Chapter 107: The Treacherous Koushiro

Yes, Zoro was truly a child starved for affection. Tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes as he bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Master."

Geng Shirou looked at Zoro with deep satisfaction. Seeing the disciple he had personally trained show such respect stirred a profound feeling within him. His gaze then shifted to his daughter, and his expression grew complex.

Today, not only was Zoro setting out to sea, but Tang Shen and Gu Yina would also be departing.

Two years ago, Geng Shirou had sent Gu Yina out to sea, but her heart was still tethered to something, causing her to wait silently. Now that Tang Shen had reappeared, it was time for her to embark once more.

Sending a disciple off to sea and sending a daughter away were entirely different emotions.

One was pride and comfort; the other, reluctant sorrow.

From the moment she was born, crawling, learning to walk, picking up the sword for the first time, following his teachings—her laughter was the greatest gift he believed heaven had bestowed upon him. Yet, at some unknown point, that smile vanished from her face.

By the time he realized it, the past was already beyond reach.

Now, seeing that increasingly familiar face regain its smile, even if not because of him, filled his heart with joy.

"Father, I’m leaving now!" Gu Yina hesitated upon feeling Geng Shirou’s gaze, then stepped forward and softly spoke.

"Yes, take care of your health out there. Your safety must come first," Geng Shirou said gently.

"Father, you must take care of yourself too," Gu Yina replied.

In that moment, the barrier between father and daughter melted away, and the sadness of parting dulled everything else.

It was the closest they had been in a decade.

Geng Shirou then took from his bosom a large pouch of coins—two or three times larger than the one given to Zoro, bulging with wealth.

He handed it to Gu Yina, saying, "I’ve saved this for you. Don’t let yourself suffer out at sea. It’s time you see the world beyond. Remember to come back when you can."

"Yes, Father." A twinge of sadness welled up in Gu Yina as she looked at her father’s face, noticing for the first time the faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

She realized it had been too long since she had truly looked at him.

Standing nearby, Zoro glanced at the large pouch in Gu Yina’s hand and then at his own small one. For some reason, the warmth he’d felt moments ago diminished sharply.

There is no hurt without comparison.

Facing the dojo master—Gu Yina’s father—Tang Shen felt oddly uneasy, a prickling sensation creeping over him.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this man’s gaze was challenging him to a fight.

Indeed, he felt that way.

But none of that mattered.

“Master, shouldn’t I get a pouch of money too?” Tang Shen rubbed his hands together with a grin.

His eyes gleamed like gold coins, fixated like a wolf on Geng Shirou. Money was all that mattered.

Hearing this, Geng Shirou’s mouth twitched. He had just been contemplating whether to give this guy a beating—after all, once they parted, there might never be another chance. Yet here this shameless fellow was, boldly asking for money.

To think he would dare ask!

He had stabbed him in the heart before; now he had even taken his daughter away. Not even his disciple—and yet he wanted money.

He didn’t even want to see him, much less give him anything.

“No money,” Geng Shirou answered gruffly. “You have the most money on you. How dare you ask me.”

He knew well that Tang Shen carried quite a bit of cash, especially after that pirate battle when all his money was spent. Not a single berry had been found on the pirate ship.

“That’s my own,” Tang Shen said seriously. “But what you give is different! We’ve spent so much time together. I respect you greatly, and that’s like your care for a junior.”

Geng Shirou was speechless.

Respect?

Respect my foot!

How dare he say such a thing? He’d never shown him respect.

“You’re Gu Yina’s master and my peer,” Geng Shirou said, proud of his dignity, though today he was about to do something shameless.

Right—he wasn’t giving anything. He had no money, and even if he did, he wouldn’t give it.

Damn!

Tang Shen hadn’t expected Geng Shirou to be so proud of his face, and so blunt today. This was not his style.

His words left Tang Shen at a loss—because there was truth in them!

He was Gu Yina’s master; Geng Shirou was her father—they were indeed peers.

“Geng Shirou, big brother, as the elder, shouldn’t you give your little brother some farewell money? What if I’m starving and freezing out there?” Tang Shen said.

Geng Shirou’s eyes twitched so hard they almost warped.

He’d just handed Tang Shen a ladder, and Tang Shen was climbing it without hesitation.

Now, from dojo master to big brother.

Starving and freezing—sure, anyone could suffer that, but Tang Shen definitely wouldn’t.

Despite little conversation over time, Geng Shirou saw Tang Shen clearly—everyone might get shortchanged, but he would never be the one taken advantage of.

So all these words were nonsense to fool others.

He would never fall for it.

“Go on, then. The boat is ready at the shore. I won’t see you off; it only adds to the sadness. I just hope you all survive and that one day your names echo across the seas,” Geng Shirou said quietly, turning his back.

Clearly, “Go now! I won’t send you off.”

Tang Shen was deeply disappointed—looks like there was no way to scam money from this guy.

Gu Yina and Zoro, seeing the expression on Tang Shen’s face, lowered their heads, quietly laughing.

It was the first time they’d seen Geng Shirou’s true nature—he was so angry he didn’t even want to say anything and simply sent them off.

The bittersweet farewell was completely diluted.

At the shore, Tang Shen, Gu Yina, and Zoro stood with dark clouds over their heads, their mouths twitching uncontrollably.

Now, thinking back, it was clear Geng Shirou’s absence was deliberate.

A tiny wooden boat floated by the shore—the smallest kind, tossed relentlessly by the waves.

Such a boat would capsize at even the slightest swell.

And there were three of them aboard.

Tang Shen spun around furiously and gave the dojo a double middle finger to express his contempt.

Zoro and Gu Yina were speechless, gaining a whole new perspective on Geng Shirou.

In the end, the three set off in the small boat, Zoro paddling in the middle, Gu Yina and Tang Shen sitting at either end. The boat was packed tight.

Only when the boat was nearly out of sight did Geng Shirou’s figure appear on the shore, silently watching the direction of the boat.

Then he raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and thrust his middle finger upwards.

He didn’t know what this gesture meant, but after doing it, he felt a wave of relief and his mood lightened considerably.