Senzu Wine

"You fool, these Senzu Beans are absolutely the real deal!" Korin shrieked in protest.

"Then why did my sis Lana turn out like this..."

Before Sun Yu could finish, Lana's scarlet lips were already pressed against his. She cupped his face and kissed him with abandon.

What the hell was this? Was this for real?!

Lana's delicate body writhed in Sun Yu's arms. Every trace of her feminine scent set his nerves on edge, and her full, supple breasts pressed tightly against his chest. Warmth spread through his lower abdomen, and he nearly lost control.

Sharingan, activate! Sun Yu forcefully activated his Sharingan, and his mind finally cleared a little. He was enjoying the moment, but this wasn't Lana's own intention, so he couldn't... couldn't get too carried away in front of that stupid cat. Damn it, couldn't the stupid cat at least look away?!

He struck the back of Lana's neck with a knife-hand, and she promptly passed out. Seeing her fall asleep peacefully, Sun Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He glared furiously at Korin and said, "Why are you still here... I mean, what's going on with Lana? She looks more like she got drunk on some bootleg liquor!"

Korin had just been watching Sun Yu and Lana with great interest. Now that they'd stopped, he explained, "I've had these Senzu Beans for thousands of years. Have you ever heard that plants produce alcohol through anaerobic respiration?"

"Pfft..."

Sun Yu almost spat blood. Anaerobic respiration producing alcohol? You've got to be kidding me!

"Damn, by that logic, couldn't you just add some water and let them ferment naturally to make a whole barrel of Senzu Wine?" Sun Yu couldn't help ribbing him.

"Hey, that's not a bad idea! How come I never thought of that?" Korin said, slapping his forehead as if struck by sudden realization.

After hearing Korin's words, Sun Yu felt like dying. Why'd you have to run your mouth? Why'd you have to make that stupid joke?!

"Hey, you, Sun Yu. How about you come practice stealing my bell while you're here? If you want to try, hurry up. I still have to go brew a barrel of Senzu Wine!" Korin said.

"I don't think I need to." Sun Yu shook his head.

While Lana had been trying with all her might to snatch Korin's bell, Sun Yu had activated his Sharingan and watched from the sidelines. He'd wanted to observe the flow of energy inside Lana, study in detail how she controlled and coordinated her ki, then apply what he'd learned by comparing it with his previous experience and turning it into his own insight.

This was the Sharingan's Insight Technique. The Sharingan wasn't just useful in battle. If used well, it could produce unexpected results in every aspect of training.

"What? You're saying you don't need to? Kid, don't tell me you're scared. Worried you're way worse than that girl, so you don't dare challenge me?" Korin narrowed his eyes at Sun Yu.

"What a joke. Would I, Sun Yu, be afraid of something like this? There's just no need."

Sun Yu was in a hurry to get back and take care of Lana. After all, she'd just eaten Senzu Beans with a high alcohol content, so she was drunk. As her younger brother, Sun Yu had to take responsibility for looking after his older sister. For example, drunk people needed to have their clothes taken off and their bodies wiped down with a warm towel. And since drunk people's muscles became stiff, someone had to massage them a little. Anyway, Lana needed someone to take care of her now!

"Hey, hey, kid, don't be so boring. Give it a try. It's not like I'll laugh at you!" Korin seemed convinced that Sun Yu was afraid to compete with him, so he kept shamelessly trying to persuade him. But Sun Yu had made up his mind to ignore him.

"How about I give you two jars of Senzu Beans..."

"I want three!"

"No way! It took me several hundred years to save up five jars. If I give you three at once, what am I supposed to brew my wine with?" Korin flatly refused.

"Suit yourself!" Sun Yu picked Lana up and turned to leave.

"Wait! Fine, fine. If you can snatch my bell within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, I'll give you three jars!" Korin finally made the call through gritted teeth. In his eyes, Lana was already incredibly talented; even she had needed almost a whole day to snatch his bell. So even if this kid was a little more talented than Lana, there was no way he could do it within the time it took an incense stick to burn.

"Oh, since you put it that way, I'll give it a try. You'd better keep your word!" Sun Yu was helpless. People really were giving away Senzu Beans for free these days.

"Hmph! I'm an immortal. How could I go back on my word? But you're not allowed to take off your Weighted Gear!" Korin emphasized.

"Don't worry. I don't need to!" Sun Yu set the sleeping Lana down and walked over to Korin. "Ready to start?"

"Go ahead!"

With Korin's permission, Sun Yu adjusted his breathing. Based on his current understanding of ki, it began in stillness, moved through momentum, and ended in action. Everyone produced ki with every breath, but a true master could hide his movements within his breathing: they arose with an inhale and vanished with an exhale, achieving stillness that controlled motion.

Moving in time with his breathing, Sun Yu naturally reached out his hand without letting even a trace of ki escape, as if he'd become one with his surroundings. Korin seemed to sense the harmony radiating from Sun Yu. Unable to feel even the slightest trace of his ki, Korin's nerves relaxed for a brief moment.

But in that fleeting moment of slackness, Sun Yu's hand had already reached Korin. By then, it was too late for Korin to dodge. The movement seemed incredibly slow, yet now it was as fast as lightning!

"Hey, I got it! That wasn't hard at all. Korin, I'm taking these three jars of Senzu Beans, okay? Thank you!" Sun Yu calmly tossed the bell back to Korin, then took out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and opened it. Inside was a suitcase. He put three jars of Senzu Beans with a relatively recent vintage into it.

He didn't want to have to eat a Senzu Bean with a high alcohol content in the middle of some future battle. That'd be asking for trouble!

Korin stood frozen nearby, still lost in the instant Sun Yu had made his move. Clear as the sky, swift as lightning! I never would've thought... This monster is so young, yet he's already grasped such a state of mind. Truly unexpected!

"Hey, stupid cat, what are you standing there for? Can't you see my sis Lana's asleep? Hurry up and find me a quiet room!" Sun Yu picked Lana up again and shouted at Korin, who was still staring blankly.

Before Korin could answer, a muffled voice suddenly sounded beside them. "Miss Lana can rest at the Lookout for now. Mr. Sun Yu, the Guardian wishes to see you!"

Damn, Popo, can you stop appearing without a sound every single time? You'll scare someone to death! And what's the Guardian doing showing up to ruin my plans now?!