Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, a new day had arrived.
As usual, Qingheng prepared to go out for his morning training. Just as he opened the front door at dawn, a young man appeared right in front of him.
The man was dressed in traditional samurai attire. His black hair was tied into a topknot at the back of his head, and he wore a white kimono with a famous katana hanging at his waist and a pair of wooden sandals on his feet.
Qingheng actually recognized this man. Despite appearing to be no older than twenty, he was a renowned swordsman who had become incredibly famous over the past two years. Countless well-known swordmasters from the Grand Line and the Four Seas had been defeated by this youth. More importantly, this guy was a member of the Roger Pirates in the original story. So why had he shown up here?
"I am Kozuki Oden. I've been waiting for the doctor for quite some time. I've come here today to ask you to save my benefactor's life," said the young man solemnly as Aocheng stood in thought.
"Oh?" Startled from his thoughts, Qingheng looked at him and said with a relaxed smile, "To have the famous swordsman Kozuki Oden personally come and ask me—seems I must be quite important."
"In front of a doctor as renowned as you, how could I dare claim such fame?" Kozuki Oden responded respectfully. "To be honest, my benefactor is a pirate. So, I ask you to come out to sea with me and save him. I know you never leave Starfish Island, but I'm willing to agree to any condition you set."
"Oh?" Qingheng gave a small smile. As he brushed past Oden, he suddenly said with a teasing tone, "I need an assistant. Want to be one?"
His voice was soft, but it made Kozuki Oden stiffen.
He had considered the possibility of such a condition—but come on, he was a world-famous swordsman! It was already a lot to ask for a favor. How could Qingheng go so far as to ask him to be a servant?
Just then, Qingheng's voice sounded again: "Forget it, kid. Let's just drop it this time. But next time, don't speak so carelessly…"
"I, Kozuki Oden, will become your assistant from now on. So please, Doctor Qingheng, come out to sea and save my benefactor's life!" Oden interrupted loudly before Qingheng could finish.
"Uh…"
"What the hell?!" Qingheng was stunned. He had just been joking, but Oden had actually agreed!
Forget the swordsman status—Oden was the future heir of the Kozuki clan, rulers of Wano Country in the second half of the Grand Line! Was he out of his mind? How could a future clan leader become someone else's assistant? More importantly, Oden was supposed to become a member of the Roger Pirates. If Qingheng interfered now and changed the plot, wouldn't it be possible that Roger never became the Pirate King? If that happened, Qingheng's main storyline mission might not even activate!
Turning around with a dark face, Qingheng stared at the kneeling and smug-looking Oden, silently lamenting: This kid is still too young. Not only did my words not scare him off, they actually lit a fire in him. Damn it.
"Young man, you'll regret this impulsive decision sooner or later. There's still time to undo it. Take back what you said," Qingheng warned calmly.
But Oden only looked at him respectfully and repeated, "Please, my lord, save my benefactor's life."
Qingheng: "…"
"Fine. If that's how it is, then get up. If he's the benefactor of my assistant, then of course I'll save him," Qingheng said calmly. "So, who is he, and where is he now?"
"My benefactor is named Gol D. Roger—known to the Navy as Gol D. Roger, the great pirate. He's currently waiting in Trann Town in the North Blue."
"Gol D. Roger, huh? I suppose it's worth meeting him," Qingheng said, a knowing expression on his face. As he turned and headed back to his lab, he added, "Wait here. I'll pack my medical equipment, and then we'll leave to save your benefactor."
"Yes." Kozuki Oden replied respectfully.
Although he did feel a twinge of regret about becoming someone else's assistant, the experience was quite novel to him. In fact, seeing Qingheng's displeased face actually made him a bit happy—serves him right for treating him like some ignorant kid earlier.
"Let's go," Qingheng said a few minutes later, tossing a suitcase toward Oden.
Kozuki Oden looked at the backpack and medical kit in his hands, surprised. "You're only bringing these?"
"That's enough," Qingheng replied, walking straight toward the port without turning his head.
Oden glanced at the blade on Qingheng's back and asked, "My lord, do you perform surgery with that sword on your back?"
"You're overthinking it." Qingheng pointed to the Zanpakuto on his back. "This is for self-defense. I'm too famous—you never know when I'll get kidnapped."
"…You really are shameless," Oden muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"Don't worry, my lord. With me by your side, no one will dare touch you," Kozuki Oden said confidently.
Just then, a discordant voice interrupted their conversation: "Doctor Qingheng, are you heading out to sea? There's a high-ranking person in the Holy Land who wants to see you. Please come with us first."
"That's what you call a slap in the face," Qingheng said to Oden with a teasing expression. "So, Lord Oden, does your face hurt yet?"
Whether it did or not, Oden's face had certainly turned dark. But before he could speak, Qingheng looked at the newcomers and asked, "You're from CP0?"
"Didn't expect the famous Doctor Qingheng to recognize us," one of the tall figures said. "If you don't want your wanted poster to become official, come with us to the Holy Land."
"Wanted poster?" Qingheng looked confused. "When did I become a criminal?"
"Looks like the latest news hasn't reached this island yet. What's taking them so long?" one of the masked men complained.
The other pulled out a wanted poster and said, "Our superior has guaranteed that if you come with us, this bounty won't become real."
"130 million Berries? What the hell? I really am a criminal now?" Qingheng's face darkened, then he sneered. "So according to you, this news is already spreading everywhere. And now you want me to just walk into the Holy Land with you? Do you take me for a fool?"
"To be honest, the one who wants to see you is a World Noble. With just one word, he can turn lies into truth—and truth into lies."