Naturally Evil Little Devil Luffy!

The Straw Hat spun lazily on his fingertips. Xianuo suddenly let out a soft "hmm," as if sensing something. He sat up straight and turned his head towards the southwest.

The treetops in that direction rustled as startled birds took flight and scattered into the distance.

Someone's coming?

Or perhaps a large, ferocious beast?

He furrowed his brow, spread his legs, and slid down the tree trunk, his crotch catching on the bark, descending over ten meters.

He then stopped steadily on a branch in the middle of the large tree, maintaining a clear, wide field of vision while also being able to see every movement on the ground below.

"Boss, how old is that kid? Is he really that strong to have beaten all three of you?"

A somewhat foolish voice suddenly rang out. Xianuo followed the sound and saw a fatty standing over two meters tall, carrying a spiked club on his shoulder.

"Why would I lie to you? Is this something to be proud of!"

The person following behind was like Skinny Monkey, shouting angrily, "Look, look, my whole head is swollen, it hasn't gone down yet, all thanks to that brat beating me. Don't underestimate that kid, he has power from demons!"

The fatty looked bewildered. "Power from demons?"

"I don't understand either, but that's what everyone says! His arms and legs can stretch several meters long one moment and retract the next. Have you ever seen those surprise boxes with springs? It's exactly like that, very scary!"

"That sounds terrifying, boss! Luckily Scarred is holding him now, otherwise, we'd be patrolling the mountains every day in fear!"

"Yeah, but we can't let our guard down. The boss said this kid has an accomplice, and he might go to rescue him. That's why he called us all back to the camp for strict guard duty..."

"Someone's there!"

The fatty suddenly pointed upwards with his spiked club. "Up in the tree!"

"Huh?"

Skinny Monkey was startled and immediately looked up.

He indeed saw a black-haired guy in the tree, looking at the two of them with great interest.

"It's that kid's accomplice! Be careful, he might be a monster with demon power too!"

Skinny Monkey immediately shouted a warning, grabbed the flintlock rifle from his back, aimed it at the other person, and gritted his teeth, roaring, "Get down here! Raise your hands obediently, or I'll shoot!"

"Why do you point a gun at people so easily? That's really scary..."

Under their vigilant gazes, Xianuo actually raised his hands slowly, smiling.

"I say, this is the first time we've met, right? How did you immediately label me as an accomplice to some demon brat?"

"Not an accomplice?"

The fatty was stunned and immediately put his spiked club back on his shoulder, turning to Skinny Monkey. "Boss, did you make a mistake? He says he's not an accomplice."

"Why do you believe whatever he says!"

Skinny Monkey was furious and glared fiercely at Xianuo again. "You still dare to say you're not an accomplice? Then... then I'll ask you! I'll ask you!"

He pointed at the back of Xianuo's neck. "If you're really not, then why do you have the exact same hat as that little demon!"

"You mean this?"

Xianuo blinked, glanced at the Straw Hat on his back, and shrugged.

"Just a coincidence. But, I am looking for the same person as you. I've been searching in this darn mountain for days, and I'm exhausted. I should thank you for catching him, saving me the effort."

"You're welcome, it's what we should do."

The fatty scratched his head and chuckled foolishly.

"That brat is also quite something. Recently, he's been taking advantage of our Scarred Mountain Bandit Group being scattered to steal our roasted meat everywhere. Scarred was furious and personally captured him, tying him to the cliff edge. Now he'll behave. Let's see if he dares to rob anyone else!"

"Indeed, such an inherently evil brat should meet such an end!"

Xianuo deeply agreed. "This kid owes me something too, which is why I've been looking for him. Since we're on the same path, can you take me to the cliff you mentioned?"

"No problem, brother!"

The fatty laughed heartily. "But that place is a bit remote. How about this, just follow me, I'll take you..."

"Take you my foot!"

Skinny Monkey jumped up and slapped him. He had been listening dumbfounded from the side and could no longer tolerate it. He roared:

"Idiot! Fool! This kid clearly has bad intentions. Can't you tell he's trying to trick you!"

"Huh?"

The fatty froze, while Skinny Monkey snorted coldly, raising his gun and aiming it at Xianuo's forehead, actually pulling the trigger!

Bang!

A gunshot rang out. Xianuo turned his head, watching the golden bullet whiz past the tip of his nose.

Then he turned back, glanced at the bullet mark on the tree trunk, and frowned.

"Someone who suddenly shoots without saying a word like you is truly rare."

He squinted slightly, staring at the mountain bandit, Skinny Monkey, whose face was filled with disbelief. "I don't have the confidence to dodge all the bullets, so I'm sorry, but I'll have to take action."

THUMP!

The moment his words fell, he kicked off the tree trunk, using the force to propel himself into the air and twist, crashing down like a cannonball.

All Skinny Monkey saw was a rapidly enlarging black shadow. In his panic, before he could even react, his Adam's apple was gripped by five fingers as hard as cast iron. Instantly, his entire body was lifted into the air.

"Cough... cough... Let go, let me go..."

He struggled with all his might, smashing the butt of his gun against the other's forehead, but in an instant, it was snatched away expressionlessly.

With a gentle twist, the flintlock gun snapped in half with a crack, like a toy, and was tossed aside.

"Don't you bully the boss!"

The fat man yelled, swinging his wolf-tooth club with both hands.

Xianuo easily dodged, grabbed the fat bandit's arm with one hand, yanked him over his shoulder, and slammed him hard into the distance!

BOOM!

A human-shaped crater was smashed into the giant tree, embedding the fat bandit within it. No matter how furiously he roared, he couldn't move.

Xianuo then pinched Skinny Monkey's forehead with his fingers and lifted him again. Under the other's terrified gaze, he offered a polite smile:

"Excuse me, can you take me there now?"

"Hey! Wake up? Wake up!"

In a daze, Luffy felt someone patting his cheek with a rough, large hand.

SLAP!

Suddenly, that large hand slapped him hard, making stars flash before his eyes. Immediately after, a large basin of cold water poured down his head like a waterfall.

So cold!

With a shiver, Luffy finally woke up completely.

"Huh? What, what's going on!"

Luffy looked around and found himself tightly bound to a stone pillar. Beyond that was a cliff. Terrified, snot flying, he yelled, "Waaah--!!!!"

"You're too loud! Shut up, brat!"

The scarred, burly man before him had dark skin and stomped his foot on a chair, looking ferocious.

"It's really troublesome getting you to talk properly. Now can you tell me what grudge we have, why you've been targeting my subordinates lately?"

"Targeting? Your subordinates?"

Luffy's head was full of question marks, like a string of little bells. He looked at the fierce, scarred man in front of him, then at the group of mountain bandits surrounding them.

Those bandits were all gritting their teeth, their eyes wide as saucers, staring at him fiercely, as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.

Luffy became more confused, tilting his head and asking with a face full of bewilderment:

"Uncle, who are you all?"