Having just marveled at his own progress, Wang Chuan suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.
He did not even need to look to know that his right arm was probably broken.
Just then, familiar footsteps approached.
Zephyr laughed in a slightly teasing tone.
"Hahaha, this is killing me.
"You've only trained for a little over a decade, and you think you can take my fists head-on?
"Don't get carried away, brat!
"Even now, all you can do against me is play hide-and-seek."
Wang Chuan looked at Zephyr helplessly.
"You're barely over forty and already calling yourself an old man, Teacher Zephyr. Isn't that a little early for you?"
"Mind your own business, brat.
"On these seas, living past forty already makes you an old man.
"Besides, I've spent thirteen years in this space. Though I haven't aged on the surface, I'm already in my fifties by now, aren't I? What's wrong with calling myself an old man?"
Zephyr grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Then he sat down not far from Wang Chuan and looked at him with a somewhat complicated expression, as though he had something on his mind.
After a moment, Zephyr asked.
"Hey, brat. After all these years, have you still not found the Justice in your heart?"
Wang Chuan had his eyes closed, enjoying this brief respite after being severely injured. He was somewhat surprised by Zephyr's sudden question. Opening his eyes, he looked at Zephyr curiously and asked.
"Teacher Zephyr, why are you suddenly asking that?"
"Don't worry about that. I just want to ask.
"And after studying under me for so many years, you should have your own views on Justice by now.
"It's rare for us to fight to this extent today, so tell me."
Zephyr spoke calmly, then fixed Wang Chuan with his imposing eyes, looking as if Wang Chuan would not have an easy time unless he explained himself clearly today.
Wang Chuan slowly raised his head and looked at the cloudless blue sky, falling silent.
Justice. What an exalted word.
It seemed that nearly all those in power used it to label themselves.
But for someone who had been an orphan and a workhorse in his previous life, and who in this life had merely gained wealth and only wanted to become stronger—
It seemed far too vague and intangible.
Of course, based on Wang Chuan's knowledge and experience, he could easily make up some vague but lofty-sounding Justice to fool Zephyr.
But when he thought of how this uncle before him had taught him how to grow stronger, day after day, for over ten years, Wang Chuan did not want to brush him off casually.
Suddenly, Wang Chuan seemed to think of something. He glanced at Zephyr, and thoughts naturally began forming in his mind before he blurted out.
"Justice for family.
"Teacher Zephyr, what do you think of my Justice?
"I think that if you can't even protect the family around you, then so-called Justice is nothing but a pile of dog shit."
After hearing Wang Chuan's answer, Zephyr fell silent briefly before bursting into hearty laughter again.
"Hahaha, Justice for family? That really is a selfish kind of Justice."
But Zephyr quickly stopped laughing and looked seriously at Wang Chuan.
"Still, brat, that Justice isn't bad...
"I understand what you mean. If I couldn't even protect my wife and child, then my so-called Justice of not killing would indeed look like a pile of dog shit.
"So I acknowledge you, brat.
"And I have nothing left to teach you.
"From today onward, I declare that you have attained Menkyo Kaiden. You may graduate."
Wang Chuan was dumbfounded. How had he suddenly graduated for no reason?
Did this cheat even have that setting?
Wait, what did Menkyo Kaiden mean again?
He remembered it seemed to mean that, in Japanese martial arts schools, once one reached the highest rank, the master permitted the disciple to establish his own school or accept disciples on the master's behalf, right?
So he had completed his training?
But his Armament Haki had not even surpassed Teacher Zephyr's to become the strongest!
While Wang Chuan was full of doubts and inward complaints, Zephyr's body began to glow with a faint light. At the same time, Zephyr said.
"Don't be surprised, brat.
"Just as you once told me that you knew this was your cheat, I too know that I was forcibly summoned here to teach you.
"I don't know what kind of existence could accomplish such a thing, but there is a consciousness in my mind telling me this.
"Once you master all my combat techniques and gain my acknowledgment, you can graduate. You won't need to come here again in the future."
Wang Chuan immediately understood. So that was what had happened.
But sorrow quickly appeared in his eyes.
After all, one could grow attached even to a dog after raising it for a long time, let alone a person—especially a teacher who had taught him for more than a decade.
Soon, Wang Chuan seemed to think of something. Seeing Zephyr's legs gradually beginning to vanish, he hurriedly asked.
"Teacher, are you going back to your own world?"
Zephyr nodded slightly.
"That's right. That consciousness told me so. But brat, remember, even though you aren't a Marine—"
But before Zephyr could encourage Wang Chuan to uphold the Justice in his heart, Wang Chuan struggled to his feet and hurriedly said.
"Teacher, don't speak. Listen to me!
"I've seen your future. You look forty now, so if time hasn't changed when you return to your world, remember to protect your wife and child immediately. It would be best to bring them back to Marineford!
"Otherwise, pirates you spared will retaliate and kill your wife and child. You'll regret it for the rest of your life!
"And if you have asthma, get it treated immediately. Go find Vegapunk!
"With wisdom beyond the world itself, he can definitely cure you!
"Otherwise, in the future, you'll encounter someone named Weevil. He'll cut off your right arm!"
Zephyr had originally wanted to play the role of a life mentor, but after Wang Chuan revealed such explosive information one piece after another, he could no longer care about appearances. His expression changed drastically, and he instinctively stepped forward, wanting to ask for more details.
But as if fate were playing a joke, that movement caused Zephyr's body to crumble and accelerated his disappearance, leaving him unable even to speak.
At the end, Wang Chuan caught a fragment as light as a feather and solemnly spoke to Zephyr's remaining head.
"Remember my words, Teacher.
"If you don't forget them, then never let yourself regret it."
Zephyr's eyes were filled with melancholy. What a mess this had turned into.
Yet in the final instant before he vanished, he still gave Wang Chuan a grateful look.
Because those two pieces of information were far too important to him.
Wang Chuan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and looked at the training ground before him, which was also fading away. Having trained here for over a decade, he had grown attached to it too.
It seemed he would never be able to return here again in the future. He felt a little disappointed.
During this time, Wang Chuan's broken right arm was restored as well. He immediately stretched, thinking that he could finally get some sleep now.
But as the training ground completely disappeared, Wang Chuan's vision went dark. Yet he did not fall asleep. Instead, a line of small text appeared before his eyes.
[Strongest Haki Inheritance...]
Wang Chuan stared at the scene in confusion. Wasn't this the entry interface from when his cheat had activated at age three? It was also how he had learned the cheat's name.
It really had been a long time.
Then Wang Chuan's mouth twitched as he realized something.
Before you continue