"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing rang out, and Zoro's sword, which was about to strike Luffy, was being held firmly by a black arm, unable to advance an inch.
"How is this possible?" Zoro's eyes widened.
"Why is it impossible? You think you're so awesome just because you've mastered the Realm of Cutting Iron and become a true swordsman?"
"You still have a long way to go!" Xia Chen said calmly, but inwardly he was sweating bullets.
Fortunately, Zoro had just mastered the Realm of Cutting Iron; otherwise, with his still rudimentary Armament Haki, he might not have been able to catch Zoro's sword with his bare hands.
Then he looked at Zoro and Luffy and said irritably, "Are you two trying to kill each other with this fighting style?"
Xia Chen's original intention was just to watch Zoro and Luffy fight, but he didn't expect them to fight so fiercely, especially Zoro's last slash. If it had actually hit Luffy, Luffy would have been seriously injured even if he didn't die.
"So what? I will never forgive an ungrateful person!" Luffy shouted.
"I'm too lazy to explain to you, just let me kill you!" Zoro retorted, equally defiant.
Then the two started to fight again.
"You two... you're asking for it, aren't you?!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Xia Chen punched both of them directly.
Since reasoning with them won't work, we'll have to resort to force! That way they'll calm down faster.
And as Xia Chen had predicted...
After a period of time~
"Haha, Zoro, you should have said so earlier! If you had, I wouldn't have fought you. Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"You son of a bitch, didn't I say so? Did you even give me a chance to explain? You just punched me in the face right away!"
Luffy's words only made things worse, as Zoro got angry. It's unclear who was the one who wouldn't listen to reason just now.
"Don't worry about it, Zoro ~ It was just an accident~" Luffy said embarrassedly.
"Alright, since everything's alright, let's go back and meet up with them first!" Xia Chen said calmly.
"Let's go!" Zoro said, starting to walk towards a certain place. But he hadn't taken more than a few steps when Xia Chen said:
" Zoro... you're going the wrong way!"
"Cough cough!"
Zoro coughed casually, then turned around and continued walking as if nothing was amiss.
Seeing this, Xia Chen shook his head and followed Zoro. He had to stay behind Zoro, otherwise he would disappear while walking.
As for Robin, she had already disappeared when he came to stop Luffy and the others from fighting.
But it doesn't matter, since he wouldn't have done anything to Robin anyway.
Otherwise, who will translate the Poneglyph without Robin?
Xia Chen!
As Xia Chen was walking, he suddenly heard Luffy call his name, and he turned around in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"Can you... teach me how to fight? I want to become stronger!"
The fight with Zoro just now Luffy realize that Zoro has been improving without him even noticing, while he hasn't made any progress at all.
Zoro's attack made him feel the threat of death. If Xia Chen hadn't stopped him, he might have been seriously injured by now!
Upon hearing this, Xia Chen stared intently at Luffy, remaining silent for a long time.
Luffy stared intently at Xia Chen, his eyes filled with determination.
After some time...
Come tomorrow!
After saying that, Xia Chen turned and continued walking forward.
Luffy smiled happily after receiving Xia Chen's answer, filled with anticipation for tomorrow.
Xia Chen was thinking as he walked.
We really need to find a way to improve Luffy and his crew's strength. The enemies they're facing now are starting to Luffy them feel exhausted.
Thinking of this Xia Chen couldn't help but sigh.
Sigh, looks like he's in for a busy time!
There was no other reason why he didn't help Luffy and his crew improve their strength before; it was simply because he was too lazy.
But there's no other way now; we really have to help them so they can more easily overcome the series of difficulties they'll encounter next.
However, Zoro's current strength is significantly greater than at this point in the original story. It's worth noting that in the original story, he only mastered the Realm of Cutting Iron during his battle with Mr. 1 in Alabasta.
Now that it's been moved up quite a bit, if we wait until we get to Alabasta to fight Mr. 1, wouldn't it be a piece of cake?
Thinking about this, Xia Chen inexplicably felt motivated. He worked hard to improve Luffy and his crew's strength. What would happen when they arrived in Alabasta?
I'm kind of looking forward to it!
The next day~
"Mr. Xia Chen, do I really not need to disguise myself as Princess Vivi to distract the pursuers?"
"No, no, how many times have I said it? No!!!"
Xia Chen stared intently at Igaram with eyes full of rage, veins bulging on his forehead, looking like he was about to devour someone.
" Igaram, are you fucking crazy? Why are you so annoying?"
You've asked this at least ten times since last night!
"Now, I'm saying it to you one last time!"
"You don't need to do anything, just stay in this town, understand?"
"With me here, even Crocodile couldn't do anything to you. Do you understand?"
"I... I understand!" Igaram raised his hands, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
There was nothing he could do; he didn't want to worry so much, but... he was still panicking!
That's Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai.
Thinking of this, Igaram couldn't help but want to ask again, but when Xia Chen saw his hesitant expression, his face immediately darkened.
"If you dare utter another word, I'll kill you right now, you believe me?"
Igaram swallowed back everything he wanted to say, and watched as Xia Chen nodded frantically to show that he understood.
"Phew~"
Seeing him like this Xia Chen let out a deep breath.
This annoyed him so much that his blood pressure spiked, and he almost had to take out a ventilator!
Then Xia Chen turned to the crowd and said, "Come with me!"
"Me... me too?" Usopp asked tremblingly.
He learned from Luffy that Xia Chen was going to teach them how to fight today, and since fighting was involved, injuries were inevitable.
So Usopp is a little scared right now!
"Nonsense! Stop dawdling and hurry up!" With that, Xia Chen headed out of town.
Luffy and the others followed him out. Usopp was reluctant, but he had no choice; everyone else was going, and he couldn't be the only one not to go, could he?
Then the group of people walked out of town in a grand procession. In addition to Xia Chen and his group, Vivi, Igaram, Mr. 9, and Miss Sunday also went.
Although Xia Chen didn't invite them, he didn't object to them going either!
Then they could go watch from the sidelines and learn something, right?