Chapter 8

Perhaps it was the effect of the [Special Rice Ball] (Mist)...

Without much effort, Cui Ze successfully persuaded Runti to use the sweet saliva of the ghostified girl inside the [Bamboo Tube Plug] to attempt to heal the large gash on her mouth.

Runti had originally planned to test the healing effect of the [Bamboo Tube Plug] on Pijiwan first.

She thought that if the "medicine" inside the [Bamboo Tube Plug] could really heal her own wounds, she would definitely pour all the remaining "medicine" on her little brother's skull at the first opportunity!

However, when Runti learned from Cui Ze what the so-called "medicine" inside the [Bamboo Tube Plug] actually was...

She immediately abandoned this idea!

Not to mention whether this thing was reasonable, reliable, or effective...

Pouring another girl's saliva onto her little brother's skull, which was missing half of it, was what kind of magical realism operation?

Cui Ze was unaware of the psychological activities of the ghost girl. He held the [Bamboo Tube Plug] and walked to the front of the iron bars of the cell, gesturing for Runti to bring her mouth closer.

The latter seemed to have already imagined a mysterious ritual of self-sacrifice. She closed her eyes and pouted slightly.

"Don't pout! Just keep it normal!"

Cui Ze reminded her irritably. He opened the [Bamboo Tube Plug] and dipped his index finger into it, picking up a bit of the "medicine."

Thinking of the owner of the "medicine," Cui Ze subconsciously pinched his index finger and thumb together, gently rubbed them a few times, and then stretched them apart, pulling a thread...

Pulling a thread...

"Cough, cough!"

Cui Ze shivered and pretended nothing had happened, gently pressing the "medicine" on his finger onto the uneven gash scars on both sides of Runti's mouth.

His heart was calm.

Cui Ze meticulously applied the "medicine" from the [Bamboo Tube Plug] evenly on Runti's "gash," being careful not to hurt her.

At some point, Runti opened her eyes and stared at the human male who was carefully applying the "medicine" to her, just a few inches away.

The young ghost girl felt a warmth from this human male, whom she had only met for less than half a day, far surpassing that of her father...

"Done! Although there's not much effect right now, we'll treat it like a dead horse—cough, cough! I mean, it might work?"

Cui Ze moved his fingers away, and the "medicine" in the [Bamboo Tube Plug] was already more than half used up.

He lifted his head, intending to ask Runti to move her head, but unexpectedly saw a pair of dazed eyes.

"Hey, Miss Gash, can you fall asleep standing?"

Cui Ze bent his index finger and lightly tapped Runti's forehead.

"Snap out of it! The 'healing treatment' is over. Do you feel anything?"

Like a frightened cat, Runti took a big step back, covering her forehead, and stammered, "W-What?"

"I'm asking if your 'gash' feels anything different," Cui Ze said with a laugh, pointing to his own mouth. "Whether it itches, hurts, or tingles... that kind of 'growing flesh' feeling."

"No feeling—wait?"

Runti first shook her head, then slid her hand down from her forehead. Her fingertips suddenly touched a dry, cracked sensation, and she couldn't help but be stunned.

"It seems to be working..." Cui Ze was also surprised.

Was the healing effect of the [Bamboo Tube Plug] too exaggerated?

So quickly it healed a girl with a gash?

Did I miss out on a miraculous healing medicine?

After a brief moment of shock, Runti tore at the dry, dead skin around her gash like a madwoman, completely ignoring the pain.

Large chunks of grayish-white skin flakes fell like snow, revealing smooth, intact, and tender skin underneath.

Feeling the long-lost sensation of completeness around her mouth, the young ghost girl's eyes turned red, and large tears immediately welled up, streaming down her face.

"Crying" was a sign of weakness that Runti had abandoned on the second day after being thrown into the laboratory by her father.

The strong young ghost girl never thought she would have a day when she would cry again.

"Right! Xiao Pei!"

Runti wiped her face like a little flower cat, then grabbed the iron bars with both hands, her eyes red, and pleaded to Cui Ze incoherently.

"Xiao Pei! Xiao Pei's injuries are more severe than mine! Can you give me the rest of the bamboo tube?"

Cui Ze handed the [Bamboo Tube Plug] to Runti.

She treasured it and immediately turned around, dripping the "medicine" from the bamboo tube onto Pijiwan's green skull, drop by drop, until the last drop was used up.

Nito, always the god!

After a while, a thin layer of skin membrane formed on Pijiwan's skull, though it still looked quite terrifying, it was no longer as ghastly as before.

Seeing the sister and brother hugging and crying together, Cui Ze felt very comforted, and the accumulated killing intent from the past few days dissipated.

