Early the next morning, the horizon above the distant sea had just begun to pale.
Logan ran along the shoreline once, loosening his stiff muscles and testing how much strength he had recovered.
After that, he put the Hannya mask back on and went to observe the Revolutionary Army officers. Most of them had already entered the correct path with Total Concentration Breathing. They hadn't mastered it yet, but they understood the method. From here on, it was only a matter of time.
As for who might eventually evolve Water Breathing into other breathing styles—that wasn't something Logan needed to worry about. No matter the world, geniuses capable of blazing new martial paths were never in short supply.
After only half an hour of running, Logan was already drenched in sweat. His clothes clung tightly to his body, chest heaving as he took deep breaths.
He walked slowly back toward the base, and only then did his breathing gradually stabilize.
That Cleave-the-Heavens strike… I really can't use it casually again.
I didn't expect the backlash to be this severe.
At his current level, even if he couldn't kill a Marine Admiral, he should at least be able to remain undefeated. Yet even so, using that single sword strike had nearly drained him dry.
Logan could clearly feel how weak his body still was. Even after taking a Senzu Bean, the recovery was limited. He knew that in the short term, he wouldn't be able to return to his peak condition.
But he didn't mind.
As long as he kept a low profile during this period, even if he encountered an enemy he couldn't defeat, escaping wouldn't be a problem.
When he reached the phoenix tree, he casually removed the Hannya mask.
Tuanzi was already there, gripping Dragon-Slayer, waiting quietly. The blade's deep blue length matched her current height almost perfectly.
Beneath the towering phoenix tree, a cool breeze passed through. A single leaf spun downward, vivid green and full of life.
One adult.
One child.
Not yet master and disciple.
Under the tree, one spoke.
One listened.
The speaker's expression was calm, voice slow and steady.
The listener's focus never wavered, her eyes bright with understanding.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
The sun rose from the eastern sea and climbed until it stood directly above the phoenix tree.
Perhaps because he had spoken for too long, Logan's face grew increasingly pale—but his eyes were filled with delight.
Tuanzi's comprehension was terrifyingly high.
He couldn't help but think that even Zoro in his youth might not have surpassed this level.
Then he shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Zoro's sword path and Tuanzi's were destined to be different.
Zoro relied on sheer willpower over talent.
Tuanzi was a child fed directly by destiny itself.
Logan hadn't even taught her how to grip a sword, yet she held it naturally—perfectly, as if she'd been born with it in her hands.
Once he had taught everything that needed teaching, Logan turned and left.
At the base entrance, the guards were already accustomed to the masked figure and did not stop him.
Logan and Sabo found a room with a good view.
Through the window, they could see Tuanzi sitting beneath the phoenix tree.
She made no sword movements at all.
Instead, she sat cross-legged, Dragon-Slayer laid horizontally in front of her, unsheathed.
From closer observation, one could notice that the intervals between her breaths were extremely long.
Sabo turned to look at Logan's deathly pale face and couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"How are you feeling? If it's too much, just stay here longer. Leave after you've fully recovered."
"I'll be fine," Logan replied helplessly. "Three days should be enough to recover most of it."
Sabo sighed.
"It's not that I want to nag you, but chopping a tree or splitting a rock would've been enough. You just had to blow up a mountain."
"The mountain's gone, sure—but you're not far from exploding yourself."
"Just rest properly. You've got nothing urgent to do, and the base is absolutely safe. No one here can touch you."
Logan's gaze never left Tuanzi.
"No. I've already stayed too long. If I linger any more, I'm afraid I'll miss the timing."
"Timing for what?" Sabo's expression sharpened.
"…Planting a tree," Logan replied casually.
Sabo was utterly confused.
Logan immediately changed the subject.
"When I was in the Kaya-Gato Kingdom, I killed three CP9 agents. You should be extra careful lately. Those people are petty and vindictive."
"That possibility exists," Sabo nodded. "I already issued orders a few days ago. All branches are on alert."
Sabo poured two glasses of wine.
They exchanged a glance, smiled, and drank in one go.
A faint, uncontrollable smile crept onto Logan's face.
Moments like this… really are nice.
Before they realized it, both of them were drunk again.
Logan leaned against the window, eyes hazy, muttering indistinctly:
"Sabo, listen carefully… one day your big brother is going to build a carefree island."
"When Luffy becomes Pirate King, I'll bring you and Ace there."
"We'll live together… drink, eat meat every day."
"The women can play mahjong, admire flowers, plant gardens."
"And if anyone has kids—big brother here gives them one hundred million Berries every year as a gift."
Half-drunk, Sabo looked up and replied seriously:
"Deal! But if I have a daughter, I want two hundred million!"
"Hahahaha! It's settled!"
Night fell.
Beneath the phoenix tree—
Tuanzi remained seated, eyes closed. Her breathing slowed further and further, until it was so faint it was almost imperceptible.
If not for her heartbeat, she would have seemed like a corpse.
Each inhalation and exhalation took an incredibly long time. She could feel every cell in her body pulsing with life.
Leaves continued to fall from the phoenix tree—
whether by chance or drawn by some unseen force, they gathered around her.
From night into day, she never moved.
Her eyes remained closed.
Her blade remained unsheathed.
Not a single strike was made.
Only her breath grew deeper, longer.
By now, fallen leaves had piled up around her.
At noon on the third day—
Tuanzi sat cross-legged beneath the phoenix tree, showing no visible sign of breathing.
The surrounding air spun violently, forming a miniature vortex, and she stood at its calm center—the eye of the storm.
The midday sun burned overhead.
Without warning, Tuanzi's eyes snapped open.
A sharp gleam flashed within them.
She slowly picked up Dragon-Slayer, drawing the blade inch by inch.
The blade shone blue, vast as the sea.
In her eyes appeared a resolve no child her age should possess.
The blade tip lowered to the ground.
Both hands gripped the hilt.
She took a deep breath.
The surrounding vortex exploded outward. Leaves scattered violently in all directions.
Heart and intent as one.
Blade borrowing the force of the wind.
Tuanzi stepped forward.
The blade roared with wind and thunder as she slashed diagonally.
The towering phoenix tree was cut clean through at the waist.
Its crown slid downward at an angle.
At the cut, sunlight reflected off the surface like a mirror—
Perfectly smooth, reflecting a streak of blue light.
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