Fang Yu's consciousness gradually emerged from the haze. He felt a bone-piercing chill seep through his entire body.
"Hey! Wake up!" A rough voice rang beside his ear. Then Fang Yu felt a bucket of icy water dumped over his head, jolting him completely awake.
His eyes slowly opened, his vision gradually sharpening from a blur.
He found himself in a dim, yin-cold Prison Cell, surrounded by freezing stone walls. The air was heavy with dampness and mildew.
He shook his head, flinging the droplets from his face.
Looking closely, he saw a dark-skinned guard standing before him.
The man held an iron rod and wore a malicious smile.
"Talk! What did Iron Head Torin Fuller tell you? Otherwise—" The guard rapped the prison bars with his iron rod, producing a dull clang. The threat needed no further explanation.
Fang Yu wiped the water from his face and looked coldly at the guard. His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. "Otherwise what?"
The guard sneered, cruelty flashing in his eyes. "Heh heh, you'll be hurting soon enough!"
He waved the iron rod in his hand, seemingly relishing the power to beat people without consequence.
"I have nothing to confess." Fang Yu's voice was calm and resolute. He stared directly at the guard without the slightest hint of fear.
Even if he died, he would never reveal what Iron Head Torin Fuller had told him.
That man was the benefactor who had taught him Iron Body!
The guard's expression darkened. He clearly had not expected this prisoner to react that way.
The guard's face grew even gloomier, and he decided to teach Fang Yu a lesson.
Raising the iron rod high, he smashed it down toward Fang Yu's head with all his strength!
The expected sound of shattering bone never came.
Instead, the iron rod struck Fang Yu's head with a dull metallic clang, as if it had hit a solid block of iron.
"You still dare use Iron Body! You really don't know what's good for you!" the guard roared angrily.
Realizing he could not subdue Fang Yu with his own strength, the guard immediately called over several colleagues.
Together, they carried a bucket of ice water and dumped it over Fang Yu's head without hesitation.
Though Iron Body could protect against blows, it could not ward off bone-piercing cold.
Icy water streamed down Fang Yu's hair, and his entire body was immediately engulfed by a freezing chill.
Fang Yu shivered all over, his teeth chattering, but he still clenched his jaw and did not let out a single groan.
Seeing this, the guards decided to go further. They turned on the air conditioner in the cell and set it to the lowest temperature.
Cold wind howled from the unit. Fang Yu felt a piercing chill, as if even his blood were about to freeze.
His breathing grew ragged, and his body began trembling even more violently against his will.
The guards watched Fang Yu suffer, cruel smiles spreading across their faces.
"We'll freeze you for a week first. Let's see whether you behave then!"
With a creak, the cell door shut.
A voice rang out in Fang Yu's mind.
Stephen Fang: "I can't take this! I can't stand it anymore! I can't watch this! Let's fight them! Killing one means we break even; killing two means we profit!"
Pirate World Fang Yu slowly opened his eyes. "No. I still haven't figured out Soru."
"Iron Head Torin Fuller was thrown into Blazing Hell just for teaching me the Six Powers. If I don't master Soru and synchronize it to you all..."
"I'd be letting Torin Fuller down, and I'd be letting all of you down too."
Shivering, he continued, "Observation Haki, Armament Haki, the Six Powers, Devil Fruits..."
"This world has far too many things that can greatly improve our chances of survival."
"I can't steal your hope for a moment of satisfaction. I have to lie low—even if that means being a turtle, I'm willing!"
Inside a private room at a gambling house, Uchiha Yu, bare from the waist up, suddenly welled up with tears.
The busty Medical Ninja in front of him frowned.
"Kid, endure it! If you can't even bear this little pain, what kind of ninja do you think you can be?"
"Lady Tsunade." Uchiha Yu nodded slightly. "I can endure it. I can."
"Smack!"
Tsunade slapped Uchiha Yu's back.
He let out a "Wah!" and spat out a puddle of black blood.
Kakashi Hatake hurried inside.
Tsunade put away her tools. "Orochimaru's curse mark is very complicated. I can't remove it in a short time, but at least now, this child's life is no longer in danger."
Kakashi Hatake dipped his head slightly. "Much obliged."
After saying that, he flicked Uchiha Yu on the forehead. "Why aren't you thanking Lady Tsunade yet? If we hadn't happened to meet her here, your life might have been over!"
"Oh..." Uchiha Yu gave an unwilling bow, then handed over the large bag of money Kakashi Hatake had lent him.
"Thank you for your trouble."
In the corner, Shizune, who was holding Tonton, accepted the money. Without even counting it, she put it away in her bag.
This was how Princess Tsunade had survived after leaving Konoha for more than a decade!
What did the title of "cash cow" depend on?
It did not depend on her bloodline as Hashirama Senju's granddaughter.
Nor did it depend on her substantial family wealth.
Much less on her reputation as one of the Three Sannin.
What she relied on was this superb Medical Ninjutsu!
Treating people was incredibly profitable!
Uchiha Yu even suspected that Hiruzen Sarutobi's financial large hole had been filled with Tsunade's "milk" after she took office.
"Goodbye!"
Watching the busty ninja leave, Uchiha Yu glared indignantly at Kakashi Hatake. "You're way too prejudiced against Orochimaru! I felt like I was full of strength back then! There was nothing bad about it! Why did you have her seal it away?"
Kakashi Hatake gave Uchiha Yu another head chop. "The Heaven Curse Mark will turn you into neither man nor monster! When that happens, you'll become a killing machine with no self-awareness! Didn't you see those five kids? How disgusting they were!"
"Hmph. I only care whether I can become stronger. Nothing else matters!"
"Orochimaru is a Rogue Ninja." Kakashi Hatake rarely looked at Uchiha Yu so seriously. "If power blinds you and leads you down a path you should not take..."
"Then I will personally kill you."
Uchiha Yu straightened his body and saluted Kakashi Hatake. "Sir, as long as I can become stronger, I can love every inch of Konoha's land too! Let my Will of Fire burn! Can you teach me a new jutsu? I want to learn offensive Water Release! Please!"
"Is he really normal in this state?"
"N-No idea. First... first spray some of this Medical Spray on him."
In the corridor of the Engineers' main hall, Zhang Jie and Daniels watched chunks of flesh grow from the thirty-centimeter gash on Fang Yu's back. It was both disgusting and horrifying!
This obviously had nothing to do with Fu Ming. It was Fang Yu's own problem.
Then there were those faint, tattoo-like spots on him. No matter how they looked at it, Fang Yu seemed possessed by a ghost...
I'll compile a list to thank everyone for the Monthly Passes. Today is also third watch. Thank you all for your support!
Thank you to my operations officer Rain Stops, Sky Clears for the 600 coin reward.
Thank you to Just a Passing Pika for rewarding Main God Fang Yu with 500 coins.
Thank you to Master of Heaven, Celestial Treasure Venerable for the 700 coin reward.
Thank you to Old Ghost 13 for the 100 coin reward.
Before you continue