Chapter 53 Haki and Qi - More Than Meets the Eye
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Bai Ye is far from foolish. There's an old saying: "People show you only what they want you to see." While it might seem Bai Ye has laid all his cards on the table for the navy, he's merely shown a glimpse of his capabilities. He has many more tricks up his sleeve.
Reflecting on the original tales of the Straw Hats in the East Blue, their behavior was odd. Luffy, it seems, chose to make challenges harder for himself and his crew. For instance, against Buggy, he ended up caged. Against Kuro, he was effortlessly hypnotized. And during the clash with Arlong, he was quickly tossed into the sea. Many times, Zoro bore the brunt of these scenarios, often risking his life for Luffy. If these situations had been avoided, the Straw Hats', even if there was no Bai Ye, their problem-solving speed would be nearly the same as it is now with him.
Perhaps, Luffy might be the one to point fingers at!
The navy, when gauging pirates' true strength, often does so through marine battles. It's not efficient for the navy to use their powerful forces against weaker pirates. Instead, they focus their skilled troops on the formidable ones. In this world, tracking a pirate ship is no easy feat. Bai Ye is convinced the navy won't waste resources targeting them right now. They have bigger oceans to guard.
His recent actions were merely a slight taunt at the navy. Given Sengoku's personality, such minor provocations barely register amidst larger concerns. But there's another crucial factor: The next time the Straw Hats face the navy, they'll be significantly stronger. The Marrow Cleansing Pill they've taken will soon unveil its benefits. Every member of the Straw Hat crew will experience enhanced strength, improved physical constitution, and unlocked potential.
In ancient Qi teachings, one's physical constitution is deemed fundamental. While the original tales showcased impressive growth rates for the crew, the pill will amplify this. The navy, currently valuing the crew in tens of millions of Bellys, might be in for a shock during their next encounter when the Straw Hats could potentially be worth over 100 million Bellys.
Lost in these thoughts, a sly grin crept on Bai Ye's face. Smoker, catching this, was momentarily taken aback. "Is this guy alright in the head?" he wondered. Had Bai Ye known of Smoker's thoughts, he might have been tempted to wield his staff against him once more.
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After a short while, Tashigi returned accompanied by the navy. Upon seeing both Captain Nezumi and the Arlong Pirates, Smoker acknowledged their presence with a nod. With his mission completed, he had no intention of lingering.
Addressing the Straw Hats before his departure, he said, "Once you raise your pirate flag, don't assume you can always slip past me as you did today." He paused momentarily, then added, "Before I manage to apprehend you, try not to get captured by others."
As he walked away, Smoker realized his words might not befit a navy officer. Yet, reflecting on their past interactions and recent encounter, he couldn't help but sense that the Straw Hats weren't the typical bloodthirsty pirates.
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Luffy and the crew clearly heard what Smoker had to say.
Luffy responded, "Smoker doesn't seem like a bad guy." Always one to see things in a straightforward manner, Luffy formed his own opinion.
Sanji shared his perspective, "Maybe it's because we haven't acted like typical pirates." He recalled his time at Baratie and remembered hearing tales of pirate cruelties. He knew old Zeff was a pirate, but he also realized that not all pirates are the same. A crew led by a cook, like Zeff, surely couldn't be that ruthless.
Zoro, ever stoic with his arms crossed, pointed out, "Regardless, he's part of the Navy. We're bound to clash." Known for his maturity within the crew, Zoro had learned from past events, like the one in Shells Town, not to jump to conclusions about people.
Bai Ye agreed with Zoro, adding, "We must remember we're pirates. Assuming there are 'friendly' folks in the Navy could be risky."
Suddenly, Nami approached Luffy with frustration evident on her face. She tugged at his cheek and exclaimed, "This is what I mean, Luffy! Be careful about declaring your Pirate King ambitions!",
"Earlier, you couldn't even touch Smoker. Without Bai Ye's intervention, we'd be in custody." Usopp chimed in, trying to shake some sense into Luffy. However, Luffy, caught between the two, voiced his disagreement, much to Nami and Usopp's dismay. They continued pull crying Luffy into various shapes, stretching his face.
Bai Ye stepped in to calm the situation, assuring them, "Don't worry."
Once Nami and Usopp had settled down, Bai Ye turned his attention to the entire group. "I've been thinking about Haki," he began, "and I've devised a way for all of us to master it."
Bai Ye's confidence was palpable. It didn't stem only from Roger's Haki training manual but also from his understanding of Qi. Both Haki and Qi originate from the same source and represent latent powers within humans.
While mastering Supreme Ruler-type Haki is debatable, Bai Ye felt that everyone on the crew should be familiar with Armament and Observation Haki. The challenge they faced was truly understanding and unleashing Haki's power.
In the original tales, characters like Luffy underwent intensive training to unlock their Haki potential. Bai Ye, however, proposed a different approach: infusing their bodies with inherent Qi. By circulating the Qi within themselves, they would grasp this power more instinctively.
Bai Ye believed that for someone as pure-hearted as Luffy, a single Qi circulation might suffice to harness his Haki power. For Zoro and Sanji, the process might be lengthier and require tailored training. Nami and Usopp, despite potential limitations, could also tap into Haki, thanks to Bai Ye's method and Qi. Bai Ye felt that their portrayed weakness in the original story wasn't due to innate shortcomings but rather inadequate training.
As for why there is no such method in One Piece World?
One of the primary functions of Armament Haki is Internal Destruction. This allows the user to channel Haki into a target's body, leading to its destruction from the inside. The user can achieve this by touching, holding, or even projecting Haki towards the object.
As a result, there's a noticeable difference in how Haki is understood in this world compared to the knowledge of ancient Qi practitioners.