As he fought Ace, Bai Yun gradually lost stamina and found himself at a disadvantage. This wouldn't do. Using Ace's momentum, he retreated, and the long staff in his hand transformed into a flintlock.
Ace froze, staring down the barrel of the gun.
Bai Yun conveyed, "Sir, times have changed."
He didn't want to point a gun at Ace, but if this continued, he'd eventually take a hit from Ace's staff and be recuperating for another month.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo!"
With Ace held at bay, Bai Yun, still panting, retracted the flintlock.
"You win, Ace. Let's stop fighting."
Bai Yun was truly exhausted, so tired he just wanted to give up.
"Hoo, that bracelet?"
Ace was also tired, though not as much as Bai Yun. He was also a genius, sharp-eyed, and after seeing the bracelet change three times, he realized Bai Yun had multiple weapons because of the bracelet on his wrist.
"Yes."
"..."
"Regardless of who won or lost today, let's call it a draw."
"Although your stamina is a bit lacking, it's still pretty good for a girl."
Ace hoisted his pipe back onto his shoulder and replied coolly.
Bai Yun's mind was flooded with question marks???
Who? Who's a girl??
Bai Yun was an orphan in his own world. After turning eighteen, he left the orphanage to work. To save money, he usually didn't cut his hair, only once every two years, letting it grow for two years.
When he transmigrated to his childhood self, his hair remained the same. He currently wore a ponytail, which was why Ace had mistaken him for a girl.
"I'm a boy."
Bai Yun replied.
"..."
"Eh!!!"
Realizing his mistake, Ace let out a surprised cry.
"Then your stamina is way too weak!"
Ace grumbled. Bai Yun thought, 'Oh, so you're saying you're so brave! How can an ordinary child compare to you?!'
"But your strength is enough!"
"I acknowledge you."
"If you want to follow, then follow."
Ace turned and continued on his way to meet Sabo.
Bai Yun glanced at Luffy, then followed suit.
Luffy immediately followed as well.
But the wild beasts on the way were fierce, and the terrain was complex, so Luffy quickly fell behind.
Seeing his good friend being led away by others, little Luffy still felt a bit lost.
"Ahhh!"
"Bai Yun, I'll definitely catch up to you and bring you back!"
Hearing Luffy's shout from behind, Bai Yun broke into a sweat. What he said made it sound like he was a woman who'd left her poor boyfriend for a rich man?
"You go ahead first, Ace."
"Hm? Wait for that kid? If he can't even cross the forest himself, how can he follow me to the Gray Terminal?"
Ace said disdainfully, not thinking anything of Luffy, that little weakling.
"Ace, how long did it take you to cross the forest before?"
Bai Yun put on a smile, which was always more polite.
"A month."
Ace said calmly.
"Alright then, how about we make a bet?"
"We'll bet on whether Luffy can also cross the forest within a month."
"If I lose, I'll give you this bracelet."
"If you lose, just try to accept Luffy."
"What do you say, do you dare to bet?"
Bai Yun extended the bracelet towards Ace, making a wager.
What about the bracelet being unremovable? Ace didn't know that.
Ace looked at the bracelet.
"What's there to be afraid of!"
"It's a bet!"
"I hope you won't regret losing such a good weapon."
Bai Yun retracted his hand and smiled, "Don't underestimate Luffy, he's a very resilient person."
"Then we'll meet at the Gray Terminal in a month!"
Ace was confident, and so was Bai Yun. He turned back towards Luffy, ready to cross the forest with him. Of course, he wouldn't interfere to break the bet... "Luffy!"
Just as Luffy was feeling disoriented, Bai Yun returned.
Luffy looked up and saw him, immediately breaking into a smile.
"Ah! Bai Yun, I'm lost."
"Me too, Luffy."
"Ace just said that if we can cross the forest within a month, he'll try to be friends with us."
"We have to work hard!"
Bai Yun knew Luffy's personality. If he set a goal for him, he would work very hard towards it, except for becoming a Marine.
"Really! Then we have to work hard!"
"Let's go! We can't let Ace look down on us!"
Luffy was instantly full of energy, walking ahead, while Bai Yun smiled and followed behind. Little kids are just little kids.
However, the start was safe and confident, but the obstacles that followed slowly eroded their confidence.
Broken suspension bridges.
Winding paths.
Massive wild beasts.
Bai Yun replicated Luffy's physique all the way, otherwise, he would have been gone halfway... And so, days and nights passed.
Luffy and Bai Yun would return to Dadan's family after failing, then follow Ace out again early in the morning.
It was like this every day.
They unlocked new maps day by day, and every day they'd return with some injuries.
Finally, on the last day of the one-month bet, Luffy and Bai Yun perfectly caught up with Ace and crossed the forest.
They arrived at the Gray Terminal, the dark underbelly of the Goa Kingdom, a pristine land renowned as the most beautiful country in the East Blue, formed by piles of trash!
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
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