An invitation to lunch

"I'm a dog if I'm lying!"

"Then why do you...?" Boss Li looked doubtful. He wanted to ask why, with such an impressive cousin, Tang Fei wasn't doing big business instead of collecting protection money from small-time vendors like them.

Tang Fei gave an awkward laugh. "A grown man can't always rely on other people, right? But Nan, my cousin and I grew up together. We're incredibly close. If you ever need to find someone or ask around about something, I really can help."

Jiang Nan thought he didn't have anything he needed to ask about. He was just about to turn him down again when something actually came to mind.

At his current rate of progress, Jiang Nan could bring forward his plan to search for the Dragon Balls. He didn't need to wait until Future Bulma invented the Dragon Radar before setting out.

If he remembered correctly, Son Goku's grandfather, Son Gohan, should have one at Mount Paozu, and Master Roshi, who lived in seclusion on an island, had another. A few years later, there would be one in the storeroom at Bulma's house, but he wasn't sure when Dr. Brief had added that Dragon Ball to his collection. Or perhaps Bulma's older sister Tights had come across it during one of her adventures.

There should also be one on Liangjing Mountain, fifteen hundred kilometers southwest of White Cloud Mountain-the place that became Fry-pan Mountain after a meteorite fell and started a fire.

But that was information from the future, after all. Jiang Nan wasn't sure whether he could find the Dragon Balls in those locations now. Without a Dragon Radar, searching the entire world alone was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Perhaps Tang Fei really could help.

Still, Jiang Nan didn't want to owe anyone a favor lightly. "I'm not looking to take on any followers, and I'll be leaving White Cloud City before long, so give up on that idea. But don't worry. As long as I don't catch you doing anything bad again, I won't come looking for trouble."

"Nan, well..." Tang Fei looked troubled.

"If I need your help with anything, I'll come to you. Of course, I'll pay you. I won't make you work for nothing."

Tang Fei immediately brightened. "What are you saying, Nan? If there's anything I can do for you, just say the word. Talking about payment makes us sound like strangers. Um..."

Seeing Tang Fei hesitate, Jiang Nan poured some vinegar into his bowl and asked, "Anything else?"

Tang Fei stammered, "Well, I went to see my uncle last night and told him I'd met a new-a great big brother. My uncle said he'd like to get to know you."

"You wanted your uncle to help you get even with me, right?" Jiang Nan asked with a smile.

"I wouldn't dare!" Tang Fei hurriedly waved his hands in denial. "Meeting an expert like you really opened my eyes, so I thought I'd ask my uncle whether he'd heard of you. Oh, Nan, let me tell you-my uncle is really something!"

Jiang Nan was already starving. He shoveled a large mouthful of noodles into his mouth and asked indistinctly, "Something how?"

Tang Fei leaned closer. "Nan, an expert like you must have heard of the World Martial Arts Tournament, right? My uncle entered twenty years ago-and won!"

Jiang Nan paused with his chopsticks in hand. "Then he really is someone!"

Jiang Nan felt a stir of excitement himself. His recent training had made him much stronger, but training alone clearly wasn't enough if he wanted to raise his battle power faster. Actual combat was the most effective way to improve his fighting ability, and he wanted an opponent to practice against.

"Nan, when would you be free? Shall I arrange a get-together?" Tang Fei asked.

"Tomorrow at noon, then. Just wait at the entrance to the residential complex next door." Jiang Nan was looking forward to seeing whether Tang Fei's uncle could surprise him. The more battle power he gained at this stage, the better-the gains would be that much greater when it started multiplying later.

"You got it!" Tang Fei's shoulders shook with excitement.

When their business was finished and Tang Fei still showed no sign of leaving, Jiang Nan asked, "Have you eaten? Want me to get you a bowl too?"

Tang Fei's face immediately turned sickly. Saying there was no need, he got up and fled.

Once Tang Fei was far away, Mr. Li walked over, wiping his hands on his apron, and sat in a chair across the aisle. He glanced outside again to make sure Tang Fei had gone before saying, "Nan, I don't mean to meddle, but don't spend too much time with people from Black Tiger Hall. They aren't good people. Deal with them too much, and you'll turn bad too."

Jiang Nan smiled. "Don't worry, Mr. Li. I know where to draw the line."

"As long as you know what you're doing. I was young once too. I know young people are impulsive and have trouble resisting temptation. You're a good person, Nan. You don't know how shrewd bad people can be. They can drag you into their mess before you even realize it!" Boss Li spoke with utter seriousness, afraid Jiang Nan might go astray.

Jiang Nan smiled without explaining further and chatted with Mr. Li about other things. When he finished eating and went to pay, Mr. Li refused to take his money. Only after Jiang Nan threatened that he would be too embarrassed to come back if he didn't accept payment did Mr. Li reluctantly take it.

The next day was another workday, and Jiang Nan went to North Suburb Park again for reaction training.

He had been a little worried that yesterday's rain might have killed the flies in his remaining cage. Fortunately, flies were extraordinarily hardy, and most were still alive and well.

Unfortunately for them, heaven hadn't claimed their lives, but Jiang Nan had come to do just that.

With his battle power at 80, Jiang Nan had improved considerably compared with a few days earlier. As soon as he opened the fly trap, almost every fly died the moment it emerged. The twig in his hand moved so fast that even its afterimages were impossible to make out. The few flies that escaped the first strike died to his follow-up before they had time to count themselves lucky.

Five minutes. In just five minutes, every fly in the cage was dead.

Even Jiang Nan was surprised by how much faster he had become. He even wondered whether the flies' reactions had slowed after going hungry for several days.

This practice session raised Jiang Nan's battle power by another point, but he also had a vague sense that he was approaching a bottleneck. Sure enough, he couldn't get by without actual combat.

After finishing his practice, Jiang Nan first left the fly trap at the seafood wholesale market, then headed home for a shower.

As he approached the residential complex, Jiang Nan spotted a long line of cars at the entrance from afar.

Was someone picking up a bride? Jiang Nan was surprised. They had that custom in this world too?

As Jiang Nan passed the limousine in the middle of the motorcade, he marveled at how rich people knew how to enjoy themselves in any world. The car's black paint was as smooth as a mirror, giving it a stately, solid presence. In the sunlight, the reflections off its finish were dazzling.

Jiang Nan laughed at himself. When he had first crossed over, he had thought that once he became powerful, he would at least get a taste of life at the top. Yet after all this time, he was still living like an ordinary person. His quality of life was even worse than before he had crossed over.

The car door suddenly opened, and the passenger in the front seat turned out to be Tang Fei. Only then did Jiang Nan realize that this grand procession might actually be here to pick him up.

Before Tang Fei could open the rear door, it opened from inside, and a man who looked even younger than him stepped out. He wore an ivory suit and was handsome and sunny-looking, with a warm smile on his face.

"Hello, Nan!" The man in the ivory suit took the initiative to bow and greet Jiang Nan.