The scene at the manga shop was already packed with people. Countless fans dressed in green adventurer outfits were waiting for the manga to go on sale. They had already been passionate about Su Han's manga, and now that Adventure King had been updated, everyone wanted a copy of their own.
As the clock struck eight, the manga shop officially opened.
"Give me ten copies of the manga!!!"
"Hello, I would like six copies."
"I want twenty copies."
Many people were buying on behalf of their friends, so sales were extremely fast. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, over a thousand copies had already been sold.
Meanwhile, the back courtyard of the manga shop was also filled with people.
Zhongli, Hu Tao, Xingqiu, and Venti. Yes, you read that right. That bard had heard there would be a new manga and shamelessly refused to leave.
At the same time, Su Han also had his conditions. Since Venti wanted to read the manga, he had to run an errand for him. After finishing the manga, he had to deliver the new release to the Mondstadt branch. Venti had no way to refuse this.
"Adventure King. What a great name, Su Han. Let me see what kind of grand adventure this is."
Venti held the manga and began reading. The story opened at an execution platform. Roger, known to the world as the Adventure King, was executed. Before his death, his declaration caused an enormous sensation.
"Do you want my treasure? If you want it, I can give it all to you. Go and find it. I left all my treasure there!!!"
With Roger's demise, countless adventurers rushed toward the sea, and Luffy was one of them.
The content of the first volume was not much different from previous manga. It was a story combining humor and lightheartedness, but this time many touching scenes were added.
For example, the injustice of the navy.
For example, why Nami became the little thief cat.
There was also the story of Sanji and Zeff. It could be said that every scene was deeply moving. Among them, the appearance of Hawk-Eyes made Venti's eyes light up.
"Wow, what a handsome swordsman. He actually split a ship in half with a single strike. Truly worthy of being the world's number one swordsman."
Hu Tao nodded repeatedly beside him, fully agreeing.
The power of the world's greatest swordsman truly lived up to its reputation. Facing the three-sword style swordsman Zoro, he resolved everything with just a small knife. It was incredibly cool.
At the end of the first volume, Luffy and the others boarded the Going Merry and headed toward Reverse Mountain, leaving Loguetown behind. From this moment on, the adventure truly began.
After finishing it, Zhongli commented, "This story feels different. It gives a sense of adventuring in another world. Every island has its own story. I think this manga will resound throughout the entire world just like Fox Spirit Matchmaker."
"I think so too. But before that, let me take a look at the content of the second volume."
Venti opened the next volume and continued his adventure.
At the beginning of the second volume, Luffy and his crew encountered the whale Laboon. They initially thought it was a mad whale, but after hearing its story, everyone was deeply moved.
The reason it wanted to cross Reverse Mountain was simply to catch one more glimpse of its former companions. Whales could live for fifty years, but in such a dangerous world, survival was never guaranteed.
Even so, Laboon still longed to reunite with its companions.
Xingqiu felt his eyes grow slightly sour. He let out a long sigh and said, "Laboon is really foolish, just like Nami. Even though they know it is unlikely, they still want to gamble once."
"Perhaps that is what persistence is. As long as you persist, there is always hope."
Hu Tao shared her own realization. Even though she had only read the first volume, she already gained an understanding of the core theme of Adventure King. Giving up means everything ends, but persisting means there is still a sliver of hope.
Perhaps Su Han wanted to tell everyone through this manga that no matter what difficulties you encounter, persistence is always better than giving up.
After the whale incident, Luffy and the others broke into the pirate town and encountered Vivi once again. This time, they learned of her worries and thus began an escort journey.
On the prehistoric island, everyone encountered the chief of the Giant Clan.
Although the process was full of danger, Luffy and the others still relied on their strength and wisdom to defeat Mr. 3. They thought that after leaving this giant island, the journey would be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and Nami fell ill.
Because there was no ship's doctor, Luffy and the others had no choice but to head toward the nearest island.
What had been a tropical rainforest before now became a winter landscape. The world within Adventure King was just that unpredictable.
Su Han sipped his tea and waited calmly, because there was a plot on this winter island that would be extremely touching, the ultimate embodiment of men's romance.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Xingqiu reached this part of the story.
Although Luffy and the others entered the winter island, it was unfortunate that due to the king's tyranny, there were no doctors left in the country. All the doctors had been taken away by the king. With no other choice, Luffy went to the peak of Drum Island, where he met the reindeer doctor Chopper and uncovered the truth of this island.
In the flashback arc, a quack doctor named Hiriluk appeared. Although his medical skills were terrible, his lines made people's scalps tingle.
"Stop right there. I will never shoot you!!!!"
"When does a person truly die? When their heart is pierced by a bullet? No! When they contract an incurable disease? No! When they drink poisonous mushroom soup? No! It is when they are forgotten!"
Even in death, Hiriluk did not submit. He fulfilled his promise and upheld his dream.
This scene rendered everyone silent.
And it did not end there. The dialogue between Chopper and Doctorine was equally shocking.
When Chopper brought the poisonous mushroom back, he believed he had found a miracle cure that could save the doctor. He did not know that the mushroom was poisonous and that eating it would surely cause death. Even so, Hiriluk still ate it.
"Chopper, listen carefully. Kindness alone cannot save people. To save people, you must possess sufficient knowledge and medical skill. Without ability, you cannot save anyone at all."
The manga ended with Hiriluk's death. Everyone in the room fell into silence, all of them deeply moved by this chapter.
Perhaps the first volume was merely touching and somewhat humorous, but this volume delivered a decisive blow.
So what if he was a quack doctor? As long as he carried the heart to save a nation, there was nothing he could not do.
Sincerity was always the ultimate technique.
As Venti looked at Hiriluk's final farewell, a certain old acquaintance surfaced in the depths of his mind. She had once been just such a person, never stopping in pursuit of her dreams. He wondered how she was doing now. Was the scenery on Celestia Island still beautiful?
Xingqiu took a deep breath, forcibly holding back the tears about to fall, and said, "Doctor Hiriluk is truly amazing. I think he will become an idol in the hearts of all adventurers. He is just too romantic."
Hu Tao nodded frantically upon hearing this. "A man like this would not only be loved by adventurers. I think everyone would admire him."
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