One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 22

Rouge could only piece together Ace's current situation through the occasional snippets of information Liu Jiu brought back from afar. Knowing Garp was present, she didn't even dare to approach the edge of Mount Colbo.

The wait felt exceptionally long.

Until a few days ago, Liu Jiu brought back definite news—Garp's dog-headed warship had left the port, apparently because something had gone wrong in the New World again, and he, the "naval hero," needed to take charge.

The mountain that had loomed over the windmill village and Corpo Mountain has temporarily moved away.

Liu Jiu did not act immediately.

After observing for two more days and confirming that Garp wouldn't be returning anytime soon, and that the Dadan family had returned to their usual lazy and noisy routine, on a gloomy afternoon, as if another snowstorm was brewing, he said to Rouge:

"You can go now."

Lu Jiu's heart skipped a beat, and the needle and thread in her hand fell again. She looked up at Liu Jiu, her eyes filled with tension, anticipation, and a hint of fear.

Finally...can I get close to her child?

Liu Jiu showed no extra expression, simply picked up the knife that had been with him for a long time, which was leaning against the wall, and took the lead in walking out of the small house.

Rouge took a deep breath, pulled her warm clothes tighter around her, and quickly followed.

The mountain path was covered in snow, making walking difficult. The cold wind felt like knives on our faces.

But Rouge didn't feel cold; her heart was burning hot, and all her thoughts were focused on the child in the bandit's hut ahead.

Liu Jiu walked steadily ahead, clearing a path for her in the snow.

As they approached the bandits' hut, the noise coming from inside was already clearly audible. There was the bandits' rough laughter and curses, the clatter of dishes, and... the faint, impatient whimpers of a child.

Rouge's breathing quickened instantly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Jiu walked straight toward the noisy bandit hut.

Rouge followed behind him, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"Hey! Who are you people?!"

The bandits on guard at the door spotted them, immediately raised their weapons warily, and shouted questions. The noise inside the house instantly subsided.

Liu Jiu did not answer.

He didn't even glance at the bandit.

Just keep moving forward.

Enraged that he was ignored, the bandit swung his knife at him, yelling, "You're asking for death!"

The blade, carrying a chilling wind, slashed towards Liu Jiu's face.

Liu Jiu didn't stop walking. He simply raised his left hand casually, flicked his index finger and thumb lightly in the air.

The bandit was struck in the chest as if by an invisible giant hammer. He flew backward and crashed into the thick snow, passing out without uttering a sound.

The whole process was lightning fast, and it didn't even make a loud noise.

Liu Jiu pushed open the creaking wooden door and went inside.

Rouge followed closely behind.

Inside the room, Dadan and a group of bandits were gathered around a table laden with simple food and drink. Ace, placed in a tattered basket lined with animal hides in the corner, was impatiently kicking his legs and making whimpering noises.

The sudden intrusion of the two uninvited guests stunned all the bandits.

Dadan, a cigarette dangling from his lips, squinted as he sized up Liu Jiu and Lu Jiu. One was a seemingly ordinary man, yet his aura was terrifyingly calm; the other was a woman, simply dressed but undeniably beautiful, who was currently staring intently at the basket in the corner.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Dadan asked in a deep voice, his hand already stealthily reaching for the machete leaning against the table.

Liu Jiu's gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Ace in the corner, then turned to Dadan, speaking in a calm tone, his voice not loud, but clearly drowning out the sound of the wind outside:

"From today onwards, we will live here."

In a word, it was earth-shattering.

All the bandits thought they had misheard.

Living here? In this bandit's den?

Dogula suddenly stood up, pointed at Liu Jiu, and cursed, "What the hell are you talking about! This is my territory! Get the hell out of here!"

Liu Jiu didn't even look at him, but continued speaking to Dadan:

"For that child."

His gaze swept towards Ace again.

Dadan's heart sank. For this brat? These two...are they related to Garp? Or...?

Before she could figure it out, Magula had already grabbed a bottle and smashed it at Liu Jiu: "Playing tricks! Get lost!"

The wine bottle came hurtling towards them.

Liu Jiu remained motionless.

This time, he didn't even raise his hand.

But his gaze shifted to the flying wine bottle, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The bottle, about a foot away from his face, seemed to have hit an invisible wall, abruptly stopping before exploding in mid-air with a loud "bang!" Glass shards and liquor flew everywhere, soaking several bandits nearby!

Everyone was stunned.

What method is this? !

Devil Fruit user?

Dadan's expression changed completely. She realized that the man in front of her was definitely not someone they could handle.

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was stunned, Rouge could no longer hold back. She rushed to the basket in the corner, squatted down, and reached out her trembling hand, wanting to hug Ace, but afraid of startling him. Her fingers hovered in mid-air, and tears were already welling up in her eyes.

Ace seemed to sense the stranger's approach, stopped whimpering, and opened his big, dark eyes, looking curiously at the woman who was about to cry.

Liu Jiu withdrew his gaze and looked back at Dadan, his tone still flat, yet carrying an undeniable power:

"We'll take care of the children. You, as usual."

