077 Naval Academy, The Next Generation of Cadets

Ignoring the foolish monkey, Xuan Ye stood up and walked into the kitchen to help the young woman.

“Out, out, it’ll be ready soon. I’m making your favorite,” she said with a fond smile as she saw Xuan Ye enter, waving him away.

“It’s fine, I’ll just wash the vegetables,” Xuan Ye replied, shaking his head as he picked up the vegetables beside him and began cleaning them.

“This child…” The woman sighed helplessly, allowing him to stay.

“Madam, where are Master and Xiao Xing? I haven’t seen them,” Xuan Ye asked curiously as he washed the vegetables.

“Oh, I think the academy recruited a new batch of students last year. Your master should be teaching them now,” the woman replied after a moment’s thought, then added with a chuckle, “That mischievous little brother of yours insists on becoming as strong as you and wants to join the academy as well. I don’t know if your master will agree. He begged so hard last night that your master finally said he could try out today.”

Her gentle face was serene as she smiled warmly.

“So Xiao Xing is growing up. His dream has always been to become an admiral,” Xuan Ye said, a note of nostalgia in his voice.

“Who could deny it?”

“Madam, has anything happened these past years?”

“I seldom leave Marineford, so if anything, it’s probably that Marshal Kong is being promoted to Commander-in-Chief at Mary Geoise,” she answered, frowning in thought.

“Commander-in-Chief?” Xuan Ye’s eyes brightened.

“Yes,” the woman nodded.

“Then the next Fleet Admiral will be Admiral Sengoku?”

“Your master said so, I think,” she replied, not looking up as she continued slicing.

“I see,” Xuan Ye said, then changed the subject, “What delicious meal are you making today?”

“Don’t worry, it’s all your and Xiao Jin’s favorites,” she replied indulgently.

“Heh heh!” Xuan Ye grinned foolishly.

――――――――――

Three hours later, a man and a monkey stood at the door, ready to go out.

“Madam, I’m going to check on Master. I’ll be back for dinner.”

“Take care on the road, and come back early,” she said, waving from the doorway.

“I know, you go back inside,” Xuan Ye replied.

“Alright.” Watching him leave, the woman felt a mix of comfort and pain. At last, she sighed and closed the door.

As they walked along the road, Xuan Ye’s calm expression darkened.

“Hic… hic…” The monkey, stuffed full, kept hiccupping, clutching his round belly, waddling beside Xuan Ye.

“Shameful, truly shameful. How many lifetimes has it been since you ate? Even a starving ghost wouldn’t be as ravenous as you,” Xuan Ye couldn’t help but chide the monkey.

“Shame? What’s that?” The monkey looked confused, producing a toothpick from who knows where and picking his teeth with pleasure.

“Forget it, talking to you is a waste of expression.” Xuan Ye rubbed his forehead and chose to ignore him.

“Chirp… hic… really?” The monkey hiccupped, eyeing Xuan Ye with disdain. “As if you have so many expressions yourself.”

“Oh? Are you challenging my authority? Don’t think that just because the madam favors you, you can lord it over me,” Xuan Ye scoffed, folding his arms and looking at the monkey with mockery.

“Chirp chirp… are you threatening me? Are you?” The monkey placed a hand on his waist and pointed at Xuan Ye with exaggerated seriousness.

Xuan Ye pursed his lips, feeling a mix of laughter and frustration. “Am I really sulking with a monkey?” he muttered to himself.

“Monkey, so what if I am? Are you prejudiced against monkeys?” Xiao Jin’s ears twitched as he glared, clearly angered.

“Idiot, if I were truly prejudiced, I wouldn’t treat you like family,” Xuan Ye sighed, giving the monkey a sidelong glance before lacing his fingers behind his head and heading toward the Naval Academy.

“Chirp… that’s more like it.” The monkey grinned, bouncing along with his tail swinging side to side, clearly in high spirits.

To be honest, without realizing it, Xuan Ye had come to see the monkey as an indispensable friend—or rather, a brother. It might sound strange, but only Xuan Ye understood just how much he considered the monkey family.

