The Night is Deep and Quiet

In the wilderness.

Jiang Ling hovered in the sky, his eyes searching for something.

Like the Earth's warriors, Piccolo usually kept his aura hidden.

Jiang Ling had only managed to find this place by following the aura he had sensed before.

But after that, he was out of options.

Jiang Ling propped his chin with one hand and pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of a good idea.

As everyone knew.

Places for cultivation all had their own requirements.

The cultivators in those cultivation novels would seek out places dense with spiritual energy to cultivate.

Even in the mundane world, there was such a thing as auspicious feng shui land.

And although the system of the Dragon Ball world was based on "ki," there were still similarities.

For example, one's power might grow faster while training in a certain place, or it might simply feel more comfortable.

What Jiang Ling was thinking was that if Piccolo had any spiritual sense, then when training in the wilderness, he would naturally move closer to this kind of training treasure ground.

If that was the case, this would be easy!

As for knowledge in this area, he happened to have learned a little.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ling observed the terrain and counted on his fingers.

He muttered under his breath:

Seek the dragon, divide the gold, observe the winding mountains.

Each layer of winding is another gate.

Crayon Shin-chan plays with the green snake.

Peppa Pig... takes on the big goose! (voice crack)

"Got it!"

Jiang Ling's eyes lit up, and he flew straight toward the distant mountains.

Piccolo sat cross-legged atop the highest peak deep in the mountains.

At that moment, he had entered a state of meditative combat.

In his mind, he simulated a battle between himself and Vegeta.

But no matter how many times he simulated it, he was defeated in a single move. Most of the time, his end was being reduced to ash!

"Damn it. As expected, I have to raise my strength as soon as possible. With my current power, I don't stand a chance against him at all!"

A bead of sweat trickled down Piccolo's forehead.

Suddenly.

He sensed something strange and snapped his eyes open. His gaze was like lightning, shooting toward the man who had silently appeared not far in front of him.

The man tilted his head slightly and dodged the two laser beams, the tail behind him swaying without any rhythm.

This person was none other than Jiang Ling, who had come searching for him.

"Tsk, Old Pic, I've been here for ages and you only just noticed."

As he spoke, he looked around at the surrounding environment and nodded. "This place of yours really made me search all over! Not bad. It's a good spot."

Piccolo's pupils shrank, horror showing on his face.

He knew better than anyone just how powerful his perception was. True, he had been concentrating on meditative combat just now, but for someone to appear before him without anyone knowing, even Son Goku and Vegeta couldn't possibly manage it!

Yet Jiang Ling had done it!

From the looks of it, he had been there for quite some time. That was what shocked Piccolo the most.

There was only one possibility: Jiang Ling's strength exceeded his by far too much.

At that moment, in his eyes, Jiang Ling's strength had already reached an unfathomable level!

"Why aren't you talking, Old Pic?"

Jiang Ling casually sat down beside Piccolo, showing absolutely no awareness that the two of them were not yet very familiar with each other.

"Ahem. My name is Piccolo, not whatever Old Pic you're calling me."

Piccolo gave a light cough, his body relaxing a great deal.

"I know." Jiang Ling laughed. "Calling you that makes it seem like we're a little closer, doesn't it?"

Piccolo nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. You said you were looking for me? The way to find me is simple. You just need to burst out your aura, or contact Kami. That guy can talk to me at any time."

Jiang Ling slapped his thigh. "Oh, right. Why didn't I think of that? And here I was, searching for quite a while."

The fierce wind howled across the mountaintop as the two chatted on and off.

After that, Jiang Ling told Piccolo that they would be setting off from Kame House Island for Namek in five days, then took his leave.

He returned home.

Dinner had already been prepared at home.

Bulma took off her apron and smiled gently. "You're back? Let's eat."

"You know how to cook?"

Jiang Ling was a little surprised. In his impression, whether in the original work or here, he had never seen Bulma cook before, and he had already assumed in his heart that Bulma didn't know how.

But the fragrant meal in front of him told him that Bulma could cook—and judging by the look of it, it was probably pretty good.

"Of course I do."

Bulma said it as if it were only natural.

"Even though I showed a talent for science when I was little, and I was a genius girl too, my mom still taught me how to cook. According to her, girls have to know how to cook! I think she was totally old-fashioned."

Jiang Ling nodded. "She really was old-fashioned. But I feel like Bulma knowing how to cook makes her even more charming."

"Huh? Really?" Bulma touched her cheek, her happiness plain to see. "Eat first. Try it and see how it tastes, whether it suits your palate."

"Okay."

Jiang Ling took a bite and immediately gave her a thumbs-up. "Delicious!"

"If it's delicious, eat more!"

"Okay."

The two of them ate dinner together.

Bulma had a relatively small appetite. After eating only a little, she stopped, then tilted her head and looked at Jiang Ling with bright, sparkling eyes.

The more she looked, the more she liked him.

As a Saiyan, Jiang Ling naturally had a huge appetite, and he swept through all the food like a storm.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, noticed Bulma's gaze, touched his face, and asked, "Why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?"

Bulma shook her head, slipped into Jiang Ling's arms, looked at him, and her eyes grew hazy.

"When the night is deep and quiet, I think of you."

"You are the morning dew, the evening star, all my joy."

"I like seeing you look handsome, and I like seeing you out of breath even more."

"When I think about our future life, I'll be in bed, the food will be in the pot, and you can do whatever you want with either..."

Jiang Ling hadn't expected Bulma to say something like that.

Was this still the Bulma he knew?!

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Ling said, "Where did you learn that?"

"!!!"

Bulma was shocked. "How did you know? I saw it online, so I memorized it."

Jiang Ling grinned. "Because it isn't your style..."

Then his tone changed. "But I'm taking that last line seriously."

"That last line..." Bulma thought for a moment, then her eyes widened, and she tried to flee.

She really didn't think about whether she could escape from Jiang Ling's hands, did she?

Jiang Ling hoisted Bulma over his shoulder and strode toward the bedroom. "You're the one who said it. I can do whatever I want, heh heh heh."

"Waaah, let me go!"

Bulma struggled.

Smack—

Jiang Ling raised a hand and slapped her perky backside...

Bulma immediately settled down.

Then she said shyly and awkwardly, "Can you... can you do it again..."

Jiang Ling: ???

That night.

On the rooftop.

Bulma leaned against Jiang Ling's chest.

The evening breeze brushed gently past, stirring the tips of her blue hair.

The two of them looked up at the starry sky, and the Milky Way, filled with countless stars, shimmered in their eyes.

"Bulma, how about we go on a trip for a day tomorrow?"

"Huh? But the spaceship modifications aren't done yet..."

"Just toss those trivial things aside."

"Then... all right."

The next day.

"Jiang Ling, you're too fast. I can't take it..."

"Then I'll slow down."

Jiang Ling slowed down and flew leisurely through the air.

Bulma curled up in Jiang Ling's arms, the biting wind whistling past her ears as she felt his thick masculine presence.

Her sense of security was off the charts!

From the scenery of Jiangnan to the mysterious southern frontier, from soft beaches to the landscapes beyond the northern frontier.

In a single day, the two of them took in Earth's magnificent sights.