LRAB Page 81
Page 81
As night fell, the temperature plummeted, a thin layer of frost formed on the rock face, and fingers turned purple from the cold. A slight misstep could send one tumbling into the bottomless sea.
At dawn on the fourth day, the four finally reached the top of the cliff.
A fierce wind, carrying ice and snow, swept towards us, creating a stark contrast with the scorching sea below.
The height is not cold.
Standing atop the red earth continent, the sight before you is breathtaking.
In the distance, the buildings of Mary Geoise appeared and disappeared in the morning light. Pure white palaces were scattered among the verdant hills, their golden domes reflecting the rising sun. Neat roads meandered through meticulously manicured gardens, and fountains sprayed sparkling water in the center of the square.
"This is... the Holy Land?" Sabo murmured.
In stark contrast to the treacherous rock face they had just climbed, this area was like a paradise. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and occasionally, the melodious sound of bells could be heard from afar.
Kuina noticed the patrolling guards. They were dressed in fine uniforms and marched in orderly steps, quite unlike the navy she had seen in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Robin said softly, "It's said that this is the center of the World Government, where the Five Elders, the highest leaders, reside, silently protecting the safety of all the Celestial Dragons."
Sabo gazed at the majestic buildings in the distance, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "How about we..."
"It's not the right time yet," Liu Jiu calmly interrupted him. "Your goal is to travel to all the islands along the Grand Line."
Sabo paused for a moment, then calmed down: "You're right. Our initial goal was to circumnavigate the Grand Line and experience different cultures and customs."
Kuina gripped the Purple Cloud tightly: "It's not too late to explore the secrets here when we're strong enough."
Robin nodded slightly: "Acting rashly now will only backfire, and we might even attract the attention of the World Government sooner or later."
The four moved swiftly along the hidden path, leaving the silhouette of Mary Geoise behind. The seas of the New World unfolded ahead, and a new special log pointer began to point towards their next destination.
Sabo glanced back one last time: "What a magnificent sight it would be if this place were ever completely destroyed!"
But now, a whole new world awaits them to explore.
As the four began their ascent down the other side of the Red Line, a pair of deep black eyes watched them through the window of the palace at the highest point of Mary Geoise.
The owner of those eyes stood quietly in the shadows, watching four tiny figures slowly move along the rock face.
On the rock face, Liu Jiu paused almost imperceptibly. He sensed the gaze, but made no sound, instead choosing his footing more carefully.
Kuina keenly sensed Liu Jiu's unusual behavior: "Uncle?"
"Continue." Liu Jiu's voice remained steady, but his climbing speed noticeably slowed. "Keep the rhythm."
Sabo and Robin realized something as well, and the three of them tacitly adjusted their breathing, keeping their auras to a minimum. That gaze lingered on them for a moment, as if scrutinizing them, or perhaps weighing their options.
Surprisingly, the expected alarm did not sound. The gaze slowly shifted away, as if it had lost interest in these "little insects."
But Liu Jiu knew that they had already been noticed.
"Slow down," Liu Jiu instructed in a low voice. "Make sure every step is steady."
What should have been a three-day journey took them a full seven days.
When the four finally arrived at the bottom of the Red Earth, they were greeted by an endless expanse of azure sea.
Robin frowned slightly as she looked at the turbulent sea. As a Devil Fruit user, the sea was her natural enemy.
"Robin, get on my back," Liu Jiu turned to look at her, "Hold on tight."
Robin nodded, leaned on Liu Jiu's back, and wrapped his arms around his neck.
Kuina and Sabo exchanged a glance, then resignedly followed Liu Jiu and jumped into the sea.
"Uncle, where are you going to swim to?" Sabo asked as he swam.
Kuina did the same, paddling while looking around: "I need to find at least an island or a boat."
"You can't even handle this little bit of difficulty?! Use all your Observation Haki to keep up, don't lose them!"
Liu Jiu carried Robin on his back, his swimming speed undiminished, heading clearly in a certain direction. Seawater occasionally washed over Robin's body, bringing waves of weakness, but she remained conscious throughout.
An hour later, Sabo's breathing became rapid: "How much longer?"
Kuina's limbs began to ache. Swimming in the vast ocean was practically gambling with her life.
Eight hours later…
Just as the two were about to exhaust themselves, the outline of a pirate ship appeared on the horizon.
Liu Jiu adjusted his direction and swam straight towards the ship.
"Uncle...it's a ship, a pirate ship." Sabo perked up.
As the four approached, the pirates on the ship stared in surprise at these uninvited guests who had emerged from the sea.
"Can I borrow your boat?" Liu Jiu, carrying Robin on his back, easily leaped onto the deck.
Kuina and Sabo also climbed onto the ship, collapsing on the deck and panting heavily. This sea marathon had finally come to an end.
Chapter 94 Anxin's Thoughts on Seizing the Pirate Ship
When Liu Jiu and his three companions, soaking wet, stepped onto the deck, the pirates on board immediately stirred. Several burly men gripped their weapons and surrounded them with hostile eyes.
"Where did this guy come from? Daring to board our ship like that!"
Just as the atmosphere became increasingly tense, a calm voice came from the direction of the cabin: "Stop."
The pirates quickly made way for him, and a middle-aged captain with a thick beard slowly stepped out. His sharp gaze swept over the four of them, lingering particularly long on Liu Jiu, who was carrying Robin.
"Anyone who can swim in the waters of the New World..." the captain stroked his chin, "is either a madman or a strongman."
He glanced at Kuina and Sabo, who were slumped on the deck panting, then at Liu Jiu, who remained calm and composed, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
"Prepare dry clothes and food for the guests," the captain ordered, then gave Liu Jiu a meaningful smile. "Since you've come from afar, why don't you tell us where you're from?"
