Still Beating Up on the Weak

A desolate land held an oasis. A palace stood beside a lake that gleamed like a pearl.

It was the lair of Master Roshi's older sister, Fortuneteller Baba.

"It's huge! How much did it cost to build a palace like this? Does fortune-telling really pay that well? It really pays to have a skill, doesn't it?" After marveling at the sight, Zhang Wutian and the others headed for the gatehouse.

After waiting in line and going through a few other formalities, they finally came before Fortuneteller Baba.

"Oh my, isn't this my younger sister? I never expected to see you here."

Sitting atop a crystal ball that floated in midair, Fortuneteller Baba looked like a typical old witch as she spoke to Master Roshi.

"You must have made a lot of money from fortune-telling over the years, Sis. Can anything really take you by surprise?" Master Roshi asked his sister.

"Heh heh heh. I don't bother predicting trivial things. My fortunes are very expensive."

After catching up with Master Roshi, Fortuneteller Baba turned to Zhang Wutian and the others. "Are you the ones seeking my help? Even if my sister brought you here, I won't tell your fortunes for free. You know the rules, don't you?"

"Pay up or fight, right?" Zhang Wutian said. "We'll fight."

"Heh heh... Such a hot-blooded young fellow. That's more like it." After laughing, Fortuneteller Baba led them to a circular platform in the middle of the lake.

The platform was much like the one at the World Martial Arts Tournament. As soon as they arrived, the first match began.

"Let me take the first turn." Krillin was the first to step up on Zhang Wutian's side. Fortuneteller Baba's fighter was a Vampire who practiced Muay Thai and could switch freely between human and bat forms.

Once transformed into a bat, the Vampire moved like the wind. Krillin couldn't figure out his movements and was thoroughly toyed with.

"Is he really that fast?" Standing beside Zhang Wutian, Son Wukong asked in confusion. "Why is Krillin struggling so much? He could hit his opponent with just a light punch."

"That's because you've gotten stronger." Zhang Wutian patted Son Wukong's stubborn, pointed hair and replied, "You've fought stronger opponents, so your perspective has broadened. Naturally, someone that weak doesn't look like much to you. But Krillin's different. He hasn't experienced that kind of fight yet."

"Is that so..." Son Wukong thought it over, then shouted toward the platform, "Krillin, you can do it! Your opponent's nothing special!"

"Easy for you to say!" Krillin, dizzy from the bat circling him, had to guard against its sudden dives while trying to listen to Son Wukong. In the end, his opponent found an opening.

"Krillin loses!"

After having his blood drained, Krillin was taken away for an emergency transfusion. Zhang Wutian curiously poked the Ghost who was giving him blood.

"You can actually touch it? It feels like dried jelly. How does that work?"

"Please don't interrupt me while I'm working, sir." The Ghost was thoroughly fed up with Zhang Wutian's pestering.

Yamcha was the second to step up for Zhang Wutian's side.

Against the Vampire's swift, darting movements, Yamcha actually had the advantage.

The reason was simple. "Wolf Fang Fist!" After training with Master Roshi for a while, Yamcha had grown stronger than he had in the original story. His fist technique boosted his speed, making the Vampire's nimble movements—which had worked against Krillin—useless against someone even faster. And the Vampire's frail body meant he couldn't withstand even one hit.

The Vampire was sent flying straight into the bottom of the lake.

"Yamcha wins!"

Yamcha glanced smugly at Zhang Wutian, only to find him studying the Ghost's body with Son Wukong. It was Bulma who cheered for her boyfriend.

After all, the fighting here was far beneath Zhang Wutian. Having fought Evil Son Goku, he could now handle even the second King Piccolo with ease.

So when would the second King Piccolo appear? Not for at least six years. Until then, Zhang Wutian would be nearly invincible. His only real opponent in this world was Son Wukong.

Zhang Wutian had come here in the mood for an outing, but Yamcha didn't see it that way. Feeling looked down on, he poured all his anger into his next fight. But his opponent didn't play by the rules.

"An Invisible Man?!" Faced with an opponent he couldn't see at all, Yamcha struggled.

After taking a few hits, he managed to track his opponent's movements by sound alone. But when Fortuneteller Baba started singing in her shrill voice, even that one chance at victory was snatched away.

Hearing her song, Zhang Wutian figured it was only fair for his side to get some outside help too. "Yamcha, don't rely on your sight or hearing. Fight by feel."

"What?" Already dazed from the beating, Yamcha heard Zhang Wutian and paused in confusion.

"Your opponent's only invisible; he hasn't vanished. He still has a physical form. Close your eyes and sense his every move. You trained at the Turtle Hermit School, so you should be able to do it!"

