What Do You Mean, You're All Living the Good Life?

The death god, his face weary, walked into the space.

"Yo, our star pupil is here."

"I'm out of strength. Do whatever you want."

"No fun. How are things on your end, Marine?"

"I'm a colonel now. I'm planning to join forces with Moria soon."

"Moria? He's someone you could join forces with."

"Speaking of which, how much time has passed on your end lately?"

"Almost half a year."

"Has the flow of time changed again?"

"Is that normal? Three months passed for me before I came here and saw you this time."

"City kid, that's perfectly normal. Time flows a little differently in each of our worlds, and we don't all have time to come here every three days. Sometimes it's normal not to run into each other for six months straight."

"Never mind that for now. I know where I am."

"Wasn't yours just an ordinary modern city? What, did you find something new?"

"I ended up in The Outcast."

"The Outcast?"

"Shameless?"

"The Old Celestial Master, and the Thunder Method."

Everyone was surprised. There was a great deal to explore in the world of The Outcast.

"Yeah, that's the one. And by the way, I've joined Wudang Mountain."

"How did you end up on Wudang Mountain?"

"The one who happened to save me from that mudslide was a Wudang Mountain cultivator passing by. When I woke up there, I could see Qi. He saw that I was an orphan and took me back to the mountain."

"Lucky you. Wudang Mountain has Feng Hou Qimen too. Speaking of which, Wang Ye hasn't come to Wudang Mountain yet, has he?"

"Yeah. Wang Ye won't arrive until 2009, five years from now for me."

"Wouldn't that make him your junior brother?"

"I think so."

"But Wudang Mountain forbids marriage, doesn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Then aren't you screwed?"

"I'm not a formal disciple. I'm still in the trial period. Whether I officially become a Wudang disciple won't be decided until I turn eighteen."

"Then there's no rush. You can decide then. Ten years is a long time."

"But there's nothing wrong with being a Daoist priest. It's an iron rice bowl too."

"Huh? Soul master, what's wrong with you? If he becomes a Daoist priest on Wudang Mountain, he won't be able to marry."

"I think farming suits you better, buddy."

"Mine's called a medicinal hoe, not a farming hoe."

"Doesn't it still loosen soil around crops? Same difference."

"Too bad we couldn't change your Innate Soul Power. Level three really is a bit low."

"It's not so bad. At least Su Yuntao saw how pitiful I was and helped me enroll in a local school. He also told me I could get gold soul coins by registering with the Martial Soul Hall. Too bad I don't have a Spirit Ring yet."

"Speaking of which, did Tang San have full Innate Soul Power because of the Clear Sky Hammer, or because of the Mysterious Heaven Skill?"

"The Clear Sky Hammer, probably. The Mysterious Heaven Skill is just an acquired cultivation method. It shouldn't be able to increase Innate Soul Power."

"By the way, do you know where you are in the timeline?"

"I still haven't figured it out. Information travels pretty slowly over there, but the two empires haven't gone to war, so it should still be early."

"Several of us have gotten on track. We need to find a way for you to increase your strength quickly."

"What I want most right now is a way to cultivate Soul Power. Luckily, we got the introductory mental cultivation method from Wudang Mountain's Yellow Court Classic today, so I'm not completely at a loss. After studying it when I get back, I should be able to piece together a crude method."

"Come to think of it, the Mysterious Heaven Skill and its accompanying techniques can be used directly in the Douluo Continent world. Is it possible that, even though you can't use the Eight Gates Released Formation and the Gate of Spirit directly, you can use the Yellow Court Classic's introductory method?"

"If that's true, then I'll have a top-notch foundational cultivation method."

"Speaking of which, if a few more people from martial arts worlds show up, you two will really take off."

"You used to say we'd take off if a few more sword or saber users showed up."

"Even though no newcomers showed up, didn't you still get to see some masterful swordsmanship before?"

"Where are we?"

"Colonel, we're almost at the Florian Triangle."

"Stay alert."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Chuan made his routine inquiry about their progress, then returned to his office, sat down cross-legged, and contemplated Jinzen and the Breath of All Things.

His mission on this voyage was to investigate the thick fog in the Florian Triangle. A few too many ships had disappeared in the fog there recently.

He was also taking the opportunity to have a talk with Moria.

Gecko Moria was a legend in his own right. As a boy, he had drifted to Wano Country, where the locals gave him the name "Kozuki." He later went to sea and became a pirate.

After witnessing Roger's death, he founded the Gecko Pirates.

When Wano Country was invaded, he led his crew to Ringo to fight Kaido, even after Kozuki Oden chose not to resist.

That battle utterly broke his spirit, and his entire crew died. Afterward, he began building the Zombie Army. Some years later, Moria settled down in the Florian Triangle with Hogback, Absalom, and Perona.

He was a fearsomely powerful man. Perhaps because he had lost his fighting spirit, his Observation Haki and Armament Haki had both deteriorated, and he hadn't displayed much of either in his fight with Luffy.

But he was still a formidable fighter, and a pirate who treasured bonds and loyalty. Though he had also committed many evil deeds, for now, at least, he shared Wang Chuan's goal of killing Kaido.