Just as Sabo was about to speak, Liu Jiu gently shook his head: "Just passing by."
The captain didn't press the matter, but simply instructed his men to take care of the guests. However, he maintained a wary distance, secretly observing the four uninvited guests.
Pirates who can survive in the New World all understand one principle: if you are not the strongest, you should avoid provoking trouble if possible.
Over the next few days, Liu Jiu and his three companions completely treated the pirate ship as their own territory.
They not only enjoyed the ship's food without a care in the world, but also occupied some of the best crew cabins. Kuina and Robin shared one, Sabo had one all to himself, and Liu Jiu chose the captain's spare bedroom.
"This...this is too arrogant!" A pirate couldn't help but complain as he looked at Sabo sunbathing on the deck.
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" another pirate quickly pulled him back. "Didn't you see that guy carrying someone? Anyone who can swim in the New World is definitely not an ordinary person."
The worst off were the pirates whose rooms were taken. At night, they could only wrap themselves in blankets and squeeze into a corner of the corridor to sleep, shivering from the cold when the sea breeze blew.
"My bed..." A burly man hugged his knees, gazing longingly at his former room.
The captain stood in front of the helm, watching this scene with a wry smile. He had tried a few times and found that although the four men occupied the rooms, they never caused any trouble, so he let them be.
"Consider it paying protection money," the captain consoled himself. "At least we shouldn't encounter any trouble along the way."
Sabo even started giving instructions to the ship's cooks: "This roast meat isn't cooked long enough; remember to roast it for two minutes longer next time."
Kuina practiced her swordsmanship on the deck every day without fail, and her fierce swordsmanship secretly frightened the pirates who watched.
Robin borrowed all the books on the ship and sat at the bow reading quietly.
Liu Jiu...slept most of the time, as if trying to make up for all the energy he had used up climbing the Red Earth Continent.
The pirate ship named "Mad Shark" inexplicably became a temporary inn for the four of them.
The pirates watched as their best food was enjoyed, their most comfortable cabins were occupied, and even the training area on the deck was taken over by Kuina and Sabo as a matter of course. Their resentment swelled like an ever-increasing balloon.
Finally, on a dull afternoon, the balloon was popped.
A burly man named "Giant Axe" Patton, nearly three meters tall and with bulging muscles, could no longer tolerate Sabo's comments on his treasured rum collection. He slammed his glass onto the deck, sending splinters flying and the loud noise drawing everyone's attention.
"Enough!" Patton roared, his eyes bloodshot. He pointed at Sabo, who was leisurely picking his teeth. "Kid! I've had enough of you! Who do you think you are? Whitebeard? Daring to point fingers on my ship!"
The entire deck fell silent instantly, with only the sound of waves crashing against the hull remaining.
All the pirates' eyes were focused on this, filled with tension, anticipation, and a sense of exhilaration that had been suppressed for a long time and was about to erupt.
The captain stood beside the helm, his brow furrowed, but this time, he didn't speak up to stop them. He also wanted to see what these mysterious men were really like, or perhaps his arrogant and fierce subordinates needed an outlet for their resentment.
Sabo slowly put down the toothpick, his face showing no fear whatsoever, but rather a bright, almost irritating smile: "Oh? Finally someone couldn't hold back anymore? I thought you guys were going to hold out all the way to the next island."
He stood up, flexed his wrists, and his bones cracked.
"What, want to practice?"
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Patton became even more enraged: "Spar? I'll tear you apart! Captain, I request a one-on-one duel! Let's do it by the rules of the sea!"
The captain was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Alright. Let's stop here."
He spoke the last four words with a hint of hesitation, because he saw a hunter's excitement in Sabo's eyes.
“Don’t worry, Captain,” Sabo grinned like a cat that had just stolen some cream, “I’ll be very ‘clever’.”
The two stood facing each other in the center of the deck, while the other pirates automatically formed a circle around them. Kuina held Ziyun and leaned against the ship's railing, her eyes calm. Robin had closed her book at some point, her fingertips resting lightly on her knees.
Liu Jiu... was still dozing on the recliner in the shadows, as if the noise around him had nothing to do with him.
"Kid, remember, the one who beats you up is your grandpa Patton!"
Barton roared, his massive body unleashing a speed disproportionate to his size. His fist, as big as a casserole dish, was covered in a rough layer of Armament Haki and hurtled straight at Sabo's face with a fierce gust of wind.
This punch was powerful and heavy, enough to make a hole in the ship's side.
However, Sabo merely shifted his body slightly, his fist grazing past Sabo's hair. He even had time to comment: "His strength is acceptable, but his speed is too slow. His Haki isn't refined enough; it's scattered and not condensed, a waste."
Barton was shocked and furious when his first punch missed, and his other fist followed immediately.
Sabo easily dodged again, circling around to his side like a ghost, the steel pipe in his hand appearing out of nowhere, gently tapping Sabo's elbow joint.
"Ugh!" Barton felt a numbness in his entire arm, and the domineering aura he had gathered instantly dissipated.
“Look, like this.” Sabo’s voice was like a teacher’s, “Haki should flow and concentrate at one point, instead of just wrapping it up like a cotton-padded coat.”
As he spoke, he used a steel pipe to tap or strike, each time precisely hitting the weak points and joints of Patton's powerful movements.
Patton, despite his brute strength and domineering presence, couldn't even touch Sabo's clothes. Instead, he was completely outmaneuvered, like a clumsy puppet, utterly pathetic.
The surrounding crew members were dumbfounded. They knew Patton's strength well; he was one of the best fighters on the ship, yet he was being toyed with like a child.
"too slow!"
"You're using the wrong force!"