Chapter Seven: Fat Cow, Dare You Say That Again?

(The author apologizes for yesterday’s chapter error, having accidentally copied content from another book. If you missed Chapter Six, please refresh your cache. Special thanks to the devoted support from Weiliang Tumou Yiqian Zhiban. If you find this novel too short, you might want to try "The First Swordmaster in History," which already has 170,000 words and might suit your taste.)

Creak—

The door swung open with a creak. Before Shu Mingyuan could make out what lay within, a fragrant breeze swept past him. As the exquisite silhouette just came into view, a long leg suddenly flashed out, aiming a kick squarely at his groin.

Shu Mingyuan bent his right knee, blocking the attack with it. He gazed at that stunning and delicate face, and though he had been prepared, he was still stunned for a moment. Regaining his composure, he looked at her with a wry smile. “Miss, even if you’re ambushing someone, isn’t this a bit much?”

Fortunately, he was ready. He knew this wild little thief-cat loved nothing more than to kick a man where it hurt most. Otherwise, had she connected, Shu Mingyuan shuddered to think of the consequences. If he were to lose his manhood, he hardly dared imagine it.

Nami studied the boy before her in puzzlement—plainly dressed, well-defined features, and eyes as deep as the universe itself. His short black hair reached just to his ears, lending him a certain handsomeness.

“You’re not a pirate?” Nami asked.

A faint, almost indiscernible smile played on Shu Mingyuan’s lips. “No, I’m not a pirate. But… I am a pirate hunter, and I know… you are a pirate.”

Nami was momentarily taken aback. Only then did she notice the blood-stained long blade in his hand. The sea breeze carried a heavy scent of blood through the air. Without betraying her intent, she edged out of the cargo hold and glanced at the deck, where over a dozen corpses lay strewn about. Her face went pale with shock. “Did you kill all of them?”

The boy shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it.

Nami’s pupils contracted. She took a cautious step back, increasing the distance between them. Her eyes darted as she forced a nervous laugh. “Great Pirate Hunter, I never wanted to be a pirate! After my village was taken over, they dragged me onto this ship. How could a weak woman like me resist?”

Shu Mingyuan’s smile was ambiguous; he knew full well she was lying. She’d only joined this pirate crew for the treasure they had stolen. Still, he didn’t expose her, instead propping his chin on his hand as if lost in thought.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Nami launched another kick at his groin.

“Seriously… again?”

Shu Mingyuan reached out and caught her supple, shapely leg in his hand. Even through her trousers, he could feel how delicate it was—no wonder she was the most popular goddess among pirates. His heart gave a small jolt as he closed in on Nami, her leg still in his grasp. “Woman, don’t try the same trick on me twice. Believe it or not, I could sever your head and turn you in for a bounty.”

Sensing the aura he exuded, Nami couldn’t suppress a shiver of fear. She nodded involuntarily, terrified that this remorseless killer might lose his temper and end her life.

Creak—

Another cabin door suddenly opened. Taking advantage of Shu Mingyuan’s distraction, a figure dashed out, hook and chain in hand, bolting in the direction of the female pirate Alvida.

Shu Mingyuan glanced at the fleeing figure—just a pirate hiding in the hold, lucky not to have been found earlier.

“Do you really think you can escape alive?” Shu Mingyuan murmured to himself. He took aim at the pirate’s back, then hurled his blood-stained blade with force.

The lone surviving pirate, panic-stricken, stumbled before the pirate captain Alvida, trembling as he fell to his knees. “Ms… Ms. Alvida, there’s a powerful pirate hunter on board… they’re all…”

Suddenly, a long blade came whistling through the air, piercing the pirate cleanly through the back and out his chest. As blood soaked the blade, the pirate stared down in disbelief at the tip protruding from his chest before collapsing lifeless at Alvida’s feet, a pool of blood spreading from his wound.

Gasp!

The many hostages bound on the deck erupted in astonished cries at the sight of the dead pirate lying before them. Could the navy have come to rescue them?

“What?!”

One of her men slain before her, the obese Alvida flew into a rage. Her face, thick with flesh and freckles, contorted with fury as she brought her massive iron club crashing down. The head of a hostage in front of her burst like a watermelon, bones shattering, the body reduced to a mangled heap.

Blood and white brain matter sprayed everywhere, sending the remaining hostages into shrieking terror.

Alvida turned her gaze toward the direction from which the blade had flown. There, at the prow of her own ship, stood a plainly dressed boy still poised in the act of throwing.

“It’s… it’s over!” Witnessing this hellish scene, Nami’s face turned deathly pale. Still clutching a heavy bag of gold and jewels, she’d hoped to slip away unnoticed, but now, with the pirate captain’s eyes fixed on her, escape was impossible.

“That bastard…” Nami cursed under her breath.

Shu Mingyuan brushed blood from his clothes, turned, and offered her a gentle smile. “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to you. Just stand here and don’t even think about running. You know I’m a pirate hunter—if I catch you, I’ll turn you in for the bounty.”

“As for those pirates, I’ll deal with them one by one.” He grinned, flashing white teeth. To Nami, however, he looked more like a demon.

“All hands—kill him for me and toss his body to the sharks!” Alvida roared. At her command, dozens of pirates shouted as one, brandishing swords and knives, and surged toward the boy.

…

“Ah! M-Ms. Alvida is furious…” In the cargo hold, Koby’s body trembled uncontrollably at the sound of the shouting above.

“I wonder who provoked her. We’ll all be brutally murdered by her iron club.”

“Who’s Alvida?” asked Luffy.

“The most ruthless woman on these seas…”

“Wow, sounds like a fight out there! This should be fun, let’s go watch! Hahaha!”

…

Dozens of pirates charged, their weapons aimed at Shu Mingyuan’s vital points.

The boy smiled coolly. “All at once? Good, saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one.”

With his left hand, he unleashed a burst of dazzling electricity, like a thousand birds chirping in chorus. The powerful energy radiating from his hand scorched the air with a sizzle.

With a step, Shu Mingyuan shot forward, barreling straight into the mass of pirates. Lightning paved the way, thunder and wind roaring about him. Every pirate in his path was felled with a single blow.

The entire pirate crew was thrown into disarray, bodies flying. Many were torn apart by the Chidori Thunder Shield, their blood splattering the deck.

At the spectacle, Alvida, Nami, and all the hostages stared in utter disbelief.

As the thunder dissipated, Shu Mingyuan stood at the prow, squinting up at Alvida. Then, in a voice that chilled to the bone, he spoke again: “You fat sow—if you’ve got the guts, say what you just said one more time.”