Prince Vegeta called me a low-class warrior, so I decided to teach him a lesson with my fists

"So?"

Gou Kong propped one hand on the doorframe and looked down from above at the two figures, one large and one small, standing in the doorway, the corner of his mouth curving in a half-smile.

There wasn't the slightest respect in his sharp eyes, only the teasing look of someone watching a monkey show.

"Nappa, you staying by the prince's side was the king's order. What's that got to do with me? I'm on a rare vacation right now. I can't even be bothered to set foot on the palace steps."

Nappa's honest-looking face instantly filled with awkwardness, his massive body swaying left and right like a giant roly-poly toy at a loss for what to do.

He scratched the back of his head and stammered an explanation. "D-Don't be like that, Brother Gou Kong. Anyway, that's how things are... Lately, I keep getting orders from His Majesty about the prince. Just today, I got a new order to raise the prince's basic combat ability before the Planet Occupation War starts in a month."

At this point, Nappa secretly glanced at the little bean beside him with the stiff face, lowered his voice, and spoke with helplessness in his tone. "But, as you can see, I'm clumsy as hell. I'm definitely not cut out to be an instructor... I was so worried I was about to tear all my hair out, and then I suddenly thought of you! I think when it comes to teaching, you've definitely got way more talent than a brute like me!"

"Talent?"

Gou Kong raised an eyebrow and almost laughed out loud.

That flattering hat had been slapped on so suddenly it caught him completely off guard.

Seeing Gou Kong's expression soften, Nappa hurried to strike while the iron was hot. He pressed his hands together and gave an extremely standard Saiyan-style bow. "Anyway, just help a brother out! Please!"

Looking at Nappa's humble appearance, Gou Kong felt no stirrings at all inside. In fact, he kind of wanted to curse.

What the hell?

Nappa had been ordered to train the prince. What did that have to do with Gou Kong?

He had finally managed to steal half a day of leisure from this damned guard duty and was just wondering how to kill time, only for trouble to come right to his door.

He had originally planned to shut the door and send them away, but in that instant, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Gou Kong restrained his smile, his gaze falling once more on the little guy who had stayed silent all this time, yet radiated an aura of "I'm really pissed off" from head to toe. He asked casually, "Wait. This guy you're talking about—is it him?"

"Huh? Yeah, this is Prince Vegeta," Nappa answered with an honest nod.

The moment Gou Kong heard that, he said nothing more. He lifted his left hand and covered his forehead.

It was over. It all matched.

That young yet arrogant face, that wild, flame-shaped black hair, and that innate sense of superiority.

He had still been wondering earlier why this little brat looked so familiar. So it turned out to be Vegeta, the one who would destroy Earth in the future!

And at this moment, little Vegeta was craning his neck, staring at Gou Kong with those pitch-black eyes that had no warmth in them at all. Especially when he saw Gou Kong's "scared stiff" face-covering gesture, the little guy clicked his tongue with utter contempt.

"Hmph. Not only do you look like an idiot, your brain isn't much better. A mere low-class warrior can't even recognize the dignity of me, the prince? I heard you were captain of the Royal Guard, so I thought you might be somebody... Looks like Father's judgment isn't much after all."

The first time little Vegeta met him, he mercilessly switched straight into mockery mode.

That childish yet malicious voice made the corner of Gou Kong's eye twitch like mad.

"Hey, Your Highness..." Nappa panicked a little and hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Be more polite when speaking to Lord Gou Kong... Although his position as your teacher hasn't been settled yet, today's training..."

"He doesn't look that strong either. But I suppose he's barely qualified to be my whetstone." Vegeta ignored Nappa completely. Instead, he planted his hands on his hips and showed Gou Kong an extremely arrogant snicker.

Watching this little brat mock him with such a pompous little act, the last bit of irritation left over from Gou Kong's hangover was instantly set ablaze.

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to pick this guy up and beat him viciously. He only swept a cold glance over Vegeta.

Beside them, Nappa watched the powder-keg atmosphere with a completely dumbfounded expression, standing there at a loss like a large dog that had done something wrong.

He looked at Gou Kong's stern face, then at the prince who didn't know how high the sky was or how deep the earth ran, and could only shake his head helplessly. He even wanted to kneel down and beg these two ancestors to calm down.

"Brat," Gou Kong finally spoke, his voice low and steady, yet carrying an undeniable pressure, "before this, on account of you being the prince and this being our first meeting, I let it slide for now. But if you keep running your mouth like that, believe me, I'll let you taste what honey oil is."

