Master Roshi and the Flying Nimbus

The forest in the early morning was crisp and fresh.

Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of leaves, scattering dappled shadows across the leaf-covered earth.

Luo Chen rose early. In the clearing outside the Capsule House, he slowly assumed his stance and began a set of Tai Chi, his movements flowing as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

His motions were unhurried, his breathing deep and distant. The "qi" within him circulated through his meridians, completing an increasingly refined cycle. This unique cultivation method was producing a subtle chemical reaction with this Saiyan body's savage flesh!

"Whew—"

Luo Chen opened his eyes, and a sharp, intimidating glint had appeared in their depths.

"I feel stronger again."

This visibly rapid growth gave him an addictive feeling that he could not resist. He withdrew his stance and headed straight for the rocky shore nearby.

He knew exactly what today's "hidden quest" was. With a sweep of his gaze, he locked onto a "boulder" covered in hexagonal patterns and flicked it with a finger.

"Knock, knock."

Amid the dull echoes, the "rock" slowly lifted, revealing a turtle's head.

"Hello... could you give me a cup of salt water...?"

"And... some wakame would be even better..."

The wrinkled sea turtle looked at them with the hopeful gaze of someone who had found a savior.

Just then, the Capsule House door opened with a beep.

Bulma emerged in a cool pink spaghetti-strap nightgown, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She had barely finished half a yawn when she froze in place.

"Goku, why is there a sea turtle in the middle of this deep forest? Did it get lost?"

With a bitter smile, the sea turtle told the two of them about its miserable ordeal of getting separated from its group and losing its way while searching for tasty pine mushrooms.

Bulma was so angry she laughed.

"You went in the complete opposite direction! The ocean is over a hundred kilometers away, you idiot!"

Hearing that, Luo Chen immediately activated the side quest and slipped into the role of a "wild mountain boy" in an instant.

"Bulma, it's so pitiful. Let's take it back to the seaside!"

"Don't even think about it!" Bulma refused without hesitation.

"I only have thirty days of summer vacation left! We haven't even found all the Dragon Balls yet. Who has time to take a stupid turtle home?"

Luo Chen did not force the issue when he saw the little rich girl bristling. He stepped forward and gently tugged on the hem of her clothes.

"Bulma, Grandpa always said that good deeds will be rewarded..."

He raised those clear, bright eyes, his voice gentle. "Besides, maybe there are Dragon Balls that were left behind... on the other side of the sea?"

Those words were like a critical hit, shattering Bulma's psychological defenses.

"Dragon Balls... on the other side of the sea too?"

She looked down at Luo Chen's small face, full of hope, then remembered how this "bodyguard" had split a pterodactyl apart with his staff yesterday to protect her.

With a sigh, she compromised helplessly.

"Fine, fine! I really can't do anything about you. I'll consider it a good deed, so have it your way!"

The two packed up the Capsule House and officially set off.

Bulma rode ahead on her motorcycle, while Luo Chen followed closely behind with the enormous sea turtle on his back. Despite the astonishing burden, he did not fall behind in the slightest. He did not even seem out of breath as he followed steadily along.

Of course, the familiar plot continued as usual.

"Roar!"

A three-meter-tall black bear monster suddenly sprang out, wielding a cleaver as large as a door, and blocked their path! It stared at the sea turtle on Luo Chen's back, drool pouring from its mouth.

"What a huge sea turtle! It'll make an amazing nourishing soup!"

Bulma panicked and slammed on the brakes, but Luo Chen merely turned to the side and casually threw a one-handed punch!

Bang—!

With a dull boom, the three-meter-tall black bear monster turned into a shooting star and flew beyond the horizon without even letting out a scream!

The world instantly fell silent.

Bulma thought to herself that the little bodyguard she had tricked into joining her... was absurdly, ridiculously strong!

Several hours later, a golden beach came into view.

"Thank you so much! Please wait here for me!" The sea turtle wept tears of excitement and did not forget to remind them before entering the water.

Before long, the ocean churned. The sea turtle returned through the waves with a white-bearded bald old man in a floral shirt and sunglasses on its back.

The God of Martial Arts—Master Roshi!

Luo Chen immediately stepped forward to greet him politely and, "quite naturally," introduced himself as Son Gohan's grandson.

"Gohan's grandson?"

Master Roshi pushed up his sunglasses, his heart instantly bursting with delight.

"Not bad, not bad! Fine bones, just like your grandfather in his prime! And you saved my old companion too, so I must give you a proper reward!"

He raised the wooden staff in his hand and struck an extremely cool pose.

"Come forth—Phoenix!"

A light sea breeze drifted past, but nothing happened.

The Great Turtle awkwardly leaned close to Master Roshi's ear and whispered, "Master Mutaito, did you forget... Phoenix died of food poisoning two years ago...?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Master Roshi's old face flushed crimson, and he nearly lost his composure.

"Then... then I'll give you something even better! Flying Nimbus—!"

"Whoosh—!"

A sharp whistle rang out from the sky! A streak of golden light tore through the air, and a marshmallow-like cloud steadily hovered overhead, radiating a golden glow.

Luo Chen's eyes lit up instantly. A golden legend!

