017, The Final Begins

Zhang Wutian and Son Wukong chatted as if no one else were around, until the host in a black suit and sunglasses forcibly interrupted them.

"Um... contestant Zhang Wutian, the final is about to begin. Could you come up to the ring?"

Zhang Wutian looked up and realized that his final opponent, Mary Sue, was already standing in the ring, smiling at him.

He'd seemed to have endless things to say to Son Wukong just moments ago, but now Zhang Wutian suddenly faltered. Then he realized he was still holding Son Wukong... in full view of everyone.

Son Wukong didn't seem to notice anything unusual. After Zhang Wutian let go of her, she stretched her arms and legs, then said to him, "Since you beat me, keep the momentum going and win the whole thing."

"That's exactly what I intend to do." Zhang Wutian looked at his opponent in the ring and said, "Though she seems pretty strong."

"You're strong too," Son Wukong said.

"That's right. I'm strong too." He patted Son Wukong on the head, then turned and leaped into the ring.

Only after Zhang Wutian had left did Krillin come over.

"Wukong, is that guy really your husband?"

"Yep, that's right," Son Wukong replied without a care in the world.

Krillin's heart ached. Clearly, this cunning little monk did have feelings for Son Wukong, the junior disciple of the same school he considered her to be. But now, all of it dissolved into a torrent of sorrow.

"Finished talking with your little wife? You can keep chatting if you like. I don't mind waiting a little longer," Mary Sue said to Zhang Wutian from the ring.

"She's more like a daughter," Zhang Wutian corrected her.

"You have your daughter call you her husband? What a perverted hobby."

"Are all women going through menopause this unreasonable, or are you trying to throw me off with your words?"

"Heh. You've touched on a taboo no woman should ever touch, kid."

"A taboo? What's that? I don't know. Could you teach me, Auntie?"

"I was planning to teach you gently, but I've changed my mind. I'll have to make you suffer a little."

"I look forward to learning from you, old-timer."

The atmosphere between them turned hostile after just a few exchanges. At that moment, the host realized that if he didn't announce the start of the match, the two of them might start fighting first.

"The finals of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament begin now!" The host wasted no time in exercising his authority.

In the next instant, the two opponents facing each other in the ring vanished from sight.

They kept appearing and disappearing, flashing back and forth as fists and feet flew. Not a single blow landed, and neither of them was struck. Even when they were pressed close together, they seemed like transparent beings, unable to touch each other.

"So fast! Over here? No, are they over there?" Krillin's eyes couldn't keep up with their movements anymore. He felt dizzy, as if several pairs of figures had appeared before him at once, all jumbled together beyond recognition.

"Is this Zhang Wutian's true strength? He hadn't even been fighting at full power before?!"

They fought from the ground into the sky, then descended back to earth. At last, they returned to their original positions, as if they hadn't moved at all.

The spectators below the ring were dumbstruck. Though they couldn't see a thing, they could still appreciate how formidable the two martial artists were. At that moment, thunderous applause rang out all around them.

"How was that for a warm-up? Want me to keep you company a little longer?" Zhang Wutian asked his opponent.

"No, that was plenty. Now let's get to the main course," Mary Sue replied.

In the next instant, Zhang Wutian clearly felt the pressure coming from across the ring.

"Her ki has risen? Damn it, I still haven't learned how to sense someone else's ki. I can only judge their strength through crude experience and instinct. What a hassle."

Keeping his eyes on his opponent, Zhang Wutian began raising his own ki as well.

The air seemed to freeze. Even ordinary people with no fighting power could instinctively feel the crushing pressure emanating from the two fighters in the ring.

"That was just a warm-up? You've got to be kidding!" Krillin exclaimed.

Son Wukong stayed silent, simply clenching her fists as she watched the two in the ring.

"So you were still holding back after all. No wonder I had my eye on you, handsome."

"I'd rather not have an old lady like you taking an interest in me."

"Do you like little girls?"

"Whatever the case, I'm not interested in old ladies like you!"

Zhang Wutian finally made his move. He wasn't exactly enraged by her words, but he'd had enough of Mary Sue's endless chatter, so he launched the first attack.

"Good!" Having succeeded in luring him into attacking, Mary Sue let a sly grin cross her face. She reached out with both hands and, for the first time in the finals, made contact with her opponent.

Mary Sue caught Zhang Wutian's incoming fist with both hands, drawing it back to easily dissipate its force, then twisted and turned.

"Heaven-Earth Reversal Style!"

"What?"

The world spun around Zhang Wutian. His punch shouldn't have been easy to catch, but Mary Sue had clearly been planning this for a long time. From the start, she'd taken a completely defensive stance, and all her taunting seemed to have been for this moment. Her seemingly simple defense had contained a wealth of technique—it could even be called a special move. At last, it had forced Zhang Wutian to lose the first exchange.

Zhang Wutian flipped through the air and lost his balance. Mary Sue wasn't about to miss such a perfect opportunity, and in the next instant, her shoulder slammed into his chest.

Zhang Wutian was sent flying by the tremendous force, but Mary Sue wasn't about to let things end there. She reached out, grabbed his clothes, and pulled him back before punching him across the bridge of his nose.

The blow made Zhang Wutian's head snap backward, but Mary Sue yanked him back once more and drove her knee toward his abdomen.

A beautiful flying knee—and this time, Zhang Wutian finally shot away like a cannonball.

The edge of the ring was right behind him. According to the rules, if Zhang Wutian fell off, he would lose the match.

With victory seemingly within her grasp, Mary Sue raised her right hand with a smile and flashed a V sign.

But in the next instant, Zhang Wutian performed a backflip and landed firmly on both feet in the ring.

One hand covered his abdomen, while the other covered his bleeding nose. Zhang Wutian looked like he was in a lot of pain as he glared resentfully at his opponent.

But Mary Sue was even more surprised.

"I put everything I had into that!"

From Zhang Wutian's fighting style so far, Mary Sue had thought he would be rather fragile. Now, his toughness completely shattered that impression.

"Was that move called Heaven-Earth Reversal Style? It really hurt!"

Zhang Wutian wiped the blood from his nose and spoke.

"Then just stay down. Don't push yourself."

"Push myself?"

Back when he was still an ordinary person, Son Wukong had often sent him flying. And according to the way his innate ability worked—the stronger the opponent he fought, the more he grew, win or lose—taking a beating was inevitable whenever he first challenged someone stronger than himself. Zhang Wutian considered himself used to getting beaten up. At this rate, it was practically becoming one of his top skills.

He lowered the hand covering his stomach, clenched his fists, and took up his stance.

"Whether I'm pushing myself or not, you'll find out soon enough."

"Ha! Then bring it on, kid. A fight isn't some game between little girls. Let me teach you that properly!"

Mary Sue had made up her mind to hold her ground. Clearly, the moment Zhang Wutian attacked, that same solid tortoiseshell defense would be waiting for him.

Zhang Wutian was starting to believe that Mary Sue really was Master Roshi. After all, what other school besides the Turtle Hermit School would be so good at defending?