"Tch. I feel like you're talking down to me. I've always wanted to surpass you!" Following Zhang Wutian's advice, Yamcha calmed himself and closed his eyes. Thanks to his training at the Turtle Hermit School, he had already learned the basics of sensing ki. He unconsciously let his ki flow outside his body, then felt the air currents stirred up by his opponent's movements.

This time, Bulma didn't have to resort to the same fanservice as in the original story. At last, Yamcha caught his opponent by the tail and immediately unleashed his signature move.

"Wolf Fang Fist!" After a flurry of blows, another opponent who relied on underhanded tricks instead of genuine strength was sent flying into the lake.

"Well done, Yamcha!" Bulma jumped up and cheered, completely unaware that she'd just narrowly escaped a fanservice incident.

Master Roshi nodded in satisfaction.

"So that's how it works. Every movement creates changes in the airflow. I never noticed that before. Thanks, Zhang Wutian."

Yamcha thanked him sincerely, leaving Zhang Wutian feeling a little awkward. That wasn't actually what he'd meant to teach Yamcha. He'd wanted to show him how to sense the ki within his opponent, but what Yamcha had learned was nowhere near that.

"All right, whatever. As long as you're happy." In the end, Zhang Wutian shrugged and said that.

After they defeated the Invisible Man, Fortuneteller Baba moved the battle to a place called Devil's Toilet.

Below them was a pool of poisonous water, and the fighters had to battle on the tongue of a demon statue.

"Yamcha, you've fought two matches. Let me take over."

"What are you talking about? I can still fight!" After winning twice, Yamcha was eager for another battle.

"But I can fly." Zhang Wutian floated into the air. "I won't fall in, so it's safer to let me go."

Watching Zhang Wutian hover in midair, Yamcha suddenly realized he had a point.

I'll help you keep your winning streak going in front of Bulma, so you don't have to leave looking like a loser. That's all I can do for you, bro.

With that thought, Zhang Wutian floated over to the battle platform. Seeing him fly, Fortuneteller Baba raised an eyebrow. "When did your disciple start mixing with the Crane School? Have you made up?"

"Zhang Wutian isn't a disciple of mine or that stupid Crane," Master Roshi said with a smile. "He might surprise you, Sis."

"Heh heh heh. Let's see just how impressive this kid is."

Then Zhang Wutian's opponent appeared: Mummy Man, a burly fellow who looked pretty strong.

"My opponent's this little sprout? Pathetic. Don't blame me if I beat him to death." Compared with Mummy Man's massive frame, Zhang Wutian was solidly built, but nearly a full size smaller. Mummy Man mocked him.

"You'll be putting those bandages to use in no time," Zhang Wutian replied coolly.

"Heh heh. You fool. You don't know what you're talking about." Mummy Man laughed.

"Begin!" Fortuneteller Baba announced.

Before the words had even faded, the match was over.

Zhang Wutian appeared in front of Mummy Man in an instant and punched him away.

Below them was the Poison Pond. Mummy Man fell without so much as a twitch, but his bandages saved his life: Zhang Wutian held one end of them in his hand, keeping Mummy Man from falling in.

"I told you your bandages would come in handy."

After pulling Mummy Man back onto Devil's Tongue, Zhang Wutian said calmly, "Can someone carry him away? Then send out the next opponent."

"What was that?" Krillin stared wide-eyed at Zhang Wutian in the distance.

"Yamcha, did you see it?"

"How could I? One moment I blinked, and the next the enemy was already flying."

"Little Turtle, who is that kid?" Fortuneteller Baba stared at him in shock. "He's already stronger than your old dead teacher, isn't he?"

I only barely caught his movements as he punched. When did this young man get so strong? Master Roshi thought silently, his expression grave.

"What's wrong with everyone?" Only Son Wukong looked confused as she glanced at her companions. "Zhang Wutian only moved a little. What's there to be surprised about? That wasn't even a warm-up."

"You could see his movements?" Master Roshi abruptly turned to ask Son Wukong.

Not only Master Roshi, but Yamcha and Krillin were also watching Son Wukong closely.

Son Wukong nodded honestly, indicating that she was only a little weaker than Zhang Wutian and would catch up to him before long.

"How did you get so strong? How did you train?" Krillin asked.

Yamcha, meanwhile, sank into despair. "So there's really that big a gap? And I thought I could catch up if I just worked hard."

Only Bulma and the other noncombatants hadn't fully grasped the situation. They knew Zhang Wutian seemed strong, but had no idea just how strong he was.

"So this is the new era I've been waiting for..." Master Roshi closed her eyes. But she felt no bitterness at being surpassed. Instead, she was filled with optimism and relief.

"King Piccolo, even if you break out of your seal now, there'll be outstanding young fighters to put an end to your tyranny this time. My mission is finally over."

At last, this old woman can enjoy a peaceful retirement. A relieved smile appeared on Master Roshi's face.

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