Jackie Chun? Mary Sue??

After half a day, the preliminaries ended, and the eight finalists for the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament were decided.

Among them, Zhang Wutian had taken Ranfan's place from the original story. Aside from that, one other name caught his attention.

"So there really isn't a Jackie Chun. And what the heck is Mary Sue?"

Looking over the names on the list, Zhang Wutian spotted the odd one out.

But since the finals hadn't started yet, Zhang Wutian couldn't see the actual contestants on the list. So he put his curiosity aside for the time being and went with Little Wukong to find Bulma and the others and share the good news that they'd qualified.

"Bulma, look who this is!"

Son Wukong excitedly found Bulma, then pushed Zhang Wutian forward from beside her.

"Perverted scumbag lolicon?!" Blunt as ever, Bulma blurted out.

"Is that really the impression I've made on you, Miss Bulma? My opinion of you just got worse."

"I don't need you to have a good opinion of me!" Bulma said crossly, her haughty young-lady attitude in full force.

Beside Bulma, Zhang Wutian finally got a look at this world's female Master Roshi.

How to put it? She was a kindly-looking old woman, only half the height of an average person, a little plump, and leaning on a cane.

"So this is Master Roshi from this world? I'm curious how she manages to disguise herself looking like that."

Of course, Zhang Wutian didn't say that aloud. He respectfully bowed to the old woman Master Roshi.

"Master Roshi, thank you for looking after my Wukong."

"Heh heh heh, so you're the husband Wukong told me about? What a lively young man. How about having a cup of tea with Granny later?"

"I'll have to pass, thanks." That settled it! This drooling old lady was definitely some kind of mutated Master Roshi.

Zhang Wutian's hair stood on end. He hurriedly took Son Wukong by the hand and used the upcoming finals as an excuse to leave.

When they returned to the World Martial Arts Tournament arena, all the spectators had been cleared out. The entire venue seemed much more spacious and quiet.

The tournament's announcer—the blond man in sunglasses and a black suit who had held down the same job for thirty years—was still a young man. Holding a lottery drum, he came over to the contestants.

"The equipment's ridiculously primitive. Is this really the World Martial Arts Tournament? Even the internal exams in some village use electronic screens."

Zhang Wutian said it outright, leaving the announcer looking awkward.

"All the funds went toward repairing the venue and providing the winner's prize money. I hope you understand, Zhang."

Of course, Zhang Wutian had only been making a habitual quip. He had no intention of arguing with the announcer, and instead glanced at a female martial artist who absolutely hadn't appeared in the original story.

"Is that really the same Master Roshi as before? She's changed so much!"

The woman Zhang Wutian watched was a mature beauty, still charming despite her age. There wasn't the slightest hint of the old lady Master Roshi in her. The reason was simple: their heights weren't even in the same league. The woman was of average stature, while the old lady seemed to be only half the height of a normal person.

Zhang Wutian couldn't be sure anymore that this woman was Master Roshi in disguise. Their body types were completely different, and without the original story as a reference, he probably wouldn't have connected her to that old lady at all.

Noticing Zhang Wutian discreetly watching her, the woman in red kung fu clothes smiled and winked at him.

Zhang Wutian turned away and paid her no more attention.

"Contestants, please come forward one at a time to draw your lots," the announcer said at just the right moment.

"So this is how it turned out?"

After the draw, Zhang Wutian looked at the matchups and rubbed his chin. "Is this what they call the inevitability of history?"

The matchups were almost exactly the same as in the original story. The only difference was that Zhang Wutian had taken Ranfan's place. His first opponent was Nam, who had come from a poor village. As for Mary Sue, who had taken Master Roshi's place, her opponent was still Yamcha.

There wasn't much ceremony. After an opening ceremony that was practically a bad joke, the tournament officially began.

The first match was Krillin versus the foul-smelling Bacterian.

"I'm not someone who likes breaking the rules for no reason." Zhang Wutian frowned, holding his breath as he watched the man radiating a strange gas. "But just this once, I can't take it anymore!"

He gathered his ki in his right fist, then restrained his movement and gave a subtle little swing forward.

Bacterian, who had been taunting Krillin, seemed to get hit hard on the back of the head by something. He stood frozen for about three seconds, then toppled to the ground with a thud.

"What happened? Mr. Bacterian suddenly passed out. Did he get heatstroke?" the announcer asked in surprise.

Zhang Wutian stood with his hands in his pockets, staring aimlessly at a spot forty-five degrees above him and whistling.

Bacterian remained unconscious. In the end, the staff had no choice but to carry him away in gas masks, hearts heavy with grief. Krillin won the first round without a fight, and this time he didn't have to make use of his talent for having no nose.

"Why did he suddenly pass out?" Krillin asked Son Wukong, baffled.

"Is he feeling unwell?" If it had been a matter of strength, Little Wukong should have been able to see through Zhang Wutian's trick. But the honest monkey girl never suspected him, so she naturally didn't notice his little move.

The others were much the same. Only Mary Sue seemed to have noticed Zhang Wutian's trick. But she said nothing. Fair or not, as a woman, she clearly approved of what Zhang Wutian had done.

After Bacterian was carried off, the second match was Yamcha versus Mary Sue.

"Mary Sue? I've never heard of her as a formidable fighter. She shouldn't be hard to deal with."

Just then, Zhang Wutian offered a friendly warning: "Yamcha, your opponent is strong. Don't underestimate her. Give it everything you've got from the start."

"Zhang Wutian?" Yamcha paused, then looked a little displeased. "What do you mean? You think I'll lose?"

"I just hope you don't leave with regrets," Zhang Wutian said calmly to the womanizer.

"Just watch from the sidelines. Once I've dealt with this opponent, I'm looking forward to facing you in the tournament."

"I think that young man's right," Mary Sue suddenly said. "It's not every day you get to step into the ring. Young people shouldn't leave with regrets."