On the west side of Sisikono Town, along West Street, Guan Yi walked with several skewers of roasted sea-beast meat in hand, tearing into them with big bites.
With the food replenishing his strength, the fatigue of daytime labor faded, and even his mental exhaustion slowly eased. He was gradually returning to peak condition.
"Those two thugs should've crawled back up by now. Probably already ran to complain to Boar, huh?"
He was just about at his destination.
Not far ahead stood Warehouse No. 3 of West Street, the base of a labor gang known as the Iron-Club Gang.
Ancestors' wisdom echoed in his mind: When trouble comes, learn to unite and divide; the enemy of my enemy may be a friend.
The Iron-Club Gang was one of the two major dockside labor gangs in Xixikono Town, standing toe-to-toe with the Boar Gang. Though the gang had only risen over the past two years, its momentum was fierce—they'd torn off a huge chunk of territory from the Boar Gang, and even now the Boar Gang had no effective way to suppress them.
More importantly, the Iron-Club Gang actually had a decent reputation.
When workers mentioned them, their expressions were often… strange, but generally positive. Most said the Iron-Club Gang's presence kept the Boar Gang from being as tyrannical as before.
Guan Yi wasn't the kind to let days of back-breaking labor be stolen by Boar's crew. But two fists couldn't beat four—or forty—hands. More crucially, he didn't know Boar's real abilities or whether he could defeat him.
Which was why he planned to check out the Iron-Club Gang first. If he could gain an ally, all the better.
"Before going in…"
[Spend 100,000 Berries to extend Basic Training for one year]
His consciousness suddenly plunged. Space twisted.
The warehouse silhouette vanished—replaced by a familiar courtyard.
The Kengan World!
Peach blossoms drifted softly overhead.
Before him, Master Wen Yunshen stood with a solemn face. Behind the master, seven senior brothers and sisters looked at him with reluctance.
Were they… sending him off?
Picking up where things last left off?
Guan Yi blinked in a daze and said, "Master, I feel like one year is too short. I'd like to stay and train a few more years. May I?"
Wen Yunshen paused, then slowly shook his head—yet a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Very well. Though my old friend only entrusted you to me for a single year, considering your diligence and talent… You may stay for another year."
His senior brothers and sisters lit up with joy.
"Great news, little junior brother!"
"Exactly! Only trained for one year, and you're already leaving? Stay a few more!"
"Master's home has enough food for another mouth!"
Wen Yunshen turned sharply. "Since Guan Yi is staying, why are you all still gathered around? Have you finished today's practice? Go!"
"…Yes, Master!"
They quickly dispersed, cheerful.
Wen Yunshen looked back at Guan Yi.
"Your Five-Element Fist foundation is solid. Since you will train for another year, I shall now teach you the true essence of Xingyi—the Twelve Animal Forms!"
Guan Yi's eyes brightened.
Originally, he had thought the name Xingyi Quan came solely from imitating twelve different animals.
After learning from Wen Yunshen, he realized that it was only part of the truth. Xingyi—also called Xing-Intent Fist—was a martial art that fused one's will, intent, breath, and power into one.
It emphasized the Six Harmonies of Body and Intention:
• Heart aligns with Intent
• Intent aligns with Breath
• Breath aligns with Strength
• Shoulders with Hips
• Elbows with Knees
• Hands with Feet
The Three-Body Stance, Five-Element Fist, and Twelve Animal Forms together created the full Xingyi system—none could be omitted. Yet among them, the Twelve Forms were the most famous—and far more combat-oriented than the other two.
Exactly what Guan Yi needed.
Wen Yunshen stepped to the courtyard center, loosening outward yet tightening inward, forming a stable stance.
"We begin with Dragon Form. Dragon trains rising and sinking, stretching and contracting. Watch closely."
His posture shifted. His body seemed to lengthen. His spine rippled like waves. His arms intertwined, and for a moment, a dragon's silhouette seemed to flicker.
One rise, one fall, one twist, one coil—soft as flowing water, yet carrying thunderous force beneath.
As he moved, he explained:
"To train a Dragon, you must understand what a dragon is. A dragon can grow or shrink, rise or hide.
Great, it summons clouds and breathes mist.
