Leaving Korin Tower

The Zhang Wutian of the past was a man who couldn't survive without a computer.

The Zhang Wutian of the past was a man who claimed that as long as he had a computer, an internet cable, and a box of instant noodles, he could live anywhere.

However, in Korin Tower—a place devoid of computers, internet cables, and especially instant noodles—Zhang Wutian had stayed for a full year.

This year had completely transformed Zhang Wutian from the inside out.

"Come on, kid, let me see what you've got."

"I'm coming for you, Master Korin."

Zhang Wutian and Master Korin stood in a standoff, and the next moment, Zhang Wutian struck first.

He appeared before Master Korin in an instant, aiming a punch directly at his target.

Master Korin vanished with equally incredible speed, appearing behind Zhang Wutian like a phantom, and delivered a flying kick toward his back.

Zhang Wutian spun around abruptly, raising his hand to block Master Korin's attack, followed by a rapid-fire succession of punches.

Master Korin dodged back and forth under Zhang Wutian's fists, displaying the agility of a cat to its fullest extent. It was as if Zhang Wutian's fists were striking empty air; he didn't land a single blow on the opponent dancing and shifting before him.

"Is this all the progress you've made in a year? You've disappointed your master!"

"Using rapid-fire punches against a small opponent was my mistake. This next move won't disappoint you, Master Korin."

Leaping backward to put some distance between them, Zhang Wutian placed his right fist at his waist, covered it with his left, and began to charge his energy.

In Master Korin's perception, a continuous stream of ki was gathering toward that point.

During this year of study, Zhang Wutian's greatest gain was learning how to apply ki.

Everyone has ki within them. With the increase in his combat power, Zhang Wutian had actually been able to fire off attacks imbued with ki long ago, but that was merely using it without understanding the underlying principles. It was like how humans are born knowing how to walk, but few could explain how many muscles and bones are used to support that movement, let alone control it at will. Master Korin's teaching was to make Zhang Wutian thoroughly understand those principles. In doing so, Zhang Wutian naturally mastered the application of ki, allowing him to unleash stronger attacks while using less energy.

Or, he could do as he was doing now: condense a massive amount of ki to deliver a super-powered strike.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop me? This punch could blow the entire top of the tower away, and then you'll be homeless, Master Korin."

The ki condensed on Zhang Wutian's right fist had reached a point visible to the naked eye, with an orange radiance flickering violently around his knuckles.

"Your ki is a complete mess. Come back and brag to me once you've smoothed it out. As for now..." Master Korin twirled his staff and assumed a defensive stance, saying, "I predict that this punch won't even stir up a speck of dust."

"Don't look down on me!!" Zhang Wutian shouted, and then...

Pfft! With a sound like a punctured balloon, the light suddenly burst. Zhang Wutian's fist turned charred black as if it had been roasted, and a wisp of blue smoke rose from it.

Just as Master Korin had said, it hadn't even stirred up a speck of dust.

"You have the nerve to use a move that only succeeds once in ten tries? How embarrassing." Saying this, Master Korin tossed a Senzu Bean to Zhang Wutian.

As Zhang Wutian chewed the Senzu Bean, feeling his right hand rapidly recover, he said nonchalantly, "If I had managed to pull it off, I would have won this fight, wouldn't I? Besides, in a real battle, I would naturally restrain my power. I only use this kind of suicidal full-force explosion during training."

Looking at his disciple, Master Korin summarized, "Although there is still a slight lack of coordination between your movements and your breathing, you are finally starting to look like a qualified martial artist."

"That's all thanks to your guidance, Master Korin."

"The only thing you haven't improved is your lack of respect."

"I call this being close. Only someone who opens their heart completely would act this way. Don't tell me you want there to be a barrier between us, Master Korin?"

Master Korin remained unmoved, hitting the nail on the head regarding Zhang Wutian's current thoughts: "And you haven't changed that glib tongue you use whenever you want to hide your feelings. Let me see... ha, is it because you're about to part ways with your master and feel reluctant, but are too embarrassed to show it, so you've started spouting nonsense?"

