Down This Bowl of Greasy Chicken Soup

In the One Piece World, technology had developed down a completely crooked path.

But thanks to the News Coos, information was not too inaccessible.

However, there were still seven or eight years before the story began. There were no Supernovas, no major incidents, and the Marines' control was still extremely strong.

In the East Blue, the hometown of "Marine Hero" Garp, things were even more peaceful.

Most people did not even know about Devil Fruits, which showed just how isolated information was.

So everything Mu Yu explained was practically earth-shattering to Kuina.

When she learned that Charlotte Linlin had destroyed a giants' village at the age of five and instantly defeated a giant hero, Kuina's breathing immediately quickened, and her beautiful eyes sparkled.

When she learned that Charlotte Linlin had thirty-six daughters, forty sons, and thirty-nine husbands, Kuina was completely dumbfounded. (Fog.)

In some respects, girls always matured earlier than boys.

How could a woman marry two men at the same time?

Not to mention thirty-nine husbands!

Kuina's pretty face flushed red as she spat, "Is she a pig? How could she possibly give birth to so many children?"

Mu Yu deeply agreed. "You're right. Charlotte Linlin is completely abnormal. Her strength simply can't be described by common sense—she's practically a monster. Can you imagine that her bounty was already as high as fifty million Berries when she was five?"

Kuina shook her head. To be honest, her favorable impression of Charlotte Linlin had begun to crumble.

This simply was not someone she could emulate!

Mu Yu said, "Senior Disciple Sister, there are innate differences between people. Do you admit that?"

Kuina felt dejected, but she still nodded helplessly.

Leaving aside the difference between men and women, she had trained in swordsmanship for years, yet she had lost to Mu Yu, who had only practiced for a little over twenty days.

If that was not a difference, then what was?

And there was that Moss Head idiot, who was like a wild boar, with terrifyingly fierce strength.

He trained as if he did not care whether he lived or died, making even her feel intimidated just watching him.

Mu Yu said, "Senior Disciple Sister, being a girl has always been a sore point for you. You believe girls are naturally inferior to boys, but you're completely wrong about that."

Kuina bristled again. "Don't comfort me. I'll never become a monster like Charlotte Linlin!"

Mu Yu said, "You're overthinking it. I was never encouraging you to imitate Charlotte Linlin!"

"What do you mean?" Kuina felt like Mu Yu had completely confused her.

Mu Yu said, "Senior Disciple Sister, do you know? In the New World, there's a country called Amazon Lily. That country is made up entirely of women."

Kuina's beautiful eyes widened as she asked incredulously, "A country made up entirely of women?"

"That's right. This country is also known as 'Daughter Island' and is called the 'Forbidden Land for Men.' Nearly every woman there is incredibly powerful, a born warrior!"

"You're not lying to me, are you?"

"If I'm lying, I'm a puppy. The queen of that country is very famous. Her name is Boa Hancock. She's one of the Shichibukai and is respectfully known as the 'Empress.'"

"The Shichibukai? Wait, I think I've seen that term somewhere before!"

Kuina scratched her head. She really had seen that term before.

Just then, a flash of lightning streaked through Kuina's mind.

"I remember now. Once, when I went to get the newspaper for Father, I caught a fleeting glance of that term. It seemed like some guy called Crocodile had become a Shichibukai."

Mu Yu immediately smiled. What a coincidence—he had not expected Kuina to have heard of the Shichibukai.

"The one you mentioned is Crocodile, nicknamed Sand Crocodile. He's currently stationed in the Alabasta Kingdom, and his ability is to control sand. In desert regions, Crocodile is synonymous with invincibility."

"Ability?"

Kuina sharply caught a key word.

I was waiting for you to ask that!

Mu Yu smiled and immediately began explaining Devil Fruits to Kuina.

They were the Secret Treasure of the Sea. Once eaten, they cursed you by the sea and turned you into a permanent landlubber.

But at the same time, they granted superhuman abilities beyond ordinary people's imagination.

