"Since mortal bodies are prone to illness, let's evolve further. From now on, you will no longer be the Pirate Empress, but the Rakshasa Empress."
As Li Xing spoke, he placed his hand on Hancock's forehead. A potent force surged in, and Hancock's body cells began to rapidly repair, grow, and evolve. From this moment on, Hancock was no longer considered human.
When the restored Hancock awoke, she saw Li Xing by her bedside and still believed him to be an illusion. If it were an illusion, surely doing what she desired wouldn't be too much to ask?
Hancock immediately reached out and wrapped her arms around Li Xing's neck, "Li Xing, am I beautiful? Who is more beautiful, me or your wives?"
Li Xing was speechless. Hancock was asking this question again. He gently removed her hands, "Hancock, is this question so important to you? You've asked it so many times, yet you still ask. Of course, my wives are more beautiful! But indeed, you are also very beautiful."
"Xing, I suspect Miss Hancock behaves this way because you previously told her she was ugly. As the world-renowned beauty, to suddenly have a man call her ugly must have bruised her pride, and she simply wants your acknowledgment."
"Li Yun, if I were to say Hancock is more beautiful than you, would you be angry?"
"How dare you!"
Suddenly, Li Xing felt his soul go numb. Li Yun had delivered an "electric shock of love" to him, almost causing him to lose face in front of Hancock. Anyone else might have thought he was experiencing an orgasm.
Meanwhile, Hancock, having been freed from Li Xing's embrace, saw him turn away from her and approach his wives.
Hancock sat on the bed, extended a hand, and shouted, "No! Where have I fallen short? I will certainly do better than your wives! Please don't leave, Li Xing!"
Seeing this, Li Xing immediately slapped his forehead. Hancock was having a delusional episode, a condition he couldn't cure. Such symptoms of fabricating events were beyond anyone's control.
"I have no intention of leaving for now. I am right here beside you. Don't shout so loudly, or people outside will think I've done something to you!"
"Not leaving? By your side? Does that mean Li Xing, you intend to stay with me? Is this a proposal? Ah~ Don't worry, I will definitely be a good wife! I won't be worse than your other wives!"
Li Xing stood frozen, bewildered. He didn't know whether to stay or go. Hancock's loud shouts had attracted everyone, who then overheard her words.
"Did Li Xing propose to Big Sister? Hmm, that's quite nice too."
"But Li Xing already has so many wives, can Big Sister accept that?"
Hancock's two sisters discussed this with all seriousness, while Tsunade looked at Li Xing with a knowing smile, unsure if she was amused or displeased.
"There's no reason why not. As long as Darling doesn't mind, we would also welcome Hancock."
"Mei, why are you, like Shizune, spoiling this brat? If you don't manage him, tomorrow he'll show up with a whole harem."
Karin quickly stepped forward, pulling the two Kage behind her, "Let Xing-kun decide how to proceed. We already have a full ship, what's one more?"
Yugito immediately retorted, "The reason is you! You are the one who spoils Li Xing the most. How dare you say that."
"What did you say? Do you want to fight, Yugito?"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of you!"
"All of you, calm down. Get out." Li Xing, seeing the bickering pair about to escalate, waved his hand, asking them all to leave.
The others had no choice but to leave the room. Although they had spoken as they did, if Li Xing made a decision, no matter what it was, they would support him.
"Xing, good luck! I'm rooting for you!" Ino said, patting Li Xing's shoulder and winking as she left.
"Ino, why are you joining in their antics..." Li Xing felt utterly overwhelmed. What was going on!
"Yes, I also think you're quite the womanizer!" Kurenai chuckled lightly, pulling Hozuki out with her. Hozuki stuck out her tongue as she left, looking quite mischievous.
"Li Xing-kun, please don't mind what Tsunade-sama said. Just do as you wish. I will always stand behind you."
"Shizune-nee, why are you here too? Really, don't talk as if I'm actually going to do anything!" For the first time, Li Xing felt that having many wives wasn't necessarily a good thing. A single sentence from each person was enough to pad out the word count. He would have to avoid such multi-person conversations in the future.
...
After everyone had left, Hancock finally realized that it hadn't been an illusion and Li Xing had genuinely appeared. Now, Hancock felt embarrassed. She had said such unbefitting words in front of so many people. How could she possibly manage the Kuja Island now?
Seeing Hancock covering her mouth with the blanket, only her eyes peeking out at him, Li Xing couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, get some rest. We'll talk about these things another time! To fall in love with me, your name loses its meaning!"
The person who loved rubber the most had now had her name rendered meaningless by Li Xing.
However, Hancock didn't hear any of this. All she heard was Li Xing telling her to sleep in the hot springs. She suddenly felt how gentle and considerate Li Xing was! She was completely immersed in her own fantasies.
Li Xing didn't think much of it. He performed a data scan; there were no lingering side effects. He then prepared to leave, but Hancock's hand grabbed his sleeve.
"Li Xing, please don't leave me."
Li Xing frowned, then slapped himself. He was too sentimental. He should have refused at this moment.
He then sat by the bed, holding Hancock's hand, and said, "Tonight, I'll make an exception. I'll stay with you. Sleep now!"
As soon as he said it, Li Xing realized. Was this a refusal? It was ingrained in his DNA, a primal instinct. He then cast an illusion on Hancock, causing her to fall into a peaceful sleep.
After tucking Hancock in, Li Xing was about to leave when Li Yun's voice echoed in his mind: "No way? No way? Are there really men in this world who don't keep their promises?"
Li Xing immediately stopped. He returned to Hancock's bedside, sat down, and slapped himself hard. "Why am I so fickle! I wasn't like this before! It must be Jiraiya's influence, definitely!"
For this matter, Li Xing blamed Jiraiya. He must have been influenced by spending too much time with Jiraiya previously. But this was the consequence of the author getting carried away and letting loose!
...
The next morning, before dawn, Li Xing had already disappeared from Amazon Lily and returned to the Marine warship. He gave Luffy a large amount of food and lay down with Salome, contemplating life and how to proceed.
...
Under Vice Admiral Momonga's slow navigation, they finally arrived at Impel Down. Following the original plot, Li Xing placed Luffy at the highest point of Impel Down, letting him forge his own path. As for releasing the prisoners, Li Xing had already marked them. Everyone except Luffy's group and Blackbeard's group would be annihilated. As long as Luffy and Blackbeard were allowed to emerge relatively soon, there would be no issues. These were important figures, and Li Xing was too lazy to interfere with them. However, this marking would only last for a few days. Li Xing wasn't about to work for the Marines for free.
Upon meeting Ace, Li Xing also followed the original plot's development. He then traveled with Vice Admiral Momonga to Marineford. Upon arrival, he discovered he was the last of the Shichibukai to arrive.
Li Xing was too lazy to interact with the others, only the world's greatest swordsman managed to pique his interest. However, Li Xing had no intention of challenging Mihawk. If there was to be a challenge, it should be Mihawk challenging him. Now, all that remained was to quietly await the Summit War.