Frying Pan Mountain

The next day, just as Goku and Bulma were preparing to set off, Yamcha appeared again. Looking a little awkward, he apologized for what had happened before and handed Goku and Bulma a car capsule, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his mouth. Goku's heart tightened. He knew Yamcha must have tampered with the car and intended to track them.

Goku pulled out his Power Pole and, without hesitation, smashed the car with a single blow. With a boom, the car was instantly mangled beyond recognition, metal fragments scattering in every direction. Yamcha's face changed dramatically at the sight. He let out a roar, then turned and ran.

"What a weirdo." Goku shook his head and turned to Bulma. "Let's go!"

A tremendous explosion suddenly rang out in the distance, sending sand and dust flying. Bulma curiously suggested, "Should we go take a look?" But Goku shook his head. "No need. Finding the Dragon Balls is more important!"

Goku knew full well that the explosion had to be another mess caused by the Pilaf Trio. Even though they were always unlucky, Goku could not help thinking that Mai would grow up to be quite pretty. His thoughts drifted, and an image formed in his mind—Bulma on the left, Android 18 on the right, Mai in front, and Chichi behind. In Goku's beautiful dream, the girls all smiled at him, as though they were competing to become part of his "harem."

"Hehe, life like this would be pretty great." He could not help feeling smug as he happily thought to himself.

Bulma was wearing a bunny-girl outfit today, and it had Goku's hormones surging throughout the journey. That outfit is so tempting!

As time passed, the motorcycle crossed a stretch of desert. The two of them grew hotter and hotter, sweat beading on their foreheads. Just then, Bulma caught sight of a dazzling patch of color on the distant horizon ahead.

Bulma cried out, "Wow, that sunset is beautiful!"

Goku shook his head and replied with a smile, "That's not a sunset. That's Frying Pan Mountain!"

Bulma turned toward him curiously. "Goku, what kind of place is Frying Pan Mountain?"

Goku smiled slightly, thought for a moment, and answered, "It's a burning mountain. Its flames never go out!"

Bulma blinked, becoming even more curious. "How do you know so much? Haven't you ever been there?"

Goku gave a foolish chuckle and scratched his head. "Actually... I don't know what's going on either. I just heard someone talk about it!"

Bulma could not help laughing. She found Goku mysterious and adorable. "You really are a strange little guy, but I like you this way!"

Goku keenly sensed movement behind them, as though someone was following them. He secretly smiled. No need to guess. It's that Yamcha guy, still unwilling to give up and looking for revenge. Goku did not warn Bulma. Instead, he continued pretending that nothing was wrong.

Bulma remained focused on driving the motorcycle ahead, checking the Dragon Radar from time to time, completely unaware of the movement behind them. Goku pondered, In the original story, Yamcha only got greedy after overhearing us talking about the Dragon Balls.

Goku decided to wait and see what Yamcha would do next. This love rival needs another lesson, so he stops following us around and causing trouble.

Goku and Bulma arrived at the foot of Frying Pan Mountain. Before them stretched a sea of roaring flames, their faces glowing red in the firelight. At the center of the flames stood a towering castle, proudly rising amid the inferno.

Bulma looked at the Dragon Radar and said excitedly, "The Dragon Ball is inside that castle!"

But when she saw the surging flames, Bulma's brows furrowed slightly. She asked in confusion, "But the fire is so huge. How are we supposed to get in?"

Looking at the scorching flames, Bulma suddenly had an idea. "Goku, can't you fly over on the Somersault Cloud?"

Goku shook his head, frowning slightly. "Even the Somersault Cloud can't fly in. The closer you get to the center, the hotter the flames become. We'd be roasted alive."

Bulma sighed in disappointment. After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "Then what are we supposed to do?"

Just as Bulma was at her wits' end, a massive axe suddenly came flying over and embedded itself precisely into a huge rock beside her. With a rumble, a minotaur more than four meters tall appeared. Bulma's legs went weak with fright, panic flooding her heart.

Goku, however, remained perfectly calm. He knew this was the Ox King, who had studied under the same master as his grandfather, Grandpa Gohan. The Ox King stared at the two small humans with a fierce glare and demanded angrily, "Are you here to steal my treasure?"

Bulma panicked and hurriedly replied, "N-No, we were just passing through!"

Seeing this, Goku considered how to defuse the situation and cautiously said, "Ox King, don't get worked up. We're actually here looking for Dragon Balls."

The Ox King had never heard of Dragon Balls. Realizing they were not here to steal his treasure, his angry expression softened slightly. "Dragon Balls? I've never heard of such a thing. This is not a place you can enter whenever you please!"

Bulma gathered her courage and stammered, "We really wandered in here by mistake. We absolutely mean no harm!"

Goku called forth the Somersault Cloud and easily jumped onto it, showing it to the Ox King. When the Ox King saw the Somersault Cloud, he asked in surprise, "How do you have that?"

Goku answered, "Master Roshi gave it to me!"

At this, a flash of shock crossed the Ox King's eyes. He then noticed the Golden Cudgel on Goku's back and asked, "And what's with the staff on your back?"

"My grandfather gave it to me," Goku replied with a smile.

After hearing this, the Ox King's expression gradually softened. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Master Roshi is my teacher, and Grandpa Gohan is my senior brother."

The Ox King looked at Goku and said solemnly, "I have a small request. Master Mutai has a Banana Leaf Fan that can extinguish the flames of Frying Pan Mountain. Can you help me borrow it?"

Goku agreed. "No problem. I'll go borrow it."

The Ox King nodded in satisfaction, then added, "By the way, my daughter Chichi is currently on her way to find Master Mutai. If you run into her, could you give her a ride? That way, we can arrange a childhood betrothal for the two of you." As he spoke, he even took out a photo of Chichi for Goku to see.

Upon hearing this, Goku thought, The Ox King is clearly trying to set Chichi and me up! Though he felt it was not quite appropriate, he could not bring himself to refuse the Ox King to his face. If he refused and the Ox King stopped honoring their connection, things would become troublesome. Besides, the Dragon Ball was still inside the Ox King's castle.

So Goku nodded. "All right, I'll help."

"Then I'll wait for your good news!" the Ox King said with a smile.

Goku climbed onto the Somersault Cloud and turned to Bulma. "Wait here for me. I'll go borrow the Banana Leaf Fan."

"Okay," Bulma said with a nod.