Li Xiaohu was startled and turned back, but saw no trace of any child. Seeing him turn around, Kaku asked, "What's the matter?"
"I thought I heard someone talking just now... I must have misheard. Let's go."
Returning to Dock 1, Kaku went to report the situation to Mr. Iceburg, while Li Xiaohu went back to his post to resume work. However, he remained deeply troubled by the suspected child's voice he had heard earlier. Therefore, after his shift ended, he packed the Wooden Bird and headed back there.
Arriving at the rocky bay once again, the only person on the Going Merry was the orange-haired girl. Li Xiaohu used the Concealment Gu to quietly approach the ship. Then, closing his eyes, he covered the Wooden Bird with his divine sense and released it.
Normally, Li Xiaohu's reconnaissance arts could easily survey the surrounding situation. But ever since coming to Water 7, the violent external energy had been suppressing his True Qi and divine sense. Thus, he had devised a method: using the Wooden Bird as an intermediary to scout through its "eyes."
Although his eyes were closed, Li Xiaohu could now sense the vitality surrounding the Wooden Bird and "see" everything nearby. Sure enough, after a moment, he felt a faint, fluctuating soul power. There was a spirit residing on this ship! He just didn't know whether this spirit was a ghostly specter or a demonic entity.
His master had told him that if a person harbored strong unfulfilled wishes before death, they might escape the cycle of reincarnation and exist in the form of a ghostly specter. Once their wish was fulfilled, they would dissipate into the world, losing any chance at reincarnation. A demonic entity, on the other hand, was born when all things in the world encountered rare opportunities, awakening spiritual intelligence and cultivating form. Once successful in their cultivation, they could become spirits or demons.
Though he was unclear why a spirit existed on this ship—and a very weak one at that—since he had crossed paths with it, Li Xiaohu could not simply turn a blind eye. Reciting an incantation, he gathered the soul spirit from the ship into a spirit talisman.
Back in his dwelling, Li Xiaohu used the Wooden Bird to set up a simple Spirit-Gathering Array and released the spirit from the talisman. A child wearing a hooded raincoat then appeared before him.
Li Xiaohu asked, "Why did you possess a pirate ship? Do you remember how you came to be?"
The child timidly shook her head. "I don't know where I came from either. I only know that from the moment I gained consciousness, I was the ship spirit of the Going Merry."
"If that's the case, it's very likely you are a demonic entity born from the vessel. Logically speaking, however, for a demonic entity to gain consciousness, it must have received the grace of heaven and earth. Even without cultivation methods, it should only grow stronger slowly. Yet judging by your appearance, you seem to have been born only recently. A demonic entity on the verge of dissipation so soon after birth is unheard of. Did something happen to you?"
The little ship spirit shook her head, saying that ever since she gained consciousness, she had known the Straw Hat Pirates, who were happy every day. Even though sometimes they sailed for a long time without seeing land and frequently encountered howling winds and torrential rains, they always managed to find joy. Furthermore, they treated their ship with genuine sincerity, which brought warmth to the one possessing it. If she had to say something happened, it was that she had once secretly used her power to help them, making their voyage smoother.
Looking at the child's bright smile, Li Xiaohu could almost feel her happiness. Even so, there were things he had to say. "I think you must have used your original spiritual power to help them quite a bit before. I was already wondering why their ship, by all rights, shouldn't have been able to sail much farther—it was you who barely kept the ship together, allowing them to make landfall safely. The problem is that you are far too weak now, and your origin source is almost completely depleted. Fortunately, it's not too late; I can help you enter the cycle of reincarnation. But you can no longer accompany them on their voyages."
The child lowered her head, hesitating. "Are we... parting ways with them?"
Li Xiaohu continued, "You should have heard it today as well—our craftsmen have already told them about the condition of the ship, and they will buy a new one to set sail again. You have already helped them a great deal. Besides, in your current state, forcing yourself to carry them on their voyage will only harm them; that ship cannot withstand any more wind and waves."
The child was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, thank you. But can I go back to see them one last time?"
Li Xiaohu nodded and said, "Of course you can, but don't stay too long. I'll help you restore a bit of your spiritual power now. You can go say goodbye to them tonight, and once you're done, come back to me so I can summon the emissary of reincarnation for you. If you share a karmic bond in the next life, perhaps you will meet again."
With that, Li Xiaohu summoned the Wooden Bird, formed hand seals to draw out spiritual qi, and guided it into the child. The child flickered, and her whole body seemed to glow much brighter. When this was done, the child floated up and said happily, "Thank you, Mr. Craftsman, I feel much better. Goodbye." Having said that, she flew out toward the door.
