Unexpected Encounter

Three years later...

Jiang Yun looked at everything before him, a ripple stirring in his heart. This was where his story began, and it was also the future of Earth.

Before him lay a vast training ground, an asset of the Martial Alliance. After three years of development, Jiang Yun had quickly established a foothold in West City with the Chinese Cuisine of his previous life.

By now, it had grown into a giant, accounting for fifty percent of West City's food and beverage industry. West City's food scene was incredibly developed, so the Martial Alliance's controlling half the market was already an extraordinary feat. The rest was controlled by various other companies, though that was partly because the Martial Alliance hadn't tried to suppress them too much.

Of course, the rapidly growing Martial Alliance operated under the public-facing name Huayun Restaurant. That's right, Huayun Restaurant was the Martial Alliance's public business. Bu Chen had originally wanted to develop the Martial Alliance openly, but Jiang Yun told him it wasn't the right time to expand aggressively. Their priority now was to focus on training.

Jiang Yun often spoke mysteriously of a great era that was about to begin, when martial arts would rise to prominence. Bu Chen didn't know why, but he trusted Jiang Yun without question. Over the past three years, Jiang Yun had proven himself so capable that everyone in the Martial Alliance had come to believe in him. In its early days, Jiang Yun's decisions had guided the Martial Alliance step by step toward strength. Then, a year ago, he had fully handed over control, leaving the restaurant business to Bu Chen and the others.

Jiang Yun, meanwhile, had gone into seclusion that year. Rumor had it he had reached a critical stage in his training.

That was true. After two years of progress, Jiang Yun had gained a deeper understanding of how to use ki. He had even developed the Flight Technique from the original story. Still, he suspected that his understanding and application of ki hadn't yet reached Turtle Hermit's level—not even Master Shen's.

As for battle power, though... Heh. Jiang Yun's was only a little over a hundred, perhaps on par with Turtle Hermit and Master Shen, but with his two levels of Dark Energy, he could unleash enough power in an instant to defeat them both.

Besides, once someone reached Turtle Hermit's level, learning a flying skill like the Flight Technique shouldn't have been difficult. Yet Turtle Hermit couldn't use it. Jiang Yun suspected it was because Master Shen had developed the technique, and Turtle Hermit had disdained learning it.

By the time the Saiyans invaded, the Flight Technique had become widespread. Perhaps Turtle Hermit had let go of his sectarian prejudices and learned to adapt. After all, hardship spurred people on, while ease made them complacent.

Turtle Hermit's martial arts continued to improve, too. By the Dragon Ball Super era, his true strength had become unfathomable.

With the Martial Alliance having grown so powerful, it was only natural that others would grow covetous. Of course, the Martial Alliance itself hadn't been exposed; those people were simply eyeing Huayun Restaurant's wealth. The restaurant had enjoyed three years of outward peace, but not because its rivals were merciful. Whenever someone reached for the restaurant, Martial Alliance disciples had secretly cut off their hands.

By now, Huayun Restaurant had firmly claimed half of West City's food industry. Bu Chen was even planning to expand into other fields. With money and strength, resources were naturally easy to come by, and training became easier than before.

Of course, the Martial Alliance's core disciples hadn't concerned themselves too much with every aspect of Huayun Restaurant. Instead, they had entrusted it to a down-on-his-luck businessman. After witnessing Jiang Yun's strength, the man had practically revered him as a deity. With Jiang Yun's protection, he had run Huayun Restaurant with meticulous care.

Naturally, none of that would have been possible without the Martial Alliance's support.

Over the past three years, thanks to the ki training methods Jiang Yun had passed down, many Martial Alliance disciples had reached battle powers of seventy or eighty. Don't think that was low. In the early days of Dragon Ball, aside from Goku and his companions, and a few people on Earth, they were already practically invincible.

That meant individually, of course. For now, they still couldn't stand against a country's weapons. But the Martial Alliance wasn't trying to oppose the government. Its goal was to promote martial arts, and it could even cooperate with the government. Jiang Yun simply believed the time wasn't right yet. Only after experiencing despair would people understand the true power of martial artists.

