.

Ren Fang and the other two exchanged a glance, felt a headache coming on, and immediately left the restaurant to go aboard the Going Merry.

After Fanxin boarded the Going Merry, he called Usopp, Nami, and Zoro over and invited them to have some snacks.

Without any hesitation, the three of them picked up their own portions and began to slowly savor them.

"Who made this? It tastes pretty good!" Zoro asked after taking a bite of a pastry.

"Ren Fang's cooking is indeed very good," Fanxin said. "If you like it, I'll make it for you again next time. We didn't have enough ingredients today, so this is all we had."

"Hehe, that's great!" Zoro nodded in agreement. He did indeed enjoy these snacks, as they tasted very good.

"Um, do you have time later?" Fanxin nodded, looked at Zoro, and asked.

"Yes, what's wrong?" Zoro asked, puzzled.

"That's good. Later, let's find a deserted island and have a contest! I want to see just how good you really are," Fanxin said with a smile.

The reason he challenged Zoro to a duel at this time was because after noon tomorrow, he would exist in spirit form, at which point he would be unable to fight Zoro. Zoro wouldn't be able to see him in that state, not because he was fast, but because the naked eye simply couldn't detect his presence. In that situation, Zoro would be at a significant disadvantage, and Zoro's victory would be dishonorable.

Therefore, he planned to have a good fight with Zoro before becoming a spirit.

"Oh, sure, I'd like to see just how strong you are too." Upon hearing this, Zoro immediately became eager for battle. He couldn't wait to find a deserted island and have a good fight with Fanxin.

"Okay. Nami, find a deserted island as soon as possible, and then sail the ship there," Fanxin said with a smile.

"Seriously, what's the point of fighting here?" Nami said with a hint of helplessness. Despite her frustration, Nami still started checking the map and adjusting her course.

Three hours later, they arrived at the edge of a deserted island.

"Let's spend the night here and continue our voyage tomorrow," Fanxin suggested. No one objected. They then disembarked and went to the deserted island.

Fanxin waved to Zoro, and then they headed together towards the center of the deserted island. Everyone knew that the two of them were going to have a duel, and they were all very curious, so they all followed along as spectators.

Upon reaching the center of the island, Fanxin and Zoro immediately separated and stood on either side.

"I've heard that Pirate Hunter very powerful, so let me see for myself!" Fanxin Xin grinned and said.

"As you wish, I hope you're not too weak," Zoro chuckled.

"Enough with the chit-chat, let's begin!" Fanxin nodded, then took a deep breath and launched an attack on Zoro.

He first used the Little Fox's abilities of repulsion and attraction. He aimed his palm at Zoro, then used the repulsion to slam Zoro's chest, sending Zoro flying more than ten meters away.

After landing, Zoro paused for a moment. Then, he started to reposition himself, no longer standing still. He knew the weakness of Fanxin of Mortals technique: as long as you weren't in one place, it was very difficult for him to hit you from a distance. However, if you stayed in one place, you would be in trouble.

Zoro moved left and right, gradually approaching Fanxin.

Fanxin, on the other hand, charged straight at Zoro with a completely fearless expression.

They clashed quickly. Zoro wielded his three swords with effortless skill, each strike deadly, leaving no room for Fanxin. His ruthlessness wasn't because he wanted to kill Fanxin, but because he understood that Fanxin was a formidable opponent, and holding back would only hurt him. Therefore, he couldn't afford to be ruthless.

He also understood that Fanxin wouldn't be killed by him; he definitely had a way to protect himself. He didn't need to worry about Fanxin's safety; he just needed to do his own job.

Fanxin didn't blame Zoro for his ruthless attacks. He grinned and dodged while retaliating.

The two fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.

Suddenly, Fanxin reached out his left hand and grabbed a sword from Zoro's right hand. Zoro was startled by Fanxin's action, because his sword was very sharp, and Fanxin could easily cut off his hand if he did that.

"Hey, why are you worried about me? Just mind your own business," Fanxin said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zoro immediately snapped out of his daze. Fanxin wasn't a fool; he must have his reasons for doing this. He would never joke around with one of his hands.

However, by the time he woke up, it was too late. Fanxin had already grabbed the knife. The expected severed hand did not appear. Fanxin's hand was completely intact, while Zoro's knife was firmly gripped in his hand, without even a piece of skin missing.

"Your hand..." Zoro asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"My hands are as strong as steel, so you don't need to worry," Fanxin Xin grinned and said. His body had been modified by Xiaojin, making him incredibly strong. The reason his hands were unharmed was because he had used Xiaojin's ability to protect his left hand, making it as strong as steel. Therefore, he could grab Zoro's sword without any problems.

"I see." Zoro nodded slightly upon hearing this.

"Hehe, you know now, but it's too late. You have two choices: either abandon this knife or be knocked away by me. Which one do you choose?" Fanxin asked with a grin.

As he spoke, Fanxin pointed his right palm at Zoro's chest, ready to strike at any moment.

Upon hearing this, Zoro immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He truly only had two options left, as he couldn't immediately remove the sword from Fanxin's hand. Fanxin was gripping it tightly, and he couldn't move an inch.

"What should you choose?" Fanxin asked curiously.

"Hmph, I won't give up my sword. I'm Three-Sword Style swordsman. If I lose one sword, I'm no longer Three-Sword Style swordsman. In that case, my strength will be greatly reduced." Zoro pondered for a moment, then grinned and said.

"Is that so? Then I won't stand on ceremony." Fanxin nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He then relentlessly attacked Zoro with repulsive force, striking Zoro fifteen times in a row, causing blood to flow from Zoro's nose and mouth. However, Zoro remained unwilling to let go of the sword, as if it were an extension of his body, inseparable from him.

"What a stubborn guy! Aren't you going to let go? You'll die!" Fanxin said.

"Heh, ever since I decided to set sail, I've already disregarded my life. I'll either become the strongest, or die in battle," Zoro grinned, saying, "You don't need to worry about that."

"Not bad, you can see through life and death. It seems you've already succeeded halfway." Fanxin nodded, then offered his left hand. Afterward, he immediately retreated more than ten meters.

Zoro saw that Fanxin had released his sword and asked in confusion, "Why? Why did you let go? Was it out of pity?"

"No, the reason I caught your knife earlier was because you held back. If you had struck directly, I might not have been able to catch it. So, I let you off this time as a way of repaying that favor. From now on, I won't hold back. You'd better try your best, or you might get beaten to death here, and I won't be responsible for that," Fanxin said with a smile.

"Oh, alright. But don't regret it later. Releasing the beast is like putting yourself in danger," Zoro grinned and said.

"Really? Then let's go!" Fanxin said nonchalantly.

Then, the two stopped exchanging pleasantries and resumed their fight.

Zoro showed no mercy, attacking Fanxin with all his might, truly like a beast unleashed from its cage, unstoppable. However, Fanxin was not to be trifled with either. He used Xiaojin's ability to strengthen every part of his body, even creating a thin, almost invisible protective armor on his skin.

That was formed by Xiaojin's body lying flat on his skin. With this protective armor, it would be very difficult for Zoro's sword to wound his body with a single strike.

With so much protection, Fanxin no longer hesitated and launched a fierce attack on Zoro.

His fists were hard; when Zoro's sword came slashing down, he didn't back down, but smashed it back directly. Fist and sword collided, sparks flying.

"Hey, can you cut through steel? If you can cut through steel, you can hurt me. Otherwise, you're no match for me." Fanxin grinned at Zoro and said.