Fighting Mr. Popo

A gust of wind swept across the plaza of Kami's Lookout, weaving between two rows of trees. The branches swayed slightly, making the leaves slap against one another with a rustling sound.

Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and Yajirobe all tensed, faintly shifting into combat stances.

If Jiang Ling made any strange move, they would attack at once.

The two sides faced off without speaking.

Jiang Ling spread his hands.

There was nothing he could do. He had arrived for the first time right during the Saiyan invasion of Earth, so he could hardly blame them for being so cautious.

Just then.

A sound came from the dim interior of Kami's Lookout, drawing everyone's attention.

A figure walked out from inside... no, two figures, because behind him was a dark-skinned figure who had been impossible to make out in the pitch-black room.

The one in front was Earth's Kami, an elderly Namekian in appearance, dressed in divine robes and holding a staff, his face kind and amiable.

Half a step behind Kami was a dark-skinned man with large lips, dressed in Indian-style clothing. His name was Popo, and he called himself a servant of God.

"Calm yourselves. Jiang Ling is not an evil person."

Hearing even Kami say this, everyone let out a breath of relief.

Kami would never do anything that endangered Earth. He could be trusted unconditionally.

But Yamcha was still a little uneasy.

"Kami, what if they have some kind of plot?"

Kami shook his head. With the weight of passing years in his eyes, he slowly said, "What plot could they have? With their power, would they even need one?"

That left Yamcha speechless.

Indeed, Kami was right. The Saiyans were so powerful that they would have no disdain for using any scheme at all. They could simply suppress everything with brute strength.

Kami looked at Jiang Ling and said, "Hello, Jiang Ling. I am the Kami of this place. What have you come to me for?"

"Hello, Kami."

Jiang Ling's tone carried respect.

He knew about Kami.

Several hundred years ago, when Namek's environment deteriorated, Kami's parents had sent him to Earth in a spaceship.

But for some unknown reason, the young Kami had lost his memories of Namek.

Gradually, he grew up. The young Kami, who had seen too much war and slaughter on Earth, resolutely cast out the evil side of himself for the sake of his ideals, splitting into two beings of good and evil.

One was the present Kami, and the other was Piccolo's father, King Piccolo.

For hundreds of years, Kami had done a great deal for Earth from behind the scenes, silently giving of himself.

To protect Earth, he could even give up his own life.

With such a pure heart, he was fully worthy of the position of Kami.

"Kami, I want to improve my strength."

Hearing this, Kami nodded slightly.

Though he stayed within Kami's Lookout and never stepped outside, he knew everything that happened on Earth.

For example, Jiang Ling's appearance as a Saiyan.

At that time, he had been silently observing him.

After half a month of observation, he could be certain that Jiang Ling had a pure and kind nature, daring to seize the ill-gotten, dubious wealth of rich men and do righteous deeds. (This referred to Jiang Ling secretly taking a rich man's car.)

His only small flaw was that he rather liked chasing celebrities.

"If you want to improve your strength... that is fine. Train together with them. Mr. Popo will guide all of you."

"Yes, Kami."

Mr. Popo agreed without hesitation.

Then he turned to Jiang Ling.

"You may attack me. I want to see which areas you need to improve."

"All right!"

Jiang Ling nodded in agreement and charged straight at Mr. Popo.

He threw a punch, without any fancy flourishes at all—just a simple, straightforward punch.

Mr. Popo had no intention of dodging whatsoever.

He raised his hand, catching the incoming fist in his palm.

Bang!

Mr. Popo stood where he was, shook his head, and gave his assessment. "Your strength is great, but it spreads outward instead of being held within. Most of the force is wasted."

Jiang Ling withdrew his fist and opened up the distance.

His eyes lowered, and an imperceptible glint flashed through them.

Not far away, Yamcha and the others watching the fight felt a faint disappointment.

Because Son Goku and Raditz were Saiyans, both extremely powerful fighters, they had formed a misconception, thinking that any Saiyan had to be strong.

So after seeing Jiang Ling's performance just now, they naturally felt somewhat disappointed.

Jiang Ling did not know what they were thinking.

Just now—

The instant he made contact with Mr. Popo, he took the opportunity to check in.

He knew the check-in rewards were all random.

He had not held out much hope for getting anything good.

But the system notification made him feel as if he had hit the jackpot.

[Ding, check-in successful. Reward: "Mr. Popo's Combat Techniques"]

After receiving the reward, countless techniques and experiences were rapidly integrated and absorbed by him.

A glint flashed in Jiang Ling's eyes. The corners of his mouth rose, and he slightly adjusted a few small, incorrect postures in his body.

In an instant, his entire aura became calm and steady, giving him the sense of a sharp edge drawn inward.

"What's going on? His aura changed in an instant. He kind of feels like a master now..."

The others could not see it, but the eyes of Kami and Mr. Popo both narrowed.

"Continue."

Jiang Ling spat out two words. His figure moved, the tips of his feet lightly tapping the ground, like wind sweeping through autumn leaves.

He threw another punch. Just like before, Mr. Popo reached out a palm and caught it, but in the next moment, his gaze changed.

It looked like the same method of attack as last time, but the force was completely different this time.

This attack from Jiang Ling did not waste even the slightest bit of strength. He used it all perfectly.

If just now he had only known how to charge forward, then now he understood technique.

He was a steady man now.

Mr. Popo nodded, suppressed his own strength to the same level as Jiang Ling's, and then threw out a few probing moves.

Jiang Ling's expression did not change in the slightest, and he received them steadily.

"Very good. Your combat techniques are already very mature. I have nothing more I can teach you. What you lack now is only an increase in strength."

Mr. Popo stopped and offered a word of praise.

Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Mr. Popo, you're flattering me."

Not far away, Yamcha and the others all drew in a faint breath.

They had trained at Kami's Lookout for half a year, yet had never once received Mr. Popo's praise.

Jiang Ling had come up, exchanged only a few moves, and received his approval.

This meant Jiang Ling's battle experience and combat techniques had already reached the pinnacle.

They had still felt somewhat disappointed just now. Now, their faces felt a little hot.