Black lines instantly appeared across Tonjit's face. Clearly embarrassed, he hurriedly forced a change of subject, turning to Luffy with a grateful smile. "Young man, thank you so much for saving me! If you hadn't acted in time, I probably would have fallen onto this ice. If that had happened, I might have died from the fall."
Hearing Tonjit's thanks, Luffy scratched his head a little sheepishly and grinned. "Ahaha! It was nothing. I just caught you, that's all. Don't worry about it."
Looking at the lively young people before him, Tonjit couldn't help feeling touched. He lowered his gaze to the ice beneath his feet, slowly crouched down, and gently stroked its cold surface, as though checking whether all of this was real.
"Ten years... ten whole years..." Tonjit murmured, a hint of emotion and world-weariness in his voice. "I can finally... finally stand properly on the ground again..."
Just then, however, Liu Qing walked over at an ill-timed moment. Seeing Tonjit crouching there stroking the ice, he suddenly said, "Uh, sorry to interrupt again, but could the spot you're touching be where your poop landed? Probably not a good idea to stroke it like that, right?"
Liu Qing's words left everyone stunned, and the atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Robin hurriedly tugged at him in exasperation and scolded, "Could you be any more disgusting? Stop ruining the mood!"
Tonjit withdrew his hand expressionlessly, as though nothing had happened, completely ignoring the man who looked perfectly serious but behaved rather strangely. He slowly rose from his seat, clasped his hands behind his back, cleared his throat, and said unhurriedly, "Ahem... Young people, come inside and have a seat."
With that, Tonjit turned and walked toward the little house. When he reached the entrance and saw the shattered door and the