Viper. Monya

Luo Ze moved quickly, and the journey to old craftsman Yulis's residence was not far either. In just over ten minutes, Luo Ze had gone from the restaurant to the old craftsman's estate.

Upon reaching the old craftsman's estate, Luo Ze entered directly as usual.

To Luo Ze's surprise, the old craftsman's estate looked peaceful, no different from half a month ago. Nothing seemed amiss.

Luo Ze opened the wooden door and walked straight inside.

The moment he entered the wooden house, Luo Ze noticed the state of the interior.

Old craftsman Yulis's wooden house was in quite a mess. Many sections of the brown floorboards had been damaged. There were several sword marks on the floor, all of them very fresh, likely made within the past few days.

"So it really was just as they said..." Luo Ze murmured to himself.

It seemed that the passersby's descriptions had been true.

Luo Ze continued forward and found old craftsman Julian lying in bed asleep. A white bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and he had an IV drip in his hand. He appeared to have been seriously injured.

He continued forward, but before he had taken two steps, an icy killing intent suddenly emerged.

Luo Ze raised his gaze, a glint flashing through his black eyes. He suddenly smiled. It had been a long time since he had encountered such powerful killing intent.

Smack!

A loud crack suddenly rang out as the floorboards were struck, sending wood chips flying.

Almost at the same moment the sound rang out, a long pink whip lashed down viciously at Luo Ze from above.

"A whip as a weapon? Interesting."

Luo Ze chuckled. It was rare for him to see someone choose a whip as their weapon.

The whip rapidly closed in on Luo Ze. His eyes remained fixed on it, and he noticed that the slender whip was made from high-grade material, with sharp barbs along every section. The barbs looked sticky, so they had likely been coated in poison by its user.

"How vicious, using poison."

Luo Ze remarked blandly, casually shifting aside and easily avoiding the sudden lash.

"Hmph!"

The whip's owner snorted coldly and flicked her arm. The pink whip became as nimble as a serpent, winding around Luo Ze several times before abruptly tightening.

"So weak! I'm done playing with you."

Luo Ze yawned boredly. An attack of this level could not stir up even the slightest fighting spirit in him.

"Shave."

Luo Ze spoke indifferently.

Then, a strange sound suddenly rang out. Though the whip constricted fiercely, it only bound Luo Ze's afterimage.

As for Luo Ze himself, in that instant, he had shifted six or seven steps behind her.

The woman controlling the pink whip had been standing where he landed.

Luo Ze had suddenly appeared behind her, and she had not reacted at all. Before she even understood what had happened, her two delicate hands were already caught in Luo Ze's grip, leaving her unable to move.

Luo Ze lowered his head onto the woman's shoulder and inhaled the faint fragrance of her hair. With a teasing smile, he said, "What a lovely scent."

This woman was the beautiful woman Luo Ze had seen last time, the one who had poured tea for old craftsman Yulis.

Caught by Luo Ze, the woman struggled with all her strength, but Luo Ze was far stronger than her, so her struggle had no effect.

"Let go of me!"

Her fragrant shoulder being invaded by Luo Ze made the roots of her ears flush red. The contact between her delicate skin and Luo Ze's chin gave her an electric sensation. It felt as though dozens of ants were crawling back and forth over her shoulder, unbearably itchy. Yet, out of pride, she refused to yield.

"Mr. Luo Ze, please show mercy. Monya is my guard. Too much has happened these past few days, so perhaps she mistakenly took you for an enemy."

Julian coughed a few times and spoke to Luo Ze in a somewhat weak voice.

Then, he slowly sat up from the bed. Looking at Monya, who had been subdued by Luo Ze, he felt deeply shocked.

In his memory, this was the first time Monya had been defeated so quickly.

Monya had always been extremely strong. In the South Blue, there were very few people capable of defeating her. Even Killer, Kid's subordinate from a few days ago, had spent considerable time fighting Monya and had only narrowly won in the end.

Yet someone of Monya's strength had been instantly defeated in a single exchange before Luo Ze!

If Luo Ze had possessed any killing intent, Monya would have died beneath his sword in that instant.

What terrifying strength!

Yulis felt that if Luo Ze were willing to help him, many matters could be resolved with ease.

"Hehe, old craftsman, you really look quite pathetic!"

Luo Ze was not the sort of fool controlled by his lower half. Since the old craftsman had spoken up, he gave him some face and loosened his hold on Monya slightly.

He continued, "And old craftsman! This lady is more than just a guard, isn't she? She is the renowned pirate hunter of the South Blue, Viper Monya! I never expected such a terrifying figure to be by your side. It seems you aren't such a simple shipwright either."

Luo Ze smiled as he looked meaningfully at Yulis.

"Hmph!" After Luo Ze released her, Monya's expression turned extremely ugly. She grabbed her whip with one hand and lashed it straight at Luo Ze.

This strike showed no mercy. If it hit Luo Ze, it would likely tear his flesh open.

"I hate women who won't let things go."

Luo Ze suddenly frowned.

His figure vanished again, turning into an afterimage. He dodged Monya's whip without suspense, and when he reappeared behind her, he casually placed his sword against her throat.

"Your strength isn't bad, but if I wanted to kill you, one sword strike would be enough."

Luo Ze spoke calmly.

Feeling the icy touch against her neck, Monya was somewhat terrified. She felt as though a beast had fixed its gaze on her, as if she could lose her life at any moment.

"Mr. Luo Ze, please spare her! Monya is immature and offended you. Please forgive her."

The old craftsman Yulis was startled by Luo Ze's actions and hurriedly pleaded with him, afraid that Luo Ze might be displeased and bring his sword down.

That would be truly disastrous. Monya had always protected him, and he could not afford to lose her. During that incident a few days ago, if not for Monya, he might have died at the hands of that pirate called Killer.

"Hmph." Luo Ze snorted and withdrew his sword. "I'll spare you for the old craftsman's sake. If there's a next time, you'll die."

Monya's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground.

"Now we should discuss business. Old craftsman, I've come to collect the ship as agreed."

"My ship should be finished by now, right?"

Luo Ze walked toward the old craftsman, his tone calm.

Yet upon hearing Luo Ze's voice, the old craftsman felt as though his life were hanging by a thread.