Discussing the Way of the Sword, the Studious Hawkeye

The corners of Ye Yu's mouth curved upward. When dealing with someone like Hawkeye Mihawk, defeating him was the best approach!

At last, everything had settled down, and Ye Yu withdrew the Conqueror's Haki barrier around Urouge.

Urouge was still immersed in deep shock. He could not help swallowing, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Good grief, was that a battle between the two strongest swordsmen...?"

Looking around, the entire island was covered in cracks and scars. Most of the forest had been destroyed, leaving only bare stumps.

Especially that terrifying strike from Captain Ye Yu—it had actually split the entire island in half...

In Urouge's heart, such terrifying power had always seemed like something only a god could possess!

Could the Ye Yu before him be the reincarnation of a god?

As Urouge's gaze, filled with endless reverence, fixed on Ye Yu, Ye Yu smiled and began admiring his status panel.

"Congratulations, Host, for defeating the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk. Reward: 400 Conqueror's Haki points!"

"Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability upgraded to Advanced! Ice-Ice Fruit ability upgraded to Advanced!"

Host: Ye Yu

Conqueror's Haki Attribute Points: 6806

Devil Fruit Abilities: Tremor Ability (Advanced), Magma Ability (Advanced), Search Ability (Intermediate)

Glint Ability (Advanced), Ice Ability (Advanced), Appearance Ability (Intermediate)

Devil Fruits: Tanuki-Tanuki Fruit, three artificial Devil Fruits, African Hyena-Hyena Fruit

Skills: Blink (100 meters), Conqueror's Haki Passive Defense Barrier

Almighty Push (self-created)

Items: Healing medicine, ham, burgers, cola, red wine, turkey, salad...

He... had become stronger again!

His Conqueror's Haki was about to break through 7,000 points, and the strongest Paramecia had been upgraded as well!

The Devil Fruit abilities of all three Admirals had also been upgraded to Advanced!

He was... even stronger now!

Facing Hawkeye Mihawk's swordsman etiquette, Ye Yu spoke with a smile.

"Mihawk, forget all this formal nonsense. Do you have any good wine and meat? I'm starving."

Hawkeye Mihawk was stunned for a moment before smiling.

"Fortunately, my castle is quite far from here and has adequate protection. It should not have been damaged. There is some excellent red wine inside."

"Perfect. I've been greatly looking forward to discussing swordsmanship with Mr. Ye Yu." When Hawkeye Mihawk mentioned swordsmanship, dazzling light flashed in his eyes.

After arriving at Hawkeye Mihawk's castle, the two sat facing each other with a glass of red wine each, savoring the fine wine as they began discussing the Way of the Sword.

As a transmigrator, how could Ye Yu possibly understand the Way of the Sword?

So he started making things up, telling Hawkeye Mihawk about every martial arts move from the novels he had read in his previous life—Dugu Nine Swords, Myriad Swords Return to the Source, Sword Twenty-Three, Six Meridian Divine Sword...

The moment Hawkeye Mihawk heard Ye Yu describe the sword techniques of that martial arts world, he became incredibly interested, his eyes shining brightly.

His expression turned ecstatic. Sitting upright with great seriousness, he listened intently to Ye Yu's nonsense.

Beside them, Urouge pricked up his ears to listen, but soon discovered that the conversation between Hawkeye Mihawk and Captain Ye Yu was simply too profound...

It was like listening to a heavenly scripture. He could not understand any of it!

Urouge was completely crushed. He had not even come close to touching the threshold of a true powerhouse!

Perona, who was secretly watching from the bedroom, wore a shocked expression.

Perona's eyes widened round, and her mouth fell open.

When had Hawkeye Mihawk, that arrogant fellow, become so humble?

He was actually listening seriously while a young man talked at length?

The usually silent Hawkeye Mihawk had completely shed his former aloof image and was actually chatting eagerly with this young man?

Could the violent shaking across the entire island earlier have been caused by this young man?

If that terrifying tremor had not been a natural disaster but man-made, why did it feel... even more terrifying than Hawkeye Mihawk's slashes?

