Aftermath

"Still alive."

Jiang Che flickered into view beside Son Goku, like a ghostly shadow.

He stood ramrod straight, hands clasped behind his back, his robe billowing in the wind.

He glanced down at Vegeta, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about the weather, utterly unruffled.

Son Goku finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sweat dripped from his chin.

He slowly looked up at Jiang Che, his eyes complicated—grateful and impressed, yet tinged with wariness.

His lips moved, and he spoke in a low, sincere voice. "Thank you, Jiang Che."

Jiang Che was just about to answer when the sky suddenly rippled. Several streaks of light tore through space, as if someone had pulled open a curtain.

Kibito Kai appeared first, dressed in white robes, his fingers rapidly forming seals as golden light swirled around him.

Then Gohan, Goten, Trunks, and Bulma appeared as well.

They must have been teleported here in a hurry. Some of them stumbled when they landed. Gohan nearly fell, but Goten caught him in time.

As soon as Kibito Kai landed, his eyes swept across the battlefield—the shattered ground, the collapsed cliffs, the debris strewn everywhere, Vegeta lying motionless, and Son Goku down on one knee.

His pupils shrank. He sucked in a sharp breath, his voice full of disbelief. "You... you really defeated Baby?"

Jiang Che glanced at him, the corner of his mouth curling with casual mockery. "Obviously. Does it look like we didn't?"

He stretched, his shoulders cracking, as if that earth-shaking battle had been nothing more than a light morning workout.

Kibito Kai gave a wry smile, shook his head, and hurried over to Goku and Vegeta.

He crouched and placed his fingers on Vegeta's pulse. Frowning, he then raised a hand to signal Bulma to step back. "I'll heal them."

"Sorry for the trouble." Son Goku nodded. He slowly got to his feet and gently laid Vegeta on the ground, handling him as carefully as if he were something fragile.

Kibito Kai took a deep breath and pressed his palms together. White light shone between them.

The light gradually spread, surrounding Goku and Vegeta like ripples.

Divine power seeped into their muscles and bones like a warm tide.

The wounds on Goku's body visibly closed, his torn skin gradually knitting back together. Vegeta's broken left arm slowly shifted back into place with faint cracking sounds.

A faint, grassy fragrance filled the air—the scent of divine power resonating with the energy of the natural world.

Jiang Che stood nearby, arms crossed, quietly watching.

On the surface, he seemed to be watching Kibito Kai, but his thoughts had already drifted deep into his consciousness. The system's shop slowly unfolded in his mind, its dazzling array of items scrolling past like liquid mercury, each name tempting him.

With 50,000 exchange points, he could get a top-tier divine weapon or several powerful secret techniques.

His fingertips twitched slightly in the air, as though selecting items on a virtual screen.

"Jiang Che."

Son Goku's voice came from behind him, hoarse but still full of strength.

Jiang Che pulled himself back to the present and turned around.

Goku had already stood up, and most of his injuries had healed. Beneath his shattered battle armor, new skin had grown over. He still bore some streaks of blood, but otherwise seemed fine.

He flexed his limbs, his bones popping, looking reinvigorated.

"Something you need?" Jiang Che asked, gazing calmly at Goku.

Goku stepped closer, his brown eyes fixed on him, his gaze so intent it seemed he wanted to see right through him.

He stopped three paces away and lifted his chin slightly, his voice firm. "I want to fight you."

Jiang Che paused, raising an eyebrow. "Now?"

Goku smiled, anticipation and fighting spirit in his eyes. "No, there's no rush. We'll do it when you're ready."

He clenched his fist, the veins standing out as golden arcs flickered faintly at his fingertips.

"I want to know how strong you are now."

Jiang Che fell silent for a moment, and their eyes met.

He could feel the energy coiled inside Goku, ready to erupt, and the battle lust making his own blood surge.

At last, Jiang Che smiled faintly and nodded. "All right. I'll be waiting."

In the distance, Vegeta slowly got to his feet, one hand braced on his knee, sweat and blood dripping from him.

His face was still pale, and his injuries had yet to fully heal, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was as sharp as a blade.

He spoke in a low voice from several paces away. "When the time comes for a fight to the death, I'm joining in too."

His voice wasn't loud, but his words landed like a hammer striking the ground—short and decisive.

Jiang Che glanced at him, noticing his tightly pressed lips and trembling fist, then nodded. "No problem."

The blazing sun hung high overhead, its golden light pouring down and bleaching the entire battlefield white.

A breeze sent dust and bits of grass swirling through the air.

The mountains rose and fell in the distance, and faint thunder rumbled on the horizon, as if heralding the arrival of an earth-shaking battle.

Jiang Che knew this was only the first step on his journey.

Kibito Kai pressed his palms together as golden healing light flowed over Goku and Vegeta, gradually mending their wounds.

Their injuries visibly healed, broken bones rejoined, and divine power slowly erased the streaks of blood.

Sweat beaded on Kibito Kai's forehead, but he steadily poured energy into them until he was sure they had recovered.

He then turned and went to Gohan and Goten, holding his hands over their chests as he closed his eyes to examine them.

A gentle green light spread from his palms, enveloping the brothers.

He furrowed his brow, carefully sensing every injury.

After a moment, he relaxed and nodded. The two were merely tired, with no danger to their lives. A good rest would be enough.

Jiang Che stood some distance away with his back to everyone, his robe stirring gently in the wind high above.

He slowly turned around, his gaze passing over each person, his expression unreadable.

"I'm heading back to Earth." His voice was flat, as if he were making an offhand remark.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Che's figure wavered. The air seemed to twist under some unseen force, and the next moment he vanished like smoke, leaving only a passing breeze.

Goku snapped his head up and stared at the place where Jiang Che had disappeared, his expression complicated—shock and admiration, along with a trace of unwillingness burning deep inside him.

He clenched his fist without realizing it. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but he swallowed his words.

"That guy..." Vegeta ground out, his voice low and simmering with anger.

He clenched both fists until his knuckles turned white, veins bulging at his temples. "I'll surpass him. I swear it."

Every word seemed forced out, thick with defiance.

Goku came back to himself and patted Vegeta on the shoulder, his hand striking hard as if to shake him out of his obsession. "Vegeta, you should focus on recovering from your injuries first."

He smiled, though there was still a heaviness in it.

Jiang Che's figure appeared silently above Heaven's Palace.

He hovered above the clouds, layer upon layer of white stretching beneath him. In the distance, the setting sun stained the horizon amber and crimson.

The ancient stone pillars atop the palace cast long shadows. A breeze passed through, and a low, mournful sound echoed beneath the eaves.