After twenty minutes or so, with the ever-curious monkey tailing behind, Xuan Ye found himself standing on familiar ground, overwhelmed by complicated emotions.

Compared to the past, he had gained much—he had grown from weakness to strength. The sweat and hardship of those days had been worthwhile after all. Without that hardship, there would be no Tori-no-Ten Xuan Ye Tang of today.

So, every moment mattered; to waste time was to move further from becoming stronger, and to let Xiao Xi suffer even a day longer was unbearable.

Xuan Ye clenched his fists, his face pale.

He hated himself—hated his lack of strength, hated his own weakness. Even now, though he was much stronger, compared to Golden Lion, he was nothing but a clown.

From the last clash with Roger, Xuan Ye knew he was still far from the true powerhouses. He was certain Roger had not used even half his strength—just the Conqueror’s Haki alone had left him so humiliated. It was hard to imagine Roger at full power.

And Golden Lion, he was Roger’s rival.

The road ahead was long, and Xuan Ye felt the weight of it.

“Chirp… why are you just standing here?” The monkey scratched his head, puzzled by Xuan Ye’s mood.

“Let’s go.” Xuan Ye unclenched his fists and dismissed his worries, walking toward the academy.

“Haven’t eaten? You’re all moving slower than turtles. Pathetic!”

“If you can’t finish today’s training, none of you get to eat!”

“You’re the worst batch of recruits I’ve ever had—compared to your seniors, you’re hopeless!”

“I’m embarrassed for you. Put your backs into it, faster, faster!”

As soon as he entered the academy, that rough, stern, yet familiar voice rang in Xuan Ye’s ears.

Smiling, Xuan Ye and the monkey made their way toward the figure standing atop the platform. Without realizing it, a strange ache filled Xuan Ye’s heart.

The same grounds, the same platform, the same teacher—but the people had changed.

Below, nearly a hundred new recruits, sweat-soaked and burdened with heavy iron weights, trained relentlessly.

“Master,” Xuan Ye called softly, smiling at the now-aging face.

Turning, Zephyr was first surprised, then delighted. “Ye, when did you get back?”

“This afternoon. I had lunch at home, then came to see you and Xiao Xing,” Xuan Ye replied, stepping forward and letting Zephyr look him over.

“Is that so? It’s good you’re back, good you’re back.” Zephyr didn’t know what else to say, so he simply patted Xuan Ye’s shoulder firmly.

“Chirp… and me,” the monkey protested.

“Yes, and Xiao Jin. Tonight, you two will drink with me,” Zephyr laughed heartily.

“It would be my pleasure,” Xuan Ye replied with a smile.

“Good, good…” Zephyr laughed, his heart full.

“Brother Ye!”

From below, a boy of six or seven, lugging an iron slab as big as a pot lid on his back, called out breathlessly, sweat streaming down his face.

“It’s Brother Xuan! It’s Brother Xuan!” Throwing aside the iron weight, the boy ran to Xuan Ye, his face alight with joy.

“Well! Our future admiral has grown taller,” Xuan Ye exclaimed, scooping the boy up and affectionately ruffling his hair.

“Brother Ye, I missed you so much,” the boy’s innocent voice made Xuan Ye’s heart melt.

“How much did you miss me?”

“A lot, a lot!” the boy declared, stretching his arms wide for emphasis.

“Chirp… have you forgotten me?” the monkey grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“Monkey bro, I missed you too. After you and Brother Xuan left, no one played with me anymore,” the boy pouted.

“Looking for trouble, are you? You say you want to be as strong as your Brother Xuan, but you can’t even handle a bit of training?” Zephyr scolded sternly.

“Master, let it go for today,” Xuan Ye said, holding the boy defensively.

“Fine, with you here, I suppose he can do as he likes,” Zephyr said, shaking his head, then turning to the confused recruits below. “That’s all for today. Dismissed.”

Then he turned to Xuan Ye. “Come, drink with me.”

“We only just ate,” Xuan Ye replied with a wry smile.

“It’s just a drink, come on.”

“Alright then.”

And so, the two men, the monkey, and the little boy, under the bewildered gazes of the recruits, gradually disappeared from view.

……