Perhaps the pressure Gou Kong radiated was too terrifying, or perhaps no one had ever dared speak to the future prince of the universe in such a tone, but Vegeta's arrogant expression instantly stiffened.

Though it lasted only a brief instant, Gou Kong keenly caught the slight tremble in the little guy's shoulders.

That was all it took?

Gou Kong sneered inwardly, but a victor's smile appeared on his face.

"W-What!" Vegeta was indeed enraged. Even that instant of timidity couldn't cover the pride in his bones. "I am the prince of the Saiyans! A super elite! You think I'd be afraid of trash like you?!"

Watching the little guy jump around like a tiger cub whose tail had been stepped on, Gou Kong felt no disturbance inside. He even kind of wanted to laugh.

Two years old. He was only two.

Even if he was a genius who had graduated from the cultivation pod early, at his core, he was still a diaper-wearing little brat.

Without the numbers from the Scouter backing him up, Gou Kong would instinctively classify this little bean as someone who "needed protection (physical)."

"Good. Very good." Gou Kong cut off Vegeta's roar and clapped his hands, as though deciding some major matter. "Since you're so sincere, Nappa, I'll take this job."

"R-Really? Brother Gou Kong! Thank you so much!" As soon as Nappa heard that, he was so moved he nearly cried, pounding his huge fist against his chest. "Don't worry! I'll treat you to the best hard liquor another day!"

Gou Kong waved his hand, signaling Nappa to shut up.

He left the doorframe he had been leaning against, turned, and walked back into the living room. As he did, he casually grabbed the green Scouter on the table and skillfully put it over his left eye.

"Beep—"

After confirming that the Scouter had started properly and a stream of data flashed across the screen, Gou Kong turned around, his gaze locking once more onto the large and small figures at the door.

"All right. Since I've taken the job, cut the crap. Nappa, bring your prince and follow me to the training ground."

"Oh! Got it!" Nappa was overjoyed and hurriedly answered.

Gou Kong said nothing more. He went straight around Vegeta, who was still standing there clicking his tongue in irritation, and strode off first toward the Training Center deep within the palace.

Nappa hurried after him, practically bouncing along, and did not forget to give Vegeta's small back a gentle push from behind as he soothed him in a low voice. "Your Highness, stop throwing a tantrum. Lord Gou Kong is an expert..."

Though Vegeta looked utterly unwilling, under Nappa's coaxing and cajoling, he still moved his short little legs and followed behind Gou Kong.

The way was unobstructed. Relying on the Royal Guard's authority, Gou Kong quickly brought the two of them to the Training Center.

The place was vast, with all kinds of high-tech training equipment arranged in orderly rows, and the air was filled with the scent of metal and energy.

Gou Kong found an open spot, turned back, and beckoned to Nappa and Vegeta, who were poking their heads around at the entrance.

Vegeta was clearly extremely disgusted by Gou Kong's "beckoning" gesture. He twisted his little face away, but under Nappa's gentle yet firm push, he still walked over to Gou Kong with great reluctance, his head held high and an expression that said, "This prince only came over to give you face."

Gou Kong muttered inwardly, Arrogant little brat, but his face remained perfectly calm.

He lifted his foot and, with his heavy combat boot, kicked the training equipment scattered around—gravity dumbbells, alloy targets, and the like—into one corner of the training ground. Then he used a remote control to activate a transparent energy barrier, sealing that pile of equipment inside.

"That should do it. During sparring, those things won't go flying around and hit anyone."

After finishing all this, Gou Kong dusted off his hands, his sharp gaze sweeping over the master and disciple before him.

"Now that we're here, I've more or less figured out what to do. Since I'm going to teach, then we'll throw out all those complicated, showy tricks."

Gou Kong crossed his arms, his tone steady and confident. "In my view, the only shortcut for Saiyans to learn is actual combat. Sparring with each other is the best way to grasp battle instincts, solidify the basics, and raise combat power."

"Oh! Great minds think alike!" Nappa's eyes immediately lit up when he heard that, and he nodded vigorously in agreement.

As far as he was concerned, Gou Kong's words had gone straight to his heart. Saiyans had no need for so many twists and turns. Just fight, and that was that!

Gou Kong gave a slight nod, a barely perceptible slyness flashing through his eyes.

Little Vegeta, oh little Vegeta, weren't you arrogant?

Didn't you think you were a super elite?

Then let me see just how much substance this elite title of yours really has.

If I don't beat that bit of arrogance out of you in today's introductory lesson, then my surname isn't Gou!