Chapter 3 Meeting Under the Moon

The mountains are broad and endless. The moonlight was cool and soft, blocked by the lush trees, making the forest seem even darker and more eerie.

The night wind rustled the leaves, making a rustling sound that blended with the chirping of insects, rising and falling continuously.

Memories of the past gradually flow through my mind.

The original name of Mount Meath was not Mount Meath.

It seems to be called Broken Mountain? Nameless mountain? But most people just refer to it loosely as "that dangerous mountain."

That's a distant memory.

The South China Sea has always been a chaotic and rampant sea area where black forces run rampant, and even Fit Island is no exception. Even though the islanders here are simple, kind, and enthusiastic, there are still foreign pirates who commit atrocities on this island, making everyone groan in pain and terrified, fearing that one day they will be innocently killed in the war between the big guys.

Twelve years ago. No, according to the current time, it should be twenty-nine years ago.

The fighting that year was particularly severe. It was a struggle between the old black organization that had ruled the South China Sea for many years and the newly emerging pirate force.

The war destroyed almost half of the island, and the ground was covered with collapsed and crumbling walls. The shouts of killing and the wailing of civilians were endless, lingering in the air for a long time.

Admiral Zefa happened to be handling official business in the South China Sea at that time. After receiving the news, he immediately led a large number of navy and formed a fleet to Feite Island to capture these evil people.

The strength of these pirates and black forces that dominate the South China Sea is as fragile as paper compared to the powerful Zephyr.

They were quickly defeated by the attack of the fleet he led, and fled into the mountains in panic like a stray dog.

Adhering to the principle of taking someone with them before dying, these people kidnapped many islanders before fleeing to the mountains, intimidating and abusing them, and using their lives to threaten the navy.

As soon as Cheng Xi opened her eyes, she found something wrong. She carefully observed her surroundings, looked at her small hands and feet, the black and purple scars on her body, and the wound on her neck that was still bleeding. She keenly realized the fact that she had traveled through time and quickly accepted it.

And he traveled through time and space into the body of a little child.

On a little girl who is now being beaten and abused, but whose facial features are almost exactly the same as his own.

Before them were flames rising into the sky and thick black smoke, the air was filled with a disgusting pungent smell that choked people to the point of tears and coughing. They were tied to rocks, buried in the soil, and hung on trees by the pirates who had no way to escape, and walked towards death in anxiety.

Cheng Xi was very strong, but her body was weak now, and she had no weapons. In a hurry, she had to force herself to wipe the blood from her neck quickly and randomly, draw talismans in the air, chant spells, and save these islanders by herself.

Finally, when General Zefa arrived, he could no longer hold on and slowly fell into the rubble.

When she woke up again, she was lying in a bright and clean hospital, with a faint smell of disinfectant in the air.

Teacher Zefa felt sorry for her weakness and thought she was a talented child, so he brought Cheng Xi back to the Navy Headquarters and raised her like a daughter.

Teacher Zefa was very good to her, his wife was gentle and kind, and their son was also very cute. However, Cheng Xi was still not used to the feeling of living in someone else's house, and finally moved out of Teacher Zefa's house.

Later, Cheng Xi joined the navy under the leadership of Mr. Zefa. She was Mr. Zefa's first student and also his proudest student.

In just a few years, he was promoted from private to rear admiral, had his own fleet and subordinates, and went to the Grand Line G5 Detachment for several years, captured many notorious pirates, and made many friends. He was then transferred back to the Navy Headquarters and promoted to lieutenant admiral.

During those years, she always missed home and her relatives and friends in modern society. Her longing was overwhelming, but she had no way to express it, so she had to come to this mountain often, the place where she had traveled through time, and sit quietly, looking at the sky, the flowers, the trees, and everything in front of her.

Cheng Xi named this mountain Mount Mis. It was originally just his personal hobby, but he didn't expect that after many years everyone would call this mountain Mount Mis.

Private habits have become official settings.

Time always covers up many traces. The scorched earth, dead trees, broken rocks and ruins on Mount Mis have disappeared, replaced by lush greenery and flourishing vegetation.

