Chapter 100: What are you doing? Are you trying to take advantage of me? [Seeking rewards]

At midnight, Tang Shen did not log into the game but, as usual, drifted into sleep. At four thirty in the morning, when the clock's hands pointed to that hour, Tang Shen's eyes snapped open, shining in the darkness like two light bulbs.

He leapt up, lightly pressed his foot to the floor, and his figure moved like a specter, slipping directly into the bathroom. Washing his face, brushing his teeth, cooking swiftly—once he ate the most miserable nutritional meals; now he settled for ordinary ones.

By five o'clock, everything was tidied up. He lay on the bed, put on his game helmet, and entered the game right on time.

Three days had passed without seeing his adorable disciple, and truth be told, Tang Shen felt a pang of longing. After all, a day apart feels like three years. It had already been three sets of those three years.

His vision faded to black, and after a brief spell of darkness, his figure slowly materialized in a new world.

...

In the world of pirates, seven years had passed. Kuina could never have imagined that after that day’s events, when Tang Shen said he would leave for a while, he would be gone for a full seven years.

That special bond did not fade with time; instead, it grew deeper and stronger. She recalled that day—Tang Shen was gravely injured saving her. No wonder he spoke so much to her and left his weights behind; she had thought it was mere concern, never expecting it was a farewell.

Had she known it was farewell, she would certainly have gazed longer at her master.

As always, she woke and began training in this world.

Seven years, relentless training as if every day was the same. All the exercises Tang Shen gave her—she had not ceased progressing, metamorphosing like a chrysalis into a butterfly, her strength soaring.

Even though Zoro, under her father’s guidance, had made great strides, he was still no match for her, far behind.

Only now did she realize how precious Tang Shen’s training methods truly were.

Under the gloomy sky, Kuina, now eighteen, had transformed from a slender girl into a breathtaking beauty. Wearing a grey training outfit, her proud figure could not be concealed. The sky remained dim, but her eyes shone brightly, capable of seeing far into the distance.

Every step she took was measured, as if by the world’s finest ruler—never a fraction too much or too little.

She was like a drawn sword, its edge revealed.

Not far away stood a refined figure, eyes deep and thoughtful—it was none other than Koshiro. Looking at his daughter, he sighed inwardly.

He had watched her train obsessively for seven years, day after day.

He knew Kuina was waiting for someone. Jealousy and bitterness often stirred in his heart; his daughter, once so close, now cared for someone else, his precious girl was no longer his.

Thinking of that person made him angry.

At first, he was upset that Tang Shen had stolen his daughter’s admiration. As time passed, his anger shifted to the fact that Tang Shen had left without a word—for seven long years.

Seven years! He often saw Kuina daydreaming, staring into the distance during breaks, then plunging back into frantic training, speaking to no one, quietly honing her sword.

His jealousy was tinged with pain.

Like Kuina, he slowly began to wish for that rascal’s return.

He was about to begin his usual training.

Creak!

The sound of a door being pushed open.

At this hour, few would be awake; the sky wasn’t bright, the rooster hadn’t crowed, everyone was still asleep.

Kuina and Koshiro reacted instinctively to the sound.

A glance—and both were stunned.

Shock, delight, nostalgia, joy, disbelief—all these emotions flashed through Kuina’s eyes.

Tears filled her eyes unconsciously. Seven years—she had waited seven years, often feeling as though she saw that familiar figure, greeting her at dawn, training alongside her. But every time she looked, it was just an illusion.

Now, as that figure blurred again, Kuina quickly wiped away her tears, fearing it was still just a mirage.

She fixed her gaze—this time, it did not vanish.

Joy surged in her heart like a river, like the sea, unstoppable.

Tang Shen entered the game, appearing in the bathhouse where he had left. Naked, as Kuina had dragged him before. He vaguely remembered, took clothes from his spatial backpack and dressed.

He felt something was different about the dojo since three days ago—the wooden floors and walls seemed to have aged a little faster.

He pushed open the door and stepped out.

Whoosh.

He barely had time to react before a shadow rushed at him, fast as lightning, and before he could respond, enveloped him in an embrace.

Soft, resilient, carrying a fresh fragrance—Tang Shen was stunned.

What’s going on?

Kuina?

No, Kuina wasn’t this big!

“Miss, what are you doing? Are you assaulting me?” Tang Shen said with mock seriousness, “You may be bold, but you should ask my permission first! Let go, or I’ll have to shout for help.”

A giggle sounded from within his arms, making Tang Shen’s face darken.

He was serious—if she didn’t let go, he really would shout, yet she laughed.

He had his principles; not just any woman could embrace him.

“Master, you’re still so narcissistic.” A face, glistening with tears, looked up from his arms, youthful and beautiful, exquisitely lovely, with sparkling tears in her eyes—crying and laughing at once, gazing at Tang Shen with complex emotions: longing, nostalgia, joy...

Tang Shen’s attempt to push the girl away halted abruptly. The voice was so familiar, the face... even more so.

“Da...Smoker?” Tang Shen was startled—the girl’s face was identical to the one from the anime in Loguetown!

“No, this isn’t Smoker, this...no way...” Tang Shen’s heart trembled, recalling the girl’s address and her tear-stained face. His voice quivered, “Ku...Kuina?”

A thousand questions and a thousand expletives exploded in his mind.

What was happening?

Damn! Kuina had grown up?

Hadn’t he only left for three days?

The game had only updated for three days!

This was insane!

He was completely disoriented!

System, if you dare to show yourself, I’ll beat you to death.

Recognizing his disciple, Tang Shen became anxious, especially seeing her cry so pitifully. He hurriedly reached out to wipe her tears, saying, “Look at you, all grown up, why are you crying? If you cry any more, you won’t be pretty.”

Anything else could be overlooked, but his disciple was most important.

“Master, why did you leave for seven years?” Kuina asked.

Tang Shen: “...”

He inwardly cursed, dragging the system out for a thrashing again and again.

Damn! Seven years had actually passed.

He never imagined that, in reality, he’d merely gone to school, taken the gene warrior assessment, moved house, rested for a day—and seven years had passed in the game.

His mind was on the verge of exploding.

What a pitfall!

Completely caught off guard!

How could he explain? Could he tell her that, in truth, he had only been gone for three days?