Small, it conceals itself within armor plates.
Rising, it soars through the sky.
Hiding, it lurks beneath the stormy waves."
The poetic cadence was familiar. Hidden meanings thick as ink.
Guan Yi understood at least eighty percent of it effortlessly.
He stepped forward and imitated the motions.
The moves were simple, yet in his hands they looked stiff and puppet-like—nothing like a dragon.
"What? Do you want me to teach from the beginning again?"
A wooden stick appeared in Wen Yunshen's hand.
Guan Yi immediately said, "No, no, no, no need! I understand—Xingyi values intention over form. If the intent is grasped, the form may be forgotten!"
Ah—he was getting it again.
The feeling of practicing had returned!
He forgot the master's demonstration entirely. His motions deviated, even distorted—but somehow, a hint of true Dragon intent emerged.
His spine stretched and contracted like a dragon's neck; his arms flickered like dragon claws.
Wen Yunshen nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
From then on, Guan Yi resumed his year-long training cycle:
• Morning: Three-Body Stance
• After breakfast: Five-Element Fist
• Afternoon: Half an hour of Eight-Skill Hands
• Then endless repetitions of Dragon Form
After a month, Wen Yunshen introduced the second form: Tiger Form.
"The world only marvels at the tiger's ferocity when it pounces. Few observe how it stalks.
A tiger crouches in the mountains—one pounce, one cut. Not relying only on strength, but on intent.
Before the strike: still as a mountain.
During the strike: thunderous, leaving no escape!"
Then he moved.
No warning. No build-up.
He launched forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, wind howling behind him.
This wasn't a simple leap—it carried his body weight, momentum, and killing intent like a descending beast. His right arm "cut" out like a steel whip—air cracked sharply!
Guan Yi didn't doubt it—this blow could shatter a boulder.
"Keen to try?" Wen Yunshen said.
Guan Yi inhaled deeply and practiced.
Compared to Dragon's fluidity, Tiger Form was far more exhausting, but easier to grasp.
A month later—Monkey Form.
At the pace of one form per month, Guan Yi mastered all Twelve Animal Forms in one year. And soon enough, the extended training period ended.
One day, as he was practicing, Wen Yunshen approached.
"That is enough. Another year is complete. The path ahead is yours to explore. Do not disgrace the name of Xingyi."
[Basic Training (Two-Year Term) Complete]
[Spend 500,000 Berries to extend training for another year]
[Wealth: 4,700 Berries]
Five hundred thousand?
That increased a lot!
Consciousness washed away again.
The courtyard vanished. The warehouse reappeared before him.
Thanks to the "Training Plan," the time displacement didn't confuse him. His mind instantly snapped back from a year of martial cultivation.
He moved his hands gently—Dragon Form shimmered.
His aura surged—like a tiger ready to strike.
The Twelve Animal Forms truly were the essence of Xingyi—pure combat tools. Guan Yi felt like he could beat his old self ten times over.
He almost didn't feel like visiting the Iron-Club Gang anymore.
A small-town gang? How strong could they be?
Real powerhouses in the One Piece world were out on the sea.
But—he was already here.
He approached Warehouse No. 3. Two Iron-Club members immediately spotted him.
"Who are you?"
"This is Iron-Club territory!"
"I'm Ian," Guan Yi replied, using his alias. "I've been working on the docks recently. I've heard the Iron-Club Gang's reputation and came to meet your boss."
"Ian?"
"That name sounds familiar… Ah! He's that capable newcomer from the docks these past two days!"
"I'll go report to the boss. Wait here."
A moment later, the man returned.
"Boss says you may go in."
Guan Yi nodded and entered.
There—among scattered crates and cargo—lounged a massive figure on a sofa.
A woman nearly two meters tall, easily over two hundred kilos, with a spiked iron club propped beside her. She eyed him up and down.
Hmm? She looked familiar…
Before he could place the feeling, the woman burst into loud laughter.
"Ian! I've heard of you! HAHAHA! I'm the boss of the Iron-Club Gang—Iron-Club Alvida! These men gathered around me simply because they couldn't resist my beauty, truly a burden!
So? You must have heard of my loveliness as well—are you here to join the Iron-Club Gang?