"This is called the Flying Nimbus. Once you sit on it, you can go wherever you want!" Master Roshi said proudly, stroking his beard.

"But it has one special trait: only those who are kind-hearted and pure of thought can ride it!"

Master Roshi had intended to demonstrate personally. But when he leaped up, there was a thud—his entire body passed straight through the Flying Nimbus, and he made an intimate, solid contact with the ground, making Bulma burst into laughter.

"Cough, cough! That was just a mistake! Goku, you try!"

Master Roshi climbed back up, covered in sand, brushing himself off as he desperately tried to save face.

Luo Chen took a deep breath, walked up to the Flying Nimbus, and jumped. To be honest, his heart was pounding at that moment.

A transmigrator in his thirties whose mind was full of figuring out how to live off a rich woman—was he really "pure"?

Yet, just like in the original story, the Flying Nimbus steadily supported him!

Luo Chen was overjoyed. Standing atop the Flying Nimbus, he darted back and forth over the sea, leaving brilliant golden trails in the air as he flew with incomparable exhilaration!

Watching Luo Chen soar freely, Bulma was incredibly envious. Excitedly, she held out her fair little hand toward Master Roshi.

"Grandpa, I want a gift too!"

Master Roshi adjusted the sunglasses on his nose, his gaze sweeping over Bulma's curvaceous figure as he rubbed his hands together.

"Little girl, if you let me take a look at your panties, I'll give you one too. How about it?"

"Pervert! You disgusting old freak!"

Bulma cursed him in embarrassment and anger. But the next second, she sharply noticed an orange bead hanging around Master Roshi's neck!

"The Three-Star Ball?!"

"You know about the Dragon Balls? Then how about it? You can get this ball that grants any wish just by letting me see your panties." Like a big bad wolf coaxing Little Red Riding Hood, Master Roshi patiently tempted her.

Bulma bit her lip, her heart caught in a struggle.

Just one look... in exchange for a Dragon Ball...

Just as she was about to grit her teeth and go through with it, a fair hand pressed down on her wrist!

At some point, Luo Chen had jumped down from the Flying Nimbus. He stood domineeringly in front of Bulma like a guardian deity, cutting off Master Roshi's line of sight.

You want to look under my future wife's skirt? Dream on!

"Grandpa Mutaito." Luo Chen's tone was somewhat forceful.

"She's someone I intend to protect. We won't agree to that request! But we won't take the ball for free, either."

With that, he pulled a book from his clothes and presented it with both hands.

Master Roshi only needed one glance before two streams of high-pressure nosebleed instantly gushed out!

"Holy shit! A limited-edition special issue! Coastline's Temptation!"

The old man snatched the magazine away, then happily stuffed the Three-Star Ball into Luo Chen's hands. Afraid Luo Chen might change his mind, he laughed wildly and dashed toward the sea. "Goku, you kid really get me! Come visit often in the future! Goodbye!"

Luo Chen weighed the Dragon Ball in his hand, then casually tossed it to Bulma.

"Done!"

Bulma caught the Dragon Ball blankly, an indescribable feeling rising in her heart.

But when she saw the Flying Nimbus hovering nearby, she could no longer resist the urge. "I want to try it too!"

After a short run-up, she jumped hard!

"Ow—!"

Without any surprise, she slipped right through it and landed on the beach with her butt.

"This stupid cloud is broken! I'm the purest person in the world!" Bulma rubbed her aching backside, utterly embarrassed and furious.

Looking at the Flying Nimbus above her, Bulma's face filled with worry again. "I can't ride it, and my motorcycle definitely can't keep up with your speed. What do we do now?"

"Easy!"

Luo Chen lowered the Flying Nimbus to half a meter above the ground, turned around, and held out a hand to her, his smile bright and reassuring.

"Hold on tight! If I carry you, you won't fall."

Bulma froze, two adorable blushes blooming on her cheeks. After thinking it over for a moment, she still placed her hand in his.

The corner of Luo Chen's lips curled up. With a twist of his wrist, he yanked her up in one motion!

"Ah—!"

Since the Flying Nimbus offered her no support at all, Bulma began dropping straight down the instant she stepped onto it! With a startled cry, she instinctively clung to Luo Chen with both arms and legs, wrapping herself around him like a koala!

A soft, fragrant body crashed into his embrace.

Luo Chen naturally spread his arms and steadily supported her slender waist, holding the sixteen-year-old girl firmly against his chest.

"Hold tight! We're taking off!"

Luo Chen was quite satisfied. How was this a travel tool? It was clearly a device for heating up their relationship!

"Whoosh—!"

The air burst apart as the golden cloud shot skyward into the blazing sun!

In midair, feeling the fierce wind rushing past her, Bulma was too embarrassed to lower her head and meet his gaze. She could only fumble for the radar to distract herself.

"G-Goku, the next Dragon Ball is in a village not far ahead!"

"A village?"

Luo Chen's eyes flickered. Of course, he knew that the next place had a shape-shifting pig demon running rampant.

"A knockoff Pigsy, Oolong..."

Luo Chen chuckled inwardly. The Dragon Ball team's dedicated driver was about to join them.