In the blazing summer heat, the sweltering weather was unbearable.
People hid inside their houses and high-rise buildings, enjoying cold drinks with the air conditioners running.
In the courtyard of a villa stood a Gravity Training Room.
Inside,
Jiang Ling trained shirtless, doing basic exercises. Sweat streamed down the lines of his body and pooled on the floor.
"10,050, 10,051, 10,052..."
"Whew~"
Jiang Ling let out a breath and switched off the gravity.
He took out a White Towel and wiped away the sweat.
Water poured out as he wrung it, flowing nonstop.
The air conditioner was blasting at 16 degrees, but it couldn't stop him from sweating.
That was the price he had to pay for training under gravity.
He hadn't been idle these past few days on Earth. He couldn't keep relying on Bulma, after all, could he?
How was that any different from being some pretty boy like Vegeta?
Thanks to his good looks, Jiang Ling had successfully debuted on a talent show.
The system had also given him a few things, such as God-tier Voice, God-tier Singing, and some songs. Within a few months, he had become a superstar whose name resounded across Earth!
Popular songs like Blue and White Porcelain, What's Wrong With It, Little Apple, and Most Dazzling Folk Style had become household favorites!
Recently, Jiang Ling had faded from the music scene and started drawing comics in his spare time.
Comics like Naruto, One Piece, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Inuyasha had burst onto the scene.
Jiang Ling got along pretty well with Yamcha. After becoming a superstar, he'd made Yamcha his agent, and now the agent handled most things for him...
That freed him up to train.
The villa he lived in now was one he had bought from Bulma.
Bulma had initially said she wouldn't take any money, but Jiang Ling had firmly refused to be kept as a pretty boy.
Bulma had even gotten upset over it, saying things like, "What's wrong with being a kept man? I can support you!"
A gentle breeze passed through the courtyard, setting the plants swaying.
Jiang Ling rose into the air and flew toward the outskirts.
Krillin was waiting for him there, wearing his Martial Arts Uniform, just as promised!
The blazing sunlight shone down on Krillin's bald head, reflecting off its gleaming surface.
"Damn it, Jiang Ling! You said you'd be here in the morning. Why are you only showing up now?!"
Krillin was exasperated! Sweat poured off him nonstop; clearly, he wasn't having an easy time of it either.
"Haha." Jiang Ling smiled. "I'm only a little late..."
Krillin immediately shot back, "What do you mean, 'a little late'?! It's already afternoon!"
"Aw, I'll treat you to a meal later."
"I want to go sing karaoke, too."
"No problem!"
After exchanging pleasantries, the two got down to business.
Krillin took up the Turtle School Starting Stance, while Jiang Ling stood with his hands behind his back.
"Aren't you going to take a stance? It'd be quicker and easier to start that way," Krillin asked, puzzled.
Jiang Ling thought about it and decided Krillin had a point.
So he stuck out a hand, curled one finger at him, and shouted, "Come at me!"
"??"
As Krillin stood there wondering what was going on, his body suddenly charged toward Jiang Ling against his will.
It was as if some mysterious force were controlling him.
Jiang Ling grinned, lowered his body slightly, and threw a punch!
Bam!!!
Krillin was hit!
He flew backward!
He smashed into a small rocky peak before finally coming to a stop.
Jiang Ling flew after him, and Krillin fought back with all his might.
The shockwaves from their battle kicked up clouds of dust.
As the fight neared its end, both of them were panting heavily.
"Whew... whew... Jiang Ling, I didn't know you were this strong!"
"Likewise."
Jiang Ling smiled as he replied.
After several months of training, he had finally caught up to Krillin!
That would have been something to celebrate in the past.
But now, that level of strength was insignificant!
Why?
In a few months, Frieza was coming with his dad!!
Jiang Ling didn't know whether his arrival would set off a butterfly effect.
He couldn't be sure whether it would prevent Trunks from coming.
So he had no choice but to work hard and get stronger—strong enough to beat the hell out of Frieza before he arrived!!
Krillin took a deep breath and placed his hands by his waist, forming a flower-bud shape.
