Jackie Chun smiled. "You've got some skill. Now it's my turn!"
Krillin immediately went on guard.
In the blink of an eye, Jackie Chun moved.
Krillin never saw him throw the punch, but suddenly a mark appeared on his face where he'd been hit,
and his body was involuntarily sent flying.
He crashed into the back wall of the World Martial Arts Tournament arena,
then slammed heavily to the ground.
The referee sucked in a breath and exclaimed, "What just happened?
Krillin was sent flying in an instant!"
Chapter 48: Win Fair and Square
Krillin lay on the ground, completely bewildered.
He looked up at Jackie Chun. "Y-your fist was so fast...
I didn't see it at all."
Goku and Chi-Chi, watching from backstage, were both shocked.
That move really had been fast.
Goku calculated that even if he'd seen it clearly, he might not have been able to dodge.
What was more, Jackie Chun's move had been so fast,
and he could clearly have defeated Krillin.
Yet he'd stopped at a light tap, without following up with another attack.
He'd obviously gone easy on him.
The three of them seemed strong now,
but they were still some way behind Master Roshi.
Just then, Chi-Chi called to Krillin from behind, "Krillin, keep it up! Have you forgotten our goal?"
Jackie Chun froze for a moment.
What goal could the three of them have?
Suddenly, Jackie Chun realized what was going on.
Of the four finalists in the World Martial Arts Tournament, all but him were his students.
Could it be that the three of them had realized how strong he was?
So they wanted Krillin to wear him down and exhaust his strength.
Then Chi-Chi would forfeit to Goku,
leaving the strongest of them, Goku, with enough energy to defeat him?
A faint, barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of Jackie Chun's mouth.
The little guys were already starting to think things through and work together.
But a trick like that wouldn't work against someone overwhelmingly stronger than them.
Besides, it went against the principles of a martial artist.
Good. If they did this, he'd have something to talk about.
He could use it later as a lesson for his three students.
Jackie Chun walked over to Krillin, who was still sitting on the ground.
"Just surrender. Otherwise, I won't be so gentle this time."
Krillin immediately got to his feet and assumed his starting stance.
"Bring it on!"
Jackie Chun's gaze sharpened. "Here I come!"
The next instant, he held his hand in the form of a Snake Fist and suddenly struck at Krillin.
Krillin stared intently at Jackie Chun,
and finally, in the instant he made his move, he saw the technique clearly.
"I see it!"
In the blink of an eye, Krillin launched his own attack and blocked Jackie Chun's Snake Fist.
The two clashed and immediately separated, leaving no time for a struggle.
A flicker of surprise crossed Jackie Chun's eyes.
"Excellent. You actually saw my technique. Not bad!
It's been a long time since I've met anyone who could keep up with my speed."
Krillin once again assumed his serious starting stance.
"Well, now you have.
I'm Master Roshi's student. I'm not as weak as you think!"
As he spoke, Krillin charged at Jackie Chun, who charged at him in turn.
Their figures overlapped in a blur, then separated in an instant.
Only, they had switched positions, each taking the other's place, and both were standing back-to-back.
Goku shouted, "Krillin!"
"Thud!"
Krillin fell.
Jackie Chun remained standing firmly in the ring.
The referee rushed over. "Ah, Krillin has fallen!"
Jackie Chun urged him, "Hurry up and start counting!"
The referee immediately began the count. "One, two, three, four..."
Krillin seemed on the verge of defeat, but when the referee reached eight, he got back up.
"Ow, that hurts so much!"
The referee stopped counting, then cried out in surprise.
"He's back on his feet!
Krillin is back on his feet!
But can someone tell me what just happened?"
Jackie Chun said, "You're impossible. Fine, I'll show you!"
With moves and speed the audience and referee could follow,
Jackie Chun and Krillin reenacted what had just happened, then explained how Krillin had fallen.
The referee was astonished by their performance and explanation.
"That was incredible! Honestly, I've never seen such amazing martial arts before.
The two of you are truly unfathomably strong!"
The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.
"All right!"
"Amazing!"
"Incredible!"
After explaining what had happened, the referee called out again, "All right, thank you both for the explanation.
Now, let's continue the match!"
The two began another thrilling duel.
Then Jackie Chun spotted Goku and Chi-Chi peeking out from backstage to watch, and realized something was wrong.
He decided to finish Krillin off in one move.
So, in their continuing duel, Jackie Chun brought out even more of his strength.
Even if Krillin could see his moves, dodging them was another matter.
Besides, those were just Master Roshi's basic attacks, and he could chain them together.
Soon, Krillin was struck head-on and knocked unconscious.
The referee began counting once more!
"Ten, nine, eight... one!
Krillin couldn't get back up. Jackie Chun wins!"
The staff carried Krillin backstage, where he gradually came to.
Goku and Chi-Chi both praised him for doing well and wearing down their opponent.
Krillin, who had been feeling down, immediately cheered up.
Just then, the referee announced the next match.
"Now, the sixth match!
Will Goku and Chi-Chi please come to the ring!"
Chi-Chi said at once, "Goku, it's our turn!
I'll surrender as soon as I get into the ring,
so you can save your strength to fight Jackie Chun."
Goku looked at Chi-Chi, then shook his head.
"I've thought about it, and I don't think that's right.
Chi-Chi, when you fight me,
give it everything you've got,
and show me everything you've learned!"
Chi-Chi froze.
"Why? Are we changing the plan?"
"Because Jackie Chun used up a lot of energy fighting Krillin.
If I fight you and win without a fight, then go fight him, I'd clearly have the advantage.
If I'm at full strength and fight an old man who's already worn himself out,
then even if I win, it won't be an honorable victory.
So, after thinking it over, I still believe I should beat him fair and square."
Chapter 49: If I Win, I'll Marry You When We're Grown
Hearing that Goku had canceled their original plan, Chi-Chi grew anxious. "But we're on the same side..."
Goku interrupted her again.
"Winning doesn't really mean anything to us.
Fighting me seriously is for your own sake, too.