"This is my last food and water. Remember to save it for the next few days."

Cui Ze poured out all the remaining food and water from his pockets and left them for Runti and Pijiwan.

"If there's a chance, I'll come to see you again."

The crying in the cell stopped abruptly.

Runti, with tears on her face, turned around, and Pijiwan also looked at Cui Ze. The sister and brother looked at him with great reluctance. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes."

Cui Ze nodded lightly.

"Now that you have food and water, you'll be safer staying in the cave. And in a few days, someone else will come to rescue you, whether it's the Navy or Kaido."

Cui Ze had no intention of rescuing Runti and Pijiwan.

At this moment, his own survival was a huge challenge. If he took two more burdens, the three of them might end up on the road to the underworld together.

Moreover, Cui Ze had many secrets and was not suitable for joint action with others.

"My name is Runti, and Xiao Pei's full name is Pijiwan." Runti asked, "What's your name?"

"Twist Fiet—tsk!"

Cui Ze clicked his tongue. What was the point of hiding from these two kids?

"Forget it, Twist Fiet is my future code name. My real name is Cui Ze."

"Cui Ze... Cui Ze..."

Runti repeated the name several times, as if trying to engrave it in her heart. Pijiwan did the same.

Just as Cui Ze was about to leave, Runti seemed to have thought of something and her gaze suddenly became determined.

Runti suddenly called out to Cui Ze's back.

"Cui Ze! There are two Devil Fruits left by my father in this cave! You can take one of them!"

Cui Ze turned around abruptly, his eyes shining like a campfire in the dark, flickering with intense light.

...

Following Runti's guidance, Cui Ze dug out two wooden treasure chests from the depths of the cave, opened them one by one, and revealed two uniquely shaped, brightly colored fruits with intricate spiral patterns on their surfaces.

Regarding the abilities of these two Devil Fruits, Cui Ze had some guesses, which were confirmed by Runti.

Zoan-type, Ancient Species, Dragon Dragon Fruit, Swellhead Dragon Form!

Zoan-type, Ancient Species, Dragon Dragon Fruit, Spineback Dragon Form!

However, the problem was...

Cui Ze, Runti, and Pijiwan had not seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. Although they knew the exact abilities of the two Devil Fruits, they could not identify which one was the Swellhead Dragon Fruit and which one was the Spineback Dragon Fruit.

"Which one will you choose, Cui Ze?"

Runti and Pijiwan looked at Cui Ze with great curiosity, waiting for him to make a decision.

The two siblings seemed completely unconcerned about the possibility that Cui Ze might take both Devil Fruits.

"I don't know... I'll just pick one randomly!"

The [Fishing] skill was not an identification skill. Relying solely on the appearance of the Devil Fruits, Cui Ze couldn't determine which was which.

After a "counting out" process, Cui Ze finally picked up the Devil Fruit on the left.

"First Devil Fruit fishing! I didn't expect to get the chance so soon!"

Pretending to put the Devil Fruit into his waist pocket, Cui Ze immediately started fishing as soon as it was in the bag.

A Devil Fruit of any category corresponded to an EX-level ability exceeding data limits!

Cui Ze couldn't wait!

Using his finger as a rod and his will as a line.

"Lady Luck is smiling! Give me a catch!"

[This fishing harvest type: Talent Clause]

[EX-level Talent Clause: Wild Body (Blank · Ancient Species · Blank)]

[Talent Origin: Zoan-type, Ancient Species, Swellhead Dragon Fruit]

[Talent Description: A body that is perfect as a natural being]

[Talent Effect: 1. Before the attribute value reaches A-level, the user's Strength, Agility, and Durability attributes will receive long-term high-level upgrades; 2. The user's resistance is greatly increased, significantly reducing damage from attacks, and significantly increasing Vitality, Stamina, and Recovery; 3. Obtain the characteristic [Iron Head]: A Law-level iron forehead, the hardest existence in the universe, immune to any form of destruction]

[Talent Evaluation: A body talent that only true monsters possess!]

"Truly terrifying..."

Cui Ze browsed through the new information on the light screen and subconsciously sighed.

"Kid, are you talking about me? Hahaha—"

Accompanied by a rough and brutal laugh, a tall and muscular figure stepped into the cave.

He had a pair of monstrous horns on his head, long black mustaches like dragon whiskers on both sides of his upper lip, a bare and scarred upper body, a vivid orange-red dragon scale tattoo on his left arm, and a giant mace "Hachijin" on his right shoulder.

The captain of the Beast Pirates, the strongest creature Kaido, made his entrance!