"Hello, Korin. I've completed the training you assigned me."
After mastering the Breath of All Things, Jiang Yun found Korin's trials much easier to handle. It hadn't taken him long to complete the training Korin had set for him.
As for whether Korin had really just wanted to eat fish, only Korin himself knew.
"Jiang Yun, your talent is truly the most terrifying I've ever seen. You may even surpass the Guardian of Earth one day!"
Seeing how quickly Jiang Yun had completed the task, Korin knew the young man had a boundless future. It was only a matter of time before he surpassed the Guardian of Earth.
Korin had once been able to gauge some of Jiang Yun's strength, but now he couldn't tell how strong the young man was at all. Jiang Yun had reached a state of returning to the fundamentals, much like Goku after returning to Earth from the battle on Namek. Of course, this referred to his martial arts mastery, not his battle power.
"The Guardian of Earth? Who's that? Is he a great martial artist?"
Jiang Yun knew who the Guardian of Earth was, but until now, he'd never had any contact with such secrets. Revealing that he knew about the Guardian of Earth would arouse suspicion, so he pretended to be completely clueless.
"Fool, the Guardian of Earth isn't a martial artist. He's a great deity!"
Korin's face suddenly filled with reverence. Having never seen a higher deity, he believed the Guardian of Earth was the most exalted being in the world.
Little did he know that he was merely a frog in a well, unaware of the vastness of the world. The universe was humanity's future.
Seeing how deeply Korin revered the Guardian of Earth, Jiang Yun secretly chuckled.
If you knew there were also King Yemma, King Kai, Supreme Kai, and even Angels in this world, you'd probably be scared out of your wits.
Korin naturally had no idea what Jiang Yun was thinking and continued, "The Guardian of Earth is the greatest being in the world. He's protected Earth all these years, keeping the planet safe and prosperous. There was even a war that once threatened the entire world, but the Guardian of Earth stopped it."
Jiang Yun was a little surprised. This had never been mentioned in the original story.
A war that threatened the entire world!
That reminded Jiang Yun of Dragon Ball Super, when Champa and Beerus, the Gods of Destruction of Universe 6 and Universe 7, had wagered over which universe would claim Earth. Champa had mentioned that Earth in Universe 6 had been destroyed by infighting among its people. Jiang Yun had been deeply moved when he'd seen that scene.
Thinking of Korin's words, Jiang Yun couldn't help wondering if Earth in Universe 6 had been destroyed because it had no Guardian of Earth to stop humanity from fighting among itself.
With that in mind, Jiang Yun said, "We really have the Guardian of Earth to thank!"
Korin didn't know what Jiang Yun was thinking and assumed he was referring to what Korin had just said.
"Perhaps someone with your abilities could take the Guardian of Earth's place one day."
Korin smiled at Jiang Yun as he spoke.
"You're joking, Korin. My goal is martial arts. I don't have any other plans for now."
Jiang Yun knew his goal was to become a True God, not some minor deity of a single planet, one who wouldn't even be able to deal with danger in the future and would ultimately have no choice but to fuse with Piccolo.
Korin could tell Jiang Yun wasn't lying, so he said nothing more. Perhaps the Guardian of Earth wouldn't even consider you worthy, he thought. Of course, Korin knew that was impossible. The Guardian of Earth couldn't possibly look down on Jiang Yun as he was now. Jiang Yun was simply too extraordinary.
"Jiang Yun, there's nothing more I need to teach you. You've already surpassed me completely. From here on, you'll have to rely on yourself."
Korin was thoroughly pleased with Jiang Yun. The boy was far better than Master Roshi, and his character was better too.
"You've been away for quite some time. Aren't you going to go back and visit?" Korin knew Jiang Yun would leave sooner or later, but could tell he was having trouble bringing it up, so he asked first.
"Thank you very much for your guidance, Korin. It's thanks to you that my strength has improved so much."
Jiang Yun wasn't lying. His trip to Korin Tower had been immensely rewarding, and it would even become one of the factors that helped him grow into a powerful fighter.
Thanks to this training, Jiang Yun had even mastered the Breath of All Things and come into contact with Vital Energy.
That was why Jiang Yun was genuinely grateful to Korin.
Jiang Yun's humility pleased Korin as well. People who were powerful, clever, hardworking, humble, and polite were rare. He was far better than that lecherous Master Roshi. That guy had been gone so long and still hadn't come to visit.
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Far away on Kame House, Master Roshi sneezed. He had no idea someone was talking about him. He rubbed his nose and then turned back to the television, where several young women in bikinis were doing exercises. The sight was enough to make anyone's blood race. Master Roshi followed along in front of the TV, though his lecherous expression made the whole thing hard to watch.
Meanwhile, up on Korin Tower, Jiang Yun thought about the benefits of Senzu Beans and decided to ask Korin for some before leaving.
When Korin heard that Jiang Yun wanted Senzu Beans, he wasn't surprised at all. Everyone who came to the tower wanted to take some with them. But when Jiang Yun simply carried off an entire jar, Korin was left speechless.
Watching Jiang Yun fly away with the Flight Technique, Korin couldn't help thinking, I didn't know that boy could be so sly.
Seeing the missing beans made his heart ache.
"Korin, I'll come back to visit you. I'll bring you your favorite fish!"
Jiang Yun shouted loudly.
"I've left all kinds of fish I caught during this time in the Capsule on the table. I hope you like them, Korin!"
After spending this time together, the man and cat had grown somewhat attached. Jiang Yun hoped Korin would have a better life.
During this time, Jiang Yun had also learned that Korin didn't live on Senzu Beans alone. He had planted a vegetable garden, where he grew the beans, and he could even pull fish out of a jar, though there weren't many varieties.
Only then did Jiang Yun realize how unreliable those stories he'd seen in his previous life were—the ones about people tricking Korin out of all his Senzu Beans with fish. Did they really think Korin didn't know how precious Senzu Beans were? Of course he did.
Only after Jiang Yun had completely vanished over the horizon did Korin show a puzzled expression.
"When the boy first arrived, he was full of youthful vigor. But when he came back from the deep sea, he gave me a tremendous sense of pressure. It wasn't physical—it was mental. Looks like that boy has secrets of his own."
Korin knew that the training he'd arranged couldn't possibly have produced such an effect. What he didn't know was that Jiang Yun had accidentally entered a special state and even managed to come into contact with Vital Energy.
Still, he didn't dwell on it. Everyone had their own secrets, and each had their own chances and fate.
He glanced back at the Hoi-Poi Capsule Jiang Yun had left behind, happily tucked it away somewhere, and leisurely walked into his room.
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