Korin

He glanced at Krillin, his face turning stern. "Outsider, leave Korin's Sacred Land."

Krillin looked toward the voice and saw a sturdy hunter dressed somewhat like an Indian. He was staring at Krillin, spear in hand, poised to attack at any moment.

After observing him for a moment, Krillin smiled faintly. "You're Uba, right? I heard Goku mention you. He said you and your father were the guardians of Korin Tower."

Hearing this, Uba asked, "Are you one of Goku's friends?"

"Goku is my best partner. We're also fellow disciples. You can call me Xiaolin."

Uba immediately lowered his guard and smiled. "Since you're Goku's friend, you're my friend too. I'm sorry about earlier. I only wanted to drive away trespassers."

"It's fine." Krillin smiled lightly.

"Did you come to challenge Korin Tower?"

"That's right. I came to ask Korin for guidance in the Martial Way."

"Korin Tower is very tall. Over the centuries, many people have tried to challenge it, but all failed. Only Master Mutian and Goku ever climbed it." Uba sounded somewhat discouraged.

Krillin laughed. "Don't worry. If Goku could climb it, so can I." I'll just fly up there.

Uba was still worried. "The weather isn't good right now. Come rest at my house first. You can go after you've recovered your strength."

"Don't worry, Uba. Go home quickly. I'm about to begin."

Krillin looked up at Korin Tower and curled his lips slightly. Heh. Using the Flight Technique at full power, he shot away like a streak of white light and vanished in an instant. Uba stared at Krillin's departing figure in shock.

As he flew higher and higher, the air gradually grew thinner, and the clouds around him appeared and disappeared. Krillin saw the flattened spherical building and knew he had arrived.

Tap, tap. Krillin landed atop Korin Tower and saw a large fat cat with two slit-like eyes, three whiskers on each side of his mouth, and three eyebrow hairs on each side of his forehead. He held a wooden staff in his hand. Beside him stood another person, fat and small-eyed, with spiky hair and Japanese-style clothing. He wore a vertically striped kimono, wooden clogs, and a Japanese samurai sword at his waist.

Krillin smiled. "Hello, Korin. Hello, Yajirobe." He spoke rather politely.

Korin wiped the sweat from his forehead. Back when Krillin fought Piccolo, the Battle Power Krillin unleashed had frightened me terribly. There was actually such terrifying power in this world. And now he reached the top of Korin Tower so quickly. It seemed Krillin hadn't used his full strength back then.

Korin kept wiping away sweat, feeling somewhat relieved. Fortunately, he was that old turtle's disciple, and his behavior along the way had been decent. He had not committed any evil deeds.

Korin nodded faintly. "Mm." Yajirobe, however, was no longer calm. His legs trembled, and his voice shook. "K-Krillin, what are you doing here?" Clearly, Yajirobe did not know Krillin very well.

Krillin bowed to Korin. "Please guide me in the Martial Way, Korin."

"Your strength far surpasses mine. There's nothing I can teach you."

Krillin did not see it that way. After all, those who excelled were teachers, and every profession had its specialty. Korin had lived for more than eight hundred years; his understanding of the Martial Way was likely unmatched.

"Eat a Senzu Bean first and restore your strength." With that, Korin tossed Krillin a shriveled bean.

Krillin caught it. It looked somewhat like the soybeans from his previous life (Domestic soybean), yet he could feel intense vitality within it. He inspected the Senzu Bean through the system. Ding, its attributes were as follows.

Senzu Bean

Energy contained: 500 points (fixed)

Function description: One bean lasts ten days, instantly makes a man of you, and instantly heals all injuries.

Krillin grinned. He had finally seen a Senzu Bean. It really was a good thing. Krillin ate it, and the stamina drained from his body instantly began to recover, returning him to peak condition.

"Krillin, release all your Ki. Let me see your full strength."

Krillin adjusted himself, then released all his Ki. A powerful aura immediately spread from his body and continued to intensify.

"Enough, enough!" Yajirobe shouted. He was somewhat frightened by that Ki.

Korin nodded, signaling Krillin to stop. "You have gained a certain understanding of Ki. Master Mutian is barely qualified and hasn't misled his disciples. But you surpass me by far. I can't teach you much, only give you some advice."

Krillin nodded and listened seriously to Korin's words.

Over the following days, Krillin trained with Korin atop Korin Tower. Krillin demonstrated the Martial Way techniques he had learned, while Korin pointed out some of his shortcomings. As their exchanges on the Martial Way deepened, Korin increasingly felt that Krillin was a genius. His understanding of the Martial Way was profound enough to inspire awe. Though he was clearly young, he seemed as if he had lived for centuries.

Krillin felt the timing was about right. "Korin, haven't you gotten tired of eating Senzu Beans for so many years?" Krillin deliberately asked.

"Nonsense! A hundred years ago, I ate a fish. That taste... ahh, it made this cat never want to forget it, meow!" He then sighed. "As an immortal, I can't leave my post without permission. I have to guard Korin Tower. I really miss the days when I ate fish in the lower world." Korin wore a blissful expression.

"Huh?" Krillin was speechless. That's all the ambition you have? And you call yourself an immortal? Heh, what a good opportunity.

Krillin took out a fish and waved it before Korin. Korin's nose twitched, his eyes lit up, and he pounced on it like a starving wolf. He devoured it in huge bites while shouting, "This is the taste!"

In no time, Korin finished the fish. After eating, he blushed a little. As an immortal, his behavior just now had been far too impolite. But the fish had simply been too delicious.

"Korin, do you still have many Senzu Beans? I can trade fish for them." Krillin asked expectantly.

"What? You want to trade fish for Senzu Beans?" Korin could hardly believe his ears. In Korin's eyes, Senzu Beans could only fill one's stomach.

"That's right! How many do you have left?"

"Let me look." Before long, Korin brought out three large jars. "This is all that's left. Yajirobe ate some of them these past days."

"Good thing I came early. If I'd come a few months later, there probably wouldn't have been much left." Krillin stared at Yajirobe's stomach. What an eater. In truth, Krillin rather liked Yajirobe. Though he was somewhat cowardly, on second thought, he appeared in nearly every crucial battle. That alone said enough.

Yajirobe grew a little frightened under Krillin's stare. He immediately laughed awkwardly and scratched his head, trying to change the subject.

Krillin examined the jars. Each seemed to contain around a thousand beans, for a total of roughly three thousand. Haha, 1.5 million. He would not lack energy in the future.

Krillin took out the fish stored in his Hoi-Poi Capsule and gave them to Korin. Korin was startled. Even if he ate fish every day from now on, there would be enough to last several years. After seeing the fish, Korin's smile never faded.

Krillin carefully packed the Senzu Beans into Hoi-Poi Capsules, dividing them among several capsules. A cunning rabbit has three burrows.

"Korin, what is the Senzu Bean yield like?"

"About a hundred per year!"

"Korin, how about planting more in the future? I'll trade with you every year. One hundred Senzu Beans for one thousand fish. What do you think?"

The terms were too tempting for a cat. Korin agreed without hesitation.

Krillin was delighted. He now had a stable source. Whether for future battles or to provide himself with energy, the demand for Senzu Beans would be enormous.

Now it's time to go to the Sacred Temple for deeper training.

"Korin, I'm going to train at the Sacred Temple. Please lend me your token," Krillin said, referring to that little bell. Krillin would not go rashly; he still had to follow the proper procedure.

Goku had previously said that he had trained at the Sacred Temple, so Korin was not surprised.

At that moment, an aged voice rang out. "Karin, let Krillin come up! He does not need a token."