Chapter 109: Parting for a Better Reunion [Support Appreciated]

Night had fallen, and the starry sky was dazzlingly beautiful, beyond compare.

After finishing dinner offline, Tang Shen logged back into the game once more. He and Gu Yina reclined side by side on the roof of the inn, gazing up at the night sky.

Peaceful, natural, harmonious.

This small island had shed the daytime clamor, its atmosphere restored to quietude.

“Master, the night sky is so beautiful. What’s the name of the brightest star?” Gu Yina asked with pure delight.

Tang Shen looked up, noting that the starry sky in this world was remarkably similar to that of reality, scarcely changed—perhaps fate had already ordained it.

“That’s the North Star! Due north. If you can’t find your way in the dark, you can use the brightest star to orient yourself,” he replied.

“Really? It’s so pretty. It must be beautiful itself. I wish I could pluck it right out of the sky,” Gu Yina said wistfully.

Tang Shen’s mouth twitched slightly; he couldn’t bear to shatter his disciple’s lovely fantasy.

In his previous life, stars were well understood—they weren’t beautiful at all, but massive balls of fire known collectively as stars. They were simply much farther away than the sun during the day, so at night, they appeared as tiny points of light.

Trying to reach one? Without getting close, it would vaporize instantly.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Tang Shen mumbled vaguely.

He had been just as naive as a child once, and it was precisely this ignorance that made dreams sweeter and life happier.

He didn’t want to spoil his disciple’s beautiful illusions.

So he stayed with her until her little head slowly rested on his shoulder, and she drifted off to sleep.

Tang Shen’s heart was heavy as he looked at the disciple who had grown before him. He gently lifted her like a raccoon dog and carried her inside the inn, laying her down, dressing her warmly, and covering her with a blanket.

Standing by the bed, he stared for a long time, motionless as if carved from stone.

Until the town’s rooster crowed and the sun slowly peeked over the eastern horizon, Tang Shen lightly brushed the unmistakably familiar cheek, a trace of reluctance mingled with resolve, then silently turned and left.

Faintly, his sighs and murmurs drifted behind him: “Gu Yina, don’t blame your master.”

The moment the door closed, Gu Yina, lying quietly on the bed, opened her eyes softly. A single silent tear slipped down, slowly soaking the pillow’s edge.

“Master, goodbye.”

...

Walking through the gradually bustling town—since it was a trading hub where many merchant ships docked—the locals started their day much earlier than on an ordinary island.

Though many faces bore signs of fatigue, their expressions were cheerful.

For them, a new day had begun.

In the end, he still chose not to say goodbye to Gu Yina face-to-face. She was neither Geng Silang nor Zoro. To him, she was far more than just a game character, not an ordinary NPC.

Farewells were always sorrowful, and he feared he couldn’t bear that kind of painful parting.

So he left without a word.

A fledgling eagle must endure trials before it can soar.

Some experiences must be faced alone.

Tang Shen understood this deeply. No matter how reluctant his heart, he resolutely turned away.

Looking up at the gray-white sky, a sudden sense of loss welled within him. He pressed his hand gently to his chest, feeling the pounding heartbeat, laced with a subtle tremor.

“Is this... a bond?”

He found a breakfast stall and ate a little before logging off.

Though his strength meant he could easily stay awake all night, his real body required sustenance and rest.

When he logged back in, it was already afternoon.

Still unable to resist, he returned to the inn, only to find Gu Yina’s figure long gone.

She had left.

Truly left.

Though he had anticipated this, he couldn’t help but sigh.

“Heh.”

A soft laugh escaped him as he once again wore that world-weary expression and made his way to the dock.

Soon he boarded a merchant ship. For people like Tang Shen, with a sword hanging at his waist, such ships were welcoming. Tickets were cheap, and if you showed some skill, the captain might even let you travel for free, feeding and lodging you.

After all, merchants faced great risks at sea—the greatest threat came from pirates. Encountering pirates meant not only losing cargo but often even losing one’s life.

Life at sea was a gamble with death.

The merchant ship quickly left the dock; Tang Shen cared little about its destination—as long as it moved forward.

Standing at the bow, gazing at the rolling waves on the horizon, Tang Shen felt calm inside.

Leaving was for a better reunion.

Wasn’t it?

Tang Shen believed that sooner or later, he and Gu Yina would meet again.

He was certain of it.

...

The captain and crew all hoped for a safe voyage, free of pirates.

This time was no different. A smooth trip would mean a handsome profit for the merchants.

Tang Shen, however, secretly wished for pirates to attack—just to hone his skills and pass the dull days aboard.

If the captain knew, he’d surely throw him overboard.

No pirates appeared, but the ship stopped at an unexpected island.

This island was a temporary stopover for resupply.

Though Tang Shen might not recognize the island’s name, the town on it was familiar.

It was called Windmill Town.

Also known as Windmill Village, Tang Shen appeared inside the town’s only tavern.

Watching the familiar yet strange figure bustling behind the bar, Tang Shen found it incredible.

He hadn’t expected to see such a recognizable presence from the anime so soon, and even more, to nearly meet the world’s original protagonist—Monkey D. Luffy, the overpowered main character.

Tang Shen had thought it would happen eventually, but never imagined it would be so soon.

Today, Makino felt a little unsettled.

Even tasks she was usually familiar with seemed a bit chaotic.

Because a very handsome young man had come into the bar.

That would be one thing, but since entering, the young man hadn’t blinked once while staring right at her—fixed gaze, unyielding.

His look wasn’t the usual lecherous kind from men, but something complex, as if he had known her long ago, which made her uneasy.

She had never seen this young man before. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his handsome appearance carried a rare scholarly aura—a rare quality in the pirate world.

What’s more, a sword hung at his waist—a striking and contradictory blend of temperaments harmoniously united.

Women were keenly sensitive to a man’s aura, and this one was particularly potent.

But she had never seen him in Windmill Town before; he must have come from outside.

If she had met him before, she would surely remember.

So why did he keep looking at her that way?

Could he know her?