Tales of Demons and Gods: Light Devil Fruit

After purchasing the inscription scroll, Ye Xinghan continued his exploration of the bustling market. 

He spent a considerable amount of money on various peculiar items, each with unusual effects such as inducing hypnosis, paralysis, blindness, and dizziness. 

While these items might not be particularly effective against a prepared enemy, they could decisively turn the tide if used strategically.

Ye Xinghan held no disdain for underhanded tactics. 

In war, all strategies were fair game as long as the enemy was defeated. Victory justified the means, no matter how unscrupulous. 

Ye Xinghan himself was no stranger to such methods. Thrown into the world of One Piece as an ordinary human, he had to employ every trick at his disposal to survive the countless calamities that came his way, even if those methods were frowned upon by others. 

For him, survival was paramount-an embodiment of the "survival of the fittest" principle.

While Ye Xinghan was still scouring the market for more unique items, a sudden commotion erupted. Several bronze-ranked guards rushed toward the center of the market, shouting loudly.

"A thief!"

"Prepare the defenses!"

Ye Xinghan tilted his head in confusion.

'Who would dare steal in such a heavily guarded place? This market is one of the most secure locations in the city. I need to check this out personally,' he thought.

Maintaining a distance, Ye Xinghan followed the guards. 

Within a minute, the commotion led them to the food section of the market. There, about ten guards had already surrounded a figure.

From afar, Ye Xinghan observed the scene closely. The figure was a teenage boy, draped in a tattered and dirty brown cloak that covered him from head to knee. 

The boy clutched a bundle of fish and meat tightly, as if his very survival depended on it. His eyes darted left and right, frantically searching for an escape route.

A middle-aged man, with a bloated body, squeezed past the guards and confronted the boy.

"Kid, put down the meat and we'll forget this ever happened. But if you insist on resisting, don't blame me for being harsh," the man growled, pointing menacingly at the boy.

The boy trembled, hesitating as he glanced around. With a sigh, he slowly placed the meat on the ground and took a few steps back. 

However, the middle-aged man's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. A malicious glint flickered in his gaze.

"Capture that boy! I don't care if you have to break his arms or legs-bring him alive!" the man barked at the guards.

The guards exchanged confused glances but ultimately followed his orders. 

They advanced cautiously, drawing their swords as they closed in on the boy. 

At first, the boy appeared terrified, but then, with a sudden burst of resolve, sickles appeared in his hands. He brandished them wildly, trying to fend off the approaching guards.

Ye Xinghan watched intently, noting every detail. 

The middle-aged man seemed to hold authority over the guards, but his actions were undeniably suspicious. Something about the situation didn't add up, and Ye Xinghan was determined to uncover the truth behind the unfolding events.

They knew perfectly well that the boy had stolen the food because of poverty. Since he had returned the stolen items, there was no need to escalate the situation further. 

This was a display of compassion for the less fortunate—a principle supported by the Snow Wind Family as well.

Seeing the commotion, Ye Xinghan decided to intervene and help the boy. He pulled out the blinding stone he had recently purchased and secretly threw it toward the boy.

(While he could have used his Devil Fruit power, he opted against it to avoid prematurely revealing his unique abilities.)

As the stone reached the top of the boy's head, it burst, releasing a blinding flash of light. The boy was unharmed, shielded by his cloak, but the guards were not. 

They cried out in pain, stumbling and colliding with one another, creating chaos.

Satisfied that the situation was under control, Ye Xinghan was about to leave when he noticed something extraordinary. 

The boy was fleeing, which was expected, but his speed was remarkable—slightly faster than that of a silver-ranked demon spiritualist.

What surprised Ye Xinghan even more was that the boy exhibited no spiritual energy, indicating he hadn't cultivated. 

This meant the boy's speed was a natural talent, an amazing one at that.

Ye Xinghan's heart raced with excitement, and he couldn't help but smile. 

He activated his pseudo Soru technique, combining it with his Devil Fruit power to chase after the boy. 

He pushed himself to the limit, knowing that without his full abilities, catching up to the boy would be nearly impossible.

Despite his efforts, following the boy proved challenging. 

The boy navigated the city's streets with precision, taking unexpected turns and using narrow alleyways to his advantage. 

Ye Xinghan, unfamiliar with the city's layout, struggled to keep up.

The chase lasted for half an hour, eventually leading them outside the city to a rarely frequented area.

"Damn it. I never expected someone I considered a brother to betray me. Huff, huff," the boy muttered, sitting under a tree in the secluded area, exhausted from ensuring his safety.

Earlier that day, a friend had convinced him to steal from the central market, presenting a seemingly flawless plan. 

The potential rewards were much higher than in other places. However, the boy hadn't anticipated it being a trap and couldn't understand why his friend would betray him.

As he sat deep in thought, an unfamiliar voice interrupted him.

"Magnificent speed."

Startled, the boy instinctively swung his sickle toward the source of the voice. His opponent, however, calmly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Realizing the other's strength, the boy leapt back, maintaining a defensive stance.

Clap, clap, clap.

"You possess speed, instincts, decisiveness—truly splendid," Ye Xinghan praised, clapping his hands. He was impressed by the boy's natural abilities.

"What do you want?" the boy asked warily, narrowing his eyes at Ye Xinghan.

The newcomer appeared to be around 7-8 years old, dressed in expensive clothes, with light purple hair and handsome features. They seemed to come from entirely different worlds.

"I want you," Ye Xinghan stated bluntly, pointing at the boy.

"Sorry, I'm not gay," the boy replied, his tone flat.

Ye Xinghan twitched slightly, unsure if the boy was playing dumb or genuinely misunderstanding.

"Follow me, and you'll reach heights no one in this city has ever dreamed of. Seize your destiny and control your fate," Ye Xinghan offered, his pitch well-prepared.

"Big talk for a kid. Not even Lord Ye Mo would say such things," the boy retorted, relaxing his stance slightly.

"In this world, only two people can make such claims. Luckily for you, I'm one of them. Aren't you curious about who I am?" Ye Xinghan smiled confidently.

"You look wealthy, and that purple hair is exclusive to the royal family of Glory City, the Snow Wind Family. Am I right?" the boy deduced.

"Ah, it seems I can't keep a low profile with this hair. You're correct. I'm the grandson of Ye Mo, the only Legend-ranked demon spiritualist, and the son of Ye Xiao—Ye Xinghan. It's a pleasure to meet you. What's your name?" Ye Xinghan extended his hand for a handshake.

The boy glanced at the offered hand but ignored it. Instead, he pulled down his hood, revealing his features. 

His face was marred with ink-like blotches, his hair disheveled, his eyes pale blue and bloodshot, with visible veins lining his sclera. His teeth were missing and uneven.

"I'm afraid my filthy hands would taint your body. I'm the thief of the market, the scum of society, and the trash of this world. Gyutarou."