"Pfft!"
Moses surfaced, spitting out the lake water that had entered his mouth.
The next second, the other two also emerged, gasping for air.
Looking at their unwilling expressions, it was clear they'd lost the underwater scuffle. At that moment, Garp grinned from nearby and suddenly shouted:
"You three little brats~ Since you've all learned to swim, let's begin real swimming training now."
As he spoke, a sinister smile curled at the corners of his mouth, his expression playful. "Don't die on me now!"
With that, he raised his right fist. Moses' eye twitched as he saw wind pressure beginning to gather around that fist. With a low shout from Garp, the fist smashed into the water's surface.
Splash!
The lake surface within a ten-meter diameter around him began to depress. After three seconds, it suddenly bulged outward before exploding with a boom.
An artificial wave surged up, roaring toward Moses and the other two.
Simultaneously, Garp's laughter rang out: "When sailing on the open sea, the weather is unpredictable. This is Grandpa's specially simulated wave of love for you, you little brats. Don't you dare die on me now.
Ah~ hahaha!!!"
In the blink of an eye, a five-meter-high wave came crashing toward their faces.
Moses glanced at Ace and the others, seeing their dumbstruck expressions with snot dripping from their noses.
"Stop gawking! Dive underwater now!"
After this brief warning, Moses took a deep breath and dove underwater just as the wave hit.
The next instant, Moses felt himself being swept along by the surging current.
"Thankfully, it's just straightforward like this," he thought as he precisely controlled his body to swim with the current. But after swimming less than ten meters, Moses suddenly changed direction and began swimming upstream.
Frantically moving his arms and kicking his legs, he saw Garp fifty meters away, slapping the water's surface repeatedly, creating two-meter-high waves one after another.
Moses swam against the waves, taking quick breaths in the intervals between each wave.
Watching Moses' performance from afar, Garp's eyes showed surprise and satisfaction. "As expected of little Moses. Quite perceptive."
Then he noticed Ace and the other, about twenty meters behind Moses in a slightly calmer area, who had seen Moses' actions and joined in with equal determination.
This made Garp even more pleased.
To challenge them further, he rotated his left wrist, creating a swirling current that mixed with the waves from his right hand.
The upgraded wave attack with hidden undercurrents came crashing toward them again.
Moses swam vigorously, clearing his mind. In his State of Oneness, he clearly perceived the changes in the water flow.
Yet even so, his rhythm was instantly disrupted.
His body spun several meters backward from the force.
Moses had to readjust his movements in the water, increasing his strength to resist the current.
Amid the roaring water, Moses' gaze remained firm as he subtly adjusted his movements, focusing intently on sensing the water's changes.
Behind him, Ace and the other lacked Moses' perception. Their rhythm was immediately thrown off by the changing currents, carried even farther back by the whirlpools.
Garp watched the three with amusement, noting how Moses continued to struggle against the waves.
"You little rascals, this old man's move is called 'Leaping the Dragon Gate.' If you've got what it takes, swim over and cross these waves."
He let out a boisterous laugh.
Garp was putting in even more effort now.
It was like battling against a blizzard, except the ground had been replaced by water.
Moses remained calm.
Sensing the changes in the water, he imagined himself as a large fish swimming upstream.
His hands and feet, arms and legs—each movement was deliberate.
Treating the turbulent currents as opponents, Moses swung his arms and kicked his legs. Sometimes he took a deep breath and leaped out of the water to avoid hidden currents; other times, he dove beneath the surface to escape towering waves.
He gave it his all to cross.
Feeling the impact of the water, sensing the resistance beneath his feet with every kick.
Through repeated attempts, he used Qi Circulation Throughout the Body to unify his strength, channeling power into his legs for explosive kicks, recalling the leg techniques of "Soru."
Tensing his leg muscles, he perceived the flow of the water, coordinating his thighs and calves to unleash force from his soles.
Though the water wasn't as stable as land, and hidden currents pulled at him, his efforts still bore fruit.
Gradually, Moses stabilized in the water, no longer flailing helplessly.
But merely avoiding clumsiness wasn't his goal. Gazing at Garp not far ahead, Moses pushed forward with all his might.
Seemingly noticing Moses' adaptation, Garp grinned and began upping the difficulty with creative twists.