Watching the departing child, Li Xiaohu couldn't help feeling a flicker of curiosity about the Straw Hat crew—though just a tiny bit. While he couldn't say he loathed pirates, he held no fondness for them either. After all, having lived in Water 7 for two years, he had seen and heard plenty of instances where pirates burned, killed, looted, and committed evil. It was only thanks to the powerful craftsmen of Water 7 that the people here were protected.
Having helped a child, Li Xiaohu felt a mild sense of elation. Although his master had taught that practitioners who performed many good deeds could accumulate karmic merit, Li Xiaohu preferred the deep satisfaction of receiving gratitude after helping others. At the same time, the Immortal Sword RPG System issued a new quest at some unknown moment: "Fulfill the wish of the ship spirit Merry. Time limit: 7 days. Reward: Concentrating Mind and Returning to Origin."
"Hmm, this quest should be completable once she comes over tomorrow."
The hour was no longer early, so Li Xiaohu tidied up his things and went to rest.
***
"What? Mr. Iceburg was attacked by an assassin last night and is still unconscious?"
Early in the morning, Li Xiaohu received this startling news.
"Who on earth did this? I'm heading over immediately." Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Li Xiaohu hurried toward Dock 1. Though he had initially stayed with the Galley-La Company out of a desire to repay a favor, two years of getting along had shown him that Mr. Iceburg was truly a man worthy of respect. Now that he was in danger, if he turned out to be all right...
"No matter who it is, dare to harm Mr. Iceburg, and you'll pay the price."
Rushing to the entrance of Dock 1, he found it packed to the brim with citizens and reporters. They genuinely cared about Mr. Iceburg and were desperate to visit him. However, because of the incident, the Galley-La Company was temporarily closed to the public.
The entrance was blocked completely solid, but this was no challenge for Li Xiaohu. He took out his Concealment Gu, quietly climbed up to the second floor, and arrived outside Mr. Iceburg's door. At this moment, the four foremen of Dock 1—Kaku, Paulie, Lucci, and Lulu—were all waiting.
"Kaku, how is the situation?" Li Xiaohu looked at Kaku and asked softly.
"The doctor is still inside. I heard Mr. Iceburg was shot right in his room. But strangely enough, nothing was reported missing, and neither the doors nor the windows were broken. I have no idea how the killer pulled it off."
Just then, the door opened, and everyone stood up. Kalifa, Mr. Iceburg's secretary, walked out and said, "Mr. Iceburg has woken up. Please come into the room quietly."
Hearing this, the foremen all let out a breath of relief. "That's wonderful!"
"Mr. Iceburg, how are you feeling?"
"Mr. Iceburg, please rest assured; we will take care of matters at the shipyard."
Iceburg slowly spoke up, "I've worried you all. I'm all right. However, the assassin who sneaked into my room last night..."
"Ah, we are still investigating that matter..."
"No, I remember."
Hearing this, Li Xiaohu involuntarily focused his attention.
"There were two of them! One was a tall man wearing a mask, and the other was a tall, black-haired woman. That piercing gaze... it was likely Nico Robin."
"Nico Robin?" Everyone looked somewhat puzzled. Kalifa explained, "It has already been confirmed with the World Government that Nico Robin is a member of the Straw Hat Boy pirates, and she is currently on the island."
"So it was them? They came yesterday demanding repairs for their ship—could it be they started retaliating because it couldn't be fixed?"
"Damned pirates, being so utterly unreasonable."
Suddenly, a loud "bang" came from outside, and Peeply Lulu, one of the five foremen, barged in. "Oh, this is terrible! Eh, Mr. Iceburg, you're awake? Wuwuwu..."
Rob Lucci raised his foot and kicked the noisy fellow right back out. The pigeon on his shoulder called out, "Be quiet! Mr. Iceburg needs complete rest!"
"Oh, Mr. Iceburg isn't dead, that's great, hahaha."
"Too noisy, quiet!"
Peeply Lulu rubbed his head, remembering the purpose of his intrusion. "Oh, it's a huge emergency! Those pirates who came yesterday—the Straw Hat Boy—are kicking up a huge fuss in Dock 1 right now, turning the shipyard upside down."
Everyone was astonished. "The Straw Hat Boy? That guy dares to show his face so brazenly?"
The foremen exchanged glances and said, "Mr. Iceburg, get some rest first. We'll handle this matter." With that, the group quietly withdrew.