Li Shu told Son Gohan about the incomplete memories of the Saiyans in his mind.
There was no need to hide anything, and telling him could also earn Son Gohan's trust.
" Saiyans? You and Wukong are both from a planet called Vegeta? Wukong's mission was to destroy everyone on this planet?"
After hearing Li Shu's account of the Saiyans, Son Gohan was stunned.
He suddenly remembered that when he'd first found Wukong, the boy had indeed been inside a round spacecraft. Wukong had also been especially unruly and violent, but after suffering a head injury in an accident, he'd lost his memory and become gentle.
That made him believe Li Shu.
"Fortunately, Wukong seems to have lost his memory and doesn't remember any of that."
"What about you?" Son Gohan asked, puzzled.
"Wukong and I are different. He's a born warrior, but I'm not. Saiyans have their battle power tested at birth. I was abandoned because mine was too low. In Saiyan society, the weak aren't worthy of staying."
"So, as soon as I was born, I was sent away from Planet Vegeta to fend for myself."
Li Shu had made up a kind lie. He gazed at Son Gohan with a lonely expression.
Kindhearted Son Gohan looked at Li Shu sympathetically. He didn't doubt his story, but instead asked, "Then how do you control the Great Ape?"
"Cut off the tail," Li Shu replied seriously. "Grandpa, you saw it just now. Our severed tails can grow back, and it doesn't harm us at all."
Son Gohan still didn't understand. "But after you transformed, you kept your memories."
Li Shu smiled. "That's because Wukong is still young and can't control that violent power yet, so he loses his reason. He'll get the hang of it after transforming a few more times. We can also train his willpower regularly, or inject him with a sedative after he transforms."
At last, Son Gohan smiled with relief.
All these years, he'd been on edge every full moon, afraid something might go wrong.
"But I can't always keep my memories and reason after transforming, either. So every full moon, I get anxious and lock myself in my room. That's one of the reasons I want to stay."
"If something happens to me, I hope you'll cut off my tail, Grandpa."
Son Gohan nodded solemnly and agreed to let Li Shu stay.
The next day, over breakfast, Son Gohan told Wukong about how he'd once transformed into a Great Ape.
When Wukong learned that he'd nearly killed his grandpa, he burst into tears.
"Wukong, from now on, we're adding something to your daily training: building your willpower. If you transform by accident again, you have to learn to control that violent power and stay rational."
Wukong nodded vigorously, tears in his eyes as he ate the Dinosaur Leg in his hand.
At Son Gohan's insistence, Li Shu reluctantly joined their daily training, too.
"Li Shu, I'm getting old. When I pass away, I hope you'll help look after Wukong." That was why Son Gohan had so strongly insisted that Li Shu train with them.
Li Shu had no reason to refuse, so he readily agreed.
In the days that followed, Li Shu suffered, but enjoyed himself, too.
The training was genuinely grueling, but he was happy to feel himself growing stronger.
He could handle chest-busting boulders, headbutting giant trees, and splitting firewood with his bare hands without breaking a sweat. Best of all, he learned to climb trees.
He even defeated a green-skinned dinosaur.
A year later.
One full-moon night, Wukong got up in the middle of the night to pee and accidentally saw the moon, transforming into a Great Ape.
"My god, this is terrifying!" Feeling the ferocious, frightening aura, Li Shu was shocked as he hid inside the house. He didn't dare go out—not because he was afraid of dying, but because he'd transform if he saw the full moon, too.
"Leave it to me. Whatever you do, don't go out. I can't face two Great Apes at once." Son Gohan hurried into Li Shu's room.
Seeing that Li Shu had no intention of going outside, he relaxed. Gripping a hatchet, he rushed toward Wukong, who had transformed into a Great Ape.
"Wukong! Remember your training? Stay rational! Imagine there's a still lake in your heart!" Son Gohan shouted at the rampaging Great Ape.
But the Great Ape didn't respond. Instead, it roared at Son Gohan and charged.
Son Gohan had no choice but to dodge the Great Ape's attacks, desperately trying to bring Wukong back to his senses.
It all seemed futile, but Son Gohan didn't give up. Only when he could no longer hold on did he reluctantly cut off Wukong's tail.
As its tail fell away, the Great Ape roared. Its body shuddered violently, then rapidly shrank.
Looking at Wukong, who lay unconscious on the ground, Son Gohan gave a bitter smile and carried him back to his room.
The next day, as soon as Wukong woke up, he went straight to his grandpa, Son Gohan, and cried, "Grandpa! Grandpa! Did I transform last night? I think I almost killed you!"
"You remember?" Son Gohan looked at Wukong in delight. That meant Li Shu's method was working.
Given enough time, Wukong would surely be able to fully control the power of the Great Ape and stay rational after transforming.
"Grandpa, I didn't mean to. I couldn't control myself!" Wukong hurriedly said.
Son Gohan smiled and asked, "Haven't you noticed anything different about your body?"
"Huh? Is something different?" Wukong looked himself over curiously, then his eyes widened. "What? Where's my tail?"
"Here." Son Gohan pulled out a severed tail from somewhere and continued, "Remember, cutting off your tail after transforming will return you to normal. If your big brother Li Shu transforms by accident one day and can't stay rational, you have to do the same for him."
Wukong nodded repeatedly. After a year together, he and Li Shu had grown very close.
Li Shu sat at the dining table, gnawing on a Dinosaur Leg and smiling at the scene. Suddenly, the system's voice rang in his mind.
"Next check-in location: Shenron's summoning site. Reward: one extra wish."
Li Shu's eyes lit up. Great! His first wish would be [Pain Immunity], and his second would be [Never Get Hungry]. Perfect!
Looking at the Dinosaur Leg in his hand, Li Shu suddenly felt that [Never Get Hungry] might not be necessary after all. His wilderness survival skills were better than those of ten Bear Gryllses put together.
"According to the story, all I have to do now is sit back and wait for Bulma to show up. Next plan: wait for the rabbit by the tree!"
Li Shu lay back down again. What could be better than eating dinosaur meat every day and waiting for the Dragon Balls to come knocking?
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