"There are such magical fruits in the world?"

Kuina's beautiful eyes immediately lit up.

Mu Yu said, "That's right. On the seas, most powerful experts are Devil Fruit users. The Empress Boa Hancock I just told you about ate the Love-Love Fruit. She can instantly turn any man, woman, or even animal infatuated with her into stone."

Mu Yu's explanation truly broadened Kuina's horizons.

This was the first time she had learned that such miraculous treasures existed in the world.

To be honest, Kuina was genuinely tempted.

Mu Yu said, "Senior Disciple Sister, don't place too much hope in Devil Fruits either. They taste awful—apparently, they're like eating shit. And their abilities are very limited. If you haven't read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, eating one is like gambling. Someone ate the Sticker Fruit and constantly secreted something like snot from their entire body."

"Stop, don't say any more!"

Kuina was truly disgusted.

Of course, she was even more confused.

Because every time Mu Yu gave her hope, he immediately shattered it.

She no longer knew what Mu Yu was trying to do!

Sensing Kuina's confusion, Mu Yu smiled and said, "Senior Disciple Sister, do you know? Even without eating a Devil Fruit, just practicing swordsmanship can still let you reach the strongest realm."

"???"

Kuina was completely perplexed.

"In this world, besides the power of Devil Fruits, there is another kind of power called Haki."

"Haki?"

"That's right. Haki is a power all humans are born with—presence, killing intent, fighting spirit. When you control these invisible sensations, your will can become a weapon."

Mu Yu briefly explained the Three-Color Haki to Kuina: Conqueror's Haki, which represented the "qualities of a king" and could intimidate or knock enemies unconscious through one's sheer spirit; Armament Haki, which could improve defense and attack power and allow one to capture and touch Logia Devil Fruit users; and Observation Haki, which could predict an opponent's next move and position.

Kuina was captivated and asked eagerly, "How can someone awaken the Three-Color Haki?"

Mu Yu shook his head. "I don't know the exact method either. But one thing is certain: set a firm goal and train desperately. As long as your physique is strong enough, the chances of awakening the Three-Color Haki will greatly increase!"

He did not know? Kuina was greatly disappointed.

But thinking about it, that made sense. If Mu Yu knew, his strength would definitely be far greater than this.

Mu Yu looked seriously at Kuina and said, "Senior Disciple Sister, this world is vast. There are Devil Fruits, secret treasures, and Three-Color Haki that can make people immensely powerful. As long as your heart is big enough, your stage will be infinitely broad. What does it matter if you're a girl? Who says girls must be weaker than boys?"

Seeing Mu Yu's serious little face, Kuina could not help feeling somewhat moved.

By now, how could she not understand why Mu Yu had told her so much?

"Are girls really not weaker than boys?"

Seeing that Kuina clearly believed him a little, yet had no confidence at all, Mu Yu could not help but smile.

"Girls are weaker than boys? Then what do you think all the boys in the dojo whom you beat up every day would say?"

"It's not beating them up. Those are proper matches. Besides, you surpassed me after training for only a little over twenty days."

"It's normal that you can't beat me, because I'm an ability user."

Mu Yu decided to tell a small, well-intentioned lie.

Otherwise, Kuina's resolve in the way of the sword would shatter.

Kuina's beautiful eyes instantly widened. She could hardly believe her ears.

"Then what's your ability? Tell me, tell me!"

"Classified!"

"Tch. Fine, forget it if you don't want to tell me."

"Senior Disciple Sister."

"Stop. Don't call me Senior Disciple Sister anymore!"

"Then what should I call you? Master?"

"Idiot!"

Kuina glared fiercely at Mu Yu, grabbed the Bamboo Sword in her hand, and ran away without looking back.

What Mu Yu did not know was that as Kuina ran, her steps gradually became lighter and lighter, while a small, adorable curve slowly formed at the corners of her lips.

At the same time, a system notification sounded in Mu Yu's mind.