Sometimes he simulated waves, each higher than the last.
Other times, he spun whirlpools with each hand, making them collide near Moses to create explosive turbulence.
Or he'd churn vast sections of the lake, mimicking a torrential downpour.
Within ten minutes, Ace and Sabo were out, washed onto the shallow shore across the lake.
Half an hour later, Moses—exhausted—sank to the bottom, staring helplessly at Garp's beaming face just thirty meters away.
Garp was having the time of his life.
His grin never faded.
Diving into the water, he swam over, grabbed Moses' arm, and hauled him to the surface, bringing him to where Ace and Sabo were resting.
Crunch!
Crunch!
At that moment, Moses saw the two of them munching on lotus roots dug from the shallows. He chuckled dryly, "Got any left? I'm starving—hand me a piece."
Sabo grinned. "Of course! These roots are super sweet." He pulled two more clean, mud-free sections from the water—pale and thick as an arm—and handed one each to Moses and Garp.
Moses shook off the water and took a big bite. Crunch, crunch. It was refreshing, and indeed, very sweet.
"Caw—"
Just then, Crow Dabao flew down and perched on Moses' shoulder, careful not to dig his claws into his skin.
"Wh-what's that?" he asked.
Moses smiled, breaking off a piece of the root and holding it up. "Lotus root. It's medicine, a vegetable, and a fruit. Tastes great."
Crow Dabao blinked, pecked at a piece, chewed, and swallowed the juicy bits.
Like fruit—crisp and full of juice.
"What's that on your crow's feet?" Ace suddenly asked. "I've been meaning to ask—there's a lot of it."
Moses grinned. "Found some wild honey on the way to find you. Was planning to share it when we got back."
Ace's eyes lit up, and he reached for it.
But the next second, a dark shadow darted at him, forcing him to yank his hand back.
Glaring at Crow Dabao, he snapped, "Why'd you peck me?!"
Crow Dabao cackled strangely, "Caw~ Me, no talk, no move."
Ace: "."
"Hey! Don't be impatient if you want to eat. There'll be your share later. By the way, wanna know the exact location of the ground wasp nest?"
"I only took most of the honey. In a few days, the nest should be replenished."
Ace nodded eagerly, "Of course! Tell me quick, then I won't run out of honey in the future."
Moses smiled and revealed the location. Since he'd be leaving soon anyway, it was better to let Ace know—better to keep the benefits within the family.
At that moment, Garp said, "Let's go. That's enough for today. Let's hunt for dinner."
With a wave of his hand, he headed toward where their clothes were piled.
...
Crackle!
Sparks flew as a large bear skewered on a wooden stick roasted to a glossy sheen.
Moses opened a packet of honey, evenly coating the meat before handing small portions to each of the four to satisfy their cravings.
After the final step, he used Cold Dew to carve the roasted bear into chunks, placing them neatly on clean lotus leaves spread on the ground.
"Mmm! Dig in."
He handed Garp a bear thigh, and the old man grinned from ear to ear as he took it, devouring it hungrily.
As for the others, Moses didn't fuss—they could grab whichever piece they wanted.
The rule was simple: take what you like.
The bear meat was undeniably delicious—crispy on the outside, tender inside, perfectly complemented by the honey's sweetness and the meat's succulence.
They ate heartily, controlling their stomach and intestinal movements to digest quickly, warmth surging through their bodies as nutrients were absorbed.
Even the bones were cracked open, the marrow scraped clean.
Noticing the afternoon sky, Garp said, "You all head to Dadan's place. We'll meet by the lake tomorrow."
With that, Garp stood up, took a packet of honey from Moses, and left with a pat on his backside.
Ace's eyes flashed with defiance as he snorted, "Tomorrow it is. Who's scared? Let's go, time to sleep."
Sabo hesitated, "Should I come too? Won't I be a bother?"
Ace thumped his chest dismissively, "No problem. We'll just hunt something on the way back. Dadan won't mind."
Sabo smiled but then coughed twice, his Breath turning uneven.
Moses chuckled, "Remember the breathing technique I taught you earlier. Ace has been practicing for two years. If you don't work hard, he'll leave you far behind."
Sabo nodded earnestly, touched, and said to Moses, "Don't worry, Moses. I'll definitely surpass Ace."
