But I Refuse

Looking at the wall of flesh before him, Baicang finally understood just how terrifying the potion the giant had drunk was. Its effects were even more extreme than those of monster cells.

"Old man, give me a lift up there."

Even lying down, the giant was dozens of meters tall. Baicang couldn't jump that high. He could climb, but that would cramp his style.

Bang nodded slightly and grabbed the back of Baicang's collar. Bending his knees, he leaped, kicked off the giant's body a few times, and carried Baicang up.

Baicang only felt the scenery blur before he landed steadily atop the giant.

As expected of Silver Fang, Bang-the hero who had reached third place in S-Class through nothing but physical strength and martial arts mastery. He could easily jump as high as a building dozens of stories tall. Even among old men hanging around parks, he was a top-tier specimen.

Baicang thanked Bang first, then turned and saw something horrifying. His heart sank into despair.

The giant's crotch was completely smooth! There was absolutely nothing "extra" there-not even a single hair!!

It was downright ball-less!

In an instant, Baicang lost all interest in the potion the giant had drunk.

To master this art, you must first castrate yourself! Getting stronger came at a price, and between the two, Baicang chose his future happiness without hesitation!

Anything that suddenly made people stronger was heresy. None of it could compare to muscles earned through hard training. Keeping his feet on the ground was the only way to get stronger. Baicang kept consoling himself, but he absolutely did not regret his choice.

"Young Baicang, what's wrong?"

Watching the previously excited Baicang suddenly wilt, as though he had lost some vital fighting spirit, Bang was puzzled.

Was he discouraged by the monster's terrifying size and strength? No, he was fine just a moment ago.

"It's nothing. I just thought that if the giant were still alive, I definitely wouldn't be able to handle him."

Baicang had lost all enthusiasm now. He just wanted to go home and keep eating hot pot.

"Chin up. Strength has to grow one step at a time, but your confidence must be firm from the very beginning."

Believing he had guessed Baicang's thoughts, Bang straightened his slightly hunched back and addressed him with a solemn, earnest expression. "Become my disciple. Once you grasp the secrets of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, even a giant like this will be easy to defeat."

"Huh?" Baicang looked utterly bewildered.

After speaking, Bang began moving his hands. Pale blue energy appeared around his palms, tracing paths through the air like flowing water.

"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!" Bang shouted, striking through the air at the giant's other leg opposite them.

Boom! Boom!

The terrifying force compressed the surrounding air, producing thunderous sonic booms. A visible shock wave slammed into the giant's leg, blasting a hole more than ten meters wide straight through it.

Baicang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He stood rooted to the spot.

Th-this isn't right! Bang never seemed this strong in the anime. Is this old man using cheats?

"Well? That was only one of the secrets of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."

Bang returned to his slightly hunched posture and put his hands behind his back with a smile, thoroughly pleased with Baicang's stunned expression.

He believed that under his tireless guidance, Baicang would surely become a capable, powerful hero and inherit his dojo. This time, he just had to teach him properly and avoid repeating the mistake he had made with Garou...

"Sorry, old man. I already have a teacher."

Baicang really had been stunned by the power of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. He had never imagined a martial arts technique could produce sonic booms. It had certainly broadened his horizons.

But he still refused Bang's invitation. There was no other reason: martial arts depended heavily on talent, and skill was honed over time.

He might have time to spare, but Boros wasn't going to wait for him. The guy was already on his way in a spaceship.

By then, Baicang would still be wearing a training uniform and holding a horse stance in the dojo...

There were plenty of ways to get stronger in this world. Surely one of them would let him keep his junk while being reasonably quick and effective.

"Good, then you'll be my... huh?" Bang didn't register it at first.

It had never occurred to him that Baicang would refuse, nor had he known Baicang already had a teacher.

He had carefully observed the way Baicang walked and spoke, noticing his exceptional physical aptitude and the complete absence of any martial arts training. Coupled with Baicang's personality, which suited his tastes perfectly, that had inspired him to take the young man as his disciple.

"Don't worry, old man. Little things like this won't scare me off." Baicang understood Bang's good intentions, but appreciation was all he could offer.

Bang lowered his head, his expression darkening as though he had suffered a heavy blow.

Seeing Bang's disappointment, Baicang shrugged helplessly. "All right, old man. I've got things to do, so I'll head home now."

After a moment of silence, Bang spoke to Baicang as he turned to leave. "Could you let me meet your teacher?"

Bang couldn't quite accept it. After everything that had happened with Garou, he had finally found a promising young man he liked, only for someone else to get there first. Worse, that person was wasting his student's potential. Baicang didn't look as though he had received any instruction at all. What a waste of such excellent talent.

"My teacher..." Thinking of Saitama's usual careless manner, Baicang found himself a little embarrassed to introduce him.

"Never mind. I'll introduce you two another time, if there's a chance."

Before leaving, Baicang still took a small sample of flesh and blood from the wound Bang had blasted into the giant, intending to study it later.

"I'm back." Looking exhausted, Baicang opened the front door.

He came home to find the dining table in complete chaos. That bald-headed Saitama was sitting on the tatami, eating snacks and watching anime, with a sulking Runo beside him.

Seeing her brother return, Runo ran over with a red nose, hugged Baicang, and began tattling.

"Big brother, that baldy ate all the meat in the hot pot! He's too strong! I couldn't beat him to it!"

Baicang: "..."

Saitama also noticed Baicang was back. Without turning his head, he waved a greeting, then went right back to watching television.

"You could at least come help me clean this up," Baicang told Saitama irritably.

"Haha, sorry, sorry. The story was just getting to the good part."

Saitama rubbed his bald head and stood up to help Baicang clear the bowls and chopsticks from the table.

As for why Saitama was watching anime at Baicang's place...

Originally, he had planned to go home after defeating the monster. But then he thought leaving so abruptly would be rude, so he had returned to Baicang's home to wait for him.

He waited and waited, but the hot pot smelled far too good, and Runo deliberately swished rolls of fatty beef through the broth right in front of him. Unable to take it anymore, he had started competing with her for the food.

Once he was full, he spotted the latest Mob Psycho 100 manga in the living room cabinet and couldn't resist reading it. Later, he simply started eating snacks and watching anime while waiting for Baicang to return.

"Were you the one who defeated that giant today?"

After cleaning up, Baicang and Saitama lay on the tatami watching the news, and Baicang asked him.

"Oh, that really huge guy? Yeah." As always, Saitama was a little slow to recall the monsters he had defeated. Baicang suspected it was because he had killed too many, and they were all too weak.

"Did you feel anything?"

"Feel anything?... Not really." Saitama thought for a moment, then gave the answer Baicang had expected.

Fair enough. Something on that level really wouldn't make Saitama feel anything.

Seeing Saitama reach for the remote with the hand he had just used to pick his nose, Baicang kicked him straight in the butt.

"Hey! I'm your teacher, you know!" Saitama glared at Baicang.

"At least practice some basic hygiene around Runo! I don't want her touching a remote covered in your boogers!" Baicang shot back without backing down.

Squatting nearby, Runo watched the scene unfold. Despite his terrifying power, Saitama was getting scolded by Baicang over boogers.

Maybe... he wasn't so scary after all.