Call Me Father

In the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Jiang Ling and Trunks gazed out at a vast expanse of white.

The environment here was harsh, with gravity ten times that of the outside world.

The temperature difference was extreme.

"Trunks, we're going to train here for two years. Can you endure the loneliness?" Jiang Ling asked.

Trunks thought for a moment and said, "If I were alone, I definitely couldn't. But with you here, I feel okay."

"..."

Jiang Ling looked at him, silent for a long time, and said, "I like women..."

"Me too!! What were you thinking!!"

Trunks said loudly, afraid Jiang Ling would misunderstand.

"You'll be fine on your own," Jiang Ling said with a sly smile, nudging Trunks's shoulder. "You still have the USB drive I gave you. You definitely won't finish watching it in two years..."

"Cough cough..."

Trunks coughed lightly, saying with righteous indignation.

"Indeed, it's all knowledge inside. To swim in the ocean of knowledge, it is my bounden duty!"

Jiang Ling patted his shoulder, his eyes shining brightly. "The future of Earth is in your hands!"

"Absolutely!! Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

The two began sparring in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

They tacitly avoided using the Super Saiyan form, practicing only in their base forms.

As for why?

Look at it this way.

After improving their base combat power, transforming into Super Saiyan would result in an even greater increase in strength!

The cost-effectiveness was extremely high!

The sounds of sparring grew louder and louder. Both of them were injured, and their stamina had been greatly depleted.

They stopped simultaneously, resting in place.

Training should be gradual, not a fight to the death.

Unless you have Senzu Beans.

Jiang Ling did, but he didn't want to waste them like that.

After resting for a while and recovering some stamina, Jiang Ling spoke.

"Let's transform into Super Saiyan and fight once."

"Sure."

Trunks agreed.

Two powerful auras erupted.

Jiang Ling and Trunks both transformed into Super Saiyan.

Then, Jiang Ling retracted his aura and entered the Super Saiyan - Full Power stage!

Trunks' eyes widened, "You, you, you... is that?"

Jiang Ling smiled slightly, "This is Super Saiyan - Full Power, the most perfect stage of Super Saiyan 1. The next step is Super Saiyan 2."

"Holy crap, that's awesome! Teach me, teach me."

Trunks' eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Sure, call me 'father'."

"Get lost!"

Instantly, the two energies collided.

The impact produced deafening sounds.

Waves of brutal energy clashed fiercely.

Well, the consequence was that Jiang Ling wasted two Senzu Beans.

And so, the two grown men trained inside for three years!

That's right, three years!!

Jiang Ling hadn't expected this either!

Didn't it say there was a time limit?

Everyone was only allowed to enter for two years!!

Wait, only allowed?

Could it be a rule set by the God of Earth, to prevent people from becoming overly reliant on the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?

In reality, one could stay in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for a very long time?

As his thoughts churned, Jiang Ling felt this was the most likely scenario.

Trunks walked over and said, "We've run out of food. Let's head out!"

The clothes on their bodies had already been changed several times during their battles.

There was no way around it; their pants didn't have the god-tier effect from the original story where they wouldn't get damaged no matter how they fought.

Trunks' hair had grown a lot, while Jiang Ling's hairstyle hadn't changed at all.

For this reason, Trunks specifically asked:

"Why doesn't your hairstyle change?"

Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Pure-blooded Saiyans' hairstyles are set when they're born and never change throughout their lives. Goku is like this, and so is your cheap old man."

"Of course, my hairstyle doesn't change either."

"So that's how it is."

Exiting the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

The two men stood on the plaza of the Temple of the Gods, taking a deep breath of air simultaneously.

"Comfortable!"

"It's better outside!"

Trunks expressed his strong agreement.

He carried a bag of used tissues, looking for a place to throw them away.

Don't ask why, just assume it was snot!

The two returned to the Underground Base.

As soon as Trunks saw Bulma, he gave her a big hug.

Bulma was stunned by the sudden embrace.

Then, she gently patted Trunks' back and said softly:

"What's wrong, child?"

Trunks mumbled, "I missed you."

"Silly child, it's only been three days. Huh? How did your hair grow so fast? And you've grown a bit taller too..."

Bulma noticed the changes then.

Jiang Ling, standing nearby, smiled and explained.

After listening, Bulma tenderly stroked Trunks' hair, "You've worked hard. Don't be so eager to improve your strength from now on, okay?"

Trunks shook his head, his expression righteous:

"No, I need to defeat the Androids as soon as possible so that you, everyone, and all of humanity can stand on the earth without fear, breathing in the fresh air to their heart's content!"

"Instead of living in fear every day, hiding in the basement and feeling like time is passing by year by year!"

Bulma smiled gently, "My son indeed!"

Jiang Ling said his goodbyes and left first, letting the mother and son have some time alone...

Flying in the sky outside.

Jiang Ling flew straight towards Mount Paozu!

He had learned from Trunks that Chi-Chi was not dead in this timeline and was living alone on Mount Paozu.

When Jiang Ling heard this news, his heart ached.

Chi-Chi in this timeline, widowed in her early years and lost her son in her later years, was living alone on Mount Paozu, lonely and without support.

Jiang Ling decided to do something.

Arriving at Mount Paozu.

A solitary house stood on the mountain.

The plants around the house were neatly trimmed, as if they had been pruned every day.

Jiang Ling looked around, walked to the front door, and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Coming."

A woman's voice replied.

The door opened.

A woman appeared before Jiang Ling.

Her beautiful face had some wrinkles, and her meticulously tied black hair was streaked with white strands.

She wore a form-fitting qipao, and her entire demeanor was dignified and elegant.

She looked far from dispirited.

"Who are you?"

Chi-Chi asked.

"Hello Chi-Chi, I'm a friend of Trunks," Jiang Ling said with a smile.

"Ah, hello, hello."

Chi-Chi replied politely.

Her peripheral vision caught sight of Jiang Ling's tail, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She quickly covered her mouth, weeping silently.

Her expression was one of extreme sorrow.

Jiang Ling became flustered, unsure of what to do...

"You... you don't cry..."