There are large tracts of camellia planted around, which are still gorgeous even in the dark night.

Time will bring new life to Mount Mis, and it will also bring new life to her.

Cheng Xi looked at the photo of a peaceful smile on the stone tablet. It was the photo she had submitted when she applied for the rank of lieutenant general. It looked very official and she didn't like it.

She walked over and found a few bouquets of flowers and some food nearby. At a glance, they are all her favorite foods.

Cheng Xi sighed quietly, feeling mixed emotions. It seemed that she only had a few friends left after all these years who remembered her preferences and came here to miss her.

He took out incense sticks from his backpack, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner from left to right. He silently recited a spell in his heart, and the yellow paper in his hand instantly ignited. A little flame lit up, and Cheng Xi threw it into the sky. The yellow talisman paper quickly burned into black ashes and scattered into the air.

If there were people around, they would definitely be scared to death by the scene in front of them.

On a dark and windy night, in the gloomy and silent forest, a girl who looked exactly like the one in the portrait was standing in front of her own grave, muttering to herself.

Visiting your own grave is scary no matter how you think about it.

Cheng Xi said to the portrait: "I'm so sorry. I occupied your body for nothing, but in the end there's not even a complete corpse left."

Her tone was sincere and apologetic.

He stood in front of the tomb and whispered for a long time, and it was unclear whether he was talking to himself or to the original "Cheng Xi".

"In the past few years, I'm really tired, physically and mentally. What about the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, the CP organization, and Punk Hassadri's experimental research."

"There are so many victims in these places that I can never save them all. They are so powerful. I feel like a clown in their eyes. I can't fight against them."

A tear flowed from Cheng Xi's eyes, soaking her eyelashes.

"This time, let me be a coward. I don't want to go back to the Navy Headquarters. Anyway, I have saved enough money. I can open a small restaurant on a picturesque island, hire a few employees, and retire early." "

It's good to be away from all the troubles."

"..."

As she was speaking, for some reason, a camellia tree next to her began to move, swaying from side to side, and the fiery red camellia flowers on it were tottering, and fell down at the most beautiful moment, extremely beautiful and resolute.

Cheng Xi's gaze turned to the camellia tree. The soil on the ground gradually cracked, and every blade of grass and every grain of soil were trying their best to make noise.

After about a minute, the noise finally stopped. A large crack appeared in the ground under the tree. Cheng Xi walked closer and looked into the middle of the crack. The fragrant scent of the soil instantly rushed into his nostrils.

Revealing the true face of what's inside.

It's a sword.

It is about one meter long and completely black. The hilt is engraved with intricate patterns and a dark red gem is inlaid in the middle, emitting a faint light under the moonlight.

Cheng Xi took the sword out of the crack, unsheathe the scabbard, revealing the sharp sword inside, reflecting Cheng Xi's eyes.

Even after being buried in the ground for more than a decade, it still shines with a cold and sharp aura.

It was the sword she carried when she was a navy soldier, Shi Qing.

She held the Shiqing sword with the hilt facing upwards and the tip of the sword facing downwards, and slung it across her back along with Kuaixue.

After dealing with the mess here, Cheng Xi glanced at the portrait on the tombstone and said slowly: "Thank you."

Then he turned and left.

After she walked away, a phantom slowly rose on the tombstone. It was a girl who looked like Cheng Xi. She looked at Cheng Xi's receding back and whispered a blessing: "Cheng Xi, go and do what you want to do."

"Be happy for the rest of your life."

I don't blame you. It was you who allowed my weak and ordinary body to see a new world.

If there is really a next life, I must be friends with you.

Then the phantom turned into wisps of smoke and completely dissipated in the world.

Cheng Xi walked down the mountain carrying two swords and passed by a man.

She didn't pay much attention to it, as her mind was full of thoughts about what to eat for dinner.

The only way to relieve worries is to retire.

