One Piece: Star Sea Legend

Chapter 24: The Story of a Man and a Dog

Qin Ming was now covered in wounds—scrapes, burns, cuts, and even his bones ached all over. The bandages that had once wrapped his body were now soaked red with blood. After crashing through thick walls multiple times, the wounds on his back, which had nearly healed, split open again, the pain so intense that he almost passed out.

He glanced at the white dog that had just saved his life. The dog was not only filthy but also injured, with wounds that seemed to have been inflicted by the claws of a fierce beast. Qin Ming also noticed tears glistening in the dog’s round eyes, its dirty face streaked with water—its own tears.

This white dog was likely Xiuxiu. If it was crying, then the pet shop it had guarded for so long, the place filled with memories of its deceased owner, had probably been burned down by Buggy’s men. The injuries on its body were also from fighting a ferocious lion while protecting the shop.

A dog, willing to risk its life to protect something so important, even against a lion many times its size—such loyalty and courage were truly awe-inspiring.

Qin Ming looked at the burning building in the distance. Beside him, Xiuxiu kept barking and crying, staring at the flames.

“Damn it, why did Buggy’s crew suddenly show up to cause trouble? Could it be because of the commotion I caused when fighting Luffy that Buggy sent people to investigate?”

Qin Ming heard some noise in the distance. Gasping for breath, he crouched down and patted Xiuxiu’s head. “Don’t be sad. How about I take you to beat up some bad guys?”

Woof! Woof!

Xiuxiu barked, looking at the deep, bone-exposing wound on Qin Ming’s right hand.

“Haha, you’re really smart. Don’t worry, this little injury won’t stop me from beating people up!”

Qin Ming wasn’t lying. Buggy had fired cannons at him twice, and he was determined to teach that guy a lesson. If it hadn’t been for Xiuxiu earlier, he would have been blown to pieces by Buggy’s cannonball.

Xiuxiu had saved his life, and Buggy’s crew had destroyed what was most important to Xiuxiu. Whether for personal reasons or justice, Qin Ming decided to go after Buggy.

“I wonder if that idiot Luffy has calmed down yet. If he’s still going crazy, things will get complicated.”

Dragging his injured body, Qin Ming slowly walked forward with Xiuxiu. Every few steps, he left a bloody footprint, a stark reminder of how severe his injuries were.

After walking for a while, Xiuxiu suddenly barked happily and ran ahead, picking up an empty pet food bag. It brought the bag to Qin Ming, wagging its tail and rubbing against his leg.

Qin Ming immediately understood. This empty pet food bag was the last one Luffy had retrieved from Buggy’s subordinate, Mohji, the Beast Tamer. It seemed Xiuxiu had found him because of Luffy. Luffy had helped Xiuxiu, deeply moved it, and since Qin Ming carried Luffy’s scent, Xiuxiu had grown close to him and even woke him up in a critical moment.

“If that’s the case, Luffy indirectly saved me too.”

Thinking this, Qin Ming felt both exasperated and amused. Sometimes, things in the world were just so coincidental, so unbelievable.

In truth, despite his severe injuries, Qin Ming decided to go after Buggy for another reason—he wanted to confirm the safety of Luffy and Nami. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to rest and recover properly.

Ever since Zoro had nearly died from a hail of bullets, Qin Ming knew that every action he took in this world could lead to extreme consequences if he hesitated. If he chose to hide and recover, believing that Luffy and the others would be fine, only to have something irreversible happen, he would never forgive himself.

“Just like back at Shells Town’s Marine base, if I hadn’t acted decisively and smashed Morgan’s head with a rock, Zoro would have died.”

So Qin Ming didn’t dare to gamble. Even if he had to crawl, he would personally ensure Luffy and the others were safe.

After walking a few streets, Qin Ming unexpectedly encountered Mohji, bruised and battered, riding his pet lion, Richie.

Woof! Woof!

As soon as Xiuxiu saw Mohji and the lion, it charged forward, barking loudly, its fur bristling, ready to attack.

“You damn mutt, get lost!” Mohji, though beaten up by Luffy, wasn’t about to fear a dog. He immediately ordered Richie to teach Xiuxiu a lesson.

“Looks like you haven’t had enough of being beaten. Do you really want to get punched again?” Qin Ming was breathing heavily, but he endured the pain from his wounds, glaring coldly at Mohji.

At first glance, Mohji seemed to be wearing a doll-like headpiece, which looked ridiculous, but it was actually his hair. Riding his lion, whip in hand, Mohji looked down at Qin Ming, who was pale and covered in blood, clearly severely injured. Mohji felt reassured. “Do you know who I am? I’m the vice-captain of Buggy’s crew. How dare you talk to me like that?”

Woof! Xiuxiu suddenly lunged at the lion Mohji was riding, but the lion swatted it away.

“So what if we burned down a lousy pet shop? That straw-hat kid came after me just for that. You damn mutt are too much! Kill it, Richie!”

