In an instant, Redfield's thoughts stirred. Haki began circulating wildly through his body, colliding with itself as black-red arcs of lightning continuously flickered around him.
Seeing this, Wang Chuan, who had clenched his teeth in preparation for death, immediately let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like he would not have to die again.
Before long, Redfield frowned.
With the strength of his Armament Haki, even the Devil Fruit abilities of the sea's strongest fighters should not have taken this long to break.
Realizing his efforts were futile, Redfield stopped channeling his Haki.
He instead turned his gaze toward the only other person present.
"Kid, what exactly is going on here?"
Wang Chuan grinned. He knew it—his Super Intelligence had judged correctly. He would not die, so he might as well go all out!
However, Wang Chuan did not explain much. He merely pointed at his head.
"Words can lie.
"I think Mr. Redfield would rather see for himself."
Looking at Wang Chuan, who was so utterly defenseless before him, the corners of Redfield's lips slowly rose. He then lowered the umbrella that could have swung down at any moment and walked over to Wang Chuan.
"Interesting kid."
Speaking with interest, Redfield reached a hand toward Wang Chuan's forehead.
First, he read Wang Chuan's mind, confirming that Wang Chuan was not deceiving him.
Then, strengthening his Observation Haki, Redfield began reading Wang Chuan's memories.
In an instant, memories of Wang Chuan's recent death, of Douluo Continent, and of Wang Chuan training with Zephyr—
All of them flashed rapidly through Redfield's mind.
But just as Redfield was about to read the memories of Wang Chuan's previous life, an invisible force quietly blocked his perception.
It was as if Wang Chuan had been born and raised in Douluo Continent.
Redfield did not suspect a thing. With a strange expression, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, interesting. Truly interesting!
"I never expected something like this to exist in this world.
"Could there really be gods in this world? And for some unknown purpose, they sent me here to be your teacher?
"Hahaha, how absurd."
Seeing that Redfield no longer intended to attack, Wang Chuan immediately relaxed.
After all, if he could avoid dying, he did not want to seek death. He was not a masochist.
He glanced at Redfield, who was laughing heartily while actually forcing himself to remain calm, his eyes flickering as he considered how to face the situation before him.
Wang Chuan did not rush to speak. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, adjusted his state, and only then spoke.
"Although you should already know my name from before, let me introduce myself anyway.
"My name is Wang Chuan. Please guide me from now on."
Redfield finally turned his attention to Wang Chuan and gave a slight nod.
After this brief period of thought, he had also figured it out. If some lofty god truly controlled all this—
Then he could only follow the arrangement.
After all, he did not want to be trapped in this place for the rest of his life, amusing himself by tormenting and killing a weakling like Wang Chuan.
He was merely reclusive, not a pervert.
Besides, he was only in his forties. He was still young and could still make his mark on the seas.
However, Redfield had roamed the seas for so many years. He was unwilling to simply pass his ultimate techniques on to someone for nothing.
After pondering for a moment, Redfield said,
"I can teach you Observation Haki.
"But on one condition: if you see anything concerning my future, you must tell me in advance.
"I do not want to end up like that unlucky fellow Zephyr, with so many things left unclear in the end."
Wang Chuan nodded slightly in agreement, but an involuntary thought arose in his mind.
It seemed the other party's memory-reading ability was not omnipotent. He had not read through what I thought about all night.
He might not have even noticed the times I complained about my previous life. Could this be the cheat's protection mechanism?
As for whether thinking such things would be discovered, Wang Chuan had already given up worrying about it.
People could be fooled, heaven could be fooled, but one's own heart was the hardest to deceive. He could hold back the complaints on his lips, but how could he so easily suppress the complaints in his heart?
Redfield was also a man of swift and decisive action.
Seeing Wang Chuan agree, he turned toward the small grove near the shore. With a flash, he appeared there, casually snapped off a straight branch, then returned to Wang Chuan's side and tossed it to him.
Wang Chuan caught it subconsciously and asked in confusion,
"Sir, what does this mean?"
Redfield glanced at Wang Chuan, then rolled his eyes irritably.
"Since you know who I am, you should know I came up through unorthodox means.
"I first comprehended my Haki through swordsmanship training.
"I should be asking you instead: since you learned Armament Haki from Zephyr, why did you not learn Observation Haki along the way, forcing me to go through all this trouble?"
Clearly, Redfield had formed a coherent explanation, taking Wang Chuan calling out his name from the start as a special talent Wang Chuan had used when revealing the future to Zephyr.
Wang Chuan smiled awkwardly, then explained his speculation regarding the Strongest Haki Inheritance, subtly flattering Redfield as the strongest user of Observation Haki.
Of course, Wang Chuan also complained inwardly.
No matter how strong your future-sight Haki is, once you run into Observation Killer, you will have to behave yourself.
Then Wang Chuan began training in the Pirate World's swordsmanship from scratch.
Strictly speaking, though, Wang Chuan was not entirely without a foundation.
After all, Tempest Kick from the Six Styles, along with Finger Pistol's advanced technique, Flying Finger Pistol, could both be considered altered versions of a sword master's flying slashes.
Combined with Wang Chuan's absolute control over his body through Life Return, he learned the basics of swordsmanship quite quickly.
Yet Redfield's expression remained calm. He showed none of the delight one might feel upon discovering a swordsmanship prodigy.
For one thing, he was not a swordsmanship fanatic like Mihawk.
For another, his primary purpose was simply to use this to teach Wang Chuan Observation Haki.
Most importantly, in Redfield's eyes, this was merely a transaction between him and Wang Chuan. There was no bond between master and disciple, so naturally he felt no joy over it.
Still, Redfield was in a fairly good mood overall.
Judging from Wang Chuan's current performance, he should quickly master Observation Haki. Once Wang Chuan earned his approval, Redfield could return to the Pirate World sooner.
After all, he did not want to waste more than a decade in this place like Zephyr had. Even if he would not grow old, that was unacceptable.
Thus, once Wang Chuan could skillfully use basic sword techniques and send out a flying slash with the wooden branch in his hand—
Redfield began teaching Wang Chuan the version of Observation Haki from before its system had fully taken shape.
Comprehend the Breath of All Things—the State of Iron-Cutting of a sword master.
Before you continue