A Day of Honoring the Old and Cherishing the Young

The awakening ritual was a party for Old Kai alone.

For a full five hours, Watching Old Kai hop around him, Son Gohan was completely numb.

He worried Old Kai might fall apart after jumping for five hours.

This didn't look like an easy job at all.

Old Kai, whose body wheezed with every movement, found jumping continuously for 5 hours a huge challenge.

The Kai and Kibito, who had been watching for 5 hours, were completely dazed, but felt it would be rude to just leave.

After all, this was an ancestor from 15 generations ago.

Finally, the Kai couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Ancestor, how much longer will this ritual take?"

Old Kai, performing a deadly rhythm around Son Gohan, retorted impatiently, "Shut up, this is a very important ritual, don't interrupt. The whole process takes 5 hours, and increasing power takes 20 hours..."

"Uh..."

"Ancestor, if it's 5 hours, I think it's already over."

The Kai said nervously.

"Huh?"

Old Kai stopped abruptly. "Is it 5 hours yet?"

"Yes, Ancestor." The Kai nodded, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

Kibito, standing beside them, chimed in, "Yes, Ancestor, it's already been over 5 hours."

Old Kai scratched his head and laughed heartily, "Hahaha, so it's already over time. I'm old, I can't remember the time."

Son Gohan: ...

If Old Kai weren't old, he'd be quite young.

"Ahem, young man, sit down."

"Grandpa, my name is Son Gohan, you can just call me Gohan," Son Gohan said, his mouth dry. He shook his numb legs and sat down on the spot.

Afraid of disturbing the awakening ritual, he hadn't spoken for 5 hours, and his mouth was extremely dry.

Agony!

He even felt like peeing.

"Sit properly and don't talk," Old Kai said, also sitting cross-legged opposite him. He began chanting incomprehensible incantations again.

At this moment, Son Gohan greatly missed the way the Grand Elder of Planet Namek stimulated potential.

That was truly simple, just a press of the hand on the head.

Compared to now, it was the difference between easy mode and hell mode.

The Kai and Kibito dared not speak. They stood on the side like two javelins, neither able to sit nor leave, suffering even more than Son Gohan.

And so, after who knows how many more hours, Son Gohan felt drowsiness creep in and fell into a deep sleep with his eyes closed.

Old Kai's peculiar incantations seemed to turn into a beautiful lullaby, making him sleep exceptionally soundly.

Drip!

Drip!

Drip!

The sound of water droplets falling into a lake echoed in his mind.

Ripples spread through his heart.

Son Gohan opened his eyes, waking from his slumber. He felt an unprecedented comfort throughout his body and an exceptionally relaxed and peaceful state of mind.

He looked at Old Kai, who was still snoring soundly in front of him, and stood up with a smile.

He turned his head and saw the Kai and Kibito also looking at him.

Son Gohan walked towards them.

Seeing Son Gohan approach, the Kai asked in a low voice, "Mr. Gohan, how do you feel? Is there any difference?"

"Difference?" Son Gohan clenched his fists.

Actually, Son Gohan didn't feel any difference. It was just that he felt light all over, as if his soul had been cleansed, and he had undergone a sublimation.

Son Gohan said, "I can't say there's a specific difference. If I had to say, my state of mind is more peaceful and natural, with a sense of freedom."

"Heh, I don't quite understand either. Let's ask our Ancestor when he wakes up," the Kai said with a smile.

Kibito sized up Son Gohan without speaking. He felt that Son Gohan was particularly mysterious and ethereal now.

He could see through him less and less.

Even though Son Gohan was right before his eyes, he felt as if he were a world away.

"Mr. Gohan, this is for you." As the Supreme Kai spoke, a long sword appeared out of thin air in his hand—it was the Z Sword—which he then held out toward Son Gohan.

"Supreme Kai, you repaired it?" Son Gohan took the long sword, surprised.

"Huh, why is it so light?" As the Z Sword touched his hand, the heavy sensation from before was completely gone.

The Supreme Kai smiled. "While you were busy having your potential unlocked, I had some free time, so I reforged the Z Sword."

"I didn't expect that once the Old Kai was unsealed from within, the sword would become much lighter. After the reforging, the sword has been restored to its original state, and it's even sharper than before."

"Our previous wager still stands, so this sword now belongs to you, Mr. Gohan."

"Heh, then thank you, Supreme Kai." Son Gohan didn't stand on ceremony and put the Z Sword away.

Perhaps it was their conversation that stirred him, but the Old Kai slowly woke up.

He looked around in a daze, then muttered, "Eh? I actually fell asleep? I didn't expect that even after sleeping in the sword for tens of millions of years, I'd still be this sleepy. This body of mine is truly in poor shape."

The Supreme Kai immediately said, "It is because you were too exhausted just now, Ancestor."

Son Gohan walked up to the Old Kai, bowed, and said sincerely, "Thank you for your hard work, Elder. Gohan will keep this kindness in his heart forever."

The Old Kai stood up, placed his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and said:

"You lot only know how to say useless, pretty words. I'm an old man with not many days left to live. Sigh, helping you unlock your potential has cost me quite a bit of my lifespan."

As he spoke, he wore a look of deep gloom, and a heavy atmosphere began to permeate the air.

Son Gohan knew this old drama king was putting on a show, but the Supreme Kai and Kibito took it seriously and were immediately filled with worry.

The two of them repeatedly told the Ancestor to take care of his health and not to overwork himself in the future.

Son Gohan grinned, leaned into the Old Kai's ear, and whispered, "Elder, I was originally planning to give you some magazines featuring beautiful women, but since your body is already so burdened, it seems I won't be able to give them to you after all."

"What? There's such a thing?" The Old Kai's eyes lit up, and he suddenly became full of energy.

However, remembering his status, he straightened his face again.

"Ahem, I, an old man, have no interest in your magazines of beautiful women."

"If I wanted to see them, I could use my divine powers to watch the beauties of the mortal realm at any time."

Son Gohan spread his hands, looking very regretful. "Then never mind. I was actually planning to bring some discs, too."

"This..." The Old Kai frowned, looking very conflicted. "Since you insist on giving them to me, I suppose I can reluctantly accept them. Fine, hand them over."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand to Son Gohan to demand them.

"Next time, Elder. To show my sincerity, I'm going to collect the very best to give to you. Ordinary ones wouldn't be worth presenting; they wouldn't fit your status at all," Son Gohan said, hands on his hips, looking earnest.

"You young people, sigh, fine, fine. Remember to bring them next time."

"Respecting the old and cherishing the young—do you understand?"

"I understand, I'll keep it in mind."

The Supreme Kai and Kibito were completely unable to grasp what high-level topic this old man and young man were discussing.

They only knew that the Ancestor was now full of vigor and very happy.

It had to be said that Mr. Gohan really had a way with things.

He could even coax an old man.

It was truly impressive.