Remembering how Luffy had beaten him up, Mohji felt a lingering fear but also a growing hatred for Xiuxiu. Seeing the dog again, he couldn’t hold back and ordered his lion to tear Xiuxiu to pieces.

“Not while I’m here!” Qin Ming stepped forward, shielding Xiuxiu, his gaze growing colder as he looked at Mohji and the lion.

“You’re covered in wounds, barely able to stand, and you still want to protect a dog? Are you insane?”

Mohji saw Qin Ming swaying unsteadily, looking like he might collapse at any moment, yet he still stood up to protect the dog. Mohji thought Qin Ming must be crazy.

“I almost feel sorry for you,” Qin Ming said, glancing at Xiuxiu, who was struggling to get up after being swatted by the lion. He slowly walked toward Mohji. “You and your stupid lion were just beaten up, and now I’m about to do it again. Are you ready?”

“What? With your injured body? With one hand useless, barely able to walk without gasping for breath, you think you can take me on?”

Mohji and his lion laughed at Qin Ming, especially the lion, which snorted disdainfully, clearly not taking Qin Ming seriously.

It was no wonder. Qin Ming looked severely injured, his aura weak, and his right hand hung unnaturally, the bone visible through the deep wound. Mohji thought Qin Ming was just bluffing.

“Injured? One hand useless? Barely able to walk? Even if I were a cripple, none of that would stop me from beating you up!”

Qin Ming’s voice grew stronger, and by the end, it was like thunder, startling Mohji and his lion.

Before Mohji could react, Qin Ming leaped forward and kicked him off the lion.

Thud!

Mohji crashed to the ground, howling in pain, rolling around, his whip lost somewhere.

Roar!

The lion, Richie, seeing its master thrown off, roared angrily and lunged at Qin Ming, jaws wide open.

“Your breath stinks. Keep your mouth shut!” Qin Ming’s left foot shot up, slamming the lion’s jaws shut.

Yelp!

The lion bit its own tongue, whimpering in pain, but this only enraged it further.

As the lion swiped its massive paw at Qin Ming, Qin Ming dodged and headbutted the lion with full force, sending it reeling in pain.

“I’ll flip you!” Qin Ming’s forehead was bruised, but he ignored it. With his left hand, he grabbed the lion’s neck fur and executed a powerful shoulder throw.

Boom!

Using just one arm, Qin Ming slammed the massive lion to the ground, causing the earth to shake slightly and dust to rise.

The lion lay sprawled on the ground, twitching, unable to get up for the time being.

“Now it’s your turn,” Qin Ming said, shaking his left hand and slowly walking towards Mohji, who had just gotten up, trembling in fear.

Qin Ming was breathing heavily, his steps slow but steady, though more blood seeped from his wounds.

As Qin Ming approached, Mohji felt a chill, his body trembling as if he were facing a monster.

Mohji’s mind screamed at him to run, but Qin Ming’s cold, piercing gaze paralyzed him with fear.

What terrified Mohji the most was that Qin Ming, who had been swaying unsteadily just moments ago, now walked with perfect stability, as if uninjured.

“This guy’s injuries can’t be fake. Anyone else would have collapsed by now, but he not only didn’t fall, he easily defeated Richie. Is he even human?”

Mohji’s throat dried up as he stammered, “How can you still stand? You monster!”

“Sorry, but I don’t have the habit of collapsing before my enemies!” Qin Ming’s face was even paler now, but he raised his left fist, ready to deliver a final blow.

“Are you really going to oppose Buggy’s crew for a dog? Wait, are you with that straw-hat kid?”

Mohji, seeing Qin Ming’s expression, suddenly remembered the boy who had beaten him so badly. Their eyes were exactly the same.Trembling, Mohji made one last desperate attempt to avoid being beaten.

“Congratulations, you’re right. We are together. I’ll be going after your captain soon, but beating up the vice-captain first isn’t a bad idea. And that dog you mentioned? It saved my life. Isn’t it only right that I do something for it in return?”

With that, Qin Ming punched Mohji square in the face. “You and your stupid lion, bullying a loyal and brave dog—was it fun?”

Boom!

Mohji was sent flying into a building, unconscious.

Huff! Huff!

Qin Ming gasped for breath, staggering slightly, then turned to Xiuxiu, who had run up to him. “Let’s go. We’ll take down that bastard Buggy together.”

Woof! Woof!

Xiuxiu rubbed against Qin Ming’s leg, seemingly understanding him, its barks now full of vigor.

And so, Qin Ming and Xiuxiu walked forward, step by step.

Mohji, his face twisted in pain, struggled to crawl out of the rubble, watching Qin Ming’s retreating figure with a mix of hatred and fear. But soon, the hatred faded, replaced by sheer terror.

Mohji could clearly see that with every step Qin Ming took, he left behind a trail of bloody footprints, yet his back remained straight, like a man who would never fall.

“Captain Buggy, we’re in trouble. We’ve provoked some real monsters!”

This was Mohji’s last thought before he passed out.

The blazing sun shone down on Qin Ming and Xiuxiu, casting their long shadows as they slowly moved forward…