Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye finished explaining the potential of the weapons he crafted, excitement surged through the Straw Hat crew. The idea of a weapon that could grow stronger alongside them, fueled by their own efforts, was like a dream for any adventurer.
With new treasures in hand, joy buzzed among the crew, everyone eager to test out their improved gear. However, Vivi stood slightly apart, a twinge of disappointment shadowing her features. Despite understanding the nature of her comrades, she couldn't shake off a hint of envy at their palpable delight.
Yet, she didn't dwell on these feelings for long—duty called her attention elsewhere. But the subtle shift in her demeanor didn't escape Bai Ye, whose observant eyes missed little.
He was on the verge of approaching Vivi, perhaps to offer words of comfort, when he found himself having to play the role of a strict mentor first.
"Nami, careful with that staff, and remember to watch our path at sea!" he chided gently.
"Luffy, Usopp!! Don't attack each other, those are weapons for fighting with enemies, not toys!"
"Zoro, even you're caught up in this? Mind Sanji's new shoes, don't cut them - they aren't indestructible!"
"Let's stay focused, everyone!"
His admonition came with a touch of magic: the Golden Light Curse—Sanction of the Vice-Captain. Suddenly, the chaotic deck was a picture of regret.
"Sorry, we won't do it again," echoed the chastened pirates, shuffling away with sheepish expressions and comically swollen faces.
Bai Ye sighed, a mix of exasperation and fondness in his eyes. "Even Nami is so unreliable," he mused quietly.
Laughter broke through the air, and Bai Ye turned to see Vivi, her earlier disappointment forgotten as mirth sparkled in her eyes at the sight of the Straw Hats' antics. The weight of her worries for Alabasta seemed to lift, even if just for a moment.
"You all hardly seem like the fearsome pirates you're reputed to be," Vivi teased, her laughter mingling with the sea breeze.
Bai Ye's lips curled into a smile, his gaze softening as he watched his crewmates regroup. "But they are truly dependable friends, wouldn't you say?" His voice carried a warmth that matched his eyes.
This camaraderie, this sense of belonging—it was the reason he had chosen to join them on this grand voyage.
-----
Traveling the unpredictable waters of the Grand Line was never without its perils. In the first days of their journey to next island, the Straw Hats encountered wonders and dangers alike. They marveled at dolphins that dwarfed their ship, the Golden Merry, and braced themselves against sudden tempests and bewildering whirlpools that seemed to spring from nowhere.
Yet, such excitement was not a constant companion. More often than not, the voyage unfolded under a blanket of monotony.
Luffy, ever the seeker of fun and treasure, pestered Bai Ye for a magical trinket—a treasure that could summon fish straight out of the ocean. Bai Ye, however, dismissed the request with a chuckle and a shake of his head, citing a lack of such artifacts in his possession. Moreover, he chided Luffy playfully, suggesting that the very essence of fishing was the joy of the catch, a thrill that would be lost with such a device.
In lighter moments, the crew found amusement in unexpected places. On one occasion, Karoo, the loyal duck, decided to down a bottle of soda in one ambitious gulp. The result was comical—Karoo keeled over, promptly fainting from the fizzy overload. Zoro couldn't help but scoff at the foolish act, only to earn a bite from the indignant bird.
-----
Bai Ye took some time to reflect on his current combat strategies. The two primary methods he relied upon were the Golden Light Curse for close-quarters engagement and the Qimen techniques for ranged assaults.
Focusing on the Golden Light Curse, Bai Ye had advanced from initiating the curse with Qi to a phase where it was taking on a tangible form. Looking ahead, he foresaw the curse evolving along two distinct paths. The first path involved condensing the energy further, making the golden light increasingly dense until it reached a level of unparalleled invincibility. The second path he envisioned was one of meticulous control. During his fight with Smoker, Bai Ye was restricted to shaping the golden light into a rudimentary stick—not out of preference, but due to his current limitations in manipulating the light into varied forms. With improved precision, he anticipated that the curse would become more versatile, perhaps allowing him to craft the light into slender, binding ropes to ensnare opponents.
Ultimately, Bai Ye aimed to master the curse to a point where it could nourish and feedback upon itself, aligning with the core pursuit of Longhu Mountain—a sect revered for its dual cultivation of body and soul. The goal was never merely about creating a protective shield of light, but to use it as a medium to enhance his own vitality and spiritual growth. He acknowledged, however, that there was still a considerable journey ahead to achieve this mastery.
Turning his attention to the Qimen techniques, Bai Ye recognized them as some of the most challenging Daoist arts. Despite his innate talent and heightened understanding, he hadn't yet mastered the entire spectrum of Qimen, particularly the two hexagrams symbolizing the forces of heaven and earth. Still, his perseverance in the practice had enriched his understanding, teaching him the value of patience with such complex arts.
Bai Ye had even utilized the Qimen techniques to glimpse into his own future, predicting that the key to breaking through the elusive hexagrams awaited him somewhere along the Grand Line. Importantly, this breakthrough was not destined to be a desperate, spur-of-the-moment kind amidst a life-or-death struggle, which brought Bai Ye a sense of comfort and anticipation.
Bai Ye had a rich arsenal of combat skills from his time at Wudang Mountain, yet he typically relied on just two. The first was a supreme agility technique known as [Wudang·Tiyunzong], which, when compared to the six styles widely practiced by naval forces across the seas, mirrored the effects of Shave, Moonwalk, and Paper Arts. Simply put, this technique granted one the agility to sprint with remarkable speed, move through the air, and evade attacks with ease. Bai Ye considered this technique particularly suitable for Sanji, whose combat style was leg-based, and believed it could significantly bolster Sanji's prowess.
The second technique was the art of self-cultivation known as Tai Chi. Unlike the naval six styles, it might lack moves like Iron Mass, Tempest Kick, or Finger Pistol, but Tai Chi was a profound martial art, embodying the distilled wisdom of Master Zhang's teachings. Intriguingly, Bai Ye mulled over the idea of teaching some Tai Chi to Luffy—obviously omitting the internal aspects since Luffy had not trained in the Pure Yang Wuji Kung Fu. Despite this, Bai Ye was curious to see if Luffy, with his apparent quick learning ability hidden behind his simple demeanor, could grasp the nuances of Tai Chi passed down from his own great ancestors. It would be quite the sight, Bai Ye thought, to witness Luffy using Tai Chi to counter the formidable forces of adversaries like Kaido and Big Mom in the future.
As for Zoro, Bai Ye did not plan to instruct him in the way of the Tai Chi sword. A sparring session with him might be beneficial, but that was the extent of it. For now, Bai Ye knew that the most critical area for them to work on was their Haki strength. The best test for their current level would be to engage in battle with a formidable opponent.
Bai Ye was aware that their upcoming stop might present such an opportunity. The next port of call was home to two pirate captains renowned for their might—the Giant Warrior Pirates' Brogy the Red Ogre and Dorry the Blue Ogre, who set sail a century prior. While it wasn't explicitly mentioned in any tale, Bai Ye speculated that the duo, who commanded bounties of 100 million upon their debut, possessed Armament Haki. His suspicion stemmed from the colored auras that emanated from their weapons during their special move Hakoku and the fact that Dorry was able to injure Luffy with his fist.
With this in mind, Bai Ye anticipated that their visit to Little Garden Island would not only be eventful but potentially enlightening in gauging and improving their Haki abilities.