“Or,” he paused, his gaze sweeping over the group of trembling bandits, “I’ll make you disappear.”

There was no murderous intent, no threatening tone.

But the absolute power contained beneath that calm made all the bandits feel a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

Dadan dropped the cigarette she was holding onto the ground.

She looked at the woman silently weeping beside the basket, then at the unfathomable man, and finally at the brat that Garp had forced upon her, the one who was giving her so much trouble.

She gritted her teeth.

The situation is better than people.

This man could kill them with a flick of his wrist. He's only asking to stay and take care of the children…

Although she didn't know their relationship with this kid, at least they didn't seem to be going to harm him. Besides... having someone take care of this troublemaker might not be a bad thing for her.

"...Do whatever you want!" Dadan spat and waved his hand irritably. "As long as you don't bother me, you can stay wherever you want!"

She essentially acquiesced.

Liu Jiu nodded and said no more.

He walked over to Rouge and watched as she carefully lifted Ace out of the basket and held him tightly in her arms, as if she were holding a lost treasure that had been found again. Tears finally welled up in his eyes, but he suppressed them and dared not cry out loud, for fear of frightening the child.

Ace seemed a little uncomfortable and shifted slightly, but quickly calmed down in his mother's familiar scent and warm embrace, even letting out a small yawn.

Liu Jiu glanced at the mother and child embracing, then turned around and began to look around the small house, searching for a suitable place to settle down.

The bandits exchanged glances, then silently returned to their seats, but the atmosphere was no longer as relaxed as before. Dogula and Magula whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Dadan lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked at the woman holding the child and the silent man, feeling a mix of emotions.

This Colbo Mountain is going to be quite "lively" from now on.

Chapter 22 Ace's Daily Life

As the days went by, the snow on Mount Colpo gradually melted, revealing the moist soil and tenacious grass shoots underneath.

Life in the bandit's hut is also quietly changing.

Rouge devoted almost all her attention to Ace. She skillfully fed him, changed his diapers, bathed him, and hummed soft lullabies to lull him to sleep. Her movements were delicate and gentle, a stark contrast to the rough and clumsy actions of the bandits.

Ace seemed to gradually get used to this woman who had suddenly appeared and was so caring towards him. When he was in her arms, he cried much less, and would even occasionally show a toothless smile and wave his little hands to grab her hair.

A genuine smile began to appear on Rouge's face. It was a mother's radiance, weary yet content.

She didn't completely isolate herself. She would use the clean fabric Liu Jiu brought back to sew soft little clothes and hats for Ace, and she would also help the bandits mend their tattered clothes. Her needlework was excellent; the mended areas were almost invisible.

At first, the bandits were somewhat distant and curious about this seemingly frail woman who had suddenly joined them. But Rouge never bossed them around or complained about the harsh environment; she simply went about her business quietly, occasionally offering a soft reminder when they went out to make a living: "Be careful!"

Gradually, the bandits discovered that with this woman around, the troublesome brat was indeed much easier to manage. At least, the ear-piercing wailing had decreased by more than half.

Once, Dogula burned his tongue while drinking hot water and grimaced. Rouge silently handed him a bowl of cooled water. When Magula got injured in a fight outside, Rouge would take out clean strips of cloth and herbal ointment she had prepared and help bandage his wounds.

They were all trivial matters.

But in this rough bandit's den, these small, silent acts of care, like a gentle stream, slowly softened the hard ice.

Dadan still had a cigarette dangling from her lips, looking displeased with everything, but she no longer explicitly objected to Rouge and Liu Jiu's presence. Sometimes, she would even stare at Rouge's back as she cared for Ace for a long time, her gaze complex, lost in thought.

Liu Jiu's presence was much less noticeable.

He spent most of his time in a corner of the house, or out and about, his whereabouts unknown. He rarely spoke and almost never participated in any of the bandits' activities. But when any wild beasts or other bandit groups approached the area, he always managed to quietly resolve the trouble and ensure the safety of the hut.

The bandits both feared and...reliant on him? After all, with such a powerful "guardian," their lives were indeed much more peaceful.

That afternoon, the sun, unusually, pierced through the clouds and shone warmly on the door of the cottage.

Rouge held Ace, who could already sit up, and sat on a clean rock by the door. Pointing to a little bird hopping around in the yard, she gently taught him, "Look, a little bird, Ace, that's a little bird."

Ace stared wide-eyed, looking on curiously, making "ah ah" sounds as he stretched out his chubby little hands to grab it.

Dogula and Magula sat on a tree stump not far away, basking in the sun while watching this scene.

"Tsk, this brat doesn't seem so annoying anymore." Dogura scratched his head.

“Yes, at least we don’t have to wail and howl all day long anymore,” Magula agreed.

Dadan leaned against the doorframe, looking at Lu Jiu holding the child in the sunlight, then at Liu Jiu resting with his eyes closed in the corner, exhaled a smoke ring, and snorted: