novelnext Chapter 136 Returning to the Grand Line
Chapter 136 Returning to the Grand Line
However, the ship, enveloped by the giant gaseous octopus, was as if it were being held up by a gentle hand. The gaseous body perfectly offset all the impact of the fall, and the ship was as stable as if it were sailing on the sea, without the slightest bump or sway.
The giant octopus's body stretched out in the wind, like a huge blue cloud, carrying the ship steadily down to the blue sea.
The sea below became clearer, the azure waters shimmering, and the atmosphere of the Grand Line drew ever closer.
Bai Yu stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the ship, his clothes fluttering in the strong wind, yet he remained upright, his eyes gazing indifferently at the approaching sea.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit lay quietly within his space-time ninjutsu, uncoveted and uncontested. Everything on Skypiea, including Enel's ambitions and Pikachu's conflicts, had been completely left behind by him.
Matsumoto Rangiku gazed at the vast blue sea below, a contented smile spreading across her face: "Finally, we're back to the blue sea. The breeze and the sake down there are so comforting."
Unohana Retsu opened her eyes, gazing gently into the distance: "It's been quite a journey."
Supported by the giant gaseous octopus, the ship finally landed slowly on the sea surface, splashing up a gentle ring of water without making a loud noise, as smoothly as if it were slowly approaching the shore.
Bai Yu raised his hand and released the control over the octopus.
After completing its mission, the giant gaseous octopus emitted a soft hum. Its translucent gaseous body tumbled a few times on the sea surface before disappearing like a dissipating cloud, rising again towards the sea of clouds tens of thousands of meters above the sky. It quickly vanished into the clear horizon, leaving only a slowly spreading ripple as proof that it had been there.
Bai Yu withdrew his gaze, raised his hand and waved it lightly. A gentle breeze swept across the ship, blowing away all the wisps of clouds and moisture clinging to the deck. The ship, which had been slightly disheveled due to the fall from the sky, was quickly restored to its neat state thanks to the puppet's efforts.
Matsumoto Rangiku could no longer contain her leisurely mood. She rushed to the ship's side, leaned against the wooden railing, and greedily breathed in the unique air of the blue sea, which carried the scent of sunshine and sea salt. Her long golden hair was lifted by the sea breeze, outlining a lazy yet charming silhouette.
"Finally, I'm completely back in the Blue Sea!" She stretched lazily, her curvaceous figure dazzling in the sunlight. She casually pulled out a bottle of aged wine she had treasured for a long time from the storage compartment behind her, uncorked it, tilted her head back, and took a small sip. The amber liquid slid down her throat: "The feeling of being on the Grand Line, enveloped in sunlight, is still the most comfortable. No matter how soft the clouds are on the Skypiea, they can't compare to the pleasant breeze here."
"The Sky Island is rugged and cold, not as vibrant as the Blue Sea. Now we can finally rest and recuperate."
Robin nodded and walked towards the navigation room inside the ship, intending to determine the route to the next island on the Grand Line by following the guidance of the Log Pose.
But when her gaze fell on the recording pointer hanging on the wall, her brows furrowed slightly. The pointer, which should have been pointing precisely at the magnetic island and spinning continuously, was now like a top that had lost its direction, swinging wildly within the dial. The tip of the needle trembled and drifted around aimlessly, without any fixed direction, completely lost in chaos.
She reached out and gently tapped the glass casing of the pointer, quickly understanding the reason. The sky island was located at an altitude of ten thousand meters, far from the magnetic field of the Blue Sea. The disturbance of the space and magnetic force around the sky island caused the recording pointer to completely lose its function after they returned to the Blue Sea from the sky island, making it impossible to lock onto the location of any island.
"The pointers are messed up."
Nico Robin stepped out of the navigation room and calmly informed the group of the situation: "The magnetic field of the Sky Island is interfering with the pointer's readings. For the time being, we cannot determine our course and can only drift in this area temporarily."
Upon hearing this, Matsumoto Rangiku showed no sign of panic. Instead, she laughed even more heartily, shaking the sake bottle in her hand, and said nonchalantly, "So what if things are chaotic! We can't escape the islands of the Grand Line, so why rush? Since the compass isn't working, let's just stop here and enjoy the sunshine and sea breeze. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Retsu Unohana nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "After days of travel, from the Blue Sea to the Sky Island, everyone should relax and rest. The weather in this area is fine, and drifting aimlessly can be quite pleasant."
Bai Yu was not one to rush things. Seeing that everyone had no objections, he simply put aside all the travel plans, raised his hand to let the puppet control the sails, and let the ship drift slowly in the calm sea with the gentle current and breeze.
Looking up, the sky over this sea area was crystal clear, without a single cloud. The golden sunlight poured down without any obstruction, making the sea surface sparkle like it was covered with tiny diamonds.
The seawater is warm and pleasant, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of grass, trees, flowers, and fruits. The entire sea area is enveloped in a warm atmosphere, a typical summer island climate of the Grand Line, so comfortable that one just wants to immerse oneself in it.
Having decided to take a break, Matsumoto Rangiku immediately transformed into a party planner, bustling about with boundless energy.
Humming a lighthearted tune, she carried out folding tables and chairs from the cabin and arranged them neatly in the center of the deck; she also brought out her treasured collection of various wines, juices, and chilled drinks, filling the table to the brim.
They even brought out exquisite wine glasses and small fruit platters, arranging pre-prepared fresh fruit pieces in a colorful and pleasing manner.
Retsu Unohana took charge of preparing the ingredients and rest area. She took out the fresh meat, seafood and vegetables she had stored and cleaned them gently and efficiently.
She also took out a specially made portable barbecue grill from the storage space, lit the smokeless charcoal fire, and the dark red charcoal fire burned quietly under the grill, emitting a warm feeling, but without producing choking smoke.
Bai Yu rarely gets to enjoy this service. He took off his slightly heavy outer coat, leaving only a simple and neat light-colored inner layer. He walked to the sunbathing lounge chair that had been laid out on the side of the deck and sat down, letting the warm sunlight envelop his whole body. His mind, which had been tense for a long time, finally relaxed completely at this moment.
Before long, the sizzling sound of the barbecue grill could be heard.
The tender sea fish is brushed with a secret sauce and gradually turns golden and crispy under charcoal grilling. Fish oil drips onto the charcoal, releasing a faint aroma.
The marinated meat skewers, with their perfect balance of lean and fat, release a rich aroma of meat when grilled until slightly charred, whetting the appetite.
There were also plump, island-specific prawns, sweet shellfish, and vibrant green vegetables, all laid out on the grill. The aromas of the various ingredients mingled together, carried by the sea breeze, filling the entire ship and making one's mouth water.
Matsumoto Rangiku, carrying a glass of chilled fruit wine, strolled over to the barbecue grill and watched Unohana Retsu skillfully flip the skewers. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Unohana-neechan can even do this! That's amazing!"
As she spoke, she reached for a skewer of freshly grilled meat, blew on it to cool it down, and popped it into her mouth. The savory juices burst on her tongue, and she squinted her eyes in satisfaction. "It's so delicious! I love it to death, Sister Hua!"