She can't wait to enjoy her retirement life. She wants to be pretty and rich, open a small restaurant, sleep until she wakes up naturally every day, drink tea, grow vegetables, and lie leisurely in a rocking chair to bask in the sun.

The most important thing is that you no longer have to submit various reports to the headquarters!

It makes me happy just thinking about it.

Shanks didn't pay attention to the passerby at first, but he happened to look back and caught a glimpse of the sword behind the person behind him.

He observed carefully and finally confirmed that this sword was exactly the same as Cheng Xi's sword Shi Qing.

And this place is...

"Stop!" Shanks suddenly said.

His voice was very cold, with a hint of murderous intent, and he couldn't help but exude the majesty of an emperor of the sea.

"Huh?" Cheng Xi was confused by the sudden interruption and she stood there.

"Tell me, where did you get this sword behind you?" Shanks asked.

"What? Do I have to report to you even if I get my sword back?" Cheng Xi was a little angry when asked. Her good mood just now disappeared in an instant, so her tone was a little bad.

Cheng Xi turned around slowly.

At this moment, a sudden gust of wind blew up her long hair, making it a little messy, so she had to raise her hand to tidy it up.

Tonight, the sky is dotted with sparse stars, with a bright moon in the center. The soft and cold moonlight shines on Cheng Xi, giving her a light silver-white color, making her look ethereal and dispersible, and even the surrounding scene becomes blurred.

It’s like the bright moon hanging high in the sky falling into the earth, gentle, clear, yet a little lonely.

"Cheng Xi?" Shanks opened his mouth slowly, asking with some disbelief.

"Who are you...?" Cheng Xi looked at the man in front of him with some confusion. He was tall and strong, with red hair, three scars on his left eye, and no left arm. He was wearing a white shirt, but only half of the buttons were fastened, revealing most of his chest. He had a black cloak behind him and a sword on his waist.

He’s quite handsome, but he seems a little... familiar?

Cheng Xi suddenly thought of the photo in the tavern at noon and asked uncertainly, "Shanks?"

Shanks felt his heartbeat quicken and the blood in his body became hotter. He stood there for a long time, not daring to speak to break the silence.

Yes, it must be her. Only Cheng Xi would use such a strange method of carrying a sword.

Shanks stared at Cheng Xi intently, very seriously, afraid that she would disappear if he wasn't paying attention, which made Cheng Xi feel a little uncomfortable.

"Am I dreaming?" he asked, mumbling to himself.

Cheng Xi quickly replied: "No, this is the real world. If you don't believe it, just pinch your face hard."

Shanks listened to her words for some reason and pinched himself hard. Feeling a huge pain, he felt relieved.

"Then... are you a ghost?" Thinking of some of Cheng Xi's former abilities, Shanks couldn't help but continue asking.

Cheng Xi: ...

Cheng Xi was left speechless by his words.

Really, the grown-up Shanks is not at all as sunny and cute as he was when he was little.

Although he was also very annoying when he was a child.

Cheng Xi curled her lips and joked, "Oh, yes, I'm a ghost. I've stayed in the fields for too long and was a little hungry, so I came out from there to find something to eat."

What she didn't expect was that what was just a joke was taken seriously by the red-haired man in front of her.

"Okay, Cheng Xi, I'll treat you to dinner."

"Ah? Thank you so much." Cheng Xi thanked Shanks very politely, thinking in his mind what kind of dinner he would treat him to. Based on his personality, he would probably treat him to a banquet?

Her guess was not correct, as Shanks quickly pulled out the Griffin and slashed himself hard with the sword.

Warm blood flowed from his collarbone and slowly slid down his strong abdominal muscles, dyeing his white shirt red, which looked particularly gorgeous in the darkness.

Cheng Xi was a little confused by his actions.

Shanks showed his white teeth, eyes shining, and said with a smile: "Cheng Xi, I seem to have heard you say before that ghosts like to eat human flesh and blood. Do you want to come and try me to see if I taste good?"

Cheng Xi: "Ahhhhh, you fool Shanks, what on earth are you doing!!!"

"I'm not a vampire, why should I eat your flesh?!"