Chapter 41: The Dreamlike Violet Steps [First Update]

"It's not that I'm arrogant, it's just that I have the strength to back it up. You all nearly got wiped out by the zombie horde, and you still have the nerve to tell me the crystal core from the Zombie Calabash Kid is yours? Truly shameless," Luffy sneered, his voice icy. "This world is ruled by the law of the jungle. If I get what you want, and you call me a bandit for it, then you're simply too naive. I am the strong—my words are truth."

Luffy had no desire to waste more words on these people. Why not just kill them? He gripped the Thunderblade and strode forward.

"You… what are you doing?!" the man stammered, his face pale as he desperately backed away, fear filling his eyes.

"You're really noisy. I just want to make you shut up. That's all…" Luffy advanced step by step, forcing the man back until he was pinned against a tree, unable to retreat any further.

At that moment, someone rushed over and threw themselves between Luffy and the frightened man. "Who do you think you are, daring to lay a hand on one of our members?"

The newcomer drew a laser sword in one hand and a gun in the other. Behind him, three others arrived, each armed with a pistol and a laser sword.

"Heh… Our captain is here now. You're dead for sure, trying to kill me!" The injured man, emboldened by his protectors, grew cocky, his fear replaced by a malicious grin.

"Such nerve—how dare you take something from our Wang Family Corps. You must be tired of living," the man said coldly, eyes locked on Luffy and gun raised.

"Is the captain really here?" the wounded man asked anxiously. "They're very strong—look, they've already held off the zombie horde. If the captain isn't here, we wouldn't stand a chance against them."

"Of course he's here. I could finish this brat myself. The Wang Family Corps can go toe-to-toe with the Li Family, maybe not quite as strong, but close enough," he boasted, just as he was about to fire at Luffy.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "The captain's here!"

A group hurried over, led by a man clad in black battle armor. Everyone greeted him with deference.

"What are you all doing?" the armored man asked, his prideful demeanor laced with annoyance.

"Boss, this guy stole our fire crystal core," a subordinate reported respectfully.

"Then kill him! Why wait for me?" The armored man's face darkened with anger. These idiots—what was the point of waiting for him? He looked up, then froze, his pupils contracting in disbelief. Stunned, his tongue faltered. "Impossible… How could it be him again? That demon… that nightmare…"

Their captain's face turned ashen, white as snow, his entire body trembling.

"Shit, what were you all just saying? Hurry up, give the fire crystal core to this boss. If he wants it, hand it over. Understand? He's the boss, we're just dogs. When you see him, you bark and show proper respect, got it?" The black-armored man, seeing Luffy, instantly changed his tune. All traces of bravado vanished. He was Zhang Rishan, the man who had narrowly escaped Luffy's wrath several times before. Who would have thought he'd become a captain in the Wang Family Corps? Not a bad climb, all things considered.

"Boss Lu, see you around. If you ever need anything, just say the word. I'll do anything you ask, just please, don't kill me," Zhang Rishan said obsequiously, poised to run at a moment's notice.

The Wang Family Corps members stared in bewilderment. How could their mighty captain turn so cowardly? Could this young man really be that terrifying?

"Fuck, how dare you offend my boss?" Zhang Rishan kicked the injured man hard.

Luffy was speechless at Zhang Rishan’s performance. This man was always either kneeling or begging for his life whenever their paths crossed. "Do you have the guts to fight me face to face?"

"I don't. Either let us go, or I'll run away alone," Zhang Rishan replied, voice trembling but managing some courage.

"Boss, why are you talking to him like that? He's just a kid—we could take him down in minutes," a member protested, unable to stomach his captain’s sudden cowardice.

"What do you know? Are you looking to die?" Zhang Rishan kicked the man away.

"Do you really think you can escape me now?"

This time, Luffy was determined not to let Zhang Rishan slip through his fingers. With the Samsara Heavenly Eye, he could easily track any escape route.

"How about this—I'll give you my movement technique. Let us go. You could kill me, but there's someone mysterious backing me. If you do, that person will definitely seek revenge on you, and your followers might not survive," Zhang Rishan offered, voice humble.

"This is your best option. I can become your subordinate, give you the secret manual, and the fire crystal core is yours. If that can't buy my life, then I have nothing left to bargain with."

"Hand it over, and you all can walk free," Luffy agreed. Zhang Rishan's movement technique had allowed him to escape before, even with such limited strength. It was surely worth sparing his life.

"Here," Zhang Rishan said, pulling out an ancient book. "This movement technique is called Misty Dream Purple Star Step. It can be cultivated with dark energy or other energies, each with its own nuances. You'll have to master it yourself, Boss. I'll take my leave now."

"Go on, then," Luffy said after glancing at the book and confirming its authenticity. If it had been a fake, Zhang Rishan would not have left alive. Luffy kept his word.

He turned and strode toward the valley, Thunderblade in hand, joining Zeng Hongseng and the others in slaughtering the zombies en masse.

"Great Flame Sword Slash!" Luffy shouted as he brought his sword down, cutting down dozens of zombies in a sweep.

The zombies here were overwhelming in number. It took them an entire day to wipe them all out, relying on stamina potions to keep fighting; otherwise, their strength wouldn't have lasted so long.

Afterward, they rested briefly before digging out the zombies' crystal cores, a task that took all afternoon.

In total, they harvested fifty thousand crystal cores.

Luffy’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction—this was a huge haul. He immediately led the team to the far side of the mountain, into an old, shabby room where he took a bath, followed by the others.

Luffy then decided to distribute twenty thousand crystal cores among the thirty men, keeping thirty thousand for himself—after all, they had done most of the fighting.

(End of chapter)