"Jiang Ling, watch out. This is my final move."
"Bring it on!"
Jiang Ling's eyes flashed, and his expression turned serious. At the same time, he moved his hands into the exact same position.
"You know that move too?"
Krillin stared at Jiang Ling's identical stance, shocked.
"Yep. Surprised? Didn't see that coming, huh?"
"Hmph. It's still anyone's game."
"Then let's find out!"
As soon as the words left their mouths, they both roared.
"KA! ME! HA! ME! HA!"
Two blue-white beams of light blazed to life!
Then their energy surged, sending dust flying.
The two Kikoha slammed into each other with tremendous force.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Dust spread at once, enveloping them both.
It was impossible to tell who had won.
After a long while,
a breeze swept past, and the smoke slowly cleared. To everyone's surprise, two figures were still standing!
Jiang Ling's lips curled into a smile.
He walked over to Krillin.
Poked him...
Thud!
Krillin slowly toppled to the ground.
Panting heavily, he smiled.
"I knew it'd be you. I lost."
"Haha, you were going easy on me."
Jiang Ling replied with a smile.
Then he grabbed Krillin's hand and helped him up. "Come on, let's get a drink."
"Haha, I'm definitely eating my fill. You beat me, after all."
Night fell.
Jiang Ling bought some snacks and beer with Krillin.
They went to a quiet little courtyard he'd bought for himself.
Secluded and peaceful.
Whenever he needed to unwind, he came here to spend a day.
Since he was often around Bulma, a normal man like him was constantly burning with desire.
What was he supposed to do?
Without a few ways to comfort himself, he wouldn't have made it this far.
So Jiang Ling had developed a taste for drinking.
He used alcohol to numb his restless heart.
"Krillin, why don't you become my sworn little brother? I'll introduce you to a few actresses."
"Big brother!!"
"Haha..."
Hearing that, Jiang Ling laughed heartily. "Sit! Drink!"
Everything was understood without another word.
Jiang Ling pulled bags of snacks and a case of beer out of the System Space.
"Enough talk. Bottoms up!"
"Cheers!"
Gulp, gulp~
"I heard you got dumped again recently?"
Jiang Ling asked casually as he ate some snacks.
At that, Krillin burst into tears. "Waaah~ Waaaah~"
"Women are all a bunch of assholes!!"
Jiang Ling patted him on the shoulder. "Go on, get it off your chest. You'll feel better..."
Krillin talked it all out, while Jiang Ling listened beside him.
Every now and then, he took a few gulps of beer.
"Buddy, I really feel for what you've been through. Enough talk—let's have another!"
"Cheers!!"
Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp.
Krillin's face was red as a monkey's backside. He waved around a big green bottle, only to discover there was no beer left.
He turned to look at the dozen or so cases of empty bottles. "We're out? We're out of beer before we've even had our fill? Big brother! There's no more beer..."
Jiang Ling took a look. They were indeed out of beer. "You still want more?"
"Yeah! Th-this isn't nearly enough!"
Krillin's face flushed as he thumped his chest and shouted, "Big brother, get some more beer over here..."
Jiang Ling pointed behind him. "It's right there."
Krillin turned around. Outside the courtyard, it was pitch-black in the night, with no lights on. He couldn't see a thing.
"Where? Don't mess with me, big brother."
Jiang Ling smirked and pressed a button on the table.
Click—
Click—
Click—
Countless lights flashed on.
A mountain of beer cases stacked together suddenly appeared outside the courtyard!!
Under the lights, it stood tall and imposing!
"Holy... holy crap! Oh my god, big brother."
Krillin pointed at the mountain of beer stacked hundreds of meters high. His eyes widened, and his hand trembled. "Th-this... holy crap, big brother... big brother... holy crap! That's amazing!!"
Jiang Ling took a bite of food and smiled.
"What are we waiting for? Bring over a few cases and let's drink! Then tell me about how your hundred-and-thirty-second girlfriend broke up with you."
"Sure! Let's drink to our hearts' content tonight!"
Before you continue