King Piccolo was a key part of Jiang Yun's plan. He intended to use the crisis to bring the Martial Alliance fully into the open and usher in a global era of cultivation. Only then could Earth be protected from threats from space. Earth needed its own people to defend it; it couldn't always rely on the Saiyans.

That reminded Jiang Yun of the Earth from his previous life, of the country he had loved so deeply. The national pride it had fostered was something to be proud of.

At the thought, Jiang Yun couldn't help letting a trace of bitterness show at the corners of his mouth. He couldn't go back anymore. He couldn't.

But this world drew him even more. Training in martial arts let him truly experience the joy of learning to fight, rather than the soft, showy routines of his old world—flashy to watch, but practically useless in a real fight.

With his current battle power, nothing before the story began could threaten him. So, to relax a little, he decided to take a stroll around West City. After all, a balance of work and rest brought better results. He had spent the past two years training his ki, and his nerves were wound a little too tight.

Breathing in the fresh air, Jiang Yun felt a sense of peace settle over him, along with a hint of joy. For a moment, it was as if his spirit itself had been refreshed.

As he walked along the streets of West City, the crowds and vendors' cries made him feel as though he had returned to his previous life, to an Earth just like the one he had known.

If he ignored the animal-people on the streets, the people and beastfolk of the Dragon Ball World lived side by side in harmony. Jiang Yun couldn't help marveling at how wondrous life was.

"Help! Somebody, please save me!"

A voice rang out. Jiang Yun followed it and spotted three thugs in a somewhat secluded alley, brandishing knives and demanding money from a blonde woman.

Jiang Yun couldn't help muttering, "This really is the Dragon Ball World. The crime rate is through the roof. I can't even take a stroll without running into something like this."

But Jiang Yun had no intention of standing by. He was going to help.

"Stop! Let her go!"

At the sound of his voice, the thugs turned around and saw a handsome young man walking toward them. He wore expensive clothes, had his hands in his pockets, and approached with a warm smile.

"Excuse me, could you let this lady go?"

Jiang Yun's words left the thugs stunned for a moment, but they quickly came to their senses.

"Damn, you think you can play the hero all by yourself? You're asking for it!"

"Get him, all of you! I hate anyone who's better-looking than me!" said the one who looked like the gang leader.

"Sure thing, boss."

"Kid, bad luck for you, running into us. We'll teach you a lesson, and then you'll know better than to mess with us!"

"Oh? Are you sure you want to come at me? You'll have to pay the price if you do," Jiang Yun said, his expression playful.

The thugs charged straight at him.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

In the blink of an eye, the thugs went flying.

The one who looked like their leader had already collapsed to the ground in terror, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

"How are you so strong? Please spare my life! I'll never do it again!" he cried, then hurriedly kowtowed to Jiang Yun, as if he would die if he didn't bow fast enough.

Seeing him like that, Jiang Yun lost interest and waved a hand.

"Get lost!"

Jiang Yun hadn't used much force. They were only ordinary people, after all.

The other two thugs came to their senses, quickly hoisted their leader, whose legs had gone weak, and ran off.

After chasing the thugs away, Jiang Yun turned to look at the woman they'd tried to rob. The fear that had been on her face was gone. Instead, she was studying Jiang Yun with curiosity.

"Hello, my name's Tights. I'm a novelist. How did you make those thugs run away just now? Are you a martial artist?" the woman before him asked.

The name seemed familiar to Jiang Yun, but he didn't think much of it.

"I'm a martial artist, not one of those flashy fighters who only know fancy moves," Jiang Yun explained with a shrug.

"A martial artist!"

The term instantly caught Tights's interest. She felt a new idea coming on and wanted to add it to her novel, so she started asking Jiang Yun all sorts of questions.

Jiang Yun found her too talkative to bother answering. He turned and walked away.

"Hey, wait for me!" Tights hurried after him.