"Mind-reading again! Master Korin, do you know that's an invasion of privacy? Is being able to read minds such a big deal? Watch out, or I'll watch a dozen cat-abuse videos before I talk to you next time!"

Of course, Zhang Wutian's threat had no effect, and he wouldn't actually watch any cat-abuse videos.

Having trained on the top of Korin Tower for nearly a year, the day he had promised to meet Little Wukong had arrived. In a few more days, the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament would begin.

Zhang Wutian was about to leave this place where he had stayed for a year; this was likely his final practice session with Master Korin.

"Don't you have a graduation gift for me? Like a Flying Nimbus or something?"

"Go on, go on. You'd know if you looked—even if I gave you a Flying Nimbus, you couldn't use it."

"Then how about Senzu Beans? At least give me a whole jar."

"You've got some nerve asking for that much! I only have half a jar left myself!"

Zhang Wutian simply held out his hands toward him.

"Many thanks for your generous gift, Master."

"I didn't say I was giving them to you!!"

"If you don't give them to me, are you going to take them to the grave? You really know how to joke, Master Korin."

"You're the one joking! I'm an immortal! I won't die for another 300 years!!"

Master Korin was so angry his fur stood on end. Seeing the teasing had reached its limit, Zhang Wutian put away his playful grin, stepped back, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Korin. I will never forget the debt of your teachings."

After a year of living together, Master Korin had long since become immune to Zhang Wutian's various barbs. In truth, this kind of verbal sparring was just the way the man and the cat interacted. Seeing that Master Korin wasn't actually angry, Zhang Wutian stood up, and the cat placed his hands behind his back, saying seriously, "Zhang Wutian, I hope you will always walk the righteous path and never bring shame to the skills I have taught you."

"I understand," Zhang Wutian said.

Then, just as Zhang Wutian intended to jump off the top of the tower to enjoy the thrill of freefall, he suddenly felt something flying toward him from behind.

Zhang Wutian reached out and caught the object.

It was a Hoi-Poi Capsule tossed by Master Korin.

"Use them sparingly; come back to me when you've run out," Master Korin's voice came from behind.

This was clearly a gift prepared well in advance. After all, there were no spare Hoi-Poi Capsules on Korin Tower; he must have slipped away to a city in the world below to purchase it while Zhang Wutian was asleep.

As for what was inside the capsule, what else could it be but Senzu Beans?

It seemed this old cat was quite the tsundere.

Clutching the Hoi-Poi Capsule tightly in his hand, a smile spread across Zhang Wutian's face. He didn't turn back, nor did he say anything else; he simply gave a vigorous wave and leaped off the top of the tower in one breath.

"The noisy brat is finally gone. Looks like I'll have some peace and quiet for a while."

Leaning on his cane, Master Korin walked to the edge of the tower and gazed into the distance, silent, as if trying to catch a glimpse of Zhang Wutian's retreating figure.

Yet, at that very moment, Zhang Wutian's face suddenly appeared right in front of Master Korin. They stared at each other, eye to eye, the stunned Master Korin frozen in place.

"Did you miss me even a little, Master Kitty?"

Master Korin swung his cane at Zhang Wutian.

Zhang Wutian dodged the blow and spoke rapidly, "I just wanted to say I have a gift for you too, hidden right next to the water storage tank. That's all—I'm really leaving now!"

The next moment, Zhang Wutian let go of the railing and plummeted downward.

With an annoyed meow, Master Korin went to the spot Zhang Wutian had mentioned and found a box containing a Hoi-Poi Capsule.

Master Korin opened the capsule, and amidst the puff of smoke appeared a complete television set equipped with solar panels.

Through this television, he would surely be able to watch the live broadcast of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament...

"Foolish boy, immortals don't need televisions; I can see scenes from thousands of miles away with magic."

Though he said this, Master Korin still carefully unfolded the television, set it up, and flipped the power switch...