Time flew by, and by now, Qingcheng had already stayed on Starfish Island for 18 years. That's right—just a blink of an eye and another ten years had passed. Over those ten years, aside from being unable to use his Shikai due to limitations in spiritual power, Qingcheng had pretty much mastered Kido and Bakudō techniques.
Currently, he had already mastered Kido and Bakudō spells below the seventieth level. Even without incantations, he could still use them. As for the higher-level spells, he did want to learn them, but his spiritual power was too low to manage. So, three years ago, after finishing his Kido and Bakudō training, he shifted his focus to Kaidō (healing arts). To make it more convenient for conducting medical experiments, he even moved his residence to a hill outside the forest.
As for Whitebeard, he hadn't returned once since he went to sea ten years ago. If it weren't for the medical materials he sent back eight years ago and the recent bounty posters, Qingcheng would've thought he was already dead. He promised to return in no more than two years, yet ten years have passed without a single visit. Every time Qingcheng thought about it, he had an urge to throttle someone. If he had the power to survive safely at sea, he would've flown out long ago to settle the score with Whitebeard.
"Awoooo~~"
Up on the hill, occasional cries of animals echoed from a solitary house.
Meanwhile, out on the vast ocean, a lone figure was dragging another person along on a wooden plank, paddling through the sea with one hand. The seawater in their path was dyed red with blood.
Slap!A large hand slapped the unconscious man's face.
"Hang in there. Just three more hours, and we'll reach Starfish Island," the pale-faced man said with a faint smile.
"Idiot... If you don't want to die, just leave me," the injured man—whose spiky hair was drenched and pale as death—forced open his eyes and said, "With your condition, forget three hours, you'll collapse in two and sink with me. Instead of both of us dying…"
"Shut up," the man barked. "I said I won't give up, and I won't. Stay awake and focus your Haki to stop the bleeding. I don't want you dying before we make it. I'm warning you—don't mess around. Even if you die, I'm not abandoning you."
"You…" the severely wounded man began to respond, but then his face changed—he'd noticed large shadows rapidly approaching through the sea. Massive fish, drawn by the scent of blood.
"Back off!" the man's eyes sharpened as he let out a furious roar. A ripple burst from his body, distorting the very space around him.
Splish, splish, splish!
In an instant, all the fish within hundreds of meters flipped belly-up and floated to the surface.
Cough, cough…A few coughs escaped the man's lips as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His face turned even paler.
Time passed quickly as he paddled and paddled. He had no idea how long it had been, but at last, he could see the small island ahead. The sun was now leaning west, and he had completely exhausted his strength. The only thing keeping him conscious was sheer willpower.
"Almost there… Just a little more," he murmured to himself.
He was lucky. Someone at the dock noticed his silhouette out at sea and sailed out in a small boat. With help, both men finally made it ashore and headed toward the town. By now, his blood-soaked companion had lost consciousness completely.
In Senbei Town, inside Senbei Hospital, a doctor in a white coat wore a grave expression as he examined the injured Marine Vice Admiral. The man had six terrifying sword wounds—but those weren't the worst part. The fatal issue was the bullets embedded inside his body. There were more than five, and some had even lodged into his organs. With the doctor's skill, not only was removing them impossible—even keeping him alive was beyond his ability.
By all accounts, the man should've died long ago. The fact that he was still alive was a miracle in itself.
After the examination, the doctor turned to the man who brought the injured one in and said solemnly, "I'm sorry, sir. His injuries are too severe. With my skills, I can't save him. You should start preparing for…"
"What did you say?" the man's eyes widened. In a flash, he lifted the doctor off the ground. "Say that again and I'll tear this hospital down!"
The doctor trembled as cold sweat formed on his forehead under the man's beast-like glare. "Even if you destroy the hospital, I still can't save him! The bullets are embedded in his organs, and he's bleeding internally. I don't even understand how he's still alive!"
"He can't die. He won't die!" the man shouted, eyes bloodshot. "Tell me you can save him! Say it!"
"I…" the doctor was about to reply when a thought struck him. "Wait! There is another doctor in Senbei Town. His medical skills are far superior to mine. He stopped treating people this year to focus on research, but if he's willing, he might be able to save your friend."
"Really? Who? Where?" the man asked urgently.
The doctor pointed out the window toward a distant hill. "He lives in a lab on that hill. But if he's in the middle of an experiment, whatever you do—don't—"
"Huh? Where did he go?" The doctor turned, only to find the room empty.
BANG!
The lab door on the hill was violently kicked open.
"Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!" the man yelled.
Bang! Bang! Bang!Door after door was kicked open, but no one was there. Disappointed, he remembered the silver-haired young man he'd passed on the hill earlier. He quickly laid his companion on a bed and ran outside.
On the hill, a handsome young man with long silver hair sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. In front of him was a sword with a teal-colored hilt, stuck in the ground.
"Hey, kid! Wake up—I need to ask you something," the marine said as he nudged the youth, his bloodstained coat of justice flapping in the wind.
Qingcheng opened his eyes. When he saw the face in front of him, his pupils contracted slightly but quickly returned to calm.
"What is it?" the young man asked. He was, of course, our protagonist—Qingcheng.
"That doctor in the house—where is he? How can I find him? It's urgent," the marine asked in a hurry.
Qingcheng glanced at him. "You're suffering from extreme fatigue. Feeling weak and struggling to move is normal. If you don't want lasting side effects, I suggest you eat a big meal."
"You're the doctor who lives here?" the man's eyes narrowed. This guy figured it out in one glance… but that meant there was still hope.
"I am," Qingcheng replied.
"Please save my companion. He'll die if you don't," the marine pleaded respectfully.
Qingcheng looked at him and said, "I hate rude people—especially those who break down someone's door without permission. So I'm not in the mood to save anyone right now. I'm also busy. Please don't bother me."
"I'm sorry! I was just in a panic. Please help—he's really not going to make it!" the marine shouted, desperation in his voice.
"If saying sorry worked, why would we need the police?" Qingcheng replied flatly.
"Bastard!" the man growled, suddenly lunging forward and grabbing Qingcheng. "Are you going to save him or not!?"
Qingcheng let the man lift him, wearing an expression of utter calm. "So this is how the Navy asks for help? You people really think you're above everyone else."
The marine, eyes bloodshot with fury, glared at him. He didn't like Qingcheng's tone one bit. If he could, he would've decked him right then and there.