"Mihawk, you understand now, right? This is the essence of swordsmanship!"

"Having no moves is better than having moves! No sword is needed, only intent!"

"Freely controlling your own Sword Intent—that is the highest realm of swordsmanship."

"At that level, swordsmanship has already transcended the realm of technique and risen directly into the realm of the Way!" Ye Yu said as he sipped his fine grape wine, continuing to spout nonsense.

Dazzling light filled Hawkeye Mihawk's eyes.

He had gained far too much today!

After hearing Ye Yu's explanation of swordsmanship, Hawkeye Mihawk finally realized how insignificant he was.

In terms of knowledge about swordsmanship, compared to Ye Yu, he was like an infant facing a giant.

Previously, when his swordsmanship could no longer improve, he had blamed it on reaching the end of the Way of the Sword. Looking at it now, how ignorant that had been...

Only after meeting Ye Yu today did he realize that he was still very, very far from the end of the Way of the Sword!

He still had room to improve!

"What you said is absolutely right! There are far too few great swordsmen like you nowadays, willing to share all their swordsmanship secrets without reservation!"

Hawkeye Mihawk said excitedly.

As the world's greatest swordsman, he had seen countless swordsmanship experts.

Even worthless sword techniques were treasured like precious heirlooms by their owners. There really were not many great swordsmen like Ye Yu, who would directly tell others the secret of their strongest Sword Intent!

Seeing Hawkeye Mihawk's reaction, Ye Yu nodded in satisfaction and secretly laughed to himself.

It seemed those martial arts novels he had read before had not been for nothing. He had completely fooled this sword-crazed Mihawk!

What sword techniques did he know? He simply used Conqueror's Haki Manifestation to form a sword, then relied on his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki to forcefully attack.

"It's nothing. After all, I came here to win you over."

"Discussing the Way of the Sword is no big deal." Ye Yu waved his hand and spoke indifferently.

Hawkeye Mihawk stood up with a solemn expression. Even if Ye Yu had only done it to win him over, the courage he had shown as a swordsman by sharing his insights into the Way of the Sword was truly admirable.

Walking over to Ye Yu, Hawkeye Mihawk directly handed him the Shichibukai summons issued by the Marines.

Holding Hawkeye Mihawk's summons, Ye Yu narrowed his eyes.

The Marines were truly cunning. For this war, they had gathered every force they possibly could!

Unlike the summons sent to Jinbe, Hawkeye Mihawk's summons did not contain the words "mandatory summons."

Hawkeye Mihawk retained the right to choose, and the Marine Government's summons to him had even been worded half as a request.

Because of Hawkeye Mihawk's immense strength and special status, unlike ordinary Shichibukai, he did not even have a bounty and enjoyed his own freedom in the pirate world.

Whether he went to help the Marines depended entirely on Hawkeye Mihawk's mood!

Even if he rejected the summons, the Marines would not make things difficult for Mihawk.

"Do you think I should accept this summons or not?" Hawkeye Mihawk asked carefully.

If he accepted it, he could betray the Marines. If he did not, then he could simply join Ye Yu's side and work with the Whitebeard Pirates to fight the Marines!

As the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk would not analyze the situation like Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo. Mihawk acted entirely according to his own feelings and had always been that way!

Ye Yu swirled his wineglass, took a sip of red wine, and smiled faintly.

"Of course, join the Marines. Then betray them once the war begins. Wouldn't that be more entertaining?" Ye Yu said with a smile.

Ye Yu could already imagine Sengoku the Buddha's wonderful expression during the upcoming Marineford War, when he saw that most of the Shichibukai he had worked so hard to gather had actually turned against him!

Hawkeye Mihawk smiled after hearing this.

Since Ye Yu wanted him to suddenly betray them during the war, then he would do as Ye Yu said!

This young man had helped him break through a swordsmanship bottleneck that had troubled him for more than a decade. What was there to fear about fighting the entire Marine force for him?

Hawkeye Mihawk looked at the young man before him, his heart stirring. It seemed the seas ahead would become more and more interesting!