Where Does My Path Lie?

"Waaah... sniff!"

Son Gohan nodded, looking at Son Wuling through tear-filled eyes.

Son Wuling stood up, turned to Piccolo, and flashed a mischievous grin. "Piccolo, I'm counting on you. Train Gohan for me for now!"

Silence!

"Sigh..."

Then, Piccolo, Bulma, and the others cried out so loudly they nearly blew the roof off Kame House!

Krillin said, "W-W-Wuling... are you serious?"

Bulma said, "Wuling, letting Piccolo..."

Piccolo roared furiously, "Why should I train some brat who cries at the drop of a hat?!"

Son Gohan looked at Piccolo, so frightened that he plopped down on the ground and clung tightly to Son Wuling's pant leg.

"Because I need to explain things to my sister-in-law. I'll go over there afterward too. Piccolo, the reason Goku and I are stronger than you is because we often spar with each other."

Son Wuling picked up Son Gohan and handed him to Piccolo. He took off Gohan's hat and picked up the Four-Star Dragon Ball. In truth, aside from getting things back on their original track, there was another reason. He was too close to Son Gohan. With Gohan's current personality, he would become dependent on him, and he could not bring himself to train the boy ruthlessly. It was better to leave him with Piccolo for the time being.

"Y-You bastard!"

Piccolo folded his arms over his chest and lowered his head to look at Son Gohan. This sniveling little brat supposedly possessed the potential Son Wuling claimed would surpass them all.

"Brat, get over here!"

Piccolo grabbed Son Gohan and flew into the sky. "Hahaha... Son Wuling, handing Son Goku's son over to me was the biggest mistake you ever made! Just wait, Son Wuling. If this brat doesn't have the potential you claimed, I'll crush him to death! Hahaha..."

Piccolo vanished from everyone's sight, taking Son Gohan with him as the boy cried loudly and repeatedly called out, "Uncle Wuling!"

Master Roshi looked at Son Wuling. "Wuling, is this really all right? Letting that guy Piccolo train Gohan?"

Son Wuling nodded. "It's only temporary. Goku isn't here right now, and I'll train with Piccolo when the time comes too. Oh, right..."

Son Wuling pointed at the Scouter he had just tossed to Bulma. "This is the device Raditz used to detect battle power. Aside from the numbers, which are barely understandable, the rest is written in characters we don't recognize. Bulma, I think you'll be interested."

Son Wuling took off with Flight. After temporarily bidding everyone farewell, he flew toward Mount Paozu! He lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his thoughts turning to what he should do from here on out.

He had considered doing what some of the fanfics he had read in the past did—wishing upon the Dragon Balls for Saiyan bloodline. Though most of them had systems.

But he had none. He did not have something like a system. As for wishing for Saiyan bloodline, whenever Son Wuling thought of it, an instinctive rejection rose within him. It disgusted him. He hated the idea.

"As still as the sky!"

Son Wuling murmured softly. Back when he and Son Goku had defeated Demon King Piccolo, he had reached the Lookout, but Kami had not made him undergo weighted training like Son Goku had.

Kami said, "Wuling, you are different from Goku. Goku's path does not suit you."

Son Wuling said, "It doesn't suit me? Kami, then what kind of path should I take?"

Kami said, "It is not only living beings that possess ki. The universe, flowers, grass, trees, even the planets themselves all possess ki. Your control and perception of ki are the greatest I have ever seen. But I am sorry. I do not know how to guide you."

Back in the present, the first thing Son Wuling thought of was the Spirit Bomb.

King Kai had taught the Spirit Bomb to Son Goku. It possessed immense power, absolute destructive force. Its weakness, however, was its slow charging process, and the more evil the opponent's heart was, the greater the damage it dealt. Therefore, only a purely kind warrior like Son Goku could use it.

Son Wuling knew himself well. He did not consider himself kind! However, the method of gathering energy for the Spirit Bomb gave him tremendous inspiration.

Kami had also said that his control and perception of ki were exceptional. What if he drew ki into his body? Like cultivation in those immortal fantasy tales.

This thought had lingered in his mind. After the matter with Piccolo had completely ended, Son Wuling had kept trying to figure it out, yet he had never managed to do it!

Kami brought Son Goku to Other World, where they met King Yemma. To reach the place where King Kai lived, he had to cross Snake Way, which stretched for a million kilometers!

Grrr...

His stomach growled in protest again. Son Goku sat weakly on Snake Way, staring at the path whose end was still nowhere in sight. The clouds on either side of the road were not nearly as beautiful as they looked. If he accidentally fell, he would plunge into Hell.

"Ah... I can't go on. I can't see the end at all!"

Son Goku took out a bag containing ten Senzu Beans.

"Good thing Wuling always prepared Senzu Beans before heading out. They're a huge help."

Son Goku hurriedly grabbed a Senzu Bean and tossed it into his mouth. His strength instantly recovered, returning him to peak condition. But when he saw the nine Senzu Beans left in the bag, he knew he had to reach his destination before using them all up.

Son Wuling had gotten a jar and a half of Senzu Beans from Korin. Whenever Korin made Senzu Beans, Son Wuling would immediately trade a huge pile of fish for them!

Son Wuling always carried some Senzu Beans whenever he went out, preparing for emergencies. This time, he had even firmly insisted that Son Goku take ten with him. Combined with Son Wuling's usual cautious behavior, no one suspected that he could foresee the future. He had handled everything almost flawlessly.

"Come on! Everyone is waiting for me. Wuling even gave this opportunity to me. I absolutely can't let everyone down!"

Son Goku encouraged himself, stripping off all the weights on his body. He had no idea when the Saiyans Raditz mentioned would arrive.

Whoosh!

Son Goku continued running forward. The endless Snake Way showed no sign of an end, winding and stretching on forever! Alone, he pressed forward with faith in his heart.

Back at Mount Paozu, Son Wuling saw a towering, burly man nearly three meters tall. Horns shaped like ox horns rose from his head, with the character for "ox" on them. He wore a white short-sleeved shirt and black suspender pants.

The Ox-King, Chi-Chi's father and also Master Roshi's disciple. Though he looked imposing and mighty, he was actually quite kind.

Chi-Chi was hanging out bedding to dry. When she noticed Son Wuling returning, she smiled and called out, "Wuling, why are you back so soon? Did you forget something?"

"Hey, Wuling!" The Ox-King waved at Son Wuling in greeting.

"Uncle Ox-King, sister-in-law, I have something to tell you. You should both prepare yourselves."

Son Wuling directly told Chi-Chi and the Ox-King what had happened. Rather than agonizing over it, it was better to lay everything out and make it clear!

"Y-You, Wuling... what did you say?"

Only then did Chi-Chi notice Son Wuling's appearance. His clothes were somewhat torn, and he looked rather disheveled.

"Gohan... Why did you hand Gohan over to someone as dangerous as Piccolo?" Chi-Chi demanded angrily, glaring at Son Wuling.

"Chi-Chi, don't be angry. Wuling must have his reasons!" the Ox-King kept trying to calm Chi-Chi down.

"As expected..." Chi-Chi's reaction was exactly what Son Wuling had anticipated, but he had long since prepared how he would persuade her.