From then on, during the journey, the attitudes of the samurai guards toward Ian made a complete 180-degree turn!

Admiring the strong is the nature of the people of Wano Country. After witnessing Ian’s swordsmanship, which far surpassed theirs, the group of samurai immediately became extremely respectful toward him.

Their attentiveness even surpassed that toward Princess Naya…

They surrounded Ian; when he was thirsty, they immediately brought water; when he was hungry, they promptly provided food. When they stopped to rest, a group of samurai in their thirties scrambled to massage his back and legs, not caring at all that Ian was younger than them, and they almost fought over the opportunity.

In fact, these samurai were not weak. After all, they were retainers of a daimyo and were sent to protect Princess Naya. These samurai were at least at the level of “sword heroes,” and many of them already knew how to use Haki. If they were in the Navy, they would be at least of the rank of major!

Swordsman, Great Swordsman—it is said that above the Great Swordsman, there is a level called “Sword Saint,” but such a person appears once in a century and is rarely mentioned. This is the world’s vague classification of achievements in swordsmanship.

What ordinary people can achieve is nothing more than the first two levels, and although there’s only one word difference between “Swordsman” and “Great Swordsman,” their strength is worlds apart. Wano Country has tens of thousands of swordsmen, but those at the level of Great Swordsman number only a few dozen.

And the swordsmanship strength that Ian demonstrated before was undoubtedly at the top level of a Great Swordsman. People with such strength are so rare that they can be counted on one hand in Wano Country. How could these samurai not feel awe?

Therefore, they were very fortunate at this moment, glad that Ian and his companions had no ill intentions. Otherwise, everyone present combined wouldn’t be enough for Ian to cut down.

While flattering Ian, they also sincerely asked him for guidance in swordsmanship.

As a disciple of Koushirou, Ian felt it necessary to promote the techniques of the Isshin Style. Although Koushirou had not instructed him to do so, Ian now could only think of this way to repay Koushirou’s kindness, so he did not hold back and explained the swordsmanship of the Isshin Style to these samurai.

The Isshin Style’s swordsmanship emphasizes the basics and doesn’t have many flashy sword techniques. But don’t think that because of this, the Isshin Style is nothing special. Only Ian, Zoro, and Kuina would understand that the true essence of the Isshin Style is precisely hidden within these most fundamental movements.

Even for the simplest slash, how can one cut with the greatest power in the most effortless way? At the same time, how much strength should be reserved to take care of one’s own defense, achieving both offense and defense?

When he was practicing swordsmanship back then, Master Koushirou didn’t say much to Ian; he just kept correcting Ian’s movements whenever they deviated. It was under such circumstances that Ian’s swordsmanship movements gradually became perfect and refined. Years of uninterrupted practice of these movements were the reason why his swordsmanship improved so quickly.

Therefore, during the subsequent journey, Ian, just like Master Koushirou had taught him back then, kept correcting the samurai’s sword-swinging and force-exerting movements, leaving a trace of the Isshin Style swordsmanship in Wano Country.

His earnest attitude was naturally felt by the samurai, so, not knowing who started it, a group of samurai eventually respectfully called Ian “Sensei”!

Yes, “Sensei,” not “Master”; there is a difference between these two titles, but it also shows the respect these samurai had for Ian’s teaching.

However, what’s amusing is that although Marco’s strength is not weak, these samurai were merely polite to him, and that’s only because he was Ian’s companion. He couldn’t reach the same status as Ian, which made Marco quite depressed…

Princess Naya, with her beautiful big eyes, secretly observed all this and was naturally surprised. She didn’t expect that these samurai, who were originally respectful only to herself and her father, would one day show respect to an outsider pirate.

“Is that big brother Ian really that powerful?” Naya whispered to Bonney.

The term “big brother” was, of course, taught to her by Bonney…

Because there were only Naya and Bonney as girls in the group, Naya had invited Bonney to sit with her in her carriage. The samurai were originally strongly opposed to this, but unexpectedly, after Bonney used her Devil Fruit ability to turn herself into a child, they had no more objections.

However, even in her child form, Bonney couldn’t change her gluttonous nature. The food the samurai had prepared for Princess Naya all ended up in her mouth.

And Naya was already at a stage where she was curious about everything. After discovering that Bonney’s Devil Fruit ability was so interesting, the two of them, going back and forth, ended up chatting happily.