He was someone worth trying to recruit.

"Young master, we've arrived."

"I know."

Wang Chuan stood, pulled open the door, and stepped out of his office. A thirty-year-old man stood outside.

Sakaino Marco was a retainer who had escaped with him back then. He currently held the rank of major and served as his staff officer.

There was also Torres Gurian, who served as his deputy.

As for those two, they were among a group of refugees Wang Chuan's parents had rescued during a voyage.

"Let's go."

"Yes, sir."

The warship approached, pulled alongside, secured itself, and lowered a boat.

Wang Chuan took his two retainers and headed toward Moria.

As for why they didn't approach in the warship, that would be seen as an armed provocation against a Shichibukai. If someone without the strength did that, even if the Shichibukai killed them all, he might not be held accountable.

The trip went smoothly, and before long, the three passed through the thick fog and arrived at Moria's Thriller Bark.

After landing, they headed toward the center.

They saw plenty of zombies along the way, but deterred by their Marine uniforms, the zombies didn't come forward.

Just as they were drawing closer to Moria's location, suddenly—

"Fuffuffuffuffu."

"What rare guests. Why have you Marines come here? Could you be planning an armed attack on a Shichibukai?"

A voice rang out, but no one was in sight.

Before Wang Chuan could speak, Torres opened negotiations.

"Absalom, is it?"

"Our party is led by Marine Headquarters Colonel Wang Chuan. We've come to consult the Shichibukai Gecko Moria about the thick fog in the Florian Triangle."

"Discuss something? If you're going to make excuses, find a better one."

"But never mind. Whatever you're here for, first—"

Swish—

A tiny Flying Slash shot straight toward Absalom's hiding place, then brushed past him.

"Our mission is to investigate the fog. As for me, I came to catch up with Moria and talk about old times in Wano Country. I hope you'll accommodate us."

"A swordsman, huh? How arrogant."

Absalom wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, deeply wary of Wang Chuan, who had attacked without a word. But he also knew he couldn't stop them, and although he didn't know much, he knew about Moria's painful connection to Wano Country.

"Suit yourselves. Just don't let Lord Moria frighten you."

"Fuffuffuffuffu."

Absalom then began moving out of range of Wang Chuan's Observation Haki.

"Young master, shouldn't we stop him?"

"No need. The young master brought us here to talk to Moria. There's no need to make things hostile."

Torres explained to Sakaino. All of Sakaino's talent had gone into combat. Though he had grown up alongside Torres, he clearly wasn't good at this sort of thing.

"Let's go meet Moria."

Meanwhile, Absalom hurried back to the mansion on the central mast to find Moria, but ran into Perona first.

"Absalom, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Fuffuffuffuffu, Miss Perona, what an honor to behold your beauty."

"Enough nonsense. What are you going to do?"

"Oh, right, right. I was lost in Miss Perona's beauty. I have something to report to Lord Moria."

"Something? What is it?"

"Three Marines want to catch up with Lord Moria. They say they want to talk about Wano Country."

"Wano Country? Those Marines have a death wish."

With that, she ignored Absalom and headed straight for Wang Chuan and his companions.

"Did I forget to tell her something? Forget it. I'd better hurry and report to Lord Moria."

Leaving Absalom aside, Perona pressed on, eager to see who had the nerve.

Before long, the two sides met at the gate of the mansion on the mast.

"Are you the Marines Absalom mentioned?"

"Forget it. It makes no difference whether you are or not."

"Negative Hollow."

Without another word, Perona sent more than a dozen ghost duplicates straight at the three.

"Young master, it's a Devil Fruit ability. If they hit you, you'll become negative. Armament Haki or a Flying Slash can deal with them."

"Then I'll handle it."

"Geppo."

As Sakaino used Geppo, Armament Haki began coating his fists.

Sakaino darted about, his Haki-coated fists striking Perona's ghosts again and again.

"What unpleasant people. Negative Hollow."

Bang—

Perona didn't get to release another wave of Negative Hollows, because Moria had arrived and sent Sakaino flying with a single blow. The other ghosts that Sakaino hadn't yet managed to destroy then passed through him, leaving him withdrawn off to one side.

"Hee hee hee hee."

"How unpleasant."

"Lord Moria."

"Moria!"

"Torres, go check on Sakaino."

"Yes, young master."

Torres turned to check on Sakaino, who was muttering, "No," and "I'm too weak."

Wang Chuan rested a hand on his standard-issue Marine weapon and spoke slowly.

"Moria, do you want to cut Kaido down?"

Moria's gaze sharpened, then he concealed it. But his eyes grew increasingly dangerous as he said with a laugh, "Hee hee hee, has it really come to this? Does everyone want to come looking for trouble with me now?"

As he spoke, an indescribable aura radiated from him. It wasn't Conqueror's Haki, but it still carried a heart-shaking force.

"I'm not here to fight, Moria."

Wang Chuan shook his head and continued, "When I was four, my parents died in Wano Country. Kaido did it!"

Moria's expression turned grave at those words.

"Come inside with me."

Wang Chuan said no more. The basic information was enough. Now it remained to be seen whether his strength could move Moria. If possible, he also wanted to obtain Shusui from him.