Master Shen and Mercenary Tao's Plans

Bu Chen then began his seclusion training.

Meanwhile, everyone who knew Bu Chen had gone into seclusion fell into a bit of a panic. Apart from Jiang Yun, Bu Chen was the backbone of the group. Jiang Yun had left everything to the people of the Martial Alliance, and most of them relied on Bu Chen to handle things. But now Bu Chen had gone into seclusion instead!

This left everyone at a loss. Although Bu Chen had temporarily entrusted the important task of running the Martial Alliance to Bu Fan, it was obvious that Bu Fan did not quite command everyone's respect. They had more faith in Bu Chen's abilities.

Bu Fan knew he couldn't yet win everyone's confidence, but that wouldn't stop him from giving orders. He would gradually address their doubts in the days ahead. He would prove himself to them—and to Jiang Yun and his older brother—that he was just as capable!

"Bu Fan, although Master Jiang Yun and Vice Alliance Leader Bu Chen trust you and have asked you to lead us for the time being, we'll only give you the benefit of the doubt for now. If your performance doesn't satisfy us, we won't obey your orders."

The speaker was one of the old hands who had helped found the Martial Alliance. He had followed Jiang Yun from the beginning and knew how Bu Fan had performed in the past, so he wanted to make things clear in advance: if Bu Fan couldn't win their respect, they wouldn't listen to him.

"Right. If you can't handle things well, Bu Fan, I'd be better suited to the job!"

"I agree. Bu Fan, I hope you can handle this well. It's a heavy burden!"

Everyone began talking over one another.

Bu Fan didn't flinch. He stepped forward and said, "Everyone thinks my older brother, Bu Chen, is capable. But today, I'll tell you this: both of us brothers are outstanding. I, Bu Fan, am just as good as anyone else. I'll prove it to you. But if anyone dares to pay lip service while secretly defying me, don't blame me for being harsh!"

With that, Bu Fan suddenly smashed the table in front of him to pieces, startling everyone. No one said another word.

Watching from the shadows, Jiang Yun glanced at Bu Fan and thought, This kid knows to intimidate them a little. Not bad—he's starting to show a bit of Bu Chen's style. I hope he can stand on his own soon!

He didn't show himself, leaving Bu Fan to deal with these problems. When he learned that Bu Chen had temporarily handed the Martial Alliance over to Bu Fan, he was a little surprised. He had always urged Bu Chen to focus on martial arts, but he knew Bu Chen wouldn't let go just yet.

It was true that the Martial Alliance couldn't yet get by without Bu Chen. Its rise to where it stood today was closely tied to him. Jiang Yun's vision was considerably sharper than theirs, but the Dragon Ball World had plenty of clever people too. Bulma's family, for instance, had an almost monstrous level of intelligence. By the time Bulma was a few years old, she had already read every book in her father's collection.

Now Bu Chen had handed the Martial Alliance's affairs to Bu Fan, clearly hoping his younger brother would learn to stand on his own. It showed how much Bu Chen valued him.

In the days that followed, Bu Fan managed the Martial Alliance's affairs in an orderly fashion. He also led by example, personally driving back several attacks by the Crane School. Little by little, everyone came to trust him.

"This damned Martial Alliance has taken so much of our business. Things that people used to hire us to do are now being posted through the Martial Arts Alliance. Taking away someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Send word and have Mercenary Tao come back!"

Master Shen said angrily, crushing the iron ball in his hand into a lump of scrap metal.

"But if we call Uncle Mercenary Tao back over something this minor, won't people think we're bullying the weak?"

The disciple hesitated. The image of Mercenary Tao's demonic face appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help shivering.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go!"

Master Shen said impatiently.

"Yes!"

The disciple respectfully withdrew.

Before long, Mercenary Tao returned after receiving Master Shen's message. Master Shen wore a small black cap, with his hair and beard sticking up, sunglasses over his eyes, and a green vest. His appearance and outfit made him look very much like an ancient Chinese adviser.

Mercenary Tao, meanwhile, was slender. Whenever he saw someone, he first flicked his braid. He bore some resemblance to Master Shen and wore a pink vest. He didn't look especially impressive, but he was the world's greatest assassin, a demon in the eyes of others. It was said that he charged a hundred million for each kill.

Not only did people find a figure like him terrifying; even the disciples of the Crane School saw their uncle as a ruthless demon who killed without blinking. One disciple had once made a comment about his little braid—and Mercenary Tao had killed him brutally.

As a result, everyone in the Crane School feared Mercenary Tao. That didn't change the fact that he was powerful; rumors said he had even surpassed his older brother, Master Shen.

"Big brother, why did you call me back?"

Mercenary Tao flicked his braid and asked.

"Do you know about the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"The Martial Arts Alliance? You mean that faction that's risen over the past couple of years?"

Although the Martial Alliance had taken a good deal of the Crane School's business over the past two years, Mercenary Tao hadn't paid it much attention, since it didn't take assassination contracts. It hadn't affected him, after all.

"Yes, them. Over the past two years, they've seriously threatened our interests. They've even had a major impact on our ability to recruit disciples. People interested in martial arts are joining the Martial Arts Alliance now."

Master Shen spoke coldly.

"Then why don't I go kill them? Every last one!"

Mercenary Tao radiated killing intent, enough to make a person's blood run cold. One could only imagine how many people he had killed over the years.

The disciples nearby trembled, thinking, He really is a demon.

Hahaha!!

Laughter filled the air around the two men!

Bu Fan had no idea that danger was approaching. He was still making his rounds, guarding against a sneak attack by the Crane School. The Crane School's people were much like Master Shen. Under his tutelage, they were no longer martial artists; they had gone astray.

At that moment, a figure landed in front of the Martial Arts Alliance—and he had flown there. If Dragon Ball fans from his previous life had witnessed this, they might have thought it made no sense.

But that wasn't the case. In the original story, Mercenary Tao used a pillar to chase after Kid Goku just to show off. He did it to look cool, but also to save his energy. If he had flown a thousand miles to deal with Kid Goku, he would have used up most of his energy by the time he arrived. If Kid Goku had killed him then, wouldn't that have been like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone for good?

This had misled many people into thinking Mercenary Tao couldn't use the Flight Technique. But how could Master Shen's younger brother not know that skill? Mercenary Tao was even stronger than Master Shen. As an assassin who often traveled to far-off places to kill people, the Flight Technique would have been extremely useful.

This was a real world. The original story showed only part of it. If you truly believed that what it showed was everything, you would pay the price. Never underestimate anyone.