Heading to Kame House

The next day, just as the sky was barely light, Goku and Sun Mo got up for their morning workout.

It was just simple jogging, push-ups, and the like.

When they finished and returned to the Capsule House, a large sea turtle blocked their path.

The turtle pleaded, "S-sorry, I'm dying of thirst. Could I have a glass of water?"

Goku scratched his head and looked at Sun Mo. "How did a turtle get here?"

Sun Mo said, "This is a sea turtle."

The turtle quickly replied, "Yes, I'm a sea turtle. I usually live in the ocean.

Once, I came out to look for Matsutake, got lost by accident, and then I tried to find the sea but never could. I've been wandering for a year now..."

Sun Mo thought it over. Master Roshi still had one Dragon Ball, so they'd have to go there anyway—it wasn't out of the way.

So he said, "The ocean is over a hundred kilometers from here. Let's take it back."

Goku nodded. "Sure, I'd like to see this ocean you've talked about too!"

The sea turtle's face lit up with surprise. "You're really good people! Um, I'm really thirsty—could I have a glass of water first?"

Sun Mo nodded. "Of course!"

Just as Sun Mo was about to open the door, the capsule's door swung open from inside.

Bulma poked her head out in her pajamas.

"Hey, where'd you catch that sea turtle?"

She looked at the ashes from last night's barbecue Goku had made, and the bones beside them, and couldn't help thinking of the wolf and centipede from the night before.

"You're not planning to have this turtle for breakfast, are you?"

The sea turtle was terrified.

"I-I'm not even tasty!"

Sun Mo quickly explained, "No, Bulma.

This sea turtle is lost. We're going to take it back to the ocean."

Bulma asked, "Take it back to the ocean?"

"Yeah." Sun Mo nodded.

Bulma immediately flipped open a map and started looking for the ocean's location.

Meanwhile, Sun Mo fetched a bucket of water and set it in front of the sea turtle.

The turtle drank it down in gulps.

After a moment, Bulma found the ocean on the map.

"Found it. It's a hundred and twenty kilometers from here—that's way too far, isn't it?"

She looked at Sun Mo seriously. "Taking it back will waste a lot of our time."

Sun Mo said, "You don't need to wish for a boyfriend anyway, so there's no rush to gather all the Dragon Balls. Take it slow!

Even if we don't find them all, we can just look for the rest during winter break!"

Bulma's face stiffened, then she said, "But I've been preparing for this trip for so long. I really want to see Shenron!"

While Sun Mo and Bulma were still discussing it, Goku had already hoisted the sea turtle onto his back.

"Mr. Turtle, let them argue. I'll take you back."

With that, he carried the turtle and started walking toward the ocean.

After a few steps, Goku suddenly asked, "Are you really not tasty?"

The turtle braced himself and explained, "Of course not. I've lived over a hundred years—my meat isn't good."

Sun Mo watched Goku walk off with the turtle and said, "He's already gone to take it back. Should we pack up the Capsule House and follow?"

"Let's not?"

Bulma rarely woke up early and was still a bit drowsy.

Sun Mo said, "Take a look at the Dragon Radar. Maybe there's a Dragon Ball in the direction he's heading?"

"How could it be that coincidental? You're just trying to—"

Before Bulma could finish, she saw a new marker on the Dragon Radar.

"Huh? What's this?"

"In the direction Goku's going, there's a Dragon Ball a hundred and twenty kilometers away."

Sun Mo smiled. "Looks like taking the turtle back is fate."

Bulma nodded. "It's really thanks to you. Alright, let's go too.

Let me change clothes, and we'll set off."

Sun Mo suddenly thought of the lecherous Master Roshi and immediately said, "Oh, right, Bulma, put on something more conservative, preferably long sleeves and long pants..."

A faint blush crept across Bulma's face.

"Mm, I get it. I'll change into a tracksuit then."

By the time Bulma finished dressing and packing up the Capsule House, an hour had passed.

Goku had walked so far he was already out of sight.

She got in the car, floored the gas, and sped toward the coast.

Unfortunately, the road was terrible—full of potholes—so she could never pick up much speed.

Bulma yawned.

"Driving on a road like this is exhausting!"

She glanced at Sun Mo, who was dozing off in the passenger seat, and said with some annoyance, "If you knew how to drive, you could take over for me..."

Sun Mo opened his eyes and replied, "I can't drive, but I'm really strong.

I could just carry the car and travel with you on foot..."

Bulma's mouth twitched.

"Wh-what kind of joke is that?"

Just then, a Bear-faced Scarred Bandit blocked their path, and Bulma slammed the brakes.

The man carried a broadsword wider than the car itself, baring his teeth in a grin.

"I planted this tree, I paved this road... if you want to pass, leave your toll!!"

Seeing such a hulking bandit and that sword that looked like it could split the car in two, Bulma's heart filled with panic.

"Damn it, Sun Mo, we're being robbed!

What do we do? I hope he only wants money and not my body..."

As she spoke, Bulma started rummaging through her capsule bag, ready to hand over anything valuable.

Sun Mo reached out and stopped her trembling hand.

"Don't worry, Bulma.

You forgot how strong I am. I'll go deal with him."

With that, Sun Mo opened the door and stepped out of the car.

Watching his back, Bulma was slightly stunned.

"D-don't be reckless! Losing a little money is no big deal..."

Sun Mo didn't answer her. Instead, he glanced around, then fixed his gaze on the bandit.

"Let me ask you something. Did you see someone carrying a sea turtle pass by here just now?"

At the mention of sea turtle, the bandit's mouth couldn't help but water.

"Sea turtle? That's my favorite food. Where? I didn't see one."

The bandit started looking around.

Hearing this, Sun Mo frowned.

"That guy Goku... did he take the wrong way?"

The bandit sized up the car behind Sun Mo and said, "Forget it, with money I can buy anything."

He brandished the gleaming broadsword and threatened, "If you don't want to die, hand over everything valuable, including this car..."

Sun Mo looked at his own fist, then back at the bandit, and grinned. "You're lucky. You get to see my first real move!"

"What did you say?"

The bandit felt insulted by Sun Mo's expression and swung the massive blade down at him.

Sun Mo said unhurriedly, "This punch of mine—I'm only using one-tenth of my power. Whether you can take it depends on your own luck..."

As he finished, the blade came down.

Sun Mo's figure flickered, easily dodging the sword's edge, and at a speed too fast for the eye to see, he drove his fist into the bandit's body.

"Boom!"

The bandit was struck like a cannonball. He didn't even have time to scream before he was blasted backward.

"Crash!"

His massive body smashed through a small hill before being swallowed by rolling dust, his fate unknown.

Watching from the car, Bulma's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"He... he's actually this amazing..."

Bulma thought about how she could show off her boyfriend in front of her classmates later—not only tall and handsome, but also incredibly strong.

She couldn't help getting excited: "I'm so happy!"

"If I take him to school, they'll definitely be jealous of me!"

Right then, Sun Mo got in the car.

"Bulma, let's head back. Goku might have gotten lost and hasn't made it here yet. Let's go find him..."