At this time, upon hearing Naya’s question, Bonney, while stuffing pastries into her mouth, mumbled, “Didn’t you see? That guy, he’s now one of the Four Emperors!”

“What are the Four Emperors?” Naya asked curiously.

“It’s… it’s what people out on the seas call the most powerful pirates!” Bonney explained. “Put it this way, he’s on the same level as Kaido!”

Hearing this, Princess Naya was instantly stunned!

She didn’t understand what the Four Emperors were, but she absolutely knew how terrifying Kaido was because she had heard it from her father. Her father’s deep concern about Kaido had naturally been passed on to her, establishing in the heart of this princess who had never been far from home the image of Kaido as the most vicious person in the world.

But now Bonney was telling her that this big brother Ian, who was befriending her, was on the same level as Kaido!?

This was really hard for her to believe…

“That’s why I’m saying, your Wano Country should really go out and see the world more!” Bonney, seeing Naya’s expression, was a bit speechless and said, “The outside world has developed so much, yet you don’t know anything about it.”

“Is… is that so?” Naya said thoughtfully, then sat quietly without speaking…

The group spent a day passing through the forest. After coming out, they walked a bit further and gradually saw farmland appearing. In the fields, they could see many poorly dressed commoners working.

Currently, Wano Country is still in an agricultural society, and due to the isolationist policy, there’s no trade with the outside world at all. So Ian and the others learned from the samurai that the country’s food supply is actually quite tight. Coupled with the special class system, the commoners who farm and feed the people are at the bottom and don’t receive much attention. In today’s Great Pirate Era, Wano Country is often invaded by pirates. In this vicious cycle, more and more people spend their days wanting to become samurai or ninja to protect their homes, resulting in fewer and fewer people farming.

This is actually Wano Country’s biggest hidden danger at present. Their food production technology is still stuck in the primitive agricultural era. Without external communication, they can’t develop advanced technologies from the outside world. It’s very likely that a large-scale famine will occur soon.

Famine will lead to internal chaos, and internal chaos will lead to war. These things are naturally understood by the daimyos of Wano Country, but given the current atmosphere in the country, they don’t have a good solution.

This is also why the Kozuki family’s idea of opening the country gained considerable support. There are still many wise people in Wano Country. Strengthening communication with the outside world makes them see the possibility of resolving Wano Country’s hidden dangers.

But unfortunately, the shogun of Wano Country suppressed the Kozuki family, who were the leaders of this idea…

Seeing the samurai in their group swaggering through the fields, while the farming peasants could only stop their work reverently, prostrating themselves to send them off, Ian and Marco didn’t know what to say…

After walking for another half day, Ian felt that the surroundings were becoming more populated. Looking up ahead, he saw a tall castle looming in the distance.

“We’ve arrived!” Princess Naya poked her head out of the carriage, pointed to where the castle was, and said to Ian, “That’s our capital city of Nishi-Ueno, ‘Yang’! Father is in the Tenshukaku!”

Before Ian could see clearly what the Tenshukaku looked like, he saw a mighty army coming toward them on the road ahead.

This army numbered no less than a thousand, all infantry wearing armor, holding spears and swords at their waists. There were also a few on horseback, but Ian first noticed the one leading them.

The leader was clearly different. He was a middle-aged man, not wearing armor but dressed in hunting attire. Most notably, he was wearing only socks on his feet, without shoes!

Even from a distance, this middle-aged man was eagerly shouting loudly toward their group, “Naya! Naya!? My darling daughter, why have you come back!?”

Hearing the shout, Naya emerged from the carriage, but her little face was clearly full of embarrassment, and she replied, “Father, I… I’m here!”

Then the middle-aged man hurriedly rode up to the front of the group, ignoring the samurai’s bows, rushed over and grabbed Naya in a hug, rubbing his face against hers, with tears in his eyes, saying, “My darling daughter, why didn’t you listen this time? I haven’t even sent anyone to pick you up, and you came back on your own?”

Naya was held in his arms, her little face wrinkled from his rubbing, her eyes full of helplessness. She wanted to break free but didn’t dare.

And Ian and the others looked at this somewhat sleazy-looking man with two small mustaches at the corners of his mouth, feeling utterly shocked!

He’s Naya’s father? The daimyo of Nishi-Ueno?

He doesn’t look like it at all! This is clearly another doting father obsessed with his daughter…

Hmm? Why did I say “another”?…

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