Ace scoffed, "You think you're the only one who'll train? I've had a two-year head start."
Moses laughed and handed them a packet of honey. "You two go to Dadan's. I've got things to do. See you tomorrow."
After a quick call to Crow Dabao, Moses left, leaving Ace and Sabo bewildered.
Ace grumbled, "Everyone's busy, always with something to do. So mysterious."
Sabo nodded in agreement before standing to put out the fire, preventing a forest blaze.
Walking through the woods, Moses reflected on what had happened before the roast.
The bear had been taken down by Garp.
But the firewood? That was gathered by Moses and the others.
Taking the opportunity to gather firewood, Ace came alone to ask Moses if he could teach the Breath technique to Sabo.
Moses didn't refuse. Sabo's character was certainly commendable.
With Ace's connection and their brief interaction today, though short, Moses had come to approve of him.
Since he wouldn't always be by Ace's side, if Sabo grew stronger, the two could cooperate even better.
So,
while roasting meat, Moses taught him the Effortless Breathing Technique and even corrected some flaws in Ace's training.
Flipping a scalpel in his hand,
Moses headed toward Windmill Village.
By the time he left the forest, he was carrying two plump rabbits, each with a clean cut on their necks.
As evening fell,
Moses knocked on Makino's door. The moment she saw him, her cheeks puffed up. "Why are you only coming back now?"
Moses grinned and lifted the rabbits in his hand. "Ran into these on the way. They looked pretty fat. Have you eaten? Let's have these later."
Makino took them with a sigh. "I didn't know when you'd be back or what you wanted, so I haven't cooked yet."
"Hey! You don't have to wait for me. Lately, I've been training up in the mountains with Gramps and the others—sometimes I don't even know if I'll make it back. So just eat whenever you want.
Don't hold back on my account."
Just then, Crow Dabao descended from the sky and looked at Makino. "Honey… for you… too."
He raised a lotus-leaf bundle clutched in his talons.
Makino looked puzzled, so Moses gave a quick explanation.
Understanding dawned on her,
and a sweet smile spread across her face.
Inside, they went to the first-floor bar. Makino said, "I'll find a jar for the honey later so you can take your share.
Oh, and you should go wash up on the second floor first. I'll start cooking."
Moses nodded.
After a quick wash, he also cleaned his clothes.
On the rooftop,
watching the clothes sway in the wind, Moses chuckled before heading back downstairs. Soon after, he and Makino shared a meal.
Second floor.
Silver needles pricked Makino's body one by one, further deepening her understanding of Breath.
After a long while, as her body began to tremble, Moses withdrew the needles one after another.
Gasping deeply, her clothes damp with sweat, she coughed lightly and took a moment to recover before speaking:
"I'm going to take a bath."
Time passed.
When Makino came out, she found Moses already asleep. A soft smile touched her lips as she murmured,
"Asleep already? Must've been tired today. At least he's not as infuriating as yesterday."
She tucked the blanket around him.
Turning, she spotted Crow Dabao staring wide-eyed at her. Raising a finger to her lips, she smiled.
Then, happily, she returned to her room to rest.
...
The next morning,
Moses woke up early.
Just as he finished washing up, Makino's door opened.
Still in her pajamas, she stepped out and smiled at him.
"Good morning. Going for a run?"
"Yeah!" Moses tilted his head. "You're up early—did I wake you?"
"No, I usually get up around this time."
"Go on your run. Breakfast will be ready when you're back."
"Alright. Thanks."
"Mmm, no need for thanks. You don't have to be so polite with me, little Moses. After all, you're my little brother."
"Tch. Still scheming, huh?"
"Gah! Get lost, why are you cursing at me?"
...
After breakfast.
Moses headed out towards Mount Colubo.
Halfway there, near the forest, he ran into Garp, who still had sleep in the corners of his eyes.
The two stared at each other in surprise.
Garp looked confused. "Moses, you didn't sleep at Dadan's place last night?"
Moses curled his lip. "Too many people there, couldn't get used to it."
"Well, I didn't see you return to the battleship either."
"Oh, I slept at Makino's place."
"Huh?!" Garp's eyes widened. "Since when did you two get so close? How come I didn't know about this?"
"Huh?!" Moses was equally puzzled. "Haven't we always been on pretty good terms?!"