Struggling to lift their heads toward the night sky, everyone seemed to see an illusion: an object appeared behind that figure, overlapping the full moon. It looked like a black fish and a white fish chasing each other's tails, spinning into a circle.
Wuchen hovered in midair, his aura surging higher and higher. The power of the five elements swirled around him, endlessly renewing itself, while yin and yang flowed in an unceasing cycle.
He looked like an immortal descending to the mortal world, impossible to look away from.
"What's happening to him?"
"Looks like he's about to fall!" His moment of glory lasted barely three seconds. As everyone stared in awe, the power of the five elements faded, the yin and yang energy withdrew, and his fur vanished. His body returned completely to normal, and Wuchen swayed as he descended. Fortunately, he still had enough strength to land safely.
The oppressive force weighing on everyone vanished as well.
"I'm fine, Goku." Wuchen waved to Goku, who had started to speak, assuring him that he was all right. Then he continued, "Close your eyes and focus. Regulate your breath and blood, and guide it through the Twelve Meridians to open the channels throughout your body... Then feel the dryness in your spine. Disperse its source throughout your body, and dissolve the root of your violence in your tail..."
"The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian all run to the heart. You must be exceedingly careful with these four..."
"Your body has now grown dozens of times larger, and your qi and blood have surged in strength. Your meridians are flowing differently than usual. They're easy to open but hard to stabilize, so don't rush or push yourself too hard. Go slowly. Don't get impatient or agitated."
"Big brother." The Great Ape Goku looked at Wuchen as if he had something to ask.
"I've already guessed what happened to Grandpa. Don't dwell on it. Do as I say, and don't let your mind wander, or your violence may become endless and harm the innocent." Wuchen knew exactly what Goku wanted to ask. He immediately put him at ease and once again taught him how to guide the violent force within his body.
After Goku followed his instructions, Wuchen immediately set his dislocated arm back in place. Then he formed a hand seal once more and used the Great Heart-Cleansing Technique to assist Goku.
As he performed the technique, he watched Goku's condition and offered reminders at just the right moments, guiding him along.
After an unknown amount of time, the Great Ape Goku disappeared. Just like Wuchen, he first transformed into a strange half-human, half-monkey form with red fur, black hair, wide eyes, and golden pupils. Then, as if he'd run out of strength, he returned to normal. Finally, he fell straight into a deep sleep.
"What on earth is going on with you two brothers? Why did you turn into such terrifying monsters?" Only after both brothers had returned to normal did Bulma and the others approach, taking a step, stopping, and watching them warily.
"Our bodies are unusual, but that shouldn't happen again." Faced with Bulma's question, Wuchen didn't know how to answer. He turned his head away, too embarrassed to turn around. "Bulma, could you turn around?"
Indeed, because they had transformed into Great Apes, both Goku and Wuchen were completely naked.
Fortunately, Yamcha had some spare clothes, even if they were a bit too big.
They could make do by tightening their belts and rolling up their trouser legs a few times. There were no underwear, though, so the brothers would have to go commando for now.
After Wuchen had saved Bulma earlier, and with everything else that had happened, Yamcha had gradually bonded with the group despite their initial clash.
Even Ox-King, who had been at odds with Wuchen, suddenly claimed him as family after Wuchen had changed clothes, leaving Wuchen utterly bewildered.
When he learned that Ox-King had been a fellow disciple of his grandfather, Son Gohan, and that Master Roshi—the man they'd met earlier—had been their master, Wuchen was struck by the strange twists of fate. Still, he didn't dwell on it.
Next came the matter at hand. When they learned Wuchen had found a Dragon Ball, everyone was delighted. They had six of the seven Dragon Balls, and the last one was right there on Mount Fry-Pan.
So Wuchen ventured into Mount Fry-Pan alone and, using his understanding of fire, found the last Dragon Ball amid the flames.
"Come forth, Shenron! Grant our wish!" Bulma exclaimed excitedly as she set out the seven Dragon Balls. At last, she'd get to see the legendary Shenron! Everyone else was just as eager.
The seven Dragon Balls shone together, their light gathering into an orb. Then a pillar of light shot into the sky and streaked across the night. When it settled into shape, it became a long dragon with a golden belly and green scales! In sheer size, it was far larger than the Great Ape they'd seen earlier!
"State your wish, whoever gathered the seven Dragon Balls. No matter what it is, I will grant it." Shenron spoke with great authority, his eyes fixed on them and glowing an intimidating red.
The sight put inexplicable pressure on everyone except Wuchen.
This is a dragon? Its bloodline seems impure. Wuchen had seen dragons before, and the creature before him was completely different from every dragon he'd ever encountered, both in appearance and presence.
Of course, judging a dragon by its appearance was wrong. If this dragon had made such a boast, it must have something extraordinary about it.
Wuchen looked to Bulma first. Only after she nodded did he step forward and speak. "Shenron, please bring our grandpa, Son Gohan, back to life."
Everyone looked up at Shenron, filled with anticipation. Could it really grant their wish?
"I'm sorry, but I can't grant that wish." Shenron's answer dashed their hopes.
"Why not? Didn't you say you could grant any wish?" Oolong was the first to question him. Everyone else looked doubtful, too.
"I can only revive people who died within the past year. The man named Son Gohan has been dead for four years, so I can't bring him back." Indeed, this was still the original Shenron, and his powers were quite limited.
He also had many restrictions: he could only revive someone who had died within the past year; he couldn't grant the same wish twice; and he couldn't grant wishes beyond Kami's power, such as killing someone stronger than or equal in strength to Kami.
"Shenron, please turn back time to four years ago."
"I'm sorry, but I can't grant that wish."
"..." Everyone fell silent. Was this Shenron a fake? Or was the legend false?
"Shenron, please tell me if there's any other way to bring my grandpa back to life." Wuchen made one last attempt. There were many strange things in this world. Just because the Shenron before him couldn't do it didn't mean there wasn't another way.
"I'm sorry. I don't know." This time, Shenron himself fell into deep self-doubt. Sweat as large as basins rolled down his head. Should he go back to Kami and get rebuilt to improve his abilities?
After three fruitless wishes, Wuchen couldn't hide his disappointment, but he said nothing more. Instead, he looked at Bulma again. "In that case, Bulma, you can make a wish."
"Huh? You want me to make a wish? I don't think I have any wishes left." Bulma froze for a moment, then instinctively looked at Yamcha. Her original wish had been to find a tall, handsome boyfriend who was gentle and considerate. Now, it seemed she might not need to wish for that after all.
Besides, Shenron seemed so unreliable. Who knew if he could grant a wish? And even if she wished for a boyfriend, there was no telling whether he'd be any good.
"I... I don't need to make a wish either." Under Bulma's gaze, Yamcha's face instantly turned red, and he spoke without thinking.
"Do none of you have any wishes?" Shenron prompted them, unable to bear it any longer. He seemed to have been rejected.
"I... I could..." Seeing that, Oolong was about to claim a wish for a pair of panties, but someone beat him to it.
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